A/N: don't own don't sue

Lyrics at the beginning are from 'On the Inside' by Daughtry

Set around Season One, before Abel is kidnapped and Gemma is raped and Jax turns into a jerk and the whole club hates each other. Generally back when the show had fun and all the coolest characters were still alive. Because I can, it's called artistic license.

Learn My Lesson

Chapter Twenty Four

Your life is like a crack in the mirror
Seven years of bad luck it ain't getting better now
Not 'til all is said and done
Reflection in the window is the same old face
Background small town everywhere you look around
Tell me what you're runnin' from
Flip a coin and let it land in your hand
Heads you gonna stay but it's tails
So you can move to another town
Hide where you're sure you wont be found
But its still just you on the inside
You can pretend it'll be alright
Said it to yourself but you know its just a lie
'Cause its still just you on the inside
Still you on the inside
Nothin' faster than the speed of your leavin'
A hundred miles an hour and there ain't no slowin' down
But you cant outrun yourself

They got to the cabin before sunset, helping Cameron hobble in and get settled. Naomi threw some food together from the provisions they'd brought and they ate quietly, lost in their own thoughts. It was remarkably peaceful after weeks at the garage with an endless stream of people coming and going at all hours of the night. Cameron retreated to bed early, exhausted from the pain and the long car trip.

Naomi stepped out onto the porch while Chibs took a shower, sliding into the rickety old chair and pulling her knees up to her chin. There was barely a signal out here so she couldn't text Juice for an update on Dex. She knew perfectly well that if anything had happened, he would have found a way to get hold of her, but she couldn't stop her mind from spinning. She stayed on the porch while dusk turned to darkness around her, watching the beautiful trees and listening to the chirps and squeaks.

"It's cold, lass."

The porch creaked beneath his bare feet as he sat on the floor beside her.

"Is Cameron asleep?"

Chibs grunted, sipping a beer thoughtfully. The Irishman made him nervous, he wanted him gone as fast as possible. He glanced at Naomi, deep in her thoughts. Cameron being here put her in danger, which was a bloody stupid thought when she was here to avoid being murdered by pissed off gang-bangers. He felt her fingers slide into his damp hair absently, twisting the long strands around and tugging slightly. The sensation was simultaneously soothing and a turn on, since she liked to pull his hair in the sack.

"It's so quiet out here." She said dreamily, her eyes fixed on the trees in the distance.

Chibs decided against pointing out the racket whatever animals lived in the trees were making.

"You like this?" He asked doubtfully, squinting at her in the dim light from the open door behind them.

"I like the quiet, and the isolation. You're never really alone in a city."

Her fingers drifted from his hair to stroke the back of his neck.

"You ever think about packing it all in, Scottish?" Chibs glanced at her but she was lost in her thoughts, looking at into the distance. "Buying a cabin in the middle of nowhere and going off the grid?"

Chibs mulled it over, thinking back over his colourful past. He doubted he could cut himself off form everyone, he loved the club and the sense of family it gave him. Especially when his real family was so out of reach. He didn't want to think about Fiona right now, he did his best to never think of her if he could help it. Likewise for his time before the States, to be honest.

He realised he'd been sitting in brooding silence for too long and she was peering at him curiously. He shrugged one shoulder, not wanting to get into his feelings right now… or ever. He climbed to his feet, reaching out a hand to pull her from the chair.

"It's cold, let's go to bed."

She smiled at him prettily, letting him take her hand and lift her to her feet. Naomi had volunteered to take the smaller bedroom to allow Cameron more space to recover from his wound, it had never been mentioned but was clearly understood that Chibs would share with her. He was regretting letting her be so generous as he eyed the rickety old bed that looked barely big enough for both of them.

"Here." She handed him a pile of fresh sheets with a smirk. "Make yourself useful."

He glared at her but she avoided his eyes, slipping the fresh sheet onto the bed with ease. She tossed him the pillows and ordered him to slip the cases on as she continued with the bed. The domestic familiarity was jarring for him, watching her make up their bed as if they were a real couple with the possibility of a real future.

"Why are you staring at me?"

He blinked, startled back to reality, and he tossed the pillows onto the bed. Her eyebrows were raised as she eyed him suspiciously, her arms folded over her chest defensively. He slid her a saucy smirk and she flushed.

