Author's note - Guys! Thank you all so much for your stellar reviews for the last chapter! I was a bit worried it may not be that popular so I love that you guys are still enjoying the story.

I was going to wait on posting this chapter but since you've all been reading, following and reviewing I thought it'd be nice to publish this one a bit ahead of schedule!

Please continue to read and review and I will keep it coming!

The next day, a Saturday, Ana woke up at around 11am after finally going to bed at about 3, having tossed and turned the whole night while Mark slept in the living room. Throughout the night she couldn't help replay Angel's words in her head over and over again and wonder if he was actually right.

Had she lost herself in this relationship with Mark? Why hadn't she gone into teaching or social services like she always planned? At what point did she decide being the girlfriend of a lawyer was enough for her?

Annoyed that Angel had gotten to her, Ana jumped out of bed and started getting dressed for work. She went through her closet and finally found her black cargo pants and a black singlet to wear before putting on her black combat boots.

Looking in the mirror she couldn't help but laugh, she looked as angry as she felt. All black and not a pop of colour. Rummaging through her drawers she found a red fishnet tee to throw over her singlet. Sure, it wasn't much better but at least it was something. Realizing she was going to be late for opening the bar, Ana ran to the bathroom and did her morning routine, brushing her teeth and hair, her dark curls framing her exotic face perfectly before she applied some foundation and a touch of mascara. She had a 12-hour shift and wasn't set to finish until midnight, which meant she needed to prepared for a long night.

Walking out of the room and heading for the door, she was stopped by Mark, dressed in jeans and a simple white t-shirt, his defined body on display. If she wasn't still so angry at him she'd be ready to jump him then and there.

"Morning babe…" her boyfriend began, not sure what Ana's reaction would be.

'Um…morning." Ana asked, not really in the mood for a rehash of last night.

Sensing her mood, Mark decided he needed to assert himself, "You off to work? I'll drive you!"

"Oh no, it's fine I have a long shift. It's better if I just drive myself," Ana said, grabbing the keys to her car. Normally she wouldn't hesitate to take Mark up on his offer, but after the events of last night she just wanted some space. She knew he meant well but that didn't change the outcome of the evening.

"Come on babe, I'm not going to see you until what?" Mark paused, looking at his watch, "1am at the earliest? At which point you're going to be completely spent. Let me drop you off and you can just call me to pick you up whenever you're ready," he insisted.

Realising it was simply easier to agree than fight, Ana gave up and threw Mark the keys and headed for the door.

Chasing after her, Mark opened the door to the passenger side for her before jumping into the driver's seat, trying whatever he could to elicit a genuine smile from her lips.

For most of the ride to the bar Ana remained silent, until she let five simple words out that let Mark know where he stood.

"I'm still mad at you."

His heart sinking, Mark realised this was going to take more than a few flirtatious comments or sweet moments and that he'd really screwed up by jumping the gun. In hindsight, he figured he should've known better than to insert himself into Ana's relationship with EZ and Angel. Mark had been with Ana since they were 23, and now at 28, five years later he still hadn't gotten remotely close to understanding her bond with the brothers or how to penetrate it.

"I know babe. And I get it, I really do. I shouldn't have been the one to say something to EZ and Angel. I'm sorry… it's just, you gotta know how it is for me. I'm so excited about it!" Mark said slowly, careful not to say the wrong thing.

As Mark turned into the parking lot of the bar and stopped the car, Ana decided it was time for her to share her own feelings no matter how hard it may be. Turning her head towards him, Ana looked at her boyfriend eye-to-eye before finally saying what she'd been struggling to say for months now. "Mark. You know I love you… adore you actually," she began, worried about framing the next few words in a way that'll make it hard to come back from.

"But this move, it's not something I've honestly taken seriously. It's always been a 'what if' to me. And you know what that's my fault, thinking it was just a dream for you when for as long as I've known you I've known what your actual plans have been. But you telling EZ and Angel last night, it made it real. And if I'm being honest, it's making me look at this from a whole new angle and I'm taking it seriously now. But that means I'm not going to just follow you like that… there's a lot keeping me here," Ana spilled out, relieved to finally have that weight off her shoulders. But the minute she took a good look at Mark she regretted it. He looked like he'd just been punched in the gut.

