Authors Note: We've completely rewritten our story, New Start, originally posted under Afspouse and then finished by Kristinmw. We've kept the same OC's and the same universe along with some elements of the plot, but for the most part it's a completely new story. Both of us really loved the universe created in the original New Start, but weren't very happy with the way it turned out. We decided to update it and we hope that you all will really enjoy the story, whether you've read the original or not.

New Start is rated T right now for language and suggestive adult themes. We may up the rating later, but right now we feel the story is appropriately rated.

This story is completely AU. We've tried to keep the characters canon, but other than that, it's an alternate universe.

Jessica Tyler sighed as she pulled her long chestnut hair into a messy bun, giving herself a once over. Her waitress "uniform", a black V neck and jeans, complemented her 5'6" frame well but it was hardly the height of fashion. It was almost unbearable to put on, though Jess knew it had less to do with the uniform and more about the bar she worked at.

She'd made the stupid mistake of dating Ethan, the manager of the bar and son of the owner. Then she'd made the even stupider mistake of breaking it off with him. The past few months had been horrible as Ethan had done everything in his power to make her miserable and chase her away. Jess wasn't ready to give up a steady paycheck in the middle of a recession so she endured the poor treatment, but kept her eyes open for a better offer.

"You don't look happy," her Aunt Rose remarked from her seat on Jess's worn couch, snapping her out of her thoughts. Jess turned and smiled at her.

"I'm just annoyed my boss wouldn't give me the weekend off so I could spend more time with you," Jess told her. Her aunt had driven all the way down to Santa Barbara from the small town of Charming, California and Jess wanted to spend as much time as she could with her. Instead of giving her the time off, Ethan had scheduled her to work a double.

"He doesn't seem to care for you much," Rose pointed out.

"That's an understatement," Jess said with a forced smile, "He's doing everything he can to make my life as miserable as possible. He gives me the worst sections, cuts my hours…" Jess began to rant. She took a breath, not wanting to unload her problems on Rose, "That's what I get for dumping the boss," she said in a lighthearted tone.

"You should quit," Rose told her matter-of-factly.

"If I quit I'll have to start turning tricks on the corner, and nobody wants that," Jess joked as she slipped her heels on.

"You could move in with me for a while. Charming has jobs," Rose offered. Jess wasn't shocked by the offer. Ever since she'd gotten out of foster care and had managed to make contact with her aunt, Rose tried to get her to move to Charming at least once a week.

"I don't want to burden you, Aunt Rose," Jess responded, as she always did.

"I missed out on 18 years of spoiling you. I need to make up for lost time," Rose told her with a smile. It had become a running joke between them, both of them responding in the same way each time, though Rose hoped that one day Jess would change her mind.

"I'll think about it," Jess told her, though she had no intention of doing so. She checked her watch and sighed, "Well I better get going. Traffic on the 101 is always crazy and if I'm a second late Ethan'll probably fire me."

"You know where there's never any traffic?" Rose asked. Jess looked back at her grinning, knowing exactly what she was going to say, "Charming," Rose finished, grinning back. It had become a frequent ploy of Rose's to try and get Jess to move to Charming by talking up all the small town perks.

"Yes, I know. Charming has no traffic, no lines at the grocery store," Jess said, ticking the items off on her fingers, "No noise, no strangers, no crime, no long commutes."

"Damn right," Rose responded. Jess laughed and kissed her aunt on the cheek.

"I'm probably going to be late so don't wait up," she said on her way out of the door.

"You know I will," Rose told her, "I worry."

"I know," Jess told her, trying to sound annoyed, but finding it impossible to hide her smile. Even at 26, it was comforting to know that she had someone who cared so much about her.

SOASOASOA

Jess groaned as she looked the section assignments. Once again she'd gotten the smallest section closest to the front door. It was the one section in the bar where the tables didn't have a clear view of the TV, the pool tables, dart boards, or the bar. It was the last section to fill up and the first to clear out and it was usually reserved for newbies with no wait experience.

