SoA : What's a cut on a finger ?

A/ N: Blah. A little heavy but the scene played in my mind. So I might have as well written that down.

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What's a cut on a finger?

While Asma was cutting onions she hurt her finger. It didn't draw much blood as it was quite superficial. Tig watched as she put her hand under the stream of cold water and tilted her head to watch the blood vanish in the sink. She was cursing under her breath, more upset than usual and he realized that she had been in that mood for over a week. He didn't have the chance to spend enough time with the tattoo artist. She would be busy working or he would be out of town with the boys, handling some business for the club. Of course, he couldn't know her mother passed away and that situation made Asma even more sensitive to what was happening around her. Jessica was different. She was worried to say the very least. Without hesitation, she offered Asma to come stay at her house, with Jax and the kids. Asma would take care of the kids, giving some more needed private time to Jess and Jax and in exchange, Jessica would make sure they spent time together every night, watching movies, talking about life and of course hugging Asma's pain out. It worked, for the time being, Asma was feeling much better with her sister but it only was the beginning. The beginning of something worse.

Asma could feel it in her bones, that Jessica was hiding something but since they all agreed, Asma should be kept out of the loop regarding the clubs businesses, she suspected it had something to do with that. It killed her not to know, not to be able to ask questions. It killed her every time she looked into Jessica's glacier eyes because she could read the panic and the pain. She could read the stress and feel the tension but she couldn't know what exactly triggered those emotions or how to help Jessica and it was breaking her heart. The brunette put on a brave face, as she always did, and instead focused on helping Asma deal with her loss. For the first time in a long while, Asma didn't feel the desire to drink. She wrote her letter, she said her piece, there was no need to drink...There was no other way through this but feeling everything. The third day was the day Asma cried in Jessica's arms. After they ate ice-cream and talked about the kids day and how sweet Ava was and how clever Abel and Thomas were. Asma recalled memories of her mother and it was all it took to make her weep like a babe.

What's a cut on finger?

At the end of the week, Jessica vanished. Asma didn't see her and didn't know where she went. She took care of the kids until Jax returned home. She gathered enough courage to tell him the truth about her one-week residency at his house and informed Jax that she would soon have to decide what to do with her mother's body. Her mother was alone when she died, all her friends were either gone or estranged. Asma was the only family left and she didn't know what to do. Her mother wanted to be buried but Asma knew she would never have the strength to organize a decent funeral. Jax stepped up and assured Asma that her mother would have the best funerals she could have ever dreamed of. She would be mourned by Asma's family, the one she chose to have, SAMCRO and the Knights. They would then celebrate life afterward, a nice get together at home with homemade food, beers, family. When Asma cried, he scratched the tip of his nose and pulled her into an embrace. « Yes, dummy, you're family for real. » He said in her ear. « You're not going to face this alone. » He patted her head and for a while, things were not as dreadful as they seemed to be.

That evening, however, as soon as she came home, Asma started to worry. Her mother just died and it finally sunk into her mind. She had lost her last living family member to a disease nobody could cure and now... now the family she chose for herself was living an extremely dangerous life. It dawned on her like hard liquor and distracted her enough to allow the knife to cut through her skin. Just like that, she could lose them and truly find herself alone. Of course, Asma had accepted already that this was their line of work and she couldn't do jack shit about it but it stung, it made her panic, it was suffocating. Tig realized she was having a panic attack, still unaware of what happened a week ago, he didn't quite know what to say to calm her down. She was washing her hand over and over and over again to the point of damaging the skin. He walked closer and turned off the stream of water and then wrapped the clean towel around her injured hand. She couldn't look at him, still focused on her wound.

« Let me clean it, let me clean it, it's not clean! It's not clean! » She struggled to get free but he used his soft voice.

« Bella... Bella.. you're alright. You're alright. »

« It's not clean. it's not-- » She looked at him this time, her hazel eyes stared into his baby blues and he tried and smiled at her. « Mom is dead... » She finally said. « I don't want you to die... I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be alone. You. Jess.Jax. Piepie. I refuse. I refuse...Please.. » her voice was shaky, her words interspersed with sobs. « Mom's dead... She's dead... » She wrapped her arms around Tig who pulled her into a tight hug and petted her head. She lost the energy to stand on her two feet so he helped her sat on the floor. He kept her in his arms until she calmed down.

What's a cut on a finger, when there's a cut in your soul?

-TBC-

Chronicles of Lux and Tenebrae: nothing can keep me from you.

(Tenebrae)

"There is nothing in this world that could keep me from loving Lux. No one in this world that could stand between her and me. I was apathetic about everything. I was alone and on top of it all, I was hungry. I was hungry for power, I wanted to best my father and take his place and I knew he ensured I wouldn't try. The harpies who raised me forced admiration and love for the one who birthed me but still, I hungered for his power and crown.

Until I met her.

Meeting her changed everything inside of me. It gave me a purpose. it made me feel alive. it gave me something else to seek for, something other than destruction. I wanted to build. I became dependent on her light, feeding off of it like a starving child.I have been deprived of affection, after all, deprived of touch, of intimacy and she gave it to me. Her loyalty to us, to our love, to her mother and her purpose made me learn about my own realm. I became the protector of the End Realm. The prince of darkness, ah, she had made another man out of me.

There is nothing in this world that could keep me from loving Lux.

Nothing...

No One."

Tig and Asma (Asex): Christmas special

A/ N: Let me be SAPPY! This is so happy I don't even know what to do with so much sugar!

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Asma Jensen House, Christmas Eve, 11:55 pm

Once Asma made sure that Jessica and Ava came home safe and sound, she decided to let Jax enjoy his family and focus on herself. It had been two years now since Cody's death and Elias' departure that Asma spent Christmas at Charming. The last two years, she essentially drank herself to sleep on Christmas Eve because it was easier than dealing with her emotions. This year, however, things were different. As soon as she returned home, she saw Christmas decorations everywhere. At first, she checked the address to make sure it was her own and then called Tig because she didn't feel safe anymore. She had to blink and ask three times if she heard him well when he told her that he was the one who decorated her house with Christmas lights he kept in his garage. When she asked him why he said that he didn't know but felt it was the right thing to do. So, she welcomed the decorations, the Christmas tree and of course the socks. Asma rediscovered her house a few days before Christmas and considered Tig's suggestion to be together on that very day.

