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Sydney continues to look at Tara even after Jax and Gemma have forced themselves to stop staring. Jax has gone mute and is staring at the floor completely expressionless and Sydney is starting to put two and two together. "Knowles" definitely rang a bell as soon as Dr. Lang said it, and she comes to the conclusion, and she is damn sure, that is the woman who left her father when they were both nineteen - not too long after she (Sydney) was born. Sydney's stomach churns as she finally makes her way over to where her father and grandmother are sitting.

Clay and the rest of the MC enter through the two large, white swinging doors and spot Jax, Gemma, and Sydney. "Any news?" Clay asks as Gemma stands and accepts his comforting embrace and kiss on the forehead. "Premature labor.." Gemma says as her eyes fill with sad, nervous tears. "Thank you all for being here for us, Jax especially." Gemma locks eyes with Jax and sees how frightened and worried he is and she figures seeing Tara had to of made things worse - it's a horrible time for him to be distracted by anything. Sydney looks like she might burst into tears at any moment which makes it difficult for Gemma to hold herself together, but she of course does. She knows how strong her family needs her to be.

It's only been seventeen minutes since the club arrived but to Jax it's felt like hours. He looks up just as Dr. Lang is approaching them and immediately stands up. "How is he?" Jax asks. Dr. Lang looks at him with sympathy. "Your son has been born ten weeks premature and there are some life-threatening concerns. Due to Wendy's drug abuse, Abel has a tear in his abdomen. He also has a genetic heart defect. Together these are near-fatal and give him what looks like a 20% chance of living. Dr. Knowles insists on operating immediately because waiting won't do any good - he will only grow weaker. We just need your approval - Wendy isn't in the right state of mind to discuss this with." Jax takes a shaky breath before responding. "Yes, of course. Do what you think is best. Thank you, Dr. Lang."

Jax takes another deep breath to help clan his nerves before turning around to face his family. He sees that Clay is rubbing Gemma's back as she silently cries into his shoulder. All his brothers seem to be holding their breath, not wanting to say the wrong thing. Opie is the one who approaches Jax and gives him a tight hug. After pulling away, his gaze shifts to his daughter whom is looking back at him, her tears threatening to fall; one blink and they roll down her cheeks. She runs into Jax's open arms.


After three excruciatingly long hours of waiting, Tara is the one who finally emerges from a set of doors and starts walking towards the silent group. Jax thinks his heart might beat right out of his chest. Twelve years and she's still beautiful as ever.

Jax and Tara have gone to school together ever since they were little kids, but haven't really spoken to each other - they are in completely different crowds and don't, at a glance, have much of anything in common.

"Mr. Teller," Mrs. Burdue says in a tired, nasal-sounding voice. "You aren't getting out of this book quiz by sleeping." Jax slowly lifts his head and looks around the room before locking eyes with the annoying woman standing in the front of the classroom. "Book quiz? What book?" The class erupts into snickers before Mrs. Burdue silences it. "Very funny, Jackson."

Jax passes the rest of the quizzes over his shoulder before digging around in his pockets for a pencil. Jax never comes to school prepared and he definitely won't be seen carrying any type of bag around with him. After spending a minute or so trying to find the pencil he knows he must have forgotten, someone sets something on the edge of his desk without a word. He stares at it for a few seconds before turning to look at the girl next to him. Tara Knowles - brainiac and daughter of the town drunk. Most girls claim they would just die if Jax Teller, the Prince of Charming, acknowledged their existence let alone knew their name, even if it's just to thank them for something as minor as giving him a pencil, but not Tara. "Thanks, Knowles." She just smiles in response. "Quiet, Jackson." Mrs. Burdue hisses. Jax flips her off after she looks back down at the work on her desk and Tara can't help but let out a quiet giggle.

"Something funny, Miss Knowles? I must admit I'm surprised." Tara shakes her head before looking back down at her quiz, trying her best not to even smile at this point. At the same time both Jax and Tara glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes. Tara unsuccessfully swallows her giggle and ends up making a funny noise instead and Jax can't help but laugh. "Detention! Mr. Teller and Miss Knowles, see me after class to discuss this."

Jax almost smiles as he remembers how angry she was about getting her very first detention but is unable to as he is brought back to reality when Tara stops in front of him. "Jax, Clay, Gemma.." she nods at them and then at the rest of the guys, her gaze hanging on Sydney a little longer than the rest. "The surgery went very well, and we are all pleasantly surprised.. he won't be able to come home any time soon because he needs a lot of special care to help him heal properly and grow stronger, but the point is that the chances of him coming home are much higher than they were three hours ago."

