"So that's my theory. Davy thinks he was with the girl all night, but we have no clue where he could have gone in a tuxedo," Mike explained to Peter. They were seated in the living room at the small house Peter and Nicole rented next door to the Pad. It was modestly furnished with second-hand items, and the couch that was in there was only recently purchased.
Peter looked thoughtful a moment, and frowned. He leaned back on the purplish-blue couch and thought. Just then there was a shout from the next room.
"Thomas, you get back hear this instant," they could hear Nicole yelling. Laughter of a two-year old child followed.
Shortly afterward, the boy ran into the living room, only half-dressed, and shrieking as if annoying his mother was the most fun he could have. Which, to him, it was. Peter chuckled to himself, and caught the struggling toddler up in his arms as he ran through the room.
"Where are you headed?" he asked, picking him up and sitting him on his lap. Thomas just giggled in response and smiled. Peter grinned.
Nicole entered the room, looking a little tired, which she was after chasing Thomas. She heaved a large sigh, and rolled her eyes. "There you are," she said to Thomas.
"What's he runnin' from?" Mike asked, curiously.
"Who knows," Nicole responded. "He just likes to run." She walked across the room and picked up the boy. "What are you doin' over here stranger?" she asked.
"Talkin'," Mike replied.
"About Micky," Peter added, and filled her in on the latest details. "Davy thinks he was with a girl, but they can't figure out why he would wear a tuxedo."
"Maybe she's rich," Nicole speculated.
Mike shook his head. "Micky? Fall for a rich girl?"
"Anyway, he met her at the club," Peter replied. "Rich girls don't go to clubs."
"Maybe she's not a normal rich girl," Nicole pointed out. Mike snorted through his nose.
"You mean she wants to hang out with the "normal" guys?" he asked. "Doubtful."
Nicole shrugged and put Thomas down, who no longer wanted to be held. "Who knows," she replied with another shrug.
Thomas ran over to Mike, the only person he hadn't bothered yet, and climbed up on his lap. "Hi," he said, shyly, and waved at him.
Mike smiled. "Hey Tom," he replied with a grin. "You wanna come next door for a bit and give your mom a break?"
"Please," Nicole added.
Thomas nodded. "Oh-tay," he replied with a grin.
"Then you better go and get the rest of your clothes on," he said, and Thomas grinned, laughed, nodded, and ran, laughing, out of the room to find some clothes. Nicole hurried after him.
Peter turned to Mike with a smiled. "Thanks," he said. "She probably needs a break from him. Both of us do," he added with a laugh.
"Sure is a hyper little guy," Mike commented. "But he likes Davy and Davy can tolerate him." Peter chuckled. "So we'll let Davy deal with him today and give his mother the day off."
"Which his mother definitely needs," Nicole added with a smile as she entered the room, carrying the now fully dressed boy in her arms. Mike stood up and transferred Thomas to his own arms.
"Gig's at seven tonight," Mike informed Peter. "Be there at six so we can practice a bit. You can have the little monster back then," he added with a grin and the boy in his arms, who just laughed.
"Sure, Mike. And thanks again," Peter added, as Mike left the house.
Davy was in his room, reading a magazine, when he heard the door open and shut. He assumed it was Mike coming back in, and paid no attention.
"Davy," he heard a small voice call, and he looked up from his magazine. Getting up from his bed, Davy left his room and stuck his head out into the living room.
And was attacked as something he could only identify as a small child ran into him, grabbing his legs and knocking him down. Before he could react, Thomas had climbed up onto him and was sitting on his stomach, grinning down at him.
"Ooh," was all Davy could say. Thomas laughed, and Davy could hear Mike's quiet chuckling from somewhere above him.
"Hi," Thomas said, waving at him.
"'Ey Thomas," Davy replied, sitting up, and pushing the boy off his stomach. "What are you doing 'ere?"
"His mom looked a little overwhelmed, and since you can handle him, I volunteered us," Mike replied. Davy stood up, picking up the boy.
