The Golden Globe nominations came as a complete surprise to Jon, despite the rumors that Swan Song had been in the running. Generally considered a precursor to the Oscars, it was almost a definite that they'd be given a nod by the Academy, one way or another, though nothing was definite. It had been a long time coming for both Jon and Mataya, and though the awards weren't all that important to Jon, he had to admit that he was particularly proud of the work they'd done in Swan Song - to be recognized for it was just icing on the cake, so to speak. But the nomination was only part of the reason Jon and asked to meet Mataya for lunch this snowy Saturday afternoon in December. There was something else he wanted to discuss with her, as well, but mainly it was just two old friends catching up over lunch. Besides, once Mataya's baby bump burst, he knew her life would get a lot more hectic.

Lateness ran in the De Luca family, but at least these days, 'Taya had good reason for it. She might still have six weeks to go, but that bump seemed to still be getting bigger by the day, and she had definitely slowed down in the last month. Still, even the inconvenience of her little miracle wasn't enough to keep her from meeting her best friend, no matter the cold or the snow. She was dressed for it. And frankly, bright pink accessories over a black coat were a surefire way to stand out in a crowd. She wasn't that late, though, ambling toward Jon with that embarrassing pregnant waddle that had made itself known over the last week. "Hey there, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama," she called to her friend, red cheeks tight with the huge grin on her face in greeting.

Jon had chosen to walk the short distance from the theater to the little coffee shop where those who both patronized and worked in the theater liked to gather. It was a cozy, friendly, familiar place where patrons and those they patronized were able to mingle before and after hours, though there was rarely a crowd. Mataya called it one of Rhy'Din's best kept secrets, but Jon was perfectly happy to keep it that way. Anyway, as far as he was concerned, they had the best coffee in all of Rhy'Din, and with an English wife who preferrred tea, coffee had become something of a treat these days.

Unlike Mataya, Jon was on time and waiting for his best friend at their favorite table in a quiet back corner, sipping a cup of coffee laced with cream and sugar and scanning the entertainment section of the newspaper while he waited. He lifted his head when he heard her voice, a broad smile brightening his face as he moved to his feet to embrace her and her ever-growing bump. His hair was pushed to the side, loose curls tumbling onto his forehead, wearing a soft gray sweater, open at the neck, and pressed black slacks. "Same to you, Best Actress in a Motion Picture," he echoed her greeting, opening his arms to wrap her in a very brotherly hug.

She laughed, hugging him warmly despite the intrusion of the bump, which chose that moment to shift and kick Jon squarely in the stomach through the many layers they were both wearing. "How's life for my favorite, definitely gonna get an Oscar this time around actor and best friend?" 'Taya asked cheerfully as she stepped back, stripping off hat, gloves, scarf, and coat before lowering her bulky form down into a chair.

Jon had already removed the navy scarf and peacoat and had them perched on the back of his chair, a pair of black leather gloves stuffed into a coat pocket for safe keeping. The Bentley was safely parked at the theater and within walking distance, and as the owner of an active border collie, he was accustomed to long walks in the snow. "All things considered, life's good. I've got a new baby and another on the way, and my father's unexpected progeny are coming out of the woodwork." He smiled, as if more amused by this development than upset by it, though it was upsetting in its own way. "How about you? Is Junior treating you well" He's sure got a healthy kick!" Jon said, reaching to touch the more than obvious swell of her stomach. "You mind?" he asked hesitantly, knowing how much Vicki hated having her stomach touched without permission.

"Oh, you know me, I'm always sunny side up," Mataya grinned, shifting to offer her bump to him as he reached out. "Go for it. The kid likes beating on anyone who dares touch." She laughed as the baby in her womb did just that, showing every sign of being strong and healthy. "I'm good. Max is fantastic - I swear, he's more excited than I am about this little one. And, you know, aside from the heartburn and the swollen ankles, we're getting along just fine."

"Any idea yet if it's a boy or a girl, or do you want to be surprised?" he asked, lightly laying his hand against her bump, rewarded with a strong kick or punch that proved her point. He and Vicki had decided the sex of their little bun in the oven was going to be a surprise, but he wasn't too sure if Max and Mataya had decided the same thing. "Heartburn and swollen ankles are just the start of it," Jon warned with a smirk, having had the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a pregnant woman for himself. It wasn't something he was looking forward to repeating anytime soon, and it had given him a newfound respect for motherhood.

"Oh yeah, you were Mr Mom for a day, weren't you?" His best friend was one of the few who had been aware of that as it happened, and had found it all utterly hilarious, despite the fact that it was her own adopted daughter's fault. "Thanks for the heads up. And no, we're waiting for the surprise. I figure why tempt fate, you know" It's enough that we're gonna have a baby at all."

