Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or SOA

Author's Note:

1. Sorry it took so long for me to update. I was in Tanzania for a couple of weeks so I finished this chapter there but couldn't post it because of bad internet.

2. Elena's outfits are on tvdcrossovers on tumblr.

3. I hope that you like it!

Elena was torn from sleep suddenly, panicking for a moment before realizing that she was tangled in the sheets of a still unfamiliar bed. Sitting up, she brushed her fingers over her neck where she could feel the phantom sting of Klaus's fangs piercing her skin. The nightmares still invaded her dreams almost every night, reminding her that she could put as much distance between herself and Mystic Falls but the experience of dying still haunted her. Reluctantly, she pushed the blankets away and stood carefully, trying to shake the fear that lingered after the vivid dream.

She could hear movement in the other part of the house and knew that Gemma and Clay were up and around. It had been a week since her arrival and things had been more than a little awkward. It didn't help that she was having a hard time dealing with being separated from her home and the people she loved, especially Jeremy. She knew that she couldn't keep going like she was. Laying around all day in her pajamas watching Netflix was better in theory than in practice and she was started to feel horrible because of it.

So Elena was determined to get out and do something, whatever that may be. Stepping outside of the front door would seem productive at this point. She adjusted the water almost as hot as it could get, hoping to burn away the feel of Klaus's arms around her as he slowly killed her. It worked for the moment and that was all she could ask. After getting dressed, she loosely braided her hair over her shoulder and brushed on a little mascara and lip gloss, feeling almost refreshed. As she stepped out of her room and made her way down the hall, she could hear the activity in the kitchen pause for a moment.

"Well look who decided to come out of her cave," Clay joked as she walked in the room.

Elena smiled slightly, shrugging at him.

"I think it's time to be an actual member of society instead of a binge-watching mess," she said, walking to the coffee pot.

She could feel their eyes on her as she poured a cup.

"So what do you want to do?" Gemma asked.

"Find some new clothes," Elena said, turning around to face them as she inhaled the smell of the fragrant drink. "I don't have much money so I may hit up the thrift shops. I just packed a little bag and honestly, I'm pretty tired of wearing the same things."

"Don't bother with the thrift shops," the other woman said, reaching into her purse.

Elena watched as she pulled out a small black credit card and tossed it over.

"What is this?" she asked, hoping that they weren't just going to supply her with money.

A free room was one thing. They didn't seem to be hurting for money so she could forgive that. But paying for clothes was going too far.

"Elijah," Clay answered, standing up to set his plate in the sink. "Said he owes you more than just money but it's a start."

Elena looked down at the card, knowing that the limit was probably more than she could ever spend in a day. It was tempting not to use it but it wasn't like she was rolling in money. And maybe she did agree just a little bit that Elijah owed her.

"Okay," she said with a shrug.

"Good. I'll clear my schedule," Gemma said with a grin.

"Oh you don't have to do that. I can just find a taxi or something to take me to a few shops."

"Believe me, you are not going to find anything worth buying in Charming. I'll take you to Lodi. They have a nice shopping center there," Gemma said, giving her a look that told her not to argue.

Elena didn't feel like she had much of a choice. She was quickly learning that it wasn't easy to argue with these people. Remembering what Elijah told her about everyone having secrets, Elena briefly wondered if she'd be able to discover some of theirs if she spent time with Gemma. She was, after all, a curious person. And she didn't stop digging until she found out Stefan's impossible secret. It was unlikely that they would be able to hide everything from her for long. Giving Gemma and Clay a smile, Elena found herself with a new mission that might distract her from her mess of a life.

"Why did I need so much black again?" Elena asked as they turned onto Gemma and Clay's street.

It had been a long day of trying clothes on and buying hundreds of dollars' worth of stuff. She was nearing the point of exhaustion now.

"If you're going to hang around the club, you gotta blend in. None of that 'girl next door' shit," Gemma told her with a smirk.

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly one to blend in with your crowd," she said, looking over at her.

The older woman turned her head, looking Elena up and down.

