Disclaimer: I don't own jack when it comes to SoA. That's all KS's awesome hot mess

Woohoo! The muse is free ya'll. You see, she's been in jail for the past few months because of some bogus assault charges for fight back that damn writer's block. Refusing to plead guilty, she's been in a heated court room battle and FINALLY there was a break in the case thanks to her brilliant lawyers (aka you guys with your fantabulous reviews, favs/follows and PMs). Now she's back in the saddle and that damn writer's block is too busy with its own false accusation charges to interfere :P

Seriously though, your response to my last chapter blew me away. I wish I could have updated way sooner for your guys, but you were my constant motivation in helping me get though my writer's block. Thank you guys so much for your continued support. You all are the bomb jiggity, no diggity!

Now onto the good stuff! It's finally time for the big Tara vs. Jax showdown!

PS. There is a link in my profile for a picture of who I envision as Dr. Landon (it'll probably be a familiar face for any of your GL or CA:WS fans)

Chapter Soundtrack ~ My Song 5: Haim/It's Not Over: Daughtry

It had been three weeks since Tara's dating proclamation and as soon as she returned to work days later, she made good on it.

She was in St. Thomas's cafeteria for a quick bit to eat when she spotted Dr. Landon Kincaid taking a seat at an empty table with a tray of food. Deciding to stay and eat rather than retreat to her office, Tara brought an apple, a sandwich and a water, and headed in his direction.

"Hey." She said once she reached him, hoping she didn't appear as nervous as she was.

Looking up from the magazine he was reading, Landon smiled brightly. "Tara. Hey, how are you?"

"I'm good. Would you mind some company?"

"With you? Not at all." He grinned charmingly and Tara took the empty chair across from him. "So how was Phoenix?"

"It was great. The weather was beautiful and surprisingly, the seminars were actually interesting. Dr. Woodard presented."

"From St. John's? Wow, I'm not even Peds and I would have loved to hear him speak."

"Yeah, it was one of the few conferences that I've been to that was worth it."

"I don't know paid for travel expenses, free stay in a nice hotel and free food all for the price of practicing to sleep with your eyes open. That's pretty damn worth it in my opinion." He quipped and Tara cracked up laughing.

"You have a point there." She said through her lingering giggles. "So I have a reason for joining you for lunch today." Landon looked at her intriguingly. "I was wondering if your offer for dinner still stands?" She asked almost shyly, worried that she had missed her opportunity.

Landon beamed. "Absolutely."

.

That Friday night and every one thereafter, Tara was out with Landon; either just the two of them or with some of their co-workers at McCoor's for Happy Hour. It was a whole new experience for Tara. Dating a nice, sane, normal guy and socializing with her co-workers who she usually kept a professional distance from, but she was having a great time.

Unfortunately there was a one problem lurking in the background – Jax.

Tara hadn't been kidding when she told Devon not to tell him that she was dating. Despite, the double standard with him screwing the madam, she knew he would not take the news well. And as much as she hated that his feelings had any merit in her personal life, she had to tread carefully. Whenever she and Landon were alone together, it was outside of Charming. It wasn't like there was a whole lot to do in town anyway, but it also meant less of a chance of being spotted by someone who would run and tell Jax. It was hard enough for Tara, explaining her relationship with the father of her children to Landon, after a co-worker filled him in on her involvement with the local motorcycle gang's President. Thankfully, Landon wasn't intimidated and understood what it was like dealing with an ex. At the moment, Tara and Landon were still getting to know one another so they didn't want outside interference ruining things before they really started.

For the time being, Devon was the only one who knew, since she played babysitter and she wasn't about to spill the beans. The fit that Jax was bound to throw was nothing no one wanted to see.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Without the guns and with a more legit business model, SAMCRO was going stronger than ever. They were making money, they were off the Feds and Roosevelt's radar, and their community standing was back on the up and up. Jax and his brothers were back to being to Robin Hood and Merry Men of Charming.

To show how good SAMCRO could be to their fellow townsmen, Gemma rebooted the Taste of Charming fundraiser. With Abel's kidnapping, dealing with Stahl and the rest of the ATF, and the guys' stint in Stockton, she was a little too preoccupied to organize the event for the past few years. With all that drama behind them, it was the perfect time for both the club and herself to shine in a better light again.

.

The day of the fundraiser, all hands were on deck to help Gemma with the set up at the Charming High. Being the go-to guy for all the heavy lifting, Opie was one of the first to arrive with Devon tagging along, but strictly as a supervisor.

Now five months pregnant, even if she wanted, Opie was very protective and not about to let her lift a finger to do much of anything now-a-days. Sometimes it irritated her, but he was so cute about it that she let it slide and enjoyed being waited on hand and foot.

Sitting at the picnic table under the SAM CROW tent, Devon was munching on Gemma's famous chili while chatting with her and some of the other Old Ladies. While he was volunteering his services, per Gemma's instruction, by help Rita Roosevelt set up her tent, Opie's cut was draped on the bench with Devon's bag. His phone started ringing from its pocket and she pulled it out to see that Chibs was calling. She scanned the field for him, but stopped short when she saw Tara and the boys headed their way. She waved at them before calling out to her husband and they both ended up reaching her at the same time. She and Opie greeted Tara and the boys, drawing Gemma's attention to their arrival.

"Are you done helping out Rita, Op?" He confirmed that he was so she doled out another order. "Then I need you and Tara to grab the extra supplies from my car."

