Chapter 8

Charlotte sat in silence after putting the pen down next to the notepad that was no longer blank, jumping a little when the door opened, seeing Wayne walk in "Come on sweetheart you're outta here. Sorry I was out to lunch didn't know Hale was bringing you in."

Charlotte stood up following Wayne "Gemma?" She asked.

"Jax, he's waiting outside for you."

"Thanks Wayne."

Charlotte walked down the steps of Charming PD seeing Jax waiting on the bottom step. She had just approached him when she heard the door, she'd left through swing open, turning she saw a very angry Stahl holding the notepad where Charlotte had clearly written Go Fuck Yourself "Really Charlotte, I thought you were smarter than this."

Charlotte smiled at her, taking Jax's hand as he led her to the waiting club van. She turned towards Stahl and shouted up the steps to the agitated woman. "You ever fucked a bad boy biker Agent? You should try it sometime."

Jax laughed at her comment opening the passenger door for her.

When they were on the road Charlotte said, "I need to get my car."

"Already taken care of, I had Half sack go get it, and take it to your house."

"Thank you."

"What'd Stahl & Hale want from you?"

"What do you think, all my knowledge of things Sons of Anarchy."

"In exchange for what?"

"A future with me not ending up dead or in jail."

"Shit, Charlotte you know that's not going to happen. What she press you with?"

"You being with Tara which is the obvious route trying to tap into my female jealousy. But she pulled the dead Mom card not wanting my kid to grow up without a mom like I did, I didn't expect that."

"I'm sorry Charlotte. That fucking bitch."

"I'm fine Jax that shit just stirs up old wounds. But I'm not going to rat on the club or anything."

"I know that, didn't think you would. I hate that you got pulled into this shit. You should have never been involved in any of this, I wanted you on the other side of it. Didn't want you helping with the Irish, and I shouldn't have told you about Khone. You being around me and the club puts you in their radar."

"So, you sleeping with me and knocking me up was how you were keeping me on the other side of it. Not sure that worked."

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore sometimes. Trying to manage you, our baby, Abel, Tara and the club. I don't see a way that all doesn't get wrapped up together."

"Maybe that's your problem trying to keep the club and your family in separate compartments. Jax, the club is part of who you are. You're struggling because you're trying to keep parts of you separate. If I choose to help you or the club, it's my choice to make not yours. Stop trying to be the family man and the club man just embrace both parts of it."

Charlotte finished her shift at St Thomas, was freshly showered and changed into a comfy pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, she made her way to Abel's room. Picking up the now growing boy she grabbed a premade bottle, sat in the rocking chair, and started feeding him. Sitting in silence rocking Abel gently she smiled when she saw Jax walk in. "You know I'm going to miss this, him being here, me being able to come see him before and after work."

Jax smiled down at her running his hand and Abel's soft tufts of hair. "Yeah, but him leaving here means he's healthy and ready to go home. And him being home doesn't mean you don't get to see him whenever you want, you've still got the key to my house. And Gemma's got the guest bedroom all cleaned up and ready for you."

"And how does that work Jax for you and Tara, think she's going to be fine with another woman staying the night at your house even if it's in the guest room?"

"Tara knows what she's getting with me, I'd never keep you from him. We'll figure it all out Charlotte I promise."

Jax walked her to her car opening the door for her. "You still coming to my appointment tomorrow?" She asked.

"Of course, can't wait to see him on the ultrasound." He said, placing a hand on her ever-growing belly.

"You think it's a boy?"

"I don't know I just said he, not really thinking."

"Do you want another boy?"

"It's nice for Abel to have a brother but it doesn't matter to me. What do you want?"

"I don't know I haven't even thought about it. As long as she's healthy."

"She huh, little slip of the tongue or wishful thinking."

Charlotte gave him a smile "Maybe, we'll see tomorrow."

Tara stood next to Charlotte who was laying on the exam table her scrub bottoms pulled down and covered with a disposable cloth exposing her pregnant belly. Charlotte nervously wiggled her feet watching the ultrasound tech get ready. Tara asked her one more time "Are you sure you don't want to wait a little longer? Jax said he'd be here."

"No, it's fine he probably just got caught up in something." Charlotte said, trying her hardest to not let her disappointment show.

