"Cute kid," John commented, closing his guitar case and setting the snaps.

"Yeah, he really is," I said. "He reminds me of you a lot. Sometimes the troublemaker but always the sweetheart."

It was his turn to blush. "Wow, you're really good with kids."

"Thanks. I've only been here for a couple years but it's forced me to grow up. These kids will be adults some day, I only hope I can give them the kind of education I got when I was their age."

"Don't beat yourself up over it," John reprimanded lightly, "I'm sure you'll do a great job. There are bigger things in life." He ran his fingers along the neck of his sweater.

I shrugged. "What do you mean? Teaching *is* my life, if you haven't noticed." I looked down at my hands - completely bare and completely free of the stupid blisters I had once subject them to when I played bass.

John sighed audibly. "You're so different than the girl I once knew."

"Are you trying to give me a compliment?"

"I always knew you'd grow up fast - I just never thought that fast." He leaned on one of the front desks, almost uncomfortably.

"Uh huh." I picked up an eraser and started to clean the blackboard. "So, enough beating around the bush, Mr. Taylor - there *is* a reason for you looking me up, right?" I turned my back to him while erasing what I'd written on the board.

John nodded, smiling. "Yeah. It actually has something to do with kids. I mean...erm, with a future kid..."

"I don't follow," I said, putting down the eraser, and sitting back down in my chair. In my wildest dreams I had imagined this scene, and had John acting the Romeo character. "Grace, will you marry me?" I shook the image out of my head.

"Well, it's the problem...of a child. My wife and I are having a baby..."

Wait a minute. Wife?!? A baby?!? My spirits sank to an all-time low. I knew I shouldn't have been thinking that way, but I couldn't help it.

"You're...married?" I managed to eke out. I put my hand on my chest to make sure I was still breathing normally, and not gasping for air. "And you're going to have a baby?"

Nodding again, he looked slightly forlorn. "I know I should have told you earlier but it was quite a whirlwind process. I married Amanda in a quick ceremony in December. And she's due in a few weeks."

I was glad I was sitting. I probably would have fell otherwise. I said nothing more.

"Grace. Say something. I knew you'd be shocked but not like this."

I gulped back tears. "Why did you even want to look for me? Do you have any idea how long I wished for you to return to me? Yes. All this time. And you finally come back to see me and I find out you're married, with a child on the way. The last times I saw you - that was back in '85, at Live Aid, and then after you guys recorded 'Notorious' - I told you I'd wait for you forever. Why? Because I was a fool in love. Waiting for you to clean up your act." My chin trembled by the blow. Stomach in knots, and thoughts to follow.

"I know. It's called tough love. That's exactly what I needed then. To clean up my act. To trust the process. You saved me, Grace."

I turned away from him. "What difference does it make, John? Really? I've lost you, to another woman. Forever."

John got up from the desk, and walked over to me. "You'll always have a friend in me. No matter what. If you'd really lost me, why would I even bother to come? Grace, I need you now more than ever."

"What? What do you mean? You don't need me. Unless this is some evil payback so that you can rub it in that your life is perfect and mine isn't."

"No. Are you kidding? My life isn't perfect. And you *know* in your heart that we weren't meant to be. You know that."

I thought of that special night, years ago in Australia, when we had shared something special. When I thought love had no boundaries, and the world held nothing but the two of us...

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it isn't."

"Yes, it is, I guess. Grace, you weren't supposed to marry a screw-up like me. I am so glad that we never got married or anything - I've been such a jerk the last 8 years. I would have ruined your life."

I put my chin on the edge of my desk. "Okay. So...what's so important that you needed to talk to me all of a sudden?"

"Grace, you are the woman who I respect more than any other woman in this life - even more than Amanda. What I wanted to ask you is...I would very much like you to be the godmother of my child. I came here today with one goal - and deciding that if you said no, I wouldn't ask anyone else. So that's what I'm asking."

Putting his hand down on my desk, I saw the glitter of the gold wedding band on his left hand. It was so final, so definite. I used to wish that I was Mrs. John Taylor. Now there really is a woman out there who can say that without a qualm.

"John...?" I said hoarsely, not sure what exactly to say. I mean, I wasn't expecting to have John show up that day, and even moreover, I hadn't expected him to drop two bombshells in front of me. Him being married for a couple months and me not knowing it. And now he and his new wife were about to have a baby!

He looked disappointed as my eyes met his. "I knew it. I shouldn't have asked. I totally understand that you wouldn't want to help in this situation...with our past history and such..." He turned away for a second, then turned back to add, "the last thing I want to do in this situation is make you uncomfortable. I should just walk away..."

As John slowly made his way to the door, his footsteps heavy on the wood, a thousand thoughts flitted in my mind. I took a deep breath. A battle waged in my head.

Grace, why are you mad at him? Because he came and you thought he was here for a different purpose. But now he's asking you something important, and you're going to be bull-headed like you always are, never giving in, huh? Well...

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't miss the opportunity John had dropped in my lap. "John, I'd be more than to be your child's godmother," I smiled, "it'd be an incredible honor. You've meant so much to me ever since we met. If I can do anything for *you* then I'd do it. And I can't imagine anything more fitting than being there for your first-born."

John looked at me, almost in disbelief. "Wait a minute. So you're saying you'll do it?"

I nodded. "Yes, I'm saying yes. I'll be your child's godmother."

With a characteristic John Taylor grin, he replied, "and I was just ready to launch into my 'why Grace Huang should help me in my time of need' speech!" I laughed, as he walked towards me, the two of us meeting in a warm embrace. Those arms holding my shoulders so tightly had once been those of my lover. From long ago. But like they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss, and this stone needed to keep moving. John was a lover of my past but most of all he was my friend.

"Aw, enough of this mushy stuff," I complained, taking him by the hand. "Wanna go for a malt?"

"A *malt*? I haven't had one of those in years!"

"Well Rip, what do you think?"

"Sure, why not - I think we *should* catch up on old times!"