Whispers of What We Were

Chapter 20

"Jax, why are there suitcases all over the living room?" Tara asked, dropping her purse and briefcase on the floor.

Jax smiled. He was really getting used to having his wife come home to him after work every day. He got up and motioned to the luggage. "You said that you wanted to take the kids to San Francisco and I know that you have four days off so..." He trailed off, thinking that maybe his idea may not have been a good one.

"Jax... I wasn't planning on going after everything that's happened... Is that your suitcase?" She noticed an old black leather Harley Davidson bag she knew to be Jax's.

"Well, yeah... I mean... I thought..."

Tara smiled. Flustered Jax, who rarely showed himself, was super cute. It had been four weeks since his surgery and while Tara continued to contemplate going back to her house, but she was still in no rush. Maybe this was the perfect thing to help her figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life.

"Jax, I think it sounds great." She walked over to him. "I think it's just what we need." She wrapped her arms around his neck. As affectionate as they wanted to be with each other over the last four weeks, it was only when the kids weren't around that they were. Jax still stayed in the guest room and it was only a cuddle here and a quick kiss there but right now it worked for them.

"A family vacation." Jax grinned like an idiot. "Emily! Abel! Your mom said yes!" He yelled. Moments later their kids came running into the living room from the backyard. Jax and Tara took that time to pull apart from each other.

"Yay!" Emily said, "Mom, there's a huge Disney store there we should go to."

"Yeah, and I want to go to Alcatraz... and the Zoo!" Abel said excitedly.

"You two knew about this?" Tara asked and they nodded. "Now they can keep secrets." She muttered to herself. "Well, as long as I get to Bloomingdales for a couple of hours we can do whatever you guys want."

"Yay!" Both Emily and Abel cheered and ran back outside.

"Bloomingdale's huh?" Jax asked.

"What can I say? You're married to a woman with expensive taste Teller."

Jax moved closer to Tara again. She was mentioning the fact that they were married more and more, which gave him hope that the suitcases he packed for his kids might actually get unpacked back in their house. "You spent way too much time in the big city."

"Tell me about it." She quickly kissed him on the lips. "I can't wait Jax. We haven't been to San Francisco in at least ten years."

"Almost twelve." Jax corrected. "You and I went up on my bike before you left for school."

Tara smiled, remembering the trip. "And we stayed at that crappy Motel."

"But it was right across the street from Golden Gate Park."

"The sunset there was so beautiful."

"Yeah. But I got us a nicer place to stay this time. Downtown... I think it's even close to Bloomingdale's."

"Well, you are all class aren't you Teller?"

"Just you wait." He said suspiciously.

SOASOASOASOA

Almost Twelve Years Ago...

"God I love this city." Tara said, leaning into Jax as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. They were having a late picnic in Golden Gate Park, watching the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jax kissed the side of her neck. "Better than beautiful Charming?" He joked. Tara laughed. Lately, any city was better than Charming.

"I like it better than San Diego that's for sure." Tara said sadly. In less than a month she'd be heading there for school... without Jax.

Jax held her tighter. "You're going to be great Tara. I am so proud of you Doc."

"It's going to be weird. We've been practically living together for almost two years."

"I know. I think even Gemma's going to miss you."

"Yeah right."

"Seriously Tare... She thinks of you as the daughter she never had."

Tara turned in Jax's arms. "Let's not talk about San Diego, Charming, Gemma, or anything else but us right now ok?"

Jax kissed her. "Just you and me... stopped in time?"

Tara nodded and turned again to watch the sunset with the man she loved more than anything else in the world.

SOASOASOASOA

Jax wasn't kidding when he said that he was all class before they left for San Francisco. He had booked the family in a huge suite at a Sheraton. Tara had shared a bedroom with Emily and Jax had shared with Abel. In their first two days they had done everything the kids wanted. The Zoo, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf and of course, the Disney store. It had been nice, like a real family on a real vacation.

On the third day, Tara woke up to silence, which was uncommon. She turned in the bed she was supposed to be sharing with her two kids and found a note on the pillow.

'Tara,

I had Elyda take the bus and pick up the kids and take them home in the car. She'll drop them off with Gemma. I thought that we could spend the last day together just us. I have some things to do this morning, so I want you to go to Bloomingdale's and buy something nice for tonight. I'll meet you in the lobby at 1130 for lunch.

Your Husband,

Jax'

Tara smiled. "All class." She said out loud to herself. She quickly got out of bed with an extra bounce to her step, eager to start her day. Just his note alone was almost enough to keep her at their house.

END CHAPTER

I am back everyone. But unfortunately not for long. School starts up again and I got last minute acceptance into the nursing program starting in just two weeks! So I have loads to do before I start.

Hope you enjoy this chapter... Finally a date!