Chapter nine


A couple of hours later Mike and Lori had full stomachs and were headed to the doctor's surgery.

"Man your dad can cook" Mike said patting his full stomach.

"Um hum" was all Lori replied.

"You feeling ok Lolo?" Mike asked her.

"Yeah actually I am. A little nervous but apart from that,
surprisingly calm" Lori told him.

"Good I'm pleased to hear it."

"What about you? This is your second day in a new country I know I'd be pretty freaked out."

"No I'm cool. I never imagined I'd ever get to visit London so I feel kinda lucky" He said.

"I expect you're missing Lana as well though," Lori said with a smile. Mike didn't answer he just glanced at Lori. Lori raised an eyebrow "Mike?" She asked.

"Oh yes of course I am" Mike said. Lori looked at him again.

"Ok is there something going on you want to talk about?"

"No not really."

"Robert!"

"Lori it's nothing just leave it ok"

"No I won't. Come on, what's going on?" Lori asked again. Mike knew there was no way he could get out of this one he didn't have the luck of Peter knocking on the door to save him from the questions this time "Mike" Lori said again.

"Ok! Ok, there is something on my mind but I don't want to say anything because Lana is your best friend."

"So are you. Come on Mike if there's something that's bothering you then I'd like to help out. God knows, you've done it enough times for me it's time the shoe was on the other foot" Lori told him. Mike sighed.

"I do miss her, I do but I can't help thinking about...I've been thinking about someone else and I feel really bad but I can't help it" Mike told her.

"Cait?" Lori asked. Mike was a little surprised Lori had guessed so easily.

"How did you know?" He asked. Lori shrugged.

"Female intuition" she offered. Mike nodded.

"I feel awful. I just can't help it I think about her constantly and I don't know what to do about it."

"Do you want to be with her?"

"I don't know."

"Did you love her?"

"Yes, I did" Mike was a little surprised how easily those words had managed to come out he had never admitted to any one that he had loved Cait, he had only recently admitted it to himself!

"Do you still love her?" Lori asked. Mike wasn't sure how to answer.

"I don't know" He replied finally.

"Oh Michael" Lori replied shaking her head "How long have you felt this way?"

"A while. It started a couple of weeks after Cait and I broke up. I started to really miss her like crazy and I couldn't go to her and talk to her about it because she refuses to speak to me. I guess it started making me have a few doubts about Lana" Mike said. Lori had to admit to being a little surprised. She never thought Mike would
have doubts about Lana he always insisted how much he loved her.

"If you've been having doubts about Lana for so long, why did you propose to her?" Lori asked.

"I dunno I just panicked I don't want to lose her I know that but I've got these feelings for Cait and I don't know what to do about them."

"Maybe you're just experiencing guilt because you're relationship with Lana is going so well. You broke it off with Cait to be with Lana so your subconscious mind is finding ways to compensate the fact that you did love Cait but you didn't want to be in a position to not be with Lana" Lori told him. Mike looked at her, completely
stunned and impressed at the same time with Lori's response to his problem.

"Have you been studying psychology 101 in your spare time or something?" Mike asked.

"Hay I'll have you know I'm very good at giving out advice but it's just no one ever asks me for it."

"Maybe you should be a psychiatrist instead of an architect." Mike told her.

"No way I love architecture too much and anyway stop trying to avoid the subject, am I right or not?" Lori said and Mike sighed.

"I dunno you could be. I guess I'll have to think about it and let you know" Mike told her. Lori nodded.

"Fair enough."

"Thanks Lolo" Mike said. Lori smiled.

"You're very welcome. You know I'm here for you too ok don't think you have to keep things bottled up I'd like to help you if I can."

"Well after that piece of advice I'll be coming to all the time."

"Good I'm glad," She told him. Mike grinned and embraced her in a one armed hug as they carried on down the street.

Mike and Lori arrived at the surgery and were told they would have to wait a few moments because the doctor was still in with another patient so they sat in the waiting room, and did just that, waited. Lori's nerves were getting worse with each passing second. When her name was finally called she jumped up and practically ran into the surgery. Mike stayed outside in the waiting room nervously drumming
his hands on his thighs, checking his watch every five seconds. It seemed like forever but finally Lori appeared from the surgery and Mike jumped to his feet.

"Well?" He asked and Lori shrugged.

"Dunno," She said. Mike stared at her.

"You don't know! What do you mean you don't know?" He asked.

"Just that, I don't know. I have to wait a couple of days for the results to come back," She explained.

"Oh" Mike replied a little deflated.

"It took a couple of days to confirm Annie as well it just slipped my mind that I would have to wait a while," Lori said.

"I see. Are you ok?"

"Yeah I guess. I just hate this not knowing. I just want to know so I can start to plan one way or another."

"What do you mean by that?" Mike asked.

"Well if I am pregnant I need to plan on how to tell Micky and all that other stuff but if I'm not then I need to decide whether I should tell him about the scare of not" Lori explained.

"Oh yeah I see your point" Mike said, "So you ready to go?"

"Yeah come on let's get out of here" Lori replied.

Lana had given herself the day off work to spend some time with Peter and they had decided to go to the beach and managed to drag Micky along as well. Micky was waiting for Lori to call again and Lana was worried about him being cooped up inside all day. He usually loved to be outside as much as possible but all he did lately was sit inside
and wait for the phone to ring.

"Micky, come on get out of the house for a while. If Lori calls Davy will let you know," Lana had told him. It was the only way Peter and Lana could think of to get Micky out of the house, much to the dismay of Davy, who now had to stay inside and miss out on the beautiful weather and a day on the beach.

Peter, Lana and Micky had been outside for about an hour when Peter decided to disappear.

"I'll be back in sec" He told Lana and Micky and jogged up the beach. Lana watched him go then looked at Micky.

"Feeling any better?" She asked him as they both stretched out on the sand.

"What do you mean?" Micky asked, turning his head to face her.

"Well I know you were pretty freaked out about Lori not calling right away yesterday but now she has I thought maybe it would've eased your mind a little" Lana explained.

"Oh yeah, that" Micky replied. Lana raised an eyebrow.

"Sounds ominous," She said.

"It's nothing really. I just feel worse now she has called then I did before."

"Why's that?" Lana asked, pushing her sunglasses up on to her head to get a better look at Micky.

"Because now I know she's there and not a couple blocks away like I was pretending before I heard from her. It makes it official, she's in England thousands of miles and ten hours away rather then thirty minutes. It's a little harder to handle then I imagined."

"I know exactly how you feel Mick, but they will be back in no time at all."

"I wish I could be as calm about this as you. How do you do it?"

"I'm not as calm as I'm letting on, I'm just good at hiding it. I miss Mike so much but I know he's coming home soon and then we will be together for the rest of our lives" Lana said and Micky smiled.

"I wish I could say the same thing," He said.

"What? You want to spend the rest of your life with Mike too?" Lana asked with a grin and Micky laughed.

"Well no but you get what I mean" He said, "How do you do it anyway? Doesn't Mike being thousands of miles away with another woman bother you at all?"

"Of course it does I'd be lying if I said it doesn't but I trust him and I trust Lori I know nothing will happen between them they have a very deep friendship and wouldn't risk taking it any further" Lana told him "Now if he'd gone away with Cait, then that would be a different story" She said.

"So I guess you think I'm making a big fuss over of nothing then?" Micky said.

"No of course not I completely understand why you feel this way and it just goes to show how much you really do care about Lori and I really admire that. She knows she's got a really special guy and she won't do anything to mess it up." Lana told him and Micky smiled.

"I'm glad you're here Lana I love having you around" He told her.

"Thanks Micky I love being around" She replied "Now you gonna keep that smile on your face or do I need to attack you with my special tickle move?" Lana asked. Micky pretended to be frightened.

"No! Not that! Please!" He said and Lana chuckled.

The next three days past with out much event. Lori and Mike spent a lot of their time walking round London and going to the galleries and museums. Lori had showed Mike all the places she loved to go when she lived there, just like Mike had done for her when she first met him back in Malibu Beach. Micky and Lana were spending more and more time
together and Lana had even managed to get Micky out of the house with the phone unattended, much to the relief of Davy who was sick of being the one having to stay inside all the time to guard the phone. Peter had spent two afternoons with Joni and Davy was convinced Peter would admit his feelings for her very soon.

When Lori awoke on the morning she was expecting her test results she got out of bed and opened her curtains to find rain pouring down extremely hard.

"Typical" She said as she climbed back in to her bed "Not a good sign at all" she added and buried her head in to her pillow. The last thing she wanted to do was get up properly. She wanted so stay curled up in bed until the day was over. She hadn't felt so nervous in such a long time it almost made her feel sick and she knew every time the
phone rang she would just die. Back in America Micky was sleeping peacefully; unaware of the complete torture Lori was going though. Lori finally pulled herself out of bed and went downstairs, not even bothering to get dressed yet. Hank was nowhere to be seen but she found Mike in the living room.

"There you are! I was starting to worry about you I was about to come up and check you were still alive but I can tell you're not just by looking at you" Mike said, looking her up and down. Lori was still in her pyjamas and dressing gown. She hadn't brushed her hair either so bits stuck out in odd places.

"Haha you're so funny!" She said sarcastically and dropped in to the chair next to him. "Where's my dad?" She asked.

"He's gone in to the city to run some errands" Mike told her "Rather him then me, the British weather's kicked in, I thought it was too good to be true" He added referring to the rain lashing against the window.

"I know, hopefully it won't last long. This is all I need today" Lori replied, looking out the window and watching the drops splash on the pavement.

"You ok this morning, kid?" Mike asked. Lori looked at him.

"What do you think! Of course I'm not ok. My whole life rests on this day and I'm scared to death" She told him.

"Everything will be fine you've got nothing to worry about. It doesn't matter what happens today. Micky loves you just remember that."

"I know. People keep telling me that but I still can't help but worry about it" Lori told him. "So what about you? You thought anymore about the Cait thing?" Lori asked.

"Yep"

"And...?"

"I dunno yet I still need time" Mike replied.

It was getting late into the afternoon and Lori was getting extremely restless. The rain had eased slightly and was falling lightly. Lori was so nervous that when the phone did eventually ring, she jumped three feet in the air and almost fell over all at the same time. She ran over to the phone and snatched it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Doctor Suggett's surgery may I speak to Ms Loretta Tyler please?" Came a female voice.

"This is she" Lori replied. Her heart was beating a mile a minute as she nervously wrapped the phone cord around her fingers.

"Ah, good afternoon Ms Tyler. We have your test results for you. Would it be possible for you to come to the surgery and receive them?"

"Come down? Can't you just tell me over the phone?" Lori asked. Mike was standing by the door listening intently.

"No I'm sorry I'm not permitted to do so. It's surgery policy that you visit the doctor so he can give you the results face to face" The lady explained.

"I see" Lori replied "Er ok I can be there in forty-five minutes" She said.

"Very good. Thank you Ms Tyler I'll tell the doctor you're on your way."

"Thank you" Lori said and then replaced the receiver. She turned and looked at Mike.

"Well?" He asked.

"I have to go down there. They won't tell me over the phone" She said.

"What! That's ridicules. Why ever not?" Mike asked and Lori shrugged.

