Chapter 7: Round and Round We Go

She isn't surprised when Tara comes back to Charming that Jax would go back to his familiar ways with her. She knows that she's guilty of the same thing when it comes to Jax. Things become familiar and it gets dangerous. Easy to slip back into that old comfort. A part of her thinks Jax doesn't really know what he wants. He just wants someone. He seems like the man that always needs to be with someone.

The only thing that stuns her is the fact that Dr. Knowles has returned to Charming after such a very nasty public exit. She didn't think the death of a relative would be enough to pull her back into the cesspool she believes Charming is.

But she is a doctor – surgeon. Neo-Natal.

Just finished med school and is not working towards her licensure.

And she's back and doesn't seem have any intention of leaving yet.

Aubrey doesn't really find herself much annoyed with Tara's presence or the implication of what Tara's and Jax's relationship will lead too.

Although, she thinks this indifference to Tara is more so that the good doctor doesn't like her much. She doesn't understand why…well a little. She can see it every time she comes around with Ava. Aubrey thinks she and Jax interact platonically. There are never any lingering hugs. There is an occasionally kiss to the cheek, but Aubrey is happy with Kevin. Jax is with Tara.

She doesn't know if Tara feels threaten by her mostly because she doesn't know where it stems from. Sure, she and Jax had Ava, but they aren't together. They are just friends and are co-parenting. If anything, Tara should've known that someone like Jax was bound to move on in some ways.

She thinks Tara can't handle the fact that there is another girl who owns Jax's heart that comes in the form of a sassy three year old.

Aubrey smiles as she watches Ava weave through the crowd on her little legs as Jax chases her.

"You know I would like to have another grandbaby," Gemma says as she comes to stand next to her.

Aubrey snorts and her eyes search out for Tara, who is talking to a heavily pregnant Donna. She knows there is no love lost between Gemma and Tara. In fact, it seems since Tara has rolled back into town, Gemma and Aubrey have gotten closer. It wasn't as if she and Gemma didn't get along. They got along very well in fact. It was something that Jax had commented on multiple times. Yet now she knows Gemma is purposefully advertising their good relationship as a means to piss off Tara.

"Maybe you should talk to your new daughter in law," Aubrey retorts.

She almost laughs at the look of disgust that comes across her face. Even if Tara was the mother of Gemma's grandchild she knows that nothing would stop Gemma from loving that baby.

"Mommy!" Aubrey and Gemma turn their attention to Ava, red from excursion, as she runs into Aubrey's arm. "Mommy! Don't let Daddy get me!"

Aubrey laughs as she holds her daughter tightly, "I won't." She tells her as Jax comes stalking towards them. He throws her a wink before he ends up picking her up with Ava causing giggles to erupt out of all of them.

She doesn't even notice the slight glare Tara throws her way.

…

Later in the evening, Jax is putting Ava to bed. After much pushing from Jax, Aubrey had finally caved a few months ago that their daughter needed to be out of a crib. Aubrey somehow couldn't give up the one thing that still signified her baby was just a baby. But their little girl is growing up far too fast.

She watches as Jax places a kiss on Ava's forehead before he comes up and grabs her hand and leads her out of the room. In the hallway, he gives her a hug.

"You're doing good with her Mama." He tells her.

"I can't take all the credit for that," she mumbles against his chest. She knows it's hazardous for her to simply enjoy this simple comfort of his arms wrapped around her. She shouldn't get stuck in his warmth and how she can hear his heart beating. She has Kevin and he has Tara.

She's the one to pull back and out of his warm embrace and stands against the opposite wall. "Your mom mentioned that she wants more grandchildren."

Jax snorts and she deduces that Gemma hasn't been shy in letting Jax know. "It would be nice for Ava to be a big sister." He says.

Aubrey nods her head. She knows how Jax feels about wanting a bigger family, but Aubrey knows she isn't the one that's going to give him that. "Does Tara want kids?"

Jax takes a deep breath as he raises an eyebrow as he settles against the wall more. "Don't you think it's a little early for us to be having that conversation?"

