Unrequited

Hungry - Thanksgiving, 1999

After the Taylored Fields launch, John and Arianna spent the next day in New York, visiting old friends, and old haunts, before returning to LA the following day. They got home just after the kids had gotten off the school bus, so they were immediately swarmed by them. They were glad to be back home with their family.

A week later, John flew to England to tape a segment of 'This is Your Life,' celebrating Martin Kemp from Spandau Ballet. He had a great time and returned to LA early on Thanksgiving Day.

As he stepped into the house, he could immediately smell the cooking food. Thanksgiving was a purely American holiday, but it was one that he loved. The food was amazing, and it was a simple time, full of family and gratefulness, something he had a lot of in his life.

"Daddy! Daddy!" he heard Atlanta yell as she bounded up to him.

Sophia and Dylan were right behind her, and the three of them plowed into him. He picked up each child, hugging and kissing them in turn and then squatting down to talk to all of them. Arianna stepped up behind the kids, and John looked up at her, smiling, glad to be back home. He got to his feet and pulled her into a long, tight hug.

"Man, did I miss you," he whispered into her ear, and she tightened the hug.

She then pulled back and looked into his eyes, smiling as she smoothed his hair from his face. She ran her hands down to cup his chin and kissed him gently, slowly.

"Mmmm, you taste good," he murmured, his lips sliding down her jawline and to her neck.

She moaned slightly as he sucked and kissed her neck, one hand holding her tight around the waist as the other squeezed her breast.

"Ewwwww! They're kissing!" Atlanta exclaimed, making both adults break the kiss with a laugh.

"Go play. It's Mummy's turn to get a hello from me," John scolded and then started to kiss Arianna again as the three kids ran outside.

They just stood there, completely wound up in each other, and the kiss for quite a while until Arianna broke the kiss with a giggle.

"Easy, babe. I missed you too, but jeez. Can't you wait until later?" she teased. John looked at her for a moment as a wicked smile started to spread across his face.

"No, I can't," he told her and then scooped her up into his arms and carried her back the hallway into their bedroom. Arianna laughed, kicked, and shrieked the whole way about the cooking food that would be ruined.

"So, what's on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner?" John asked as he held Arianna. They had just finished making love and were lying in each other's arms, enjoying being together again.

"The usual. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes."

"Your macaroni and cheese?" he interrupted.

"Yes," she smiled.

"Apple pie?"

"Yes, John. Sweet potatoes, too," she told him, playfully perturbed.

"Mmmm, I love Thanksgiving," he told her, making her laugh. Then she looked at her watch and started to get up, but John pulled her back.

"Stay for just a bit longer," he whispered, and she sighed, giving in and laying her head on his chest.

"Okay, but don't complain if part of dinner is messed up," she warned, and he snickered.

"You will pull it off. You always do," he assured her.

They were still snuggled together and talking when they heard the doorbell ring. John looked at Arianna, confused, but she quickly got up, smiling as she grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. She re-emerged a moment later, fully dressed, as voices echoed from the living room.

"Who is that?" John asked, still confused.

"The rest of our family," she said casually as she brushed out her hair. "Get dressed. We have guests," she told him as she turned to look at him. She gave him a quick kiss and then left the room.

John listened closely as he dressed, trying to recognize the voices, but the house's acoustics were not allowing him to hear more than muffled sounds. But it did sound like there was a room full of people out there. The kids seemed louder, too, almost like there were more of them. He straightened his hair and then finally left the bedroom. The voices had moved to the kitchen, but the kids were in the living room. As he came closer, he realized there were more of them.

"Saffie? Lullah?" he said incredulously, and Simon's two youngest daughters' heads popped up, grinning at him.

"Uncle John!" they both shrieked and came running to him, hugging him.

"Johnny!" he then heard and looked up to see Simon himself coming towards him. He received a huge bear hug from Simon, followed by Yasmin. "So good to see you, man."

"You too, Charley, Yazzy. What are the two of you doing here?" John asked, still surprised to see his friends there, all the way from London.

"Arianna invited us. Plus, we needed to see that adorable baby of yours again," Yasmin gushed, and he laughed. He put his arms around their shoulders in a slight embrace.

"Wonderful to see you two," John said as the three of them headed toward the kitchen. As he stepped into the room, he realized that they had yet another surprise visitor.

"Dad?" he said, flabbergasted.

Jack Taylor turned from where he was standing and talking to Arianna. He smiled, opening his arms to his only child. John rushed over and hugged him tight, his mind, of course, going to his Mum.

"How did you get here?" he asked, so happy to see his Dad.

"We brought him. Arianna asked us to," Yasmin informed him.

"Arianna," he said, looking at his wonderful wife. She smiled as she walked to him, slipping into his arms and hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, sweetheart," he said, kissing her temple. She nodded, glad she had been able to surprise him.