Aimed at Gemma's retreating back, an incredulous eyebrow rose over Tara's sunglasses. She just got here, barely had the chance to get the boys situated so they'd be entertained until the event got started, and Gemma was already riding her ass. She took it in stride though, their relationship was in a good place right now and she honestly had no problem helping Gemma out today.

The boys had plenty of people around the watch them so Devon elected to follow Opie and Tara. As the three of them were walking to the parking lot, they heard the roar of a motorcycle pulling up. It was Jax, being accompanied by some unknown black Lexus. Once they parked, he got off his bike and his guest climbed out of the car.

"You have got to be kidding me." Devon exclaimed when the person turned out to be none other than Collette. "Did you know about this?" She looked back at her husband.

"No, I didn't."

Devon glared at him, not sure if he was being truthful or lying to save his own ass.

Even though she was on fire that Jax had brought the hooker with him, Tara stayed silent. She wasn't about to waste any energy on starting a fight with either of them.

As the two groups met one another, Opie stopped to welcome his brother and by default Collette, but the ladies kept walking as if they weren't even there. Devon could tell that Tara was in no mood for Jax in any capacity so she spoke no further on him and his unwelcomed surprise.

They were gathering the cups, bowls, plates and utensils from the hatchback of Gemma's Escalade when Opie rejoined them.

"You okay with that?" he asked Tara as she stacked rolls of cups in his arms.

Before she could respond, his wife snapped at him. "Why do you care? You her damn bodyguard now?"

He quickly moved the defend himself. "No, I don't give a shit about Collette, but I know her being with Jax came as a surprise to you." He addressed Tara. "I'm just making sure you're okay and that I won't have to save Jax's ass today." He teased to help lighten her mood.

"I appreciate that Opie, but it really wasn't a surprise. If anything I was surprised he waited so long." Jax couldn't keep his dick in his pant even if his life depended on it. "As long as it doesn't affect Abel and Thomas, and his whores don't try to play mommy with my kids, I could care less who he's screwing."

Not wanting to fire her up anymore, Opie left it at that.

Once he was out of earshot, walking away with his arms filled, Tara chuckled deviously.

"Uh oh. I know that look. What did you do?" Devon asked, her own mischievous smile growing on her face. Something told her that this was going to be good.

She shrugged. "He's worried about me when I'm not the one who's going to blow a gasket today." She grabbed the bag of utensils and bowls, and hauling the door shut, she started back towards the school, Devon instep with her. "Landon's here."

"Where?" She asked excitedly, having yet to see the doctor. As the open field of the school came into view, Tara pointed out the tall, gorgeous, brunette man over by St. Thomas's booth. "Hello there Dr. McDreamy."

"Exactly." Tara said and the two women giggled madly all the way back to their tent.

.

With all her helpers present, Gemma was able to get everything set up well before the fundraiser was to begin. Jax and Opie left to take care of some business, but like some of the other guys, they were tapped to come back and help throughout the day. Gemma still have plenty of minions at her disposal, including the newest one, Collette, so Tara and Devon relieved themselves from duty.

They browsed the silent auction gallery and Tara took the boys around to play all the games while Devon went back to relax in her comfy lawn chair and catch some sun. Abel was playing the ring toss game when he saw some of his friends from daycare and Tara let him run off the play the group activities that were starting. With a sleepy Thomas in tow, she returned to the club's tent. As she drew near, she noticed that Opie and Jax were back along with Chibs. Putting Thomas in his stroller in the shade for a nap, she greeted Chibs and was about to settle at the table with Devon when someone called out to her.

"Hey Tara."

She turned around and smiled at Landon. "I see you made it after all."

"Yeah, my surgery was postponed so I figured I'd swing by and lend a hand." He said, returning a smile that was just as big and obviously happy to see her. "How's it going over here?"

Tara winced. "To be honest, I don't know." They both laughed. "I've been having fun with my boys."

"Oh, well by any chance have you worked up an appetite? Maybe you want to get a burger or hot dog with me?"

"I'd love to." She accepted cheerfully. "I'll be back in a little while, keep an eye on the boys for me?" She asked Devon, who readily agreed and walked away with Landon.

Everyone at the tent stood there, somewhat in shock, as they watched Tara walking away with this stranger, taking hold of the arm he politely extended to her.

"Jax." Gemma was the first to speak, tempering her son when she saw the rage in his eyes.

Jax couldn't control the absolute fury coursing through his body. Who the fuck was that guy and what the fuck was Tara doing with him?

"Aw they make a cute couple don't they?" Devon looked straight at him tauntingly. Opie tapped her hip, but she completely blew off the warning. "What? They do."

Standing next to Jax, Collette could practically feel the anger rolling off of him and decided to take it upon herself to distract him. She managed to drag him along to the silent auction, claiming to have spotted some items that would be perfect for the remodel she and the other girls had planned for the house. There was almost a collective sigh of relief when they left, but the damage was already done. It was only a matter of time before the bomb that was Jax, exploded.

Gemma wasn't about to let anything or anyone ruin her event so she turned on Devon who obviously knew exactly what Tara was up to. "What the hell is she doing Devon?"

"Well, it looks like she's having lunch with the man she's been seeing for a few weeks now." She replied with the perfect dose of sass.

"And she didn't think to let Jax know?" She questioned and then aimed an accusation at her. "Why didn't you telling him?"

Devon glowered at her ridiculously. "Because it's none of his business." With a roll of her eyes, she got up to get herself some cotton candy, her part in this discussion over.

