Author's Note: Sorry sorry sorry sorry for taking so long to update! Between moving to a different city this past weekend and 5 different interviews to prepare for between this week and last, I completely forgot when Sunday came and went. So lots of apologies and without further ado I'll let you get to reading :)

The credits of the movie began to roll on the screen but Jess barely noticed, concentrating more on the feel of Jax's lips brushing down her neck. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she held him close as he kissed her, wishing they could stay like that. As the DVD ran out and the screen turned blue, Jess sighed and Jax lifted his head, looking down at her.

"What?" he asked, grinning. Jess smiled back at him, shaking her head.

"We've gotta go to Lux's party," Jess reminded him and Jax breathed deeply, nodding.

"Yeah, we do," he agreed, leaning in to kiss her again before standing up. Jess followed his lead and they walked out of the apartment and across the street to Teller-Morrow. The music caused the pavement to pulsate beneath their feet and they finally walked inside the clubhouse to see Lux dancing on the bar while Tig stood under her, handing her shots. Jess shook her head, smiling at the sight of Lux laughing as she tried to pull Tig on top of the bar. It had been ages since she'd seen Lux genuinely laugh.

Jax steered her toward the couches on the other side of the room and he sat down, pulling her onto his lap and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She turned to watch Tig handing Lux a bottle of champagne and she shook it before popping the cork, spraying the drink over everyone standing nearby.

"So when are you gonna get up on the bar and dance with Lux?" Jax asked teasingly. Jess rolled her eyes, turning back to look at him.

"You wish," she said. He grinned at her, his expression full of amusement, and she shook her head.

"I'm kidding," he said.

"Yeah, you're a real riot, Teller," she said, kissing him lightly on the lips, "Sorry I'm not as exciting as your sister."

"Thank God for that," he replied, "I couldn't handle another Lux." Jess grinned, throwing her leg over him to straddle him as she kissed him again, his hands clutching her back.

"I think you could handle anything," she whispered.

"Yeah you go on thinkin' that, darlin'," he said quietly before kissing her again. She smiled, wishing they were not currently in a room full of people and were back up at her completely empty apartment, preferably naked….

"Jess?" Jax said and Jess shook her head, snapping back to the present.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Just making sure you were still with me," he replied grinning. She shook her head, leaning forward to take his earlobe between her teeth.

"I want to be with you somewhere else," she whispered.

"I think we've been here long enough," Jax said, his voice heavy as he gripped her ass in his hands, standing up and throwing her easily over his shoulder. Jess laughed as he carried her out of the clubhouse and back to her apartment.

SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA

Jess woke up the next day wrapped in Jax's arms, smiling as she glanced up at him. She watched as he stirred, slowly opening his eyes to glance down at her watching him.

"Don't do that," he said sleepily and she laughed, kissing him.

"But you're so cute when you're sleeping," she murmured. He snorted, shaking his head as his arms tightened around her. They eventually crawled out of bed and Jess grabbed a robe hanging on the bathroom door, wrapping it around her while Jax threw on a pair of sweatpants and they walked into the living room.

Jess flipped the coffee pot on, waiting a few minutes before pouring two mugs and handing one to Jax before they walked out onto the balcony.

"So I've been meaning to ask you," Jax started after they'd taken a seat on the balcony. Jess looked over at him expectantly, "Any idea what's happening with Cara Cara?" Jess bit her lip guiltily, flicking her eyes away from Jax.

"So you heard?" she finally asked. He shook his head.

"I didn't hear anything," he said, "Especially not from you." Jess sighed, clutching the warm mug in her hands as she looked back at Jax. She was thankful he didn't look angry.

"I should've told you," she said, "I just… I didn't even want to think about it, to be honest." Jax nodded, taking a sip of his coffee as he continued to look at her.

"So what all did Luann leave you?" he finally asked.

"She left me everything," Jess responded and Jax's eyebrows shot up.

"So that's what, a couple million?" he asked. Jess shrugged.

"If I rebuild Cara Cara, I'll have a couple hundred thousand," she said. She took a deep breath, her heart racing as she was finally about to broach the question she'd wanted to ask him for so long. She smiled at him hopefully before she continued, "But if I don't… if I don't rebuild I'd have the insurance money. It'd be enough for us to live comfortably for a really long time. Somewhere... away from all the danger. With Abel." Jax sighed, reaching over to grasp her hand in his and her heart sank at his expression.

