Chapter 3

The sun had set by the time Nora came walking out of the building with a Manila envelope in her hands. She took in a deep breath as she looked at the sky, a small smile settled on her lips as she took in the beautiful hues of purples, pinks, and oranges. Her heart was beating at its normal rhythm again and her body felt drained now that the anxiety had left.

It had been a long day to say the least.

A weight felt like it had been lifted off of her shoulders. Sure, she might not know exactly what she was going to do, but just having the divorce papers drawn up made her feel better. In a way, she felt powerful with them. She could hurt Jax, if she chose to do so. She could take away the family that he had took for granted. All it would take was a signature.

Nora's heels clicked as she made her way into the driver side of her Rover. Shutting her door, she reached to put her key in the ignition when she heard the sound of a motorcycle engine starting up. Her stomach dropped as she quickly ducked down as the motorcycle passed by her vehicle. She peeked over the steering to see the tan man that had been wearing the Prospect kutte driving down the road. Her eyes darted around to make sure that she didn't see any other of the Sons hanging around before she finally started her vehicle and drove off.

She drummed her fingers anxiously against the steering wheel as her eyes kept peering into the rearview mirror. Her stomach was in knots and she could feel herself starting to sweat. She wasn't a moron, she knew that Jax had her followed. Now it was just a matter of time before he showed his face and the shit show would begin.

Her Blackberry started ringing causing her heart to stop momentarily as she reached a shaky hand over to the passenger seat to retrieve her phone. The screen flashed the name 'Muffy' causing her to let out a breath and a smile to form on her lips. She accepted the call and placed the phone to her right ear. "Hello?"

"Hey!" Muffy sounded like she was out of breath, "How did everything go?"

"It was fine." Nora turned on her left blinker as she slowed down turn onto Anderson Avenue, "I got the papers drawn up."

"Oh? So will they be sending them to his lawyer or are they going to serve him like in the movies?"

Nora parked the car in the driveway of her modest one-story white brick home. Jax had bought it for them not too long after they found out about the twins. It was his way of showing her that everything would be okay. "Not exactly. I didn't actually sign them.."

"Okay," Muffy drug out the word, "So… you aren't going to divorce Jax?"

Nora let out a groan as she unlocked her front door, "Yes. No. Maybe. Look, I don't know what the hell I'm doing, okay? I don't know what I want, but I know what I don't want. I just don't… know."

"Where are you?"

"I just made it home." Nora turned her living room light on before hanging her car keys up on the key rack. She dropped her purse and the Manila folder on the coffee table before plopping herself down on the black leather sofa.

"I'll be there in ten."

"Okay. See you soon." Nora propped her feet up on the coffee table, "Be careful."

"Always." Muffy responded before she hung up.

Nora tossed her phone onto the table and rubbed her hands down her face before deciding that she had enough time for a quick shower. Making her way down the hallway, she tripped over one of Charlie's shoes that he was supposed to put in his room. Her heart clenched as she frowned. 'I miss my babies,' She thought as she made her way to the master bathroom.

Nora made sure that the temperature of the water was the perfect level of scalding before climbing in. After soaking her hair, she reached for her shampoo and frowned as she grabbed Jax's Head 'N Shoulders shampoo instead. For a moment, she allowed herself to miss him before her anger took over and she hummed the shampoo bottle at the floor. She threw his body wash next as she felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. A sob formed in her throat and without her permission it came out. Sinking down onto the floor of the shower, she hugged her knees to her chest as sobs wracked her body.

How could he have done this to her? What was so wrong with her that he would feel the need to seek out someone else? Why wasn't she enough?

"Nora?" Muffy called into the bathroom as she pushed door causing it to creak open. The only response that Nora gave was the sound of another sob. Concerned Muffy hurried over to the tub and pulled the shower curtain back.

Taking in the sight of her broken best friend, Muffy's heart broke. "Oh, honey."

After turning off the shower, Muffy grabbed a white towel and wrapped it around Nora. Climbing into the tub, she sat next to her and wrapped her arms around Nora as her head leaned against Nora's wet one.

"I'm sorry my cousin is such a fucking idiot." Was the only thing Muffy said as she waited for Nora to calm down.

"I just want my family." Nora whimpered after a few minutes, her eyes stared vacantly at the bathroom counter.

Rubbing Nora's wet hair, Muffy couldn't help but be pissed at her cousin. How hard was it to be faithful to someone? She knew that Jax loved Nora more than anything, besides the kids. But his lack of control was ridiculous. "I know, honey."

After a few moments, Nora calmed down and couldn't help but laugh at the situation she was in. Sitting butt naked, besides a towel, with her best friend in her bathtub. Oh, how far she had fallen. "Let's get out of here."

"Yeah?" Muffy stood up and reached a hand down to help Nora up as well, "I brought wine and lasagna."

Nora perked up as she grinned. Her bloodshot and slightly swollen eyes had a little more life in them. "Did you bring Texas Toast, too?"

