She was scared and shaking. Sweat was collecting on her brow and her adrenaline was pumping hard. "What the fuck is going on?" she thought. She heard commotion in her living room and knew making it to her gun wasn't going to happen. Gripping a knife she crept out of the laundry room, pressing herself against the wall, doing all she could to keep steady and calm. "I'm going to drop this motherfucker." she thought. "They don't know who they're messing with."

Steps were approaching, closer, almost there, it's now or never. Tara came around the corner with every ounce of fear and rage she had, ready to kill whoever dared enter her house. It was an act of divine intervention her mind connected with her hand in just enough time to redirect her swing.

"Jesus Christ Tara! What the fuck!?" Jax yelled narrowly missing being shanked.

"Jax! What the hell are you doing home? You're supposed to be in Nevada for another 3 days. I thought someone had broken in."

"I came back early so we could spend time by ourselves. It was supposed to be a surprise"

"Well consider me surprised. Holy shit. Did it ever occur to you to call me?"

Tara sat the knife on the table and took a seat herself. She was trying to calm down, taking deep breaths, and willing the adrenaline to shut off. To say she was shaken up was a huge understatement; she'd almost shanked her own husband. She was also a lot pissed off at said husband. He knew better than to come in unannounced, especially when he wasn't even supposed to be in state.

"Babe, are you okay?"

"No I'm not okay you asshole. I could have killed you. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Jax didn't blame her for being angry, he'd probably be angry if she had pulled a stunt like this. Since the kidnapping and murder of Gemma and Clay everyone was on high alert. All his brothers were armed everywhere they went and the Old Ladies were either on lock down or armed as well. Jax had practically begged Tara to stay at the club house, but Tara gave him a short and very final no. She had patients to see, surgeries to do, and wasn't going to let all the club bullshit stop her. He should have insisted she stay at the club house or had one of the guys stay with her.

"I'm sorry babe. I wasn't thinking. I wanted to get home and have some time with just us before the club gets back and all the shit kicks up again."

Now that her blood pressure was down and her heart didn't feel like it was going to go into tachycardia, Tara realized she couldn't stay mad. Jax had cut out early from club business and his brothers to spend more time with her. He was bound to catch a lot of shit for that move. Granted, now was not the best time for surprises, but he should at least be given some credit for his effort.

"It's okay baby. I appreciate you coming home early and I'm looking forward to having some alone time. God knows when the last time was that happened, just please call next time." she said wrapping her arms around him.

"Thank you. What do you want to do Mrs. Teller? We have 3 days all to ourselves."

"I want to spend the next 3 days in this house with you. We can rent movies, order sushi, and of course do that thing married folk do."

"Sounds like a plan. What should be do first?" Jax asked with a half grin.

"Slow down cowboy. I don't know about you but I'm starving and sushi sounds sinfully good right now."

After Jax returned with sushi they settled in to watch The Avengers. Thank God his wife didn't usually go for all these weepy and long chick flicks. She said it was all bullshit and not even remotely close to how real life and marriage were. It was one of the many things he loved about her. He also loved that they were watching the movie on the 60" TV she had requested as an anniversary gift. His girl didn't do jewelry, flowers, and cards; she did electronics, muscle cars, and medicine. For their 10 year anniversary he had bought her a brand new, custom built, Dodge Charger. The interior was all leather, had every bell and whistle available, a bad ass speaker system, 20" rims, and was Plum Crazy. He thought she was going to faint when he lead her outside and took off the blindfold. People two states over had probably heard her scream and the neighbors got to see him tackled and damn near brought down by his wife.

"I love this movie. I would be Tony Stark if I could." Tara said.

"I think I'd be Thor. I am that good looking after all and the hammer is pretty cool." Jax said.

"You're a class act Teller."

The movie ended and the two continued to lounge on the couch. It had been ages since there had been time or the right setting for them to be a normal couple. Neither one could remember the last time they had sat and talked about nothing. There was always something going on with the club, always a crisis to sort out, a surgery to perform, patients to take care of, or "business" that needed to be handled.

"I could get used to this." Tara said.

"I could too and hopefully there will be much more of this in the future. I'm really sorry about all the shit that is going on right now. As soon as the matter of Gemma and Clay is settled things will quiet down, I promise baby."

"I hope so. This is some crazy shit, even for the club."

Tara caught Jax up on the goings on in Charming and her life over the past few days. She had assisted with a new surgery, learned a new technique, and saved three little lives while he was gone. She was very enthused about the new technique and looked forward to mastering it. Charming had been quiet for Charming in his absence. No retaliation, no new shit, and no one blew up the club house. She said the probates and Piney were doing a good job of keeping everything in a state of organized chaos and everyone safe.

