Jess taped up the last box, surveying the room at Rose's she'd been living in the past few months. All it had taken was several boxes and two suitcases to erase any evidence that she'd ever been there. Her Aunt stood in the doorway, looking in.

"That didn't take long," Rose commented with a sad smile.

"I travel light," Jess told her. It was a habit she'd picked up quickly after moving from place to place as a kid in the system. The less she owned, the less she had to pack.

"Promise you'll come visit me?" Rose asked, a slight anxiousness in her voice.

"Of course," Jess said, hugging her Aunt tightly, "I'm only moving like a mile away. I'll be here so much you'll be sick of me." Rose nodded, her smile much more believable. Her eyes turned to the workout clothes Jess was wearing.

"I thought you had plans tonight?" she said.

"I do. I'm gonna go for a run first though, clear my head," Jess told her.

"I don't think I'll ever understand exercise as stress relief. Cupcakes. Now those are stress relief," Rose told her matter-of-factly. Jess laughed.

"Cupcakes are still stress relief, too," She assured her before walking out the door.

SOASOASOA

Halfway through her run, Jess had worked up a good sweat and was feeling good. She glanced at her watch and picked the pace up slightly so that she would have plenty of time to get ready before she met Lux for the party at the clubhouse. She frowned as the music in her headphones started to be drowned out by the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle, her heart rate picking up annoyingly as it had been prone to doing every time she heard the familiar roar since meeting Jax. She reminded herself that there were plenty of people in Charming who rode motorcycles and her luck couldn't be that terrible that Jax would ride by when she looked like a sweaty mess. She turned her head slightly to catch a glimpse of the driver and cursed as he pulled up next to her.

"Shit," she muttered, seeing Jax's grinning face and running her hands through her hair in a hopeless attempt of looking halfway decent. She'd had a grand plan of seeing him that night, dressed to the nines and smoking hot; not covered in sweat and panting.

"What are you doing?" He asked her as she pulled the earbuds out of her ear and came to a stop. She narrowed her eyes at his question as she held her breath, hoping to control her breathing and not pant like a dog.

"Running?" She told him with a questioning look.

"Why?" He asked, looking amused.

"I like to," She told him, shrugging as he looked at her like she was crazy.

"Fair enough," He told her. He hated to run, preferring weight lifting and boxing to stay in shape, but if running made her ass look like that, he wasn't going to discourage it, "Lux tell you about the party tonight?"

"Yes," She told him, grinning and not volunteering any other information. She knew why he was asking, but she still wanted to hear him say it.

He narrowed his eyes, before finally asking, "Well, are you going?"

"Yeah, I was planning on it," She said with a smirk, "You?"

"I've got some shit to take care of first, but I'll be there. I'll look for you," He told her with that panty dropping smile that had worked so well on her a few nights ago before revving his engine, waving goodbye as he drove away.

Jess waited until he was out of sight before putting her hands on her knees, panting heavily. He told her that he'd look for her. That meant something right? That meant that he was actively going to seek her out. But then she reminded herself that sleeping with Jax had been a one-time thing and she wouldn't be doing herself any favors indulging in this particular crush.

SOASOASOA

Jess looked herself over in the mirror, debating on changing her outfit for the fifth time. The jeans and strappy top she was wearing did make her ass and boobs look great and were clearly the more comfortable option, but the little black dress she had was much more 'sex goddess'. Jess noticed her Aunt walk in and turned to face her.

"Which one?" She asked motioning to the outfit she was wearing before holding the dress up.

"For a SAMCRO party? Definitely the jeans," Rose told her, sitting on the bed, "Your mom and I always laughed at the girls who wore the over the top dresses, said they looked desperate."

"You went to parties at the clubhouse?" Jess asked in slight disbelief.

"Oh yeah, they were the only place to hang out at that wasn't the church social or a scummy bar," Rose told her, reminiscing, "I wasn't there as much as Daisy, she practically lived there at one time, but I went enough. But that was all before you were born, of course."

Jess giggled finding it difficult to picture her schoolteacher Aunt as a wild biker girl. She sat on the bed next to Rose, grinning broadly.

"Did you ever… you know? With any of them?" Jess asked between giggles, her morbid curiosity getting the best of her. Rose smiled slyly, looking down as she noticeably blushed.

"A lady never tells," She murmured as Jess laughed louder.

"Aunt Rose!" Jess said in disbelief, "Who?!" she demanded.

"I never said I did anything!" Rose insisted, "Though if Robert is still around, you could give him my regards."

"Robert?" Jess muttered before placing the name, "BOBBY?!" She yelled, wrinkling her nose.

"He was much better looking back then!" Rose insisted. "He wasn't so…" She trailed off, as she pulled her shirt out, blowing her cheeks out to symbolize Bobby's round frame, "Anyway, he was a very sweet man. Used to call me Rosebud," Rose remembered fondly.

