"Daddy, look!" Abel said happily as he shook a page from his coloring book towards Jax. He'd been working hard on staying inside the lines while he colored. Jax took the picture in his hands and smiled, looking down at the now blue motorcycle.
"Looks awesome, little man. Are you wanting a blue motorcycle when you grow up?" Jax asked, pulling Abel up in his arms. Abel shook his head with a smile.
"No, Daddy, I want a black one like yours." He said before burying his face in the crook of Jax's neck. Mackenzie smiled as the two people she loved most shared such a sweet moment. She felt her hand go to her own, flat stomach automatically. She started wondering what the little one would be like. How they would look, talk, and act, not to mention if Abel would have a little brother or sister.
The happy thoughts of her new little family almost wiped away the worry in Mackenzie's mind. Jax, however, was super focused on the new threat to his family. He kissed Mackenzie on the top of her head and took her hand, walking back towards his dorm. Abel was sound asleep by the time he opened the door.
"Mack, are you doing okay?" Jax asked after laying Abel down on the bed. Mackenzie nodded slowly.
"How long do you think they'll stay in Charming?" She spoke quietly as Jax wrapped his arms around her, pulling them together.
"Once they realize he's not here, they'll have no reason to stay. Shouldn't take them too long." Jax whispered in her ear. He hoped he was right, but regardless of the concerns he had, his focus was to make sure Mackenzie didn't worry.
"I'm going to take a nap with Abel." Mackenzie told Jax with a yawn. He nodded and kissed her lips softly before letting her go. He could see her eyes shining a little with tears, but knew better than to press her. She took off her boots and crawled underneath the covers next to Abel, pulling him close to her. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping Jax didn't see her cry before he left.
Jax closed the door softly behind him. He closed his eyes and leaned his back against the hallway wall with a deep breath. Chibs rounded the corner and stopped short when he saw Jax standing there. "Ay, Jacky boy. I was looking for ya. There's a problem at tha gate. Prospect won't let 'em in, but they won't leave. Askin for Mackenzie." Chibs briefed Jax as he stormed down the hallway and across the clubhouse.
"Happy, Chibs, Opie, with me." Jax barked as he flung the door to the garage lot open. He called for the prospect to open the gate, stopping just out from under the overhang with his arms crossed. Chibs and Opie were on either side of him as Happy took a couple steps forward and to the left of his VP.
"Phil, nobody without a kutte gets in that clubhouse." Opie said, directing the large prospect to guard the door. The black SUV parked in the middle of the lot before two large, suited men climbed out. One opened the back door, letting Tony out of the back seat.
"I don't think we got off to a great start, I'm Tony Whitman. You are?" Tony asked with a seemingly pleasant smile as he reached a hand out to Jax. Jax kept his arms folded across his chest, ignoring the old man's weak attempt to be polite.
"Jaxson Teller, but I'm sure you already knew that. Unless something's wrong with your truck, I'm going to have to insist you leave." Jax said evenly as Tony finally retracted his arm. He could tell Happy was getting agitated with Tony's security detail eyeballing him.
"I'm here to talk to Ms. Bradshaw. Do you have any idea who I am?" Tony said with a chuckle. Jax ran his hand over his beard in frustration.
"I couldn't give a fuck less who you are, Mayor. Mackenzie doesn't want to talk." Jax growled as he took a step forward. Tony's security went to back him up, but Happy got in the way.
"Don't push it." Happy said angrily. His eyes were wild and the shorter of the two bodyguards seemed to rethink his actions. Jax put his hand up, looking over at Happy who dropped his hand from the gun he was getting ready to draw.
"Aye, ya can leave whole or with some bullet holes. Up to you but ya're leaving. Now." Chibs spat at the trespassers. Jax could tell he was getting pissed, because the madder he got, the harder it was to understand him.
"If I find out there's been any foul play, you better bet I know where to turn first, Mr. Teller." Tony threw over his shoulder as he retreated to the safety of his SUV. Jax didn't move until the vehicle was out of the lot and the gate was securely closed.
"I'll be in the garage." Jax said flatly, lighting a cigarette and walking off. Opie followed him silently as the Chibs and Happy looked on from a picnic table.
