Everyone ready to take on the devils? ;)

Mike: Em? Darlin', are you ok? I feel somethin' awful in my stomach... :p

Peter: Mike's really upset! Are you girls all right? :(

Davy: I KNEW we shouldn't 'ave left! :p

Micky: Just great... :P

(Alex leads Lauren onto the floor for a fast instrumental dance. The waiter brings their drinks back to their table.)

Alex: Hey, you're not that bad! ;) :)

Lauren: *grins* Thanks. You're not too bad yourself. ;)

Alex: Hey, I've had practice. I go out dancing a lot. ;)

Lauren: I guess so. ;)

Alex: (As the song ends) Whew! That was a hot one! Wanna go get our drinks? ;)

Lauren: *nods* Yeah.

(They make their way back over to the table. Alex picks up his drink and sips it.)

Alex: Drink up, babe! It's a cold night out there. We've gotta stay warm. ;)

Lauren: *grins* Don't have to tell me twice. *takes a sip of her drink, pauses a moment, but shrugs it off* Must've used a lot of syrup in this one. ;)

Alex: I asked for a very special ingredient just for you. ;)

Lauren: *chuckles* Just like Mick. He does the same thing and never tells me what it is, but it's always something different. Or so he says. ;)

Alex: Let's just say it'll liven up your life. Now, (grins as she sips her drink) you were looking for Emma? ;)

Lauren: Yeah, I was. *takes another sip* The bartender said she was over here with you.

Alex: He did? Well, I saw her for a few minutes, but you know, I think she went outside for some air. Her drink must have been getting to her. ;)

Lauren: *nods* That's understandable. *takes another sip; grins* You know what? They make some damn good Shirley Temples here. ;)

Alex: Don't they? (Grins) Want another one?

Lauren: *finishes her first* Sure! :)

Alex: (Calls a waiter) Another special "Shirley Temple" for my lady friend here. ;)

Lauren: Ya know, you're not half bad when you're not being evil. ;)

Alex: Thank you. (Another songs starts up, a slower one; he puts ouut his arm) Wanna dance?

Lauren: You bet I do! *takes his arm, jumps up, and nearly slams into him; blushes* Sorry. :">

Alex: (Grins at how close they are) That's ok, babe. I kinda like it. ;) :X

Lauren: *grins again* I guess you're good at the slow songs too, huh? ;)

Alex: The best, babe. ;)

Lauren: So humble, too. ;)

Alex: Of course. I'm a Dolenz. ;) (He takes her arm and holds her close to him, wrapping them around her gently, murmuring sweet nothings into her ear)

Lauren: *grin widens at what he's saying to her* Oh, you're definitely a Dolenz. ;)

Alex: Um-hmm. :X (Husky) It's really hot out here. Wanna another drink, babe?

Lauren: *blows her bangs out of her face* Yeah, my hair's sticking to my forehead. ;) :P

(Alex leads her back to the table, where the waiter is setting their drinks down. He lifts his glass to hers.)

Alex: Cheers, babe. To you and to a lovely winter's night. :) ;)

Lauren: Cheers! To this night and to you. I never woulda believed it before, but I do now. ;) *gulps down half her drink*

Alex: Keep enjoyin' yourself, babe. You deserve it. I'll bet you and my...ahem..."brother" don't get out much, not with those two kids around. :p ;)

Lauren: *shakes her head* Not really. Mick's mom will take the kids, but then she needs a month to recuperate. *chuckles* They run her ragged every time. And the others aren't much help in watching them. They think it's enough dealing with Micky! *gulps down more of her drink, almost finishing it* The twins ain't that bad. Sure, they're rambunctious and run all over the place, but... *finsihes her drink; blinks* What was I saying? :-/ ;)

Alex: You were talking about your children, babe. ;)

Lauren. Oh, yeah. *grins* I left them with Val. She said the Abbies would be back soon to give her a hand.

