Hi everybody! I hope you have all been enjoying your hump day!

I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to read my story and especially those of you who have given such stellar feedback. You rock!

Anyway, enjoy and please let me know how you think it's going…

I've Got Time

Chapter 10

Tara

Tara danced all night. She was having so much fun, even though Jax had disappeared for a good portion of the night. Tara danced with Unsur, Gemma, Lyla and her...coworkers. That was the nice way to describe them.

She danced with Opie, Clay, Bobby, Tig, Kozik. The only person she hadn't danced with was Jax. She didn't blame him though. He had always hated dancing, even though he wasn't a bad dancer.

The night was winding down and party goers who weren't that close to the bride and groom took off, leaving only those closest to them and the club.

Tara took a break from dancing and went to the bar and got a glass of water as she fanned herself off. It had been a good night. Even though she worried about Lyla and Opie succeeding as a couple, it had been a good wedding for them.

"Tara?"

Tara turned to see Kozik behind her with a weary smile on his face and she smiled at him. She had guessed that when Jax, Kozik and the rest of the main crew disappeared they had been up to something. She just didn't want to think about it. Not when she had been having such a good night and Kozik was leaving soon.

"Wanna dance?" he asked as a slow song came over the speakers.

Tara smiled and nodded, setting her glass down. Tonight was the last night Kozik would be in town. He was leaving tomorrow. Maybe tonight.

She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head against his shoulder as he held her close, swaying gently to the music.

"There's so much I want to say to you," he whispered in a low voice in her ear.

She looked up at him and said, "I know."

"I...I just can't," he said, his voice breaking slightly.

Tara felt her eyes tear up and she nodded and squeezed him tighter.

"I know," she said, hoping he understood. Tara knew how he felt. And why he was leaving. And she hated that she couldn't tell him she loved him like that. Not when she loved Jax the way she did. Unconditionally and unequivocally.

He buried his face in her neck and she hugged him to her as they swayed to the music and Tara rubbed his back, hoping she could heal some of the pain she had caused him.

When the song ended, she pulled back and said, "I don't know what I would have done without you this past year," she said truthfully, hoping he could see how deeply her gratitude ran.

He nodded and said, "I will always be there for you."

And Tara knew he meant it.

"Even if it means having to teach me fly fishing?" she asked, cracking a smile.

"In order to fly fish you have to be quiet so you don't scare the fish away and since you can't shut up...," Kozik said, chuckling, causing Tara to smack him and laugh back.

Tara stepped back from him and said, "You are leaving in the morning?"

He nodded and said, "I have to go handle some things that will take me until then, so I better get going."

Tara nodded and said, "Okay."

He reached for her and gave her one more hug and whispered, "Stay safe Tara. And trust your instincts."

She nodded and he was then walking away from her, leaving her at the edge of the dance floor.

Tara stared after him as he faded from the party lights and she couldn't see him anymore.

Tara turned towards the bar again, needing something stronger than water when someone grabbed her hand.

She spun and there was Jax, giving her a curious look and she reached for him, hugging him tightly.

"Hey," he murmured, hugging her back bemused, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, even though she just watched her friend walk away. And she didn't know when or if he would be back.

Jax pulled back and studied her for a few minutes and then said, "Let's dance."

She looked up at him in surprise and said, "Really?"

He nodded and smiled, pulling her towards the dance floor where a few other couples sway to soft music.

Jax hugged her to him tightly and swayed to the music, rubbing her exposed back lightly as they danced. She inhaled the smell of his body wash and delighted in the tingles that ran through her body with each caress of his fingertips.

He softly sang the lyrics to What a Wonderful World in her ear and it felt like everything else fell away. In his arms, Tara knew that this was what she could never have with anyone else. This...magic she felt with Jax when she was with him.

Tara held Jax tightly, the man she had loved since he was a boy. Despite all that had changed in him and in her, she still loved him. That meant something. And she had to believe she was making the right decision.