"Something about surgery policy. Look, I really didn't want to spend ages arguing with her I just wanna get down there and get this over with as soon as possible" Lori said. Mike nodded.

"Well we better get going then hadn't we" Mike told her, taking her coat from the peg and helping her into it.

"Yeah we better had" She replied. Mike got his own coat and the two of them set out in to the rain.

Hank was waiting nervously in the living room when Mike and Lori returned. Lori had left him a note to explain where they had gone and he was still clutching it when they returned. They were both soaking wet and Hank stood up when they came in to the lounge. Lori's features were unreadable but she was holding tightly on to Mike's hand.

"Well?" Hank asked.

Chapter ten


Lori looked at her dad. So many conflicting emotions rushing through her body, she didn't know how to reply. She thought she would be happy but she wasn't she was completely miserable.

"Well?" Hank repeated. Lori looked at him and took a deep breath. She shook her head.

"No" She replied, so quietly Hank almost didn't hear "I'm not pregnant" she added. Hank's face broke out into a grin.

"Oh that's a relief" He said then looked at Mike, who was shaking his head "It's not a relief?" Hank asked him.

"She's not sure yet" Mike answered.

"Oh my sweet Loretta I'm so sorry," Hank said as Lori broke down in tears and Mike pulled her into a comforting embrace. As she had got used to the idea the thought of carrying Micky's baby had made her so happy, not that she would admit that to anyone else, she couldn't think of anyone else she'd rather create a life with but now she had nothing. She hadn't had anything in first place but she still felt a great loss and to make matters worse she was thousands of miles away from the one person she wanted to have hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be alright. She knew now that coming to London had been the wrong choice she just wanted to be with Micky at that
moment. She managed to stop crying and pulled away from Mike.

"I'm gonna call Micky, I need to call Micky" she said.

"And say what?" Mike asked.

"I don't know. I just need to hear his voice. Is it ok to use the phone Papa?" Lori asked.

"Yes of course go right ahead," Hank told her. Lori went to the phone and dialled the pad and Peter answered.

"Hello Pete" Lori said.

"Lori! Hello sweetheart how are you?" He asked. Lori could
practically hear the smile on his face.

"I'm ok thank you. How are you?"

"I'm good thanks."

"Good, um is Micky around at all?"

"Yeah he's in bed," Peter told her. Lori looked at the clock in the hall. It was quarter to seven in the morning in Malibu Beach. She had completely forgotten about the time difference.

"Oh Pete, I'm so sorry, I'll call back later," She said.

"No it's ok I'll go wake him up I'm sure he won't mind just this once" Peter said.

"Ok thanks" Lori said. Peter carefully put the phone on the table then went over to the bedroom and crept in so not to wake Davy. He crept over to Micky.

"Mick, wake up...Micky" Peter said in the drummers ear and shook him slightly. Micky groaned and turned over.

"What?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.

"There's a phone call for you" Peter said.

"Now! What time is it?"

"Quarter to seven."

"Well tell them to call back Pete it's early and I'm tired," Micky told him.

"I really think you should take this call Micky" Peter told him. Micky glared at him and huffed.

"This better be worth it!" Micky said as he got up and went into the lounge.

"It will be" Peter said with a grin. Micky shook his head and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" he said groggily.

"Hi sweetheart" Lori replied.

"Lori! Hello. I'm so glad to hear from you."

"What even at this time of the morning?" she asked with a giggle "I'm so sorry I got you out of bed I totally forgot about the time difference" She told him. Lori knew that Micky was no morning guy he hated getting up and would stay in bed as long as possible.

"Don't be silly! I miss you so much you could call in the middle of night for all I care" Micky told her.

"It's so good to hear your voice," She told him.

"Are you ok? You sound upset."

"I'm fine now. I've just realised how much I'm missing you right now."

"Well I have that effect on people" Micky replied causing Lori to laugh.

"I miss you so much" She told him. Micky couldn't help but worry a little.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He asked again. Lori wanted to tell him right then; she wanted to tell him how wrong she'd been. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't ok that she felt so lonely with out him and that she could've been pregnant but it wasn't something she could casually mention over the phone, the pregnancy thing was a face to face thing. She hadn't even decided if she was going to tell him yet.

"Yeah I am I'm just looking forward to coming home to you" She told him.

"It won't be long now."

"I know" Lori said with a smile "I'd jump on a plane right now if it wasn't for my dad" She told him.

"You need to be with him, I think I understand that" Micky told her "I just hope you'll have an answer for me when you get back."

"I will I promise," She replied "Thank you Micky I love you."

"I love you too, call me later?"

"I will."

"Good well, be good."

"You too."

"Bye."

"Bye Baby" Lori replied and they both put the phone down. Micky went to back to bed feeling a lot better then he had done for a long time and Lori walked back into the lounge.

"How is he?" Mike asked.

"Still half asleep" Lori replied with a smile "I forgot it's only first thing in the morning over there."

"Did you say anything about the pregnancy scare?" Hank asked.

"No, I'm not really sure what to do about that I think maybe I won't tell him."

"Are you sure that's the right decision Lolo?" Mike said.

"You think it's not?" Lori asked.

"Well I can't tell you what to do, it's up to you but if it were me I would tell him I think he deserves to know, I know I'd want to know if Lana had gone through the same thing" Mike told her.

"Yeah I guess you're right. Well, I'll think about it some more" She said.

A few days past and Peter and Davy had taken the Monkeemobile out to run some errands. Peter was driving and they were headed down the coast enjoying the sea breeze when Peter decided to tell Davy something that had been on his mind the last couple of days. Davy was looking out at the ocean, not really paying attention to anything until Peter's voice drifted to his ears.

"Hay Davy?" The bassist asked. Davy turned to look at him.

"Yeah Pete" he replied.

"You were right" Peter told him. Davy grinned.

"Thank you" He said, his gaze returning to the ocean for a few seconds then back at Peter as he had a thought. "Right about what?" He asked, a little confused. Peter was silent for a moment choosing his words carefully.

"About Joni" He said finally "I think I've got feelings for her," He admitted, going a brilliant shade of red. Davy's face broke out into a wide grin.

"Really? Pete, that's brilliant" Davy told him "Have you told Joni?" He added and Peter shook his head vigorously.

"No not yet I haven't found the courage so far."

"Well I don't think you've got anything to be worried about. Joni will be psyched I promise. I've always had a feeling she liked you. Have you made plans to see her at all?" Davy asked.

"Yeah, we're meeting up tomorrow to go to the movies."

"That's perfect. Take her out for a dinner afterwards, then you can tell her" Davy said.

"I can't. I haven't got that much money," Peter admitted rather shyly.

"That's ok. I've got $25 I've been saving you can have that."

"Oh no Davy I couldn't, it's your savings."

"Hay you can pay me back ok, but this is important. I want you to have it" Davy told him and Peter smiled.

"Thank you David," He said. When Davy and Peter got back home, Peter called Joni and asked her if she would like to join him for dinner after the movie and to his great delight, she accepted. Now all he had to do was find the courage to tell her how he felt about her. Davy helped him pick out an outfit and he decided to go smart but casual in a blue button down shirt and blue trousers. The next evening Peter picked up Joni in the Monkeemobile and they watched the movie then went to the restaurant for dinner.

"What did you think of the movie?" Joni asked Peter as she watched him get started on his dessert.

"I thought it was good. I enjoyed it. What about you?"

"Yeah me too. I know I'm a little old for it but I love Disney" Joni admitted, albeit a little embarrassed.

"Me too" Peter said with a bright smile and Joni's heart almost melted at the sight of those dimples "I have to tell you, you look beautiful this evening" He added, not daring to look her in the eye, as her cheeks flushed pink. Joni grinned.

"Thank you Peter. You look very handsome, that colour really suits you," She told him.

"Thank you" Peter replied. He decided it was now or never, he took a sip from his soda and cleared his throat a few times before looking at her. "Joni, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now but I've always lost my nerve but I just need to say this" He cleared his throat again "I really like you Joni, I like you a lot. I enjoy spending time with you and I was hoping that you felt the same way because I'd really like us to be more then friends" He told her, quietly pleased with himself for managing to get the words out all in one piece, although it was a little rushed. A bright smile spread across Joni's face and her eyes lit up.

"I like you a lot too Peter and I would like very much for us to be more then friends, nothing would make me happier" She told him. Peter wanted to cry out with joy he was so happy Joni returned his feelings.

"Oh that's fantastic!" He almost shouted. Joni smiled and Peter reached over and held her hand in his "Do you wanna take a walk down to the beach?" He asked and Joni smiled again.

"I would love to" She replied.

The days slowly drifted by and at last it was the day before Mike and Lori were due to return to America. Lori was sitting alone out in the back garden staring at the grass in deep thought, the sun was shining brilliantly and Lori was enjoying the warm sun on her back. Hank came out and over to her.

"Here" He told her holding out a mug of tea.

"Thank you" Lori replied, as she took the steaming mug from her father.

"Have you come to a decision yet?" Hank asked.

"About what?" Lori replied.

"Micky's proposal."

"Oh, no not really. I thought I had a couple of days ago but the more time has gone on the more frightened I become" She admitted.

"But you love him, yes?" Hank said.

"Oh yes Papa I do, more then anything in this world, well apart from you" She added. Hank smiled.

"So tell me why" Hank told her, sitting down on the grass next to her.

"Tell you why I love Micky?" Lori asked and Hank nodded. Lori thought about it then said. "I love being able to run my fingers through the curls in his hair. I love being able to get lost in his eyes. I love his sense of humour and his goofiness but most of all I love how he loves me, unconditional with no strings attached. He accepted my
flaws no questions asked, he even accepted my ex-husband as one of his friends. I love him because he's Micky and that's the greatest thing he could ever be. Just, Micky" Lori said. Hank watched her for a moment as something clicked in her brain then he smiled.

"You know your answer now?" He asked. Lori returned the smile.

"Yes I do. Thank you Papa" Lori said and hugged her father "I wish you were coming with me tomorrow."

"So do I my sweet child, so do I" Hank told her "Here I want to give you this," He said handing Lori a small leather drawstring pouch.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Your mother's wedding band" Hank said "I think it's time it was put to good use, don't you" He said. Lori opened the bag and emptied it onto her hand and sure enough out fell a small gold wedding band.

"Oh Papa it's beautiful. I had no idea you still had this" Lori told him.

"Well I could never bring myself to part with it...until now. I love Ben like he is my own son but I didn't want to give this to you back then but I think now is the right time."

"But you've never even met Micky" Lori said.

"I know, but I know in my heart he is a good man who will take care of you and I know of another good man who will make sure of that" Hank said, looking over at the house where Mike was watching them from the kitchen window "Now I can rest easy because I know, my sweet Loretta, that you are in safe hands."

"Thank you Papa" Lori told him and embraced him in a long hug "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

Lori woke up the next morning but stayed in bed for a moment, looking around her room because she knew for certain it would be the last time she would ever see it, no matter what happened with Micky. She had been lying there awake for about ten minutes when there was a knock on the door.

"Lolo, are you decent?" Came Mike's voice and Lori smiled a little.

"Yeah Mike come on in" She called. Mike opened the door.

"Good morning. I guessed you'd be awake so I brought you a cup of tea" He told her and handed her the mug.

