"So... you're saying that you're not pregnant ..." Mr. McKnight stated slowly."Trust me... if I was, you would have heard it from me first," Steph said relaxing a bit.
"See, I told you she wasn't pregnant," James said in an I-told-you-so manner.
"Bunny, you do not know how relieved I am to hear that."
Steph's jaw dropped when she heard her father use her nickname.
"Bunny?" Peter asked, looking at Steph with innocent curiosity.
"I don't believe we've been introduced," Mr. McKnight said as if he had only just then realized that Peter was there.
"Daddy, Mum... this is Peter..." Steph said waving her arms about as if she was a model presenting a new car.
"Pleasure to meet you. James has told us many good things about you," Mrs. McKnight said walking towards the love seat.
Peter instantly stood up and moved to shake her hand, but she waved it off.
"In this family we hug," she stated, laughing.
Steph stood, putting a hand over her mouth trying not to burst out laughing. She knew how her mom could get around "potential love interests". That was also a reason why she didn't bring many of her boyfriends home.
James got up to stand next to his sister as Mr. McKnight moved to welcome Peter into the family with a hug.
"You really gave them a scare with that article, Bunny," he said.
"Yeah, well that reporter was evil. She was... just... a very unhappy person, I guess."
James smiled at his sister's frustration.
"Where did you two meet? How long have you been together? How serious are you?" Mrs. McKnight fired off the questions left and right. "Here lets all go to the dining room table and chat."
"Quick, here's our chance to leave," Steph whispered to Peter, half joking, half serious as they followed Mr. and Mrs. McKnight and James into the dining room.
"No, I think this is fun," Peter said, smiling. "By the way, how serious are we?"
Steph stopped walking and looked at him.
"Do you really think I would still be with you after all that if I didn't really, really like you?" she whispered coyly and kissed him on the cheek before grabbing his hand and lead him into the dining room.
Peter smiled to himself and rubbed his cheek.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"There. That should do it," Micky said as he finished taping the cardboard up over the whole in his window.
"How pretty," Kari stated dryly. This was all her fault. "Micky, what if you had been standing there when that brick was thrown in? What if you had gotten hurt? What if-"
"I know where you are going with this and my answer is 'no'. We cannot just give up on this just because some little girls are upset."
"But they threw a brick through your window. I mean-"
"And it's just as well. I need something to put under my chair. It's a bit wobbly."
"Why are you not taking this seriously?"
"Because it's rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish!"
"I know, but-"
"Listen," Micky said grabbing Kari around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I love you and no crazy reporter, rabid fan girls, or assassin bricks are going to change that."
Kari stood there shocked. "Did you just say you loved me?"
It was Micky's turn to be shocked. Had he really said that? "Yes... I did... and I do. I love you!" he said, kissing her quickly. "I love you! I love-"
"Knock it off, creep!" Kari said giggling. "Let me get a word in."
"Ok," Micky said letting go of Kari's waist.
She took a moment to compose herself before screaming, "I love you too!!"
She threw her arms around his neck causing him to fall over again.
The two laughed and began to wrestle again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Pierce, stop it!" Ginger screamed, trying to find something to throw at him. She settled on the toaster and threw it with all her might.
It connected with his left arm and he yelled in anger and pain before attacking Mike again.
Mike held his ground, blocking and ducking and getting a few punches in, but nothing prepared him for what Pierce was about to do next.
Ginger's ex-fiancee picked up a stool that was by the kitchen counter and hit Mike across the side with it. Mike fell to the ground in blinding pain as he heard Ginger scream in protest.
"Come on, baby, it's time to go," Pierce said making his way towards Ginger, who was throwing other kitchen utensils at him. They didn't seem to phase him.
"You're just making it harder on yourself," he said grabbing Ginger by the wrists and pressed himself against her. He dug his knees into her legs so she couldn't kick him again and roughly yanked her arms above her head.
"Pierce, stop. Please don't do this!"
"Shut up!" he said smacking Ginger across the face.
Ginger's eyes filled with tears as her cheek stung, not wanting to relive this nightmare all over again.