"So what, EZ and Angel – fuck not even EZ the guy who has been in prison for 8 years and would have more of a reason to be angry – but Angel has a fucking tantrum and you now start thinking you don't even want to go?" Mark spat, in a matter of seconds his world had come crashing down and he wasn't sure how to build it back up.

"That's not what happened Mark!" Ana said before he cut her off.

"Well what did happen then Ana?! Because before last night you'd never once mentioned you had reservations. And now, now what you wanna do long distance? Wanna do 6 months here 6 months there, what?" Mark said staring daggers at Ana who was avoiding eye contact.

After a long pause, the next words Mark uttered absolutely terrified him. "What… what you wanna break up?" He asked, his voice cracking as he did so.

"What? Mark, no! Of course, not… that isn't even on my list of options okay? That will not happen! I'm just saying that I need time to think about what is best for ME," Ana explained, heartbroken that Mark thought she would so easily call it quits. Moving towards him, Ana cupped his cheek in her hand before bringing his lips to hers for a long kiss. Whispering "I love you, and I'll call you when my shift is over. Please don't worry," Ana jumped out of the car before the conversation could get any more intense and left her in tears. Walking away from the car, Ana took a final look at Mark before he drove off.

It was about 11:30 that night and the El Toro was as busy as ever. Ana had been running the bar all night while training the new bartender, a pretty blonde named Ellie who had just moved to town.

She was helping her fix some shots for some regulars when she heard Ellie – who was a flirtatious and outgoing 24-year-old – whistle softly in the direction of the entrance. Wondering who had caught her eye, Ana saw Angel walk through the door in his signature look: his Mayans cut over a sleeveless flannel (seriously does he just cut the sleeves off? Ana thought), showing off his toned and tatted arms, baggy jeans and biker gloves. Behind him were fellow Mayans Gilly and Coco, two more regulars to the El Toro who Ana personally adored.

"You know him?" Ellie asked Ana curiously, a hint of envy in her eyes.

"Who?" Ana asked, unsure which MC member caught Ellie's eye. It seemed around here everyone had a different preference of bad boy biker and Ana could never keep up. Having grown up around enough violence and danger to last a lifetime, Ana wanted something more stable which is why she never found herself on the back of one of those bikes, at least not as someones old lady.

"Um tall, dark and handsome duh?" Ellie said loudly, not caring if she was heard. "Seriously, who is he, he is gorgeous!" She continued, catching Ana off guard.

Looking over at Angel, who had finally spotted her, "Oh, Angel? He's an old friend, older brother of my best friend actually. And that's Coco and Gilly behind him."

"Angel huh? Fitting name," Ellie said cheekily, making no effort to hide her attraction to him as he came up to the bar with his two brothers.

"Ana! My girl how you been?" Coco, said. The Mayan was usually sarcastic and aloof at the best of times, but he always loved seeing his favourite bartender. Partly because she was always fun to joke around with, and partly because he knew how much Angel liked her and seeing his brother turn into a puppy dog in her presence was too good too believe.

"Coco! I've been alright, You?" Ana responded with a genuine smile, before asking Gilly the same question. Not even making eye contact with Angel, who was currently having what appeared to be a very friendly conversation with her new bartender.

"Eh not too bad you know. Same old same old. Hey when you gonna come round the club again for poker night? I gotta win my 500 back," Coco asked, reminding Ana of a few months ago when Angel convinced her to come round and hang with the guys and she ended up a little bit richer. Mark though was quite livid when he found out she'd spent the night at an MC's clubhouse.

Hearing the end of the conversation, Angel decided to chime in and turn away from Ellie who was batting her eyelashes at him in a flurry. "Nah she's too good for us homes, moving to DC and all," Angel said, confusing Gilly and Coco.

Gilly spoke first, "What the fucks he talking about Ana?" Coco remained silent, only nodding at Ana as Gilly spoke, waiting for an answer.

"Well it seems Ana's boy scout boyfriend is moving up in the world, and taking Ana along with him," Angel answered for her, causing Gilly and Coco to look back at her with a mix of disappointment and confusion.

