Jax was not in the best of moods as he pulled back into the TM lot. Waking up to Tara knocking on his door and finding Jess gone, then the whole mess with Ima… it hadn't been the best of mornings.

'But it had been one hell of a night,' he thought to himself, recalling his late night with Jess. He swung his leg off his bike, looking over to see Lux chasing Abel around the playground and smiled. If anything could put him in a better mood, it was his kid. He watched Abel shriek with glee, the late afternoon sun reflecting off of his light hair, as Lux finally caught him, wrapping her arms around him and lifting him high in the air. Jax walked through the gate of the playground as Abel wriggled out of Lux's grip, running to the swings.

"Push me!" he hollered at his aunt, who laughed and ran to do his bidding as Jax took a seat on the bench.

"Look, daddy!" Abel yelled and Jax lifted his chin up, smiling at his son.

"I'm watching," he said as Abel pumped his feet back and forth as he had been taught. He looked proudly back at Jax for affirmation, "Good job, buddy!" Abel smiled broadly before dragging his feet along the ground to stop himself and hopped off the swing to run up the slide. Lux laughed, shaking her head at him as she took a seat next to Jax on the bench.

"So…" Lux said, eyeing Jax excitedly. He looked over at her, waiting for her to say what she was gonna say. He knew his sister well enough to know it was coming," You like Jess, huh?" she blurted, acting like the kid sister she'd always been to him. Jax rolled his eyes, glancing sideways at Lux.

"Yeah, I was thinkin' of askin' her to the prom," he said sarcastically, "Thought I'd get a tux, rent a limo, whole 9." Lux grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, avoid the question," she said, "It's cool, I know you do even if you don't tell me. You took her on the roof."

"That wasn't a big deal," Jax told her.

"You don't take anyone on the roof," Lux says, "You don't even like me going up there."

"That's because you're annoying," Jax said, causing Lux's smile to widen. She shook her head.

"Say what you want – I know you care about her. I can tell," Lux said, never one to be deterred. Jax shrugged, turning back to watch Abel run around the playground before climbing up the ladder to the slide.

Truthfully, he didn't know how he felt about Jess. He knew she was fun and sexy and a breath of fresh air from the crow eaters that had infested his life since he and Tara split. He knew that in the small amount of time he'd spent with her, he'd been happier than he'd been in a long time and it had felt easy. He knew that last night had changed things and that he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her all day, but his life was too complicated for a relationship. His failed relationship with Tara was proof of that.

"It doesn't matter, anyway," Jax finally responded, "She thinks we're a bunch of mechanics who sit around and talk about bikes."

"So?" Lux said.

"So, if we got closer… if she knew more… she wouldn't be able to handle it, Lux," Jax said. Lux sighed, frowning as she eyed her brother.

"I don't think you're giving her much credit," she told him, but Jax just shrugged, "Look, I get that Tara couldn't handle your life and now you think it's a hopeless cause, but it's not, Jax. You deserve to be happy, and you deserve someone who will make you happy, whether it's Jess or someone else. But don't close yourself off to the possibility just because you've been hurt."

Jax pursed his lips but didn't respond, instead continuing to stare at the playground watching Abel. It was irritating sometimes how alike Lux and Gemma were – how they both had the uncanny ability to know exactly what he was thinking and use it as justification to interfere with his life as much as possible.

"It's really none of your business," he finally replied, knowing that it was a hopeless cause. To Lux, anything was her business if she wanted it to be. She just rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head as she turned back to Abel.

"Hey, Abel! Come here!" she called. Abel glanced up and ran over to them, looking at his aunt expectantly.

"Do you like Jess?" Lux asked, grinning. Jax sighed, turning his face to the sky.

"Who?" Abel asked.

"I'll give you a cookie if you say yes," Lux whispered in his ear.

"Yes!" Abel screamed and Lux beamed at Jax.

"See, he's got no problem admitting it," she said. Jax couldn't help but chuckle at her. As interfering as she was, he still loved his little sister.

"You know you have to give him a cookie now, right?" Jax asked and Lux laughed, nodding.

"Yeah, yeah, hey your daddy'll get you the cookie," Lux said, ruffling Abel's hair. Jax scowled at Lux, who shrugged innocently as Abel looked at Jax with excitement.

"Alright kid, we'll get a cookie," Jax said, standing up and picking Abel up. He walked out of the gate of the playground just as Gemma walked in.