"Now that wasn't very nice," Mike said standing behind the two.
As Pierce turned around to see what was going on, Mike hit him across the face with a stool.
He fell to the floor unconscious and Ginger flew into Mike's arms, crying.
"Shh... it's ok now. Everything is going to be just fine," Mike said running his hand through her hair. "He'll never hurt you again."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Peter and Steph were in for quite a shock when they pulled up to the apartment complex to find all these cop cars and news vans about.
"What on Earth?" Steph wondered aloud.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, they were attacked by reporters. They spent the next two minutes fighting their way to the door.
They practically ran up the stairs, trying to figure out what was going on.
Steph's hands flung to her mouth as she saw the busted door half hanging on its hinges.
They entered the room only to find it in pieces. Over in the corner a rather beat up looking Mike was talking to the police while the paramedics were putting somebody on a stretcher.
"Oh my God, Ginger!" Steph yelled, running up to her roommate when she saw her standing over by the sofa with Kari and Micky.
"We just got here, what happened?" Peter asked as Kari, Ginger, and Steph hugged each other.
"I don't know, we just got here as well," Micky said, watching the girls embrace.
"Well, that's it," Mike said, walking over to the group as the unconscious Pierce was being rolled out on the stretcher, still very angry. "This just isn't safe. There's only one thing a man in my position would do."
Ginger stepped away from the girls and walked over to him. "What?"
"I cannot run the risk of this ever happening again. You need to be protected. We're living together."
"What?!" Steph looked at Mike seriously. "But there's no room!"
"Well then I'll just have to sleep on the couch. There's no way I'm lettin' Ginger get hurt again."
The girls looked at each other. It was really sweet of Mike to want to do all of this, but the couch wasn't the most comfortable place and with Mike's weird work schedule, they were afraid he wouldn't get much sleep and not be himself on the set.
Kari folded her hands and rested her chin on them as to be in deep thought. The paramedics were quick to take Pierce out on the stretcher and as soon as they left, Peter and Micky tried to put the door back in place, as to have some privacy.
"I saw Veronica out there in the midst of the reporters," Kari said quietly.
"Doesn't surprise me," Mike said sitting back in an easy chair with a wet rag. Ginger brought him a glass of water.
"Do you think you'll be able to get home safely?" Steph turned to Peter, and he put his arms around her waist.
"Probably." Peter softly grinned at her. "I think we should wait a bit until the press mob has died down." He looked at Micky.
"Really." Micky looked out the balcony window and saw a few more vans move up. "Hey Mike, do you want me to stop by your place in the morning and bring you some stuff? So you won't go back to the studio with blood all over?"
Mike looked over at Micky at the thoughtfulness. "Sure, thanks Mick." He sighed he folded over the rag to use up a less bloody spot.
"So Gingie, besides all this, how was your night?" Kari asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
"It was great," Ginger smiled. "We baked a cake an--"
"CAKE?!" Micky and Kari practically squealed. "What kind?" asked Micky.
"Chocolate, with vanilla icing," Mike said from under the rag.
"Ooooooh!" Kari took Micky's hand and ran to the kitchen.
Steph, Peter, and Ginger laughed. "Michael? You actually baked a cake? I thought that was just an act for the show!" Peter teased him.
Mike replied with a smart ass smile. He looked at the kitchen where he heard Kari and Micky giggling. "Go see what they're doing," Mike pointed to Ginger, with the rag over his eyes. He was being his old self as to when they first met. "C'mon, chop chop."
Ginger rolled her eyes as Steph and Peter snickered and she went to the kitchen. "KARI!" Peter, Steph and Mike heard her yell. They quickly ran over to see what happened. Steph and Peter began to laugh when they saw what Ginger was yelling about and Mike had the same attitude as Ginger. "MICKY!" he yelled as well.
Kari and Micky had gotten themselves into a cake fight, with cake and icing everywhere and all over their hair, faces and clothes. "He started it!" Kari pointed accusingly.
"Nuh uh! She did!" Micky pointed right back. The two bust out giggling again.
