Disclaimer: As in the previous 6 chapters; I do not own anything to do with SOA, it's production or casting. SOA belongs to Sutter and FX. Only Grainne/Romana is my creation.

A/N: I would really like some reviews – I have a load of people with this on alert, but I'm only getting one or two reviews if that. But, thank-you Yammy1983 and MissCrys for reviewing

Also, anything in italics is going to be a flashback

It had been another night to drive me to distraction – but work forced me to leave the bed. I wasn't the only one though, Romana had unhappily risen around ¾ of an hour before me. However, money was essential to survival and unfortunately to be in receipt of money one had to work. Yes, I did enjoy my job but I enjoyed Romana's 'company' far more and who could blame me? The woman was truly a goddess, it was the only plausible explanation as to how she could garner such a strong hold so quickly over individuals. That or I was far too easily charmed by a woman's graces. More than likely the latter, but that was going off my original point. Work – it had a habit of creeping up at the most irritating of moments.

"Mornin' Juice"

"Good morning Tig"

He looked at me for a moment, maybe a little confused as to why I was a good mood that morning. It took a few moments (I swear I could hear the cogs going round in his head) before it dropped into place and he started to grin like a manic (not hard to do, considering that it is Tig I'm talking about), tilted his head and raised his voice and let the whole damn world know.

"Juice got laid"

"Again?"

"Yep – come check out the idiots grin and perky mood if you don't believe me"

There was a general shuffling around and sure enough I was (we were – me and Tig that is) surrounded (well, it was more of a semi-circle) by a number of people. Jax was the last to arrive shaking his head as half a million questions were fired at me, all of which I refused to answer. After all, I'm a gentleman – I don't like to kiss and tell. Ok, maybe I did but there was something different about Romana, I didn't want them to know...besides, she may not be a relative but I had a feeling that Half-sack would kill me for being with her without permission.

"Leave the techie alone and get back to work. You're late"
"I know, I'm sorry"
"Just be glad it's me and not Clay who got to you first. You can clean your...office when you've finished working. He'd have you doing something even more mind-numbingly dull. Why are you late? A sweetbutt doesn't normally stop you getting here on time"

"She's no sweetbutt"

"Yeah? Finally got yourself an old lady?"

"I don't know – we're seeing where it goes."

"Do I get a name?"

"Nope, besides – I'm already late"

"I know that smile"

I hadn't even got off my bike and I was already getting hassled. Yes, I was smiling but how could I not smile? Last night had left me considering just what it would be like to be exclusive. Yeah, I'll be honest the bedroom was amazing...but it was the talking afterwards. One arm draped over my waist, the other cradling my head – who thought a biker could be so...sensitive. OK, so I knew what Kip was like but he'd always been a little on the soft side. I'd never had him down as the type to prospect. He'd always had a love of bikes and I didn't understand how I couldn't have seen it sooner. Now, back to last night. Conversation – mostly about him, I tried to be vague – me and Kip hadn't really had a chance to discuss any details yet and I didn't want to contradict anything he may have said. The question of scarring didn't come up like I was expecting which was a relief, but I found my laugh again. It'd been so long since I'd really laughed that I'd almost forgotten how to but it was so natural – it just bubbled up inside me and over flowed into a sound. I'm not even sure why I had been laughing – maybe it was the story of one of his many hazings over the years, or something stupid he'd done as a child. I didn't really remember, but it felt good to laugh and to have a reason to smile again.

"Oh really, tell me about it"

"I knew he was here...which one was he?"

"The pretty one with the mohawk and reaper cut"

"Him? Damn girl...is he the same one?"

"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't"

"I hate it when you don't give straight ans...he is, isn't he? Maybe you should introduce me to some of his friends some time"

"How about tonight – I'm due a shift off from my weekend job. I think we could go crash one of their parties"

"What sort of party is it?"

"Booze, strippers and the odd joint going round. Nothing harder than that"

"Won't the police have a problem with it?"

"I've learnt quickly that they practically run the town. If it wasn't for them then the little town would have been flooded with hard drugs and prostitutes by now. They're the lesser of two evils so the local force tends to turn a blind eye"

"What do I wear?"

