"I can't believe it!" Chea cried.
"Surprise!" Peter, Phoebe, Micky and Davy popped up from behind a couch. There was also a blonde woman she didn’t seem to recognize.
"Welcome to your baby shower, honey!" Micky came over to her. He hugged her tightly.
"Easy, babe, or we'll have a squeeze delivery here." Chea said.
"It was our idea, mom." The woman said.
"Yeah." Phoebe said. "Adriana knew you would be back from your doctors appointment, so we hurried over here and set up."
"This is so great." Chea said. "Oh I want my presents!" She started to run over to the couch. "I LOVE wrapped things!"
"Chea, honey, we need to talk first." Karen said. Davy looked at her with a weird look. "Unfinished business, geez."
"Okay." Chea said. They went over into a corner, where they couldn’t be heard.
"What about what we talked about?" Brianna asked. "And who’s Adriana? One of the six?"
"Adriana must be one of my daughters, I loved that name ever since I read it in a story. Now about getting the guys together?" Chea said. "This is the perfect time to start hinting about it. We'll work together on the guys. Once they realize what a good idea it is, they'll work on the most important guy, Mike. Without Mike we have no chance."
"But with Mike it will be harder. We can't run up to him and go hey lets have a show!" Karen said pointedly.
"I have an idea." Chea said. "We'll chat later. My fingers are itching to open fancy wrapping paper."
The party was going great. Peter and Phoebe played a song on their acoustic guitars.
"I know that song." Chea pointed out.
"Me too." Micky said. "I really regret taking them to see Deliverance so many times. They know that dueling banjo song by heart." Chea laughed. Brianna and Karen looked on as they ate chocolate cake.
Minutes later Chea sat in a small circle. She had a small pink crown on her head. She had opened most of her gifts, she had one left, and it was in an envelope.
"Okay, this last one is from John and Yoko." Karen read hesitantly.
"John and Yoko?" Chea asked carefully. "I thought..."
"That they werent going to make it?" Micky asked. "You're right. So they decided to send this instead. Seven acres of rain forest are in each of you guys names." He said touching Adrianas hand. "This is an empty certificate, for Dolenz number seven."
"Oh ok." Chea said looking at Karen. "Thats so great, its a gift and we're helping the earth!"
"Well thats it." Davy said. "I gotta go now. I got some business to take care of."
"Same here." Peter and Phoebe said. Everyone made their goodbyes. Adriana came over and patted Chea on the stomach.
"You're looking good ma." She said. Chea beamed. Karen and Brianna helped Micky clean up.
"I'm gonna call it a day." Micky said. "If you want me I'll be in the studio laying down some tracks."
"Okay." Chea said. He kissed her on the forehead. "See ya guys."
Brianna and Karen waved. They sat still until they thought Micky was downstairs.
"That was a nice party." Chea said.
"Too bad we didn't get a chance to ask the guys about a possible reunion." Brianna said.
"I know." Karen said. "We'll get another chance."
"What was that about John and Yoko?" Chea asked. "Is it who I think he meant?"
"Here." Karen said referring to the book once again. "Right in 1980, you were a key factor in preventing John Lennons murder. You accidentally bumped into Mark David Chapman when you ran up to give John a hug. You knocked Chapman on the ground, and he lost grip of his gun. The security guards saw the gun and got him quicker than you could say Rumplestilskin." Karen added. "They have been grateful ever since then."
"Wow." Brianna said. "So this means everything’s different here than in the real world."
"Exactly." Karen said.
"The Beatles had a reunion, though right?" Chea asked.
"Right." Karen said.
"If they did, after all they went though, then its possible to get the guys to agree on one too." Brianna said.
"Agree on what?" They heard a voice behind them. It had a certain twang to it. Karen knew who it was before she turned around. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
"Hello Michael." Karen said.
"Hi." Mike said. He looked the way he did now, though his gray hair was shorter. He had sunglasses on. He quickly removed them. "Chea, Brianna." He greeted the girls. "Karen."
"Whatcha doing here?" Brianna asked.
