Out of the Blue

Chapter 9

Charming was not so Charming on the day of Tara's funeral. Gemma dressed Thomas, buttoning his shirt up as he played with the toy car on the table. Abel sat in the corner of the room, twiddling with his tie. He had been so quiet since his mom died. "Do you need anything baby? Do you want me to fix your tie?" Gemma wondered in a maternal manner. Abel shook his head. "I want daddy to fix it," Abel mumbled, barely looking up at Gemma. "Ok baby. I'll go get him," Gemma sighed, placing her hand on his cheek. Where Jax was? She did not know.

Jax leaned on his bike in the garage. He stared at the wall in front of him. Either he was thinking of nothing or thinking of everything but it was so hectic in his mind that it felt like he wasn't thinking at all. Lately, he had been figuring out where to go in his life. Everything within him wanted to take his boys with him and just leave Charming. The hand on his shoulder was the reason he hadn't done so already. Chibs stood behind, looking out onto the street. "I'm so sorry brother," he whispered to Jax. "But you're boys need you. You lost your wife, don't lose your sons too." "I'm trying Chibs. But everytime I look at those boys, I just see the monster I have become. Tara asked me for so long to leave the club for so long, and I didn't. I delayed it. And now look where we are. My family is in a war either way I look at it," Jax solemnly expressed. Chibs sighed. "Jax, your the only one that can pull your boys out of this war. Sitting out here won't do it," Chibs stammered, getting straight to the point. "Chibs..." "No Jax. Listen to me boy. Get your ass in their and be the father I know you can be," Chibs ordered. Jax nodded, with no energy to argue.

A cold drapht blew through Courtney's room as Happy opened the door. She uncomfortably tugged the hem of her dress down again and again. "Ready to go soon?" Happy wondered. Courtney nodded, still facing the mirror. Happy noticed her bleakness. "Courtney," he began, walking up behind her. "Are you sure you're up for doing the speech?" Happy wrapped his arm around the front of her shoulders. "Yeah. It's the least I can do dad," Courtney replied, resting her head back on Happy's shoulder. "You don't have to do anything," Happy assured. "No dad. I do. It's the smallest possible way I could thank Tara for everything she's done for me." Happy took a second to reply. "Alright baby. But the second you think you can't do it anymore, I'm going to be right behind you. Alright?" Courtney nodded.

Juice, Rat, Bobby,Chucky and Tig sat at the clubhouse. Chucky awkwardly stirred the waffle mixture, not really in the mood to make anything but still somehow in the mood. "I cannot wait until today is over man," Tig muttered, staring at the front of the clubhouse. "I'll drink to that," Bobby added. "Where's Courtney and Hap?" Tig asked Juice. "They should be here in a minute," he sighed. "She's doing the eulogy yeah?" Tig wondered. Juice nodded. "Craziness has definitely not worn off then," Bobby scoffed. "Yeah. Tell me about it."

Juice pounced towards the door as he saw Courtney complain to Happy about the crutches...again. Even in the worst of situations, Courtney managed to make people smile. He held the door open as she continued to whinge. Juice looked at her oddly and then glanced at Happy. Hap just shook his head as if to silence Juice from questioning him.

"How you feeling princess?" Tig asked, moving his way around to Courtney. "I'm fine Tig. What about you? How's the shoulder?" she replied. "It's me. I'm always fine." "At least somebody is," Courtney muttered, her attention on ensuring her crutches do not slide down off the table. Tig noticed her bluntness. "You ready for your speech?" He wondered, unsure of what path of conversation to take. "As ready as I'll ever be," she smiled. "You'll do good kiddo. Tara would be proud." "I hope so Tig. I just don't think anything will be good enough. I want to do her justice but I don't know how to." "Being you is what will make Tara proud. You have this sixth sense about helping all of us, especially Abel, Thomas and Jax. She said it herself, you are their guardian angel." Courtney nodded in agreement. "I cannot wait until today is over. Goddamn." "Preach it darlin."