"I helped make a cake and this is what happens to it!" Mike deadpanned. "Micky's face always seems to end up in it."
Peter laughed harder at that remark. Steph had to help hold him up.
Ginger however wasn't as thrilled. "You made this mess, you clean it up," she scolded Kari.
"Yes Mama," Kari mocked voice. Micky laughed at her and she hit him.
"You too... Shotgun," Mike looked at Micky. Micky made a face and Kari began to laugh at him as well. They two started to clean up as the other four headed back into the living room and began talking about random things. There was an occasional yelling at Micky and/or Kari and insane laughter from the kitchen, but soon the task was done and they too were in the living room discussing different topics.
Peter looked at his watch. "Well I guess I'd better head home. Rise and shine early tomorrow!"
"Aww," Steph hung her head and pouted. Peter laughed, raised her chin up, and kissed her sweetly goodbye, Micky and Kari 'awwwww'ing.
"I guess I should go too, Babe," Micky looked at Kari.
"Okay dokey," Kari replied and she hugged him. He too kissed his girl good night and Micky and Peter headed out the door, poking and teasing each other on the way to their cars.
Kari blew her bangs out of her eyes and her and Steph went to their rooms to get ready for bed. Ginger hung out with Mike a little longer.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked, playing with his hair.
"Stop questioning it and get some sleep," was Mike's reply. He kissed her softly and she laughed softly as he walked her to her room. Before she reached her door, Kari ran out of her room in her robe. She ran up to Mike and hugged him.
"Night Papa Nez!" She grinned and ran back. They heard Steph laugh and her door closed as well. But it soon opened and she did the same thing as Kari, with Kari laughing at the top of the short flight of stairs.
Ginger giggled and Mike shook his head. "Well it's nice to know I'm loved," Mike said smugly.
Ginger gave him one more kiss on the cheek. "That you are," she smiled, squeezed his hand and shut her door as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Steph was the first one in the now house of four to wake up the next morning at six o'clock. She got up and started to make her way into the kitchen in her nighty, but then remembered a man was sleeping on her couch. She tied her robe around her, thinking about how sweet Mike was to be this dedicated. As she walked into the kitchen to make her breakfast tea to drink while she got ready, she expected to see Mike up, but instead, as she crept closer for a better look, she found him still fast asleep. He was sort of hugging himself under the blanket as he slept and didn't look very comforatable. His shirt was laying in the floor, and Steph assumed he'd taken it off so he didn't get blood all over the couch with it. He was breathing heavily through his mouth, and Steph noticed his nose and jaw had swollen, and his left eye was light black. She picked up his shirt to put it in the hamper when the phone rang. She rushed over to it and answered it after just one ring, and Mike remained asleep.
"Hello?" she said in a whisper.
"Hey," Micky's voice answered. "Everybody still asleep? I thought Mike would have already been waiting for me..."
"Well," Steph cast a look towards Mike, "I don't think he slept very well and he looks a little ruff. What's happening?"
"I'm over at Mike's. I got a bunch of his clothes and cleaned out his bathroom. The studio heard about what happened last night. They wanted me to tell Mike not to come in to shoot today, that'd we'd film all the scenes that he'd just have to sit around and wait on because he wasn't in. I thought I'd bring him some of his stuff over, and he and Ginger can relax or move the rest of his stuff in today. And I wanted to talk to Kari..."
"That sounds like a plan to me," Steph agreed. "If he came in to film today, he'd probably attack anyone who made a noise behind him," she laughed. "I'll tell them."
"Great. I'll be there in a few. Later."
"Later."
Steph managed to get her tea without waking Mike. As she was tiptoeing to her room to get dressed, Ginger ran into her. Steph had been so careful about what she was doing, she hadn't heard the shower running upstairs, and Ginger was already dressed.
"Aw, I wanted you to sleep longer..." Steph said as she ushered Ginger back upstairs.
"Why? Were you and Mike foolin' around? I can go clean the bathroom or something if you need more time..."
Steph slapped her arm. "No. Micky just called. The studio gave you and Mike the day off. And Mike's still asleep and a little brused. Micky said he's bringing some of Mike's things over and that you two could move the rest today if you wanted, and he wants to talk with Kari."
