"Bedroom's across the hall," Jax said, trying not to see that fear in her eyes, to make this a normal, straightforward conversation. This was no heavier than stopping to talk about what they'd have for dinner. It was sadly optimistic. Tara looked at him like he could burn her; he seriously doubted she'd spend the night next to him.

He filled up the space around them by fussing over Abel, getting him soothed and back to sleep. Thomas seemed used to this, to being close to another body, though Abel squalled a little bit. He took out another blanket and wrapped them each in one and bent to kiss their heads.

"I got some old pizza, bread and shit like that. Scrambled eggs?"

He didn't know how to be this, to be softer and safer. She'd never demanded that sort of safety from him and he'd never thought about how to provide it.