A/N: SO for anyone that has started reading Life As We Know It, this is the story of Cass and Tig and how they started out. It occured to me that the first few of chapters of this story need to go up before any more of Life As We Know It goes up as they take place in the space of time where Little Sister finished and Life As We Know It begins. This story's timeline begins to overlap with Life As We Know It by about halfway through at which point will update them both where necessary.

Although I have previously referred to this as a series of One Shots for the most part it does read coherently as a story on it's own.


Chapter 1:

It started out just like any regular day apart from the fact that she was feeling particularly down and broken that morning when she opened up her salon. It had been a rough night for Cass Carmichael. Her husband hadn't come home again and she finally knew why.

The usual hustle and bustle of the morning was beginning to calm her spirit, cheer her into the easy going soul all those around her bounced off. There was almost a smile back on her face.

Gemma Morrow was just about done getting her monthly cut and colour and Cass had just checked up to make sure all was to her liking. Normally she was more hands on with regular clients such as Ms Morrow, to ensure the reputation of her salon, however today distraction reigned supreme. There was paperwork to be done and it kept her mind off other things.

"How can I help you Sir?" Cass asked with a quick glance up as the bell above the door announced somebody's entrance. "I'm here for Gemma." A rough but somewhat sexy voice answered. Cass looked up from the counter and was immediately lost in a set of dazzling blue eyes. "Oh?" Her voice lilted as she found herself rendered somewhat speechless. Those eyes were breathtaking. "Her cars in the shop. I'm giving her a ride."

"Oh right. Of course." Cass managed, "and you are?" She asked knowing full well who he was already.

"Tig" he answered.

"Well ... Ah ... Feel free to take a seat over on the sofa. She shouldn't be too much longer Mr Trager."

"Its Tig. Just Tig. And I'd rather stand actually."

"Sure. Of course."

Cass felt captivated by this dark and handsome stranger who'd stepped into her salon. Well not really a stranger, she knew who he was. Alex 'Tig' Trager was the former Sergeant at Arms of The Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. Anyone who'd spent a considerable amount of time in Charming knew the reputation that preceded him and it wasn't exactly pretty. However with him standing here in front of her, Cass found herself undeniably attracted to him despite all the alarm bells going off in her head.

He wasn't what anyone would call a good looking man but he had a rough and roguish handsome kind of thing going for him. His dark hair fell in mussed mop of untamed curl, his nose unsymmetrically crooked like it'd been broken one too many times, his perfectly trimmed facial hair framing those rough handsome features. But above all else those eyes could make even the gruffest expression warmer. They were a blue of such intensity she felt she could get lost in them forever.

"And you must be Cass" he said. Cass blushed and cast her eyes down to the papers on the counter in front of her as she realized she'd been staring. "Yes." She took a deep breath and smiled as she looked up. "You should do that more often." He said, "It suits you." Cass blushed again. This was a side of Tig Trager she hadn't been expecting.

The buzz of her cell phone vibrating against the counter interrupted whatever was to come next. "I'm sorry. I need to take this." She apologised as she saw the caller ID. He gave her a gesture that said "By all means. Go right ahead."

"Den." Cass spoke into her phone as she turned away slightly.

"Save it Den. I'm over it." She cut him off as he launched into his usual over apologetic spiel. "Not home again tonight? Let me guess you're working late again?"

"Oh I bet you're working hard. How's Heidi? Is she working hard too?" Cass' voice was laced with sarcasm. She glanced sideways and saw the raised eyebrows of Tig. She was trying to keep her voice low but knew he'd still be able to hear her.

"Oh please! Her message on the answering machine at home didn't leave much to the imagination." She glanced back over her shoulder. Those smouldering eyes were still watching her.

"Yes she is that stupid Den." She tried to lower her voice further "She seems quite enamoured with your dick."

She sighed a heavy sigh, "Whatever Den. Don't bother coming home. Enjoy your night." She said sarcastically as she hung up and turned back to the man standing at her front counter. "Trouble in paradise?" He asked, the corner of his mouth turning up into a slight smirk. "Paradise? You don't know the half of it." Cass answered as she thought how sexy that smirk looked.

"Try me." He answered.

"Not enough hours in my day," she sighed.

