It’d been about a week since their dinner date and the two were completely infatuated with each other. They’d spent every night hanging out and learning everything there was to know. She knew his favorite food, music, hobbies. They’d spend a majority of the night together with Jax leaving in the wee hours of the morning giving her a few hours of sleep before her assistants arrived. With her father’s campaign, her house had been swamped with people. She had press conferences and appearances left and right.
 
That morning she was do to appear on Charming in the Morning, Charming’s morning talk show, to talk about the campaign. A driver came by early to pick her and her assistant up to take her to the studio where she had to get ready with hair and makeup. Making her way to the dressing room she ran into Andrea, the host.
 
“Leila, darlin’ long time no see! It’s so good to have you back.” The woman greeted her, pulling her in for a peck on the cheek and a hug.
 
Leila smiled at the host while giving her a hug and a kiss back. “It’s great to be back Andrea. I’ll see you on set in a hour?”
 
“Sure will, doll. We had the crew set up breakfast in your dressing room for coming out so early. Enjoy!” The woman said before turning back to her phone call as she walked down the hall with a group of people following behind.
 
She smiled at the notion and followed the coordinator back to her dressing room where her stylist and makeup artist were setting things up. “Charlotte can you fill me a fruit cup please?” she asked her assistant while her phone rang in her hand. She beamed as Jax’s name flashed across her screen. “Hey you.” she said as she looked through the outfit options her stylist had chosen.

 
“Hey beautiful.” His smooth voice came through the phone. ” What time are you on?”
Leila checked the time before picking the outfit she wanted.  
“In an hour babe, so 9.”
 
“You getting ready now?”
 
“Yup- they set up breakfast for me and everything.” She pressed the phone between her ear and her shoulder while Charlotte handed her the fruit cup and a fork. “You going to be watching?”
 
“Wouldn’t miss it.” She could almost see his charming smirk through the phone as he spoke.
 
“Well good.” she smiled to herself taking a bite of the food. “Hey, I gotta go babe. I’ll see you later.” she said hanging up the phone as her father’s campaign manager came in.
 
“Leila, honey, did you practice last night?” The tall, suited man asked, glancing up at her between emails.
 
Rolling her eyes with her assistant she smiled at him before taking a seat in the makeup chair where one of the girls started on her hair. “You know I did, Rob.”
 
“Good girl.” he said putting his phone in his pocket. “I’m heading to city hall to meet with your father for the conference. You need to meet us there immediately after. No socializing. I know how talkative that bitch can be.”
 
Being the small town that Charming was, Rob had been in a long term relationship with Andrea before her career took off as a talk show host. She’d then ended their relationship for someone with a better financial standing and he’d hated her ever since. Nobody could blame him but all the shit talking made him seem more desperate than scorned.
 
Nodding at the man, she took another bite of watermelon, watching as he walked out of the room. She was surprised he’d even showed his face but she just shrugged him off before putting the bowl on the counter top and leaning back in her seat as the other girl started on her makeup.
 
As time came for her to get on set, she pulled on the chosen outfit of a fitted white thigh high strapless dress under a navy blue blazer and navy blue heels. She checked herself in the mirror, fluffing her straight hair to add more volume and reapplied her red lipstick once more before walking out on set.
 

“Ladies and gentlemen, today we’d like to welcome someone very special in our little town. Leila Heaton!” Leila walked in on her que, smiling at the camera and giving a small wave as she approached the host, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, similar to earlier. “Leila, honey! The last time you were on our show you were fresh out of high school! Now look at you!” Andrea boosted.
 
Leila smiled, sitting on the couch across from Andrea, crossing one leg over the other, keeping a smile on her face. “It’s great to be back, Andrea! Thanks for having me on.”
 
She nodded, hooking her hands together over her knees. “Yes, the last time I was here was for my dad’s last election for the board before I went away for school, but I’ll tell you right now, there’s no place in the world like your hometown.” She lied as the host placed her hands on her face, gushing an ‘awh!’
 
“Well aren’t you just a doll!” She beamed, “Now getting back to your father’s election, this is his third term on the board, correct?”
 
“Yes’mam” She nodded her head.
 

“And he has big plans before he’s out.” She smiled.
 
The conversation went on as practiced by her team. Andrea sticking pretty closely to the questions she’d expected. She’d been asked about how she felt about her father’s political career and if she’d supported his decisions in bringing outside forces to help with the criminal activity. Of course she’d agreed with it – it’s not like she could say no when the purpose of her visit was to talk him up.
 
