AN. So I have come to the conclusion where this is a Jax and Tara story. I had two chapters lined up for ten and eleven on Leah and Happy but that's going of the subject line. If anyone wants to know what happens with Leah from when she left just leave a little review saying so and I'll post the few chapters in between the time where they're not mentioned.

Later Christmas Day.

"Jackson, I just got to the clubhouse five minutes ago and asked Chibs, Tig and Johnny where you were and they're not telling me shit so somebody better start talking" Gemma barked out furious with her son over the phone causing Jax to shoot up from under Tara on their seat in the lounge.

"You're here?" Jax asked catching Tara's attention.

"Yes and your not. Where the hell are you Jax?" He could hear Gemma was fuming which wasn't good.

"Shit ma. I'll be there soon" Jax stated looking apologetically to Tara who sighed. After a few more words on his side he hung up not satisfied with how the ending of the day was coming to.

"Sorry babe" Jax stated as he pulled Tara in for a hug.

"Don't be Jax. She's your mother and it is Christmas after all. You should spend the last of it with her at least." Tara could see reason in it and was willing to let him go.

"Your too good for me babe. I'll be back later. Don't wait up" Jax stated as he cupped her face and pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you Tara."

Tara blushed from the intensity of the kiss and smiled. "I love you too. Go now before she sends a search party out for you." She watched as he kissed their son goodbye and got ready to head out following him outside.

Closing the door behind her as she listened out for his Harley to drown out she sighed deeply. She was at least glad he spent Christmas with her and their son.

-o0o-

"Did he say where he was?" Tig rasped as he offered Gemma a beer after getting off of the phone. She looked at him side ways before rolling her eyes and taking the cool beer in her hands before taking a pull.

"No. But I'm gonna find out. He's on his way" Gemma stated as she played around with the bottle. She hardly drank but when she did it was because she was furious with one of her boys.

Tig looked to Johnny with a knowing grin before shaking his head. "What's with you Gem? You know he's old enough to spend Christmas alone. He doesn't need you. Maybe you just have to accept that" Tig rasped catching Gemma's death glare. He was the only SAMCRO member to speak his mind towards the matriarch even though he was as equally scared as the rest of them.

"Is there something I'm missing Tig?" Gemma rasped out turning in her chair to look at him face to face.

"What? No" he tried playing off. "Come on though, he's how old and your still needing him?"

Gemma rolled her eyes again and took another pull of her beer. "I won't ever stop protecting my son Tig just like he won't stop loving me unconditionally. You'd know that if yours stuck around long enough" Gemma spat out. Gasping at what she just said she spun back to look at him with an apologetic look. "Tig I'm-" she began but Tig raised his hand stopping her. She was never one to apologize and felt like shit in this moment.

"I get it Gem. I do but don't take your shit out on me. I'm just giving it to you straight. Take the fuckin hint" Tig spat back out before stepping away from her. Looking around the clubhouse he stopped at the door glancing towards his Vice President who finally showed up and stalked over to him with determination. "Outside?" He offered. Jax looked over his shoulder to see his mother hadn't seen him yet so he followed Tig out.

"What's up brother?" Jax asked missing the entire scene between him and Gemma.

"She ain't happy right now. Warned her off of you. Just a heads up." Jax sighed pulling his cigarette packet from his kutte.

"Thanks bro. Wish me luck" he joked before igniting his cigarette and heading inside. He spotted Gemma at the bar and took the rest of the place in. He bit the inside of his cheeks as a few of the guys gave him a warning looking as he headed towards her.

"Hey ma" Jax rasped. Placing a hand to her shoulder he kissed her cheek before sitting down in the seat Tig vacated. "What's going on?"

Gemma sighed not looking her son in the eye. "Nothing. I just wanted to spend Christmas with my family is all. I'll be going though" Gemma stated obviously still processing what Tig had said. She reached for her handbag and leapt off her stool but Jax stopped her.

"Come on ma. You came all this way to see me. Stay. Head back in the morning" Jax rasped softly as he took a pull from a beer a sweet but had handed him. Gemma slowly sat back down and sighed. "What's on your mind ma?" Jax asked seeing her deep in thought.

