The clubhouse had never felt more alive. It was a rare evening where the chaos of the club had softened, where the laughter and teasing between the members created a sense of camaraderie that Chloe hadn't seen before. This wasn't just about the business, about the rides, or the struggles. It was about them—about family.

Chloe sat at the bar, a comfortable distance away from the group, her feet tucked under the stool, watching the dynamics of the club unfold. She was still getting used to this life, still adjusting to her place in it, but tonight felt like the first time she truly belonged. They had all accepted her. No, they hadn't just accepted her—they'd made her part of it.

Jax leaned against the counter beside her, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass absentmindedly. He hadn't been his usual self tonight; there was something in his eyes, something that Chloe couldn't place. He'd been quieter, more contemplative, and though he had his easy smile when she caught his gaze, Chloe knew something was on his mind.

"What's going on with you?" Chloe asked playfully, giving him a gentle nudge with her shoulder. "You're acting like you're about to drop a bomb on me."

Jax smirked, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity she couldn't ignore. "I might just be," he replied, his voice low, teasing, but with something deeper underneath.

Chloe raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but before she could press further, Tig burst into the room with an exaggerated, fake gasp. "What's this? Our dear Jax is actually thinking about something? Quick, someone get him a notebook. We're going to need a record of this miracle."

The club erupted into laughter, with Opie giving Tig a half-hearted smack on the back of the head.

"Shut up, Tig," Jax said, laughing, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his voice that Chloe noticed. He looked back at her, his face softening.

"You're gonna make me do this in front of everyone, huh?" he said, a playful smile on his lips, but it was mixed with something else. Something that made Chloe's heart race.

Chloe leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued. "What are you talking about, Jax?"

Before he could answer, Bobby, who had been sitting at the back of the room, raised his glass and shouted, "Let's toast to Jax and Chloe. They've made it through the fire together. No turning back now!"

The room cheered, and though it was loud and boisterous, Chloe couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest. She felt... accepted. She didn't just belong with Jax. She belonged with them, with the club.

Jax put his arm around her, pulling her close, and for a second, she could feel the weight of everything they had gone through. The tension with her family, the doubts they both had, the way their worlds collided so suddenly. And yet, here they were, together. She realized just how far they had come in such a short time.

"Alright, alright," Jax said, raising his hand to quiet the room, though his eyes never left Chloe. "But seriously, I've got something to say."

The laughter faded, and the room grew still, the lighthearted atmosphere giving way to something more serious. Chloe felt her heart rate quicken, the weight of his words starting to settle over her.

He looked around at the club members, his gaze soft but determined. "I've been thinking a lot about this," he began, his voice steady. "About us, about everything. And I know we've been through some shit. But I want everyone here to know that I'm not just in this for the ride. I'm in it. Period."

Chloe's breath caught, a flutter of emotion running through her as she watched him speak, watched him commit to something bigger than just their relationship. It was them—he wasn't just talking about her; he was talking about all of it. About the club, the chaos, the love.

Jax turned to her then, his gaze softening, and her heart skipped a beat. "Chloe," he said, his voice low but clear. "I don't know if I've ever had something like this. Something that's real. But with you, I'm sure. I'm sure of us."

Chloe swallowed hard, feeling the tears threatening to well in her eyes. This wasn't what she had expected, not in the slightest. But hearing Jax speak those words—the vulnerability, the honesty—it hit her harder than anything.

Jax's hand found hers, his grip gentle but firm. He looked around the room, his voice growing stronger. "So, here it is." He turned back to Chloe, his face a mix of determination and love. "Chloe Hale, will you be my old lady?"

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the question hanging between them. Chloe felt the eyes of the club on her, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was Jax. All that mattered was them.

She stood, her heart pounding, and for a brief second, her mind raced. This was it. This was everything. She had made her decision already, but hearing Jax say it out loud, hearing him ask her in front of everyone—it solidified everything they had built.

She reached for him, pulling him closer, her voice steady and full of love. "Yes. Yes, I'll be your old lady, Jax. There's no one else for me."

The room erupted into cheers, the club members clapping and hollering, and for the first time, Chloe felt like she was finally where she was supposed to be. Jax's arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her into a deep kiss.

The laughter and cheers slowly died down as the group calmed from the celebration. But Chloe still felt the energy buzzing around her. The weight of Jax's words, of everything he had just declared, hung in the air like a promise.

As they stepped back from the crowd, Chloe leaned against the bar, her hand still in Jax's. Her heart was still racing, but there was something else now—something peaceful, like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Jax turned to her, his face still lit up with that grin, and Chloe could feel his playful nature beginning to resurface.

"Alright, so," Jax said, glancing over at her with a mischievous look. "We've got a few things to discuss now."

Chloe raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure where this was going. "Oh? Like what?"

Jax leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Well, for starters, you might want to start thinking about how you're going to change that last name of yours, sweetheart."

Chloe blinked, her mind still racing as she tried to process his words. "What do you mean?" she asked, laughing lightly at the playful glint in his eyes.

"Think about it," he said, stepping back with a shrug, but his grin was never far behind. "You're gonna have to change your name. Hale just doesn't have the same ring to it as Teller does, you know?"

Chloe laughed, a genuine, lighthearted sound that made Jax's grin grow even wider. "You're not serious," she said, her voice teasing.

"I'm dead serious," Jax replied, his tone matching the playful confidence that only he could pull off. "When we get married, I'm gonna want Teller to be the name you take. Gotta keep things in the family."

Chloe felt a slight flush spread across her cheeks at the mention of marriage, though she didn't let the heat of the words show. It was playful, but there was a deeper truth behind his joke. They were talking about a future together—a future that, despite its messy, complicated nature, felt like it was becoming real.

"Well, that's one way to put it," Chloe said with a laugh, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "But what makes you so sure about my last name, huh?"

Jax leaned in again, his voice dropping low and full of affection. "Because you're my old lady now. And that's forever, Chloe. I don't take that lightly."

Chloe's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in his voice, and she couldn't help but reach up to gently cup his face. "Forever, huh?" she whispered, her voice soft but full of certainty.

Jax nodded, his eyes locking onto hers. "Forever," he echoed, his hand brushing her cheek. "And I'm not going anywhere."

The room around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them in the small bubble they had created. It felt like everything was coming together in that moment—like they had both taken the leap, and now there was no going back. The future wasn't just something they talked about anymore; it was something they were building together, piece by piece.

Before Chloe could respond, Tig's voice broke the moment, calling from across the room. "Hey, Jax! I think it's time to get a little celebratory shot for the new Mrs. Teller!"

The entire room erupted in laughter and cheers again, but Jax's arm slid around Chloe's waist, pulling her closer. His lips brushed her ear as he whispered, "Don't rush me, Tig. We've got time."

As the celebration continued around them, Chloe realized that everything she had wanted—everything she had been afraid to admit she needed—was finally in her hands. She had a family, a future, and a man who truly saw her for who she was. Not as the perfect daughter, not as someone who had to be sheltered or guarded. But as Chloe Hale, the woman who had chosen this life and was ready to live it fully.

She was ready. For him. For them.

And as Jax pressed a soft kiss to her temple, she realized there was no one else she would rather share her future with.