"Come back to my place and we'll sort that out for you. I'll introduce you to Opie, he lives opposite me and Jax should be there. Usually is"

"Oh really"

"Don't – both married, well Jax is almost divorced and his old beau* is back on the scene so they're hands off. Just as a warning, you'll probably run into a psycho called Tig. Stay away...you never know what you might pick up off him. He's one of the biggest players I've ever had the displeasure of meeting"

"You love to ruin my fun, don't you? You all sorted out here? Good. Work then"

I had a feeling that tonight would be very...entertaining. Climbing out the back seat of the friends car. I'd taken to changing in here following various complaints about the smell of petrol that clung to the clothes. I couldn't blame them, I personally couldn't stand their over-priced perfume. Why deal with the many when you can deal with the one though? This seven hour shift would be the death of me. The early ones always were, 8.30 till 3.30 and then hand over to the afternoon staff. There was the half hour meeting at the end, journey back to Charming and then the change for the evening. On the odd occasion when I had been it hadn't taken too much time for me to decide what to wear...however, put me with someone else and it always took an extra two or three hours, plus half a bottle of wine, to get ready. It was only ever a low volume percent wine though, after all someone had to be sober enough to drive.

The day was slow. I wasn't the only one suffering – part way through my break I got a call from Juice who was bored mindless. He'd been told to tidy up for being late. Poor thing, still maybe it would spread to the rest of his life. It was almost like he didn't know how to tidy up.

"I was wondering..."

"Hmm?"

"Were you serious when you said I should show a little more pride in my Spanish heritage?"

"I probably shouldn't have said – it's just the way you were talking made it sound like you were ashamed of it, but it's part of you and you've got nothing to be ashamed of"

"I didn't realise...that's going to change. I'll see you later. I'm bringing a friend. Need to go, my breaks over"

I'd cut him off before he could question what I meant. So here I was, first time I'd ever opted for a tan bed. Normally I swore I'd never go near them...but I hadn't been very sociable over the summer. Normally I'd be out in the sun during the summer and that tan would carry through the winter months, but I was far more pale than was usual for me. My hair had needed sorting as well, that'd been seen to earlier – it'd been the same frizzy mass for the last few weeks and I hadn't bothered to do anything about it other than tie it back for work. Even that had been starting to fail. I had been dragged by my darling friend to what she claimed to be the best hairdressers she knew of – I had to admit, they were pretty good and the usual mass of uncontrollable raven sat as it did when I was younger – loose, but small, curls that didn't go everywhere at a moments notice, if it gave any notice at all. I'd have to consider that place again. I didn't know how long I'd been in here, but I knew I wasn't keen on it – nope, I'd have to stick to the natural way from now on...maybe I was a tad claustrophobic and hadn't realised it until I was stuck here. The lid couldn't open up fast enough, much to my friends amusement.

"Feeling uncomfortable in there love?"

"You never said they were so small"

"No worries – and I must say, you tan very well"

"Finally, my grandfather was some use...he was Spanish. Though the only thing he's even given me is the ability to not get sunburnt. Shall we get going then? I do believe we have a party to get ready for"

"You riding back?"

"I don't have much choice...just follow me and you won't get lost"

Climbing off the back of the bike, there seemed to be little attention paid to anything outside the roll down shutters. It did look pretty full in there. However, there was a car here that had started to smoke two blocks down the road – I told her she should have got it checked out but she didn't listen. And now her car had decided to throw a strop and break down on her. Thankfully there had been a couple of rather sweet residents who recognised me and had helped push it here. All young men of course, none of whom though it was ringing for the tow truck when it was so close to the garage. Bless, they actually thought they stood a chance with either of us. However, my good friend had her eyes set on a biker and not a hang around. Leaving my jacket and helmet on the seat of the bike I walked over to the car and rammed the heel of my palm onto the horn. It's blaring actually got some attention shockingly. They'd sent poor half-sack who was jogging over, clearly embarrassed by whatever hazing he was being reminded of at the time. There was a hint of relief on his face until he realised just who was stood half dressed (in his opinion) in the middle of the lot. I suppose part of me did feel sorry for him, after all I was his cousin even if I was meant to be acting like an old friend and I was stood around in nothing more than leather trousers, boots and a white tank top**. It wasn't exactly a very thick top and, well a girl only wear back underwear if she wants someone to see it...right. Fair to say, it could be seen – not the detail, but the outline.