She was nervous. Mostly because it would be her first sober Christmas and one spent in good company. Tig was nervous as well, especially since it had been a very long time since he last spent the Holidays with someone, the « old way ». He enjoyed preparing Christmas for Asma, putting the lights in her house, choosing the tree and throwing old decorations he hadn't touched in years but kept in his basement. He made sure there was no alcohol in the eggnog he made for both of them and even went as far as to order food so none of them would have to worry about the meal. All Asma had to do was to let things happen and for someone who needed to control everything, allowing Alex to make a real Christmas for them was a huge step forward. Tonight, She looked cute, in her red and white Christmas onesie and he looked different, with his grey flannel pants and a black t-shirt. He called her in the living room because it would soon be time to exchange presents so she came with her eggnog and sat next to him in front of the boxes under the tree.

«  Where do we start? » Her voice barely contained her excitement, which made Tig grin.

«What did you get for me? » Asma tilted her head to the side and looked at him. She chuckled and outstretched her hand to grab a huge box she handed him. «Oh? For me? » She nodded and smiled as he opened the box. She bought him a customed Helmet, with the shape of a skull, the logo of the club painted on the back and his name on the side. Tig looked at it, visibly excited and pleased by the present and then grabbed her neck and pulled Asma into a kiss. « Thank you! It's perfect. »

« I thought you could use a helmet when you ride.I wouldn't want anything to happen to this beautiful face. » She said with a chuckle before she took another box and handed it to him. « Here's the second one. »

Tig grabbed the box, it was a smaller one. Intrigued, Alex opened it and shook his head at the sight. She had framed the first picture they took together. One genuine picture she took with her phone when they were at the park, laying on the floor and watching the clouds. She was laughing on this one, one of the few times he actually saw her genuinely laugh and he was smiling while his blue eyes were staring at her. She framed this one and had engraved in the frame the date this picture was taken.

« Bella.. » -A sheepish smile crept on her lips and she looked away, feeling blood rush into her cheeks.-

« It's just a picture. Come on. Don't make a big fuss about it. » He held her hand and stroked the back of it with his large thumb.

« I won't. » She kept searching the boxes and found the last one, an even smaller gift. The shape wasn't a dead giveaway so he didn't quite know what she gave him. « I just want to say that I love this picture of us. You're laughing, you look carefree  I like that. »

« I have never felt that way before...I thought it deserved to be framed and you deserved to have this with you. Your life as a 'mechanic' is dangerous, Tig..and dark and gritty and painful. I thought you needed a bit of light more than I did. I got you this picture to remind you that you now have a reason to smile. » She said, chewing at her bottom lip as she looked at him. Tig blinked and looked at the picture one last time before he put it aside and took the small box.

« I feel spoiled. » He was. He knew he was. But when he opened the box and realized it was a key, he thanked the sky that he was already on the floor otherwise, he would have fallen. She gave him the key to her house, subtlely welcoming him into her life. It was just like Asma, simple. « Asma... »

« Do you want...to keep it? » She asked, her eyes averting from left to right as she stared at him and studied his very reactions. Tig looked at the keys and nodded «Really? » He nodded again and pulled her into a hug.

« Of course! » Was all he could come up with. Asma smiled and cupped his cheek with her hand.

« I'm glad you like my presents. I thought...I was wondering if you would. I am not great at making-- »

« They're perfect. My turn now. I didn't have three presents but I hope the two I got you would be enough. »

She pressed her lips against his and quietly pulled away. She looked at the big box and grabbed it first. Her hazel eyes glanced at him before she opened the present. Her eyes grew wide as she realized it was her own custom kutte he had made. There was her name on it, the logo of the club...She wasn't per say a member of the club, Asma always made it clear that she didn't want to know shit about their business but it was his way to say that she was welcome in his life, in this family that was SAMCRO. She wasn't just Jessica's friend or sister like she called herself. She was a member of the crew, an honorary member of it at the very least. The present brought fresh tears to her face and she looked at Tig, confused and happy and smiling.

« Babe... » He grinned, proud of himself because he got the reaction he wanted. « T-T-Thank you. » She said, as she put the kutte away. « I don't know what to say.. »

« There's nothing to say. You've always been part of the family. You knew it already, I just decided to make it more official. Give you your honorary member kutte..I'm glad you like it. »

« Are you kidding? I love it! Babe.. »' She then looked at the envelope that was on the floor. « Is this for me? » He nodded and invited her to take it. « Tig... » She shook it but it didn't make any noise, so she swallowed a lump and opened it. « I.I don't know what it is but it looks serious. » She whispered as she pulled the paper. It was a form she made her customers fill when they wanted a tattoo, besides, she recognized her logo and the name of the client was Tig. « Wait for what ? Are you trying to get a tattoo from me? That's your present? » She playfully teased Tig as she kept on reading. Alex indeed ordered a tattoo. He wanted something new and to have her ink him was for her, a great honor because he trusted her. When she read the description part of the form, where Tig described what he wanted, she dropped the paper. Tears rolled onto her cheeks and she started to sob.

«What? You don't like my present? »

« Are you fucking kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me? Why? Why Alex? » She asked, confused. He knelt near her and put his hands on her shoulders. « Why did you do this? Why do you want my name on your skin? Do you know what that means? »

« I know.. Look at me. Asma! Look at me! » He said, holding onto her shoulders tighter so she would look at him. « I know why I asked this. I know why I want this. »

«Why? » She asked again in her adorable cracked voice.

« Because you came into my life like a fucking tsunami. Because I got you under my skin. Because... This is serious. /We/ are serious. »

It was clumsy, a very clumsy way he had to tell her that he wanted to be with her in the long run and was looking for a serious relationship. It was clumsy but she understood him. Something like this would have scared her a little while ago, but it was just the two of them in the safety of her house. It was just the two of them and the rest of the world was on mute mode. It was just the two of them and he had just taken the biggest engagement he could have ever made. He wanted her name on his skin and Asma didn't know what to say or what to do except cry and kiss him.

«Merry fucking Christmas, asshole. »

«Merry fucking Christmas, Bella. » -He replied, bemused at her hitting his shoulders with her fists.-

-TBC-

SoA Tig and Asma: the dinner part 4

A/N: Let's continue this date, shall we? Now it's probably the cheesiest part of the evening. But what can I say? That's good cheesy. All usual disclaimers.

