Very different story to Jax and Tara. Will focus on friendship with Opie and Donna. Very little history between Jax and Tara. Enjoy!
Tara sat in her car, fidgeting nervously. She hadn't been in Charming for nearly five years. And the many years she was here before that weren't exactly enjoyable for her. When she fled those years ago, it wasn't because she wanted to, it was because she needed to. Her sanity, even her livelihood depended on it. She hadn't had the easiest life. She was a bigger girl all through her schooling years, and she was constantly made fun of and ridiculed by her peers.
Except for Donna.
When Donna's name crossed her mind, she was immediately hit with guilt and remorse. After all the things, good and bad, her and Donna had gone through, Tara had not once talked to Donna in the five years she had been gone. This was her chance to change that. She had seen Donna's truck and Opie's motorcycle outside the bar in Charming. She had been sitting there in her car for nearly 20 minutes trying to steel herself up for this.
She had changed. After years of ridicule and torment, she ran, and for once she worked on herself. It took time, but she managed to get to be someone that she liked, and accepted. She wasn't skinny, but she was healthy and happy. That's what mattered most to her. She looked down at herself. She knew a lot of people would see her and for the first time, she didn't care what people thought of her appearance, just how they'd receive her in general.
"Oh, screw it" she mumbled to herself as she got out of her car. She took a deep breath and walked to the front door.
The front was nearly empty with just a few women lingering at the bar. Probably hoping a member will pick them up. Whores.
The bartender looked at Tara's appearance and smiled.
"Think you've walked into the wrong bar, dear. This is the slums of Charming."
Tara thought she had dressed down a little. She had on a red top that was long and a pair of black leggings with red and black leather strapped heels. In Chicago, she'd have fit in anywhere.
Tara laughed it off, still fidgeting.
"Actually, I'm looking for Donna Winston." She wasn't sure if Opie and Donna had married, but it was a good guess.
"What do you want with Donna?"
"I just want to see her. I'm on old friend." Tara moved to go to the back of the bar, but the bartender cut her off.
"I'll go see if she's here sweetheart." The bartender was used to women dropping old ladies names to gain access to the club. He wasn't falling for that again. He walked back to the party room where most of the club and their old ladies were celebrating Jax's birthday. He heard Donna before he saw her.
"I haven't had this much fun since Jax's 18th birthday party." Donna said to Opie. Jax was with them and at this he laughed extremely loud.
"Oh yeah! That night was amazing. You got up and sang impromptu karaoke and you and Tara danced on my mom's dining room table."
"Yeah, there's still scratch marks from the heels you just HAD to keep on." Opie added.
By the time the bartender got to the trio, the men were laughing, but Donna had a sad smile on her face.
"Hey old man, what's up?" Jax asked the weathered looking bartender.
"There's a young woman up front asking for Donna. She was very adamant about seeing her."
Opie spoke first. "You recognize her?" With a negative confirmation he continued, "so, she's not a crow eater?"
"Nah, not likely. She is high class looking. Said she was on old friend." Jax, Donna, and Opie all looked at eachother.
Jax turned to Opie. "Hey Op, let's go see who has decided to grace your beautiful wife with their presence."
Tara sat at the bar to wait. She had been sitting for maybe a full minute when she heard heavy foot fall behind her. She peeked through her hair to see Jax and Opie walking towards her. She straightened out immediately. She could have smiled at the dedication, had she not been so damn nervous. Opie and his six and a half foot frame, was skinnier then she remembered. His beard and hair both getting long. Donna must love that, Tara thought. Next to him stood the Prince of Charming. All blond hair, blue eyes, and ruggedly handsome.
"You're here for Donna?"
Tara nodded her head. All her steely reserve gone upon hearing Op's gravely, yet unbelievably soft voice. She sat still for another 10 seconds before she got off her bar stool and turned to the boys.
Recognition from Opie was immediate. He threw his giant frame at her and hugged her till she couldn't breathe. Jax scoffed from behind them.
"Op, you can't just hug a woman because she claims to know your wife. And the fact that she has a very striking resemblance to our beautiful…HOLY SHIT! It can't be." Opie was still hugging Tara when Jax had his revelation.
Tara could feel herself tearing up. She had hoped they'd be excited to see her, but this was amazing. Opie finally put her down and she turned to Jax. He was staring at her dumbfounded.
"Well look at you, Tara Knowles. Back in Charming. Good to see you, darling." He dipped his head to Tara.
"Shut the fuck up and give her a hug, brother." Opie said.