Rolling her eyes, Ana was now ten times more furious at Angel. Not only did he walk into the bar she manages, not say hello and proceed to flirt with her newest bartender (she was betting he'd sleep with her by the end of the night like he did the last two, who ended up quitting because he was such a manwhore and never paid them any attention again), but now he'd gone and spilled the very unofficial beans to Gilly and Coco. Who, while not two of the closest people in her life, were close enough to make her feel bad.

"Angel… I swear to god I am going to choke you if you don't shut up," Ana said in response, glaring at the biker.

"That a threat or a promise mi dulce?" Angel responded, a smirk playing on his lips as he saw Ana become visibly irritated. Angel normally tried to keep his flirty comments with Ana to a minimum for several reasons. One: she never thought he was actually serious and two: it hurt every time she looked at him like he was crazy for even suggesting they could do something remotely physical.

But tonight, she looked like a biker's dream. Dressed in all black from head to toe apart that red fishnet shirt, Ana's body was on full display, even if she didn't intend it to be. Angel thought she had to have the most perfect physique in the world, curvy in all the right places with toned legs, a tight ass, flat stomach and the perfect breasts for her size. Angel didn't understand how she was real. Her black hair was currently pulled back into a high bun and she was wearing minimal makeup but she never needed much. She had full lips and big brown eyes you could get lost in, and Angel often did.

Ready to legitimately lose her shit in front of all her customers, Ana realised it was time for her to go. Walking to the back of the bar and into the office, she let Adam, the owner know she was done for the night before swiftly walking back outside and getting ready to call Mark to pick her up.

As she started collecting her things from under the bar, Ana watched as Ellie continued to try and get Angel's attention as she grabbed Coco and Gilly a beer each.

Noticing out of the corner of his eye that Ana was getting ready to leave, Angel pulled himself away from the hot blonde who's name he'd already forgotten and his brothers. Walking over to meet her at the edge of the bar, Angel leaned against the counter waiting for her to address him.

"Yes?" she said, looking up from under the bar, her irritation clear.

"Heading off so soon?" Angel asked, Ana noticed his eyebrows arched up in the way they do when he asks a question or is confused.

"I've been here since open. My shift is done. I'm calling Mark to come get me and then I'll be leaving and you can flirt with all the bartenders you want without me spoiling your game and telling them what a commitment-phobe you are," Ana said sarcastically, trying to keep the conversation enough on Angel that he won't push her about last night.

But she should know better than to think Angel would let her off that easy.

Grabbing her phone from her hand before she could call Mark, Angel moved back down the bar as a frustrated Ana tried to grab it back.

"Angel, what are you doing?" She asked, exhausted.

"Come have a drink with me before you go." Was all the biker said, holding Ana's phone up just out of reach for the short and petite raven-haired girl glaring back at him.

"Angel, I'm serious. I am tired as all hell and I just want to get home. Give me my phone," she said, unaware of Coco, Gilly and Ellie watching the two bicker. The two biker's were placing bets on how long it took for Ana to smack Angel upside the head. Gilly thought he had about 2 minutes left, Coco thought a bit longer.

"Okay, so… one drink and then I'll give you a ride home," Angel said before continuing after noticing Ana's eyeroll, "Oh come on sweetheart, maybe I'll even throw in an apology for last night…" Angel said softly, not wanting to say it loud enough for his brothers to hear.

"I'm sorry what was that," Ana perked up, a reluctant smile emerging on her face. "Big bad Angel is going to say sorry?" She said, loud and clear for the boys to hear, earning a chuckle from the two.

Now it was Angel's turn to be irritated. "That a yes?" He asked, his eyebrows arched up yet again as he turned his head sideways as if he hadn't heard her.

"Fine… one drink." Ana said, jumping up to grab her phone from Angel's hand before walking over to an empty table and leaving Angel to grab them drinks.

After having grabbed two beers from Ellie, who continued to observe the two from the bar, Angel now sat across from Ana. The pair were currently sitting in silence, Ana leaning on the table, her arms crossed and tucked under her chin as she stared up at the biker.

She looked exhausted. Exhausted, but still beautiful, Angel thought.

Annoyed at his staring, Ana was the first one to speak. She sat up and took a sip of her beer before asking, "So what do you want to say?"

Chuckling, Angel knew what Ana wanted him to say. But what she wanted him to say and what he wanted to say were two very different things.