"Oh my God," Jess said her giggles dissolving, "I'll tell Bobby his Rosebud said hello." Rose laughed.

"Who else did you know that's still around?" Jess asked. Rose frowned as she thought.

"Well, I guess just Clay and Gemma, Piney, and Otto and Luann," she said. Jess raised her eyebrows.

"You never told me you knew Luann!" she said.

"Oh I didn't really know her," Rose told her, "She probably doesn't even remember me."

"Which one's Otto?" Jess asked. She'd gotten to know most of the members at least by name, but the name Otto didn't ring a bell.

"Oh that's Luann's husband," Rose told her, causing Jess's eyebrows to raise further.

"I didn't even know she was married," Jess said, still wondering why she hadn't met Otto, or at least seem him around Cara Cara at all.

"Oh, well, he's in prison. Been in for a while now," Rose told her.

"Oh," Jess responded, "For how much longer?"

"Forever," Rose said shrugging. Jess frowned, suddenly finding her heart aching for Luann.

"That sucks," she said lamely, "I guess that's why Luann doesn't talk about him."

"Yeah, probably so," Rose said, "Never seen two people more in love than them. But it seems like she's got a pretty good life going for herself." Jess nodded even though it was a statement she doubted either of them really believed. A successful business and nice things couldn't make up for being separated from the man you loved. She finally stood from the bed, kissing Rose on the cheek.

"Well I've got to go, don't wait up!" she said as she walked out of the door.

"You know I will!" Rose called to her retreating back.

"I know!" Jess called over her shoulder.

SOASOASOASOASOASOA

Jess pulled up to the clubhouse, a flood of nerves suddenly hitting her. She'd only ever seen the clubhouse in daylight when things always seemed much simpler. She had no idea what to expect of their parties. Tons of people were scattered around the lot, all laughing and drinking, and she made her way through the crowd. The door to the clubhouse opened just as she was about to reach for the door knob and Ima walked out, bumping into her. Ima backed up, looking annoyed until she saw it was Jess, at which time a sneer replaced her annoyance.

"Jess," she said unenthusiastically in greeting.

"Hey, Ima," Jess responded, sighing.

"Now don't go getting any stupid ideas about who you're going home with tonight," she said, leaning in towards Jess in what was clearly supposed to be a threatening manner.

"I don't have stupid ideas," Jess responded before walking past Ima and into the clubhouse.

She almost froze walking in, having never seen a scene like the one before her. Even working at a strip club for over a month had not prepared her for this. The music was blaring, all the girls were running around half naked, one on the stripper pole was completely naked, and she was pretty sure a guy was getting a blow job in the corner, but she didn't want to look too carefully. She took a deep breath, preparing herself, before making a beeline straight for the bar. Clay was leaning against it and looked over at her as she approached.

"So you're really moving in with Lux, huh?" he asked, having to raise his voice to be heard over the music, after Jess had gotten a whiskey and coke from the prospect manning the bar.

"Oh, yeah," Jess said, "I mean, if it's okay with you. I probably should have asked you first since it's your building." He smiled, shaking his head.

"No, it's definitely okay," he said, "Lux needs someone normal around her. You are normal right?" Jess shrugged.

"More normal that most of the girls at Cara Cara," she responded. Clay laughed, nodding in agreement.

"Well keep Lux out of trouble for me, will ya?" he asked.

"I'll try," Jess said grinning, surprised that it was Clay that made her start to relax in this environment, "But Lux kinda does what she wants." Clay nodded.

"Yeah, don't I know it," he replied.

"Speaking of, where is Lux?" Jess asked. Clay pointed to a table in the middle of the room where Lux sat with Tig, Juice, and Chibs.

"Thanks," Jess said before moving off and walking towards Lux's table.

"Jess! You're here!" Lux exclaimed, turning to Juice, who was sitting next to her, "Scoot over so Jess can sit down." Juice scooted his chair over, reaching back at the table behind them to grab an empty chair for Jess, which she took, thanking him.

"So are you still good to move in on Tuesday?" Lux asked. Jess nodded.

"Yeah, the furniture place is going to deliver my bedroom furniture in the morning but I'll need some help putting it together and getting my boxes upstairs," she said.

"Oh I'll help you," Lux said, "And by me, I mean them," she added, motioning to the guys at the table.

"Oh we will?" Tig asked while Juice and Chibs just looked at Lux with raised eyebrows.

"C'mon guys, don't make me tell my mother you don't want to help me," she said.

"There's no need to do anything rash," Chibs spoke up, grinning, "We'll help."

"I'll do anything to get out of work so I'll be there," Juice said, grinning.

