So here's the penultimate chapter!

Thanks again for the notes, hopefully this won't disappoint!

P.S Just for you elbeewoods I'm posting the last chapter straight away, so that you can read one after the other – I know how disappointed you've been just reading one at a time, which is a lovely compliment. Hope you enjoy xx

When Tara emerged from her bedroom, dressed in a tailored black trouser suit and navy blouse, the smell of bacon and coffee hit her as she approached the kitchen. Her belly grumbled in anticipation for the food that was being prepared for her. She was silent as she leant against the door frame and watched Jax make the finishing touches to the meal. It felt so out of character for him to do that and yet she loved him for it, that he would take time out of his day to help her. And it was strange to have him back in this house, under this roof where they had shared so many tender moments, where she had lost her virginity to him many years ago.

As her mind recalled some of those memories he turned around to see her and smiled at her. ''Coffee, Knowles?''

She smiled back and nodded, acknowledging the nickname that he had given her as a six year old. He had refused to called her Tara, it was to girly and he had once explained that if he called her Knowles then it made her one of the boys. And at six she had liked to be called Knowles, wanting to be accepted by Jax and Opie. At sixteen she had been promoted 'Darlin' but when Tara informed Jax that it was a nickname that he had given all of his former flames he decided that 'babe' was a more suitable endearment. Now that she was no longer his girlfriend it seemed logical that he had reverted back to Knowles, even if the fact that he didn't call he babe anymore made her more than a little disappointed.

She sat down at the kitchen table where he brought over a mug and the coffee pot, filling the cup and then reaching for the sugar on the table he put in two sugars ''You still have it that way, right?''

Tara nodded in reply, surprised that he would remember such an unimportant detail. He then placed the toast, bacon and eggs on the table in front of her with a smug look on his face ''Bon appetit''

She smirked and shook her head, not being able to understand this change in him. Why was he doing this? She watched as he tucked in to his breakfast, ignoring her own hunger for a few moments more. ''Jax, why are you doing this?''

He looked across the table at her, his mouth still chewing his food and reached for his coffee. ''You know why Tara'' he gulped down some of the scolding liquid.

See raised her eyebrows at him, a sign that she needed more clarification. He swallowed his food and continued ''You did the same for me all those years ago when Thomas died. I needed someone. My dad was distant, Gemma had Clay, Thomas was gone. You stood by my side for hours with me on the day of his funeral. You did the same when my dad died. Who's going to stand by your side when you bury your dad today?''

Tara momentarily looked away. There was no one. Her cousin in San Diego was sick and couldn't attend, her mother was dead. At best there may be a few of Eddie's work mates or drinking buddies but no one she felt connected to. She had no one to stand next her.

''I didn't do that so you could repay the favour Jax. I did it because I understood what the grief of losing someone you love was like''

''I know. But if you think that I'm gonna let you stand by your dad's graveside alone then you're mistaken. Even after all the shit we've been through Tara, I'm not gonna bail on you today''

Her eyes stung with tears. After all this time, after a heart breaking eleven years, he would still stand by her side when she needed him the most. And that was why she had loved him for so long, because she knew he would. That no matter what life threw at them they would stand side by side and conquer it.

Jax saw the tears and took them as a silent thanks. He smiled ''Now eat up. It going to be a long day and we could be standing for some time''

She smiled and wiped away a stray tear that ran down her face. ''Thank you Jax'' she whispered and picked up the cutlery in order to cut through her food.

He nodded and watched as she started to wolf down the breakfast she had made, she was clearly ravenous. Her smile and nods indicated that he had done a good job and as he watched her he realised how blessed he was to have her back. He knew they weren't a couple, there were way too many complications at the moment for that to be a consideration, but just to have her sitting at the same table as him after all this time made him feel as if he had found the missing piece to the puzzle.

He slugged down some more coffee ''And Knowles…''

She looked up from her food, her mouth still busy from the breakfast he had cooked her.

''This may not be the most appropriate moment to say this but, did I tell you that you look incredibly hot?'' and again she was witness to his dazzling trademark smile.

She started to laugh, his words and presence making her feel easier by the second. It was typical of Jax to make his move during such a momentous day ''No, but thank you''

Tara suddenly felt as if she could get through today. But only because Jackson Teller would stand by her side.