"Romana...what are you wearing?"

"Clothes...aren't you going to ask what's wrong with the car?"

"I was going to"

"Good, because I don't know. I know my way around a bike like the back of my hand but cars are a mystery. You're the mechanic so you figure it out"

"Fine, go leave the details with Gemma. She's in the office"

So maybe I was being a little on the mean side to him, but he couldn't play protective cousin all the time. Taking my now rather stunned friend by the hand I practically had to drag her to the office. I didn't get it – maybe it was because I'd grown up around them, but she seemed fascinated by the row of bikes up one side. It did make me smile though. She seemed so innocent of this world, I felt guilty letting her into it.

Gemma was sat at her desk with Bobby talking over some report. The office didn't really have room for us and both of them. Looking up as the door closed, Bobby collected the papers and left to do what ever it was he had been doing before. There was that smile on her face – the whole, I'm gonna act nice but I really don't like you smile that she seemed to constantly wear around select women – like Tara and myself. I could tell she didn't really approve of what I was wearing – her previous comment about leathers*** stuck in my mind for a moment, but faded the moment she opened her mouth.

"How can I help you Romana?"

"Friends car broke down. Not sure whats wrong with it. She's the one you'll need details from"

"Of course, if your friend would like to fill out one of the contact sheets we'll be in touch when it's sorted out. By the way, is that a natural tan?"

"I'm allergic to the spray. Tanning bed, so in a way yes it's natural"

"So I guess you're coming tonight?"

The door opened and Juice came in with a pile of files and bits of paper. The one thing I really couldn't do right now was look in his eyes. There was still that rush of lust that had a habit of dragging us back to the bedroom if we let it and as of yet it was difficult to control.

I didn't get why we were doing this – it was mad. I hardly knew him but everything about him took over and all I wanted was him. He seemed to know what was going through my mind, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him, were that at all possible, I hadn't thought it was. I turned my head slightly so his lips landed on mine, sliding my tongue in to meet his again. Breaking he picked me up and quite literally dropped me on the bed...

He left the room, trying to suppress the smile that I had failed to, I was not going to remember any more from that night – not until later at least. Memories would push me to follow that impulse to follow him and to have him on the first solid object that was away from the public sight. Miss high and mighty had one of the knowing looks when I turned back to her, of course she of all people would pick up on it. Hopefully she wouldn't convince Clay to send him off on some run at the last minute leaving me to suffer through the raging fires he stirred with little more than the right look in my direction.

"Of course, work's settled down and I have spare time. I have no reason not to come"

"I suppose I may see you later then"

"You might"

I knew exactly what she was thinking – it was running through my mind. I'd see her later if I could keep my hands off Juice and out of the bedroom for more than fifteen minutes. Mission impossible? No. Mission highly unlikely? Very much so. I think my friend had latched on to what I was thinking as we left the office. I could hear the yelling start as Juice managed to trip over something or someone...maybe coming here wasn't such a great idea after all. So much for him being on the ball maybe that was a one time charm I had and he'd lost in now.

"So...the one causing all the trouble is the new beau* then? Very good taste if he is – were he a free agent I'd be happy to try my luck"

"I wouldn't say that he was a beau...at the moment we're pretty much just fuck buddies, but we'll see where it goes and thank-you. I've only ever had a taste for the very best"

"What about the one that came over...is he free?"

"Who? Half-sack...as far as I know"

"Half-sack? Do I want to know how he got that name?"

"He got one of his balls blown off in Iraq. You'll know whether you want to or not – that's how I work sweetheart. Totally civil and perfectly behaved for the restaurant, complete bitch and to hell with discretion outside of it"

"Am I going to see more of that tonight?"

"It depends on how much trouble the hang-arounds and whores cause"

"Then here's me hoping it's enough to see you kick off"

"Oh, hush-up. Put the jacket and helmet on and we'll be off"

"What about you?"

"I've been riding most of my life – unless an idiot crashes into us I'm not coming off this. I don't loose control. Hold on though, I have a habit of going a little over the speed limit"

*As in boyfriend/girlfriend, not as in escort

**I believe is more commonly referred to as a wife-beater in the states, but I'm not sure

***See chapter two if you're unsure about this