AN: I want to thank you all for reading and reviewing my story. Your encouragement has brought this story to a final conclusion.

Dedication: elbeewoods, for her art work and enduring support...the best teacher I have ever had.

Petersgirl, for her insight, to always follow your heart and trust what feels good to you.

Chapter 7

A new life

Tara is in a state of shock. This man who loved her has been dead for two whole years and now he suddenly reappears. She has no idea of how to react. Is she grateful? Is she angry? Is she expected to just open her arms like nothing has happened? Of course, she won't tell him he never left her heart; he owns her love, dead or alive.

"Tara, I have so much to tell you. But first you have to understand that I had to wait for two years before I could walk back into your life. It was a part of the deal that I had to make to be free of Jax Teller. This past two years I have been watching you from afar. It has been brutal. I wanted to reach out to you so many times, but I had to prove myself worthy. I had to keep my promise and show my loyalty to the people who rescued me."

"Right now, babe, I just need to hold you, and kiss you, and make love to you. I promise to tell you everything." Tara has no choice; her need for him overwhelms her.

Their kisses are gentle at first, slowly tasting each other's lips. Soon their tongues dance and twist, tasting and exploring each other's mouth. Their kisses become desperate and heated as he lifts Tara up and carries her to his bedroom. They are desperate to tear off their clothing, laughing together, knowing their passion is exploding between them. They kiss every surface of each other's body and end up having oral sex first until he stops her from making him climax so he can feast on Tara's puppies that make her climax quickly. He opens her legs and enters the sweet heat of her body. Their connection is so much stronger than it has ever been. They are in sync with each other, climbing higher and higher. As their rhythm intensifies, they move faster and faster, sweat pouring off of them both as they explode together in the most amazing feeling of ecstasy they have ever known. "Oh my God, Jax! Wow" Breathlessly, Zach whispers,"Wow, wow is putting it mildly. Tara, babe, I love you so much...But we are no longer Jax and Tara...Zach and Tara is who we are now." "Okay, ZACH, it is all so new, and yet the same, all at once." "I known babe, I know how hard this is; at least we can now support and depend on each other."

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Jax tells Tara that he was shivved in prison. The guards rushed him to the prison infirmary. There was chaos everywhere, too many things happening all at once. The prison warden had just hired new staff at the infirmary, making things more disorganized. The staff put him into an ambulance and he woke up three days later staring at Margaret Murphy in Stockton Hospital. "I had no memory of what had happened. I had so much pain in my chest I could barely breathe. Margaret told me the prison infirmary mixed up the patient records. Somehow my identification was placed on another victim who was severely wounded."

"He died while I was being transported to Stockton Hospital. When I arrived in the emergency room I was almost dead, forcing the hospital staff to care for me stat. They didn't even bother to check on my identity. Margaret told me the ER at the time was crazy. Margaret had a meeting at that hospital on the same day. As she was leaving, she saw them rushing me into surgery. Margaret wanted to know what was going on with me. She quickly came to realize the staff had no identity for me. They just knew I was stabbed and needed emergency surgery. Margaret knew she had to make some quick decisions. She told the hospital staff she knew my parents and called Jeb and Nan Teller."

Tara had to interrupt, "Jeb and Nan Teller? I never knew their last name." Zach smirks,"Yeah, they are distant cousins of my dad's. I met them after Tommy died. We kept them a secret because they hated SAMCRO. They had just moved to Merced. Gemma never knew them either. After dad died, I went to Merced and I spent an amazing day with them. They had recently lost their son, Timothy. Tim was in the elite unit of the Army that did top secret special operation missions. When he died, he was given top honors for doing service over and above the call of duty. We bonded with each other on that day with a promise that if I ever needed them away from Charming, they would gladly be there for me."

Tara looks at Zach in wonder. "So that is why they have been my magical support. They have treated me like a daughter. Did you know they were with me when Thomas was born?" Zach starts to chuckle, "I know everything, babe. I even have the video of Thomas being born." Tara is overwhelmed,"How is that even possible, baby? I feel like I am missing something."

Zach continues to explain that Margaret and the Tellers decide to provide the hospital with temporary identity records proving who he was. Jeb and Nan said,"I was their son and showed Tim's birth certificate. I became Tim Teller while I was a patient. Margaret handled the other paper work."

"When I woke up in the hospital, Margaret was at my bedside with Nan and Jeb. The three of them explained everything to me. The most shocking part, Jax Teller was shivved to death and cremated. His remains were sent to Gemma. Tara, the enormity of that information just blew me away. The first words blurted from my mouth, who am I now?" Margaret said, "You have several choices. The first choice is to leave SAMCRO and become a new person free of the outlaw life you have lived. The second choice is to go back to SAMCRO and jail." "Suddenly, I realized this was my second chance for a better life. I could finally come back to you and our boys; clean of all the shit I had done. But it wasn't going to be easy because there were conditions for my new life. Margaret wanted to create an adjustment period to be assured that this new life would work. I think she doubted my commitment to change. Together we all agreed. I would stay away from you for two years. I thought that was a bit harsh. Margaret wanted to give you a chance to find another man that would be better for you. She believed that, in time, because you believed I was dead, you could move on. I was so scared, Tara, thinking she could be right. But, I knew Margaret was only thinking about what was best for you." Tara replies quickly, "That explains why Margaret was constantly trying to fix me up with every Tom, Dick, and Henry she knew." Zach continues,"I also felt that the time would test our love like it had never been tested before. Being dead did allow you to open your heart to another man. I just felt like it wouldn't happen, or perhaps I was hoping and praying it wouldn't happen." Tara stares into Zach's eyes,"It could never happen. I have two wonderful children who remind me daily how much I loved and will always love their father." Zach embraces Tara as they both shed tears together.

