The truck ride to Charming seems even longer and more dreary than they could have imagined. Sure, under different circumstances they would've probably enjoyed the open road, would've talked each other's ears off, or sang along loudly and off-key to some nineties songs on the radio. And yes, the radio is on, but no matter how upbeat the song is, nothing can shake either one of them out of their current mood. The occasional conversation consists only of going over every little detail of their plan, and how Abel and Thomas would fare without them there for an entire weekend.

They left early this morning and dropped the boys off with Christy, who would be dropping Abel off at preschool, and Thomas at the hospital daycare when she got to work. Then, after work, Christy would pick them both up and watch them until Jax and Tara get back on Saturday, or Sunday at the latest. In explanation, they spun a tall tale of some unfinished business concerning the sale of their home, and Jax's share in T-M, amongst some other things, that requires them both to head back to Charming.

Tara feels guilty about having to lie to her friend, especially now that their friendship has grown back to the way it used to be back in Chicago. From the outside looking in, Tara feels like she's been nothing but a burden to Christy and Jason since she arrived in town, but neither of them has made her feel that way and it is just one more reason Tara cherishes their friendship beyond words. Therefore, having to lie to her sucks, but Tara knows she has no other choice. Telling the truth just isn't an option this time, not in this case.

By now they are just a couple of miles outside Charming, traffic hasn't been bad and they have made good time. They drive by the entrance of the old dirt road that leads to Kohn's grave site, and discover it has already been barricaded off. To their relief, it is nothing that Jax can't move to the side long enough for Tara to pull in with the truck. Yet at the moment, it is still too light outside, so they drive further out in the country, to an old hideout spot they used to frequent as teenagers with their group of friends, to wait for nightfall.

Chain-smoking and stretching their legs they quietly stand beside the truck, the obvious worry written all over their faces. Jax holds a bottle of water out to Tara, because he knows she's barely had anything to eat or drink today, but once more she simply shakes her head in a silent refusal and folds her arms in front of herself again between drags from her cigarette.

There is no denying the tension in the air between them is growing more intense with every passing minute. Over the last few days, Tara busied herself with preparing for their trip, but she'd done it with a pang of sadness and worry in her eyes that threatened to break Jax's heart. He tries to placate her fears with warm embraces and soft whispers of reassurance that it is all going to work out, but he isn't fool enough to believe that it would help ease her worries.

He can't help the feeling that he's let her down once again. He promised her that the Kohn thing would never come back to haunt them. He'd reassured her that he'd taken care of it, and they were home-free. So it wasn't a far stretch for him to assume that she now blamed him somehow, even if just subconsciously, for this nightmare they found themselves in at this moment.

Jax isn't a religious man by any means. The thought of there being a heaven or hell isn't one he wants to ponder on, because if there is such a thing, he knows he'll most likely end up in the latter. So he'd never admit it in a million years, but despite it all, he has on occasion found himself in prayer in the most desperate moments of his life. He's prayed for his brother, Thomas, for his dad, JT, for Abel, and last but not least for Tara.

He couldn't say for sure that there is a God, nor is he sure that there isn't. But during his fourteen-month stint in Stockton, he's concluded that there has got to be something, someone, some higher power out there looking out for him, who had purposely put Tara in his path back when they were kids. Even as a young child, he's been destined to be a Son, and he believes now that she was supposed to get him out of it, out of SAMCRO, and after all this time she has finally succeeded. So he refuses to believe that this one crime she's committed would end up being their downfall in the end, especially after all the struggles they've overcome this far.

So sitting on a tree stump in the middle of nowhere, he prays a silent prayer in his head to this higher power he isn't even sure he believes in, but he does it nonetheless. He does it for her. He needs everything to work out because if something goes wrong tonight, they'll both be charged with capital murder. And it goes without saying that that would be the infamous last nail in the coffin of their relationship and their chance of a happily ever after. About that, he has no doubt. So, despite feeling like the biggest hypocrite on the face of the earth, he prays that they'll make it through the night, and can leave all the Kohn shit behind them.

Finally, darkness begins to fall around them. They quickly change into the change of clothes and shoes they packed. All black sweatpants, sweatshirts, and sneakers, something that wouldn't be spotted easily should they run into trouble and would have to run and disappear in the darkness of the woods. Jax also changed the license plates on his truck, another precaution, and a plan to report it stolen should they really have to make a run for it.

Jax climbs back into the vehicle with his wife, and with a pounding heart, Tara looks over at him, exchanging a weak smile. He reaches out for her hand and gives her a reassuring squeeze, before he starts the truck and finally heads toward Kohn's unmarked grave.