"Thank you" She replied and took a sip.

"So, are you planning on getting up today or not?" Mike asked as he climbed onto the bed and sat next to Lori.

"Duh!" Was the only reply he got which made him chuckle slightly.

"I'll take that as a yes then" He said with a smile "So I take it you're ready for this then?" He asked.

"Oh yeah I'm ready, with bells on" She replied.

"Are you all packed?"

"Yep I packed last night. Everything's all set. I just want to go and see Annie one more time before we leave."

"Sure thing. You want me to come with you again."

"Thanks Mike but I'd rather go alone. I think I need to do this by myself this time" Lori told him.

"Ok no problem" Mike replied. He paused for a moment then said, "What does that mean anyway?"

"What?" Lori asked, a little confused.

"`With bells on' what does that phrase mean? I've always wondered that" Mike said. Lori burst into laughter and nudged him.

"You're so weird!" She told him.

"Thank you. Well come on, we've go a lot to do today and you're still in bed".

"Ok well can I drink my tea first?" Lori asked.

"I suppose so. I've gotta go pack anyway, for some reason I left it until the last moment" Mike said, getting up off the bed and walking over to the door.

"Mike" Lori called and Mike turned around to face her "Thank you Mike, for everything" She told him and Mike smiled.

"You're very welcome" he replied and then left.

Micky hardly slept at all that night. He knew Lori was coming home and for some reason he felt extremely nervous, so much so he hardly touched his meal at dinner. It wasn't long before he found himself sitting in the living room staring at the night sky. He had been there for about half an hour when he heard the upstairs bedroom door open and Lana come out; she was in her nightgown and pig slippers.
She didn't notice him until she was at the bottom of the stairs.

"Mick! What are you doing up at this hour!" She asked.

"Couldn't sleep" He replied "You?"

"Bathroom" She told him. Micky only nodded his reply before returning his gaze to the night sky.

"It's already morning in England you know" He said at last "I wonder what she's doing right now?" He thought out loud.

"Packing I guess" Lana said coming over and sitting next to him.

"Probably. I wonder if she's thinking about me at all?"

"Of course she is. I expect you're all she thinks about" Lana reassured him. Micky just nodded again choosing not to comment then he looked at Lana.

"So what about you? Are you all packed and ready to go back home?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm ready" She replied in almost a sigh "I'm gonna miss staying with you guys I've had so much fun these past couple of weeks and it's been so great being only a flight of stairs away from Peter" She told him.

"Well we'll kick Mike out permanently and you can stay, how does that sound?" Micky said with a small grin and Lana laughed.

"Sounds good to me" She told him and stood up "Go back to bed Mick, get some rest ok that's an order."

"Yes Mom" Micky replied, saluting her but he didn't move.

"Go on then."

"I'm going, I just need a few more minutes," Micky said.

"Ok I'll give you until I come back from the bathroom, deal?" She asked. Micky nodded.

"Deal" He said. Lana went to the bathroom and when she came back, had to practically shove Micky into his room while trying not to wake a sleeping Peter and Davy. Then she went back to bed happily anticipating Mike's return.

Chapter Eleven.


Mike, Lori and Hank arrived at the airport, checked in their luggage and sat in front of the gate.

"You kids ready then?" Hank asked.

"Yes sir" Lori replied, "I really am" She added under her breath to herself. She was ready now she knew that, not just going back to America but the whole package. She couldn't wait to be back in Micky's arms where she belonged. The boarding call came and Mike and Lori said goodbye to Hank and got on the plane and finally Lori was
on her way back to the man she loved. She had taken the engagement band in her pocket and when Mike fell asleep she took it out and looked at it for a long while, thinking about what it meant, a life with Micky, the rest of her life with Micky and although that thought scared her it made her feel so contented at the same time. She checked Mike was still sleeping then took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger, it was a little loose but not by much. She held out her hand and looked at it. She had to admit it, it looked perfect on her and she couldn't help but smile.

"Hay I think we've got a match" Came Mike's voice. Lori looked over at him.

"I thought you were asleep," She said.

"I was" Mike said and sat up properly "Just woke up" He added.

"Oh" Was all Lori replied.

"It looks kind of perfect on you doesn't it" Mike told her, looking at Lori's out stretched hand. Lori pulled her hand back in and slipped the ring off.

"Yeah well" She said putting the ring back in the box and snapping it shut. Mike rolled his eyes.

"Listen Lori, I don't know why you keep changing your mind over this decision. I know you know in your heart what to do and I know you want to wear that ring, so just wear it ok" He told her.

"Yes dad!" Lori said "I do want to wear it, I do but part of me is stopping me from keeping it on. The part of me that is Annie's mother doesn't want me to wear it, I'm not ready to let her go yet."

"You'll always be Annie's mother Lor no one can ever take that away but I know there's a part of you that wants to be Micky's wife. Annie's mother and Micky's wife can be the same person if you let them, you'll never forget Annie because your heart won't let you" Mike said, he took the box from Lori "If you put this on it doesn't mean you and Micky have to get married right away, he'll wait until
you're ready but if you keep beating yourself up over it you'll only make yourself feel worse then you won't be able to make a decision at all."

"I know" Lori said taking the box back from Mike. She opened the lid and looked at it again. Then taking a deep breath she took it from the box "Here goes nothing" She said and slipped it on her finger again.

"There you go, doesn't that feel so much better now," Mike told her and Lori smiled.

"Yeah as a matter of fact it does," She said.

"Good" Mike replied.

"So that's my crisis solved, now, what about yours?" Lori said not being able to take her eyes off her finger at first.

"Mine?" Mike asked.

"Yes yours. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about because you do" She said, dragging her eyes away from the ring and looking at Mike.

"Ah Cait" He replied. Quietly wishing he could shrink into his chair and disappear so he could avoids the questions.

"Cait" Lori agreed, "What's the sitch?" She asked.

"I have no idea" Mike admitted, "The way I see it, one of two things can happen. A) I can go to Cait's place bang on the door and demand she speak to me or I'll camp out outside her pad until she does or B) I talk to Lana and risk losing everything I've spent so long building up" He explained. Lori considered this for a moment.

"Well I don't think going to Lana will be a good idea, until you're completely certain of how you feel and as for plan A, well I don't see a snowballs chance in hell of that working no matter how long you camp out. You haven't seen Cait for a long time, I have, I saw her almost every day in the months after you spilt up, she was a real mess she really did love you and I really don't think she'll ever
want to talk to you ever again" Lori said. Mike stared at her.

"Right ok, so this is helping me how?" He said.

"Oh well it's not I guess. I don't really know what you should do I mean, you want to be with Lana right?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Do you want to be with Cait?" Lori asked.

"Well you see there's the problem, I don't know!" Mike replied. Lori looked at him.

"I don't really know what to tell you then" She said "But listen, don't go rushing into to anything until you're one hundred per cent sure you know what you're doing, I love you and I love Lana and nothing makes me happier then to see you together but if you feel you'd rather be with Cait then you have to do what you think is best in your heart" Lori said.

"Yeah I know, I've just managed to screw so many things up in my life I don't know what's the right thing to do in this situation."

"You will know, something will tell you, whether it's obvious or not. The right decision will come to you probably we you least expect it, don't spend hours agonising over it, the decision will come to you when you're ready to make it"

"What do I do in the mean time?"

"There's nothing really you can do except wait, I don't think it will be too long, trust me" Lori told him and Mike smiled.

"Thank you Lori. You really are good at this advice business aren't you" He said.

"Well I try" Lori replied.

"Ok, well I'm gonna try and get some more sleep, you should too you know" Mike told her.

When the plane finally landed and everyone was ushered from it, Lori and Mike stepped into the arrivals lounge, Lori feeling completely nervous and no idea why. Mike spotted Lana and Micky first and waved to them, it wasn't until Lana waved back that Lori saw them too. Her heart fell into her stomach as she and Micky made eye contact for the
first time in two weeks. Lana came running over to Mike and practically jumped into a hug then kissed him.

"I've missed you so much" She told him.

"I've missed you too" He replied. Lori and Micky were still standing almost a foot away from each other, neither one quite sure what they should do. Lori felt so stupid, this was Micky after all, why did she feel so nervous but she could tell by Micky's face that he was just as nervous as she was.

"Hello" Micky said at last.

"Hi" Lori replied with a quick smile.

"How was your flight?"

"Oh, you know ~ long." She told him and Micky nodded.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"A little." They were silent again just looking at each other. Lana and Mike had noticed and were watching them, Lana was a little amused, and Mike was a little concerned.

"Oh, I've got something to show you" Lori said suddenly.

"Oh?" Micky asked a little curiously.

"Yes" She replied and held out her left hand so Micky could see the ring sitting on her finger "Yes" She added. Micky stared at the ring, dumbstruck for moment.

"Yes!" He repeated as the information sunk into his brain then his face broke out into a huge grin "Yes!!" He repeated again, running over to Lori and pulling her into a hug and lifting her off the ground.

"So I take it you're pleased then?" She asked with a small laugh.

"Pleased! Are you kidding! I'm ecstatic! I can't believe it, we're engaged," He said and Lori nodded.

"Yes" She replied. Micky wanted to cry. He had never felt so happy in all his life and absolutely nothing could spoil that, or so he thought.

"Congratulations guys" Lana said as she and Mike came over to them.

"Thank you" Micky and Lori said in unison.

"Oh and guess what?" Lana said to Mike and Lori "Peter and Joni are finally a couple."

"Really! That's wonderful news" Lori said, genuinely thrilled for Joni and Peter. She loved Peter and knew he would be very happy with Joni. "Come on then, let's get out of here, I've had my fill of airports," she added.

They went back to The Monkees pad so Mike and Lori could say hello to Peter and Davy. Lori was still unsure of how she felt about Davy. She had, had a lot of time to think about him while she had been away and she knew she shouldn't of let what he said bother her so much, but she still felt a little betrayed. When they pulled up outside the pad Lori stayed in the car for a moment.

"You coming in Lor?" Micky asked her.

"Yeah I just need a second," Lori said looking at the front door.

"He feels bad Lol just let him apologise. He's had time to think about it and he realises what he said was wrong" Micky told her. Lori looked at him.

"Since when have you been able to read my mind?" She asked with a grin.

"Well it's a gift what can I tell ya" Micky told her and Lori laughed "Come on, just listen to what he has to say at least" He said. Lori sighed and nodded.

"Ok I guess he deserves to at least be heard."

"Good, so come on I know Peter is dying to see you" Micky told her. He held out his hand to help her out of the car then they went in. Peter was saying to hello to Mike when he saw Lori come in.

"Hi Lori!" He said and came over and embraced her in a bear hug "How are you, I've missed you."

"Hello Pete, it's good to see you I've missed you too" She told him they pulled out of the hug but kept hold of each others hands "I hear you and Joni are an item now" Lori said and a big smile covered Peter's face.

"Yes almost a week now I'm very happy," He told her.

"Good, I'm please for you both, Joni's great."

"Yes she really is" Peter said "But I own it all to Davy, I couldn't of done it with out him" He said. Lori looked over at Davy, he looked a little uncomfortable as he talked with Lana and Mike but glanced at Lori every now and then.

"Speaking of which, would you excuse me Pete?" Lori asked.

