Two years later:

Jax watched as Leila was prepped for another appearance on Charming in the Morning. People moving around her. A person for her hair. A person for her makeup. Charlotte answering calls. Another assistant reading her the talking points. Leila herself answering emails on her phone. It all looked so overwhelming but she showed no signs of stress.

“Leila, you’re on in two.” Someone informed, popping his head in the doorway before disappearing back down the hallway.

She stood, handing Charlotte her phone before adjusting her white lace dress, meeting my eyes. “How do I look?” She asked, slowly twirling for me to get a good look.

She never looked anything short of beautiful. Not just in my eyes, in everyone’s. She was graceful and sweet but smart and filled with determination, all wrapped in a small radiating package.

“Beautiful, darlin’.” I winked, standing up stand in front of her, one hand on her belly, the other on her cheek as I leaned down to kiss her.

She blushed, returning my kiss as her hair stylist adjusted her hair. Someone else came in, leading us down the hallway to the set. She gave my hand a squeeze as the host made the introduction to call her up.

“Ladies and Gentleman, please help me give a warm welcome to newlywed and mother to be, Charming’s very own – Mrs. Leila Teller!”

Everyone in the crowd stood, applauding his beautiful wife  as she waved at them, walking onto the set and giving the host a hug and kiss. She sat, crossing her legs one over the other smiling as she looked out into the crowd.

“So let me start off by saying Congratulations!” The woman said, throwing her arms in the air. “You look absolutely stunning, i wish I looked that good when I was pregnant. You even have the glow. All I got was a adult acne and a strech marks!”

“Oh come on! You looked beautiful when you were pregnant! Not pleasant to be around but beautiful!” Leila returned, making the audience laugh.

The woman laughed, nodding her head. “We’ll see how pleasant you are when you start getting morning sickness! How far along are you?”

Leila ran her hand down her stomach, smiling as she shook her head. Actually I’m about a week shy of being full term. Didn’t really have any morning sickness or weird cravings. Just a few aches and pains.”

“I hate you so much right now!” The woman’s jaw dropped. “One, you’re barely showing and two, how on earth did you manage to hide it for so long. I mean, secret wedding – now a you’re due to give birth any day!”

“Mommy mommy!” Abel’s voice rang out across the room.

Jax turned his head to see his son wiggling out of Gemma’s arms, making a run his way. He laughed, kneeling down to catch him except the toddler ran passed him onto the stage to Leila. She caught him in her arms, giving the giggling boy a kiss before setting him on his lap. The entire audience laughed and aww’d as the host melted at the sight. Abel quickly realized where he was and dug his face into Leila’s neck, hiding from the woman talking to him.

“Always knew who his favorite parent was, just wish he’d show it a little less.” Jax joked as Gemma approached him. “How’d you get in here anyway?”

“Please, you think these little fuckers can keep me from getting in?” She returned.

He chuckled, turn his attention back to Leila who bounced Abel on her lap while talking to the host. She’d really done a hell of a job raising him and keeping up with her work.

“You know, regarding the wedding, it’s not so much that it was a secret, but so much of my life is public. Every date, every grocery run, every errand is photographed and in the paper so there are certain special moments in my life that I want to keep private. Our wedding this little guy, Jax and I, close family and friends. It was super small and super intimate.” She nodded.

“Ii heard a tidbit that you not only had vows for your husband, but also for little Abel.”

She smiled and so did Jax, remembering their wedding day.

“Well, he was way to young to understand them but I did. I vowed to love him, cherish him, and protect him for the rest of my life because even though I didn’t give birth to him, nothing in this world compares to the love I feel when I look into his eyes.” She answered.

Abel sucked his thumb, looking up at Leila before racking a smile and hiding his face again.

“Well isn’t that the most precious thing?” Andrea asked, smiling down at the baby. “So what’s next for you? You have money, looks, and a beautiful family. Where do you go from here?”

“Well, if you haven’t heard yet, i’m going to run for Mayor of Charming.”

