Bran ran her fingers through her hair, and looked around at the chaos of her kitchen. There were boxes both empty and full spread around in no particular order. She was an odd duck for sure, when it came to anything but work her organization skills went to shit. Her dishes and most of her cook ware were put away, but she still seem to trip over full boxes of kitchen shit.

If she hadn't take those cooking classes a few years back she wouldn't know what the hell to do with most of the shit she bought in the last year. But that was just one of her coping methods.

Bran took classes, a lot of classes over the years to keep her mind focused on anything but the faces of those she killed. She learned to ride horses, how to knit, make a dinner to die for, and the basics of home repair. She could play the fiddle, make wicked balloon animals and held a few belts in random marshal art forms. She could spout off a dozen or so random facts about most topics from all the college and university courses she's taken over the years but the one class she took that changed her life was painting.

It was her secret passion, one that she hoped to be able to exercise frequently now that she had space from her family and time to devote to it. She had set the art room up at the back of the house first as in her mind it was the second most important room in the house just behind the safe room.

It was one of the only completely unpacked rooms and hell she hadn't even put together her damn bed in the master bedroom yet but she had all her paints, brushes and canvas put away and ready to go. She was going to try really hard to get the house unpacked before opening a paint jar or picking up her sketch book.

She was lucky that Tara and her boys were so helpful today or she was sure she would be still unloading. After they had emptied the moving truck, Juice drove it back to the dealership for her.

They were so helpful she told Tara she would cook them all dinner, in a week or two when she got the house sorted. Tara, being the nice neighbour she was offered to stop by in the morning to see if she needed help unpacking.

She wasn't stupid. She knew trouble when she saw it, especially when it came packing. Bran wasn't blind, she saw the nine mm tucked beneath Jax and Opie's jackets and into their waistbands of their jeans while they were moving her furniture. Nor was she gullible to think Juice didn't have one as well as that ten inch blade the three of them had strapped to their sides. These boys knew trouble and from the looks of it knew it quiet frequently.

Even though she wasn't looking for trouble and just wanted a quiet time to ease the stench of death around her, she actually liked them. Juice with his wise ass quips and sexy smile, Jax ribbing on his boys and the way he looked at Tara, complete and utterly in love. Big Opie, sad eyes and smart ass remarks.

Bran liked Tara. She was funny, smart and easy to be around. She hoped that in with time Tara would be more then just a friendly neighbour, perhaps even a friend. She never had a girlfriend, wasn't really an opportunity for her to get one. She never went to school, was home schooled by a few aunts and even that was sporadic at best. For Bran, it didn't matter that Tara's man could be in some shady shit, she figured she could handle it. She was neither cocky or over confidant but if Jax or one his boys came back and put two bullets in the back of her head, she knew her Uncle would unleash hell in Charming like no other.

So in her mind, making friends with people who dabbled on the wrong side of the law, made her feel a little more at home in Charming and just as safe.

Thinking about what she would cook Tara and the boys dinner reminded her she hadn't eaten yet. She knew her fridge was empty as her truck hadn't left the front of the house since she parked it there this morning.

Deciding to hell with the kitchen and half unpacked house, she would go out in search of food or at least take out menus. Bran groaned as she started to search for her keys, not remembering where she left them last. She found them in the front hall way, in a hand blown glass bowl she blew herself in one of her art classes she took three years ago. The gold, and green bowl sat on an oak side table by the door.

Bran was slipping her feet into her flip flops on when she heard the rumble of a bike. She reached for her wallet on the table by the bowl as she could have sworn her heard the bike pull into her drive way. Her motion sensor lights turned on, confirming her suspicions.

"Late night caller, huh." Bran muttered as she turn to open the door to see who was in her drive way.

Juice got off his bike and reached for the large bag of Chinese food and six pack of beer. He really hoped he wasn't over stepping his boundary's by showing up back up at Bran's so late at night but it really was Tara's fault.

She had called him an hour ago on his cell phone, all causal like asking if he had eaten dinner. At first he thought she was inviting him for a late night dinner but didn't think Jax would appreciate him rolling up at a quarter to nine at night for dinner with him and the old lady when he heard Gemma telling Jax she was taking Abel for the night. He knew exactly how his VP was going to spend the night. Tara planted the bug in his ear that Bran probably hadn't made it out of the house all day to stock up on grocery's and wouldn't have any of the restaurants on speed dial for delivery.