"Of course" Peter replied and Lori walked over to Davy. Davy saw her headed in his direction and excused himself from Lana and Mike and met her in the middle.

"Hello Lori" he said.

"Hi Davy."

"I've got something I'd like to say to you and I'd appreciate it if you let me get through it and not interrupt me" Davy said.

"Sure go ahead" Lori replied which surprised Davy; he wasn't expecting her to allow him to even say hello let alone explain.

"It's about before you went away. I said some really terrible things and I didn't realise what a big jerk I was until it was too late and I'm sorry. I really am sorry Lori and I hope you can forgive me," Davy said. Lori was silent for a moment taking in everything he said.

"The last thing I want to do is fall out with you Davy but what you said really hurt me" She said.

"I know. To be honest with you I really didn't think about what I was saying until after you'd gone, I really don't want to lose your friendship over this I truly am sorry."

"I believe you" Lori told him "I've thought a lot about it too and although it does still anger me a little let's just put it behind us and move on. I appreciate you apologising and I accept so let's move on ok," Lori told him.

"Ok, thank you Lori" Davy said.

When Davy left Mike and Lana alone, Lana couldn't stand it any longer she had to ask the question she's been burning to ask ever since Mike and Lori had stepped off the plane.

"Mike, you have to tell me something, I can't stand not knowing any longer," She said.

"Ok, what's up?" He asked.

"Is Lori pregnant?" She said, Mike stared at her completely mortified.

"Lana! You can't ask me that, it's not my place to tell you."

"Oh come on, please? It's killing me! I'm dying to know. Come on it won't hurt. Lori knows you'll probably tell me anyway, she probably expects it" Lana said in her defence. Mike sighed.

"Ok you made you're point but try to contain yourself, Micky's only over there," He said and Lana nodded.

"I will."

"Ok, well the long and the short of it is...no, she's not pregnant" He told her. Lana's face, which started off with an excited grin on it, fell into a disappointed frown.

"Oh, that's awful, how did Lori take it?"

"Not very well. I was surprised at how upset she was but it's for the best really, she was right before, this isn't a good time for any of us to have children."

"So this wouldn't be a good time to tell you that I'm pregnant then?" Lana said. Mike's jaw dropped to the floor and he stared at Lana, completely flabbergasted.

"You're kidding!" He said Lana grinned and burst into laughter.

"Yeah I am," She said almost dying of laughter "You should've seen your face! I wish I had a camera."

"Oh well I'm so glad I cause you so much amusement!" Mike said.

"Aw I'm sorry I was only teasing" Lana said. Mike couldn't help but smile

"You're so evil!" He said.

"Thank you" Lana said, grinning.

Lori had finished talking to Davy and wondered back over to Micky.

"Feel better now?" He asked her and put his arms around her.

"Yeah I do thank you. We had a good talk," Lori told him "Let's go upstairs ok" She added. Micky looked at her a little surprised.

"Really? With all these people here? You're not worried someone will walk in on us?" He asked.

"What are you...? Oh no that's not why, there's another reason there's something I need to tell you."

"Are you ok? Is everything alright?" Micky asked, stroking some hair from her face.

"Yeah everything's fine, come on" She told him. Micky nodded and allowed himself to be led upstairs. Once they were in the bedroom Lori closed the door and came and sat next to Micky on the bed.

"So what's up?" Micky asked.

"Ok, well there was another reason why I wanted to go back to England, I needed to see a doctor" Lori told him and Micky started to panic.

"Are you alright? Are you sick?" He asked, instinctively putting his hand on her forehead.

"No I'm not sick. I had a pregnancy scare," She said. Micky looked at her, lowering his hand.

"I'm sorry, what?" He asked, not sure he'd heard correctly.

"I thought I was pregnant and I wanted to go and see the doctor I saw while pregnant with Annie" Lori told him.

"Oh" Was all Micky could say at first "So I take it you're not then" He added a moment later.

"No, turns out I was just stressed becuase I've been preparing for this big exam at uni. Apparently stress can stop the menstrual cycle as well" She explained.

"I see" Micky said, getting up and walking over to the window.

"Are you ok?" Lori asked.

"Yeah I guess I mean it's just a bit of a shock that's all" He said.

"I knew it, I knew I shouldn't have told you and I wasn't going to but Mike said you should know" Lori said. Micky turned back around.

"Mike?" He questioned, his features unreadable.

"Yeah, when we found out I wasn't pregnant I told him I wasn't going to tell you about the scare because it would only make you worry over nothing but Mike told me I should" She explained. Micky looked a little confused.

"Wait hang on, back up just a second. You told Mike before you told me?"

"Well yeah, I mean he was at the doctor's surgery with me so he heard for himself" Lori told him.

"I don't believe this! You're saying you told Mike you could be pregnant but you didn't tell me! How on earth could you do that to me Lori? Really, I wanna know!" Micky yelled. Lori stared at him.

"I'm sorry?"

"I think you should leave now," Micky told her.

"What!" Lori asked, panic starting to rise in her body.

"I think you should go home now. I'm starting to get very angry and I don't want to say something I'll regret," He said.

"Mick, you don't need to be angry, it's nothing. I'm not pregnant" Lori said walking over to him and trying to put her arms around him but he pushed her away.

"Yes Lori I do need to be angry and if you can't understand that then...well then I guess we don't have the relationship I thought we had."

"Is this because I didn't tell you I could be pregnant? I was going to tell you I swear but then you proposed and it frightened me. I didn't want people to think you were only marrying me because you got me pregnant" Lori told him. Micky wasn't really sure how to respond to that. The one thing he hated more then anything was fighting with Lori but he just couldn't get past his anger.

"Lol, I love you I would never let anyone think that about us, but you should've come to me from the beginning so we could've done this together. You should've come to me, not just some random guy," Micky told her.

"But Mike isn't just `some random guy'" Lori said.

"I know, and that's the problem isn't it."

"I don't understand what you mean," Lori admitted. Micky ran his fingers through his hair.

"No neither do I, at least not yet" He said then looked at Lori "look Lori, can you please just go. I've got some stuff to figure out and it would be a whole lot easier if you weren't here" Micky told her. Lori was completely gob smacked; she couldn't believe how this conversation had ended up.

"Can't we talk about this? I mean, I really don't want to leave with you still angry with me. Let's sort this out now," She pleaded.

"I'm not sure that we can" Micky replied. Lori took a step back.

"What does that mean?" She asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"I'm not sure yet" He told her then looked at her again, "I'm not kidding Lori I really need you to leave now. I need some time to think and I'd like to be by myself," He said. Lori stared at him again she couldn't believe what was happening. Micky turned around so his back was to her. Lori didn't say anything as silent tears began falling down her cheeks; instead she turned around and walked out the
door.

Chapter Twelve.


Davy, Lana, Peter and Mike had been sitting round the kitchen table laughing and joking with each other and had no clue of the scene that had just played out upstairs. Lana saw Lori walking down the stairs.

"Hay Lori, Mike was just telling us about the time he almost fell in the river Themes" Lana said but Lori didn't answer she just headed for the door. Lana was filled with confusion and worry "Lori?" She said. Again Lori didn't answer, she reached the front door and exited through it. A moment later Micky came out of his room and came down the stairs.

"Hay Mick, what's going on?" Davy asked. Micky just looked at him and shrugged before going out and sitting on the veranda.

"Uh oh this doesn't look good" Peter said as he watched Micky run his fingers through his hair and rest his head in his hands.

"Trouble in paradise?" Davy asked.

"Could be" Lana replied "I'll go see if I can catch up with Lori, you guys stay here. Let Micky be for a moment ok, I've got a feeling he won't appreciate company right about now."

"Ok" Mike replied for all of them. He was fighting a rising urge to ask Lana if he could go after Lori instead. If anything, their trip to London had made them closer and he was desperate to make sure she was ok.

"I'll call you later" Lana told Mike as she leaned over and kissed him, something told her she wouldn't be back today then she left.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Davy asked looking at his two friends.

"Well I'm sure Micky will tell us when he's ready" Peter answered. Mike had a feeling he knew exactly what it was about and the guilt was rising up his body. If he hadn't of persuaded Lori to tell Micky about the pregnancy scare then maybe none of this would be happening.

Lana didn't need to go far to catch up with Lori, she was sitting on a bench on the pavement not for from the Monkees pad. Lana smiled a little when she spotted her, then went and sat next to her. Lori gave her a slight nod to acknowledge Lana's presence, but said nothing.

"So, you gonna tell me what's going on or do I need to activate my psychic powers?" Lana asked. Lori managed a small laugh.

"You sound just like Mike" She said Lana pretended to be horrified.

"Oh no! Anything but that!" She said then giggled.

"You know you're fast becoming the mother of the group, you and Mike take care of everyone" Lori told her.

"Well that's ok as long as you don't start calling me Mommy" Lana said. Lori managed a laugh again. She looked at the ground.

"I think Micky's gonna break up with me."

"What!" Lana almost yelled, complete shock on her face and in her voice. "You're not serious!" She added.

"I'm afraid I am," She said. Lana couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Why? What happened?"

"We had a fight, a big fight, upstairs in his room just now. I told him the real reason I wanted to go to England. I think you can guess his reaction."

"Not one of great happiness I take it" Lana said.

"No not at all. He told me to leave, that he needed to think stuff over and figure some things out. I think he's gonna break up with me."

"No way! Of course he's not he would never. I can't believe he got angry because you thought you were pregnant! What a big jerk!"

"No that's not why he got angry, the reason he got angry was because I didn't tell him I could be pregnant and went to Mike instead."

"Oh, well that I can understand I guess."

"This is all just a big mess, I don't know what to do Lan, if I lose him I'll die he's my whole life and I've ruined everything."

"Of course you haven't sweetheart, just give him a couple of days to cool off and everything will be back to normal you'll see" Lana told her, hoping she sounded more convinced then he felt. She had known Micky a lot longer then Lori and had seen a side of him he didn't show very often, stubbornness. If he had his heart set on something
then it would prove extremely difficult to get him to change his mind. He hoped that Micky would make the right decision and spare him and Lori so much unnecessary pain and heartbreak.

The days drifted past without much event. Micky stayed locked up in his room, only coming out for meals and to use the bathroom. Lana explained to Mike, Peter and Davy what was going on and that it could quite possibly be the end of Lori and Micky's relationship, which at least two of the Monkees chose not to believe. Peter and Davy visited
Lori on a number of occasions offering words of comfort and encouragement. It didn't help. Lori felt miserable she had tried to talk to Micky several times without any success and not only did she feel she was losing her soul mate but, Mike had stayed away as well which made her feel worse. The two people she loved most in the world were ignoring her and Lori's self esteem was crumbling. Mike had stayed away on purpose. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever
done but he felt he and Lori needed some time away from each other because he knew part of the reason Micky was having doubts about his relationship with Lori was because of him. He hated the idea of having anything to do with them splitting up.

Four days after Micky had asked Lori to leave, Lana and Lori were sitting at home watching the television when the phone rang. Lana got to it first and answered it.

"Hello? Oh hi Mick" She said. Lori almost jumped in the air with excitement when she heard who Lana was talking to, her heart was doing summersaults and she practically bounced over to the phone. Lana looked at her, her features etched with shock and sorrow, she shook her head. Lori's face fell, she didn't understand what on earth was going on "Right ok Mick, I'll tell her, bye" Lana said then
replaced the receiver.