“Woooo!” The audience cheered and clapped.

“Really?” The host asked, surprised.

“Yup. Politics are in my blood and with Mayor Romano stepping down, I think it’s the right time.”

“Won’t that take time away from being with your family?” Andrea asked.

“Not anymore than your job takes you away from yours.” Leila answered. “My family is and always will be my priority. Being mayor is a job. A full time job much like yours or anyone else’s. If Jacob Hale or Elliot Oswald were sitting in this chair, that question would never have crossed your mind. I can do anything they can, and even better because of my significant background. The fact that I am a women and have a family doesn’t hinder my abilities whatsoever. In fact it motivates me further because I want them to be proud of me and I want to show my daughter that she can do anything in this world that she wants to.”

Jax smirked, he loved when she got feisty. The host looked nervous but kept her composure as she clapped for Leila.

“Well, you truly are an inspiration, not just to your daughter but women and girls everywhere.” She smiled. “Thank you for taking the time to be here today. Ladies and Gentlemen, Leila Teller!”

The recording light went off and Leila stood from her seat, holding Abel in her arms as she said goodbye to the host and the audience, coming back down towards Jax and Gemma.

“Sure showed that bitch.” Gemma smirked hands on her hips.

“She had it coming with that dumbass question.” Leila answered, giving Abel a kiss on the cheek. What do you say we go get some lunch before going to the fair?”

“It’s your party, babe. Whatever you want to do.”

---

 

Hundreds of people from all over the county to attend the fair. After her announcement on the talk show, her party had strategically planned the fair that night to official announce her run for office. She’d given a speech reiterating the topics she would be focusing on in office, people went wild as they usually did for her, then after shaking a couple hands and a few press shots, the night was free for them to enjoy.

Seated at one of the picnic tables, the guys discussed business around the table while the women and kids enjoyed themselves around the park. Jax searched for Leila, his eyes combing through the crowd but he couldn’t see her, and she wasn’t usually hard to miss. Especially now that she was nine months pregnant.

A small panic came over him and he excused himself from the table to make his way around the area with Opie sensing his concern and following him. He didn’t have to search hard to find her, his feet carrying him back to that same clearing by the river he’d found her the first night she had returned to Charming.

He smiled to himself, stopping in his tracks to admire her beauty. It always did catch him off guard. She’d changed into a yellow sundress, similar to that night, and she spun around with Abel. The two dancing in their own bliss. The boy giggled at his mother as she let him twirl.

“What are you doing all the way out here?” He said, repeating the words he’d spoken that night. “Don’t you know there’s a party happening all for you?”

Recognition crossed her face and her lips curved into a smile as she turned to face him. “You know, this wasn’t just about me.” She repeated, not missing a beat.

“It’s always been about you.” He smirked, closing the distance between them, pressing a kiss against her lips, as they swayed slowly to the music.“From day one”

“And me, daddy?” Abel asked tucking on his cut.

“And you, buddy.” Jax chuckled, looking at his son with a proud smirk.

He couldn’t wrap his mind around the type of kid Abel had turned out to be. From a tiny little being with no hope of living, to the charming, funny, active little boy he couldn’t get enough of. He never would’ve made it without Leila. One of the many things he’d be forever indebted to her for.

He felt something wet on his leg and looked down to see a pool of water on the ground.

He froze, slowly lifting his eyes to Leila who looked mortified and scared at the same time.

“Mommy, did you pee?” Abel asked, pointing at the puddle.

“No.” She answered trying to control the tremble in her voice. “No baby, I think it’s time to go get your baby sister. Jax?” She asked, noticing his inability to move.

His heart was suddenly beating a million miles per hour as his brain processed what was happening. Her water had just broken. Leila was going into labor. This shit was really happening.

He’d read the baby books. He’d gone to all the doctors appointments. He knew this. He knew what he was supposed to do, but now he couldn’t move.

Wendy had robbed him of the chance to see his baby be born. He’d never done anything like this.

