Elle's phone rang as she and Bex sat in their living room, watching TV. It'd been a week since the Sons had had a party, and Elle found she really didn't know what to do with all the free time. She reached over to grab the ringing phone, glancing at the caller ID.

"It's Juice," she said, raising her eyebrows in surprise. She'd given her number to him a couple of weeks ago because he said he'd wanted to have it in case there were any smaller, more exclusive parties at the clubhouse, but as they'd just finished having sex when he asked for it, she hadn't really expected him to call.

"Hello?" she said as she answered.

"Hey, Elle, it's Juice," he said, "We're having a low-key night tonight, just some of us hanging out at the clubhouse, I wanted to let you know."

"Sounds fun! I'll be there," Elle responded, "Can Bex come, too?" Juice paused for a second.

"Yyeah… I guess that'd be okay," he said.

"Great! We'll see you tonight," she said, hanging the phone up and relaying the message to Bex, who grinned broadly.

"I knew there would be perks to being your friend!" she said jokingly as they both got up to figure out what to wear. Since it was more of a low key night, they both decided on jeans and tank tops.

They arrived at the clubhouse later that night, and it felt strange to be there when the place was so empty.

"I've never seen it so quiet," Bex said as they walked through the parking lot and into the clubhouse.

As soon as they walked in, Wendy walked directly up to them, hands on her hips.

"You probably were unaware, but this is a closed party. Just a few girls invited," she said snidely.

"Yeah, us," Elle said, pushing her way past Wendy.

"Who the hell invited you two?" she asked.

"What are you?" Bex responded, "The invitation police? Juice called and invited us." Wendy's eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between Elle and Bex.

"Just remember what I told you, new girl. No rubbing up on my guys," she said threateningly as she walked off to a booth Leslie and Amy were sitting at.

"Hi Bex! Hi Elle! You look pretty!" Leslie called to them, smiling at them and waving. Wendy slapped her hand down as she sat at the booth and Bex and Elle waved back, laughing. Walking up to the bar, Elle glanced around, noticing the absence of the Sons. They strode up to where Cherry was perched on a stool at the bar.

"Where is everyone?" Elle asked as she grabbed a beer from behind the counter. Cherry pointed to the double doors on the other side of the room.

"Church, Jax called a meeting. They've been in there awhile, shouldn't be much longer," she said. As if on cue, the doors opened and the guys filed out, some grumbling but most looking pretty cheerful. Even Jax was grinning as he walked out with Opie. Elle didn't think she'd seen a genuine smile on Jax's face in months.

One of the guys put some music on and most of the girls lounging around shot up, either dancing or running to see if any of the guys needed drinks as Juice, Opie, and Jax walked over to the pool table and started racking up a game.

"So what are we doing, 9 ball?" Juice asked after a croweater had brought them a round of drinks. Jax shook his head.

"Nah, let's do teams. Find a fourth," he said. Juice glanced up and looked around the clubhouse.

"Hey, Elle!" he called. Elle looked over from where she was standing at the bar to see Juice waving her over. She glanced back to see Wendy fuming as she sat at her table with Leslie and Amy. Elle wouldn't be surprised to see smoke start steaming from her ears. Elle grinned and walked over to where Juice stood with Opie and Jax, casually swinging her hips as she walked.

"Yeah?" she said.

"You wanna play?" he asked. Jax frowned.

"I said find a fourth, not find a chick, idiot," he said. Elle put her hands on her hips, her eyebrows raised as she looked up at him. He had to be almost a foot taller than her.

"Seriously, brother, she's the best player in this place. She'll be on my team if you're so worried about it," Juice said. Jax took a lingering look at Elle and finally shrugged.

"Whatever," he said as he walked around to break, Elle watching as he bent over the table and put all his weight into the stick as he shoved it forward. He looked over at her, smirking cockily as he caught her subconsciously licking her lips.

"Ladies first," he said, stepping out of her way so she could take the next shot.

Elle might have been good, but Jax and Opie were good, too, so Elle decided to stop relying on skill alone and use some of the other tricks she had up her sleeve.

"I don't think I've ever said this in my life, but you're gonna need to stop flashing those tits," Jax said as he missed his shot, distracted by Elle bending over the table not so subtly, directly in his line of vision. She laughed and shrugged.