"You make me horny."

She cocked her head to the side, clearly not buying his lame attempt at changing the subject.

"Making a bed?"

Chibs bared his teeth in a wolfish grin, launching himself onto the bed so suddenly that she squeaked in surprise and staggered back a step. He caught her around the waist and hauled her against him. She struggled against him half-heartedly as he littered her neck with open-mouthed kisses. He knew he was being sneaky, distracting her from any serious conversation, but he didn't have the heart tonight. He tugged her shirt over her head and tossed it over his shoulder, nipping at her exposed flesh teasingly. He unbuttoned her shorts while she was distracted, pushing them down her thighs until they slid to the ground.

"You're so fucking gorgeous, lass." He rumbled, leaning back just far enough to admire her, standing naked apart from the tiniest wisp of silk between her legs.

"And you're changing the subject." She purred demurely, peering down at him challengingly.

He took her back into his arms again, running his rough palms over her naked back and arms, revelling in the feel of her smooth warm skin and how it prickled with goosebumps when he touched it.

"You think I'm lyin'?"

She tilted her head so her eyes glimmered beneath her long lashes.

"Certainly not." She reached between them and stroked her fingers over the noticeable bulge in his jeans. "But you are trying to distract me."

He forced himself to keep a straight face as she palmed him boldly, staring him right in the face and daring him to lie to her.

"Maybe I am." He admitted, pulling her tighter against him so her warm pliant body brushed his.

"Maybe I'll let you." She gave him a little squeeze and he shuddered. "For now."


The cabin had no curtains so they were woken at dawn by blinding light beaming directly into their faces. Naomi groaned and burrowed deeper into the blankets. She was just drifting off to sleep again when Cameron started crashing around in the kitchen next door, whistling to himself.

"Fucking men." She hissed uncharitably, hauling the blankets over her head completely and curling into a ball.

"You are not a morning person." Chibs chortled in amusement, poking the lump tauntingly.

She grumbled something unintelligible and curled in on herself even more. They had spent a good couple of hours last night making out and heavy petting, but both of them had been too tired to do anything more. Therefore she still had her underwear on and he tucked a finger into the band and let it snap against her skin teasingly.

"Stop it." She snapped moodily, but she did uncurl her body a little.

"Make me." Chibs taunted, pinging her underwear again until she wriggled.

"You're so childish."

He laughed out loud, grabbing the blankets and whipping them off the bed. He tossed them away so she couldn't reach them as she cursed him out, loudly and creatively. She made to climb out of the bed and he grabbed her by the waist and yanked her back. Rolling onto his back, he took her with him so she was stretched along his body. She wriggled unmercifully but he held her steady until she stopped.

"What are you doing?" She said sulkily.

"Making it a good morning." He rumbled into her ear and he felt her shudder pleasantly against the entire length of his body.

"What-" She broke off abruptly as his hand slid under the thin material of her underwear.

He toyed with her for a while, pushing all the right buttons until she was panting. Right when she thought she couldn't take anymore, he stunned her by climbing out of the bed and putting her daintily on her feet. She gaped at him in amazement, her hair wild and her chest heaving.

"Get dressed." He ordered, scrubbing his hands over his face and sauntering towards the bathroom.

"Scottish… what the fuck?"

He eyed her, glowering at him in outrage like a little dragon. He had to bite back a laugh at the look of murder on her face.

"I have plans for us today, so get dressed."

He had the sense to close the door behind him as a picture frame shattered against it.

"What are you up to?" She questioned suspiciously as he led her deeper into the trees.

Chibs shot her a wolfish grin, squeezing her hand briefly where their fingers were interlocked. She vaguely wondered if he was about to kill her out here in the middle of nowhere, drop her body off a cliff or something, but she dismissed the thought quickly. If they had wanted her dead there had been hundreds of opportunities before now. She followed him trustingly, her boots crunching on the undergrowth and the faintest breeze lifting her skirt and playing with her hair.

Eventually they reached a little clearing. It was a little grove hidden among the trees and she watched in bemusement as he spread out a blanket on the ground. He removed a bottle of liquor from the bag he'd been carrying, placing it on the blanket with a couple of cushions he'd clearly snatched from the sofa on their way out. She stared at him as he worked, her belly dissolving at the sweet picture. It was crude but thoughtful and she fought the urge to gush at him, which she knew he'd hate.