"Honestly? I don't know Ana. I just know I do need to apologize for pissing you off last night."

"Oh really?" Ana asked, genuinely shocked that it was that easy.

Noticing her reaction, Angel was quick to clarify, holding a finger up to stop her from continuing.

"Not about what I said… but about how I said it okay? I realise there is a time and place, and that was not it. And I should've heard you out. Before just, just jumping to conclusions," Angel finally said, stuttering the end of the apology out as he tried to avoid Ana's piercing gaze.

Ana was completely dumbfounded. On one hand, she was annoyed at Angel essentially saying 'I'm sorry I upset you', but on the other she also knows the biker has too much pride to give a complete apology. He'd done a lot to piss her off over the years, and not once did he ever utter a 'sorry'. Man, EZ must have really ripped him a new one. I've got to thank him when I see him next, Ana thought.

Realising if she was going to move past Mark's behaviour from the night before, Ana needed to forgive Angel too. Even if he was out of line.

"…Well, not the best apology I've ever gotten but I'll take," she replied sarcastically, causing Angel to roll his own eyes now as he took a sip of his beer.

"Good because you know I hate it when you're mad at me," he said honestly, staring directly into her eyes and letting Ana see what most people never saw in Angel. His vulnerability.

"And yet you continue to piss me off,' Ana joked, breaking the tension.

Chuckling, Angel decided it was time to keep the conversation serious. EZ was quick to tell him last night that whatever the hell his problem was with Ana possibly moving, he needed to sort it out now. And while he won't give EZ the satisfaction of hearing it, he knew his little brother was right.

"Seriously though," Angel began, clearing his throat. "I just, I just…" he continued, finding himself at a loss for words.

"Just what Angel?" Ana asked, one hand perched under chin as she looked at him questioningly. It was in moments like these, when Ana and Angel were just sitting together talking, her hair up in a messy bun, her eyes a little foggy because of how tired she was that were some of Angel's favourites.

He was never good at expressing his emotions, to anyone. Only person he could ever really talk to was his mom, his dad was too busy making sure EZ had the proper teachings with school and sports that he never paid a second look to Angel.

But with Ana something was different, when she let her guard down around him – which wasn't often lately – Ana made Angel feel like he could trust her with his life. She could look at him with no judgement and put everything into perspective.

Growing up he'd spent much of his time flirting with her once she was 16 and gorgeous, and he suspected she never took him seriously because he was EZ's big bro and figured he was just playing, and at the time he was.

But as they both got older, Ana became a constant for Angel. When their mom died she was there, when EZ was arrested she was there to pick up the pieces and make sure Angel wasn't alone, going with him the first time he visited EZ in Stockton. She always made sure to check in on him when no one else did. She also made sure to give Angel the wakeup calls he often needed, being his conscious when things got a bit too crazy.

He remembers when he first told her he was prospecting for the club, and her complete shock. Angel always knew she disapproved of the MC life, but he never thought it would divide them. He remembers how close they were right before he joined, he really thought they had a shot at being something more. But it was as if the minute Ana knew about Angel being in the MC, she shut down on him.

Snapping back to reality, Angel decided if there was ever a time to get real with Ana it was now. It was the first time they'd been alone in months after all.

Clearing his throat, Angel looked back at the only girl who ever had his heart. "You gotta know that, for us. Fuck, for me, hearing you could be leaving… I feel like we just got the gang back together you know? EZ is finally back and now you wanna go?" Angel said honestly, his hands now bundled together on the table.

Closing her eyes, Ana breathed a sigh of relief. She was getting honest, raw and heartfelt Angel. Her favourite. Not 'I just want to swear and piss you off as much as possible Angel'.

"Angel, I don't know how many times I have to tell you… but I honestly have not decided. Trust me when I say this: this town, EZ, your dad. You. It's all too important for me to just up and leave. It would never be that simple for me," Ana said.

"If we're being honest, I think I've pulled away in the last few months because I knew this was coming. Having to tell you. And you were right last night Angel. You might just know me better than EZ, at least better in some ways and I was scared of what you'd say."

After a pause between the two, she decided to continue.