Xxxxxxxx

Tig and Asma talked all night long and for the first time in a long while, they didn't talk about trauma. Tig didn't talk about his dead daughters, he didn't talk about the bullets he took, the near-death experiences he had, the loss of his friends and crew members. He didn't talk about the loss of hope, of love and of course that crunching need he had of the club to give him purpose. Asma didn't have to talk about her ex, his abuse, and demise by the hand of Jessica. She didn't talk about her PTSD, her issues with the Charming racist community, her broken heart and sunken dreams or her addiction to alcohol. None of that mattered that night. All that mattered was the way they looked at one another, the laughter they shared and the nice moment that happened in this place.

They ate well and Tig suggested to walk her to the nearest Park so they could recover from the feast they just had. He offered his arm so Asma could hold onto him when they walked out of the restaurant. The night was fresh so he wrapped his leather jacket around her shoulders, like a proper gentleman and the two headed towards the park nearby. As they walked, Tig looked down at the pink haired woman and held her shoulder tighter. He felt like another man, not quite different from who he really was but different enough for him to notice.

There was no need for violence tonight, no need to be on his guard (although he still was), no need to hide or lie to the one in front of him. There was a charming woman, who for once had a very pleasant time with a man and genuinely enjoyed her evening. He felt light-hearted and satisfied with how the night was going. They might even not have sex tonight he didn't care. She looked beautiful tonight, her eyes were staring at him with such an intensity that he was drawn towards her. She genuinely cared about him, laughed heartedly at his jokes, called him out when he was being an ass, held his hand more than once and without noticing she was doing it. He searched for her touch all night long and took it no matter how long it lasted.

She felt like another woman as well. Lighthearted was the best word to describe how she felt, but it became clear throughout the whole dinner that she wanted to be with Tig. She wanted to try to build a relationship with him. It sounded like a rush, it sounded silly but it was so obvious to her that there was no other way to describe how she felt. It was a moment of clarity for both of them. The night was full of Hope, hope for a better life, for a future and another reason to wake up in the morning.

« You looked relaxed tonight. It's good to see. »

« I enjoyed my evening with you. Have you enjoyed it as well? » She asked, her hazel eyes now looking up at his face.

« You bet I have! Food was awesome and the company was great. »

He said as they entered the park. There were couples who decided to take a walk at the same time so the park wasn't empty. Asma glanced at them and wrapped her left arm around Tig's waist, to keep him close to her. He noticed but didn't say anything.

« Company was excellent...I did laugh more tonight than I ever did in the last couple of months. Thank you for tonight. » She said as her eyes searched for a quiet place they could go to and sit.

« Something was missing, however. » He added, remembering what Jessica told him a while ago about Asma's dream date.

« Mmmhh? What could that possibly be? More booze? » She teased him as they kept on walking. The night indeed was a fresh one and it made Asma shiver.

« Fuck no. I don't want to hammer myself down tonight. I don't need that kind of fun. » He said, placing them under a public floor lamp. The light wasn't aggressive, which was welcomed by Asma who smiled at Tig and wrapped her other arm around his waist.

« What kind of fun do you need then? » She asked, eyes sparkling even more now that they were somehow alone. He grinned at her and ran his hand through her hair before he held her cheeks with both palms.

« I was thinking, we could be dancing. » It made Asma blink and she then shifty-eyed from left to right, confused. « There's no need to panic here, Bella. We just need a slow rhythm. I can even mmhh if you'd rather like it. I just want to rock back and forth with you, feel your heartbeats, talk into your ear. » He said as he gently put her hands on his shoulders and wrapped his left arm around her slender waist and held onto her left hand with his right one. She let him manœuvre her body, astounded by how perfect the night was unfolding and looked up at his face once again.

« I don't understand. »

« You don't have to. Let yourself go. I want to dance with you tonight, feel you get close to me, closer than at the restaurant. »

He whispered, his voice low and husky. She nodded, allowing him to lead the dance as he started to sway his hips and slowly lead the dance. Still shocked and confused, Asma lowered her head and looked at the grass near their feet and held onto his hand. Her head leaned into his chest as they started to sway to him humming some sort of jazz song. Nobody has treated her that way for a very long time. She was courted tonight, pleasantly surprised by a Tig who made efforts to make her feel comfortable and didn't berate her for her panic attack. She was seen as a woman first, as a clever and witty equal to Tig who genuinely wanted to spend some time with her. She did notice desire and arousal sometimes in the way he was talking or looking at her but it never took over the rest. Her eyes quickly filled themselves with unshed tears as she stopped moving and held him tighter.

« Are you alright? » He inquired, worried about Asma who nodded. « Do you want us to stop? » She shook her head and held him tighter. « Do you need a minute? » She nodded. « I'll wait then. We have the whole night before us. »

« I don't understand Tig. I'm trying to but...You've been so kind to me tonight. It is a perfect night. »

« First of all, we're not done yet. Second of all, don't try to understand what's going on. I don't either. »

« You don't  understand? » She lifted a brow and looked back to his face. He grinned.

« Not at all. I decided to stop looking for answers to questions I don't need to ask myself. There is this thing we have going on. This thing that goes beyond a booty call. I don't need you to get some ass. I could find any pussy I want with just bending forward but I am not looking for that. You are so much more than just a booty call Asma. I respect you. »

« I know you do. Even when we did have sex couple of weeks ago, you've treated me like a person... that shocked me back then. » She said, chewing at her bottom lip.

« I never saw you as a piece of meat. You're not a crow eater. » He said, stroking her cheek with the back of his forefinger. « My point I guess is that there's this thing I feel between you and me. Can you feel it too? »

« yeah.... I can. » She smiled at him, blinking fast to try and make her tears disappear but one rolled down her cheek. « I'm sorry about that, I'm overwhelmed. »

« Don't apologize. It's okay. » He said wiping the tear off of her cheek. « So you feel it too? »

« I do. You're not a booty call for me either.I would love to... See you again, go on more dates.. spend more time with you. That was crystal clear for me, tonight. » She admitted and blushed.

« For me too. » He admitted too, a smirk crossing his lips as he planted a kiss on her forehead. « I don't want to understand why I think that's how things should be. I don't want to understand why I want that either. I just want it. » He felt her move and started to sway his hips again.