“It also appears that your time in Charming hasn’t been wasted.” The host said as a photo of her and the back of Jax’s head appeared on the screen behind them. “A source tells me that you were seen having a very romantic dinner with this handsome young man just last week in a remote restaurant out of town. Is there a romance brewing for our Ms. Heaton? ”
 
Leila froze momentarily on the inside, breathing a silent sigh of relief that they didn’t catch his face. That didn’t lessen the annoyance that they were followed and Jax wasn’t more careful picking a place but then again how would be know. Her cheeks flushed into a blush as her smile grew more shy as she looked up at the insistent host. “Well Andrea, at this point in my life I think it’s natural to want to meet new people and see where relationships go but for now I’m just having fun being back and catching up with everyone.” She answered as best as she could.
 

The guys were gathered by the bar this morning since the garage wasn’t busy yet. Jax had made sure to put the talk show on – he wasn’t going to miss seeing her then having to wait until later that night. Leaning forward on his elbows as he ate the breakfast Gemma had brought for them, he listened to her thoughts on the crime going on in Charming and took a deep breath hoping she really didn’t believe that the Feds were necessary.
 
He looked down to take a bite of his bacon when he heard the host say “A source tells me that you were seen having a very romantic dinner…” His eyes shot back to the screen to see a dark picture of his back as he accompanied her into the restaurant. He watched as she looked down and started to blush before telling her it was nothing serious. The thought of this being something just for fun slightly annoyed him. He’d been taking this very seriously and to be honest it hurt that she had to say that but he understood why. He had to be more careful where he took her next time. This was the exact thing she had wanted to avoid.
 
He had been so lost listening to her try to brisk of the relationship questions that he hadn’t noticed his brothers were staring at him. He looked around to meet each one of their knowing looks before mumbling “shit” under his breath.
 
“Really Jackie? Leila for Christ’s sake?” Chibs finally broke the stare down.
 
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he lied . He should have known his brothers would be able to tell that was him without having to look at his face. That didn’t stop his denying the whole thing though. The last thing he needed was to have Clay or Gemma sink their nails into her.
 
“So that guy with the blonde hair ain’t you? Bobby asked.
 
“Nope.”
 
“Come on Jax. Nobody would blame you. Hell I’d take it if she threw it at me.” Tig provoked.
 
Jax lowered his head feeling a rush of anger come over him. It took everything in his body for him not to beat the living shit out of him. ” Nope.” he seethed through clenched teeth.
 
“Jesus Christ” Gemma said as she entered the clubhouse. “You think I wouldn’t know my own son? What’s going on with you two?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips as she approached her son.
 
“Nothing, mom. Nothing is going on.” he tried weakly. He knew Gemma would see right through it.
 
Crossing her arms over her chest, Gemma cooked her brow at the liar. “Well it makes sense as to why she stopped ATF.”
Jax looked down again shaking his head.” It ain’t like that. She’s got beef with Stahl.”
 
“Enough.” Clay spoke up joining the group. “Do you know the type of shit this could get the club in? Did you even think about that or were you so deep in pussy you forgot all about loyalties?”
 
“All I think about is my loyalties to this club!” he held unable to hold back his anger. “I ain’t fuckin her. Leila ain’t like her father, she doesn’t ask about the club. She hates him just as much as we do.”
 
Crossing his arms across his chest the white hair man grunted. Opie, noticing the hostility, jumped in to help his best friend. “Look, Jax knows what he’s doing when it comes to the club. If he says she’s cool then maybe she is”
 
Jax shot him a grateful nod before turning back to Clay who was glancing between the two. ” If this gets in the way of the club in anyway – it’s on your head.”
 
“You better know what you’re doing Jackson.” Gemma pointed her finger at him.
 
With a roll of his eyes, Jax turned his attention back to the Tv to watch Leila laugh and smile throughout the interview. He found himself jealous. Jealous of how other people got to see her and be with her during the day but he had to act like a stranger even though he was her man. The club didn’t know what they were talking about when it came to her. Sure, doubt-filled thoughts crossed his mind but he was sure once they got to know more about each other she’d accept him. She had to accept him. He’d be crushed if he lost the one thing he’d wanted most over the club. But the club came first, no matter what. The nerve of them to doubt his loyalty. He was born into SAMCRO. His father was founder for fucks sake and if he thought for one second Leila would turn on the club he’d end her himself. If he didn’t leave the club for Tara who he’d been in love with for years, he wouldn’t leave for Leila but he hoped to God it would never come to that.
 
