About ten minutes later, the girls' apartment door opened. Laverne entered and flipped a light switch, illuminating the room. She looked out the door. "Well, ya comin' or what?" She stepped away and Lenny appeared in the doorway.
     "Ya sure this is okay, Vernie?" Lenny asked.
     Laverne closed the door. "Yeah, I do. I'll admit that Shirl will prob'ly scream an' hurt our ears when she sees ya, but..." she paused and sighed, "I really think ya oughtta stay."
     "Thanks, Laverne," Lenny said, then went over to the couch, removed his guitar, and sat.
     "No problem. I'll go getcha a pillow and blanket..." Laverne said.
     Lenny pushed away his guitar. "No song, promise."
     She smiled, then went up the stairs and into the bedroom. She found Shirley sleeping with a tight grip on BooBooKitty, the only other belonging she'd brought with her.
     Laverne went into the closet, pulled out a pillow and a very familiar-looking green blanket. She paused, momentarily, her mind drifting to her confused feelings. She couldn't figure out how she felt. She knew Lenny didn't know that she *had* really liked him and that she'd realized that too late. Now, she wasn't sure if she should bring it up; she was actually afraid he might 'disappear' again.
     She grabbed the pillow and blanket and left the room. She went back downstairs and over to the couch. "Here ya go. Len." She handed him the stuff.
     "Thanks," Lenny said, then put the pillow down and began spreading the blanket.
     Laverne watched him and she could've sworn she saw the tiniest bit of surprise on his face when she gave him the same blanket and he'd realized it. She sighed, mentally. "Well, guess I'll get some sleep now. See ya in the mornin'." She turned back for the stairs.
     "'Night, Laverne," Lenny said, as she ascended the stairs.
     Laverne entered the bedroom again, but went straight into the bathroom, closing the door after her. She flipped the light switch, stood in front of the mirror and stared at herself. She just felt so confused.

     The next morning...
     The alarm went off and Shirley sat up, still tightly holding BooBooKitty. She laid the stuffed cat down on her pillow, then stretched and squealed.
     Laverne, who had been sleeping with her face in her pillow, turned her head to glare at Shirley.
     "Sorry," Shirley said, sheepishly, then smiled. "It feels so good to be back!"
     Laverne sat up. "It's good to have ya back, Shirl... despite that little squeal ya make every mornin'."
     "Thanks, Vernie... I think," Shirley said. She got up. "Oh, can I borrow a robe? I didn't bring one."
     "Sure, just grab one," Laverne replied.
     Shirley went over to the closet and picked a robe, then put it on. "Think I'll make some coffee to help wake us up." She left the room, then Laverne flopped backwards on her bed and pulled her blankets back up.
     Shirley descended the stairs, while tying her robe. She stopped just before the couch, noticing the blanket... and what looked like a rather large lump underneath it. She shook her head, then went to the foot of the couch and grabbed the end of the blanket.
     Then she noticed the black boots next to the couch.
     'Oh, no...' she thought, then moved to the other end of the couch. Whoever it was had their head *under* the pillow. She lifted the pillow a little, but found that they also had their face mushed into the cushion because all she could see was dirty-blonde hair.
     Shirley shrugged, then removed the pillow from the person's head... and screamed.
     Laverne bolted up in her bed, jumped up, ran out of the room, and down the stairs, stopping at the opposite end of the couch.
     Shirley was holding the pillow like she was about to hit someone with it.
     In the meantime, Lenny had bolted up and moved away from Shirley. "Awe, Shirl, ya never threatened me wit' a pillow before!"
     "Laverne!" Shirley said. "I thought you said you didn't know where he was!"
     "I didn't!" Laverne said. "Now, put the pillow down before someone gets hurt."
     "Yeah, like me," Lenny commented.
     Shirley dropped the pillow and turned towards the kitchen. "I need coffee..."

