Chapter 8
***Gracie's POV***
Waking up the next morning, he heads to the garage and I head to Jax's house to meet Gemma there. Walking in, she's already there cleaning up. Seeing me, she smiles when she sees me smiling. "Morning Sweetheart." she says. "Morning Gemma. Can I talk to you a second?" I asked. "Yeah baby. What's up?" she asked. "Thank you for talking to Jax. We talked last night and he cleared some things up for me." I tell her. "I love you Sweetheart. You and my son belong together and if it takes me knocking some sense into both of you, I will. Now, what did he clear up for you?" she asked. "He let me know that he's no wanting to get back with Tara. He's with me no matter what. He showed me last night where he wants his crow." I tell her. "That's great baby." she says. "There's more. Rosen is filing the paperwork this morning. Wendy signed her rights over and he's making me a custodial parent to Abel." I tell her. She pulls me into a hug and says "That's great baby. So, I take it you are moving in here?" she asked. "As soon as you and I get it livable." I tell her. We start cleaning and finally get everything done and ready for the painters to come in. Jax stops by and I am on the back deck. Newspapers laying around and four letters, spelling Abel's name laying on them and I am dipping the paintbrush into the paint when he walks out and sees me. "Those look good babe." he says. "Thanks. I picked them up while Gemma and I were out. Thought they'd look good above the crib." I say. "They will. I'm gonna head to see the kid after I talk to mom, you wanna go with me?" he asked smiling. "Yeah. I'm almost done here and they will have to dry." I tell him before he kisses me and heads inside.
After I finish the letters and put them in the sun to dry, I head inside. Rosen is standing there and hands Jax some papers before turning to leave. "Are those what I think they are?" I asked. He hands them to me and I look at them and smile. "I'm his mom now." I whisper. Jax pulls me to him and says "You're his mom papers or not. Ready to go?" he asked. "Let's go see our kid." I say before we head out to his bike.
Walking into Abel's room at St Thomas, Jax and I are hand in hand. Walking up to the 'toaster' as Jax calls it, we see he's moving around a little. Tara comes in and sees us and smiles a tight, seemingly forced smile. "How's he doing this morning?" Jax asked. "Good. Moving around a little which is good. Vitals are better than yesterday." she tells him. "Good. Thanks again for taking care of him. You didn't have to do it." Jax says. "I wanted to help your son, Jax." she says softly. I see Gemma outside and she motions me to come to her. "Hey, your mom needs me. I'll be right back." I tell him before walking outside.
***Jax's POV***
"How have you been?" Tara asked me. "Good. Didn't think I'd see you back here." I say back. "Yeah, guess it was time to come home." she says. I'm looking at Abel when she speaks again. "Jax, can I ask you a question?" she asked. I look at her and nod. "Who's going to take care of him when he gets to come home?" she asked. "He'll be taken care of Tara." I say. It's not really her business. "You can't be there with him all the time. What's going to happen? Your mom going to play mommy while you're gone?" she asked. "Mom will be helping and so will Gracie." I tell her, getting frustrated with the questions. "It's good that you and her are still best friends." she says like she's trying to figure something out. "Yeah. But she's also my Old Lady." I tell her, knowing that's what she wanted to know. "Old Lady? Wow. Didn't know that was your type now." she says. "What's do you mean by that?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest. "Just, when we were together, you never even looked at her. You always told me that I was your type." she says. "Yeah, well I was young and stupid back then and only thinking with my dick. When you left, she stayed. She stood by me and helped me get past you." I told her bluntly, not liking where this conversation was going. "I just thought…" she starts and I cut her off. "Thought what? That you would come back and we'd pick up where we left off? That you'd come back and I'd come running?" I asked clearly getting pissed but still keeping my voice down so not to wake Abel. "Something like that." she whispers. "It ain't happening. She's my Old Lady. There will never be anything else between us, Tara. Gracie and I appreciate all that you have done for our son but she and I are together and nothing will change that." I tell her. "She's not his mom." Tara bites out. "She is. Wendy signed over her rights and I have the paperwork showing Gracie as a custodial parent. She's the one that Abel will grow up calling Mommy. Not Wendy. Not you." I say before I see the tears start to fall from her eyes and she quietly walks out of the room.
***Gracie's POV***
I had opened the door to come back in when I heard the conversation between Jax and Tara. She walks out of the room in tears and I see him looking back down at Abel. "Mommy and Daddy love you so much buddy. Keep fighting so we can get you out of here and home where you belong." I hear him say. I put my hand on his arm. He wraps his arm around me and kisses the top of my head as I lay my head against his chest. "I heard you and Tara." I say. "I meant what I said. It will always be you. No matter what. You and Abel." he tells me. "I love you Jax." I whisper as I put my hand on top of the incubator. "I love you too Gracelynn." he whispers back. I lean down and whisper "Mommy and Daddy love you Abel, so much." I feel Jax pulling me closer. He pulls me over to the rocking chair next to the incubator and pulls me into his lap and we just sit there, watching our son sleep.