Are we ready to start our next adventure? ;)

Yeah! ;)

Everyone ready to begin the next story?

Mike: Ready here.

Peter: I'm ready!

Micky: Bring it on! ;)

Lauren: Ditto. ;)

Davy: Um, I've gotta talk to Daph...

(We open with a performance video in the Rainbow Room of Micky and Lauren's house, "Lady Jane." It's about a week after the mystery party. The four Monkees play, but Davy's mind doesn't quite seem to be on the music. Lauren and Emma watch them and play with the twins and Katie. The kids throw a soft ball, chasing it all around the room...and their mothers occasionally chase THEM and the ball. ;) )

(Katie giggles as Little Mick tries to balance the ball on his nose. ;) ;)) )

*Their mothers also chuckle.* ;)

(Valerie comes in with Jordan in her arms. She waves to Peter, who quickly waves at her before returning to the music. The twins and Katie runs over to Jordan. Valerie helps the little boy with the thick auburn hair sit up in her lap. Daphne walks in as the song ends and joins the women. The boys all bow.)

Katie: (Claps) Yay! Papa good music! :D

Mike: Why thank you, cowgirl. I think so, too. ;)

*The twins whoop and cheer loudly.* ;) :D

Micky: Thank you, thank you! :D ;)

Lauren: *grins* His own personal audience. ;)

Valerie: (Makes a gurgling Jordan clap) Jordan likes you, too. :)

Peter: Awwww... :) :">

Daphne: Hi, guys. How's the rehersals for the next tour going? :)

Valerie: You're going to be taking that short tour in Japan in a few days. (Looks at the others) And guess what, folks? ;)

Emma: The guys got a Grammy. ;)

Valerie: Not yet, but...have you ever had this amazing craving for sushi? ;)

Emma: Huh?

Valerie: We're ALL going to be going on the Japanese tour. It's really short, only four cities, but I thought it would be interesting to see another culture. ;)

Katie: Wat Japan?

Emma: It's another country far away, across the sea. It's the country where they make "Speed Racer" and "Astro Boy." :)

Katie: Speed Wacer! Yay! :D

Little Mick: I love Speed Racer! :D

Mike: I kinda like it, even if it IS a little cheesy. ;)

Emma: It's good cheese, like Provalone. ;)

Katie: Wat sussi?

Mike: Raw fishies. :p

*The twins make disgusted faces.* :P

Emma: It's a seafood wrap made in Japan, and it's not always made with raw fish. 8-|

Valerie: (Cuddles Jordan) It's an aquired taste.

Micky: *also makes a face* Which even I haven't acquired. ;) :P

Lauren: Amazingly enough. ;)

Emma: Me either, but stir-fries are good, and so's teryaki sauce. :)

Mike: What, you mean you actually WON'T eat raw fish? Or some nice fried seaweed? ;)

Emma: Mike, lay off of him. :p

Micky: Would you like a knuckle sandwich, Mike? :P

Lauren: *warningly* Mick... :P

Peter: Guys, be nice. (Puts his bass aside) Why don't we have dinner?

Emma: While we're all still alive.

Davy: You guys go on ahead. I've got to talk to Daph.

Emma: About the wedding?

Mike: If you ever have it. :p

Daphne: We will. ;)

Davy: Yeah, Mike. Just give us time.

Valerie: It HAS been a while, guys. What venue are you using? Have you gotten your dress and tux yet? Or called a florist or a caterer?

Daphne: Weeeell... *glances at Davy*

Davy: (glances at Daph) We'll figure it out...soon...

Mike: "Soon." You guys keep saying "soon." When is "soon?"

Davy: When we're ready!

Mike: Which will be in what century?

Daphne: It'll happen...

Mike: When?

Emma: Mike, lay off. They're just not ready yet.

Davy: Yeah, Michael!

Micky: *rolls his eyes* Hey, Mike, come back to picking on me. :P ;)

Emma: Why don't we let Daph and Davy discuss what they have to discuss and go eat dinner?

Mike: I sure could use some grub.

Peter: I don't want grubs! I want a salad!

Mike: No, Pete. :p

Emma: Actually, I was going to make a nice chicken casserole and a bean casserole for the vegetarians and some citrus salad. :)

Peter: Oooh, you make good bean casserole, Em! :D

Mike: Sounds good to me.