« I'm..... scared. This is scary Tig and I think I have to be honest with you. I am not sure I am good enough to try that. It had been years, I have been in shitty situations and shitty relationships. I don't know how to make things work and I don't want to hurt you. »

« Hurt me? » He laughed and planted another kiss on top of her head. « Here I was thinking you'd say I would be the one to hurt you and you were afraid of that. » He teased her but he was sincere. It was the very first time a woman ever told him that she was afraid to hurt him and he didn't quite know how to take it. He tried to follow Jessica's advice and calm Asma down but the idea was so ridiculous, he couldn't help but laugh at it. Asma pulled away and furrowed her brows.

«That's not funny. »

« It kinda is. I never heard that in my whole life. » He teased her and gently pulled her into a hug. « You won't hurt me. »

«I'm upset and yes I will hurt you. Somehow, someday... » She wrapped both arms around his waist once again and closed her eyes.

« I'll take it. There's nothing you can really do to me that I haven't seen before. » He said with a grin before he planted a kiss on her nose and then pulled away.

« Alright..... So we're doing this thing? We're going on dates and shit? » She asked, pulling away from him as she needed some space to breathe. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

« I guess we are.  It's getting cold. I'm taking you home. »

« Yeah... And have some coffee with me, right ?. »

She said with a mischievous grin as he grabbed her hand and took her out of the park. She noticed he entwined their fingers together but didn't say anything as they walked back to the bike. She smiled and this time insisted on him to ride them home so she could wrap her arms around his waist and lean into his back. Tig made sure she had slipped into his jacket and put on her helmet before he sat on his bike and rode them home. The night was still young and both souls felt so light that it felt like a miracle had just happened.

-TBC-

(SoA) Tig and Asma; the diner part 3

A/N: continuing this little scene:D I am in the best mood. I wanted to give them some of my attention, so here you are. <3 All usual disclaimers, SoA and its characters belong to their authors, Asma belongs to me, Jessica belongs to my friend C.

Xxx

Jess was still eating her cherries when she heard her phone ringtone. She knew it had to be Asma because of how anxious her friend was. She promised her to be her wingman if she ever needed help, so she picked up the phone and chuckled at the sight of the first text.

#Did you really?# She asked and sent it. Just right after she did, Jessica received Tig's text and laughed nervously.

These two couldn't be serious, now could they? She knew that both of them were very nervous about that date, but couldn't have predicted that she would have been in the middle of them, like a chaperone. She crossed her legs in a meditative pose and placed her phone on her lap.

#Don't worry Tig. For now, she just needs to take a deep breath. You didn't do anything wrong, it's just her coming to realize that she actually wants something with you.#

Jessica then bit her bottom lip, wondering if she should send the text. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Asma wanted to be with Tig. She mentioned it the very first time she told the brunette about the night she spent with the SAMCRO member. It was easy to notice in the way she was talking about it and the sparkles in her eyes. It was easy to notice in the fact she was anxious about the date, so the SAMCRO queen simply nodded and put the phone on her lap. Yet as soon as she sent the reply to Asma, she received another text from the panicked young woman.

# I did and I worry he thinks I might be going too fast. I am scared I am going too fast. I can't breathe.#

#Yes you can. You can. Count with me. 5.# Jessica replied quickly.

#4# Asma sent back. Jessica furrowed her brows,

#3. Are you still with me? I want you to think about the flowers Tig gave you when he came.#

#You think? I don't want to scare her away. I never experienced that, how do I address her when she comes back?# Tig's text arrived just when Jessica was trying to comfort Asma. Which made her roll her eyes.

#2. yeah.#

#1. Now I want you to close your eyes for a minute and take a deep breath. You got this Asma. You made Tig Trager come pick you up with a pair of nice trousers and a nice shirt. He took you out tonight because he wants to be legit, do it properly. Nothing is wrong here. You have to accept that a man wants to be with you and make you happy. You have to accept that Asma and the way he makes you feel.#

Jessica then sighed and quickly texted Tig back.

#Simply be attentive to her body language. Be the way you were before the crisis so she would know there's nothing wrong with her having a panic attack. She'd want you to take where you two left, so do it. Make her feel like she's the only one in the world tonight.#

Tig smiled when he received the message. Jessica succeeded in soothing his mind and he was now more confident about the rest of the evening. There was no reason for the night to get worse than that and he intended to make her feel better as soon as she would come back to the room. He quickly texted «[Thank you!] before his blue eyes looked around him in order to find her. Asma was still trying to breathe and had her hand over her chest. It wasn't a big deal, -well it was.-, she simply said she was thinking of them as being a couple and it was true. There was no « good moment » to be honest so why would she try to hide the truth?

#0! I am good. I'm good now. I will go back to that room and I will have one hell of a good time. Thanks, babe.#

#You're welcome, babe! I love you.# Jessica replied before she put the phone away, a large smile on her lips. She enjoyed being their chaperon and wished to have news of the night, good news so she could live by proxy while waiting for Jax to come back.

#I love you too.#

Confident, Asma dropped her arms and took a deep breath. She shut her eyes for a brief moment and cleared her throat. It had been a couple of minutes now and Tig might be wondering where she went. So she checked her hair, grabbed some tissue to dab it on her sweating face and practiced her smiles in front of the bathroom's mirror before she left the bathroom. Tig's heart stopped when she came back and he smiled at her, unable to refrain himself from doing so. She was so beautiful and so radiant that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She smiled back and quietly sat back on her chair.

« I'm sorry it took that long. »

« Don't apologize, Bella. Everything is fine. So, what do you want to eat ? »

« I want some ribs and... » She trailed off, looking at him up and down and sending a shiver down Tig's spine. He moistened his lips and grinned. He understood what she meant and smirked widely.

« Are you really hungry? » He teased her, tapping his fingers on the table. She bent forward and nodded slowly.

« /Very hungry/. We'll see later, after the ribs. I might fancy some dessert. » She said, biting her bottom lip. « So Tig. Now that we're here, I was thinking we could start over. » Asma tilted her head to the side and leaned her chin against her warm palm. « Hi. My name is Asma Victoria Jensen, my favorite color is blue and I am a tattoo artist. »

« Your favorite color is blue? I thought it was red. Red suits you very well. » He said, looking at the back of her hand he wanted to stroke with his thumb.

« Well, it is. How about you? Are you going to introduce yourself or what? » She said, feeling her cheeks turn red as she looked at his face. Tig chuckled and allowed his fingers to trace the soft skin of the back of her hand.