"I don't know. I think you'll surprise yourself," she said mysteriously, turning to face forward again.

"I doubt it," Elena said with a roll of her eyes.

She was more than a little frustrated. Hours with this woman and she got nothing. Gemma was either very good at keeping secrets or she had none. Knowing people like she did, Elena was certain that the former was the more likely option. She would have to put more work into it if she wanted to find out what was going on in this town. After all, she had a right to know what Elijah had gotten her into, didn't she? As they pulled up to the house, Gemma laid on the horn until the front door opened. Elena noticed that there were two motorcycles sitting in the driveway and was able to quickly deduce who the second one belonged to. Sure enough, Jax stepped out of the house with Clay, looking wary at what could make his mother make such a ruckus.

"Make yourselves useful," Gemma said as she climbed out of the car, gesturing towards the trunk.

"They aren't all mine," Elena said as she climbed it, knowing it would be warning enough.

"Eighty percent of them are hers, don't let her fool you."

She didn't bother to argue with Gemma's statement, knowing that it was true. Elena had managed to sneak a few things that were more her style into the purchases, thinking that she might wear them more often.

"Shit," Jax said once they opened the trunk, almost sounding impressed.

He looked up at them with raised eyebrows. Elena's cheeks grew warm but Gemma looked unconcerned, winking at him. Though she volunteered to help, Elena found herself standing back as the two men carried everything in. Part of her wanted to argue, knowing that she could at least carry a few things in. But she kept her mouth shut, knowing to pick her battles with these people.

"You had a good time, I see," Jax said as he dropped the last few bags on Elena's bed.

They were alone in her room, something that made her heart beat a little quicker for some reason. Gemma and Clay were off debating how many of his things had to leave the closet to make room for her new clothing.

"It was okay," Elena said with a shrug, leaning back against the wall with her hands folded behind her.

"My mom is kinda intense.".

She shook her head.

"It wasn't that."

Jax looked at her questioningly, waiting for her to explain. Elena was tempted to brush it off but something about his expression made her want to say what she'd been thinking all day.

"It reminded me of my mom," she said, scuffing her shoe on the floor as she looked down. "We used to always go on these long shopping trips and try on clothes together."

"Used to?" Jax said.

Elena lifted her eyes to see him watching her. Something about her look must have told him what he needed to know.

"She's gone," he realized.

She nodded, fighting against the lump that rose in her throat. Over a year later and she still couldn't admit that without tearing up.

"My dad too," Elena said, trying to keep her voice from breaking.

Jax's brow furrowed ever so slightly as he shifted to face her fully.

"My dad died in a crash a long time ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday."

She straightened up slightly, recognizing the pain that came with losing someone like that.

"Clay isn't…?"

"Nah," Jax said, shaking his head. "He and my mom got hitched a few years after."

"I'm sorry," Elena said, knowing from experience that the words weren't enough.

"Yeah, me too."

She stared at him for a moment, almost seeing him in a new light. It was a heavy thing, to admit something like that. She didn't tell just anyone so she was surprised that she managed to say it to him. It was almost like she unknowingly recognized that he would be able to relate.

"I was in the car with them," Elena said, running a hand through her hair. "I remember going over the edge and then nothing. Just blackness. When I woke up in the hospital, they told me that my parents were dead and that it was a miracle that I survived."

But it wasn't a miracle, her mind told her, just Stefan saving the day.

Another thing to add to her guilt. Just because she didn't think that she could love Stefan like she did before didn't mean that she felt nothing for him. Caroline kept her updated on everything, including the bloody path that he was carving through the northeast with Klaus. It made her feel sick but, at the same time, she somehow always knew that they would end up in that place. A vampire and a human, no matter how epic the romance, would never really work.

"That's fucking terrible," Jax said.

"Yeah," she huffed out with a nod. "Yeah it was."

"We get better though," he told her.

Elena looked up at him with surprise. He wasn't someone that she expected that kind of reassurance from.

"I hope so," she said honestly.

He looked away at that point, glancing around the room before letting out a short laugh.

"I usually don't have these kinds of conversations without some alcohol in me," Jax said.

