To Widen the Future (Griff)

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

"The one and only." Griff replied with a smile, making sure to set the cups out ready and set the table ready for cake and tea. "Wonderful man, isn't he?" He added fondly, looking happy at the very thought of Riley.

"I think it was two weeks ago. After the clay fiasco." Now that really DID end in a blush. Things HAD gotten a little steamy, perhaps. No need to divulge the details of that to Josh, he probably didn't want to know at all. He know he didn't want to know the extent of the making up Sean and Josh had gone through, but he was pretty sure it had condoms involved.

He blinked in surprise at the gardening comment. "Oh no no no, I'm not that good. Riley comes in once a month to make sure I'm not killing everything in sight." He laughed, then jostled the goat in his arms, making sure she was going to behave herself before setting her down to get acquainted with Josh.

"She loves anyone with facial hair, that one." Griff laughed, washing his hands, then setting out the coffee and tea pots, with sugar and a little jug of milk on the table. Gladys followed him around for a while, before deciding she'd stick with the strange man, and gently reared up so to get closer to his hand for more petting.

"Here's the other cake." Griff laughed, serving it up on the plate before gesturing at the table. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Sorry it's instant coffee, but I haven't got round to buying a proper coffee pot yet." He blushed, then cut the first slice into the chocolate cake, glancing up at Josh with a smile.

This was actually much better than he could have assumed. "I'm glad we cleared the air." He said honestly, face lighting up. "How big a slice do you want?"

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Riley is wonderful," Josh agreed, observing the smile that mention of his gentle friend brought but not realizing there was any deeper meaning behind it than the simple truth that Riley Was Wonderful. He was sure that it was impossible for anyone to dislike the landscaper, kind and endearing as he was. A little shy, perhaps, but still one of the single nicest people Josh knew, up there with Sean as people probably too good for this Earth.

"Clay fiasco?" He quirked an eyebrow. Neither Danny nor Riley had mentioned their clay fight or even that there had been lessons, so he was quite in the dark that anything had taken place. Otherwise he mightn't have been so surprised to realize that Griff was friends with both other men.

It was also a very good thing that the doctor left silent his suspicions about what, exactly, the reparations with Sean had involved, as Josh had managed to forget the precise words he'd spoken to Griff and what they implied about their relationship. And just because the Welshman was entirely correct that condoms had eventually made an appearance, that was after they'd returned from Boston. (Although Sean probably had an emergency supply in his glove box, which happened to be well stocked with everything he could possibly need in case of an emergency, except canned goods.)

"He comes in once a month?" His eyebrow went even higher. "How long have the two of you known one another? He never said anything..." He faltered then. He'd been so distracted the past three months, first because of the drama with Sean and then because of, well, the resolution of the drama with Sean, that it was entirely likely that Riley had said something and he just hadn't noticed. But he was sure that he would have remembered if the younger man had mentioned anything about Dr. Jones! Wouldn't he have? Now he was doubting himself. Maybe he wouldn't have.

He pulled one of the kitchen seats out at Griff's insistence, leaning over to scratch Gladys' head. "Instant coffee is perfectly acceptable." He reassured the smaller man. Was it dark? Did it have caffeine? Then it was fine with him. It wasn't as if he had a particularly discerning palate when it came to his coffee.

He squinted at the cake, trying to figure out what size to ask for. "Lunch sized?" He guessed. Well, if it was going to be his meal he may as well get a piece that would keep him full until Sean had fixed supper.

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

"He purposely came and helped me with my shopping during my first couple of weeks here. Helped me load the car up and everything." The memory was a fond one, since Riley had been so kind to him out of nothing but good will. Griff now strived to keep that good karma going, helping people out and being as pleasant as he could be.

He did darken into a deep blush when Josh asked about the clay fiasco. "Well..." He began, putting a few spoons of coffee grounds into the bottom of Josh's cup, then pouring the hot water over and stirring. "When Danny and I met, I made it a fact that I wished I could be artistic. I'm hopeless." He waved his hand, pausing. "Milk? Sugar?" He nodded down at the cup.

"Anyway, he agreed to teach me how to make things out of clay in return for first aid lessons. Riley suggested we all go over his place to do a session together. And it became a little childish." He laughed warmly, and fixed his own cup of tea, setting both cakes out and scratching his chin. "I got clay in places I wasn't entirely sure I had." He concluded, giving Josh a warm smile.

Scratching behind his ear, he let out a hm. How long HAD he known Riley now? "Quite a while now. Aside from Sean he was one of the first people I met when I moved here. Helped me set up the garden to be practical with goat-friendly plants." He nodded, then began to cut two slices, one from the first, chocolatey cake, and a second from the Strawberry cake. At least they were having fruit.

"There we are." He said warmly, pushing a fork over. "Next time I'll try and make sure we have a proper British Cream Tea with the mini sandwiches and everything." He assured, making another two slices for himself and taking a bite.

"The chocolate cake is delightful, thank you." Griff said appreciatively.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh...." Josh wasn't sure what to think now that he knew Griff had been friends with his entire social circle (well, that was what it felt like, anyway) the entire time they'd been at odds.

However, he accepted the cake with a smile and a "Thank you."

Both cakes were certainly delicious, and though the coffee was instant it was still tolerable, particularly as Griff had offered sugar and cream. In any event, he wasn't focused on flavor so much as he was their conversation, and continued petting of Gladys, who wasn't so bad, even if she did want to eat his shirt and his facial hair.

And when the time came to return to his office, he felt distinctly relieved, a weight having lifted from his shoulders.

It was nice having another friend, rather than an enemy, particularly if they were going to run in the same social circles. If he were completely honest, there was still a very slight tinge of jealousy, but it was easy to dismiss this and pretend it didn't exist when it was just the two of them.

So as he left, he was certain that he and Griff were going to be on excellent terms.

((wrapped))