A/N: Kinda amazed that this hasn't been here one full day and things are showing so much interest. I truly appreciate the feedback and the reads. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Things are moving forward, slowly but surely. If you've read my stuff before, you know there is a purpose for everything. Nothing is filler. Now, on with the show. Enjoy and review. Many thanks again, xx Tish.

I wanted to chastise myself for this fuck up. There was so much in that small brown box. Not only was there child hood photos but also case files concerning those I've lost. Items that I took from the Cullen house, and even memento's from La Push. Things that I wanted close by should I have to make a quick trip out of town. That box was one that never got completely unpacked. Ever.

Tig took one picture and held it as if it was something god given. Like he didn't want to let go, be it of the photo or the memory that the photo brought on. It was one of me and mom when I was young. She was holding me on Tig's bike years ago. I couldn't exactly remember that particular photo but something told me that Tig had taken it himself.

"Bring back memories, Tigger?" I announced.

"You look so much like her, Bella." He commented upon hearing me enter the room.

"Funny, she always said I looked like my father. Crazy thing is, that I always thought she meant Charlie. Only now I know she meant you."

"I never wanted to give you two up. I failed twice, before you. I wanted to make it right this time. I was working with JT to leave SAMCRO. No one knew before now. I wanted to whisk you both off and leave the states. Head south a bit. Your mother always loved mexico. " he mentioned a bit wistfully after turning his attention back to the aged and yellow tinted photo.

"Tell me something I don't know, Tig." I half joked. My mom was eclectic. She had a like for many things. Anything that went against the grain really. Anything abnormal, mystical, or from the wrong side of the tracks. She never focused on one thing for long though. That was her way, even with men. Phil apparently was the acception. She either really loved him, or ( and my money was more on this theory) she was never ready to give up the thought of Tig until she met him.

"I got caught up in a bad deal with the club. An incident only JT knew about and to this day, no one does. I got a shit ton of heat from the wrong people on my head. We were able to deal with it. But it took a year to finally settle and the threat of retaliation never went away. I never got a chance to really protect my other girls, but I wanted more for you. For her. I gave her my share of the bad deal, and signed away my rights, then called Jenks and set up a whole package for you both. I gave you freedom from the backlash of what I lived for."

"Did you ever stop to think, Tig, about what you were doing and the effect it would have. Family is supposed to be what you live for, Not the brothers you chose, but the family you make. I guess for some, there in lies the problem. It's hard to differentiate the difference. What's important blurs with what's really not. Thanks for that by the way."

"What's that?" He asked finally looking up at me.

"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. The relationships we choose are more than the connections we are born with. Consider it the first lesson you taught me as a father, Tig."

"You used to be such a sweet girl, how..."

"How'd I become so cold?" I suggested, "Maybe being lied to, manipulated, and broken in every way... That kind of pain tends to do it, Tig."

"What's his name, Baby."

"What the hell are you talking about, and don't call me baby. I'm nothing but a name to you. "

"The man that burnt you this bad."

I laughed. Edward was only a small part but a cataclysmic one at that. Not that he needed to know. It was a bullshit judgement that men and even women made when it came down to it. A woman couldn't become stronger from her struggles, opinionated, or speak her mind without being judged for being bruised by a man. Knowing Tig, and the company he kept, he would probably have some crazy vendetta against him in my name. It would be comical sure, to see a bad ass outlaw like Tig approach the unstoppable supernatural like Edward, but it would do no good. A man had nothing over a vampire. As far as my issues went, It was never about Edward. I realized this long ago when he left. It was about me. The fact that Tig thought it was only about a man, was laughable.

"You give your sex far too much credit, Tig." I said through my vain laughter. Taking a breath to calm my insanity, "Men, women, family, life... I've been through too much, Tig, to give a damn anymore. I'm over it all. Death is the only adventure left waiting for me. In fact I welcome it. Sooner the better. I've got nothing left to give." I walked out on him after that. Seeing him again after last nights nostalgia binge, was causing me to lose my edge. I was giving him far too much info.

I stepped onto the patio and pulled a pack of smokes out of my back pocket. Lighting one while I leaned against the brick back wall. The sun warmed my skin as the stone chilled my bones. It's the only thing I wanted to feel. Fuck the nostalgia.

"Hey. "

"Go away. "

"Sorry Sweetheart, not happening. Thought I told you that last night."

"Yes and I told you I didn't give a damn. Get lost before I make you lose a few inches like I did happy. "

"Again with the idol threats, Classy."

"Never said I was Classy. "

"No you didn't. Class is overrated."

"Why are you still here, Jax," I pulled a drag from my smoke and turned toward him slowly, "Why are you so interested in me. You have a hundred vultures circling your rancid meat. If you're so desperate for attention go to the whores that will give it. I'm not in the mood to deal with you or the MC. I only want for Tig to take my mom's remains and leave. Let me be." I was all too aware that I was beginning to come off desperate. but I couldn't handle this shit today. of all Days. This was supposed to be a fresh start. I was beginning to re-think my plan of moving back here.

"Fine, I'll go. But on one condition. You tell me exactly what the fuck is bothering you. What made you so pissed that you're willing to throw yourself at the mercy of our tempers to push us away? If you didn't want to re-establish a relationship with Tig, why fucking move here when you could have just handed off your mothers remains and be done with Charming."

"Eat a dick, Jax."

he smiled, "That's exactly what I mean."

