ALMOST A YEAR LATER, the Christmas spirit was wafting through Lenny's old house, which Jade and Jax now shared, their life together better than expected. Humming softly to the music, Jade placed the boys' paper snowmen and Christmas trees on the large wall bookshelf in the living room, making sure they were the highlight of the room.

If there was one thing Jade wanted, it was to finally celebrate a peaceful Christmas now that her family was complete and finally together.

With Tara still in prison, that was possible without additional stress. No one really knew what Tara was planning, whether she really listened to Jax and stayed in prison, or whether she had a lawyer in her pocket who would negotiate the best deal for her.

For a while the brunette's gaze lingered on the picture wall next to the bookshelf, which Lenny had filled over the years with new pictures of his family, mostly pictures of her and of him and Thomas. Jade hadn't had the heart to change anything about it, and she didn't want to, it was beautiful. Instead, the collection grew with more pictures of Abel and Thomas or family pictures with everyone in themᅳ also pictures of club parties or members with the kids.

The smell of cinnamon and orange that wafted through the rooms matched the festive mood, as did the replaced cushions on the couch, which now had red covers instead of beige ones. The radio only hummed quietly in the background so that she could still hear the boys upstairs playing in their rooms, the two inseparable.

Jax was still at the clubhouse and since it was Saturday there was no daycare, so Jade had come up with something to keep the kids busy.

Satisfied with how she had decorated, Jade took another look around the living room, slowly turning around before a smile crossed her face. She then headed for the kitchen to get the sugar cookie dough out of the fridge so the boys could cut them out and decorate after baking them.

But halfway there, already in the hallway, there was a knock on the door, a strange feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. Could it be Gemma? She had tried to talk to them more often recently, to ask for a chance to make things right.

Or Alison, who still lived in Charming and was also trying to rebuild her friendship with Jade againᅳ but the Cooper woman wasn't sure if she was ready for that, if it would end in pure chaos again even though Alison had promised to get her feelings under control. Apparently she had even gotten therapy.

But it was neither Gemma nor Alison as Jade quickly realized after she opened the door, her smile slowly fading as she started at the woman in front of her door, immediately recognizing who she was. For a moment Jade was at a loss of words and couldn't get a sound out, her long fingernails digging into the wood of the door.

"Oh, hi, I'm looking for Lenny Cooper", the woman began, pushing the large sunglasses that covered her eyes up onto her perfectly styled dark reddish hair. "I thought he still lived here, the name's still on the doorbell."

A sharp pain gripped Jade's chest, still not quite over the death of her father. Worse, though, was that the woman didn't even recognize her, her own damn child.

"Well, I don't know if you've just forgotten that you had a child with your ex husband, but that's why the name's still on the doorbell", Jade explained, her tone clipped and dripping with venom. "Dad's gone, died a little over a year ago. I took over the house."

Jade watched as all the color drained from the woman's perfectly tanned face, folding both of her hands slowly in front of her mouth as she realized who she was standing in front of, her own flesh and blood, and she hadn't even recognized the young woman.

"Jade?", she asked in a whisper, genuine vulnerability in her green orbs as she took a step closer and examined her daughter like a museum piece. "You've grown so much, and you're so beautiful."

"Yeah, that happens in over twenty-seven years, you know?" Jade's words dripped with sarcasm as she stared daggers in the woman, definitely more disappointment than anger simmering inside her. "Why? Why do you suddenly wanna see Dad? After all these years?"

"Iᅳ Jade, please, I know I should've been there, but I can explain everything", the woman began as she finally lowered her hands, awkwardly kneading them. "I was just wondering how he was doing, how you were doing; and I owed him an apology. I had no ideaᅳ", voice cracking, her lips trembled violently as she shook her head with a swallow. "I had no idea he was dead."

Despite the shock that her mother was actually standing in front of her, the woman hardly looking any different or older than in the photos that hung in the living room, which was why Jade had recognized her in the first place, her stern features softened. Something in Serena's eyes just radiated raw sadness and shock, as if the news was genuinely hurting her.

"Yes heᅳ he was pretty sick and unfortunately there wasn't much that could be done in the end", Jade mumbled, now also awkwardly kneading her hands, the moment painful but also awkward at the same time. "Would you, uh, would you like to come in?"

"Did he suffer? Or did it happen fast?" Serena wanted to know, tears stinging in her eyes. But as sad as she was, she was just as surprised by Jade's next question. "I'd love that. Are you sure you want that?"

"It happened quickly in the end, but he had been in a lot of pain for months beforehand. And no, I'm not sure", Jade replied with a slight shrug as she stepped aside. "But I think, even if I'll never understand how a woman can leave her family, you deserve to at least be able to say goodbye to Dad somehow, maybe even take some of his things from the basement if you want."

