The Pull | Jax Teller

NS

After coming back from Gemma's and the talk with Stahl, Jax took a quick shower to wash off the trials of the day. Slipping into a pair of sweatpants and walking across the hall, he wasn't surprised to find Delilah in Abel's room. Abel had fallen asleep in Delilah's arm while they were still at his mom's. He thought it would take a crowbar to separate Delilah from Abel.

But he understood where the severe attachment was coming from. He didn't want to let Abel or Delilah out of his sight. And if he was honest, he wouldn't have a problem bringing Abel's crib into their room to keep his family close.

After all, his time with them was limited. Stahl had managed to get there fifteen years reduced to 5, but with good behavior, parole could be in two. In those two years, he would miss so much. Abel would be three years old.

He was worried about how these two years would change his relationship with Delilah. It was a long time to be separated especially after all these traumatic events that were inflicted upon their relationship. He knew how time away could hurt couples he had seen it with his own eyes between Opie and Donna.

He stepped quietly into the bedroom where he came up behind her. She jumped startled and he could see her hastily wiping at her eyes.

"I'm sorry," He told her and his arms pulled her close. His hands came down to her flat stomach, he didn't miss the flinch. "Abel's home and safe."

Delilah risked a look at him with watery eyes. He didn't know if she believed him, but she nodded her head anyways. And god he wished he could just hold her face between his hands and wipe away her tears and kiss away her fears. And as he took in her face with the swollen bruised lips and neck with Hector's handprint across the smooth skin, he felt like he could kill the bastard all over again. He thought he killed the man too easily.

"You're safe too."

"How long are you going to be gone, Jax?" She asked him.

"It could be up to 15 years considering all the priors," He told her truthfully. The deal with Stahl wasn't set in stone. He wasn't going to give her false hope and he couldn't tell her everything. Not yet.

"Jesus Jax," Delilah muttered.

"Babe, let's just worry about this tomorrow. We still tonight."

...

Jax's eyes sprung open and his eyes immediately fly to the spot beside him and he found it empty. Panic clawed at his throat and heart at Delilah's empty side of the bed until he heard the babbling of Abel and Delilah's soft voice traveling down the hallway. It was Abel's birthday today. At least he would be here for his son's first birthday.

Kicking his legs over the side of the bed, he ran his hands through his hair. This would be his last breakfast with his family for a while. He didn't want to waste it. He didn't bother putting on sweatpants as he walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. He smiled at the scene of Delilah holding Abel as he rested his head on her shoulder and drank his milk.

"How's the birthday boy?"

Delilah's eyes flickered up to him. She gave him a soft smile. "He's good. Can't believe it's been a year."

Jax couldn't help but feel a distance between them. "I need to know if we're going to be okay."

Delilah's green eyes flew up to his blue ones. "I want to be."

"I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered against Abel's head.

...