"I'm working a double for this?" Jess grumbled to herself, rolling her eyes.

"Problem?" Ethan asked her from behind the bar with a cocky grin.

"Nope," Jess said with a sarcastic smile, though in her head she was slapping the cocky right off his face.

"Oh and I won't need you tonight," He added.

"What? That means I'm not going to make shit today!" Jess spit out before stopping herself.

"Not with that attitude," He quipped, "I just thought that you wanted time off so bad, I'd do you a favor." Jess was just barely able to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She'd wanted the time off, but if she had to be there she wanted to at least make some money to make it worth her while. Now she would probably spend more in gas getting to work than she would actually make that day.

"How nice of you," She said sarcastically, tying her apron around her waist and turning away from him.

"I will need you work a double tomorrow, though. One of the barbacks isn't gonna make it, so I need you to pick up his slack," He added, clearly trying to get a rise out of her.

Jess froze. Barback was a new low for him. The barbacks were the low men on the totem pole, usually illegals that would work for next to nothing. If one called in sick, the others picked up the slack. The waitresses and bartenders were never asked to pull a shift. On top of that, he wanted her to work another double on the last day before Rose left. Ethan was trying to find her limit and he'd found it. It was time for her to push back.

"No," she told him, not bothering to turn around.

"Excuse me?" he asked in an amused tone.

"I have plans tomorrow; I'm not doing it," she said, turning and looking him square in the eyes.

"If you don't, you're fired," he said casually, leaning against the bar. Jess laughed at his audacity, shaking her head.

"Don't bother," she told him, taking off her apron and throwing it on the bar, "I quit."

"Thank God, now I don't have to pay you unemployment," Ethan said with a laugh, "Don't expect a good recommendation either." Jess smirked.

"In that case…" she said, grabbing a customer's nearly full beer and dumping it over Ethan's head. He sputtered as the customers cat-called and hollered at the scene, "Have a nice day."

SOASOASOASOA

Jess pulled her car into her usual parking space at her apartment, fuming over Ethan while simultaneously freaking out about how she was going to pay her rent this month without a job. She slammed her car door in frustration, resisting the urge to kick it, and ran up the stairs to her apartment, shoving the key in the lock before pushing the door open.

"Aunt Rose?!" Jess called as she glanced around the living room on her way to the bedroom, finding them both empty. Recalling the barrenness of her pantry, she assumed Rose must have run out for a bite to eat and hastily pulled on a pair of Nike running shorts and her tennis shoes before taking off out the front door again.

Running had always been the easiest way for Jess to get a clear head, finding it therapeutic to be lost in her own thoughts. Many people claim to get their best thinking done in the shower; for Jess, it was while running. Today, her run was fueled by anger and frustration, emotions she didn't know how to deal with. She hated Ethan; hated that she'd ever seen anything in him, hated that he had been in a position of power, able to take their break up out on her like he had. Most of all, she hated that he'd put her out of a job. It wasn't like she had a ton of money in savings; she'd been living paycheck to paycheck for as long as she could remember, struggling just to get by.

She picked up her pace, feeling the Santa Barbara sun shining brightly upon her. She relished in the sweat dripping down her neck, in her legs screaming at her to stop, in her heart beating rapidly. She relished in ignoring it all, in pushing herself harder, further. She had no idea how long she'd been running but she began to feel her endorphins kick in as the pain left her body and her problems momentarily left her mind. It was the moment she craved like a junkie. The temporary high running gave her if she was able to push herself past her limits and break through to the other side.

And once she made it to the other side, her path seemed clear. Only one option lay ahead of her and it suddenly made sense. It suddenly sounded so easy.

SOASOASOASOASOA

"Rose!" Jess gasped as she barged through her front door, looking around the apartment. A moment later, her aunt walked out of her bedroom.

"You're home so early!" she said. Jess nodded, filling a glass up with water and chugging it before turning back to Rose.

"That offer to move to Charming with you still stand?" she asked, suddenly feeling nervous at the slight chance of her aunt rejecting her. But Rose just beamed broadly at her.

