Hi Everyone! I wasn't planning on updating again so soon, but the response to the first chapter was so awesome, I just couldn't help myself :) I almost never post this quickly, but I already had the first few chapters written, so here you go.

Thank you so much for following, favoriting, and for all the reviews! I'm so happy that, so far, you're all liking Jax and Missy's story. So with that being said, I hope you enjoy this one, and please review…

Chapter 2

Jax was surprised when, only one week after her last call, he looked down at his phone and saw Missy's number flash across the screen. This time he was sleeping alone, so he just sat up in bed and flipped open his cell. "Miss?"

He heard club music in the background and what sounded like a door opening before the noise faded away and she spoke. "Gemma came to see me today."

Jax leaned up against the headboard and sighed when he noted the slight slur in her voice. "Yeah?"

"Yep."

He waited for a few seconds, but the only thing he heard was silence. "And?"

"She said Abel's getting stronger."

Jax smiled to himself in the darkness of his bedroom. "He is. Little man's getting bigger every day. He's so fucking beautiful, Miss."

"I know he is. Gemma showed me some pictures. He already looks like you."

Jax grinned. "Yeah, he does. I swear he's perfect, even after all he's been through." He suddenly felt the urge to open up; he always did whenever he talked to Missy. "I know it's my fault, everything he's had to go through; being born addicted with half a stomach, the surgeries, the tubes, all that shit. It's all on me."

"How can you say that?"

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "When Wendy told me she was pregnant, I completely shut her out, pretended her and the kid didn't exist. I mean, what kind of asshole does that make me? I just, I couldn't handle the thought of her carrying my son. It wasn't supposed to be her. I was supposed to be…" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, biting back the words he wanted to say and swallowing them down like he always did. "And now that he's here, I love him so god damn much, but all I think about when I see him are all the ways I've failed him already, all the ways I'm going to fail him…"

"Jax, stop it. The past is the past, and you can't keep blaming yourself for everything. You're going to be a great father. Gem said Abel is getting better every day, that he's going to be just fine in a few more weeks. So once he's home, you'll have the rest of your life to show him how much you love him and what a good dad you can be."

Jax blinked away the tears from his eyes, letting her words sink in and wondering how the hell she always knew exactly the right thing to say. "Miss, I think about you all the time. You know I still…"

But Missy cut him off. "Gemma also said you're back with Tara."

Logically, he knew that he had nothing to feel guilty about, but that didn't stop the sick feeling from rising up in his chest as he sat up in bed and suddenly felt the need to explain himself. "I don't…it's not…she's helping Abel and…"

"It's ok, Jax. We've been apart a long time, and you two were good together."

He closed his eyes when he heard the sadness in her voice. "Fuck, Missy. I…"

"And she'll be a good mom to Abel."

He heard the crack in her voice and knew she was somewhere alone in Stockton crying, and it fucking wrecked him. "Miss, stop it…"

"You always used to say you two were soul mates."

"Baby, don't…"

"Bye, Jax."

"Missy? Fuck! Miss?" Jax stared blankly at the phone when he realized she'd hung up on him and then threw it across the room as hard as he could, watching it break into pieces against his bedroom wall.

Then he just sat alone in the darkness for the rest of the night, replaying the sound of her voice over and over again, and wondering, just like he'd done so many times over the past seven years, if there would ever be a time when his love for Missy Adams wouldn't completely tear him apart.

Part II- The Tara Years…

The Clubhouse, 1995

Missy wanted to hate Tara for so many reasons. She wanted to hate her for having pretty brown eyes and thick, beautiful hair, when she had plain hazel eyes and boring light brown tangles. She wanted to hate Tara because she was five inches taller and 2 cup sizes bigger. She wanted to hate Tara because she got straight A's without even trying, while she had to work like a dog just for B's. But mostly, Missy wanted to hate Tara because Jax loved her so much.

But the sad part was, Missy didn't hate Tara. Not even a little. If anything, she admired her. Just like Missy, Tara didn't have an easy childhood. Her dad was a drunk and her mom had died when she was nine in a car wreck. But somehow Tara had managed to rise above all the bullshit in her life, whereas Missy always felt like she was drowning in it.

Yes, Tara was smart and beautiful, but she was also friendly, and funny, and really nice. And most importantly, she made Jax happy, which was all Missy ever really cared about anyway. So yeah, she wanted to hate the girl that had everything she ever wanted, but she just couldn't.

So when Missy saw Jax pull into the lot with Tara riding on the back of his bike, she just forced a smile and waved. Because the two of them were in love, and hating Tara wouldn't change that. Besides, even if Tara wasn't around, Jax will never see me as anything more than a friend.

