Hearing the unmistakable sound of Jax's Harley-Davidson approaching after her meeting with Mrs. Morrow, Avery's heart quickened. Memories of the previous night flooded back – their kiss and declarations of belonging to each other. The intensity of those recollections left her restless and unable to remain still as she finished staining her office floors. She knew, without even looking, that it was him.

She moved towards the door of the office building, watching as Jax made quick work of parking the bike and removing his helmet. She watched as he slung his long leg over the bike and began walking towards her, a look of determination on his face.

Avery's surprise hung in the air, her question a mere whisper against the sudden pounding of her heart. "What are you doing here?" she managed, her voice betraying a tremor she couldn't quite control. The unexpected sight of him had stolen her breath, leaving her slightly disoriented.

Jax's gaze held hers, unwavering and intense. A small, almost hesitant smile touched his lips before he spoke, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers down her spine. "I wanted to see you," he confessed simply, the words carrying a weight that resonated deep within her. And then, before she could fully process his presence, before she could formulate a response to the yearning in his eyes, he closed the distance between them, pulling her gently but firmly into his embrace.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as his arms wrapped around her, a familiar and comforting pressure that chased away the lingering surprise. A rush of emotions flooded through Avery – a mixture of shock, a surge of undeniable longing, and a nervous flutter of anticipation. Her own arms instinctively found their way around his waist, clinging to him as if he were an anchor in a turbulent sea.

Before she could articulate the myriad of thoughts swirling in her mind, before she could question the suddenness of his arrival or the intensity of the moment, Jax's lips descended upon hers. The kiss was immediate, a fervent claiming that left no room for doubt or hesitation. It wasn't a gentle exploration, but a passionate and blistering assault on her senses, a whirlwind of pent-up desire and unspoken needs. Her breath hitched, and a jolt of pure electricity coursed through her veins as his mouth moved over hers, erasing all other thoughts, leaving only the intoxicating sensation of his touch.

When Jax broke the kiss, he kept her body close to his, his hands on her and gently caressing her seductively. "Missed you, baby." he said, going in for one more quick kiss.

"Missed you too," said Avery.

"I want to apologize again for not calling you and telling you I had been hung up."

"I wish I could say that I didn't automatically assume that you just didn't want to spend time with me." said Avery. "But one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I don't regret showing up to the club house last night. I liked showing everyone that you belong to me."

"I liked that part too." Jax smiled, adding a little wink that made Avery weak in the knees.

"Anyway, did you get everything sorted out with the club? I know you can't tell me details but I just want to make sure that last night was worth the long night."

"Yeah, everything's all sorted out," Jax said, his voice carrying a newfound lightness. His hand, calloused and familiar, moved to rest gently on the crow that is inked on her side. His gaze locked with hers, the intensity in his blue eyes softened by a sense of resolution. A wave of easiness radiated from him, a tangible shift in the tension that had clung to him for so long. She could feel it washing over her, a comforting balm on her own frayed nerves. "Big changes are coming for SAMCRO," he elaborated, a hint of anticipation flickering in his eyes. "Everything we've been working towards, fighting for... it's finally starting to fall into place. It won't be easy, there will still be challenges, but the direction we're headed... it's the right one." He paused. "We're turning a page, baby. Starting a new chapter."

"How so?" Asked Avery.

"You know I can't tell you that." Said Jax. His hands moved to her face where he cupped her cheeks gently. "I wish I could but it's best that you don't know all the details."

"I'm a lawyer, Jax. Your lawyer if that's what I need to be." said Avery.

"I know," said Jax with a sigh. "I just, I don't want to jinx anything. The details are still being ironed out and things can still go bad."

Avery nodded, her gaze softening as she considered his words. She could feel the weight of his reluctance, the hesitation in his voice that spoke to the burden of everything he was carrying. She knew it wasn't easy for him to let anyone in, to share the uncertainties of his world — the world of SAMCRO, with its loyalty and dangers, its unspoken rules and constant shifting tides.

She reached up, gently brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, her touch tender and understanding. "I get it, Jax," she said softly, her voice quiet but firm. "But just remember, you don't have to carry everything alone. I'm here. I might not have been here for the past ten years, but I am here now, and I am not going anywhere."

Jax closed his eyes for a moment, the sincerity in her words settling over him like a warm embrace. When he opened them again, the vulnerability in his expression was more palpable than ever. He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers, breathing in the familiar scent of her skin, a grounding force amidst the storm of his thoughts.

His voice was low and full of emotion as he murmured, "I know." He continued, "You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say you're staying here, that you don't see yourself leaving again."

Avery smiled softly, her fingers brushing over his jaw in a slow, deliberate motion. "I'm choosing to be here. I've always chosen you. Would have chosen you ten years ago too. No one, and I do mean no one, has made me feel the way that you do." She leaned in, kissing him lightly, her lips just brushing his. "It's always been you, Jax. Only you and no one else."

Avery found herself uttering words she hadn't planned to reveal, a quiet confession that her sexual experiences had been exclusively with Jax. The admission hung in the air for a moment, a detail she hadn't consciously decided to share. Yet, to her surprise, a wave of embarrassment didn't follow. Instead, a sense of unexpected ease settled over her as the truth was spoken.

Tension filled the air as her deliberate words reached Jax. Understanding flickered in his beautiful blue eyes, a shift to that intense shade she recalled – the one that preceded his complete surrender to her. A tremor ran through his hands as he held her face, the weight of the moment palpable. His unwavering gaze held hers, a silent question fraught with their history and uncertain future. His subtle movements betrayed his usual composure. She waited, holding her breath, for words that could either break or solidify her fragile hope. The heavy silence was punctuated only by her heartbeat. Everything felt exposed, the culmination of their unspoken desires and regrets hanging in the balance.

"Vee, are you saying what I think you are saying?" he asked, his voice gravelly.

"What do you think I'm saying?"

"Sounds like you are saying that in the past ten years, you haven't been with anyone... sexually." The question hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken assumptions and the weight of Avery's forthcoming answer. His tone was neutral, almost clinical, yet a subtle undercurrent of surprise seemed to flicker in his eyes. He waited patiently, giving her the space she needed to respond, though the silence stretched between them, amplifying Avery's growing discomfort.

"Sexually or physically," Avery whispered, the words barely audible as she dipped her head, her gaze fixed on the intricate grain of the harwood beneath her feet. A flush crept up her neck, staining her cheeks a delicate pink. It wasn't just the admission itself that caused her distress, but the vulnerability it exposed, the silent judgment she anticipated. Ten years. A decade of solitude, a conscious choice that now felt like a heavy burden under his scrutiny.

"Vee..." Jax tipped her head back, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Look me in the eye and tell me that. Tell me that the only man that has ever heard the sounds you make when you are turned on has been me. Tell me, baby. I need to hear it."

"Only you, Jackson." She whispered.