Blended Chapter 9
Few months later.
"Come on Thomas you got this!" Cortney laughed as she held onto Thomas as they waded in the pool together. Jax smiled as he set on the edge of the pool with Abel between his legs both splashing water with their feet. Jax winked his eye at Cortney when she looked up at him. They were both inseparable the past few months. Jax loved it when he, his boys, Steven and Cortney were together for lazy afternoons. He missed the feeling of having a family and quite a few times, he found himself thinking of Tara and what they shared.
"Hey Mom! Jax! I got another letter." Steven said walking out to the pool with another college letter. Steven had been accepted to all the schools he applied for.
"Who is it from?" Cortney asked as she and Thomas swim up to Abel and Jax at the edge of the pool.
"East Carolina University." Steven replied. Jax and Cortney both frown.
"I told you not to apply there Steven. It's thousands of miles away."
"I agree with your mom."
"But guys its ECU!"
"Yeah, one of the most notorious party schools." Cortney said pulling Thomas out of the water as Steven grabbed the baby to dry him off.
You need to stay in California Steven." Jax told him. Steven sighed as he sat on the pool chaise with Thomas and dried him off with his Peppa Pig towel. Cortney grabbed Abel from Jax to dry him off as well. Sitting next to Steven she told him she was not going to pay for ECU.
"Fine mom." He said giving in. He knew it would be a long shot before she let him go to ECU but he wanted to see if he could get in.
"You know me and your mom just want what's best for you." Jax told Steven taking a swig of his beer.
"I know…I know." Steven sighed looking over at Jax. Steven loved Jax, as he had become a father figure to him. Jax and his son's had practically moved in with him and his mom and Steven loved when Jax was home. They sat and had long private talks by the pool often as they were doing tonight. Steven also had become attach to Thomas and Abel and often babysat them when Gemma, Jax or his mom was not available.
"You still staying away from the weed?" Jax asked.
"Yes. I'm trying to graduate and go to college. I don't want anything to get in the way of that."
"How are the dreams?"
"Not as bad. I may have one once a week but it's not as often as before."
"Good." Jax was relieved Steven was no longer having nightmares.
"When is your graduation again?"
"In about three weeks. I have some invitations I need you to hand to the guys as I don't know all of their addresses."
"Sure no problem." Jax said smiling to himself as he could imagine everyone's expression when The Sons walked into Steven's graduation ceremony. Jax knew the guys would not miss it for the world.
"How are things with you and my mom?" Steven asked. He never asked either one of them about their sudden attachment to each other. He knew it was going to happen eventually from the way they both looked at each other when they first met.
Jax smiled, "You asking me man to man?" he said looking at Steven.
Steven didn't back down.
"Yep…I will be eighteen in a few weeks so technically I am a man."
"I really like your mom Steven," he told Steven in a serious tone. "She has made me feel feelings I have never felt with a woman before. She is truly an amazing woman. You are lucky to have her as a mom."
Steven nodded his head in agreement. His mom was pretty amazing even though she drove him crazy at times.
"So you going to be my step-dad?" Steven asked laughing and then stopped when he saw the serious expression on Jax's face. Jax took another swig at his beer before answering.
"You never know…."
"Steven come on! You're going to be late to your own graduation!" Cortney yelled upstairs. It was a mad house at Cortney's the day of Steven's graduation. She had a full house. Joseph and Chase had spent the night with Steven, as they wanted to be together the night before graduation. Gemma also spent the night to help Cortney with the boys in the morning and Chase and Joseph parents just showed up to take their son's to the ceremony.
"Steven!" Cortney yelled again running up the stairs to his room. The door opened and Jax, Chase, Joseph and her son finally spilled out the room. The boys all had on their graduation gowns and Cortney started to tear up.
"Steven you guys go ahead down stairs. I need to talk to your mom for a second." Jax said as he took Cortney's arm and pulled her into their bedroom.
"What's wrong?" she asked a little frighten. Jax took both hands and held her face in the palm of his hands.
"Cort baby…..I need you to breathe….you are a nervous wreck."
"I'm fine." She lied. She was a nervous wreck as this was one of the biggest days of Steven's life and she did not know how her ex-husband Bryan would react to Jax. He never did get over his disappointment that Steven was at Teller-Morrow. She had a pool party planned for later and her mind was racing a million miles a minute. Jax pushed her bangs out of her eyes, leaned over and softly kissed her lips.
"You need to calm down." He whispered as he planted kisses on her face.
"I'm trying." She whispered as she took a deep breath to try to relax herself.
Jax licked his lips. "Do I need to make you come to get you to relax and calm down."
Cortney shuddered with desire as the thought crossed her mind. She shook her head no.
"I can't…we are running late. Can I take you up on the offer tonight?" she asked looking up at him with desire in her eyes.
"You know you will be to tired for me tonight." He whispered in her ear before nipping on her earlobe.
Jax was right as he was a beast in bed and often wore Cortney out. She would not be surprised if she found bottles of Viagra lying around the house, as he never got tired.