Hands tied, the only thing Gemma could do was order the guys to stick around until Collette and Jax came back, and then get him the hell out here for the rest of the day. In the meantime, they had to stay on the sideline and hope nothing went down, but be prepared to jump in if it did.

.

For awhile it seemed like they had dodged a bullet, Collette was doing a great job of keeping Jax on the opposite side of the field and keeping Tara out of his line of sight. Even if he did happen to see her and the doctor, it all appeared to be fairly platonic between the two. No reason for Jax to fly off the handle…Until.

"Oh hell." Chibs said. "Somebody find Jackie-boy now."

"What?" Opie looked in the direction Chibs was staring.

The games ended for the kids and having scoped out his mother nearby, Abel raced to her side. Tara knelt down to his level as he raved on and on about the fun he had. When he noticed the strange man standing by, he asked about him and Tara introduced Landon as "mommy's friend from work".

It was at the exact moment when Landon extended his hand to shake Abel's that caught Chibs attention and all hell broke loose.

It was bad enough when a brother's Old Lady was chatting up another man, adding his kids into the mix just made it ten times worse.

"Shit." Opie groused and immediately started looking for Jax. Fortunately, he quickly spotted him, but unfortunately, he was watching the entire scene. "Go get Tara." He told his wife and with Chibs, they rushed over to intercede their brother.

Devon chose to ignore him. Hell no, she wasn't going to stop Jax from getting his just dessert.

Gemma saw that she wasn't going to move so she abandoned her post. "I'll do it."

Devon just shrugged and continued to gorge herself on her cotton candy.

Feeling only marginally bad for what she was doing, Gemma purposefully woke Thomas from his nap, upsetting him.

"I'm sorry baby." She cooed as she rocked him. "I bet you want your Momma, don't you? Yeah, let's go get your Momma."

Moving over to the trio near the center of the field, she could see that her arrival was just in the nick of time. This stranger was getting too damn close to her son's family.

"So I hear you love the Avengers?" Leaning back into his mother's legs, Abel looked up at him, nodding timidly. "Me too. Iron Man is my favorite."

"He's my favorite too!" He cried excitedly.

"Really? Well that is very cool. You know-"

"There you are." Gemma interrupted. "Someone woke up a little cranky and wants his Momma." She told Tara.

None the wiser, Tara took her fussy son from his grandmother and he curled right up in her arms. "Its okay baby." She murmured soothingly into his little chubby cheek. "It is lunch time so he's probably hungry too."

"Me too, Momma." Abel chimed in.

"Ok, let's go get something to eat." She said. "Thank you for lunch, Landon."

"No problem. I'm glad you could join me." He smiled. "I'll catch up with you later?" Tara agreed and before they parted way, he spoke to the boys. "Bye Abel. Bye Thomas. It was nice to finally meet you both."

"Bye." Abel politely waved to a retreating Landon. When he saw that his father was back, with his mother's permission, he took off ahead of Tara and Gemma.

Now that they were alone, Gemma warned. "You're playing a dangerous game, baby."

"What game is that?"

"You and the doctor."

"That's not a game. It's called dating." Tara snipped back and walked away. Not to be deterred, Gemma was quick to follow.

"You think that's fair to Jax?"

"Newsflash Gemma – Jax and I are not together. I don't need his permission to do anything in my personal life. Besides he seems to be having the time of his life with the hooker." She stopped and looking directly at her, she seriously posed. "Am I not allowed to be happy and move on with my life too?"

"You need to give him time."

"For what? To decide if he wants to be with me?" She scoffed. "This was our second go around Gemma. If he hasn't figured it out by now, he never will." Since she made the decision to stay in Charming, Jax had every opportunity to make their relationship work. Instead, he chose to ruin them. "We are done and I don't owe Jax a damn thing." She said with finality and keep moving forward, leaving Gemma behind this time.

Straight ahead, she could see that everyone had been watching the whole scene and they started scrambling to appear as though they were doing anything but. All with the exception of Jax whose eyes remained locked on her.

"Something wrong Jackson?" She asked once she was standing at the table.

Jax didn't utter a word. He was too angry to say anything that wouldn't result in a huge fight. Now was not the time or place for that. But soon, very soon it would be.

The moment was long and tense as they stared at each other. Everyone around them was almost afraid to breath.

Finally Tara broke the silence and answered for him. "I didn't think so." She turned her back on him and went about prepping the boys' lunch.

Their audience went back to their own business as well, but they all knew that this was far from over. Especially considering, Tara's obviously disregard for Jax's outrage as she continued to spend time with the new doctor through the rest of the day. At one point she was even dancing with him, looking quite content as she swayed in his arms.

.

Night had fallen and Charming's local band had taken the stage to entertain the crowd before the fireworks show. The boys had both fallen asleep in their stroller so Tara joined Devon in the middle of the field to listen and occasionally dance around to the music. Landon had approached the two when a ballad started playing and asked Devon if he could cut in. She didn't hesitate to give her consent, knowing this was going to piss Jax off even more. She hurried back to the tent to avidly watch her best friend being wooed, which was way overdue, and Jax openly seethed.

.

After the fireworks, The Taste of Charming came to a close. People started packing up and heading home. Needing to get her overly tired boys to bed, Tara was the first to leave. She was walking to the parking lot when Landon flagged her down and offered to escort her the rest of the way to her car. Even though it wasn't necessary, she was impressed by his show of chivalry and gladly accepted.