Jax rested his chin on top of her head, and she nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

"This is nice," she whispered, smiling as she felt him grip her a little tighter.

"Yeah," he whispered, "It's good to be home."

Tara and Jax finished their dance and Tara asked, "Can we go soon?"

Jax looked down at her and sighed in disappointment, "I can't tonight, babe. I got some things to tie up for-"

"The club," she finished knowingly, stepping away from him. She should have known since Kozik told her he would be busy until he left in the morning. Obviously Jax would be helping with the same thing.

Jax leveled her with an apologetic looked and she nodded and said, "I get it. I will go relieve Gemma." Gemma had left the reception early to relieve Elyda for the night.

Jax nodded and pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead, "I love you Tara."

Tara smiled and angled her face to his for a kiss. He smiled at her, amused and kissed her softly, gripping the back of her neck to hold her in place as he explored her mouth with his.

Tara felt the butterflies, smiling into the kiss when Clay appeared beside them and said, "Son, we need to finish it."

Jax nodded and said, "'Kay."

Clay glanced between them and Tara shivered. She hadn't been able to look at Clay the same way since she read the letters. She still was at war with herself about whether or not she was going to tell Jax about them. It would cause him so much pain. And anger.

Jax turned back to Tara as Clay walked off and said, "I will see you at home tonight."

Not my home, she thought mentally, but decided not to say it.

She nodded and he kissed her forehead before walking off.

Tara made her way back to bar, asking for a glass of wine. She gulped it down, ready for tonight to be over. As she set the glass down on the bar, prepared to leave, she heard heavy footsteps behind her.

She turned and spotted a young man with a prospect's cut on.

"Jax asked me to take you home when you are ready," he said.

Tara nodded and said, "That would be now. Let me just go say goodbye to the bride."

As Tara began to walk towards Lyla to say goodbye, she stopped and kicked her shoes off. Her feet were so sore from all the dancing. Tonight, she just wanted to crawl into bed and snuggle with her two boys.

Jax

It was almost five in the morning when he pulled into his driveway. They had reconvened at the clubhouse after a long night of securing the guns and getting the dead Russians in Charming Heights.

He trudged through the front door, exhausted. He just wanted to fall into bed next to Tara.

He stripped as he walked down the hall, leaving his gun and his cut on the floor. As he peeled off his shirts, he went to his room and spotted Tara in the bed, sleeping with two little bundles curled into her side.

Jax smiled, climbing in and falling asleep almost immediately.

He woke to an empty bed, frowning.

He heard faint sounds from the living room or kitchen. He glanced at the clock. It was only a few hours since he had fallen asleep. Tara must be getting ready to go into work.

Even though his muscles protested it, Jax rolled out of bed, still anxious to see Tara and the boys. Part of him still felt like he was in prison. Like he would wake up to Bobby shaking him out of a nightmare.

Jax walked into the kitchen to his family. Abel ate his cheerios out of a bowl and Thomas sucked on a bottle as Tara sat and skimmed the newspaper.

"Morning, baby," he grumbled groggily.

Tara looked up in surprise and said, "Morning. I didn't think you would be up so early. Did we wake you?"

He shook his head and bent over her pecking her lips softly before heading to the fridge and pouring himself some orange juice.

"Gemma should be here soon to watch the boys until Elyda can get here," Tara said, sipping her coffee and closing the newspaper, "She needs to give me a ride to my car first."

"I can do that," Jax said, rubbing his eyes.

"You sure?" she asked, "You aren't going back to bed?"

"No rest for the wicked," he said, smirking as he leaned against the counter.

Tara smiled and something over his shoulder caught her attention.

He followed her gaze to the TV that sat on the counter displaying the morning news.

Four Bodies Discovered in Charming Heights Development ran along the bottom of the screen along with a picture of the scene.

Jax looked back to Tara and she was looking at him with worry and concern.

