Ok, ready to see the guys play...and have some more fun in the snow? ;)

You bet! :)

Katie: See Daddy! :D

Daphne: See Davy. ;) :X

Maxine: And have lunch in town. ;)

Lauren: Food sounds really good right now. ;)

Kimberly: I'll bet the rugrats are hungry. ;)

Mick: I want food! :D

Shelly: Lunch! :)

Jenny: (Looks up at the sky) I hope we can get to town soon. It's starting to get darker. :o

(Cut to the six women and three children walking down the hill towards the arena where the guys are playing. Clouds are beginning to build up in the sky as they hike down a path, past slopes still filled with skiiers.)

Emma: Oooh, that was a good trip! (Grins) Is everyone nice and full now? ;)

Katie: (Rubs her tummy) Full. :p ;)

Mick: Close to full. ;)

Kimberly: I couldn't eat another bite! That was the biggest sandwich I ever had!

Maxine: They make Reubens almost as good as the deli down the street from my folks in Brooklyn. ;)

Daphne: (Sighs) Wish I could have shared that big burger with Davy... :X

Kimberly: Have you two FINALLY decided when you're getting married?

Maxine: We want to wear our bridesmaid's gowns. ;)

Daphne: Sometime in the spring.

Emma: That isn't that far away, Daph...

Lauren: Unless she's thinking sometime in spring, closer to summer. ;)

Daphne: (Grins) Yeah, that's it! :D

Maxine: You guys ain't ever gonna get married, are you?

Daphne: We ARE! These things just take time.

Lauren: And time, and time, and time... *rolls her eyes, grinning* ;)

Emma: Hey, it took Mike and I a while to get married, and WE finally went through with it!

Daphne: That's right! ;)

Kimberly: Excuses, excuses. ;)

*Lauren chuckles.* ;)

Shelly: "There's that 'marriage' thing again."

Katie: (Tugs on Shelly; indicates her and Micky) Mawied?

Mick: *grins* "No, Katie, that's something the grown ups do. Like your mommy and daddy, our mommy and daddy..."

Katie: Ooohhh! :o

Shelly: "Why won't Aunt Daphne and Uncle Davy get married? They really like each other!"

Katie: Kissy! :D :X

Mick: "I think they're scared, or that's what I've heard Daddy say."

Shelly: "Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Mike and Aunt Emma and Uncle Peter and Aunt Valerie are all married, and THEY aren't scared about it!"

Mick: "Maybe not now. *shrugs* I don't know."

Shelly: (Picks up a snowball and throws it at her brother as Katie giggles) "Snow is so much fun! I wonder why it never snows in California?"

Mick: *wipes the snow off him* Daddy says it's too warm in California, or where we are, anyway. *makes a face* He went off on some long explanation. I got up and left. Poor Onyx had to listen to the whole thing." ;)

Shelly: (Laughs and picks up another snowball) "Daddy just likes to talk...about anything!" ;)

Mick: "And everything!" :D ;)

Katie: Gonna get'cha! (Throws a handfull of snow at Shelly; she misses)

Shelly: "We should visit places where it snows more often!" :D

Mick: "Definitely! I love snow!" *tosses a handful of snow in the air, letting it shower down on him* :D

Shelly: "I love snow, too!" (Does the same)

(The group arrives at the arena. It's not a huge vennue, but fairly large; there are security guards at the door...along with a line of people, mostly young teens and their parents, waiting for tickets or to see their idols. They go up to the door and show passes, then head in.)

Shelly: (As her mother takes her hand) "Wow, it's big in here!" :o

Mick: *grabs onto Lauren's other hand; eyes widen, grinning* "Wow! What a great place!" :D

(The group doesn't notice that there are two other shadows watching the show from the wings... ;) )

(The boys are working on "Oh My My" as the kids and their mothers and friends settle in the front row. We get a performance video, kind of like the "Circle Sky" video from "Head," but with the boys in casual clothes, no screaming audience besides the squealing kids and the occasional burst from the stagehands...and no violence. ;) )

Mike: (As the guys finish) Not bad, fellas. (Nods at the wildly clapping crew) Hey, look, our first audience of the day. ;)

Micky: *grinning* About time. ;)

Peter: Hi, guys! What are you up to?

Emma: We just took the kids to lunch and thought we'd go to see you guys before we went back out in the cold stuff. ;)

Katie: Daddy! Daddy! (She runs right onstage and hugs her father's leg) :D

Mike: (Shakes his head) Sorry, cowgirl, Daddy and the boys are workin' on our songs. I'll play with you tomorrow.

Katie: No! (Hugs his leg harder)

Mike: Um, Em...

Emma: I think she's cute. ;)

Micky: *laughs and comes out from behind the drumkit* Break time! *jumps off the stage and goes over to Lauren and the twins* ;)

Peter: (Smiles) I don't think taking a break for a half-hour or so will hurt anyone, Mike. :)

Mike: But...

