((Contains a brief reference to adult activity.))

There was always something happening on Maple Grove. Whether it was a confirmed widower moving into a cottage with a woman who had tried to rob him and her daughter, or a teenager with wings who had been sent to Rhy'Din to keep him safe suddenly turning out to be related to the Old Man, there really was never a dull moment for those who lived at the big house. And that wasn't even taking into account the family who lived there, with their two hyperactive children, their hyperactive dog, and the Old Man himself.

With the summer in full swing finally, Vicki had taken to working outside when she could, which gave her a chance to work while supervising the children, however loosely you'd like to define supervision. Or work, for that matter. "Ben ....no eating the mud pies," she called absently from where she was sketching a set design for the Shanachie while lying on the grass in the garden attached to the manor. She didn't even seem to have looked up, but the toddler - now over a year old, and thoroughly enjoying his attempts at walking - lowered his muddy fist from his mouth with a giggle. "That's my boy."

Jon was pacing not far from where the small family was gathered, practicing his lines for Shakespeare, while clad in a pair of royal blue swim shorts, ready for a dip in the pool. Though his lines were from A Midsummer Night's Dream, he didn't look much like Oberon as he strut across the grass in nothing but his shorts. "Welcome, good Robin. See'st thou this sweet sight?" he started, gesturing with a hand before clucking his tongue in disgust, unhappy with his own delivery. "No, that's not right ..."

Of course, with Jon pacing and going over his lines, Emily had been wrapped in a swimming costume, inserted into an inflatable ring, as well as water wings, and was happily paddling around the shallowest of the shallow end while Cosmo dozed in the sunshine. It was a pretty standard day for these Grangers - easy going, calm, but always just on the very edge of disaster.

"Are you talking to the dog, or to me, love?" Vicki asked Jon in amusement, twisting to look up at him with a grin.

"Nae, fair wife. Cans't thou not see I am memorizing my lines for this bloody play?" he asked her, doing his best to stay in character. He sighed and tossed the script on a table. "Methinks the sun has addled my brain," he continued. "What think thou, daughter?" he said, crouching down near the pool. "Shall I join thee for a swim?"

At two years and a few months, Emily was fast becoming a talker, though her conversation still left a fair amount to be desired. "Daddy splash!" was the succinct answer to Jon's query, accompanied by a splash so vigorous that she tipped over completely. The ring was a nice idea, but not when all you could see was bottom and legs sticking up out of the water.

"Shit!" Vicki lurched up from where she was lying, but Jon was closest.

Jon chuckled at his daughter's remark, but when she tipped over, his heart was suddenly in his throat and he wasted no time in diving in after her, disappearing under the water to right her before she had the chance to take a single gulp of water. He'd witnessed a drowning once before and had been helpless to do anything about it, despite having tried, and he wasn't about to let the same thing happen again, especially not to his own child. He went in with a splash, disappearing for a moment before coming back up with a sputtering Emily in his arms.

It was a relief to see Emily righted once again. Vicki wouldn't deny that her own heart had skipped a few essentials at that sight - they'd lost one Emily in the family to the sea, they weren't going to lose another one to overly enthusiastic swimming. "Everything okay?" she asked, still in that awkward half-crouch she'd risen into from the grass.

In Jon's arms, Emily spluttered and coughed, and abruptly banged her hands onto the water. "Again!"

Thankfully Jon was a very good swimmer and was hardly out of breath, though his heart was pounding. "Other than the fact that I almost had a heart attack, I think so, yes." He slid Emily back into the floating ring, but this time decided to stay nearby so he could keep a close eye on her. "You, young lady!" he said, waggling a finger at her. "You are going to be the death of me!"

Vicki couldn't help laughing as Emily blew a raspberry at her father, unsurprised when a pair of little hands clutched wildly at her own leg. It was an automatic thing now, to reach down and catch Ben before he pitched headfirst onto the ground. "I think Emily and Daddy are getting a bit excited," she intimated to the little boy, who was watching his sister enviously. He wasn't allowed properly into the pool yet, not unless he was on someone's lap while they sat on the steps. Vicki glanced between him and the rest of their family, and sighed softly. "Fine. We're coming in!"