He had tried to play down his attraction to Jax's new neighbour but Tara call his bullshit.

'Do you think I am stupid, Juice?" she asked him and he could just picture her face and those eyes like steel glaring at the phone.

"Now Tara, I never said that."

"You want her, and unless you don't want the rest of your horny brother's sniffing after her you best go and stake your claim. A girl like her, isn't going to chase after you like some skank cro eater. She won't care that you have a cut." Tara told him in that tone of voice he had heard her use many times when she wants something from Jax.

"I'm not that good at chasing, Tara."

"Your spoiled." Tara huffed on the phone. " Take her dinner and some beer. Make a little conversation, put in a little effort and when your brother's come sniffing around the new piece of ass in town like dogs in heat she won't look twice at them. Won't that just stick it to Tig?"

He heard Jax in the background as he hung up, yelling that if Bran turned down the food and beer to leave them on his front step and he'll eat them.

And here he was, standing in her drive way with a bag full of food and beer, feeling like a right idiot. He had half a mine to say fuck it and bail but her spot light was shinning and the lights in her house were on so he knew she was up to hear his bike.

What the hell was he suppose to say to her, and not look like a stalker. He didn't even know if she was interested in him. Yeah, he caught her once or twice checking him out but he had girls before think he was the shit before meeting the rest of the club, and then he became the left over, last choice option. He just didn't have that high of a standing in the club for their taste, apparently. Intelligence officer was only so interesting til you met the Sgt, in Arms or Chibbs with his apparently sexy accent or so he'd been told once or twice.

Bran watched him for a moment from the front door. The night had cooled down the temperature and it felt great compared to the heat of the day. The street was quiet and she could see that her neighbours were all in bed already. Juice stood in her drive way, holding something that smelled like heaven and what she hoped was a cold pack of beer in his other hand.

Boy, he was looking better then ever.

'Hey, stranger." Bran called out, snapping Juice from his inner monologue of doubt. She watched as his head pop up and he held up the food and beer like a white flag. He was still wearing what he wore earlier, jeans, shirt and vest and that wicked blade strapped to his hip. She noticed each of the ever so helpful men had one when they were helping her earlier in the day but didn't say anything.

Wasn't her business, then but if Juice was showing up this late, then it made her business now to at least enquire.

"Thought you might be hungry." Juice cringed at his weak line, and waited for her rejection. "So I brought food, to say you know sorry for your lip."

"So the food's just for me, and the beer is just for you?" Bran smiled at his nervousness and was a little bit herself. She didn't sleep with men often, to complicated on both ends and when she did they didn't bring her dinner and beer. This was uncharted territory for her.

"Well, I guess you could have a drink in exchanged for some food." Juice let out a small sigh of relief and started to move towards the front door. As he got closer he could see her better in the light from above the door. Her hair was out of pony tail and fell around her face in messy way that made her face more pretty. Her glasses were down her nose a bit and she had a look on her face that made him go a little bit hard.

"Think I can manage that, on the account of you saving me from leaving the house to hunt something up." Bran replied as she moved out of his way so he could step into the house." Sorry about the mess, the house and I haven't quiet made friends yet. And don't worry about the lip, I can hardly feel it anymore."

"You just moved in, I don't expect you to have everything in order." Juice said as he followed her through the house back to the kitchen. He looked around and reminded his OCD that this was not his house, therefore it would be very rude for him to start to fix everything. He doubted cleaning would get him into her pants.

But then again if that did it for her, give him a few hours and he'd set this place to right.

Seeing his slightly distress face, Bran chuckled. "Pretty bad huh? I couldn't keep myself on track when it came to unpacking. I get too excited to remember to finish what I start."

"I'm sure you got plenty of time to finish it." Juice told her as set the bag of food on a clear spot on the counter and opened the fridge to put the beer in. He grabbed two out of the carry case and closed the door. He watched as Bran opened a cupboard and retrieved a couple plates, then dug around in a few boxes to find some forks.