Elena smiled slightly.

"I'm underage so…"

"Who cares?" he shrugged.

Elena thought about it for a moment, remembering just how little she'd cared about that in the past. She'd done worse than drink some beer, that was for sure.

"You're right," she decided.

Jax grinned at her, his blue eyes shining with amusement.

"I know a great place," he said, laying the offer out there.

This time, she had to think for more than a moment. She could come up with a thousand reasons not to go with him but there was one that overshadowed them all. She liked talking to him.

"I'm in," she decided with a nod, almost unable to believe that she agreed.

Jax looked slightly surprised, though pleased at the same time.

"Let me change? I feel icky in these clothes," she said, gesturing to her outfit.

"Yeah. I'll just wait outside," he said.

Once she was alone, she heard a chime from her phone. Digging in her purse, she pulled it out to see a text from Caroline.

Talk?

She hesitated, glancing between the screen and the door. Talking to Caroline usually turned into a couple of hours of conversation. If she went that route, going out with Jax was unlikely. She could just give him a raincheck and stay at home in her bedroom for yet another night.

We get over it.

Jax's words lingered in her mind and she took a deep breath. There was going to be no getting over it if she didn't try. Sitting at home in her bed wasn't going to help anything. Tossing her phone back in her purse, she turned away to dig through her new clothes. It as about time she treated this like the new start that it was. Once she was dressed, Elena emerged from her room and found Clay and Gemma sitting on the couch watching something on the television.

"Going somewhere?" Gemma questioned, taking in her change.

"Yeah," she nodded, feeling proud of herself.

They both looked impressed, exchanging a look.

"I'll be back later."

Elena headed for the door with a slight spring in her step. She hadn't looked forward to something like this in a while. It almost felt strange.

"Tell my son that I expect you at home at a decent hour," Gemma called to her.

"It's not a date," Elena responded over her shoulder.

"Yeah, I've heard that before."

She rolled her eyes, stepping out onto the porch before closing the door behind her. Jax was waiting at his bike, a cigarette hanging lazily from his fingers.

"Ready?" he said, watching her walk over to him.

"On that?" Elena asked with wide eyes.

That was one thing she hadn't factored into the equation. She'd never ridden on a motorcycle and couldn't help but remember her father's warnings about them. But another part of her felt exhilarated at the mere thought.

"Unless you wanna walk," he shrugged, holding his helmet out to her.

Elena took it, weighing it in her hands.

"Take it slow?" she asked.

"As slow as you want," Jax assured her.

For some reason, she couldn't help but think that he wasn't just talking about the motorcycle. Nevertheless, she fitted the helmet over her head and buckled it beneath her chin, feeling ridiculous in it. Jax climbed on first before patting the seat behind him. With a fortifying breath, Elena climbed on behind him carefully, her heart picking up pace in her chest. She hesitated when it came time to put her hands on him. When she placed them on his hips warily, Jax let out a laugh and grasped her wrists in a gentle grip. Elena didn't fight as he wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling her chest flush against his back.

"That's safer," he murmured over his shoulder.

"Mm-hm," Elena said, hiding the smile that tugged at her lips.

Jax let out another laugh before starting up the engine. She let out a surprised noise at the loud sound and the shaking of the bike, pressing herself closer to him. He was warm, even through the leather cut that he wore.

"Ready?" he called over the engine.

"Yeah!"

With that, he slowly backed out of the driveway before taking off down the street at a slow and steady speed. It was just what she needed as she slowly relaxed until she learned the rhythm of the motorcycle and managed to figure out how to help him with turns.

"You're a natural," Jax said when they pulled up to a stoplight.

Elena smiled, simply laying her cheek against his back for the rest of the way. When he came to a stop and cut the engine, she glanced up to see that they were at a familiar place.

"Really?" she said, looking from the Teller-Morrow sign to him as they dismounted the bike.

"Give me a minute," he said with a cheeky smile before turning to jog towards the clubhouse.

