Hazing Chapter 21

12 Months later

"Wow you have made a mess of yourself baby girl." Nina laughed as Lily Rose blew bubbles from the fountain of bubbles that filled her bathtub. This was Nina's fault for letting the toddler have a bowl of chocolate pudding it got everywhere except in her mouth. Lily laughed as the bubbles flew out of her hand.

"Babe you home?" Jax called out and Nina's smile became larger.

"In the bathroom." Nina shouted back.

"You decent I have the boys with me?" Jax stuck his head in the bathroom.

"I'm giving Lily a bath we will be out in a second."

Hearing her father's voice Lily looked over at her dad.

"Da….Da…look…bubbies!" She laughed excitedly as she blew bubbles at her father. Jax smiled at his baby girl.

"I see. Now hurry up your brothers are here to see you." Lily laughed and clapped her hands in excitement. She loved her brothers and Nina was happy she was such a happy toddler. Nina pulled the wet toddler out the tub and dried her off. Nina could not get over how her complexion was staying so light, her eyes were still blue and her hair fell below her shoulder a thick, curly, reddish brown . Jax had some strong genes. Lily did have her lips, high cheekbones and nose and boy whenever her daughter had temper tantrums her pouty face reminded Nina of herself as a child. Nina had several childhood photos that could attest to that. Nina lotion Lily up, dried her hair, fought with it, got it in a bun on top of her head, and threw on her Disney Princesses nightgown.

Nina walked out into her living room, holding Lily and found Thomas and Abel on the couch watching Netflix for kids and Jax sitting at the kitchen table flipping through a magazine already comfortable with his sneakers off with a white tank top on. He looked up at Nina and his daughter and smiled. Nina could not help but smile back. His smile lit up a room and Lily had his smile.

"There is my little princess." Jax got up from the table and lifted his little girl from Nina's arms. He planted kisses all over her chubby face. Nina turned her attention to the boys and got her hugs and kisses. She has really grown to love Jax's two boys. Jax brought them over to spend time with their sister every time he got a chance.

"I was just looking through a real estate magazine and I have circled a few you may be interested in."

Nina did little to suppress the frown on her face.

"What now Nina?!" Jax asked perplex as he sat Lily down on the couch between her brothers. He walked up to Nina who was lazily looking through one of the magazines. Jax put his arms around her waist and softly kissed the back of her neck.

"Talk to me babe. I have done everything you have asked for since you told me you would not move in with me. I'm divorce, Tara has her own place and we have joint custody. I moved out of the house and got a small two bedroom apartment waiting for you to decide on a house. I have also kept you safe. Why do you not want to take the next step with me and get a house and move in with me and the boys?"

Nina did not understand why she was so hesitant to move in with her love. Jax was everything she wanted in a man. He was a great father, loved all his kids, sexy as hell, good in bed, a good provider and he adored her. So why was she so hesitant? Everything she wanted was right in her grasp yet she kept spurning it away. She loved Jax deeply and maybe she was afraid to take the next step in fear of losing him. You lose them like you got them. Her mother's voice rung loudly in her head. It also could be the look in Tara's eyes when she came over again unannounced a couple months back just before the divorce was final begging Nina to let Jax go. The sadness in the last attempt of the woman trying to save her marriage was heart wrenching. Tara knew her marriage was over but she had to give it just one more effort in restoring it and going to Nina seemed like the best option.

"Nina please I am begging you please let go of Jax." Tears streamed down Tara's face. "I can't lose my boys."

"You are not losing them Jax said you were sharing custody." Nina defended.

"Nina that is not the same. How would you feel if you could only spend half your time with your daughter?" Tara looked over at Lily who was fast asleep in her playpen. Nina shook her head she could not give up Jax. "I'm sorry Tara but I love him. You had your chance with him but you blew it. Plus you wanted a divorce."

"Because of you!" Tara nearly shrieked. "You just had to come to the bar and sleep with my husband. Know this Nina he WILL cheat on you. That is who Jax is."

"Then why do you want him back so bad?"

"Despite his flaws he is and always will be my first love…..Nina I am begging you to break up with him."