Alex: (The music has stopped) Hey, where did the music go? (Sighs) No matter. Seems we have to provide it ourselves. (Smiles) Hey, babe, why don't we go make music? I'm sure Valerie will be able to handle the rugrats a little longer. ;)

Lauren: Sure they can! *grins* Let’s make some music!

Alex: (Leads Lauren over to the piano and sits behind it) Any requests, babe? (Lauren looks sort of dreamy) Babe? Any requests? ;)

Lauren: Uuuuuummmmmm... (Grins) Do you know "Temptation Eyes" by The Grass Roots? ;) :D

Alex: Sure! (He starts to play the song)

*As Alex plays, Lauren starts to sing, or what she thinks is singing. She has the right key, but wrong pitch. She knows all the words, though.* ;)

(Alex winces a little, but says nothing.)

Alex: (As the song ends; goes to the wobbly Lauren) Hey, babe, you ok?

Lauren: *fans herself* God, it's hot in here. I think I need to sit for a minute. :P

Alex: (Leads her back to the booth; hands her another drink) Here, babe. Have something cold. It'll make you feel better. ;)

Lauren: *nods* Thanks. *gulps down half of the drink; pauses a moment, then groans* Oh, man. *rests her head in her hands* Tell the room to stop spinning, I wanna get off. :P ;)

Alex: (Sits next to Lauren and begins to stroke her hair) It's ok, babe. I'm here for you. Not like Dolenz at all. ;) >:)

Lauren: *lifts her head; lopsided grin* Thanks. *tips over against him, out like a light* ;) :P

(Alex continues stroking her hair. He kisses her lips and is about to go a bit further when there's a faint black light and Shelia steps into the room.)

Alex: *looks up as Shelia comes over* You have some rotten timing, you know that? :P

Shelia: This is hardly the place to get in her underwear, Alex. :p

Alex: That comes later. I was going for the more external things at the moment. ;)

Shelia: Well, leave the external things for another time and bring her to our suite.

Alex: *shifts Lauren around so her arm is draped over his shoulders* The Scholar is already there. *pauses, motions to Lauren* I think she simply passed out. You don't suppose we could maybe just keep her out of harm's way for now? *waggles his eyebrows* ;)

Shelia: It would probably be for the best. Put her to sleep or turn her into an animal.

Alex: Think I'll put her to sleep. I very much prefer her in human form. *moves his free hand over her forehead and whispers in her ear* There. ;)

Shelia: Bring her to our suites on the top floor, Alex. (Makes a face and growls) If we didn't need that little Scholar bitch to make sense of your notes... :p X(

Alex: I know, Milady, I know. *stands, Lauren half draped over him; grins widely* I'm on my way. ;) :D >:)

Shelia: Good. (She puts down money for the drinks. Alex manages to fish in his pocket for a little something extra for the waiters who brought Lauren's and Emma's drinks. They vanish in a black light.)

*We cut to the Abbies’ adjoined rooms. The doors are wide open. Stuffed animals and other toys are everywhere. Clothes are all over the place, and so are the ladies. The Abbies are sprawled on various pieces of furniture, while Valerie surveys the damage.* ;)

Valerie: Oh, good grief. How could you guys have let them get this messy in just under an hour? :p

Kimberly: Vaaaallll, they're CRAZY! :p

Valerie: They're barely three years old. :p

Daphne: This is normal for them! :P

Valerie: Where ARE the kids, anyway? If we lose them, their mothers will make sure we lose our heads. :p

Jenny: *comes in from the other room* The twins are jumping on the bed in there. They were making me dizzy just watching them. :P

Valerie: Is Katie with them?

Maxine: Oh, man, Jenny, and you're still alive? :p ;)

Jenny: Barely. Yeah, Katie's in there, too. She's sitting in one of the chairs, clapping and cheering them on. *flops onto the bad*

Maxine: I think those kids are a bad influence on that little girl. She wouldn't do half the stuff she does if they didn't do it first. :p

Daphen: They're just being kids, though.

