i "It's okay, Jessie, you can do this, baby." Jax's voice was reassuring in her ear as Jessie let out a scream of agony, the doctor cheering her on. "Okay, Mrs. Teller, one more push and the baby's here!" Jessie did as asked, and a shrill cry cut through the air.

"It's a girl!"

The baby was placed in Jessie's arms, and she grinned widely as she looked up at Jax. He was looking down at her with so much love in his eyes, looking at her and their daughter. "What's her name, Jess?" Jessie looked down at the baby, smiling again and looking back at Jax. "Marlowe Skye Teller."

Jax laughed, kissing her forehead and leaning down to kiss the baby. "Marlowe Teller. It's perfect for our little girl." Jessie leaned against him, softly touching the baby's downy blonde hair. "She looks just like you, Jax." Jax laughed again, letting his daughter take hold of his finger. "Hopefully she doesn't act like me." He looked at his little family, then leaned down to kiss Jessie's lips.

"I love you, Jessie James. Forever."

"I love you too, Jax Teller. Forever and always."

Suddenly Marlowe was ripped from her arms, and blood appeared everywhere Jessie looked. Jax turned and left the room, laughing manically at her.

"I never loved you, Jessie."/i

Jessie's eyes shot open, the young woman catching her breath as she realized it was just a dream. She looked around at her surroundings, recognizing the guest room of Gemma's house. Tears began to stream down her cheeks and onto her pillow as the vivid details of her dream began to come back to her. She sat up in the bed, wiping her cheeks with her hands. Taking a deep breath, she got up and walked to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to splash cold water on her face. As she leaned on the counter, she looked up into the mirror, and her hand automatically lifted her shirt as she turned around.

The heavy black tattoo across her shoulders was still prominent. The black crow sat on a crown, and Jax's name was tattooed underneath the crown in beautiful script. It was still as dark and imposing, even after all these years. It was her security blanket, and always reminded her that even if he didn't anymore, Jax had loved her at one time, loved her enough that he had her inked with the mark of an "old lady" of the club. Jessie had always been sure they'd end up married and ruling the club, but then the baby had complicated things. She and Jax had only slept together that one time, and she'd ended up pregnant. The worst of it all was that she had planned to bring Marlowe to Charming when she died. A week before their trip, Jessie had woken up to find her daughter dead in the crib. And so she had waited another four years before returning. It had taken time to heal.

Deciding she needed to get out and clear her head, Jessie pulled on some clothes, then grabbed the keys to her motorcycle and silently left her room. She tiptoed to the front door, quietly slipping out and locking the door behind her. She'd barely made it down the steps when she noticed Jax sitting on his motorcycle in the driveway. "Jax? What are you doing here, it's one in the morning."

He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep, decided to go for a ride. Why are you up?"

Jessie looked at her feet. "Bad dream. I thought a little fresh air would make me feel better."

Jax patted the seat of his bike. "Get on and let's go."

Jessie grabbed her helmet off her bike, fastening it under her chin as she slung her leg over Jax's motorcycle. Settling herself behind him, she held onto his jacket as he pulled out onto the road, heading towards the lake. The cool night air washed over them, Jessie's hair blowing back off her shoulders as she held onto Jax. She closed her eyes and she imagined that it was just like old times, that she was still his old lady. She leaned forward and rested her chin on his shoulder, Jax smiling as he felt her weight against his back. He was glad Jessie was back in town. He'd missed her so much while she'd been gone, it wasn't even explainable. She had been his best friend since he was five and she was three, and he had eventually fallen in love with her. As they grew up, he had been sure they'd get married one day, have kids, take over the club. He had mapped out his life with Jessie by his side. And then there had been that day, the day they'd finally gave into each other. They'd spent all day just hanging out and talking, taking a road trip out to the lake on his motorcycle. Night had fallen and they'd lit a bonfire on the lake shore, cuddled up on a blanket and eventually they'd had sex. And two weeks after that, Jessie was gone. He'd come home from a run to find her apartment empty and her car gone. His mother had informed him Jessie had gone to Las Vegas and didn't plan to come back. And then she'd dropped a bombshell: Jessie was pregnant by the deadbeat she was dating at the time. Jax had been sure the boy had threatened Jessie if she didn't leave Charming, so he'd showed up at Chris's house and made sure Chris understood that no one messed with Jessie. He'd also put him in the hospital for a month, just to make sure he got the point. Jessie had meant that much to him.

