Hello, my readers! I was rereading my story the other day, and I wanted nothing more than to write another chapter for Until the Smoke Clears! I guess I just can't say goodbye to Jax and Marni just yet! This chapter will take place about five months after Xander was born. Let me know what you think!
While she stood in front of her bedroom mirror, Marni pulled her hair back into a ponytail, tightly securing it with a black elastic hair tie.
As she gave herself a final once over, she could hear Xander crying hysterically from the nursery.
Marni quickly left the bedroom to go check on her youngest son, discovering Jax was already in the nursery with him.
He was sitting down in the rocking chair, attempting to feed Xander a freshly made bottle only for him to push it away with his small hands and cry in utter frustation.
Jax looked up from him, showing signs of relief the moment his blue eyes fell onto Marni who was in the doorway.
"What's going on," she asked, making her way over to Jax.
"He's been fighting me all day, Marn. He refuses to eat. I can't even tell you how many times I've tried. He just won't budge," he replied, gently rocking Xander in his arms to console him.
"Okay. Let me see him."
Jax stood up from the rocking chair, handing Xander to his mother.
"Are you giving daddy a hard time today, my munchkin, " she cooed, taking Jax's place in the rocking chair.
She rooted her feet to the tan carpet, using her legs to gently move the chair.
"Babe, can you hand me the bottle?"
Jax nodded, doing what was asked of him.
The moment Xander saw that the bottle was in Marni's posession, he stopped crying and his hands latched onto both sides of the bottle.
He assisted her in bringing the bottle's nipple to his mouth, nearly downing the entire thing within seconds.
Marni's eyes shifted from her son to her husband, who was in disbelief.
"What the hell are you doing that I wasn't?"
"Do you want my honest opinion?"
"Of course."
"Absolutely nothing. I think the change in routine is what's getting to him. Now that I'm back to work, I don't get to spend all my time with him glued to my body, and he needs time to adjust to that new reality."
"Do you want to hear my theory?"
"Always."
"I just think he loves you more than he loves me."
"Uh Jax, that isn't a theory. That's a fact," teased, recieving a smirk from him.
Once Xander drifted to sleep in Marni's arms, she slowly removed the now empty bottle from his mouth.
Without creating any sharp movements, she stood up from the chair, bringing him over to his crib.
With Jax standing next to her, she effortlessly laid him down without disturbing his current slumber.
"What would I do without your help darlin," he stated, wrapping his arm around her, planting a firm kiss on the side of her head.
"I ask myself that same question," she replied as she turned her head to direct her full attention toward him.
Marni leaned in, kissing him on the lips.
Jax opened his eyes first, realizing for the first time in twenty minutes that Marni was still dressed in her usual uniform, her dark blue f.d. t-shirt and matching jeans.
"Marn, why are you still dressed in your uniform? You've been home for over an hour."
"That's because I'm going back in. I'm picking up a shift for Wolly. His daughter is sick and the ex-wife won't be back in town until Monday."
With everything in him, Jax tried to conceal his disappointment."
"How long is the shift?"
"Six to six. Don't worry, I'll be home just before the kids wake up so I get my unforgettable birthday sex that you promised me."
Since Marni was back to work, Jax has come to find that sleep no longer existed in his wheel house.
He was far too worried about her to get his own much needed rest.
He looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand that was placed on Marni's side of the king sized bed.
12:00 am on the dot.
His muscular arm reached across the bed, picking his cellphone off of the nighstand.
He flipped open his phone, hitting the number one and dial option.
After a couple of rings, the phone call was never completed and went straight to voicemail.
"Hey, this is Marni. Sorry I missed your call, but if you leave a detailed message at the beep, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Once the signature noise was made, Jax slowly sat up in the bed, leaning against the wooden headboard.
"Happy birthday, darlin'. Please be careful and get your perfect ass home already. You know I can't sleep when you're not next to me. I love you, Marn."
He closed his phone, ending the short but sweet voicemail.
