A/N: Hi guys :D So, this idea popped into my head this afternoon and it just wouldn't leave me alone. So, here it is: another Jax/Tara AU. Inspired by some Olicity fics I've read recently which are awesome!
I CALL DIBS ON THIS! I haven't seen any Jax/Tara AUs of this sort, so I take full credit for coming up with it and writing it.
Also: Tara has an English accent in this story and her family an Irish one. Don't worry, it will be explained later on.
Summary: Arranged marriage!AU: After many years of bad blood, the heads of SAMCRO and SAMBEL charters decide it is high time they ended it for good. To bring their charters closer together, Nero Padilla and Filip "Chibs" Telford make a decision: Their children, Jax and Tara, are to marry. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? The only problem: They sort of hate each other.
Story title from the Parachute's song Words Meet Heartbeats.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sons of Anarchy or anything related to it. I am not making any profit from this transformative work. Written for entertainment purposes only. My characters are my own.
Sorry for typos and mistakes.
Happy reading :3
Words Meet Heartbeats
She Wears a not White Dress and I'm a Penguin
"Mother, I can't believe you're making me do this!" – Tara whined for the hundredth time that day, sitting in front of the vanity table in her knee-length crème dress which was adorned with intricate patterns of lace at the front. She was wearing black pumps that were already starting to pinch her toes.
She didn't want to wear a traditional wedding dress. Because, after all, this wasn't a traditional wedding.
Her cousin McKenna was doing her hair. It was supposed to be a nice French braid, its tail pushed inside the braid so it looked elegant, but Tara was already too irritated to sit still, and so McKenna had to redo it three times already.
"Tara, we've been over this. Your father has made a promise." – her mother responded from the rocking chair she was sitting on, observing her daughter getting ready for her big day. She saw her daughter roll her eyes in the mirror.
"This is beyond stupid! It's like we're in the sixteenth century, for Christ's sake! Am I not an adult? Should I not have my own voice? But, no." – Tara spoke her frustration and utter discontent. She kept shaking her head, making it difficult for McKenna to braid her hair, the blonde sighing in exasperation.
"Please, sit still for once!" - McKenna pleaded, sighing deeply.
"Tara, darling." – her mother said softly, trying to speak to her, but Tara just continued with her rant.
"No, Tara. Your opinion and your choices don't matter. Even if this is your life and your-"
"Enough!" – her mother yelled this time, standing up in all her intimidating glory. Her raven hair was swept to the side and curled. She wore dark blue dress with twisted front that suited her chocolate complexion and a pair of killer heels. -"I will not have you questioning us!"
Then she lowered her voice and came behind Tara, resting her hands on her shoulders. McKenna moved to the side. Meeting her daughter's eyes in the mirror, with a small smile she said:
"I know that this might be hard for you."
Tara mouthed to say something, her head already turning, but her mother cut her off.
"It is hard for you. But we thought it was the right thing to do."
She tapped on Tara's shoulder and Tara turned her body. Her mother took her hands in hers and rubbed them soothingly.
"Tara, you are the most precious in this life that your father and I have. Do you really think we would force you to do anything that would harm you? Darling, I assure you, if anything happens to you, your father will have your husband's, you know, chopped off."
All three women chuckled at that and the tension in the room dropped. Fiona kissed her daughter's cheek.
"I promise you, darling. You will change your mind about him soon enough." - her words bore some kind of mystery, one that Tara was unaware of and possible not interested in understanding. "I'll go see if everything's ready."- she then added with a small smile on her face, caressing her daughter's cheek.
She left the room as Tara turned to the mirror again, and McKenna, a short blonde in a red sleeveless dress, resumed braiding Tara's hair.
"You can't fool me, you know." – McKenna raised her eyebrow at Tara's defeated expression in the mirror. Tara looked back at her, frustration clear on her face.
"I know. But my mother is not as insightful as you are." – Tara smiled weakly, already imagining how horrible her life is bound to be alongside that ... that...
