Tara could hardly contain her excitement about finally getting out of her temporary home and moving in with Jax and his kids. The past month has been very difficult on her because all she can think about while in that house is Kohn's lifeless body bleeding out onto her bathroom floor - eyes still wide open; as if he was still watching her every move. She failed to mention to Jax the horrific nightmares she'd started having just two weeks ago. She tells herself they will go away once she's out of that house, no longer sleeping a mere five feet away from the crime scene. Plus, why worry Jax when he already has only God knows how many things on his plate? Tara's tough as nails, but, as ridiculous as it may sound, she feels that Kohn is punishing her from his makeshift grave, wherever the hell it is anyway. Jax spared her any details, because, truly, the less she knows the better.
"Doctor Knowles? Hello, how are you?" Asks a woman from another department in the hospital - the same woman who set her up with the temporary free housing and offered her the job she has. She doesn't even give Tara a chance to respond before jumping into the reason she tracked her down on the third floor in the middle of her shift. "Congratulations on finding a new home. I know how hard it can be! Do you have any idea when you're going to be settling in? Sorry to sound so intrusive," the woman blushes as Tara tries her darndest to comb through her memory for her name. "It's just that I have another doctor who will be arriving in two months and need to know what will be available for them." Tara smiles warmly. "I have already started moving out actually - I should be out by the end of this week!" Surprised, the woman laughs. "Oh wow! That's fast, where are you moving?!" Tara immediately flushes crimson, knowing this woman doesn't know a wink of her history with Jax. Oh brother. She's going to think I'm moving in with someone I just met. "I'm actually moving in with someone." The woman fails at hiding her judgement but Tara shakes it off knowing she doesn't know anything about her past and how she grew up in Charming.
A few days pass and it's now Sunday morning. Sydney sits with a sleeping Abel in his carrier next to her as Tara, Jax, and Opie stand nearby in Tara's kitchen deciding which of Tara's furniture she will be keeping and what she's going to sell/donate. "Well," Jax starts, "some of the things left in the house belong to Wendy so I need to get them out and put into storage. Furniture wise, that leaves us with a bed, nightstand, and one dresser in the bedroom. The living room furniture is mine which works out since you're just renting your furniture right now." Tara nods. "Okay, I'll definitely be bringing my dresser and vanity then.. also my nightstand. The couches are going back to Rent-A-Center, I will bring my kitchen table and chairs, my lamps...?" Now Jax is the one to nod. "Listen, Wendy and I bought a lot of things together, like silverware, plates, cups, etc,, rugs, shower curtains and other bathroom shit, home decor - but she can have them all if you don't want to get rid of your stuff and also want to buy new things." Grateful, Tara smiles. "Thanks, Jax. That actually makes this a lot easier. But, I just bought my bed when I moved here... so that's going to be the hardest blow for me. It is only a full though so it wouldn't be all that comfortable for the two of us" Tara laughs.
Just then Sydney clears her throat as if to say she has a suggestion. The three turn to look at her with raised eyebrows. "I'll take your full size bed!" Tara turns to Jax for his approval and he shrugs. "I mean, yeah, if you're okay with her having it?" "Of course I am. As long as it's being put to use then I'll be happy." Opie, acting like a teenage boy by turning something innocent into something dirty, chuckles. Tara cracks a grin and Sydney even laughs. Jax, although it is funny, tries his best to keep a straight face because the thought of Sydney putting a bed "to use" in that way spikes his blood pressure. "Well, in that case, the bed won't be, by any means, put to good use."
A knock on the door shifts the attention to something else other than Sydney ever having sex in her soon-to-be bed and for that she is grateful. Tara opens the door to let Gemma, Clay, Bobby, Tig, and Happy in. "Let's get this done, boys. It's a hot one and a beer by the pool is calling my name" Gemma says as she perches her large, designer sunglasses on top of her head. "Oh, hell yeah, baby" says Clay before giving her a kiss. Sydney wrinkles her face up in disgust at her grandfather's gesture. "Ew, Papa! I guess I won't be asking if I can go to your house to swim." Clay and Gemma laugh. "You know you can come over whenever, baby" Clay tells her. "Yeah," Gemma says, "these guys are going to be there anyway" she briefly points to Bobby, Tig, and Happy.
Gemma feeds Abel as the guys start loading the truck and the van with things that are going to Jax's house. "Clay had me thinking there was a lot more work to do than this" Bobby says as he and Opie carry out Tara's vanity and place it in the bed of the truck. "That's what I was just thinking" says Happy on their tail with the nightstand. "I'm pretty sure we are only going to have to make one trip with each vehicle since the couches a few other things stay. Tara just wants everything she's leaving behind to be brought out into the living room to make it easier later" Opie informs them.
Back in the house Clay and Tig each grab an end of the mattress and take it outside. Tara follows Jax into the bedroom to help him grab the boxsprings but he stops her. "We got this, babe" he says before kissing her and hauling the boxsprings through the house and out the front door. Tara awkwardly walks towards Gemma, Sydney, and Abel and has a seat with them. "Get used to it, baby. They do the heavy lifting and we sit and look pretty." Gemma jokes with a wink. Both Sydney and Tara laugh.