Elena waited, taking the helmet off and smoothing her hair down. There were only a few bikes at the garage and she didn't recognize any of them. As she leaned against the motorcycle, she tilted her head back to look at the slowly darkening sky. A multitude of colors filled her gaze, causing her to smile. Elena had always loved sunsets, even as a child. There was nothing more beautiful, in her opinion. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she lowered her head to see Jax making his way back over with a six pack of beer.

"I hope you plan on drinking five of those," she warned him.

"Nah, we'll be fine," he shrugged, tilting his head for her to follow him.

Without hesitation, she walked behind him across the parking lot, coming to a stop when he paused at a ladder that led up to the roof of another building.

"We're going up?" Elena questioned.

Jax nodded, keeping a hold onto the beers with one hand before making his way up. She hesitated, glancing around before following him up carefully. Once they reached the top, miraculously in his case, Elena watched as he sat down on the edge of the roof and popped one of the beers. She carefully lowered herself to sit beside him, her legs dangling over the edge. As soon as she lifted her head, she caught sight of the view before them.

"Wow," she said, looking around Charming. "This is pretty great."

"Yeah, I've been coming up here for a while," Jax said, handing a beer over to her.

Elena took it, sipping at it as she crossed her legs.

"Let me guess," she said once she swallowed it. "You take all the girls up here?"

Looking over at him, she saw that he was staring back at her with a strange expression.

"I've never brought anyone up here," Jax said.

Something about the way he said it sounded like he was telling the truth so Elena really had no choice but to believe him.

"Wow. So I'm special," she said jokingly, trying to brush it off.

"That's what I'm thinking," he agreed.

Elena ducked her head, unable to keep from smiling as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You grew up here then?" she asked, changing the subject after several moments of silence.

"Born and raised," Jax nodded before taking a long drink. "How about you? Where are you from?"

"Virginia," she answered, looking out at the buildings and houses that stretched before them. "It was a small town kind of like this one."

He let out a snort, shaking his head.

"I doubt that."

Elena looked over at him, reading more into the words than what he probably wanted her to.

"What's different about Charming, then?" she asked, a challenge in her voice.

Jax stared back at her, no break in his expression. He was about as good as Gemma at closing down when she started to ask questions.

"It's probably warmer," he said, flashing her a smile.

Elena rolled her eyes, looking away from him.

"I'll have you know that I'm very good at figuring things out," she warned him.

"Then this'll be fun," Jax replied.

Neither of them said a word for several moments, both trying to figure out where to go from here.

"Who is your best friend?" Elena asked, figuring that was probably a safe question.

"Opie Winston," he answered without hesitation. "You'll meet him soon enough."

She nodded, assuming that he was in the club too.

"You?" Jax asked.

She could help but pause before answering, remembering how she'd ignored several texts in the last few days.

"I have two really good friends, Bonnie and Caroline," Elena told him, picking at the label on her bottle.

"But?"

She looked over at him with a frown, wondering what he meant by that.

"Well you didn't say that with much enthusiasm. Makes me think there's something going on there," Jax said.

"Nothing is going on, really. I'm just here and they're all the way on the other side of the country. That makes it kind of hard, you know?"

He gave her a look like he didn't really buy that.

"Ope was in prison for five years, up until about a month ago. You don't think that was hard? We never wavered."

Elena looked away from him, not liking the pit that formed in her stomach at the thought.

"It's easier with my brother," she admitted.

"You have a brother?"

She nodded, glancing up at him once more.

"He understands why I had to come here."

"And why's that?" Jax questioned.

"I was in danger," Elena answered.

"Yeah, my mom told me," he said with a nod. "That's about all that she told me."

She sighed, thinking it over before speaking.

"You know the story. Got mixed in with a bad crowd, met a dangerous guy," she shrugged, keeping it simple.

"That's not the whole story," Jax said confidently.

"But it's mine," Elena said, hoping that he would understand.

To her relief, he nodded in response.

"I get it."

She gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks for not pushing it," Elena said, wanting him to understand that it meant a lot to her that he responded that way.

"It's not my place to push you. It's your shit and you can tell whoever you want about it. Anyone who doesn't understand it should fuck off," Jax said before setting down his beer.