She couldn't even think of a name for him. Calling him her future husband sounded awful and it made her painfully aware that her life would not be the same after this day. Sure, in these past few months she'd thought about bailing on this 'obligation' more than once. But her parents knew her and her mother tried, really tried to explain the situation.
Only together, united, could the Tellers and the Telfords rise above years of countless deaths, both necessary and unnecessary, and form a new, stronger family. One that is untainted by blood, misunderstandings, and ill fate of its members.
"If it's any consolation, I don't think he's that bad. Maybe with time, you'll grow to like him."
McKenna seemed enthusiastic about the whole idea of marriage, so much so, that she personally chose Tara's dress when the latter refused to take any part in the preparations. She only instructed her favourite cousin not to dare and pick a white dress. McKenna agreed and, knowing Tara's taste, she chose the first dress that just screamed I-am-getting-married-but-I-don't-want-to-but-I-have-to-and-want-to-look-beautiful-nonetheless. Of course, she wasn't wrong because Tara loved the dress even though she hated the occasion.
"Yeah, when pigs fly! You know what? Just leave it."
Tara pushed McKenna's hands away and disentangled the almost completed braid. She then gathered her hair, made a bun and tied it with a crème ribbon.
"There. I can't take it any longer." - she said, smoothing out her hair. -"All these preparations, this pomp. I'm sick of it."
She stood up and started pacing up and down the room, all the while gesturing with her hands. She was practically yelling at this point, and McKenna could do nothing but let her let off steam. Although McKenna understood Tara's reaction to the whole ordeal, the blonde couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, Tara was exaggerating a bit.
"He is the most annoying person I have ever met. I cannot emphasise that enough. He has the manners of a monkey, and even that is an insult to the monkey. He is insufferable. I -I" – she plopped onto the white sofa, sighing in desperation. -"I don't think I can do this, McKenna."
Would she be acting like this if someone else was in question, and not Jax? McKenna shook her head, her blonde wavy ponytail swaying to the side as she smiled and sat next to Tara. Taking Tara's hand, she began to speak.
"If I know anyone that is brave and doesn't let anyone mess with them, it's you. So, whatever happens, I know that you will handle him in the best way you can. If he's indeed as horrible as you paint him to be."
"Oh there is no doubt about it. He is horrible. But thank you for trying to reassure me. It does mean a lot to me." - Tara hugged her cousin, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I will miss you. Please, come visit me soon. I have no idea how I'll survive without you and Finn and-"- the last name stayed on her tongue; unspoken, burning her lips and her heart nevertheless.
McKenna hugged her tightly, sensing the inner struggle Tara was going through. -"I will, silly. Don't cry, please. You're going to smudge your makeup. And I don't think we have the time to do it all over again."
They laughed as Tara wiped her cheek with a shaky hand and McKenna rubbed her arm to calm her. Their laughter was cut off by a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It was her mother.
Fiona gestured with her hand. -"Come, it's time."
#############################################################################
"Shit, Ope. I look like a fucking penguin." – Jax complained, pulling at his bowtie and observing his reflection in the mirror with a frown.
His blond hair was slicked back; his mother made him shave and he thought he looked like he was an eighteen-year-old kid, not a twenty-eight-year-old grown ass man. Like the Princess was going to mind some facial hair. She had barely spoken to him since they met except to argue with him, so he doubted she'd pay any attention to him now.
Opie laughed throatily, patting him on the back. Just like McKenna, Opie too seemed enthusiastic at the prospect of his best friend getting married. And it seemed like yesterday when they both vowed never to settle down and be pussy-whipped.
"Relax, man. It's not like she'll be lookin' at you. She already hates your guts. Don't think your tux'll be a problem."
Jax narrowed his eyes and punched him in the shoulder, then started re-adjusting his bowtie. It was fucking awful and suffocating.
Why the fuck did he have to wear it? Oh, right. 'Cause her old man insisted. Fucking Scot.
