Lauren and Squiggy walked over to Laverne and Carmine. "No decorations," Lauren said.
      "Told ya," Carmine said, then noticed something. "Hey, they've got a stage set up."
      "Looks like they got a band," Laverne added, as Lauren and Squiggy exchanged knowing looks.
      "Maybe we oughtta get out of the way," Lauren suggested.
      "Why? They're down that end and we're down this end. We won't be a bother," Laverne said. She went over and sat on the first row of the bleachers. The others joined her.
      "Laverne, are you sure you don't just wanna check out the crew guys? Carmine said, then winked at her.
      "Crew guys?" Lauren asked, grinning. "I'm the one who *should* be checking them out, but..."
      Squiggy clamped a hand over her mouth. Laverne and Carmine gave him weird looks, but he didn't see them. He was watching the crew. Lauren followed his gaze, as did Laverne and Carmine. They all spotted who he was looking at.
      "Well, ma..." Lauren started, "now's your chance." She glanced over at her.
      Laverne shot the glance back and looked to Carmine. "Go on," he said.
      "I don't think it's a good idea," Laverne said.
      Lauren stood up. "Ma," she said, then paused as Laverne stood up. Lauren grabbed her hand. "Ya know, you've already done this to me... twice. Now, it's my turn." She pulled Laverne along to the other side of the gym, leaving the guys to watch.
      About ten feet away from the stage, Lauren moved Laverne in front of her and gave her a bit of a shove, but still followed.
      Laverne stopped right next to Lenny, who was kneeling next to an amp, checking the wires. Lauren nudged her. "Len?" Laverne said, unsure.
      He stopped what he was doing and stood. "Vernie."
      Lauren nudged her again. "How're ya doin'?" Laverne asked.
      "Good," Lenny replied, glancing around her, noticing Lauren, then Carmine and Squiggy in the background. "Uh, Laverne, can I talk to you out in the hall?"
      "Sure," she said, and he led her out a side door into another hall.
      Lauren just stood where she was with an incredulous look on her face.
      Out in the hall...
      "See ya found the others already," Lenny said, then added, "well, except Shirley."
      "Yeah, I'd been hopin' to find you, too," Laverne said.
      Lenny sighed and looked down at the floor. "Vernie..."
      "Everything okay out here?" Laverne and Lenny turned and saw Lauren standing in the doorway. "Oops. Bad timing, I guess."
      "Com'ere," Laverne said. Lauren walked over next to her. "Len..." she took a deep breath, "this is Lauren, your daughter."

      "It's too quiet," Squiggy said.
      "Squig, really," Carmine said, shaking his head.
      "But you saw Lauren follow them into the hall!" Squiggy said. "How'd you feel if after twenty years and the woman you once loved showed up and said this is your son or daughter?"
      "I'd love it," Carmine said, thoughtfully. Squiggy sighed and shook his head.
      "That is so sweet." They looked over and saw a petite dark haired woman who looked an awful lot like...
      "Shirl?" Carmine asked, standing.
      "Hi, Carmine," Shirley said, smiling.
      "Oh, geez," Squiggy groaned.
      "So, where's..." Carmine began, but Shirley waved him off.
      "Definitely not coming. We haven't been together for fifteen years," Shirley replied.
      "Fifteen years?" Carmine repeated. "But you didn't come back?"
      "No," Shirley said. "I could have, but I would have had to register my son for school all over again and..."
      "Son?" Carmine asked, as Squiggy groaned again.
      "Yeah, I left him at the hotel," Shirley said.
      "Hotel Pfister?" Carmine asked.
      "How'd you know?" she questioned.
      "Lucky guess," Carmine replied.
      Squiggy cleared his throat, but seeing he didn't quite get their full attention, he said loudly, "Ahem!" They turned and looked at him. "Thank you."
      "Hi, Squig," Shirley said, giving him a friendly smile.
      "I wasn't done yet, Squig," Carmine said.
      "Ya weren't?" Squiggy asked. "Coulda fooled me." he paused. "Ya know, if I thought I could make it out into the other hall without falling over, I'd go watch the show between Laverne and Lenny instead."
      "Squig!" Carmine said.
      "Wha-at?!" Squiggy asked, irritated.
      "Laverne's here?" Shirley asked. "And Lenny? Well, why aren't they in here?"
      Carmine looked at Squiggy, who shook his head 'no.' Carmine turned back to Shirley. "Oh, boy..."

