For those who asked if this is a ten year gap I assure you it is not. I will not have Tara leave at the age of fifteen. Everyone who reviewed, I sincerely appreciate your words and thoughts. All of you are amazing(:

As always, happy reading and review!

Cockatoo

It has been five days since she left. Five days. And in those five days Gemma has never seen her son Jax more unraveled. The only place Jax could keep focus was work. He'd even skip school days and go to work all day. With Opie by Jax's side it gave Gemma half a sense not to get riled up about her son's change in behavior. Along with going to work, Jax would have an occasional blow job from a croweater. Gemma said nothing to stop it since she thought this is what he needed. Only Gemma was wrong. Even after getting one of the best blow jobs of his life from a croweater he'd still go back to the garage after hours and work.

It was Friday morning and Gemma was sure to get Jax's ass back in school. He only went once this week. She tried not to be so far up his ass considering not only did he lose a father almost a week ago but he lost a best friend all in one day. But today was a new day and Gemma wasn't going to keep having Jax sit around in the garage and mope all day. His father wouldn't want it. He would want Jax to stay in school and that was something else Gemma had that put a weight on her shoulders.

Gemma walked into Jax's room and opened the curtains and blinds.

"Get up. You're going to school today." Gemma said pulling Jax's blanket off.

"Jesus Christ ma!" Jax said angrily as he pulled his blanket off from the floor.

"You can 'Jesus Christ ma' me all you want but you're getting your ass back to school." Gemma was making her way out.

"Come on, I wanted to work in the garage today."

"You've been working at the garage all week since Tuesday. And the guys appreciate the help but they do appreciate a good education. Now get your ass up!"

"The guys don't give a shit about me goin to school. Don't pull that line with me."

"Okay then. They might not give a shit about you in school but your father did. And he wanted to see you finish. So you will go to school today. I already called Opie and he is on his way." Gemma saw the change of look in her sons lost eyes as she mentioned his father. "Plus, I have a surprise for you after school. Come straight to TM."

Without any more words Gemma walked out of Jax's room and continued to make breakfast.

Gemma kissed the boys goodbye and watched them get into Opie's truck and drive away. A minute did not even pass when she heard a knock on the door.

"Seriously Jackson, get your ass to class!" Gemma swung the door open in surprise to see a man standing with a package.

"Oh sorry. Thought you were my pain in the ass son." Gemma took a harder look at the package. It was a cardboard box. "What is it?"

"I was told to let you open it to keep the surprise."

Gemma eyed the package carefully in dismay then she signed the form and saw it came from San Diego. "Thanks" Gemma took the package inside.

Before she could open the box her house phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Gemma! It's Tara. Did you get the package I sent you?"

"I just signed for it. I haven't opened it yet."

"Open it! The poor thing must be suffocating"

"Poor thing?" Gemma started to unravel her package. "What the hell did you sen-" Gemma opened her package to see a beautiful white coat and yellow Mohawk Cockatoo. "Oh my god. Tara.."

"Isn't he gorgeous? I saw him at the pet store with my aunt and as soon as I saw him I knew I had to get him for you"

"Sweetheart he's beautiful. H-how did you pay for this?"

"I have some money saved up"

"Oh sweetheart I can't accept this."

"Yes you can Gemma. And you will. You still have that big cage. I know how sad you were when your love birds died. I wanted to do this for you."

Gemma was amazed with her new member. He was absolutely beautiful. He was small.

"How old is he?"

"He's eight weeks old. Perfect age for him to be around you. You'll spoil him just as you always do."

"Tara, thank you so much. This is perfect."

Gemma was petting the top of the cockatoo's head when a thought appeared to her.

"When you comin back here sweetheart?"

"Oh I don't know. I'm having such a great time with Sophie and Karen."

"What about school?' Gemma peeled herself away from the bird now more intrigued with how this conversation will go.

"I brought all my books with me when I left. I called the school and told them about Sophie and spoke with all my teachers. They sent me a syllabus of what is going on in class through Karen's fax machine. So I'm keeping up to date with my school work."

