Juice hopped up the stairs to Angela's apartment and opened the unlocked door with a frown. He hated how she kept it unlocked during the day; it made him uneasy. Anyone could just walk in. As he stepped into the living room, he was surprised to find Kenny Winston lying on the floor, N64 controller in his hands, clicking away at the buttons while Angela sat on the couch behind him with Ellie on the floor in front of her. Angela was currently braiding Ellie's hair while simultaneously coaching Kenny through a Zelda level.

Only Ellie turned her head to see who had come in. "Hi," she said softly, a small smile on her face.

"Hey El," Juice greeted with a nod.

Angela turned her head, a bright smile coming over her face when she saw him. "Hey you!"

He leaned over to brush a chaste kiss to her temple before dropping onto the sofa next to her. "Ope know you brought the kids here?" he asked knowing his brother might have a problem with his kids hanging out at the funeral home.

"Nah, he's out on his ride," Angela explained on a shrug. "Piney's the one that brought them over."

"Ang wouldn't let us see the dead people," Kenny said without taking his eyes off the screen.

Ellie nodded in agreement. "She did take us to visit our Mama though."

"We brought her flowers," Kenny added.

"And talked to her."

Juice glanced at Angela who gave him a shrug in return. She hadn't been planning on taking the kids to visit Donna, but Ellie had asked and she knew neither Mary nor Piney would take them. It'd been a strange experience at first until Angela told them both to sit down and they'd all "talked" to Donna as if she was there. She was used to talking to a headstone. When she was little, the cemetery was in walking distance from her house and she would visit her father all the time.

"Cool," he said with a nod of his head. He wondered briefly if Angela had overstepped her boundaries with that one, and then felt bad for thinking it. If the kids wanted to see their mother, they should be able to. And if anyone was good at dealing with the dead, it was Angela. "Hey Ken, want to play some Mario Kart?"

A few races later, there was a knock on the door. Juice got up to get it since Angela was busy finishing yet another braid hairstyle in Ellie's hair. The girls had been doing and redoing braids all night while Juice and Kenny played video games. Ellie wanted to find a style she could sleep in so she could have waves the next day for school.

Piney had to admit he was surprised when Juice opened Angela's door. He'd seen how handsy the two were with each other at the clubhouse, but he hadn't figured Juice as they type of guy who would spend extra time with a girl outside of the bedroom. "Surprised to see you here," Piney said, an amused glint in his eyes as he looked over the younger man.

Juice shifted awkwardly and shrugged. "Angie's got good games."

"Uh-huh. I'm sure that ain't all she's got," he muttered, entering the small apartment. Ellie had asked if she could call Angela earlier that day and Piney had given in. Luckily, Angela had offered to take Kenny as well or else, he'd have to deal with the kid. It wasn't that he didn't love his grandchildren because he did; he was just too old to play "daddy" and entertain them.

Gemma might have hinted that she didn't approve of Ellie and Kenny spending time with Angela, but Piney didn't mind. From what he saw, Angela had her shit together. She supported herself, kept her nose clean, and other than being with the mowhawked idiot, she seemed to make good choices. He had no problem dumping the kids on her.

Angela tied off the end of Ellie's braid and stood up off the couch. "Hey Piney," she greeted with a sweet smile.

"Aw Gramps, can we stay?" Kenny asked, his eyes still glued to the television. "Angie was gonna teach me the trick of Rainbow Road!"

Juice raised his eyebrows and glanced at Angela who gave him a mischievous grin. "Next time, Ken," she said, ruffling the kid's hair. "Come on, bud. Get your stuff."

Kenny begrudgingly got up to get his stuff as Ellie got up off the couch and went to hug her grandpa. "Look how Angie did my hair, Gramps. It's going to be wavy tomorrow."

"Looks nice, El," Piney said nodding his approval.

"Do you think Daddy will like it?" she asked, playing with the ends of one of her French braid pigtails. "He comes home tomorrow, right?"

Piney nodded again, setting a hand on his granddaughter's head. "I'm sure he'll love it. Say thanks to Angie."

"Thanks Angie," both children said in unison.

Angela shrugged a shoulder. "Anytime. Have a good day at school tomorrow."

The kids nodded, skipping out of the apartment and to their grandpa's car. Piney hung back and clapped Angela's shoulder. "Really appreciate everythin', Ang. Been hard without Donna."

"Anytime, Piney. They're a blast to have around. I'd have been bored out of my mind without them here today."

Piney glanced at Juice briefly before chuckling. "If you're that bored, he's doing something wrong."

Juice's jaw almost dropped to the floor at the innuendo. "I was busy today!" he exclaimed on a scowl. "You know that!"

The old man just chuckled, shaking his head as he headed out the door. "See you later, Angie."

