Clara let out an exasperated sigh as she stood in the middle of the half furnished apartment her Uncle had apparently decided to sign a lease on for her. Which was all fine and well except for the fact that he'd decided to do it without consulting her first.

It wasn't that she didn't like the apartment. To be honest she loved it.

It was the weekend and Bobby was hard at work moving his niece in to her new apartment. Well he wasn't the one who was hard at work. The prospects he'd brought along with him however were doing all the heavy lifting.

The apartment was roomy for a one-bedroom place. The apartment complex itself was very beautiful. There was green grass outside and plenty of nice big trees that provided a perfect shade.

The complex itself was shaped like one big hollow two-story square. The parking lot was located in front of the building. The front entrance was gated with a security code that only the tenants were supposed to know.

When you entered the complex you walked right into a very nice iron gated pool and patio area. From there you could take stairs up to the second story or just enter your apartment if you were on the bottom floor.

The apartment Bobby had chosen for Clara was on the bottom floor right in the center of the complex.

She was directly across from the pool, which she completely adored. The pool was a big one, and the clear blue water looked so tempting.

She adored the apartment, but she couldn't shake the sense of guilt she felt about allowing her Uncle Bobby to spend so much money on her.

She shook her head as she turned to her uncle. "There's no way I can accept this. I mean... you've given me so much money. It's going to take me forever to pay you back for all that you've given me."

Bobby let out a sigh not surprised that his niece was fussing about all that he was doing for her.

She'd always been reluctant to take anything that she considered charity.

This was an argument they'd had at least a dozen times before, since she'd become a teenager.

She wasn't very comfortable with his habit of trying to spoil her.

The spoiling had started when she was just a baby. Tammy hadn't had much cash on her and Oak was spending most of what he had on heroin.

So Bobby had stepped on in and bought his niece anything Tammy had needed for her.

When she was a toddler he'd bought her a little purple tricycle that he'd attempted to make a tiny bit badass by painting flames on the sides of it. When she was a child he had bought her a dollhouse, and dolls, and girly dresses. Clay and his brothers had teased him of course for this. There he was a badass biker buying his niece frilly dresses and plastic tea sets.

His first ex wife had been pissed that he spoiled Clara so much of course, but he always ignored her. She had been jealous of his relationship with Clara. You aren't her daddy. Make her mother step up his ex wife had always said.

As Clara had grown older though she'd begun to feel a little ashamed of just how much Bobby doted on her. After all he shouldn't have had to step in and play the role of her father. And he didn't have to spend such a fortune on her. Yes she knew that her mother didn't earn much working odd jobs and waitressing, but her uncle shouldn't always have to pick up their messes.

She had developed a guilty conscience about it all. It made it difficult for her to just smile and take what was given to her.

He moved aside allowing the two prospects he'd brought along with him for the heavy lifting, to shove a sofa back against the living room wall.

Today was moving in day and Bobby had provided some furniture from one of his storage lockers to furnish Clara's apartment.

He spoke up trying not sound frustrated with her refusal to accept this gift. "You know that I don't care how long it takes to get my money back, not with you kid."

She let out a sigh not helping but to feel ashamed about what a total mess her finances were.

It stung to think that she'd gone from living in a big luxury condo to living in a one bedroom apartment that her Uncle had to pay the rent for.

Her bank account was pathetic. She'd just started a job that she was sure was going to be hellish. And she felt so lonely here without her best and only friend.

She stared down at the light hardwood flooring below her not wanting to meet her uncle's eyes. She couldn't bear to let someone who was so important to her see how humiliated she was.

Bobby gave her a sad smile as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. He knew just how bruised her pride was at the moment.

He waited until the prospects had wondered back outside to the moving van they'd rented for the day, before he spoke. "You know you're like the daughter I never had. I'd do just about anything for you Clara."

"It's just so embarrassing... Everyone was so proud of me and I just let everybody down. I feel like such a failure." She admitted this being the first time she'd ever expressed any of this out loud.

She didn't feel like she could just tell her mother how she was feeling. Clara knew it would break Tammy's heart if she knew just how damaged her daughter felt.

Clara didn't feel like she could tell Victoria either. Her best friend had done so much to help her over these past two years; giving her clothing, helping her find a job in Vegas, and taking her out when she thought Clara was feeling low.

Clara felt so guilty bringing Victoria down with her issues. Any healthy friendship should be equal parts give and take, and Clara felt like it had become more take on her part than give.

Bobby had always been the one person on the planet who Clara felt like she could trust. She knew she could always open up to him without the fear of being rejected or judged.

He'd always been the one who told her he was proud of her no matter what.