"Tell me what?" Lori asked urgently. Lana didn't answer at first she just looked at the phone tracing her finger around the dial "Lana, tell me what!" Lori demanded this time and finally Lana looked up at her.

"I'm sorry Lor, he wants you to stop calling him. He said the more you call the less he wants to speak to you" Lana told her. Lori's jaw hit the ground, she wasn't expecting that at all she blinked a couple of times then said.

"Oh" as she let the words sink in "I guess I better give it a rest then" She added.

"I'm sorry babe," Lana said.

"Oh that's ok it's not your fault. I'll be in my room if anyone needs me" She said and headed for her bedroom door.

"Are you ok?" Lana asked.

"Yeah fine, I'm fine I just need to lie down but I'm fine" Lori lied. As soon as she got in the door she closed it then collapsed on her bed and broke down in tears, everything was so messed up and she couldn't find a way to fix it. She was terrified Micky was going to break up with her and she had no idea how she would handle it if he
did.

It was the next day when she finally got the courage to call Mike, she was missing him so much and she really needed to see him, or at least hear his voice. So, at around lunchtime she called the pad, preying that Micky didn't answer and luckily it was Peter.

"Hi Pete! Lori said in what she hoped was a cherry voice.

"Hi Lori, how are you?" Peter asked, his voice suddenly changing from telephone politeness to concerned worry.

"Oh not good I'm afraid. Is Mike around at all? I really need to speak to him," Lori said.

"Sure I'll go get him for you."

"Thanks Pete" Lori replied. Peter placed the receiver down and climbed the spiral staircase to the room Mike shared with Micky and knocked the door.

"Come in" Called the Texan. Peter entered and saw both Mike and Micky in the room. Micky was lying on his bed with a hand over his eyes and Mike was routing around in his closet, trying to find something Peter figured.

"Hi guys. Michael, there's a phone call for you" Peter said.

"Thank you good buddy, who is it?" Mike asked. That was the question Peter had been dreading. He glanced at Micky and cleared his throat.

"Um, it's Lori" He said. Mike stood up straight and glanced at Micky. The drummer had lowered his hand and was looking back at Mike, his features unreadable. Mike wasn't sure what to say, "Shall I tell her you've gone out?" Peter suggested.

"Um" Was all Mike replied.

"It's ok Mike, go talk to her. It's not a problem," Micky told him.

"You sure Mick?" Mike asked.

"Yeah I'm sure, She's still your friend after all," Micky said. Mike nodded slightly and left. Micky's mind was suddenly made up. He knew exactly what to do now and all he needed to do was tell Lori, this he wasn't quite ready for yet.

Mike went down stairs and over to the phone, he looked at it for a moment and after taking a deep breath, picked it up.

"Hi Lolo" He said.

"Hello Michael" Lori replied. They were silent for a moment, neither one quite sure what to say.

"Hi Lolo" Mike said again which made Lori chuckle.

"You said that already," She told him.

"I know, I don't really know what else to say."

"You've been avoiding me," Lori stated.

"I have" Mike admitted and Lori sighed.

"You mind telling me why?" She asked.

"I think you already know" Mike told her.

"This thing with Micky?"

"Yeah."

"Mike, this has got nothing to do with you. It's my fault not yours. I should've been straight with him from the beginning. Please don't blame yourself for any of this" Lori told him.

"But I already do blame myself. I can't help it. I should've said no when you asked me to go to London with you and I should've talked you in to taking Micky instead" Mike said.

"Well then, I guess we've both made mistakes haven't we but its done now and there's nothing we can do about it. Micky and I will be fine you'll see and I really want you and me to be fine too Mike. I hate the fact that you're mad at me."

"Oh no Lolo I'm not mad at you, far from it, I'm mad at me. I'm just keeping out of the way for the sake of you and Micky that's all" Mike explained.

"I don't want you to be out of the way, you're my best friend. Micky will realise you're not a threat to him and everything will be back to normal in no time."

"You really believe that?" Mike asked.

"I have to, it's all I've got left" Lori replied.

"No it's not. You've still got me," Mike told her and Lori smiled, so much relief filling her body.

"Thank you Michael. How about you come over for lunch? Lana's stopping in for her lunch break from work, you can surprise her" Lori said.

"Ok Lori I'll be there in a few minutes" Mike told her. He put down the receiver, grabbed the keys to the Monkeemobile and left. Micky came out from his hiding place on the balcony and watched the closed front door for a moment. Oh yes, he knew exactly what he needed to do now and it was only a matter of time.

"You ok Mick?" Peter asked as he started down the stairs. Micky looked at him, said nothing then went back in his room closing the door behind him. Peter was a little concerned by Micky's behaviour, he had been acting strangely for days now and although Peter kind of
knew why, he didn't want to believe it. He couldn't accept the fact that Micky and Lori's relationship could be over.

Two days later Lori was at home studying for an exam when there was a knock on the door. She went and opened it to find Micky standing there. She almost squealed with pure joy but managed to keep her composure. Micky swallowed hard, in the thinking he'd been doing he'd forgotten just how beautiful Lori was but he shook all those thoughts
from his brain, he was there for a very specific reason. Things needed to be said and he was damn well going to say them.

"Hi, can I come in?" He asked. This was going to be a lot harder then he first thought. He was fine practising what he wanted to say in his head but saying them out loud and in front of Lori was going to prove very difficult but also necessary.

"Of course you can" Lori said. She went to give him a kiss but Micky side stepped it, which hurt her but she tried not to show it. Micky came in and Lori closed the front door.

"Are we alone here?" He asked.

"Yeah. Lana's out with Mike" Lori told him. Micky nodded his reply then turned to look at her.

"I think we should take a break from each other for a while" He said, so calmly Lori almost fell over.

"But we've just had one!" She replied.

"I know but I've been doing a lot of thinking since you left the other day and I'm sorry Lori but I can't do it anymore, I can't play second best to you. It's not fair on me" Micky told her.

"What are you talking about?" She asked. Micky sighed and looked at her.

"Why are you with me huh? I don't understand it. You've had a great life with Ben and now you can have Mike, why have you chosen me?"

"What do you mean `now I can have Mike'? I'll tell you why I'm with you. I happen to be in love with you, you moron and just the fact you think I've had a great life just goes to show how little you know me."

"I know you haven't had a perfect life and I didn't mean to say that I just don't get why you want to be with me."

"Now you're just being ridiculous."

"Am I? Look, after the Ben thing you promised me, no more secrets, you promised to tell me everything that involved this relationship and I warned you if you broke that promise our relationship would be in serious trouble, well guess what Lol! You broke you're damn promise! When you went back to England to think, I did some thinking too and I feel as though Mike comes first to you and to be perfectly honest, I'm sick of it."

"That's not true at all" Lori said, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"It is Lol and you know it. You told Mike about Annie before you told me, you told him about Ben before you told me, you told him about the pregnancy scare before you told me, you took him to England and not me. Do you want me to go on?" Micky asked.

"No thank you I think you've said quite enough" Lori replied.

"I'm sorry Lori, it's just how I feel."

"So this break, it's really a break up?" Lori asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. Micky nodded.

"Yeah I'm afraid it is," He told her. Lori nearly fell over again.

"No I don't believe you."

"Well you'll have to because it's the truth."

"I can't believe this, only three weeks ago you were proposing to me!"

"Yes and you ran out on me remember, and who was the one that found you? Mike! Because he's the one you told about the place you go to think, and not me," Micky said.

"Yes ok I get the picture damn it Micky!" She yelled "You're breaking up with me, I get it now get the hell out!"

"Lol, just wait a second I don't want you to be angry with me over this" Micky told her.

"Too late!"

"Look I'm sorry ok but I'm not the bad guy here. I'm just sick of taking a back seat because, at the risk of sounding like a woman, I deserve better then that."

"I wish you'd quit saying your sorry it doesn't make this any easier, I know you deserve better and I didn't realise I had made you that upset."

"Well then there's another reason we need to break up because you should've realised. I've given you everything, my heart, my soul and you haven't even noticed. Do you know how that makes me feel?"

"I'm sorry" Lori said quietly.

"Yeah me too" Micky replied. He cupped her cheek in his hand and looked at her for a moment "I love you Lori but I need to get out of this before it ends up killing us both" He told her. Then without another word he turned around and left. Lori couldn't speak; she stared at the door then looked down at the engagement band on her finger. In a fit of rage she pulled it off her finger with an almighty roar and hurled it at the front door with all the strength
she had then slammed the hall door closed as hard as could before collapsing to the floor and breaking down into a flood of tears and grieve. Micky had stopped outside the door and leaned back against it, he had never felt so exhausted in his life then he heard Lori's out burst and wanted to die for causing it. He knew he was doing the
right thing but that didn't stop him from wanting to go back inside and hold Lori in his arms and tell her everything would be ok. Instead he pulled away from the door and slowly trudged home.

Mike and Lana arrived back at Lana's pad and they were giggling as they came in through the front door. They had been on the beach so Lana was carrying her shoes instead of wearing them and she suddenly let out a yep.

"What's wrong?" Mike asked.

"I've just stood on something," She said. She knelt down and picked it up and looked very puzzled "It's Lori's engagements band" She said as she stood back up and showed it to Mike.

"That's odd" Mike said, taking the ring from Lana and studying it more closely "I wonder what it's doing on the floor?" He asked, mainly himself. Lana wasn't paying attention she was listening to something.

"Wait, do you hear that? It sounds like someone's crying," She said. Mike listened for a moment before he realised.

"That is someone crying, and it's Lori" He said and suddenly threw open the hall door to find Lori sitting in the middle of the floor in a flood of tears.

"Oh babe, what happened?" Lana asked as she and Mike rushed to Lori's side. Lori couldn't speak at first she was crying so hard she almost couldn't breath but finally she managed to choke the words out.

"Micky...he broke...up...with me" She told them. Lana and Mike looked at each other, complete shock filling both their features. No way did they believe Micky would really go through with it.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry" Lana said as she and Mike helped Lori to her feet.

"Tell us what happened" Mike said as he and Lana guided Lori over to sofa.

Micky was sitting at home at the kitchen table when Mike came storming in the front door, throwing it open with such force it ricochet off the wall and slammed closed again. To say he was angry would be a gross understatement and he was headed straight for Micky.

Chapter Thirteen


Peter was in the kitchen when Mike came in, he wasn't sure what was happening but decided it was probably best to stay out of it. Davy had been watching television but was distracted by Mike's entrance and watched as the Texan approached Micky. Mike reached the table and slammed his hands down on it making the drummer jump.

"Pleased with yourself now are you!" Mike yelled. He was leaning forward, his nose only a few centimeters away from Micky's. "What the hell do you think you're playing at!" Micky looked up, hoping he didn't look as intimidated as he felt.

"Leave it Mike ok, this has got nothing to do with you," He told him.

"Well according to you it does! How could you do that to her? After everything she's been through after all that you mean to her. You selfish son of a bitch" Mike spat.

"Michael!" Peter said, completely stunned Mike could talk to Micky that way. Mike rounded on him.