"Are they about ready to lose their minds?"

"You have no idea," Tara said with a bit of a laugh. "The kids LOVE Rat and he has at least one or two plastered to him all the time."

"How is Piney?"

"He does his best to stay behind the bar and at least two or three shots into the Scotch. Said it helps him cope."

"I'll bet it does. This is one of the few times I'm glad we don't have kids. That is cruel and unusual punishment being locked up with Rat for days." Jax said.

Early in their relationship Tara had made it clear she had no desire to have children. Jax had struggled with her stance; he had always imagined himself with a family. However, Tara held firm explaining to him she wasn't going to bring a child into the outlaw world. She then asked him a question that had hit him straight in the gut. "Would you really want our children to grow up in the kind of life we live?" Jax had never thought about what this life would be like for a child, but remembered what his childhood was like. They had been happily married, without children, for 10+ years now.

"Ditto on the being glad part. Even though we don't have the kids practicing has always been fun." Tara said.

"It has been a few days hasn't it? Wouldn't want my skills to get rusty."

Tara rolled her eyes as she straddled Jax. She started off with small kisses on his face and neck before moving to suck on his earlobe. She had missed him and had been on edge the entire time he was gone. She wanted him inside her; maybe a good roll in the hay would help settle her. She parted his lips with her tongue and the two dueled for dominance. Even fully clothed she could feel his erection and this made her want to tease him even more; she wanted him to burn for her. Jax was busy making short work of Tara's shirt and bra before taking one perfectly pink and swollen nipple into his mouth. He sucked, licked, and gently bit until she cried out his name and ground harder against him needing relief.

"If you keep doing that I'm going to come in my jeans."

"Wouldn't be the first time." she said teasingly.

Jax swatted Tara's ass before lifting her up, setting her down, and telling her to stand still. She loved when he took control, it was a huge turn on. He slowly worked her jeans and panties down her legs and then removed his own jeans. His erection looked almost painful and she reached out stroking the length, softly rubbing the tip, and cupping his balls. She looked up and saw his eyes closed, head back and quietly dropped to her knees. She ran her tongue over the tip, tasting the sweet saltiness, before taking in his length into her warm and wet mouth. She worked him over and over, varying her speeds and suction. She knew he was close, but before she could push him over, he hauled her to her feet and kissed her softly.

"Good damn baby. That felt so fucking good but I want to come inside you. Now stand still."

Tara did as she was told and Jax pulled her close to him. He placed kisses on her neck and moved down to suck on her nipples again. He continued his descent by placing wet kisses on her stomach and hips until he reached her navel. Separating the soft pads of flesh he let his tongue explore and taste her. He had been with a lot of women, but nothing came close to the taste of her. She tasted like sweet vanilla and something that was unique to his Tara. He teased her clit, flicking it with his tongue before sucking on it, over and over again.

"Baby please, I need you inside me."

Jax ceased his ministrations and sat back on the couch taking Tara with him. She positioned herself above him and both let out a groan of satisfaction as he sank into her heat. They settled into a gentle rhythm, making love, Jax running his hands all over Tara as she rocked back and forth. It had been so long since they had actually made love and she felt so damn good as he slid in and out of her wetness. He could feel her core getting hotter and her body beginning to tense and knew neither one of them was going to last much longer. Tara needing her release, grabbed the back of the couch and using it for leverage began grinding her clit hard against Jax's pelvis. When her orgasm began she wrapped her arms around him, holding on for dear life, and chanted his name like a mantra. The sound of his name and the way she clung to him was enough to push Jax over the edge, but when her inner muscles clenched around him that was too much. He pushed into her sweet heat one more time and with a shout, ruptured.

"I guess you really did miss me." Tara said.

"I always miss you baby. You seemed to have missed me too."

"Always."

Jax stood up and not breaking their coupling, carried his wife to bed. He knew they were both shattered and needed rest, but couldn't bear to break their contact. Tara finally disengaged herself but quickly curled up to him letting her head rest on his chest. And that was how they slept, curled up together, and at ease for the first time in a long time.

Tara woke the next morning feeling rested and relaxed. She knew Jax would be asleep for awhile and decided to make breakfast. They rarely had a chance to have dinner together much less breakfast so she pulled out all the stops. By the time Jax decided to rise and shine there was coffee, orange juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and hash browns on the table.

"Good morning Mrs. Teller. I see you've been busy. Making sure I keep up my strength are we?"

"Something like that. Sit and let's eat."

"You look like you've got something on your mind. Care to share?"

Tara had a few questions she needed answered to and several thoughts she needed Jax to know. She felt as though she had been very patient with him and his quest to separate himself from the outlaw life. Her patience was wearing dangerously thin and she wasn't sure how much longer she could hang on.