Bobby did his best to give Clara cheerful smile though it came out a bit flat as he spoke up. "Everyone screws up sometimes kid. You aren't a failure. You didn't stay down when you got knocked over. You got back up and tried to push through it. I'm proud of you and so is your mom. No one is disappointed in you, and if they are then fuck em. You just have to keep on giving it all you've got. Feeling sorry for yourself helps no one."

Clara took a deep breath as she tried to push all the thoughts of what an utter and complete failure she was out of her mind.

She knew her uncle was right. She had worked so hard these past two years. She'd done all that she could to get her life back on track.

She had no where to go from here other than up. You couldn't hit rock bottom twice.

Clara knew that her uncle had told her the words she needed to hear. He'd always had his way of giving her the right amount of sympathy and tough love right when she needed it.

"Maybe things will be better here." She blurted out finally looking up from the floor.

She was finally home, she reminded herself. Charming was just the change she needed in her life.

She had everything she needed here to sort her shit out.

Things would be better, she told herself.

Things had to get better, How much lower could she get?

Chibs was in for shock when he walked up to his apartment a plastic bag from the gas station that contained his cigarettes and some of his favorite beef jerky in hand.

He almost didn't recognize Clara as she pulled a heavy cardboard box towards her front door.

She had ditched the yellow dress and was now wearing red and white polka doted ked canvas sneakers, short jean shorts, and a red ribbed tank top. Her short hair was pulled back into a small ponytail keeping her cool as she worked.

The one thing that made her almost unrecognizable for a moment, was the pair of black framed cateye glasses she wore over her eyes.

"Chibs." She blurted out her eyes widening as she spotted him standing at the front door of the apartment right next door to hers.

Chibs stared at her his jaw dropping as he realized just who it was.

He'd known that Bobby was moving Clara into this apartment complex, Chibs just hadn't expected it to be right next door to him.

He cleared his throat surprising himself as he spoke an almost flirty tone to his voice. "Oh so it's Chibs now."

Clara felt her cheeks flush knowing that this comment was in reference to the fact that she'd called him Filip the last time they'd spoken.

"I thought I may have stepped out of line Wednesday. I know most of you guys hate being called by your real names." Clara replied as she looked down at the box in front of her.

She prayed that he hadn't noticed the way her cheeks had flushed at his comment.

Chibs stared at his front door suddenly realizing just how flirty he'd just sounded. What was wrong with him, he wondered a little embarrassed by what he'd just done.

"I didn't recognize ya with the glasses." Chibs blurted out so ready to change the subject away from the fact that he'd pretty much just been flirting with her.

Clara looked up at him a small smile on her face as she spoke. "Yeah I usually wear contacts."

"The glasses are nice." Chibs replied meaning what he said. He had to admit that the retro looking glasses were kind of cute on her.

He nodded down at the box she'd been struggling to get into her apartment. "I thought yer uncle brought over some prospects ta help ya with the movin in."

"Yeah I kind of sent them home...it felt a little too much like slave labor to me." Clara explained chuckling a little at her own joke.

Chibs gave her a smile not helping but to like the sound of her laughter. It was light almost airy and childlike. "Would ya like some help?"

Clara raised her eyebrows as she tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. "You wouldn't mind? I mean there's only a few more boxes. It's art and jewelry making supplies, you know turquoise and metal, so it can get heavy."

"I wouldn't mind at all lass." He assured her as he laid his plastic bag in front of his closed front door. Hopefully no one would decide to snatch it up while they worked.

It didn't take long to get the leftover boxes in Clara's apartment. She knew it would take her a century at least to unpack all the little things Bobby had given her.

Her uncle had assured her that it was no problem. He had a ton of things left over from both his ex wives, as well as a ton of extra bits of furniture he kept in storage lockers around town. For once his addiction to antiquing had done some good.

Clara knew her apartment would be a little ugly. The furniture didn't really match; it was an eclectic mixture of expensive antiques and stuff that just looked cheap.

She knew that it would just take some time for her to find a way to make it all work together.

She spoke up knowing that Chibs must be overheated at the moment. Though it was early winter it was a little warmer than usual. "Do you want a beer?"

Chibs was tempted to say no. He was tempted to rush back to his apartment before he wound up flirting with her again.

He ignored the voices in his brain telling him to say no thanks as he spoke up. "Sure if ya don't mind."

One beer wouldn't hurt anyone, he reassured himself.

He took a seat on the grape purple sofa Bobby had given Clara, as Clara made her way to the kitchenette.

At least her kitchenette had come fully furnished with large appliances. There was even a washer and dryer, which was a huge relief considering Clara hated laundromats.

She grabbed two bottles of beer from the fridge relieved to see that they were ice cold already; no one liked hot beer.

She made her way back to the living room handing Chibs his beer before she sat down beside him.

