A/N - So it's double-update day as I have some time. Enjoy!

When Juice returned empty-handed, Jax shrugged it off with surprising coolness. He looked around at the rest of the club, it was only Tig who really knew the reason for their missing comrade and it was unlikely he wanted to share the details.

"Nero wants to buy us out of Diosa."

The news came as a surprise to most and a murmur moved around the table. Jax let it die down before saying any more.

"Why?"

Clay was the first to ask. He had never been interested in pussy but Bobby had assured him it was financially a smart move. It seemed a shame to lose it, especially now the place was making decent money and turning it over quickly for them.

"His own reasons," Jax said. "He wants distance from the club and I don't think that's all that bad considering the shit he did outside." He grimaced. "I swear, I've already added the bike damage to the price we'd be asking for for our share."

"You gonna smoke him out, boss?" Tig asked, unsure if maybe it was a risky play. Jax shook his head.

"If he wants to go, let him go. The ticket price is high but it's his choice. Bobby's put together a number high enough that we'd have the funds to start our own arrangements, there's a nice big house in Stockton we could easily use."

"But we'd have no girls?" Happy frowned. Jax smiled.

"We'll take the Cara Cara girls back, offer them a better cut. Nero'll have to shut Diosa down and the rest will follow. We can cut him out within six months."

It was cruel and Jax was grateful not to have Chibs at his table, he was sure the Scot would go straight back to his new girlfriend and give her the heads up. Tig nodded, he liked the sound of all of this. Jax was getting vengeful, that was when presidents worked best.

"Paperwork's going to Nero with our buyout price tonight, we'll have the money in a couple of days, no doubt. TM can front the money for the deposit on the new house if we're all in agreement."

There were murmurs of approval and Jax was about to bring the gavel down on it when Juice interjected,

"We should wait for Chibs to vote it."

"Chibs is not a priority right now." Jax's voice was cold as he said it. He pushed the Sergeant badge forward on the table. "I want to change things around a little."

He rested the patch in place at the seat and motioned to Happy to come take it. Juice, a little offended on his best friend's behalf, gritted his teeth.

"All in favour?"

Sergeant was about who could best protect the President and it was clear it had to be Happy if not Chibs. They all voted quickly, and Juice voiced Chibs' proxy begrudgingly.

"Good, this is good," Tig muttered, looking around at them as Happy moved to take his new seat. "Fresh blood."

"Speaking of blood." Jax narrowed his eyes as he looked at him. "Tiggy here fucked up with that girl. Nina Padilla." Juice felt his skin going cold, knowing that Chibs was with her even now. He wondered if he should say something but kept his lips sealed, faithful. "You gotta take something for it, man."

"He already hit me with a goddamn baseball bat, Jax, come on." Tig pouted, his bright eyes looking at him beseechingly. He tapped his jaw, bruised, and flashed his swollen gums at the others. "What do you want from me?"

"You go see Nero, let him do what he wants," Jax said firmly. "I'll lay down the lines, anything but dead or mutilated, but you go and you take that shit."

Tig groaned but he knew it was the only way to settle the disagreement. "Fine," he muttered sulkily. This was how they got right with each other, he could take it, he'd had his short-lived pleasure and now he had to pay for it. "Make the arrangement, I'll be there."

"What did you do?" Bobby asked, leaning back and resting his hands on the table. Tig lowered his eyes and waited for Jax to out his suspected actions but Jax shook his head.

"That doesn't matter, he's learned his lesson." He gave Tig a look to let him know it was in control. Tig was beholden to him and that was all he needed. Tig nodded, it wasn't a question, he would do whatever it took to settle his debt. "Anything else?"

Nobody spoke and Jax brought his gavel down, nodding to them to leave. Once the final man had sidled out, Jax pulled out his burner and thumbed through the numbers.

"I want Galen," he muttered. "Now."

There was a moment of silence before he heard that rough Irish growl on the other end of the line. "Jackson."

"I need a little... favour." Jax smiled as he glanced towards the door of chapel. "I need you to send someone to Charming for me."

Chibs smiled warmly as he felt Nina fall asleep on his bare chest. They had both been getting too hot, he had stripped his shirt off and she had curled up on him, her hand against his heart as she closed her eyes. Now, finally, she had fallen into a deep rest on him, listening to his rhythmic heartbeat.

"I could fall in love with you," he whispered into her hair guiltily. He knew he shouldn't say it but she couldn't hear him and he had been wanting to since the first time they had made love. It was something so simple but even letting it out made him smile with relief.

He curled her hair on his fingers and kissed her forehead softly. His lips were soft and wet against her, she smiled in her sleep and nuzzled against him dreamily.

"You confuse me." He sighed. "I don't know what it is about you. You make me do stupid things but I want to, for you." He laughed at himself. "I should shut up, you're probably pretending to be asleep. You'll pop those pretty little golden eyes open and laugh at me."

He eased her off his body and slipped the pillow beneath her to support her head as he got up. His back clicked and he laughed at himself, he was an old man really. Why was she even here? What interest did she have in him? He smiled. Maybe he did still have some of that old Scottish charm in him.

There was a knock on his front door and he rolled his eyes, it would be Juice with a wrap-up of the meeting, reporting back. He didn't even look as he opened the door, swinging it back expectantly. "How was it?" he asked, leaning straight into the fridge to get a couple of beers out. "Keep your voice down, she's on the couch."

"Is she now?"

He froze and stood, feeling out of sorts as he heard Fiona's tone. She gave him a dark smile as she tiptoed closer to him and put her arms around his neck. Chibs could feel electricity running down his spine as her lips grazed his neck and jaw.

"I suppose I'll just have to join you in your bed then, Filip," she teased, her fingers tiptoeing along his bare body down towards his belt. "We have catching up to do, and I've missed you."