"And if we're apologizing. Then I'm sorry about losing it at EZ for prospecting. I don't want you to think that his safety is more important to me than yours. The truth is, I still remember vividly you telling me you were joining the MC and that fear I had. Every time I see you wear that cut Angel I get worried because I know it means. You put yourself in the line of fire. I get what the club means to you and I love that it gives you that sense of family. I don't want you to think that my dislike for the club is about anything other than the fact that I worry about you. Even if I don't say it Angel. I do," Ana admitted, grabbing Angel's hand in hers in the middle of the table and giving it a hard squeeze. For the first time in a long time she was laying her heart out for Angel, letting him in just enough that he thought maybe his feelings weren't completely one-sided, maybe Ana just wasn't as in touch with hers as he was.

Not knowing what else there was to say, the pair simply stayed in place for what felt like an eternity until Ana pulled away, much to Angel's disappointment.

"Listen Angel, I'm really glad we could talk. But I am exhausted, I really should call Mark to come pick me up," Ana explained, reaching for her phone.

"No don't. Your place is on the way for me, let me give you a ride home."

"You sure?" Ana asked, not wanting to impose. It was late but she suspected the night was just starting for Angel.

"Yeah of course, come on let's go," Angel said, getting out of his seat and helping an exhausted Ana up.

"Okay… thank you," She said warmly, before the pair said goodbye to Ellie, Coco and Gilly, the two bikers clearly trying to one-up each other in front of the new biker.

Walking outside, Angel made it over to his bike first, grabbing his spare helmet and turning around to place it on Ana's head. Chuckling, Ana couldn't remember the last time she was on the back of Angel's bike. What a strange thing, to be so close to someone, but also have so much distance between each other.

Now mere inches apart as he tightened the helmet to be safely on her head, Angel couldn't help but smile at Ana, who was clearly delirious from exhaustion.

"Come on, let's get you home," Angel said, getting on the bike before Ana, who wrapped her arms and leaned into him as if it were the easiest thing in the world. She fits like a glove, he couldn't help thinking. Having her arms wrapped around him was the most intimate experience he'd had in a long time. Sure, he'd had sex with girls recently, but truly intimate moments? No. Being close to Ana was something else.

Once Ana was comfortable, Angel started his bike and rode off, feeling at ease on the road with the woman he loved wrapped around him. He wasn't sure when he'd get to experience a moment like this again, and he didn't want it to end. When he finally drove into Ana's driveway he reluctantly got off the bike with her, helping her take off the helmet.

"Thanks for the ride Angel. And the talk… I missed talking with you," Ana said, somewhat shyly. Her hair was now a complete mess, with strands of it covering her eyes. Pushing the hair out of her face, Angel leaned in only a fraction of an inch closer, not wanting to shock her.

He just wanted to be close to her and this was possibly the closest he'd ever been to her face before. Leaning down to meet her eyes, Ana was staring back up with him with an unknown look on her face, as if she was searching for something, trying to figure him out. They stood there just staring at each other, nothing more and nothing less, Angel's 6'3 frame towering over her, before they heard the front door of her house open and Ana jumped back.

Angel looked up to see Mark glaring at him while Ana turned around to face him. "Mark, babe you're still up! Angel came by the bar… I figured it was just easier for him to give me a ride home," Ana explained, Mark clearly not happy to see the biker.

Walking closer to them, Mark finally spoke. "Yeah I see… well thanks for bringing my girl home Angel. Ana? Let's go inside yeah?" the lawyer asked, his eyes never leaving Angel's as he made his way back to the door, waiting for Ana to follow him inside.

"Wow, real great guy you have there," Angel whispered dryly, just loud enough for Ana to hear, staring back at her with his eyes wide open in a mock expression.

Rolling her eyes, Ana only pulled Angel into a tight unexpected hug. "Don't ruin a good night Angel. Thank you," she said as she held him, before pulling away.

Walking away, Ana didn't look back until she was just about to enter her house, but Angel was still standing there, leaning against his bike in her driveway staring back at the woman, and the man she loved glaring back at him.

Author's note - Okay guys! Chapter 4 done and dusted. Please please please let me know what you thought! I wanted to do an Angel and Ana centric chapter but I also didn't want to give too much away because what's the point in that this early right?

So let me know if you want more and what of specifically and I'll try make it happen. Please please read and review guys, it honestly makes my day seeing that email notification :)