Blended Chapter 14

Cortney rolled over to reach for Jax and found the other side of her bed empty. Rolling over she grabbed her cell to see the time. It was nine thirty in the morning. Cortney jumped up as she had overslept. The boys were usually up by seven thirty. Throwing on a gown, she checked the boy's room but they were not in there. She smiled when she he heard laughter coming from the kitchen. She found Steven and Abel at the table eating eggs, waffles and bacon. Thomas was sitting in his high chair getting more eggs on the floor than in his mouth. Cortney gave all three of her boys a kiss.

"You see Jax this morning?" Cortney asked Steven.

"No he was gone when I got up." Steven frowned when he saw his mother's expression. "Did you guys get to talk last night?"

Cortney shook her head no; as she tried to hold back her tears. Steven could tell his mom was trying her best to put on her game face but he knew she was hurt. Jax's wife showing back up was definitely a game changer in their relationship. He hoped Jax would stay with his mom. She was good for him. Why would a mom and wife have her husband and two young children believe she was dead? As Steven thought about it last night, he concluded that she had ratted on the club. Why would she go to such extreme to hide herself and leave her children? He had heard Jax come home late last night and figured he was with Tara all day. He could only imagine what they were doing and he was sure his mom probably knew as well. Steven empathized with Jax as he could imagine what he would do if he had a wife who returned from the dead. The emotions that must be going through Jax head had to be incomprehensible. Regardless did it give him the right to break his mother's heart? Will he still have a good relationship with Jax once his mother's heart was shattered into a thousand pieces?

"I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse." Cortney told her son as if reading his mind. "Whatever happens between Jax and I don't let it become between you two. He has been good to you Steven and I would hate to see that relationship falter."

Steven wanted to tell his mom to fight for Jax but he could see that she was already felt defeated. How do you go up against someone rising from the dead? He knew Jax still loved and grieved for his wife but he was also falling for his mom. Steven felt a knot form in his stomach. Things were definitely going to change.

"Jesus Christ! What the hell Jackson!" Bobby barked after Jax told the club that Tara was still alive.

"She was going to turn the club in?" Anger filled Tig's piercing blue eyes.

"She was going to but she didn't." Jax defended.

"Jax she went through the trouble of faking her death to turn against the club. Why in the hell would she come back?" Chibs asked.

"She said she missed her family and she does not want to hurt the club."

Happy chuckled sarcastically, "To fuckin late for that!"

"No one will hurt a hair on her head until I figure out what I want to do." Jax told the club sternly.

"This should be a club's decision." Bobby told Jax.

"Not until I get to the bottom of it. They have nothing without her testimony."

"What all did she give them Jax?" Chibs asked.

"The bullet she pulled out of Bobby the day we took care of Galen and Clay."

"Jesus Christ!" Bobby roared.

"She recanted and said a prospect accidently shot him."

"How are we to be sure she won't change her mind and testify?" Happy asked.

"I'm trusting she won't. She would not risk coming back if she was going to testify."

Happy could not believe what he was hearing, "With all due respect boss she faked her death! She left you and your boys for months. How can you trust that?!"

"I am asking you guys to trust me. I would not let anyone or anything get in the way of our club and I don't think Tara will do that now. At the time the FBI agent was twisting her mind up."

"I don't like it Jackie Boy." Chibs said with disgust.

"I understand and respect everyone's opinion but you have to let me handle this."

At the conclusion of the meeting, Jax felt confident enough that no one would disregard his order of harming Tara. He just needed a few days to make sure that the FBI would not come after Tara. He needed to get in touch with Wayne to see if he still had any contacts with the ATF and FBI.

"I want to see the boys." Tara told Jax as she lazily rubbed her fingers up and down his chest.

"In due time Tara. I have to make sure that no one will come after you for your testimony. I also need to make sure the club will not come after you. They seem to listen to me for now."

Tara snuggled up closer to Jax.

"I have been here a few days now and no one has come looking for me. It's obvious the bureau has moved on because they would know exactly where to find me."

"I'll see what I can work out." Jax rubbed his beard and got up from the bed to get dress.

"Was that a new prospect that was watching them the other day?"

"Yeah….and how did you know the boys were at the park?"