.

.

That was it! Jax had enough. He couldn't allow some asshole to just swoop in and try to replace him in Tara's life. It had been torture watching them all day, he couldn't even concentrate on anything other than her. He was rude and hostile to anyone who tried to talk to him. Eventually, they wisely kept their distance to let him brood alone.

Now that his mother's little fundraiser was over, Jax wanted an explanation. Tara was gone so he went for the only person who apparently had a front row seat to her and the fucker.

Walking up behind Devon, he questioned her. "What the hell is going on with Tara?"

Expecting an interrogation from him at some point tonight, she had an answer waiting for him. "She's moving on with her life, Jax." She turned to face him, her arms cross defiantly. "I mean did you really expect her to wait around for you forever? Put up with being ignored and disrespected and cheated on?"

Gritting his teeth, Jax looked away from her guiltily.

Devon gave him no sympathy. This needed to be said and he needed to be put in his place.

"God Jax, you two were going through the worst thing that could happen to parents. You should have pulled her closer, fought together to get Abel back because that's what you do when you have a family with someone. When you love them as much as I know you love Tara." She riled at him. "Instead you screwed her over and now you have to live with the consequences." Done with him, she was ready to walk away, but he held her back.

"What if I can't deal with the consequences anymore?"

"Are you saying that you want Tara back?" He nodded, his whole demeanor was stripped of any pride or self-preservation. It was Jax in his purest form, completely vulnerable and at her mercy. It was enough to convince Devon that he had finally opened his eyes and was ready do right by her best friend. "Then you need to get your shit together and fight for her. Make her believe that she means the world to you and that you will never leave her again." She advised, her words strong and fierce. "And for Christ's sake, get rid of the damn hooker! God! I don't get you guys. You have doctors, women who build their own businesses that love you, yet you can stay away for fucking whores! Ugh!" She growled and flexed her hands in the air wishing it was his throat.

"Hey babe. You ready to go?" Opie approached them now that Gemma was done using him as her pack mule. He placed his hand on her lower back and she planted a stinging slap on his arm.

"Don't touch me." She snapped and stomped away.

"What did you do?" He immediately asked Jax, knowing he was at fault. She had been fine up until now.

He sighed, rubbing at his brow warily. "What else? I fucked up with Tara, Collette's here." Opie gave him a look that said he pretty much agreed that he had screwed himself. "I gotta fix this, get rid of her….And this new doc." He glared across the field, where the good doctor was on his way back from seeing Tara and his boys off to help St. Thomas clean up. "I might need your help with that."

"What do you have planned?" Opie knowingly glanced in the same direction.

Instead of answering him, Jax yelled. "Juice!" His brother joined them and he instructed. "Find out everything about the new doctor at St. Thomas. Starting with his address. Now."

A few of the doors at the back of the school were still open while people were replacing borrowed tables and chairs so Juice slipped inside. Moving stealthily through the halls, he found the school's computer lab. The information was an easy find and once it was delivered to Jax, he called Happy to met up with him, Opie and Chibs at Dr. Kincaid's house.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Exhausted by the long day, Landon drove home with nothing but thoughts of his couch, the last inning of the Giants game and a cold beer. He parked in his driveway and was preparing to get out when four motorcycles pull in behind him.

Any hopes for a peaceful end to his night were gone.

.

Around the corner from Haliwell Drive, Jax and his brothers had been sitting in wait for the good doctor. Once he turned onto his street, totally unaware, they followed. In case he got any bright ideas about a getaway, they lined up at the end of his drive. Jax climbed off his bike to lean against it side-saddle and very casually lit up a cigarette as he waited for the doctor to come out.

.

Exiting his car, Landon calmly joined the four bikers. "Is there something I can help you fellas with?"

Jax smiled cunningly around his cigarette, mildly impressed that the guy wasn't running away. Taking one last drag, he flicked the bud into the lawn and stepped up to him.

"Yeah, you can pack your shit and get the hell out of Charming."

"And when I'm gone what do you expect to happen?" Ignoring all pretenses, Landon went straight for the reason for this little visit. "Do you honestly think Tara's just going to run back into your arms?" he smirked, almost smugly, far from intimidated by Jax.

It's only served to infuriate Jax and his calm façade vanished to reveal his rage. "Don't act like you know Tara."

"I know enough." He shot back with the same air of cockiness, oblivious to the fact that he was only making it worse for himself.

"You don't want to fight with me over Tara. You won't win." With a maniacal grin, Jax move closer to Landon. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you won't be walking, talking, hell you'll barely be breathing if you want to take it that far."

"That will definitely get Tara back into your life."

Over this guy's smartass act, abandoning all levity, Jax's face turned cold. "Probably not. But if I can't have her, nobody will." His chilling words weren't a threat on Tara's life, but for any man who thought he had a chance with her. "So the choice is yours – you can leave Charming or I can make you a permanent resident of some random ditch around here. What's it going to be?"

All of Landon's bravado was sucked right out of him as it became clear just how serious this man was. He wasn't talking about blows being thrown between the two of them. He was proposing to actually kill him if he didn't leave town.

Tara warned him that her ex wouldn't respond well to their relationship. He was expecting some harassment and a confrontation or two. Not this. He was not prepared to deal with a threat on his life. So there was really only one choice he could make.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"I'm on till about seven tonight so I'll keep an eye on him for you."