"Always!" she said, "Anyway, when I saw your car in the parking lot, I knew something must have happened at the bar so I already started packing for you." Jess laughed as all the stress and frustration she'd been feeling a couple of hours ago suddenly washed away and Rose grabbed her, embracing her tightly.

"Rose, I'm all sweaty," Jess reminded her, but Rose only hugged her tighter.

"I don't care," she said, and Jess heard her voice catch as if she was choking up, "I'm just so glad you're coming and I can see you every day and really get to know you. You're my family and I love you, even if it took me 18 years to finally meet you." Jess didn't cry very often, but at her Aunt's sincere words she felt the tears welling up and quickly pulled apart from Rose.

"Well I better go shower," she said, rushing off to the bathroom before she lost it completely.

SOASOASOASOASOA

Two weeks later, Jess had finally unpacked her last box and was beginning to finally feel settled at her Aunt Rose's house in Charming. All that was left to do was the daunting task of finding a job. She sighed as she looked through the classifieds in the Charming Gazette, the closest thing the small town had to a newspaper. It was severely lacking in resources and there was nothing listed in the internet; it was like the whole town was completely offline.

She'd managed to get a couple interviews at a bar and diner in town, but neither paid well enough for her to get a place of her own and she didn't want to overstay her welcome at Rose's. To hear Rose talk, Jess could stay forever but she feared that after a while that sentiment would change and she loved having Rose in her life too much to risk ruining the relationship.

The only waitressing job that she hadn't already called about was for a place called Cara Cara. All the ad said was they were hiring female waitresses aged 18-28, with a number listed at the bottom and a note to ask for Luann. Jess circled the ad and glanced up as Rose walked into the living room.

"Find anything yet?" Rose asked. Jess shrugged, passing her the newspaper to show Rose the ad.

"Cara Cara?" Rose asked, her eyebrows lifting and her eyes widening, "That's a strip club." Jess shrugged as Rose handed the newspaper back to her, chewing on the pen cap as she read over the ad one more time.

"Why don't you find a nice secretarial position?" Rose asked hopefully, "I'm sure I could call at the school and ask if they need anyone in the office." Jess shook her head.

"I don't really want to work in an office," Jess said.

"You'd rather work at a strip club?" Rose asked. Jess shrugged again.

"So long as I'm not the one getting naked," she responded, "Besides, it'll just be temporary. Something to get me on my feet. I can't sit around on my ass forever, as much as I'd like to." Rose sighed, obviously not thrilled with the idea, but she didn't push it. Jess grabbed her cell phone, double checking the number as she dialed and waited for it to ring.

"Cara Cara," a voice answered distractedly.

"Hi, can I speak to Luann please?" Jess asked.

"Speaking," the voice responded.

"Oh, hi," Jess said, "My name's Jessica Tyler. I was calling about the ad in the paper for a waitress position."

"Oh right. Yeah, can you come in at 3:00 for an interview?" Luann asked.

"3:00 today?" Jess asked in surprise, "Um yeah, I can do that."

"Great, see you then. Ask for me when you get here. Do you have the address?" Jess grabbed a pen and scrawled the address on it before thanking her and hanging up the phone. For some reason, she had a good feeling about this one.

SOASOASOASOASOA

Several hours later, Jess stood in front of her closet toiling over what to wear to the interview. She'd never interviewed at a strip club before and had no idea what Luann was looking for. She finally decided on a low cut top, jeans, and ballet flats and gave herself a once over in the mirror, somewhat satisfied with her appearance.

She left Rose's way too early for fear of being late, and wound up getting to the club about 20 minutes before 3:00. She stepped out of the car, taking in the sight of the large club in front of her. It was an impressive sight, far more impressive than any of the "gentlemen clubs" in Santa Barbara. The building was made of what looked like white stone with a large awning in front that covered a drop-off round about and held up by enormous stone pillars. Above the awning were two interlocked C's, one slightly raised above the other, and the words CARA CARA under them in a delicate script. What looked to be blue neon lights lined the roof and awning and Jess was sure it was an even more impressive sight lit up at night.

