Following the attack, the men working in the Boveri warehouse had a constant feeling that they were being watched.

And that they were.

Alianna spent most of her days perched on the steps leading up to Jax's office, watching the humdrum of the warehouse floor. Everyone were now on their Ps and Qs knowing that the Boss' woman was lurking around, armed and definitely dangerous. But to her credit, Alianna did not get in anyone's way or acted like a foreman with a whip. She was a silent observer, only showing her face when something, usually the newest shipments of ammunition, caught her interest.

Naveen had been discharged from the hospital a week ago and was restricted to bed rest for the time being. Much to her displeasure, Patrick had been assigned to her in his steed. Alianna had no clue how Patrick had survived as long as he did after being recruited by L'iiblis. She wondered if the devil had gone soft because in her days, Patrick would have been killed by the end of the week one.

Grunts made her look up from the guys packing parcels into crates to the guys practising on the mats under the skyline. She assessed them quietly, praising their tactical techniques but finding faults in execution. She raised an eyebrow as she observed Patrick, her supposed bodyguard, fell flat to the mat after being tackled by his opponent.

"Allow me."

All conversation in the training centre came to a halt as Alianna stood in the background, concealed in the shadows. She stepped forward, keeping her eyes on Patrick. The young man swallowed in fear and even took a step back as Alianna lay her weapons out on the floor. She slipped off her boots and stepped onto the mat. She crooked her finger at Patrick who was shoved out of the crowd by the guys around him.

"Begin," someone said solemnly.

Alianna got the first punch in, her fist making contact with his abdomen. Patrick huffed and held his hands up, playing defence rather offense. Alianna kept her hands up, switching to defence, daring him to make a move as she circled him.

"What are you waiting for?" she taunted quietly. "Hit me." Patrick gulped inaudibly, he was scared shitless of Alianna and he feared the consequences, from both Alianna and Jax.

"Scared?" Alianna swiftly landed a punch to his side. "You should be." She landed another to his jaw. "Fight me damn it!"

Patrick went for a very half-hearted punch, one that Alianna easily side stepped. She landed another one in his stomach. She moved behind him and pulled the collar of his jersey back. "How are you still alive? If I were L'iiblis, I would've killed you after the first week," she murmured in his ear.

Alianna let him go and Patrick fell to the mats. "You were trained by the best, granted that they are twisted, they are the best. It's time you act like it," she looked at the crowd. "That goes for all of you. We're not up against amateurs, these men are out for blood and will kill more than necessary. This isn't playtime boys, this is the real deal."

"She's right." The crowd parted for Jax as he walked towards her, flanked by Evan and Rex. Alianna looked Jax straight in the eye, she knew he was watching her, she had no intention of apologising for her display.

"I have ordered Joel to hold formal training during every shift," Jax continued, his deep, stern voice commanding the crowd as his fingers intertwined with Alianna's. "Double the time means double the pay, don't worry," he chuckled. "But don't take anything lightly, one of our own was hurt by these devils and if they hurt one, they hurt us all. They've shaken us enough, let's show them what we can do!"

Alianna smiled as the men around them cheered. She looked up at Jax as squeezed her hand and gestured to his office; she nodded and the couple weaved through the crowd. Jax sighed in relief as he pulled Alianna closer.

"The meeting didn't go well?" Alianna inquired as she wrapped her arms around him. She had been helping him put together everything for a new club but the owner of the land was being one hardass.

"It didn't go exactly as we planned however progress was made," Jax kissed the top of her head. "Also, I have some good news." His chest warmed at the way her eyes lit up. "How would you like to get out of here?"

Alianna looked around the office where she had been spending most of her days. She was longing for fresh air and sunlight. "More than anything," she murmured longingly.

Jax hugged her closer to him, it hurt him to keep Alianna hidden like this but it was her safety. "Naveen has his last doctor's appointment today," he felt her light up, "we can go visit him."

Alianna grinned and hugged him tighter, "When?"

"Now, if you would like."

He did not need to say anymore. Alianna was out of his arms and whirling around the room gathering her things while Jax looked on highly amused. Alianna shouldered her new handbag, one of the few gifts that Jax brought home. Jax smiled and their fingers intertwined as they walked to the back entrance of the warehouse. Jax's i8 was glistening under the sun and Alianna was near giddy as she looked outside, taking in her surroundings.

Jax found her awe endearing, even though it was a sad reminder of her past and their unfortunate present. Alianna looked at Jax as her view of the ocean became a sprawl of houses. She could not see a single family outside enjoying the beautiful day, in fact, the neighbourhood was practically deserted.

"If you're wondering where all the people are, they're at the warehouse. This is one of the very few communities I place them in," Jax explained, answering her thoughts.

"You buy houses for your men?" Alianna asked. She began learning how Jax ran his operations but Evan had not reached their recruitment procedure.

"I do and I also pay the rent until they earn enough to do so themselves," he elaborated as he pulled into a driveway. Alianna waited patiently as Jax walked over to open her door, silently admiring him. The couple shared a short chuckle at how out of place Jax's car looked in the neighbourhood as they walked inside.

"Naveen!" Alianna shouted in surprise as her best friend lay back on the recliner. Naveen instantly smiled, his days were dull and dragged without someone to talk to. Alianna gave him a light hug before sitting on the arm of the chair.

"Hi girly, Boss," Naveen greeted the couple as Jax rest his hands on Alianna's shoulders.

"What did the doctor say?" Jax and Alianna asked in unison making the trio smile.

"All cleared and I should be back out to work next week," Naveen announced and Alianna grinned.

"I'll give you new orders," Jax said, rubbing Alianna's shoulders. He and Naveen exchanged looks that made Alianna narrow her eyes at them. "But that can wait."