Blowing raspberries at Jon accomplished nothing except to see him blowing them back before leaning in to rub his nose against his daughter's. As much as he loved the stage, he was happiest and most relaxed when he was here at home spending quiet time with his little family. Before Vicki could properly wade into the pool, there was a huge splash as Cosmo jumped in, barking encouragement up at Vicki and Ben. "I think it's Cosmo who's excited!" Jon pointed out.

While Ben independently struggled with his sneakers, Vicki put a handy rock on top of her work and slipped out of her top and shorts - she always was prepared for the pool, even when she wasn't expecting to be using it. With Emily yelling "Cozzcozz!" at the top of her lungs, the redhead whipped little Ben's shirt off and lifted him up, stepping down until they could both sit safely in the water. "And why shouldn't he be excited?" Vicki asked Jon laughingly. "Both his puppies are in the water. Although the sooner we teach Emily to swim, the better."

"Maybe we should get her lessons," Jon suggested, having no idea how to teach a child as young as Emily to swim. Swimming was one of those skills the amnesia hadn't robbed him of, but he couldn't recall how or when he'd learned, except for what other people had told him. As far as he was concerned, it came as naturally as walking or breathing. He took up a ball and tossed it across the pool for Cosmo to fetch. With any luck, the play would eat up some of Cosmo's boundless energy.

"Maybe Cian would do it, if you asked him," Vicki suggested, one arm loosely around Ben as he splashed happily. Both children were giggling like small looney toons at the sight of Cosmo paddling across the pool for his ball. Somehow that dog could still wag his tail, even when swimming.

"Cian?" Jon echoed, wondering why she'd suggest him, other than the fact that he was mated to a mermaid. "Maybe we should invite them over. I'm sure Emily would love to meet a real live Little Mermaid, wouldn't you, EmilyWemily?" he asked, reaching beneath the water to tickle his daughter's bare toes. Of course, she had already met her Uncle Cian and Aunt Leilani, but she - nor anyone else in the family - had ever seen Cian's chosen mate sprout a tail just yet.

Over the sound of Emily's dirty little cackle, Vicki grinned. "Well, I figure since he can keep up with Leilani in the sea, he must be a pretty strong swimmer," she pointed out, bouncing Ben on her knee as he splashed water in his sister's direction. "Of course we should invite them over. Maybe we should have a barbecue or something."

"What do you think Leilani eats?" Jon asked, passing over her comment regarding Cian's swimming skills, since he wasn't really sure how to reply to that. Like everything that had happened before the shooting, he didn't really remember much about his relationship with Cian, except for what other people had told him. Cosmo paddled back over with the ball in his mouth and Jon tossed it again.

"Okay," he replied, setting Emily on a blanket on the grass once she was half-way dry, though that was mostly undone by Cosmo when he decided to take that moment to shake himself dry, water droplets flying everywhere. "If I wasn't already wet, I am now!" Jon said, laughing, as he snatched up his phone to make the calls. Inviting Gordon was a good idea. It would give Humphrey someone to talk to that was closer to his own age. Hopefully, inviting Gabi would make Cian feel a little more comfortable, and it would give the kids a chance to play together. He didn't think he was being a coward, but maybe he was. In the end, it was up to them whether they accepted the invitation or not anyway.

Whether he was looking forward to it or not, Jon's invitation was accepted by all parties - even George, who had apparently been folded into one of the twins' cots at the time. Gabi had certainly hit gold with that one. While details were being discussed and warnings handed out, Vicki dealt with the soggy children, drying them off to put them down for their nap sooner rather than later. That way they wouldn't miss everyone arriving in dribs and drabs over the afternoon, and would probably demand bed at roughly the same time tonight. She'd learned a lot about being a mom over the last couple of years.

Jon let Humphrey and the cook know their plans, to the Old Man's delight. The Granger patriarch never seemed to grow tired of having his family near. The Old Man wasn't getting any younger, and with family constantly nearby, there was little chance of him getting lonely. Even the cook seemed delighted with the idea of a barbecue, which would give her a chance to whip up some rarely-made treats. Once the kids were in for their nap, there was nothing to do but wait, and Jon had taken to memorizing his lines again, though Oberon was a role he knew well enough.

