A/N: Merry Christmas! Time for more of Tara and Jax.

Chapter 4

Tara had had a bad night shift at the hospital, and was taking out her frustration on the overgrown bushes on the side of her father's garage. She was so focused she never heard the roar of the Harley coming down her street.

Jax hadn't checked on Opie in a little over a week. It was Sunday around noon, so he rode over to Opie's with a bucket of chicken and side dishes for the family. As he passed the former home of the only love in his life, he was stunned to see the garage door and the front door wide open. He pulled up at Opie's house and turned to look toward Tara's father's house, only to see Tara swinging at the bushes that had become overgrown at the side of the garage.

Donna saw Jax pull up in front of the house and turn to look toward Tara's. She went out the front door and went up to Jax. She touched his arm.

"Jax."

He turned to look at her. "Donna," he said turning back toward Tara's. "How long has she been here?"

"3 days."

Jax hung his head.

"She didn't know how to approach you, she was nervous," Donna said.

Jax nodded and handed Donna the food then started walking toward Tara.

"Jax," Donna pleaded as Opie came up beside her.

Opie took quick stock of the situation and pulled Donna into a hug. He guided her toward the swing in the yard, knowing he would never coax her back into the house.

Tara swung the hoe at the roots of the bush she had just taken out. She felt someone touch her arm and she screamed and swung around to find the face of the man she had always loved.

"Jax!"

"You are back."

Tara dropped the hoe and looked at him. "Yeah."

"I didn't think you would ever come back."

"Me either."

"Then why are you here?"

Tara sighed and looked at him. "To take care of this," Tara said gesturing to the house.

Jax nodded. "Why have you been hiding out?"

"I haven't been hiding out Jax."

"Then why haven't I seen you around?"

"I've been here for three days and been at work for 32 hours in those three days," Tara said. "And all I could think of in the thirty hours I have had off is 'I need sleep' and 'I need to tell Jax I'm in Charming.'"

"Work?"

"I got a position at St. Thomas," Tara said. "I'm a general surgeon."

"That's amazing Tara," Jax said.

"Thanks," Tara looked down. "I hear your wife is pregnant."

"Yeah," Jax shrugged. "We are separated."

"Have you seen her?" Tara said thinking of the pregnant junkie she saw in the grocery store.

Jax shook his head.

"You should," Tara said.

Jax shrugged again. "So," he said stepping closer. "Where does this put us?"

Jax was right in front of her, his lips inches from hers, the closest he had been in eleven years. Tara looked away. "Friends?"

"Do you think we can be just friends, Tara?"

"No, but I want to try," Tara said stepping back and picking up her hoe. "Charming is small, I live across the street from your best friend, don't you think it would be best for everyone if we start off as friends."

Jax stepped back.

"It might also keep Gemma from killing me."

Jax laughed. "If you need help with this," Jax said gesturing to the bushes, "just let me know. We have a new prospect, he needs stuff to do."

Tara laughed. "I would greatly appreciate it, I've been doing this for two hours."

Jax took stock of the minimal progress that had been made in two hours. "He will be by tomorrow."

"Thanks," Tara said propping the hoe up against the side of the house and removing her work gloves. She glanced toward the Winston's. "Donna and Ope are waiting for you, you should go over there."

"Naw," Jax said. "You go eat, Ma has food at the clubhouse for us single guys."

Tara and Jax walked across the street to the Winston's house. Opie and Donna stood up as Jax got on his bike and Tara approached the couple. They all turned around to watch Jax ride away.

"So?" Donna said.

"So," Tara said looking at Opie. "Jax brought lunch and told me to come over and eat. Do you want me to set the table?"

Donna nodded, put her arm around Tara's shoulder and walked they walked into the house.