"I feel like your pulling away Jackson. Something I'm not liking at all. Are you happy?" She asked simply. "I haven't seen you act this way in years and even then it wasn't pretty" Jax sighed deeply knowing that Gemma was referring back to when Tara almost had him convinced that leaving Charming was the right decision.

"I'm not pulling away mom. My commitment to my club hasn't changed if that's what your asking and I'm happy with what I'm doing now. If this has anything to do with Christmas, I told you I'm coming back for New Years. Clay needs-"

"You here" she finished, although she wasn't happy with the outcome, she seemed to accept that now. "Yeah I got that the first time but it doesn't stop me from worrying Jackson" Gemma sighed deeply and finally looked her son in the eyes. "Doesn't stop me from thinking any different. Your still on the road risking your life. You're the Vice President of the mother charter which puts you in more danger considering all our enemies."

"I'm not putting myself in any danger mom. I've always got guys with me watching my back" Jax rasped looking behind to a full clubhouse full of families. He smiled at the warm loving site of the club kids playing around the guys.

Silence grew between mother and son before Gemma nodded. "Well. I've got all I wanted from today. I better get going before Clay notices I've disappeared" Gemma declared as she stood forcing Jax up.

"Ma" he began in a 'your kidding me right now' tone. "You just lectured me about being careful. The hell are you driving unprotected" he growled out looking around for any of the SAMCRO guys.

"Relax Jax I was kidding. Got the prospect outside."

"Take Chibs with you too. Don't trust that douche" he smirked. "I'll walk you out."

Seeing as it was going on nine, Jax was trying in a polite way to get Gemma into her car. It took all but ten minutes for her to finish up her goodbyes before she even made it to her cadi. "Call me when you get home" Jax stated before pulling her in for a hug.

"I will."

"Take care of her for me brother" Jax ordered as he and Chibs said their goodbyes.

"I will Jackie boy. See you in a few days." Jax nodded pulling out another cigarette and setting it to light. He watched seeing her leaving willingly.

"Well that went better than I thought" Johnny rasped as he and Jax watched the glimmer of light from Gemma's cadi disappear.

"You were reading my mind. Woman can't stay out of my business."

"You sure it's that and not that you're a mamas boy craving her attention" Johnny joked as he slapped a chuckling Jax on the back. Moving back under the roof of the clubhouse, they took a seat with Tig and Dodge at the picnic table.

"It's the other way around man. I swear she's doing this shit intentionally."

"That's Gemma for you. Maybe it's time you tell her about Tara and the kid" Johnny raised.

"No way man. Tara hasn't even finished her residency and I don't want to move her and my son anywhere any time soon."

"She wouldn't be up your ass if you told her about them though" Dodge exclaimed.

"One thing you need to know about Gemma though is that she's the mother of all mothers. Over bearing and over protective of what's hers and what she thinks is hers. If she finds out Tara and Jax are back together, all kinds of shit will start up and that's not a pretty sight to see. She'd either drag Tara to Charming where she belongs or she'd push her away assuming she could get over the shock of Jax keeping this from her" Tig declared. "She's good with the mouth too so there's no fighting against. It's always better to be on her good side" he snapped at that with a sharp tone. "Tara though has given right back to Gemma, not bowing down to the queen which is why Gemma hates her."

"What's up with you?" Jax asked furrowing his brows. Tig just about summed it all up but Jax knew he and Gemma had a reasonable friendship so he didn't know why Tig was acting all snippy.

"Nothing. Don't mean anything by it man" Tig apologized- noticing the quizzical glances he was receiving from his brothers.

"Gemma's a real piece of fucking work" he spat out as he brought his beer to his mouth. Growling in frustration seeing as it was empty, he sighed.

Jax scoffed. "Yeah tell me something I don't already know."

"You guys want another round?" An eager sweet but asked with little to no clothes on. Tig perked up almost immediately as the three others smirked.

"Just in time. Yeah, thanks doll" Tig informed.

"Well whatever. She's perfectly fine here unless you think otherwise?" Jax asked looking Johnny in the eyes. "No ones threatened her or anything right?"

"No. Nothing like that. She's doing great for herself and the kid" Johnny answered.

"Actually, Tara's received a bunch of flowers lately. Ain't you right?"