Ginger nodded. "Excellent."
"What is?" a sleepy Kari asked.
"I don't have to work today is what!" Ginger teased. Kari stuck her tounge out, she figured she knew why. "Micky's coming over."
"Micky's coming over?!" Kari took off for the shower and to get dressed.
Steph got dressed in her room while talking to Ginger, who'd stayed out of the main living area so Mike could sleep. As soon as Kari exited the bathroom, fully dressed for work, there was a soft knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Kari bounced down the stairs, crept past Mike, and answered the door. "Micky!!!"
"Kari!!!" he said stupidly and quietly as they hugged, seeing Mike still curled up on the couch. "How I've missed you these many moons!"
Kari laughed silently as she led him into Steph's room where Ginger and Steph were.
"How's everything going so far this morning? Any problems? I brought the paper..." Micky said after 'hellos' and tossing two suitcases on Steph's bed.
"It's been quiet," Ginger answered. "What's in the paper? We never did read that magazine."
"I did," Micky answered in a dark tone. "It went on about Kari like she was some wild child, Steph like she was nothing but trash, and you like you were a schizo-slut. Not a very pretty picture."
"I'd say. So what does the press have to cheer us up with today?" Kari asked.
Micky unfolded the paper to the section about last night's events. "Ah-hem. Ahhhh-hem. AHHHH-HEM-HEM!"
"JUST READ IT!" Ginger and Steph chorused.
"Ahem. Last night, in the apartment that the three new 'Monkee Girls' share, Michael Nesmith blew his top. Rumors have spread before that Mike had a temper at times, but the events at his girlfriend's home proved it. While Ginger Barbour and Mike were alone, Ginger's fiancee showed up to find them in each other's arms. The poor young man-- who shall remain nameless-- was devestated to see his love in embrace with another man. Acting out of blind love, he attempted to separate the two, but Nesmith pushed Barbour behind him in an effort to block her from her rightful owner--"
"RIGHTFUL OWNER?!" the girls chorused at once.
"I just read it, don't yell at me... block her from her... [that]. Wanting to save his fiancee, the young beau tried to reason with the Monkee, but Michael wouldn't listen. The fiancee threw one punch, then the guitarist retaliated fiercely by smashing a barstool into his face when he took a protective hold of his future wife.
The two have been dating seriously for years, and a wedding has been planned for at least two. Looks like Miss Barbour likes to have a little fun on the side without letting everyone else in. Or, more likely, the Monkee knew of her engagement and didn't mind breaking up a soon to be happy home.
These statements are from a first hand interview with the fiancee from the emergency room, where he was getting stitches. He says he may sue the Monkees' leader member for medical bills."
"Well... Gingie you got your name in the paper!" Kari said, trying to counter the shocked and nearly savage expression on Ginger's face.
"Dating seriously?!?! Wedding?! Poor young man?! Tried to reason?! Sue Mike?! He burst in here, attacked Mike, and then, yet again, he tried to... Oh I wish I could kill him and every reporter in the world..."
"Calm down," Steph said soothingly. "Nobody would believe any of that. It says right there the entire story is from his point of view."
"Yeah, and I checked in with the police. They're questioning him today because of the complaint you and Mike filed. They said he'd probably get probation," Micky interjected encouragingly.
"Probation?! That's it?!" Ginger looked shocked.
"That'll keep him away from you, at least," Kari said hopefully.
"Right," Steph agreed. "Well, I think I'll go to work. Micky'll bring you, Kari, after he says whatever he wants to..."
"I'll go see if I can make some breakfast without waking up Prince Charming in there..." Ginger said that almost without any sarcasm, the article having made her fiercly defensive of Mike saving her from repeating a horrific past and vowing to protect her.
"Oh yeah!" Kari said as the others left her and Micky alone. "What did you wanna talk to me about? I won the cake fight if that's what you're going to get on..." She giggled, remembering Micky with cake splattered all over him last night.