Both women let out a sigh of relief when Charlottes OB walked in the room Jax behind her. "Found him running the halls." The doctor said a smirk on her face, it wasn't the first time she'd found lost dads.

Jax went to Charlottes side Tara moving over to give him the space closest to Charlotte. "Shit sorry Charlotte."

"It's okay you're here now."

"Alright let's have a look at your baby Mom and Dad. Are you wanting to know the sex today?" The OB asked.

Charlotte nodded, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt the wand connect to her belly. She tensed up and nervously grabbed Jax's hand waiting. She relaxed a little when she heard the pounding whomp whomp of her baby's heartbeat fill the room. Jax's hand tensed holding hers tightly. "Everything looks good Charlotte" with her eyes still closed she could hear the smile on her OBs face.

Charlotte flashed her eyes open looking to Tara who reached out and patted her leg. Tara looking at the screen confirmed "Heart is perfect Charlotte no defects."

Charlottes doctor did a few more scans across her abdomen and removed the wand handing Charlotte a paper towel to clean up. "We will continue to monitor through your pregnancy, but I don't think we are going to see anything come up. Baby's growth is right on track, and everything is normal. Your baby girl is a very healthy baby. I'll print out some pictures for you to take home." Her doctor said smiling at her leaving the room giving the patient and family alone time.

Charlotte wiped off the gel and sat up letting out the breath she had been holding. A stray tear had managed to escape and before she could quickly wipe it away Jax saw it. "Oh, Charlotte sweetheart everything's fine."

Before Charlotte could protest or push back the other tears threatening to fall, Jax wrapped her in his arms. The warmth and safety she felt in his arms allowed her emotions to get the best of her. "Jesus Jax I was so scared." Charlotte sobbed openly letting her tears fall on his kutte.

"It's alright Charlotte, I've got you." His soothing voice whispered to her while he started rubbing her back. "Our little girl is perfect she's healthy and perfect."

Neither of them noticed Tara step out of the room quietly giving them this moment alone. When Charlotte had let out one last shuttering breath and Jax felt her relax he released his hold. Charlotte looked up at him as she started wiping the tears away "Oh god Jax a girl." She said with a smile.

"Yep, a girl." He smiled and leaned down kissing her cheek. "You good now?"

She nodded "Yeah I'm good didn't realize I'd been holding that all in."

"I gotta get back to the club house I'll see you later."

"Absolutely." Charlotte said standing up from the exam table. Jax gave her a smile as he left the room allowing her to adjust her scrubs and compose herself.

When Charlotte exited the room, her doctor was standing there with pictures in hand from the ultrasound. "Baby's first pictures." The woman said handing them to Charlotte giving her a squeeze on the shoulder.

When her doctor left, Charlotte looked over to Tara who had also been waiting. "Thank you, Tara, for being here."

"Of course, Charlotte."

"I'll see you later tonight then?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes, I'll be there right after my shift." Charlotte went to walk away but stopped when she heard Tara continue to speak. "You know Charlotte I would never come between you and Jax or ever stop you from seeing Abel."

"You talked to Jax?"

"Yeah, I just don't want you to worry about that."

"Tara, I never thought you would, my conversation with Jax was more about how does this all work for you and him. I don't want you thinking I have any intention of getting back with Jax. Or that I have any problems with you two being together. I don't want you walking away from him because you don't think you fit in the picture. I know how much you love Jax and see how much you care for Abel."

"Seeing you and him today does have me wondering how I look in the picture."

"Jax's love for me or my love for him comes from a friendship we made over his years with Wendy. We'd sit and talk for hours about Wendy and what to do. And somehow, I gave him a safe place to say anything, and he did the same for me. The sex was just sex, that's gone but our friendship is still there. And yes, he's always going to have some level of commitment to me and our baby, but you fit Tara. You fit in his life however that looks for you." Uncharacteristically Charlotte reached out pulling Tara in her arms and hugged her. "Everything will work itself out Tara." Charlotte released her walking towards the exit doors of St Thomas. A smile crossed her face as she ended her shift and crossed the parking lot to her car. She was blissfully happy her baby was healthy, and Abel was coming home tonight. She got behind the wheel of her car setting the prints of the baby on the passenger seat. She tapped them with her finger then drove out of the lot.