"Thanks," he mumbled, pretending to be annoyed. It didn't work. Mike knew as well as the others that Davy was attached to Thomas rather strongly. And vice-versa. "How long?" he asked.
"Just till practice," Mike replied. "Six o' clock." Davy nodded.
"I think maybe I'll take 'im to the P-A-R-K," Davy said, spelling so Thomas wouldn't get the idea. "We'll be back in about an hour." Mike nodded.
"Did you tell Micky about practice?" he asked. Davy nodded.
"Yeah. 'E said 'e'll be 'ere."
Thomas was getting impatient now, playing with Davy's hair, and so the two of them left, Davy trying to convince Thomas that his hair was connected to pain receptors and it hurt when pulled. Mike chuckled as the two of them left through the door.
Micky kept his promise and arrived at quarter to six for practice. The others were already there, and so they practiced. Thomas and Nicole sat on the couch and watched them play.
After quickly running through a few songs, they packed up and headed for the club. The gig went well, and Micky survived through the whole set without getting distracted.
Early the next morning, he sneaked out of the house, careful not to wake Mike and Davy. Happily, he succeeded, and disappeared until that night, when they played another gig.
The morning after that gig, he gathered everyone, including Nicole and Thomas, in the living room of the Pad, telling them he had a big announcement.
"So what's the big announcement, Mick?" Peter asked when they were all gathered in the living room.
Micky looked from one to the other. Peter, Davy and Nicole were sitting on the couch, Thomas in Davy's lap, awaiting the news. Mike sat on the arm of the couch with a grim look on his face.
"Is it really important?" Nicole asked.
"Yes," he replied solemnly. "Really important."
"Well, what is it?" Mike asked, still looking grim.
Micky looked across the faces again and then a large smile burst on his face.
"I'm getting married," he replied, smiling wide.
"You're joking," Davy replied. Micky shook his head. "To who?"
"Maggie Blackwood," he replied with a smile.
"The comedienne?" Peter asked. Micky nodded.
"What comedienne?" Nicole asked.
"She was on before us at the club a few nights ago," Peter explained. "Micky, you can't know her very well, you just met her," he pointed out.
"I don't need to know her," Micky replied. "I like...no, I love her, and that's all I need to know."
Mike had remained silent the entire time. Davy looked up at him, questions written all over his face.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
Mike just shook his head. "Nothin' I can put m'finger on," he replied. "Just thinkin' the same thing I have been thinkin'."
"What's that?" Nicole asked.
"That I've got a bad feelin' about this all," he replied. "Just that somethin' bad's goin' to happen."
Davy frowned. "What could possibly go wrong?" he asked. Mike just shook his head.
"Nah," Micky replied, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand. "I know Maggie's a nice girl. Nothing will go wrong. If you want, Davy, you can check her out, you know?" He tapped the side of his head and winked. "But I'm sure she's got good intentions."
"I met 'er, Mick, remember?" Davy replied. "And I didn't think anything was bad about 'er then. So she can't be all bad. But if you want...Just so you can be sure, Mike," he added.
Mike frowned. "I suppose. Can you do it without her knowin'?" he asked.
Thomas reached up and pulled at the longer strands of Davy's hair. "Ouch," Davy said. "Yeah," he replied to Mike. "Shouldn't be a problem. Just need to be in the same room with 'er."
Mike nodded. "Do it then." He turned to Micky. "Do we get to meet her?" he asked.
Micky nodded. "Yeah," he replied. "She's invited everyone over for a nice dinner tonight. Even Thomas. She said she loves kids. And she wants to meet everyone."
Mike nodded, the grim look on his face fading slightly at the prospect of free food. "Okay," he replied. "Congratulations," he added to Micky. Before anyone could say another word, he'd left the room.
Peter, Davy, and Nicole exchanged glances.
"I should go talk to 'im," Davy said. He handed Thomas to Nicole and followed Mike.
Peter and Nicole exchanged glances and looked at Micky. "So, um," Peter began, clearing his throat.
"When's the big day?" Nicole asked.