He laughed. "No, I won. But that's not my... I was just thinking, you know, Mike's moving over here for protection and it'll be the four of you, which is croweded... believe me, I pretend to live with three other people..." That made Kari laugh. "I just had the thought that maybe... maybe, to help the crowding and for protection... and whatever..." he finally bit the bullet. "Kari do you wanna move in with me?"
Kari's mouth dropped. Micky looked her up and down uneasily as the prepostion raced through her mind. "Move in? With you? In your apartment?"
"Yeah that's what I was thinking..." Micky laughed nervously.
Kari's mouth still hung open as she blinked. Then she grinned huge. "Yeah! Yeah I'd love that!!!"
"Really?" Micky's whole body lightened up.
"Yeah! That'll be great! Mike can have my room, I'll have you, he'll be here for his piece of mind... It works out perfectly!"
"Exactly!" Micky hugged her.
At that moment Ginger walked in. "Done? Cos you're running late..."
"Yeah right, you just want to get us out of here to be alone with your Cowboy in Shining Armor," Micky said sarcastically.
Ginger just glared at him.
Kari bounced out the door of Steph's room holding Micky's hand. "I'm moving in with Micky..." she said in a singsong voice as she passed Ginger.
"I don't care what you do just don't make a mess or wake M-- Wait, what did you say?" Ginger said following them out of the room.
"She's moving in with me. Mike will get her room and everybody's happy," Micky explained in a whisper as they walked to the front door, Ginger sprinting over to them after standing in shock for a moment.
"Really? Kari... You're moving out...?" Ginger asked as they went outside.
Kari hugged Ginger immediately. "But we'll still see each other, Big Sissy! All the time! It just makes more sense."
Ginger nodded. "Yeah... I guess so... but... but..."
"Yew'll miss me! Yew'll cry in yer pillow fer yer little sisterrr! Ah know it!" Kari said dramatically making fun of Ginger's accent.
"Then again, maybe not..."
"Have a good day," Kari hugged her goodbye, laughing.
"Yeah, take it easy," Micky added as he and Kari got into his car. "Shame for Mike to be all beaten up the first day you two have a place all to yourselves..."
"Shut up and go away," Ginger called, but smiling.
After the two had gone to work, Mike remained sleeping. He didn't move the entire time Ginger made southwestern omelets, but as if on queue as soon as she'd finished, he woke up.
He sat up on the couch with his hair frizzed out and the blanket fell to his lap, revealing him in only his jeans. Ginger dropped the fork she was holding at noticing this.
She blinked and spoke up. "Mornin'..." she said quietly, as Mike was obviously trying to remember where he was.
He turned his head and looked at her, thankful to recognize her voice because he hadn't immediately recognized anything else. He smiled. "Mornin'... How are you?" he asked intently as he curved his back, stretching. Ginger could see the bruises on his side from the stool.
"Fine... How about you?"
Mike winced. He was incrediably sore and could tell his face was a little puffy. "Okay... I need about five asperins though..." he said, stiffly moving his legs so that his feet where on the floor. He put his head in his hands, then tried unsuccessfully to smooth his hair down as Ginger brought him a glass of juice and some asperins. "Thanks." He popped them into his mouth and downed half the orange juice. Ginger looked at him pitifully. "Do I look that bad?"
Ginger laughed quietly. "No. The studio gave us the day off."
"Really? Great... I don't think I'd be worth that much today. I bet my face is bruised." Then a thought occured to him. "How'd they find out?"
Ginger gave a mirthless smile. "The paper." She handed the article to Mike, who quickly read it.
"Oh geez, they just want to make sure the people know the entire story, don't they? Oh well..." He tossed it onto the coffee table. "Did Micky bring my stuff over?"
"Yeah, it's in Kari's room. And when he did, he asked Kari to move in with him. She's going to, so you can have her room. No more couch."
"They're moving in together? They've only known each other for--" He stopped at Ginger's look. "Yeah, okay, I'm beat. What smells so good? You order out?"
"Haha," Ginger said, standing and leading Mike to the kitchen.
He took a bite off his plate at the table before he sat down.
"You like it?" Ginger asked.
