Topic: Getting Acquainted

Jonathan Granger

Date: 2013-03-30 16:31 EST
It was a bright, sunny, spring day at Maple Grove, a perfect day for the annual Granger Easter celebration. Everything was ready, and people were starting to arrive and mingle, all dressed in bright, happy colors to welcome the spring. The daffodils were in bloom, their yellow and white heads tilted merrily toward the sun to greet the day. Eggs painted in every color of the rainbow were scattered across the lawn and tucked beside bushes and rocks, waiting for excited children to find them and gather them into equally-brightly colored baskets.

Old Man Granger was beside himself with merriment, his crinkled old eyes dancing with laughter. He was at his happiest when he was surrounded by family, especially those of the younger set, and he was currently found showing off the latest addition to the family with a slightly weary Vicki and protective Cosmo trailing behind.

Not far away, Lyneth was dragging a smiling Piper by the hand around the yard to greet each and every daffodil personally, or so it seemed. Desmond watched from the porch, knowing it wasn't just a game, that the fairies were out in full force today, awakening from a long winter to greet the spring.

"She looks happy."

Desmond heard a familiar voice and turned to find his estranged younger brother, impeccably dressed in a navy blue designer suit, moving up to stand beside him on the porch and watch the goings on with equal interest. He didn't have to ask who Jonathan was referring to, as it was fairly common knowledge by now that Desmond's interest in Piper was more than casual.

"She does, doesn't she?" Des replied as he watched Piper and Lyneth with a warm smile on his face. He wondered if his feelings for them were that obvious, but he didn't really care. He couldn't love Lyneth more if she was his own flesh and blood, and Piper had captured his heart in a way no one else had ever managed before.

"She's had a rough time of it. It's good to see her happy again," Jon continued, turning to glance at the half-brother he hadn't known existed until only a few months ago and handing him a glass of lemonade. It was no secret that he was fond of Piper and happy to have her back within the Granger fold, but it wasn't just Piper and Lyneth's happiness that concerned him. "What about you?" he asked. "How are you doing?"

"Me?" Des asked, arching a brow at his brother as he reached for the glass. "I'm fine. Good as new." He smiled sheepishly, knowing that wasn't quite true and having a hard time lying. "Well, almost. I'm supposed to take it easy for a while, but I'm doing okay. Really."

Jon studied him a moment, as if to ensure his brother wasn't lying. He didn't know him very well yet, but he was hoping now that Desmond had decided to stay in Rhy'Din, all that would soon change. He knew about the attempt on his brother's life, and though he seemed to be recovering physically, he wasn't sure where the man's head was at yet. Jon knew only too well what that was like, and he knew there was a lot more to healing than just that of the body.

"If it wasn't for Piper and Lyneth, I might not be here," Des continued, frowning a little as he took a sip of the lemonade and looked back at the small crowd that was gathering. It was true. He owed them his life and so much more, but that wasn't why he'd chosen to stay.

"So I heard," Jon replied. He'd spent plenty of time at the hospital before Desmond had regained consciousness, as worried as everyone else that he might not make it. An uncomfortable silence fell briefly between the two men as each drifted into their own thoughts that were similar and yet different.

"It must be hard not to remember your own past," Desmond ventured after a moment. He'd been told about the shooting and knew his brother's past was a blank slate.

Jon shrugged as if it wasn't that big a deal, though in some ways, it was. "To be honest, sometimes I think it was a blessing. From what I've been told, there wasn't much worth remembering." Certainly not the parts about his father. He felt grateful for that.

"I didn't come here to cause you any trouble, you know," Des continued, saying what needed to be said, whether Jon needed to hear it or not. "To be honest, if it wasn't for Miranda, I would never have come here. She's hard to say no to."

Jon chuckled, breaking the ice between them at the mention of Miranda. "Yeah, she is. Just so you know, I don't hold any grudges against you. Just the opposite, in fact."

"When I first came here," Des started, glancing at the glass of lemonade he held in his hand. "I thought everyone would hate me. You have pretty good reason to hate me."

"I don't hate you," Jon replied honestly. "It's not your fault my father....our father..." He broke off. He didn't remember his father, but from what he'd been told, the man had held more contempt for him than affection, and he'd never really known why. It seemed Desmond hadn't had much better luck. "I'm sorry about your mother," he offered instead.

"I'm sorry about yours, too," Des countered, glancing over.

"I wish I could remember her," Jon admitted with a perplexed frown, "but maybe it's better I don't."

"Life goes on," Desmond reminded him. "You've got plenty to be thankful for, Jon. A beautiful wife and daughter, a family who cares about you, a promising career. A screwed up brother who's trying to sort things out."

Jon smiled warmly. "Oh, I am thankful, believe me. I wake up every morning and have to pinch myself to make sure it's real."

Desmond turned to find Piper and Lyneth smiling and waving at him, and his heart swelled with pride and affection. "I know what that's like. I keep wondering when I'm gonna wake up and find out this is all some crazy dream."

"If it's a dream, then I don't want to wake up."

"It's not, is it?" Des asked, looking back at his brother.

"No, it's not a dream," Jon said, finding it ironic that he was the one doing the reassuring and the comforting, instead of the other way around. "It's real, believe me. "

"I'm not trying to take anyone's place here, you know. I'm not trying to butt in," Desmond continued, as if that, too, needed to be said.

"Des, you have as much a right to be here as anyone, maybe more. It doesn't matter what happened in the past. You're my brother. You're family. Nothing is going to change that." Jon turned to find Vicki talking to Piper, their baby girl in her arms. She looked tired, but happy. "You deserve to be happy." He nodded his head to indicate Piper. "So does she."

"I am," Desmond assured him, watching the foursome - two women, two children - all of them loved more than they could ever know by two separate men who just happened to be brothers.

"I am, too. You can't ask for much more than that," Jon said, watching as Lyneth peered and poked at Emily, giggling in delight. "What do you say we join them?" he asked the other man.

"I say that's a damned good idea," Desmond replied with a smile. "After you, little brother," he said, waving a hand for Jon to lead the way.

Jon chuckled and started down the stairs to be greeted by Cosmo, barking and wagging his tail happily at his master. "Not that little anymore!" he called back to Desmond as he greeted the collie and came up beside Vicki to trade the glass of lemonade for their baby girl.

Desmond watched quietly from the porch a moment longer, catching Piper's glance and smiling her way before Lyneth was hurrying up the stairs and tugging at his hand. "Come see the baby, Des! She's all wrinkly, like a prune!"

He laughed and followed Lyneth down the stairs, feeling for the first time in his life like he was part of a real family. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

((Note: The above scene actually happens in the Easter thread, but it turned out a bit long, so I thought it deserved its own thread. Thanks to my writing partner for allowing me to borrow a few of her characters for this scene. The conversation between Jon and Des was long overdue.))