Hi everyone! Happy Thursday!

I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me through this story (my first SOA attempt). It is wrapping up, but I have been so happy with the response to it, I am a hardcore SOA fandom fan. You all are so amazing and supportive. I hope you all follow my other stuff in the future.

Anyway, please keep up the amazing messages and reviews. They are so encouraging. Enjoy!

And Then What

Chapter 14

Tara

Tara had decided to have the barbeque a week after Jax got out. If he was there, it could be a welcome home as well as a housewarming and if he wasn't...well, it would just be a housewarming.

Tara had bought a grill and sent invites out to coworkers. She then walked up and down their small street with Abel on his trike and Thomas toddling after him, hand delivering all the other invitations to the neighbors.

This week she just needed to finish the house up, make sure it was company ready. Jax was coming home soon. If he was serious about leaving the club, then that meant he would be here in a week and a half.

Tara was playing in the backyard with the boys when her phone rang.

She raced for the phone on the patio table and got to it just before it went to voicemail.

"Hello?" she panted into the receiver.

"Dr. Knowles?"

Tara stilled as she recognized the official voice of Officer Hanley. Shit, was Jax okay?

"Is Jax okay?" she asked immediately.

"Yes, he is fine, I am sorry to have startled you," Hanley said.

Tara sighed in relief and glanced towards the boys playing around the yard.

"Oh good," she responded, "Is this about his release?"

"It is," Officer Hanley said, but something was off in his voice. Like he was uncomfortable. Tara frowned and wondered what it could be.

"Officer Hanley?" Tara asked, "Is there something I should know?" Is Jax not coming back to me and the boys? Did he change his mind?

"Yes," he replied, "There is."

Tara's heart stopped and she felt her face blanch. Oh God…

"Jackson has been very successful in his gang rehabilitation program. He will be graduating this week," Officer Hanley said.

What? Gang rehab? What the hell was that? Why didn't Jax tell her?

"When?" Tara asked, "What is this?"

Officer Hanley explained that there were government programs that assisted individuals who wanted out of gang life accomplish those goals. Jax had been through all of it except for the graduation.

"Wow," Tara said, sitting at the table, under the shade of the umbrella.

"He has a lot to be proud of," Officer Hanley explained.

Tara nodded, knowing he did. Jax would typically never seek help outside of the club. The fact that he was utilizing these resources meant that he was taking it seriously. If Tara was honest, that shocked her. She had wanted to take Jax seriously when he promised her he was getting out, but to know that he was actually taking the steps to doing that...it meant something.

"The graduation is going to be two days before his release," Hanley informed her, "The ceremony is small, but I think it would mean a lot for you to be there."

Tara's head spun and she thought for a few minutes. She had wanted to meet Jax on his release from prison, but...she didn't want to put more pressure on him to choose between his life in Charming and Tara and the boys' life in Portland.

"I will be there," Tara said, resolving to go to the graduation and talking to Jax about what he wanted her to do, "Can I bring the boys?"

Hanley responded instantly, "I think that would be ideal."

Tara nodded and said, "We will be there."

After taking the information down from Hanley on the ceremony and what she needed to do to be admitted into the prison, she tried to hang up with him, but he stopped her.

"Dr. Knowles," he said, "I...I don't ever do this. Insert myself…" he stammered.

"I am glad you told me," Tara reassured him. And she was. Jax never told her things like this because he didn't think he deserved anything good in his life or any recognition for his accomplishments. But he did. He deserved to be happy.

"I think when you see Jackson, you need to talk about his plans for after he gets out. He...well, we have an attorney that he has been working with to help him with that portion and they have hit a roadblock. It will be hard for Jackson if he doesn't accept help," Hanley said vaguely.

Tara thought about what he was saying and asked, "Hanley, can you be candid, please?"

"I have already crossed a line," Officer Hanley said, agitated, "Maybe I could arrange some time for you to meet with Jax and the lawyer after the ceremony. Then you would see what I mean," Hanley finished hopefully.

"Sure, that sounds good," Tara said, wishing he would just tell her. But obviously he didn't think it was his place.

Hanley seemed relieved and verified the time and place her and the boys would need to be there for the graduation.

Tara hung up and sat there a minute before her sons' laughter brought her back to the backyard. She knew that they were the reason he was doing all of this. And that was fine with her. Tara just wanted him safe. And if their kids was his only motivation, that was fine with her.

Tara went into the house, keeping an eye on them from the window as she prepared lunch.

She brought out their lunches on paper plates and called them over.

As they sat and ate, Tara said, "Do you boys want to go see Daddy this week?"

Both boys were excited by the prospect, even though Thomas didn't know what he was excited about.

"Can I show Daddy my motorcycle?" Abel asked excitedly, forgetting his lunch in front of him.

"Not for this trip, but he will be home soon, and he can see it then," Tara said, "Now eat your lunch."

Abel was harder to persuade to eat after the news of their trip, but Thomas shoved his pears halves and Goldfish crackers in his mouth as if there was nothing new.

Jax

Jax knew he needed to talk to Clay. He was getting out in less than a week and having his tat removed sooner than that.

Today was as good as any other day.

Jax walked up to Clay in the yard. Really, it was an ideal place. They could have privacy, but there were enough guards to break something up if anything happened.