"Eat out on the back porch?" Bran asked referring to one of her favourite feature about the house. She loved the screened in back porch when she saw it on the realtor's website. The house came with a well loved swinging chain bench, that she meant to repaint later on. And it had well worn indoor carpet. Earlier on, one of the boys had carried out her brand new out door furniture she had bought just for this porch. A couple comfy chairs and a small coffee table. The best part, beside the swing was the sky lights in porches roof. The porch was the perfect star watching environment. "It's not to cold outside to eat right?"

"No it should be good." Juice replied as he held the two beers in one hand and grabbed the food in the other. He motioned for her to lead and followed out the back door from the kitchen and onto the porch.

Juice could see that Bran had managed to unpack at least some part of the house fully when he stepped out on the porch. She had spaced the chairs against the back wall looking out to the back yard, the coffee table in front of the chairs and a few wooden end tables around the chairs. There were candles in lantern's and out on their own in holders, and stack of fluffy cushions lay piled up against the brick wall by the porch swing. A thick flannel blanket was thrown over the back of the porch swing, creating a warm and comforting imagine.

"The back light is out, I have to replace it tomorrow." Bran told him as she put the plates and forks down on the coffee table. She mentally kicked herself when she realized the only light source out here would be the candles and the fairy lights she had hung up around the porch. This was going to turn into something awkwardly romantic, wonderful. Bran walked over to the plug that hung down the wall beside the outside outlet and plugged the lights in. They cast a soft glow around the porch." I'll have to go and dig around for a lighter for the candles."

"No need." Juice said as he reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his lighter. He handed it over to her then set about removing the Chinese food from the bag. He lay the food containers out on the coffee table and then dragged some of the cushions over so they could sit on them. He sat down and watched her move around for a moment before starting to open the containers. He was thankful the ride over didn't cool the food down too much.

Bran lit the candles that sat around the porch and then placed the lighter on the table. She sat down on the cushion and watch Juice pop open the containers. She grabbed the two beers and twisted off their tops. "Thanks for this, Juice."

"It's no biggie. Just figured you got to be hungry after all the work you did today." Juice took the beer that was handed to him, grateful for something in his hand. He took a drink, hoping to wet his dry throat. Jesus, he was out of practise making conversation with a woman he was interested in. He was so used to picking a more then will girl and having her on her knees with his dick in her mouth before she said hello. How the hell did Jax and Opie do this?

Bran looked at him, and even in the soft light of the candles she could tell he was embarrassed. It was endearing and sweet, something she did not expect out a leather wearing biker. "So what does dinner and beer usually buy you in Charming?"

"Depends if you like the food." Juice replied with a smile as he watched her lift the beer up to her plump lips, and take a drink. He gave her a crooked grin which when she returned made his pulse jump a bit.

"Well, I guess we need to see how the good the food is then." Bran didn't know what the hell had gotten into her. She was flirting with a man she knew nothing about, and contemplating at least letting him get to second base. She didn't know if it was the lack of food or if she was really that hard up for action she wasn't going to make him work for it.

She should have googled what to do on a first date. Was this even a first date? Shit, maybe she could go to the bathroom and google that.

Fuck, why couldn't she just had a normal fucking childhood.

" You'll have to let me know your rating."Juice was thankful he didn't cheap out on the food and go to the shitty Chinese place instead Kong Wo's. It was in his opinion far superior to Li Mai's.

To give her hands something to do she started to dish up her food and watch Juice do the same. Juice had to have bought at least one serving of everything on the menu as the table was almost covered with boxes of food that smelled beyond good.

The first bite almost made her weep, it was not the best Chinese food she ever had but it was good enough for an empty stomach. She are a bit more, watch Juice dig into his food before taking a drink of her beer.

"So, why did you more to Charming?" Juice asked her, figuring it was a safe question as any.

"Needed a change, put some miles between me and the family for a while." It was an honest answer for the most part, Bran figured as she played with the label on the beer. " Nothing's a bigger change then packing up and heading west, just seemed like a good idea."

"Just like that, you picked up and moved across the country to Charming." Juice looked at her in disbelief.

"I liked the name." Bran smiled at him and shovelled in another mouth full of food before saying. " I thought it would be charming, you know cause of the name."