"What are you two up to?" she asked, kissing Abel on the cheek.

"He's getting a cookie," Jax said, "Blame Lux." Gemma raised her eyebrows as they walked off to the clubhouse and she turned to look at Lux.

"Well what are you up to?" she asked.

"Trying to get Jax to stop being stupid," Lux replied, "I'm about to go over to Jess's to make sure she's okay."

"Oh, I'll come with you," Gemma stated quickly. Lux narrowed her eyes at her mom.

"Why?" she asked slowly. Gemma shrugged.

"Do I need a reason to want to spend some time with you?" she asked. Lux rolled her eyes.

"You just want to pump Jess for information," she said, "Well I can tell you, if she's as stubborn and stupid as Jax, she won't give you much." Gemma shrugged as she followed Lux out of the gate, closing it behind them.

SOASOASOASOASOA

Gemma pulled up to Rose's house, Lux in the passenger seat. It was a small two bedroom just off the main road, but even from the outside it seemed cozy. Gemma looked up at the house, pushing her sunglasses onto her head as she and Lux stepped out of the car.

"What'd you say Jess's Aunt's name was?" Gemma asked as they walked to the door.

"Rose," Lux repeated, "Rose Tyler." Gemma nodded, feeling as if the name sounded familiar but couldn't quite place where she knew it from. Lux knocked on the door and stepped back as she heard movement inside before the door opened and Rose looked out at them.

"Hey, Rose," Lux said, walking in before being invited, Gemma following, "Jess around?" Rose nodded.

"She's in her room," she said. Lux nodded as she walked to the back of the house, leaving Gemma with Rose in the kitchen. Lux was on a mission, and she didn't need Gemma there interfering.

Jess was lying on her stomach on her bed listening to her iPod when she heard the tell-tale signs of a Lux intrusion. She glanced up as Lux said "Knock knock" and smiled as her friend walked into the room.

"Hey," Jess said sitting up as Lux made her way to the bed. Most of the room was piled in boxes that Lux had to maneuver around before she finally managed to take a seat next to Jess on the bed.

"I just wanted to check on you, make sure you didn't have any PTSD after this morning," Lux said, worry creasing her forehead. Jess shrugged, shaking her head. Having a gun pulled on her for the first time in her life first thing in the morning definitely shook her up, but after several cups of decaf and a Xanax raided from Rose's medicine cabinet, she was feeling much better.

"I'm fine," she said. Lux nodded, but still looked worried.

"You didn't change your mind about moving in did you?" she asked. Jess shook her head.

"No," she said, "I mean… I thought about it, but it's not your fault Ima's a crazy bitch. You just have to promise that no guns will get pulled on me again when I'm sleep deprived and hung over." Lux grinned.

"Deal," she said, "And by deal I mean… I'll do what I can." Jess laughed.

"Fair enough," she said. Lux grinned, crossing her legs as she looked at Jess excitedly, which always made Jess nervous.

"Ok then," she said, "Now that my mom's not around… did you and Jax really just talk all night?" Jess hesitated, finally giving Lux a short nod.

"I mean… we did… other stuff, too," she said awkwardly. As much as Lux insisted she wanted to know, talking about her brother with her still felt a little weird, "But we did a lot of talking." She glanced at Lux, hoping that answer would satiate her, but she should've known better.

"So… do you like him?" Lux finally asked. Jess shrugged, glancing down at her lap as she fiddled with her iPod.

The short answer, Jess had discovered, was yes. She did like him, or as much as she could for not having known him very long. To deny the effect he had on her would be idiotic. Palms sweating, heart racing, blood rushing to her head. However, the long answer was much more complicated than that. Part of her was terrified of Jax. She knew he wasn't like any other man she'd ever met, and that if she was going to do this with him, it would be entirely by his rules. She also knew his well-deserved reputation and she had a feeling she didn't affect him the same way he affected her.

"I'm really not trying to read too much into anything," Jess finally said, afraid to let too much out, "We just had a fun night and I'm leaving it at that."

"Ohhh. So you do like him," Lux said, grinning broadly. Jess rolled her eyes.

"You're ridiculous," she said. Lux was quiet for a moment, looking at Jess, before she finally spoke again.

"I think he likes you, too," she said, watching Jess carefully and smiling in satisfaction as she saw the blush creep into her cheeks. Part of Jess wanted to be 16 again and jump for joy at the possibility. Another part of her was scared of getting her hopes up in case Lux was wrong.

