Extended # 3

Chapter 26: The Letter

Tara sat in the nursery, JT's letters in her lap, staring at everything and nothing all at once. Her world was falling apart. She'd taken Abel over to Gemma because she knew that once she stopped she would break, and she didn't want her baby around that. She'd intended to go home, slip into Jax's shirt and lie in bed and just cry. Let it all out. All the pain, horror and terror of the last few weeks. Just let it all go in the place she felt safest in the world, and surrounded by his scent. But when Tara had opened Jax's bag to retrieve his shirt she'd found these letters. She'd only read the one, but what she read had terrified her. Her mind was slowly catching up to the words she'd only just finished reading when there was a knock on the front door.

The new prospects stood on her front step looking at her with sad smiles.

"Jax wanted us to give this to you. He said you have to burn it when you're done. He said that was real important." Filthy Phil handed a thick envelope to Tara with a smile and at her nod of agreement, turned and the two rode away leaving Tara still standing in the open door way, staring at the envelope.

Once the roaring sound of the Harley's engines faded to silence Tara found her feet and moved to close the door. She went back to the nursery, collected Jax's shirt, ignoring the letters that sat in the rocker and headed to their bedroom. She stripped down to her underwear and slipped his shirt over her head before climbing up onto the bed. Tara sat with her back to the head board and carefully opened the envelope. With knees drawn up, she used her legs as a makeshift table and with a deep breath she unfolded the papers and began to read.

Hi Baby,

If you're reading this the prospects have just left, I'm on my way to prison with the rest of the boys, and everything happened just as we'd hoped. I know that doesn't make sense just yet, but I promise it will in a minute.

I'm fine, so please don't worry. My life has never been in danger from the MC. I wanted to tell you, but if you'd known it would have made you an accessory. You have to know that despite my actions lately to the contrary, I've always put your safety first; I'm always trying to protect you. The club knew about the deal with Stahl, it was a club vote. We had to lead her to believe that I'd turned rat to ensure that we did short time. I hate that I'm leaving you alone when you need me most. I hate that I'm going to miss this pregnancy and I hate that I won't be there to hold your hand when our son is born.

I know we needed time together, to talk and sort through the mess I've made, and I'm sorry that we won't get that time. And there is so much I want to say, so much I want to tell you. But please know that I love you more than anything, you're my life. I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry I couldn't see how much I was hurting you by pushing you away. I'm sorry I broke your trust when I... I'm sorry. But most of all, I'm sorry I said that we weren't your family. There is no family without you.

Along with this letter are some papers. If you still want this, want me and Abel and a family, and I'm praying that you do, sign them and take them to Rosen. Use the accounts, take anything you need, it's yours. I promise you that I will be home in 14 months. I won't do anything to screw up my chances for parole, my only focus from here on out, is getting out so I can be with you and our boys. It's always been you and me against the world babe, and I'm sorry that I forgot that.

I want to remind you of something, something that I failed to show you lately.
You are my best friend, the love of my life, mother of my children. I have loved you since I was 16. Only you. You're it for me babe, you're my world. I'm coming home to you, and our children, I promise.

I love you baby,

Jax.

Tears ran unchecked down Tara's face as she breathed a sigh of relief. Jax was safe. Jax was safe and he loved her. He loved her and their boys and he would be coming home. She laughed nervously as she cried freely at the release of the fear she'd been holding onto for so long. After several moments the words in Jax's letter came back to her and she remembered the rest of the papers. Along with this letter are some papers. If you still want this, want me and Abel and a family, and I'm praying that you do, sign them and take them to Rosen.

Tara gently placed the hand written letter from Jax on the bed beside her and looked at the rest of the papers. Her eyes widened when she saw the first one. It gave her power of attorney over Jax, access to all his bank accounts and temporary possession of his house. With these papers he was taking care of her and their boys the best he could, and he trusted her with everything he had. His money, his house, his life. Tara reached over to the nightstand and picked up the pen that lay there. She quickly signed her name at the bottom of the second page beside the little plastic arrow tab. But there were more. Placing that document beside Jax's letter Tara gazed at the second document in shock. Adoption papers. Jax was giving her Abel. A tear dropped onto her hand, she hadn't even realised she was crying. This was all she wanted in the world. She loved Abel so much. He was hers, and she was his. With a slightly shaky hand Tara signed her name and Abel was legally hers.

Tara dropped her head back with eyes closed and smiled. Everything she wanted in the world was coming back to her. She was home, in the bed that she was always meant to share. Abel was home, and now he was hers like she'd always wanted. She was pregnant with the love of her life's child. The only thing missing was Jax. But after reading his letter she knew he wouldn't be gone forever like she'd feared earlier. No, he was coming home. In 14 months she'd have her two children and her man back in her arms. After waiting so long for this, she could wait another 14 months. With the smile firmly planted on her face Tara jumped out of the bed and quickly redressed. With careful hands she picked up Jax's letter from the bed and headed into the kitchen.

She grabbed the scissors from the drawer and Jax's lighter off the bench. Sitting at the table she pulled the ash tray towards her and took both the scissors and the letter in her hands. She would burn it like he wanted, burn the words that told of the plan and the things he did, the things that could never get out. But there were words on this letter she would not burn. She cut the bottom of the letter off, placed it aside and then tore the rest of the letter into small pieces. She placed them in the ashtray and with Jax's favourite lighter set them ablaze. She watched the paper burn until the flames died away, then picked up the rest of the letter and headed back to the bedroom. She read the words again as she stood in front of the nightstand on her side of the bed.

I want to remind you of something, something that I failed to show you lately.
You are my best friend, the love of my life, mother of my children. I have loved you since I was 16. Only you. You're it for me babe, you're my world. I'm coming home to you, and our children, I promise.

I love you baby,

Jax.

Tara stood the remainder of the letter up against the base of the lamp on the night stand. No, she couldn't burn these words, never. Tara smiled grabbing the papers and her bag she was out the door. She wasn't going to waste a second; she'd take these papers straight to Rosen. Find out while she was there what to expect in the next couple of days, weeks, months and then head to Gemma's. Tara was picking up her son and taking him home. With that thought and a smile firmly planted on her face, Tara backed out of the drive, JT's letters completely forgotten... for the moment.

Ok Guys, as promised, the extended chapter for # 26 "The Letter". :D

Hope you all enjoy it and my little take on how things went down once the camera's stopped rolling. :D

Please review, your reviews feed me and make me update sooner ;)

Love you all.

xx Ally