Juice laughed for a moment before saying. "Well it is on the sign. You know, the name says it all or some shit like that. It was a pretty bold move here. What are you going to do here, I mean now that your here."

"Paint." she replied, surprised at herself for telling him. Her painting was private part of her that she never really told anyone about. " I'm kinda obsessed with it."

"You any good?"

"I wouldn't know if I was. Took a bunch of art classes and stuff but never really showed anyone but instructor's." Bran twirled some noddles on the tines of her fork before stabbing a piece of broccoli and popping the wad of food into her mouth.

"Do you have some pieces you've painted here?" he asked cutting the chicken ball in half with his fork. "I'd like to see some if you did."

Juice was actually genuine interested in seeing her paintings. He could they meant something to her, from the tone in her voice and the way her eyes lit up in the candle light. That made him interested in them.

Bran smiled and ate some more before answering. "Maybe. If I find something worth showing you."

"Alright." he said as he finished off the rest of the food on his plate. He laid his fork on his plate and drank his beer.

"What's with the vest?" she asked, picking up her beer and taking a drink. When she researched the town of Charming she had read several references to the name on his vest, SAMCRO but didn't really did any deeper into it as she never figured she would associate with any member.

"The vest? You mean my cut?" Juice asked holding the cut out a little so she could see it better. He was surprised she didn't know what it was, as everyone in Charming knew what it was, what meant and had an opinion on it. But he doubted where she was from she had MC clubs like SAMCRO.

"You call it a cut? Yeah, your cut, what's the deal with the matching outfits with your boys." Bran had eaten her fill and pushed the plate away from her. She picked up a container of food and shook it at Juice asking if wanted more. He shook his head no and she started to close up the containers on the table while occasionally drinking her beer. It was starting to get warm and she wanted a cold one, sooner rather then later.

"It's the cut of my club. Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original, home of the motorcycle enthusiasts and mechanics. Jax and Opie belong to same club." Juice said lightly giving her a mile wide grin. He knew to tread lightly around talk of the club, Bran wasn't an Old Lady, nor was she a contact of the club. There was shit she didn't need to know and he was sure within a few days the town would fill her in enough to make her weary of them. It wasn't a bad thing that he wanted this moment between them not to be tainted.

"And motorcycle enthusiast and mechanic carry a knife like that?" Bran's question hung in the air for a moment as she pointed to the knife with her beer.

Juice wish he would have left it on the bike before he came in but it was a habit to carry the knife. He didn't want scare her, but looking at her she didn't seem scared, curious perhaps but not scared. Shit, it was a good think his glock was in his saddle bag. That would get awkward in a hurry for sure. He took a drink of beer to buy him some time to think of a response. "Does it bother you?"

Bran stacked the containers and started to place them in the bag when she looked at him. She didn't feel threaten with him carrying a knife, knowing full well she could hold her own with bigger men and bigger knifes." No, should it? It's not like your a crazy serial killer who brings dinner over to the unsuspecting girls houses then slits her throat in the kitchen. Cause if you are, I have to warn you, I know kung fu."

"Not the last time I checked, I wasn't." Juice said laughing as he finished his beer and gathered up the plates.

"Good." she said as she grabbed her beer, and the food bag full of half empty containers and heading into the kitchen, downing her beer as she walked. " Cause I would kick your ass, Juice Box"

"Seriously? Your callin me Juice Box? Whatever, Bran Flake." snorted Juice watch her ass as she walked.

Bran laughed at his comment and opened the backdoor to the kitchen.

Juice followed her, trying to think of way to progress the night past dinner and one beer. He really didn't want to eat and go home. But he would if she gave him the signal.

He set the dishes in the sink and gave them a once over with hot water watching her open the fridge and set the food inside while leaving her beer bottle on the counter. She reached into the fridge and pulled out the rest of the six pack.

"Want to watch the stars, for a while and finish the six pack?" Bran asked, hoping he would want to stay for bit. She liked his company and felt oddly easy around him.

"Sure," Juice replied leaving the dishes in the sink and turning off the water. He reached for the beer she was holding out and twisted off the cap, leaving it on the counter. "Like out on the grass?"

