It’d been some time since Jax’s new neighbor Elena had moved in. Issues with club business had kept him busy since their release and he hadn’t had time to go over there and meet her in person. Everyone else around him had and they seemed to approve. Lyla was practically in love with her, declaring her their best friend. Gemma was more skeptical but she got the approval from her too. What surprised him the most was how attached Abel had gotten. His mom had told him all he wanted to do was go over there and play with her and her daughter.  She had everyone smitten and it was time for him to see why.

“Hey buddy,” Jax said as he walked into the kitchen where Abel was coloring on the table.

Gemma was dealing with inspections at the shop and Neeta wasn’t available today so it was just him and his son for the first time in a long while.

Abel looked up at him with those same sad eyes he’d seen every day since Tara left. It was a look that pulled at his heart strings. A look he tried to avoid seeing because he knew it was good fault.

“Yeah, Daddy?”

“You want to go visit our neighbor? I haven’t met her yet so I thought we’d bring over some cookies.”

Abel’s eyes lite up brighter than he’d ever seen and the young boy nodded his head vigorously.

“Yeah! Lena and Maddie love grandma’s cookies!”

Jax laughed at the kids excitement. “Alright. Alright.”

He tousled Abel’s hair as he walked past him to the counter where Gemma had left a batch that she’d just baked last night. Grabbing some cling wrap, he wrapped the plate and walked over to Abel, lifting him up in his arms before walking out of the house to cross the short distance to her house.

Abel insisted on knocking and Jax watched in bewilderment as his son smoothed out his clothes and stood straighter.

It wasn’t long before they heard the shuffling of footsteps running through the house, growing louder and clearer towards them. The knob shifted a little before a small voice from the other side spoke up.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Abel! I got cookies!”

He laughed watching his son before the door swung open without a moment’s hesitation.

“Abel!” The little girl cried out in excitement as the two toddlers hugged each other.

Jax had never seen his son act that way with anyone. He was always very stand-offish and quiet. He blamed it on his lack of having a motherly figure but seeing him this way warmed his heart. Maybe all he did need was some time to just be a kid.

“Maddie?!” He heard another voice, more frantic than the girl’s, coming from inside. “Madeline Catherine King!”

Elena came from behind her, her face full of concern as she placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulders, kneeling down to look at her. “What have I told you about answering the door without me!?”

“But mama!” Her daughter whined. “It’s Abel!”

“I don’t care if it’s was the Pope, Maddie! You don’t open the door for anyone!”

The thought of her opening the door to her father had sent her into a panic. She knew her daughter was a social butterfly but she always knew better than to answer the door without her being present.

Jax watched closely. She was a small thing, more fragile looking up close with her thin frame, but still just as beautiful. Her reaction seemed more frightened than the normal persons but he agreed with her completely.

He cleared his throat turning her attention towards him, her gaze making him forget everything he was about to say with the sheer intensity of it.

Elena stood, brushing her hair back behind her ear as she looked up at him. “You must be Jax.”

Her voice softened from the tone she had used with her daughter. He nodded, “Yeah. Sorry I haven’t been by to greet you. It’s been a busy few days.”

She gave an understanding smile. “No worries, I didn’t even know people did that till your mother showed up.”

He chuckled, knowing the type of women his mother was. “I – uh – brought you these.” He held out the tray of cookies.

“Are those Gemma’s? My daughter is obsessed with them.” She smiled taking the tray from his hands before stepping aside. “Please, come in.”

Jax stepped inside. It’d been roughly a week since she’d moved in but the place already looked like a home. He’d been back from prison for 1 month and he couldn’t say the same. If it wasn’t for Gemma, the place would be a health hazard.

“You fixed the place up real nice.” He said, as he followed her into the kitchen. “The folks here before you had some of the worst taste I’d ever seen.”

“That’s what your mom said.” Elena laughed, unwrapping the cookies as Abel and Maddie ran up to grab one immediately before running off.

Jax watched as the two kids held hands and giggled before disappearing into one of the rooms.

Elena opened her fridge. “I’m glad you gave me a little time before coming to meet me. There’s actually a little more in the fridge other than beer and juicy-juicy this time. I got soda, water, uh -”

“Beer’s fine.” Jax answered, unable to contain a smirk as he watched her ass while she was bent over checking the bottom shelf of the fridge.

“Makes that easy.” She smiled, popping the caps off the bottles before handing him one, taking a sip of hers.