Senior Year, 1996

Missy walked outside of the school and breathed a sigh of relief as soon as the warm, California sun hit her face. She hated school, not because she didn't like learning, but because every day was a struggle. Her classes had never come easy to her, and neither had making friends with the other kids. At least when Jax and Ope were there, she had someone to talk to; two built in best friends that made every day a little better. But since they'd decided over the summer to drop out and get their GEDs, she'd been forced to go through each day of high school alone.

"Hey, Missy!"

Missy looked over her shoulder to see Donna and Tara coming up behind her and waved. "Hey."

Missy really liked Donna, Opie's girlfriend for the past two years, and as much as she hated to admit it, Tara had become something close to a friend.

Donna smiled. "So are you guys going to the party tonight?"

Missy nodded. "Yeah, at least for a little while. Gemma usually makes me leave before things get too crazy." Then she looked over at Tara. "Are you going?"

Tara shrugged. "I'm not sure. I have, like, five more college essays to write before I can send in my applications."

That was another reason Missy was in awe of Tara. Missy had absolutely no clue what she wanted to do when she graduated from Charming High school, but Tara, who was actually a year younger than the rest of them, had skipped a grade and was already applying to all the best pre-med programs.

Missy nodded. "So what are you guys up to now?"

Just then, the unmistakable sound of Harley engines rumbled through the parking lot. The girls looked over and saw Jax and Ope on their bikes, pulling up to the sidewalk. Donna and Tara each ran up to their boyfriends, Ope giving Donna a sweet peck on the cheek while Jax pulled Tara in for a full on, desperate kiss.

When he pulled away from his girl, Jax looked up at Tara and grinned. "Hi, Babe." Then he looked over to where Missy was standing a few feet away and smiled. "Hey, Miss."

She gave him a half smile and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hey." Then she looked over to Opie and her smile widened. "Hey, Ope."

Opie grinned. "Hey, Shorty."

She just shook her head at the annoying nickname before rocking back on her heels. "So, where are you guys headed?"

The two couples looked at each other and grinned before Jax turned back to Missy. "It's a surprise, but we'll be at the clubhouse tonight for the party. Will we see you there?"

Missy nodded. "Yeah, see you there."

Jax winked at her before revving his engine and taking off out of the lot with Tara's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, Donna and Ope following closely behind them. She watched their bikes disappear down the street and stared in the direction they rode off in until she could no longer hear the sound of their bikes. Then, suddenly feeling more alone than she had in a really long time, she turned to the other side of the street and headed home.

Nearly five hours later, Missy was in the clubhouse playing pool with Bobby, when Jax and Opie came strolling in with Tara and Donna tucked up under their arms. And just like always, her eyes were drawn to Jax; the natural, easy confidence in his posture, the purposeful way he walked, and the way he was constantly brushing his perfect blond hair out of his face with strong, calloused hands.

Just being in his presence made her world a little brighter, so Missy felt herself grin as she watched him wave to his friends, laugh as he ordered some drinks, and smile when he saw Otto and wrapped him up in a hug. But her smile faded when he motioned for Otto to look at Tara's back. Tara just grinned and turned around, lifting up her shirt and revealing a black bird spanning across the width of her lower back.

Missy reached back to the pool table for support and swallowed down the lump in her throat. Oh my god. He gave her his crow. She isn't just his girlfriend anymore. Tara is Jax's old lady. She furiously blinked away the tears that were quickly forming as she looked down at her chest, expecting to see a gaping hole there for how badly her heart suddenly hurt.

She snapped out of her haze when she felt Bobby's hand on her cheek. "Hey? You ok, kid?"

It took a few seconds, but she finally nodded. "Yeah, I um, sorry. I'm not feeling so good. I think I'm going to go home now."

She walked as fast as she could past Bobby, keeping close to the walls on her way to the door so that she could, hopefully, avoid talking to Jax. And she had almost made it outside when a large hand shot out and stopped her.

She turned around and saw Opie's sweet, concerned face staring down at her. "Miss, I'm sorry."

She shook her head and tried to speak, but all that came out were tears. "I…I have to get out of here, Ope."

He tried to think of something else to say, but after a moment, he gave up and reluctantly let go of her arm, watching helplessly as she ran out the door and away from the clubhouse.

Missy walked out of the lot to the sidewalk and headed towards home, but after a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned around. Without really thinking about it, she let her feet carry her down the same long path she used to walk as a little kid, past the nearby neighborhoods, through the center of town, following almost four miles of concrete until she got to the entrance of Sunny View Trailer Park.

She hadn't been back even once in the last five years since she'd gone to live with the Teller's. And as she stared at the now vacant trailer that housed such horrible memories for her, she couldn't deny that there was a tiny, little part of her that longed for those days again. Because even though she'd been poor, even though her parents had been junkies, even though she'd been abused, and neglected, and ignored…she'd always had Jax.