"I'm sorry Tara….I can't….I just can't. Can you please leave now."

Tara broke down and started sobbing in front of Nina and a pain shot through Nina's heart. On her way out the door Tara asked Nina not to tell Jax she had stopped by. "It will only piss him off. You do understand I had to try?"

"Yes I understand Tara." Nina escorted a sobbing Tara out her door. Nina had never felt so horrible as she did at that moment.

Was a heartbreak from Jax in her future? Nina shuddered to think of it. Nina was not the same scared little girl she was on the day she was in the car wreck and had Lily. She was back in school full time and semi-independent with financial aid and a part time job at a small boutique but Jax still insist on paying for just about everything. Nina could not deny that he and his mom were a Godsend as they watched Lily when she was at school and at work. When she had to study for exams she had to have Gemma come over with the boys or she took Lily to Charming because last time Jax watched Lily while she tried to study they ended up in bed as soon as Lily went to sleep so no Jax during study time. He was just too damn distracting. So why was she so hesitant? Did it have to do with….Jax broke Nina's thoughts.

"Talk to me babe." Jax whispered as his fingers snaked in her lounge pants. Nina moaned as Jax fingers swiped over her clit.

"Jax not here the kids are right there."

"This is one of the reasons we need a bigger house." Jax nipped Nina's ear before pulling his fingers from her. Wow babe you are already wet." Nina was wet as soon as she walked out into the living room and saw him sitting at the table. Just the very sight of him turned her on. Jax licked his fingers. "You wait until the kids go to bed tonight…." Nina shuddered with anticipation. After almost two years together Jax never grew tired of making love to her. It was always like the first night they met. He was always on a level ten.

"Are you going to look at the houses I circled?" Jax asked spinning Nina around to face him. Nina half acknowledge Jax. His handsome face frown down at her.

"What is the problem Nina?" Jax asked lifting her chin up to meet her eyes.

"I can't just up and leave Jax. I have school. I told you this."

"And I told you, you can commute it's under an hour. If you don't want to put the wear and tear on your car I can get one of the guys to drive you….hell Nina I will buy you a new car. You are almost done this semester and you can transfer."

"I told you I am staying at my HBCU." Jax was really making it hard for her to stay as independent as she could. However deep down Nina knew it wasn't the only reason she kept saying no. "Have you and the boys eaten already?" she asked trying to change the subject.

"Yeah we stopped at Gemma's on the way here."

"Da..Da?" Lily crawled off the couch and rushed to Jax as fast as her little chunky legs would carry her.

"Yes pumpkin?" Jax lifted his daughter in his arms.

"Froz….froz.."

"You want to watch Frozen?" Jax asked. Lily shook her head yes. "Well Frozen it is. Let mommy get some snacks while me and your brother's get our pj's on and we all will watch Frozen."

All the kids were out like a light before the movie was half way through. Nina pulled the blow up bed closer to the couch and watch as Jax tucked his sons in. Nina lifted Lily in her arms and tucked her right in the middle with the boys. Their daughter was insistent on sleeping with her brothers whenever they spent the night.

"You know our conversation from earlier is not over." Jax told Nina as he pulled her into her bedroom.

"I know."

Jax sat on the edge of the bed, pulled Nina to him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and laid his head on her stomach.

"You do know how much I love you right Nina?" Jax looked up in Nina's brown eyes.

"I know babe. I love you too." She responded as she leaned over and softly kissed his lips. Nina and Jax slowly made love and they both had a hard time containing their sounds of love making from the kids who were sleeping just next door in the living room.

"We have to get our own home." Jax said exhausted as he collapsed next to Nina pulling her into his arms. Nina snuggled tightly to Jax and listen to the sounds of his steady breathing and soon loud snoring. Nina chuckled to herself just as her phone text alert went off. Slowly pulling out of Jax's embrace Nina grabbed her phone and read the message.

What are you doing? I miss you.

Can't talk now. He is here.

Nina responded and then quickly deleted the message. She looked back at Jax who was still snoring and snuggled back into his arms.

M/N: Thanks to all those who stuck around during my long hiatus. Sorry it took so long to get back at it but back I am. Smiles and Tight Hugs ~M