"I think it's a simple question." Aubrey counters. She thinks it's a simple question that two adults should have since Jax already had Ava. Plus, he and Tara already had history and she imagines not much has changed between them with what they wanted in terms of commitments and family. It wasn't as if talking about kids meant having them at that exact moment. She and Kevin had that conversation and Kevin wanted to wait until he rose up at his job and it didn't require him to travel a lot before having a child of his own.

Jax shakes his head and doesn't seem keen on answering her question.

"It's just me, Jax. You can tell me." She tells him lightly.

Jax throws her a smirk. "You know if you want another kid, I will have no problem in donating."

Aubrey's jaw drops open. "You're unbelievable."

Jax shrugs his shoulders. Before his blue eyes become darker as he gives her a once over. She hates when he does this shit, mostly because she knows if he starts something she might not be able to resist.

"You'll be the only mother of my kids," he tells her seriously. Their eyes lock together. Aubrey finds herself at a loss for words at that. She doesn't even know how to respond to that.

She doesn't stop him when he moves from the wall and he crowds her. His hands go to the side of her head as he stares down at her.

"I love you," he tells her.

"I know." She replies as she looks away from his gaze. She knows this and she hates it.

He drops his hands as he moves back a little, but he still stands in front of her. "When's Kevin coming back?"

"Next week," she tells him.

"Everything good since he moved in?" Jax asks her.

Aubrey nods her head. Things were great between her and Kevin. It was comfortable. "I think he is going to propose."

Jax's face goes blank. "Isn't that good news?"

Aubrey nods her head, but she can't help but feel she wouldn't say yes.

…

She remembers Gemma warning her how the club would have slow –downright boring – time and then there would be bad times. When the hits would keep on coming and you would forget that for a time things were good and happy.

Aubrey assumes that this is the bad times.

The first sign of trouble was an explosion by the streams. A warehouse had blown up. Depending on the gossip it was either: faulty wiring or arson, as the warehouse was a weapons depot. Aubrey wasn't an idiot and knew it was connected to SAMCRO.

After that Jax had become more tense and stressed. He tried his best to hide it from Ava. She also knows that without her as a buffer that when he is alone with Ava it's probably even more apparent. Worse, it meant a lot of late nights and Ava missing out on time with her father.

Sometimes she doesn't think it's always the club that is stressing him out, but she keeps that opinion to herself.

Jax is usually good at compartmentalizing, but she knows it's more than club business that has Jax dropping Ava off back her place early on Sundays, which has him spending the rest of the day at her place.

Yet, after the warehouse, it seemed things were going good until a prison transport was hijacked and it resulted in dead cops.

That resulted in ATF swarming down like vultures.

Things began to unravel.

Kevin had broken up with her as a result of a skinny ATF agent questioning him. Aubrey can say she wasn't that surprised that had spooked him enough to break things off with her. It was just a little disappointing that he broke so quickly. When she told Jax that the skinny bitch apparently scared Kevin into breaking up with her, he had only laughed. She did punch him in the arm for that.

And like Kevin, it seemed Tara couldn't handle the troubled waters the club was in.

Aubrey has never made it a habit to ask about Tara. Jax never seemed keen on sharing details. However, it seems years apart didn't change the explosive destructive nature of the two. Despite Jax growing and maturing, it seemed Tara is able to revert him back to some hot headed teen. It was always obvious when they were fighting as he would camp out at her place and it would be a fun filled daddy and daughter weekend that somehow she got roped into more than she liked.

But soon they are all forced to be under the same roof as there was an assassination attempt against Clay.

With Jax busy with club business, Aubrey is stuck dealing with their cranky daughter. Ava knows something is up. The little girl is even more in a sour mood as despite being at the clubhouse she hasn't seen her Daddy all day. When Ava throws these tantrums, she knows that these came from Jax's genes.

After a lot of fighting, Aubrey manages to get the little girl into Jax's bed and into a nap that is sorely needed. Aubrey needs a break and a drink. When Jax returns, he is dealing with his precious princess.

