(AUTHORS NOTE: (THANKS TO TERRYGYIMAH and A WILLIAMSON FOR REVIEWING! AND TO THE TWO WHO ARE NOW FOLLOWING MY STORY, TWILIGHTCRAZYASSBITCH and APHASS. I LOVE YOU ALL, HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING THIS.)

CHAPTER 04

Father/Son Talks

(takes place about a day later, after the previous chapter)

Jax smiled as his cell phone rang, and he saw Morgan's name come up on the caller ID. The smile quickly faded however, when he learned what Morgan had been going through lately, and sitting in his den, his arms behind his head, he asked, "Do you want me to come to New York?"

"No sir, I just.. I needed to know you agreed with me walking away from Kiki.. I don't want a marriage based on lies.. and when she kissed Michael, I suppose that should have been my biggest hint that maybe she didn't love me like I loved her, huh?" Morgan said as he walked around the living room of Zara's loft, his hand in his hair, biting his lower lip, wondering if he should also tell his former stepfather that he was staying with an old classmate.

He took a deep breath and then said quietly, "But I kinda met someone else, Jax, I just.. I don't wanna rush it and be hurt again, ya know.. So I guess what I'm asking is if things are too soon to even be considering a move for this other girl.."

Jax sighed and thought about it a few quiet moments.. He didn't want to tell Morgan something and be wrong.. But he didn't want Morgan rushing himself and being hurt again, so the question in itself was a tricky one, really. Brenda walked in and he mouthed, "It's Morgan, love." as she nodded, smiled.

"What do you feel is the right thing to do, Morgan?"

Morgan flopped onto the couch and smiled as he said "Well, I'm starting to see that Kiki wasn't the real thing, but Zara.. When I'm with her, it's like I can't.."

"You can't breathe?" Jax smiled to himself as he heard Morgan's laugh and then said "Yeah.. You can go slowly.. But it never hurts to show her you do want to be closer.. In small ways, Morgan.. Nothing like this last girl, and rushing down to the courthouse, yeah?"

"Yes sir. How's Brenda?"

"She's good.. I'm happier now. Your mother and I just couldn't make things work." Jax added. He'd come to consider Morgan a son, and he hated that he and Carly couldn't make it work for Jossy and Morgan's sake. But it hadn't been working from the start. They'd learned from their own mistake, of course, and now, apparently, Morgan was learning from his own recent mistake with Kiki Jerome.

"Have you seen your little sister lately?" Jax asked as Morgan sighed on his end and said quietly, "Haven't been to Mom's since the night of my wedding reception.. But I'm gonna go get Jossy for a little while today, take her to the park.. I mean Mom's never there.. Of course, Joss isn't Michael.. We all know who her baby is." Morgan said dryly as Jax sighed and said "It's not true, Morgan, your mother, she's just.."

"Jax, it's okay.. I'm finally starting to be alright with it.. And now that I've figured this out for myself, I'll start spending time with Jossy.. maybe between me and Dante, she'll at least feel like she has someone to talk to when she's older and Mom's still being.. herself." Morgan said quietly as he stood, stretching. Jax sighed and then smiling said "Well, like I said.. I'm glad you got yourself out of the situation with Kiki.. I didn't like her, Morgan, she got you into all that trouble and then she turns around and starts something with Michael behind your back.. Just wasn't right."

"I know, Jax." Morgan said as he added, "Hey, maybe if this job comes through for me.. Think me and Zara can come to visit you and Brenda for a week or something? It'll be a while, because I'm starting at the total bottom of the ladder.. But maybe by the time I have money, me and Zara will be.."

"I'd love that, Morgan." Jax said as he added, "Give your sister a kiss for me.. We'll talk more tonight, okay?"

"Yes sir. I've gotta get ready for work, actually."

"Where are you working?"

"Some auto shop. Right now, I'm doing tuneups, stuff like that. It's working with my hands, I like it.. I mean at least I'll KNOW where my money came from, huh?" Morgan admitted as he added, "And my mother and sonny HATE my job."

"I bet they do." Jax chuckled. He'd somehow guessed that Morgan would enjoy work in an auto shop. Morgan always liked watching the shows that taught you how to take a car apart, put it back together, he'd always liked knowing what inner workings made things tick. "I'm glad you're doing things for yourself, Morgan.. I'm proud of you.. And remember what we talked about when we went on that last trip, yeah? No matter what anyone tells you, do what you think is the right thing to do. Even if your parents don't like it. I'm always here for you and Joss."

The two hung up and Morgan eyed the clock. He got dressed in a hurry and then went to leave for his shift at the garage, stopping in Zara's room to walk in, quietly, lean down and put her leg back beneath the covers, laughing to himself as he bent, whispered, "See you tonight, Z.. Just take it easy today, you've finally got a day off.",

"Okay, see you tonight.. Don't bust your knuckles or anything at work today?" Zara said as she sat up, rubbing her eyes, pulling him into a hug as she reminded him, "Despite what anyone else thinks, Morgan, what your doing is the right thing. You're being your own person. Makes me happy."

"Me too." he muttered as he looked at her and said "I'll come back and get you before we got to the lake house tonight?"

"Okay.. Hey, don't granny shift my car, Morgan."

"I don't granny shift, woman."

"Do too." she playfully argued as he shrugged and then said "You.. go back to sleep."

"Trust me.. I was going to." Zara muttered as she raised, cautiously pressed her lips to his cheek in a friendly yet flirty kiss on the cheek. The stubble on his chin tickled her lips, made her giggle a little.

Despite everything she kept telling herself, she was getting used to his being here, getting used to him in general. And she was really starting to let her guard down lately.. But she didnt' want to make a move too quickly, he was after all, just getting over a bad relationship with Kiki and the annullment of that marriage.