Beginnings
Spring 1988 SAMCRO Clubhouse
"Are we having a party?" 10 year old Jax Teller asks his mom, who is preparing trays of food along the bar with some help of friends.
"No, baby." Gemma Teller informs her son, reaching under the bar and grabbing some juice boxes to give to her son's Jax and Thomas and Jax's friend, Opie. "We are making food for your friend from school."
"Why?" Opie questions, putting the straw in his juice box while Jax helps Thomas with his.
"Tara?" Jax asks before his mom can answer. He wasn't sure what was going on but the Knowles name was floating around the shop for the last few days. "Why?"
"Because that is what SAMCRO does, son." John Teller answers from the doorway, wiping the grease from his hands. "When someone in the community needs help, we give it to them." He goes behind the bar and hugs Gemma, her back to his chest, as he drops a kiss to her temple.
"Why does Tara need help?" Opie asks, taking the final slurp of his juice box. He shares a curious look with Jax when John shares a look with is wife.
Gemma wipes her hands and comes around the bar to take a seat at a table. She pulls her youngest son on her lap and motions for Jax and Opie to come closer. "Tara's mommy was very sick and went to heaven."
"She died?" Jax asks bluntly, with concern.
Gemma takes a deep breath, "Yes, baby."
"And you are going to take her food to feel better?" Opie asks in confusion. It didn't make sense to him. When his mom split, food definitely wouldn't help.
"Well, they will need food since her mommy won't be there to cook for them." John explains, coming over to them, and ruffling Jax's hair. "I'm sure they've been busy with family and things the last few days. So the ladies will take them some food for the next couple of days."
"I want to go." Jax states adamantly. He wanted to make sure the little, quiet girl in his class was okay.
"Hello." Nine year old Tara says, answering the door. She gives a quick, small grin to Jax. So quick Jax wasn't sure it was a grin. "Can I help you?"
"Is your dad home?" Gemma asks, holding a platter in one hand. "We brought some food for you."
"Why?" Tara asks shyly. Then mindful of her manners adds, "Um…just one minute, please." She shuts the door, but it doesn't close all the way. Gemma turns behind her and shrugs to her best friend, LuAnn.
Jax struggles but hears Tara from inside. "Daddy, daddy, wake up. Mrs. Teller is here. And some other ladies."
Quickly, a man, who Jax assumes is Tara's dad, comes to the door and invites them in. "Welcome. Please come in. Excuse the mess, things have been….well you know."
Gemma enters, "No problem, we completely understand." She looks around. For what Jax isn't sure. The house didn't look messy to him. "Any family in town?" She asks.
"Oh, no." Frank quickly answers. "No family. Just us." He nudges Tara's shoulder. "Isn't that right, kiddo?" She stares at him blankly. "Ugh, it's really nice of you ladies to bring us all this food. Right, Tara?"
"Ugh-huh." Tara nods. Jax thinks she's uncomfortable but he's not sure.
"Just direct us to the kitchen." Gemma smiles. "Tara, are you hungry, hon?"
When Tara stares at his mom blankly, Jax whispers, "My mom makes the best meatloaf…ever." Tara gives a small smile at that and says, "Okay. Thank you Mrs. Teller….and thank you Jackson."
April 7, 1990, Cemetary
Twelve year old Jackson Teller looked to be just about the saddest thing eleven year old Tara Knowles ever saw, sitting under that oak tree, far away from the family and friends gathered at his brother's gravesite. "Hey" She greeted softly, coming up to where he sat.
"Hey." He replies, uncrossing his arms but not getting up.
"Why are you over here by yourself?" She asks, plopping down next to him. Too young to care about being polite or worrying about dirtying that pretty skirt up.
"Just wanted to be alone, I guess." He shrugs.
"Oh" She nods, as if she understands but makes no attempt to move.
He looks around for her dad, but it is a lost cause with the huge crowd in attendance. All the members of SAMCRO, their families and charters from all over the west coast are there. "Where's your dad?" He asks.
"Not sure." She shrugs.
"How did you get here?" He asks in concern.
"I walked." She smiles. "It's not far."
"Alone?" He continues. "You walked here alone?"
"It's daytime, Jackson." She reminds him. "And Charming is safe."
"I guess." He shrugs but can't help being uncomfortable by the fact that an eleven year old girl walked by herself just for his brother's funeral. "Why did you come?" He asks bluntly.
"I don't know." She rakes her hand through the grass and tugs. "It was nice of you and your mom to stop by when my mom died."
"Oh." He nods for lack of anything better to do. "Well, it was nice of you to walk all the way here."
"I'm sorry about your brother, Jackson." She sighs. "He was a cute kid."