"Were you involved?" she asked, holding his gaze to see if he lied. He would never lie to her.

"How much do you want to know?" he asked softly, holding her gaze to let her know he wasn't going to hide from her.

She looked down at Abel and then Thomas before she clicked off the TV and said, "All of it."

"It was retaliation for what happened to me in prison," Jax explained, "It was the Russians-"

They were interrupted by the front door opening and Gemma walking in and greeting them.

Gemma grabbed a cup of coffee and settled down at the table and asked, "What time did you get in last night?"

"Early this morning," Jax answered, knowing she was checking to see if the times Clay came in matched with her son's.

"You catching up on sleep?" she asked Jax, motherly concern on her face.

He shook his head and said, "I am going to get ready and run Tara to the clubhouse really quick."

Gemma nodded and said, "Okay. Well I will see you around the garage later."

Jax nodded and stood, heading to get some clothes on to drive Tara. He knew his mom would be more than willing to drive her, but he felt like since he had been home, he hadn't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with his old lady.

Jax was slipping his cut on, followed by his sweatshirt when Tara stopped in and asked, "Is it okay if we swing by my place before the garage. I don't have my ID badge for the hospital."

He nodded and said, "Sure."

Tara nodded and smiled walking out of the bedroom with Jax on her heels.

"Bye babies," Tara called out to the boys.

Abel waved and Thomas just banged his sippy cup against the tray of his high chair.

Jax climbed on his bike, securing his helmet and making sure Tara's was on before pulling out of the drive.

"Ready?" he called out before accelerating.

She squeezed her arms around him to let him know she was and he sped off towards her house. He smiled as he rode, feeling Tara rest her cheek against his back.

He drove the speed limit, wanting to prolong this time with her. He missed her so if all he could have was this between the crazy, hectic moments of their lives, he would prolong it.

Jax pulled onto her street and frowned as he pulled up to her house.

"What's Kozik doing here?" he asked, recognizing his old bike.

Tara looked at the bike in confusion and disbelief. She clearly knew something Jax didn't.

She climbed off the bike and walked towards it, feeling around the bike until she pulled the keys from the rear wheel cover.

"He didn't leave today?" Tara asked in confusion, looking to Jax for an explanation.

Jax shrugged and said, "As far as I know he left."

Tara looked back down at the bike as if it was a puzzle she couldn't figure out when something caught his eye.

"Tara," Jax said, climbing off the bike.

She followed his gaze to the note stuck to her door and she bolted towards it.

Jax looked to her and then back at the bike and asked, "What does it say?"

Tara wiped her eyes as she looked back at the bike in disbelief.

"Tara," Jax said, reaching for the note, but she held it close to her and said, "It's mine. Kozik gave me the bike."

"What?" Jax asked in disbelief. That was a nice, vintage bike. Valuable even. One he knew Kozik had emotional connection to since it originally belonged to Herman Kozik Sr.

Tara walked towards it and lovingly ran her hand along the handlebar.

"What the hell Tara?" Jax asked tensely.

One the seat was a helmet that matched the smoke detailed on the body of the bike. Folded under it was a leather jacket. Tara unfolded the jacket and Jax could see the quality in the factory worn leather.

It was black leather, biker cut leather jacket with beautiful cut-out detailing on the back and the sleeves to let the jacket breath. Tara lovingly stroked the leather and something about the action caused Jax to snap.

He walked forward and snatched the note from her hands, needing to see what motivated a man to give Tara a motorcycle.

For all the words I couldn't say...Be safe and remember, this bike is meant to be ridden. -Koz

Jax reread the two sentences, but focused on the first... "For all the words I couldn't say". What the hell did that mean?

Tara snatched the note back in annoyance and Jax asked, "What does he mean?"

Tara looked back down at the note and in a small, sad voice said, "He is my friend."

"Just a friend?" Jax asked, aware there was an edge to his voice.

