Disclaimer: As always I own nothing associated with SOA. I make no profit from the writing of this little tale of sexy yummy biker goodness.

Watching her daughter rolling pool balls back and forth across the table Tara worried. This – days like today were a prime example of why she didn't want Rachael at the clubhouse. Moving away from the pool table, Tara made her way back towards the door. Cracking the door just enough she peeked out into the lot. She witnessed the silent shot fired above Gemma's head. As the 'family' drew their weapons she quickly and quietly shut the door – returning to her daughter. Grabbing the chair nearest the pool table she struggled with the worry that was all but consuming her mind. Her thoughts were running rampant, all roads leading back to her children. Abel was he father's boy through and through. Thomas (Tommy) was a very smart kid – away at school, but was also enough like his dad and older brother to worry Tara. Rachael was different. Shaking her head, Tara tried to clear her thoughts. She loved all of her children equally. She never played favorites. Rachael was her baby though; her unexpected little late miracle baby. The club and all the turbulence associated with it couldn't have her; Tara would see to that if it took everything she had. Her husband, son, and nearly all of her 'extended' family were outside dealing with a new unknown factor. "I'm not Gemma," thought Tara wearily, "I'm getting too damned old for this shit." As the words rattled through her head, she heard the clubhouse door banging open.

Looking up Tara watched as Juice came barreling into the clubhouse making a bee-line for the bar and his laptop. The sight of Juice relieved some of Tara's worry. Things in the lot must a settled some or Juice wouldn't be back in the clubhouse. The clubhouse door banged open a second time. Jax raced into the clubhouse "Tara - Rachael!" he exclaimed. Standing Tara made her way to the safety of husbands waiting arms. "I'm sorry baby! I'm sorry you both were here for that!" He whispered into her hair as he held her close and tight. Tara held on just a little tighter, once more relieved that her husband was safe, whole, and all in one piece.

From over by the pool table Rachael watched her folks. While she didn't understand everything that was going on; she knew more than her folks or the boys thought she did. She maybe young, but that didn't mean she was deaf either. She heard the other kids talking at school. Stuff like today would have the school talking for a week, she thought with an annoyed roll of the eyes.

Walking over to the pool table, Jax scooped up his little girl. "Hey baby girl! You ready to get out of her darlin' and go home?"

As they exited the clubhouse, Jax walked the girls towards Tara's car. With Rachael running off ahead of them just a few feet, Tara questioned "Where's Abel? Can you tell me what just happened here?"

Pulling her closer to his side, Jax kissed her temple "our boy is fine, I think he left to run Amanda back to her place." Glancing pointedly at Rachael he sighed "We'll talk about the rest later – promise."

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The normally short ten to fifteen minute drive back to her place was unusually long and painful for Amanda. She was alternated between being grateful that Able volunteered to follow her home and irritated that she wasn't alone. One last glance in the rear view guaranteed that he wasn't going anywhere until he made sure she was home safe and sound. The frustration rose in her until she simply wanted to scream. Sitting at a red-light, she pulled down the sun-visor and looked at herself in the small mirror. Any idiot with half a brain could tell she was visibly upset about something. Abel was no idiot. "Damn" she mumbled to herself "I just need a few minutes alone!" Her mind was racing, desperately trying to process everything that just happened at the TM lot; everything that currently had her stomach tied up in big painful knots. For the first time since leaving Tacoma, she questioned whether coming back to Charming was the right decision. Abel was going to be a father. Was she screwing up his life by being in Charming? The idea of going back to Tacoma briefly crossed her mind. However brief the thought was it wasn't brief enough; as the mere idea of going back to Tacoma increased the already painful knots in her stomach ten-fold.

As they parked in front of her place; she was grateful that Katie wasn't home yet. "That's something I guess," she mumbled as she headed to the front door. Standing inside her small living room, she was suddenly at a loss for words. She didn't want Abel to worry; honestly she didn't. She just didn't know what came next. The events of the afternoon a repeating loop in her mind. "I'm fine Abel…I know their waiting for you back at the clubhouse. Go take care of that…don't worry about me – I'm fine – honest!"

