THREE MORE DAYS have passed that Caitlin and Abel spent together with Jax. Abel enjoyed doing so much activities, and Caitlin could see how much he already liked Jax. The three year old was still anything but shy and looked forward every evening to the next day and what Caitlin and Jax had planned for him.

Of course, the redhead continued to attend every meeting and didn't leave Abel alone with Jax. Even though her feelings told her that she could trust the blond, she preferred to play it safe. She also got along well with the blond, which was an advantage, otherwise the meetings would probably be more strenuous. But she slowly started to enjoy Jax' company.

After Jim, no new man had come into her life. There was only Abel, Erin and her dad. In the hotel she had colleagues with whom she got along well, but she couldn't really call the small group working there friends.

Erin was in her ears so often and practically begged her to finally go on a date again, but until now Caitlin just didn't have the motivation to do so. That's why she didn't find Jax' company so badᅳ now she could talk to someone else again, and someone who was pretty good looking at that.

Today they had spent the day together again. Even though it wasn't easy, Caitlin was able to convince her boss to take a few days off. So she was able to give Jax more time with Abel until he had to go back to the States. By now she at least knew where the blond came from.

They had mostly talked about Abel while they were out, but the redhead was itching to find out more about Jax. To find out how he lived, what his future plans were, especially now that he had found his son again.

"Does he often stay with your sister overnight?" Jax asked after they rounded the corner after dropping Abel off at Erin's apartment, who was finally able to take a closer look at the blond.

Erin hadn't just asked one question but what felt like fifty questionsᅳ some personal, some less personal. Most of course concerned Abel and what Jax' intentions were. To Caitlin's amazement, Jax had answered every question politely and remained unperturbed by Erin's intense stares. For a moment, Caitlin even seemed convinced that Jax even found it a little amusing.

"Well, mostly on weekends when I have to work early in the morning while Abel is still asleep. Erin can organize her working hours a little better and even work from home if necessary", the redhead explained in response to his question as they strolled down the street, heading towards her apartment.

"I think it's good that you have her support, and Abel seems really attached to her too", which wasn't hard to notice. "Do you just have Erin or more family?"

"He does, but she's also really attached to him", she said with a grin, grateful that her sister was such a big support. When he asked, she looked up at him and tucked a strand of her ginger colored hair behind her ear. "Only Erinᅳ here in Ireland at least. Unfortunately, my dad lives far too far away. But we try to talk on the phone regularly. We also visit him once a year and he also visits us once."

"So you only see your dad twice a year. That's not often", Jax stated with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck, his other hand shoved deep into his pocket. "And that's it?", he asked cautiously, his blue eyes resting on her, studying her side profile.

She was pretty, so natural and pure.

"Yes, that's it. Our mom passed away a few years ago, which was also the reason why our dad moved to Boston in the first place. There were too many things here that reminded him of his wife and since he's originally from Boston, he went back there." A sad smile crossed Caitlin's face as she talked about her mother and Jax almost felt bad for asking.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rip open old wounds", he said sincerely, standing with her in front of the apartment complex where Caitlin lived.

"It's okay, Erin and I can talk about it by now", she assured him gently, sliding her bag off her shoulder and searching for her keys. Holding them in her hand, she looked up at Jax again and cleared her throat quietly. "Well, uh, if you like you can join me for a drink or something. I don't have to work tomorrow and to be honest, I'd like to know more about you."

Above all, they had to clarify what would happen after he returned to California. Did he want to stay in touch? Would he want to visit Abel? And how much longer did he even plan to stay here? If he wanted to keep in touch with Abel, she also wanted to know who he was, what he did, and his environment. All of this was important to her to know, after all it was also about Abel's well-being and future.

"You sure, darlin'?" He looked at her a little surprised, but secretly he was hoping that she might also want to spend some time with him.

He realized a while ago that he would never be really happy without Abel, so they had to find a solution. And it was important to him to really get to know not only his son, but also the woman with whom Abel grew up. That had been his plan from the start.

"Yeah, I think we have a lot to talk about and since Abel is with Erin anyway, this is the perfect time", she nodded eagerly, unlocking the door and letting Jax inside with her.

"Yeah, we definitely should", Jax nodded in agreement and he just felt a certain nervousness again. Maybe she had completely different ideas than he did.

On the way to her apartment, he thought about what she would say, how the conversation would go and whether he would end up having to fight for his son using other ways. Even if it wasn't what he wanted, he would still do it. But he would prefer it if he and Caitlin could find a fair solution for both sides.

A contented sigh escaped her lips as she was finally able to kick off her shoes, then she threw her bag right next to her boots and the sound of the jingling keys bounced off the walls as she threw them onto the dresser.

"Can I get you something to drink? Wine, beer, water? Whiskey?", she asked while she was already on her way to the kitchen. "Oh and you can take a look around if you want", she called over her shoulder.