"Bye Piney," she said on a laugh.

Juice closed the door behind him before turning to Angela; he had a bone to pick with her. "Rainbow Road trick?"

She tried her best to look innocent; she knew Kenny's little comment was going to get her in trouble. Juice had been trying to figure out how she'd beat him that very first time they'd raced for weeks now. "I don't know what he's talking about."

"I knew you cheated!" he said, taking a few steps towards her, a menacing look in his eyes.

"I did not!" she exclaimed, stepping out of the way when he lunged for her. She ran away from him, laughing as she heard him chasing after her.

Juice easily caught up to her, catching her around the waist and lifting her off her feet. She squealed as he carried her over to the N64 counsel and threw her down on the couch. "One more race. No cheating."

Angela sighed, she was tired of playing video games; she'd been playing them all day and her eyes were starting to hurt. She crawled over to where he was sitting and leaned an arm on his shoulder to whisper, "I just got a package in the mail."

"Don't care. We're racing," he said, choosing her character for her before his own so he could set up the race.

"Too bad. It's from Victoria's Secret," she said on a sigh as she stood up. "Lots of lace, little to no fabric. Black, red, blue...I got a leopard pair on right now."

Juice swallowed hard; damn her for knowing his weakness. He was up in a matter of seconds, his arms snaking around her waist and dipping into the front of her shorts to feel the lacy fabric underneath as he pushed her forward in front of him to the bed room. She pushed him down on the bed, making him sit as she slowly peeled off her tank top and shorts to reveal a very lacy black bra with a leopard design and matching panties. "Damn girl," he murmured, taking her hips into his hands. His thumb trailed over the koi fish tattooed along her hip as he looked up at her. "This almost makes of for tricking me out of a Rainbow Road win."

She laughed, shaking her head at him. Only Juice could still be thinking about losing a video game with a half naked girl in front of him. Dipping her head, she caught his lips in a hot kiss. "I got better tricks to show you."

-------------

Juice woke up the next morning to his cell phone alarm going off. He had to meet the guys up at the new storage place to test out the Irish gun supply. Reaching out for Angela, he was surprised to find her side of the bed was empty. He knew she had no reason to get up so early. The smell of freshly baked scones and coffee filled his nose as he took in a deep breath making his mouth water. Groaning, he got out of bed and headed towards the kitchen. "There's my Angel," he said upon seeing Angela in the kitchen, her dark hair piled in a messy bun a top her head, his sweatshirt hanging off her shoulder and drowning her in the black fabric.

Angela's heart did a little flip at the possessive tone in his voice. He hugged her from behind looking over her shoulder at the scones she'd just pulled out of the oven. "Hungry, baby?" she asked, glancing up at him.

He nodded, kissing her lips quickly and stepped around her to lean against the counter at her side. "I dunno about you, but I had a long work out last night. Need to replenish my fuel."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Goof," she murmured under her breath as she handed him a mini vanilla scone. "Have at 'em."

He did just as he was told, taking a huge bite out of one and moaning as the pastry practically melted in his mouth. "This is fuckin' amazin', Angel. Straight from Heaven," he murmured around the mouthful. She glanced at him, waiting for the corny line that was sure to come next. He didn't disappoint. "Just like you."

"Goof," she repeated with a roll of her eyes. He pulled her into his side, one arm wrapped around her waist as his free hand shoved another scone in his mouth.

"You got extra? I'll take 'em into the clubhouse. Show up Bobby for once," he said, snatching another one.

"Yeah, sure. Knock yourself out. I made way too many anyway," she answered on a shrug.

He swallowed what was in his mouth and gave her a grin. Reaching out a hand, he brushed the flour off her cheek before pulling her in close for a long kiss. Her warm hands slid up his back, holding him to her. His hands slid down her sides, not stopping until he hit the back of knees. Effortlessly, he lifted her up off the ground so she could wrap her legs around his waist. She ran a hand over his mowhawk as he deepened the kiss.

And of course, right when things were starting to get heated, his trusty phone went off. She sighed, pulling away from him and draping her arms over his shoulders. He leaned forward and caught her lips in another kiss, getting a light laugh from her. "Phone, baby," she reminded him, gracefully untangling herself from him and getting to her feet.

"Every fuckin' time," he murmured, shaking his head as he jogged back to get it.

She laughed to herself about the ridiculousness of the situation. Packing up some of the scones in a small Tupperware for him, she laughed once again. What she was doing was so homey. Like a wife packing her lunch for a husband. Once again, the strangeness of the situation struck her. Neither of them would admit they were dating or exclusive, though neither of them had strayed from the other. What they had just felt natural, easy. They just worked. No labels necessary.