Dried off and back in her shorts and tank once again, Vicki had rescued her work from the garden to lounge in the air-conditioned coolness of their own suite inside the house while the children napped. She loved listening to Jon recite, and despite the fact that he knew the play inside out, never objected to running lines with him. There was no more relaxed Titania in existence than Vicki lying on her back on the couch, bare feet in the air, reading from her own battered college copy of Shakespeare's Dream. "What, jealous Oberon! Fairies, skip hence; I have forsworn his bed and company."

"Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania," Jon replied, as he paced the floor in bare feet, shorts, and a t-shirt, his hair curling stubbornly on his forehead. He sighed and looked over at Vicki, giving up on rehearsing his lines for now. He knew the Dream inside and out and could pick up just about any role with very little practice. It wasn't his first time playing Oberon, after all. It was strange how well he remembered Shakespeare, but couldn't recall his own past. "Are you sure he's not still mad at me?" he asked, worrying again.

She let her head fall back, the book falling open onto her chest as she looked over at her husband fondly. "Jon, if Cian was still mad at you, why would he have stayed on the Grove" Why would he agree to come to dinner?" She sighed, dropping her feet to the floor as she sat up. "Sweetheart, just because you don't remember, it doesn't mean he doesn't. And he remembers everything - not just the bad, but the good as well. He remembers being your friend when you were younger, and ....well, losing Frank almost broke him. Yes, he has Leilani now, but he needs that link to the good times as much as you do. You might never be as close as he remembers you being, but you can be friends again. It just takes time."

Jon knew his wife was right - hell, she was always right - but that did very little to soothe his worries. "I know," he started. "I just ....I hardly know him." But then, he'd felt like he'd hardly known anyone when he'd first awoken that day in the hospital when he couldn't even remember his own name. He'd given up on any chance of ever remembering his past, and truth be told, he didn't want to remember. He was happy with his life now and with who he was now. He'd been a different person then, and he didn't want to have to reconcile that part of himself with who he'd become.

"You hardly knew me when I came to your trailer," she pointed out gently. "Hardly knew Des or Dru when they showed up out of the blue. You hardly knew Humphrey when you woke up, but something made you want to know him again. I know it's frightening, love, and I know you're worried about being judged on actions you don't remember and have no bearing on you any longer, but sometimes you need to take the leap of faith. Cian deserves your trust that he won't hold the specter of something irrelevant in the way for the rest of your lives."

"I know," he replied again, dropping onto the couch beside her. "I'm probably worrying about nothing." He sighed again, remembering the day he'd gotten the call that Cian was in the hospital after a motorcycle accident that might have been fatal if not for Frank. A lot had changed since then - both he and Cian had changed since then. "What do you think ever happened Tera?" he asked, curiously. After all, she had been his P.A. before she'd disappeared and a friend of Vicki's. Whether Cian had any inkling what had become of her was uncertain, and Jon had never asked.

The redhead sighed again, shaking her head. "I don't know," she admitted reluctantly. "She just disappeared. Gabi thinks it was her fault, because she yelled at her, and I doubt anyone's going to make her think otherwise. I think I was wrong about her, though. She cut and ran right when he needed her most; hasn't been seen or heard of since. And if I'm honest, I think that's rather despicable. But if she hadn't gone, he wouldn't have gone off on his adventure, and he wouldn't have found Leilani."

"Everything happens for a reason," Jon mused aloud, mostly for his own sake, rather than hers. If it hadn't been for the shooting, he might have never ended up with Vicki. Did every cloud really have a silver lining" "I guess there's no point in worrying about things that can't be changed," he said. He'd finally made peace with her mother's death, so why was he having so much trouble with this"

"Every silver lining has golden chocolate sprinkles," Vicki nodded solemnly, but for the twinkle in her eyes. Serious wasn't really something she could sustain for long - you knew things were bad if Vicki hadn't cracked an awful joke for an hour. "What I don't understand is why you're pacing around worrying about a cousin who obviously wants to know you again, when you have your ravishing, always horny wife sitting here on the couch doing absolutely nothing to negate her own gorgeousness."