Micky: *grins* Me, too. :D

Lauren: Chicken casserole does sound good. ;)

Emma: And there should be some peach cobbler left for dessert. ;)

Peter: I'm sold. :D

Valerie: You do make lovely cobbler, Emma. What's your secret?

Emma: A good cook never reveals her secrets. ;)

Katie: Cob'ber! :D

Mike: Ok, guys, everyone in the kitchen.

Valerie: (Picks up Jordan) I need to get some food mixed up for him. :)

Katie: (Pats Jordan) Ba'by! Jordan! :D

Valerie: (Smiles) That's right, Katie. Jordan is a baby. He eats really squishy food. :)

Katie: (Pats Jordan on the head; he burbles happily) Nice Jordan. :D

Valerie: Aw. You like him, don't you, sweetie? :)

Katie: Nice ba'by. :D (They head for the kitchen)

*The twins run into the kitchen.* :D

Lauren: Wait up, rugrats! *Runs after the twins.*

Micky: *grins* Gotta love family races. ;)

(They go in the kitchen, followed by Peter.)

Emma: Hey, guys, you can't eat if nothing's been made. ;) (Emma heads for the kitchen with Mike on her arm)

Davy: (Looks at Daphne) Daph...

Daphne: Davy, you know Mike does have a point.

Davy: (Takes Daphne's hands) Daph, I don't know how to say this...

Daphne: *gives him a skeptical look* Say what?

Davy: (Takes a deep breath) I think we should think this over more. Are we really ready to get married?

Daphne: *eyes widen* How much more can we think this over? I'm ready, Davy... I've been waiting, that's how ready I am!

Davy: You said yourself last month you're as nervous about this whole thing as I am.

Daphne: That was last month, Davy. I've thought about this long & hard. Yes, I am still nervous, but... it feels right.

Davy: I love you, but I don't know if I'm ready.

Davy: Maybe we could take a few weeks away from each other, then come back and decide...

Daphne: So, just time away from each other? Nothing more, nothing less?

Davy: Yeah. Nothin' more, nothin' less. What do you say to that, luv?

Daphne: *slight frown* Yeah, that's okay.

Davy: Good. Um...wanna go to dinner with the others?

Daphne: *smiles* Let’s. :)

*We move into the kitchen. Everyone is either gathered around the kitchen table, or the center island on stools, just having gotten their food.*

(Emma stands in front of the stove, spooning various casseroles from ceramic dishes onto plates. Everyone has a small bowl of orange, grapefruit, and tangerine slices drizzled with a raspberry vinegarette dressing.)

Emma: Everyone enjoying themselves? :)

(Valerie feeds Jordan in a little high chair. He's a less messy eater than the twins were as babies, but there's still quite a bit of food on the floor.)

*The twins are having a ball, shoving their food in their mouths, though Shelly is a little neater than Mick.* ;)

(Katie quietly eats her food on the other side of the table between her father and Peter, who dreamily watches his son and wife.)

Mike: Hey, darlin', can I have some more chicken casserole?

Peter: Mike, Em hasn't even sat down yet! :p

Emma: (Shrugs) Sure. (Plops another big spoonful on Mike's plate, then joins him with a plate of her own)

Micky: *gets up* At least I get seconds on my own. *refills his plate* :P ;)

Lauren: But if he didn't, I'd get more exercise. ;)

(Everyone chuckles as Daphne and Davy get up and start loading their plates.)

Peter: Hi, guys. How did it go?

Mike: Well, when's the wedding?

*Micky slaps the back of Mike's head as he passes to sit back down.* :P ;)

(Mike leans over to smack Micky back, but Emma glares at him and indicates Katie and the twins. They DON'T need to be giving the kids ideas. :p 8-|)

*Micky sticks his tongue out at Mike, then grins.* ;)

Davy: It isn't...yet. We're going to take a month off, see what happens.

Daphne: *nods* Right.

Mike: Hey, Val, tell us more about this Japanese tour.

Valerie: It's not going to be too big. You'll be playing in four venues; the only big one is in Tokyo. The others are all smaller theaters and hotels, but it'll be loads of publicity in the Far East. They're really into American rock out there.

Mike: We ain't gonna have to bow a lot and eat weird noodles, are we?

Valerie: Just let me handle the cultural aspects, guys. I went to Japan on a buisness trip with Dad in my teens. (Grins) You'll like concerts there. In Japan, screaming at concerts is a sign of disrespect. If they like you, they wave handkerchiefs. ;)

Mike: Japanese chicks are smart. ;)

Peter: Makes a lot more sense than shrieking yourself hoarse. ;)

Micky: And we won't go deaf. ;)

Mike: (Hits the side of his head) Yeah, seriously, I think I'm startin' to lose a little in this ear. :p

Emma: I told you to have that checked out.