Not wanting to go in just yet, she reached in her purse for her pack of cigarettes and a lighter, groaning when she realized the lighter was dead. She glanced around and noticed a girl about her age leaning against the wall near the entrance, a large bag slung across her shoulder, smoking a cigarette with an extremely bored expression on her face. The girl looked over as she noticed Jess, her piercing blue eyes watching her as she walked up.

"Got a light?" Jess asked, raising the cigarette in her hand. The girl nodded, digging in her pocket before pulling out a lighter and handing it to her.

"Thanks," Jess said as she took it, lighting the cigarette and handing the lighter back.

"You don't look like our usual clientele," the girl commented, "So I'm guessing you're here about a job." Jess nodded.

"Guessed right," she said.

"Waitress or dancer?" the girl asked. Jess choked slightly on her cigarette before realizing it really wasn't a strange question, considering the establishment.

"Waitress," Jess responded, "I've been working in bars since I was 18." The girl nodded disinterestedly, the bored expression back on her face as she ran a hand through her dark brown hair, causing the streaks of blond highlights to catch in the sun. Jess suddenly felt self-conscious, as if she wasn't making a good impression. She didn't know why she cared about this girl's approval, but she did.

"Are, uh, are you a dancer?" Jess asked. The girl snorted, a grin breaking across her face as she shook her head.

"Luann wishes," she responded, "No, I'm the head waitress here. My dad's part owner. Nepotism at its finest." She finished her cigarette and threw it to the ground, stepping on it lightly as she made to walk through the front door. Before she reached it, she turned back to look at Jess appraisingly.

"You want some advice?" she asked. Jess nodded, raising her eyebrows in surprise at this girl's willingness to help her out. The girl dug through the large bag she was carrying, pulling out a pair of black pumps and handing them to Jess.

"Wear these instead of your flats," she said, "They'll make your ass look better." Jess stared at her for a second, taken aback, before taking the heels and quickly stepping into them.

"Thanks," she said. The girl shrugged and walked inside. Jess checked her watch and realized it was almost time for her interview. She stuffed her flats into her bag and fluffed her hair before she followed the girl through the front doors.

If the outside had impressed Jess, it was nothing to the inside. She walked in to see a large dark room, strategic lights shining blue columns onto the walls. Small tables, too many to count, surrounded by four arm chairs filled either side of the room at the very center of which was a round stage, a pole erected in the center and chairs surrounding it. A blond was currently swinging her way around the pole while several patrons threw dollar bills on the stage. The most impressive part of the room, however, was the wide staircase leading up from the stage to yet another stage, and then more stairs leading to a walkway that stretched the length of the back wall where several girls were dancing spaced evenly apart. Jess stared around the room for a moment before making her way to the bar which lined the left side of the room.

"Hi, I'm looking for Luann," she said when she'd caught the bartender's attention.

"You found her," a voice said from behind and Jess turned to see a woman standing behind her, gazing at her appraisingly. She looked to be in her early fifties, but still retained the beauty from her youth. Her dirty blond hair was full and long, hanging in loose curls well past her shoulders. Jess smiled nervously at her as Luann led her to a table close to the bar.

"You got a resume?" Luann asked as they sat down, waiting as Jess pulled a copy out of a folder in her bag and handed it across the table to Luann. She looked it up and down, nodding approvingly.

"I see you have a lot of waitressing experience, so that's a plus," she said, setting the resume down on the table, "Tell me a little about yourself."

"Well, I started waitressing when I was 18 at a bar in Santa Barbara. I have experience at several different types of bars and clubs," Jess said, her eyes darting around the room in hopes of inspiration. She hated talking about her personal history, but realized her work history was all written down on the piece of paper sitting in front of Luann.

"Mmmhmm," Luann said, her eyes once again dropping to the resume in front of her, "So why did you leave your last job?" Jess swallowed hard, trying to think of a good answer.

