Between You & Me: 7

"How are things?"

Keesha looked over at Jane's question. She sighed quietly, watching as. Jane joined her on the stairs of the porch. "This is a very nice house. Did you rent it?"

"Jax and Jerry grew up here for the most part. We never had the heart to sell it because of that. So it just sits here unused until someone decides to pay it a visit....I thought your mother was coming."

"Next week. She's moving in next week."

"So does that mean you're only staying a week?"

"If that." Keesha stopped looking at Jane, staring at John as he played with Jalyn and Jordan in the front yard.

"Maybe you should stay longer." Jane noted. "You and Jax will have plenty of privacy here, and we can watch the kids if need be...so you two can talk, and work things out."

"Maybe. Thank you." Keesha managed a smile, though she had no intentions of staying. She realized how lucky Jax was in many ways. He had John, Jane, Jerry, not to mention Mrs. Sellers...Jax had a huge support system....aside from Mrs. Sellers, Keesha didn't trust anyone near as much as Jax could trust his family with his feelings. And even with Mrs. Sellers, Keesha was careful about what she said, because she realized how much she adored Jax.

You would think between Tiffany and Lark, Keesha would have had someone...but the thought of leaning on them for support...Keesha sighed once more.

The only person she had ever allowed herself to lean on, was Jax. And now she couldn't even do that.

Jax walked over to the bedroom window, looking as Keesha and Jane sat together on the porch stairs. Maybe he was being too hard on her...she had come all this way...and even if it was just for their children, obviously she wanted to do what she could to save the family they did have. Perhaps they could build on that...the love they shared for the kids...and then they would find there way back to each other once more.

And maybe...just maybe...things weren't as bad as they made them out to be. Jerry liked to say that Jax and Keesha were dramatic, that they made everything into a bigger deal than it was. Perhaps he was right on this occassion. Perhaps if they actually sat down and talked, they would find that they weren't as far apart as he was thinking....

Jax nodded to himself, and started downstairs. He paused, answering the phone at the bottom of the stairs. "Yep."

"Yep? How rude is that?"

"Who is this?"

"Ouch...I'm offended."

"Jewel?...is that you?

"Live and on the phone." Jewel, Jax's high school girlfriend, laughed quietly. "Rumor had it that you were back...how are you?"

"Just fine." Jax leaned up against the railway. "You?"

"Well...so are you going to grace me with your presence..."

Jax looked over as the front door open. Keesha stared at him for a moment and then walked into the kitchen.

"...Jasper..."

"Stop calling me that." Jax said automatically, though he barely heard her. "Um...maybe. But I have to go right now...what's your number and I'll call you."

"The same as it's always been."

"Okay."

"You don't have any idea."

"It's been almost 14 years Jewel."

"I remembered yours...of course, I was in love with you...guess that's the difference."

"Are you going to give me the number or not?...555...36....83. Got it. I'll call you soon...bye."

Keesha poured herself some orange juice and walked over to the kitchen window. John and Jane were out back with Jordan and Jalyn now...she smiled as Jalyn pushed Jordan in the baby swing. Jay adored her little brother...suddenly, Keesha tensed slightly.

"Hi." Jax whispered from directly behind her.

"Hi." Keesha turned around, forcing herself to look into Jax's eyes. "Who was on the phone?" she asked as her heart instantly began to race.

"Friend from high school..." Jax took Keesha's glass from her hand, finishing her juice. Jax continued to stare at each Keesha, but he didn't say anything. He had no idea of what to say. Finally he asked, "How long are you staying?"

"How long am I welcome?"

Jax pulled away, walking over to the refigerator. "Don't answer a question with a question, Keesha."

"I think it's a rather valid...never mind." She knew an argument was about to start, and that was not why she was here. She was tired of arguing with Jax.

She hated arguing with him.

"My mom's due next week...I may have to be there..."

"Of course." Jax mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing...never mind." He turned and looked at her again. "So one week?"

"Um...yes...unless..." Unless he asked her to stay longer.

"Unless?"

"Never mind." If she had to say it..."it's not worth saying."

Things were more than just as bad as he thought it was...it seemed very possible that they were worse. Jax stared at Keesha for a long while, waiting for her to give any sign...any sign at all of how she felt, of where her head was...

Keesha waited, forcing herself to be patient. She knew Jax wanted something, he was going to say something, she could tell. And with her luck lately, anything out of her mouth would make him clam up...and they couldn't afford for him to clam up.