"Back off Pete ok coz I'm not in the mood!" He yelled at the bassist then turned back to Micky "I hope you realise just what a big mistake you've made, don't expect her to come running back begging you to take her back because she won't. You've lost her for good now, just realise that."

"Michael I really don't think..." Peter started to say. Mike looked at him again with fire burning in his eyes.

"Didn't I just tell you to back off!" He said, Peter nodded, having first hand experience of Mike's temper on a number of occasions he knew he should have listened in the first place.

"Sorry" He replied quietly. Mike turned back once again to Micky.

"Here Lori wanted me to give you this" He said and threw the engagement band at Micky "Just think yourself lucky I didn't ram it down your throat." He stared at Micky for a moment as more fire burned in his eyes then he suddenly stood up properly almost pushing the table over "I'm outta here, I can't even look at you" He added and stormed out of the veranda door. Davy was cowering behind the sofa and peaked over when the coast was clear.

"What on earth was all that about!" He asked. Micky sighed, he didn't see anyway around it so he thought he better just come right out and say it. He looked at Davy.

"I broke up with Lori today," He said.

"You did what!" Peter and Davy both yelled.

"Yeah go ahead you yell at me too, take Lori's side just like he did" Micky said, pointing at the door Mike had just exited through "No one cares about me or why I did it" he added.

"Mick, you know that's not true, we're sorry. You know you can talk to us so tell us what happened" Peter told him and he and Davy came over to the table and sat on either side of the drummer.

"Is this about the Mike thing?" Davy asked, remembering the conversation he and Micky had, had while Lori was still in London.

"What Mike thing?" Peter asked.

"Yeah it is partly to do with the Mike thing but there is a little more to it" Micky explained. Peter felt a little annoyed Micky had ignored his question but didn't comment.

"So like Pete said, tell us about it" Davy prompted. Micky ran his fingers through his hair, tying to figure out where to begin.

"Well I guess it started when Lori decided to go back to England and wanted to take Mike instead of me. I got jealous and realised just how much she relies on Mike and it got to me. It started to make me feel second best. I started to feel better the last couple of days before she came back because when she called that time real early in
the morning she seemed different and I started to feel closer to her again" Micky told them.

"So what changed?" Peter asked.

"She made me so angry. I could hardly see straight," Micky said.

"Why? What did she do?" Davy asked.

"She kept another secret from me. Another huge one and again she told Mike about it before me. She had a pregnancy scare and instead of telling me about it so we could handle it together she went to Mike, then ran back to England to have a test" Micky explained. Davy and Peter were gawking at Micky "The test was negative" Micky added. Peter found his voice first.

"I see" He replied. Micky looked at Peter.

"Do you think I did the right thing?" He asked.

"Well that's not up to me is it" Peter said. Micky looked down at the table.

"What makes it worse is, she promised me no more secrets. After the Ben and Annie thing she promised she'd never keep a secret concerning our relationship from me again but she did, it made me start to question whether I could ever trust her again and the truth is, I don't think I can. You can't have a marriage based on lies and no trust so I had to end it" Micky explained.

"This is a lot to take in," Davy said at last finding his voice again "I mean you and Lori are over, that's going to take some getting used to."

"You're telling me" Micky replied "So now do you understand why I had to do it?" He asked.

"Yeah buddy I do" Davy told him patting him on the back.

"Are you ok?" Peter asked.

"I'm not really sure yet I don't think it's hit me properly. I just need a few days to get my head round it before I figure out how I feel but I am sure I did the right thing, I think!" Micky replied.

"Well you never know what'll happen in the future Mick. Maybe after you've both had time to calm down you'll get back together" Peter offered.

"I don't think so Pete not this time" Micky replied.

Mike had ended up on the beach, walking for what seemed like forever to him. He was so mad at Micky he couldn't believe what a complete idiot he had been. Mike had been so wrapped up in his thoughts he hadn't realised just how far up the beach he had gone. It was a lot further then he usually went and he wasn't paying attention to where
he was walking, just trying to figure out where he was, when all of a sudden he tripped over something. He managed to put his hands out in time to stop himself landing flat on his face. He turned his head and realised he'd tripped over a pair of legs.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you I wasn't paying attention to where I was going" He said as he picked himself up off the ground and brushed the sand from his clothes. The person had started gathering their things together and it wasn't until Mike turned round that he realised who the legs belonged to. He stood staring for a second before pulling himself together.

"Caty!" He said. Sure enough it was Cait looking just as surprised to see him as she did her. "What are you doing this far up the beach by yourself?" Mike asked. Cait didn't reply she had managed to gather up all her things and stood up.

"Excuse me" She said, not daring to look at him then started to walk away. Mike gawked at her as she headed in the opposite before running after her.

"Caty wait please can you stay just for a few moments. I'd really like to talk to you" Mike asked.

"I haven't got time and please don't call me that" She replied.

"Call you what?" Mike asked a little confused.

"Caty, please don't call me that. I'd prefer if you called me Cait or Caitlyn well actually I'd prefer if you didn't call me anything at all. Caty is what my friends call me and we, Robert, are most definitely not friends" Cait told him as she continued to march down the beach.

"Well I'm sorry but I don't accept that" Mike called. Cait stopped and whirled around.

"I beg your pardon!" She said.

"I don't accept that. You haven't allowed me to explain anything and I think you owe me that much" Mike told her.

"You've got to be kidding me!" She said to herself then looked at Mike "I don't owe you a thing! How dare you even suggest such a thing!"

"I know you're still mad at me but..." Mike tried but Cait wouldn't let him finish.

"No just stop right there I don't want to hear another word I don't want to see you again I just want to go home. This conversation is over" Cait said. She turned around again and started back down the beach. Mike shook his head and decided to take one last shot.

"Lana and I are engaged," He said. Cait stopped again and sighed.

"I know" She replied with out turning round "What do you expect me to do? Throw myself in your arms and tell you how happy I am for you?"

"No of course not. How did you find out?" Mike asked, although Mike suspected he already knew.

"Joni mentioned it." Cait told him and Mike's suspicions were confirmed.

"I wish you could have heard it from me" He said.

"Well it just goes to prove you don't always get what you wish for doesn't it" Cait replied. Mike walked over to her, hesitated for a moment then put his hands on her shoulders. To his surprise Cait didn't pull away so he turned her around and lifted her chin up but she kept her eyes down.

"I'm sorry Caty," he said.

"Yeah well, so am I" She replied finally looking up at him. Mike brushed some hair away from her forehead.

"I'd forgotten how stunning you are" He told her. Cait slowly shook her head.

"No don't ok. Don't do that, it's not fair," She said. She was using all the self-restraint she had not to fall into his arms and kiss him. They looked at each other for a moment "I really should go now" She said stepping away from him.

"Can we meet up again sometime, like tomorrow maybe?" Mike asked.

"I don't know" Cait replied.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"I don't know" Cait replied again.

"You're not making this very easy. Ok how about this, I'll be here tomorrow at twelve. If you want to meet me then come. If not, well I guess I'll just have to except that. What do you say?" Mike said.

"Maybe" Cait replied then turned around and jogged down the beach. Mike watched her disappear then all of a sudden the thought of Lana entered his head and Mike wanted to kick himself.

"What am I doing!" he yelled "Do I really want to risk everything I've got with Lana for something I'm not even sure about!" He asked. Usually he would go and talk to Lori and ask for her advice but there was no way she'd want to talk about his love life with her own in such a big mess. There was no way he wanted to even look at Micky, let alone talk to him about a problem as serious as this. There was
no way he could go to Peter about it which only left one other person and the thought of going to Davy to ask for advice about girls made him shiver. He really couldn't face talking about that kind of trouble with Davy. Which meant he was left to figure that one out on his own. He started heading back to the pad and as he walked decided to meet Cait and just talk to her, see what happens.

Mike had gotten half way home when he remembered Micky would probably still be there and he really didn't feel like having to face him yet so he changed direction and headed to Lana and Lori's pad. When he arrived and came in he found the living room empty. He called out and Lana came out of the kitchen.

"Oh hay, you're back. I didn't expect to see you again today you left in kind of a hurry," She said.

"I know I'm sorry" Mike replied.

"Is he still alive?" Lana asked.

"Yes! Of course he is, I'm not that bad you know!" Mike said Lana just looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Mike coughed and changed the subject. "So where's Lori?" He asked.

"In her room. She's managed to stop crying but when I checked on her last she was just sitting on her bed staring into space."

"Man I can't believe this is happening!" Mike said.

"I know" Lana said, going over and putting her arms around Mike "I don't know what to do I don't know what to say to Lori. This is so hard on her."

"It'll take time Lan we just need to be here for her."

"And Micky too."

"Well I'm not sure about that. He's just being selfish."

"Michael! He's one of your best friends and needs your support as much as Lori does. You're part of the reason this has happened don't forget that. If you take Lori's side then that just proves Micky's right" Lana said.

"I guess so but I'm still mad at him. Can I stay here with you tonight?" Mike asked.

"I'd love that but are you staying to be with me or staying to avoid Micky?" Lana asked.

"Would you hate me if I said, both" Mike replied and Lana smiled.

"Yes" She told him.

"In that case I'll just say, no comment" Mike told her and Lana laughed.

"Ok well come and help me with dinner then. If you're staying you can make yourself useful. I may even make you vacuum later."

"Vacuum! I've forgotten how to vacuum. One of the beauties of living with Peter, he's a neat freak" Mike said as he followed Lana into the kitchen.

"Well then it's about time you remembered. When we're married I'm not going to be a housewife chained to the kitchen while you go out and work you know. Haven't you heard of a little thing called women's lib?" Lana said with a grin.

"Oh man! Living with you is going to be tough!"

"How do you think I feel! I'm gonna have to live with you. That temper of yours is legendary" Lana told him.

"Maybe we should have a trial run, like live together for a week or so, see how we get on?" Mike suggested.

"Nice try Nesmith, the more you try to avoid Micky it'll just get worse, you're going home tomorrow shotgun, no arguments" Lana told him. Mike snapped his fingers.

"Damn! I was sure you'd fall for that one!" Mike replied, smiling at Lana's use of the word 'shotgun'.

When the next day came, Mike woke up to find the bed next to him empty, but there was a note on Lana's pillow for him that read:

"Get up lazy bones! I've been waiting for you to wake up for ages and since you haven't yet I've gone to run some errands. Go home and square things with Micky and I'll call you later. Love L xxx."

Mike read the note then looked at the clock, half past ten, which left him an hour and a half before he had to meet Cait. There was no way he wanted to face Micky yet so he got up and washed and shaved then got some clean clothes from the draw Lana had assigned him in her chest of draws for when he stayed over. He got dressed and went downstairs, hoping to get a chance to see Lori but she wasn't there and she wasn't in her room either. Mike shrugged and figured she'd gone to Uni. He went into the kitchen and found another note from Lana:

"Hay you're up! Well it's about time. Can you do me a favour, the bulb in the light in the hallway has blown can you change it for me please? Love L xxx. P.S. Go home! Don't make me ask you again!"

