Black Water | Jax Teller

Chapter 15

It was safe to say, Jax was back at home. Despite the distance and the stunted silence that overtook the two, he was home every night in time for dinner or at least home by time the boys needed to be in bed.

It was a much more solid routine before their separation as Jax used to come home at all hours of the night. So she could say she appreciated the more normal hours. And she knew the boys loved having their dad home more. Abel, initially, was more skeptical, but she knew as each day passed and Jax was there for breakfast he was thrilled with the family seemingly being back together.

She, in a sense, was happy he was home for the boys. For her, it was a mixed bag of emotions. She wore her wedding rings as there was no point in not wearing them. She knew Jax never took his off even before all this.

But despite the scene the boys were becoming accustomed too, she didn't know how much longer she could handle it.

She was in the living room folding clothes when Abel walked into the room and sat down on the couch. After some debate between her and Jax, they had agreed to let Abel have a TV in his room after a rather loud argument between him and Thomas over what TV show they wanted to watch. Thankfully, Jax was home for that one. The boys usually got in a tussle over small things, but this was one of the boys' big blowouts where Abel didn't talk to Thomas for the rest of the day, which hurt Thomas' feelings badly as he loved and admired his big brother all ready.

Vanessa was against Abel having a TV as she didn't want either of her boys glued to a screen all day, but Jax insisted it was fine that he had one. And considering he wasn't playing soccer as tee ball didn't have such an intense schedule as his former sport, she conceded. But despite that, Thomas still watched TV with Abel. So really now she and Jax had a TV for themselves.

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Can we get a dog?"

Vanessa was taken back by the question mostly because she and Jax never actually discussed if they wanted pets. Thinking on it, she didn't know if she wanted an animal to clean up after when she had three boys in the house.

"Grandma has Clay." Abel added.

Vanessa at first was confused by Abel's words, but she remembered Gemma named her cockatoo after Clay.

"Why do you want a dog?" She asked gently. She was pretty sure it had nothing to do with his favorite show Paw Patrol. He had been watching that show for months and showed no interest in having his own Chase.

"Kenny said they were getting one."

She almost rolled her eyes at hearing this was egged on from one of the Winstons. Vanessa highly doubted that one as they were actually getting a new baby. And as she looked at her little boy her was looking at her with his puppy eyes – the complete look of innocence – he completely inherited from Jax and worked against her favor as she was a complete pushover with that look.

Seeing as she really couldn't give him an answer, she replied neutrally, and used her usual scapegoat, "You need to ask your father."

Abel's face scrunched into a pout. He was clearly not impressed with her answer as he crossed his arms.

"I'm asking you." He bit out.

She raised her eyebrows at his tone. She was dealing with a miniature Jax it seemed like today. "Well that tone is certainly not going to help."

Abel looked sheepish and immediately corrected himself. "Sorry, mommy."

"Just get Thomas involved and your dad will probably say yes." She suggested.