Make the Season Bright – Chapter 3

AN: I didn't know if I would ever get back to this story after starting The Art of War + all the stuff happening in real life, but sometimes stories have a life of their own and this one still wants to be told. So here goes…

Also, in the previous chapters, which were set around Christmas Eve, I wrote that Stevie Knowles was 5 and her birthday was Christmas Day. What I meant is that she's 4 and turning 5 on Christmas.

One month later

"Are you sure about this?"

Tara's long-time neighbor repeats a question that's been lobbed at her more than a dozen times since she announced her decision to move back to her home town and accept the Chief of Surgery position at St. Thomas Hospital. Triple that if she counts the number of times she's questioned herself. Given how hard she worked and how desperate she'd been to leave Charming as a teenager, it's pretty bat-shit crazy that she actually decided to return.

Or is it? Her eyes drift over to the somewhat unlikely pair loading the last of their bags into Tara's car. She never planned for the two people she loves most in the world to ever meet, much less fall for one another at first sight. Tara can't help but grin at the sight of her sweet little girl perched on her bad ass biker's shoulders as he surveys all the packed bags before slamming the 4Runner's tailgate shut.

Tara had introduced them on Christmas Day when she invited Jax to Stevie's annual Christmas Princess Birthday party (which until then had only included mother and daughter). Tara's normally shy little princess had squealed with delight at the two wrapped gifts he brought her - one for her birthday, one for Christmas - and then, like every other woman in the world regardless of age, melted into mush when he flashed her that irresistible Jax Teller smile.

Jax had been equally captivated by Stevie, his blue eyes gleaming with amused affection and something else that Tara couldn't quite place at the sight of the miniature dark-haired Queen Elsa in her shimmering ice blue gown.

"I can't believe how much she looks like you," Jax marvels - not for the first time - as he softly brushes a strand of Stevie's glossy brown hair with his thumb. He'd insisted on carrying the little Snow Queen to bed after she'd fallen asleep midway through yet another viewing of "The Secret Life of Pets;" the excitement of presents, Christmas dinner, birthday cake and - especially - meeting Jax had wiped her out completely. "It's like I'm seeing little Tara all over again."

When struggling over the decision whether or not to keep Josh's baby, Tara had wondered how she'd react if the child inherited his looks - or worse, his unstable personality. The latter had terrified her enough to consider terminating her pregnancy; how could she possibly unleash another potential psycho on the world? But something had kept her from going through with it: she'd been 30-years-old and alone in the world, both her parents were dead, and her inability to forget her old boyfriend had killed every relationship she'd had since leaving Charming. The baby would be her only chance for a real family, something she's desperately wanted since childhood.

Thank God and every higher power in the universe that she made the right decision; Stevie's been the light of her life the past five years. And the fact that her sweet baby girl seems to bear no trace of Joshua Kohn in looks or temperament has been yet another blessing.

"I'll take that as a compliment." She leans her head against his shoulder as he wraps his arm around her while they watch the little girl sleep. "She's pretty much perfect."

He remains silent, but it's not a peaceful quiet as she feels his muscles tense; even after all the years of separation, she can still feel his emotions as if they were her own. "What's wrong, Jax?" Tara nibbles on her lower lip nervously. They'd had such a perfect day; was he already having second thoughts about wanting to be part of her and Stevie's lives? Her heart plummets to her stomach as every cell in her body freezes in pained anticipation.

"Nothing," he murmurs as they quietly walk out of Stevie's room and shut the door. Pulling her into his arms, he gazes down at her with a pained regret that belies his answer. "She's a beautiful little girl, Tara. Perfect. Just like you in every way."

"But…" Reaching up to stroke his bristly cheek, she anxiously voices the word he didn't say.

He closes his eyes for a moment before lifting her hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to her fingers. "She should've been mine, too."

"C'mon Mommy!" Stevie's voice vibrates with excited impatience. "I wanna go to live in Jax's house!"

Before making the final decision to move back to Charming, Tara had talked to her little girl about what it would mean to leave their home and friends in San Francisco and move to a new town, start a new school and meet new friends. Tara saw her own pragmatism reflected in her daughter's face as Stevie appeared to weigh her options. But, like her mother, Stevie loves Jax and his weekly visits to the City were no longer enough for the three of them anymore.

"Pleeeez, Mommy! Let's gooooo!"

Tara shakes her head in amusement as she hugs her friend good-bye. Meeting Jax's gaze over the other woman's shoulder, she returns the broad grin that's lit up his face since she agreed to move back to Charming. "Yes, I'm definitely sure."

"Jax's got a back yard, we can get a pony…"

What the hell? Although given the hardcore persuasion tactics he'd used on her to sell a return to Charming, she wouldn't put it past him to dangle something magical like a pony to her animal-obsessed daughter. That, and the fact he'd probably promise Stevie the moon and move heaven to deliver.

Well it's not fucking happening. "No, Honey, the yard's not big enough for a pony - they need a lot of room to run. Besides no one will be home all day to take care of it."

When Stevie remains silent, Tara glances in her rearview mirror - surprised that her daughter, ever the negotiator, would accept a refusal without pressing her case further or parlaying into another request. Apparently, her words had fallen on deaf ears. After chattering excitedly for the first half-hour of their trip, Stevie had dozed off, as she always does during long drives - leaving Tara with no distraction to fend off the nervous energy wreaking havoc inside of her.

Flicking on some music, she stares ahead at the broad-shouldered biker riding ahead of her car, leading the way to their new home.