"Why? Am I messing you up?" she asked flirtatiously, moving around the table to take her turn.

He grinned as he watched her sink 4 balls in a row before missing a shot, his eyebrows raised in surprise. While it was Opie's turn, Jax leaned against a table next to Elle.

"So I haven't really gotten a chance to talk to you before," he said. She smiled at him.

"I didn't get the impression that you did much talking with croweaters," she said, glancing back at Wendy who was giving her a look that would've stopped her heart if looks could. Jax looked over his shoulder at her and chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess that's usually true," he said, "So what brought you to Charming?" he asked. Elle shrugged. The only person that really knew the full story was Bex, and she preferred to keep it that way.

"Oh you know, change of scenery," she said vaguely, "I grew up not too far from here, out in Lodi." He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh yeah? I used to go into Lodi all the time," he said. She felt heat rise to her face and cursed herself for being so pale that it made it that much more obvious when she was blushing.

"Yeah, I know," she admitted, "I used to see you ride your bike around town." He grinned, looking down at her, but before he could respond, Tig walked up and tapped him on the shoulder, pointing to the front door.

"Who's the suit?" he asked. Elle and Jax turned around and Elle's jaw nearly dropped. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Clark Monahan, her ex-fiance, walk through the doors of the SAMCRO clubhouse. Why is he here? Does he want her back? Did he finally come back to his senses? She glanced over at Jax, suddenly conflicted. Did she want Clark to want her back?

She reached her hand up to her hair, smoothing it down quickly before rushing up to him.

"Hi, Clark," she said smiling up at him. He didn't return the smile.

"Hey, I see you've really classed it up haven't you?" he asked, sneering as he looked around the clubhouse. Her heart seemed to sink into her stomach as she looked into his angry face. Clearly he did not come to his senses and he does not want her back.

"What are you even doing here? How did you find me?" she asked, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.

"I went by the pawn shop and some guy at the counter told me I could probably find you here," he said, "And I'm here because I want the ring back."

"Excuse me?" she said quietly, hoping to keep the conversation from being overheard.

"I said I want my fucking ring back," he repeated fiercely.

"I…I don't have it," she said, "I sold it." She'd given herself a great deal for it, too.

"What the fuck, Lauren?" he screamed at her, "That wasn't yours to sell!"

Juice, Opie, and Jax had all put their cue sticks down, watching the scene unfold.

"Who's Lauren?" Tig asked, pulling up a chair and sitting in it backwards.

"I'm guessing that's what Elle is short for," Jax muttered, his arms crossed as he looked between Elle and the guy in the suit, waiting to step in if needed.

"Her name's Elle?" Tig asked, confused.

"And I'm the idiot?" Juice asked as Tig reached out to slap him upside the head. Jax wasn't paying attention. His sole focus was on Elle and the guy currently screaming in her face. He didn't know why, but he felt a sense of protectiveness over her.

Elle backed up a step from Clark, taking a look around the clubhouse and realizing he was causing a scene and people were starting to notice. She gripped his arm.

"Come on, let's talk about this outside," she said, keeping her voice low. Wendy was grinning like a kid on Christmas and Elle didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing her reamed by her ex. And she especially didn't want Jax, or any of the rest of the sons for that matter, to see the show. Clark jerked his arm out of her grip, causing her to stumble slightly.

"No, we're gonna fucking talk about it right here! What do you think gave you the right to sell that ring?" he asked angrily.

"Clark, that ring was all I had. I had nothing when you kicked me out. I barely had enough gas in my car to make it up to Charming," Elle said, continuing to keep her voice low.

"Yeah, well maybe that's because everything was mine, you worthless piece of trash!" he shouted, "What did you ever contribute?" Elle narrowed her eyes, glaring at him.

"Nothing, because of YOU. I didn't get a job, because of YOU. I didn't go to school, because of YOU. I have absolutely zero skills or work experience now, because of YOU. Because of the promises YOU made to me. What the fuck was I supposed to do?" she asked, begging the tears stinging her eyes not to fall, "And then you cheated on me and kicked me out with NOTHING!" He gripped her arms pulling her up to him.

"I wasted 8 fucking years supporting your cheap ass," he growled in her face, "And now you're telling me you sold a $20,000 ring?"