"Beer would be nice if you have one!" Jax, after also taking off his white Nikes, strolled through the apartment. From the outside the building looked quite luxurious, but the apartment itself was furnished in a down to earth manner, there was nothing too expensive in the rooms that he was able to explore so far.

"You've got a nice place", he said as she joined him in the living room and handed him a beer before sitting down on the beige sofa with a glass of wine for herself.

"Thanks. I'm glad that Jim didn't cause any problems and left the apartment to Abel and me. I really like the view", she admitted with a chuckle. But the view from the floor to ceiling windows in the living room was actually an absolute eye-catcher.

"I have to agree", Jax let out a laugh, who took a quick look out of the window, it felt like he could see over half of Belfast. "Why didn't you move to Boston with your father?"

"To be honest, I have no idea." Caitlin shrugged and took a more comfortable position, sitting sideways so she could still get a good look at Jax, who had by now also sat down. "Jim would have even come with us, but I'm glad we stayed here, otherwise I would never have found Abel. And I wouldn't have left without Erin."

"May I ask why things didn't work out with you and Jim? When I watched you that day, I was so sure that you were meant for each other." Which wasn't a lie. The fact that the two of them had exuded such harmony together was one reason why he had even seriously considered leaving Abel in Ireland with them.

"Well, that's what we thought too. Our relationship was always like the picture perfect relationship everyone wants, everything seemed perfect. We had our entire future planned. Wedding, family planning, stuff like that. When we got the news that I would most likely never be able to have children, we immediately decided to adopt a child and we were really happy with it at first", she sighed softly and shook her head. Caitlin took a sip of her wine and then placed the glass on the table, just as Jax did with his beer and turned more towards her.

"I have completely embraced my new role as a mother and couldn't have been happier. Jim, however, realized that this wasn't the life he had wanted. Changing diapers, getting up at night, balancing family and workᅳ it quickly became too much for him. No matter how much I took on, it wasn't enough for him. Jim longed for his old life of always going out, seeing friends and stuff like that. I, on the other hand, enjoyed finally living a little more down to earth. After a while we realized that we also fell out of love and that it would probably be better to end things. Well, after that I was alone with Abel", she finished with a small smile, picking thoughtfully at her manicured fingernails, her gaze also directed at them.

Jax, on the other hand, still looked at the redhead attentively and let her words sink in for a moment. Jim and Caitlin's relationship bore some resemblance to his and Tara's former relationship. Both had different ideas about life, different career aspirations and whatever. A relationship like that couldn't work and just like him and Tara, Caitlin and Jim had probably made the right decision by breaking up.

"Even though it was probably painful, it was probably the right decision", he finally answered, to which she lifted her head and nodded slightly after a while.

"I have no doubt about that. And I was lucky that he signed over his rights for Abel to me without any problems. We parted on good terms and I'm happy about that", she said while playing with the ring on her finger.

"Is that your wedding ring?", he asked curiously. A part of him hoped that she would say no, which would mean that she was no longer attached to this Jim guy. He didn't know exactly why he hoped for this, but he did.

"This one?" Her soft voice asked, causing her to raise her hand and point at the ring, then she shook her head. "No, Erin has the same one. We got these from our dad before he moved to Boston. He has one too."

Jax lifted the corner of his mouth, somehow genuinely pleased that Caitlin had a good relationship with her family. "It's a nice gesture and somehow connects you despite the distance."

"Yeah, I think so too", she hummed, then sat up a little and looked at Jax curiously. "But enough about me, I would like to know more about you."

ᅳ

AMAZED AND AT the same time spellbound, the redhead was still sitting in the same spot two hours later, refilling her wine glass for the fifth time while Jax drained his glass of whiskey, which he had switched to after the third beer.

Jax had told her literally everything about him. His former relationship with Tara, his complicated relationship with his mother, the club. Well, he didn't tell her what the club did, nor that they were outlawsᅳ that's something he wasn't sure if he should tell her if he wanted to keep in touch with his son. If Caitlin would let him be a part of his life, he would tell her one day.

"I would never have thought that you're a member of a motorcycle club, especially one I know", she said, kind of surprised. Well, she couldn't know since he never wore a kutte when they met before. He also didn't wear one at the moment. "There's a Sons of Anarchy charter here too, right?"

"Yeah, not that far away. Maybe twenty minutes. It's the Sambel Charter", Jax replied with a grin as he leaned forward a bit. He was surprised that Caitlin even heard about his club already. "Do you know some of them?"

"No", she shook her head after taking another long sip of her wine, which slowly clouded her mind. "But you hear about them sometimes if you live here. They also drive through the city from time to time, but not often. Why are you sleeping in a hotel when you could stay there?"

"Because the hotel is just around the corner and I can be there at any time if you call spontaneously. But I'll crash there for a night or two before I leave", he answered with a shrug before his gaze slowly moved from her face a little further down. The tight dress that Caitlin was wearing had made it difficult for him all day not to let his eyes wander over her body, but the alcohol encouraged him to dare to take a look.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" Amusement lingered in her voice as she noticed that Jax' eyes had wandered off.

