A/N: Hello so first off I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has taken the time read the last chapter and a big thank you to those who took time to review, it is as always greatly appreciated.

I did want to say thanks to DarkChild19 as I couldn't PM you. I knew that me posting would make you happy and it was actually a review that you posted on the last chapter of Everything Changes that kicked my ass into gear to get this story posted, so thank you.

There was one thing I forgot to mention in the first Chapter. To those who haven't read any of the stories in this saga, it follows along with the show, meaning that this story will contain spoilers of season 5. So please you haven't watched it and don't want anything to be ruined then please don't read.

Anyway thanks again and here's the second chapter of Fractured. I hope you all enjoy...

Fractured

Chapter Two

Jax sat at the kitchen table, Thomas balanced comfortably on his knee as he fed him breakfast. Tara hadn't seem to stir when he started crying, but even though he had gotten in until the early hours of the morning, Jax actually didn't mind getting up for the early feed, because truth was, sleep had evaded him last night.

He would like to put down to last night antics but it that wasn't the case the thing that kept him awake was the knowledge that it was Piney's memorial today or rather who was going to be there.

He had heard through the gossip grapevine that was the club that Nicole had moved out of the Gemma's and Clay's- he wasn't sure that was the best idea- but he tried not to concern himself with that because she wasn't his business anymore. And the fact that she would probably be attending today shouldn't be keeping him awake.

"Morning." Jax looked over his shoulder as Tara entered, the smile she had on her face from seeing the man she loved being the doting father disappeared when she saw the bruise laying across his cheek.

"I'm fine." He tried to reassure her as she came closer so that she could get a better look at him. The Doctor in her kicking in.

"Retaliation." Jax knew it wasn't a question.

Tara knew that a war was on the horizon- how could there not be after what Tig had done- but it worried her. Although she had pledged herself to Jax, promised that she would be there for him no matter what, this new war scared her more than anything else they have lived through. It made her fear for her children.

And with that thought came the bitter feelings of anger because she shouldn't be here, none of them should. But they were and it was all because of his family. Gemma, Clay, Nicole they all they played their part in keeping her and Jax trapped in Charming and she couldn't help but resent each of them for it.

At least this time Jax was on her side with this. He was with her as she was with him. 100%.

"Niners torched the truck last night. Everyones whole."

"Now what?"

"I fix it." Jax answered simply as he shifted the weight of his son on his lap before meeting her eyes again.

He could see the ache in her eyes. This was hard on her, she didn't want this shit neither did he but they...he had no choice. He had to be in Charming he had to take the gavel 5 weeks ago, he had to break all the promises he had made to the woman he loved, and in all fairness to that woman...the woman he loved more than anything she was doing her damn best to be the Old Lady the President of a Leading MC needed. He loved her for that. And he would do anything he could to make this easier on her.

"I'm going to keep Rat here at night and I want you carrying that gun."

"Okay." The words came easier than either thought it would. They were both obviously residing to the fact that this was there life now.

Grabbing herself a cup of coffee Tara joined her husband and children- the light in her otherwise dark life at the moment- at the table.

Jax watched Tara as she let her bandaged hand run over the blonde silk of Abels hair. Seeing that splint everyday was a reminder of what she had suffered because of his life choices. It didn't sit well with him none of this did. It felt like he was being pulled from every single angle at the moment, His Mom, Tara, Clay, the Club, Gallindo, The Irish and then there was Nicole. He couldn't please everyone he knew that, and he was focusing on the one he thought needed him the most. Tara.

"It's Piney's Memorial today." Jax nodded before offering a reply.

"You don' t have to come." Jax offered knowing who might be there and knowing that Tara might not be ready to see her yet. And with her response he knew his thoughts were correct.

"You think she's gonna be there?" Jax shrugged.

Tara shook her head at his reply. Just like Tara Jax knew that it was a dead cert that Nicole was going to be there she just didn't get why he wouldn't say it.

So far he had been strong, adamant even that him and Nicole were done but there was a small part of her that didn't believe it.

Tara remembered back to the tearful promise that he made about how he was done with her. That he would cut her out of his life and as soon as they were free of the weight that she had put them under they would do what they had planned and take the boys and leave Samcro behind them. It sounded great and she believed it at the time because she wanted to, needed to to some degree but now 5 weeks down the line Tara wasn't sure what to believe.

Nothing had changed nothing looked like it was going to change any time soon, all she could see was Jax's family once again keeping her and her boys in Charming. And Jax again back in the folds of his twisted family.

"Look babe." Jax tilted his head to the side hoping to catch Tara's eyes that had drifted from his to gaze longingly out the kitchen window. He knew what she was thinking. "I made a promise to you." He said when their eyes finally connected again. "I ain't gonna break it Darlin'."

