The word "charming" conjures to mind images of fairytale villages, and princes who will sweep you off your feet. Unfortunately the town of Charming, California was nothing like a fairytale. There were no happily ever afters in Charming. This was a town where fairytales went to die, and it was a town Hanna Donnelly had never expected to set foot in again.

She pulled her cherry-red convertible to a stop in the parking lot of Teller-Morrow Automotive, and stepped out, eyes narrowing in the sunlight. A shrimpy blonde boy ran toward her, and she tossed him her keys. "She could use an oil change," she said, not bothering to wait around for his reply.

Hanna moved toward the door of the clubhouse, ignoring the boy's calls behind her. She pushed open the door, breathing in the familiar smell of beer and cigarettes. She ran her fingers through her hair, as her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room. Her hair fell around her face like a blonde halo. The room looked like a time capsule. Everything was exactly the way she remembered it. Down to the shitty vinyl-covered chairs around too-small cocktail tables.

"Is that Hanna Oswald?" A familiar voice called, his tone skeptical. Her blue eyes flicked toward the older man, who raised one eyebrow in mock surprise.

"You know damn well that's not my last name," she said. Hanna had taken her mother's maiden name in the divorce years ago, but some legacies were hard to shake. He enveloped her in a hug, despite her protests. "Nice to see you too, Clay."

"Hanna?" She whirled around to flash a grin at her high school crush. There was a time when Hanna would have followed Jax Teller to the ends of the Earth. She certainly followed him into more than her fair share of trouble. "Been a while, yeah?"

"A while," she agreed. Almost a decade if she were counting. "Opie around?"

"Somewhere."

"I talked to David a few days ago," Hanna started. Jax's sneer made her laugh. "Believe me, he feels the same way about you. Some things never change." She nodded toward the set of double doors across the room. "Speaking of which, can I talk to the two of you for a minute? Alone."

Clay nodded, and headed toward the meeting room. Hanna's gaze fell on a guy at the bar, whose eyes lit up when looked at him. He had a dumb haircut and tattoos on his head. She shook her head, a not so subtle way of saying, "not gonna happen." Jax chuckled at the exchange, clapping a hand on her shoulder and leading her through the doors.

When the doors were shut behind them, Hanna sighed. "I wanted to thank you. My dad told me what you did for Tristen. That son of a bitch deserved everything he got." Clay noded once in agreement. "I wish I could say I'm surprised Elliot didn't follow through, but I'm not. So, thank you for taking care of it. I owe you one."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Hanna, but Elliot is already owes us for that."

"My father is a coward," Hanna told him. "He'll do whatever you ask because he has to. I'm offering you a favor because I want to. Tristen is my sister, I'd do anything for her."

Jax and Clay shared a look, but Clay nodded, nonetheless. "We'll keep that in mind."

Hanna gave them a soft smile before heading back outside. She walked up to the bar, and the guy who'd been watching her followed her with his eyes. She rolled her eyes at the dopey smile on his face. "Can I get you a drink?" He asked.

"Not thirsty," she said, hardly sparing him a glance. To the girl behind the bar, she said, "I'll take a shot of Maker's Mark, straight." Hanna downed the drink, and let out a refreshed sigh.

"I'm Juice," the guy told her, refusing to give up.

She raised an eyebrow. "Nice name."

Not catching the sarcasm, he rambled on. "It's really Juan Carlos, but everyone calls me Juice."

"Okay," she said, drawing out the first syllable. She swiveled her head to give Clay and Jax a look. The former of which shot her an amused smile. Hanna laughed quietly to herself, and started for the door. "Let me know, Clay." She sauntered toward the door, and Juice watched her go, already smitten.

Jax took a seat beside him, patting him on the back. "I wouldn't." Juice gave him a curious look, and Jax shook his head. Juice looked to Clay for more information.

"She's trouble," was all he said.

"In high school, Hanna spent summers with Oswald, and most of that time she spent here," Jax explained. "If you asked her, she'd say she was tailing me. But truth is, she was just doing it to piss her dad off."

"She did everything but become a Crow Eater," Clay continues. "And that's only because the guys knew better than to lay a hand on Oswald's girl."

"She doesn't want this life, never has."

"Hanna Donnelly is not the old lady you've been looking for, but she'll be happy to use you if it gets under Oswald's skin." Clay shook his head and threw his arm over Juice's shoulder. "Steer clear, kid."

Outside, Hanna headed to the office to grab her keys. The woman at the desk held up a finger as the blonde stepped through the door. "Take your time," Hanna offered. Gemma looked up at the sound of Hanna's voice, and she slammed the phone down. "Or don't."

"God, look at you. Is that your car outside?" Hanna nodded. "Can't believe you used to be a fucking Crow Eater."

"Not quite," Hanna reminded her. Gemma looked skeptical, not quite believing that everyone had followed Clay's rule to keep their hands off. "That was a long time ago."

Gemma made a tsking sound and stood up to get a better look. "I knew you'd end up back in Charming. Some people just can't stay away."

"It's temporary, a few months at Elliot's company while I work out where I'm going next."