"Cheas daughter Adriana called me about the baby shower. I thought I would bring her something, but it looks like I missed it." He handed her a box. "Its a baby monitor."
"Thanks." Chea said taking the box. "Now we can hear the kid in stereo."
There was weird silence between the group. Karen and Mike looked at each other. Brianna could sense the tension. You could almost cut it with a knife.
"I gotta get going." Brianna said. "Home and everything." She smiled. She headed out. Chea followed.
"Where are you going?" Chea asked.
"Just outside. I'm not gonna wander around or anything. I have no place to go, I don't know where I live." Brianna said. "I got the sense that Mike wanted to be alone with Karen."
Chea nodded. "I wonder what he has to talk to her about.
"I been wanting to talk to you." Mike said.
"You have?" Karen asked. Mike leaned on the counter.
"Yeah." He said.
"What about?"
"Well, uh." He started out. "And uh the truth is....the truth is..."
"Yes?" Karen looked at him.
"The truth is I miss you." Mike said.
Karens eyes lit up. "Really?" She asked.
"I miss you, I miss the guys." He said. "It's been a long time."
"I know." She said.
"You do?" Mike asked.
"Sure." Karen said. "I was just thinking about it today. Maybe we can think about a reunion. An album maybe?"
"An album? I dunno." Mike said. "That would be nice."
"The Beatles did it." Karen pointed out.
"Yeah but reunions are in vogue now, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss, even Van Halen reunited with BOTH lead singers. I don't want to look like we're jumping on some kind of bandwagon. You know, just for the money?"
"True." Karen nodded.
"It's something to think about, but we'd have to write all new songs." Mike pointed out.
"Mickys working on new material!" A voice cried out behind them. Mike and Karen looked at Chea. "I'm sorry, I'm nosy."
"He is?" Mike asked.
"Sure, he’s in laying down some tracks. I'm sure he has a lot of stuff done." Chea said.
"I'd have to call him sometime. I'm only in town for a week." Mike said.
"That’s ok. I'm sure we have your number." Chea said excited.
"Great." Mike said. "I'll keep in touch then." He went outside. He paused as he saw Brianna. She smiled innocently. "Okay." He muttered and walked on by. Chea waited till he was out of sight and snuck in.
"What was that all about?" Brianna asked.
"The most amazing thing." Chea said.
"What?" Brianna asked.
"Mike wants to get the guys back together." Chea said. "Its amazing because we thought he would be the toughest one to get on board with this."
"I know." Karen said. "It was almost too easy."
"So now what?" Brianna asked.
"You work on Davy." Karen said. "Marry him if thats what it takes."
"Yeah." Chea said. "I'll work on Micky. And then maybe Karen can talk to Peter and Phoebe."
"Peter won't be hard." Brianna said.
"Yeah." Chea shifted slightly.
"You all right?" Karen asked.
"I'm fine. Just a little uncomfortable." Chea admitted.
"Okay." Karen said. "Mike mentioned that they would need new stuff."
"Hmm." Brianna said. "I'm not much on the Monkees later stuff in the real world but what bout the Justus album?"
"The Justus album came out about the same time as the big anniversary." Chea said thinking. "And the tv special. Why they never had that put on video I don't know." Chea rambled. "Sorry."
"Oh no, don't be sorry. The Justus album is perfect. Well not perfect but its a good place to start." Karen said. "Do you remember all the songs?"
"Karen remember who you're asking." Brianna laughed.
"You're right." Karen shook her head. "I keep forgetting you are the total Monkees expert."
"What I can do is write down the songs I remember and the meantime." She groaned. "Ow. Uh in the meantime. you guys can get the others involved." She winched. "Oh man, this hurts." She looked down. "I'm all wet."
"Chea, honey, are you having contractions?" Karen asked.
"I don't know what they are! How would I know what they are or if I'm even having them?" Chea demanded.
"Does it feel like someones using your innards for a kickball?" Brianna asked.
"Kickball, basketball, football, soccer ball. The whole nine yards." Chea said.
"Go get Micky." Brianna said as Chea grabbed onto her for support. "Hurry!" She said as she held Chea up. "I think she’s gonna crush me!"