"I want us to have a normal life and you told me you were working on giving us that. It's been months and you're in balls deep with no sign of the end in sight. Something always happens that stops you from telling them you want out. I love you Jax but I don't know how much longer I can live like this."

For the first time Jax could remember he felt scared. Tara was the only family he had and he didn't want to lose her, but he couldn't just abandon his club either. He didn't like the situation anymore than she did and didn't appreciate feeling like he was being handed an ultimatum.

"So you're telling me it's the club or you?"

"That isn't what I'm telling you. I'm telling you what my plans are if things don't change. I don't want to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, worrying about someone killing me as a way to get to you, or worrying about never seeing you again every time you walk out the door."

He sat back and tried to think of a way to respond that would make her rethink her plan. He knew Tara, and once she had her mind made up, there was no changing course. He also knew she was right to call him on the delays and the bullshit excuses. She deserved to live life without constant fear and worry and he was going to be the one to give it to her. The time for excuses was over and he was going to step up and own his place.

"I don't want to lose you or us. Please let me deal with the Gemma and Clay situation and then I'll talk to Chibs. I promise babe, I'll keep my word."

"I'm holding you to that Mr. Teller."

8 months later

"Babe, I'm home."

"How did everything go?"

"It went better than I expected. The guys are upset but they understand I need to do this. Happy even offered to blackout my ink."

Tara was trying to hold herself together and not let Jax see how relieved she was. She had been terrified when he left to deliver his intention of leaving to his brothers. She wasn't sure how they would react or if she would see her husband alive again. It had taken every ounce of self-control she possessed to not break down when he walked in the front door alive and without injury.

"I'm really glad everything is okay with you and the guys. How did they take the news of us moving to Texas?"

"They gave me more shit for moving to Texas than telling them I wanted out."

Tara had accepted a very prestigious job offer in Dallas and informed her husband she was moving with or without him. This had caused a fight of epic proportions and neither one of them speaking to the other for two weeks. Jax had been the first to wave the white flag and had nothing short of begged Tara not to go. She held firm in her decision and he knew she wasn't changing her mind when he came home to boxes and packing material. It was in that moment he made his choice between his wife and the club; he chose his wife.

"I'm just relieved that you're okay and that we're leaving on good terms."

"You and me both babe."

A sharp knock at the door broke their moment of joy. Jax motioned for Tara to stay where she was and approached the door gun in hand. He was relieved to see his giant of a best friend and Donna on the other side. He steeled himself for the ass chewing Opie was going to lay on him and opened the door. Opie didn't wait for an invitation and stomped into the living room.

"Please come on in." Jax muttered.

"What the fuck man? You're out and moving and you didn't tell me?"

Tara and Donna caught each others eye and decided the kitchen looked like a great place to be and both were in desperate need of coffee. Their husbands needed to work out their differences and their presence wasn't going to help things along. Tara hoped they didn't destroy the living room and that no one required stitches. Once they were out of earshot Donna told Tara something she almost didn't believe.

"Opie told them he's out too."

"Are you serious?"

"Serious as a heart attack. We need to get far away from here and start over. How would you feel about us moving to Texas with you? Jax and Opie could start a business together and we'd all be free of this shit."

"I'll help you pack." Tara said.

Jax was certain he'd finally gone off the deep end because he couldn't be hearing what he was hearing. Opie was out, wanted to move to Texas, and start a business with him. There was the possibility he would get to keep his wife, his best friend, and start over.

"Are you sure about this?" Jax asked.

"I'm sure and so is my old lady."

"I am all for this Jax." Donna said emerging from the kitchen. "We need to have a fresh start and it's now or never. I don't want to lose my best friend or see Opie lose his."

Jax looked at Tara wanting to gauge how she felt about this new plan. When he saw she was in tears and holding Donna's hand he had all the information he needed.

"Okay brother let's do this." Jax said pulling Opie in for a hug.

The move to Texas was done quickly and efficiently thanks to Tara and Donna. Jax was pretty sure they could rule the world if they so chose. In six days time two households were packed and ready to move out. Donna had found two houses on the same block for them to rent until everyone was on their feet and Tara had gone ahead to make sure everything was ready for their arrival.

After what felt like an eternity on the road, multiple bathroom stops, and hours of singing to bad 80's music, the couples arrived.

"Jesus Christ are there bricks in here?" Opie asked.

"Those are my medical books, handle them with care Winston." Tara answered

"Yes ma'am."

Trucks were unloaded, boxes unpacked, and houses soon felt like homes. The couples spent most evenings together; either working on a business plan for Jax and Opie, decorating, or just hanging out and enjoying the new calm that was their lives.

End of Part 1