« Hi, my name is Alex Trager, but call me Tig. I'm a mechanic. »

It wasn't the truth but he couldn't be honest in public. She knew what he was doing -the gist of it anyway- and she knew he had to be careful around her. It wasn't just in order to protect her from any of their horrific deeds. It also was to protect her from the consequences of their deeds. Daniel Quinonez, the AFD agent, had noticed her existence and decided to cook her slowly. Random visits and search of her workplace often happened, she was taken to the interrogation room to ask her about her ties to Jessica Teller and SAMCRO.

« A mechanic, uh? That's a very nice job you have there. »

« A very dangerous one. You never know what could happen when you work for a new client. Our last gig was very hard, the car was more complex than we thought it'll be. It took the entire automotive repair to deal with it. » He was speaking about their last trip out of charming. Asma smiled tightly and held his hand.

« Is it safe now? »

He held her hand and entwined their fingers together. Her eyes shifted from left to right and she tilted her head again to have a better view of his face. Tig tried to keep her out of his business but he couldn't hide that he was worried about the current business for he didn't know what was going to happen. It was even more difficult now that Jax told them they were expecting a child with Jessica. He already had kids before, but this time it was different. This time he had the opportunity to go through the whole pregnancy with his wife and a chance to witness most of his child's important steps. The whole club didn't want him to miss the opportunity to be a better dad. Those, like Tig, who had kids already knew how it felt to want to do the best for the child and want to be a better parent. He wouldn't take that away from Jax and would make sure Jessica was protected from any kind of threat, be it those coming from her closet or those caused by the club's business. He could feel Asma get tense and worried but before he could answer, the waitress came to take their orders. Tig cleared his throat and then removed his hand from hers to scratch the back of his neck.

« Is it safe now? » She asked again.

« We don't know for sure. We have to try the new car to make sure it's a finely tuned machine. » He was being honest with Asma because he didn't want to lie to her. She furrowed her brow and put both hands on her lap. Tig's eyes grew wide as he wasn't sure of how she would react. Asma swallowed a lump and then looked at him again.

« Be safe when you try that car. I wouldn't want it to blow in your face. I wouldn't want it to blow anywhere near you. » She said, out of fear of losing him. How ironic would that be? She'd just found Tig and there was no way in Hell that he would be gone just after she was getting used to the idea of being with someone. He held her hand tighter and gently smiled at her. It was the smoothest and sweetest smile he actually ever gave someone -except for his daughters- and she noticed that and felt blood rush into her cheeks. « Why are you smiling like that? »

« You're worried about me. » He stated, before bringing her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.

« What if I am ?... » She groaned and tapped the tip of her nose to cover for her shyness.

« I say this is actually very nice of you to worry about me. I'd also add that I'll be alright. We're trying to make sure everyone's safe so far. Don't you worry about me okay? I'm the one who worries about you. »

He was referring to Oscar but not just him. Some people still felt that they could send racially charged messages and deface her workplace just so she would leave AND get away with that? Tig knew the history of Charming and how violent some people could be to those who were different. He experienced it enough with his past relationships that he knew Asma might not be safe at all. Ex-fiancé or not. Besides, most people were starting to realize that she was indeed, very close to Jessica and the club and Tig knew that it only was a matter of time before their business reached out to her.

« I'll be alright Tig. Come on. Didn't we agree that the night would be lighthearted? I know what I'm walking into by being with you and I am not afraid of that. A shitstorm could be coming our way, I would... I would still have dinner with you tonight. » She said, holding onto his hand as tight as she could before she released it.

« So.... Are you saying we're done talking about that car fixin'? » She nodded and scratched the back of her head. « Sure.. tonight's not the right night for that. » He said, as he pressed his lips on the back of her hand again.

« I want to talk about.... » She paused and then furrowed her brow. « I want to talk about the silly details. Where you come from, what kind of food you like, what do you prefer a bike or a car? I want to know all those little details that make you-you and I will give you mine too. We won't talk about your job, my AA meetings or even our past relationships. I just want to get to know you.. spend some time with you and you alone. Can we do that? »

« Are you kidding? » She shook her head. « Well, too bad because I had prepared a list of questions I was about to ask. » He was joking, by the tone of his voice, Asma realized he was just going along with the mood and chuckled at him. She felt relaxed and didn't remove her hand from his as they started to talk. They both used the moment the waitress came back with the food to both send a text to Jessica, claiming it was something else (she claimed it was a client and he claimed it was the job.)

#It's getting better. He's been really sweet to me when I came back and the conversation is flowing nicely. I can't take my eyes off of his deep baby blue eyes. Is it bad that I want to kiss him already?#

Asma sent the message with a little apprehension. Jessica let out an excited sound and grinned widely, but while she was typing her reply, she received Tig's text.

#It's getting better ! You were right, she's opening up to me. Thanks Jess for the tips. Do you think it'll be too early if I kiss her now or should I wait after dinner? #

Jessica grinned again and put the phone against her heart. Things seemed to be going well and they wouldn't need her help anymore. She then leaned into her chair and curled her lips into a grin. Well, it was thanks to her if this first date didn't turn into a catastrophe. She felt proud of herself but more importantly, she was happy for her friends. Both meant a lot to her so if they were happy, so was Jessica. She simply replied to both.

#I knew you could make it. Now enjoy the rest of your night. My job here is done.#

And indeed it was.

SoA : The dinner part 1

(obviously can't be writing the full dinner in just one post, so you're going to have bits and pieces of it. Let's kick it with the sweet moment they share before he drives her to the place and when they get there.) Ah. I'm struggling with these cute scenes lol especially with these two. But I decided I wouldn't quit until I have kickstarted this romantic evening (life-changing for both I presume)

xxx

Alex « Tig » Trager was a man who wasn't easy to impress. He'd seen it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. He'd seen it all and believed that he could handle taking Asma out for a dinner. What as a simple thing that was, a dinner. He wanted to be proper, to take her on an official date and let her know he was actually trying to woo her. Sure, they had sex, they had great fantastic sex that lasted in his mind and made him anticipate his return to Charming. They had a chemistry, he couldn't deny it. The way her skin felt against his, her kisses and the softness of her curly hair against his digits.. he had it all in mind. Yet, there was something deeper than the attractive surface of a booty-call. Asma wasn't a booty call. He could have hundreds if without breaking a sweat given how eager the Crow eaters were to fuck some SAMCRO dick. He would just have to wait and someone would have thrown themselves at his feet. He wasn't the most handsome guy of the group but damn if he wasn't intense.

