Save for the fat cat asleep on the top of the dresser, Happy Lowman's dorm was exceptionally quiet. He lay with one hand behind his head, the other holding a piece of paper up to the dim light fixture above his head. There was heavy pressed lettering covering the paper from top to bottom, margin to margin. On the dresser beside him, a dated prepaid cell phone began buzzing against the wood. Happy folded the slightly worn piece of paper and tucked it away on the inside pocket of his cut.
"Hello?" His voice was tired.
"Lowen called, Hap... She was only able to lower the sentence to eleven months."
Happy could practically see Jax Teller running his fingers through his hair in frustration, "Do they know that she's-"
Jax cut him off, "Yeah, Hap... they know. They agreed to extend your visiting rights closer to the end pending on good behavior."
There was a heavy silence between brothers for what seemed like an eternity. "This is on you, brother." The notorious killer ran his free hand over his shaved head.
The SAMCRO president hung up and tossed his phone on the kitchen table. As he left out a heavy sigh, Tara came through the living room with Thomas on her hip and Abel following close behind. The doctor did nothing but give her man's shoulder a knowing squeeze before fleeting around the kitchen preparing breakfast for her children before sending them off with the nanny. Jax admired watching his girlfriend from behind, their child on her hip.
"I'm heading over to Hap's after I drop the boys off with Neeta." Tara pulled a bowl from the overhead cabinet for Abel's Lucky Charms.
Jax raised a brow and took a few strides across the room. His wide hands gripped the brunette's hips and gave them a quick squeeze. "Yeah? What's going on over there?" A little smirk danced across his face as he pressed his body into hers and leaned over her shoulder pressing a kiss into Thomas's chubby cheek.
The doctor pressed back into Jax's body, welcoming the affection, "Oh, I don't know, his old lady was just incarcerated." Tara felt Jax's hands fall from her hips. She took that moment to slid out from between the biker and the counter to open the pantry on the opposite wall. Lucky Charms in hand, Tara poured the cereal into the empty bowl and placed it before the eager toddler.
"What does that have to do with anything? You're going to get there and he's going to send your ass back, giving me a hard time about it later." Jax ran a hand through his messy hair and gave it a light tug. His mother had warned him that going through with the plan was going to hit home in ways the young president would not expect.
"And he has every right to give you a hard time, Jackson!" Tara glanced down at Abel, noticing he stopped shoving the tiny marshmallows into his mouth. "Keep eating baby." She encouraged before strapping Thomas into his high chair and leaving a handful of the sugary cereal on his tray. The doctor took Jax's hand in her own and pulled him out of earshot. Her voice was low and coarse when she spoke again, "Remember how hard it was when I was here, pregnant with Thomas while you were locked up?" Jax only offered a nod. "What was it that kept you sane that whole time, that kept you from worrying about the baby, hmm?"
In an instant, Jax felt regret and guilt wash over him. Knowing that Tara was safe and surrounded by family was one of the few things that kept Jax Teller from completely losing his mind during the fourteen month stint he did with his brothers. There was no need to worry about whether or not Tara would be receiving proper care. Tara took Jax's silence for what it was, a moment of realization.