After a quick, cold shower Jax didn't bother to put on a shirt in his own house. The man slipped in a fresh pair of boxers and his jeans, his eyes landing on the pictures on top of the dresser. Old pictures.

He only noticed now that Tara and him hadn't done any pictures in the last half year, none of them would look as happy as they did on those old pictures from years ago. A smile hushed over his face as his eyes landed on a picture of Abel holding Thomas for the first time.

One good thing had his relationship with Tara; their little boy. But not even the kids could save their relationship anymore, nothing could. Too many things happened. Tara turned cold and distant, lost herself in work hardly finding time for her family. And her hatred for the club was their biggest problem.

Yet Jax knew it wasn't only her fault their relationship turned to shit. He wasn't always faithful. Ima had been in his bed more than once, which was probably the biggest mistake he made while being with Tara. He was young and stupid; even self-destructive. Today he wouldn't make such a mistake again, especially not with Cleo by his side.

The day he met her, before he had even talked to her, he knew she was different than Tara and he hadn't been wrong. Maybe it was advantageous that she was already familiar with the club life due to her brother; it made things a lot easier for them. But it wasn't just that, Cleo's whole personality was much different.

The warmth she radiated was making him feel things he never did with Tara and that had to mean something. He would've never thought it was possible to love someone more than Tara but now with Cleo, he knew it was possible.

Her addiction was worrying him, yes, but it wasn't a reason for him to end things with her. She was determined to stay sober and he believed her. When he left, Enrico had followed him outside and assured him she was doing this withdrawal for him and his kids, not for herself in the first place but for them.

This could be the first healthy relationship in his life and he would support Cleo in everything, especially the addiction problem. It was also his fault his son was born in such a condition, he had left Wendy alone and didn't bother to check on her. That was another mistake in his life he made, he wouldn't do it again with Cleo.

Sighing, he ran a hand over his face, feeling drained already and he hadn't even talked to Tara yet. This conversation wouldn't end well and he already knew it. Most conversations ended in a fight between them recently.

Gemma had left a note that she took the boys to the park, meant he had a few minutes alone with Tara before his mother and sons would be back. Then he would explain everything to Gemma and make clear to stay away from Cleo if she was planning on snooping around in his new relationship again; he couldn't deal with her controlling shit again but that's exactly what his mother did with Wendy and Tara; and would probably do again. Either she accepted his new girlfriend or she needed to stay away. He was done letting others have influence on his love life.

He took a seat in the kitchen, got a cigarette out of the pack on the wooden table and put it between his lips to light it up. The blonde took a deep drag, allowing the smoke to fill his lungs and nostrils, preparing himself for the conversation with his ex fiance.

It took another twenty minutes and one more cigarette until he heard Tara's car pull up and her entering the house only a moment later. Looking for him for a few seconds, she joined him, taking a seat across from him.

"I saw Cleo's file was gone in the morning before I left, means you saw it?", she asked curiously, some hope glistened in her eyes. "I knew she had some dirt on her hands."

Jax listened to Tara's words, nodding his head slowly as he put the cigarette out. Slowly, his eyes locked with hers. "Yeah, I saw it. Gave you a kick turning into your psycho stalker ex for a few minutes?", he asked bluntly, his expression cold.

Tara's face dropped. "What? No, I just── I wanted to show you who she really is. When I saw her in the ER two days ago with a Mayan I overheard the other doctors say that she had an addiction problem. I needed to let you know who you're dating", she spat the last word, not ready to accept that Jax was already in a new relationship. "Think about our kids, Jackson. They shouldn't be around a junkie."

Jax hand came down on the table causing the doctor to flinch and the box of cigarettes fall to the ground. "I told you to stay out of my business, Tara. Cleo is my partner and not your's, means it's none of your god damn business to snoop around in her past", the blonde seethed angrily, his facial features sharp and hard as he spoke.

"She might be your partner but she's also around my kids! That makes it my business", Tara snarled, her voice raised. "How can you be so calm about this? And it's not only the junkie part, she's related to a Mayan. What if your clubs end up in a war again, then what? You think she'll choose you over her own family? Gemma was right, you're blind when it comes to love", the brunette scoffed.

