SHAY SAT IN BETWEEN NATALIE AND JAX INSIDE their dad's house while Kozik sat next to Natalie with a protective arm wrapped around her shoulders.

The tension was thick in the small home, almost suffocating the brunette women. Her throat felt tight as she stared at her dad and Farrah; the former married couple sitting close to each other on the small couch, holding each other hands tightly — like they were each other's lifelines.

A scoff fell from Shay's lips as her blue eyes stared at the couple, coldly. It was pathetic to see her dad got wrapped back up in Farrah's bullshit. They looked like pathetic teenagers who just got caught sneaking out by their parents; except Shay and Natalie were the parents in this situation.

"Calm down, darlin'." Jax whispered into her ear, placing a hand on her bouncing leg.

Shay looked down at Jax's hand, not even realizing her leg had began to bounce up and down with anxiety. How was she suppose to calm down in this situation? This was years of anxiety built up and it was suddenly coming out. It wasn't easy to just 'calm down'.

"Easier said than done." She muttered.

"We're glad you decided to come over." Caleb cleared his throat, smiling nervously at his daughters. "Your mother—

"Don't call her that." Natalie quickly cut Caleb off, her voice hard. Her dark eyes were cold as she stared at the both of them. "That woman has never been a mother to us." The older Miller sisters tone was full of anger as she narrowed her eyes at the older brunette sitting across from her.

"Natalie." Caleb's tone was soft, yet it held a slight warning to it.

Shay had it. Her anger was boiling over and at the tone of her father's tone it all came out. How dare he sit there and warn her sister to watch what she said. It was all bullshit.

"You're fucking joking right? You're going to sit there with her and act like what Natalie is saying is wrong? You're fucking delusional, dad. Farrah has never been a mother to us and you know that! It was always Gemma there for us. Fuck, even the croweaters raised us!"

Shay could feel her face getting hot as tears formed in her eyes. She could feel Jax's hand rubbing soothing circles on her lower back.

"Natalie took care of me while you called her, begging her to come back. We were just kids! We needed you, dad. She never came back for you, or us. She left us to do drugs and whatever else it was she fucking did!" Shay's teary eyes shot a cold look towards Farrah, the woman having the decency to look away ashamed. "Now she's back and what for? You think it's for you? You think it's because she loves you and wants to be together again after how many fucking years?! It's bullshit and you know that."

"That's enough." Caleb finally spoke up. "I will not allow the disrespect in my house. Your mother is not perfect and neither am I, but we love both of you."

Loud, bitter laughs fell from both of the Miller sisters lips. This wasn't love. This was selfishness and everyone in the room knew it. Caleb Miller had been waiting for the day Farrah Miller came back into his life, and now that she was here he was going to do anything to keep her there — even if it meant messing up his relationships with his daughters.

Jax cleared his throat, keeping his hand in place on Shay's lower back. It might not have been his place to speak up, but needed to.

"Caleb, I think you really need to listen to Shay and Nat. I don't think you want to ruin your relationship with your daughters." Jax narrowed his eyes at the older man who he had known his whole life. He wanted the grandfather of his daughter to realize what he was putting in jeopardy here.

"This isn't your place to say anything, Jax. This is a family decision and honestly I don't know why you're here." The Miller man spat as he eyed Jax. "I mean, you get my daughter pregnant and then marry someone else. I don't think you're winning any father of the year awards."

Jax's jaw clenched at Caleb's words. The two men had never had a problem before, but he guessed speaking up in a delicate situation would make anyone lash out.

"Don't fucking talk to him like that." Shay immediately spoke up, feeling how tense Jax's body had become at her father's harsh words.

"Can I say something?" Farrah finally spoke up.

"No." Shay and Natalie answered at the same time. "I think it's time we leave. We're not going to get anywhere." Natalie sighed, standing up from the couch.

Shay nodded her head in agreement, standing up as well. "I hope you're happy with your decision." The brunette shook her head as the four of them exited the small house full of different emotions.

"Well, that went excellent." Natalie muttered sarcastically as they stepped out of the house.

"I thought so." Kozik agreed, trying to lighten up the tense mood.

Natalie let out a small laugh as she leaned into the blonde biker. "I'm proud of you for saying what you did in there. If dad wants to ruin his life, it's not our problem anymore." The older Miller sister sighed, running a hand through her wavy hair.

"I know. It just hurts." Shay admitted as she grabbed Jax's hand, knowing her father's words had hurt him.

"I know." Natalie nodded. "We're gonna go pick up some food and we'll meet you back at your house. I love you." Natalie pulled Shay into a bone crushing hug before getting on the back of Kozik's bike.

"I love you too." She yelled over the sound of Kozik's bike, watching the couple ride off.

Shay turned her attention towards Jax, a deep frown on his face as he stared off into nothing.

"Hey, don't listen to what he said. Leela and Abel love you. You're a great father, Jax. He's just projecting right now because he knows what he's doing is wrong." The brunette squeezed his hand, reassuring the Teller man.

A small smile forced its way onto Jax's lips as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Thanks, Mills. I love you."

Shay wrapped her arms around Jax's neck. "I love you too, Jax." Her voice barely a whisper.

_____

JAX WAS EXHAUSTED WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME. He offered to stay the night at Shay's, but she assured him that she would be fine and that she had Natalie and Kozik if she wasn't.

A part of Jax was disappointed that she turn down his offer, but another part was happy she did. It was getting harder for him to focus on Tara when all he wanted was to be with Shay.

Yawning, Jax had placed his empty beer bottle in the trash before shutting off the kitchen light. He would be calling it an early night — hopefully Abel would sleep through the night.

A knock on the door made Jax sigh as he ran a tired hand over his face and quickly made his way towards the door.

"Ma, what are you doing here?" He raised an eyebrow at his mother.

Gemma quickly pushed past him and walked into his house not bothering to answer her son's question. She had important business.

"How'd it go at Caleb's? That junkie tart still there?" Gemma questioned. She was going to break the news about Tara to Jax in a moment, but first she wanted to know how Shay was doing.

The blonde biker ran a hand over his slicked back hair at his mother's question. It was exhausting just thinking about todays earlier events, and he really didn't want to talk about them right now — not when he was so exhausted.

"Went as well as you think it would. She's still there too and I don't think she's leaving anytime soon."

A scoff left Gemma's lips at her sons words. It looked like she would have to pay a visit to Caleb Miller too.

"Well, I know you're tired and had a shit day, but there's something I gotta tell you, baby."

"What?" Jax could see the frown forming on his mom's face and he knew this wasn't just one of her dramatic moments. Something was really wrong.

"It's Tara." Her voice was soft as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's been lying to you, baby. She's not pregnant."

_______

AN —
Jax finally knows, but will be believe Gemma?