Mike smiled. He loved all the little notes Lana left for him. He kept himself busy, while waiting for twelve to roll on, by doing little jobs around the apartment, like changing the bulb in the hallway. Fixing the leaky tap in the bathroom that Micky was supposed to have looked at months ago and little bits and pieces before heading to the beach. It took him a while to remember exactly where he had been yesterday but when he finally found it there wasn't any sign of Cait. This didn't surprise him because it was only just twelve when he arrived. He sat down on the sand and waited then waited and waited some more. It was almost two in the afternoon when he decided to give up and go home. He found himself feeling extremely disappointed at
Cait's no show. He stood up and brushed the sand from his jeans and started to head home. He had only taken a couple of steps when he looked up and saw her. Cait was standing in front of him a little further up the beach.

Chapter Fourteen


Mike smiled when he saw Cait.

"I didn't think you were coming," he said.

"I almost wasn't" she replied.

"What made to change your mind?" Mike asked. Cait shrugged and started to walk towards him.

"Don't know really, I don't really know why I'm here now and I'm not sure that I'm staying."

"Well I'm glad you came," he said. Cait reached him.

"So, tell me something Mr Nesmith, does your fiancée know your here?" Cait asked. Mike didn't answer he just looked at her "No, I didn't think so."

"Well I couldn't exactly tell her could I? She'd go crazy."
"So why did you want to meet in the first place if you knew how much it would upset Lana?"

"Because I wanted us to talk I want us to be friends. You're very important to me and I never wanted to lose you completely," Mike told her. Cait wasn't really sure how to respond to that. She looked at him for a moment.

"You know what went through my mind when you asked me to be your girlfriend at that car and motorbike show?" She asked. Mike shook his head.

"No" he said.

"I'll tell you. I thought `here's a guy who has just poured his soul out to practically a complete stranger and now he's asking to be with me, what's the catch?' There was always something at the back of my mind that thought something in that relationship wasn't right, that thought was Lana. As much as I tried not to believe it I knew you'd end up leaving me for her but I was stupid enough not to listen."

"I'm sorry Caty."

"No Mike please don't say you're sorry because that just makes me feel worse. I fell in love with you almost immediately and you hurt me. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you for that. It just made me feel like you were using me, keeping me around until someone better came along and that's what hurt the most," She explained.

"That couldn't be further from the truth. I cared about you deeply, I still do" Mike told her.

"Did you love me?"

"Yes, I did."

"Do you still?"

"Do you still love me?"

"I asked you first," Cait said and Mike sighed.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, a lot more then I have done in the past and I know I have feelings for you I just don't know if I still love you" Mike said. Cait was a little taken aback.

"Why did you just tell me that?" She asked. Mike looked a little confused.

"Because you asked me," He said

"I know but you're engaged to Lana you should've just said no" Cait told him.

"But that wouldn't be the truth. I can't lie to you Cait I do have feelings for you" Mike told her.

"So what are you saying?"

"I don't know that either. I've just really confused myself over the whole thing. I talked to Lori about it when we were in London, we talked over the whole thing and she said I was probably just feeling guilty because my relationship with Lana was going so well I guess that is true but I don't know, I guess I feel like I can't be completely happy with Lana if I think there would ever be a chance for us" Mike said. Cait was shaking her head and glaring at him.

"Jeez just listen to yourself! Do you hear what you're saying! Is this supposed to make me jump in your arms and beg you to pick me! I've been there before Mike and you did pick me but I'm not going to put myself in position again. I'll make this easy for you. There is no chance I can ever be with you again Mike, never, you understand. Not after the way you treated me the last time I have a little more
self respect then that" Cait almost yelled. She paused for a moment then said. "I think this conversation is over. As much as this hurts me to admit it, you belong with Lana, you just need to get that through that thick skull. I do love you but I can't be in a relationship where I know I'm always going to be second best."

"I don't really know what to say" Mike replied.

"Don't say anything go home to Lana tell you love her and forget about me, you're risking too much dwelling on the past. It's over Michael you and me will never be an us again."

"I realise that. I dunno, maybe I just needed to have this talk with you to realise I'd done the right thing because otherwise I'd always end up wondering `what if'"

"Well in my opinion it wasn't the right thing just so you know."

"Thank you Cait I realise this was probably very difficult for you but I appreciate you helping me out."

"Well I would say it was my pleasure but" Cait told him.

"I know" Mike replied.

"Maybe one day we can be friends but right now is not the right time."

"I think I just figured that one out" Mike replied.

Cait left Mike sitting alone on the beach as he thought about what had just happened. It was a big relief to have the clutter sorted out in his brain and he knew he was right, he had needed to just talk to Cait to make sure he really did make the right decision before. He was certain that he had. Lana was the only one for him and he felt an
idiot for putting himself through all the agony of Cait and having to drag her into it as well. He should've just listened to Lori in the first place, he was feeling guilty because of the way things were going with Lana, and it's wasn't like he needed Cait's approval it was just that he needed piece of mind.

The chat had helped Cait out as well. As she walked home such a weight was lifted from her shoulders. The talk with Mike had made her see that no matter what had happened she and Mike didn't belong together and she had wasted so long believing that they did. As much as she loved Mike now she was finally able to move on and accept her relationship was over for good.

It was getting late into the evening and Mike returned to Lana's, feeling so much better then he had done in months.

"There you are!" Lana said when she saw him come through the door "Where have you been? I've been trying to call you all day."

"I've been on the beach," Mike said matter-of-factly.

"By yourself?" Lana asked.

"No" He said and as soon as the word left his mouth Mike knew he should've said yes.

"Oh, who were you with?"

"Um, Lori" He told her. It was the first name that came into his head.

"Lori?" Lana repeated and Mike nodded "The same Lori who's been out all day with me and Pete" Lana said. Mike stared at her, he was sure Lori had gone to uni that day.

"Oh" He replied.

"Alright Nesmith, spill it, what's going on?" Lana asked putting her hands on her hips and raising an eyebrow. Now Mike was in a bind. Should he tell another lie and dig the whole a little deeper to get out of, or should he tell the truth and face the wrath of Lana.

"Ok now don't get excited alright it's not a big deal," Mike said.

"It must've been a big deal if you felt you had to lie about it" Lana shot back.

"Well ok, I went for a walk yesterday and bumped into someone and then we met up today but it wasn't a big deal ok."

"Yeah you said that already so it's making me think it was a big deal. Come on Mike tell me who you bumped into," Lana said, although she had a feeling she already knew and was dreading the answer.

"It was Cait" Mike said and prepared himself for Lana's outburst but to his surprise she stayed calm and just looked at him.

"As in Cait, your ex?" She asked. Mike nodded slowly.

"Yes" He said.

"You've been out on the beach all this time with Cait?"

"Well not all the time" He replied.

"But you with her some of the time, right?" Lana asked. Mike nodded again "Right, and did you even go and see Micky at all like I asked you to?"

"Well no not exactly you see I just had" Mike tried to say. Lana held up her hand to stop him.

"Don't explain just get out" She told him.

"Excuse me!" Mike replied, a little stunned.

"You heard me, get out!

"Lana."

"Robert, please" She replied. Mike stared at her stupidly for a moment not really sure what to do, then turned around and walked out. Lana wanted to cry. How dare he spend time with his ex and not even tell her. Lana hadn't been standing for very long when Lori came out of her room.

"Did I hear Mike?" she asked.

"Yeah he just left. How are you feeling? Any better?" Lana asked trying to get off the subject as quickly as possible.

"No not really. I miss him so much" Lori said.

"I know you do sweetheart. Just be patient he needs a little time to figure out what a big jerk he is and then you guys will be back together" Lana told her.

"I wish that were true" Lori replied. Lana felt so bad for her friends, she couldn't believe how messed up things had gotten between them.

"Hay I've had an idea. I know this won't be some miracle cure but how about you and I have a girls night in tonight, just the two of us. There are a couple of old movies on television in a minute. I could run down the store and get some munchies" Lana suggested, "What do you say?"

"Yeah that sounds great. Thanks Lana" Lori replied.

Chapter Fifteen


Mike arrived back at the Monkees pad, his mind whirling with what just happened with Lana and the last thing he wanted to do was go in and see Micky. He and Micky had always been close even though Micky's antics drove him nuts sometimes, Mike thought on him as a brother but he couldn't understand the decision Micky had made. Mike knew he had
lost his temper the day before and there wasn't any excuse for that but he was really struggling to understand why Micky had been so quick to give up everything he had with Lori. He had been standing outside the front door for a few minutes when the familiar boom of Mr Babbitt sounded out behind him.

"Lost your key Nesmith?" He said, causing Mike to jump ten feet in the air. Not only did he have no idea Mr Babbitt was behind him but also Mr Babbitt's voice was so loud it could wake the dead. Mike turned around.

"No I'm fine Mr Babbitt, thank you" Mike replied, smiling.

"Ok. Rent's due day after tomorrow."

"I know. Thanks for the reminder" Mike said. Mr Babbitt turned and walked away.

"Don't know why I'm telling you though because you won't have it in time" He muttered to himself. Mike shook his head then turned back to the door and went in. Davy was sitting at the table playing cards with Mr Schneider. Peter was in the kitchen washing up and Micky was watching an old movie on television.

"Hi Michael, you've missed dinner" Peter told him "I'll make you something if you like."

"No thanks Pete, not hungry" Mike replied keeping an eye on Micky.

"Did I hear Mr Babbitt?" Davy asked.

"Yeah, just a friendly reminder that the rent's due in a couple of days" Mike told him and Davy nodded.

"Same old Same old" He said then looked at Mr Schneider "No way is that Gin!" He yelled at the dummy. Mike smiled then turned his attention back to Micky. Davy coughed suddenly and said, "Hay Pete why don't you and I go and see if we can find that shirt you wanted" Davy said.

"Shirt? What shirt?" Peter asked.

"You know that shirt you wanted to borrow for your date with Joni tomorrow." Davy told him with a wink, Peter caught on.

"Oh yeah that shirt. Good idea" He replied and he and Davy went into the downstairs bedroom, closing the door behind them and leaving Mike and Micky alone. Mike was still standing by the door. Micky turned to glance at him briefly before his eyes returned to the television screen.

"Ok so here's the thing," Mike said coming over and standing in front of the television. Micky looked up at him then craned his head round so he could still see the television "Micky!"

"What!" Micky yelled. Mike stared at him "What?" Micky asked again.

"Did you just yell at me!" Mike asked smiling a little.

"I...might of" Micky replied. Mike chuckled.

"You've never yelled at me before" Mike said Micky was about to reply but Mike continued "Look Mick there's no point us being mad at each other there's too much at risk. As much as I do not agree with what you did I was wrong to yell at you and I apologise," Mike told him.

Micky opened his mouth to say something, couldn't think of anything to say so he closed it again. He knew how much the Texan hated to admit he was wrong and Micky was a little stunned to say the least.

"Thank you Mike" He managed to utter.

"I still think you're making a mistake but it's none of my business so I'll stay out of it from now on, well at least I'll try to, ok" Mike told him.

"Yeah ok."

"So what are you watching anyway?" Mike asked as he moved away from the television and sat down.

"Just an old movie, 'An affair to remember' or something. It's one of Lori's favourites."

"She does like her movies that one, doesn't she."

"She does. I remember when I first watch this one with her, it wasn't long after we first got together and she made me sit though the entire thing. She was in tears at the end, practically balling her eyes out, I'd never seen anything like it!" Micky said with a smile.