The same intense blue gaze stared at Asma as she opened the front door and appeared in the glorious red dress of hers. It was hugging her curves in all the right way and made Tig swallow a lump. Her hair looked pretty as well, even softer than he remembered they looked like and her neck would have been the death of him if he hadn't had any restraint. He knew better and held back a whistle of satisfaction to the sight before him. However, when Tig tried to say a word, nothing came out. He was nervous and it made him furrow his brow. Asma furrowed hers and started to check her face and dress to see if something was wrong about her, but he shook his head. Behind the window, Jessica was watching as the two lovebirds finally met but hadn't said a damn word yet! She grinned at the sight of them looking embarrassed but prayed it wouldn't last too long. It was out of character for both of them so she grabbed her phone and bit it, wishing for something to happen, some word to be said. Tig remembered the flowers and outstretched his hand to offer them to Asma who smiled at him. Jess sighed in relief as she felt a crisis was averted and leaned her forehead against the window to have a better view of the two of them.

« How did you..-- » Jess had helped Tig ALL day long to pick up the right bouquet for Asma. Sunflowers were her favorites, along with roses, but he picked the one that reminded him of spring, the way  Asma did « Nevermind... Thank you, Tig for the bouquet. »

« It doesn't do you justice.... » He quickly said, maybe too quick to hide his eagerness. She looked up to his face and chuckled. « You look great tonight. »

« You're not bad either. » She said, allowing her hand to hold onto his, a little longer.

Tig was mesmerized by her sight, he knew she was not really comfortable due to her going on a date in the first time after so many years, but he knew she would soon tell him to fucks off like only she could do. It was his job to make her feel comfortable tonight, so he grabbed his leather jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders because the night was fresh. Truth to be told, Tig himself was feeling very nervous, was it the right way to do things? He knew Jessica was watching from the window, she told him she would and if he needed some help, he could look at her past the window. So he did. She gave him two thumbs up and moved her hand to tell him to move along and take Asma away. She then pointed at her phone to tell him she would be texting him if he needed help -same promise she made Asma. That would be fun- and she then went back to her chair and her cherries.

« Well... I think we can go now. » She didn't protest and instead followed him to his bike. It had been a while since she rode, the AA meetings had been very intense and confessing about her ex-fiancé had been the hardest for Asma who had to explain why she started to drink and how until recently, saying his name was enough to make her want to drink. It took a lot of efforts for her to keep the secret she shared with Jessica about Oscar trapped inside her mind and not raise suspicion from her support group, but they were dense, they believed her lies -which were half-truths- and she could move on. That added to the fact it was her first date made Asma feel like a wrecking ball knocked her down. So Tig held her tighter by the shoulder and whispered in her ear.

« I think you haven't touched a bike for a while, have you? » She shook her head and allowed her hand to traces the elements of the bike. « What about, you get us to the restaurant? I'll let you drive. »

« You would? » He nodded and sat on the second seat behind the drivers. « Oh my god. that's fucking great but. Are you sure? It's your baby after all. » She said, touching the bike like those wine connoisseurs. He enjoyed that side of her too, good enough with mechanics to know how a bike worked, good enough with bikes to drive them and race with other bikers while being gorgeous.

« Sit down already. » He said, rolling his eyes to pretend he was annoyed by her not jumping on the occasion. Asma grinned at him and sat on the bike, her hands holding the handles lovingly before she felt his hands wrap over hers. He bent forward, pressing himself a little bit more against her and sending shivers down her spine. She bit her bottom lip, making sure not to let a moan escape from her plump red lips before he said his piece. «it's a crime you didn't ride a bike when I was away, look at how nervous it makes you feel... »

« I-I-I need some practice. » She suggested, involuntarily speaking with a seductive tone. OF COURSE, he was flirting! Of COURSE, it was a sexual innuendo and a reminder of how much he actually desired her, all the while without going all the way in. As he removed his larger hands from hers, Tig then wrapped his stronger arms around her slender waist and put his helmet on her head.

« What about you? » She asked, glancing behind her back.

« I trust you with my life. »

Smooth, it was smooth. It made Asma giggle and she then put her helmet correctly before she started the engine. A lot of her nervously just dropped thanks to him and his little trick. She drove them safely to the ribs house, where from afar already, you could smell the delicious scent of smoked meat.

(TBC)

SoA: The phone call

A/N: Thinking about these two! Eeek!!!!!  he's finally calling her after all this time being away. All usual disclaimers

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Asma?" 

His heavy breathing over the phone made her breathe harder. Her eyes averted from left to right as she didn't know what to say and bit her bottom lip. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage and she felt fresh unshed tears fill her eyes. Damnit! why did she have to pick up the phone while she wasn't being ready? She had been texting him for weeks while he was away with the club for an out-of-town operation and he never returned her texts because of reasons? She had no clues. She was fine when he wasn't responding because she didn't have to deal with the consequences of her texts but he did more than text back. HE CALLED! She was panicking and bit her bottom lip harder.

"I can hear you breathe over the phone Bella, answer me. I know you're there."

"Fuck you Tig." She managed to say in a very shaky voice, which hinted at her being uncomfortable having him over the phone as well as feeling shy. He could tell by the sound she made right after, a mix of a groan of relief and shame which made him chuckle.

"It's just me Asma. There's no need to panic."

"I'm /not./ panicking asshole! I just... How come you're calling me after you ignored all the texts I kept sending you?!" -There she was, using justified (although faux) anger to lash out at him. He had earned this one, he didn't text her back. "Did you even read my texts?"

"I read them all!" Tig answered, scratching the tip of his nose. 

Of course, it was complicated to even consider a relationship with someone who wasn't in the club or a crow eater because she couldn't be made aware of his plans or of the extra-curriculum of the club in case she was questioned. Daniel Quinonez, that asshole who couldn't let go of Jessica, already questioned her about her clients that other day, especially Jax Teller since he was known for going to her for new inks or for fixing damaged ones. Tig knew that he shouldn't be pursuing a relationship with her, but the night they spent together haunted him. It lasted one full night and it was blissful. he already knew that Asma was more than meet the eye and she did have her struggles but actually getting to know her changed everything for him. 