She couldn't explain how much she appreciated his words. All her life, especially with Caroline and Bonnie, there wasn't a thing that she could keep to herself. They pushed her to talk about everything, somehow convinced that would make it better. Neither of them understood that she needed time before sharing what she felt about something. And sometimes, she didn't want to talk at all. Elena constantly let herself be guilted into doing what others wanted and it was a relief to know that there was someone in the world that wouldn't do that.

"What's your brother's name?" Jax asked as he pulled out his box of cigarettes and a lighter.

"Jeremy," Elena said, smiling at the thought of him.

His support meant the world to her and she made sure that he knew. Besides Alaric, Jeremy was the only one who she talked to consistently.

"Is he older?"

She shook her head, watching as he lit up a cigarette.

"Younger."

Jax held the box out, offering one to her. Elena stared at it for several moments before finally taking one before she could overthink.

"This is a terrible habit," she told him.

If there was one thing that her father thought was more dangerous than motorcycles, it was cigarettes. But the past year had taught Elena that life was short and it was unlikely that a few cigarettes were going to be the thing that killed her. In fact, she died once already and it had nothing to do with them. She might as well enjoy life while it was happening instead of playing it safe. That was what Jenna would tell her to do.

"So I've heard," Jax said, reaching out to light it for her.

She leaned into the flame, inhaling and closing her eyes as the smoke filled her lungs.

"I haven't done this in forever," Elena said, watching as smoke curled into the air before dissipating. "I stopped after my parents died."

"You chose a hell of a time to quit."

"Yeah," she nodded in agreement.

Whereas Jeremy had turned towards drugs and alcohol to ease his pain, she'd left it behind. There was no numbing that pain for her so she didn't even try. That still didn't mean that she wasn't tempted to go back there. Especially when she figured out that her brother was doing it. But she had to be a rock, even though she was hurting too. Now that she didn't have anyone to be strong for, and since she'd lost Jenna and John, Elena had no reason to refuse.

"You look pretty deep in thought," Jax said.

Elena pulled out of her thoughts and swallowed hard before taking another drag.

"I was thinking about the people that I've lost."

He didn't look at all surprised by that.

"Being up here makes me think about that too. I don't know why," he said, slightly more somber.

"I think it's just the inevitability of loving people. You lose them and whenever there's a minute to think, you can't help but think about them," Elena said, flicking the ashes away.

"Yeah," Jax said, unable to find fault in her reasoning. "I had a brother too."

"He died?" she asked, looking over at him sadly.

"Heart condition," he replied, returning her gaze. "Same one I had when I was a kid and same one my mom had."

Elena couldn't help but feel some companionship with this man, even though she barely knew him and he was likely dangerous. Reaching over, she took his free hand in hers.

"They're still with us," she told him.

"I hope so," he replied, squeezing her hand lightly.

They sat there for a long time, both drinking and smoking as they relived some memories with their family members and friends. Sadness turned to laughter as they described their stories.

"What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" Jax asked her at one point.

Dated a vampire, she said in her head.

"Went skinny-dipping at the waterfalls near our town. The water was so fucking cold but it was the most fun I've probably ever had."

Jax scoffed, shaking his head.

"We gotta get you doing some crazier things," he told her.

Elena looked at him with wide eyes.

"Then what's the craziest thing you've ever done, Mr. Judgy?" she said.

Jax thought about it for a moment before a grin broke out on his face.

"Opie and I stole a cop car when we were kids and drove it out to the cliffs just outside of town. Then we put a brick to the gas pedal and watched it drive right over."

Elena stared at him with wide eyes.

"You stole a police car?" she said.

Jax shrugged with a careless look.

"Now who's judging?"

She shook her head, waving him off.

"Not judging," Elena assured him.

After all, she had trusted more than one vampire in the past year. What was a juvenile offender compared to that? Though, going by the knife strapped to his belt, Jax's rap sheet probably didn't just include pre-adulthood crimes. Still, no judgment.

"I should probably get back to your mom's house," Elena said, setting her last empty bottle down.