"Nope, back porch has big ass sky lights." Bran told him as she headed for the back door. She turned around to him, flashing a flirty smile and saying. "Blow out the candles and I'll get the fairy lights. It's always better to watch them in the dark."

Bran felt bold, and brave and just a little bit sexy. She promised herself when she moved to Charming she was going to step out of her tight ass box and experience some things she didn't get to with her fucked up childhood. She wasn't going to sleep with him, but what was the hard in a little make out session under the stars?

Juice did as he was told blowing out the candles Bran had lit earlier. Bran grabbed one cushion and dropped it under the sky lights, leaving the beer beside it before going to pull the plug on the lights. Juice had taken her lead and snagged the other cushion, putting it beside hers.

Bran cracked the lid on a beer, took a drink and got her self settled on her cushion. She set Juice up, and now she was going to wait for him to make the move. She just hoped it was sooner rather then later because now that she had a full belly she was starting to feel tired. The beer was not helping either.

"It kinda always amazes me how freaking incredible the stars are."Bran said as she stretched out her legs and stared up at the black sky. Her beer rested on her stomach and she was slowly peeling the label off of it with her free hand.

''Yeah the are." Juice agreed, his body slightly up right and facing her. He wasn't watching the stars, had no interest in them. He was watching her.

Bran turned to look at Juice, feeling the warmth of his body next hers and seeing his face looking her not the sky. She angled her body more towards him and gave a quiet laugh. "Your not watching the sky, Juice."

"Found something better to look at, I guess." Juice replied reaching over and taking the beer from her hands, and putting it beside her as he moved his face towards her. He brought his hand up to her face and turned her more into him before pressing his lips to hers. They were soft, plump and thanks Jesus willing. He tilted Bran's head with one hand and with the other pulled her closer by tugging her shorts.

Bran tried to hide her smile, and hitched her leg over his hip and letting him pull her towards him. He kissed better then she expected from his nervousness. She kissed him back and ran her hands over his cut, trying to get under it.

He felt her kiss him back, and he pressed his tongue against her lips wanting access her mouth. He move his hand down from the top of the shorts to cup that ass he was starring at most of the afternoon. It was full, plump and her curves really turned him on. He pulled on her again, nestled her tight to him feeling his semi hard dick grind into her pussy.

Bran opened her mouth and felt Juice's tongue stroke hers while he ground his dick into her. She moaned and shoved her hands up his shirt. God, he was rock hard muscle. Solid, sculpted and smooth to the touch, she ran her hands up his chest and back down again. Taking her hands out of his shirt she pulled and pushed trying to get him on top of her. She wanted the damn cut off, it was annoying her and his fuckin shirt could follow the leather to the floor while he was at it.

Juice felt her try to move his body. He could guess by her movement she wanted him on top, and that was find by him. He rolled over, bracing himself over her with his arms so he wouldn't crush her. He felt both her legs squeeze the sides of his body tight against him as continued to kiss her, moving from her sweet mouth to the smooth curve of her neck leaving soft kisses along the way. He felt her small hands tugging on his cut, pulling it down over his shoulders with firm tugs. Most girls wanted him to fuck them with it on, but he could already tell Bran wasn't his normal type of girl.

Bran let out a hiss when Juice hit that spot. That sweet spot on the side of her neck with his mouth and for a moment her eyes rolled back into her head and her toes curled. Jesus, this boy had a way with his mouth and still was still dressed. He kissed her mouth again, slipping his tongue inside, tangling it up with hers. She felt his teeth scrap and playfully bite her bottom lip before sitting up on his knees. Bran watched as he threw the half off cut on the floor and like the smart boy he was got rid of his shirt. He lied back down, making sure their was a little space between their bodies, he didn't want to crush her with his weight.

Juice felt her hands on him. While his hands were intent on exploring her body, hers were resting either side of his face moving up ward towards his hawk. He felt her hand slid down the hawk and rest on the back his head. He liked when she did that, and for him that was weird. It usually pissed him the fuck off when a cro eater tough the 'hawk. But when she did it if felt right. He reached up and took off her glasses, pressing soft kisses to each of her closed eyes before putting the glasses someone above their heads on the floor.

