Jax Teller lay in the bed looking at his slumbering girlfriend, Tara Knowles. Tara had been the love of his life for as long as he could remember. Jax and Tara had been friends since they were in grade school and as they got older they both fell in love with one another. Things had been hectic to say the least as of late. Jax's relationship with his step-father, Clay Morrow, was deteriorating a little more every day. Things had become so strained that Jax decided to go Nomad.
Nomad was a special type of hell. You didn't have a home with any particular charter. You attended meetings in a particular place but other than that you were pretty much on your own. Being on your own could be a dangerous prospect. Jax like the rest of the members of SAMCRO had made a lot of enemies from fellow outlaws to law enforcement. The moment he went Nomad he would have a bounty on him. But Nomad was not to be for Jax.
The night of the vote his mother, Gemma, asked him and Tara to come to her house to talk. Although as Jax would find out Gemma was the only one to do any talking, Gemma recounted her abduction and horrific gang rape. This news stopped Jax and Clay dead in their tracks. No more were they at odds they both realized that they had to stand united and united they were.
Jax laid there with Tara thinking about just how different his life had become in a matter of 24 hours. Yesterday he was feuding with his step-father and leaving the mother charter of a club he loved more than life and now today he would have to stand united with this man and figure out a way to heap pain and vengeance on the people who had violated his mother.
Tara stirred next to Jax and looked over at him. She saw the tense look on his face. "Jax…did you get any sleep last night?" came Tara quiet voice filled with concern for the man she loved more than life. She moved her t-shirt clad body closer to Jax and laid her head on his chest.
"A little…but not nearly enough. But it will have to be enough. I have to go in early for a meeting. Clay and I are going to tell everyone about what happened." "We've got to get some sort of plan together." "What happened to my mother has to be answered." said Jax still trying to wrap his mind around it. His mother had always been a paragon of strength. He would do anything to protect her
Tara said "I know that you and the rest of the boys are going to do what is right…but…what happens if?"
Jax shook his head and said "If we go to jail then that is what happens." "I owe my mother this and much more." "And I can guarantee everyone in the club feels the very same." "Not just for my mother but for what it could mean for the ones they love too." "What we are up against…they have no code." "Outlaws don't target each others' families." "It is a mutual respect…but there is no respect here." "And no respect means no rules."
"If something happens to you…what Abel?" asked Tara. In her head she screamed *what about me?* But she didn't dare breathe those words.
"My mother will be around to help you take care of him. Our lawyer Rosen can get the paper work together to make sure that you can keep taking care of him in my absence." said Jax.
"What if Wendy reappears and wants Abel back?" asked Tara looking up at him for a moment. Her eyes searched his intently. Wendy was Abel's birth mother and Jax's ex wife. She also happened to be addicted to drugs. "She could try to take him and I wouldn't have any standing…I'd like to try to adopt him Jax. Or atleast be in the process of it."
Jax was shocked that Tara brought up adopting Abel but she had been there with him from the time of his birth. She had helped take care of him in the hospital. Jax said "I'll call Rosen and see how we can go about getting Wendy's rights terminated." "That's the first step in you adopting Abel." "It means a lot to me that you want to be there for Abel if I can't be."
"I love you Jax Teller and I love Abel." "And if you aren't here then I want to be here to raise this little boy." said Tara seriously.
Jax kissed her softly and looked into her eyes. "That is why I love you so much." said Jax.
"I love you too Jax…always and forever." said Tara with a smile.
Tara glanced over at the clock. "It is 7:00..what time do you have to go to the club for the meeting?"
"Around 8:00 I will have to get up pretty soon." "While I am at the club I want you and Abel to go to my mom's house. Just as a precaution. I would feel better knowing that the three most important people in my life are safe."
"Five…" said Tara softly looking into Jax's eyes. She didn't want to tell him right now at this very moment but she didn't know when would be a good time.
"Five?" asked Jax with a quizzical look. "Are you saying….? What I think you are saying Tara."
Tara sat up in the bed with her back up against the headboard. She nodded. "I am pregnant Jax…." "I found out the other day." "But then this Nomad vote thing came up and…I just…I wanted to wait to tell you when things had cooled down some."
Jax sat up in the bed and looked into her eyes. He moved his hands to her face cradling her face. "You are having my baby?" asked Jax with a grin.
"Babies…" corrected Tara. "My doctor confirmed it on ultrasound, I am pregnant with twins."
Jax looked stunned and asked "Twins?" He chuckled looking into her eyes. He leaned in and kissed her passionately. "You are having my babies?" He smiled looking into her eyes. "Of all of the bad things that have gone on it is nice to have one good thing." Jax corrected himself. "Two good things." "Well, more than ever I want to make sure you are at the house with my mother." "I want to make sure you are safe." He kissed her again.
Tara took in a deep breath. She was relieved that Jax had taken the news so well. She smiled and said "I love you Jax Teller." "But I had better get up and get a shower if Abel and I are going to get out of here before 8:00." She smiled and hopped out of the bed and headed into the shower.
Jax laid there while Tara showered and realized his own stakes in this game had just increased. He had to more lives to look out for and more importantly…not wind up in jail for.