"Jess…" he began, "Don't think I've never thought about leaving. There was awhile where I was doing anything I could to get out. But I can't now… I'm president now. I can't just leave the club … or my family." Jess sighed, nodding her head as she leaned back in her chair.

"Yeah, Otto said you'd say that," she mumbled, "I just don't know what to do."

"I'm not gonna pressure you into rebuilding. Obviously I want you to and I hope you do, but it's up to you. We'll figure something else out if we can't use the club to clean up our money," Jax told her. Jess nodded, looking back at him.

"I'll let you know soon," she said. Jax nodded as they both turned back to look out at the TM lot in front of them, falling into silence. Jax eventually looked back over at Jess.

"I gotta get over to TM," he said and Jess nodded as they stood, walking inside. Jax got dressed quickly before walking back into the living room, giving Jess a quick kiss good bye.

"You call me if you need to go anywhere," he said and Jess nodded.

"I know the drill," she said. Jax nodded, reaching to cup her cheek in his palm.

"I know," he said, "I just want to make sure you know that just because we managed to get Lux off doesn't mean the threat's not still out there." Jess nodded at him and he kissed her again before turning and walking outside. She turned back to see Lux stumble out of her room looking like hell, but in a cheerful mood.

"Hey," Lux said, making her way to the coffee pot and pouring a mug.

"How're you feeling?" Jess asked, grinning. Lux shook her head.

"Like shit," she said, "And I've gotta find a job today." Jess raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Why?" she asked.

"My savings is seriously depleted and dad's not real willing to do me a lot of favors right now. He's still pissed about Tig and the whole coke thing. He's actually threatened to start charging me rent," Lux shuddered, rolling her eyes.

"Where are you looking?" Jess asked.

"Probably swing by Georgie's and see if he's got any openings," Lux said, shrugging, "He's been more than happy to take on most of the other Cara Cara girls."

"Georgie's?" Jess asked, searching her brain for where the name sounded familiar, "Georgie Caruso's club?" She remembered Luann briefly mentioning him, and it hadn't been in the most flattering context. Lux nodded.

"Yeah, I know I know, it's a shit hole. It's where most of the Cara Cara girls went, though. The money's not as great, but it's still better than I'd get anywhere else," she said. Jess nodded, frowning. It hadn't really occurred to her all the people put out of work with the destruction of Cara Cara. She'd been so focused on Luann's murder and the frame job on Lux, she hadn't given a second thought to the girls she'd been in charge of.

"Well, you want me to go with you?" Jess asked, wanting to see this place for herself, "I don't have anything else to do today."

"Sure," Lux responded.

SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA

Jess and Lux drove down to the opposite side of town from the ruins of Cara Cara to the outskirts of Lodi as the prosect, Vi Lin, followed closely behind on his bike. Lux flashed her turn signal before turning into a grimy looking parking lot on which sat an even grimier yet nondescript looking building. A large billboard standing tall next to the building flashed the word 'GEORGIE'S' on top of advertisements for NUDE, NUDE, NUDE and $3 you-call-it Tuesdays. Jess grimaced as Lux pulled into a parking space in front and they both stepped out of the car.

"You cannot work here," Jess told Lux as she stood next to the car staring at the building. Lux rolled her eyes.

"It's a strip club," Lux reminded her, "Just like Cara Cara."

"Cara Cara was not like this," Jess muttered as Lux turned to Lin.

"You can wait out here," Lux told him. Lin looked hesitant but finally relented and the girls walked towards the door. Jess hesitated at the door, finding herself not wanting to touch the handle, and Lux sighed, reaching in front of her and swinging the door open.

"Come on," Lux told her and Jess reluctantly followed her inside. It was dimly lit and cavernous inside and Jess's first impression was that the girls on the stage were nowhere near Cara Cara caliber. Drugs had obviously taken a huge toll on the girl currently on the main stage and her eyes looked out of focus, her face miserable. Georgie must have thought Christmas had come early when her girls had had to come here.

Lux looked around, finally spotting a chubby looking guy with short hair that accented his receding hairline wearing a horrible mismatched brown suit. She pointed him out to Jess.

"That's Georgie," she said, "I'm going to go talk to him." Jess nodded, watching Lux walk away as Jess turned to walk around the club. Several of the waitresses she recognized from Cara Cara, but none seemed happy to see her. One of them, Sasha, walked up to her as soon as she spotted her.

"What are you doing here?" Sasha asked.

"Lux is looking for a job," Jess replied.