"What about food? Have you been eating?" Alianna enquired. "Have you been taking your medication? Are you sure the wound is completely healed?"

"Yes, yes and yes Ma," Naveen teased, poking Alianna's thigh. "I've been ordering every type of food delivery I know."

"That's not healthy," Alianna reproached him, "hopefully somewhere in the warehouse has a kitchen and I'll send some proper food."

"Relax Alianna," Naveen ruffled her hair. The trio talked more and Naveen gave Alianna a tour of his house. However, her expression changed during it and despite Jax's cajoling, he could not get an explanation for her.

"I'll see you bright and early Monday morning girlie," Naveen gave Alianna a side hug and shaking hands with Jax. Alianna nodded quietly, making both men wonder what was the reason for her mood. Just as Jax took the first step to his car, the rain came pouring down.

"I'll go get an umbrella," Naveen volunteered.

"It's alright," Jax slipped off his suit jacket and held it above Alianna's head, sheltering her from the rain as they got in.

"I'm sorry about your jacket," Alianna said softly as Jax started the car.

"Don't worry," Jax smiled and kissed her hand but this did not have his intended effect as Alianna curled up in her seat, looking out the window.

The lurch of the car stopping snapped her out of the whirlwind of thoughts running through her head. She frowned as the dark, angry sea laid out before them. Jax had stopped in the parking lot of a vacant beach.

"Talk to me."

Alianna sighed deeply and tilted her head back, "I never thought I was capable of feeling what I feel now."

"You're capable of many things and nearly anything darling."

"But this feels wrong." Alianna sighed. "I had a lot of time to reflect over these past couple of weeks. I made a list of all the places I've been and I realised something. I've never been home."

To anyone else, this may have sounded ridiculous but Jax understood. He heard her stories, he woke up many times during the night to talk Alianna out of her nightmares, his men physically avoided her as much as possible because of the stories of Marino's assassin. Alianna craved something to hold on to and right now, Jax was keeping her mentally, emotionally and physically grounded.

"As Naveen showed us around, I realised that I have no space of my own. I just want," she grunted in frustration, "I just want that, you know? And there's this lingering part of me that's saying that it's wrong, kill and move on, that's all I want; it's all I know."

Jax watched his broken girl and kissed her hand and Alianna smiled, welcoming his comfort. They sat there, silent, watching the raindrops run down the windscreen and sometime during her internal despair and the silence, Alianna fell asleep.

The low murmur of men talking woke Alianna up. Jax smiled and rest his hand on hers in comfort as the guard pressed the button that raised the security barrier. Her eyes opened wide as Jax drove into the gated community. The houses were huge, varying from townhouse styles to mansions, each lot manicured and beautifully well-kept. 

She looked up as the car approached a house with high walls and a near impregnable gate. Her lips parted in awe as the gate opened, revealing a beautiful mansion. Her eyes were wide as Jax pulled into the garage.

"Jax," she murmured as he opened her door, "where are we?" Jax chuckled and took her hand, leading her through a side door and into a grand foyer.

"Welcome home Alianna," he murmured, stepping back to let her look around.

The house was magnificent from the marble floors to the pristine cream paint that coated the walls. Alianna looked down at where she stood, right in the middle of a black B monogram.

"Is this your house?" Alianna spun around slowly.

"Yes," Jax watched her, highly amused. "And now, it's your home too." He took her hand and showed her around. Alianna grinned as they passed room after room. Everything was decorated to Jax's tastes. Alianna grinned as she hung over the balcony that was attached to the master bedroom. They had a great view of the canal and she could even see a little dock outside the property.

"Promise you won't kill me?" Jax asked warily as he led Alianna over to a set of double doors in her room.

"Promise," Alianna smiled. Jax grinned and threw the doors open, revealing a huge walk in closet filled with Alianna's clothes and tons of new clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and a fully stocked vanity.

"Jax Boveri, I'm going to kill you!" Alianna threatened.

"Ah, ah, ah," Jax held up his hands as she rounded on him, "you promised." Alianna narrowed her eyes at him. "This is the reason why we couldn't move in sooner, it was only recently completed and Genevra organised it."

"Genevra?" Alianna whisked her head around. She had never heard a female's name drop from Jax's lips before.

"She was my governess since I was a little boy," Jax quickly elaborated, pulling her to him. "She takes care of the house, you'll meet her tomorrow."

Alianna looked up at him, not knowing how to wrap her head around the idea of another female in Jax's life. "Would you like to see the pool?" Alianna nodded and knocked his shoulder, he really did know to change the subject of a conversation.

Her sullen mood was forgotten as Jax opened up the doors and they walked outside. Alianna laughed as she kicked off her shoes and rolled up her pants as much as they could go and stepped down onto the second step within the pool. She giggled as she wiggled her toes under the water, making Jax smile as he walked around and turned on the small hot tub and the lights in the gazebo.

"Jax this is beautiful," Alianna said as she joined him, barefoot on the dock as they looked across at the skyline.

Jax wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her closer. "It is, it's just like the sky cleared up just for us."

Alianna turned around to face him. "You keep saying "us", "we" and "our" Jax; but what are we?"

Jax struggled to keep his composure at the sound of his name coming from her lips. He leaned his head against hers, their lips tingling from their proximity. "I am yours, if you'll have me." He looked at her from under his eyelashes; for once in his life, he feared rejection

Alianna could not put her emotions or thoughts into words and she reacted in the only way she could; by crashing her lips onto his.

A foreign noise escaped her lips as Jax immediately took control. Their lips moved together in harmony, she could taste the faintest trace of the cigar he had been smoking earlier. The intensity of his kiss made her knees go weak but his grip on her waist kept her steady.

"What's on your mind?" Jax asked, looking down so lovingly at her as he ended the kiss that Alianna could not hide her blush.

"I'm home."