Gemma exited the hospital and sat next to Avery. Lighting a cigarette, she inhaled deeply before stating, "You're aware that you were meant to be the one giving birth to Jax's child, not that drug-addicted whore that he stupidly married, right?"

And there it was... the one thing that Avery had known but had refused to let herself believe. All of the signs had been there but because of her past with Jax and their dinner earlier, she had refused to admit that the man that she had known a decade ago was not the man that Jax is today.

"Are you okay, baby?" asked Gemma when Avery didn't reply.

"No, Gemma, I am far from okay," Avery declared, her voice trembling as she propelled herself off the weathered park bench. The stillness was suffocating; she needed to move, to physically manifest the turmoil churning within her. "Jax is married," she repeated, the words tasting like ash in her mouth, "married and he has a child. A child, Gemma, with someone else. Someone I don't know, someone who obviously doesn't give a shit about her unborn child, and apparently, a child whose very existence hangs precariously in the balance because of their mothers choices." Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "And the gall! The sheer audacity of that man to sit there, not even an hour ago, when I specifically asked him what was new, and omit both the wife and unborn child. Not even sixty minutes ago, Gemma! He looked me in the eye and said nothing. His exact words were –and I quote– 'Same shit, different day'."

Avery turned away from Gemma, pacing the length of the sidewalk before continuing. "And then you, the woman that I have considered my second mother for more than a decade, you come strolling out here, a living, breathing reminder of the life I foolishly abandoned. The life I could have had, should have had, if I hadn't been so damnably noble and listened to his grand pronouncements about my potential. You see what I'm dealing with here? I'm barely holding myself together, Gemma! Do you honestly believe that a day hasn't gone by where I haven't second-guessed my decision to leave Charming? Do you think for one single moment that I ever truly desired a life without Jax? You of all people know the dreams we shared, the future we both wanted. I would have given it all up for him, Gem. You know that. But no, he insisted. He practically shoved me out the door, urging me to chase my dreams.

"Well, I did it, Gemma. I did exactly what he wanted. And what is my reward? To return and discover that he's already built a completely separate life, a life shrouded in secrets, a life where I am clearly an unwelcome intrusion. Yeah, no. 'Not okay' doesn't even begin to cover it. I am as far removed from okay as a human being can possibly be." Avery punctuated her words by pushing off reading a frustrated growl as she ran her fingers through her hair. A stunned Gemma watched raw emotion radiating in palpable waves off of Avery.

"Sweetheart..."

"I wasn't expecting him to stay single, Gem." said Avery, cutting off Gemma's statement.

"I'm no fool and I know that he would find someone else. I actually wanted that for him. I didn't want him pining away for me even if I was pining away from him. What I did expect from him though was for him to be truthful when I asked him what was new with him. Why wouldn't he have told me? Why would he have left out something that big?"

Avery didn't even try to hide the tears streaming down her face. It would have been pointless.

Gemma stood from the bench and moved so that she could wrap Avery in a hug. Avery protested at first but gave in after a few moments. "I understand this is difficult for you baby, and I can't know Jax's exact reasons. However, as his mother, I know my son. His omission was likely due to fear – fear of your reaction and fear of losing you if he told you." said Gemma. "You know how Jax is. He's fearless in most things but when it comes to you, he's terrified that he would do something to disappoint you. That's why he pushed you to achieve your dreams. He didn't want you to resent him one day."

"I begged him to come with me to North Carolina with me but he wouldn't because he didn't want to leave the club. I don't blame him for that because I know what the club means to him but Jesus Christ, "

Gemma pulled away slightly and lit another cigarette.

"When you left, Jax spun out... like really spun out of control . He tried to drown his pain of losing you in oceans of bourbon and cheap, skanky whores. But no matter how much he tried to forget you or move on, it didn't work. Avery, he still loves you and from the way you're reacting to all of this news, you still love him. Or at least have lingering feelings for him." Said Gemma as he stood a drag on her cigarette before continuing. "We can only go so long without a human connection and feeling like we're loved by someone other than our parents before we lose our fucking minds.

"When Jax and Wendy got together, he was going through a dark time in his life. He found that he was only killing himself slowly because of his drinking. I know you don't want to hear this, but they clicked at first. But it wasn't long before she tricked him into getting pregnant. Jax tried to do the right thing and marry her but they sucked at getting along. They found that living together was different than hooking up and going their separate ways. They filed for separation 8 months ago, a month after they were married. Divorce is final in four months. So if you're worried that he's gonna go back to that junky, you're wrong."

Avery expressed her defeat, stating that her feelings for Jax are irrelevant because he is married to someone else. Gemma disagreed, reminding Avery that Jax still cares for her, evidenced by her instinctive comforting embrace. Avery countered that it doesn't matter, as she has only been back in town for a day and is still adjusting. While Gemma is telling her Jax has feelings for her, Avery doesn't want to consider her own feelings and is feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.

"I know it's a lot, sweetheart. But Jax has always been a complicated man. You know that probably more than anyone. He doesn't often show his feelings but those of us that know him best have seen the change in him in just the past 24 hours."

"Then why didn't he come to me last night if I had such a big impact on him even though we didn't get a chance to speak?" Said Avery as a lone tear streaked down her cheek.

"The club had some shit to deal with last night sweetheart. That's why he didn't come to you. Probably figured you were asleep by the time things wrapped up."

"Funny you say that. I didn't sleep a fucking wink last night becasue all I could think about was him." Avery laughing to keep from crying.

"Look, I can't tell you what to do here. This is a lot to process for anyone. But, Jax is gonna need someone in his corner besides me, his father, or the club. I can't think of anyone better than you to be that person for him."

"Gem... I'm..."

"Just think about it okay? Don't make any snap decisions. Listen to your heart and it will tell you what the right thing to do is." Said Gemma as he grabbed her purse and began walking back into the hospital, leaving Avery alone once again with her thoughts.