"We will just have to see about that." She said accepting the challenge.
After taking tons of pictures, everyone got into their vehicles and headed to Steven's high school. Steven smiled to himself as he pulled up and saw lines of Harley's parked in front of the school gymnasium. As he walked up to the Sons they all hooted, shouted at him in congratulations and gave him big bear hugs.
"We are so proud of you Steven." Bobby said pulling Steven into a hug.
"Thanks Bobby!"
Steven and the rest of the graduates disappeared as they prepared to be seated. Cortney sighed and braced herself for the looks and whispers she sure she was going to get as she walked into the gym with Gemma on one side holding Abel's hand, Jax on her other side holding her hand as she carried Thomas and The Sons of Anarchy following right behind them. Yep, there were a few collective gasps as they worked their way to empty seats. You would think the people of Charming never laid eyes on a member of Sons of Anarchy. Completely ignoring the officiator comment to leave all applauses after all students names were called everyone one of the Sons stood up and clapped and shouted for Steven as he walked across the stage to get his diploma. Cortney could not help but grin ear to ear, as she was so proud of Steven. Life was good. Cortney thought as she watched her son walk off stage. He made it through his internship in one piece, he made lifelong friends with the Sons, was heading off to a college only an hour away, and Cortney had a new man with his own two beautiful sons in her life. She found herself staring at Jax with a goofy grin on her face as she thought how much she really liked him. Jax looked over at Cortney and smiled back just before planting a kiss on her lips.
"He made it babe." He whispered.
"Yes he did."
"Steven!"
Steven turned around from taking pictures with Chase and Joseph to see his father and paternal grandparents walking up to him.
Shit! Cortney thought.
Bryan sized up Jax and the club before telling his son congratulations and hugging him tight.
"Grandma! Granddad!" Steven hugged his grandparents. He really missed them, as he didn't get to see them often. He needed to make sure he remedies that soon. They were getting up in age. As Joseph took pictures of Steven and his grandparents, Bryan grabbed Cortney's arm and pulled her to the side. Not missing a beat Jax handed Thomas to Gemma and was about to confront Bryan when Gemma told him to calm down.
"She can handle herself. Don't embarrass Steven." She told him.
Jax pasted back and forth, as he watched Cortney and Bryan have a heated conversation.
"So this is who you have been seeing and have my son around."
"It's none of your business who I date Bryan. I thought I made myself very clear on that fact."
"I don't care who you fuck but I don't want my son around this trash." Bryan hissed.
Cortney took a step back from the sheer shock of his comment. Before Gemma could stop Jax, he wedged between Cortney and Bryan.
You got something you want to say to me?" he asked standing nose to nose to Bryan.
"Get the hell out my face!" Bryan said not backing down.
"Guys…stop it." Cortney said trying to pull them a part.
"You stay away from my son!" Bryan shouted at Jax his face turning red.
"When was the last time you saw your son before today?"
"That's none of your business. You don't worry about my relationship with my son."
"Dad…Jax." Steven successfully pulled them a part. "Don't do this. It's my graduation."
Jax backed up.
"You're right Steven. I'm sorry. I'm not stooping to his level." Cortney pulled on Jax's arm.
"Let's go home." Looking over at Bryan's parents Cortney apologized and thank them for coming.
Jax was pissed on the ride home but he held it together for Cortney as he held her hand the whole time as he drove home.
Steven's graduation pool party was in full swing when Gemma told Cortney the boys were spending the night with her. Cortney did not argue as there was no way the boys could sleep with all the noise. Gemma packed the boys a bag and kissed Cortney's cheek as she headed to her car. Gemma had a feeling World War 3 was going to abrupt in a couple of hours and even though the boys were use to a busy environment i.e. the clubhouse and Cara Cara, Gemma had a feeling Cortney will be in nuclear mode when she realized what the guys got Steven for a graduation gift.
"Steven is your whole senior class here?" Cortney asked as she picked up wet towels and replaced with dry ones for the guest.
"Seems like it." Steven looked around at the full backyard. He figured more than half of the kids were here to get a close glimpse of a Son. The party soon died down as the kids realized there was no alcohol or drugs. They still had a good time in the pool and hanging out with The Sons but pretty soon everyone got a text about another party happening a few miles away.
"Thank God!" Cortney sighed as the last kid left. She quickly poured herself a glass of red wine as she started the task of cleaning up. Jax pulled Steven from helping Cortney and took him out back with the rest of the guys. They produced a black apparel box.
"We all wanted to give this to you as we feel you deserve it." Happy handed the box to Steven.
"We know you will be eighteen in a couple of weeks and we hope you accept this gift." Jax said as Steven opened the box and smiled a huge smile as he pulled the gift out the box.
Cortney was chugging her second glass of wine when the guys walked back in the house.
"Mom, look what the guys got me." Steven said twirling around revealing his prospect cut.
Cortney's wine glass fell from her grasp to the kitchen floor, shattering, spilling red wine and glass all over the kitchen floor.