"Heard she moved out." Tara said trying to gauge a reaction from the man across from her. Jax always did wear his emotions in his eyes and the one she was reading now was guilt. "You already know?"

"Yes." Jax knew there was no point in lying, they weren't doing that.

"You've spoken to her?" Jax shook his head to the pleasure of Tara.

"Gemma." He said simply to explain where he had heard this piece of information, but his answer only earned him an eye roll. And all he could do was sigh to himself.

There was that feeling again, like he was being pulled in every direction possible.

He understood Tara resentment towards the so called other women in his life, Christ right now he felt the same but that didn't mean he wanted to feel like this every time their names were mentioned.

He was doing his best and he would continue to because Tara deserved that but that didn't make this situation any easier.

"Look I know the situation we're in right now ain't the best but I promise we will figure this out, and we'll do it as a family. "

"I just want you to remember what she did, what Gemma and Clay have done to you and this family Jax."

"Trust me I remember." He said through gritted teeth. He did remember in fact he couldn't shake off what he saw in that file Romeo had handed him on Nicole or what he had read from the letter his Mother had given him.

Tara sipped her coffee. She'd reached the limit with him. Not that they talked about Nicole, Tara tried not to but sometimes she had to ask just to make sure that he was still keeping up his side of the deal and keeping away from his cousin, but it always ended like this. Anger flashing in his eyes annoyance written all over his face, This subject was over. And she didn't want to push him because as far as Tara was concerned Nicole was done with this family and Gemma was following closely behind her.

"I'm sorry." Tara reached across the table and placed her hand on top of his her thumb grazing his rough skin. "I'm just having a bad morning." Jax's brows furrowed in concern. "I'm training my replacement today."

"Shit I'm sorry babe. I totally forgot."

"It's okay."

"No it's not." And it wasn't she had been through so much for him, lost so much, and here he was forgetting about something that was clearly upsetting her. He could be an asshole sometimes. Grabbing Thomas tighter he stood to his feet and made his way around the table tucking his finger underneath Tara's chin so that he could lean down and kiss her on the mouth. "I love you Tara."

"I love you to." Jax bent down and kissed her again, his thumb tracing across the delicate line of her jaw.

"What time is Gemma coming around?" Jax asked standing back to his full height and shifting Thomas onto his other hip as he walked back to his side of the table and picked up Thomas' empty breakfast bowl taking it to the sink.

With his back to her Tara answered. "She's not coming. I'm taking the kids with me. I managed to get them in at the daycare."

Tara had decided this was best for children because of late it seemed that Gemma was taking a note from her nieces handbook of screwing up shit. Tara knew the signs, years of working in the medical profession gave her that and Gemma was clearly showing signs that she was using. Nothing major Tara knew that, Gemma would never touch the hard stuff, pot was her go to medicate always had been, god even Tara was now puffing on a joint on a more regular basics but Gemma had taken it to the next level. It wasn't just the pot she was drinking, heavily. She was unstable and just like Nicole Tara didn't want her anywhere near her boys. All of them.

Jax squeezed his eyes shut wincing for a moment at how complicated his life was and dreaming of an easier one. But that wasn't going to happen, this was it for him so lifting his heavy eyelids he glanced over at his fiancée who was already looking at him sipping on her coffee just waiting for him to make a wrong move. He didn't though. Walking back over to her he dropped a kiss onto the top of her head.

"Whatever you think is best Darlin'."

Happy walked into the kitchen just as Nicole threw her cell across the kitchen table, clearly annoyed. She ran a hand over her face before using the palms of both hands to rub at her eyes. She obviously hadn't heard him and his eyes decided to take advantage of that.

She was dressed in the same grey cami she had on last night but instead of the matching grey sweat pants she had on last night she was wearing a pair of black boy shorts and an oversized jacket wrapped around her. It only took him a split second to realise that it was his jacket-the one she had kind of stolen from him then given him back when she returned to Charming only for her to steal again when she stayed at his for the week- her hair was piled on the top of her head strands randomly falling down and framing her make up free face. Basically she looked amazing without even trying and Happy had to physically stop himself from taking her on the table she was sat at. He ran a hand over his face as the familiar and yet uncomfortable feeling of being screwed when it came to his woman stirred inside him.

"Morning." Nicole's head shot up from staring blankly at her cell to see Happy walking into the small red kitchen he helped to paint.

She smiled a genuine smile even though her morning had already started off crappy, because for some reason- now 5 weeks on- seeing him wakeup in her house maybe even join her for breakfast always made her smile.

"Morning. You want some some breakfast, coffee?" Nicole asked getting to her feet and heading for the coffee pot knowing he would say yes and he did.

"Coffee's fine." He rasped his voice still having the excess gravel from sleep.

"Gemma." Nicole offered as an explanation when she noticed Happy-who had taken the seat that she had just vacated- eyeing the phone she had discarded on the table. "She was supposed to give me a ride to Piney's thing today, but I can't get a hold of her. No one's answering at the house and her cell just keeps going to voicemail."

