Darkest Shadows

33) Never Regret

"He's just struggling."--Ambrose

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"Thank you! Thank you!" Ambrosia squeals, bounding up to the mirror and grinning like a maniac. Ambrose and Jax took her to the tattoo shop where they go to get her ears pierced and she's thrilled with the little purple heart diamonds in her ears.

"They look good Princess," Jax smiles, his arm around Ambrose's waist. Ambrose loves when he wears that vanilla lotion that he likes, it makes him one-hundred times sexier-and that's saying something.

"Y'all gettin' something done too?" the piercer/tattooer Michael asks.

"Not today Mike, we just came for the Princess. Thanks," Jax grins and hands Michael a twenty since he refuses to accept anything more, traditionally the piercings are $30 but since Jax and Ambrose come here so often and Rhea saved Michael's daughter from a date-rape he's super reluctant to take any money. "Rhea should come by sometime."

"I let her know, she may want another tattoo to freak her husband out."

"Good deal," he laughs. "Bye Sia."

"Bye Mike! Thank you!"

When they get home Sybella comes over with her cousin (technically her uncle) Wren in her arms. "Did it hurt?" Wren asks.

"Nope!"

"They look good," Sybella grins. "Come on, Mommy and Daddy are taking us to the pool!"

Ambrosia turns back to her dads and smiles. "Dad, can I go to the pool with Sybella? Please?"

"Sure, just bring sunscreen okay?"

Sia squeals and hugs Jax tightly before coming over to hug Ambrose just as tight. "Thank you!"

As Rhea walks by Jax snags her arm gently. "Take care of her please."

"Like my own," Rhea replies simply. Tarver walks by her glumly and the mother makes to follow her son. "Cariño, where are you going?"

Tarver doesn't answer her and walks past outside, she sighs deeply and brushes her hand over her head. "I do not know what I did wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Ambrose says, easing out of Jax's arms to wrap his around his sister-in-law. "He's just struggling."

"I have been so petrified of this happening, he is too sweet for this pain and suffering, he is just like his dad. Will you try to talk to him, please? While I take the kids to the pool?"

"Of course," Ambrose whispers, he kisses the top of her head and leaves to go outside in hopes to find Tarver. He isn't surprised to see the teen boy sitting in the cradle of the Thames River Bridge. "Hey."

"Did my mom send you out here?"

"She asked me if I would try to talk to you, but I was coming to find you anyway. How did you even get up there? I know I'm the Asheri here, but I can't even climb up that far."

"Cause I'm not old," Tarver says bitterly.

"Hey, I'm only forty, the same age as your dad. What're you thinking about?" he asks as he attempts to climb up the arch too.

"I don't need to be babysat."

"I know and I'm not babysitting you, I came to talk, just two guys talking. You know you don't have to worry about us hurting you right? You're safe with us and you can let down your guard, if there is anyone you should let it down for then it should be your mom. She is so worried about you, and she loves you."