Jessie could tell Jax was deep in thought just by the way he was staring straight ahead, and she figured he was thinking about her. She had missed him too, and so she cuddled closer to him on the motorcycle. She didn't even care he was married to Tara. Tara had always come second to her in Jax's world, Jessie knew that. Finally they arrived at the lake, Jax parking under the same weeping willow they'd sat under so many times before. Jax let her off first, and then they sat on the ground under the tree, leaning back on the trunk. Jessie leaned against him, Jax wrapping an arm around her.

"Jess, are you gonna stay in Charming?"

She hesitated. "I was planning to leave tomorrow. I figured you'd want me gone now that you have Tara and your boys. But I don't want to leave. I've been gone long enough, I don't want to leave this place again. I don't want to leave iyou/i again, Jax." She looked up at him, Jax meeting her gaze. "But I need to know if you want me to stay here."

Jax pulled her closer to him so that she was almost sitting in his lap. "Jessie, of course I want you here. I never want you to leave again. I love you, Jessie. If you leave tomorrow morning, I'll follow you wherever you go, and then I'll bring you back to Charming. This is where you belong."

Tears again pressed against Jessie's eyes, and she smiled. "I love you too, Jax. But what about Tara?"

"Tara's in jail, Jessie. I'll divorce her, I'll do whatever, but I just want you to be here with me. I love you, Jessie, I always have." Jax laughed a little, ruffling Jessie's blonde and black hair. "Ma always did have you picked as the future Mrs. Jax Teller. I'm starting to think she was right."

Jessie sat up, turning so that she was sitting facing Jax. "I'm willing to stay here for you. This has always been what I want. From the time I first met you, I wanted to grow up and be with you, be a part of SAMCRO." She reached over to take his hand. "And I know I've already said it, but I'm sorry I never told you about our daughter. It's something I'm going to regret for the rest of my life." She stood up to reach in her pocket, handing Jax a photo. He unfolded the picture, and he froze for a minute.

"Is...Is this her?"

Jessie nodded. Jax looked back down at the photo, taking in the beautiful face of his Jessie, smiling as she held baby Marlowe in her lap. Jessie was right, the baby did look like him. He smiled as he saw the Sons' logo on the front of Marlowe's onesie, 'Daddy's Little Outlaw' underneath. Jessie moved back to sit beside him. "Everyone who saw her and saw your pictures told me she looked like you. I gave your mom the picture of her right after she was born, I think she kept it. I have more pictures in my suitcase, I can show them to you later."

Jax sat the picture in his lap, reaching over to hold Jessie's hand. "Jessie, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you or for her. But I can promise you that if and when we have more kids, I'm gonna be there every step of the way. I'm gonna be there for you." He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her skin. "Tomorrow I want you to come with me to the clubhouse so I can show everybody my old lady's finally come back. I think they'll take right to you." He pulled her back to his side, and for the first time in five years, Jax pressed his lips to Jessie's. The kiss was full of longing and desperationg and need, and Jax pulled Jessie against his chest, her breath catching in her throat as she pressed against him. His hands slid up her shirt, and she felt his fingers glide over her tattoo. They finally broke the kiss, the two of them panting heavily.

"I think we should head back to the house before we get ourselves in trouble, Jax."

He smirked. "Where's the fun in that, Jess?"

She laughed. "None, I guess. But it's my first night back, I don't need to get caught fooling around with you like we're teenagers again. At least wait for my second night back." She mirrored his wink, turning to walk towards his motorcycle. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, pulling the back of her T-shirt down so he could see her tattoo.

"You still got my name on you. That makes me feel real special." He let her shirt go, and Jessie turned to give him a quick peck on the lips.

"Get on the motorcycle, Jax, and take me back to Gemma's before I have to beat you up."

"I'd like to see you try, Jessie James."

They got on the bike, Jax heading back towards his mother's house with his girl in tow.

Everything made sense again.