iOne month later/i

The cool air washed over Jax and Jessie as they stepped inside the iron gate of the cemetary, Jessie leading the way to a polished black marble stone. Jax followed close behind her, keeping a gentle grip on her hand. He had sensed a hesitation in her this morning when she'd told him she wanted to take him somewhere, and he had seen her usual upbeat, positive attitude take a beating between Charming and Vegas. She'd been distant, and it hadn't taken him long to realize she was taking him to visit their daughter's grave. The whole ride she'd remained quiet, holding onto his jacket and leaning against him from her position behind him on his motorcycle. This was obviously tough for her, but Jax was working to soothe her. Seeing Jessie upset made him upset himself.

'Marlowe Skye Teller

August 3rd, 2008- October 17th, 2008

An outlaw's daughter,

An outlaw's angel'

"I saw that verse somewhere and thought it fit perfectly. I've always planned to have the same words tattooed on my side." Jessie let her hand touch the back of her neck, where Jax knew 'MST' was inked in curling script on her skin. Jax stood still, reading the tombstone over and over until the heavy impact of the words hit him like a brick. Letting her hand fall back down, Jessie smiled a heartbroken smile. "She was the daughter of an outlaw, Jax, and now she's an outlaw's angel. She's our angel." She knelt down, running her fingers over the hollowed-out letters, smiling at an invisible being.

"I finally brought Daddy to visit you, sweetheart. I always promised I'd bring him here, and I finally did." Tears began to build in her blue eyes, her fingers never leaving the smooth surface of the stone. The effects of losing her child had obviously never stopped for Jessie, and Jax realized that she was a changed woman. Stepping closer to her, he knelt down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him, her tears silently dripping down her face as she continued speaking to their daughter's headstone. "You have two half-brothers, Thomas and Abel, and Daddy and I are gonna have twins soon, baby girl. So you might have two more brothers, or two sisters, or a brother and a sister. But don't worry, baby, Mommy and Daddy will always remember who our firstborn baby is."

Suddenly she lost her composure, sobs beginning to wrack her body. "I don't understand it, Jax. Why did it have to happen to us, why to our baby?" Jax couldn't answer Jessie's fervent questions, only able to hold her closer to him and kiss her hair. He'd never dealt with this much raw female emotion at one time, and wasn't really sure what to say to his girlfriend. So he just held her and shushed her, rocking her gently on the cold ground.

"Just calm down, baby, you don't need to get too upset. We don't want anything happening to the twins." She nodded silently at his words, finally calming. They sat for a minute more, Jax finally getting her back to her feet. They stood looking at their daughter's headstone before Jessie turned, wiping her eyes with one hand as she started towards the gate. Jax followed, giving her the time she needed to collect herself.

"It always happens, every time I come here. I break down. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself." She stopped when she reached the gate, leaning her elbows on the top of it. Jax leaned up beside her, the two of them staring out at the landscape beyond the gate.

"You do it because you have to stay close to her, Jess. If you didn't come here, you wouldn't sleep. You have to stay in touch with our baby," he paused a moment, looking over at her and taking her hand. "Thank you for bringing me here, Jessie. It means a lot."

"She was your daughter too, Jax. You deserve to know where she's buried." Jessie's blue eyes were sad, hollow, as she looked at Jax, her hand clutching his. She pulled his hand down to touch her belly, pressing it against her. "We have another chance at this, Jax, another chance to be parents. This time, I promise I'll give you that chance. I won't take the babies away."

Jax pulled her to him, hugging her close. "I know, baby. This time we'll do this right. But Jess, there's something you have to know."

Jessie stepped back, her eyes questioning. "What?"

"Tara's out, Jessie. She was released yesterday."

Jessie immediately paled. "What? She's out?"

Reluctantly, Jax nodded. "She's a free woman again, made a deal with Patterson. Tara's going to try and take my boys, Jessie. She's going to try and get into Witness Protection, I know. There's nothing she won't do to get my boys away from me and the club."

A change came over Jessie, her face hardening like a stone. Looking like a warrior ready for battle, she squared her shoulders as her eyes pierced into Jax's. "That won't happen, Jax. I swear to God it won't. I've already lost one baby, I won't lose any more. She can try and take the boys, and I'll make sure she lives to regret it." She looked over her shoulder one last time at her daughter's headstone, then pulled the gate open.

"Let's go, Jax. We have to get back to our boys."

Tara knocked cautiously on the door of Gemma's house, knowing this would not be a happy reunion. When the door opened, Tara's eyes filled with tears at the sight of Jax. He stood there, tall and intimidating, looking at her like trash. Thomas was cradled in one arm, Abel hiding behind Jax's legs. There were no words Tara could think to say, instead staring dumbly at her husband - make that ex-husband now - and their children.

"Can I help you?" His tone was icy and rough, his blue eyes like diamonds as they flashed with anger.

"I thought I'd come by and see the boys, since I haven't seen them in-" She put a foot out to step inside, but Jax suddenly blocked the doorway.

"You're not welcome in this house, Tara. You're not welcome here, at the garage, or around my sons. We're over and done."

"What? Jax, what is wrong with y-" Tara was again interrupted as Jessie stepped from inside the kitchen, walking up behind Jax in the foyer.

"I see our lovely Dr. Knowles is out of prison. Guess you won't be operating on any babies any time soon, huh?"

If Tara had reacted to the rage building in her, she wouldn't have seen Jessie's slightly swollen stomach. A sarcastic smirk crossed the doctor's face as she turned back to Jax.

"So you've got another whore pregnant? Is that your favorite pastime besides killing innocent people?!" Tara finally snapped, lunging towards Jax, not even thinking of him holding the boys.

She never made it to him. Jessie came from behind him in a flash, planting her fist into Tara's jaw. The doctor sprawled on her back on the porch, her lip split. Jessie turned to Jax, smirking.

"Take the boys inside, Jax. I'll show Dr Knowles out."

Jax followed her instruction, taking Thomas and Abel into the kitchen and shutting the door. Jessie reached down and grabbed the collar of Tara's shirt, jerking the shorter woman to her feet. "Now let's get one thing straight, bitch. If you ever come around my boys, my man, or my house again, I'll hunt you down and I'll make you wish you had never heard of Jessie James. So I suggest you take your sorry ass back wherever you came from and get lost. It's in your best interests that you do."

The blonde shoved Tara down the porch steps onto the walk, tossing her purse at her harshly.

"Goodbye Tara. And good riddance."