"Hey man, I think it's time for you to leave," Elle turned her head to see Jax walking up to them, looking menacing.

"You'll get your whore back when I'm through with her," Clark barked at Jax as a traitor tear ran down Elle's cheek. Jax broke Clark's grip on Elle, causing Clark to stumble back as Jax pulled Elle out of the way. Clark ran at Jax, sucker-punching him in the face. He clearly couldn't pack a very large punch as Jax barely stumbled, and the only purpose it served was to really piss him off. Jax shook his head, chuckling slightly, before turning to Clark and punching him square in the jaw. Clark went down and immediately every Son in the room got up to get their president's back. They were a pretty menacing crowd, lined up behind him, arms crossed and glaring.

Clark stood up, looking between Elle and the Sons gathered behind Jax, and started backing out of the door.

"I always knew you'd turn out to be a white trash whore," he spat at Elle, before turning and walking out the door. Elle shuddered, clutching her stomach and wiping the tears from her face.

"Hey, darlin'," Jax said, slinging his arm around her shoulder, "You alright?" Elle nodded, taking a deep breath to make sure she wouldn't start crying.

"Yeah, Look I'm sorry I caused such a scene," she said, completely mortified at everything Clark had said to her and the fact that everyone was there to see it, "I had no idea he would turn up here. I'm-I'm just gonna go."

"You don't have to go," Jax said, but Elle shook her head.

"Yeah, yeah I need to go," she repeated looking around for Bex, who came running. She took a final look at Jax and said, "Thanks, you know, for that." Bex threw an arm around her shoulder and they walked out together.

Wendy ran up to Jax as soon as Bex and Elle were out of sight, sliding her arm through his.

"That girl's been causing a lot of drama, Jax. I wouldn't think you'd want that in your clubhouse," she said, glancing up at him. Her glared down at her.

"It's not up to you what goes on in MY clubhouse. You're just a fucking croweater that thinks she's Queen of the goddamn kingdom. You do not run shit around here – got it?" he asked. Wendy unhooked her arm from his, looking hurt.

"Jax, I just meant-" she started.

"I know what the fuck you meant. Go, I'll let you know if I need you around," he said, and she walked sulkily back to her table.

Gemma walked up to Jax, arms crossed.

"What was that all about?" she asked, motioning to the doors Elle and Bex had just walked through.

"I dunno, I guess that guy was her ex, wanted something back from her," Jax said dismissively.

"Yeah, I got that. I mean what was you jumping in saving the day all about?" she asked. Jax looked at her.

"He was causing a scene," he said. Gemma eyed him.

"Last week some guy showed up screaming at Amy. You just yelled at them to take it outside," she said.

"This was different, okay, ma," he said.

"Mmmhmm," Gemma replied knowingly. Jax rolled his eyes at her.

"She's just a croweater," he told her.

"Baby, I think you and I both know that's not exactly true," she said. Jax shook his head and walked back to finish his game with Juice and Opie.

SOASOASOASOASOA

The next day, Bex decided to give her and Elle the day off and they went to get their nails done.

"How you holding up?" Bex asked her, concerned, as they drove to the salon. Elle shook her head. She had been thinking of the events of the previous day non-stop since it happened and realized she was more upset about getting embarrassed in front of Jax than she was about Clark flipping out on her. The horrible things he had said to her had hurt, definitely, but the silver lining was that it put the final nail in the coffin of her feelings for him. Unfortunately, her heart had seemed to latch on to the next unavailable guy. But she wasn't about to voice her feelings for Jax to Bex, or to anyone. She wasn't kidding herself when it came to her chances with him, and those feelings were better off unsaid.

And the fact that Elle kept having to remind herself of was that Jax was still with Tara. Elle might be a lot of things, but after what had happened to her with that bitch Susan Ashby, she would never be the one anyone cheated with.

As they walked into the salon, the first thing Elle noticed was Gemma sitting in one of the massage chairs, getting a pedicure.

"Oh, hey Gemma," Bex said a little nervously. Gemma glanced up and looked between Bex and Elle, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, Bex, thank God you're here. Will you do me a favor?" she rummaged through her bag, pulling out several dollar bills and reaching them out to her, "Will you go down the street to the store and grab me some paper towels? I'm having a little family dinner tonight and I completely forgot I'm out and I just won't have time after I'm done here." Bex nodded, taking the money out of Gemma's hand.