“Shit. Okay.” Opie spoke up, picking up Abel. “Snap out of it brother. I’ll get Abel to Donna, she’ll take him to our house. We gotta get her to the hospital. I’ll tell Gemma.”

Suddenly, it was like he was in hyperdrive. He’d seen his wife stay calm in the most intense situations over and over again. Now she needed him to be the rock. She was scared. He could see it in her eyes. Placing a supporting arm around her waist, he helped her walk through the crowd, shouting orders at the club to clear a path to their car and escort them to the hospital.

Happy and Tig road their bikes in the front of Leila’s car, Juice and Opie riding behind. Gemma of course decided to be in the car with the young couple, soothing Leila while yelling at Jax to avoid potholes. He was practically flying down road to the hospital.

As always, Leila had reserved her room far in advance. The second they got there, nurses and midwives were escorting her to the hospital’s private wing for high profile people. A whole wing of the hospital. Jax hadn’t seen anything like it. There was a living room type room, an office type room, a bed for the husband, and an entire kitchen staffed for the family. He had no idea how much this costs but money was no concern at all anymore.

They helped Lei get cleaned and changed into a gown, giving her ice chips and massaging her back while Jax sat by her side holding her hand. She would squeeze tightly with every contraction, a harsh groan escaping her throat from the pain.

It slightly subsided when they gave her the epidural but then she was dilated enough to start pushing. With the rush of things, his panic had slightly subsided, but the second the doctor took his place between her legs, it all came back to him.

“Wait!” She screamed out, her voice laced with pain and fear.

Everyone halted at her command and she looked around the room. “Where’s Gemma?!”

He looked around and noticed his mom wasn’t there. Anxious and nervous he shook his head, running his fingers through her hair. “I don’t know babe, but it’s time to have the baby.”

“No! Not without Gemma here.” She shook her head, beads of sweat rolling down her hair, face red as a beat.

“Hurry.” The doctor nodded his head towards the door while a nurse took his place, wiping her forehead and giving her more ice chips.

Jax rushed out of the room, running out into the hallway to see the entire club, including Donna and all the kids waiting in the living room. Gemma immediately stood, seeing her son.

“Everything alright baby?” She asked with concern.

“Mom, she wants you in the room. Hurry, she’s ready to push.” He said before sprinting back into the room, Gemma following behind him.

The two took their place on either side of Leila, each holding a hand and a leg. Leila looked between them in relief, giving Gemma a tired smile causing the woman’s eyes to well with tears. They didn’t have to exchange any words, Gemma had turned into Leila’s biggest support and since her own mother couldn’t be there, Gemma was going to, especially for all the big events in their life.

Gemma leaned down kissing her daughter’s forehead softly, brushing her hair back. “You got this baby.” She whispered..

“I got this.” Leila said more confidently, pushing on the doctor’s command.

Not long after, the Teller’s had added another person to the family. Gemma took a picture of them. Her kids. All four of them. Leila sitting on the bed, cradling the newborn, while Jax sat next to her, one arm wrapped around his wife, the other wrapped around his son, introducing him to his sister. This was everything she ever wanted for her son.

“What’s her name going to be?” Juice asked, sitting on the rocking chair next to the bed.

“Gemma Elizabeth Teller.” Jax announced, looking at his mom with pride and admiration. The same look mimicked on Leila’s face.

“But she can go by Liz.” Leila said, leaning her head against Jax as they watched his mother start to cry. Clay chuckled comforting his wife and shooting the young kids a wink.

Jax gave Leila a kiss, pulling her gently into his side as Abel held the baby’s hand.  Words could no longer describe what he felt for his wife. If he thought he had loved her before, than this new feeling made the word love seem to weak to describe it. She was superwoman in his eyes.

He watched as she kissed Abel, taking his hand and brushing the baby’s blonde hair back as she cooed. There was no doubt in his head that she saved his life. Without her, who knew how things would’ve turned out.