"I can see where you got your kindness from, your father was just like you", Serena said wistfully as she entered the house, letting out a shaky breath as old memories immediately flooded her mind. "It still looks the sameᅳ even if a lot is different."

"Yeah, well, he was a great person", Jade replied briefly, not that she could say the same about her mother. "I tried to bring my style in, but without changing much. Coffee?"

"He was. And coffee would be nice, thanks", the woman nodded, slowly walking through the house to follow Jade into the kitchen, smiling faintly as the wintery scent filled her nostrils. "You have children?"

The tiny shoes outside in the hallway by the coat rack had given away that Jade didn't live here alone. The pictures on the fridge, which were definitely drawn by children, also confirmed Serena's assumption. A smile hushed across her smooth face as she let her fingertips dance over a certain picture of Jade with a blonde man and two children.

"Yes, two boys. One isn't biologically mine, but he's still like my own", she told the older woman while she made fresh coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter with her arms folded while she waited. "Why did you leave Dad alone with a baby? Have you ever thought about us, about me?"

"Of course I have thought about you", Serena shot back as she put her bag down on a chair and walked over to Jade, tentatively placing her hands against her daughter's arms as she saw tears of disappointment shining in her beautiful blue eyes. "Look, I was young, had other plans. The pregnancy was never planned but your dad..he was so happy I couldn't take that away from him. It was nothing personal against you, Jade, I just wasn't ready to be a mother."

"Nothing personal?" Jade's voice, now an octave higher, threatened to crack as she almost choked on the strangled sob she was suppressing. With a scoff, she shook off her mother's hands off, shaking her head. "Do you have any idea how Dad felt? He tried to hide his pain from me, but every evening he sat in the living room, looking at your pictures. And not once did he say a bad word about you even though you left him!"

"Butᅳ he told me it would be okay for him if I followed my dreams", Serena stammered, again feeling genuine guilt washing over her. "I know I don't deserve the title mother and wife, that's my own fault", she continued, pulling back a little to give Jade some space. "Five years after I left, after wondering every day what it would've been like if I hadn't gone my way, I wanted to come backᅳ but it felt wrong to bring chaos into your lives."

"Because he loved you! God, did you really think it wouldn't hurt him?" The first tear slipped down Jade's cheek, and was gone again with a quick swipe of her hand. "But at least you would have come back, and now it's too late. Dad is gone and I'm almost thirtyᅳ you missed everything."

"And I'll regret that for the rest of my life, sweetheart." Serena swallowed hard, dabbing away the tears in the corners of her eyes with her bent index fingers. "I would do everything differently if I could, put my career second and you first."

Jade let out a sad, almost bitter laugh, lowering her gaze. "Well, you should've thought about that sooner."

As Serena was about to answer, the two boys stormed into the kitchen and right past her, their small hands soaked in finger paint, mischief shining in her eyes.

"Oh my...what did you do?" Jade asked with wide eyes as she saw all the splashes of paint on their clothes and faces. With a soft chuckle, she crouched down, holding her arms out. "I hope the paint only sticks to you and paper."

"On our canvases", Abel exclaimed with a giggle, the first one to snuggle into Jade's arm, the almost four-year-old visibly feeling comfortable around her. "I drew a tree!"

"And and and...I drew a blue snowman", chirped Thomas excitedly, the three-year-old climbing into his mother's free arm, smearing all the paint on his hands on her dark red sweater. "Can we have a snack, mommy?"

"That sounds great, I'll check them out in a minute." Jade's eyebrows shot up, an amused gleam sparkling in her eyes as she looked back and forth between her boys. "How about you go wash your hands first and I'll prepare a little snack for you? After that you can cut out some Christmas sugar cookies so we can drop a few off at the clubhouse tomorrow."

"Yes! We need to make cookies for everyone", Abel clapped his hands, followed by a squeal from his brother.

"Cookies! Wanna make cookies", the younger one announced with joy, his speech problems completely forgotten. As the doctor had told them, Thomas was now talking their ears off.

"Okay, let's go before the paint sticks everywhere", she winked lovingly.

"I could help", Serena offered quickly, seizing her chance when the boys finally noticed her and looked up at her with curious eyes. She flashed them both a friendly smile, already smitten by them. "Hey boys, I'm Serena. Your mom'sᅳ"

When Serena paused for a moment and looked at Jade, silently asking permission to tell the truth, Jade nodded briefly. "That's my mom, your grandma."

"Why have we never seen her before?" Abel asked skeptically at first, while Thomas was still standing shyly next to him.

"Because she lived somewhere else, you know?" Jade ruffled Abel's and Thommy's hair after she had stood up again and gave them both a gentle pat on the back. "Come on, wash your handsᅳ then you can get to know Grandma", she added, sending the slightest smile in Serena's direction.

Folding her hands on her chest, sincerely grateful, Serena returned Jade's smile. "Thank you, really."

