Tara tried to latch onto the voice in the distance. The one crying out to her, begging her to wake up, but she just felt exhausted. She wanted to sleep.. just a little bit longer. But the name she heard wasn't the one she had grown up with. No, it was her second name, the one that always held so much more meaning. The one she loved more than Tara any day.

"Mom," She heard the scared cry again and latched harder onto it, willing herself to wake up.

Her lips felt so dry, she just needed a tiny sip of water. Just a little sip.

"Wa-ter.." She whispered as much as she could.

Apparently someone had heard her because a second later she felt the cool liquid sliding down the back of her throat.

It took a few more minutes and a couple more blinks of her eyes before she could clearly see her daughter's beautiful albeit worried face in front of her.

"I'm okay, baby." She promised, her weak fingers reaching up to touch her cheek, seeing David next to her, his face just as concerned.

"Did you not eat breakfast after I bugged you for over an hour this morning, mom? You know if you don't your diabetes rears it's ugly head and you get sick."

"No, I ate, I.. just.." David pushed her slowly to a sitting position and she saw him, standing not too close but not too far away. His eyes heavy on hers. She hadn't been dreaming. Jax was here.. Gemma was here. Jesus Christ, her daughter was in the middle of the club she had ran from and had never seen it coming.

How had she not seen it? Jenna had been going to see David in California for months but Tara never even thought to ask WHERE in California. How did a mother not think to ask her daughter.. grown or not, WHERE in California she was going? Had she known.. she could've nipped this thing in the bud! Before this happened. Before she was sitting in front of Gemma. Who was staring her down, the suspicion of the situation written all over her face.

"I'm just overwhelmed. That's all." She promised her only child. "Exciting day for a mother, you know?"

How did she even BEGIN to explain who Jax was? She didn't have a clue and frankly she didn't want too. She'd rather her teeth be pulled out one by one than to admit her daughter was standing only mere inches away from her father.. away from her grandmother.

XOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOOXOXOXO

Jax didn't expect in a million years to ever see Tara Knowles again. In fact, he pretty much guaranteed himself he wouldn't. She had a life.. she had dreams. Ones bigger than him. Bigger than the club and bigger than Charming and he didn't blame her. She wasn't the girl cut out for the 'old lady' life. She was more than that and Jax would've NEVER dragged her down and forced her into that role. So when she left, that was it. He knew she was off to bigger and better things and let it go. He didn't look for her and he let his bird free.

But now with her here, older and within in touching distance he wanted those years back. He wanted to run backward, grab her, snatch her up and make her stay. Make her fit the role of 'old lady' no matter how selfish it was.

With all the changes in Tara, the more sophisticated clothing, the more mature features, the bigger breasts, the wider waist that made Jax's mouth practically water, his favorite change was the way she was handling her daughter. She was even softer and sweeter than she had been before. Which was saying something. She had a patience about her, and her heart seemed to swell on her sleeve as she reassured her daughter that she was okay. God, it made him love her even more.

"You sure about that, Tara?" He asked, stuffing his hands in his jeans, just so he wasn't tempted to touch her. If Jax knew anything about Tara he knew damn well she'd lie about how she was feeling to protect the people she loved. Especially now that she was sick.. when had Tara got diabetes?

"You know my mom?" Jenna asked, eyeing Jax.

He simply nodded. "Old friends. Really old friends."

Jenna's eyes switched back and forth quite a few times before she slowly stood, lifted her heavy dress and left in a swift run.

"Is she.." Jax wasn't even able to finish before David was on his feet, shoving past him and chasing after his literal run away bride.

Tara's eyes caught Jax's as she sloppily stood. But before she could truly make it to her feet, Jax was in front of her, holding her up right and against his chest.

"Be careful, darlin, you're gonna hurt yourself."

"I'm fine. I need to get to my daughter. She needs me." Tara insisted pushing at Jax. But all she managed to do was sway more and nearly fall on her face.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tara." Gemma barked, taking control like always. "I'll check on the poor girl."

"No!" Tara snapped, shoving harder at Jax and standing upright. "I'll take care of my own damn kid!" She shoved roughly past Gemma and hurried down the aisle, leaving Jax and Gemma both stunned. Sweet little Tara wasn't so sweet anymore.

XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXO

"He's HERE!" Jenna cried, tearing at the veil on her head, tossing it on a couch in her bridal suite.

David was trying to make sense of her ranting and raving but none of it was making a lick of sense and he hated it. He hated that he couldn't just pinpoint what was wrong and fix it. Like he did everything else.

"Baby, who?"

"Him!" She barked, pointing at the door as she yanked her earrings a little too roughly out of her ears. "He's here and she said NOTHING to me! Nothing! How do you do that to a child you claim to love!"

The door pushed open and Jenna whipped around wildly as Tara showed her face.

"David, can I talk to my daughter alone, please?"

