Ok, everyone ready to finish this one off...and have fun at the rodeo? ;)

Mike: Heck yeah! ;)

Peter: Sure!

Micky: You bet!

Lauren: I'm ready!

Davy: As am I.

(We open back at the rodeo, as various shenanigans on the fairgrounds are intercut with the guys playing "Mary Mary." Mike lifts Katie to get a better view of Joanne riding a bucking bronco. The horse stops long enough to let Joanne give Mike and Katie kisses on their cheeks before she takes off again.)

(Emma, Mike, and Katie watch pigs run into their pen, led by a large dog. Katie pats a piglet through the fence. The piglet nuzzles her hand, and she giggles.)

*We see a crowd around a mechanical bull. Micky walks up to it like he's John Wayne. Lauren and the twins watch at the fence. The twins cheer while Lauren shakes her head. Micky waves back at them, grinning, then climbs on. He stays on for several moments while the camera spans the crowd. The entire crowd gasps, and the camera goes back to the mechanical bull, which is now minus Micky. The camera follows the twins as they run to a hay stack and dig around in it. Micky finally pokes his head out. The twins pull hay from his hair as he blushes.* ;) :">

(The others all run from the crowd. Mike and Davy double over laughing. Everyone else helps Micky out of the hay.)

(Peter and Valerie stop at a game. You have to throw three baseballs into three milk cannisters. Peter tries, but just cannot get the balls into the cannisters. He's about to cry when Valerie decides to have a go at it. She sinks all three, and we cut to Peter nuzzling a gurgling Jordan with a big stuffed teddy bear as Valerie beams with pride. :D ;) )

(Daphne watches Davy as he shows off and performs tricks in the ring. He pulls the horse up and rides it past her. She grins and claps for him. ;) )

(We see Katie "driving" a glittery little sports car with a silver wheel...until the camera pulls out to reveal she's on a midway ride, going around in circles as she waves at her parents with a great, big smile on her face. Mike has a slight but proud crooked grin; Emma snaps copious pictures. ;) :D)

*We see a shot of the twins riding a mini roller coaster. They put their arms up and scream like they were on a real coaster. The camera pulls back and reveals Lauren sitting behind them, doing the exact same thing.* ;)

(Valerie pulls Peter's fingers out of a prize-winning jar of blackberry jam. His face is smeared with purple goo. She drags him and Jordan away before someone notices jam's missing...and it's all over her husband.)

(Aunt Kate proudly shows Mike her prize-winning blackberry jam. She hands one jar to Mike, who smiles and hugs her. Katie gives her a little kiss on her cheek. :) )

(Davy makes the horse jump over increasingly high fences. He falls off the horse as he jumps over the last one. Daphne runs over to him, concerned. She kneels down and shakes him. He very gently pulls her down with him...and out of the camera's view. ;) )

*...Until Micky appears with his own camera.* ;)

(Davy growls. Daphne manages to untangle herself from him and hurry away, blushing furiously. :">)

*Davy jumps up and goes after Micky, who tosses his camera to Lauren as he runs by. Davy catches up to Micky in one of the smaller fenced areas, set up for tricks to amuse the kids. The two end up rolling on the ground, swinging fists at each other. A cloud of dust rises until it covers them completely. Minutes later, when the dust clears, both of sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily, but conscious.* ;)

(Mike and Peter exchange looks and sigh as they go to help their two best friends back on their feet and the music ends. 8-| )

(Cut to a inside a tent. This seems to be a food vendor tent, as it's filled with booths and concessions filled with goodies and long wooden tables. Emma, Mike, Peter, Lauren, Katie, the twins, and a grumbling Micky and Davy sit at one of the tables, eating dinner. Micky and Davy each have a black eye. ;) )

Bert: (Smirk in his voice) Hey, gang. Nice shiners, Dave and Mick. ;)

Micky: Yeah, yeah. :P

Bob: Couldn't you have waited until you were off-camera to try to kill each other? :p

Mike: What's it with you two, anyway? You've been at each other's throats this whole story! :p

Micky: *glares at Davy* Ask him. :P

Davy: You stahted it with that bloomin' 'orse! :p

Micky: I did not! :P

Mike: I don't care WHO started it, but it ENDS here. You're too old be acting like this. Could you grow up and save your fists for the villians and devils we run into? :p

Emma: I agree. We'll need you two in one piece for the next story. ;)

Lauren: Really. I mean, I can understand disagreements, but to the point where you practically beat each other up? That's just ridiculous. :P

Micky: I'm fine with that *nods at Davy* as long as he is, too. :P

Davy: Yes, I'm fine with it. Purple is NOT me color. :p

Peter: Come on, guys, we need to HELP each other, not hurt each other! We're all friends! :)

Bob: Ok, with that out of the way, down to business. When did you come up with this story idea?