"Don't screw that up too", Jade told her, letting the kids go to the bathroom with Serena while she filled two cups with coffee and rolled out the cookie dough on the table so the boys could cut out some Christmas cookies.

She didn't know why exactly she gave her mother this chance, but she was sick of having problems with everyone all the time. So yes, maybe Serena regretted her actions and was genuinely interested in being part of her lifeᅳ and Jade wanted a family for her sons that wasn't broken and divided.

ᅳ

AS JAX WALKED THROUGH the door and tossed the keys into the golden bowl on the dresser, he glanced into the living room and frowned in confusion as he spotted a woman, probably in her early fifties, playing with his sons, Jade nowhere to be seen, but heard.

Just as he was about to look for her in their kitchen to check on his Old Lady, she almost bumped into his chest as she rushed out of the kitchen at the same moment, flashing him a sweet, apologetic smile.

"You're home!" She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and got on her tiptoes to steal a kiss from his lips while running her fingers through his slicked back hair. "How was your day?"

"Better than expected. Things with Colette are going well, which means I don't have to stop by at her place so often anymore", he winked, knowing that Jade wasn't a fan of him spending so much time in a brothel lately. "So that means more time for us", he croaked against her lips with his panty-dropping grin.

"Finally, I hated that", she murmured, but a mischievous smile was already forming on her lips. "More time for us sounds good. Especially when the boys are in daycare", she added in a whisper, snuggling her body closer against his.

Even though she knew that she had nothing to fear, that Jax was faithful, she was still glad that he would no longer be surrounded by beautiful prostitutes all the time. And she also wanted to use the free time with him before she would start her new job as an electrician in a company here in the neighborhood after the Christmas holidays.

"Sounds like you already have a plan." A gentle slap landed on her ass, whereupon she bit her lip seductively.

With innocent doe eyes, she shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I do, you'll see."

"And as hard as it is for me to wait", he trailed, pointing to the living room as his sons' laughter mixed with that of the unknown woman. "First of all, I'd like to know who's sitting in our living room playing with our kids."

Jade nodded slightly, taking a deep breath as she slid her hands into her back pockets. "My mom. Showed up here a few hours ago and wanted to talk to my dad. I think she really regrets not coming sooner."

"Wait", confused and a little irritated at the same time, Jax shook his head. "Your mom had the nerve to show up here and you immediately forgive her everything? Babe, that woman left you when you were a few weeks oldᅳ what makes you think she won't do it again?"

"Honestly? I don't know what's going to happen, but aren't you sick of having problems with everyone except with your brothers?", she asked with a sigh, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looked up at him understandingly. "I'm not forgiving her, I'm just giving her a chance to make up for her mistakes."

"Not sure I like that, darlin'", Jax answered honestly, simply because he was afraid that Jade would get hurt again. After the Alison thing he was just being more careful. But part of him understood her reaction. However, he then sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his aching neck. "Speaking of mothersᅳ Mom showed up at the clubhouse today, tried to talk to me again."

"Jaxᅳ", Jade began softly, placing her hands on his chest.

But Jax just shook his head stubbornly, rubbing her arms gently. "No. Not after what she did to you, Jade. I just can't forgive her again."

"It's been over a year, baby", the brunette reasoned, not wanting to defend Gemma. Still, she saw the conflict in Jax' eyes. "She's your mom, and I know that part of you wishes none of this had happened. I think she's learned her lesson and Abel misses her tooᅳ just...let her come over and we'll have a talk with her."

"She'll do it again if she doesn't get what she wants, babe", the blonde countered, but Jade wasn't entirely wrong. She was still his mom. "It would feel wrong to just forgive her, the betrayal."

"Why did she act like that in the first place, Jax? Because she was afraid of losing her grandkids, because Tara always used the boys as leverageᅳ without wanting to defend her, a small part of me understands why she sided with Tara", the brunette said with a sigh, letting her shoulders drop to wrap her arms around Jax' waist. "But Tara isn't here. We're together now and I would never use the boys as leverage. If she's willing to follow some rules then I have no problem with giving her another chance."

Jax, still unsure whether this was the right decision, didn't just let his head decide this time but also his gut feeling and something just told him that Gemma had actually learned from her mistakes, that she deeply regretted what she had done.

"I want to make sure first that she has absolutely no contact with Tara anymore", he finally said with a deep sigh, pulling his Old Lady against his chest, a smile forming on his lips and against her hair as she buried her face in his chest and inhaled his scent. "And then we'll see, okay? There's no rush, babe."

"Sounds good to me", Jade hummed softly, closing her eyes for a moment before lifting her head. "Wanna meet my mom?"

"Sure, after all I wanna know who has the crazier momᅳ or whether our boys finally have a normal grandma", he said teasingly before gently pushing his giggling Old Lady into the living room to get to know his future mother-in-law.

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