"I… I wanted a change," she said, "I decided to move up here to be closer to my Aunt." Luann nodded again, her face expressionless.

"Well I got to say, I'm impressed with the amount of waitressing experience you have," Luann said and Jess breathed a soft sigh of relief, "But I want to go over some things about how it works around here, just to make sure you're okay with it all and that you'll be a good fit." Jess nodded eagerly, looking attentively back at Luann.

"First things first, and this is important. I run a clean club here. You don't mess around with the customers on the clock. What you do on your own time is your business, but if it gets back to me you're hooking, you're done. No second chances with that. With me?" Luann asked seriously. Jess stared back at her before nodding.

"Got it," Jess said slowly.

"Good. Pay is 5 an hour, which is more than the state of California says I have to pay wait staff, plus tips. If you're good, flirt with the clients without giving too much away, you'll earn big. Our top waitresses are taking home several bills a night in tips. We're open every day but Sunday. You'll either work noon till eight or seven till two. Dress code is sexy: low cut tops, tight pants, short shorts and skirts and heels, on theme nights, you dress theme sexy. Work for you?" Luann asked. Jessica nodded again.

"Well I guess all there is left to do is to call your last job, verify employment," Luann said. Jess widened her eyes, gnawing slightly on her lip.

"Are you going to be asking them for a reference?" she asked hesitatingly. Luann looked at her with amusement.

"Why?" she asked. Jess sighed.

"Well, full disclosure, my last boss was also my ex, and after I quit I sort of poured a beer over his head," Jess said, knowing that she had most definitely just talked herself out of a job. That is until she heard a howl of laughter from behind them.

"Good God Luann, you've gotta hire her!" Jess turned around to see the girl from outside standing several feet away, leaning against a bar-height table and grinning broadly. Luann shook her head, but she was smiling.

"Well I guess you got yourself a job," Luann said, standing from the table and holding out her hand. Jess followed her lead, standing up and shaking her hand.

"Really? Thank you so much!" Jess said, relieved to start making some money, "When can I start?"

"Well one of our waitresses called in today – can you start now?" Luann asked, "I won't have a W4 for you but I can pay you under the table for today. You can come in tomorrow and fill out the paperwork."

"Yeah, sure!" Jess responded.

"Great, you'll follow Lux around today, help her out. She'll show you the ropes," Luann said, motioning to the girl, who walked over to them, still grinning at Jess.

"Lux Morrow, this is Jessica Tyler," Luann introduced.

"Jess, actually," Jess corrected, "I prefer Jess." Luann nodded.

"I want you to show her around today and try not to scare her off," she said to Lux. Lux rolled her eyes at Luann before turning to Jess, jerking her head in the direction of the bar and Jess followed her there.

"So I hear you've never worked at a strip club before," Lux said as they stood by the bar.

"Where'd you hear that?" Jess asked.

"Over there, when I was listening in on your interview," Lux responded unabashedly, "Anyway, there's not much you need to know. Most of the dancers are pretty cool, but some of the A-list girls are just cunts. They tend to think they're so much better than the waitresses when really we make almost as much money as them without showing our tits." Jess laughed, nodding.

"Hey Rob!" Lux called to the bartender, who glanced up and walked over to them, "Jess this is Rob, one of the bartenders." Rob grinned, nodding hello at Jess.

"The best bartender, right Rob?" Lux asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously. Rob grinned, nodding.

"That's what they tell me," he said jokingly before Lux pulled Jess away.

"Step number 1 – get in good with the bartenders. They'll make your drinks a hell of a lot faster if they like you," Lux told her. Jess nodded, appreciating Lux more and more. Lux spent the next couple of hours taking Jess around and introducing her to some of the regulars before letting Jess take a few tables of her own. They were both kept pretty busy until their shift ended at 8:00.

"You wanna get a beer before you go home?" Lux asked Jess as she finished clearing her last table.

"Yeah, sure," Jess responded, following Lux to the bar and taking a seat. Rob handed them each a beer and Lux turned to Jess, looking curiously at her.