"Why?" Sasha asked, and Jess could hear a hint of panic in her voice, "Isn't Cara Cara going to be open again soon?" Jess gazed back at her desperate face before flicking her eyes around the room.

"I'm not sure," Jess finally replied, "The details aren't really settled yet."

"Well can you please hurry?" Sasha asked, "This place is a nightmare. Tell Lux she's better off anywhere else. Especially when I know she doesn't need the money."

"What makes it so bad?" Jess asked, wondering if she wanted the question answered.

"Georgie's an asshole," Sasha spat bitterly, "His clients might be even worse. Sure there was the bad egg at Cara Cara, but Luann knew how to deal with shit like that. Georgie's bouncers don't care about the girls at all. They're here to watch Georgie's back and that's that. He expects… more… from us, too, if you get my drift."

"More?" Jess asked, confused. Sasha shrugged.

"Even the waitresses have to get on their knees every now and then," she said quietly, "If they want to keep their jobs." Jess's eyes widened. Not only was messing around with clients on work time not expected at Cara Cara, it had been forbidden. Luann had made sure Jess knew that at her very first interview.

"Well… I'll definitely let you know when Cara Cara is back up and running," Jess said, not having the heart to tell her that time may be never. Sasha nodded.

"Just hurry, alright?" she said, "We all want to come back as soon as we can." Jess nodded as Lux walked up to them, her face unsmiling.

"Well, I got a job," Lux said and Jess felt her heart wrench slightly, shaking her head as she followed Lux out of the building.

"Sasha says Georgie makes even the waitresses fool around with the guys," Jess told her as they stepped into the sunshine.

"He tries that with me and he'll get my knee in his balls," Lux retorted, "And then he'll get Tig's bullet in his brain. Georgie knows who I am. He knows better than to try that shit with me. Besides, we both know this is only temporary."

"Lux…" Jess said tentatively, "I'm not sure if I'm going to rebuild." Lux waved her hand dismissively.

"Of course you are," she said as they climbed into the car. Lux pulled out of the lot, Lin once again following closely behind. They sat in silence for most of the way before Jess finally spoke up.

"I talked with Rosen last week," she said. Lux didn't respond, but Jess could tell she was listening, "About how it would work. Cashing in the insurance while the Sons are partners. How long it would take. What we'd have to do." Lux still didn't respond and Jess sighed, leaning back against the chair until Lux finally answered her.

"So what? You're just gonna dump Jax and me and everyone else and disappear again?" she asked, "We're your family. That makes no sense. What makes you think you'd be happier somewhere else alone than here with us?"

"I got shot, Lux!" Jess said, "Luann got murdered. You almost went down for it."

"Yeah, I remember," Lux responded sarcastically, "I was there."

"And things aren't over," Jess said, "Something really bad is going to happen. I can feel it."

"We'll deal with that if it does," Lux said, "But just because you move doesn't mean things are going to be great all the time. Bad things happen outside of Charming, too." Jess sighed, shaking her head.

"Not like this," she muttered. Lux pulled into their parking space and jumped out, slamming the door behind her as she took off up the stairs to the apartment. Jess remained in the car for several minutes, sighing. She had expected Lux to be angry. She just hadn't expected to feel so bad about it.

She had thought that rebuilding Cara Cara was her decision alone, and that the decision would mostly only affect her. It would be slightly inconvenient to the Sons, but they'd be able to work around it. And it wasn't like she'd never be back to visit. But Jax… it was a fairly new relationship and already over the course of it the worst things in her life had happened. They weren't his fault, of course, and she didn't blame him in the slightest. But being close to the club meant putting herself in constant danger. Was Jax worth that? When Jess had a way to get away from it all?

She sighed, more confused than she'd ever been before. She wished with all her heart that she could talk to Luann. Luann would know what to do. A lump in her throat rose as she thought about her step mother and a deep sadness that she hadn't felt in weeks rushed over her, suffocating her. She felt the sudden need to be close to her.

Jess finally stepped out of the car to see Lin still standing by his bike, waiting for her. Jess smiled at him as she turned to act like she was walking up the stairs. She needed time alone to think, and alone meant no loitering prospects hovering over her.

"I'm going upstairs," she told Lin, "You can go back to the clubhouse now." Lin nodded but didn't move, clearly waiting on her to actually walk up the stairs and into the apartment. Jess sighed as she walked up to the apartment and then through the door and across the living room out onto the balcony. She watched Lin walking across the street and then through the TM lot before she turned and walked back towards the front door.

