19.

"Angelica, I love you. I think I've always loved you. I don't know why I did those things. The women and the drugs, but I don't want that. I only want you. I know I have a lot to make up for, I just need to know that you will be waiting for me when I get myself straightened out. I know that's asking a lot but will you?" he asked waiting with his breath on hold.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I love you too Abel. I have always loved you. What you did with all those girls, that hurt. That hurt really bad."

"I'm sorry." he said with tears in his eyes.

"I know. I want to be your wife someday Abel and if you think that you can get through this then I will definitely be waiting for you at the end. But I can't deal with anymore. Do you understand?"

"I swear no more women and I am trying my best to get past this drug shit."

"I know. Just keep up what you are doing and know I will be there when you are okay." she said smiling at him finally.

He took a deep breath and started to lean forward to kiss her. Then he said, "Do you mind if I kiss you Angelica?"

She pulled his head towards her and kissed him with everything she had. Once she pulled back she stood up. "Now get your butt busy Abel Teller. I'm waiting and I need you." she said. Then she turned and walked back out to Jax.

"Everything okay?" Jax asked.

"Yeah, we are going to be fine."
Jax smiled and Kozik went back into the room that Abel was at. When he walked in he saw Abel staring out the window watching them leave.

"She still loves me." Abel said in awe.

"Of course she does. Yes, she's hurting with everything that happened but you have a strong lady right there. Now you have to be strong and kick this shit to the curb."

He turned and smiled at Kozik. "Thanks man, I uh.. I don't know what I would have done if I had completely lost her."

"You don't have to think about it. Now let's get your ass in shape. Weights and exercise can really help you change your habits from the partying to getting clean. You have to remember Abel that once you get clean, you can't go back to even the alcohol. That's a drug too."

"Yeah, I know." he said, "but as long as I have Angelica I don't need anything else." he said.

Kozik nodded at him and they went out to the makeshift gym that Kozik set up.

Jade was smiling as she walked into her room. She heard her mom calling her and she turned to go back downstairs.

"Hey what's up with you?" Tara asked seeing the smile on Jades face.

"I'm going on a date."
"You are. With who?" Tara asked smiling.

"Sonny."

"Sonny Lowman?"

"Yes."

"I thought you were into Harry."
"Harry and I are like me and Abel."

"How did you figure this out?" Tara asked glad she didn't have to worry about explaining this to her.

"When I saw how interested he was in Lacey Kozik, it didn't bother me. I knew then that what I felt for him wasn't that kind of love. I found out that there was someone else interested in me so I went for it."
"You aren't just going out with Sonny to be going out with someone are you?" Tara asked concerned.

"No momma, I have always really liked Sonny but I want to see what can happen between us."

"Just don't let your school work fall down."

"I won't, besides Sonny knows how important it is to me. He will make sure I don't." she said smiling and went back to her room.

"Shit, now I have to tell Jax about this. I just hope he handles this better then the way he handled Abel." she said to herself.

Later that night when Jax walked into his home, everything was quiet. He called out for Tara.

"I'm right here baby." she said walking towards him from the kitchen.

"Where is everyone?"

"Well Thomas is out with friends and Jade is in her room."

"What's she doing in her room?"

"Can you sit down for a moment?" she asked.

"I don't like the sound of that Tara."

"I just want to talk to you for a moment."

He sat down at the kitchen table and she pulled a beer out of the fridge handing it to him.

"Okay, why are you buttering me up?" he asked.

"I want you to remember how you and Happy dealt with the fact of Abel and Angelical and I want you to keep that in your mind."

"What the hell is going on Tara?"

"Jade and Sonny are going on a date." she blurted out really quick.

Jax got real quiet and just sat there.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He nodded his head. He took a few more minutes thinking about it then he smiled.

"I'm not sure if that smile is a good one or bad one." she finally said.

"I'm not going to mess up again Tara. You are going to keep me straight about all this. So what should I do?"

"Well, what are your feelings on this?"

"I'm not really sure to be truthful. I think Sonny is a good kid and you know I have the most respect for Happy and Lisa."

"And?"

"If Jade is happy about it then I guess I am too. I never want to put my children through all this shit again."

Tara leaned over and kissed her husband and he stood up bringing her into his arms.

"Now we just have to figure out how to handle everything if it all goes south." he said.

She giggled and kissed him again.