Tara looked up at him and said in a weary voice, "Jax…"

"Tell me," Jax spit out angrily.

"Nothing has happened," Tara said, "We are friends."

Jax seethed, his thoughts racing through his sleep deprived brain. He had a headache now.

"You don't even ride," Jax observed, "Why would he give this to you?"

Tara was silent a minute and Jax knew she didn't want to tell him. Finally she said, "He taught me."

"He what?!" Jax asked in disbelief.

"I told him I wanted to learn, but that you never had gotten around to it," Tara said as if it was the most innocent thing in the world.

"So he taught you?" Jax asked angrily.

"Yes," Tara said, now equally angry, "My life went on Jax when I was inside. I couldn't sit around and mope because you were locked up. I was miserable, but Gemma and Kozik...they were really there for me."

Jax was silent as he listened and he wondered what his mother knew about all this.

"I am not having an affair with your mother either, by the way," Tara said, smirking as she tried to lighten the mood.

"Tara, this is serious," Jax said, still feeling rage and insecurity burn through him.

Tara led Jax over to the front step of her house and sat down, pulling him down next to her. He had gotten comfortable with her being back at her old house, but now...now his head was spinning about all of it.

"Okay," Tara said, "Explain it to me."

"This...thing you have with Kozik-"

"Jax, for God's sake, it isn't a thing! We are friends! How many times do I have to say it?" Tara asked, annoyed.

Jax continued as if she hadn't said anything. He needed to get this out or it would eat him up. "I know you didn't sleep with him, but it still feels like he has come between us," Jax said, struggling for the words.

Tara shook her head and said, "It's not Jax. Not if you let it."

Jax studied her face and then Tara said, "Honesty. We promised each other."

Jax sighed and said, "I know this will sound stupid and hypocritical, but it feels like you are having an affair…emotionally. With Kozik."

Tara gaped at him and he said, "I know. But it's how...it's what it seems like to me. There is a distance between us."

"Jax...I...I have to have friends. The majority of people we hang around are men. The women we hang around are all trying to get in your pants, so it's hard for me to befriend them. I am not having an emotional affair on you," Tara said, her voice still shocked at the accusation.

"Yeah, but," Jax said, "You rode on his bike."

Tara rubbed her face in frustration, but Jax knew that Tara knew what that meant.

"I am sorry, okay?" Tara said, "I didn't mean to...disrespect you by doing that. It won't happen again."

Damn right it won't, Jax thought to himself.

Tara and Jax sat in silence for a few minutes and Tara said, "Things are changing Jax. You know they have to."

Jax sighed and nodded.

"It's not a bad thing. I think a lot of it will be for the best," Tara said.

Jax looked at all the changes. Tara moving into her own place. Tara's growing independence. Tara's insistence that they not be so dependent on each other...it didn't feel right. It felt like they were moving apart instead of together.

"I don't want to lose you," he admitted quietly.

"You won't," Tara said, taking his hand and squeezing it in her own.

"It feels like it," Jax murmured, "I can't lose you Tara. I won't have anything else."

Tara pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around him and said, "You will always have me."

Jax sighed in relief, holding her tightly to him until he was ready to let go.

"I should get to work," Tara said. He nodded and she stood, to get her badge and Jax waited on the stoop, looking at the bike.

As he looked at it, somewhere deep inside he knew. Kozik loved his old lady. What else could he have meant? What else could the bike say to Tara? Love. That was all it could mean.

Jax lit a cigarette as he listened to Tara run around the house, getting ready for work.

He knew he couldn't stop Tara from keeping the bike, or even riding it. Jax could only imagine the fight she would put up. But what he could do was ban Kozik from this area. If that fucker came back to Charming and tried shit with Tara, Jax wouldn't be responsible for his actions.

So thoughts? Did Kozik cross a line? Did Tara? Let me know what you all think. And let me know what you all think about updating on different days like I have been. Feedback is much appreciated!

Thanks for reading!