As always, I don't own SOA.

"Oh fuck her Jax. She's just some crow eater!" Wendy took Jax's face in her hands. "It's all us now, baby. We can finally be a happy family" Jax moved her hands from his face.

"Don't get me wrong, I glad you're acting like a responsible person now, but I still don't want to be with you. That ship's sailed Wendy and if I recall correctly you were once a crow eater too." She looked as if she was going to scratch his eyes right out of his head.

"So, what? You going to abandon your child for some skank?" She shot back at him.

Jax grabbed Wendy's shoulders so she couldn't look away from him. "You listen to me Wendy, I will NEVER abandon my Son. He comes before everything, which is why I'm not letting that 'skank' kick the shit out of you for showing up to my mother's house once again uninvited. I am doing what's best for MY child by keeping your ass clean when you couldn't do that yourself. You're lucky I didn't call the cops and let you go down for fetal abuse. You're not off the hook for that stunt you pulled. Not by a long shot, so don't accuse me of walking away from him when I'm the one working to keep him alive."

Wendy's eyes widened not only because his words were harsh, but because they were true. Nobody could accuse him of not loving his child. "Fuck off Jax." She jerked out of his grip and turned back towards her car. "I'll send you the medical bills."

Once he saw Wendy drive up the road, he went inside to deal with his next mess, Issy.

He stepped in the door and before he could look around for her, Gemma grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the guest bedroom.

"What the fuck happened out there Jackson?" Gemma demanded.

Jax ran his fingers through his hair. "Uh, Issy and I stepped out for a cigarette and Wendy showed up. Issy came inside because she wanted to let us have a moment."

"Bullshit. I saw you two at the dinner table and Polly told me that you go by there every goddamn day to see her. Don't play me for a fool, baby." She said as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Okay so we went out and Wendy caught us making out. She pulled some shit about being clean and about how we can be a family now. Wasn't too nice to Issy."

"That doesn't seem like Issy to get all jealous like that." Gemma said, crossing her arms over her chest, getting the feeling that Jax was leaving something out.

"Well Wendy told me she was having a boy. I was blinded by my happiness and hugged her. Wendy shot her a look. It must have pissed her off. I guess I didn't help the situation."

"A boy, Jackson? I'm having a grandson!" Gemma smiled

"Sure are, grandma" He emphasized the last part.

"Oh fuck off, asshole" she smiled and slapped his arm lightly. "Now go talk to Issy. She's out in the back garden cooling off. She's a reasonably girl. She'll understand" They both exited the room and Jax went searching for Issy in the back yard.

She was sitting on a bench staring at a small garden fountain. He came up behind her.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked

"Go ahead." She replied, not looking up at him.

"Okay look, I know what Wendy did was fucked up but you can't let her get to you. She's a fucked up person. She shot up while she was pregnant for god's sake. You know that I'm not interested in starting a life with her, right?"

Issy sighed and continued playing with her sleeve to avoid looking at him. "Yeah I know that now. I was just so frustrated that she thinks she can just have you just because she's pregnant. I let my dumb emotions get the best of me." Her voice was quiet. "I feel like a real asshole."

He pulled her hand from her lap to his lips and placed a soft kiss on it. "It's okay Darlin. We're all a little irrational sometimes."

Issy smiled. "So a boy, huh? I'm so happy for you. If he looks anything like you, the ladies of Charming better watch out."

Jax laughed and put his arm around her. "To be completely honest, I'm terrified of fatherhood."

"Why? You already care so much for him. He's lucky to have you, and Gemma and the rest of the club here to love and protect him. I mean, shit, I've only been here for a few months and I already feel more love and support than I've ever felt with my real family. You're going to be such a great father because you know how important you'll be to him. You know what true brotherhood, trust, loyalty, and sacrifice is." Jax had told Issy about his father John Teller and how he practically worshiped the ground he walked on as a kid.

"How'd you get so damn smart girl?" Jax asked as he shook his head.

"Definitely not from Juan"

They both laughed and Issy shivered. There was a cool breeze. Jax wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on top of hers while they sat under the clear, California night sky.

Gemma looked out her kitchen window into the backyard at the couple sitting in her garden.

There ain't a better match for my boy than that girl right there. She thought before smiling and going back to washing dishes.

August 30th

Gemma called her secret meeting to order. Juice, Jax, Opie, Bobby, and Half Sack sat around her kitchen table.

"Alright, we're officially 4 days from Issy's birthday and there's tons more shit we have to do." She announced. Gemma loved planning parties and one for her little Issy was no exception. It was going to be extravagant. "Juicey, did you get the cake order put in?"

He gave Gemma a mock salute. "Yes ma'am!"

"Don't call me ma'am you fucker." She smiled. "Half Sack, be ready to clean the shit out of the clubhouse the next few days… literally and figuratively."

"How is that any different from any other day?" He groaned, but he was excited. Since their kiss, he and Issy were just friends and he was fine with that.

"Bobby, you have everything to be our musical man?"

"You betcha, boss" he said in his Elvis voice.

"Opie, you're in charge of rounding everybody up the day of the party. I will NOT be tracking down any of these assholes to get them to the clubhouse on time. Surprise parties only work when everybody is there BEFORE the guest of honor"

"Finally, Jax, you need to get Issy out all day while we set up. Take her to Lodi, take her to a movie, take her to the damn moon I don't care. Just make sure she's gone until 7:30."

"Aye Aye Captain" he said. He was VERY excited at the thought of distracting Issy all day. In fact, he had a very special date already planned out for her. She deserved it.

The guys went to leave the house but before Jax could, Gemma pulled him back into the house.

"Listen, I don't know what you and Issy have or haven't done, but I want you to know that once she's legal, I will 100% support you going after her." She smiled.

"For the record, we haven't done anything but thanks Mom, I appreciate you saying that. I don't know how the rest of the guys are going to react." Jax looked sheepish.

"Oh baby, as long as you treat her right, nobody is going to say anything. I have no doubt that she would make a perfect old lady" Gemma rubbed his shoulder tenderly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Mother. Asking someone to be your old lady is like asking someone to be your wife. It's a commitment and I don't know if either of us are ready for that." He said. But she's right. Issy is on her way to becoming a perfect old lady. No doubt my Mother is training her without her even knowing it. He thought.

"I know but keep it in mind. You don't need to have your dick in every croweater in town anymore. You have a baby on the way. It's time for you to think about settling down." Jax messaged his temples. He still didn't know what he was going to do about Issy and his Son. He wanted to be with Issy but if she wasn't ready to handle a child, then he would have to let her go. He didn't expect her to be a full time mom and raise his son but he knew that if they had a future together, she'd have to accept his son also. For fucks sake she's turning 18 in 3 days. Why in god's name would she want to take on a child anytime soon. He thought. My son will always come firtst… no matter how much I want to be with her.