So this chapter is just a nice break from some hard times for our group. Some trips down memory lane and some laughs. Enjoy!
Jax had managed to clear everyone out of the waiting room. He could only do that with the promise that he would fill everyone in later. The group that made up Abels waiting party consisted of Tara, Jax, Opie, Donna, Kozik, and Chibs. Tara could already tell that there was a deep bond forming within the group. Everyone sat in silence for the better part of an hour before Donna started laughing quietly to herself.
"What's so funny?" Opie asked her.
"Do you remember what we were talking about before Tara showed up at Jax's party?"
This made Opie and Jax laugh too.
"What we're you guys talking about?" Tara asked curiously.
"Donna had mentioned that she hadn't had that much fun since my 18th birthday party." Jax said, clearly remembering that night again.
"Oooh. Do I feel there's a classic group story that's about to be regaled?" Kozik asked.
"Tara you should start this off. You were the one that got the ball rolling after all." Opie said.
"Okay, fine. The night of his party Gemma and Clay were out of town so we decided to have the party at their house instead of the clubhouse. We knew there would be a club party, so this was kind of just a few friends and other people our age. I got pretty drunk and decided to add some new music into the mix. It had been a lot of rock music. I put in the recent Mariah Carey cd and decided to "serenade" Jax and Opie with the song Heartbreaker. "
" It was amazing, by the way." Jax cut in. "But it was what happened next that really iced the cake."
"Anyway! Donna thought it was hilarious so we decided to do our own little dance number. Donna changed the cd and before I know it, we're dancing on Gemmas dining room table belting out the lyrics to No Scrubs by TLC. Jax was torn between laughing and trying to get us down before our shoes did too much damage to the table." Tara used to be embarrassed by the story, now she found it hilarious.
"You know that Gemma is still pissed about that right? She always goes on about needing to get it refinished or replaced. I don't think she knows what happened though because she's never said it was caused by a couple drunk chicks giving a show." Chibs said, barely able to contain his laughter.
"Fuck no. Would you tell Gemma that someone damaged her property when you were two feet away? I tried to get them down but then gave up when I realized it was useless. They were having way too much fun. Plus, it was hot. " Jax threw a wink towards Tara.
Everyone was able to contain their laughter after a few minutes. Kozik requested to hear another story. He knew there was history within the group, and he figured this was a good distraction from worrying tirelessly about something they just had to wait out.
"Oh! I'll start this one. It's my favorite story to tell." Opie said excitedly. Jax knew immediately what he was talking about, but Tara had no clue.
"So it was November and it was the day before Taras 21st birthday. "
Tara groaned as she figured out what Opie wad going to tell the group.
"Jax and I convinced her we should go to a club in San Francisco. Tara is the youngest of us four, so we could all go out together, legally. Since its a long drive we decided that we'd go up during the day and stay for two days. Of course we took the bikes so that meant there was minimal luggage we could take. The fun really started when we had to break it to the girls they couldn't bring 5 outfits and three pairs of shoes. Once the bitch fits died down, we were able to hit the road. Donna bitched in my ear the whole way there about her ass hurting and never doing it again."
"I got the same shit from Tara on the way. She bitched about her shoes, then her ass. Just constantly alternating between the two. "
" Oh fuck off Jax. Finish up the damn story. I'm not telling this one. "
"Okay well we were in line to get into some hotshot club and the wait time was quite a while. Tara decided it'd be best if we pregame and drank while in line. Needless to say, by the time we got into the club Tara was completely shit faced. She walked in and immediately yelled out 'I'm 21 bitches!' which earned her cheers throughout the club."
Kozik and Chibs went from chuckling to all out laughing by this point.
"Oh it gets better brothers." Jax stated.
"Bullshit. It gets worse, so much worse." Tara defended. Donna had stayed quiet for the whole thing. Just laughing and waiting for her turn to speak up.
"Tara ends up getting free drinks for the whole night. Since she plastered before we even got in, she was heading to oblivion after more drinks. So at last call we decided to take off for the hotel, except we couldn't find Donna." Opie then paused and looked at his wife to continue.
"On my way back from the bathroom I noticed a juke box. The Dj had stopped playing an hour ago so I played some songs .
"You bitch! I knew that was you. You've denied it all this time! You're the reason for my shame!" Donna ignored her outburst and continued.
"When I got back to the table, the beginning chords of No Scrubs was playing." Donna paused for dramatic effect and let Kozik and Chibs settle down a bit. Jax was the one to continue the story.
"I'm trying to drag Tara out and the next thing I know she's up on the table dancing. In a club full of strangers in fucking San Francisco. I try to get her down but she was adamant that she was fine. She's about halfway through the song when she falls off the fucking table. I look down and see her shaking and think she's crying. Nope she's fucking laughing hysterically asking to do it again. We get her out of the club and no more then two feet out of the club she turns around and hugs me. "
" Aw that's sweet Jackie boy. You get her drunk to obtain her affection." Chibs jokes, still laughing at the girl he already considers family.
"Yeah it was sweet. Until the threw up down the front of my shirt. It was disgusting. Opie was useles, kept laughing while dragging a drunk Donna out. Tara was crying, apologized a thousand times, and then passed out in the middle of the sidewalk."
"Yeah, thanks for catching me by the way. " Tara laughed.
" What'd you expect? You'd just thrown up on me."
"We were able to make it back to the hotel without further incident. But ended up using one room of the two we booked. When Tara woke up in the morning she accused Jax of not being able to handle his liquor and throwing up on himself. " Opie said laughing.