He discovered many sides of Asma he never could have imagined she'd have. A sensitive one who would give him tenderness after the deed was done. He still remembered her arms around his neck, petting his hair and telling him he was safe and alright in her arms. A sensual side of her that made his body tense at the thought of her dangerous curves and her moans and the sexy way she had to bit her bottom lip whenever he was shoving his cock deep inside of her. A side that sent shivers down his spine and made him lick his lips as he remembered how she tasted. A tougher side of her that excited him. Sure, she never killed but she could throw a punch, she could fight whoever tried to harm someone she cared about. She learned how to fire a gun and manage it but abhorred the use of a weapon and would never use it. He saw her be protective towards Jessica and fight with her foul mouth any asshole who tried to get closer to her. Finally, he saw her be fragile, a self-conscious about her limp and her alcohol addiction. He saw her try to push him away because she remembered how it was with Elias and didn't want to relive the same thing over again.

"You did?" -She could feel him nod over the phone-

"Twice each time you sent me one, beautiful. I just couldn't answer you. We're dealing with some pretty serious shit so I was focused on doing my part."

"So you think calling me would make amend for not answering my texts?" He chuckled at her words. He could tell by the sound of her voice that she wasn't angry but was trying REALLY hard to be. So he played along to make her feel more comfortable.

"Well, fuck me if I was wrong. I thought you'd like a call."

"You're silly!" She groaned and then leaned into her chair. "How have you been?" She asked, still in the mood for sulking but actually feeling a little better now that she spat her "venom" at him.

"Well. Better now that I'm talking to you, Bella. Been worried actually." It made her groan louder and she shook her head. "I'm serious. last time we talked you told me that your crazy-ex sent you a yellow rose. Is he still in town? Are you safe?"

"................." She stopped breathing for a minute. He asked it so casually but she couldn't be surprised. Of course he'd want to know and of course, she couldn't tell him. She promised Jessica nobody would know about her killing Oscar in her own house. She couldn't put her friend's safety and "tranquility" in jeopardy and couldn' take the risk to have an angry Jax come at her for endangering his wife and unborn child. "He's gone." Was all she could whisper before she ran her hand through her pink locks and grabbed a fist of her hair. 

"Are you sure about that? I could take a look when I--"

"I'm sure. He's gone. He's never coming back Tig." She then bent a little forward and leaned her elbows on her lap. "Look, you don't have to worry about me right now. I'm alright. What if we talk about you coming to my shop when you're home?"

He paused for a while, unsure of how to take it. It sounded fishy, forced but she was sincere when she said Oscar was not a problem anymore. He decided he didn't need to know how that was possible and instead he should focus on the young woman. He's missed her greatly and he knew she was missing him from the texts she sent him so there was no mystery left here but only an opportunity. Tig scratched the back of his head and looked up to see Chibs and Bobby talk about their next moves. They had noticed that he had tried to isolate himself and seemed to be in a better mood than they'd seen him in a long while. Of course, they wanted to tease him with that mysterious lady who was keeping his mind busy and they would, once Tig would hang up the phone.

"Sure, sounds like a great plan. What about.." He paused for a minute. "What about a proper dinner?"

"A dinner? You've done something like that before or are you trying to be fancy for me?"

"You've never been treated to one before, I was thinking it could be a nice start."

She breathed over the phone, once again surprised he would ever want to treat her that nicely and feeling herself hyperventilate. She loved the idea of being treated to a nice dinner but never, since Oscar, had she set a foot at a restaurant. There were fine joints that were expensive and out of Tig's element so he wouldn't take her to those fancy French restaurants and other weird cuisine. He had a better idea in mind. A better place where she would eat nice real American food and be filled for days. He had in mind the best ribs restaurant of the town, someplace very warm and decent where he hadn't been in ages. His game was rusty but he wanted to dust it off because she was worth the efforts. 

"You're taking me to dinner?" He chuckled over the phone once again, but she could guess he was actually feeling a little shy too. Tig wasn't the kind of man to back down or feel ashamed of what he was doing so it wasn't Shame he was feeling. Tig was pleased by his idea and a bit shaky because he realized that he liked her enough to treat her to a restaurant. He realized that she was making him feel all types of feelings and he didn't know why just yet. 

"What say you?"

"Yes?... I mean.. yes of course. We'd have dinner and then a beer at a nice joint? then a walk?"

"You'd get to decide how the rest of the night would unfold although I have to be honest with you Bella, you are very attractive and I would very much want to spend the rest of the night with you. If you get what I mean." She didn't, it flew past her mind and she nodded at him.

"Yes we'd have dinner and then a beer and then you'd walk me home."

"I don't think you understood. I was trying to be poetic here. I meant, I very much want to do a part 2 of the night we spent before I left." He felt her swallow hard and imagined her twirl some of her pink locks.

"'Really?"' Here he was acting like a gentleman. It would have been easier with a crow eater, he could have just whipped his dick out and everything would be done but with Asma, he decided to actually put some efforts into seducing her. Spending some quality time seemed like a great idea. "I mean.. I know it... I mean.. you want to do it again?"

"Pfft don't insult me. Of course, I do! I'm not blind or made of wood! So...You know what I want to do, I'll leave you to your thoughts. I'll be home soon"

"Okay." She said as he hung up the phone. Her heart pounded hard against her ribcage and she looked at her screen. He did call, she didn't dream that shit up. He called her! It made her bit her bottom lip and put her phone against her chest. "Fuck yeah!" She said, quickly texting Jessica.

#Tig and I have a date for when the boys are home.#

#This is great! We need to make sure your A game is on point then!#

#It starts with a dinner! HELP ME, Jessica! I haven't been invited to a dinner in ages!#

#LOL no worries. Mama Jess to the rescue. Come over when you're done working and we'll review your outfits./Love you.#

#Sure! Thank you! Love you too.#

When Tig hung up the phone, he was met with grins and chuckles from Bobby and Chibs. They knew their brother and they knew that a woman had turned his world upside down to the point he couldn't do otherwise but spit it out. They were about to ask who the girl was when Opie entered the scene and ruined the mood.

(TBC)

SoA: Protector (Tig and Asma)

A/N: Very self-indulging but also at the same time, I kinda like these two so I'll write a little bit about a trail of thoughts that led Asma to think about him and the good he brought into her life. Sure, they are at the beginning of everything but he left a solid impact on her.   