He ran his hands through her thick hair and clenched in roughly in his hands and he kissed her deeper. She reached down and pulled him down on top of her, she welcomed his weight. She ran her hands down his smooth back, feeling the muscles tighten as her hands travelled down his ass. She cupped his ass, grinding herself into him as he continued to kiss her.

Juice moved his hand up her shirt pulling the hem as he went, he wanted it off and the bra too. He wanted to have his mouth on her breasts before he took her shorts off and put it somewhere else.

The cool night air on her stomach woke Bran out of her lust filled haze. She reached for Juice's hand and squeezed once. He stilled his movement, kissing her one last time before backing off a little bit.

"Too soon?" he asked her hearing her laboured breath. Fuck he was rock solid and it would be a bitch to stop, but he would if she wanted to. He wasn't the type of asshole who forced girls. That wasn't his style.

"I want to but I don't even know you last name." Bran chuckled as she reached her hand out for her beer.

"Ortiz." Juice handed it to her as he backed off a little to give her room to drink it. " It's ok, we can just chill for a while."

"Chilling is not what I had in mine Juice." Bran told him taking another long swallow of her beer.

"Baby, we'll do whatever you want.'

"I was hoping you'd say that.

Jax woke up having to take a piss and found himself in an empty bed. He ran his hand through his hair and through his legs over the bed to the cool hardwood floor of his bedroom. His mom taking Abel for the night was good, gave him some time alone with Tara. Something he could never get enough of it seemed ever. And time alone with Tara usual meant a really good, long fuck session. Sure they had sex when Abel was sleeping but you never knew how long it was going to be before the kid woke up. He had never met a cock blocker like his son, that's for sure.

Jax left the bedroom and headed for Abel's room to see if that's where Tara had ended up. When he stuck his head in the doorway, he saw she wasn't there. It wasn't like him not to wake up when she left the bed. He turned around and started for the bathroom.

"Babe?" he called out softly in to the dark house.

"In here."

He followed her voice to the living room. There stood his woman, peeping out the front window's like some perverted peeping Tom. She wore what she always wore to bed, one of his SAMCRO shirts and nothing else. There was no panties allowed in Jax Teller's bed. "What are you doing, Tar?"

"Juice's bike is still in Bran's driveway." Tara informed him, looking over her shoulder at him before returning to starring out the window.

"This is what you left our bed for at the 4am in the morning?" Jax walked over and stood over her shoulder, joining her in looking out the window. He saw that the front light was on and through the glass on the side of Bran's door he could just make out two figures locked in an embrace.

"No, I had to pee so I thought I would just check and then the light came on." Tara explained watching intently as the front door opened and Juice stepped out, putting on his cut. " So I stayed. Whatever, you would have too."

"Would not." Jax retorted as he leaned closer to the window. He watched his brother grab his new neighbour and pull her into a heavy kiss against the wall of the house. As Juice walked away from Bran towards his bike, Jax could swear the fucker had a little more swagger in his step.

"Your still here." Tara told him which earned her a firm slap on the ass.

They watched as Juice got on his bike, and started it up. He backed it out the drive way and before he tore down the street they watched him wave to Bran who was still standing the doorway watching him drive away.

"Did he seriously just wave at her?" Jax looked away from the window down at his woman with a look of disbelief at his brother's behaviour. Juice never failed to surprise Jax, weather it was feeding crank to a killer Doberman or believing Tig when he said anything was a vitamin, and now waving at a girl he just scored with. Boy had his own page for fucked up social skills for sure.

"He did for sure." Tara told him turning around as Bran closed her front door and the light went off in the house across the street. " You going to find out what happened from Juice tomorrow?"

"Like you have to ask." Jax put his hand on her waist and started to steer her back to their room, bathroom trip forgotten he was not intent on getting him some more.

"You going to tell me?"

" Like I would withhold from you." Jax was tired of prompting Tara to move down the hall and turned her around to face him. He grabbed a handful of her ass with both of his hands and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and starred down at him as he carried her down the hall. " You going to pump Bran for details on Juice's late night visit?"

"Of course." Tara kissed him hard as she felt him squeeze her ass in response. " What are good neighbours for?"

"True that, baby." And with that Jax dropped her on the bed, and proceeded to get him some.