X

Jax reassures her that this is in fact the spot where he buried Kohn. He understands where she is coming from when she questions him about the accuracy of the location, considering it has been years and it is dark out. He might not remember much about the precise locations of any of his more recent victims, but he swears he's never forgotten his first solo grave. So with the headlights of the truck as their guiding light, they get to work and start digging as fast as they can.

Tara has been right in more ways than one. The smell is nauseating and the body is in such a state of decay that there is no way he'd be able to lift him out on his own ... at least not in one piece. Armed with an oversized tarp, both of them climb inside the shallow grave. He feels sick at the sight and the smell, his stomach twisting and churning, but he'll be damned if he'll let it show since Tara seems to manage to power through it so stoically. They work silently yet methodically until Kohn's remains are finally on the tarp itself so they can climb back up and hoist him out. Neither wants to waste any time, and they make quick work, wrapping the tarp tightly around the remains, and finally securing it shut with some tape.

They hoist the body further onto the back of Jax's truck, and Tara climbs in after to cover him with stacks of old newspapers. So that the outline of a body won't be the first thing anyone sees, should they get pulled over.

While Tara is busy with that, Jax hurriedly fills the grave back in as quickly as he can, before he covers it with some loose underbrush to conceal that the ground has recently been disturbed.

They gather up their shovels and tape, before casting one more glance across the crime scene to ensure they're not leaving anything behind. Content with what they see, they quickly shrug off their shoes, clothes, and gloves, and throw them into a trash bag onto the back of Jax's truck. The plan is to dispose of all that along with Kohn's body, to not leave any evidence behind.

The air is cold against their bare skin, but their minds are so preoccupied with making it out of there that the freezing wind doesn't even seem to faze them. Tara climbs in the cab and begins to get dressed again, while Jax throws one more tarp over everything they are trying to hide, and finally locks the tailgate and topper shut.

Both awkwardly struggle to shrug into their jeans in the front seat of his truck. Jax can't help but let his eyes drift over her pale skin for just a fraction of a second. In any other scenario, he would've said something flirtatious or outrageous that would cause her cheeks to blush in that hue of crimson that he thought suited her so well. But if there was ever a worse time for such a thing, this is it, and so he remains silent and quickly slips his feet into his sneakers and buckles his belt.

At the same time, Tara pulls her shirt on, smoothing it down over her torso, before she reaches for the seatbelt, in a hurry to get out of there. Jax pulls his flannel shirt on just as quickly but without even bothering to button it, he reaches for the gear shift and is just about to put the truck in gear when his eyes catch a glimpse of something in the rearview mirror, still off in the distance behind them, but it's there.

"Tara." he cries out alarmingly, to get her attention, and she quickly turns her head to see what he saw. Her eyes go wide with panic when she recognizes the distinct blue and red lights of a sheriff's vehicle that is slowly approaching and coming to a stop right behind them.

Jax has been in his fair share of difficult or dangerous situations over the years and has usually managed to stay level-headed, and for the most part, escaped unharmed too. But this is different, because this isn't about him or SAMCRO, this is about her.

All he cares about right now is keeping Tara safe, so that she can make it out of here to raise their boys into good men. So his heart is beating out of his chest, trying to think of what to do, how to get them both out of this whole. If all else fails, he knows he'll have to use the gun he illegally purchased just yesterday, but that is a last resort. He truly doesn't want to add yet another casualty to his already endless list of victims. But he would if he had to, for her.

"Jesus Christ, Jax." Tara looks at him with sheer panic in her eyes, "What are we gonna do?"

To him, it seems like time moves in slow motion at that moment as his eyes drift from Tara back to the rearview mirror and back to a visibly terrified Tara again, but in hindsight, he knows it has only been seconds since he came up with an idea.

"Take your clothes back off, Babe. Now!" He demands, before he shrugs right back out of his shirt and begins to undo his belt and pants again as fast as he can.

Tara looks at him confused for a fraction of a second, but then she suddenly realizes what his plan is and quickly pulls her top back up and off over her head.

"Come here," Jax demands, yet it isn't lust but crippling fear at the moment that causes his darkening tone of voice.

It isn't graceful by any means, but he manages to quickly pull her onto his lap and presses his lips to hers with such force that their teeth bump together in the most awkward attempt of a kiss.

They both pull back from each other for just a second, with both their hearts beating out of their chests, eyes connecting and the kiss that follows now is anything but clumsy. His hands are on her bare back, fingers temptingly near the clasp of her bra and pulling her even closer to him. Tara snakes her arms around his neck, as their tongues caress each other in a passionate kiss. It is a perfect performance. Or is it?