"You really think I can drive you home?" Jax questioned, waving his half-empty bottle at her.

She stared at him with raised eyebrows.

"Well I'm not sleeping on this roof."

"Don't worry, I got you covered," he assured her, patting her knee before standing up.

Elena did the same, following him to the other side of the roof. She lowered herself down the ladder carefully, breathing a sigh of relief when her feet were on solid ground.

"The bar?" she asked, following him across the lot.

"Trust me," he replied, gesturing for her to keep following him.

She didn't say anything else, stepping inside with him. Now that she was down on the ground, her tiredness was starting to take over and she really hoped that Jax wasn't leading her astray. She barely paid attention to the people who were around them, following him down a hallway. Before she knew it, he was opening a door and gesturing for her to go inside.

"It's been empty for a while but everything is clean," he assured her.

Elena glanced around, surprised to see a bedroom set-up, including a dresser and side table. Through a door, she could see a bathroom.

"Wow," she said, impressed at the setup.

"Glad you approve," Jax said, watching as she turned around to sit on the bed.

"It's not what I expected to see in the back of a bar. Unless this is for purposes other than sleeping," she said, her nose wrinkling at the thought.

"We don't have prostitutes here," he said with a smirk.

"Good, that's good," Elena decided, glancing around before looking up at him. "Thank you."

He nodded at her, backing out of the room.

"Get some sleep."

She didn't argue, kicking her shoes off and ripping the blankets down before curling beneath them. Before she closed her eyes, she saw the light turn off and the door closed. Elena wasn't even close to drunk, only slightly tipsy with her exhaustion urged along by the alcohol that she drank. It made her fall asleep quickly, luckily for her.

When Elena woke up, she felt absolutely disgusting. Her mouth tasted of stale beer and she knew that she smelled like smoke. Sitting up, she sniffed her shirt and recoiled with a choking cough.

"Gross," she muttered, sliding out of the unfamiliar bed.

She walked into the bathroom to wash her mouth out and splash water on her face, hoping that may at least do something to help. As she wiped her face off with a towel, she heard a knock on her door and made her way towards it. Opening it, she saw Jax standing there.

"Clean shirt?" he said, holding out a dark grey shirt.

He looked well-rested, his hair slightly damp and his facial hair trimmed.

"You're a mind reader," Elena sighed, taking it from him. "Is it okay if I take a quick shower?"

"Go ahead," he shrugged carelessly.

She gave him a smile, backing away before closing the door. After giving her body a quick wash, she put the shirt on with her shorts and tied it at the waist. She preferred to have clean clothes but this would have to do for now. Walking out of the bedroom, Elena found her way to the main part of the bar using the voices as a guide. As soon as she entered the room, several pairs of eyes settled on her as she combed her fingers through her damp hair. There were men and women all around, each of them looking at her with curiosity. Spotting Tig, the only one she really knew, Elena made her way over to him.

"Jax?" she said, trying to keep her voice hushed.

It was no use. She knew that it carried across the room.

"Back there," he pointed over his shoulder.

Elena gave him a grateful nod before heading in that direction. When she walked through a door, she found him fixing himself a cup of coffee.

"Hey, you feel better?" he said.

"Yeah," she replied, twisting her hair up into a bun. "Thanks for the shirt."

"No problem. Coffee?"

"Yes please."

They stood side-by-side, making up their cups.

"So last night was fun," she said, looking up at Jax as she sipped at the hot liquid.

"As fun as skinny-dipping in a waterfall?" he asked, his eyes filled with mirth.

Elena let out a laugh, elbowing him in the ribs.

"I'm not sure I'd go that far but it was nice to just talk for a while so thank you for that. I think I really needed it after everything," she said, stepping away from him.

"Yeah, it was pretty nice," he agreed.

She smiled at him, following him out of the room and into the bar.

"Maybe we could do it again sometime?" she wondered.

"I'd like that," Jax said, bumping his shoulder against hers.

Elena felt relief, knowing that she at least had someone to talk to in this strange town. Looking away from him, she saw that a majority of the bar was still staring at them. This time, there were a few jealous looks mixed in the women.