Jax raised a brow, a bitter laugh slipping past his lips. "Now you're listening to my mother? You two don't even know Cleo but being judgemental had been always easy for you── a little too easy. Let it be my problem what happens if a war breaks out."

Yeah, Cleo and him hadn't talked about a situation like that yet and what would happen if a war between the clubs would break out again but why should they? Their relationship was way too fresh for Cleo to decide who's side she would choose and he wouldn't put her in that position by asking her.

Now with her by his side he would work even harder to make sure the peace between the clubs would remain. And he was sure it was in everyone's favor, peace would keep unnecessary heat away from Charming which was good for everyone.

"I'm not judgemental, I'm realistic. Why would you give us up for a woman like her? What does she have what I don't have?", Tara asked, clearly pissed at the man she was talking to.

"No you're not, you're pathetic. Getting those files and giving it to Gemma and me without Cleo's permission is a crime and if she's going to sue you for this you'll loose your job. I won't stop her", he told her simply with a shrug, feeling satisfaction creep in at Tara's dumbfounded face. "To answer your question── she's got a nice character, not judgemental at all. She's kind and sweet but knows how to stand up for herself. The club isn't a thorn in her eyes like it always had been for you. That's the difference between you and her. Plus── she has already more time for the boys than you have and she's working the whole fucking day at a diner, from morning to night."

Tara stood up wordlessly and got the engagement ring off her finger, throwing it on the table. Until now she wasn't ready to do so but realizing that Jax really loved that woman made her disgust for him grow immensely.

"It was a mistake to come back. I thought we would make it this time── guess I was wrong", she whispered hatefully. "She won't be around my kids and you know just as much as I do that I will win a custody battle with your position in the club and her junkie past. I'll get my kids out of here."

Jax' body was trembling slightly as he felt the anger becoming too strong. If she wouldn't get out now he was afraid something would happen that he could regret later. Hurting a woman wasn't in his DNA yet he was afraid he would loose control over himself around Tara.

The blonde stood up, looking down at the brunette who was standing right in front of him. Not even a piece of paper would fit between them as close as they stood together.

"I told you once to keep your threats to yourself, I won't do it again. If you hurt Cleo, my club or try to take my boys away one of us gets hurt── and it's not gonna be me, Tara", he said dangerously calm but the short, rapid breaths through flared nostrils showed how much hatred he felt at the moment.

It was something about his eyes that let Tara's blood freeze in her veins, not a single word escaped her mouth at Jax' intense stare. He didn't scare her, but this── thing she was looking at, or whatever kind of monster he was slowly turning into, frightened her.

She had no doubt about his threat, not the way he was spatting those threats at her. Everything inside her screamed, her brain trying to convince her to take the boys and run for her life, save them from turning into their father one day. That's what she would do, but she had to do it smart.

Swallowing, she slowly nodded at his threat. He needed to believe that she wouldn't do anything stupid, that she was scared enough. And she was; but that wouldn't keep her from saving her kids.

"I guess we're done here", she muttered softly while she tried her best to keep her voice steady. "I'll search for my own place, close to you and the club so the boys can stay with both of us. How are we handling the co-parenting part?"

Jax was still staring at her intensely. He would have an eye on her. If she would make one wrong move, he would do something about her. After another few moments of him staying silent, he took a step away to pick up the cigarettes and lit one up between his lips.

"I'll have the kids during the week, you can have them on the weekends. You won't be alone with them until I can be sure you can be trusted again", he demanded. It wasn't a question and he wouldn't discuss this further. After her threat he had every right to be careful when it came to her.

"Fine, but I'm allowed to visit them during the week", the brunette hissed through gritted teeth. For now she would accept this until she had his trust again. Once things would be back to normal without a member watching her, she would get the hell out of Charming.

"We'll see about that. And now get out of my house. You can stay at a hotel until you found your own place. I want you out at the end of the day." With that, Jax left the kitchen and headed to the bedroom, putting on a blue/white flannel shirt and his kutte on top. He passed Tara in the hallway where he slipped into his white Nikes and slammed the door behind him.

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