Chibs and Kozik laughed until they couldn't breathe. Jax decided to throw her a bone, while also revealing something to the club.
" But the day did get better when you got your gifts. Do you remember what you got?"
A serene smile graced Taras face and she nodded.
"Opie gave me a coupon book of free riding lessons so I'd quit almost toppling over on your bike. Donna gave me a gift card to my favorite store, and you gave me a necklace." She instinctively felt the long chain she kept under her clothes. She hadn't taken this necklace off since she left Charming.
"Are you alright darlin? " Chibs asked her.
She pulled the necklace out from under her shirt to show them why she was clutching her chest.
Chibs gasped slightly when he saw the necklace.
" Is that the one Jax gave you?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Yeah. I didn't wear it until I left Charming. I was afraid of what Kyle would do if he saw it. I haven't taken it off since I left. I keep it on me at all times."
Tara loved the necklace but she didn't realize the significance that it really held. Nestled in Taras hand was a black Diamond crow with a yellow diamond eye. She knew that the crow represented the club in a way, but didn't realize that it was a sign of an old lady. Jax had attempted to stake his claim on her before they had even been together on New year's eve.
Everyone else knew the significance though.
Chibs wad getting ready to pull Jax aside and ask him about it when the doctor came out to give them information on Abel.
"Mr. Teller, Abel made it through surgery. There were no complications and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. "
The group collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
" Can I go back and see him now?" Jax asked.
"Unfortunately he won't be able to have visitors for at least 24 hours, maybe more. He's being kept in a sterile room under constant supervision. He could easily catch an infection and we're doing everything we can do avoid that. I'll have one of the nurses call with an update tomorrow and if anything changes I'll call you immediately."
Jax shook his hand and thanked him before saying his goodbyes to Kozik and Chibs and heading to Opies with Tara on the bike.
Once there, they say their good nights to Donna and Opie before heading to the spare room. They hadn't talked sleeping arrangements, but what they were doing worked just fine for them. Tara barely managed to get her shoes off before plopping in the bed and cuddling up to Jax's side.
"Goodnight." she mumbled tiredly.
Jax chuckled. "Goodnight. Thanks for keeping my necklace."
"mmm love it. My crow." Jaxs heart swelled with pride as he drifted off to sleep.
-AHW-
Since they didn't get in until almost 3 am, Gemmas 9 am wake up call came too soon. Tara heard the phone ring but Jax quieted it quickly and left the room. He came back in a short moment later. He gently nudged Tara and told her they had to be at the fair grounds in an hour to start setting up.
"You sure this is how you want to spend your promised day off?" Jax asked her.
"Definitely. Otherwise I'll spend the day here worrying about shit."
They talked for a few more minutes until they heard Donna call for breakfast.
"Hey Jax. Tomorrow morning we're getting up early and making them breakfast. They've done it for us twice now. " Jax didn't argue because he was pretty sure by her telling him and and by asking that she'd wake him up anyway.
They walked out and were greeted by a full table.
"You guys live here now too?" Jax asked Chibs and Kozik in a teasing manner.
"Only for two more days. Then we'll all follow you to Taras house." Chibs teased back.
They all shared a laugh and then started to discuss their long day. The fundraiser started at at noon and didn't end until after the fireworks at 9. They were headed out at 10 to start setting up.
Tara excused herself for a shower after breakfast. She enlisted Donna to help her change her bandage on her head with a smaller one and to help clean her cuts in her rib cage.
"Donna, I'm scared. What if Kyle does show up today?" Tara voiced her concerns to get best friend.
"Nothing is going to happen to you today. The whole club will be there and they will protect you. You're part of us now and we protect our own."
Donna takes a deep breath and looks Tara in the eye.
"You got away 5 years ago, but Jax won't let you get away again. He's in it all the way, he always has been."
Tara contemplated what Donna said for a minute before she spoke up.
"He had Wendy."
"Wendy was just a distraction. Talk to Jax, Tara. Ask him about the crow."
Taking a deep breath Tara knew she needed to tell Donna about the story Jax told her.
"last night Jax said if he'd been man enough to tell me that I was cared for and wanted, that maybe I wouldn't have left. He said that he still wanted to take care of me. He also said that he wanted to let old wounds heal so we can make more memories together." Tara was smiling, telling Donna about his story.
"Wow, Jax Teller is a big softy at heart. Who knew!"
"You should have heard him. Its almost like he was uncomfortable sharing his feelings so he used the prince/princess analogy. He called Opie the jester." Tara chuckled recalling.
"What'd he call me?" Donna asked out of curiousness.
In a fit of giggles, Tara was barely able to utter the words milk maid.
"Jackson Nathaniel Teller!" Donna screamed as she stormed off into the kitchen. Tara was hot on her heels laughing the whole time.
The men looked startled.
"Brotha, What'd you do?" Chibs asked.
"I don't know!" Jax replied throwing a bewildered look toward Opie.
"THE MILK MAID?! " she screamed at him, punching his shoulder.
Tara laughed uncontrollably, while Kozik, Chibs, and Opie sat there confused.
Jax glanced behind Donna to Tara.
" Fucking traitor." he said to her, but smiling all the same. He figured the best way to handle it was by making another joke.
"Well I could have called you the town wench." This earned a laugh from Tara and Donna, an eye roll from Kozik and Chibs, and a slap to the back of the head by Opie.
"Dude, did you just call my wife a whore?!" At that, everyone laughed.
It was a nice start to the day, and everyone was hoping that the mood could carry over to the rest of it.