Jax's ears were on alert and he stiffened in his seat. "No." Come to think of it, one of the last calls he got from her she sounded a little strange. Like the question about the flowers she received a few times that she thanked him for. "She has thanked me about them but I had no idea what she was talking about." That had all four bikers furrowing their brows.

"You don't think…" Dodge began before shaking his head.

"I don't think what Dodge?" His brother didn't respond him immediately, causing Jax to become frustrated.

"This is my old lady and son we're talking about here man. If you think she's being threatened in any way, speak now" Jax growled out low and deadly

"They're just flowers. Could be from a colleague at work, an admirer or a friend. But then again, you don't get all jumpy throwing a fresh bunch of flowers into the bin if it's either" Jax was out of his seat before anyone could blink, Tig hot on his heels.

"Ride out with them. Check the neighborhood too and see if there's anything out of place" Johnny ordered Dodge. The younger man was already pushing away from the table when Johnny ordered.

Furious was the biggest fucking understatement of the year that would explain Jax's current mood. His veins were burning, his blood boiling in his skin he felt he might just orchestrate in flames at the mere thought of some fucker harassing his old lady.

Dismounting his bike, he pulled his leg over and took off his helmet. The porch and kitchen lights were on but he knew she'd be in bed. He sighed deeply before turning back to Tig and Dodge.

"Jax, it might not even be anything. They were just flowers."

"Not just any flowers brother. Red and pink roses right?" Dodge nodded. "This isn't nothing, Dodge. Those flowers she got were her favorite ones. She thanked me for them when she told me she got them a second time. Only I know her favorite ones and it wasn't me who sent them. When she asked me about it I just knew something was wrong" Jax hissed out clenching his fists.

"Suspicions confirmed. I'm not taking any risks here. I'll be calling Johnny about wanting a patched member here on guard."

Dodge could see the fury and angst in the Vice Presidents eyes and couldn't help but give in.

"Run it by my president. I'll take first watch, check around the house and have Tony look into it" Dodge declared.

Tig and Jax watched as Dodge moved out of the glow of light before Tig spoke. "You think this was the club?" Tig rasped.

"Don't think so, but I also know she would hide this from me for as long as she can. She just hasn't exactly shown any fears of being followed or shit. I'll ask her first thing in the morning though. You staying?"

"You want me too?"

"Yeah. I want you here tomorrow while I'm out dealing with that meet. Keep on guard at all times" Jax exclaimed.

Jax headed inside and listened out for noise. The television wasn't going so he knew she was in bed. Shrugging out of his kutte, he took the stairs two at a time and checked in on their sleeping baby boy. Kissing him softly he rasped. "I love you son" before he crossed the nursery and closed the door before making the short distance to his and Tara's room.

Her side lamp was on but she was tucked safely in their bed. Smiling softly, he couldn't help but just stand in the doorway and watch her sleep. Tara was definitely a sight he would never get sick of seeing.

Hearing the front door open downstairs he pulled out of the room closing their door before he headed back down.

"You find anything?"

"No. I'll call Tony though. He'd have something by the afternoon."

"Nah it's all good. I'll call Johnny and have him relay the message." Dodge nodded and headed into the lounge to get comfy on the recliner he always slept in when he stayed here. Flicking on the tv Tig followed in suit as Jax stepped outside to place his demands.

Morning came too soon as Jax felt the bed where Tara had long vacated. Running a hand over his scruff, he pulled himself out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. The smell of coffee brought his sixth sense out so he swiftly finished up and bounded in to the kitchen and saw his two brothers eating away at their breakfast meals.

"Morning. You hungry?" Tara asked holding up a plate full of bacon, eggs on toast and sausages.

"No I'm fine. Boys when you're done, take Abel into the lounge while I talk with my old lady" Jax ordered seeing as they were almost finished. Tara furrowed her brows curiously but didn't ask what that was about as she pulled a clean cup pouring coffee into it and handed it to him.

She sat down with the guys as she finished her coffee. "Breakfast was great thanks Tara" Dodge stated before cleaning up his dishes. The man had manners that's for sure. With one look from Dodge, Tig had washed his plate up then they took Abel into the lounge leaving the couple alone.

"Want to explain to me why you never told me about the flowers?" Jax brought up catching her off guard.