"Thanks," Jess told them, "I really appreciate it." She glanced up as the conversation moved on, scanning the room while her brain told her to stop.

"Jax isn't here yet," Lux said, leaning towards her, grinning.

"I wasn't looking for Jax," Jess said quickly.

"Yeah… right," Lux said sarcastically.

"Ima already staked her claim on him anyway," Jess told her.

"Well then that settles it," Lux said, "Now you definitely have to do it."

"Do what?" Juice asked, leaning over.

"Nothing," Jess said at the same time Lux said, "Jax."

"I really don't want to get in the middle of whatever feud you and Ima have going on," Jess said to Lux. Lux shook her head, turning to Juice.

"I need you to do something for me," she said sweetly. Juice raised his eyebrows, looking hesitant.

"What?" he asked slowly.

"Keep Ima distracted," Lux told him, "Fuck her if you have to." Juice laughed.

"I think I can handle that," he said.

"Good," Lux said, "Now go – fulfill your mission." Juice shook his head, laughing, but rose from the table all the same and walked off, in search of Ima.

"There," Lux said to Jess, "Hurdle managed."

Jess shook her head but couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of the evening already. She glanced over at Tig who was sitting next to Lux and suddenly noticed how very close the two were to each other and that both of their hands were under the table. She looked questioningly at Lux but decided to file that away and ask Lux about it another day. She tossed back the rest of her drink, running to the bar to grab another before sitting back at the table next to Lux.

"Look who just walked in," Lux said after Jess had sat down and she looked up to see Jax walk in, looking sexy as always and slightly annoyed.

"He looks stressed," Lux commented as Jess nodded in agreement, "Maybe you should go relieve some of his tension."

"I'm not gonna go make myself look completely desperate," Jess told her, rolling her eyes. Lux shrugged.

"Why not? That's what all the other girls do," she said. Jess glanced around the room to see countless half naked girls literally throwing themselves at anyone with a patch and shook her head.

"Exactly," she said, "It was a one night stand. Emphasis on the one."

"Yeah," Lux scoffed, "Until it happens again."

Jess turned away from Lux to see Chibs rise from the table as she threw back the rest of second drink, which she could tell had been incredibly strong. Though, that was probably a good thing as she knew she was going to need to get a lot more drunk to make it through a party like this one.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" Jess asked Lux, already feeling the whiskey beginning to affect her, "I don't want to have to drive home." Lux exchanged glances with Tig before turning back to Jess.

"Uh yeah," Lux said, looking slightly disappointed, "Of course. Why wouldn't that be okay?" Jess cocked her head, looking strangely at her friend.

"Okay…" Jess said. Lux shrugged.

"I mean I'm just gonna be over there sleeping… by myself," Lux rattled, "It's not like anyone's gonna be climbing up the fire escape, through the guest room window and ravishing me all night…. Anymore."

"Ooookay," Jess said, smirking at her friend as she shook her head, "I don't even want to know. I'm gonna go call my aunt and let her know I won't be home tonight." Lux nodded as Jess rose, stopping by the bar to get another drink before walking out the side door beside the kitchen, thankful to get away from the noise, and not noticing Jax's eyes following her as she walked out the door.

After hanging up the phone with Rose, Jess sat on a picnic table just outside the door, relishing in the quiet as she pulled out her pack of cigarettes. She could still hear the muffled sounds of the party through the door and the hollers of party goers on the parking lot at the front of the clubhouse, but this spot was a nice break from all that. Describing this party as overwhelming would be an understatement; she'd never been to a party as crazy as the one going on inside and she definitely needed a few minutes to recoup.

She lit a cigarette, breathing in deeply, thinking to herself that she probably wouldn't get so winded on her runs if she could just fucking quit smoking, when a hand ran down the area of her shoulder blade covered in a tattoo and she jumped, startled out of her thoughts. She turned to see Jax standing behind her, grinning.

"Jesus, Jax," she said, "I think you just scared 10 years off my life!" He laughed, taking a seat next to her on top of the picnic table.

"Yeah, well those years suck anyway," He responded, offering the half empty whiskey bottle he held in his hands. Jess took it, taking a large swig before setting it on the table and Jax reached in his pocket, pulling a joint out.

"I like smoking it out here during parties because no one comes to this side of the building so I never have to share," he told her grinning.

"Are you gonna share with me?" Jess asked, smiling back.

"Yeah I guess I could do that," Jax said, grinning as he lit the joint. He took a long hit, handing it to her as he slowly exhaled.

"You wanna see my party trick?" Jess asked as she took a hit. Jax looked over at her, amused, and nodded as Jess blew out, forming several large smoke rings. They watched as they slowly disappeared and Jess turned proudly to Jax, who laughed.