The guys get the rest of the stuff loaded into the van and truck and strapped down before moving what's being left behind into the living room. "Alright, let's get this over to my house and unloaded boys." Jax commands as he ushers everyone out the door. Tara makes sure all the lights are off and all the windows and doors are locked. She takes one last look into the bedroom where half of Kohn's body was laying while the top half was laying in the bathroom. Her stomach turns and she closes the door. She locks the front door behind her before following everyone outside. They all spread out into four different vehicles and arrive at Jax's house within seven minutes. It takes them twenty minutes to unload and move things around in the house to make everything fit. "Well, while we're all here, why don't we get Wendy's shit outta here and into a unit?" Opie suggests, wanting to help his best friend as much as possible. Tara and Jax look at each other. "Yeah, that would be great, Ope" Jax slaps him on the back.
Three hours later and it's now noon. Tara's things are now arranged and Jax is putting away the silverware, dishes, cups, and pots and pans. Tara's currently washing her bedding so it's clean for Sydney tonight while tiding up and keeping any eye on Abel since he's been fussy the last hour or so.
"Thanks again for letting me keep your bed. I'm so excited to be able to comfortably sleep like a starfish" Sydney gushes. Tara giggles while throwing the wet bedding into a basket to be taken outside to dry out on the line. "You're ever so welcome." Sydney takes Tara by surprise by hugging her. "I am so happy you're with my dad and that you're living here with us. It means the world to me!" Tara tries her best to compose herself but she cannot help that her eyes fill with tears. "I am happy to be here, too, honey. I wouldn't want it any other way!"
The entire Club is at their President's house swimming and grilling out. Gemma is sitting along side the pool with Tara, Donna, Sydney and, of course, little Abel. "Thanks for inviting us over, Gem. Things have been rough on us and I'm just really happy to see Kenny and Ellie enjoying themselves" Donna admits. Gemma smiles. "You're welcome, baby. You guys are always welcome here." A scream followed by a splash and bursts of laughter draw their attention back to the pool. Ellie emerges from the water after being thrown into the air by Opie. "Be careful with her, Ope!" Donna shouts although she is unsuccessfully holding in her giggles due to the look on her daughter's face.
"Oooh! Me next, me next!" Yells Kenny.
Tara stands up and fans herself. "Wow, it's hot. I think I am going to get in now." She walks towards the stairs in the shallow end and stays towards the edges of the pool to avoid the grown men who are acting like little boys by splashing and tackling each other. Jax joins her and gives her a quick kiss.
Sydney had watched Tara as she walked away and was staring at the tattoo on her lower back. "Did she get that when she was with Daddy the first time? The tattoo?" Sydney asks Gemma and Donna. They both nod. "I almost forgot about that" Donna admits. Gemma smirks. "I sure as hell didn't. You were there weren't you?"
Donna nods. "Yep, I was. So was Jax and Opie. We were all drunk off our asses that night and only seventeen. We went up to Kelly's shop. (A woman who has done a lot of tattoo work on the club) Tara puked half way through it because it hurt so damn bad." Gemma laughs. I'm sure it did - that's a sensitive spot.
Sydney remains lounging out on a sun chair while Donna and Gemma sit under a large umbrella with Abel to keep the sun off of him. Sydney fiddles with the top of her bathing suit, tugging on it. "Looks like you're growing outta that top, huh?" Her grandmother observes. Sydney flushes but is secretly grateful that it is actually noticeable. "Get in the pool, baby. I think I am going to take Abel in so he can enjoy the air conditioning. It's too hot for him to be sitting out here." Sydney nods as she stands up and takes her sunglasses off. She walks to the deep end and dives in followed by Donna.
The rest of the day is filled with swimming, beer, juice boxes, barbecuing, s'mores, lightening bug catching, and good company. Tara leans against Jax hours after they've gotten out of the pool for the day and smiles at all the people surrounding her. Kenny, Ellie, and Sydney are laughing hysterically with Happy, Juice, and Half Sack while playing red hands. Bobby, Tig, Chibbs, and Piney are reminiscing over a bottle of whiskey. Clay and Gemma are cuddled up on the cushioned bench swing admiring their grandson. Opie and Donna are enjoying themselves and delighted to see their children actually acting like children. I truly have missed this.
So, if anyone is even reading this.. I know it's been forever since I have updated this story. It's been over 18 months! And for that I am so sorry. I got so carried away with getting back together with my longtime boyfriend and trying to decide what I want to do with my life and moving into my first apartment and getting a new job and putting a lot of hours in! Wow, what a run-on sentence.
Recently I have been getting back into it and I totally understand if no one wants to reread it and follow along. I am doing this because I truly enjoy it and honestly have been having SOA withdraws. I'm sad the series ended a few years ago. It was something to look forward to and I really miss it! Writing again has helped fill the void, LOL. But anyway, if you read it and you like it - thank you! That means the world to me. I already have the next chapter written. I just have to read it over and edit it and then it'll be onto the next one! :)