"Sure it is." Gemma brushed a piece of hair out of Hanna's face and shakes her head. "Always thought you had the balls to be an old lady one day. Someone has to keep this club running when I'm gone."

"I realized a long time ago that your son and I were not meant to be."

Gemma scoffed. "There are plenty of other guys besides Jax."

"Yes, I'm aware. Most of them are waiting for me outside of Charming."

"We'll see about that," she said, with a frown.

The shrimpy guy who'd taken Hanna's car came inside to return the keys and give her the total. Gemma waved him off. "No, no. This one's on the house, family doesn't pay."

Hanna suppressed an eye roll and pasted on her best fake smile. "See you at the fundraiser, Gemma." As she headed toward the door, she added, "It was nice catching up with you."

OoOoO

The school district fundraiser was the sort of thing Hanna would have gone out of her way to avoid, if it weren't for Tristen. The whole town getting together in one big field to listen to garage bands, and eat overpriced home cooking was not her idea of a good time. Besides, there were far too many chances for Hanna to run into people she used to know.

But Elliot had to go and show his support for the community, and naturally his second wife went with him. Tristen would be home alone, and no one wanted that. Hanna volunteered to work from home, and keep an eye on her. Since the attack at Fun Town, Tristen had been distant with everyone but her older sister.

So when the girl had asked Hanna to take her to Taste of Charming, just for a little while, Hanna had relented.

The small town Americana was nauseating, but Hanna put on her best smile for her little sister. It had been weeks since Hanna had seen her smile like this, and she was determined to just let Tristen be a kid. She pointed out one of the booths. "Oh, I remember this, she makes the best homemade ice cream."

Tristen raised her eyebrows. "Thought you only ate gelato," she teased. Hanna shook her head, and didn't admit that summer days spent in the backs of pickup trucks, eating homemade ice cream were some of her best memories.

"Two vanillas, please," Hanna ordered and Tristen made a face. "You can put toppings on it. Don't question me, I know what I'm doing." Tristen stuck her tongue out at her. Hanna wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders, as she reached for her wallet with the other hand.

"Hey, I got you," someone said from behind them. Hanna turned to see the guy from the club, Juice. He didn't wait for an answer, just handed the woman behind the table a ten. Tristen picked up her bowl and went for toppings. Hanna gave the biker a look. "Just being friendly."

"Friendly," she repeated, skeptically. "That all?"

"Clay said you're a friend of the club."

Hanna hummed, knowing with certainty that Clay hadn't stopped there. Tristen returned, half hiding behind Hanna's back. "Thanks," Hanna told him, and took a step away, pushing her sister along with her.

"Mind if I walk with you?" Juice asked. Hanna looked at Tristen, who shrugged. The blonde gave a reluctant nod, and they made the rounds. On the plus side, no one bothered her with one of the Sons at her side. Though it didn't stop them from staring. If Elliot hadn't spotted her by now, it would surely get back to him soon.

Tristen drifted toward one of the game booths, still eating her sprinkle covered ice cream. She watched one of the younger girls fail miserably at throwing darts. "You wanna try, kid?" The man behind the table asked her. Tristen shook her head and took a small step back.

Hanna glanced across the lawn. Elliot and Karen had spotted them, and watched on with matching frowns on their faces. "Do you want a bear?" Juice asked, and Hanna turned back to see him standing next to Tristen. The girl blushed, but nodded.

Hanna tucked Tristen under her arm protectively, while they watched Juice. He hit every target, and then turned back to the girls with a triumphant grin. Tristen quietly picked her prize, a fluffy blue bear, which she hugged to her chest.

Across the lawn, Karen called, "Tristen!" The girls turned, and she waved her daughter over. "We're going home!"

"Can I stay with you?" Tristen asked, looking up at Hanna.

Hanna shook her head. "Not today. I don't want to make your mom mad."

Tristen sighed, but nodded, and gave Hanna a hug. She turned to look at Juice and offered him a small smile. "Thank you." Then she turned and hurried off to join her parents. Hanna watched her go, and waved at Elliot as the trio headed for the parking lot.

"That was sweet," Hanna said finally, looking over at Juice. "Thanks."

"Tristen's pretty quiet, huh?"

"She wasn't always." Hanna closed her eyes for a moment. She sighed, and sat down at the closest picnic table. Across the parking lot, Elliot looked at his eldest daughter one last time.

"Is she the reason you came back?" He asked, elbows leaning on the table.

Hanna shook her head. "No, I came back for a job. Elliot needed some help with the new office, interior design stuff mostly. Maybe a fundraiser later this year." She shrugged. "I figured Charming is close enough to San Fransisco that I can drive back and forth for other jobs. Hopefully find something more permanent, freelance sucks."

"So you aren't sticking around."

It wasn't a question, but she answered it anyway. "This town is a black hole. The next time I leave, I'm getting out for good." She glanced toward the parking lot. Elliot was gone. Hanna stood up. "I should head home." She put a hand on his shoulder, for just a moment. "Thanks, again." And then she turned away and headed for the parking lot without looking back.