Everyone lets out sighs of relief after hearing the great news. "Thanks, Doc.. We're very thankful." Clay says and Tara smiles warmly. Though still very bitter and angry with Tara, Gemma nods in agreement. "Any idea how long he has to stay here?" Jax asks finally finding his voice. "Weeks for sure, but we'll have to monitor him and decide depending on how quickly or slowly he progresses."

Sydney can't help herself. "Can we see him?" Tara smiles sadly. "You can through the big, glass window starting tomorrow but I'm afraid that's about it for now. We need to keep as many germs away from him as we can." The disappointment on Sydney's face makes Tara feel really sorry for her. "Is he your little brother?" Tara asks before she can stop herself. Sydney nods with a proud smile as she leans into Jax's side.

Clay and his club give Jax their signature half handshake-half hug before leaving the hospital. Gemma has a feeling that Jax wants to stick around until Tara is available to talk and it makes her angry. Yes, she just saved her grandson's life but she's afraid she may have ruined Jax's all over again. She wants to know why Tara is always messing with Jax's head when he has something extremely important to focus on - his kids.

"You can go home if you want, mom. I don't think there is too much more they can tell us for now. I will let you know if I hear anything else." Jax says while hugging her. "You should come home too, baby." Gemma suggests a little too aggressively which makes Sydney pick at her nails to look distracted and hide how awkward she feels. "No, I think I'm gonna hang around a little bit longer.. go on, take Sydney with you." Jax replies hastily. "Jackso-" Gemma starts but is cut off. "Mom, please. I need to do this. I'll be home in a little while, I promise." Jax says firmly, letting her know it's the end of the discussion.


Jax waits another forty-five minutes before he sees Tara again. Seeing that he is the only one left waiting around, she makes her way over. "I'm really sorry about all you're going through." Tara starts. "I really wish you the best.. I was just informed that your son is named Abel, but I'm assuming you already knew that? He's quite the little trooper - I will do whatever I can to help him and you as well." Jax nods and tries to smile. "Thank you.. Mind if I ask you something?" Tara hesitates but gives in. "Sure. Just let me finish my rounds and I'll be right back, okay?"

Tara and Jax are walking out of St. Thomas in silence until Jax works up the courage to speak. "How long have you been back? And why are you here? This job?" Tara sighs and nods. "Mainly because of the job. I had no choice - of all the places in the world and this is where I end up." She laughs bitterly. "I've been back for a couple weeks now. Look, Jax, I wante-" She starts but Jax butts in. "You didn't think to stop by and let me know you were back? The past few hours have been fucking torture, Tara, and not to mention the past twelve years? You've made me fucking crazy." Taken back and slightly offended, Tara glares at him. "I'm just doing my job, Jackson.. I didn't come back to Charming by choice. Sorry my presence bothers you." She says while walking a little faster to her car to get ahead of him.

"You left with a hasty goodbye after everything we had been through. You didn't think I deserved a little more than that?" Now pretty angry, Tara stops dead in her tracks. "Do you think I deserved to hang around heartbroken after you managed to knock up another girl during the THREE fucking days we were broken up? I needed to do what was best for myself and raising someone else's baby wasn't it. It looks like you've done a great job with her, but that wasn't what I wanted. I moved to Chicago to make something of myself and that's exactly what I did Jackson. Why can't you accept that and at least pretend to be happy for me?"

"We've been through this before - we weren't even together when I fucked Ashton and she meant nothing to me. I was upset and needed to get you off my mind and, for the record, it didn't work. All I could think about was you. It's always been you and it always will be, Tara!" Jax shouts. He continues in a quieter voice after managing to calm down a little. "I made a mistake but that mistake gave me Sydney and I don't regret it at all because of her. She's the only reason I wanted to wake up in the morning these past twelve years. She helped me through missing you, Tara."

Tara's eyes fill with tears but she refuses to back down. "It wasn't easy for me either, Jax. You were there for me when I needed someone and the only person who could make me feel better. And, at one point, Gemma was like a mother to me - you know how much I needed that. I was just so hurt and betrayed when you went off and slept with another girl.. I thought you were mine; I was eighteen at the time and so naive. But I needed you too, Jax. You weren't the only one having to live without the one they love due to me leaving."

Jax is surprised by her confession. "Then why did you leave if you needed me so much?" Tara is unable to hold back the tears that keep rolling down her cheeks as she just stares at him. "I'm sorry, Jax. I can't do this right now - I need to go." She says before heading over to her car. Jax stands there and helplessly watches her go, reliving the nightmare of her leaving all over again.


I put the flashback in italics but then wanted to emphasize on certain words so I put those in bold. Thanks so much for following, favoriting, and reviewing! I'm so pleased!