"How long is this going to last Tara? He needs you, ya know."

"I know." Tara's voice dropped at the thought of Jax. "How is he?"

"How did you think? Have you even called him?"

"No not yet."

"Well what's the hold up? You left him a letter while you said your goodbye's to everyone but him. He needs to at least hear your voice." Gemma was being pushy and she did not give one rat's ass about it.

"I know Gem! I will speak to him. I'll call back later on tonight. I gotta go. Sophie's got another doctor's appointment." Tara was angry. She thought Gemma out of all people would understand the wait she was putting before she spoke to Jax.

"Okay baby. Thank you for the bird." Gemma's voice was more gentle this time.

"No problem. I'll call you later."

"Love you baby"

"Love you too Gem."

"Still haven't spoken to her?" Opie asked Jax as he made the turn into the school parking lot.

"Na"

"She's probably just busy with her grandmother" Opie was trying to help his friend but was running out of ideas.

Jax just shrugged his shoulders.

Opie parked the car. "She's gonna come back ya know. This is her home"

Jax didn't have a response. He just hopped out of the truck and walked toward the school's entrance. He walked right past Donna and Wendy so much without a word to either one of them. He just gave them a head nod and continue to walk.

"He still not doin okay huh?" Donna said to Opie as she gave him a kiss.

"Nope" Opie dragged out the 'p' "I'm runnin outta ideas. Have you spoken to her?"

"Yeah. Wendy and I talk to Tara practically every day. She hasn't called you?"

"Na. Probably afraid if she does call that Jax will be around and will have to talk to him." Opie wrapped his arm over Donna's shoulder as they followed behind Jax to the school's entrance.

He didn't understand how he made it passed four periods. No idea at all. He was like a zombie in class. Plenty of girls came up to him to express their condolences on JT's death to Jax. And some girls really wanted to take Jax's mind off of it. Instead Jax just smiled and said "no thanks" or "I'm good but I'll keep that offer in mind."

Now it was time for lunch. Jax went out to the bleachers. He sat under them to light up a joint. Jax figured four classes was enough for today. He was enjoying his solitude until he heard footsteps move across the grass.

"Hey"

Jax looked up to see Wendy. "Hey"

"Mind if I sit down?"

"I think there's enough room" Jax inhaled the sweet taste of marijuana.

Wendy gave a light laugh. "Yeah there is"

Jax held out the joint to Wendy. Wendy was more than glad to take a puff.

"Thanks" Wendy said as she exhaled.

"How come you're not with Ope and Donna?"

"You mean Barbie and Ken?" Wendy passed the joint back to him.

Jax laughed. Probably when of the first laugh he had since his father died and Tara left. "Yeah"

"Well, you kinda get tired of seein those two suck each other's face until it almost comes off. At least when Tara was here she was my shield." Wendy stopped her sentence right there as soon as she mentioned her. She saw the way Jax's eyes shot up to hers and how the sadness coated out the life in them. "Sorry, I didn't mean t-"

"It's cool"

"She's gonna come back Jax."

"How do you know that?"

"I talk to her on the phone. Me and Donna."

Jax nodded his head.

"You know when I first moved here, I didn't like her. She just seemed too nice. And then I saw you making out with that Emily chick. And then the way you were around Tara when you dismissed Emily. I thought you two had an open relationship. I hated Tara a bit more because I was gonna try to tag you as my new meat and saw she had you." Wendy stopped to see Jax's face. He seemed intrigued but looked like he was in pain. "Later that day Tara was on her way home and she saw me standing outside my house. She knew something was wrong and she tried to talk to me. I was such a bitch to her and dismissed her. But she grabbed me by my arm and made me take a walk with her."

"Where'd you go?"