She grabs the baby monitor and heads into the Main area. Since its only 2 o'clock on the afternoon, the clubhouse is relatively tame. The croweaters have appropriate clothes on and everyone except Piney is drinking beer. Aubrey is about to go over with some of the other old ladies and mingle, but she spots Tara over by herself at the bar sulking. And also looking a little bit lonely. Aubrey decides to extend an olive branch besides the two of them never really talked outside of a quick hi and bye.

Aubrey heads over to the bar where Molly, a croweater, who works with her at the dentist office, with her and Donna, smiles and goes and grabs a mug for her hot tea. Tara looks at her briefly clearly put off that someone is at her beck and call.

"They do that to show respect." Aubrey says speaking up.

Tara rolls her eyes. "Oh, please."

Aubrey's brows furrow. From what she knows Tara was once fully immersed in being an old lady, so she's confused as to why Tara's quick to brush off something she's been through before.

"Don't just toss that off. You've earned that. You're not just some crow eater; you're Jax Teller's old lady. And that means something in this clubhouse and in this town. People need to show you respect. And you don't take shit from anyone." Aubrey says remembering the advice Gemma had given her once before.

"And whose Old Lady's are you?" Tara asks hotly.

Aubrey doesn't bother in answering that question. She honestly doesn't get this woman's need for confrontation all the damn time.

"Look, I know that we'll never be friends," Aubrey says. "But I would at least like to think we can be adults."

"Mmm, I find that funny when it's obvious you still have feelings for Jax." Tara counters.

Aubrey counts to five before replying. "I will always care for Jax as the father of my child. Something that you need to come to terms with."

Tara clenches her jaw. "So what are you saying, Aubrey?"

"I just want you to know how serious you are with Jax." Aubrey says sweetly. "Just because we're not together doesn't mean I don't care about him. As long as you're with Jax, you're in Ava's life and by extension I'm thrown into the mix." Aubrey explains calmly.

"Is that any of your business? After all, I'm his old lady." Tara says before she hops off the bar stool and disappears through the mass of bodies.

So much for playing nice, Aubrey thinks. She sips on her tea as she watches patches and family interact. Everyone is happy despite the situation. Her eyes flicker to the front of the clubhouse as Jax comes through the clubhouse doors. He easily spots her as he throws her a smile. She smiles back just as brightly as he saunters over to her.

She turns in her chair as he presses a kiss to her cheek and she finds herself brought into a hug.

"Hey," he greets into her hair.

Aubrey gives him a little squeeze as she pulls back. Her eyes flicker to his bright blue ones.

"Everything good?" Aubrey asks quietly as she checks him over for injuries.

She doesn't miss how his eyes light up at her appraisal. He nods his head as he steals her mug and takes a sip of her tea. He hums in approval. "Where's Ava?"

"In your dorm sleeping," she informs him smugly. He's going to have fun sharing a bed with Ava and Tara tonight.

Jax raises an eyebrow at that in complete suspicion most likely knowing her thought process. "I'm going to go check on her," Jax tells her as he gives her a knowing smile. She smiles sweetly and he presses a kiss to her forehead.

"I swear to God, Jackson Teller, if you wake her up, I will wear your balls for earrings," Aubrey threatens as he begins walking away.

Jax only shoots her a smile before he makes his way back to his dorm. She watches as Tara instantly begins following him.

…

There is a slight reprieve from the heaviness of the Feds and rival gangs. It's a joyous reprieve that can only come from the birth of a new baby.

Donna gives birth to Harry Piermont Winston Junior or Kenny as they have begun to call him.

Looking at the tiny little baby with wide brown eyes and a mop of brown hair, somehow Aubrey is hit with baby fever.

She thinks it's because Ava is already three and her little baby is just growing up to fast. It amazes Aubrey how fast three years have flown by. She remembers when Ava was a tiny little baby that could fit in her arms. Her blonde mop of hair was only a few wisps. Now her baby girl is a sassy little thing who can run as fast as her mouth can talk.

Aubrey thinks she just misses the ache of a child wanting to be fed. A comfort and satisfaction that only a mother can provide. She misses the bonding moments that is exclusive to her as the child grows in her belly. She misses those quiet moments as her stomach grows and the baby responds to her voice. She thinks she might be the only woman that even misses morning sickness.