Through all her worst times, since she was five years old, she'd had Jackson Teller by her side; her brother, her best friend, her light at the end of every dark tunnel. And back then, as much as she had needed him, Jax had needed her just as badly. She was his comfort, his constant, the thing that got him through his hardest days.

But now all that's changed. Now he didn't need her at all. Now Jax had Tara.

Tears streaked down her face as she walked into the woods, just like they used to do all those years ago when they would sneak cigarettes from their parents. And when she finally reached their spot, she sat down on the ground and sobbed, thinking the whole time how crazy she was to cry over losing someone who was never really ever hers to lose.

Graduation Day, 1997

Missy breathed a sigh of relief when the last diploma had been handed out and she threw her graduation cap up to the ceiling along with her classmates. She hadn't even planned on attending the ceremony, just getting her diploma in the mail, but she knew that it would mean a lot to Gemma to see her actually graduate, so she'd sucked it up and walked with the rest of her class.

She had to admit, it really hadn't been that bad; just an hour of the typical "you can do anything you put your mind to" speech from the principal and the usual "you can change the world" speech from the valedictorian. Really, the only part of the day that had bothered her at all was when she listened to the other students around her talk about what they were now going to do with their lives. Some were going to college. Some were going into the military. Some were moving, or traveling, or getting new jobs. But what was she going to do with the rest of her life? She had no fucking clue.

If anything, the only things Missy was certain of was what she didn't want to do. She hated school, so she knew she wouldn't be a teacher. She hated hospitals, so anything in healthcare was out. And the thought of sitting in an office building for 40 hours a week made her skin crawl. It seemed like every kid she knew had dreamed about being a doctor, or a lawyer, or a fireman, or an astronaut...something. But whenever adults had asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Missy never had an answer. As ashamed as she was to admit it, the only thing that Missy had ever dreamed about being in her entire life was Jackson Teller's wife and old lady. And obviously, that is never going to happen.

If she was honest with herself, Missy was already happy right where she was; working part time at Teller-Morrow with Gemma and waiting tables on the weekends at the diner. Maybe it was because she'd been alone for so long as a kid, but the thought of leaving the people she thought of as her family wasn't something she was even willing to consider. Sure, she'd probably never be rich or have a bunch of nice things, but none of that mattered to her. She just wanted a simple life close to people who loved her. For Missy, that was enough.

One hour and a hundred pictures later, Missy was riding in the passenger seat of Gemma's Cadillac with her adopted mom behind the wheel, the car following Clay's bike as they made their way back to the clubhouse. Clay had been married to Gemma now for about a year, and even though it had taken some getting used to, she was happy for them. Missy would never love another man the way that she had loved John Teller, but Clay was a decent stepdad and, most importantly, he was head over heels in love with Gem.

Gemma looked over and beamed at the young woman sitting beside her. "I'm proud of you, sweetie. We all are."

Missy looked down to her lap and nodded. "Thanks, and…listen, I know I don't tell you this enough, but I could never have done it without you. Taking me in, raising me…I can't ever repay you for everything you've given me, but…" She bit her bottom lip and tried her best not to cry. "I love you, Gemma."

Gem reached over and took one of Missy's hands in her own, holding it tightly. "I love you too." Then Gemma smirked when she saw the way the girl next to her used her free hand to tug on the hem of her short white minidress. "Jesus, Miss. Stop fidgeting. You look hot."

Missy just rolled her eyes as she smoothed down the silky white material that clung to every inch of her thin frame and barely reached the middle of the thighs. "Yeah, right. I look like a little kid playing dress up."

This time it was Gemma's turn to roll her eyes. "I've told you for the last two years, you have a tight little body that a lot of girls would die for. I swear to god, you eat nothing but junk and you're still a skinny bitch." Gemma saw a faint, tiny smile cross Missy's lips and then she grinned. "And I don't know if you've noticed, but you're finally starting to fill out in all the right places."

Missy shrugged. She had noticed that in the last several months, she somehow developed the slightest of curves on her hips, and her boobs had, thankfully, reached small B-cup status. "I'm still too short."

Gemma just laughed. "Sweetie, that's why God invented stilettos."

Missy couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face when they pulled into the completely full lot and she saw that the entire club, as well as all their friends and families, had turned out for her graduation party. As soon as she got out of the car, Otto and Luann squeezed her tightly and told her how proud they were, then Tig and Bobby each kissed her cheek, and soon everyone else descended; hugging her, kissing her, and offering their congratulations.

A little uncomfortable with all the attention she was suddenly getting, she tried to step away to the clubhouse. But before she could escape, two strong arms turned her around and lifted her a few feet off the ground like she weighed absolutely nothing.

Opie gave her a big bear hug and smiled. "Good job, Shorty. You did it."