"Yeah, sure thing Gemma," Bex said, taking the money, "Any special brand?"

"Oh no, just whatever's on sale," she said dismissively. Elle turned to follow Bex out as Gemma called out to her.

"Oh, you stay here," she said to Elle, patting the chair next to her, "Have a seat." Elle looked nervously at Bex, who just shrugged and nodded and Elle walked over and sat down.

"I don't think we've ever been introduced," she said, "I'm Gemma, Jax's mom." Elle nodded.

"Yeah, I know who you are," she said, "I'm Elle."

"So have you been having a good time at the clubhouse?" Gemma asked. Elle nodded, worried Wendy might have been saying something to Gemma about her.

"You know it's nice to see a girl who doesn't shove her tits in the guys' faces but still gives them the comfort they need," she commented, staring at her hard, almost as if Elle were a book and Gemma was trying to read her. Elle nodded, feeling herself blush.

"Yeah, I mean that's not really why I go out there. Just there to have a good time, I guess," Elle said. Gemma nodded.

"Right, of course," she said. She sighed deeply, "I've just been so stressed the last couple of weeks. I mean, Jax and his old lady are just tearing each other apart. I think she's gonna take off any day now." Elle raised her eyebrows in surprise, wondering why Gemma was telling her this. Gemma just shook her head thoughtfully and looked back at Elle as a tiny woman sat on a stool at Gemma's feet and started painting her nails.

"You're the one whose boyfriend came by the clubhouse, right?" she asked. Elle's heart sank. She was still so embarrassed by that scene.

''Fiancé," Elle corrected quietly, "EX- fiancé."

"Hmmm," Gemma said pensively, "You know, I was impressed with how you handled yourself in there. It's not easy to have a guy go off on you like that and not completely fly off the handle."

"Oh, thanks," Elle said, once again surprised with the direction this conversation was going.

"I was also impressed with the way my son stood up for you like that," Gemma continued, "I've never seen him do that for any girl besides Tara, especially not a croweater." This took Elle completely by surprise and made her heart skip a beat, which she tried to ignore. Gemma leaned over towards her.

"Do you want my advice, Elle?" she asked, "I mean, I'd hate to overstep my bounds here." Elle nodded slowly, thinking to herself that this seemed like a woman who was constantly overstepping her bounds, but wanted to hear what she had to say none the less.

"I don't know what you're really looking for, coming to the parties. Some girls are there to have a good time, others are looking for a quick fuck with an outlaw, while most of them are swarming around, hoping to get noticed by the guys as old lady material," she began. Elle nodded.

"I guess I'm just there to have a good time," she said slowly. Gemma pursed her lips and nodded.

"Well, I'll tell you now that to the guys, Croweaters are and always will be just pussy. A place to put their dick. They never become old ladies. It's a one in a million shot. So if the reason you keep coming to those parties ever changes, I'd rethink your idea of having a good time," she said, looking pointedly at Elle. Elle nodded, slowly starting to pick up on what Gemma was putting down. This was one perceptive bitch.

The lady working on Gemma's feet slid her shoes on when she was finished painting her nails as Gemma smiled broadly at Elle and stood up from her chair.

"You know, I've got the Tacoma charter coming in in a few days and I might need some help from a few of the girls cleaning up the place. Prospects usually do it, but the club is keeping them pretty busy at the moment. Would you be willing to come help out?" she asked. Elle nodded.

"Yeah, sure," she said.

"Great," Gemma said, digging through her bag for her phone and handing it to Elle, "Put your number in my phone for me. I'll give you a call when I need you to come by," she said, handing her the phone. Elle punched in her number and saved it for her before handing it back to her as Bex returned, shopping bag in tow.

Bex held the bag up to Gemma, who breezed right past her and out the door, not bothering to grab the paper towers. Bex looked strangely behind her as she took Gemma's vacated seat, setting the paper towels on the floor next to her.

"What was all that about?" she asked. Elle pursed her lips, staring at the door Gemma had just walked through.

"I have no idea," Elle said, a little dishonestly. She did have some idea what Gemma was up to, she just had no idea why.

A/N Please review! I really appreciate y'alls feedback!