And Jax noticed the amusement in her tone. Meant she knew exactly where he was looking atᅳ apparently she didn't mind. "I was just, you knowᅳ"

"Checking me out?", she raised a brow at him.

"Well, kind of", he admitted, clearing his throat, yet that infamous Teller grin formed on his face. "It's hard not to look, to be honest."

"Don't worry, I've already dared one or two glances myself", she bit her lip, her words slightly slurred due to the alcohol in her system. "Why don't we skip that talking part and, you know, come to the point?"

What the hell? Even in her drunken state, she was surprised at herself. Normally she would never take the offensive like that; she was far too shy for that, maybe even a little uptight. What alcohol couldn't do, huh?

"You think that's a good idea, darlin'?" Jax asked as he gently grabbed her wrist, only to pull her onto his lap the next moment before she could even answer.

Slowly, his hands moved up her sides and behind her back before he let them rest there for a while. A soft gasp escaped her alcohol-infected lips as his hands moved down her back and gently grabbed her ass. Through her dress, his fingers were digging into her flesh while his hot breath hit the skin on her neck, giving her goosebumps.

"I don't know, but I also don't care right now", she murmured and ran her fingers through his blonde hair, tugging at them lightly. Then she took the initiative to let their lips merge together. And it felt fucking amazing.

She didn't have any time to think before he put her under him and leaned over her, neither of them interrupting the heated kiss once, the taste of wine and whiskey mixed together as their tongues collided and explored each other's mouths. The kiss quickly became quite passionate and demanding on both sides.

Would she regret this in the morning? Probably. Because that's exactly what could create a future tense atmosphere that she had hoped wouldn't arise and yet it seemed impossible for her to resist Jax right now. For one night she didn't want to be the perfect girl and suppress her needs once again. She wanted to fucking liveᅳ and she wanted this right now.

ᅳ

meanwhile in Charming, California

GEMMA SILENTLY LOOKED UP at Clay, who just came through the door. She sat at the smaller table in the kitchen with a cigarette between her fingers and a cup of coffee in her other hand.

"Hey baby, you went home early." Clay, who wasn't blind and saw the slightly pissed look on Gemma's face, sat down across from her and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Jax?" She examined her husband as he stretched his fingers a little, still suffering from osteoporosis. His cortisone injections were already waiting for him next to Gemma's coffee cup because she knew how often he needed them by now.

"Why do you ask?" Sighing, the older man rubbed his face. He had hoped that Gemma wouldn't notice that Jax wasn't there at the moment. But he was talking about Gemma here, that woman never missed anything.

"Don't avoid my question, Clay. I know Jax isn't here. So where is he?" No matter how angry she still was with Jax, and no matter how deep the disappointment, she would always worry about her son. "Did he do something? Was he arrested?"

"No, nothing like that", Clay reassured his wife, whose eyes were full of concern, even if her stubbornness prevented her from admitting it.

Even though he and Jax had had difficulties together in the past for a long time, they had worked out their differences and were able to communicate like two adults again. For the Donna thing, neither Jax nor Ope had forgiven him for a long time and Ope would probably always secretly feel a certain hatred towards him, that's why Clay gave up his President Patch and gave it to Jax as a peace offeringᅳ and luckily there was peace at the moment.

"Jesus Christ, Clay, spit it out! Where is my son?!" She stubbed out her cigarette impatiently, pushed her cup aside almost aggressively and leaned forward and slightly over the table. "I swear, if you don't tell meᅳ"

"He's in Ireland looking for Abel", Clay interrupted her, his voice firm as he leaned back against his chair, letting out a sigh. "Now you know. And before you get the idea to go after him, forget it, Gem. Don't even think about it."

The matriarch's face dropped when she heard the news. She was so shocked that she didn't even have a quick answer to give Clay. Instead, she sank back into her chair, not a word coming out of her mouth, and looked past Clay and out the window that was over the sink.

"Gem, are you okay?" Clay's worried voice rang out after another few silent minutes of Gemma just staring out the window. Jax had asked him not to tell her about it at first, but Clay had known that Gemma would find out anyway.

"How come I don't know about this?" She was not only angry that no one had told her about it, but also hurt. SAMCRO's queen was still bitter about the fact that Jax had left her grandson with people they didn't even know. And everyone knew that it was never a good thing when Gemma Teller was hurt.

Before Clay could answer she stood up with a bitter scoff, grabbed her bag and disappeared out the back door with a loud slam of the door. For the first time in years, she dialed her son's number with shaking hands, but all she got was the voicemail.

Then someone else had to tell her exactly where her son was and since she knew that Juice must have probably found out the family's address, she would try her luck by asking Juice. But one thing was for sure, she wouldn't allow Jax to leave her grandson behind again and she certainly didn't care what she had to do to get Abel back.

ᚔ

authors note; I'm sorry the smut wasn't detailed, next time it'll be, I promise. 😬😂