Abel watched her silently for the space of one…two…three long heartbeats. He heard nothing special in her words; nothing she hadn't said to him at least a hundred times before. So what was so damned different now? What was it about her that seemed so damned off? Did she seem more tense than usual? Was that fear that he read her in her dark eyes? Was she waiting for him to leave so that she could bolt? Was this her breaking point; was she planning on leaving Charming – leaving him again? Would he – could he survive without her a second time? Did he want to?

With a nearly violent shake he tried to clear away all the unwanted thoughts and questions running roughshod through his mind. Reaching for her hand he pulled her to him. He quickly wrapped her up in his arms – holding her as close and tight as he dared. Pulling back just a little, he looked into her dark eyes – his large hands framing her face. "Talk to me MandaLynn?" He asked as though it were really a question; when he was standing here holding her like this.

"Abel please…it's all good...I swear." She answered only half-heartedly.

It was on the tip of his tongue to call her out to demand that she talk to him. Why then didn't he? What didn't he tell her he knew all her "I'm fine's" were just pure bullshit? Why instead did he give her one…two…three soft kisses before turning and heading for the front door. Reaching for the handle, he called out with turning around ''if you need me for anything…anything at all just call – ok?"

With her hands balled into fists against her raging stomach – she nodded "ok" she mumbled. The sight of him opening the door to leave seemed so final to Amanda. For all her thoughts of needing to be alone – she couldn't let him go – not like this. In the silence, with his back to her she cried out "What are we doing Abel?"

Taking a deep breath, Abel scrubbed a hand down his face. In his gut, he knew something like this was coming. Rolling his eyes skyward, he wondered with everything else on his plate – who up there thought he had room to deal with this now. Turning slowly his heart lurched at the sight before him. Her fists balled tight against her stomach; a losing battle to hold it all in. The days stress and fear filling her eyes with unshed tears. Heaven and hell both knew this was one conversation he didn't want to have – and one he would never be able to walk away from.

Moving across the room the urge to take her in his arms was overwhelming. Knowing it would solve nothing – most likely make things worse at this point he stood silently watching her for one heartbeat then two. Needing the physical connection, he slowly, reached out to take her hand within his. "Manda – baby girl don't let what that stupid son-ofa-bitch said earlier get you. He doesn't know shit about my life – our lives."

Squeezing his hand in frustration and fear she questioned "doesn't he? If I'd stayed in Tacoma you and Maria – you might still be together."

"Fuck that!" he shouted, "You have nothing to do with Maria and me. Do you hear me Amanda Lynn – NOTHING!?"

"How can you say that Abel? She is the mother of your child. I understand where their coming from. Any woman in her position would want the same thing."

"What Amanda? What is that you think she and her douchebag brother want from me,
Retorted Abel, his anger and frustration threatening to bubble to the surface?

"Isn't it obvious Abel? She wants her child to have both his and her parents. She wants this baby born in a loving home."

"I'm not walking away from my child Amanda. This child will always have me – regardless of the relationship between me and his mother."

"Would you and Maria still be together if I weren't here?" When the question was met with silence Amanda repeated herself. After an awkward moment, Amanda pleaded "Just answer the question Abel – I need to know."

"My relationship with Maria would have ended whether you were here or not. Is that what you wanted to hear? Is it baby girl – does that make you feel better?" Pulling his long hair away from his face, Abel paced the small confines of the living room. His emotions were bubbling over; the battle for control slipping through his long rough fingers.

"I answered your question – turn-about and fair play – you answer mine." Grabbing her hand he bodily pulled her snug and tight against him. Cupping her face between his two large hands he leaned down and took her mouth in a long deep bruising kiss. Slipping his right hand into her hair and across the back of head; he controlled the angle of the kiss. His tongue slipped in and out of her mouth quick and furious. Breaking the kiss just as quickly as it started he studied her face, her dark emotional eyes, her kissed swollen lips "Do you love me baby girl?"

She studied his face in return. His beautiful baby blue eyes – so much like his father she thought absently. His long blonde hair reminding her of the pictures Tara had shown her of a younger Jax Teller. Absently her finger tips brushed his hair back behind his ear away from his face.

The gentle contact forced his thoughts into action "It's a simple question babe…Do you love me?"

Author's Note: Special Thanks to GemmaTellerSOA, MAR76, HermioneandMarcus, bonzgirl, and LonePlam you guys making writing this story so much fun. I love all of your thoughts, comments, questions, and idea. Thank you to everyone who is following and favoriting this story – that makes my day xoxoxoxox