Davy: Daphne! (He drops his tambourine, runs offstage, and makes a beeline for Daphne. They embrace and start kissing) :X

Maxine: I think it's getting mushy in here. ;) :p

Mike: Katie, we're gonna go do...somethin'...so could you let go of your dad now? ;) :p

Katie: 'Kay. (Mike puts his guitar aside and picks her up)

Valerie: (Goes onstage) What's going...(smiles at the group) Hi, guys. What brings you here? :)

Emma: Thought the kids would want to visit their daddies when they could hear them talk. ;)

Peter: Can we go out and play in the snow, Valerie? Please? (Makes his eyes get big) :D

Katie: Pwease, Aun' Val'rie? :D

Mike: Val, we've gotta practice.

Valerie: You HAVE been practicing for a long time, and I'm sure the kids miss you, so...why not? :)

Katie: Yay! (Hugs her daddy) :D

*Meanwhile, the twins are climbing all over Micky, who's now sitting in the front row. Lauren is leaning over from the second row, also playing.* ;)

Emma: You know, I've always wanted to take a sleigh ride, but we never had enough snow in southern New Jersey. :)

Mike: Ain't never taken one of those either, except in the song. ;)

Valerie: I could probably call someone in town and arrange for all of us to have a quick one before the show starts. :)

Peter: Oh, that would be fun! :)

Davy: Sounds romantic, luv. ;)

Daphne: Oooh! :X

Maxine: I think we'll bow out on this one.

Kimberly: I wanna go back into town and do some shopping.

Jenny: And don't forget, Daph, we're going to have to do some rehearsing of our own after the guys' finish their show tonight.

Maxine: Yeah, we have a show two days from now.

Jenny: I saw the loveliest little art shop when we were in town! I want to take a look at it. :)

Daphne: I won't forget, guys. I'll meet you at the hotel in an hour or so. :)

Maxine: See you later, Daph! (Grins) Have...fun, if you know what I mean. ;)

Kimberly: LOTS of fun. ;)

(They head out, and Valerie walks offstage to call for a sleigh ride. We see the two shadows in the background of the wings as Mike, Peter, and Katie make their way into the audience. One shadow in particular wavers at Mike and Katie...but before we get a good glance of facial features, the camera fades out.)

(Fade into the white world in front of the lodge. The Monkees and their families and significant others stand on a wide path near the woods, away from the slopes.)

Valerie: (Joins the crowd) The sleigh should be arriving any minute. :)

Peter: This is going to be fun! I haven't taken a sleigh ride since I was really little and we lived in Germany. :)

Katie: Sleigh wide! :D

Mick: Let's go! Wheeee! :D *giggles* ;)

Emma: How did you manage to round up a sleigh that fits all of us? ;)

Valerie: Rented one of those big old Victorian get-ups. ;)

Mike: Let's get this over with.

(Emma makes a face, but says nothing. :p)

Katie: (Snuggles in her father's arms) Daddy. Like Daddy. :)

Mike: I like you too, cowgirl. I've got a concert comin' up tonight, though.

Emma: Honey, you need time away from the arena before you start. You've had plenty of practice time.

Mike: Em, this is a sold-out show!

Emma: So? You've had this before. Take some time out to relax with your family. It won't kill you. :p

Mike: But...

(We're spared the rest of Mike and Emma's arguement by the arrival of the sleigh. "Wide" is the appropriate word; it's a huge vehicle, pulled by two big brown horses with shaggy manes, tails, and hooves. The sleigh is bright red, with gold trim and gleaming metal runners. An older man in Victorian dress holds the reins.)

Katie: Oooh, horsies! :D

Peter: Wow. That's bigger than the ones in Germany! :o

Micky: *grins* Now THIS is my kinda sleigh! :D ;)

Emma: (Sighs) Reminds me of a larger version of the carriage rides in Cape May. :)

Old Man: (Grins and indicates the seats) You the group I'm supposed 'ta pick up? :)

Valerie: (Nods) Yes, sir. (Hands him a piece of paper)

Old Man: (Reads the paper, puts it in his pocket, and nods) Ok, folks, all aboard! (Grins at the twins) You young'uns takin' your first sleigh ride? ;) :)

Mick: Yeah! :D

Shelly: *nods* Uh huh! :)

Katie: Yay! :D

Mike: I'm takin' my first, too. :)

Old Man: I hearda you boys. You're those Monkee fellas, right? Heard 'ya on the radio. You ain't bad. Some of your stuff is catchy, like that "I'm a Believer" song. :)

(Mike bristles but says nothing - that's not one of his songs getting praised. ;) :p)

*Micky grins.* ;) :D

Peter: Oh, wow, we didn't write that one, but thank you! (Puts an arm around Valerie) This is my wife. She's the one who owns the company that releases our albums! :)

Old Man: (As Valerie blushes and everyone climbs in) I like a woman with good taste. ;)

Davy: (Grins) Petah, get some ice on Val, I think she's on fiah! ;)

Peter: (As Valerie turns a very deep shade of red) I think she's fine just the way she is! :X

Daphne: (Nudges Davy) You're awful! ;)

Davy: I try, luv. ;)

(The kids all climb into their parents' laps as the sleigh lurches to life and "It's Nice to Be With You" begins.)