"Thanks Tara." Her co-worker said.

"You're welcome. See you Monday." Tara waved as she left the locker room, going back to work now that her lunch break was over.

Checking her email on her phone, she rounded the corner to the nurses' station and glancing up, she saw a face she hadn't seen in awhile. "Landon." She spoke out, drawing his attention.

He stopped in his tracks, seeming a little startled. "Um, hey, Tara."

"Are you okay?" She asked. "I haven't seen you around the past week and I called you a few days ago."

"I know. I've been really busy." He explained poorly and she gave him a dubious glare. He sighed with resignation. "You got a minute to talk."

"Yeah, I do." She said, wanting to know what was going on with him.

He took her to his office and as soon as she walked through the door, she got her first hint.

"Why is your office all packed up?"

Closing the door behind them, Landon faced Tara and came clean. "I'm being transferred to San Francisco General. Today's my last day and I'm leaving Charming tomorrow."

Tara was completely stunned, she couldn't speak for a moment. "Tomorrow? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"She questioned him incredulously; this was coming out of nowhere. Then it dawned on her. "Were you going to tell me or were you just going to skip town?" Landon looked away and that, along with his silence, confirmed her suspicion. "Why would you do that? I thought….I thought something was happening between us. Why would you just disappear on me like that?"

"Something was happening with us, but I don't think the timing is right." She shook her head, not accepting that excuse. "I just moved from the East Coast. I wasn't even sure if I was going to stay in California, nothing was for certain. And you just got out of an intense relationship, your ex made it very clear that he does not want you to be with anyone else."

"That doesn't explain why you were going to leave without saying goodbye." Tara butted in. "And I've told you before, Jax and I are through. He has nothing to do with-" She paused when his rambling really sunk in and started making sense. "Jax did something didn't he? He threatened you." How else could he have "made it clear" to Landon? She could practically see it all happening in her head. "After the Taste of Charming, I'm guessing. He didn't know about you before then and that's the last time I saw you."

"I'm sorry Tara. I care about you a lot and I know we could have had something great, but I'm not cut out for this. I'm sorry."

Tara nodded numbly, somewhat in a daze. A part of her couldn't believe this was happening and a part of her wasn't surprised that Jax had gone this far to interfere with her life.

"Tara. Tara. Are you okay?"

Stirring from her stupor, she assured him. "I will be. And you don't have to apologize. This isn't your fault." She turned to the door, her mind flooded with thoughts of Jax. Right before she walked out, she looked back at Landon. "I hope everything goes well for you in San Francisco." He gave her a tight, regretful smile and farewell nod. "Goodbye."

Tara rushed out of the office and down the hall to the stairwell. She ignored the nurse calling to her about one of her patients and burst onto the landing. Thankfully, it was empty so no one was there to witness how upset she was.

With a crushing grip on the banister, she breathed rhythmically, needing to calm herself down. She wanted nothing more than to run out of here, find Jax and kill him with the bare hands. But she had work to finish, patients to care for. She needed to get herself together and focus on that for the next few hours…Then she was going take care of Jax, once and for all.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"There. Are you happy now?" Opie said, standing up from tightening the last bolt on the crib. He pushed it forward and centered it in front of the pastel green wall with a floor to ceiling tree and a bunch animal surrounding it.

"Yes. And so are you so don't pretend like you're not." Devon grinned and circled his waist with her arms, cuddling up to his side.

Draping his arm over her shoulder, he looked around the room that was painted by the prospects with a different color on each wall and decorated by his wife and Gemma. It still sometimes came as a shock to him that in a few months, he was going to be some kid's father. Other than watching Jax with his sons, he didn't know a damn thing about babies. He was terrified, but Devon was right, he was happy too. This was going to be his kid, his flesh and blood. And after everything they had been through, this baby was like a new start for them.

"Ugh." Devon groaned, hearing someone knocking at their side door. "No, I'll get it." She protested when he started to answer it. "You are not going out tonight." Assuming it was one of his brothers coming to see if he could come and play, she was looking forward to disappointing them. "What are you doing here?" She balked at the sight of her best friend and her kids standing on her doorstep.

"I need a favor – can you watch the boys for me tonight? I'll come get them first time tomorrow morning."

"Yeah sure." She ushered Abel in, who went running through the house, yelling "Uncle Opie" and she took Thomas out of her arms. "Jax too busy with the hooker to watch the boys?" Devon quipped, but there was no humor on Tara's face.

"I don't know, but wherever he is, I'm going to find him."

"What's going on?" She asked, seeing that she was very angry.

"Hey Tara." Opie walked into the kitchen to get some snacks for him and Abel while they watched wrestling.

"Don't talk to me." She fired back without hesitation.

"What did you do?" Devon whirled on her husband.

"I have no idea what her problem is."

"Sure you don't. I highly doubt you weren't right there with him." She sneered. "I'll let him tell you how much of an asshole he and his best friend are." She sat the boys' bag on the counter and kissed Thomas' cheek. "Thanks for this, Dev. Bye Abel! Be good for Aunt Devon and Uncle Opie. I love you."

"Bye Momma!"

Barely saying goodbye, Tara was out the door just as quickly as she had arrived.

"Your daddy is in so much trouble." Devon sing-sung to Thomas. "And so is your Uncle Opie." She glared at her husband who was trying to make an escape. "I want to know what you did. Right now. And don't you even think about call Jax to warn him."

Knowing she was going to be pissed and finding it amusing in this case, Opie proudly faced his faith with a smile.

