By some sort of miracle considering the night that she'd had, Avery woke the next morning well rested and ready to take on the day. As she laid in bed stretching, the smell of bacon wafted up from down stairs dragging her out of bed. Deciding to skip a shower until after she ate breakfast, Avery went downstairs still dressed in her pajamas in search of the mouth watering scent.

"You got in late" said Paige when Avery walked into the kitchen in search of coffee.

"Yeah, long night to say the least." Said Avery. She really didn't want to go into exact detail but she knew she had to tell her mom something. The cliff notes version would have to work. "Did you know that Jax is a father?"

"I heard he knocked some girl up." Said Paige. "Didn't hear it from him or from Gemma though so I thought it was just the Charming Rumor mill at work again."

"Not just some girl. His wife. Turns out she tricked him into getting her pregnant so he married her to try and do the right thing. Long story short, he's in the middle of a divorce and has a son that they don't know will survive the trauma of his birth or not." Explained Avery as she dumped sugar into her coffee and stirred.

"Oh my god Avey. What happened?"

"Well, the mother is a drug addict. She couldn't stay off the stuff long enough to give birth to a healthy child. From what I got out of everyone last night, Gemma found her bleeding out on the kitchen floor of her home with a syringe still stuck in her arm. The ambulance was called and they rushed her to the hospital where they had to do an emergency c-section." Explained Avery before taking another sip of her coffee. "The baby was born ten weeks early so he's in the NICU."

"That's horrible." Said Paige, sadness and a touch of anger lacing her tone. It was the same tone you expect any mother to have when they are told of something so horrific.

"That's not all of it either." Said Avery. "Because of the drug use, the boy was born with a tear in his stomach that can be repaired pretty easily. But because of the heart defect that requires surgery that was passed on from Gemma, they don't know if he would survive either surgery. It's all in how much of a fighter he is."

"That is just horrible," Paige exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and sympathy. She carefully turned the sizzling strips of bacon in the hot pan, the aroma momentarily filling the cozy kitchen, a stark contrast to the grim subject of their conversation. "Is there anything that can be done? As far as the mother is concerned?" she continued, her brow furrowed with concern as she glanced towards her daughter, seeking more information or perhaps a glimmer of hope in the tragic situation they were discussing. The sound of the bacon crackling seemed to amplify the heavy silence that followed her question, each pop a reminder of the unsettling reality they were grappling with.

"I'm actually drawing up some stuff to be filed at the courthouse for Jax after breakfast." Said Avery as she leaned against the counter sipping her coffee.

"Good. I'm glad you're here to help him through this. I can't imagine the emotions he must be feeling." Said Paige.

"You know how he is," she sighed, a hint of exasperation coloring her tone. "He puts on such a good front, a pseudo mask for the world, wanting everyone to believe he's completely unemotional and untouched by the messy realities of life. But I see through it, you know? We talked for a good while before he finally left last night, and underneath that carefully constructed facade, he's terrified. I mean he's truly scared, mom. Scared of the enormity of becoming a father, the overwhelming responsibility, the complete shift in his identity. But here's the heartbreaking part, the real knot in his stomach – he's equally, if not more, scared of the alternative, of not being a father, of missing out on this profound human experience, of potentially regretting a life unlived in that particular way."

"My heart breaks for him, Avery.." Said Paige. "Please let him know that we are here for him."

"Yeah, I will." said Avery. "I think you should reach out to Gemma and see if she could use a friend. Jax learned his behavior from her so I dont have to tell you that she acted numb to everything last night."

"I'll do that... right after breakfast."

"She'll like that." Avery smiled as she sipped her coffee.

Instead of dragging out the previous topic of conversation, Paige announced that breakfast would be ready in approximately ten minutes and asked Avery to get their father and let him know.

"Okay. Is he in the garage?"

"Would he be anywhere else? He's still working on that damn mower."

Laughing, Avery walked out the back door and to the garage to get her dad.

*****

Avery dabbed the final touches of a soft, inviting cream onto the doorframe, stepping back to admire her handiwork. The scent of fresh paint mingled with the gentle breeze drifting through the open windows of her small law office, a tangible representation of the fresh start she was working so hard to create. Just as she was capping the can, a familiar rumble, a deep, resonant growl that vibrated through the very floorboards, announced an arrival. Her heart did a little flutter-kick against her ribs. It was the unmistakable sound of Jax's Harley.

She instinctively moved to the window, her fingers still slightly tacky with paint. Through the glass, she watched him dismount his bike, the afternoon sun glinting off the chrome and the dark leather of his jacket. There was an undeniable swagger in his step, a casual confidence that radiated off him like heat waves on a summer road. He looked... good. Dangerously so. Sexier than any man had a right to be, and certainly leagues beyond the lingering images from her dreams the previous night – dreams that had been vivid and insistent, leaving her with a restless energy she hadn't quite shaken. How could someone be even more captivating in broad daylight than in the secret theater of her subconscious? The question lingered in her mind as he turned, his gaze sweeping towards the office, and a slow, knowing smile touched his lips.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Avery forced herself to halt the downward spiral of her thoughts. The cool afternoon air brushed against her skin as she leaned against the rough, red brick of the building's facade, her gaze fixed on the approaching figure of Jax. A small smile touched his lips as he reached her, one hand sliding around her waist to draw her close while the other covered her tattoo. His embrace was warm and solid, a comforting anchor in the midst of her swirling emotions. When his lips finally met hers, the kiss was soft and tender, a sweet hello that lingered for a moment. It was a far cry from the urgent, possessive kiss of the previous night, this one a gentle acknowledgment, a quiet reassurance of their connection rather than a fiery declaration of ownership. A sense of calm settled over Avery as they stood there, a small island of peace amidst the bustling city sounds.