Valerie: Hey, has anyone heard from Em and Lauren? They both should be around by now.

Kimberly: No one's seen Em since early this afternoon.

Jenny: And Lauren went after Em about an hour later, I guess.

Valerie: (Gulps and puts her hand on her heart) There's something wrong here. Something must have happened to them. They would have been back to check up on the kids by now.

Maxine: They probably just got to talking in the bar and lost track of time. :)

Valerie: Emma wouldn't do that. She's almost paranoid about being on time for things.

*The three of the kids come through the doorway, all frowning, Katie mainly because the twins are frowning.*

Valerie: Kids, what's wrong?

Katie: Tummy bad. :(

Mick: Feel really weird! :P

Valerie: You have a tummy ache, honey?

Maxine: All of you do?

Kimberly: (Puts a hand on Mick's head) You don’t feel warm. I don't think you're sick, Mick.

Mick: *nods* Feel yucky. :P

Shelly: Me, too. :P

Valerie: (Looks at Daphne, then at the twins) Do you kids feel the way you feel when we're around...that bad lady? :p :(

Shelly: Yeah. :P

Mick: Yup. :P

Katie: Uh-huh. (Starts to cry) Tummy bad! Wan' Mama n' Papa! :( :((

Mick: Want Mommy. *makes a face* :P

Valerie: Oh, god... (takes the little girl in her arms) Honey, Papa is miles away in California, but we'll go find your mama for you, ok? She and Aunt Lauren have to be around here somewhere. :)

Maxine: Bad lady? What's going on?

Kimberly: What's making the kids sick? It's not the food. We ate it, too.

Jenny: I'm confused.

Valerie: (Sighs) I...(looks at Daph)...should we tell them?

Daphne: Well...I guess it couldn't hurt.

Valerie: They're your closest friends, practically part of the family, and one of my top selling bands. They might as well know.

Maxine: Know what?

Kimberly: What in the he...(looks at the kids)...HECK is goin' on here? :p :o

Valerie: How do I put this? (Looks at Daphne) Daph, they're YOUR best friends.

Maxine: (Frowns suspciously) Put what? Daph, what's she talking about? What's going on? WHAT bad lady?

Daphne: Um, well...we're, um...talking about the Devil and her apprentice. *shrugs*

(The three remaining Abbies just stare at them.)

Maxine: You're kidding, right?

Daphne: I wish. :P

Valerie: I'm afraid not. I'm sure you remember Shelia Saunders.

Kimberly: The chick we saved you guys from...a couple of times? You mean she really IS the Devil? Tilly was right? :o

Daphne: Yup. :P

Maxine: No WAY! There was a crumb of reality in all that babble about Satanic rituals and Armageddon? :o

Valerie: (Makes a face) Not about the Satanic rituals, no, and I don't think we're in for the end of the world for a while, either...if we can do something about it. :p

Maxine: What does she want with Em, Lauren, and the rest of you?

Valerie: That would depend on which of us you're talking about. I don't know what she wants with Daph, me, or Lauren, but she wants Em dead, Peter's soul, Micky's...collecting abilities, and Mike and Davy in bed. :p

Kimberly: What does she have against Em? She's a nice girl and a hell of a good baker!

Valerie: Mike and Em are deeply in love...and have been for 500 years.

Maxine: (Raises an eyebrow) Huh?

Kimberly: Come again?

Daphne: Long story.

Valerie: Our souls have apparently been around for almost 500 years, as has Shelia and, until recently, her uncle, the man most people think of when they hear the word "devil."

Kimberly: (Eyes widen) Her uncle was the guy who just, like, dissolved during that love-in a few years ago! The one where we saved you guys, and Shelia was in the attic! :o

Daphne: Exactly.