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The past two years Zach has been working on adjusting to his new identity. Jeb has contacts that could alter and create authentic identity papers. A birth certificate was written with Nan and Jeb Teller listed as his parent. A lot of thought went into creating his name for the official birth certificate. Jax had always liked the name Zachary and he felt that Jax and Zach would be an easy transition. Abbott was chosen to represent Abel. Timmons was for Timothy, the son Nan and Jeb had lost. Zachary Abbott Timmons Teller was now born, certified by a written birth certificate. A drivers license and passport were also created.

Jeb and Nan own a large ranch outside of Merced. A large beautiful home was located on their land. There was plenty of room for the new Zach Teller to live with his parents. But Zach wanted his own place. Jeb and Zach decided to build a log cabin on the ranch. Zach did most of the work. Jeb gave Zach the money he earned from Tara. Zach promised he would be able to pay him back eventually. After the log cabin was built, Zach made it a home. Nan helped him with the furnishings. Margaret gave him a lap top computer and printer as a housewarming gift. Jeb even installed a Wifi system for the property.

After about six months, Tara was due to give birth. It was killing him to stay away from his family. Nan and Jeb did everything they could to keep Zach informed about every detail concerning his family. Jeb even started to bring Abel to visit Zach after he turned one years old. Abel learned to keep his visits a secret so one day they would be able to surprise his mommy. Zach was with Abel after Tommy was born. Eventually, Tommy came to visit him too. Zach had added two bedrooms for his boys. The beauty of a log cabin was how it could easily be expanded to make more rooms. Zach had taken so many pictures of the boys and they were mounted in frames all over his home. One day, Abel came with a big bag of pictures. They were all pictures of Tara alone and with her boys including a dvd of Thomas being born. Zach knew Jeb did that for him.

After the first year, Zach was becoming restless. He didn't like keeping himself hidden. He missed Tara so much. He had to find a way to express what he was feeling. He started to write about their love story. He became obsessed writing day and night. After about a week Nan came knocking on his door with food. Zach showed her what he was doing. Nan was amazed that Zach had written over one thousand pages about his love and life with Tara. Nan told Zach she had a good friend who was a literary agent and it might be fun to send his pages to her. Zach was hesitant at first and then he figured it didn't really matter. Within one month's time, Zach was given a literary contract. The agent had a book company who wanted to publish his story. Zach made it very clear that he needed to protect his identity. The agent was very helpful. They created a pen name and a fake biography and dressed him up for a picture of the author. Zach thought the whole thing was rather silly and no one would be interested in the ramblings of a love sick idiot like himself. He gave his ramblings a title; it was required by his contract. He called the book THE HIGHWAY OF LOVE AND LIFE. His agent loved it. His chosen pen name was Zachary Tailer and he was from England. He had to dedicate his book: To the only woman I have ever loved. To my children A and T. After the book was published the literary agent came to his door with a check for twenty-five thousand dollars. His book was selling like hot cakes. The agent told him they wanted to offer him an advance payment for more books. Zach declined, suggesting he may be interested in the near future.

Zach's two year absence from Tara was almost over, Abel and Zach daddy were using a calendar to let Abel know they would surprise mommy soon. Zach daddy taught Abel how to read a clock and use a compass. Abel knew more directions using North-South-East-West than many adults. Zach knew his son, Abel, at three and a half years old, was exceptional for his age. The day had finally arrived to surprise mommy. Abel was so excited. He promised Zach daddy he would keep their secret. When mommy said she was going for a ride with Jeb, Abel almost told mommy the secret, but he didn't want to spoil the surprise, or break his promise to Zach daddy.

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Tara sat looking puzzled. "Babe are you okay? You look a little strange." "Strange, really Zach, strange is putting it mildly. I feel like I have just seen an amazing adventure movie. The difference is this is real and not pretend." "I know babe. It is a rather unbelievable set of facts that did happen." "Zach, what happens now?" "Tara, I want us to be a family. I want to marry you. I want to give you the beautiful life I always promised you." "Zach, where will we live, and what will you do?" "Babe, I have over one million dollars in the bank from royalties on my book. Apparently sex and love sells well. I will continue to write and you will continue to work at the clinic . The only change I see happening is us living together as a family." Tara starts to giggle. "Really, is it that simple Zach?" "Yeah, babe, as long as you remember to call me Zach, we will be fine." "I love you Zachary Abbott Timmons Teller." "That's good, babe, because Tara Grace Knowles is the love of my life." The deal is sealed with an embrace of love and commitment to each other.

Thanking you for reading. I hope you enjoyed my story.