A/N ((Rated for mature sexual scenes, the song mentioned is by The Civil Wars, 'I had me a girl'))
Two years later…
Quietly shutting the dresser drawer finishing the last of the folded laundry Lana spared a glance towards the bed, lying on his side Abel had finally fallen asleep. A 'Fast N Loud' marathon playing on the television gently prying the remote from his hand she turned it off. The sudden change in volume rousing the toddler, rubbing a balled up fist against his eye he gave muffled compliant.
"Cars mommy…"
Pulling him in to her arms Lana hushed him, pressing a kiss against his blonde buzz cut hair.
"Shh…You can watch Aaron and Nick tomorrow at Grandma's."
A soft whine was the boy's only answer and it did nothing to deter their journey from the master bedroom and down the hall to Abel's bedroom. The walls painted a pale steel-gray, twin bed and matching nightstand a dark navy blue color. Decorated in vintage motorcycle memorabilia, posters tacked on the walls with yellow pushpins. Hot Wheel cars scattered across the wood floor she narrowly escaped twisting an ankle, prying off his shoes she let them fall where they may. Tucking him under the covers Lana gave him one last kiss goodnight before she crossed the room. Turning on the dimmer light on Abel's prize possession, a ten gallon fish tank grandma Gemma had given him for his birthday. She had claimed it was a pet and nightlight all rolled into one. All Lana knew was it kept Abel in his own bed and out of hers which was all she cared about. Sleep was hard enough to come by without little heels kicking her in the middle of the night.
She was still getting used to the three bedroom two bath ranch style home even after a year and half of living in it. It had been a bank repossession, the previous owners having dumped all their money on the remodeled master bedroom and on suite bath along with an unhealthy addiction to the home shopping network. The rest of the house had only needed a fresh coat of paint and top to bottom cleaning. Their loss had been her gain, between the money she made selling Jax's house and the banks desperate wish to get the house off their hands it hadn't taken much negotiating to drum down the price.
Passing by the closed doorway near the living room she paused briefly, straining to hear even the slightest cry. Even though she heard nothing it didn't stop her from opening the door to creep inside. Resting her palm on the back of the slumbering child she waited to feel the steady rise and fall of their chest. The baby squirmed beneath her light touch but did not wake. Not wanting to risk her luck she crept back out of the room holding her own breath as she went.
Striding into the kitchen Lana started unloading the dishwasher. When every dish had finally been put away, every surface wiped free of smudgy fingerprints and the toys put away did Lana allow herself to be swallowed by the houses deafening silence. Consumed with the daily tasks of everyday life and working part-time Lana rarely gave herself the opportunity to dwell on the fact she was doing all of this on her own. She held no resentment only an ever-growing longing to have the one thing she wanted most. Jackson Teller.
The last two weeks would be the hardest, he'd promised her this. They would drag on, the hours and days stretching painfully tight. Tensions between the Son's and the Aryan brotherhood was reaching its limit, the broken alliances with the Russian's only adding fuel to the fire. Their release date couldn't come soon enough. At his request she'd skipped their last few visits instead opting for a brief ten minute phone call. When Lana had asked him what was going on Jax had only answered her with a tiredness that told her more than he wanted to reveal. It wasn't anything she needed to concern herself with. Nothing he and the others couldn't handle. The Son had eagerly changed the subject, no errand to mundane no chore to boring he wanted to hear about it all. Lana had come to accept that there was nothing she could do to quell the anxiety his answers sometimes brought, this was the hand they'd been dealt, they'd play it as best they could.
Turning off the kitchen lights she padded quietly down the hall and to the master bedroom. Lying back on the white goose down comforter she traced the outline of her tattoo. The crow etched in fine black and gray lines along the inside of her wrist. In its own way the tattoo held more importance than the diamond on her finger, it reminded her that no matter how hard things became she had to remain strong. As difficult as it could be she knew Jax's days were harder he needed to know she could handle things without him, to trust that she was strong enough to endure this life. Watching the ceiling fan spin in a slow circle she closed her eyes willing sleep to come.
Fourteen days to go.
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She wanted to chalk it up to odd luck but as Lana reached the third mile marker on the treadmill she knew better then to assume anything the brown and yellow squad car parked in front of the 24hr Fitness wasn't there by chance. The deputies were the same pair from the grocery store and the day care before that. Hitting the stop button on the machine Lana hopped on the sides waiting for the track to slow and come to a stop. She visited the gym religiously four times a week having shed the baby weight she'd been determined to keep it off. Vanity or not she wanted to look good for her man. Never overly thin she'd built up a healthy endurance and lean tone to her body. Taking a long drink from her water bottle she eyed the police car one more time before shouldering the gold and pink Victoria Secret gym bag.
She took her time throwing the bag in the back seat of the car. Watching as another squad car pulled up along it and this time Lana recognized the officer behind the wheel. It was the sheriff himself. He gave the two deputies a brief nod before the car backed out of its space it must have finally had better things to do. Closing her door with a loud snap she leaned back against it arms crossing over her chest, white heart-shaped sunglasses covering her eyes as the sheriff stood only a few feet away.
He removed his own aviators tucking them into the pocket of his long-sleeved shirt. Smile tight and filled with forced pleasantries.
"Mrs. Teller I presume?" He asked hand outstretched in greeting.