"She took me to see her mom. Told me I wasn't the only one with family issues." Wendy took a deep breath in. "My mom is a junkie. Can't seem to put that needle down. Not even for me. We move around from city to city because her debt gets too high. But without a doubt my mother finds a way to settle her debt. I wasn't nice to Tara. Not an inch of kindness was spread from me to her. But her kindness..her kindness was always reached out. She offered me a place to escape. Told me about her staying at Opie's and that I was more than welcomed to join. She..Tara gave me what I needed. Friends. Family I could create with you guys." Wendy stopped talking to look at Jax. He seemed so lost. So unreachable. "I know you and I don't talk often but if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. And what I'm trying to say about Tara is that she's too kind for her own good. She will come back. Not for her dad, Donna, Opie, Gemma or the club. She'll come back for one reason only. You." Without anything else Wendy got up from her spot on the green grass under the bleachers and walked away.

"You wanted to mark me as your new meat huh?' Jax smirked up at her.

Wendy laughed. "If that's all you got from my little speech then maybe Tara really is too good for you."

"She is." Jax smiled. "Sorry to hear about your mom. And same goes to you if you need someone to talk to. You're part of our group. We protect each other."

Wendy gave him a smile and a nod and walked away.

Jax stood under the bleachers for two more periods. It was going to be eighth period now when he decided to get up. He walked to Opie's truck. Jax saw Opie sitting inside smoking a cigarette.

"About time man. Where the hell you been?" Opie asked Jax as he got out of the truck.

"Just went to clear my head" Jax and Opie were leaning against the front of the truck.

"Been doin a lot of that lately."

Jax nodded. "I really fucked up man."

"Yup. You did." Opie said starring at the track field. Then he turned his gaze to Jax. "But you'll fix it"

"Come on, let's get the hell outta here" Jax walked around the front of the truck and jumped into the truck

"TM?"

"Yeah."

Gemma was filing some paper work when she heard the familiar sound of a truck park in. Gemma got out of her seat and shook her head in dismay. She saw both of her boys put on their TM uniform over their shirts. She watched as they began to walk to the garage. She went to stop them since Jax's surprise was waiting for him inside.

"You couldn't handle a full day at school?"

Both boys stopped in front of Gemma knowing they would get an earful.

"School's almost over anyways." Jax shrugged his shoulders.

"And how many classes did you bother to show your faces in?"

"Enough."

Gemma nodded her head. "Alright. Well I got something for you." Gemma walked into the garage. Both boys followed her.

Jax stopped in his tracks at what his eyes were laying on. His dad's dismantled Panhead. His eyes began to get watery.

Gemma took a look at her son wondering if this was a good idea. She didn't want him to see it this way but figured if him and Opie were going to spend endless hours in the garage they minus well be in there for something meaningful.

"I thought you'd like to rebuild it. In your father's honor."

All three of them did not notice the garage filled with the workers of TM and members of the clubhouse watching them.

Jax took a step forward to his father's bike. It looked terrible. Pieces were missing. Parts were scratched up. Some parts didn't even have paint on them anymore.

"What do ya say brotha?" Opie nodded his head to Jax.

Jax looked up at Opie and took in the sight of all the members that loved JT. He knew he had to do this. Not for him. Not for his mother. Not for the club. But for his father. In honor of him.

Jax nodded his head. "Yeah."

Gemma wrapped her arms around her son and held him tight. She gave him endless kisses. Opie embraced Jax into a hug. After, all the men of mayhem hugged Jax.

Clay held Jax. "You're doin the right thing here son." Clay brought his hands to Jax's jawline and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Jax still couldn't understand why Piney didn't take the President's patch. After all Clay was the last nine to join the club. Piney was there from the start. Jax had nothing against Clay but it didn't feel right with him taking over his father's club. Plus Clay was always there since his dad's accident and death. He was always around to help Gemma. Made sure she knew she was still family. They grew close over the years and especially more since his father passed.

Jax finally made it home a little passed ten. He took a long hot shower. Tried to wash away the day. He only wanted to keep the moment he agreed to rebuild his father's bike with him. Jax was home alone. There was a party at the club. Nothing too crazy but just a gathering for the members and croweaters of Charming.

As Jax finished getting dressed he heard his house phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Jax?"

Jax's heart dropped. "Tara..?"