Tara smiled at Opie. "It's alright, Op. It's an adjustment, I know. Plus, Jax was only friends with me by default. I was best friends with Donna, him with you, it's almost necessary for there to be friendly contact with one another." Tara babbled. She didn't want to admit to herself how excited she was at the prospect of seeing Jax. She also didn't see the look of disappointment that passed quickly on Jax's face.
"So, let's go surprise Donna huh?" Opie's eyes were gleaming with excitement.
"Tara, walk behind Jax, and try to hide. I'm going to set this up." Tara smiled in adoration for her pseudo brother. He was like a very, very large child.
Opie took off running to the party room. Tara turned and followed closely behind Jax. Her heart skipped a beat when he grabbed her hand and squeezed gently. He didn't linger, but it was enough to send her body into flames.
"It is good to see you. What happened to you to make you leave?" Tara sighed and just shook her head against his back.
"Well, another time then, yeah?"
They got to the party room in time to hear Opie clear his throat before beginning what was sure to be an unusual introduction.
"I know we're celebrating Jax's birthday, but we have a surprise for Donna." Murmurs could be heard, and then Jax and Tara stepped into view.
"No! You got your wife a stripper? Really? She's into that sort of thing?!" Tig commented. Tara flipped him off, even though he was virtually a complete stranger. At the same time, Donna told him to fuck off.
"Huh. Must be sisters," Tig replied, laughing.
Opie cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Ladies, brothers, beautiful wife of mine, I present you…"Opie trailed off as he moved his hand from her face. Tara was still standing securely behind Jax. Donna scoffed.
"Jax is my 'stripper'? Awesome!" Donna said sarcastically. Tara still had her head dug into Jax's back. She nodded and side stepped around him as he spoke.
"Tara fuckin' Knowles, ladies and gentlemen."
Though many of the club members hadn't met Tara, they knew plenty about her from the stories Donna, Jax, and Opie tell. There was a beat of silence and then loud cheering. Except for one distinct person.
Donna stood in place, shocked.
She looked at Tara in disbelief. It had been five years. Five years of pain and worry for her best friend. Donna hadn't even noticed the difference in her appearance right away, though that would soon change. She only saw her long lost friend standing in front of her.
Tara had felt herself begin to cry. She didn't feel rejected per se, just worried that Donna wouldn't be as receptive to her as Opie had been.
Tara began to walk up to Donna, who was still immobile.
"Donna?" Opie asked, concern leaking through his tone.
Donna took two long strides and was toe to toe with Tara.
"Donna, I'm sorry. I had to leave. I'm so sorry." Tara stopped when her voice cracked under all the emotion she was feeling.
Donna just shook her head trying to understand, well, everything. Donna did the only thing that she could think to do, and she slapped Tara hard across the face.
Tara stared at her sadly, but not surprised. Donna was a very emotional person. When she had an emotion too strong within her, she acted out in some way. Opie knew this first hand. If Tara was the epitome of calm, Jax was the epitome of surprise. He stood slightly in front of Tara. Donna had slapped him before, he could take it.
"Donna!" Opie admonished his wife.
"No guys, it's okay. Let her get it out now." Tara said. And that must have been Donna's cue, because she did let it all out then.
"Five years. Five damn years, Tara. You don't call, email, send a smoke signal, nothing. You have NO idea what we've been through since you left. What I've been through. I was starting to think you were fucking dead! Did you know we have a daughter? Or that nine months ago I was pregnant again, but miscarried? Or how about when Opie went to prison for three years? I needed you! And where the hell were you? Huh? Out getting skinny and all dolled up. Tara, I needed you." Donna's voice lowered and she advanced on Tara again. Instead of hitting her, which everyone semi-expected, Donna threw herself at Tara and hugged her for dear life. Her resolve vanished and she just needed her best friend.
After all the excitement died down, and Tara was introduced to the group, the party was in full swing again. Donna was out calling to check on her daughter and Tara found herself with Jax, Opie, and Chibs. Tara noted the heavy accent and the menacing scars on his face.
"So love, how long are you going to be in our Charming little town?" Chibs asked. Jax didn't turn to her, but listened intently to her response.
"A while. I got a job at the hospital here in town, in the neonatal department."
"Are you a doctor?" Chibs asked.
"Hardly," Tara laughed. "I'm a nurse and my concentration is in neonatal development. I'm planning to become a doctor, though. I was in med school back in Chicago, but things got…complicated." Tara stuttered the end of her sentence. Her eyes went far away and she looked slightly frightened. Chibs noticed, and went to touch Tara's hand that was now resting under her chin. As soon as his hand came into her line of sight, she involuntarily flinched back and nearly toppled off the bar stool. Jax's hands instinctively went out to catch her, but she shooed him away.
