A/N: Again, apologies for the delays between chapters. Also, I'm struggling keeping this first person so apologies if I'm changing narrative perspective. I was tempted to go back and do a total rewrite… but I can't work out the best way to do it. Any input is much appreciated! Hope you guys like it.

Tara POV

We'd been sitting at a high top table for the better part of an hour when a strong arm reached around me, setting down more Tequila shots than it seemed possible for one person to carry. I looked up to see Adam's brown eyes looking down at me as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. I grabbed a shot and downed it in hopes of calming my sudden onset of jitters.

"Hey, T. I'm glad you're here. Sorry I wasn't able to catch you after school. Jury here twisted my arm into leaving early since he was coming into town. I tried to call you but I guess your cell is off? I called Kristina but she said you guys split up after school"

A second of anger over Kris and confusion over my phone fogged my brain until I realized my dad probably hadn't paid the bill… again.

An older gentleman I kind of recognized clapped Adam on the shoulder. "You make it sound like I had to bribe ya, kid. I just wanted to see my God son. Shit, it's been damn near five years since your momma let me see you." Jury said it jovially enough, but the thought of Adam's mom and her hatred of the club was like a vacuum, sucking the air out of the room. "Though you coulda' told me you had a date with a pretty girl like this. I probably would've let you off the hook," he joked, winking warmly at me.

I could feel the blush flaming across my features. "Oh, no. It's fine." I laughed. "These guys had it covered," I replied, gesturing around the table.

"Well, at least these punks are good for something" he laughed heartily, grabbing Jax into a headlock to give him a noogie.

I felt Adam put his arm around the back of my chair and lean ever so slightly into me so my shoulder was just barely touching his chest. We were hardly even touching but the proximity made my hands slick – that feeling of wanting to lean closer but needing to keep a distance sent a tingle through my spine.

Jax good-naturedly pushed Jury off of him, offering a genuine smile that could seriously burst lightbulbs.

"How long you in town for, old man?"

"Oh, you know. However long it takes. Got a few things we gotta take care of up here before we can head back home."

Jax nodded. "So probably awhile" Jax stated knowingly.

Jury raised an eyebrow at him. "And what do you know about that? Wait. No. Don't tell me. I don't want to know. I need to tell your dad you been eavesdroppin' again."

Jax shrugged. "If you guys would just let us prospect already we wouldn't have to eavesdrop." Opie and Ryan nodded in agreement.

"Well, son, you know the rules. You gotta wait a couple more years. But don't worry" he continued as Jax tried to interrupt, "I'm pretty sure they'll work something out for you… just try to hold your horses there."

The look on Jax' face was so sulky, I couldn't help but laugh. He looked sharply at me but caught himself, his eyes apologizing for the quick reflex. I couldn't be mad at him. Ever since we were little, all he'd ever wanted was a bike and a kutte. I just never understood the allure.

"Well don't laugh too hard there, pretty lady. I'm working on getting that boyfriend of yours into a prospect kutte right now," he smiled, shooting a knowing look over my head to Adam.

"He's not her boyfriend" interjected Opie.

Jury sputtered, laughing and nearly choked on his beer. He looked around the table and smiled. "O-kay, kids. That's my cue. This old man is too old for you youngsters… never can understand what the hell is going on with you all; your damn alternative rock and baggy jeans and new age lingo." He lightly tapped the table and shook his head. "You kids stay out of trouble, alright? And Adam, remember what I said. Jax, Opie, I'll see you over at Gemma's. Think she's having one of her famous family dinners." He gave me a small nod and walked away.

I felt the warmth as Adam consciously leaned closer to me under the angry gaze of not only Jax, but Ryan and Opie as well.

"They're letting you prospect?" Opie asked dully, though the anger behind his eyes was anything but.

Adam nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, you know Jury. He's talking about how it's my old man's legacy and it's the natural progression… all that bullshit."

"You didn't answer the question" spoke Jax dangerously.

"Whoa, guys. Come on. Chill out. I've never even thought about prospecting before. I mean, don't get me wrong, the club is great, right? But my dad… and my mom…" Adam trailed off; eyes vacant; his thoughts clearly shifting to deeper, darker things. He shook his head. "And I drive a cage for fuck's sake," he reasoned, like it meant something.

"Yeah, guys…a cage!" I emphasized cartoonishly, trying to break up some of the tension. Jax' eyes shot sharply to mine again, but they held no apology this time.

"So you're not gonna prospect?" asked Ryan in disbelief. After he'd had a minute to reflect, he didn't seem to share whatever issues Jax and Opie had with the idea. "But they'd totally take you and you know they'd patch you in. You're a legacy!"

Adam shrugged, obviously wishing they'd just drop the subject.

At that moment, John Teller decided to save the day, though he undoubtedly had no idea he was doing so.

"Jackson, your mother wants you home in 30 minutes. Everyone's clearing out of here and headed to our house for – "

"Family dinner," Jax grumbled. "Yeah, I know." John squinted an eye, analyzing him, but didn't say anything.

"Woodley, Ope, Frankie you guys coming?"

"What, I don't get an invite?" asked Ryan.