Several hours went by with a few of the men working in the garage when Clay appeared on the lot, calling them to attention. After huddling around their president they were informed that their warehouse was torched and they had to get their immediately before the sheriffs arrived. Breaking from the huddle, the men ran to their bikes to drive off in the appropriate order with Clay and Jax leading the group to the site.
 
“What the hell happened?”
 
The disgruntled white haired man approached sheriff Vic Trammel. Vic had been on the Sons payroll for years now, never failed to be a help, especially considering the county sheriffs were Heaton’s guard dogs.
 
“Propane tank caught fire. Ammo was in there. The place just blew.” The man informed them as they walked around to examine the damage.
 
“Shit” Clay muttered as they followed him around.
 
“Yeah, fire dick says it was arson. Saw a lot of boot prints.”
 
Cocking an eyebrow, he looked between Jax and the sheriff. “Cowboy boots?”
 
“Yeah, i think so.”
 
“Shit-eating Mayans.” Tig spat angrily.
 
Jax shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “Where the hell was Rodrigo?”
 
“No sign of your watchman” Vic shook his head.
 
“What’s the exposure?” Clay asked, cutting to the chase.
 
“Officially? Just me and the fire department. The fire captain can be convinced to rethink his report.”
 
“Unofficially?” Jax questioned.
 
“Unofficially, this blast was seen in two counties. This area is dead.”
 
“Jesus Christ” Jax muttered under his breath.
 
Clay pressed on about the guns but was told they were no where to be found. Since the niners had already paid for them, the situation became stickier than it should have. Jax was told to call up a meeting with Laroy to by them time. He set the meeting for Clay before they all cleared out to return to the Teller Morrow lot.
 

 
Leila had gotten word of the explosion on the outskirts of Charming. Her father’s assistants were running back and forth like madmen. All she could hear was her father on the phone talking about bringing down the Sons and this was the last place she wanted to be. Deep down, her father’s hate for them made Jax so much more appealing to her. She knew what he did. Knew what the Sons were. All of Charming did, they weren’t as covert as they liked to believe, but they were clean.
 
She took her assistant to head across the street to the coffee shop. After being up all morning doing appearances, she needed an extra large cup to keep her going. The bubbly brunette was good company. She’d just recently hired her to keep her schedule in order. Leila wasn’t a planner by any means and with everything being so hectic for the next few months, she needed the help. That and she needed someone on her own payroll who wasn’t going to report back to her father every chance she got. She’d made sure to hire someone she trusted.
 
Paying for their coffee, Leila handed Charlotte’s to her before they walked outside, taking a seat on the bench. The two were finally able to relax. Charlotte had been running around all day – if Leila was busy, the poor girl had it three times as bad.
 
“You okay?”
 
Leila turned, looking at the worn expression on Charlotte’s face. The poor girl looked beat. She’d only been working with her for a week now and this was the busiest day by far.
 
“Yeah,” Charlotte nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. “It was just overwhelming today.”
 
With a gentle smile, Leila nodded her head in understanding. “You did great though. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”
 
“Is it always like this?”
 
“For the next couple of months until the election is over. Then it’s smooth sailing from there.”
 
“You!” A loud, angry voice called out to them, approaching the two women quickly and pointing a finger at Leila.
 
“Excuse me?” She asked, standing up as the woman approached them.
 
“You bitch!” The woman slapped her across the face, causing Leila to hold her cheek.
 

“You stay away from Jax! You home-wrecking whore! You should be ashamed of yourself for taking him away from me and his son!” She continued yelling in a frantic manner as she pointed to her stomach.
 
Leila’s eyes damn near popped out of her cheek as she heard the woman. Taking in her dilated pupils, profuse sweating, and twitchy motions she could tell she was high off her ass – she could’ve been lying. Just been another SAMCRO groupie, but she couldn’t deny the enormous belly. She watched as the woman was carried away by a security guard and though her cheek stung, she felt like she’d been punched in the gut. Jax had lied to her. He was going to be a father. He was married. He was going to be a father. A baby – carried by some junkie. She was furious.