Tara looked down at her fingers which seemed to catch her interest in that moment.

"I didn't want to see you right away so I went to your house to wait for you to leave the kids with Neeta so I can give her the message for you to call me but no one ever came home. So I went to Gemma's figured she would have them. I was going to leave a note on her car but when I pulled up she was loading the boys in the car and I followed her to where she dropped the boys. I saw your bike so I knew you were there and I waited for you to leave."

"Then you saw Steven take them to the park?"

"Yes and I followed him. He's more than a prospect to you isn't he?"

Jax looked at Tara. "Yes….I have been seeing his mom."

"How long?" Tara asked successfully swallowing the lump that formed in her throat.

"A few months now."

"So the black woman I saw in the window holding Thomas is not the new nanny?"

"No she is not." Jax answered pulling on his underwear and jeans.

Tara knew there would be no need to get upset. She knew a man like Jax would not stay single forever.

"Has she been good to the boys?"

Jax nodded his head yes. "I would not be with her if she was not good for the boys Tara. You know my sons come first."

"Does she know about me?"

Jax pulled on his Sons t-shirt.

"She knows you are alive."

"And that you are still legally married."

Jax did not like where the conversation was leading. He had not had a chance to tell Cortney that he may be getting back with Tara once everything with the club and FBI had calm down.

"We will talk about it later." Jax leaned over and kissed Tara quickly on the lips. "I'll be back tomorrow and I should have heard back from Unser. You should be able to come home soon."

"Ok. I'll be here." Tara settled back in bed as she watch Jax leave.

"Tara's alive?!"Gemma nearly pounced on Jax once he walked into Cortney's house.

"Where's Cort?"

"Upstairs! Answer me Jackson! What did she give up on the club?"

Jax told his mom exactly what he told the club earlier.

"And you accepted her back with open arms! Are you crazy?"

"I'm getting to the bottom of it mom. What are you doing here?"

"Cortney called me. Wanted me to come pick up the boys. You are making a big mistake going back to Tara. When she decided to rat she didn't care about you or the boys."

"That's not true. She loves her sons. She was planning to get them back. The way things were going mom at that time I don't blame her for wanting to get away."

Gemma looked at her son as if he had lost his mind.

"Do you fuckin hear yourself right now?!"

"Not now mom." Jax put every effort in keeping his voice calm. He needed to remain calm as he had to go talk to Cortney. Bypassing his mom he jogged upstairs and found Cortney in the guest room the boys slept in whenever they were over. She had redecorated the room for Jax's sons who she had come to love like her own. She looked up at Jax as she zipped the last bag. She handed him two large duffle bags.

"That should be all their things. Clothes, bottles and some toys. Some of your clothes are in there too. I couldn't fit them all in there though." Cortney did not look at Jax as she walked past him to go to her room. Jax dropped the bags and grabbed her waist and pulled her to him.

"Cort…I'm so sorry….I didn't want to hurt you…but she's my wife."

"I know and I knew it was over the moment I saw your face after you talked to her on the phone. I can't compete with a resurrected wife." She told him with an expressionless face.

"Cort you will always have a place in my heart."

Cortney pulled from Jax's embrace.

"Please don't Jax…. don't condescend me…. I can smell her on you….just leave." Cortney needed to get away from him before she punched him in the face. She did not want him to see her upset.

"Please don't be angry with me Cort." Jax pleaded.

"Look at my face…... Do I look angry?" she asked inching toward him as she held her breath not wanting to smell pussy on him. Jax did not see any emotion in her face. She was stone cold. She held his gaze for a few more moments before she looked away and went into her room.

Jax stood in the hall for a moment after Cortney slammed her bedroom door shut. He just let go an amazing woman and he knew he was going to regret the decision sooner or later. When Jax walked down stairs he found Steven drying off the boys from the pool and getting them dress with Gemma's help.

"I want to see them before I leave out tomorrow." Steven announced to Jax. Jax looked at Steven and could see the anger in his eyes. Jax knew Steven was holding back the desire to clock him.

"Of course. They will be at my house." Jax told him.

Before grabbing the boys Gemma planted a kiss on Steven's cheek.

"I'll see you sweetheart…tell your mom I will call her later."