"I'll tell you, but we should probably go into the garage so all your screeching doesn't scare the kids."

She growled at him. "You as-" Remembering she had little ears in the house, she stopped herself. She shot a fake smile down at the baby so he wouldn't pick up on her irritation and yanked the chips and juice box out of his hand. "You are so dead when we get in there." She stomped into the living room, purposefully ramming her shoulder into his arm.

Opie chuckled. This was going to be fun.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hair still damp from his shower and wearing nothing, but a pair of jeans he threw on, Jax ambled to the front of his house. "Hang on a sec!" He bellowed to whoever kept banging on his door. He yanked it open, ready to go off, but who he found, he wasn't expecting.

"Tara. What hell is going on?"

The minute she saw his face her fury rose tenfold and snarling, she smacked his bare chest with both hands so hard, he stumbled back into the foyer. She charged in after him, slamming the door shut.

"You son of a bitch!" She yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Whoa! Calm the hell down."

"No, I will not calm down." She refused. "Because you went too far this time, Jax. You're screwing with my life and that is none of your gotdamn business."

"It is when it affects my kids." He countered and not even pretending he didn't know what she was referring to, he admitted. "I'll be damned if I let some fuckin' loser around my boys."

"You're sure as hell one to talk." She exclaimed indignantly. "That was the only time they had ever been around Landon and it was for a second. It would have been a very long time until they met him, but you fixed that didn't you?" She said knowingly. "And we both know it had nothing to do with the boys."

"Oh I can't wait to hear this theory Doc." He smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't act like I don't know you Jackson Teller." She moved until she was standing inches away from him. Her fingers petted the center of his stomach and she spoke with a raspy, teasing voice. "You know it would have been three weeks since Landon and I started seeing each other?" Her hand stopped at the rim of his jeans and she dragged her nails back and forth giving him goosebumps. "Do you know how many…..things can happen between two people who are attracted to each other in three weeks?"

He jerked away from her, pacing to the other side of the room.

Giggling, Tara followed after him. "Just as I thought. You ruined my chance with Landon because you're jealous."

"So what if I was? You had no business being with him."

"Why? Because I'm your Old Lady?" She mocked, hoping to piss him off, but it back fired on her.

He leered at her cockily. "Yeah, and you know it. Or else you would have gotten that ink removed a long time ago, babe."

"Is that what this is all about?" She amazed at his nerve. "I got your crow on my body so I'm supposed to just fall in line? Accept whatever little bone you threw my way?"

Offended, he growled at her. "That's not what we were Tara. I never treated you like shit."

"You came pretty damn close." She argued. "I mean, how would you feel if I treated you as if you meant nothing to me and then fucked another man?"

"Well I already know what it feels like to be fucked over by you."

Her eyes widened, appalled, as she came to a realization. He was still holding over her head something that happened more than ten years ago? "So that was some sort of payback? You finally getting your revenge?"

"No Tara." He clenched his jaw in frustration. She was twisting everything around. Didn't she understand? "I did it to protect you!"

"And that worked out perfectly didn't it?"

"I made a mistake."

"Yeah you did. Too bad some mistakes can't be fixed." She tried to leave, completely over him and his hypocrisies. She was expected to be loyal to a fault, but he couldn't give her the same. It was bullshit and she had enough.

"Tara, wait. Wait! Don't go." He begged, knowing this was his chance, his last chance.

"Give me a reason to stay." She challenged him.

"I love you." He quickly stated. "And you love me. We always have and we always will, babe." He was giving her one of those self-assured crooked grins that she never knew if she wanted to slap or kiss. "We've both been miserable apart for too damn long. We gotta end it."

"How? Tell me how Jax."

"Come back to me."

"To what? To you just living your life, not thinking about anyone else by yourself? Me and the boys following along trying to keep up? You shutting me out when I need you the most." She grilled him, her hurt from the past starting to replace the anger. "I was so insecure about our relationship when we started up again because I didn't think I was the kind of woman that you need, that our differences would tear us apart. And just when I thought I could trust in us, trust that the amazing connection between us was still there and could get us through anything…" She trailed off, trying the stave off tears she felt building in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry babe."Jax stressed, remembering every painful moment she was reliving. "I fell apart when Cameron took Abel. I didn't know how to handle it. All I knew was that I couldn't lose you too." Humbling himself, he finally opened up to Tara, letting her see his greatest vulnerabilities. "You have no idea what would happened to me if I lost you." He shook his head gravely. "I'd lose it." He was pretty sure he would fall off the deep end and never come back from it. "I love you so much, Tara. I need you back." His voice cracked and she couldn't hold back any longer.

She took hold of his face, laying soothing kisses on his cheek. "I want to believe you so badly." It had been so long since she'd seen this side of Jax and she knew he was telling the truth, but she was still too afraid to put her heart on the line with him again. "We almost had it, Jax. We were so close and then all this shit got in between us."

"I know. I know the club is still a problem for you….I'm sorry about that." He said, truly apologetic for all the times she got caught in the blow back. "But SAMCRO is different now. And I'm going to do everything I can to keep it that way."