He laughed. How could he not laugh at that, though he got her point. "If you're trying to seduce me, Mrs. Granger, you don't really have to try very hard," he said, drawing her over onto his more-than-ready lap. The kids would likely sleep for at least an hour, and what better way to kill a little time than to get naughty with his wife"

"Oh, but I like it hard," she teased laughingly, brought onto his lap entirely too easily. She'd never made a habit of hiding how much she loved and desired Jon, starting on her own sixteenth birthday, impossible to embarrass by hinting at her love life. Hell, if pressed, she'd been known to offer a few tantalizing hints herself. Looping her arms about his neck, she grinned, her lips barely millimeters from his. "Is there such a thing as too hard with you, stud muffin?"

"Mmm," he murmured, his body coming to life almost as soon as she slipped onto his lap, his desire impossible to hide from her. She had quickly learned there was one way to stop Jon from over-worrying, and that was to distract him in such a way that he could think of nothing but her. He wound his arms around her, hands sliding beneath her rear to pull her closer. "Would you like to find out?" he asked, smiling back at her just before his lips captured hers.

Her laughter faded as he kissed her, warm and tender, and infinitely capable of dealing with any of his worries in her own special manner. Life with two small children might have cut down on the amount of time they could spend lounging in bed, but they'd very quickly learned to appreciate quality over quantity ....except on date weekends.

Right from their very first date, their sex life had always been far from conventional and definitely not boring. Though they might not have as much time or privacy as they'd had before they had children, they'd learned how to make the most of each moment.

He chuckled at her remark. "You know I can't sing," he said. She had told him so often enough, though it had been Mataya who had first broken the news to him when he'd asked why he hadn't gotten a part in one of her musicals. Nobody was perfect, after all.

"I never said you couldn't sing, just that you shouldn't do it on stage," she laughed quietly, still gently rocking back and forth to keep Emily in her blissful state of sleep. "I happen to know at least two small children who love to hear their daddy sing to them."

That brought a smile to his face. What better compliment was there than that' "Best audience ever," he said, touching a kiss to her cheek, a soft smile on his face. "Love you, Mrs. Granger," he told her, never forgetting to tell her at least once a day, just so she didn't forget.

Like she would ever forget that. Vicki smiled as he kissed her cheek, answering it with a kiss of her own. "Love you back, stud muffin," she promised, hiking Emily higher in her arms. "Go on, go and shower. I'll feed the dog so he doesn't beg everyone's food off their plates."

He chuckled at that, knowing Cosmo as well as she did. "He will anyway," he reminded her, but didn't argue the fact before heading to the shower. His family likely wouldn't notice or care much if he smelled like chlorine and sweat, but he was and always had been a little bit vain. Before their guests arrived - family or not - he'd likely be looking like the movie star he was.

"Yes, but he won't eat as much if he's full before the food comes out," Vicki chuckled. "Go on, shoo." She blew him a kiss, slipping into the childrens' room to gently ease Emily back into her crib.

It wasn't long before the sound of water running in the shower came from the bathroom, but no singing. He didn't want to wake the kids before naptime was over, though he thought the echo in the bathroom made his voice sound better.

By the time he was out, the dog was fed and keeping a close eye on the still sleeping children, and Vicki was examining her closet, which had grown somewhat since she'd started having children. One stray sentence in a gossip column had convinced her to start turning herself out properly, and that had been an education in itself.

Jon, on the other hand, hardly even blinked an eye before picking out a navy blue polo and a pair of khaki shorts - both bearing designer labels. He rarely had to go shopping anymore except in his own closet, as designers were always sending him home with things to wear after some photoshoot or other. It was a little sad, but the man's closet was one most women would envy.

"Feel better for a scrub?" she asked him with a grin, selecting a dress at random. Thankfully, Jon had done most of her shopping - or at least, been along with her - so she was reasonably sure of success when it came to random choices.

"Smell better, anyway," he confirmed with a grin as he pulled on a pair of boxers, which were also designer label. The closer it got to the hour when their guests were due to arrive, the more nervous he got. It was like going on stage on opening night. He just hoped he could pull it off without a hitch.