Emma: Actually, I don't remember. Probably during the brainstorming chats we had in late fall. This is another one we didn't really come up with a lot of details for until the last minute, and it DOES look it. (Makes a face) I should have introduced Brad and Angie as villians sooner.

Mike: Their appearance DID seem kinda obvious. I mean, two people just suddenly turn up at a party, and they're the bad guys?

Lauren: Well, whadaya expect? We were running short on time, only had a partial plot (which we'd only come up with maybe a week before?), and we needed some bad guys. *shrugs*

Emma: I'm afraid real-life kept us from doing more extensive work on these last two stories. Hopefully, once I settle down in my new RL apartment, we'll be able to work on more ideas.

Lauren: We were looking for a not so threatening plot, though, and we got that. :)

Peter: I'm so glad you did! No one got really hurt, not even most of the horses! :D

Lauren: *snaps finges* That's right! *turns to the camera* No horses were harmed in the making of this roleplay story. ;)

Emma: After the dark fantasy of the fall stories and "Monkees on Ice," we decided to try to go at least semi-realistic with the February and March main stories, which is why both feature somewhat grittier plotlines and minimal use of the Imagination Power.

Bert: Hey, Mike, how did it feel to come home...in a more realistic storyline this time? ;)

Mike: It was interestin', Bert.

Emma: This story was mostly created to explore Mike's past and meet some of those cousins we've only alluded to in the other stories. ;)

Mike: Yeah. Ain't seen Joanne in a while, and we'll have to see Aunt Kate more often. (Makes a face) But when my cousins are NOT around. :p

Emma: I don't know, Katie and the twins seemed to enjoy their time with Fred. ;)

Mike: He's a bad influence. :p

Bob: Mike, what about you and Joanne? What was that about?

Mike: Just a way of burryin' certain parts of my past I should have burried a long time ago. I kinda owe her for helpin' with that.

Emma: That's about all I can get out of him, either. ;) :p

Peter: I'm just glad we're all here, and we got to play at the rodeo and have a good time. :)

Lauren: Even if we did have a couple overgrown kids with us for most of the time. ;)

*Micky just continues shoveling his food.* :P

Mike: Aunt Kate's back at the rings, talkin' with Joanne, the Sheriff, and Andrew. The Sheriff finally got Brad talkin'. They or some of their ranchhands hired various thugs from Dallas doing bad "heap Big Chief" Indian impressions, and would appear before the thugs in Indian disguise. Angie and Brad were never involved in the actual raids. They'd provide the hired goons and goonnettes with security guard uniforms from local uniform rental companies and trucks to bring the drugged horses out to the El Ranchero station, where they'd be loaded on trains in the dead of night and sent to Pal-Pan warehouses in Dallas.

Peter: And the thugs didn't know where they were sending the horses?

Mike: No. They'd drive them to the warehouse, recieve their money from a ranchhand costumed as an Indian, and be on their way.

Emma: Angie didn't know about the horses, either.

Mike: She swears Brad never told her that part of the plan. She says he told her he was selling the horses to Dallas, but she was so caught-up with preparing for the rodeo, she never thought to ask that all-important little question - "Where in Dallas?" :p

Bert: Why Indians?

Mike: (Shrugs) Brad said he just picked Indians because he could get the costumes easily. He supposedly had nothing against them personally. (Growls) Yeah, and he almost let them take the blame for his crimes! X(

Micky: That really ticked me off. I didn't realize I had so much restraint in me. :P X-(

Emma: While we're on THAT subject, let's add that Lauren and I have nothing against Indians - note the use of that word - either. We're just reflecting attitudes and the way Indians would have been treated in 1972. It may not be pretty, but history seldom is...and while we can't change the past, we can make sure no one tries to pull stuff like this in real-life today.