So proud of how he had turned the club around, she managed a small smile for him. "And that's why the club is not a problem for me anymore so stop being sorry. It's in the past now." She asserted. "Besides, you shouldn't feel sorry for being who you are and the club is a part of you. I get that now. In some ways you wouldn't be who you are without the club." If he had left Charming with her all those years ago, he would have been a different Jax; maybe for the better, maybe for the worse. Jax was a genuinely good person, who by no choice of his own, was born into mayhem and trying to make the best of it. "But you're more than just the President of SAMCRO, Jax. You're also a father and you were supposed to be my partner. We should've have been a team in our own right, the four of us against everybody else." He had his family with the club, but he forgot that he had a family waiting at home for him too. "If the boys and I are going to be a part of you then we have to be important, we have to matter too." She demanded. "I'm not asking you to choose-"

"You should." He interrupted her. "And if worse comes to worse, I choose you and our boys over the club."

The brute honest in his vow had Tara shaken to the core and renewed her hope. Maybe things would be different if they tried again. "You know, I try not to think about the worse so much anymore. Instead, I'd like to believe that you now consider how the things that you do will affect Abel and Thomas before you do them. I'd like to think that when things get really bad for you, you'll come to me, not push me away." She gave him a meaningful stare and he got the hint.

He knew a long time ago that he needed to be more open with Tara and recently, he had been. He wasn't sure if he would have made it through the past few months if he didn't have her to vent or escape to. And ironically, they weren't together. If she gave him another chance, he wouldn't close himself off to her again. Hell, he didn't even think he could anymore.

"I'm not asking you to be perfect because I'm not perfect." She admitted. "I mean, I can't be everything that you need me to be. I can be there for you and I can accept the club, but I can't be like Gemma."

"I never wanted you to." He immediately refuted. "You do enough for the club. I don't want it to consume you like it has my mother." He hated when she put her career at risk to get the drugs to help fund their trip to Ireland. He hated it even more when her life was at risk when she helped take out Jimmy O. He never wanted her to be in those positions again. "I just want you to be the best mother to our kids, the best damn doctor in this town, and I want you to be happy. Happy with me." He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Come on babe. Come back to me."

He stalked towards her, very predatory like and Tara could feel herself being draw into him. Still afraid of being hurt again, she backed away. It didn't put Jax off one bit and he kept moving until he had her up against the wall, caging her in with his arms.

"Jax." Her voice trembled and she didn't know if she was asking him to stop or keep going.

"You mean everything to me babe. I won't ever make you doubt that again." He swore. "Please, Tara." He begged shamelessly and leaned in until his lips brushed her cheek. "Please."

Closing her eyes, she grabbed his waist and held onto him as she allowed herself to fall with him one more time. "Ok."

Scared that he heard her wrong, Jax pulled back to search her face, needing confirmation. "Ok?" She opened her eyes and looking into his, she nodded. Jax was overcome with relief. "Promise me you won't leave me again?"

"Promise you won't give me a reason to."

"I promise, but know that if you break yours, I'm coming after you. And this time I'll chain you to the bed to make sure you stay." She laughed. "I'm serious. I can't live without you. I won't." He pressed his forehead to hers and cupped her face in his hands. "We belong together Tara. We're better people when we're together remember?"

Hearing that he finally believed the same declaration she made to him a couple of years ago, Tara lit up inside. She threw her arms around him and kissed him with all the love she could never stop feeling for him.

Wrapping one arm around her waist and burying his other hand in her hair, Jax held her tight to his body, kissing her back just as passionately. He started pushing her to the bedroom, but she held him off.

"I think I need to clarify something." She informed him, barely able to drag herself from his addictive lips. "Since hookers and porn stars seemed to be your thing lately, we are not having sex tonight or any other night until I know I'm not going to get a nasty little infection."

"You can't be serious."

"As a heart attack." She replied sassily. "Beside I think it'll teach you to never go near another porn star or a hooker or any woman other than me." Turned on by her jealous and possessive side, he smiled smugly. Rolled her eyes, she gripped his chin and made herself perfectly clear. "It's more than a deal breaker now. It's a neck breaker. You got it?"

"I got it, babe." He laughed and before she knew it, he picked her up and carried her off to the bedroom.

VVVVVVVV

The next morning, Tara woke up smiling at the weight of Jax's head pillowed on her chest and the memories of last night. When she came over, she really thought that there was no going back for them. But Jax caught her off guard and finally came through for her. He said the word she had been longing to hear – that he felt remorse for how he threw away their relationship and how much she truly meant to him. With his confession, she couldn't even hold onto her anger over Landon.

Landon was a great guy, but he wasn't Jax. Jax was the love of her life. Now that she no longer felt any pain or resentment towards him, Tara could admit that she could never really move on from him. She was so happy that she didn't have to.

Savoring their closeness for a bit, Tara ran her fingers through his hair a few times before detangling herself from him. She got out of the bed and scrounged up one of his t-shirts to cover her bare chest.

Despite Jax's persuasive efforts, she stuck to her guns and they didn't have sex. They did fool around, much like they did when they were teens. It was juvenile, but nonetheless satisfying.

Leaving him to wake on his own, Tara went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Of course, since she hadn't living in the house for months, there was nothing edible in the refrigerator. She opted to have some coffee to curb her hunger.

While waiting for the coffee machine to stop brewing, she was suddenly pinned to the counter top. Her gasp of fright turned into a soft, content moan upon recognition that it was Jax.

She was about to tell his good morning, but he swept her hair over her shoulder to lay kisses along her neck. She sighed approvingly and he turned her to lift her up on the counter. He opened her legs and grabbing the back of her knees, he pulled her forward until their bodies were flushed.