Mike: Ain't anything serious yet, darlin'. I can still hear. It's just...fuzzy.

Micky: What? *grins* ;)

Mike: Not you, fuzzhead boy. ;)

*Micky shrugs and returns to eating with a smirk.* ;)

Mike: I got a hold of Aunt Kate, too. Val, could we appear on somethin' in Texas? Just for promotional purposes? Maybe we could even film a western. ;)

Valerie: (Shrugs) It depends on the time, but I could try to arrange SOMETHING. NBC is clamoring for your next special.

Peter: I want to do something with more rock stars (sadly) before we LOSE any more. :(

Valerie: Honey, I wish Janis Joplin hadn't died that way, but she'll be horribly missed. :(

Mike: Heck, I'm just glad we're all in one piece.

Emma: And lord only knows how lucky we are TO be in one piece, given everything we've been through. :p

Micky: More or less. ;)

Mike: We've still gotta stick together, as long as Alex and Shelia are roamin' free. :p

Emma: Honey, I think we drained them for a good, long time. ;)

Davy: Shelia ain't the only problem we've come across. Wot if 'Oneywell tries to recruit us again?

Mike: We say "no." :p

Katie: Hon'e'well?

Mike: Some dopey guy in a suit who keeps tryin' to get us to play James Bond. :p

Katie: Wat dat?

Emma: Inspector Honeywell means well, sweetie, but he sometimes tries to make us do things we don't want to do.

Katie: Oh.

Davy: I dunno. I think bein' a spy is kinda fun. ;)

Micky: Me, too. ;)

Mike: Bein' a spy has almost gotten us killed several times. Need I mention Dragonman, or Darwin? :p

(Peter whimpers. :( )

Micky: Well...

Emma: (Sighs) I agree with Mike. Yes, working for Honeywell has had it...interesting...moments, but we're not professionals. Valerie and Mike were almost mentally damaged the last time we helped him.

Davy: Aww, the kiddies ain't never been spies. ;)

Mike: The kiddies are almost three, almost two, and not even a year old. :p

Lauren: And their mothers would prefer to keep them AWAY from spies and spying. :P

Mike: It's settled, guys. The next time we see Honeywell anywhere, we move away from him as quickly as we can. From now on, we leave spying to the spies.

Emma: (Nods) We're a lot of things, but we're not James Bond.

Davy: (Mutters) Speak for yourself. ;) :p

Emma: Ok, who wants some dessert? I should have some peach cobbler and ice cream left. ;)

Katie: Me! :D

Mike: ME! :D

Micky: Me! :D

Peter: Yeah, me too. ;)

*The twins put up their hands and yell "ME!"* ;) :D

Valerie: I'm full, and Jordan will stick with mashed peaches. ;)

(Jordan burbles and runs his fingers through the green goop on his tray, making swirls. :) )

Peter: That's my son, the artist. :)

Davy: (Shakes his head and gets up) Nahh, I'm gonna go out. Thanks for the meal, guys.

Mike: Where ya goin', Dave?

Davy: Out. I've just gotta think.

Mike: You be careful, boy. (Grins) Don't talk to no strangers after midnight! ;)

(Davy rolls his eyes, grabs his coat, and heads out. :p)

Emma: (As she ladles peach cobber into bowls) I hope he's all right. Daph, Lauren, you want some?

Lauren: Please! :D

Daphne: *sighs, looking off in the direction Davy went* No, thanks.

Mike: (As Emma gives Lauren a bowl and scoops ice cream on top of each) Why did you let him talk you inta takin' a month off, Daph? He's gotta stop shirkin' responsibility. I've told him that for years.

Daphne: Because I was afraid that if I didn't, I'd lose him. I don't want to lose him.

Mike: You've gotta go grab him, Daph. You know how he is. He loses interest quick.

Emma: Mike, stop scaring the poor girl. Davy will come back when he's ready. (Sets everyone's bowls on the table)

Daphne: *quietly* Thank you, Emma.

Mike: (As everyone chows down) I hope you guys know what you're doin'.

Daphne: Me, too.

(We fade out on Daphne sadly staring at the door where Davy left as everyone else enjoys the cobbler and the company.)