He made a face like he really did and nodded. "Yeah, it's really good. I'll be right back..."
A few moments later, Mike came back into the kitchen with his hair combed, no blood except for the cuts on his face, and with a shirt. "Better?"
Ginger didn't know how to answer that. She thought he looked cute when he first woke up, despite a little blood on his face. Plus he'd been shirtless. She shrugged. "Eh, not much you've got to work with."
"Ho, ho." Mike sat down and the two ate, talking about moving mostly, then Mike brought up the night before.
"So... now it's okay if you don't want to talk it, but, what exactly was it with you and him? Where you really engaged? Did he abuse you? Because you said 'again'..."
Ginger sighed, without looking at Mike.
Mike immediately felt horrible for asking. "I'm sorry, you don't have t--"
"No, it's alright. We... Okay, here it is..." Ginger said. She'd never ran through the story before, hoping it would just fade away. Obviously, as with other things, it wasn't going to just fade away when left to languish. She was going to have to face it head on, and there wasn't really anyone she'd rather do that sort of thing with than Mike. Surprisingly, she wasn't uncomforatable with discussing it with him, him being a man, like she thought she'd be. She continued, "He was my first serious boyfriend. We dated for a while. I was only testing him out. The more we dated, the more he told me how much he loved me, how perfect I was, how beautiful I was, how great we were together. I don't know if it was out of not being able to break a heart that I was being fooled into believing adored me or what, but I couldn't bring myself to drop him, even though I never clicked with him. At all. Eventually he asked me to marry him. Same thing. I couldn't say 'no'. And by then I was accustomed to him, I reckon. I never said 'yes', told him I'd think about it, but he took that as good as a 'yes'. He'd always gone out and drank a little. Drinking a little did him in. He got a little violent around me, but never really to me. One night he called and wanted a straight answer on the proposal. He was yelling and he was bombed so I hung up. Next thing I know, he bursts into my apartment." Ginger paused. She was bouncing her left knee up and down like she was keeping time to music.
Mike let her pause, then prompted her softly, "What did he do?"
"He... He beat me up some. I beat him up a lot, mind you. But he managed to get my hands tied together," she continued slowly. "And he held me down on the floor..." She stopped speaking again and her knee was in a faster meter. She was looking straight ahead like she was watching the scene she was describing playing out on the top of the kitchen table.
Mike knew. This was horrible. He'd never thought of this. "So... he... he... he raped you?"
"No!" Ginger said immediately. "No. He went about as far as you could go towards that without actually commiting the crime, though. If my landlord hadn't heard all the noise and come in at the exact moment he did, if he'd been just five seconds later..."
The two were silent for a minuet as Mike considered all this. A man that had attempted to, and nearly succeded in, raping his girlfriend had tried it again last night with him in the same room. If Mike had known what her ex had done in the past and hadn't been so punchy to not realize that was what he was trying to do again last night, Mike would've done so much more than just break a barstool over his face.
"But, I'm okay now. It didn't scar me or anything. He's just worthless."
"Yeah. And it'll never, ever happen again. Never, I promise."
Ginger smiled. "I know that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Steph drove to work, she couldn't help but think about what Micky said about the article calling her "trash". Normally she wouldn't let other people's opinions of her bother her like this, but it seemed as though the press knew more about her past than she did. In fact, she knew the press knew more about her past than she did.
She had to get that magazine after work.
She sighed trying to relax as she pulled into a parking space. She got out and walked into the studio.
"Hello, Bunny," Peter said greeting her with a smile.
"That name never leaves your lips again," she mock threatened.
"Or you'll do what?" Peter challenged.
"Reinforce the no kissing rule."
"Ok, fine you win...but you were the one to break it..."
Steph rolled her eyes as she giggled. "I hope my parents didn't scare you last night."
"Hmm," Peter said thinking, "Now I see why you never introduced them you your other boyfriends."
"Exactly."
"Nah, I thought they were cute. Very... parent-like."
"And the twenty questions didn't freak you out?"
"Well, yeah, but hey, it's their job." Peter paused for a moment before asking, "Do you think they liked me?"
