Title: Five Years On, Part 4
Author: Emily
L.
Email:
lavennyfic@gmail.com
Category:
Drama
Rating: PG (very little adult
content, some thematic elements)
Het/Gen/Bi: Het
Parts: 4/4
Spoilers: Corny ending. Horray!
Disclaimer: None of these characters
belong to me, they belong to Paramount. Don’t sue me - I might cry.
Pairing: LDF/LK, past SF/WM, past SF/CR
Distribution:
I’m keeping my fic on here for now. E-mail me if you have any requests.
Authors Notes: Note the not-so-quiet salute
to the Laverne & Shirley Sing album (and MMK!) in the title.
Setting: California
Summary: The long separation between Laverne and Shirley
will either make or break their friendship, and it is up to Shirley to decide
her own fate.
Dinner went exactly as they all
suspected it would. Horrible. Shirley had an evil remark for everything Carmine
said or did. Either he was a disgusting pig for eating the way he did, or she
believed he was exaggerating about his recent business deals. The bickering
became so unbearable that Laverne and Lenny wandered into the kitchen with
their plates, finishing off their meal and trying to block out the noise so
that Josie wouldn't hear it.
It was now 7:30 and Lenny was
tucking Josie into bed while Laverne did the dishes.
“Daddy...”
“Yeah, punkin'?”
“Why do Aunt Shirley and Uncle
Carmine fight so much? I thought they were friends.”
“Well, they used to be kinda like
how me and yer mom are - they loved each other. But somethin' happened and now
they don't like each other as much as they did,” he said, trying to make the
situation less difficult so she could possibly begin to understand.
Josie looked up at her father, her
green eyes filled with questions. “Will that ever happen to you an mommy?” she
asked, afraid of the answer. He looked down at her, ready to cry. He knew a
four year old should never have to ask that question, and it brought him back
to his fifth birthday. The day his mom left him.
“Yer mom and I love each other just
as much as we love you, Josie. And do you ever think we're gonna leave you?”
She smiled. “Of course not, daddy!”
He tickled her as she squealed, then
stopped to stroke her deep red hair. “Then you don't ever have to worry about
your mom and I. We're together until the very end. Scouts honor,” he said,
giving her the salute. “Now go to bed before the monsters come out to get you!”
“Oooooh - will Godzilla come to
visit me, daddy?” she yelped, squirming under the covers.
“Only if you get a good night's
sleep,” he said, winking. “Goodnight, punkin'. I love ya.”
“Love you, too daddy,” she said,
turning into her bed and drifting off to sleep.
As Lenny turned on her night light
and shut her bedroom door, he was greeted by an exhausted Laverne.
“I swear, Len, I barely did nothin'
today but listenin' to them fight makes me feel like I've been in a ring with
two prize fighters!”
He grabbed her around the waist and
hugged her; half to silence her, half to feel her body against his. “Josie
asked me if we'd ever end up like Carmine and Shirl,” he whispered against her
ear. She looked up at him with a look of terror.
“Goddamnit, I wish they'd cut it out
already! I don't want Josie to have to hear all of that just because they're
having a bad time! I kinda wish I hadn't invited him over at all, but she
needed to see them. This'll blow over soon... right?”
“I dunno, Vernie. Let's go
downstairs and see if we can't calm them down... but one screech outta either
of their mouths, and I'm goin' to bed.” She silently agreed with him.
They creeped down the stairs
together, and were shocked. They heard nothing. No screaming, no fighting, not
even Shirley unhappily muttering to herself. Unsure of it either of them were
even still inside the house, they glanced around the corner, into the living
room. They were not expecting to see what was before their eyes: a
shell-shocked Shirley who was twice as white than usual.
“...Shirl...” Laverne squeaked,
nervously. No reply. Laverne had the strongest urge to smack her so she'd snap
out of it, but giving the absence of Carmine after one heck of a fight, she
figured it wouldn't be the best thing to do. She motioned for Lenny to leave
the room so that she could deal with Shirley on her own. As she put her arms
around her friend, Shirley finally said something.
“He left me. He really left me.” She
turned to Laverne, as if searching her best friends eyes could give her the
answers. “After all of those years together...”
“Yeah Shirl, but you were gone a
real long time. And so was he. But you didn't make no effort in keepin' in
touch with him. You tore him to shreds tonight.” Laverne's harsh words were in
deep contrast with her soothing voice and touch. “He really hoped that you two
would hit it off like old times, but you didn't.”
“But he told me he's through with
us!” she wailed. “That he never wants to see me again, and that's he's sick of
trying!”
Laverne uncomfortably shifted beside
Shirley, her arms still draped around her back. “Well, the sick of trying part
may be true. And the fact that he's through with your relationship might be
true, too. But he still loves you Shirl.”
“Ha.” she said, mockingly. “If
that's love, I don't want any of it.”
“Shirl - I know he's really angry
with you. Heck, I'm angry with you. You haven't been actin' yourself lately,
and I know why, but it's really hurting our feelings - all
of our feelings. Now, I know we made up, but you need to make up with Carmine.
I'm not sayin' that you two will get back together. I know I told you that the
bad history between you two in the past several years wouldn't get in the way,
but maybe I was wrong. Just because it worked with me and Len doesn't mean
it'll work with you. But I do promise you that you'll be friends again.”
Shirley glanced up at Laverne,
sniffling. “You think so?”
“I know so, Shirl,” she said full of
confidence. “You two date back to high school, and if you two can't come out of
this as friends, I don't know what planet he comes from.” She smiled at
Shirley, playfully rubbing her shoulder. “Are ya ready to quit with the water
works now and have a good time? It's been five long years, Shirl - I've missed
my best friend. Is she still in there?”
Shirley straightened herself,
collecting her strewn emotions. “You bet your booties I am, Vernie. Shall we
have a night on the town?”
Laverne was relieved that she still
showed her old spunk. “Well, it's late, but the bars are still open. Whats say
we have a few late night cocktails and reminisce about old times?”
“If you can find me a decent guy,
Laverne, I'd be glad to.”
“Hey hey hey - it's not time to
worry about guys right now Shirl,” she said warningly.
“I'm just messing around, Laverne.
Let's get ready to go out!”
They both ran up the stairs, more
than eager to change into befitting clothes for the evening. As Laverne scoured
her drawers for something acceptable for a girls night out - something she
hadn't had in years - Lenny sat up in bed. “What're you doin', Vernie?”
“Me and Shirl are goin' out for a
little while. For the next few hours I'm not worryin' about nothin'. It's just
me and Shirl - I don't have to worry about being a mother, and I don't have to
worry about being a-” He looked at her warningly. “Don't worry, Len - I'm still
your wife. I ain't gonna do anything stupid.” She winked, kissing his forehead
and continuing her search for her best dress.
The two girls met in the hallway,
and upon glance, it was as if it was five years prior when they were both
single girls living in Laurel Vista. They linked arms, walking down the stairs
together, and for the first time in a long while, Shirley knew everything would
be okay. Her mind was off of Carmine, and she wasn't worrying about her old
life. Her eyes were now cast upon her new life - her new life raising her sons
in an acceptable setting, spending time with her best friend and goddaughter,
and not suffering from anymore emotional pain. She wasn't sure if she would
find love in the near future, or even ever again. But she knew that no matter
what, she'd have her best friend by her side, and no one could take that away
from her ever again.
As they gunned the motor and turned
on the radio to hear an old tune by The Beatles, they sped off, giggling for
the first time together since their separation. Their lives could only go up
now.