This is purely an AU one-shot. Maybe, I'll write a second part to it but honestly, I highly doubt it. As I was writing for There's Us and I Won't Give Up, I had an idea to write a piece of an happy ending, we, the viewers did not get.
The inspiration to this story is "Make You Feel My Love," the Adele version (kudos to Bob Dylan for writing such a beautiful song). I would recommend for you guys to check out the Adele version to this song (My favorite rendition is the live concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I get goosebumps every time I watch it.)
Down below, I have included some images to help with the visuals.
As for the location, it does exist. I went to school there and that was our backyard :) If I ever get married, it would be in my former alma mater. Connecticut is as beautiful as those pictures show.
Please review and respond. :)
XOXO
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The Dress: /wp-content/uploads/2013/10/5_Wedding_Dress_Trends_Image_
Make You Feel My Love
He pushed his hands into his pockets to avoid pacing back and forth. In order to focus his nerves elsewhere, he looked around and a small smile formed around his lips. The fall leaves were beautiful. All the different oranges, reds, and yellows reflected perfectly on the lakes' surface. All around him, the floor was carpeted by the fallen leaves making his surroundings even more beautiful. It was a bit chilly but it wasn't unbearably so. The perfect weather for a light jacket or hoodie.
When Tara first suggested to move out East, he was very hesitant. He was used to the Californian sun and sunny weather all year around. It was her recollections of autumn and winter in Chicago that made him want to try a change in scenery. She said that there wasn't anything as beautiful as watching the fall leaves fall in late September or having a white Christmas, the ground covered in snow. After much inner conflict and some arguments, they packed up their boys and moved to a sleepy town in Connecticut where they had been living for a little over a year.
At first he was scared to leave behind the only life he had known. Charming and the club were always his safe haven. It was the cartel, Piney's death and Tara's accident that pushed him to leave. Shit was hitting too close to home for his comfort and he refused for his children to be cursed the same way he was-they were going to have a life outside of the poison of Samcro.
After her hand got crushed, Tara was resentful for a while. Yes, she loved him and their boys above but she had enough of Samcro and Gemma. It took a lot of work, but he was able to get his kids out just in time. At first, they moved to Oregon, where Tara received physical therapy for her hand. It took months of hard work and dedication and endless surgeries to get her hand back to where it was before the accident. Luckily, the hospital in Oregon needed Tara's skills and knowledge so much that they were willing to work with her.
His road to recovery was also hard and painful. After finding out that JT was killed by Clay, Jax swore to leave behind the world that had taken so much from him. He rode out to his P.O and begged for him to work out some deal with the FEDS and his lawyer so he could leave the state. With Lowen's help, he was able to compile a strong enough case to get the hell out of Charming. Tara's accident and Samcro's history of violece was a massive help.
But even Oregon wasn't far enough from Samcro. Within weeks of their move, Gemma and Clay brought their shit to his home. Tig's accidental murder of Damon Pope's daughter brought new heat to the club. Heat that led to the death of his best friend. When he and Tara travel back to Charming for the funeral, he knew he was forever done with Samcro. It was when the dirt hit Opie's coffin that he knew that it wasn't worth it. All the heartache and death was not worth it at all.
They drove back to Oregon that same day. That night, he insisted that their boys slept with them in their bed and he held onto his family. He held onto them as he cried his woes to Tara, their boys soundly asleep in between them. It was then that Tara admitted Gemma's involvement in JT's death. She confessed that she was trying to protect him from the disappointment and heartbreak of knowing that his own mother had his father killed. As much as it hurt, deep down he knew that Gemma was capable of that and much more. The next morning, he agreed to move far away from California even if it meant leaving Oregon and their cute, cozy home behind. He cut all ties with Samcro and refused to ever speak to his mother again, much to the shock of everyone.
It took them a couple of months, but they were able to save enough money to buy a new home and move away from all the chaos. Tara secured a job at one of the top hospitals in New York City and he was able to join a convict rehab program for former gang members. The hardest part was getting rid of the tattoo on his back. Slowly but surely he got it removed with funds from the rehab program and Tara's unconditional love and support. He cried the first time he saw his back without it. The tears weren't just out of pain or loss... they were tears of relief as well.
With the aid of the rehab program and its counselors, he was able to secure a job as a counselor in the East Coast. He helped at risk kids get their shit together before it was too late. Together, he and Tara took the Metro North into the City and left their boys in their respective schools. By the time he was done with work, he would ride the train back to Connecticut and pick up their kids from the babysitters. Sometimes, he would get home before Tara. He would start dinner and play with the boys and enjoyed the peace that came with his new lifestyle. When he and Tara arrive home together, she would take over in the kitchen and he would just write. In those first few months, he wrote and wrote non-stop until he had a whole manuscript. By the time their first year in Connecticut came to a close, he had a publishing deal.