Steven nodded. Jax looked as if he was about to say something but Steven put his hand up to stop him and told him just to go. Jax picked up the bags and headed out the door behind his mom and sons. He just realized his actions broke two hearts instead of one.

After watching Gemma, Jax and the boys pull off Steven went upstairs to check on his mom. He was about to knock but stopped when he heard her sobbing uncontrollably. He opened the door slightly and eased his way in as not to disturb her. He knew she needed to cry and work through the pain. Steven crawled on the bed next to his mom who was lying in a fetal position and pulled her in his arms.

"It's going to be alright mom. It's going to be alright." He whispered as she cried in his arms.

"Wow Jax everything looks the same." Tara said in awe as she walked around the house. Wayne had come through and told Jax that the FBI was planning on continuing the case without Tara's testimony. Jax was worried about what other information they had on the club and asked Wayne to find out for him. Jax let the club know the news but he knew they were still uncomfortable with Tara's "miraculous" return. Gemma was on a whole different level with her anger toward Tara and Jax had to make sure he kept them apart until Gemma calmed down. Jax smiled at Tara as she embraced her boys when she returned to the living room.

"Tara what are you going to do next? It's not like you can go back and work at the hospital and just picked up where you left off. People believe you are dead."

"I know." Tara kissed Abel's forehead and hugged Thomas tighter on her lap. "Right now I just want to be a mommy and a wife." She said smiling up at Jax.

"I have to go. Don't open the door for anyone….especially my mom…..oh Steven wants to see the boys before he heads back to school so he is okay to let in." Jax told her grabbing his cut and keys.

"Are you sure? Isn't he upset that you left his mom?"

"Steven is fine and he loves the boys. Let him see them if and when he stops by."

"Ok." Tara reluctantly agreed.

Not long after Jax left Tara saw Steven pull up. She went to answer the door before he was able to knock.

"Hi Steven…come in." she said as cheerfully as she could muster.

"I just wanted to see Abel and Thomas before I head out."

"Of course. They are in the living room. Would you like something to eat? I was about to make lunch."

"No I'm fine. Thanks."

"Steven!" Abel jumped up and ran to Steven. Steven picked him up and squeezed the little boy tight.

"I miss you buddy!"

"I miss you too." Abel said laughing as Steven tickled his sides. Tara looked on as Steven spent time with Thomas and Abel.

"Does your mom know you are a prospect for the Sons?" she asked out of the blue. Steven gritted his teeth as he was successfully ignoring her and she just had to try to start a conversation.

"Tara I don't know you and there is no need to try to hold a conversation with me." He snapped.

"I think I have the right as their mom to know who my sons have been hanging around."

Steven stood up from placing Thomas back in the playpen.

"Did you think about that while you took off and had everyone think you were dead? My mom, Gemma and I have been taking care of your sons while you were off plotting against the club."

"I don't want to argue with you Steven you seem like a nice young man. You must know that the club will poison you and will change you into someone you would not recognize. You need to get out while you can." Tara tried to reason with him.

"Thanks for your concern Tara. I can take care of myself. Thanks for letting me see the boys. I have to hit the road. Tell Jax I stop by will you?"

"Yes of course."

Jax flipped his phone open at least forty times in the last several hours to call Cortney. He wanted to make sure she was ok but he knew she would be upset and he needed to let her calm down. Later that night he drove by her house and parked across the street. She had the curtains open and he could see her in her living room. She looked so beautiful with her hair pulled up in a messy bun, wearing one of his SAMCRO shirts and boy shorts. He smiled to himself as he thought that she may have purposely kept a few of his clothing and lied when she said she could not fit them all in the bag. He watch her pour herself a large portion of wine in a huge wine goblet and down it all in one swig before she cut on the TV. His smile faded as he watch her pour another large helping of wine, drunk it all down and put her head in her hands and started to shake with sobs. Jax was about to get off his bike to go to her when his phone rung. It was Tara.

"Yeah?"

"Gemma is here and she is not leaving. She has been yelling and demanding to see the boys." Tara's voice was shaky.

"I'm on my way." Jax snapped the phone shut and looked back up at Cortney. She had now curled up on the couch.

"Shit!" Jax growled as he started his bike to head to the chaos that was waiting for him.