He winced at the mention of that, deeming it not one of his finer moments. "Let's just forget about that, shall we?" he asked as he pulled his hand away, the Jonathan Granger smile quickly replacing the wince. "Motherhood looks good on you. You're absolutely beaming." Like a proper gentleman, he pulled out a chair for her. "I hope you don't mind. I took the liberty of ordering for us both."

"That's great, thanks," she smiled, folding her arms comfortably over the high mound of her belly as she got comfortable. He was right; motherhood did suit her. She'd thought for so long that it was out of her grasp, and yet here it was, so she was making the most of it. "I'm really happy, Jon. My sister got married, my brother is getting married, my oldest sister finally stopped complaining and got in on the Christmas plans, my mom is over the moon, my fella wears a silly grin all day every day, and my Juno is her usual bubbly self. Life is good. And that's even without the Globe nominations. Congratulations, by the way."

"I prefer Wary Wilhelmina," she shot back to him cheerfully, rolling her shoulder briefly to relieve an ache before turning her full attention back to him. "I'm listening. Hell, it's not like I can run away, is it?" She laughed, giving her belly a poke, and beneath the snug fit of her sweater, the baby quite obviously kicked back.

"Okay," he paused a moment to take another sip of his coffee, unconsciously creating a dramatic pause before going on. "It's about 21twelve," he started. "I had Desmond do a little digging for me. The rights to Getting Over Alyson are still up for grabs. It's only a matter of time before someone realizes it's a diamond in the rough and snatches it up, so I was thinking....It might be a good investment."

"Aimee Malone's first starring role," 'Taya mused, beginning to feel her way along what Jon was obviously considering proposing. "That'd pull in an audience for anything. She's been kinda vocal about it in her interviews." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied her friend thoughtfully. "You're thinking snap up the rights, get the editing done, release through a distributor, aren't you?"

Jon smiled as Mataya practically read his mind. "That's what I love about you, 'Tay. You think just like me. Are you sure we aren't related?" he asked with a smirk, blue eyes twinkling with good humor. "It seems a shame to leave it languishing. It would help pay off some of the studio's debt, and it would be good publicity for Rhy'Din."

"Yeah, it would," she nodded, still thinking it through with the business mind that had made the Shanachie Theater a steady profit for the last three years. "Once we have the rights, we'd need to contact everyone who was involved, though. We'd have to get the actors' permission, not to mention the crews and department directors, the composer - they'd all have to weigh in with their opinions. If even one of them says no, that puts a lid on the whole thing."

"Do you really think anyone is going to say no to a project that's been left languishing for over a year" I know it's never going to be a classic, but it's a damned shame. People worked hard on that film, 'Tay. They put their heart and soul into it. It deserves to be seen and enjoyed." Even if it was just a teeny-bopper rom-com.

"Well, you've got the one-stop-shop for 21twelve working for you already, so that's a head start," his friend pointed out with a smile. "I know what you mean, Jon, I really do. And if Lelah is happy to give up the rights and let us edit and distribute, then by all means we should go for it. But it's a long process. Sure you're ready to helm that kind of project?"

He shrugged his shoulders, unsure himself. It was one of the reasons he'd brought it up - he not only wanted, but needed and trusted her opinion. "I am with the right partner," he said, dropping a hint as big as an atom bomb. It wasn't so much the funding he was worried about as the work involved and his own lack of experience on that side of the camera. Though the film could be a diamond in the rough, if flubbed, it could turn into a disaster. "I need someone I trust, someone who knows the business, who's been there. All it needs is editing and distributing."

Mataya's smile turned wry as she held his gaze, hearing what it was he wasn't saying. "Well, if we do this," she said carefully, "work won't be able to start on it until at least the end of March, what with the whole insides becoming outsides thing." She smiled, rolling her eyes. "Get your brother to write up the contract. You're daft in the head if you think I'm gonna pass this one up."

"Vicki's expecting in April," Jon pointed out. "But I think I can do some of the work from home. Once we get the editing done, it's just finding a distributor, and we can start putting out feelers about that as soon as we buy the rights." Jon beamed a smile at her response to his proposal, knowing she might be interested. "I thought you might say that." He reached around and pulled an envelope from a pocket in his jacket and handed it over. "I'm two steps ahead of you."