"Yeah, he was." Jax smiles his first real smile in days. "But he was a pain in the butt too. He followed me everywhere." He leans over to say close to her ear like he's sharing a secret. "Well, not a lot before…before he died….he was sick."
She nods sadly. "I wish words could make people feel better." She says, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Me too." He admits. "I don't think nothing can make my mom and dad feel better."
Tara follows his gaze over to the gathering. John Teller is talking with some friends and across the row of chairs, on the other side, Gemma Teller is crying on another member of Samcro's shoulder. Tara thinks briefly to her father and how he never seems happy either. "I bet you make them real happy." She says softly.
They are both too caught up in their own thoughts to notice Piney and Opie who are walking up to them. "Hey kids." Piney huffs in his gruff voice. Piney and John Teller go way back. They were in the Vietnam War together. "Tara, where's your dad?" Piney only knows the girls' father from the local bars. When Piney wants a milder night out, he escapes the clubhouse and heads for the local corner joints.
Tara shrugs, "Not sure Mr. Winston." She stands up and brushes her skirt off. "Want me to tell him you are looking for him?
"Nah, that's okay, kid." He squeezes her shoulder. "Want to head over to the clubhouse and get some food?"
"No, I better get going." She smiles. "I'll see you later, Jackson." She elbows Opie as she walks past him, "Bye, Opie."
"Not so fast, girl." Piney sighs gruffly. "I'll drive you home."
November 16, 1993
"This must be your favorite spot." Tara kicks Jax's shoe. Three and a half years after his younger brother's death, she finds him under the same oak tree. The service is over, has been for a bit now. All of the motorcycles have taken off. Everyone is headed to the SAMCRO clubhouse to remember it's founding member and Charming legend, John Teller.
"I guess." He shrugs. "Or you just like finding me here alone." He teases. He's started doing that occasionally and he can't really say why. But when the opportunity presents itself, he is sure to take it.
"Or I just really like this oak tree." Her smile, lets him know she's not serious. "Thought you'd be with everyone else at the clubhouse?"
"Nah, just wanted to sit here, in the quiet for a bit." He tells her. He reaches for a pack of cigarettes in his hoodie. "Want one?" He offers, with a smile. He's eager to see if the goody-goody will accept.
"Nope." She drawls out the p. When she sees his smirk, she reaches into her purse and pulls out some sort of lipstick container? He's not sure, but he definitely recognizes what she pulls out. "Want a hit of this?" She smiles, a full on, smart-ass, I got you now, smile.
"A joint?" He can't help but laugh in shock. "Where did you get that?" He knows she's a few months younger than him, putting her at 14.
"I'm not about to tell you that." Tara states flatly. She reaches for his lighter and takes a hit. He watches and knows she's done this before. And it shocks the hell out of him. Tara Knowles, straight-A, attractive, way out of his league…smokes pot.
"Why not?" He takes a hit, before asking.
"So you can have your SAMCRO buddies go apes hit on him for dealing in Charming?" She questions bluntly, taking a hit and passing it back to him.
"How do you know what SAMCRO does?" He asks.
"I hear things." She admits. She passes the almost gone joint to him for the last hit.
"Well, SAMCRO isn't worried about pot dealers." He knows he shouldn't be telling her that. That it is boarder lining on club business, that he probably shouldn't even know yet, let alone telling some girl. "Maybe I was just wondering in case my supply runs out."
She giggles, an effect of the pot, he's sure. "Yeah, okay. Well if you run out, I'll get you more." They sit in a very comfortable silence for what seems like a long time. "Where's Opie?" She asks, out of the blue.
"Walked Donna home." He informs her. "Why?"
"Just wondering." She pulls her hoodie closer as the evening has brought a chill. "You two are never far apart."
"Yeah." Jax smiles, despite just how crappy the last few days have been. "How come I never see you with anyone?"
"I don't like people." She giggles. They sit in silence for a bit more. He's surprised by just how comfortable it is. He doesn't usually like people interrupting his time alone. And when they do, he is usually first to leave before it becomes awkward. For the first time, he really looks at her. The little bit of light that is remaining from the sun as dusk sets in, makes her hair glow with red highlights. And for some reason he notes that is it natural…and beautiful. The older women who frequent the clubhouse all seem to have dyed hair, blond, red, jet black…but the natural look really works on Tara. After a bit, she stands up, "I better get going. You gonna be okay out here, Teller?"
That was a first. She usually always called him Jackson. "Wait!" He stands with her. "Opie should be here any minute. We'll walk you home."
"You don't have to do that." She assures him, looking around, not meeting his gaze at all.
"It's getting dark." He shuts her down immediately. "You are not walking home by yourself!"