"I can give you a ride."

"That's okay I can just take the truck." Happy raised his left brow. Nicole knew that there was going to be no arguing here.

Grabbing the mug of coffee she had just poured him she went over to the table and placed the mug in front of him, another smile creeping on to her face.

"Okay."

"Good." Happy took a sip of the coffee that was made exactly how he liked it.

"I've got a shirt you can borrow."

Happy looked confused so she pointed to the black smoke marks on his shirt. He pulled at his t-shirt to get a look and she watched him shift a little uneasy in his seat. She wasn't going to push him to tell her and he knew that but it still created an awkward moment that neither wanted.

"I'll go get that shirt."

Happy watched her slip out the kitchen and he was thankful for the breather, even if it was a short one.

When she returned with the white t-shirt that Sons written across it he stood to his feet and without thinking he pulled the dirty shirt he was currently wearing over his head.

Nicole actually sucked in a breath when she was faced with his bare tattooed covered chest, she remembered back to the last time she had been lying in bed beside that beautiful toned body. It was the morning after she had turned up on his doorstep.

After her argument with Jax, Nicole had just needed to feel that safety that only he seemed to give her. And he hadn't failed. Once the tears had stopped he was there and he allowed her to make a move. They had spent most of the following day in bed. He never asked her anything and she never said anything he was just there and that was all she needed and to some degree still needed.

Nicole took a step closer to him, her hand reaching out to touch him. Her eyes were locked with his. If she saw any sign that he wanted her to stop she would, but she didn't see a thing except intrigue so she took another step.

He should stop her, he knew that but he couldn't and fuck...he didn't want to. Her touch felt good and he felt his insides twist when her hand slid across his stomach to rest on his lower back, her tight little body now pressed against his as her head tilted up towards his. Her eyes still unwavering from his. She was going to kiss him and he was going to let her, but before there lips could even touch the chirping of her cell drew them both out of the moment.

Her head was spinning and it took a second to realise just how close she was to him and just how close she was to actually kissing him.

"You gonna get that?"

"What..huh...yeah..." She shook her head as she stepped around him to pick up her phone. The caller ID telling her it was Opie.

Happy watched her as she took the call, moving around the small kitchen back and forth, she was flustered by what just happened and seeing her like that brought him back into the stark reality of it all.

He shouldn't have let her do that, he shouldn't have let things get that far. She wasn't ready for this and judging by how she was acting he was right to think that.

He picked up the clean shirt from the table where she had placed it when she picked up her phone and pulled it over his head.

He listened to the one sided conversation she was having until she said her goodbyes.

"Uh that was Ope, he wants me there a little earlier, help with the kids, so I can just take the truck." Happy nodded clearing his throat.

"Yeah I should head to the clubhouse." This time Nicole nodded her head as she wrapped her arms around herself. Her weight shifting from foot to foot.

He slid his cut on and headed for the back door, clearly willing to leave without making a comment about what had just happened or rather what could of happened.

"Hap..." He paused his hand resting on the door handle. She waited for him to say something and he did it just what she wanted to hear.

"Gotta go i'll see you later." And with that he was gone.

Nicole resided herself to the fact that this day was just going to be crap all round.

Nicole stood by Opie's side. Lyla had been with the kids and they had said their goodbyes and now they were just waiting for Samcro to gather so they could pay their respects.

When Opie had called her earlier he had told her about the change in plan. It had seemed that Opie had had a change in heart and decided that he didn't want his kids to be there when Samcro arrived. Nicole couldn't fault that decision.

Opie was a club kid like herself and Jax he knew what the club did to you. And his kids had already suffered enough at the hands of the club. He was just protecting his family.

"Thanks for coming ti be here for the kids. Your good with them."

"No need to thank me Ope, I love those kids and I enjoy spending time with them." He nodded from beside her.

Nicole hearts ached for him. He had been through so much, they all had and Nicole wondered if any of this would get easier, if any of them would actually catch a break in this life.

The sound of bikes drawing closer was heard before both Nicole and Opie saw the bikes pull into the cemetery.

Her heart actually skipped a beat when she watched Jax park and dismount his bike followed quickly by the others.

"He's loves you."

Nicole looked up at the man beside her. He was still watching the scene she had been so she knew what or rather who she was referring to. Jax

She signed to herself. She desperately wanted to believe that and she tried to ignore that big part of her that told her told her that he didn't, that this time she had pushed him to far.

Jax pulled his sunglasses from his face as he stepped onto the grass to make his way towards his best friend and his cousin.

It was the first time he'd seen since he walked away from her that night where he found out all of her dirty little secrets. In some ways, hell in most ways he wished that he had never seen what lay in those pages of that folder. He had known her to do some fucked up shit in her time but what was in that folder took it to another level. And seeing her, being face to face with her made him realise that he could never look at her the same wayagain.