"Well, it all depends on which favors we call in and who we get to actually do the editing," she pointed out, snorting with laughter as he passed her an envelope. "You know me way too well ..." Opening the envelope, she scanned the opening paragraphs before continuing. "Distribution can be set up from any date we choose, so neither of us needs to worry about it interfering with the kids. By the way, I'm having one of the offices at the Shanachie revamped into a creche - like hell I'm leaving my kid at home when I'm working all day and Max is rehearsing." She flashed her friend a grin as her eyes returned to the contract in her hand.

The waitress returned at last with the lunches and seeing they were busy, left them on the table without a peep, but to ask if they need anything. After a warm-up of Jon's coffee, they were left alone once again, giving Mataya a few minutes to look over the legalities of the contract. "There's no rush," Jon remarked, "Though I was thinking we should release it in time for summer, late spring maybe." He stirred a little more cream and sugar into his refilled coffee cup.

"Well, it is a summer movie," Mataya agreed, still reading through the document in her hands. "I assume Des has copies of this" I'm not signing it unless I get my own copy, you know that." Setting the contract aside, she turned her attention to her lunch, beaming a smile as she recognized one of the dishes that wasn't, strictly speaking, on the menu. But then, not many cafes or restaurants did penne with four cheese sauce and cut up hot dogs. She'd been coming here for far too long, really. "Give me a couple of weeks, until after Christmas has been and gone, before we get the ball rolling on this, okay?"

He nodded in agreement. He hadn't brought a pen and hadn't really expected her to sign it that minute, but he did want her to consider it and to give her a chance to think it over. "You don't have to sign it today. Take your time, look it over, but don't take too long, or we might miss the boat. "I'm going to be busy for the next few weeks, too, with the holidays and all." He'd promised Vicki a visit to England to see her father and there was his brother's wedding looming. And speaking of weddings...."You going to the wedding" Vicki was asking," he remarked as he picked up his sandwich - corned beef on rye, a rare treat for a man who lived with a vegetarian.

She grinned, nodding as she swallowed a mouthful. "We won't be at the ceremony, but we got this little invite, said something about a New Year's party with a twist and a couple of brides. Could be the same thing, you never know."

He chuckled. "That sounds about right. I guess we'll find out, one way or another," he said with a smirk. "So, tell me..." he started as took a bite of his sandwich and chewed and swallowed that bite. "What do you think of Dru? Honestly' Don't sugarcoat it just because I'm her brother."

"I suppose," Jon admitted glumly. The last thing he wanted to think about right now was losing the only man who'd ever come close to being a real father. "At least, he's happy these days. The house is full of laughter and love again, so that's something," Jon admitted, though he was unsure if it was enough. He and Vicki had moved to the big house to be near Humphrey, to keep him company in his last years, to make sure he was never lonely, and they seemed to have accomplished that. "I don't relish the thought of the bickering that might go on after he's....after he's gone."

One of the good things about having a best friend was the fact that having told her everything, she then knew what you were going on about when you halfway mentioned things in passing. Mataya's smile was lopsided and wry as Jon spoke. "You really think with Caroline in charge of the business, that kind of bickering will get anymore than a foot off the ground before she slams it back down again?" she pointed out softly, though she knew he was worrying about the family, rather than the business. From an outsider's perspective, however, it was pretty obvious what would happen. Jon just wasn't ready to hear it yet. "And you've got Vicki. Never met a woman who can stop an argument faster than her."

"I know what people think, but I don't give a damn about his money, 'Tay. It's never been about the money," Jon told her, a little defensively, though of all people, he didn't need to defend himself against her. She knew he'd done well for himself and knew living at Maple Grove had nothing to do with sponging off his uncle's good graces. "I'm not going to let anyone kick us out just because I'm not his son. No one else is there. Everyone else left. I'm the only one left. Who else is going to hold this family together" Who else is going to uphold the traditions and take care of the house" I know how it is. It's me and Caroline. Until someone dies and then relatives come out of the woodwork looking for a handout. We could live anywhere. We could build a house anywhere we wanted, but we choose to live there because we give a damn."

"He's not David, Jon," 'Taya pointed out quietly. "And you guys have systems in place now to prevent anyone taking advantage of you like that. They all know you live there because you care. God, even I know how awful that place used to feel before you moved in. He was an old lonely man, living in a big empty house, and now he isn't. The change is noticeable, Jon, and it's because of you. It's because he has family at his fingertips again. And everyone knows it."

Jon nodded, knowing Mataya was right. How long he'd been holding some of this inside was anyone's guess. Why he felt comfortable dumping it off on Mataya more than anyone else was a mystery even to himself. He didn't want to upset or worry Vicki, and he knew he could depend on Mataya to be starkly honest with him, even to the point of blunt honesty. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from really."