"I'm okay. I'm fine. Excuse me." Tara left to go find a bathroom or the nearest exit. She needed a cigarette. She found the exit before the bathroom, and made a beeline for her car. Donna caught up to her just as she found her stashed cigarettes in the center console of the Cutlass.
"Hey, you're not leaving are you?" Donna asked worriedly.
"Huh? No, just needed some air and a smoke. It's a little much, ya know?" Tara fumbled with her lighter.
"You're telling me! I still can't believe you're here." Donna's anger had subsided, but wasn't gone. More displaced then anything. "Will we have time to catch up before you jet off again?" Donna's tone had turned slightly sad.
"I'm not going anywhere Donna, not this time." Tara said reassuringly, and realized then that she meant it.
While Tara and Donna were catching up outside, the mood was slightly tense with the trio Tara had just left.
"Okay, I know I'm drunk and all, but I didn't like try to hit her did I?" Chibs asked, a mix between confused and concerned.
"No, but my guess is that someone else has." Jax responded angrily.
"Well, this just got complicated." Chibs said.
"Jax, I know what you're thinking, but we need to let her get settled in before we bombard her with questions about her past. Let's not scare her away." As he finished his sentence, he saw the woman of topic and Donna walking back into the room. Chibs excused himself when they got to the table.
"Where's he going?" Tara asked.
"Who the hell knows," Opie replied.
The next few minutes passed with easy conversation between the old friends. Before long, Chibs returned with two bottles of tequila and five shot glasses.
"Oh shit! Chibs is ready to get the night going!" Opie exclaimed.
"I think I should sit these out. My hotel is in Lodi. I'm staying there until next week when I finalize my house here in Charming." Tara told them.
"Lodi? That's not a good idea." Chibs thought out loud.
"Why? It's not too far away and it's cheap." Tara had been caught off guard by Chibs statement and wanted an answer. They didn't disappoint.
"Yeah, it's cheap because prostitutes go there for business. Lodi is big on crank too. Please stay with Donna and me this week. Jax will be there some nights, but we have a guest room and a not so comfortable couch." Opie was very adamant about Tara NOT staying in Lodi.
Tara really didn't want to impose, but from the sounds of Lodi, she didn't want to be stuck in that hotel for even a single night.
"Alright, sounds good," Tara agreed. "Sure you don't mind?"
"No, not at all, it'll be good. We can all catch up."
As the night progressed, Tara was introduced to the rest of the club. The Perv she came to know as Tig. Though, she liked The Perv better. From what she's heard, it seems quite fitting. There was also Bobby, who was a nice guy, and surprisingly not creepy at all. Clay gave her a weird vibe, but she wasn't sure why. Next she met Juice, who was completely drunk at the time and shamelessly tried flirting with her. The last one she was introduced to was Kozik. She learned that he was a club member, but he was in the Tacoma charter. He was filling in while Piney was out dealing with some "personal demons". The prospect was apparently out cleaning the clubhouse where a waterline broke and flooded the whole place.
At about 1 A.M., the group began to disperse. Tara, Jax, Opie, Donna, and Chibs were all still in a group together. The men were on the verge of oblivion, while Tara and Donna had managed to get two shots and switched to soda.
"Hey guys are you ready to go home? It's late," Donna asked Opie and Jax.
"Yeah, I gotta be off too." Chibs slurred.
"Um, Chibs? How are you planning on getting home?" Tara asked. Chibs laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
"I'm going to take my bike sweetheart. I sure the hell ain't walking across town."
"Yeah, that's not going to happen my friend," Donna told Chibs.
"What do you mean? My bikes right outside."
"Yeah, no shit, but you're not driving it. You're not going to want to argue with me, because you won't win." Donna said, smiling sweetly. Behind her, Jax and Opie were shaking their heads, eyes closed. Tara couldn't help but laugh, and Donna joined in when she turned around and saw the duo.
"Ugh, fine." Chibs fumbled with his pockets trying to find his phone. He got it out and looked at it for a while, before handing it over to Tara.
"Find Prospect in my phone." Tara did as asked and handed it back to Chibs.
"Sack! Wake up. I need you to come get my bike from O'Malleys. Hurry up, I don't have all night. Well I guess I do, but whatever. Just get here." He shut the phone and handed it back to Tara. She held her hand out and just stared at it.
"Uh, hey Chibs? That's not mine." Chibs mumbled something about "that woman" and handed the phone to Jax, who pocketed it without question.
Donna drove her truck home with Opie in the passenger seat, and Chibs in the middle. While Tara had Jax as a passenger in the Cutlass. It was already a long night, and wasn't even close to over yet.