"It's just family," she reminded him gently, shucking out of her sweaty clothes as she headed for the bathroom for a brief flannel wash. "No one is going to expect you to be anything but yourself - a slightly distracted dad who enjoys spending time with his family. Okay?"

"Yes, dear," he said, trying not to sound too condescending. He knew it was not really guests they were hosting, but family, but he couldn't help the nervous knots in his stomach. "Do you think they'll ever settle down?" he asked, curiously of Cian and Leilani.

"I don't know," Vicki considered thoughtfully, giving herself a once over with a cool cloth. "I suppose it would depend on whether or not they ever have children. Hey ....do you think Leilani's enough mammal to get pregnant, or would she lay eggs, like a fish?"

Jon winced at the question, though he'd been thinking very nearly the same thing. "I don't think they're even married yet," he said. Not officially, anyway. He'd been told they were mated or something like that, whatever that meant. Jon wasn't an overly religious person, and he knew Cian and Leilani's lives weren't exactly conventional, but he thought they were long overdue for a proper wedding.

Wandering back out of the bathroom in just her underwear, Vicki watched him for a moment, that familiarly suspicious amusement in her smile as she considered her husband. "Not officially, no," she agreed, and then grinned, reaching for the dress laid on the bed. "Well, if you're going to arrange it, you need to call Dom and Miranda. Because Miranda will kill you if Cian gets married and she's not there."

"Tonight?" he asked, eyes widening, but then, he had no idea how long Cian and Leilani would remain in Rhy'Din, and if they wanted to do this, it was now or never. Calling Dom and Miranda was the easy part. Not looking like it had all been pre-arranged and decided for the couple in question was the hard part. "What if he thinks we're being pushy' Sticking our noses in where they don't belong?"

"So just invite them to the barbecue," she suggested. "And tell Dom that there is a possibility of Cian marrying Leilani if everything is there, but that it's just a possibility. And only Dom. If Miranda knows ahead of time, she'll let the cat out of the bag before you've even said hello." She grinned; she loved Miranda, but the woman could be a little much when she was excited. "Besides, I haven't had a good look at Ro yet. Rufus can't threaten me if I pick her up in front of everyone else."

"I better let Lucille know we're going to have additional guests," he said, though he hadn't even called Dom or Miranda yet. Chances were Lucille was already two steps ahead of him anyway, as there was no such thing as a small gathering in the Granger household.

Large or small, they were Grangers. It was probably just as well that Lucas spent most days at the Storm house, Vicki reflected as she brushed her hair. The teen definitely wasn't ready for as big an influx of Grangers as they were now expecting. Still, whether there was a wedding or not, it would be fun. That was virtually guaranteed.

Jon finished getting dressed, smoothing his hair back with his fingers and letting it fall as it would for a change. "Well, time to pay the piper," he said, with a chuckle, wondering if he should call Dom or walk over and knock on his door. Hopefully, he was at home and not off galanvanting somewhere. Ever since Elle and Daisy had come into his life, he seemed more grounded than he had been before, and he and Jon had gotten even closer.

"Miranda first," Vicki warned him with a chuckle. "She's got a baby and an over protective husband to wrangle, it'll take longer." After all, Dom had managed two weddings on short notice on the Grove by this point; one that was just a possibility was a piece of cake. She threw Jon a smile. "Betcha a skinny dip that the first thing Gabi does when she gets here is sit down."

"Yes, dear," he said again, smirking at her remark regarding Gabi. "I am not taking that bet. You wanna bet which one hands off their kids first?" he countered. He hadn't expected to be end his day surrounded by children, most of whom were under the age of two.

"Whoever gets here first!" Laughing, she stood up, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Okay, sergeant, all hands on deck - you to the phone, me to Humph and then diaper duty. Meet you out back."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, tossing her a crisp salute and just missing smacking her with his hand. A chuckle followed and he was starting toward the door - a man with a mission, his mood far brighter than it had been a short time ago. He just hoped Cian and Leilani weren't going to want to kill him by the time the evening was over.

((Another simple scene that went rogue on us - the BBQ is still a work in progress, but will be going up as soon as it's done! Many thanks to my suggestible partner in crime!))