CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

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Coming down the stairs a few minutes later I'm surprised to find Jax and Donna both sitting at the table, a stack of the muffins I made yesterday in front of them which Jax has obviously already demolished a couple judging by the crumbs in front of him, Donna has a bowl in front of her, the proof of Abel's breakfast of Apples round his mouth, a bottle in the warmer on the bench.

"Morning sunshine." She says with a huge smile, "I brought coffee."

"Thanks D." I say picking up the only cup on the bench and carrying it to the table.

I've barely sat down when Jax gets up, kissing the top of Abel's head, crouching beside my chair he rests his hand on my leg "If I go now I should be home early. What time does Cam arrive?"

"The plane lands at 6, but Hap's picking her up. We're set to take off again at 6am tomorrow morning."

Jax groans and Donna laughs at him "I'm all packed. Are you?"

Jax shrugs "Dunno, ask her." Kissing me on the forehead he stands back up and heads towards the door, the sound of his bike starting a couple of minutes later before fading into background noise.

Donna waits till I've eaten half the muffin and drunk most of my coffee before she hands me the paper that she had flattened under her hands on the table "Page 4."

Frowning I open to the page and the first thing I see is a picture of Jax and I standing under the arch at the Wahewa reservation, Opie and Donna on either side of us and the Chief right in the middle.

"What the hell!?" I look up at Donna as she shrugs.

"Don't know." Her cheeks flush lightly giving away that she does know.

"D, you've never been able to lie to me. Please don't start now. What happened, who did this?"

Donna sits down across from me and rests her hands on the table "Gemma."

I sigh "Of course. But why?"

Donna chuckles lightly "Well a copy, or 20, of that paper may have made it to the hospital where someone is doing their internship. Read the article."

The headline alone makes me giggle.

'A Happily Ever After 10 Years in the Making.

It's unusual seeing the leather clad bikers that are a staple around Charming in a field full of flowers, the smell of roses and tulips hanging in the air but that's the exact situation that was found on July 30th at the Wahewa reservation when long-time resident Jackson Teller stood in front of a crowd of Sons in a ceremony with his girlfriend Sarah Hale (Niece of Jacob Hale Senior).

The pair had already married recently in an out of state wedding witnessed by only the pairs closest friends, even Teller's mother and step-father were not at the ceremony. The bride was quoted as saying that the out of state wedding was 'entirely Jax's fault' though no further explanation was given.

Its obvious looking at Sarah and Jackson that they are deeply in love, having been friends from the age of 12 and 14 respectively, the emotions between the pair light the entire area leaving everyone they speak to smiling widely and offering heartfelt congratulations. Curled into Sarah's arms during the receiving line is Jax's young son. Abel Teller (born to Teller's deceased wife Wendy Case) had a rough start to his life but it seems that the love that is showered on him by his step-mother and extended family is doing great things for the young boy who spent the entire reception in the arms of one of his parents, his grandmother or Donna Winston the brides best friend. The protectiveness shown by all regarding Abel is obvious, each of the people who are given his care are checked on multiple times by other family members, blood related or not.

It seems that 10 years of friendship certainly does make a solid beginning, the pair have already purchased and renovated a large home and are currently renovating two businesses in town.

We here at the Charming Gazette wish the pair all the best for the future.'

Looking back up at Donna I shake my head "Who the hell wrote that?"

Donna shrugs "I don't know, but I do know that the second Gemma saw it she brought a whole lot of copies and shipped them to Chicago."

I shake my head "Why?"

"Cause I wanted that tart to know that there's nothing more here for her and if she shows up again." Gemma's voice comes from behind me; crossing to the still full coffee pot she pours a cup then comes and sits beside me at the table "I had nothing to do with the article being written, or published. I don't know who wrote it, I'm not sure why they didn't put a by-line on it. However I did take advantage of it being there. There's also a copy framed in the clubhouse now. That was Clay's idea."

I shrug, there's no need for me to be upset about something that has already happened "I know that Tara's never coming back, and if she does then Jax and I will deal with it. Whatever delusions she may have that she can worm her way back into his life will be shattered, and if she doesn't listen then I'll just put plan B into action."

"Plan B?" Gemma lifts an eyebrow in confusion.

"Yep. Plan B, copies of the footage of her fucking up my car will be sent to every single hospital within California and the paperwork for the restraining order that my lawyer has already drawn up will be filed. But I doubt it will happen."

Gemma nods "Just as long as you know that I will protect my family from anything that threatens it. And baby, you are family."

I smile over at her "I know Gem; I just don't see Tara as a threat. Realistically she never was she was just an annoyance."

Gemma laughs, drinking her coffee while she tries to coax Abel into eating a few more mouthfuls of the pureed apple. At one stage he blows a raspberry at her and a big blob of the pale mush flies through the air, landing on the rim of Gemma's coffee cup. Looking down she sighs, setting her cup on the table and wiping it off with her fingers.

"What is this? It's nothing like the stuff I've got at home." She says with a frown.

"That's cause I made it. There's a whole lot on the freezer in ice cube sized amounts. When he wants some I just pull a couple out and defrost them either in the microwave or with some hot water, depending on how much he's drunk." I reply picking up his bowl before it decorates the room.

Donna clears her throat, pointedly looking at the clock "Well I better go, I've gotta go get some laundry done before we leave tomorrow. Opie said the garage was flat out today."

Gemma gets up at the same time as Donna does "It is. I just stopped by to say come to the lot later. We'll have drinks before you go."

I nod "We have to be at the airport in Stockton at 530 so it'll be quick drinks all round."

Gemma hugs me "You have to come, cause you have to pass off that horse masquerading as a dog for me to look after remember. But we'll have a dinner when you're back and this trial bullshit is behind you, okay?"

I nod and Gemma grins "Course, you'll be hosting, and doing all the cooking. My dining table isn't big enough anymore."

I nod again, hiding my grin as she squeezes me again "Take care of that baby, and ring with updates every day."

"I will Gem, promise." I reply, showing them out the door and then hurrying back to the kitchen.

Finishing the muffin while I clean Abel's face off with a damp cloth I empty Gemma's coffee cup and set it in the dishwasher, leaving it off for whatever dishes are used that night. The food for Doj is already in the back of my Nitro to drop off at Gemma's later when I run some last minute errands that can't wait.

Glancing at the clock I almost swear, mainly from nerves, when I realise it's only 45 minutes till the assessor from the courthouse is due. Leaving Abel in his high chair with one of the soft books that makes noise I run upstairs and grab the dirty laundry which I know needs to be done before we go, mainly so I can pack some of the things that haven't been washed yet, not that I've even started packing.

Leaving the suitcases right where Jax sat them inside the wardrobe during the weekend I change my shirt, pulling the singlet off and replacing it with a long sleeved shirt, but pushing the sleeves up to my elbows.

Walking down the stairs I can hear Abel 'talking' away to Doj who barks in response when he stops making noise. Sticking my head through the door I shake it at the sight of Doj licking the bottom of Abel's tray, a few stray pieces of apple having made it there while he ate.

Starting a load of washing I leave the kitchen, taking Abel through to the living room where I put him on one of his puzzle mats to play while I turn my laptop on, flicking through the weekends mail while I wait for it to load.