She was tempted to scoot a little closer to him, but she ignored the desire keeping a safe but comfortable distance from him on the sofa.

"Ya got some intrestin taste in furniture lass." Chibs blurted out cursing himself as he realized the flirty tone had returned to his voice.

Clara either didn't notice or she pretended not to as she spoke up laughing. "Yeah it's my uncles. It's all odds and ins, so it's a little mismatched.

She knew that it was more than a little mismatched though. The recliner he'd given her was a grungy yellow, the couch was a hideous shade of grape like purple, and the lampshade on the floor lamp he'd given her was crimson.

Her living room looked as though a rainbow had wondered in and thrown up all over everything.

At least the bedroom was nice, she reminded herself.

Bobby had given her a dark heavy iron queen sized bed and a mattress. The bright red comforter she'd brought from when she still lived in Vegas, looked nice against the almost black iron of the head and foot board.

The dresser was a baroque style piece that had been painted black. Her silver lamp and dark blue lampshade looked stylish against the black.

The only thing that really bothered her, not counting the rainbow bright living room furniture, was the lack of decor. She knew that this could be solved easily with some time though.

"So ya start workin at TM Auto tomorrow?" Chibs asked as he took a big swig of from his bottle of beer.

He hoped that perhaps the alcohol would dull the fact that he felt like a school boy sitting here beside Clara.

He hadn't felt both this awkward and anxious since he was thirteen years old. He couldn't help but to wonder why most of the bravado he always seemed to have around women disappeared when it came to Clara.

Maybe it was just because she was someone whose opinion of him actually mattered, he decided.

Clara wasn't just some moronic croweater who would screw him no matter what she really thought of him.

He frowned at this thought, the mention of having sex throwing him off guard. Why was he even thinking about sex and Clara in the same thought, he scolded himself.

She was a friend, just a dear friend. You weren't supposed to think about fucking and friends at the same time.

Clara felt her stomach churn at the mention of her new job. "Yeah...is Gemma always like this or is it just me?"

She felt her stomach drop when she realized that she'd just hinted at exactly how she felt about Gemma out loud. Talking shit about the Queen of Samcro to a Son probably wasn't the best plan.

Chibs glanced over at her his eyebrows pulling slightly together in a sympathetic frown. He was not surprised to hear that Gemma was giving her a hard time.

Clara's past and just who her father was probably didn't make her too popular in Gemma's eyes.

He tried to give her a small smile as he spoke up. "Aye she is. She's just wary of outsiders. Jus give er some time and she'll lay off ya."

Clara nodded her head as she returned his smile. She was just grateful that he wasn't insulted by her choice of words when it came to Gemma. "I hope you're right. I know my past isn't doing me any favors. It's just...difficult to think that everyone is judging you for something that was so far out of your control."

Chibs took himself and her by surprise as he reached out placing a gentle hand on her knee. He couldn't help but to admire just how soft the skin was as he spoke up. "I'm sorry fer what happened to ya Clara."

Clara was surprised that his comment didn't make her feel shitty or defensive. Usually when people told her they were sorry for all that she'd been through she was always tempted to respond spitefully with; why it's not like you did it.

Chibs' words actually made her feel a small sense of comfort. She knew that he wasn't just spouting off bullshit to her.

Chibs removed his hand from her knee quite reluctant to pull away. He shook his head knowing that this action of touching her knee was probably crossing the line of just being friendly and being a little too tender.

He took another swig of his beer as he stood up knowing that he better get out of here before he did something idiotic. "Thank ya fer the beer Clara. I better get home. Night."

She gave him a small smile honestly saddened to see him go. She'd been enjoying his company. And she'd would be lying if she tried to say she didn't like the feel of his hand on her knee and the flirty tone his voice had taken when he'd spoken to her a few times.

"Anytime. Good night Filip." She stated a blush developing along her cheeks as she realized she'd called him Filip once again as opposed to Chibs.

Chibs didn't notice he had a dopey grin on his face until he closed the front door to his apartment behind him.

He liked it when she called him Filip.

Clara started out her morning bright and early before the sun even rose. She had a quick cup of coffee before changing into her workout gear.

She stepped out doing the same thing she did every morning in Vegas, she went on a run around the neighborhood refusing to let down until she was exhausted.

Clara felt her best when she kept up a strict workout routine. She was determined to get and keep her body into the best shape possible.

It seemed that over the past two years her routine had only become more intense. She didn't eat enough and she pushed herself too hard.

She knew it wasn't healthy, but it felt good to put every ounce of stress, heartbreak, anger, and resentment she felt into her runs and her diet.

Clara made it back to her apartment with a few hours to spare before she had to be at TM Auto for her first day of hell.