"Clay," Jax said, "Take a walk with me?"

Clay nodded and stood, following Jax towards the track.

Once they walked about a hundred yards, Clay broke the silence, "What's up, VP?"

Jax bit the bullet and said, "I need out."

Clay chuckled and said, "Yeah, don't we all. A week. That's all we got left in here."

"No, Clay," Jax said, stopping to face him, "I need out. Of Samcro."

Clay looked stunned as he studied Jax's serious face.

"What are you talking about?" Clay asked, surprised.

Jax was silent, letting Clay digest his request. He knew this wasn't going to go over well.

"You wanted the gavel your whole life," Clay said confused.

"Not anymore," Jax said, "I need out. I got a family. They need me."

"And you can't be there for them and Samcro," Clay asked, now angry, "They are your real family. Tara? Doctor bitch is making you choose."

Jax clenched his jaw and tried to remain calm.

"And you are choosing wrong. She is the one who left you, son," Clay said, "Samcro...they never left."

Jax looked at Clay and said, "It doesn't matter. I need out. For my boys."

"Boys?" Clay asked confused. Oh fuck….

Jax sighed and said, "Tara had a baby. He is mine."

Clay flinched and said, "What? When?"

Jax said, "He was born just before we went in."

Clay looked outraged now.

"And you never told us? Your mother!?" Clay growled.

Jax glanced to the side and saw that the other members...Juice, Tig, Bobby...were all now watching them anxiously from the center of the yard. They were on high alert.

"His name is Thomas," Jax said softly, hoping this gentled Clay a little.

Clay shook his head and thought for few minutes.

"There are other ways to have your kids," Clay said, "And you wouldn't need to leave Samcro."

The way he said it...it sent a chill down Jax's spine. It was a veiled threat against Tara.

"No, Clay," Jax said, gritting his teeth, "You don't understand. I don't want Samcro. Not anymore. And I definitely don't want it for my sons."

Clay clenched his teeth and Jax said, "I know you are planning your own out. Let me have an out too. No recourse."

Clay sighed and said, "Your mom?"

Jax just shook his head and said, "I love my mom. I love the members of this club. But I love Tara and the boys more. And these past two years...Abel getting kidnapped, Gemma being raped, Tara leaving with Thomas, the feds...it's too much. I can't do this anymore, Clay."

"This isn't that simple, son," Clay said, rubbing his forehead. As Jax watched Clay process, he noted something he hadn't before. There was a look of desperation in Clay's face. Clay needed him. But he couldn't be the VP anymore. He just couldn't.

"It can be," Jax said, "You are club president. If you let me out, then it's that simple."

"What are you going to do?" Clay asked, "You got no higher education, no skills. You are a joke as a mechanic."

Jax sighed and said, "It doesn't matter what the hell I do."

"This is a club vote," Clay said softly.

"It is, but if you support it, the guys will follow," Jax said. Except Opie. And Piney. They would never go with this. A long time ago, Opie had wanted out. He did it for his family, and Jax hadn't understood. Now he did. And he never felt so ashamed of himself for pulling his best friend back in when he was now getting out.

"You are making a mistake," Clay said, "And all for some doctor pussy."

Jax once more tamped down the rage that bubbled up in him as Clay insulted Tara. But he couldn't let his anger take over. He needed Clay's support in this.

"I am out," Jax said, "I would like your support."

Clay studied him and said, "I can't."

Jax felt the desperation and anger bubble inside him. He knew he needed to pull out his secret weapon.

Clay began to walk away and Jax said, "What if the club found out you murdered my father?"

Clay stopped, standing with his back facing Jax. He never expected that to come out of Jax's mouth

"Would that change your mind?" Jax asked, "Because I think it would. We both know what happens when club members murder other club members."

Clay turned, his face red with rage and horror.

"What are you talking about?" Clay asked, coming closer to him.

"Maureen Ashby was John's lover," Jax said, "At the same time you were banging my mom. She gave me letters my dad wrote...he wrote a lot Clay."

Clay pursed his lips and Jax knew he had him right where he wanted him.

"As much as I want justice for my father...I want my freedom more. If you give this the nod, then I will never air those letters to the club. And you will never be labeled a traitorous murderer," Jax said.

Clay remained silent as he thought about what Jax was offering.

"You're bluffing. How do I know you got what you got?" Clay asked.

"You really want to take that chance?" Jax asked, skeptically, "JT talked about how he was afraid...how he suspected you were after him. How it would be a mechanical accident. I got the accident report too. Shit doesn't add up, Clay. Anybody would know it. And then there is Lloyd Sr. who died mysteriously right after."

"Club members are going to put two and two together," Jax continued.

Clay studied him and said, "Fine. You're out. I will make sure of it."

Jax sighed in relief and said, "You will never see the letters again then. But I am going to hang on to them in case you send someone after me and my family. If anything happens to any of us, they come out into the open. I promise you that."

Clay clenched his teeth and spun and walked away from Jax, heading back towards the guys.

Jax had done it. He was out.

So...what do you all think about me pulling the letters out? In this story, Jax was the one to find them before he went in. Do you think they came out at the right time?

Please review. Next chapter, Jax and Tara come face to face again! Wahoo!