"Lux…" Jess said warningly, "Stop."

"Don't worry," Lux said, ignoring her, "I'll find out for sure." Jess' eyes widened as she slowly shook her head back and forth.

"Oh my God, Lux, we are not in high school. I don't need you to go asking him to check the box yes or no," Jess said firmly.

"Don't you want to know?" Lux asked.

"Not like that!" Jess yelled.

"Whatever."

"I'm serious!"

"Okay."

"You're still going to talk to him aren't you?"

"Oh yeah, of course."

Jess rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she looked at Lux.

SOASOASOASOASOA

Rose smiled awkwardly at Gemma as Lux ran off to Jess' room, leaving the two alone. She motioned to the living room and they walked inside, taking a seat on the couch. Rose glanced at Gemma nervously, flashbacks of her nights at the clubhouse so many years ago flooding back when Gemma ruled the place with an iron fist. She was still just as intimidating now as she was then. Rose shifted slightly in her seat, wondering why she was there.

Gemma looked at Rose curiously, trying to place her face, but she still couldn't remember. She shook her head slightly, trying to refocus on why she was there. She knew next to nothing about Jess, apart from that she was a waitress with Lux at Cara Cara and she lived with her aunt who, from what Lux had told her, was her only family. But she knew she wasn't the only one who felt the connection between Jax and Jess that morning at the clubhouse, and her first instinct was that this might be just what he needed. But as was her usual way, she needed more information before she could decide.

"So it's been a long time," Rose finally said after several moments of silence.

"Mmmhmmm," Gemma said, still trying to remember where she knew Rose from. Rose chuckled.

"You probably don't even remember me," she said. Gemma cocked her head slightly.

"Did you used to hang out at the clubhouse?" she finally guessed, smiling as Rose nodded.

"Yeah, with my sister, Daisy," Rose said. Dawning recognition fell over Gemma as she nodded.

"Ahh Daisy," Gemma replied, "I do remember Daisy."

"Yeah, she's a hard one to forget," Rose said. Gemma nodded, smiling at Rose.

"Well, Lux is very excited that Jess is moving in," Gemma finally said and Rose nodded, smiling, "I'm just sorry I haven't gotten more of a chance to know her. I mean, I don't even think I know where she's from or what brought her to Charming."

"Well she grew up in Santa Barbara," Rose said, "I finally talked her into moving up here to Charming. I wanted her to be closer to me and I knew she wasn't too happy in Santa Barbara. Things seem to be going great for her here, so far." Gemma nodded.

"Lux tells me you're the only family she's got around, anymore," Gemma said, "It's so great you two are so close. Family is so important." Rose nodded, a sad look in her eye.

"Yes, I'm really glad I was able to find her," she said. Gemma's brow creased briefly in confusion.

"Find her?" Gemma repeated. Rose nodded.

"She grew up in the foster care system," she explained.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Gemma said, "Well in that case, I hope she'll be sticking around Charming for a long time." She looked expectantly at Rose and could tell by Rose's expression she'd finally pushed her luck.

"Gemma, if you've got something to ask, just ask," Rose said, finally remembering that this was her house and not the clubhouse, and Gemma was not in charge here, "No need beating around the bush." Gemma smiled as kindly as she could, shrugging her shoulders innocently.

"I'm just trying to get an idea of what kind of girl she is," she said, "Seeing as how she's going to be Lux's roommate now."

"Well, she's a good girl," Rose replied, "Considering her childhood, I'd say she's a pretty amazing girl. But I don't think she'd like me sitting here telling stories to you about her, so if you want to know something, it might be best if you just ask her."

"I just want to make sure there's no skeletons in her closet that will affect my daughter," Gemma said. 'Or my son,' she thought to herself. Rose raised her eyebrows.

"I think I have a little more reason to worry about Jess moving in with Lux than you," Rose replied coolly, "And yet, you don't see me grilling you with questions about the girl's background."

Gemma smiled again, nodding in assent. She found she liked Rose, and if Jess was anything like her aunt, there might be hope for her yet. She wanted more than anything for Jax to find a great girl, someone to make him happy, someone to be there for him through thick and thin. Lord knew none of the girls prancing around the clubhouse on Friday nights would ever fit the bill. She didn't know yet if Jess had what it took, but she had a feeling that one way or another she'd be finding out soon enough and she didn't think Jax could take another heart break like his last. Though he was perfectly grown, she'd never stop looking out for him and Jess Tyler could turn out to be wonderful or she could turn out to be dangerous. Gemma wasn't willing to let time tell on that one.

