A/N: Haha! I just realized something... Juice was there helping Chibs with Cameron when he was shot! Damn! Well, I'm gonna change a few things around, so that way... it makes sense... I mean, I just watched that episode a few days ago and I totally forgot. My apologies!
----
Chapter 3: Just Not Ready
Amanda woke up at seven and went into the kitchen. She saw Gemma sitting at the table. "Hey, Gem... I'm gonna get going, Haley and Juice should be at the house soon."
"Okay, Baby." Gemma nodded. "I'll stop by later."
"All right, bye."
"See ya." Gemma smiled, then Amanda left in her Dodge Neon.
As she pulled up to her house, ten minutes later, she saw Jax sitting on the steps smoking a cigarette. Amanda got out and walked up to him. "Wow, you're up early."
"So are you." he shrugged. "I'm just waiting for Juice."
Amanda laughed. "Yeah right, Jax... you and I both know why you're here."
"Yeah, yeah." he said, putting out the cigarette.
As soon as the smoke cleared, Amanda sat down next to him. "Juice sent me a text and they should be here soon."
"Who's they?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Haley, Nicky, and Haley's..."
"Boyfriend?"
"No... her best friend, Lizzy. I've told you about her."
"Oh, right." he slowly nodded.
Amanda chuckled. "And if Haley had a boyfriend?"
He shrugged. "I guess... there would be nothing I could do."
"You are so transparent." she looked him in his eyes. "Be honest, Jax... do you still love my sister?"
"I don't know, Amanda... of course I'll always love her, but I'm kinda back with Tara."
"Jackson Teller! Oh please!" she paused. "Tara broke your heart, you know she'll do it again sooner or later."
"Maybe... maybe not, but Haley broke my heart too when she took off."
"Tara left you because she couldn't handle the 'MC' life, whereas Haley did and probably still can handle it."
"Well, that was in the past... now, Tara's all right."
"I highly doubt that." Amanda took a deep breath. "Look, besides you and Haley having a beautiful son together, the both of you have a history. You may have dated Tara first, but you and Haley have been best friends since she was a little girl... I know, I was there."
Jax laughed and nodded. "Haley was always there when I needed her."
"Yes, she was."
"When Tommy and my old man died, then the whole Tara thing." he paused. "She was always right there."
"Jax, if I know my sister... I know deep down, she still loves you." he nodded again. "You should remember that."
"All right."
"When we'd talk on the phone or text, the whole time she's been away... there was never a time that we didn't talk about you." Amanda paused. "And... I think she really misses you."
"I guess we'll have to see." he shrugged.
"Okay... I have a question, I've been meaning to ask you."
"What's up?"
"You've known about Nicky for a while now... how come you haven't gone to see him? How come Gemma and Clay hasn't either?"
"Well... honestly, I didn't know if Haley wanted to see me... at all." he paused. "I mean, she left me remember? And I didn't want Clay or my mom to do anything, I wanted them to leave her alone." he stood up and shook his head. "Um... maybe, I should stop by later."
"But you're already here."
"I know." he nodded. "What if there's a chance that Haley's still not ready to see me?"
"Jax... you should stay, meet your son, and talk to her."
"I will, Amanda." he paused. "But right now, I have some things to think about." she nodded, then Jax gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later."
"Okay... fine." she said, in a defeated tone, then Jax got on his bike, and rode off. Amanda sighed, got up, and walked into the house.
Twenty minutes later, Amanda heard a motorcycle pull up. She stopped everything she was doing and went outside. "Aunt Mandy!" Nicky yelled, as he was running up to her.
She carefully picked him up and said "Hey, Little man... I've missed you."
"I missed you too."
Amanda put him down, then gave Haley a hug. "Hey Baby Sis."
"Hello."
"You just missed him."
Haley let go and said "What?"
"Jax was here a little while ago."
"Why?"
"Why do you think, Hales? To see you and Nicky."
"Why'd he leave?"
"Well." Amanda started. "He didn't think you wanted to see him just yet."
"Oh." Haley nodded.
Lizzy walked up to Amanda and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry about your dad."
"Thank you." she said, giving her a weak smile.
As they broke from the hug, Juice scooped Amanda up in his arms, spinning her around. "I missed you, Baby."
She laughed. "You weren't gone that long."
"Hey, hey, hey... be careful with my niece or nephew in there." Haley joked.
Amanda gasped as she broke from the hug, then hit Juice on his chest. "You told them?"
"Sorry, Babe... Haley twisted my arm and I had to tell her why you weren't there."
"No I didn't." Haley laughed.
"Okay, okay." Juice put his arms up in defeat. "I was too excited and I just told them."
Amanda smiled. "You're such a jerk."
"I know... but you love me anyway." he said, with smiled and Amanda playfully rolled her eyes. "But I'm sorry, Babe... for ruining your surprise."
"Yeah... whatever." she shook her head.
Haley and Lizzy placed their hands on Amanda's belly, then Haley said "Congrats, Mama!"
Lizzy nodded. "Yeah, congrats."
"Thanks you guys." she paused. "I want both of you to be there when he or she is born."
"He!" Juice yelled from over by the Durango, grabbing the luggage. "When he is born!"
All three girls laughed, then Amanda said "He seems to think it's a boy... but either way, I want both of you in the delivery room."
"Sure." Lizzy nodded.
"Yeah, I wouldn't miss it." Haley smiled, then looked down at Nicky. "Hey, Little Man, why don't you go help Uncle Juice with our luggage."
"Okay, Mommy." he nodded, then walked over as the three girls walked into the house and sat down on the couch.
"Nice place, Amanda." Lizzy said, looking around.
"Thanks."
"So." Haley started. "How are the guys?"
"The guys... or Jax?" Amanda smirked.
"Both."
"Uh-huh." Amanda playfully rolled her eyes. "The guys and Jax are doing fine."
"And Gemma?"
"Good." Amanda said, getting up and walking over to the door. "She'll be stopping by later."
"Oh."
"Relax, Hales... she's excited to see you."
Amanda opened the door, Juice walked in with the luggage, and said "Where do I put this, Babe?"
"Put Lizzy's in the baby's room, then put Haley's and Nicky's in the guest room."
He nodded. "Come on, Nicky." then both of them went down the hallway.
Ten minutes later, the front door opened, followed by a "Knock, knock."
Haley looked over and said "Hello, Gemma."