"Did I bring Texas Toast?" Muffy mocked as she made her way into Nora's room and started pulling clothes out of her dresser, "Well duh, you dumbass."

"Bitch." Nora grinned as she took the clothes that was given to her.

They both quickly changed into some sweat pants and t-shirts before making their way into the kitchen. Muffy fixed them both a plate and a big glass of wine before they made their way into the living room to sit on the couch.

"Do you want to talk about that?" Muffy asked, her brown eyes glued to the Manila folder on the coffee table.

Nora shook her head as she took a big gulp of wine, "Not tonight."

Nodding her head, Muffy used the black hair tie on her wrist to put her mid-back length blonde hair up into a ponytail. "Fair enough. Have you talked to Donna recently?"

Donna was married to Nora's cousin, Opie Winston. The petite brunette was the other member of their trio of best friends. They had all been stuck like glue since their elementary school days. When Opie was arrested four and half years prior, Donna did her best to avoid anything that had to do with the Club. Unfortunately for Nora, she was included.

Nora frowned, "No, she's still pissed at the Club and since I'm married to Jax I guess I'm guilty by association."

Rolling her eyes, Muffy let out a huff, "She's not pissed at you. She just doesn't want you bringing her money."

Narrowing her eyes, Nora huffed as she threw her arms in the air, "Well, what the hell am I supposed to do? I promised Ope that I would look out for her. I'm trying to help her."

"She thinks of it as blood money if it's coming from Jax's pocket." Muffy shrugged before taking a bite out of lasagna.

Groaning Nora downed the rest of her wine, "God, I swear if that's what this is about I'm going to strangle her. Tell her it's from the fucking bakery."

"No, then she would just think that you were getting it out of your trust fund. Everyone knows that the bakery isn't making that much." Muffy put her hands up as Nora glared at her, "I'm just saying. She doesn't want a hand out."

"And I don't want Opie to have more reasons to stress. I mean come on." Nora rolled her eyes before licking her plate clean causing Muffy to laugh.

"You're so fucking Classy, Nor."

"Bite me." Nora retorted as she stood up to take her plate to the kitchen and to retrieve the wine bottle.

"Maybe after a few more glasses of wine!" Muffy called after her with a laugh causing Nora to laugh as well.

They spent the rest of the night drinking and singing along to old 90's songs before they crashed in Nora's bed.

Jax was sprawled out on the roof of the Clubhouse. He could hear the sounds of a Friday night party in full swing, but he didn't care. Three empty Jack Daniel bottles along with two empty packs of cigarettes were abandoned on the ground beside him. He would have went in search for more but he didn't feel like crawling to the ladder to get down off the of the roof.

His disposable cell was shattered on the ground below. It was smashed in a fit of rage after Juice, the Prospect that was tailing Nora, called and informed Jax that his wife was at an appointment with a divorce lawyer. At first, Jax was ready to hop on his bike and go after her. Then, he thought about going and making sure the lawyer wouldn't want to touch the case. Just when he was getting ready to go do something his mom stopped him.

"Your kids are watching you, Jackson." Gemma had been stern with her hands on her hips, but her brown eyes softened as she saw the pain in her son's blue eyes. Reaching up, she placed her hands on his cheeks before giving him a quick kiss. "Everything will be okay, baby. I'm going to take the kids home. You do what you gotta do tonight, and tomorrow you start working on fixing your family."

What did he have to do tonight? Apparently, get shitfaced on the top of roof. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea considering he was now too fucking wasted to get off of the roof… but he didn't give a shit. And why should he? His wife wanted to fucking leave him. Deep down, he didn't even blame her. He was a piece of shit and even he knew it. She had always been better than him.

They had known each other since they were kids. She had always been the girl with a big heart and beautiful smile. She helped others every chance she got, and all he did was hurt people in some way or another. She had been faithful from the start and he had a hard time resisting temptation. And why? Because it stifled that little voice that I told him he was nothing — at least for a little while. And then the guilt would set in and remind him just how shitty he really was.

Maybe he should just let her go. She could find better than him and be treated like the queen she deserved to be treated as.

No, fuck that. She was his queen.

He had worked so hard to live up to his father's legacy, and to build one for Charlie… but what good would any of that be without Nora by his side cheering him on like she always had.

As stars shone brightly above him, his last thought before passing out was, 'I just want my family.'

Thank you all for the favorites, follows, and reviews! It's a really wonderful feeling to know that there is someone who enjoys reading your story. Please let me know what you think! Also, I've been working on really trying to be descriptive in my writing so any advice on what you like it what I could improve on would be really appreciated :)

If anyone was wondering, I picture Carlson Young as Muffy.

I want to give a BIG thank you to those who have reviewed! RebornRose1992, Demarcod, Emmettluver2010, A. Smit, Janshanr, Annabelle, and all of my guest reviewers thank you all!