Steph's jaw dropped. "Is Peter having a moment of doubt?"
"Yes, Peter is."
Steph laughed. "Are you kidding? They loved you."
"Who loved who now?" Micky asked as he and Kari walked up to the two.
"Peter met my parents last night," Steph explained.
"And he's still alive? Good job, man," Micky said giving Peter the "thumbs up".
"Boys, we need you for make-up!" a stage hand yelled from across the set.
"Well, it's time to get beautiful, Pete," Micky said as he and Peter made their leave.
"Hey, Steph," Kari started shyly.
"Yeah, Kar?"
Kari made a face at the sound of her nickname, but decided to let it slide. "I need to talk to you about something."
"Talk away," Steph said as they pulled up two chairs by the coffee table.
"Micky asked me to move in with him."
Steph just stared at her.
"And I said 'yes'."
"What?! You're leaving me alone with Mike and Ginger?!"
"Don't say it as if it'll kill you."
"I think that that is a distinct possibility."
"Aw come on, it won't be that bad..." Kari said, slowly trailing off. "On second though, you are welcome to hang out over with Micky and me any time you want."
"Thank you," Steph said as the two girls laughed. "When are you moving?"
"Well, if Mike is moving in today, I'll probably be moving out today."
"Today? Why so soon? Can't it wait a couple months??"
Kari hit Steph in the arm playfully and Steph just kind of sat there, thinking.
Everyone else was moving on with their relationships, getting serious.
Why was she so afraid of committing to hers?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Micky, Davy and Peter ran around the set like idiots, as usual, but without Mike the feeling wasn't the same. There were no witty remarks, and Peter and Davy kept saying "I wish Mike were here." They ran around until one and then they had their breaks.
Kari ran up onto the set, past Davy and into Micky's arms. "What's that for?" Micky asked giggling, but liking it.
"Because," Kari sighed. "Being roommates will be fun!"
"Wait, you're movin' in with him?!" Davy asked, overhearing the two.
"Yep," Micky nodded, still hugging Kari.
Davy just stared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mike and Ginger were going out to his car. "Here." Ginger shoved something at Mike.
"What's this?" he asked. It was a paper bag. "What the..."
Ginger giggled insanely. "Kari made it last night. She said for you to wear it so no one would recognize you or beat you up again." Ginger was cracking up.
Mike rolled his eyes and deadpanned. "Gee, thanks. I might as well be ugly with my wool hat."
They got into the car and Ginger drove, since Mike's eye was swollen and they couldn't afford another accident. They chattered while listening to the radio as Mike gave her directions to his "secret" house.
"No girls have found it yet," Mike drawled. "Thank God."
Ginger snickered. "Yeah, and good thing I haven't either or there could be a brick through your window."
"What does that mean?" asked Mike as they turned right after a stop light. Ginger told him about what happened last night at Micky's apartment. "Geez," Mike mumbled. "No one's hurt?"
"Did it look like it?" Ginger replied.
Mike shook his head. "People are just no damn good." Ginger laughed as she pulled up on Mike's driveway.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mike sat the last big box down at the foot of his bed now in Kari's old room and threw himself backwards on the bed. He thought moving might help work out the soreness that comes with being beaten up and wacked in the side with a heavy wooden object. It didn't. But at least the soreness was spread out evenly now.
Ginger closed the dresser drawer she'd just finished filling up with Mike's shirts. They'd taken all of Kari's things over to Micky's after Ginger had made herself and Mike lunch with Mike's remaining groceries. Surprisingly, even with his taste for fire food, he'd never thought of banana peppers, tobasco sauce, and chilies on salad. Ginger had been emptying clothes into the closet and dresser as she and Mike carried them up. She sat down on the edge of his bed. "How ya feelin'?"
Mike sat up on the bed that already had his green and cream linens on it. "Fine. My mouth's still a little sore."
"Aw, did he you punch you right in the mouth?"
"Yeah but it's not sore from that, it's sore from those five peppers I ate at once... Woo..."
Ginger laughed as Mike slid down the bed to be closer to her.