"Yeah, you do," she countered, not letting him apologize for his own concerns, not letting him dismiss those feelings. "Because despite the fact that you lost your memory, there's still a part of you that talks in your dad's voice. Because Junior wasn't quiet about his own selfish assumptions and projected them onto everyone else. And because you know what your place is in your family. You're just afraid to take it. And that's cool, you're allowed to be afraid of that responsibility. Just don't be afraid for too long. There's really no need."

"Afraid?" Jon echoed, not quite understanding what exactly she was getting at. "I don't know what my place is in this family, 'Tay. That's the problem. Caroline is in charge of the business. Dom is the eldest. I'm stuck in the middle somewhere. Hell, even Des is older than me. I wasn't raised there, like Kaylee and Correy. I don't remember any of that."

"Jon, that's bullsh*t." And there was the blunt honesty he could always count on his best friend for. "Caroline's in charge of the business. That's the only part of that I agree with. So what if Dom's the eldest' He's not in any position to be the head of the family after Humphrey. He's still traveling, still roaming, and he won't ever settle in one place. Not now he's on his own. Des might be older than you, but he doesn't hold the same place in the family as you do. Everyone who was raised in that house has moved out. You moved in. You made the family seat your home, for the sake of an old man that everyone loves, whether they admit it or not. When they think of the house, they think of him, and they think of you. That's your place in your family. You're glue, Jon. Get used to it."

Jon listened quietly to the truth as it was laid out by his closest friend, knowing she was right but somehow afraid of accepting it as fact. "Ironic, isn't it?" he asked, meeting her gaze with a straight-forward look of his own. "Left home when I was seventeen and swore I'd never come back, and here I am." No, he didn't remember it, but he'd read his own journals, which were proof of the past he didn't remember, more so than the fairy tales those around him liked to tell, softening the truth as if the truth might break him. "I know I made a lot of mistakes. I know I was pretty screwed up in the head. I'm not very proud of the person I was, but I'm not him anymore. I've worked hard to change. I just hope people recognize that."

"Jonny, if your family didn't think that you were the right person for the job, they'd have made it clear a hell of a long time ago," she pointed out with a rueful grin. "Seriously, you wouldn't have been allowed to put down roots. Forget the mistakes. Anyone who still makes issue about them is looking for trouble, and I suggest you point them at your wife. You're not the man you were when I met you, Jonny. You're the man you wanted to be, even back then. That's a big change for the better."

Jon smiled at last, taking Mataya's word for it, even if he didn't completely believe it himself. "We've come a long way, baby," he said, reaching for her hand. Though he didn't remember the past, he didn't have to remember it to know it was true. "I guess there's no point in worrying about things that have yet to happen, huh' I'm my own worst enemy. Even Vicki says so."

"Yeah, but Vicki has ways to make you feel better about that," 'Taya laughed, squeezing his hand. "All you're getting from me is the pep talk, dude."

"Oh, God..." Jon laughed. "Don't even go there. I have pissed Max off once too often. I don't really have a death wish." Though they both knew Max had no reason to feel threatened where Jon was concerned, Jon wasn't so sure Max knew that. "Enough about me. Tell me about your life. How's Juno' Has Elena given up on the theater" Have your brother and his fiancee set a date yet?"

Jon didn't have to consider that suggestion too long to know it was a good one. "I like that, and I'm willing to bet there's a real need for it in the city. It would take some planning, but I think it's do-able. What do you think?" He knew the timing wasn't the best, each juggling careers and family and with children on the way, but if they found the right people to make it happen, it would mostly be a matter of funding. "What if we donated part of the ticket sales for Alyson to go toward the project?" It made sense, since the movie was targeted toward teens, and they weren't doing it to make a profit.

"That'd be a start," Mataya agreed, "and I can dip into the Shanachie's profit margin to set up some kind of trust fund to keep the place going. It'd involve finding someone who knows about this sort of thing before we even think about looking for premises to renovate, though."

"I can have Liv do a little digging. Maybe Lucy knows someone. Or Bethany. She's an emergency room nurse in New York." He thought Bethany was probably the better choice, knowing Liv was busy enough already. It wasn't going to be easy, but it was a start. It had been something he and Mataya had been talking about for a while, but had not had the chance to anything about.

'Taya blinked, surprised and impressed that there was a Granger out there doing hands-on helping, even if she had been a secret all her life. "She must know someone," she agreed, only too easily fired up with enthusiasm for a new project that would also have to wait if they didn't get their hands on a manager of some kind very soon. "Beth, I mean. I get the feeling Liv's a little caught up in her family right now, and rightly so."