Valerie: That was him. Shelia inherited his corporation, his title of Chief Devil...and his severe dislike of all of us. She's jealous of Emma because Mike...well, in the past, he left Shelia for Emma, and she hasn't handled that well ever since. :p

Maxine: And what does this have to do with the kids getting sick?

Katie: Bad lady! Nonono! X(

Mick: Yucky! :P

Valerie: We're...whenever one of our...other halves...is sick or in physical pain, we can sense it. We know what's going on with them. (Puts her hand on her heart) My poor Peter, for instance, is upset and confused right now. Mike and Micky must be reacting to whatever Shelia and Alex did to the girls, too.

Katie: Papa sad. :(

Shelly: I want Mommy! :(

Maxine: Look, I'm confused beyond belief here, so why don't we go find Em and Lauren? That might explain more than words probably could. If nothin' else, it'll make the kiddies feel better.

Valerie: I don't know about that. I don't want Shelia getting her hands on the kids.

Katie: NONONONO! WANT MAMA N' PAPA! :( :(( X(

Maxine: We can't let the kids stay like this.

Kimberly: Hey, it'll be all five of us, plus the kids, against two of them. (Goes into her karate fighting stance) And don't forget what I can do. ;)

Jenny: Uh huh. ;)

Valerie: (Sighs) All right, but one...no, two...of us have to keep an eye on the kids at all times. Shelia and Alex have captured them before.

Katie: (Looks up) Fin' Mama? :)

Valerie: (Takes the little girl's hand) Yes, dear, we're going to find your mama, and Shelly and Mick's, too. :)

Katie: (Claps) Yay! :D

Mick: *nods* Find Mommy!

Valerie: Yes, yay! We're going to save your mama and Aunt Lauren from the Bad Lady and the Bad Man. (Mutters) Again. (Looks at the twins) Kids, please take someone's hands. Take two someones' hands, if possible. ;)

*The twins nod and do as told.* :)

Valerie: Ok, everyone, come on. Let's go find Em and Lauren. We'll start with the bar first, since that's where they were last seen.

Kimberly: (Looks out a window; it's starting to snow softly) We're not going to be able to go outside and look. The storm's starting.

Maxine: Doesn't look that bad.

Jenny: Yet. :P

Valerie: Well, let's get going before it does. (They all head out the door.)

(Fade out on the hotel; fade in on the outside of the small Headquarters recording studio in Culver City, California. We join in time to catch Micky recording the lead vocals for "All Alone In the Dark." The other guys sit around the room, waiting for their turn to work on the backing vocals; two more men are in the booth.)

Hank: (Man with beard, mustache, and headphones in the booth) Cut, Mick. That was great! :)

Micky: *grins* Thanks, man! :)

Mike: Ok, Mick, now that we're done with that...(he doubles over)...oh, man! :o (Clutches his chest)

Hank: (He and Chip run out of the booth) Hey, man, what's wrong?

Micky: *eyes widen* Mike?

Mike: (Breathless) Gotta...gotta...use the bathroom... (He runs out of the room and into the men's bathroom; the other Monkees follow him there)

Micky: Mike...

Mike: (His face is in pain) Em...it's Em...somethin's wrong...my wolf’s intuition...(makes a face)...my gut... :p :o :(

Peter: (Puts his hand on Mike's shoulder) Oh, Michael, you're in terrible pain, like...like...

Mike: Like my soul is bein' corrupted. :p X(

Micky: Oh, shit. :P

Mike: Mick, how did you feel when Alex got his slimy paws on Lauren last year?

Micky: Exactly like that. :P

Mike: (Slams his fists against the wall, but the tiles don't break) DAMN IT! THE ASSHOLE GOT A HOLD OF MY WIFE! HE'S GONNA MAKE HER INTO SOME SEX SLAVE! X(

Micky: Uhhh...uh oh... *makes a face*

Davy: Mick?

Peter: Micky, are you ok? Your aura is a bit hazy.