Lauren: Yeah. *hugs Micky* And I love the Indian I know. :D ;)

*Micky grins.* :D ;)

Emma: When I said this story was "semi-realistic," I included the depiction of the time period in that statement.

Mike: Yeah, we ain't got nuthin' against 'em. (Grins) Or even Mick. ;)

Micky: Gee, thanks, Mike. ;)

Bert: Oh, and nice work on the profiles, ladies. Good to see they're finally up and running. ;)

Lauren: Thank you. :)

Emma: Yeah. We sat down together at a brainstorming session last month and said "what the heck, while we're together, let's get them done." We just need to put some finishing touches on Alex's and Shelia's pages.

Lauren: Yeah. I still owe atleast one pic, for Shelia's profile.

Emma: And Lauren, PLEASE remind me to send a picture for you to scan onto my profile page! :-S

Lauen: Emma, send me a picture to scan. ;)

Emma: We've already had one request that pointed out I'm the only major character without a picture. :p

Bob: Hey, Dave, how does it feel to be the expecting father this time around? ;)

Davy: Oh man, Bob, it feels GREAT! I can't wait for Daph and I to 'ave our first tyke, so she can show those twins a thing or two. ;)

*Micky snorts.* :P

Bob: Speaking of...did you kids have a good time, especially since you got to spend a bit more time with your folks on this adventure? :)

Mick: Lotsa fun! :D

Katie: Fun! Love horsies! :D

Shelly: Horsies are fun! :)

Peter: I'm glad Jordan got to come with us this time, too. He's such a sweet boy. He doesn't fuss much, and he loves being around the other kids. :)

Bert: So...what was your favorite part of this one?

Mike: The age-old question. ;)

Peter: Getting to play at the rodeo! :D

Mike: Visitin' Aunt Kate again...even if most of my cousins are a pain. :p

Lauren: I just liked the whole being out in the country aspect. :)

Emma: The train romp. ;)

Micky: I don't know. I liked the whole thing.

Bert: Yeah, the Texas setting was a nice touch, since your last story mostly took place in Tokyo.

Davy: Daphne's announcement...and savin' those gorgeous horses! ;)

Mike: (Turns to Micky and Lauren) Em already knows, but I thought you would like to join us in visitin' my cousin Jerry's children's ranch tomorrow. He says he'd love to have Katie and the twins sit in on his preschool-toddler camp session. :)

Lauren: That'd be great! :)

Micky: Yeah, the twins'll love that. *glances at the two in question, who're stuffing their faces and making the mess to prove it* ;)

Emma: Yeah, at least one Nesmith is doing something decent with himself. ;)

(Mike just gives Emma a nasty look. ;) :P)

Mike: Oh, and Aunt Kate says we're invited back the next time we're between albums...and Andrew and Joanne want us to visit the Circle L, too. :)

Bert: Even after the whole thing between Davy and Micky? ;)

Mike: Aunt Kate raised eight children, nine if you count she sorta helped out with me. These two (nods at Micky and Davy) ain't nuthin' she hasn't seen before. ;)

Lauren: I guess they didn't try hard enough, then. ;)

Mike: I'm just glad the kids are ok after bein' with Fred. He tends to get dumb ideas. :p

Emma: Was one of them you climbing into the tree and breaking your leg? ;)

Mike: He was teasing me! :p

Mike: Kids, did Fred give you any hairbrained ideas?

Emma: And if he did, could you please NOT use them?

Katie: (Shrugs in a very Nesmith way) 'Kay.

Mick: Darn! :P ;)

*Shelly giggles.* ;)

Bob: Hey, are you guys going to go back on tour?

Peter: Valerie says we have a tour in England coming up next month, a couple of weeks after Davy and Daphne's wedding. Five cities in England and Scotland. :D

Davy: Grandfathah will be comin' out for the weddin', but he wants to see us when we're on tour, both at the concert and aftahwards. Oh, and Mary and Lance Kibbee said we could stay at their manor while we were in Northern England. They're turnin' it into a bed-and-breakfast to pay for it's upkeep and to help the villagers. :)

Bob: Which leads me into my next question - what else is on tap for next month? ;)

Emma: A nice, cozy, spooky romantic ghost mystery. I'm a fan of eerie gothic novels set in gloomy old houses with shadows and pinch-faced maids and eccentric owners and maybe even a spirit or two. (Gives Mike a look) Of the ghoulish variety. ;) :p