"Missed you," Jax said as he broke the kiss.

"Missed you, too."

"How'd you sleep?"

"Surprisingly well," said Avery, smiling. "Come on inside, I have those papers for you."

When Avery moved to step inside the building, one of Jax's hands slipped to her waist and he followed her.

Stepping inside, Jax observed the progress made over the last few days. "Wow, it looks great in here! A huge improvement since my last visit."

"Thanks, I've been absolutely pushing myself to the limit. The moving company is scheduled to arrive in just two days," Avery elaborated, wiping a bead of sweat from their brow. "You know how I get when I'm dealing with a lot – I've always been the type who needs to physically work through things, to keep my hands busy and my mind focused on a tangible task." They gestured around the partially packed room, boxes stacked haphazardly against the walls, a testament to their recent efforts. "It's the only way I can really process everything that's going on."

Jax expressed remorse, saying, "Shit, you're already dealing with so much. And then I had to go and dump all my problems on top of it."

"Stop, if I didn't want to help you and if I didn't want to be here for you, I wouldn't." said Avery.

"I know," said Jax. "Thanks again by the way. You will never know how much it means to me that you–"

"There's no need to flatter me, Jax," Avery said, her voice carrying a hint of both amusement and a familiar weariness as she cut him off mid-sentence. A soft smile played on her lips, a ghost of memories flickering in her eyes. "After all these years, you should know I never could tell you no. Even when every fiber of my being screamed that I should, even when it was inconvenient or difficult, I couldn't deny helping you when I knew, truly knew, that you needed it. It was just... who I was, I suppose. Always ready to lend a hand, especially to you." She paused, her gaze drifting for a moment before returning to his. "Guess that's one thing that hasn't changed about me, has it? My inability to refuse you anything." The words hung in the air, carrying a weight that went beyond the simple statement, hinting at a shared history filled with favors asked and granted, a bond forged in a time that felt both distant and vividly present.

"It goes both ways, Vee. I could never refuse you," Jax said, his meaning clear. Though Vee wasn't trying to be alluring, she noticed Jax's eyes slowly scan her. His gaze lingered on every bit of her visible skin exposed by the faded racerback tank top and well-loved, threadbare Soffe shorts from her teenage years.

Avery blurted out, "Except that one time."

Jax echoed, a note of sadness in his tone, "Except that one time."

A profound silence descended, lingering in the air like a heavy curtain. For a brief, indeterminate span, neither of them broke the stillness. Then, Avery stirred, the soft rustle of her clothing the first sound to pierce the quiet. She shifted her weight and crossed the small expanse of the sparsely furnished room to one of the discarded wooden pallets stacked against the wall. This makeshift structure served a dual purpose temporarily in her office space: it functioned as a rudimentary table, its rough surface holding a scattering of her belongings, and also provided essential storage until the movers finally delivered her furniture.

Avery handed Jax a folder containing copies of the promised papers. She explained that she had drafted documents to make it appear as though Wendy willingly relinquished her parental rights to Abel, which would be a faster process than pursuing a custody lawsuit. Avery assured Jax that they could proceed in whatever manner he preferred. As she spoke, she noticed Jax gazing at her intently.

"She'll sign. I'll make sure of it." Said Jax, shaking his head as if he was trying to get his mind back on the topic at hand.

"What does that even mean? Or do I want to know?" Asked Avery. "Because that sounds like you're willing to hurt her to make her sign."

"It means that if she knows what's best for Abel, she'll sign. She's not going to want a messy court case and to have to go in front of people. She'll sign if I threaten her with that." Said Jax as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Correction... I know how Jax from ten years ago felt about hurting women." Said Avery.

"Ain't nothing changed, Vee. I still feel the same way I did back then on that matter."

"Good to know," Avery responded, her tone carefully neutral. "Anyway, these documents require a witness. Do you think you could persuade Opie to come down to the office? His signature is needed to finalize everything."

"I'm sure he will," Jax replied, already turning away. "Give me five minutes. I'll call him now."

Avery watched Jax walk towards the entryway of her office, a wave of conflicting emotions washing over her. He kept a noticeable distance, and she knew he was thinking about the subtle but palpable coolness that had settled between them. It had all started with her carefully chosen words, words that had unintentionally brought back the memory of the one and only time he had ever denied her a request. Neither of them felt the need to revisit the specifics of that moment. The weight of that single 'no' hung heavy in the air, its consequences undeniably shaping their current, complicated situation. The present state of their relationship was a direct and unavoidable effect of that long-ago refusal.