"I think we need to talk." Jax stated suddenly.

Keesha blinked at his business like tone. That was not good. When Jax spoke that way, it meant he was planning to leave all feelings out of whatever decision he intended on making.

"Agreed...." Keesha's voice trailed as she could hear footsteps. Seeing Jax's expression change, Keesha turned and saw Jane walking slowly up the back stairs. The door opened and she looked at Jax and Keesha.

"Keesha...you're needed out front."

"Okay...." Keesha walked past Jax, and Jax turned to look at her. Why would anyone come looking for Keesha here in Sydney? He started to follow.

"Wait..." Jane grabbed his arm.

Jax turned and looked at his mother. "Why?"

"Because..." Jane hated this...she could never lie to Jax, not well at least.

"That's what I thought. Let me go...please."

Jane released Jax's arm, looking up to the heavens with a silent prayer.

"I don't believe this..." Keesha sighed. How much worse could things get?

"That makes two of us," Jax stated coldly from behind her.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Lark said to Keesha, even as she stared at Jax.

"How did you even know where she was? Are you having her followed?" Jax moved past Keesha, standing in front of her and Lark actually took a few steps backwards.

"I told her I was coming."

Jax felt his heart stop at Keesha's quiet admittance. He turned and looked at her, his eyes questioning, saddened.

"You told her you were coming to Sydney?" he whispered.

"I only told her because..."

"You can tell HERthat you're coming, but you can't pick up the damn phone and call me to tell me?!"

"Jax..."

"You..." Jax stoppped himself. "I'm so tired of yelling. I'm tired of fighting..." he glared at Lark. "And I sure as hell am tired of you." he added slowly, his voice low and full with hatred.

"Mommy..."

Keesha noticed Jalyn had come to the front. "Jax...Jay..." she warned.

Jax quit looking at Lark. He looked at Keesha for a moment. He had to get..."I want out." Jax mumbled.

"Out of what?" Keesha worried aloud. "Jax..." Keesha started to go down the stairs after him, but noticed Jalyn once more. She was frightened enough...

Jax stopped in front of Jay. "Later." He smiled, not wanting her to worry.

"'kay." She smiled, turning and watching as Jax hopped into his convertible. A second later the ripped out of the driveway.

Jax wanted out? Keesha ran her fingers through her hair, trying to keep herself calm...but, Jax was...Jax couldn't leave her...he couldn't...Jax was everything to her...

"I made things worse..." Lark noted.

Keesha's fear suddenly turned to intense anger as she looked at Lark at the bottom of the porch steps. "Jay...go inside." Keesha ordered.

"But..."

"NOW!" Keesha snapped and Jalyn ran up the porch stairs, closing the door.

"Don't take it out on the baby..." Lark began.

"SHUT UP! I want you gone! Do you hear me...G-O-N E...gone!"

"Keesha..."

"I told you this back at home, when you were waiting for me out back. I don't want you here, I didn't have time for this...I can't beleive I even slipped and told you I was coming here...why would you fly all the way to Sydney unless you wanted to make things worse?! Jax means everything to me...do you hear me...everything...and you...."

"Keesha...I was worried..."

"Jax was so right about you...I can't believe I messed this up...over you..."

"Keesha, if Jax can't handle me then maybe he's not the person for you. I'm your mother..."

"No you're not! You didn't raise me, I barely know you, I wish I never had...my life was just fine until you came along!" Keesha started to cry. "He has to come back..."

"Keesha...I'm sorry you feel that way..." Lark came up the porch, reaching out to comfort her.

Keesha pulled away sharply. "I hate you...do you hear me...get out of here and leave me alone!"

"Keesha..." Lark reached for her once more and Keesha pushed her so hard, she almost fell down the porch.

"Get out of here and leave me alone!" she whispered harshly. "He had better come back...I swear, if I lose Jax, I will make your life into a living hell!"

"I'm so glad you called!" Jewel moved out of the way and Jax walked in. "You're even more beautiful than I remembered.

What was he doing here? He wished those voices would go away; he was tired of reliving those damn arguments in his head.

He wanted out...he wanted to...

"I need to forget..." he mumbled, turning and looking at Jewel.

"I'm good at that." Jewel smiled. She walked over to her bar as Jax watched. "Coming?" she said as she poured him a shot of tequila.

Jax watched her for a moment, and then walked over, snatching the glass from her hand.