SOASOASOASOA

Jess pulled into the parking spot next to Lux's in the space below her apartment, her car full of her boxes and a flurry of emotions coursing through her. On the one hand, she knew Rose was sad she was moving out, even though Jess repeatedly reminded her she wasn't going far and promised to come over often, but on the other hand, Jess was relieved to be living with a roommate she didn't have to check in with. She felt like living with Lux was the start of some new adventure she'd only just begun.

She smiled as she looked up at the red brick building. A black metal staircase on the side of the building lead to the top floor, which Clay had remodeled into the apartment, and the wall facing the TM lot had floor to ceiling windows, outside of which was a balcony. Jess finally stepped out of the car, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head as she climbed the staircase and walked inside.

She had expected Tig, Juice, and maybe Jax to come over and help, but it seemed as if half the club had shown up for moving day. Opie, Phil, Miles, and the prospect, Rat, had also turned up for the festivities and everyone was standing around the living room and the kitchen, most with beers in their hands. They all turned when she walked in and she smiled at them all.

"You're here!" Lux said excitedly, bouncing up to Jess and hugging her tightly. Jess laughed and hugged her back.

"I don't have that much stuff, you know," Jess said, motioning to the crowd in the living room. Lux shrugged.

"What can I say, they were all only too eager to help," she said, "I told you, them's my hoes."

"Actually, she pulled the Gemma card on all of us," Opie corrected. Jess spotted Jax leaning against the kitchen counter next to Opie and felt her face heat as she caught his eye, smiling.

"Tomato, tomahto," Lux replied airily to Opie, "There are boxes waiting to be brought up."

"Furniture's here, too," Juice called, glancing out the window to see the large truck pulling in.

Half an hour later, her new bed and dresser lay in pieces on her new bedroom floor as Juice and Tig worked to put it together while the others carried the boxes up from her car. Jess walked into the bedroom to see Juice and Tig putting the finishing touches on her bed and grinned.

"You guys are the best," she said, opening one of the boxes that contained her sheets and comforter.

"No problem," Juice said, grinning and wiping his hands together, "I think that's it then." Jess nodded as Tig and Juice walked out of her bedroom as she threw her sheets and comforter on, smiling. It was starting to feel like home already. She walked back into the living room to see everyone congregated and saw Opie walking through the door with another box in his hands.

"Where do you want it?" Opie asked her. She pointed back to the bedroom.

"Just anywhere in there," she said and Opie nodded, "Was that the last of it?"

"I think so," Opie said as he walked towards her bedroom, "You might want to double check, though." Jess nodded as she walked towards the door, grinning as she saw Jax follow her downstairs. She glanced in the car and the trunk to find that all the boxes had been carried up and Jess leaned into the passenger seat, pulling out a large manila folder from the glove compartment, before standing back up again.

"Well I guess that's everything," she said.

"What's in the folder?" Jax asked. Jess glanced down at the folder in her hands, smiling sadly.

"My entire childhood," she said grimly. Jax nodded, but didn't pry any further, to Jess' relief.

"I guess there's just one last thing to bring up then," he said. She cocked an eyebrow at him, tilting her head in confusion.

"What's that?" she asked. He grinned playfully as he lifted her up, throwing her over his shoulder.

"Jax!" Jess squealed, laughing as he walked her up the stairs, through the living room and past everyone before turning into her bedroom. He laid her down gently on the bed, leaning over her. She looked up at him, smiling in anticipation as he leaned down further, kissing her. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck as the kiss grew more intense. Jax moved over her, lying on top of her before her head finally cleared and she put her hands on his chest, pushing him slightly away. He lifted his head.

"What?" he asked.

"There's a room full of people outside," she reminded him. He shrugged.

"They won't mind," he said, grinning. She laughed.

"The door is open," she said.

"Doors can be closed," he replied.

"Jax…" Jess said warningly. He shrugged, rolling off of her.

"It was worth a shot," he said, grinning as he waited for her to stand. She laughed as he slung an arm around her shoulder, leading her back into the living room.

Author's Note: Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reviewed! We cannot tell you how much your feedback helps, not to mention makes us smile :) Please continue to let us know what you thought!