It had been five years since Chloe had stood in the clubhouse, with the world around her buzzing as she said "yes" to Jax. Five years since that night, when everything had finally clicked—when she'd fully stepped into his world, and he'd made a life with her.

Now, as she stood at the kitchen counter of their house—her house, their house—she couldn't help but smile at the life they had created. The morning sun filtered in through the windows, casting a soft golden light on everything, but it wasn't the sunlight that warmed her. It was the laughter that filled the house, the laughter of her kids, the sound of her family.

"Mom!" a little voice called from the living room. "We're ready for breakfast!"

Chloe chuckled softly to herself as she stirred the pancakes on the stove. "I'll be there in a minute, sweetie!" she called back, her heart swelling at the sound of her daughter's voice.

"Don't make them too crispy!" her son piped in, running into the kitchen, his face scrunched up in mock seriousness.

She turned to face him, smiling as she held up a spatula. "Don't worry, buddy. They're perfect." She had become an expert at balancing it all. She was still the teacher, the woman who had once been terrified of letting her life change, but now she was also a mother—a mother to two beautiful children, both of whom had grown up in a world full of love, chaos, and the constant hum of the clubhouse in the background.

Jax had been by her side every step of the way. After they'd officially made their family, things had settled into a rhythm. He was still Jax Teller—the SAMCRO president, the bad boy with a heart of gold—but he was also a father. A husband. And he took both roles just as seriously as he took anything else in his life.

Chloe smiled to herself, remembering their wedding. A small, quiet affair with just close friends and family, but it was everything they had wanted. Jax had slipped the ring on her finger with a promise to always protect her, to always make her feel loved. And he had kept that promise, day after day.

The sound of footsteps behind her pulled her from her thoughts.

"Morning, baby," Jax's voice rumbled, warm and familiar as his arms wrapped around her waist from behind. His beard tickled her cheek as he pressed a kiss to her temple, the scent of his leather jacket still lingering from the night before.

"Good morning," Chloe replied, leaning into him. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself feel the peace of this life. "How did you sleep?"

"Like a rock," Jax said with a lazy grin. "I'll admit, having my own bed and not being at the clubhouse all the time has its perks."

Chloe laughed, knowing he wasn't entirely serious. The clubhouse was still a big part of their life—especially with Jax's role as president—but their family had always been a priority, and it showed. They made time for each other, for their kids, for their future.

"We should have a family day today," Chloe suggested, turning to look up at him, her eyes soft with affection. "Take the kids out to the park, maybe hit the beach for a bit."

Jax smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Sounds good to me," he said, but there was a teasing note in his voice as he added, "You sure you can handle it? We'll have to keep up with these two maniacs."

Chloe rolled her eyes playfully, but her heart was full. She was content. The love they had built—together—had turned into something so much more than she could have ever imagined. A life. A family.

A future.

The sound of her son's voice broke the moment. "Mom! When's breakfast gonna be ready? I'm starving!"

"Alright, alright," Chloe said, laughing as she plated the pancakes. "Come on, you little monsters. Let's eat."

As they all gathered around the table, the kids chattering and Jax filling the space with his laughter, Chloe felt that familiar warmth spread through her chest. She wasn't the perfect daughter anymore. She wasn't the sheltered girl she had once been.

She was so much more than that.

She was a mother. A wife. A woman who had found her place, her peace, and her family in a world she never expected but had come to love with all her heart.

And with Jax by her side, she knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together.