Just then, as predicted, there is a tap against the window, and a flashlight shines into their faces, yet the light makes it impossible to see the person wielding the instrument.

Both pretend to be caught off guard, before Jax lowers the driver's side window, while Tara, still straddling his lap, in faux embarrassment reaches for her shirt beside her to hold it against her almost bare chest.

"You two? Really? I figured it'd be some damn teenagers out here trespassing." The Sheriff's deputy asks with an obvious hint of amusement in her voice.

"Eglee?" Jax recognizes the voice, but squints nonetheless as he is trying to get a look at her face to confirm that it is really her.

"Jax Teller and Tara Knowles. Making out in the woods ... just like old times." Candy chuckles. "I didn't know you guys were back in town?"

"We're just here for a couple of days," Tara answers awkwardly, looking at Jax before looking back at Candy. Her cheeks are flaming red, convincingly selling that they've been caught in the act. "Picking up Jax's bikes." She adds this as a way to explain their visit to Charming. The only thing that isn't a lie.

"Aren't you two getting a little bit too old for this?" Candy wonders out loud.

"Just trying to keep that spark going," Jax adds with a charming smirk that could melt any woman's heart. "This used to be our spot." He looks at Tara and smirks some more, before turning his attention back to Candy Eglee. "So when Bobby told us this place is getting leveled, we thought we'd give it one last visit. You know, for old times' sake?"

Candy chuckles again, "I see."

"Everything alright?" The voice of another person rounding the side of the truck echoes through the dark clearing.

Candy finally lowers her flashlight out of their faces and turns toward her approaching partner, "Everything's fine. I know them. Just some love birds." She smiles when she turns toward them once more. "You guys gotta find a love nest somewhere else though, alright? There's nothing wrong with a comfortable bed, you know."

X

Tara sits alone in the cab of his truck, waiting. She has turned the rearview mirror her way, so she can see what is happening behind her, where Jax and Skeeter are in a discussion.

Her heart is still racing uncontrollably, and her hands are shaking, so she folds them into her lap to gain some control. She still can't believe what had happened. How they almost got caught. If it had been anyone other than Candy and her partner who stumbled upon them out there, they'd probably be getting rid of three bodies now instead of just Josh. Either that, or they'd be locked up somewhere, getting booked for murdering a Fed. She feels sick at the thought of what could've happened, and to her dismay, the night still wasn't over just yet.

Finally, she feels the slight tug on the truck, and her eyes drift back to the rearview mirror, where Skeeter and Jax have opened the back and are now pulling Kohn's body free from under the piles of newspapers. Tara can't help but take a quick look around, making sure nobody is watching, even though she knows Jax would've already done the same. This is finally the beginning of the end. In a couple of hours, there will be nothing left that could tie Jax or her to Josh's death.

X

Jax turned the truck around, so they could sit and wait while still keeping an eye on the entrance of the crematorium. They are both surprised when Skeeter says it would take no more than two hours at the most. Neither has done any research on it, but just assumed that it would probably take most of the night.

They sit quietly in the dark, waiting for Skeeter to let them know it is done, barely speaking out of fear to jinx it somehow so close to this nightmare finally being over.

Almost two hours later, Skeeter steps outside, giving them both a thumbs up. Jax quickly follows him inside, needing to see with his own eyes that there is nothing left of Kohn, before he hands Skeeter the rest of the agreed-on payment.

Jax quietly climbs back into the truck and looks at Tara, nodding his head, "It's done." The heavy burden has been lifted, and both of them feel like they can finally breathe again.

Jax reaches for Tara's hand and raises it to his lips, kissing it softly, "It's over, Babe."

Tara nods and tries her best to smile, but instead tears well up in her eyes, and she starts sobbing uncontrollably.

"Tara?" Jax exclaims in surprise, as he leans toward her, tugging on her, pulling her closer. She goes limp in the warmth of his arms at first, letting Jax engulf her in his embrace while she sobs into his shoulder.

Jax tries to calm her with whispers in her ear that it is all over, that they made it, as he rubs a soothing hand up and down her back. At first, it doesn't seem to work, but finally, Tara raises her arms and wraps them tightly around Jax in return, clinging to him as if her life depended on it, and at last, her sobs finally begin to die down. Her face is still hiding in the crook of his neck when she dares to speak. She tries to catch her breath, alternating between the words and a sob, "I'm ...so ... sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Jax asks, pulling back so he can look at her, trying to read her face.

