You've reached Jeff Hunters, owner and manager of Tao. If this is a business inquiry, please leave your name, number, and the best times to reach you. If this is a personal call, you know the drill. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks.

Time to start booking new gigs.
I've got two. Anyone else interested?
Want to throw Muffin out widow.
New year, new shows, new shenanigans.
So, which one should I get?
When did kittens turn into arguments?
Said she wanted a "trial separation."
Riley and Ryan! Where are you?
There an Andy and Lauren around?

It had been months since he'd last seen Farah and James. But hearing about his best friend's tour around the country meant that he was ending this weird hiatus. He'd driven up to Bethel from the city, where he was now living full-time. He'd let Mia take the house in Huntington since she had more out on the Island. Jeff's job and circle of friends were based in the city, so he found himself a brownstone in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and called it a success.

He pulled up to the address James had given him for the stadium. Parking, he meandered towards the entrance in his usual no-hurry stride, hands in his pockets. He had to admit, he was almost a little nervous about seeing James, and moreso Farah. And even more than that, he was nervous about playing keyboard for James' set that night. But he couldn't think of it that way. He was there to support his best friend and have a good time in the process.

After getting through the security guards, he spotted Farah and almost started coughing at the surprise of seeing her again. He hadn't seen her since before she had her baby and it seeing her now took him by surprise.

"Farah!" he called out, perhaps too loudly, his face immediately flushing. Good thing he had that beard to cover it up.

"Mia, are you ready yet?" Jeff asked, sitting lazily in the chez lounge by the window of their bedroom. He was fiddling with his Blackberry, twirling it around between his fingers.

"Will you stop asking me that? I told you, give me a minute."

"But you said that..." Jeff looked at his watch, "Sixteen minutes ago."

"What, are you timing me now? Just stop asking." He sighed heavily as he stood from the chez lounge and began pacing around the bedroom, looking for things with which to keep busy. He looked at his watch again.

"We were supposed to leave ten minutes ago. Pepper was nice enough to offer me an invitation to this damn thing, and even nicer to extend it to include you. You know I hate being late to shit." As if on cue, Mia emerged wearing a white gown. Jeff was about to say something more when he was caught with his mouth open. "I... Uh." Mia's mouth curled into a smirk.

"What was that?"

"...Nothing. You look... beautiful." Jeff himself was wearing a white tuxedo, and looking rather dashing. She smiled at him as she walked over, grabbing her clutch from her vanity. Smiling at her, they exited their house and had their driver take them to the address Pepper had given him.

Once there, they walked inside, and Jeff felt his breath catch in his throat. It was beautiful, unlike anything he'd ever seen before. He suddenly felt himself stand a little straighter as they walked in. Sparkling, indeed.

Jeff had been auditioning acts since early that morning, and by now, his brain was a little less than intact. Standing from the chair opposite the stage area he'd set up, he walked over to the bar where the bartender had already gotten him a coffee. Thanking him, he grabbed it and sipped it heartily, needing the caffeine boost. He glanced down at his watch, waiting for the next act to arrive. James had called him about her, just to mention that he knew her and that she was nervous performing in front of crowds. Jeff figured he wouldn't ask, but he kept it in the back of his mind.

Sitting back down in the chair, he looked over at his wife, who was diligently taking notes as she always did. He sipped his coffee as he took the free moment to relax.