"So are you from Charming?" Lux asked, "I haven't seen you around before, but that's not saying much. I don't get out a whole lot." Jess shook her head, taking a sip of the beer. It felt so good to finally be off her feet.

"No, I'm actually from Santa Barbara. I just moved here a couple weeks ago," Jess explained. Lux gaped at her.

"Why the hell would you move to Charming from Santa Barbara?" Lux asked.

"My aunt lives here, so I moved to be closer to her," Jess said. She really didn't like talking about herself all that much and was relieved when Lux didn't press for more details.

"Well you're crazy," Lux said, "Which means you'll probably fit in around here just fine." Jess laughed.

"So what's there to do for fun around here?" Jess asked. Lux shrugged.

"There's a couple bars, a few places to eat, a couple clothing stores, and a bowling alley," Lux rattled off, "In other words, not much. Mostly I just sit at home watching Toddlers and Tiaras." Jess laughed, grinning broadly.

"I love that show!" Jess said and Lux nodded, taking a sip of her beer.

"It's such a train wreck, isn't it?" she asked, grinning. Jess nodded.

"Yes, but not nearly as bad as Honey Boo Boo," she responded. Lux looked at her, her face one of all seriousness.

"Well of course not. You've got a pageant mom and extreme couponer, all in one. It's amazing," she said. Jess laughed.

"I take great comfort in knowing that no matter how bad my life is, I'm not one of those people," Jess said and Lux nodded.

"Don't we all," she agreed. Jess grinned, realizing that she was beginning to really like Lux and glad that she was able to find a friend in this new town so soon. Lux's grin faded as she looked past Jess, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly.

"Oh lord," she mumbled and Jess looked over her shoulder to see a stunningly pretty, and equally bitchy, looking blond walking briskly towards them, her hips swaying as she walked.

"Hey, Lux," the girl said, a smile plastered on her face.

"What do you want, Ima?" Lux asked.

"I just realized I left the outfit I was going to wear tonight at Jax's," she responded, as if this made her the Queen of Charming.

"And?" Lux asked, glancing over at Jess, "It's really not that impressive to get into my brother's pants." She turned back to look at Ima, "He's almost as big of a slut as you."

"I need that outfit," Ima told her, ignoring her comment, "I need you to go get it for me."

"Fuck off, Ima. Wear something else or get it yourself," Lux told her. Ima glared at Lux, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm going to go tell Luann I need it," she said, storming off. Lux sighed, looking back at Jess.

"I better go before Luann tries to guilt me into getting it for her," she said. Jess nodded.

"Yeah, I better get going, too. I never got a chance to tell my aunt I was staying to work the shift," Jess said, suddenly feeling guilty for not checking in. It was weird to suddenly have someone in your life that actually cared where you were all the time.

SOASOASOASOASOA

Jess walked into the house hoping to find the lights off and that Rose had gone to bed already, but she should've known better. She walked into the living room to see Rose lounging on the couch, reading a book. She glanced up when Jess walked in, sitting up and smiling.

"You could have called," she said, but her voice was full of humor, not anger. Jess grinned guiltily.

"I know, I'm sorry," Jess told her, "I'm just not used to having someone care about where I am." Rose frowned, her eyes filling briefly with sadness before she shook it off and smiled again.

"It's fine, baby," she said, "I was just worried because I didn't think you'd be gone that long for an interview. How'd it go?"

"Really good. I mean, I got the job. That's why I was late, they needed me to work the rest of the shift," she said.

"Good," Rose said, "I'm happy for you. But now I'm going to bed because I'm an old woman who can't keep these crazy hours." Jess grinned, rolling her eyes.

"You're not that old," Jess responded.

"Ah, you're sweet," Rose said, her eyes twinkling, "Night, love."

"Night," Jess said before collapsing on the couch, completely worn out from the days' events.

Author's Note:Thank you so much for reading! We really hope you all will enjoy this story. We plan on posting every Sunday and the next chapter will be Jess' first introduction to the Sons. Please review!