When the royalties started rolling in from his first book, Jax saved enough to start his own Harley-Davidson custom shop. During the weekends, he brought some of the kids he counseled and showed them that there was a way out. They got to work on bikes and use his shop as a way to stay out of the streets. It was a fairly simple life without any sort of excitement but he wouldn't change it for the world. Everyday he saw his boys grow up. Everyday he went to sleep knowing that his family was safe.
And now, four years later after his departure from Charming, he was standing by the lake, waiting to make one of his dreams come true.
He felt the sleeves to his blazer being pulled. Looking down, he saw Abel grinning at him, with the massive gap where his two front teeth use to be in full display.
Jax crouched down so he was at eye level with his eldest son. "Hey buddy. Are you ready for Mommy?" he whispered.
Abel nodded and he looked towards the aisle where Tara was slow emerging with Thomas holding her hand.
She had a bouquet of white and yellow calla lilies in her hand. Her dress, simple and lacy flowed gently behind her. She laughed and held onto Thomas's hand tightly as he jumped up and down, making his way down the aisle with his Momma.
It was a moment he wish he could have captured with a picture. Her head thrown back, laughing as their son jumped out of pure glee.
He felt the tears dwelling in his eyes and he couldn't help but smile as he saw Abel walk to greet his mother, mid-way thru the aisle. She gave her bouquet to Thomas and grabbed Abel's extended hand. Together, all three finished walking down the aisle, laughing together as Thomas continued jumping out of excitement. Although Thomas was a perfect mixture of him and Tara, look wise, everyday, he became more and more like Jax. Thomas was always creating some mischief, much to Tara's dismay and Jax's amusement. Abel on the other hand, was all Tara. Quiet and observant even though, he looked like Jax's mini-me.
By the time she reached him, he had tears running down his face and he gently kissed her lips.
"Not yet Daddy!" yelled Thomas, causing Tara, Jax and the priest to laugh out loud.
The boys stood to the side and both Tara and he turned to look at the priest. Tara squeezed his hand and he looked over to her, a smile of content spreading thru his lips. This is what he always wanted. Her, by his side, as his wife. Minutes tricked down and he barely paid attention to what the priest was saying. He kept stealing glances at Tara, so captivated by her beauty and grace.
They turned to face each other when the priest asked them to recite their vows. Tara was always the light to his dark world. She gave him love and hope when there wasn't any. She was brought into his life to guide him in his darkest moments and for that he would forever be thankful. By the time he was done with his vows, Tara had tears streaming down her eyes. Ever so connected with his Momma, Abel soon started to cry too.
Tara's vows were about their history and how they always found their way to one another.. How love their love conquered distance, death, and everything in between. And how together, they could conquer everything. By the time she finished, he wanted the priest to hurry up and declare them husband and wife.
When he slipped the wedding band into her slender finger, he felt a shift within himself. His world was finally complete in every way that mattered.
She looked right into his eyes as she slipped the wedding band into his finger. "I love you," she mouthed as the priest said his last words.
When the priest declared them husband and wife, Jax wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. The priest didn't even finish saying, "You may kiss the bride." Jax kissed Tara with all of him.
Time was lost to him at that moment. He didn't know how long they kissed for but Tara finally pulled away when she heard Abel's "Gross," and Thomas's "ewwww." She laughed as she crouched down and open her arms for her boys. They ran to their Momma's arms and Jax also crouched down to give his family the love and attention they deserved.
"Finally," he whispered as he placed a kiss on Tara's head. "Finally."
Abel and Thomas ran around in circles, chasing each other much like he use to do with Opie and his own brother before he died.
He sat on the bench with Tara snuggled right next to him. She had put on his blazer and she smiled as she watched the boys chase each other, the leaves falling gently from a tree nearby.
"Jax," she whispered.
He looked down at his blushing bride. "Yea, babe."
Tara sat up and reached to grab her bouquet. She placed her small hand in between the flowers and whipped out a small rectangular box.
"For you," she whispered.
Jax looked at her with surprised as he opened the box.
"Tara?" he questioned as he picked up the object from the box.
She nodded as he picked up the small, silver rattle.
In cursive letters the rattle had the most beautiful message he has ever read. "See you in March, Daddy."
"Our baby girl," he whispered as he felt a lump on his throat.
"We don't know that yet," Tara smiled.
Jax pulled her in for a small kiss.
He smiled and bumped his forehead with hers. "I love you, Tara." He rubbed her belly. "I love you too, baby girl."
See you in March, my sweet daughter, he thought, as he pulled Tara in for another kiss.