Of course, Jax can sense this as he seems to notice everything.

But it could be noticeable as she does hog little Kenny whenever the baby is in her sights. He is just so damn precious with his cooing. His baby smiles and belly laughs. She loves buying him little cute onesies. It's even better that she is one of his preferred people to go to when she's around.

As now they are at the Taste of Charming festival Gemma throws every year. This year they are raising funds for the science department. Donna wanted a break and to actually enjoy some of the festival without a baby on her hip. Aubrey had no problem taking Kenny out of her hands.

She's sitting in the shade as Kenny sits in her lap clapping his hands together as they watch people pass by. It's where Jax finds her as he brings her over a drink and some food. She raises an eyebrow at him as she looks behind him where Tara is watching him like a hawk at the Chili booth as Gemma barks orders.

Jax smiles at his nephew and tickles the boys little belly.

She beams as Kenny goes crazy from that and she remembers how Jax used to do this to Ava all the time. It was one of his favorite things to do.

"You remember when Ava was this small?" She asks him as he takes a seat next to her.

"Yeah," Jax says with a nostalgic smile and his eyes searches out for his little girl who is dragging her grandfather by his fingers to the face painting booth. Aubrey will probably shit herself if Ava manages to convince Clay to his whole face painted.

Aubrey presses a kiss to Kenny's head and inhales the scent of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo.

"You want another one?"

Aubrey brings her head up at Jax's question. His blue eyes are searching her face for something. She knows better than to lie to him. She doesn't think she can even if she tried to.

"Yeah, I do." She answers truthfully.

But the hope for a baby is something she doesn't linger on for too long. She's happy if Ava is her only baby in her life.

…

Aubrey wakes up when she feels a dip in her bed that startles. She instantly goes to turn around to punch, kick, and slap the person, but a familiar scent and warmth settles around her. She sighs in exasperation and debates on how she should handle this either by kicking him out or forcing him to cough up as to why he is warming her bed.

Instead, Jax decides for her as his hold tightens. "Just go back to sleep, Aubrey."

She reluctantly does.

In the morning as she gets ready for work, she scolds herself for allowing Jax in her bed without question. She thinks Jax has it way too easy in his life. She knows that the only reason for him to be seeking out her bed is because he is most likely fighting with Tara.

Instead of starting something before work, she only wakes him up to tell him that she's going to work and to be mindful of Ava. She doesn't know why, but she doesn't pull back when he brings her into a sleepy kiss.

She is surprised when Jax shows up at her job at lunch time with Ava.

She doesn't say anything as he takes her to the Corner Café. She lets him buy her lunch and she engages in small talk. It isn't until he is strapping a sleepy Ava in her car seat that she rounds on him.

"I know that look." He grumbles.

"Don't put me between you and Tara." She tells him seriously. She knows Jax like she has begun to know his mother. She knows that Jax never really goes out of his way to be cruel. In fact, when he has happened to hurt her in the past it wasn't some malice intent behind it. It was accidental and quite frankly it was the way he was raised. However, she knows that the father of her child is capable of being cold and calculated. He knows the weaknesses and strengths of everyone he surrounds himself with. So he knows by him publically being around her and parading the fact she is the mother of his only child it will hurt Tara.

She's not stupid to not know that she is a weak spot for Tara. Even if Tara is with him now, nothing can change the fact that Aubrey is the mother of his first born. Tara can never ignore the fact that Jax had started a family with her. He had created a permanent reminder that he had moved on from her.

Aubrey can admit she doesn't know what that would feel like. She imagines it would probably hurt, but then again Tara left. She left him.

Jax doesn't reply. She really doesn't expect him too. Instead, he places a kiss on her cheek and tells her he will see her when she gets off work.

And he stays at her house every day following that.

It's almost a week later when Jax is giving Ava a bath that a knock comes from the door. When she opens the door, she isn't surprised to see Tara standing outside the door fuming.

"Is Jax here?" Tara demands.

Aubrey folds her arms across her chest and she knows Tara has her answer as Jax's bike is barely a few feet away from them.