"You miss her don't you" Mike said. Micky looked at him.

"Yeah I really do."

"So why not call her up tell her you were wrong and you want to get back together" Mike told him.

"What about all that stuff you said before, all that 'don't expect her to come running back begging' stuff you yelled at me?" Micky said.

"Well I said *she* wouldn't come begging that doesn't mean you can't" Mike said and Micky smiled.

"You've got an answer for everything haven't you."

"Pretty much, yeah. Look Mick bottom line is, it's not too late, go talk to her. Tell her you're sorry" Mike told him.

"Not everything can be fix with `I'm sorry' Mike and anyway I'm not sorry. As much as this is hurting me now I'm doing the right thing."

"Even if it means you're so unhappy?" Mike asked. Micky looked at him.

"Can you quit with the lecture please and let me watch my movie?" He said.

Lori was at home the next day when there was a knock on the front door. She went and opened it and it was Mike.

"Hay" She said.

"Hay there's my girl, how are you?" He asked.

"Not good" she replied.

"I'm sorry sweetheart" Mike told her and gave her a hug.

"Yeah well, I've been hearing that word a lot lately" She said, "Hay, what did you do to Lana anyway? She seemed really upset last night."

"Trust me you don't want to know. Is she here, I need to talk to her it's important" Mike said.

"No she already left for work" Lori told him.

"Oh, I was hoping to catch her before she left" Mike explained.

"Sorry, she left in quite a hurry. You wanna come in for some breakfast?" Lori asked him.

"Well I've already eaten but I will stay for a bit."

"Good come on in, I could use the company" Lori said and stepped aside so Mike could come in which he did and then she shut the front door. "I miss you guys, it's really hard not being able to drop round the pad when I feel like it" Lori continued as she led Mike into the kitchen.

"You're always welcome at the pad Lolo you know that" Mike told her.

"I know but there's a certain someone who would probably prefer I didn't drop round" Lori said. They settled on the kitchen table and Lori poured them some coffee "Anyway I don't want to talk about that, tell me what you did to Lana" Lori said. Mike huffed.

"I didn't *do* anything to Lana..." He sighed "Ok I...well I saw Cait" He said. Lori almost dropped the coffee-pot, she looked at him.

"You did! And you told Lana about it, what are you nuts!" Lori asked in total disbelieve.

"I didn't do it on purpose it just kind of slipped out by accident and Lana went a little nuts."

"I'm not surprised. What happened with Cait?"

"Nothing I swear. We just talked is all. She made me realise how much I love Lana. It's like I told Cait, I think I just needed to see her one last time so I wouldn't spend the rest of my life wondering `what if'. Lana is the only one for me and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Good then tell her that."

"Believe me I tried. I didn't get chance yesterday, she made me leave before I could explain" Mike told her. Lori shook her head.

"You're such an idiot," She said.

"Hay!"

"Well you are, why did you even meet up with Cait in the first place?"

"Because I had to be sure. I needed to know I'd done the right thing. You're the one who told me I had to be sure before I made any decisions," Mike protested.

"I know but I didn't expect you to tell Lana."

"I already told you, that was an accident."

"Oh man, you better do something big to make up for this otherwise you're in a lot of trouble" Lori told him.

"I know" Mike said, he was then suddenly hit with an idea "I think I've got something. I'll see you later" Mike told her and bolted out the door.

"Yeah well I hope it works" Lori told the closed door.

When Lana returned home from work, Lori was in the living room and still in her pyjamas.

"Hay, didn't you get dressed today?" Lana asked as she came in and put down her bag. Lori shook her head and turned to face Lana.

"Na didn't feel like it" She replied.

"Fair enough. How are you feeling today?"

"No offence Lan but I really wish people would stop asking me that. What about you how are you feeling?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Mike called round this morning."

"Oh."

"He told me what happened Lan, it's not what it seems really, you should go talk to him give him a chance to explain."

"Lori just stay out of it ok. You're friendship with Mike already ruined your relationship, you want it to ruin mine as well?" Lana blurted. Lori looked at her.

"That's not fair ok. I was only trying to help."

"Yeah I know. I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped but this does have nothing to do with you. I'll go to Mike when I'm ready" Lana told her. Lori was looking past her.

"What if Mike gets there first," She asked.

"What! What does that mean?" Lana asked Lori pointed and Lana turned around. Mike was standing in the doorway.

"I think I'll go get dressed" Lori said and left Mike and Lana alone. Lana was looking at Mike.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"A chance to explain. A chance to tell you why I did what I did" Mike told her. Lana threw her hands in the air.

"Fine whatever" She said. Mike sighed; this was going to be a lot harder then he first anticipated. Lana sat on the sofa but Mike stayed where he was.

"I've done a lot of stupid things in my life. Things I'm not proud of. I had a rough childhood, you know that. I thought the world has screwed me over and I wanted to screw it back. I hated the world and myself, until I met you. You made me see my life was worth living again. You saved me Lana and I don't think I could stand it if I lost you again" Mike told her. Lana turned to face him.

"Mike I..." She tried to say but Mike continued.

"I've got to tell you something, something you're not gonna want to hear but listen ok don't interrupt, just listen" Mike said.

"Ok" Lana said. Mike didn't hesitate.

"I had to meet up with Cait to figure something out. I'd been thinking about her a lot and I realised I still had feelings for her, as much I hated to admit it I did love her and in a small way I think I still do. That's why I needed to see her. There was a part of me that thought I wanted to still be with her. We had a talk, a long talk, and the more we talked the more I realised what a big dumb ass I was for even thinking I could survive without you. You're the only one for me Lan. I love you and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else" He reached into his pocket and took out a small box "I'll understand if you're mad at me but, if there is even a small part of you that can forgive me then it would do me the greatest honour if you took this and consented to be my wife" Mike said. Lana had started to cry she had tears streaming down her face.

"How can I take it when you tell me you're in love with someone else, how is that supposed to make me feel!"

"I'm sorry. I'm trying to be honest I don't want to have any secrets from you and you have to believe me, it's you Lana I want to be with you. I don't think I could live with myself if I lost you again." Mike told her but Lana was shaking her head.

"I can't listen to this anymore. Do you know how much this hurts? You've gone behind my back and you've lied. Whose to say you won't do it again, I can't know that for sure," Lana said.

"I know and all I can give you is my word and promise you that you can trust me, you have done up until now. It will never happen again Lan I swear to you" Mike said. Lana stood up and started pacing the length of the sofa, letting Mikes words play over in her mind. Finally she looked at him.

"Out of everything I feared would happen, this was the worst. I know you still loved her I could feel it but I tried to ignore it. I tried so hard to ignore it but there was always that feeling in my stomach that this would happen. How can I trust you Mike, how can I know you're telling me the truth."

"By remembering this is me. I understand this is hard for you but you have to trust your heart. I love you and want to spend my life with you, isn't that enough? I can go and give you time to think about this but I'm afraid. I'm scared that if I leave this room then that will be the end and I'm not ready for that. I want to save us Lana, I'm going to fight for us and if you feel for me even a fraction of what I feel for you then you'll fight too" He told her "I think you're giving up on this way to easily. I just saw Cait that's all I wasn't unfaithful I didn't cheat I don't know why this has made you take such a huge U-turn. What's stopping you from letting us work this out?"

"History" Lana said "This whole thing has given me time to think. All last night, all of today I've thought about us and it has made me realise; this didn't work before, how can we be sure it'll work this time? I can't help but think this happened for a reason, maybe we're not meant to be together anymore" Lana told him. Mike was stunned into silence, he couldn't believe Lana could say such a thing. "It's made me doubt everything," She added.

"How can you say that?" Mike asked "There were complications back then, we would've been fine if..."

"If I hadn't of lost our baby" Lana finished for him "So this is all my fault!"

"That's not what I was going to say, quit putting words in my mouth" Mike yelled, irritation clear in his voice, which stunned Lana a little as Mike continued "I would never use our baby as an excuse how dare you even think such a thing. What went wrong with us before was as much my fault as it was yours. All relationships take work Lana and the fact we've got a history makes it so much more important that
we fight for this" Mike told her.

"I don't know Michael I guess we did give up a little too easily last time but I don't know if I can do this again."

"Fine, then we'll just continue to go round in circles until you realise that we belong together, because I'm not going anywhere until you do realise. You said it yourself, we gave up too easily last time and I want it to work this time. I'm willing to fight and fix this; you need to make a decision Lana. The ball's in your court" Mike told her. Lana looked at the floor and started pacing again. Mike's words ringing in her ears like an echo. It seemed as though Mike's words had finally hit home and he was practically dying to find out what she was thinking. Lana sighed, letting it mull over in her brain before looking up at Mike again.

"We did give up too quickly last time and we should have tried harder. However much this hurts me now I know it'll pass with time. So I guess I'm saying I'm not ready to give up on it yet either" She said and Mike's face broke out into a wide grin.

"Are you saying what I think?" Ha asked.

"It's gonna take time. We can't just jump in where we left off and everything will be fine and dandy. I need to be sure I can trust you, which I think I can. To be honest, in a way I'm glad this happened now rather then when we were married or a little further down the line. I want us to work as well Michael I know I still feel a little uneasy about it but I also know I love you and that's the most
important thing. I'm willing to work on this but you have to promise me, no more lies, no more secrets ok, you have to promise."

"I do promise. Thank you Lana" He walked over to her and gave her the small box "This is for you" He said. Lana opened the box to reveal a small engagement band, with a sapphire in the centre surrounded by diamonds.

"Oh Michael! It's beautiful where did you get this?" She asked.

"I brought it" Mike told her.

"It must of cost a fortune you can't afford this, where did you get that kind of money?"

"Well, I sold some stuff..." He said. Lana looked at him.

"What did you sell?" She asked.

"...Borrowed some..." Mike continued.

"Michael, what did you sell?" Lana asked again.

"...Plus I had a little saved" Mike added.

"Robert!"

"My twelve string" Mike blurted. Lana blinked, not quite sure what to say. Then she suddenly snapped the lid closed and shoved it back at Mike.

"Mike you can't you love that guitar, plus you need it for the Monkees. Go and get it back this instant" Lana demanded. Mike shook his head.

"Nope, sorry can't" He told her "I did love that guitar but I love you a thousand times more. I told you when I proposed before, the music is nowhere near as important to me as you are. I can use Peter's guitar ok, it doesn't matter. What matters is us, you and me, that's the only thing that's important to me. Making you my wife it
all that's important to me" Mike told her holding the box out to her again.

"I...I don't know what to say" Lana replied.

"Say yes, that's all you need to say" Mike told her. Lana smiled and Mike opened the box. Lana took the ring and looked at it for a moment before slipping it on her finger.

"Yes" She said. Then looked up at Mike "Yes" she repeated. Mike grinned and he and Lana melted into a passionate embrace and a loud whoop was heard from Lori's room. Mike and Lana both looked at the door then back at each other and burst into laughter.

"Sorry" Came Lori's voice.

"She's more like Micky then she realises" Mike told Lana.

"She is" Lana agreed nodding her head "So, do you think those two will ever get back together?" She whispered.

"Who knows. I guess we'll just have to wait and see" Mike told her.