Xxxxxxxxxx

Asma shrugged and rolled on her belly. She had her phone in her hand and was looking aimlessly at the list of numbers she had on her phone. She moved her fingers to go up and down her list and then stopped at Tig's name. Here it was, thrown in the middle of the list of names of the good people of Charming. It made her heart skip a beat and she put the phone back onto the mattress so she wouldn't have to look at the screen with his name. Why was she like this? Why was her heart beating so fast when she simply saw his name? Why was it skipping a beat whenever she heard his voice or felt his fingers on her skin? It should have been obvious, it should have been since it was when Elias was in her life. She had a crush on Elias and maybe she was having a crush on Tig? Why not?

He was a criminal. There was no other way of saying it. He was a member of the SONS and he was involved in so much shit, according to Jess, that if we were to read his rap sheet, we would still be there for a good two days non-stop. It was scary! He had killed and even more. He dealt with shit Asma didn't want to know about because it wasn't her life. Whether she wanted it or not, it wasn't her life. She was a good girl who tried to avoid criminality at all cost. When her brother Cody became a thug, she did her best to distance herself from him because she couldn't condone his lifestyle and his poor decision-making skills. She couldn't condone his unlawful activities and watch him self-destruct as time went by.

So what? He was a criminal and so what? After meeting Jessica Darling and Jax Teller, she changed her mind about gangs. Her world was shattered and nuanced. People were different from the stereotypes she had in mind. They weren't just greedy animals looking for cheap thrills or domination. They weren't just trying to hurt others for the sake of doing it. Suddenly, Asma realized that they were human beings just like her with dreams and hopes and broken hearts. They were trying to make a living and have a decent life. Sure, they turned to a life of crimes but not all of them were unhinged individuals and dangerous people. Not all of them were monsters and they certainly weren't a monolith. It shook her to the core and slowly but surely she became very close to Jessica to the point of the two of them becoming best friends. A good girl and an old lady. A good girl and a ruthless warrior. A tattoo artist and a hit woman. It was an uncanny duo but it was one whose existence was deeply rooted in trust and care and love. Genuine love.

With Jessica, she found a promise. An open door to a new life and an uncanny support. Elias happened and ruined the wreckage Asma already was. He broke the shattered heart of the woman to the point of her not wanting to play the game of love anymore.Then she had to try and stay sober and for a year it nearly worked but Oscar barged into her life and had her relapse. By the time it happened, Asma had found a family in the Sons. She had found a safe space and protectors. When Oscar tried to intimidate Asma, Jessica had her back and she killed him unceremonially in her own kitchen. Then Jessica cleaned the mess and gave her the box with Oscar's belongings so she could symbolically say goodbye to him and move on. She had found a family in the Sons and Jessica when she was trying to sober up. They would take her to races, they would have her ink some more members of the gang and they would make sure she was never alone. It didn't matter if it was Lyla or juice or even Tig who looked after her, Asma never was alone.

Alex "Tig" Trager. Asma pulled her phone back to her face so she could read his name again. It made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. He looked so rough on the edges, hardened as if he was wearing an armor. For a stranger's eye, Tig was intimidating. This brash and burly kutte-wearing biker had seen it all but that stranger would have been wrong. Tig was a man who was dedicated to his family and friends. He wasn't perfect but he tried as hard as he could to maintain good relationships with people he cared about. Asma shut down her eyes as she remembered the night she spent with him before he went with the Sons and the Knights do God knew what. She remembered his calloused fingers he ran over her soft skin, She remembered his that felt as if they were trying to heal her pain. Asma rolled on her back and looked at the ceiling. Truth be told, she was missing Tig.

He was quite a man after all. He brought her something new. Comfort might have been the word for it. Protection could work as well. The night they spent together was beautiful. He made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world and put her in a trance until the next morning. Asma bit at her bottom lip as she remembered the words he whispered in her ears, his sexy grunts and groans, the warmth of his body smacking against hers. He felt good inside of her, stretching her tight little cunt with his big fat cock and making her choke on her words. He felt even better after when he decided to stay with her overnight and talk to her. It came naturally for the two of them t start talking to one another and get to know each other. He wanted to know her better and he wanted her to know him as well. He never tried to hide who he really was from her, without getting into details because she asked him not to. So she learned. She heard about his chaotic life, about his kids, about how she made him feel. 

Tonight was wonderful, for both of them. Her warmth engulfed his whole being and soothed Tig. This time felt different He wasn't fucking her like he would any other woman. He did make love to her and both felt it. Her eyes shifted from left to right as she stared at the ceiling, her arms on her chest and sighed deeply at their own thought. Yes! they made love that night. Was it because he wanted to protect her? After all, he heard what happened to her by the time they had sex with one another. He heard Jess talk one day she was frustrated about Asma second attempt at running away from Charming because of her ex and spilled some beans to the guys who were around. Chibs, Opie, Tig, and Bobby. 

Tig remained silent when he heard but he didn't forget and the rest of the group promised to help if Jess asked for it. Tig already hated the asshole for making this sweet girl scared of being alive. He refused to forgive him when he learned that he actually abused the young woman, to the point that he realized she didn't have a very healthy way to have sex. So he took it upon himself to make that night the best she ever had. He made her experience sex like never before and made sure that she felt pleasure all along and went at her own pace. He didn't leave her sides when they were done and exhausted because he wanted her to feel desired and important on top of truly wanting to know her better. They talked at the dead of the night up to dawn and when she felt rested enough and relaxed, she told him that he could go if he wanted to. Tig said that if the club needed him then he would go but until then he would stay by her sides. 

And he stayed for a couple of hours, just holding her in his arms. 

Asma realized that he gave her something Elias didn't. He stayed with her and treated her like a goddamn person rather than just a sex-doll. He didn't just take from her but also gave Asma what she needed to have. That was why she was missing him right now and this was a feeling she didn't know how to handle yet. Asma closed her eyes and bit at her bottom lip. What did she truly want? Why couldn't she fall asleep? She was already trying to imagine what could happen to Tig. He could die, he could find another woman to bed. He could give his attention elsewhere or maybe worse, forget about her. He hadn't texted her since he left Charming and Asma was starting to believe that he would never. Yet, maybe he was thinking about her but didn't know how to address her. Maybe he didn't want to push her over so she had to text him first. Gathering her courage, the young woman finally typed a message out. She sent, half-hoping he wouldn't read it and half-hoping he would actually text her back.

#I miss you. Come back in one piece.#