"Morning." He murmured against her mouth in between kisses. He released her lips to suck at her neck again and his hands began to trail up her legs, pass her hips and under her shirt.

"Mmm. No fair." She hummed in pleasure when he cupped her breasts. Reaching down to his hips, she dragged her fingernail up his bare back and into the back of his hair.

He shivered just like he always did when she scratched his tatt and yanked her closer, grinding into her. He lifted his head from his burrow in the dip of her shoulder and recaptured her mouth.

They were so caught up in one another that they failed to notice someone walking into the house.

"Uhhm." The woman cleared her throat, announcing her presence.

Irritated by the interruption, Jax glared over his shoulder to tell whoever it was to get the fuck out. Seeing who it was, he knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

"It's seven in the morning, Mom. What do you want?"

She held up a take-out bag from the diner. "I thought you might want some breakfast. I didn't know you weren't alone. Hi Tara."

"Hi Gemma." She responded and pushed away Jax, who was still standing in between her legs.

"I'm surprised to see you here."

"I'm sure you are." Tara replied as she hopped off the counter to stand next to Jax.

"Is there something you need to tell me, Jackson?" She looked pointedly between the two of them.

"That me and Tara are back together? It just happened last night and I don't have to tell you anything."

"I'm your mother, the boys' grandmother. I have a right to know what's going on with my family."

"No, you don't actually." Tara spoke up.

"Why am I not surprised? You're already trying to pull them away again."

Tara rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Ok, Gemma, we are not going to go down this road yet again so let's get this straight right now."

As she stepped up to confront his mother, Jax moved aside to sit at the table. Unless she needed back up, he was going to let Tara do whatever she felt she needed to.

"I'm not after your crown, Gemma. You're still the Queen of Charming, the Queen of SAMCRO. I don't want it, it's all yours." Tara assured her, but not with a serious reminder. "But when it comes to Jax and our sons - They are mine."

Gemma eyed Jax, lounging back in a chair behind Tara. He had a smug look on his face as he shrugged his shoulders, extending his hand in acquiesce. "You know how I feel." He'd told her before that in all aspects of his life – his family and his club – there was a limit to how much of her input he would allow. "You can take it, or leave." He said, giving Tara his full support.

"I guess that's it then." She huffed and started backtracking to the door, but Tara stopped her.

"No it's not Gemma. Stop acting like we're cutting you out. That's not exactly possible - your Jax's mother and the only grandparent the boys have. We're family. We can't get around it so we need to get along."

As toxic as Gemma could be for Jax, she was still his mother. Thankfully, the rose colored glasses that he once wore for her were long gone and she didn't have the same influence she used to weld over him. She would always be a part of Jax's life and Tara didn't want to put him in the middle of a battle between them. As long as Gemma stayed in her place, Tara could deal with her, like she had in the past.

"Not too long ago, you and I were the closest we have ever been. It was nice and I would like it to be that way again." She smiled, taking the first step in keeping the peace.

At first, Gemma only looked at her with a raised eyebrow and then she peered down at her watch. "I have to go." Tara sagged in disappointment. "I'll let you two get back to making me another grandbaby." As Jax cracked up behind her, Tara perked back up, looking at Gemma hopefully. She responded by holding one of her cheeks and pressing a kiss to the other. "Dinner at my place tonight. I expect to see the two of you and the boys there."

"Yes ma'am." Jax accepted the invitation and blowing him a kiss, Gemma left.

Tara let out an unbelieving snort and pivoted to Jax. "Did that really just happen?"

Jax grabbed her wrist and tugged her to him until she was straddling his lap. "Yeah, it did." He was surprised himself. His mother was a grudge holding, hard ass, but she seemed to have a soft spot for Tara. He had a feeling they'd continue to take turns loving and hating each other for the rest of their lives. "So I'm yours huh?" He changed the subject, not wanting to talk about his mother or anything other than them.

Resting her arms over his shoulders, she affirmed her claim on him. "Yes, you are."

"You're mine too." He reciprocated as he stared at her in wonder. After all these years, he was still completely in love with this woman. He had made a lot of mistakes with Tara and he was damn lucky that she forgave him for it all. He would never again take her for granted and risk losing her. "I love you Tara."

She smiled brightly, her heart feeling the happiest and fullest that ever had in this moment. "I love you too Jackson."

Yay! Jax and Tara are back together. Swoon.

Clarification time – Collette is most definitely gone. I really wasn't planning on mentioning her again, she wasn't worth it in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned – she took a long walk off a short cliff. But I thought some of you would like to know so I put it here in the End Notes, like the after thought that she is

Days following The Taste of Charming:

Jax and Bobby sat with Nero in his office at Diosa, going over the monthly budget. They were wrapping up when Jax made a proposition to Nero.

"How would you feel about replacing Colette with Carla and transferring her your LA operation?"

Both Nero and Bobby laughed raucously.

"Finally realized how dumb of a move that was mano?" Jax glared at him and still laughing, Nero nodded. "I think I can arrange that."

Bye Collette. Don't come back now, ya hear?

Last, but not least – I want to give you guys a heads up, I have some kinda of sad news….after this chapter, there are only 2 left - a "surprise" chapter and the epilogue…..I know! Wah! But that means there are only good things left to happen for Jax and Tara, and Opie and Devon. Right? The end may be near, but I think it'll be one that you love! ;)

So let me know what you think about the Tara/Jax reunion, put that damn writer's block in jail for life without the possibility of parole LoL.