I only glared at his sly grin, but he turned toward me just as he did the night before, putting me between a rock and his.. hard place. Asshole. His hand raised this time though, and swept a strand of red hair away from my face, the back of his knuckles graze down my cheek. Closing my eyes, I wished I could feel it the way I used to. A connection to any physical act, but I had to keep myself numb or I'd feel everything. He probably thought he was being charming and hoped that it would get him exactly what he wanted. It wasn't hard to see that he used this often on those around him. Even the club it's self. It may have worked on most everyone else he wanted it to, but he'd be sorely disappointed to know it wouldn't work on me.

"How can a beautiful woman like yourself be so hard to the world yet still be so soft to the touch. What the hell forged you, sweetheart?" He added after leaning in to whisper in my ear.

"Teller?" I leaned closer to him, closing the distance between us, my lips grazing his as I spoke his name, "Touch me again without my invitation, especially on my face, and I'll bite every last finger off like a rabid bitch would gnaw a bone." I slipped down and around him snuffing out my smoke with my boot before heading back in. Was space too much to ask for around these people.

"I suggest you neuter your dogs, Clay, especially if you're going to let them run around off a leash." I called out as Jax followed me inside. I paid no mind to the chuckles or verbal onslaught after that and locked myself in the master bedroom. I could hear the guys teasing comments as they continued to work but it was simply chatter to me. letting my body slide down the door, I waited until I heard them all clear out before I pulled my cell from my pocket and hit the speed dial. It only took seconds for him to answer.

"Yellow!" He answered.

"Hows it hanging?"

"Well now, that's a voice I haven't heard in months. Things are hanging just fine. No complaints yet. Finally settled then?"

"More or less."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your smart little mouth."

"Why don't you come see me and find out. I could use a little bit of your back bone. I feel like I'm beginning to crumble. I can't afford to do that with these people. Their hard as nail's Paul. They'll only be fodder for her if I can't create some distance. I need to show them what a real bitch is made of. "

"That bad huh? So how should I do it, Go full on Alpo or Kibble and bits."

I laughed, "Boy if you went all kibble the women around here would start gnawing at your bits, safety votes for Alpo."

"Kibble and bits it is. See you in six hours sweetheart. "

"Sure thing. And bring your muzzle. There's only so much of your smart mouth I can handle."

"Don't I know it beautiful. Two hours in and you're ready to tap out."

"Nasty. Shut the fuck up and get out here. Give Rachel my love."

No sooner did I say that did I hear Rachel yell out in the back ground. ' Love ya too, girl. Stay safe and come home already.'

I laughed, "This whole time your Purina ass had me on speaker didn't you."

"Guilty." He admitted and whoever was there with him pack wise chimed in all together. It was hard to make out clearly who was who and what was exactly said.

"Hey guys. All that mushy shit your way. I gotta go. Should you meet me here or make a grand entrance via the MC?"

"Go big or go home, Bells. Quiets never been my forte."

"Jesus, is it mating season or some shit? OR is it a wolf thing, this bad sense of humor."

"Lets toss that up to genetics girl, Text me the info, I'll head south now."

"Ciao"

"Later."

I hung up on the phone, quickly texting him the address to Teller-Morrow Automotive and walked out of the room. Now to find a reason to introduce him to the club of pushy alpha males. This place was too much to handle. At least the bed was in place thanks to the guys. Got to give them some credit. Thankfully the boxes were left alone, from what I could tell. I walk out and notice Delilah was parked just before my front porch, in direct sight. Smart boys. How ever what I didn't see pissed me off.

"Who's Paul?"

"Jesus, Tig!" I spun around quickly facing him.

"Answer me."

"What the fuck, you have my shit tapped or something?"

"Is he what made you come here, be honest, are you running from someone?"

"Give it a rest, old man. You're going to give yourself an aneurysm or a heart attack."

"Look, Jax said some things at church this morning. I just want to make sure you're taken care of. I should have stepped forward long before now to ensure that. I know I failed you then and probably doing so still. But your my youngest. Please humor me just once."

"Tell me this, I noticed a flyer in the clubhouse. Big get together is tonight right. A celebration. Someone's birthday, yeah?"

"Yeah, mine."

"Well, Tig, consider this the first of many birthday presents, I'll be there. You'll know more tonight."

With that I took off leaving Tig in my rear view and drove through the hills of Cali, pushing my girl for speed through every curve I could. Riding became so much more for me than I had intended for it to when I asked Jake to teach me to ride years ago. It was like gravity to me. It grounded me in a way that made everything else lapse in comparison. I found a rest stop and pulled in, texting Paul some more details about tonight. With Paul coming into town, hopefully, it will quell some of the bullshit the guys were giving me about men.

I sat there at one of the picnic tables watching the sun set and feeling it's warmth soak into my skin. Hours passed and soon Paul should be arriving at the MC. I headed home, with one thing on my mind. I neglected the boxes in lieu of getting ready for the party, to make a lasting impression. Not to just Tig, but everyone including the vultures. Even Paul needed to see this part of me. Despite everything, I knew the pack viewed me as something that still needed protecting. If I could convince Paul, the pack would see through his eyes that I wasn't the little girl that left them months ago. And perhaps, they would be freed from the shit that I knew was coming my way. It was inevitable.

I found the slinkiest mini dress I could find. It was black and it flowed effortlessly around my form, low fitted bust and flutter sleeves. Thank fuck for hot pants and leather ones at that. Add to it the thigh high boots and it made one killer outfit. 'Eat your heart out, Alice Cullen.' I thought before adding a light touch of make-up. Simply putting it, there was no way in hell that I wasn't taking Deliah to Tig's party, each part of it served a purpose. Once dressed, I grabbed the wooden box that held the last of Renee and tucked it into the saddle bag before heading off.