He walked back out into the living room, fully dressed, tugging his cut on over his shoulders. "Gotta run, baby," he said, pressing a kiss to her lips. "New merchandise to test out."

The excitement in his voice made her shake her head. "I don't want to know."

"Nothing crazy, I promise," he assured her on a nod. His hand settled on the plastic container. "These for me?"

She nodded slowly. "Go show 'em off. Take credit for my work."

Juice scowled at her, shaking his head. "If I told them I made them, they wouldn't touch 'em."

"I'm not surprised," she said with a teasing grin. "You could've slipped in some of Tig's vitamins and accidentally knocked them all out."

He scowled at her. "I didn't know what they were when I took them, I swear!" he exclaimed before glancing at his phone that was ringing once again. He kissed her cheek quickly. "I'll see you later, Angel. Swing by TM later if you're not busy."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not having a quickie with you at the garage if that's what you're thinking."

He blinked at her in shock, his eyes wide. "Well, now I'm thinking it!"

"Goof," she shot back, kissing his nose. She pushed him away with a grin. "I'll see what I can do. Now get outta here!"

------------

Chibs watched Juice chat with the pretty girl from the funeral home as he worked on a car in the garage. She was standing next to the intelligence officer, looking up at him with sparkling eyes as he explained different things to her. It was weird to see the goofy techie with a girl, strange to think that he no longer fell asleep on the pool table, a Croweater in his arms, snoring like a lawnmower. Chibs could only guess he was falling asleep with Angela at her place because he was rarely in his dorm room.

He liked the girl though. She was smart, knew when to keep her mouth shut, and by the way they couldn't keep their hands off each other, Chibs assumed she was good in the sack as well. Good qualities to have in an Old Lady. But Juice had assured him that Angie was no Old Lady. They weren't at all serious, and if he was even thinking about heading down that route, he didn't say it. Though Chibs had a feeling the kid liked playing house since he passed around those delicious scones like a proud Old Man. Juice was just lucky Angela wasn't pushing for the title; Fiona had wanted to be his one and only the day they met. There was no "having fun" label-less relationship with that wild Irish dame, and Chibs wouldn't have had it any other way.

" 'ey Angie," he greeted, startling the girl. "No dead people today?"

She grinned up at him. "Just a few this morning. One just needed to be cooked, the other didn't take too long. Unless someone else dies today, I'm free."

"Good, good. You comin' round to Bobby's party later?"

Juice nodded, answering for her. He knew Chibs' aim had been to get him in trouble, but he had already invited Angela to the party. It was another excuse to have her around more. He liked having her at the club events. He spent so much time at the funeral home that it was nice to have her at his "home" for once. "She'll be there."

Angela smiled and nodded. "Wouldn't miss it."

"Good," he said, ruffling her hair as he watched Tig pull the van up in front. "See you two later then."

She watched him get into the van, an eyebrow raised. Juice could see the curious look in her eyes and wondered if she'd ask. It wasn't like he would tell her the truth if she did. Tig, Chibs, Opie, and Jax were all going to "take care" of the man who killed Donna. That was something Angie didn't need to know. After a moment, she shook her head. "I don't want to know," she murmured more to herself than to Juice.

"You say that a lot," he pointed out.

Angela shrugged a shoulder. "Some things are better left unsaid. If there's something I gotta know you'll tell me, otherwise...it's none of my business."

Juice nodded and turned back to the engine. He wondered if she'd gotten that whole philosophy from Happy; it seemed like something the Tacoma killer would tell her. "Works for me," he said on a shrug as he dipped under the hood.

The sound of the "Funeral March" filled the air and she cringed, digging into her pocket for her cell. "Angela Ruiz," she greeted, sounding very official. "Yeah...okay...sure! Definitely! Bye."

She hung up the phone and glanced at Juice who seemed to be waiting for an explanation. "Work. Skeeter needs his artist," she explained. She leaned forward and pecked his lips quickly. "I'll see you at the party."

Juice nodded waving goodbye at her. He grimaced when he saw Gemma approaching at the same time Angela was leaving. Angela stopped briefly, her shoulders tensing as she nodded and murmured a quick 'hello' to the older woman.

Gemma stopped her trek, looking over her shoulder to watch Angela get in the car and drive off. Once the Mazda was out of sight, she headed back towards the office, stopping only to level Juice with a glance. "She with you?"

He nodded. "I invited her over."

"This one gonna stick around?"

"Dunno," he answered on a shrug. "Kinda hope so."

Gemma shook her head with a look of disapproval. "Be smart about it. Can't have any ole girl hangin' around."

He nodded again. "I know." She gave him one last glance before disappearing into the office. He stared at the office door and swallowed hard, shaking his head to himself. He was sure as hell glad he didn't have to win Gemma's approval.