Jax walked over to a chopper that needed a tune up. He was working on a bolt that secured the engine cover unsuccessfully. Five or six minutes later, he hurled the wrench across the garage. There was a loud crash as it smacked into the metal wall. Opie shook his head and walked over to Jax.
"Feel better?" Opie asked sarcastically. Jax dropped another wrench down to the floor before looking up at his brother. His eyes were dark.
"I will once that dick is out of Charming. Mackenzie can't take this shit right now." Jax sighed, standing up and running both hands through his hair.
"How far along is she?" Opie asked quietly. Jax raised his brow and hesitated for a minute.
"How did you know?" Jax tried to recall if he'd said anything to give it away.
"I didn't. You just confirmed it though. Figured you wouldn't worry about her being stressed if something wasn't going on." Opie smiled while he clapped Jax's shoulder in brotherly love. "That's what dinner's for isn't it?"
"Yeah, that and we're getting married." Jax said, smiling at the thought of Mackenzie's face at dinner last night.
"That's awesome, brother. I'll try to act surprised later." Opie said with a laugh. Jax laughed and nodded.
"You brining Lyla?" Jax asked, making Opie redden a little. "Ope, she's a good girl, you're allowed to be happy." Opie nodded and twisted the end of his beard around his finger before heading off towards the clubhouse silently. Jax took a deep breath and straightened his kutte before following his brother.
Jax was sitting at the bar with a warm beer he'd barely touched when Mackenzie walked up with Abel in tow. She recognized the worried expression on his face before he caught sight of them. She ran her hand over the back of his leather kutte and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"Hey darlin' you and the little man have a good nap?" Jax asked as he pulled Abel up onto his lap.
"Yeah, but you shouldn't have let us sleep that long. We need to head over to Gemma's soon, don't we?" Mackenzie asked with a small nod towards Abel. They'd agreed to tell Abel about the life changes coming up before dinner. Jax grinned and nodded as she swung Abel up to sit on his shoulders with a little squeal of delight. He followed Mackenzie back to his dorm room, ducking a little so Abel wouldn't get knocked out on the doorframe.
"Hey, buddy Mackenzie and I wanted to talk to you before we go to Gramma's for dinner, okay?" Jax said as he dropped Abel down softly on the bed. Abel giggled for a minute before climbing up on Mackenzie's lap as she sat on the bed next to him.
"What would you think about Daddy and I getting married?" Mackenzie asked Abel with a smile. He turned his head a little and looked at Jax.
"Marry Momma?" Abel said, a little lost on the meaning of the question. Jax nodded and leaned forward, taking Abel's hand in his.
"That means that Daddy and Mackenzie would be together forever." Jax explained, hoping the simple explanation would help Abel understand. Abel smiled and nodded.
"Little man, you're gonna be a big boy soon. So, when Daddy has to go away sometimes, you've got to take care of Momma, okay?" Jax said, ruffling his sons blonde hair. Abel nodded and hugged Mackenzie.
"You know what else? You're going to have to take care of a little brother or sister soon to, baby boy." Mackenzie said quietly as she kissed his forehead. He looked up at her and frowned a little.
"Abel, Mackenzie and I are always going to love you. Soon you get to be a big brother and have even more people to love you." Jax said with a smile. He remembered how he felt when Gemma told him she was having Thomas, so he had a feeling Abel was worried about being pushed aside.
"Abel, we're going to keep it a secret until you, me and Daddy tell everyone at dinner okay? You think you might want to tell everybody?" Mackenzie asked, sneaking a glance up at Jax. Abel got excited and nodded happily.
"Pwease?" Abel asked Jax, bouncing on Mackenzie's lap. Jax laughed and nodded as he stood up.
"Okay little man. I'll tell you when to tell everybody, okay?" Jax said, grabbing Abel and setting his feet on the floor. Abel made a zipper like motion over his mouth and smiled. Mackenzie laughed and followed Jax and Abel to the car.
a/n: Thank you all for the reviews, follows and favorites :) If you have any thoughts of what you'd like to see coming up, don't hesitate to message me or leave it in the reviews!