Micky: Well, it isn't as bad as Mike, but... *swallows* Something's wrong with Lauren. *scratches his head* I'm not sure. Man, I feel confused. :P

Mike: Mick, did you go to that bar down the street before our session? Man, I told you... :p

Davy: Mike, lay off of him. X(

Micky: *shakes his head* No, man. :P

Peter: (Puts his hand on Micky's shoulder) Mike, he's really confused!

Mike: I could have told you that. :p ;)

Micky: *holds his head* I can't...confused. All hazy. :P :-/

Mike: We've gotta get back to New England.

Peter: How, Mike? That snowstorm would have hit by now!

Mike: I don't care. I'll fly us there myself if no planes are goin' there.

Davy: Man, that's suicide!

Micky: *groans* Fly? Oh, God... :P

Mike: You got any better ways of getting there, Mick?

Davy: We can't blue-light there. It's too draining cross-country.

*Micky just frowns.* :P

Peter: Mike, if the snowstorm is really in full force, you'll never be able to rent a plane.

Mike: So I'll BUY one! Been wanting to! (Nods) Come on. Let's go tell Hank and Chip that this session is OVER. We're almost done with the album, anyway. That was really the last major vocal we had to record.

(The four boys exit the bathroom, heading down the hall towards the recording studio.)

(Fade out on the hall; fade back in on the exterior of the hotel. The snowstorm is picking up force and dumping mountains of snow on the area. The camera cuts to the very top floor, which is a huge suite of rooms done up in the latest mod style, with shag rugs and soft lighting, a far cry from the cozy exposed wood and outdoorsy knick-knacks in the bar. Shelia lays on the afghan-covered couch, wearing glasses and reading papers from an Italian leather briefcase.)

*Alex enters from another room, a slight grin on his face.* ;)

Shelia: (Makes a face) Enjoyed yourself, Alex? :p

Alex: *puts his fingers about an inch apart* Just a little, yeah. ;)

Alex: *shrugs* You can only do so much when they're asleep. ;)

Shelia: What do you have planned for her...and the Scholar, once she's finished writing the manual for the machine? You know my feelings about the Scholar. :p

Alex: Oh, I know, Milady. Frankly, you may do as you wish with the Scholar, but I'd still like to keep Lauren for myself. *grins* ;)

Shelia: I want the Scholar dead.

Alex: Okay. *shrugs* ;) >:)

Shelia: How is the manual coming, anyway, so you can really whip this storm into shape? ;)

Alex: It's almost done. A few more chapters, I believe, and it'll be ready. ;)

Shelia: This is one of your more interesting ideas. (Smirks and turns over, revealing a slinky, silvery, short nightgown and robe) Covering the entire globe with one massive snowstorm! Controling the weather! How DID you think of it? ;)

Alex: *gawks, then shakes himself out of it* Oh, well, you know, it just kinda popped into my head. ;)

Shelia: Controlling the weather will be WONDERFUL! Think of all the havoc we can wreck...and all the souls we can gather because no one's going anywhere? ;)

Alex: Exactly. ;) >:)

Shelia: Why don't we see how the Scholar is coming with her work...and then give her some exercise before we...(nasty smile)...eliminate her? ;) >:)

Alex: Let’s. ;) >:)

(The two go into a smaller room off the main one. Emma sits in what looks like an office, hunched over a typewriter. She's clacking away at the keys. The keyboard is between two tall stacks of papers. One has neat typing and the occasional bit of White-Out paint on it; the other has messy, handwritten scrawl.)

Shelia: Scholar?

Emma: (Without looking up) I'm busy, Milady.

Shelia: Scholar, do NOT use that tone of voice with me. X(

Emma: What do you want? I have to write.

Alex: Sorry, Milady. I think I overdid it a little. I wanted to make sure the manual would be completed as soon as possible.

Shelia: You handle her, then. :p

Emma: Master, what is it? Have I done something wrong? The manual is almost complete.

