Noon was approaching when Jax awoke, his head throbbing and his back protesting. His head throbbed because of the amount of Irish Whiskey he consumed the night before. His back protested because of all the hours that had been spent sitting in the hard wooden chairs of the chapel. But even though a hangover and a sore back should have been enough to make him dread the sunlight and the day ahead, a buoyant feeling resided within him, a direct result of the previous night's intimate reunion with Avery.

Just the thought of Avery was enough to pull a genuine smile from his lips, a slow curve that crinkled the corners of his eyes and sent a pleasant warmth spreading through his chest. It also had a more immediate, visceral effect, a familiar stirring in his groin that quickly escalated into a hard throb of desire. He replayed their last encounter in his mind, each detail a spark igniting a more intense flame. The delicate way her fingers had traced the letters of his name on his skin after their kiss lingered in his memory, a silent promise and a possessive claim that thrilled him. He could still picture her fiery stride as she'd crossed the parking lot, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination as she'd reached for him, an unspoken declaration that he belonged to her, and no one else. The memory of her mouth on his was vivid, the soft give of her lips, the intoxicating taste that lingered even now. And then there was the feeling of her in his arms, the way she fit against him, a perfect melding that sent shivers down his spine and filled him with a profound sense of belonging. Each recollection was a potent reminder of the undeniable connection they shared, a connection that stirred both tenderness and a burning physical need within him.

A desperate need for release gnawed at Jax. He clenched his fist around his engorged cock, the heat of his own skin a stark contrast to the cool morning air. Slowly, deliberately, he began to stroke himself, his calloused hand sliding from the base to the swollen tip. A bead of pre-cum, slick and clear, escaped the slit, easing the friction and heightening the sensation.

He squeezed his eyes shut, Jax conjured the memory of Avery from the previous night. The image was vivid: Avery walking towards him, her worn paint-splattered clothes clinging to every curve of her body, strands of her usually neat hair escaping the confines of her ponytail, framing her face. Despite the messy attire, or perhaps because of it, she had looked utterly captivating. With each unhurried step she had taken across the parking lot of T.M, her breasts had moved beneath the fabric, a subtle, rhythmic bounce that had sent a jolt of pure lust through him.

Even now, hours later, the desire was a potent ache in his chest. All he could think about was burying his face between those soft mounds, inhaling her unique scent – a blend of turpentine, lavender soap, and something innately Avery. He longed to tease the rosy areolas, to trace the delicate skin with his tongue, remembering the possessive pleasure he used to derive from her soft gasps as he suckled. Were they still as exquisitely sensitive as they had once been? The question was a tantalizing torment, fueling the frantic rhythm of his hand. He imagined her reaction, the way her fingers would clench in his hair, the low moan that would escape her lips. The fantasy was so real, so visceral, that he could almost feel the warmth of her skin against his cheek, taste the sweetness of her. The need for her, raw and untamed, surged through him, each stroke a desperate plea for a connection that had been lost, a connection he now desperately craved to rekindle.

A primal tension coiled deep within Jax's core, a tightening that stole his breath and announced the imminent arrival of a pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. His muscles clenched involuntarily, a tremor running through his frame as the sensation mounted, each pulse a step closer to the precipice. The world narrowed to the feel of skin on skin, the ragged rhythm of his breathing, and the desperate pounding of his own heart. Just as the dam threatened to burst, a fragile whisper escaped his lips, a soft exhalation of the single name that had haunted his thoughts and inflamed his desire: "Avery." The sound was barely audible, a breath of longing carried on the wave of his release, a silent testament to the singular hold she had on his senses, even in the throes of such raw, visceral sensation.

Released, Jax reached for a cigarette on the bedside table for comfort. Taking a deep drag and wiping himself with a discarded shirt, he made a promise: his next orgasm would be solely with Avery.

After cleaning himself up and getting dressed, Jax made his way out of his room at the club house and into the main area of the club. All around him, evidence of last night's impromptu party and the hours that had been spent sorting out club business washed over him. Not like he needed a reminder of just how many hours he'd spent sitting in the hard wooden chairs of the club house's chapel addressing and trying to find solutions to SAMBEL and the Irish's concerns.

It had been around 3:00 am when SAMBEL, Father Ashby, and SAMCRO reached an agreement. John informed Ashby of his desire to remove SAMCRO from the illegal gun trade, saying that while the venture had been extremely lucrative for us over the years, it was time that we, as a club, moved on and moved in a more legitimate direction. The Irish consented to SAMCRO's exit from the gun business primarily because SAMCRO was the mother charter, and John had been instrumental in establishing SAMBEL. However, SAMCRO didnt get out free and clear. SAMCRO was tasked with repaying the cost of the guns that had been lost in the explosion, including interest, something that the club had agreed unanimously to. Now, with SAMCRO out of the gun trade, SAMDINO would assume control of the gun operations and was scheduled to arrive in Charming tonight to finalize the arrangements.

"So another late night seems to be in my future..." signed Jax, walking out onto the parking lot of T.M. Even as sadness at possibly not being able to sneak away to spend time with Avery, a smile spread across his face since he still had a handful of hours before SAMDINO would arrive. And he knew just where and who he wanted to spend a few of those hours.