She widened her eyes panic setting in as she turned on her shower and no water came out. She turned the faucet on and off a few times becoming more panicked as she got the same result.

Her showerhead was bone dry.

She tried the water in the sink letting out a groan when she saw that it was just as dry as her shower.

She stomped out of the bathroom heading for the big closet in the hall were her waterheater and meter were cleverly hidden.

Each apartment had it's own meter and water heater, so each tenant could be charged differently for their utilities.

It seemed that Clara's meter was broken. She let out a frustrated whimper realizing that she wouldn't get her shower.

This was a huge problem given that she was sweaty and didn't smell nice at all thanks to her workout this morning.

There was no way she could go to work smelling this rotten, she thought beginning to become even more panicked.

She felt her stomach roll realizing that she only had one realistic option; borrow the neighbors shower, Chibs' shower.

She gathered all that she'd need in a plastic grocery sack; fresh clothing, a big fluffy towel, and her soap and shampoo plus conditioner.

She stared in the mirror in the bathroom letting out a huff as she realized that she looked like a disaster. She was damp with sweat, and her face had a red tone to it from all the activity she'd been through this morning.

Clara knew she didn't have much of a choice though. She wasn't going to work smelly, she wasn't going to burden her Uncle by borrowing his shower, and she wasn't pissing Gemma off by not showing up to work.

This was going to be humiliating.

Clara gave Chibs a shy smile as he answered his front door. His eyes were still heavy with sleep and his hair was a mess. He usually never woke up this early.

He'd barely had time to throw on a dirty shirt over his black sweatpants when he'd heard the heavy knock at his door.

He'd been so ready to curse out whoever was waking him up at the crack of dawn until he saw just who it was.

"This is really weird but I need to borrow your shower. My water heater is busted and I just got done going for my morning run. I'll be quick I swear. You won't even notice I'm here." Clara blurted out knowing that she looked like such a loser at the moment.

Chibs let his eyes scan her body not helping but to take in what he could see of her toned stomach underneath the light pink crop top and cotton black shorts she wore to run in. Her body was shapely; full in the all the right places. Her breasts, hips, and her bottom gave her curvy form.

It was clear that the woman took good care of her body. He couldn't help but to enjoy the way her body glimmered with perspiration and her skin flushed. She looked as though she'd just had amazing sex, he realized.

He huffed wondering why his brain had to go straight to the gutter with her. That thought was so inappropriate, he told himself.

"Aye the meters can be a bit troublesome when ya firs move in." He explained remembering how shitty his own meter had been when he'd first tried to shower.

He stepped back allowing her into his apartment as he spoke up. "Yah can borrow the shower. It's the same place yers is."

She stepped into his apartment surprised to see that it was sparsely decorated.

He had one big pale blue tartan sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a large television. The coffee table was covered with an clay black ashtray, a few empty cans of beer, a motorcylce magazine, and what was clearly a porn magazine.

There were no photos nor paintings, nor really anything that gave it personality.

She had to wonder why he didn't at least have some personal items here.

She knew that his wife and daughter were in Ireland. She knew that he wasn't allowed to see them; something involving the IRA and how his cheeks had become so scarred.

Clara had never asked Chibs to elaborate on his past. She imagined it wasn't a happy one.

She had never wanted to offend him or bring up bad memories by asking him about his family or his life in Glasgow Scotland and then Belfast Ireland.

And she sure as hell had never asked him about his scars. She could imagine that it was a sensitive subject. She was sure he wouldn't want to relive whatever had happened to him.

Clara tore her eyes away from his coffee table as she spoke up. "Thank you so much Filip. You're a lifesaver."

"It's alrigh lass. That's what friends are fer." He replied giving her a tight smile as he tried to resist the urge to admire her body again.

She took him completely by shock as she leaned up pressing a soft kiss to his cheek right over one of his scars.

She pulled away quickly speaking to him as though she hadn't just done something that went a little beyond friend like behavior. "Thanks Filip. I'll be out of here before you know it."

He nodded his head stunned by what she'd just done. No one ever kissed his scars. They didn't even touch them.

That was usually the way he liked it.

The croweaters knew to stay clear of his scarred cheeks. Most of them made it clear that they were purposely avoiding even glancing at them.

The little kiss Clara had pressed to his cheek hadn't brought out anger, or shame, or any negative feelings at all.

It actually felt pleasant.

He watched her disappear down the hall seemingly oblivious to the way her kiss to his cheek had affected him.

He plopped down on his sofa his head leaning down to rest in his hands as he began to realize just how screwed he was.

Being just friends was becoming harder and harder.

Reviews? Constructive Criticism?

Chapter Title song; Just Friends by Amy Winehouse.