"Am I interrupting something?" Gemma asked as she approached the counter her shoulder length brown hair freshly coloured and set with its trademark blonde streaks.

"No of course not Gemma. Just entertaining Mr Trager here." Cass addressed him like that on purpose to see his reaction. She got the impression he guessed her intentions as there was that smirk again when she glanced his way.

"Shouldn't that be the other way round. Tiggy here makes no secret of his ability to entertain women. Usually not women of your kind though," Gemma responded.

He raised his eyebrows at Gemma but continued to hold Cass' gaze.

"Thanks Gemma," Cass smiled as she handed back her credit card. "Would you like to make your next appointment now?"

"No thanks sweetheart. I'll call in a coupla days once I know my movements next month."

"Okay. We'll hear from you then." Cass smiled as Gemma began to make her way to the door. "See ya around," Tig breathed her way as he followed Gemma out.

Cass closed her eyes and caught his scent in the air as she took a deep breath to steady herself. A mixture of leather, cigarettes and aftershave filled her senses. She opened her eyes and shook her head. How could she take leave of her senses like that? She couldn't get involved with a man like Tig Trager let alone the fact that he'd never be interested in her. So why did she feel like he'd just undressed her with his eyes?

"Who was that beguiling stranger?" Came Stacey's voice next to her. Stacey was her assistant manager and closest friend.

"Tig Trager." Cass answered quietly. "He's ..."

"Oh you don't need to tell me who he is." Stacey interrupted. "His reputation precedes him. He was obviously quite intrigued by you."

"You think?" Cass answered.

"Hell yeah. He couldn't keep his eyes off you"

"Yeah well, I'll probably never see him again."

"Who knows? You might. Maybe he's up for the challenge of a mysterious and beautiful stranger."

Cass laughed. "Yeah maybe Stace." Although she seriously doubted she would, she wouldn't mind hearing that rough and sexy voice again let alone gazing into those unimaginably amazing eyes.


Several days later, Cass was removing foils from a client's hair when she glanced up at the sound of the bell over the door. The rough handsomeness that his dark curls and neatly trimmed facial hair gave him sent flutters through the pit of Cass' stomach. He cast his eyes around the salon as he leaned casually against the front counter. When those captivating blue eyes found her she found herself drawing in a breath. Once again she felt his eyes undressing her.

"Laura?" she asked her trainee who was sweeping hair from the floor, "Do you wanna finish up here for me? Just let me know when you're done and I'll come help with the rest"

"Sure." The trainee beamed at being asked to do something other than sweeping floors as Cass made her way across to the man at her front counter.

"Afternoon Mr. Trager. Gemma's not here today." She said as she approached.

"I told you it's Tig" he answered almost belligerently. "And I'm not here for Gemma. I came to see you." His tone softened.

"Oh?" she replied "And why would that be?" She heard the tone in her voice take on a somewhat sexy purr. She knew the reputation of this man and she knew she should steer clear of him but there was something about him that made her feel almost magnetized to him.

"I did say I'd be seeing you again" he responded as he picked up one her business cards and a pen from the counter.

"Yes. That you did," she purred as she watched him write on the back of her card.

"Perhaps you could call me sometime," his rough beguiling voice sent shivers down her spine and he thought he saw a hint of lust in her eyes as he placed the card in her hands and returned the pen back to its place over her appointment book.

"Maybe," She said quietly. He flashed a smile and gave her a sexy wink as he turned to leave her salon. She found herself smiling back as he whispered, "Be seeing ya," that sexy smirk lighting up his eyes.

The door banged shut and the bell tinkled as she watched him cross the road to his bike across the street. Had Tig Trager really just asked her to call him? She caught a whiff of his scent in the air and once again was reminded that she shouldn't even be entertaining the idea of getting involved with him.

She glanced down at the card in her hands. In lilting script, as sexy as the man himself, was his name and number. "Wow," came Stacey's voice from beside her and interrupting her thoughts.

"I told you he couldn't keep his eyes off you."

"I can't get involved with a man like him Stace. Can I?" she added doubtfully as she thought of that voice, those eyes and that scent that still clung to her nostrils.

"I don't know. Can you?" Stacey answered cheekily.

She couldn't help but notice that the smile never left her friends face for as she continued about the day.