Disclaimer: I do not own the Monkees, but I do own my own original characters. So there.
All Things Considered
Part Four
Not long after lunch was finished, they sent out for pizza while Chris's husband Andy enjoyed chili, the gang went back outside. During the lunch Chris had managed to talk the guys into helping with her crazy painting project.
"Fine, but you're not tying my girl to the chimney again." Mike said. "We'll run back to the pad and get..." A sudden clap of thunder drowned out Mikes words. The sky grew quickly dark.
"Someone pissed off God big time." Davy muttered. "Thats what Andy gets for bogarting the chili."
"No one else was going to eat it." Micky said. "You kept enough for yourself, whats the problem?"
"Good point." Davy said as the rain started to fall. It fell fast and hard, almost like a sudden cloud burst.
"I guess painting will have to wait." Chris said sadly.They went back into the house.
"Thats too bad hon." Andy patted her on the shoulder. You were so looking forward to this."
"Oh well." Chris said. "There's always tomorrow."
"Not tomorrow." Mike said. "Thats when my Aunt Kate will be coming to town."
"She finally gets a name. I was afraid that I was going to have to call her Auntie all the time she was here." Valerie snarked.
"Behave yourself." Mike said. "I want to make a good impression."
"Since when do I not behave." The second Valerie said that, a round of coughing went off around her. "Damn it. I hope you ALL have colds." She said rolling her eyes.
"Shes been better as of late." Davy admitted. "She once short sheeted Peters bed as some kind of a prank."
"No she didn't." Peter said. "Those were your sheets. She got them on the wrong bed."
Davy sighed. "It's cause I'm short isnt it?"
"I haven't noticed." Andy said. "So what do we do now?"
"Nothing." Valerie said. "Michael and I are going out for a late lunch."
"But Mike just ate chili!" Davy whined. "And pizza!"
"I gotta confess to you pal...we didn't eat all of it." Micky patted his friend on the shoulder. "While your back was turned we fed it to the dog next door. He seemed to like it more.
"Aw jeez." Davy said. "And that dog hates me. Now he will like me even less!"
Mike led Valerie away from the weird dog conversation. They walked out into the street. It had stopped raining.
"Wow. This is nice. I hope Chris doesn't notice." Mike said.
"All right! The rain has stopped. Wheres my painting brigade?" Valerie overheard Chris from the inside.
"Cheese it!" Valerie whispered. Mike ducked inside long enough to leave the keys to the car.
"We're not taking the car. I know a nice restaurant not far from here." He explained. "I'm not leaving the guys stranded with Ms Busybody."
"How far is this place?" Valerie asked Mike as he grabbed her hand.
"Close enough to run to, not far enough away from here." He said as they ran. "Come on!"
Valerie laughed and finally managed to keep up with Mike as they ran down the street.
"Rickys Corner"
"This isn't too bad." Valerie said as they brought over the food and drinks that they had ordered a few minutes ago. They were still full from dinner, so they had ordered enough fries for two people to share and some milkshakes.
"No, its not." Mike said. He sipped on his drink.
"Will your Aunt like me?" Valerie asked. "I'm kinda worried about it. I want her to think I'm ok."
"She'll like you. She's got her feet on the ground." Mike assured her. "Its about time we start meeting each others family. When do I meet your family?"
"Its hard to say." Valerie said. "My mom lives out of town. I have no sisters or brothers."
"An only child." Mike nodded.
"Yeah." Valerie sighed. "She isn't in town too often. I think the last time I saw her was shortly before I met you. She was bothering me, again, about not having a man in my life." She looked at Mike who was eating his fries. "And now I have."
Mike leaned over and kissed Valerie on the lips. Valerie wiped her mouth off. "Sorry, I think I got ketchup all over you."
They were about to talk about the next gig when a voice rang out over the Corner diner. "Valerie!"
It was slightly shrilly, but Valerie instantly knew who the voice belonged too. "Oh my god." Valerie said peeking behind Mike. "Don't look."
"What?" Mike said as he whisked his head around to "not look" at what Valerie was staring at. It was a woman, about 5'5, not much taller than Davy. She had her curly blonde hair up in a bouffant hairdo. She was wearing red lipstick and a little color on her eyes. She wore a pasiley colored shirt and had very tight pants on. She smiled upon the sight of Valerie. Valerie moaned and put her head on the table for a second.
"That woman seems to know you." Mike noted. Valerie shook her head.
"She has good reason to." Valerie said sitting up. She waved to the woman as she approached the table. "Thats my mom."
Mike went completely white. "Are you sure? She seems nothing like you."
"That means there is a god." Valerie said."But really, Mike, there is my mom, Clairice Parker Anderson."
