A/N: I am SO very sorry, I thought I had already posted this chapter so imagine my surprise when I found out I hadn't. I apologize to all those who have been waiting. Also thank you to those who read, reviewed or put it in their favorites/follows list. I know how I want it to turn out I just have to get my muse in gear. Again thank you for reading. -TST

Chapter 5: Two years later

Rory never went back to visit Opie even though she could have gone anytime she wanted, she just felt as if there was no reason. In the following years she threw herself in to jobs taking on more difficult responsibilities and never complaining. It was on one of the last jobs that they had before Opie was released that she was hurt.

The job was a simple transportation job for one of the locals who felt he needed a body guard, Rory volunteered. On their way back home the driver of the car she was leading looked down to change the radio station and lost control of the car clipping Rory's bike. She was in a coma for three weeks and the doctors weren't sure she would recover. After she woke up much to the relief of her family and the guys, she couldn't remember what had happened. It was then that Gemma laid down the law, Rory was no longer a job taking member of the M.C. she was moved into "personal relations".

It was during one these meetings that she met Victor, a member of the Nomad Chapter of the Sons. It was learned he was tired of wondering and wanted to be a part of the Redwood Chapter, he had massive respect for Clay and Jax, and knew that with one of their members in prison and one off "active duty" that they were looking for a replacement.

"Victor you say you want to sit at our table here in Charming, you will have to prove yourself. We are going to send you out on a couple of jobs and if you do them to my satisfaction they guys who will be accompanying you will let me know and I will put it to a vote." Clay said thinking how different this process was now. Rory had redefined the way the table worked with her system, not that it bothered Clay, and she kept most of the useless endeavors off his table.

Clay like Victor, he knew Gemma would to because he would keep their feisty little girl safe. Victor came from a family where women were important, he respected his mother and his four sisters.

"Dad, Mom needs to see you." Rory, who had started calling Clay dad after her accident, said as she walked into the room. Looking up she saw he wasn't alone. "Sorry Dad the door was open and that usually means that no one is in here…"

Clay saw the beginning of a classic Rory run-on got up and put an arm around his daughter.

"Victor this is my adoptive daughter, Rory, she is also part of the table but she no longer does the active protection jobs. If you have any questions feel free to ask her." Clay felt Rory tense under his arm, knowing he was thinking that Victor was a replacement for Opie, he leaned in and whispered, "He's your replacement Shorty, not Opie's."

He could understand why she would think that for one he had been really upset then she came home from her visit with Opie and sobbed for days. Then she had taken all of the jobs she could and pushed herself hard, it was only after her accident that they finally put it all together, and put a stop to it. She was a wonderful mouth piece though and everyone who came to the club talked to her about anything they needed, even rival gangs/clubs.

"Nice to meet you Rory." Victor said as he shook her hand. Victor was impressed she was a beautiful woman, he wanted to talk to her all afternoon but he had things to do. He was going to become a part of this club even if he had to break the law to do it, but he hoped he wouldn't have to.

Rory who had felt a shock, like static electricity, smiled shyly at him, "Nice to meet you as well, Victor."

Both of them were intrigued by the other and as time passed and they spent more time with each other, it seemed that Rory was finally moving on to something serious. But everyone knew with Opie was where her heart really belonged. She never lied to Victor she told him from the beginning she loved another, he was content to just spend time with her though.

"Victor, I care for you, but I have always belonged to Opie ever since I was fifteen. I know that it is silly with him being married, but I still have hope he will see me again. I just didn't want you to have false hope for anything I can't give."

"I know Rory, I have known for a while but I would not trade this time for anything in the world. You are a beautiful person that I have been honored to know even for a brief time." He kissed her softly, "I know that when he wakes up and sees his mistake and claims you I will give you up willingly, but until then you and I can just be together." So they were, every free moment they had they were together, it was good to see Rory's smile reach her eyes, and to hear her truly laugh. Everyone counted down the days until Opie's release, there were going to be some fireworks.

The day finally arrived, Opie was getting released today. Two weeks ago Victor had become the newest member at the table, that night had been a wild party that ended with Rory spending the night with Victor, since then the two had become inseparable, goofing off in the club house, drinking, talking, and dancing. Jax, Clay, Gemma, and the rest of the guys were happy to see their girl happy again. They all were wondering how Opie would react to Rory's new boy toy. But he had Donna so he didn't have my room to wiggle.

Just then they all heard a screech followed by a laugh as Rory bolted around the clubhouse, Victor hot on her heels.

"Take them off you evil woman!" Victor yelled laughing as hard as she was.

"No! You know I am right, and your sisters agreed, tassels would look great on your bike."

"Doesn't mean you have to use a color that would blind all the other drivers on the road."

"But, yellow is a good color."

"Yes, yellow not a fluorescent yellow that should only be used as by someone in a reflective vest."

Slowing down as to not hit a patron cause Rory to be caught and tickled, "Say you will take them off."

"Fine, Fine, please have mercy."

Laughing Victor pulled her up and kissed her as catcalls and a few laughs rang out over the bar. It wasn't until a throat cleared by the door that everyone looked up, and a shockwave went through the room, there in the doorway stood Opie and Donna. Donna gave Rory a smug grin, Rory just ignored her and the stab of pain she felt at the sight of their joined hands.

Opie's voice broke the silence "What's going on here?" he asked looking directly at Rory who was waging on inner battle as to whether or not she should hug him or smack him.

The voice that came out of Rory could have frozen fire, "I was kissing my boyfriend Victor, who also happens to be a table member. He replaced me after I was taken off active assignments due to spending three weeks in a coma after I laid my bike down on a job that went south. Since Mom and Dad didn't want me that close to death again we decided that I could handle this side of the club."

Victor was frozen beside Rory, there beside Opie was his ex-wife. It was obvious she hadn't seen him, if she had she would be running, the reason for him having to become a nomad was right there with another man she was no doubt trying to pull away from club life. He knew what he was going to do but he just didn't know the consequences, so with a plan in mind he stepped into a better spot and said her name. "Donna?"