It's a cute little house on a quiet street, not one she would've pictured for him - but then she's never thought of him living anywhere except his spacious childhood home or the cramped man cave within the SAMCRO Clubhouse.

The front door opens before she can knock, and he hauls her inside and devours her mouth with a kiss so hot and hungry that her knees buckle; if he hadn't been holding her so tight, she'd have slid to the floor.

"How'd it go?" He grins at her flushed face and blank stare. "The meeting?"

Insufferable ass. How can he seem so unruffled when she's struggling to resuscitate her melted brain cells? It takes her a moment to remember that she'd come here straight from a meeting with Dr. Namid and the St. Thomas Board of Directors. A couple weeks ago, her old boss had offered her the job to replace him as Chief of Surgery, which now has the Board's enthusiastic stamp of approval; the only thing left to solidify the transition was her acceptance.

"It went great," she manages to squeeze out of her still-heaving lungs. She narrows her eyes at the cocky smirk on his face then glances around the pristine, polish-scented living room - apparently, someone's been busy cleaning (although knowing Jax, he directed a team of prospects and crow-eaters to do the job).

When she told him about her meeting at St. Thomas, he insisted that she stop at his house before heading back to San Francisco. Since it's been a few days since they've seen each other, he didn't need to twist her arm. Alone in his house, they wouldn't need to worry about locking her bedroom door or muffling the sounds of their carnal ecstasy in fear of traumatizing the five-year-old sleeping down the hall.

Shit, just a few weeks back together with Jax and it's like she's that love-obsessed, sex-crazed teenager once again. Well at least she's not the only one, judging from the hard bulge in his jeans rubbing against her. A small smile teases her lips as she toys with a button on his flannel shirt. "I like your house, Teller." She tugs the button free. "Especially since you promised to fuck me in every room."

Suddenly she's lifted off the ground as he hoists her over his shoulder and strides down the hall, reducing her to breathless shrieks and giggles. Back in high school, she often found herself hauled out of rooms when he'd be too impatient to let her walk on her own - they'd be making out during a party or she'd be waiting for him to finish a Church meeting or come back from a run and he'd abruptly toss her over his shoulder and make a beeline for the first room where they could be alone.

In his bedroom, they strip each other naked within seconds; he chuckles when she rips the buttons off his shirt in her frenzy to pull it off him and again when she orders pushes him on to the bed. But his smug mirth quickly turns to grunts of pleasure when she grasps his meaty cock in one hand and fondles one of his balls with the other.

"Tara…" he gasps, his intense blue eyes electric with palpable want as he watches her slowly lick the wet tip of his engorged dick then rub the pulsing head against her stiff nipples. She loves fucking him with her mouth and breasts - he comes so hard and loud - but it'll have to wait given the sound of his strangled moans and the soaking wet throbbing between her legs.

"I'm right here, Baby," she croons, flicking his slit with her tongue before straddling him and impaling herself on his rigid erection. Smiling down at him, Tara starts to ride slowly…up and down, over and over, squeezing him with her pulsating pussy muscles. She cups her breasts - massaging the plump mounds and plucking at her sensitive nipples, ratcheting up their mutual desire another thousand degrees.

He surges up and kisses her hard, his hands framing her face as his tongue mates wildly with hers. One of his big hands slides down her back to grip her ass - spurring her to ride him faster, harder - while the other slips between them to stroke her clit.

"Jax…" she moans then screams, completely engulfed by the body-melting, mind-blowing orgasm that only he can give her. She tangles her fingers in his damp hair while he buries his face against her neck, his big body shaking from the force of his release.

He recovers first, his lips press a soft kiss to her neck then to her forehead. Brushing a strand of hair from her face, he smiles - sending her pulse racing once again. "How'd you like first room of the tour, Babe?"

Twining her arms around his neck, she pecks his lips softly relishing how he hugs her tighter so she can feel his heart pounding against her chest. "Outstanding. I can't wait to see the rest of the place."

"It's our place, Tara." He stares at her intently, "Yours, mine and Stevie's. Take the job at St. Thomas, and we can be a real family…like we were supposed to be."

Tara closes her eyes and leans her forehead against his. Such a huge decision to make as she's not only making it for herself but for her little girl, too. She's still not comfortable with SAMCRO or wild about how they earn, but Jax's convinced her that it's not the same MC that'd scared the shit out of her. Even David Hale, who never had any love for Jax and his Brothers, told her that the Club had changed under Jax's leadership.

And a move to St. Thomas would mean a career promotion that wouldn't require too much time spent away from Stevie, something that wouldn't be possible if she stayed in San Francisco or transferred to any major hospital.

And there was Jax.

"Ok," she nods slowly, then giggles when he crows with elation then rolls her over and pins her to the bed.

"I love you," he murmurs against her lips. "More than anything…"

All your life you've never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?*

When she left Charming sixteen years ago, it'd been the logical choice: a full-ride college scholarship at one of the best pre-med schools in the country would be her opportunity for a better life, her chance to be more than the town drunk's daughter in second-hand clothes.

Coming back now, well it's the most capricious decision she's ever made, but strangely she's more excited about her future now than she felt when she left.

Turning onto Jax's - and now, their - street, she spots him waiting for her by his Harley, his huge smile so bright, it could power the universe. Pulling into the driveway, she glances quickly at her still sleeping daughter than steps out of the car when he opens the door for her.

Then she jumps into his arms and hugs him tight.

"Rhiannon" written by Stevie Nicks (performed by Fleetwood Mac)