He looked around at his new room. "Glad this's all over with. I think I'll like it here..." He gently nuzzled her neck. Very gently because his nose hurt like hell.
Ginger smiled. She'd never felt like this before. Mike continued to rub against her. Then he gently kissed her neck. Ginger stiffened a little, not knowing why.
Mike just held her, not kissing her any longer after her body language changed. They'd made out much farther than what he had just been doing, but with the revalation of what she'd been through and the events of the previous night, he had no desire to make her the slightest bit uncomforatable. He didn't want her to think he just wanted to live with her for the hope of sex. When he decided to move in, that really hadn't even occured to him.
Ginger felt so safe and secure in Mike's arms, like she wanted to just stay there, like nothing bad would ever happen to here there. Yet, there was something. Something was urging her to jump up immediately. She remembered what had happened the last time she hadn't trusted her instincts...
But now she was experiencing two different gut feelings. If she was honest with herself, she wanted to turn to Mike right there on that king size bed and show him how much she cared for him. She'd fallen in love with him. On the other hand, something was nagging her. Don't sit there with that guy on that bed... Get up... Leave... Run.
She compromised with herself by giving Mike a peck on the cheek then standing up slowly. She was now telling herself how stupid she was being. "What now?"
Mike stood up, too. "Show me how to bake another cake."
Ginger burst out laughing, as Mike thought she might, hoping to ease any fear she was getting.
"C'mon then..." Ginger lead him downstairs, and the pair got out all the stuff to make another cake. What was stupidly funny is that they make bright pink strawberry icing.
As they were making the cake, they'd managed to flick some flour here and there at each other and that sort of thing, just generally having a nice time. While they were waiting for it to bake, they made the frosting. Mike had picked out the color. Ginger was cracking up at him. He really had a goofy side to him that he let loose when he wanted to, and Ginger thought it was a nice accent to his general personality.
Mike plastered the last of the frosting on the cake, then licked the knife he was using rather comically. Ginger just looked at him and started laughing again, very hard.
"What is so funny?"
"You... You..." Ginger was still laughing. "You have a cute lil' dap of pink icing on your cute lil' nose..."
"My nose isn't little."
Ginger had tears in her eyes. "Yeah well..."
"Hey you're supposed to argue with me about it! My self esteem's pretty low."
"Aw, poor thing." Ginger put her arms around him. She very gently wiped some of the frosting from the bridge of Mike's nose of with her finger and ate it. "Mmm."
Mike was laughing now as he wiped the rest off. "I guess we'll leave that for Steph," he said indicating the cake. The two had eaten enough extra frosting to do them. Ginger got a little more icing out of the nearly empty bowl on the same finger and was going to eat it, just to be funny by acting like she enjoyed being a tease.
She, however, didn't eat the frosting. Mike did. Ginger leaned into him and kissed him. Mike took her more into his arms and kissed her back more deeply. Ginger was playing with his hair yet again and kissing him more deeply and more exploratoraly when Mike pressed her close to him so that they could really feel each other.
Ginger stopped kissing him so deeply. In fact, she was barely kissing him. A different sort of adreline had once again hit her and she felt like something bad was about to happen, like she was doing something wrong.
"What's wrong?" Mike asked taken a little aback. With the way he was being kissed he'd forgotten being careful not to frighten Ginger.
"I... I don't know... Nothing... This is just... It's wrong..." Ginger said, noting that the last phrase sounded like someone else had spoken it. "I'm sorry, I'm just being weird..." She hadn't minded when Mike had grabbed her that day in his dressing room and they'd shared their first kiss. Something now was telling her she had better be careful about what she did, even though she didn't know why. She felt guitly about kissing him so passionately.
"It's not wrong," Mike said softly, as softly as he had the night before when he was holding her, protecting her and promising nothing would ever hurt her again. "It's been a hard day." He continued to hug her in a comforting manner. Rather than run away, Ginger buried her head in his chest for the safety it made her feel. That in itself was confusing to her. Mike continued, "You're fine."
Ginger nodded against him. She didn't know how or why, but she wasn't fine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~