It wasn't just Chibs that insisted on tradition and formalities. It was also Gemma, Nero, Tara's older brother, Trinity and Tommy... Practically everybody who wasn't getting married and who wasn't supposed to have any saying in this wedding and marriage. Whenever he imagined the wedding, he never imagined it to be like this. So forced, so, unnatural.
Opie re-tied his hair while eyeing Jax, noticing the look on his face. He seemed to be in a world of his own, presumably think about his future. Knowing his friend and all his secrets, Opie could guess what Jax's primary focus was on. Smiling to himself, he mouthed to say something, but changed his mind and swallowed his question.
The door opened suddenly and Nero's head appeared.
"Come on, mijo. It's time."
##############################################################################
There were about two hundred people in the ballroom. Most of them were SAMCRO and SAMBEL members with their families. But apparently, his mother had invited the whole damn town here too. Everyone was dressed nicely and Jax lamented that he wasn't allowed to wear his kutte. He was uncomfortable, his nerves on the edge. Looking around the room, he noticed some familiar faces.
Unser was leaned against the bar talking to Bobby. His sister Trinity and his brother Thomas were talking to some girls Jax didn't recognise. Tara's cousins perhaps.
Gemma, however, was nowhere to be seen. Strange.
The ballroom was neatly decorated. There were white tablecloths with ridges of golden colour on the tables. Centrepieces with white calla lilies were placed on each table, their smell enveloping the entire hall. Jax's lips turned into a shy smile as he remembered something from his childhood. The chairs were also covered with some white cloth with golden ribbons attached at the back.
Champagne and the food were abundant, along with whiskey, red and white wine and whatnot. But Jax wished nothing more but a can of good old beer.
"Jax! Good, you're here."
He turned towards the voice of his mother, who was dressed in an orange dress, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, her bangs swept to the side. She took his hand and pulled him towards the flower arch placed in one of the south corners of the ballroom.
"Ma!"– he whined as Gemma started removing invisible threads off his suit jacket and smoothing out creases, making him feel like a five-year-old again. That only made another familiar scene flash in his mind, one he cherished the most and that, for a second, made him grin. But he managed to pull a mask of indifference once more, hoping that he was fooling people. 'cause he sure as hell wasn't fooling himself.
"Be still. Oh, look! There she issss! Oh, she is gorgeous!" – Gemma stopped what she was doing and smiling, looked behind Jax. He turned and saw his soon- to-be wife. She was walking towards him, her arm linked with her father's.
He didn't like her when he met her and he didn't like her now. Or that's what he kept telling himself. 'cause fuck!, she looked amazing. Her dress was low-cut, with lace and shit, that turned him on. Her legs were long and toned and the way she swayed her hips... He bit his lip and closed his eyes for a second just to compose himself.
The minute his gaze fell on her face, his horniness disappeared in a second as the feeling of uneasiness settled in his stomach. The look on her face told him how much she hated it all. Her eyes seemed full of sadness and resentment that Jax couldn't help but think that she must hate him too because he was another participant in this 'game'.
I hate it too, Knowles, he thought sadly.
He never planned on getting married. Not after his heart was broken and he lost all hope of happiness (it was an overdramatic thought, he was aware, but that's the only way he could explain how he felt).
And he never planned on marrying a woman he didn't even know, because he had no idea who Tara Telford Knowles was. A few times that they exchanged words were enough for them to start fighting because he just couldn't keep his mouth shut around her, and his brain would always think the worst things and his mouth would just go with it. Once, she even slapped him because of that. Other times she used insults to defend herself.
He had no idea how they were going to live together if they already got along like cat and dog.
He stood silently on the left side of the flower arch, and Thomas soon came to stand next to him, wiggling his eyebrows as if suggesting something. Trinity stood behind him, holding a small bouquet in her hands. Gemma and Nero linked their hands and moved to stand next to her all the while smiling widely.
Tara's mum stood on the right side, along with one of Tara's cousins whose name he couldn't remember but knew for sure that at least she didn't hate him.