She shakes her head and her chin quivers before she finally manages to speak again, "For being such a bitch the last few days."

"Babe -" Jax starts, but Tara cuts him off.

"I'm serious. I was just trying to keep it together, but the whole time I was just terrified, you know?" She admits out loud as she lowers her head against his shoulder once more, trying to get her breathing under control.

"I know. I was too." Jax replies before he presses a long kiss against her temple, cherishing her embrace. "But it's really done now, baby, he can never hurt you again."

They remain like that, in each other's arms, for a few minutes longer. When Tara finally loosens her grip on him and straightens up to wipe at her face, Jax can't help but smirk just a little. "And here I thought you had nerves of steel."

Tara emits a strange sound, something somewhere between a laugh and a sob, before she wipes at her eyes once more. "I was faking it ... all day, the whole time."

X

"Well, shit." Jax curses as they both climb back into the cab of the truck. They have thought of everything, except for making a reservation in the motel they'd planned to stay the night at, which turns out has no vacancies anymore for the night.

Tara pulls out her phone, and after a quick search and a few phone calls, they realize unless they want to make the over-an-hour-long trip to Stockton, they are out of luck.

"Any ideas?" Tara looks at him expectantly.

"We could just crash here, sleep in the truck," Jax suggests.

Tara sighs, not liking that idea at all. "I just feel so ... gross. I need a hot shower. And a bed. I feel like I haven't slept in days."

"Yeah, me too." Jax agrees. "There is one more option, but you're probably not gonna like it."

X

After a phone call to Bobby, Jax pulls his truck into one of the few empty parking spots outside Diosa Norte.

"Jesus Christ, this place is packed," Tara exclaims. "Are you sure they have an empty room?"

"Bobby said it wouldn't be a problem," Jax replies as he shuts off the engine and pulls the key from the ignition.

Tara sighs, and teasingly wonders out loud. "But will the sheets be clean?"

Jax carries the overnight bag they've packed in one hand, holding Tara's hand in the other as they approach the front door. But he suddenly stops short, tugging on her hand, and turns toward Tara. "There's just one thing." He feels embarrassed but knows he needs to tell her before they head inside. "I kinda told the guys we're back together."

Tara raises her eyebrows in surprise, "You did?"

Jax drops her hand and lowers his gaze to the ground for a moment in obvious embarrassment before he dares to meet her eyes again, "Look, I just didn't know how to tell them that I left SAMCRO ... that I left the Club for a woman who didn't want me anymore." There is such sadness in his eyes before he once more lowers his gaze to the ground between them. "I was just tryin' to save face, I guess."

"Jax." Tara sighs, and steps closer to frame his face with her hands, forcing him to look back at her. "I do want you. I just need to be sure it will work this time. I just need a little bit more time to be sure."

He nods solemnly but remains silent, Tara kisses him softly on the cheek, and reaches for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. A silent agreement of sorts that she'll play along. "Let's go inside."

X

The lobby is busy. Alcohol is flowing, seductive music is playing, and scantily clad women and their potential customers are scattered throughout the place.

Tara frowns at the sight, she hadn't imagined she'd ever set foot in this place. Nonetheless, she couldn't help herself from scanning the room for some familiar faces. There are a few she recognizes back from Cara Cara, but to her relief, neither Ima nor Colette is here tonight.

Tara isn't usually the type to feel self-conscious. She might've in her younger teenage years like most girls do, but not often as an adult, yet right now she feels it tenfold. Because just as she scans the room, the girls surrounding her curiously eye Jax and her as they walk inside. She hates the way they so obviously look Jax up and down, giving him a wink and smile, as if his hand isn't in hers ... as if she doesn't even exist anymore. Before her departure, when Jax was still president, they wouldn't have dared to do that in her presence ... but that obviously isn't the case anymore. And Tara hates it. It is just one more instant reminder of why she wants away from this life.

Bobby appears seemingly out of nowhere to greet them, and seems genuinely happy to see them both. After a few pleasantries are exchanged, Jax makes an excuse about being exhausted, and hungry, having been on the road all day. Bobby takes the hint and quickly calls someone over to show them to their room for the night. Free of charge, he says with a wink and a tug on his ever-growing beard.

A new girl named Winsome shows them to their room, all the way at the end of a long hallway, away from the hustle and bustle of the comings and goings in the motel lobby, and Tara is grateful for that. The less she sees and hears of those girls, the better.

X

Author's Note: Thank you so much for your continued support. I love all the reviews, comments, and private messages I received. Thank you. xoxo, Skater