"Yeah, I think Beth would be the better choice, too. She has to see patients like that come through the ER. She must know someone who'd know how to do go about it, someone who'd have connections and could lead us in the right direction. The only problem is explaining Rhy'Din, but one step at a time, I guess." He thoughtfully sipped at his coffee.

"Hey, if I can handle Rhy'Din, anyone can," 'Taya declared firmly, offering him a cheery smirk in the process as she lifted her glass to finish what was left of her juice. "So just sound out Beth, see if she's got any contacts she can pass on to us. No rush, no fuss." Her eyes strayed to the clock on the wall. "Except right now, because I kinda have to be at the doctor's office." Her grin was definitely apologetic as she bent to swipe her bag off the floor, rummaging for her purse.

"Yeah, except she's getting married in a few weeks and will be off on her honeymoon," Jon remarked, though like Mataya had said - there was no rush, and maybe Jon could feel Miranda out beforehand. Jon turned his eyes to the clock on the wall, only then realizing how long they'd actually been sitting there chatting. He chuckled, "Sorry, 'Tay. We need to do this more often, I guess."

"We should," she nodded emphatically. "I don't get to see enough of my big burly best friend and his wonder-puppy hair." Setting a handful of money onto the table in the hope that he wasn't going to make her put it back into her purse, she tucked said purse away, and turned her attention to standing up with as much dignity as possible. "You have to promise you'll come and see me after I get forced onto maternity leave. I'm going to be so bored."

"Burly?" Jon echoed, laughing. "I'm not so sure about burly." He made no comment about the hair. He had been told it was his best feature, though he wasn't much of a judge about that. Vicki certainly seemed to like running her fingers through it. He picked up the handful of money and handed it back to her, almost on cue, moving to his feet along with her. "'Tay, it's my treat. You can treat me next time." He laughed again when she bemoaned being forced into taking maternity leave. "I'll come by and visit. I promise," he told her, leaning close to kiss her cheek.

"Aww, c'mon, when am I going to be allowed to pay for lunch?" she complained goodnaturedly, giggling as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. Her own lips brushed his cheek, arms winding about him to give her best friend another warm hug. "You always say I can treat you next time and it never happens." She smirked as she drew back, shrugging into her coat. "You reckon it's icy along Park Lane today?"

He smirked at her question, but made no comment. She was right in that he always said next time and then insisted on paying anyway. "Is that a hint that you'd like an escort, Miss De Luca" Or would you prefer a ride" I left the Bentley at the theater. I don't mind." He took the coat and helped her into it after returning that warm hug.

"Ooh, do I get to sit in the Bentley Babydoll and be chauffeured to my doctor's appointment?" she laughed, re-establishing her scarf and hat before wriggling her fingers into her gloves. "Sure Vicki won't get jealous when she finds out?"

"Are you kidding" She'd kill me if she found out I didn't offer and made you walk." Especially knowing how far along in the pregnancy Mataya was. Jon snagged his peacoat from the chair and shrugged it on over his broad shoulders, tossing enough money on the table to pay for lunch plus a generous tip. "Is Max picking you up after?" he asked, unsure if he should stick around or just drop her off. He wound a scarf around his neck and shoved his hands inside his gloves.

"Yeah, don't you worry your pretty little head about me," she teased, leading the way out of the cafe with a smile and a wave for the girl who had served them. "My big strong man's gonna come and carry me home with his own two hands if he has to."

"And he's not gonna get jealous if I drive you to your appointment?" Jon countered Mataya question regarding spousal jealousy. Max had no more reason to be jealous of Jon than Vicki did of Mataya.

"Oh, he might have a twinge, but I like it when he gets jealous," she confessed impishly as they ducked out into the cold street. "Makes me feel all warm and wanted, all snoodly inside. Not that I go out of my way to make him jealous. It's just nice when it happens."

"You are loved, Mataya, and not just by Max," he told her, sliding an affectionate arm around her shoulders, more brotherly and protective than anything else as they both ducked out into the cold. The Bentley was only a short walk away. Seeing her safely to the doctor's office was the least he could do for this woman who had done so much for him. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, just because, smiling and feeling warm inside, despite the snow and the cold.

'Taya smiled fondly, cuddling under Jon's arm as much for the companionship as for the added warmth. They'd been friends for a long time, and that friendship was one of the most treasured parts of her life, coming a very close second to Max and her family. With so many new projects between them, it was doubtful that friendship would wane as so many others had done, growing stronger as they grew older within the spheres of their own families and loved ones. It was good to reconnect, and they had reconnected today. All in all, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

((Lots of thanks for this scene go to Jon's player!))