"What?" She asked in shock. "I-"

"Is someone following you babe?" He asked in a more serious tone. He could see her mood shift. "I can read you like a book Tara. If someone is following you, I need-"

"I don't know okay" she stated cutting him off mid sentence, though he had a feeling it was more than that.

"There was this guy" Tara began. She saw the fury in Jax's eyes as they held contact before she looked away from the intensity. "We weren't together or anything. He wanted to take me out but I had no intentions of saying yes nor did I give him any satisfaction to pursue me. That lasted for a a few months. Everywhere I went, he was there. He pretty much had my schedule memorized."

"Like he was stalking you?" Jax stated with clenched teeth.

"Yeah. I had tried getting stalking orders and shit against him, but, with his occupation, it was hard to. They didn't believe me so I was stuck with him following me around." Tara inhaled deeply before continuing.

"...about two months after the feds denied me any type of restraining order, there was this knock on my door… when I answered it, a whole bunch of red and pink roses were sitting on my doorstep! No note, no nothing, just a creepy ass heart shaped of red roses!"

"I came back inside to shove them in a rubbish bag when this hand roughly jerked me from the side of my house, knocking me out when I attempted to scream and fight him off!"

Jax clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, wanting nothing more than to squash the fuckers face beneath his rage.

Tara shut her eyes, her mouth moving quickly before she changed her mind all together and denied ever being a victim in some fuckers life. "When I woke up, there was this pain between my thighs… the disgusting feel of being violated beyond pain! He had washed away the evidence so I couldn't file anything." Shaking her head from that fearful night she needed to let this out now.

"It wasn't that long before you came back into my life when I found myself again." Tara sobbed out.

"Tara" Jax rasped softly as he held Tara's hands in his. He could tell he wouldn't like the next words that came from her mouth but he needed to know.

"I- I went to an abortion clinic. I wanted it gone. Everything from that night- I just wanted it to disappear!" Tara sobbed out, pulling her hands from his grasp as she pulled her knees up to hold herself. She could feel the depressing state she was falling back into not long after that fateful night but there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Jax sat in pure shock just watching Tara hold herself. He could feel the anger rising to the tip of his head. He breathed in heavily, but seeing her in this moment had him fighting with himself. He wanted to go out and find the man who did this to her but he also wanted to wrap her up in his safe arms, whisper loving words in her ear and never let her out of the house and out of his sight again.

"Babe" he rasped in the end. His love for Tara was winning but the power of her words were still surging through him as she finished off.

"Jazz, my friend, moved in with me. I was so scared to the point where she was holding me while I slept. After I aborted it, a month later I ended up in hospital. I had been beaten and could barely see. It was his message to me that I made a mistake aborting that thing" Tara said with absolutely no love or remorse.

"Jazz had come home just in time to get a good look at him and called the cops. I filed again after that and it pulled through. She tried lifting my spirits after that but all I wanted to do was study. I was perfectly content with studying. Pulling through everything so I could finish my residency."

A smile appeared on her depressed features, one that lit up her entire face and Jax neared her, wrapping his arms around his old lady

"Then we crossed paths and- and it was like I could breathe again. There was no stalker I feared walking through a shopping market. There was no abortion. It was just me and you… as if the whole… ordeal… was just a bad fucking dream I woke up from that night at the club! I no longer felt like the girl who got raped." Tara sobbed out. Holding his strong arms around her as she sobbed, he couldn't help but let the anger go. He wasn't finished with it but he was determined to get this shit off of her mind.

"I want Abel" Tara stuttered out after a moment as she gripped Jax's white SAMCRO shirt. "Where is he?"

"In the lounge, babe. Head back to bed and I'll bring him up for you" Jax whispered. Tara wrapped herself in her robe tightly then slowly wandered up the stairs while Jax watched after her before going in the opposite direction.

"Dodge, have Tony do a background check on Tara when she was living in Chicago- any restraining orders she placed" the confused look Dodge and Tig were giving him had him tensing but he refused to utter a word

"Then get Tony to pull anything from the guy she had a restraining order against. Family, living situation, anything! Tig. You're here until I say otherwise." With a nod from both Tig and Dodge, Jax headed back upstairs to be with his girl.