      Lauren sighed. The "talk" between Laverne and Lenny wasn't going as well as she'd hoped. Matter of fact, it had soon escalated into a yelling match. She snuck off to the side and leaned against some lockers and watched, shaking her head. She came to the realization that there was more between them than she knew. At that moment, she decided she'd try to talk to Lenny...
      "I've gotta get ready for tonight," Lenny said, putting an end to the match, then went back into the gym.
      Laverne crossed her arms. She shook her head. "I don't know why I thought it wouldn't turn out like this." She looked towards Lauren and saw her walking over. "Lauren, I'm sorry..."
      "It's okay, ma, really. You didn't know how he'd react," Lauren said. "Come on, let's go back to Carmine and Squiggy." She led Laverne back inside, as a plan began to formulate in her head.
      They walked over to the group they'd left to find that there was now a third member. "Shirl?!" Laverne asked.
      "Vernie!" Shirley said, and the two women collided in a hug.
      "Awe, Shirl, it's so great to see ya again," Laverne said, then nudged her. Just wished ya'd called."
      "It's a very long story, but I'll give you the short version. Walter and I got divorced, but stayed where I was because my son was just starting school," Shirley explained.
      "Ya got a son? Where is he?" Laverne asked.
      "He's at the hotel. He didn't want to come with me," Shirley answered.
      "Awe, too bad," Laverne said. "I guess we'll have to make that introduction later, but, Shirl..." She paused, turned to Lauren, and waved her over from her seat on the bleachers. Laverne put an arm around Lauren's shoulders. "Shirl, I'd like ya to meet Lauren. She's my daughter."
      "Vernie!" Shirley exclaimed, then hugged Lauren.
      Lauren pretending to cough. "Can't breath..."
      Shirley let her go and found Lauren smiling at her. "Oh, Vernie, she looks so much like you did at... twenty?" Lauren nodded. Shirley smiled. "Wish I'd known. My son is 21."
      "Yeah?" Lauren said.
      "Lauren," Laverne said.
      "I... think maybe I'll sit down again," Lauren said.
      "We've got so much catching up to do," Shirley said.
      "An' 2 1/2 hours before the reunion starts," Laverne said. They sat on the bleachers and began talking. The guys and Lauren traded looks.

      The reunion came and went. Lenny's band played the whole night, although they did mostly instrumentals, with Lenny on lead guitar. Laverne and Rosie kept trying to one-up each other with what they're doing in life. Squiggy was trying to pass off Lauren as his daughter... but, obviously, no one believed him. However, they all guessed she was Laverne's daughter. Carmine and Shirley spent the whole evening chatting at one of the tables.
      After the reunion, the group went back to the hotel... considering they all happened to be at the Hotel Pfister.
      "Okay, everyone to my room. I want you all to meet my son Nathan," Shirley said.
      "What happened to naming him Todd?" Laverne asked.
      "Actually, I did. Nathan is his middle name, but he makes everyone call him Nate," Shirley said.
      Lauren came in between Laverne and Shirley for a moment. "Can we hurry up and meet him already?" She winked at them, then went back to walking with Squiggy.
      "Ya haven't even seen the guy yet," Squiggy commented.
      "I know that, but... if Shirley's his mom, he's gotta be a nice guy," she said.
      They got to Shirley's room and she opened the door. They went in and found Nate laying on the bed watching TV. "Hey, ma," he said, then noticed everyone she brought with her. "Awe, ma, you know we don't have enough room for so many people!" He smiled.
      "Geez, he's almost as smart-mouthed as Lauren!" Squiggy said. He got glares from everyone. "What?"
      "Nate, these are my friends: Laverne, her daughter Lauren," Shirley paused, while Lauren waved at him, "Carmine, and Squiggy."
      Nate got up from the bed. "Mom's told me about all of you, except you, Lauren. Ma, you didn't tell me Laverne had a daughter."
      Shirley nodded. "I should have known about her myself."
      Lauren shoved her way through the group. "Yack, yack, yack." She paused, and shook his hand. "If you want to know anything about me," she leaned closer and whispered, "and I mean *anything*," she paused, leaned back, and finished normally, "just ask." She smiled.
      "I'll remember that," Nate replied.
      Laverne crossed her arms over her chest and turned to Shirley. "Well, they're getting along well."
      "That's reminds me, Vernie, I wanted to ask about..." Shirley began.
      But Laverne interrupted, "I'll tell ya later."
      "Okay," Shirley agreed, tentatively. "Everyone, make yourselves comfortable."
      "Anyone want some drinks?" Lauren asked, and everyone responded positively.
      "I'll go wit' ya," Squiggy said, and they went out into the hall. "Okay, spill it. What gives between Laverne and Len?"
      Lauren sighed audibly. "It's just not good, Squig." She paused. "But I'm thinking I'd like to try and talk to him. I think he feels guilty."
      "Yeah?" he said.
      She nodded. "But I need to find out for sure. So, after ma goes to sleep I'm gonna find out his room number and go see him."
      "Want me ta come?" he asked.
      She smiled. "Sure."
      "What should I say to Carmine, though, if he asks where I'm goin'?" he asked.
      "Anything but what we're gonna do. I don't want anyone else to know until after I talk to him," she said. They got the sodas from the vending machine and went back to the room.