"Son, I told you. You can't keep staring at Luann's tits. Gemma said you're out on this one, you're giving Luanne the creeps." He shook his head and placed a hand on Ryan's back. "Next one, I promise; as long as you promise to stop being such a creeper. Not only is that Otto's old lady, that's Gemma's best friend. Even God can't save you from the Queen."

John turned his attention to the others.

Opie nodded. "Yeah, I'm in. Mom will probably need help carrying Piney home anyway."

"Sorry, J.T, I think I'm heading home. I've been with Jury all day; mom probably needs me at the house. You know how she gets," mumbled Adam.

"Okay, kid. Understood. You take care of that mom of yours. She's a good lady." Adam offered a nod in affirmation.

"Yeah, I need to get home too. I guess I'll take Ryan since he's on Gemma's shit list" Frankie laughed, throwing an empty peanut shell at Ryan.

"What about you, Tara? There's more than enough food at the house. We can fix your old man a plate for you to take home to him." Dammit, I thought. Someone must have said something to him- Gemma no doubt.

"It's okay, Mr. Teller. I was going to head home soon anyway. Thank you for the invite though. I really do appreciate it."

"You sure?" he asked, not convinced.

"Positive," I smiled at him. "I've got a lot of homework to do and these hooligans convinced me to put it off long enough already."

"Alright then. Frankie, you mind dropping Tara off when you head out?"

Adam stood up a little straighter. "I can take her. She's on my way."

My heart skipped a step, stuttering.

John looked from Adam to me like he was trying to solve some puzzle but gave up after a few seconds.

"Alright, just be safe. That's precious cargo you're hauling" he smiled, ruffling the hair on my head.

Adam looked down at me. "You ready?" he asked coolly, though I recognized the pleading undertone. He needed to get out of the clubhouse. Now.

"Yeah, sure am," I smiled, hopping off the bar stool and grabbing my things.

"Thanks for giving me a ride earlier, Frankie. I really appreciate it."

Frankie tipped his beer up in a silent "you're welcome".

I forced myself to meet Jax' eyes, though I'd been avoiding them ever since his dad walked over.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow. Bye, Mr. Teller" I said as Adam led me out of the clubhouse to his car.

XOXOXOX

Jax POV

My hand tightened around the beer bottle I held as I watch Adam lead Tara from the clubhouse, his hand on the small of her back. First that prick tries to move in on my girl and now he's getting to prospect?

"Careful, son. You might end up with stitches if you clench that bottle any tighter." My dad's words brought me out of my murderous musings.

I said nothing, just released the beer so I could pour myself a tequila shot instead.

"Thought you two weren't together anymore?" he continued.

"We aren't," I answered flatly as I slammed the tequila down and poured another.

"So why does it feel like I might need to lock you down in a straightjacket you so you don't break that poor kids jaw?"

"His jaw's not the only thing he needs to worry about," I muttered under my breath before downing another shot.

"Look son, I'm not telling you how to live your life, but didn't you cheat on that poor girl? She got locked up and kicked out of school because of it, didn't she?"

"Hell yeah she did!" Ryan confirmed a bit too proudly.

I didn't say anything.

"Well if it's got you this ate up, why don't you do something about it? Why sit there and let the Woodley boy have a swing at her?"

When I didn't respond, John just shook his head.

"I know you think I don't understand, Jax, but I do. I really do. If you want that girl, you gotta go after her; reason be damned. Tara's a good one. She's not going to sit around on her ass waiting you or anyone else for that matter. If you don't make the move, she'll move… and she'll be moving on. That girl has a restless soul; always searching for the right thing. Been like that ever since she was a little girl. Don't lose that."

Tired of talking about Tara, I changed the subject.

"You're letting him prospect?"

A confused frown grew on John's face.

"Where'd you hear that from?"

"Jury," Jax bit contemptuously.

John's shoulders visibly slumped and he dropped into the barstool Tara had just vacated.

"You know how this works, Jackson. I don't know anything about Adam prospecting but, if Jury wants to sponsor him or if the kid can get someone else to sponsor him and the club votes on it –" he paused looking hard at Jax. "Well if the club votes, then it is what it is, son. The boy's old enough. If that's what he wants to do and if that's what the club wants him to do…" John shrugged.

Jax stayed silent, focused on peeling the label off the beer bottle in front of him.

"He doesn't have a bike though," Opie reminded John.

"Well, see, then what are you boys worried about?"

Opie shook his head. "We're not worried, John. We're ready." Opie motioned to the other boys sitting at the table. "We're ready to prospect."

John sighed. "Come on, Opie. You know the rules just as well as anyone. Not until you're 17."

"We know the rules, but we're also family. It's in our blood. We were raised for this. I know why the new guys have to be 17, but we are SAMCRO. We were born and bred for this. I don't get it; we know what we want, so why're you making us wait?"

John shook his head. "Look boys, I'm not here to argue with you. 17. Those are the rules. If they ever change, you'll be the first to know," he promised as he pushed away from the table heading toward the exit.

He stopped briefly, placing his hand on Jax' shoulder.

"I know it's hard seeing one of your friends join up before you can. But you know, prospects don't usually have a lot of free time outside of the club. You never know how that might work out in your favor," John reasoned, giving Jax a knowing look.