"Very nice," he said and Jess grinned, wondering if the light headedness she was feeling was caused by the weed, all the whiskey she'd been drinking, or Jax. Either way, she knew she was halfway past drunk and on her way to high.

"So what does it mean?" Jax asked. Jess turned to look at him.

"What does what mean?" she asked, squinting one eye to try and stop seeing double.

"The tattoo," he said, motioning to the tattoo that from far away looked like a bar code running down her shoulder blade, but up close were a series of names.

"Oh, those are all the foster homes I lived in growing up," Jess explained.

"I didn't know you were adopted," Jax said, surprised.

"I wasn't," she said, grinning, "That's why I was in foster homes." Jax rolled his eyes, taking another hit off the joint and offering it to Jess, who took it.

"Smart ass," he said as he exhaled. Jess took a hit, looking down, her grin fading.

"Actually I was adopted," she said, "When I was a baby. But they died when I was 4." Jax raised his eyebrows but no one was more surprised at her words than Jess. She couldn't remember the last time she'd talked about her adoptive parents.

"You're fucking with me," he said. Jess shook her head, blowing the smoke out.

"No, I'm not," she said, "Car accident."

"How the hell are you not fucked up?" Jax asked her.

"Oh I am," Jess replied, the grin back on her face, "It's just next to Lux I look normal." Jax laughed.

"Next to Lux, Michael Jackson looks normal," he said, and Jess giggled.

"Next to Lux, Dennis Rodman looks normal," she replied, feeling the weed getting to her head as they both doubled over laughing.

"Next to Lux, Marilyn Manson looks normal," Jax said as Jess broke out into renewed a fit of giggles.

"Is this really that funny or is it the weed?" Jess asked, gasping for breath.

"I think it's really that funny," Jax responded, still laughing. Jess leaned against Jax, trying to get her breath back but she couldn't stop laughing. Everything was ridiculously funny to her just then and Jax seemed to be having similar issues.

"Stop! I can't laugh anymore," Jess said, "It hurts. I don't have rock hard abs like you." They both sat there like that until their giggles subsided and they both got their breath back.

"What were you doing out here anyway?" Jax asked her.

"I needed to call my aunt. And I needed to get away from all the craziness inside and away from Lux insisting I fuck you," Jess said, her eyes widening as the words fell from her mouth due to her current lack of inhibitions, "I… probably shouldn't have said that." Jax looked down at her, his eyes glinting with amusement as he slid off the picnic table, moving to stand between her legs, his hands running up and down her thighs.

"I think you should tell me more about that," he said, leaning over and kissing her. Jess felt her head get dizzy as his lips pressed against hers and she leaned toward him.

"Lux just wants to piss off Ima," Jess said as Jax moved his lips to her neck. Jess closed her eyes, leaning her neck back as she ran a hand through his hair.

"So that's why you want to fuck me?" Jax whispered in her ear before taking her earlobe between his teeth, causing Jess to moan.

"No, I want to fuck you because you're dead sexy," she murmured, throwing all caution to the wind. Her brain tried to remind her of all the reasons she had to not do this again, but her lust won out.

"Oh yeah?" Jax asked, his voice husky, before kissing her on the lips again.

"Mmmhmmm," Jess moaned into his kiss as Jax pushed her back on the table so she was lying down. He moved down her body, kissing her stomach as his fingers reached for the button of her jeans and reality crashed back onto Jess.

"Can we go inside?" she asked, her hand over his, stopping him from unbuttoning her jeans.

"Why?" he asked, looking down at her.

"I don't want anyone to come out and see," she said.

"Would going inside make you happy?" he asked.

"Yes," she said as Jax leaned over her and kissed her.

"If we go inside will you make me happy?" he murmured against her lips.

"I will make you so happy," Jess whispered.

"Let's go inside then," he said, standing up and grabbing her hand. Jess glanced at the nearly empty whiskey bottle Jax had brought out that was now sitting on the table before looking back up at Jax.

"You're not gonna get whiskey dick are you?" she asked. Jax raised his eyebrows, giving her a look that clearly said 'are you serious?'

"I don't have that problem," he told her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him, proving just how much he didn't have that problem.

"Just making sure," Jess giggled as he kissed her again.

"Darlin', you never have to worry about that," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the clubhouse. Jess passed by Lux on the way to the back.

"I don't need to stay with you after all!" Jess called to her. Lux beamed immediately, glancing at Tig, before dropping her grin and pretending to look upset.

"Oh, darn!" Lux said. Jess laughed as Jax pulled her around the corner, out of sight of the rest of the party.

Author's Note:Thanks SO much to everyone who reviewed and alerted the last chapter!
This chapter was the hardest one to write so far so we'd appreciate any feedback you might have! Next chapter will be a continuation of this night and again and your feedback will really help us be sure that we're on the right track!