Lana smiled back there was no sense in being rude, not yet anyway. Meeting him the rest of the way she shook his hand surprised by the way he turned her arm over his grip exposing the crow tattoo along the inside of her wrist. Gently prying her hand from his she wiped the inside of her palm against the fabric of her yoga pants making it plain how she felt about his particular brand of greeting.
"I hear your husband's being released in a week or so. Is that right?"
Crossing her arms back over her chest Lana clutched her car keys in one hand and smiled big.
"That's right…You know I'm sure the city has better use of the tax payers dollars than following little ole me. Why don't you cut to the chase?"
Eli's smile faded his tone condescending.
"As new acting sheriff I merely wanted to explain to you and yours that unlike my predecessor I will not look the other way when it involves this town. That includes any and all activity on part of the Son's of Anarchy. Do I make myself clear?"
Lana pressed her lips together in a tight line uncrossing her arms she opened the door of her car speaking as she slid into the seat.
"Crystal clear, you have a nice night sheriff drive safe."
Closing the door she put on her seatbelt, checking her mirrors before backing out of the parking space. Being a smartass to the local law enforcement was one thing, giving him a reason to write her a ticket was another entirely. She wasn't going to give the smug bastard the satisfaction. Driving through town she inwardly groaned, the Club didn't need bullshit from some out-of-town sheriff riding on a moral high horse with something to prove. If Clay thought they could work with Eli as they had with Unser he would be sorely mistaken. The guys weren't even home yet and already Roosevelt was drawing lines in the sand, it seemed the man was hell-bent on fighting them every inch of the way.
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The welcome home party at the Clubhouse was in full swing, women from Lyla's business acting as a full catering service. Everyone was making up for lost time, but Jax had different priorities. He craved something more than the debauchery and booze. Taking the shortest route possible through town he headed home, standing on the porch he paused one hand on the brushed nickle doorknob peering through the frosted glass of the front door window. Flipping over the house key in his palm a few times he felt a strange nervousness clutching inside his chest. In the past twenty-four months he'd wanted nothing more than to be right here and until now it had been nothing more than a fleeting dream. Slipping the key inside the lock Jax was careful not to make noise gently shutting the door behind him as he stepped into the entry way. Eying the living room he could make out most of the furniture from the dim light in the hall it was pretty late and he hadn't expected anyone to still be awake. The sound of singing broke his brief tour of the room turning his attention towards the kitchen, keys clutched in his hand he made his way towards the source Jax knew that beautiful sound anywhere.
"I had me a girl…
Who taught me those things
A young man should know
Down, down on my knees
I'd beg and I'd plead
To learn a little bit more
Oh that woman taught me to pray
I saw Heaven every day"
Lana had her back to him standing at the sink with her headphones on wearing one of his old SAMCRO navy blue work shirts. The garment hitting her mid-thigh her honeyed colored hair left loose in thick wavy curls that stopped just short of her elbows. Leaning his shoulder against the doorway he was content to simply watch her, listening as she sang softly to the music only she could hear. Rolling her hips in a slow figure eight she was lost in the moment unaware of her audience.
In the past Jax knew he would have squandered such unwavering loyalty, blindly cast out this woman's steady and patient devotion. He thanked God every day that he was blessed with the love Lana so willingly gave him and although there were moments when he doubted he deserved it he would do anything to protect it.
Voice still softly humming Lana reached up removing one of the ear buds. Grinning Jax saw his window of opportunity had arrived.
"Hey Darlin' you need some help?" He asked loudly.
Shouting a yelp of surprise Lana gave the headphone cord a hard yank ripping the second ear bud out as she turned to face the room. There was only a split second of recognition before she shoved away from the counter top nearly knocking him over as she jumped up. Arms encircling his neck wrapping her legs around him. Right hand cupping her face Jax pressed a hard kiss to her lips crushing her slender frame against him.
When they came up for air Lana continued to kiss along his jaw stopping only to speak breathlessly against his ear.
"Your home, baby you're home."
Inhaling deeply Jax took in the pleasant scent of her perfume, Christ he'd missed her.
He was finally here in front of her, safe and whole. Hastily she wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks, smiling to show him they were only tears of joy. Leaning down he kissed the exposed skin of her shoulder palm smoothing up the side of her bare thigh coming to rest against the curve of her ass were he felt only warm firm skin. The feeling of her crushed against him, the sweet taste of her kiss was too much to ignore for him desire reminding the man every carnal aspiration he'd promised himself. The evidence of his longing pressed hard through the fabric of his jeans.
Turning he took long strides in to the living room where he knelt laying her down on the carpet. His hands deftly working at the belt buckle, touch almost rough as he hooked his arms under her knees pulled her forward. A thrill of excitement shot through Lana her heart racing as he leaned forward mouth hovering just above hers. Wiggling her hips Lana arched her back pulling the over-sized t-shirt up and over her head tossing it to the side a soft moan escaping her as she felt him push against her. She couldn't blame him for being overzealous, she wanted him as badly as he wanted her if not more.
"I will never leave you like that again." He vowed watching her chest rise with each quickening breath.
Jax couldn't pretend to understand what she'd endured in his absence, spending the first two years of their marriage alone raising two children. But he knew he envied her strength and he knew he reveled in the pride he felt to know she was his.