"Sit." He ordered, pointing at the blanket and she sank down obediently into the nest of cushions.

He knelt down before her, lifting one booted foot after the other and stripping her boots and socks from her feet. He pulled his own off, lining them up beside hers just beyond the blanket. He opened the bottle and took a swig and she felt a pulse of desire, it was the same liquor they'd shared the night of their argument. He handed her the bottle and she took a gulp, the heat rushing straight to her head. It was still early and they hadn't eaten yet, after all.

"This is sweet, Scottish." She said gently, tipping her head back so the sun filtering through the trees played over her face.

They sat in amicable silence, passing the bottle between them until she was pleasantly buzzed. She lay back against the pillows, tipsy enough to ignore the ground poking her from beneath the blanket.

"Hey, Chibs."

He made a non-committal noise in his throat that said he was listening and she grinned.

"Guess what."

He made the same noise, turning his head to look at her curiously. She took the hem of her skirt in her hands and teased it up her thighs, watching his eyes immediately focus on the bare skin emerging. Higher and higher she pulled the dress, inch by excruciatingly slow inch until she could see the impatient flush burning up his neck as he watched.

"I didn't pack that thong." She murmured, finally lifting the skirt to her hips to show that there was no underwear band beneath it.

He shot her a dark heated look that gave her goosebumps. He carefully put the bottle to one side and then rolled over on top of her. He peppered her face, neck and chest with scratchy kisses, working his way down over her ribs and her navel. He put a hand on each bare thigh and nudged them apart, exposing her fully to the open air. She let out a little gasp of shock at the sudden rush of air on her sensitive skin. He teased her with kisses all over her thighs, letting his beard scratch her soft skin and occasionally nipping with his teeth.

"Chibs…" She breathed faintly, completely lost to the sensation of being so openly exposed.

He blew a gentle breath on her and her breathing hitched, her thighs quivering. When he finally settled his mouth on her, she let out a little squeak of shock, her fingers clutching at the blanket beneath her. He toyed with her for a while, his hands on her thighs keeping her firmly place as she squirmed happily under his tongue. Eventually she begged him to stop, ordering him to remove his jeans right that second.

He grinned as he stripped, the sight of her sprawled so wantonly beneath him, her legs spread apart and her dress hiked to her waist, her cheeks a brilliant red and her hair wild and tumbling, something he would never forget. He sank into her with a groan, luxuriating in the feel of her around him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her familiar scent as she ran her tongue along the line of his throat. He rocked into her slowly, teasingly, propping himself up on his elbows so he could watch her beneath him. Her hips rose to meet his, her hands in his hair. Fucking hell he was pretty sure he loved this girl. He pushed himself up onto his knees, taking her with him as he went. She willingly allowed herself to be handled, completely in his control for the moment. She coiled her legs around him as he spread his knees a little to get his balance. She undulated her hips, taking control of the pace. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They were eye to eye, as physically close as it was possible to be as she rocked up and down. When she came she let out a deep guttural groan, her head falling back.

"Look at me." He ordered, surprised at himself but knowing he absolutely had to look her in the eye in that moment.

She struggled to obey him but finally managed it, regaining eye contact. Her pupils were completely blown from her orgasm, the lovely flush she always had painting her neck red. She continued to move her hips, her fingers clutching his hair tightly.

"Chibs." She breathed helplessly and he knew she was close again already.

He shifted his hips a fraction, changing the angle inside her for a split second and she uttered a half-sob, clenching down on him and quivering wildly. This time her head fell forwards and their foreheads were touching as he joined her, his hands digging painfully into her hips so she knew she'd have bruises later.

He was exhausted, she practically fell away from him and back onto the blanket with her chest rising and falling rapidly. He threw himself down beside her, panting furiously as he fought to catch his breath. He glanced across at her and their eyes met for a second before they both looked away.

Whatever had just happened had been far more intimate than any of the fucking they'd done before. A barrier had been broken between them. He flung an arm out across her belly and she laid both her hands on it, faintly stroking the tattoos he had there. He glanced at her again, she had a faint shy smile on her face as she stared up at the trees above them. He turned away. Fuck.