Jax put his insomnia to great use and started decorating the entire house for his wife's birthday.
Charlotte held onto the stair's railing as she carefully came down the curved staircase.
"Daddy."
Jax turned around, seeing his daughter at the foot of the stairs with her blonde curls completely disheveled and her green eyes barely opened.
"Hey Char, what are you doin' up?" Did you have a bad dream?", he asked as stepped off of the chair that he used to help decorate, and went over to her, lifting her up into his arms.
"No. I heard something down here."
"Aww baby, did I wake you? I'm sorry."
"It's okay. What are you doing?"
"I'm setting up for mommy's birthday."
Her eyes lit up and she bounced in her father's firm grip with enthusiasm.
"Ooh ooh, can I help?"
"Are you sure you're not too sleepy?"
"No, I'm up. See," she stated, widening her eyes.
"Just for a little while okay. Then, you have to go back to sleep."
"Okay. Let's get Abel too. He can help too, right daddy?"
"I would Char, but he has school tomorrow."
"I want to go to school," she pouted.
"You will before you know it."
The home's decorations were complete and the kids were gathered in the living room with Jax.
All that was missing was the woman they went above and beyond for.
Six o'clock came and went, and Marni still haven't returned home.
It was now 3:00 pm, and she was finally on her way home.
The sound of a car pulling into the driveway got everyone's attention.
"Mom's home!," Abel jumped up from the couch, running to the front door.
Charlotte followed suit with a birthday card she created in her hands.
Jax stood up from the couch with Xander in his arms, taking larger than normal steps to reach the front door that much quicker.
"Dad, that's not mom's car."
Jax looked outside the screen door's glass, seeing a red fire rescue truck in the driveway.
His fucking heart stopped beating and dropped into his stomach.
This was it.
Today was the day he and the kids would get a visit from the chief, saying that Marni was not coming home.
His eyes began to water as he adjusted his grip on Xander.
"Uh Abel, you and Char go in the living room," he stated, feeling a lump form in his throat.
"Why?", Abel asked.
Marni got out of the passenger's side of the car, jogging up the pathway to her home.
Abel and Charlotte pushed open the screen door, meeting their mom halfway up the stone path.
She knelt down as they ran into her arms.
"Happy birthday, mommy!", Charlotte yelled, wrapping her arms around Marni's neck.
"Thank you, baby. I'm so glad I'm finally home. I missed you guys."
Jax remained at the door with Marni giving him a puzzled look.
"Is everything okay?"
"The truck.."
"Mason gave me a ride home since my car wouldn't start. Our house is on the way and he offered to drop me off. You have nothing to worry about. We are just friends," she smiled, touching his face with tenderness.
Marni entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
She removed her robe, wearing nothing but the diamond bracelet made with hearts Jax bought her for her birthday.
She climbed her way up the bed, straddling her man once she reached his sheet covered waist.
"Are you too tired? I could always take a rain check," she whispered, as her hand gently rubbed his package.
He shook his head and looked at the ceiling.
She took his face in her hands, making him look at her.
"Jax, you've been off since I got home. Did I do something to upset you?"
"No.. Not really."
"What did I do?"
"When I saw the red truck, I immediately thought the chief was going to come to the door, announcing that I no longer had a wife and my kids no longer had their mom. I can't.. I can't get it out of my head, Marn. Now, I just keep thinking about if it's not today, then when will it be?"
Marni wrapped herself up in the top blanket, dropping her head.
"Jax, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare the shit out of you like that."
"I know you didn't mean to, but you did."
"We've talked about this, baby. I'll be fine and I'll always be careful. I promise you."
"You might abide your promise, but that doesn't mean the universe will."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to quit."
Marni fell silent, sliding herself off of his body and laid down next to him.
The silence grew louder as they both looked up at the ceiling as if the answers were in fact above their heads.
"Is that why you're so eager for us to have our fourth? If I'm pregnant, then that means I'll be home and on temporary leave."
"It's part of it."