Missy wrapped her arms around his neck and relaxed against him, always at home in her best friends arms. "Thanks, Ope."

He gently lowered her back to the ground and as soon as her white heels hit the pavement, she pulled down her dress and grinned. "So, are you going to Donna's party today?"

Ope lit a cigarette and shook his head. "Nah. Her parents still hate me, so I'm not exactly welcome at their house. She'll come over here later."

Then she glanced around the lot for a few seconds before looking back to Opie. "Where's Jax? Is he with Tara?"

Opie just shook his head and looked down at his boots. "No."

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Ope? What's going on? Where is he?"

When he didn't say anything, she took a step closer and shoved her hands against his chest. "Winston, I swear to god! You tell me right now what happened or so help me…"

Ope threw his hands up in the air and sighed. "Alright, alright. Listen, I just…today isn't about him. It's your day, your party, and I didn't want you to worry." Then he ran a large hand through his long brown hair and sighed. "Tara left."

Missy gasped as her hands shot up to cover her mouth. Tara and Jax had been fighting nonstop for the last few months about what would happen after graduation. It started back in February when they all had been arrested for underage drinking and disorderly conduct. Missy, Jax, and Opie had just shrugged it off since they'd all been picked up a few times by the cops before and knew that misdemeanors were really no big deal. Donna had been upset, just because her parents were going to ground her for the rest of her life. But Tara…Tara freaked. She was scared that the arrest would stop her from getting into college and would ruin everything that she'd worked so hard for.

From that point on, Tara had done nothing but talk shit about the club. She hated the power it had over Jax and the potential that it had to hurt their futures. She begged him constantly to go with her to school; away from Charming, away from Samcro, and away from the danger and uncertainty that went along with the outlaw life.

And even though he always denied it, Missy knew that Jax had considered leaving. He was completely in love with Tara and couldn't stand the thought of losing her. But Jax had dreamed about wearing a kutte for as long as he could remember. It was in his blood, his father's legacy, and deep down he knew that it was his destiny. Jax loved Tara, no question about it. But when push came to shove, he loved the club more.

Missy always assumed that Tara would change her mind. That she would learn to accept the club and go to school somewhere close by, because Missy couldn't imagine a scenario where any girl in her right mind would walk away from Jackson Teller. And as she wrapped her head around what Opie had just told her, she expected to feel happy; relieved somehow that Tara was finally out of the picture and away from the boy who Missy had loved for her entire life. But she wasn't happy, not even a little. Because she knew that if Tara was gone, then Jax was somewhere hurting.

Missy looked around at all the people around her and felt a pang of guilt before glancing back up to Opie. "Tell Gemma I'm sorry."

"What? Wait! Missy! This is your fucking party!" But she was already running as fast as she could to Gemma's caddy. Ope just shook his head as he watched her jump in and turn the keys that Gem had left in the ignition, start the car, and gun of the lot, never once looking back.

Missy went to their house, then Tara's, and even tried the woods by her old trailer park, but she couldn't find Jax anywhere. After almost an hour of driving around town, she was about to give up and head back to the clubhouse, when she suddenly remembered one last place she hadn't looked.

A few minutes later, she turned off the car and climbed out, her heart aching as soon as her eyes landed on Jax. He was sitting down in the grass with his back resting against his father's tombstone; smoking a joint with a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels by his side, his face reddened and soaked with tears.

She didn't say anything, just sat down beside him and picked up the bottle, taking a big gulp before placing it back down on the ground.

Then she waited in silence for a couple of minutes before he finally spoke, his voice raw and hoarse from crying. "How could I do it to him, Miss? How could I just walk away from the life he created for me, from everything he ever wanted for me? How could I disrespect his memory like that? Why…" He hung his head down as a fresh wave of sobs racked his body. "Why couldn't she understand? Why did she have to leave me?"

Missy didn't have any answers to give him. Nothing that she could say would help. So she just wrapped an arm around his shoulder and held him as he buried his face in her hair and cried.

She wasn't sure how long they'd been sitting like that, but by the time Jax had smoked the last of his weed and drank all of the whiskey, the afternoon sun had started to set behind the beautiful trees surrounding the cemetery. She crawled up off the ground and then used every muscle she had to pry an almost past out Jax up from the grass and help him stumble to the car.

When she got him to the Cadillac and buckled the seatbelt around him, she walked back to the other side and sat down behind the wheel. Then she glanced over to Jax and was surprised when she saw his bleary eyes looking at her with just a little more clarity than she expected.

He looked down at her now grass-stained white dress and gave her a small, sad smile. "You graduated today."

She started the car and nodded. "Yeah, I did."

Then a look of shame crossed his face as he frowned. "You missed your party."

Missy just shrugged as she reached across the console and held one of his hands. "Some things are more important than parties."

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