"Where are you going?" Lux asked, still clearly angry with Jess as she stepped out of her room to see Jess with her hand on the door knob.

"Out," Jess replied simply before walking through the door and hurrying back downstairs and to her car. She drove the short distance to the cemetery and found Luann's grave quickly, stepping out of her car as she walked toward the headstone with Luann's name written across it. She sat down in front of it, running her fingertip over the name and the short epitaph: "Loving wife and mother."

"Oh, mom," Jess whispered, tears stinging her eyes, "You'd know what to do. Why didn't you take one of the guys with you? Why didn't you screen your security guards more closely? Why didn't you live? I need you now." She felt the sobs choking her throat and was unable to speak for a moment.

"Would you have married Otto if you knew it was only going to lead to heart break and eventually your murder?" Jess whispered as she stared at the headstone. She thought about Luann's face when she talked about Otto. The love she felt for him had been etched in every corner of her expression and Jess knew that Luann would not have changed a thing. That if she had had the foresight to know that Otto would go to prison for life, leaving Luann alone to eventually be killed, that she would do it all over again for the short amount of time she had gotten to spend with Otto.

But did Jess feel that way about Jax? She felt more for him than she'd ever felt for any man before, but did she have that kind of love and devotion in her heart for him? She wasn't sure, and because she wasn't sure she felt that the answer was probably no. At least, not yet. If she stayed she knew she would only fall harder and harder for Jax, and it would become impossible to leave. Like Luann.

If Jess was going to leave, it would have to be now. Before it became unbearable to be separated from Jax. Before the next time Jess was shot and she wasn't able to walk away from it. Before someone else Jess loved was murdered. Simply being here in Charming at the cemetery alone was dangerous. Jess knew it. She knew it'd been stupid and selfish to go off on her own. How much longer could she live like that?

But could she walk away from everything she had here? She'd found a sister in Lux, a family in the club, and not to mention Rose. Would Rose ask her to stay, after all the danger Jess had been through? Or would she tell her to collect the millions in insurance money and go? Jess couldn't know until she asked her. She stood, taking one last look at Luann's grave as she dusted off her jeans before she headed back to her car.

SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA

Jax sat at the bar at the clubhouse going through some of the new data Juice had given him on Zobelle while he sipped on a beer, not retaining much of the information he was reading. He had been distracted all day by his and Jess's conversation earlier that day and he couldn't help the gnawing fear growing inside of him that she'd decide to leave Charming.

He would have done almost anything for her that she asked him to, but he knew that one request she'd made of him – to go with her – was impossible. But if she left, he didn't know if he'd be able to take it. He also knew it couldn't be him that asked her to stay, especially since part of him knew the best thing for her would be to leave.

His rage towards Zobelle increased. He was already responsible for nearly killing Jess. Now that she had survived, if he was responsible for driving her out of town… Jax didn't know what Zobelle hoped to accomplish with this new vendetta, but something told him it wasn't all about selling guns to black. Whatever it was, he had made a powerful enemy in Jax and he wasn't planning on stopping until Zobelle was very, very dead.

"So I talked to Rosen today." Jax turned his head to see Gemma sitting down next to him looking somber.

"Yeah," Jax said uninterestedly. Gemma nodded.

"He told me Jess came in to see him last week," she said. Jax looked over at her. She'd gotten his attention, "He said she's been asking about how to cash in on the insurance." Jax remained expressionless as he looked back at Gemma. So Jess had already made steps to leave before she'd talked to him about it. Had she been that confident that he'd go with her or had she not even cared?

"It looks like she's planning on leaving," Gemma said.

"Yeah, I know," he said, "We've talked about it." He didn't mention that that morning was the first he'd heard about it.

"And?" Gemma asked. Jax shrugged, turning back to his beer.

"And stay out of it," Jax told her, "It's her decision what to do with that money."

"Jax," Gemma started but Jax stood angrily from the bar, grabbing the file on Zobelle lying on the counter before walking into the chapel and digging his prepay out of his pocket. He dialed Jess's number as he dumped the file on the table, frowning as it went to voicemail. He hit redial with the same outcome. He dialed Lin's number, who he knew was supposed to be with Jess, and heard a phone ring behind the doors in the clubhouse. His eyes narrowed as he walked through the chapel door to see Lin sitting on the couch, reaching for his phone that was sitting on the table. Jax hadn't noticed him come back.

"Where's Jess?" Jax asked. Lin looked up at him in mid-reach.