It was hard in general to keep a straight face around her. Her smile was more than contagious and other than that scolding she gave the girl, it hadn’t left her face.

“So Abel’s done nothing but talk about our new this whole time. I figured I had to meet the woman my son was so taken with – I just had no idea it was your daughter he was talking about.” Jax laughed and as did Elena.

She rested her elbows on the counter, looking over her shoulder to see the kids. “Yeah, Maddie’s the star of this show. That girl can make friends with anyone. I’m just glad she found one so quickly. Takes the pressure off me, y’know? At least until I find her a daycare.”

“I get it,” He nodded. “If it weren’t for my mom and Neeta, our babysitter. I don’t know how I’d handle him.”

Elena came to the realization that she hadn’t even see or asked about Abel’s mother. Gemma never brought up the subject and since she always seemed to control the conversation, the topic never came up.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where’s Abel’s mom?”

She immediately regretted asking as Jax’s face fell. His eyes left hers for the first time since his arrival and he stared down at the table.

“Oh. I’m so sorry. We don’t have to talk about it. I don’t like talking about my ex either. He’s kind of a deadbeat. He’s not allowed to be in her life anymore. Not that I’m saying that’s your situation or that -”

She stopped mid-sentence when she realized she was doing her nervous rambling again.

Jax looked up at her in amusement and chuckled. “Abel’s mom was a junkie.” he answered honestly, feeling comfortable enough to tell her. “She overdosed when she was pregnant with him. He had to be delivered early and spent months in the NICU. She ain’t allowed to see him. Tara – my ex. She left me during my last stint. Couldn’t handle it.”

“Shit.” Elena lowered her head. “Sounds a bit worse than my situation.”

“Yeah, we all go our issues.” He agreed.

“You could say that.” She smiled, grateful that he was ending this conversation.

His phone rang, interrupting them and Jax excused himself to walk out to the front porch. Elena practically kicked herself for that awkward bout. And why in the hell did she say anything about her ex!? Jax was a total stranger. Aside from the few conversations with his mother, she didn’t know him from a whole in the wall. And by stint, did he mean jail? Nobody said anything about him being a convict.

“Hey, I got an emergency. I’m so sorry to do this but can you watch Abel? I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” Jax entered, breaking her from her concentration.

“Uh – yeah – of course.” She nodded.

Jax smiled, following the trail of laughing voices to the back room where the kids were playing with a dollhouse. He kissed Abel, explaining that he’d be back. The kid was more than elated to be spending more time with Madeline. He just felt bad that he was putting that extra work on Elena.

She walked him to the front door, giving him a small wave as he walked down the steps. It gave him a feel of deja-vu of when Tara would do it. He’d almost leaned in to kiss her out of habit but he contained himself enough.

 

—-

 

After not hearing from Jax or Gemma practically the entire day, she figured it was something serious so she took it upon herself to give Abel a bath and put him in one of her t-shirts before tucking him into bed with Madeline. They’d spent the whole day playing and it only took them two pages into a storybook for them to fall asleep.

It wasn’t until 10pm when she heard a knocking on her door and one peek through the peephole told her it was Jax.

“I am so fucking sorry.” He sighed as soon as she opened the door. “I didn’t-”

“Shh,” She shushed him. “They’re asleep. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah – I just got caught up with some business.” He replied but the tone in which he said it sounded serious.

“Oh.” She said shortly, not daring to question what kind of business would keep a man from all but abandoning his child for hours. What that what Gemma had to put up with? That poor kid spent more time with others than he did with his own father.

Jax noticed the change in her voice when she lead him to the back where Abel was tucked in sleeping soundly with her daughter. Guilt had washed over him and he looked at her disappointed face as well.

It wasn’t his fault. He had things to take care of with the club, not that she knew anything about the club, but Abel was in good hands.

Then why did he feel so shitty about it?

“I owe you big.” He whispered after picking Abel up into his arms, the toddler still asleep.

“Jax.” She stopped him before he walked down her front steps and put a blanket over Abel so he wouldn’t catch a draft. “Listen, if you have busy days like this – you’re more than welcome to bring Abel over. It’s no trouble and it’s good for the kids to have each other.”

“I don’t want to be a bother.” He replied, looking down at his sleeping son before looking up at her.

“It’s not a bother at all. I’d actually prefer it.” She replied, leaning against her door frame.

“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that.” He replied, sensing the genuine care from her. “Have a good night Elena.”

“Night, Jax.”