"Ope."

"Jax."

Nicole stood aside watching as the two friends embraced one another in a hug. She felt nervous, like she shouldn't be there that she was invading on a private moment, but at the same time she wanted nothing more than to see her cousin, to actually speak to him. It felt like a life time since they had.

Jax stepped back and even though he tried not to he couldn't stop himself from stealing a glance at her.

"Hi Jay." She spoke when Jax's blue eyes finally rested on her.

"Can we talk?"

Nicole felt like she had just had the wind knocked out of her. Tear pooled in her eyes. He ignored her, it was like she wasn't even there. It killed her, and she had no one to blame but herself.

"I'm just gonna..." She could finish the sentence the lump lodged in her throat wouldn't allow her to. She didn't wait for a response from either man before she started heading across the grass to her truck.

"I'm glad you decided to do this." Jax said to Opie as he pushed down the feeling he knew all to well as guilt. She looked like like he had just slapped her in the face and in some ways he supposed he just had, but he had no chose. This was how it had to be.

"Its not for me I did it for my kids." Jax nodded.

"This is good for everyone Ope, lets us all say goodbye." Jax looked across the cemetery at his brothers who had hung back out of respect.

"And it let's us bury the lie that Piney Winston was taken out by the Mexican Cartel..." The distaste of this whole situation was evident. Jax couldn't blame him.

"The truth will come out man." Jax said hoping to reassure his best friend but the way he let out an exaggerated breath Jax knew that it wasn't working. Right now with all the other shit going on Jax just couldn't do that. "It just can't be now to many people would get hurt."

"We both know it should be Clay lying in that hole." Jax manoeuvred himself so that he came to stand in front of Opie.

"I know the hate your feeling for the man trust me." Although Jax couldn't go into detail he really did understand. Clay killed JT, his father so Jax knew the pain his best friend was feeling. "But your gonna have to trust me on this. Clay will get his. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

"All I know is that the gavel has a way of turning shit around."

"I'm not gonna turn into Clay."

"I'm more afraid that I'm gonna turn into you." Opie could already feel himself pulling away from his family just like Jax was. It was painful to see, he didn't want to be like that.

"You even been to her new place?"

"That's none of your business." Jax said flatly, a hint of anger in his tone. His shit with Nicole was exactly that...his...he didn't need nor what people trying to get involved.

"That shit might fly with everyone else but not me. I know your both going through some shit..."

"She say somethin' to you?" Opie laugh as he shook his head.

"Nah, she just as stubborn as you on that front."

"Then you don't know what you talking abut." Jax snapped his frustration finally getting the better of him.

"It can't be that bad man to kick her out of your life, ignore her like she's not even there." Opie snapped with the same amount of frustration. He just didn't get it.

"We're not having this conversation." Jax spoke sternly, leaving no room for argument as he cocked his head in the direction of the rest of his brothers.

"Nic love." Nicole knew that it would be impossible to get past them all without having to speak but she couldn't help but hope.

"Hey." Nicole forced herself to offer Chibs a smile-she was used to that-and tried to continue her way out of the cemetery but Chibs moved into her path.

"Haven't seen ya in a while. You good?"

"Yeah." She kept the smile in place as her arms wrapped around herself. "Just been busy with the move and my new job."

"Joey's. Aye Jackie-boy mentioned somethin'." Nicole felt her smile wavier. Jax knew?

Chibs followed Nicole's gaze as it fell over to where her cousin stood with Opie. Jax had not shed any light as to what was going on between him and Nicole and under any other circumstances he wouldn't be bothered, it was Jax's personal business. But it was changing Jax whether the new President wanted to believe it or not.

"I think your wanted." Nicole spoke barely above a whisper as she turned to look back at Chibs.

"Aye." Chibs hadn't missed the flick of the head from Jax signalling them over. He looked over to his brothers and repeated the signal Jax had given him. All of them nodded and made their way over to Piney's grave side, all except one. Chibs wasn't surprised and placed a kiss on Nicole's cheek as he to made his way over leaving just Happy and Nicole.

Nicole turned to continue her exit only for her eyes to find Happy's/ They were back to just staring at one another, but Nicole couldn't do it not after what she had just experienced. She just couldn't.

She dropped eye contact and Happy watched her as she continued towards her truck. She looked just about ready to break and that worried him. She had come to far from that night she turned up at his place to go back.

But he couldn't do jack shit right now. He was here as a Son, to pay his respects to a founding member. He couldn't go after her. But that didn't mean that he wouldn't later, because after witnessing first hand the cold reception Jax had given her it was clear that besides Opie- who as already twisted up in his own shit- he was all she fucking had at the minute.

Hope you all enjoyed it x