(Emma leans on Mike's shoulder and Katie cuddles into his chest. He just sighs and watches the landscape go by.)

(Davy and Daphne cuddle and smooch, trying to ignore certain people's prying eyes. ;) :X)

*The twins continues point out different things they pass by, while their parents try to cuddle, to no avail.* ;) :P

(Seeing that their parents want time to themselves, Peter and Valerie take Mick and Shelly on their laps. :) )

(The sleigh follows the widest path through the woods, passing by a crystal-clear, frozen-solid lake. Peter reaches up and touches the tips of tree branches, knocking bits of snow onto the twins' noses. ;) )

*The twins laugh.* :D

(People skate on the pond, couples and families and children. They wave to a young couple who skate by...followed by two little bunnies, one with longer eyelashes and obviously female. ;) :X)

(The group even gets to witness a few fancy figure skating moves by various people on the ice as the sleigh passes on. Peter scoops up snow from the sleigh. Valerie puts them into cones and hands them to the twins. :) ;) )

(Davy pulls Daphne close to him, grabs one of the blankets from a pile on the floor, and pulls it over them. ;) )

(Katie takes some of the snow from the trees and throws it over her head in a big, glittery shower. Emma smiles, but Mike just brushes it off. :p :) )

*Micky and Lauren are enjoying their relative privacy.* ;)

(Shelly tugs at Valerie and points at the mound of blanket. She smiles...and turns the little girl's attention to a group of red cardinals and chickadees chasing each other through the woods. :) :p)

(Peter blushes as he realizes that Mick is also paying a bit too much attention to the blankets...so he points out some squirrels and chipmunks instead. :p)

*Mick makes sounds, trying to call the little animals. The animals scamper off and Mick pouts.* :P

(A chickadee lands on Micky's head and tries to bite his curls. She thinks it's a worm! ;) )

(The chickadee then tries to nest in his mop as the others giggle or snort, including the kids. ;) )

(Katie and Emma lean out of the sleigh and throw seed for the birds and other animals. :) )

*Micky gives the others an odd look. He finally dips his head down, and the chickadee falls into his hands. They stare a moment before the chickadee seemingly sticks her tongue out at him and flies away. Micky's eyes narrow and he slumps down, hiding completely under the blanket.* :P ;) :">

(The sleigh pulls back onto the open road and over to the lodge as the song ends and everyone but the pair under the blankets laugh as Micky tries to hide. :)) :) )

Old Man: Ok, folks, ride's over. Have a good time back there? :)

Katie: Fun! See birdies! :D

Micky: *makes a face* Apparently, I shouldn't be outdoors without a hat on. :P ;)

Emma: We had a good time. :)

Mike: It's kinda nice out here, in the snow and everything. :)

Lauren: *grins* Awe, Mick, she couldn't help it! *rubs his head* She saw a nice, comfy place to nest. :)

Mike: (To the blanket) Hey, guys, you can come up for air now. ;) :p

Davy: (Pops out of the blanket, zippering his pants) Is the ride ovah already? :p ;) :X

Micky: *forgetting his embarrassment* Well, well, well. ;)

Daphne: (Peers out of the blanket, red-faced) Ooooooohhhhhh... :D :X

Katie: Unca Davy n' Aun' Dap'ne play? :)

Davy: You might say that, Miss Katie. ;)

Mike: (Looks at his watch) We've gotta be gettin' along, before all 50,000 of our handlers come lookin' for us. I wanna work on the last set, anyway.

Valerie: (Sighs and nods) I'm afraid Mike's right this time. (Hands the older man some money) Thank you, sir. We had a lovely time.

Old Man: Don't mention it. My grandchildren are never gonna believe I had the Monkees on my route. ;)

Valerie: Come on, guys. We'll get you backstage passes for the show!

Daphne: I've got to go see the girls, but I'll meet you there!

Valerie: You'll get to see your daddies play for the first time! :D

Katie: Oooh! :D

Emma: That sounds wonderful. :)

Mick: Yay! :D

Lauren: Sounds like fun. ;)

Daphne: (Kisses Davy) See you later! :)

Davy: Oh, luv... (Blushes as she heads for the lodge) :">

Valerie: Come on. We've got a show to put on! :)

Shelly: "Let's go see our Daddy play!" :D

Mick: "Yeah!" :D

(The group heads back to the arena...unaware that they're being watched by the familiar passengers of a nondescript black car, which heads back for the lodge as they vanish behind the snowy hills that glow in the last light of the slowly setting sun.)