"NO! He doesn't have to leave and you aren't making him! He's the only person I trust! The only one I know who doesn't blatantly lie to my face! Jax is fine! He's a nice man who offered to walk a girl he had never met down the aisle! The club life isn't dangerous! It's fine! David doesn't even do anything illegal! He helps run a porn studio! That's all! I don't care! You took me from my father simply because he runs porn! Are you that insecure! Do you really hate him that much! I could've had a dad.. family.. a huge family! A life in Charming! I could've known David my entire life but NO you ran like a coward from someone you loved and someone who loved you because you couldn't handle him seeing naked women all day!"

David just stared, still completely and utterly confused.. but also feeling a heavy wave of guilt, the kind he always felt when he realized that Jenna was completely blind to the life he really lead.

"No, Jenna, I didn't leave for the porn. I wasn't even aware your father did porn. I left because of the violence that follows the club around. The danger." Tara's eyes moved to David's, disappointed her son-in-law to be had not told her daughter the truth. "David hasn't told you everything he does for the club. It's part of their rules. But, baby,"

Jenna cut her mother off, throwing the earrings she had lent her down at Tara's feet. "Don't you DARE make him the liar just to save your own ass! You did this! Not David! He's been nothing but honest about everything since the day we met while all you've done is keep secrets and lie since the day I was born!"

David couldn't keep quiet. No matter how much he loved the club.. no matter how much he knew this would hurt Jenna, he couldn't lie. Not when she was literally about to cut her mother out of her life for the truth and he knew damn well how much that would kill her.

"She's right." He was finally sliding the pieces together. Apparently the man he thought of as a father was really Jenna's dad. What the hell were the odds? If David didn't believe in soulmates before he did now. He was literally made for Jenna Knowles. "She's not lying."

"Don't you lie for her, David Lowman!"

"I'm not, Jenna. The club doesn't just do porn. We do guns. We use to do drugs. Jax is trying to steer us in the clean direction.. it's just taking longer than expected. Do you remember that time I got in an accident on my bike and broke three ribs? I was actually in an explosion. I just didn't want to scare you away. I love you so much and I want to protect you from this. From the danger. But my life isn't as squeaky clean as I pretend." He stepped toward Jenna who backed up like he had slapped her.

"Get out." Jenna said softly, her back turning to David. She felt like she had no damn clue who he was.

"Jenna, baby.. please."

"I said GET OUT!" She screamed, her voice faltering toward the end.

David's eyes shined in Tara's direction only once before he was out the door.

Tara stepped up behind her daughter, wrapping her up in a tight embrace from behind.

Jenna didn't hesitate one second before she started sobbing. She cried for a life missed with her father.. she cried for all the mean things she had said to her mom.. for all the lies David had probably told her and for the life she was suppose to have and now never would because she could never trust David again.

XOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXO

Jax silently stood outside the bridal suite, his heart thumping oddly. He had hid as David left, but had heard everything else when he came to check on Tara and her daughter.. his daughter. God, his daughter. That girl in there.. that beautiful blue eyed Tara mini me was his daughter. He had a daughter. He felt like he was having a nightmare.. one he couldn't wake from. Everything felt wrong and right and like a jumbled up mess that was making him sick to his stomach.

Every inch of him ached as he imagined the life he never got with Jenna. The memories he never got to see. The first steps.. the first word.. the first bicycle ride… the first scarped knee he would've made all better.. her prom.. and so many others. Jax could almost understand why Tara did it. But the anger and pain clouding inside him made it nearly impossible to find that understanding.

He turned, walking down the hallway, brushing right past his mother who grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Do not let Tara Knowles destroy you again."

"This time it's not her. It's my daughter." He grunted, his anger taking away his good judgment. He ripped his arm free and left the church.

Gemma's eyes turned quickly toward the bridal suite and she stalked toward it, every inch of her radiating with an anger nobody should ever have to be on the receiving end of. And poor Tara was.

XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXO

Gemma slammed the door to the bridal suite open, her eyes instantly connecting with Tara's in the mirror across the room.

Tara's eyes never wavered from Gemma's in the mirror. In fact, it held strong, Gemma was the one who finally broke the stare and stalked forward.

"It wasn't enough you broke his heart and left him alone knowing DAMN well how much he loved you? But you take his fucking child?"

Tara turned, shoving Jenna behind her because she saw what was coming. The collison known as Gemma Teller-Morrow.

Gemma's hand pulled back, a fist forming as she slammed it hard in the side of Tara's face. Tara wobbled, managed to control herself and turned, slamming her fist right into Gemma's face.

Jenna stood shocked, her eyes darting between Gemma (the SAMCRO den mother) and her real mother before she stepped between them, nearly taking a blow from Gemma's fist. Luickly Gemma was quick on her feet and pulled her hand back before she hurt her granddaughter.

"What the hell is it your business?" Jenna asked, her eyes never leaving Gemma's for a second. It made Gemma proud. She had the Teller stare.

"I'm your grandmother. I had a right to know about you.. just like your father did."

Jenna stared for a while. "You did.. but mom did what she knew was best for me. If you don't like it.. I don't care. Go."

Gemma's mouth fell open, struggling to find words to say before she turned and left, leaving Tara literally speechless herself. She had never seen Gemma leave when told too. Not once.