"One minute," Aubrey tells her sweetly as she closes the door partially.

She is about to head down the hall, but stops as Jax is already approaching with a sopping wet Ava, who is bundled in a towel.

"Who is it?" He asks her as he passes over Ava.

"Who do you think?"

Aubrey heads into Ava's room and lets the little girl pick out her own pajamas as she really tries not to eavesdrop. She can slightly hear the conversation and is pretty sure Tara refers to her as a whore multiple times. Not surprising. Jax's voice rises slightly when he keeps telling her to leave her out of it. But soon Ava demands her attention and Aubrey knows she is going to know the outcome of this argument in a few minutes anyways.

With Ava demanding that she wants to watch a movie, the two go into the living room and Ava is bundled up in her blanket as Aubrey slides in the DVD.

Jax walks through the door as she hits play on the movie. He heads into the living room and sits on the other side of Ava. He's quiet and she can tell by his shoulders he is pissed. But Ava hops into his lap and makes herself at home.

"Daddy, why is your face red?" Ava asks.

Aubrey whips her head over and she can see his right cheek is red with a distinctive handprint.

"I hit my face." He tells his daughter.

Ava stands on her knees and takes her father's face between her small hands and presses a kiss to it. "Daddy all better now."

"Yeah, Daddy is all better."

…

Aubrey is fresh out the shower and somehow has wounded up in one of Jax's oversized t-shirts when she slides into bed.

Jax is already in his space lounging back watching her every move.

They fall into their familiar routine as he turns off the lights. She scoots over him and rests her head on his chest. Usually, he would begin to tell her about his day and such that Ava couldn't be privy to hear. This time she is taken back when he pulls her on top of him and she is straddling his hips.

"What are you doing?" She asks when a raised eyebrow.

"Tara and I broke up." He informs her.

"I gathered as much," she replies as she traces his cheek. "Can I ask why?"

His hands go to her hips before they trail over to her empty womb. "She wanted babies and marriage. She was jealous of you."

Aubrey bites her lip. She wants to tell him that is the most natural progression of relationships. "What do you want?" She asks instead. Besides, Tara's feelings, needs, and wants weren't her concern.

"I want you."

She's not surprised by his words.

In fact, at his admission, she can only stare at him with a pensive face. She hates when he does this. He knows how too exactly to work her. To pull her in and back into his arms and lap. She thinks she might hate him a little for that.

Especially as his hands go to her thighs and he begins to trace a maddening pattern. She can throttle this man.

He sits up and he presses a kiss on her cheek, the edge of her jaw, before he places a soft, gentle, one to her lips.

She thinks she really does hate him.

His hands weave into her now blonde hair as he practically swallows her tongue as he brings her into a wet kiss.

She hates him even more that he gets her to respond to the kiss.

"Jax –" she tries to scold, but comes out as a moan as she pulls away from him.

He doesn't seem keen on stopping as his lips move down to her neck and his hands dip under the oversized shirt. His fingers skim over the edge of her panties.

She goes to say his name again, but he captures her in another kiss. He's quickly breaking down her defenses. She thinks it's only because it's been an awhile since she has had sex and it's been even longer since they have slept together. She isn't ashamed to admit that Jax has given her some of the best sex of her life.

But outside of the mind blowing sex, she has missed Jax.

She misses the intimacy he provides.

Despite not being together, he has always provided her with a sense of security and comfort.

She just missed the intimacy the most. She missed the way he would hold her during and after sex. How he would always trail her back with his fingertips when she was on top before he would bury his hands in her hair.

She misses knowing how Jax is ticklish behind his knees or the fact that his neck is his most sensitive spot. All she has to do is lightly blow on his skin for his pupils to dilate.

But she misses him and she hates to admit that to herself.

She pushes him back down onto the mattress firmly and narrows her eyes at him. "This is it, Jax. I mean it. Cheating is a deal breaker. I'm not going to be sharing you with other women at all. I need full disclosure too. I don't want to be in the dark."

"Are we going to seal this with a kiss?" Jax asks cheekily.

She scowls, but she finds her shirt ripped off her body.