Mike: Awww. :p

Micky: Sounds like fun. ;)

Davy: And Daph and I will be gettin' married a couple of weeks after we come back from this trip! :D

Bert: Do you FINALLY have everything planned? ;)

Davy: Just about. The ceremony will be in the backyard of the Montgomery House, and the reception is in the Montgomery House's ballroom. (Looks at Lauren) Lauren, Daph asked me if we could borrow that cabin you n' Micky used for your honeymoon for a few days before we go on our next tour. ;)

Lauren: *grins* Be my guest, Dave. ;)

Davy: Yeah, we already made a kid, so there's no worry about what we may do while we're there. And yes, we checked before the trip. Daph is NOT 'avin' twins. ;)

Emma: We should have more time to work on the next story than we have the previous two. March is a long month, and we got this one done early enough to be able to do some real brainstorming. We REALLY need to work on the summer arc, too. We have nothing but ideas for that. And hopefully, my real-life will settle down enough for me to concentrate more on ALL of my writing, including Dream World, non-Dream World Monkees, and non-fanfic prose fiction. :)

Emma: (Grins) We'll really have to work on the next story, since, as you can tell from the ghost plot, we're returning to "dark fantasy" territory. And yes, certain OTHER people will also return in this story. ;)

Mike: Oh, man, I wondered what happened to those two after the snow thing. :p

Micky: Figures they couldn't be gone for a LITTLE while longer. :P

Emma: Most of the next story will be taking place within the confines of the manor, which, coming after last month's city-set story, is one of the main reasons I wanted to set this one in Texas. That, and we simply haven't done a western in almost two years. We seemed due for another Texas two-step. ;)

Mike: Yeah, for all the problems, it was kinda nice to come home...in the literal and figurative sense. ;)

Peter: It's good to come home sometimes. :)

Emma: And on that cozy sentiment, let's end this story with a hearty "Enjoy your spring and see you next month." (Katie leans on her mother's lap, yawning.) ;) I-)

Mike: Yeah, and we at Dream World hope you have a good time with your own family...even if they drive YOU crazy. ;)

Micky: Hey!? :P ;)

Davy: 'Ey, Mick, Lauren, want Daph n' me to help get the twins home? Daph's out watchin' the pie and pickle-judgin' contests. :)

Peter: Mike, can I go home with you, Aunt Kate, Em, and Katie? Val left early to take Jordan to bed.

Mike: Sure, Buddy.

Lauren: Sure, Dave! :)

Davy: 'Ey Mick...(puts out his hand)...truce? :)

Micky: *smiles; accepts Davy's hand* Truce, at least until next time. ;)

Davy: Of course, mate. ;)

Lauren: Guess I couldn't ask for more than that, huh? ;)

Mike: Lauren, I wouldn't push it. We're lucky we're gettin' this. ;)

Lauren: *puts her hands up* I'm taking what I can get! ;)

Peter: Oh, and Aunt Kate said to give you guys her no-fail remedy for black eyes. :D

(He hands Micky and Davy two chilled raw steaks. ;) )

Mike: And if it does fail, Mick can grill 'em on the barbecue. ;)

Micky: Gladly. *slaps his steak to his eye*

Davy: Right, mate. (Also does so, trying to look manly)

Mike: (Sighs) Until next time! :p

(The camera fades out on him rolling his eyes as the others get up from the tables with their paper plates, Emma carrying Katie in her other hand.)

(Cut to "Sunny Girlfriend" performed on the set with the Southwestern-esque blue and yellow awning from the early second season. The Monkees, Lauren, and Emma wear black pants and the blue six-button shirts. Davy and Lauren both have tambourines trimmed with blue ribbons. :) )

(Mike and Emma lean together, singing the song and grinning at each other. Mike winks; Emma swoons. :) :X)

*Lauren dances around the drum kit, occasionally making Micky miss a beat.* ;)

(Davy grins and winks at some girl in the audience. Peter happily dances along as he plays his banjo.)

(Fade out on the video after the end of the song; cut "Some of Shelly's Blues" playing over stills from both "productions" as the end credits run. We see the final still of the entire group from "Kids and Devils" and "A Raybert Production" as the song ends.)