Tara and Chibs finally reached him. Jax felt a weird sensation in his belly, some kind of weird heat spreading throughout his body and eventually reaching his cheeks painting them crimson. He swallowed hard trying to get his nerves under control. Chibs kissed his daughter's cheek tenderly and Jax saw a tear fall down her cheek. Before he knew it, he was reaching up to brush her cheek. He mentally kicked himself to stop the movement.
Chibs turned to Jax and rested his hands on his shoulders, eyeing him warily for a few moments.
"Jackie boy, I give you my treasure, my world, my beautiful Tara. You take care of her, son."- Chibs's unspoken threat hung in the air as Jax nodded weakly, hoping that this shit of a ceremony and party would be over soon so he could get drunk.
He took Tara's hand in his, and for a moment he felt the softness of her skin against his rough one. But all too quickly she pulled it away from his grasp. Tara leaned closer to him and whispered, her warm breath against his ear sending shivers down his spine:
"If you think you fooled me like you fooled my father, you're mistaken. Penguin."
Jax's jaw clenched as Tara stepped back and smiled sourly at him. He bit down his tongue to stop himself from answering her insult.
"Shall we start?" – the official asked and everyone nodded.
Tara turned to him and Jax followed, barely containing his anger, feeling hundreds of eyes on him. That made him even more uncomfortable and once again, he just wished all of it to be over.
Who the fuck does she think she is? Calling him a penguin... Damn it, he felt like one in this stupid tux, stupid shiny shoes, with his hair slicked back like a cow licked it for him and it just...
"Dearly beloved, we've gathered here today..."
##############################################################################
The ceremony was brief and somewhat awkward, what with their improvised vows and the weirdest kiss ever. Apparently, Tara was in as much hurry to end it as he was.
Then they had to take pictures with their families, endure some heart-warming (read: I-want-to-puke) speeches how his and Tara's marriage was going to unite the two charters and how they could finally bury the hatchet.
Yeah, right. At the cost of me having to spend my life with this grumpy cat.
"Ok, kids. Now, the first dance."
Dance? Oh, right.
He reached for Tara's hand, but yet again she pulled it away and made her way to the centre of the ballroom alone. He followed her, glancing to the side and catching his mother's disapproving look. He shrugged. There wasn't much he could do to appease Gemma lately.
The song, Can't Take My Eyes off of You, started and Jax took Tara's hand in his, as she placed her other hand on his shoulder. His arm came around her waist, resting on her lower back. He felt he squirm a bit, avoiding his gaze and letting out deep sighs.
They started swaying to the music, not even looking at each other. For a moment there, Jax wondered what they must look like. Could people see, sense, their discomfort around each other?
"Teller, I'm not going to repeat myself. If your hand comes anywhere near my arse, I'll punch you in the face and I won't care if everyone sees it."- she said, lifting her head. His baby blue eyes met her green ones, which were filled with fury.
He immediately moved his hand up albeit with a chuckle, resting it a bit higher than the last time. Damn it, he thought that at least on this day she wouldn't be as grumpy.
"Feisty, are we?" - he joked, wanting to lighten up the gloomy mood that seemed to have set between them.
She cast him a glare in what looked like 'shut the fuck up' manner.
"Let's get one thing clear: I don't like you. I'm doing this for my father. So don't you dare even think for a second that this is going to be a real marriage."
Ok. I've had it.
"Knowles, let's get one thing clear." – he said, pulling her flush against him and whispering in her ear, –" I don't like you either. I'm doing this for my father. Besides, I can get better anytime I want. I don't need you."
He heard her chuckle as she pulled away from his grasp and narrowed her eyes at him, gesturing with her hand.
"If you're referring to one of those croweaters or however you call them here, I assure you, they've got nothing on me. But I'm glad we cleared things up. And, I hate this song."
She smiled viciously and walked away, leaving him stunned and furious.
Did she really need to sway her hips so much? Fuck, I need a beer.
(Soooo? What do we think? Do we want more? Leave me some feedback, please. Love you all xoxo)