Alex: No, but Milady would like to speak with you for a moment. You can take a break from working on the manual and return to it when Milady is finished.

Shelia: We thought you'd like a little...exercise...before you continued.

Emma: Well, my legs ARE a bit cramped...

Shelia: You know, we have a visitor here. Why don't you show her what you can do?

Emma: What do you mean? Write for her?

Shelia: No. Why don't you play a few games with her?

Emma: If that's what you wish, Milady. (Looks at Alex) Master? Do you wish this?

Alex: *side glances Shelia, then sighs* It's okay, but nothing permanent, got it? Keep her human, too. ;)

Emma: As you wish, Master. Where is she...and who is she?

Alex: *points through the way they came* The room across the way. She's rather special to me. ;)

Emma: Then I won't do too much harm to her. (She follows Alex and Shelia into another room.)

Alex: *notices the closed bathroom door* Uh, yeah. *goes over and knocks* Lauren? You okay in there? ;)

*It takes a moment, but the door opens and Lauren comes out, looking worse for wear.* :P

Emma: (Grins wickedly; she recognizes Lauren) Obviously, she's NOT ok. ;) :p

Shelia: Alex, what DID you give her? She looks terrible. :p

Alex: *shrugs* Just a little vodka. How was I supposed to know how she'd react to it? :P

*Lauren eases herself onto the couch and glances up at them. She's obviously not completely there mentally, either.*

Emma: Hello, Lauren. Feeling lovely? ;)

Lauren: *groans* No. :P :-&

Emma: Maybe you just need to LOOK lovely. (She waves her hand over Lauren. A dark blue light consumes her. When it fades, she wears a skintight black mini-dress and very high heels, her auburn hair pulled into a twist on top of her head) Better? ;)

Lauren: *looks down at herself; frowns; a bit slurred* How the hell'm I s'posed to walk in these? *plays with one of the heels* :P

Emma: I don't think Master wants you to walk at all. ;)

*Alex is practically drooling.* =P~

Lauren: Oh.

Emma: (Gently pushes Lauren down) Why don't you lay down and relax, Mother? Master wants to have a good time with you. ;)

Lauren: *nods, too exagerated* Okay. *tips over sideways on the bed; let’s out a sigh*

Alex: My God. =P~ ;) :D

Emma: And you know, Mike and I have had this done to us more times than we can count... (Emma leans over Lauren and rubs her throat; small black light)

Shelia: Not bad. ;)

*Lauren eyes widen a bit. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.*

Alex: *nods* I can live with that. ;)

Emma: (Runs a hand over her forehead; another small, black light) That'll keep her confused for a good long while, Master, even after her stomach gets over the effects of whatever is making her look like shit. :p ;) >:)

Alex: *grins* Excellent. >:) ;)

Emma: (Makes black silk scarves appear and hands some to Shelia; they pull Lauren's arms over her head and bind them, then bind her ankles and blindfold her) Now she's ready for you, Master. ;) >:)

Alex: *wide grin* Alright, everyone out! :D >:) ;)

Shelia: Goodness, someone's a bit eager! ;)

Emma: I have to get back to my work, anyway. (Gives a little wave) Have fun, Master! ;) (Returns to the office)

Alex: Oh, I will, I will! :D >:)

Shelia: I assume you'll want to be alone? ;)

Alex: You have to ask? ;)

Shelia: Enjoy yourself...but don't make too much noise, all right? PPF owns this hotel, but it IS still a hotel and there ARE still guests here. ;) :p

Alex: No problem. She has no voice. No one will even know. ;) >:) :D

Shelia: But YOU have a voice...unless you want me to take your voice, too? ;)

Alex: I'll do that myself, thank you. ;)

Shelia: Suit yourself. You know where the food is when you're hungry. (She walks out)

Alex: *rubs his hands together* Now, where to begin? ;) >:)

*We fade out as Alex runs two fingers over his own throat, then makes his way toward the bed.*