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Mrs. Morrow was a woman of diminutive stature, appearing to be somewhere in her mid-seventies. Her silver-gray hair was meticulously styled into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, each strand stubbornly held captive by what seemed like an industrial-strength application of hairspray, a quantity that one might jokingly suspect contributed significantly to the thinning of the Earth's protective ozone layer. She sat patiently on the porch swing, her small frame almost swallowed by the aged wooden slats. Avery approached the porch, the rhythmic creak of the swing chains announcing her presence before she even offered a verbal greeting. "Good , Mrs. Morrow,afternoon," Avery began, her voice carrying a polite and respectful tone as she closed the distance between them.

"Good afternoon to you too, deary," Mrs. Morrow said, rising from the wooden swing. Noticing her slight struggle, Avery moved to assist her, wanting to ensure she didn't fall and get hurt.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I got here as soon as I could." Avery explained, her arm still hooked with Mrs. Morrow's.

Not at all. I quite enjoy any time that I get to sit outside and just take in my surroundings." said Mrs. Morrow, a smile on her face. "That being said though, it's starting to heat up out here and I don't do well in the heat. COPD is a nasty disease. Let's go inside and I can show you around."

"Let's." Said Avery smiling, a feeling of joy washing over her. She sent up a silent prayer as they neared the front door of the home, telling God that she hoped that this place wasn't a complete dump and that she had finally found a place that she could call her own.

As the two of them walked into the house, Avery took in the surroundings. Mrs. Morrow had been honest about the home being in good condition. She had also been right about the home needing a real updating.

"Deep down I thought you were kidding about the yellow plaid wallpaper." Said Avery as she tried to process the wild and crazy colors and patterns that covered every inch of the living area.

"My sister loved yellow plaid as you can tell. When she and her husband built this place, he added this as a surprise for her because she just loved the colors. When he died some years ago, she couldn't bring herself to paint over it or have it removed." Explained Mrs. Morrow as she sat down in one of the chairs in the room.

"I can understand that. I remember coming by this place on my way home from school from time to time. The yard was always immaculate even though I never saw anyone outside." Said Avery.

"So you grew up here then?" Asked Mrs. Morrow.

"Yes ma'am. Quincy and Paige Mitchell are my parents. I left the area a little over ten years ago to go to law school at Duke University. I've recently moved back to open up a law firm on Main Street." Said Avery.

"I know your parents well. I taught Quincy in the 5th grade. Had Paige a few years behind him." Said Mrs. Morrow as she stood from the chair and began walking around the room.

"I'll tell them you said hello." Said Avery.

"Please do sweetheart." Said Mrs. Morrow smiling up at Avery. "So you're the one who brought the old real estate building?"

"Yes ma'am. I've been working day and night getting that place ready for the movers who are arriving tomorrow." Avery explained. "Its been a labor of love for sure but I'm hoping that it will pay off in my favor."

"I'm sure your parents are extremely proud of you for accomplishing so much." Said Mrs. Morrow.

"I sure hope so ma'am," said Avery. Her voice cracked as she spoke and her eyes watered. All she had ever wanted was to make her parents proud. And even though they had told her countless times just how proud they were, she never tired of hearing it. Just as she never got tired of working to make sure that they stayed proud of her.

Once Mrs. Morrow had shown Avery every room of the house, the two of them walked out into the yard.

"So, what do you think?" Asked Mrs. Morrow.

"I think it's in my price range, close to my work, and close to my parents. I'm thinking this place is going to be a good fit for me." Said Avery.

"That's good. And to sweeten the pot, I'm willing to drop the price to $35,000 just for you." Said Mrs. Morrow.

"Mrs. Morrow, you're already well below the tax value of this place according to what you told me earlier. I don't want to feel like I'm cheating you out of anything." Said Avery.

"Sweetheart, you're not cheating me out of a thing. This place was paid for when Edith -that's my sister- died. The only thing that's left is to pay the taxes on it every year. As I said earlier, I'm on a fixed income and I can't really afford to pay the taxes on it. You'd be doing me a favor in taking this off my hands." Said Mrs. Morrow. "Plus, you're the first person to inquire about it. You're a local girl who's going to do good things for this community. I couldn't think of anyone better to make this place a home."

"I... I don't know what to say. When do you want to make this final? I have enough in my savings to put a good down payment on this and finance the rest."said Avery.

"How about we go over to the bank tomorrow and start the paperwork? Say 9:00am?" Said Mrs. Morrow.

"Sounds good to me. I'll see you then." Said Avery.

"See you then sweetheart." Said Mrs. Morrow as she climbed into her car.

Avery stood on the porch, watching as Mrs. Morrow pulled away from the house. Joy spread though her at the fact that she was going to own a place that she could call her own. She could make it what she wanted, make memories inside its walls with those closest to her, and hopefully one day she could bring her children home to it. She knew that it wouldn't be easy, knew that it was going to be hard, but that wasn't about to stop her. In the past twenty-four hours, things were finally starting to go in her favor and it looked as if the future was bright.

"It's good to be back in Charming..." she whispered, as she walked away from the home and back to her office.