"She's at the apartment," he replied.

"No she's not," Jax heard his sister say and glanced over to see her sitting with Tig in the corner of the room.

"What do you mean she's not at the apartment?" Jax asked, a new kind of fear gripping him. Lux shrugged.

"She said she was going out," she said.

"And you didn't stop her!?" Jax asked, his voice full of anger as he hit redial on his phone again, begging Jess to answer.

"I figured Lin was going with her," Lux said, shrugging.

"And you didn't think to tell anyone when you saw that he was here?" Jax asked.

"I'm sure she's fine, Jax," Lux said placatingly as Jess's voicemail once again picked up.

"Well as long as you're sure!" Jax yelled at her, storming outside as he once again hit redial.

SOASOASOASOASOASOASOASOA

Jess walked into Rose's house to find her watching TV in the living room. She glanced up, smiling, as Jess walked in and flipped the TV off.

"Hey!" she said as Jess walked into the living room, giving Rose a small smile as she sat next to her on the couch.

"Uh oh," Rose said, taking in Jess's conflicted expression, "What's wrong?" Jess sighed, shaking her head.

"I'm trying to decide whether or not to have Cara Cara rebuilt," she said.

"And if you don't?" Rose asked.

"If I don't, I'd have millions. I could go anywhere I want. Get away from the threats here," Jess said, gazing back at Rose. Rose nodded, looking thoughtfully back at Jess.

"I'm not gonna lie and say I'm happy with everything that's happened to you," she said, "I feel like a lot of it is my fault since I'm the one who wanted you to move up here so bad." Jess started to try and argue with her, but Rose put a hand up to continue talking, "I want you to stay here, obviously, for my own selfish reasons. But I also want you to get as far away from Charming as you can. I had no idea you'd be in so much danger here. But I don't really know if running from danger is better than living in it if it means you have to separate yourself from everyone that makes your life worth living in the first place."

"When'd you get so smart?" Jess asked, giving Rose a small smile. Rose was right, of course. Jess had been completely safe in Santa Barbara, but also completely miserable. The money wouldn't make her happy. Jax made her happy. Lux made her happy. Rose made her happy. And all the guys in the club – her family – made her happy.

There was a sharp banging on the door and Jess glanced at it guiltily.

"Who do you think that is?" Rose asked curiously, beginning to stand up to answer it. Jess put a hand on Rose's arm.

"It's Jax," she said, sighing, "I'll get it. He's pissed."

"How do you know that?" Rose asked.

"I can tell by his knock," Jess muttered as she stood to walk towards the door, "I'm not technically supposed to be out without a babysitter."

"JESSICA TYLER!" Jess jumped as she turned to look at Rose, who was standing with her hands on her hips, "That boy tells you not be anywhere on your own you don't go anywhere on your own!"

"Thank you!" Jess heard Jax shout from behind the door and Jess sighed, finally opening the door to see Jax standing there, fuming.

"What the fuck were you thinking!?" he shouted. Jess took one last glance back at Rose, who was still looking furious, before turning back towards Jax and walking outside, shutting the door behind her. She crossed her arms across her chest as she looked back at Jax, but the anger on his face was gone, replaced by relief. He grabbed her, pulling her into his body and she uncrossed her arms, wrapping them around him.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I just needed to think and I didn't want prospects hovering." Jax sighed, running his hands through her hair.

"I get that it's suffocating having someone around all the time," he said, "But there's a lot of people around here, especially me, who would be devastated if something happened to you. It's my job to keep you safe and I can't do that if you go and sneak off." Jess felt tears brimming her eyes as she nodded into his chest. She stepped back to wipe her eyes as she looked up at him.

"I know," she said, "I won't do it again. I just… needed to figure things out." Jax nodded.

"And did you?" he asked. She gave him a small smile, nodding.

"Yeah," she said, "I'm gonna rebuild Cara Cara. I'm staying in Charming." Jax's face broke out in a broad grin as he wrapped his arms around her again, kissing her deeply. She knew right then that she had been wrong about it not being too late to leave Jax behind. She was definitely already in way too deep.

They broke apart and she looked up at his face, certain of only one thing: that without fully realizing it she had fallen completely in love with him. She opened her mouth to say the words but closed it quickly. She'd never said those words to a man before and found she couldn't get them out, so she just smiled up at him. Someday she'd tell him and she could only hope that he felt the same way.

Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter! Please let us know what you thought by leaving a review!