"Why are they staring at me like that?" she whispered.

"Ignore them. I do," Jax advised, sitting down on a barstool.

Elena followed suit, propping her feet up on one of the chair's bars.

"Jackie boy!" a man yelled out, surprising her.

Looking around, she saw a man walk up to them and thump Jax on the back.

"How you doing, man?" Jax asked.

"Can't complain," the man said in a thick accent.

He looked over at Elena, interest in his expression.

"This is Elena," Jax said before he could ask.

"Oh yeah, the one living with Gemma and Clay," he nodded, giving her a smile.

"Elena this is Chibs. He's from Scotland."

"I thought it was something like that," she said, smiling back at him as she shook his hand. "It's good to meet you Chibs."

"Now I know you're too nice for Jax," he said with a wink.

She flushed, taking a drink of her coffee instead of answering.

"I'm just making sure she's not feeling unwelcome," Jax said, shoving at the other man's shoulder.

"Well you're doing the Lord's work," Chibs told him before glancing around. "Prospect, get your ass over here!"

Elena watched as a young man with blonde hair hurried up to them.

"Introduce yourself."

"Hey," he said, giving her a nervous smile. "I'm Half-Sack. Well, I'm not really. That's a nickname. My name is Kip but you can call me whatever you want. Half-Sack or Kip, it's your choice."

"Stop babbling," Chibs said with a roll of his eyes. "He's my prospect."

"What does that mean?" Elena asked, giving Half-Sack an encouraging smile.

"He's sponsoring him for the club," Jax answered her. "If he passes the club's vote after a year, he gets patched in as a member."

"I got a few more months left," Half-Sack said, looking happy about that.

"Good for you," Elena told him honestly.

"Muffins!"

She looked around with wide eyes at the new voice to see a man with a paper bag. He had a beard and a pot belly but the look on his face could only be described as giddy. Elena watched as he emptied out the bag on a table, actual muffins spilling out.

"That's Bobby and he makes the best damn muffins," Jax told her, snagging two of them before handing one to her.

She didn't hesitate before taking a bite, realizing that he was right.

"These are really good," she said, her voice muffled by the mouthful.

"Thanks darlin," Bobby said, grinning at her.

"He does Elvis impersonations too," Jax said.

"Seriously?" she said, looking at him.

He nodded, looking entirely serious. Elena didn't doubt it for a second, knowing that an Elvis impersonator was just what this group of people probably needed.

"Fuck yeah!"

Elena watched as another man approached, a dark mohawk and tattoos on his head.

"Juice," Jax said, pointing at him as he picked up two muffins and dug in.

"Juice, got it," she nodded, adding the name to the list that was growing in her head.

"Piney's over there, with the oxygen machine. He's Opie's dad."

She followed Jax's nod and saw an older man who was laughing at something that Tig said.

"And the women?" Elena questioned.

"Crow eaters," Jax answered.

She looked at him with confusion, waiting for him to explain.

"They hang around the club, hoping to end up on the arm of one of the Sons. Until then, they're pretty much up for anything," he explained, watching her carefully.

"Oh," she said, nodding along with him before realizing exactly what he said. "Oh, you mean…"

"Yeah? You have a problem with that?" he asked.

Elena shook her head.

"If they're happy, it's none of my business."

He looked at her approvingly as if she said the right thing.

"And you know Gemma and Clay," he said, nodding at the couple who was making their way through the crowd.

"We were wondering why she never came home," Gemma said, looking between them suspiciously, especially focusing on the shirt that Elena wore.

"We talked pretty late and didn't want to make the trip home. She slept in one of the empty rooms," Jax said as Elena blushed even deeper at the implications in Gemma's words.

"I'm just glad she's safe," Gemma said, kissing her cheek before walking off to grab herself some coffee.

Elena didn't say anything, sitting back and watching the interactions around her. It all seemed so natural, almost like a family. For the first time since she arrived in Charming, she thought that she might be all right here.

Please let me know what you think!

Updated: 4/11/21