     "...An' that's what happened," Lenny finished.
     Shirley just gaped, her jaw practically touching the table. She finally snapped out of it. "That's so... confusing." She paused, then slapped Lenny in the back of his head. "You could've *told* someone... anyone!"
     "Ow!" Lenny said, rubbing his head. "Geez, they ain't kiddin' when they say women get moody when they're pregnant!"
     Laverne laughed out loud, but stopped when Shirley glared at her.
     "Well, thank you very much," Shirley said, then rolled her eyes and sighed, then said, loudly, "I'm *not* moody!"
     This time, both Laverne and Lenny laughed.
     The apartment door swung open and Squiggy invited himself in. "What's all the noise in 'ere?" The others turned and looked at him. "Well!?"
     Lenny waved at him. "Hiya, Squig!"
     "Yeah, yeah, hiya, Len. Well, what's wit' the..." Squiggy said, stopping mid-sentence, then rushed over and wrapped one arm around Lenny's neck and gave him what look like a nugey with the other. "Stupid!"
     Shirley leaned closer to Laverne. "I'm glad you only gave me a hug."
     "You ain't mad at me, Squig?" Lenny asked, slightly stunned.
     "Mad? Naw... ya came back!" Squiggy said.
     "This is so touchin', I wish I had my camera," Laverne said, then smirked when the boys glared at her. "I'm only kiddin'."
     "You guys're great," Lenny said, finally freed of Squiggy's grip.
     Squiggy pulled up a chair. "Yeah, jus' no more disappearin' tricks unless it's part-a my magic act."
     "Ya got it, Squig," Lenny promised, "cross my heart, hope to die, and stick a needle in your eye."
     Shirley applauded. "As wonderful as all this is, I need to get dressed. Excuse me." She got up, went over to the stairs, and went up.
     "Hey, Len c'mon back and we can fix up your part-a the apartment," Squiggy said, standing.
     "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes," Lenny said.
     Squiggy shrugged, but left.
     "Thanks, Laverne, I mean it," Lenny said.
     "Awe, it was nothin'," Laverne said.
     "Naw, really, Vernie, thank you," Lenny said, then gave her a kiss on her cheek. "I'll see ya later." He jumped up and left, grabbing his guitar on the way and slamming the door after him.
     Laverne's jaw dropped and she raised her hand to her cheek.
     At the top of the stairs, Shirley stepped out of the doorway. "Comin', Laverne?"
     "Yeah, I comin'," Laverne said and got up quickly.
     "Everything works out in the end," Shirley commented, picking out some clothes. "See, you don't have to feel guilty anymore." She paused. "Laverne?" She turned and found her sitting on the foot of her bed, dazed, with her hand on her cheek. "Are you okay?"
     Laverne finally snapped out of it. "Shirl, I gotta tell ya som'en, but ya gotta promise ya won't yell or scream."
     "I promise. What is it?" Shirley said.
     Laverne gave her a skeptical look, then shrugged. "Well, I think Len still likes me."
     "Of course he does, Laverne. You haven't done anything," Shirley said, laying out her clothes.
     "No, Shirl, I mean *like* like. He just gave me a kiss before he left just now," Laverne corrected, then watched as Shirley froze. "Don't do it, Shirl, ya promised!"
     Shirley looked at her... and smiled. "Vernie, if he doesn't ask you out soon, you ask him out, I know you want to."
     "Are ya feelin' okay, Shirl?" Laverne asked.
     "I feel fine! Wonderful, even! And I want to see you wonderful and right now you look like you're on Cloud 9, so go out with that boy already!"
     "An' here I thought you'd scream again," Laverne commented.

     The girls finished getting dressed and went downstairs.
     "Hey, Shirl, why don'tcha head over ta Cowboy Bill's and let Pop an' Edna know you're back. I'm sure they can find som'en for ya ta do," Laverne suggested.
     "Okay," Shirley agreed. "I won't ask what you're gonna do... but I want details." She left.
     Laverne left a few moments later, but headed for the boys' apartment. She knocked on the door and it opened after a few seconds.
     "Well, Laverne, it's only been 30 minutes since we last saw ya!" Squiggy announced.
     "Can it, Squig, I wanna talk to Len," Laverne said.
     "Fine," Squiggy said, then yelled, "*Lenny*!"
     Lenny, who had been reclined on the bottom bunk, jumped, and fell off, landing on the floor.
     "Thanks, Squig. If you're wonderin' where your voice is later, it's in my ear," Lavenre said.
     Lenny walked up behind Squiggy. "Hey, Squig, d'ya mind?"
     "Naw, naw, jus' make sure ya come back," he said.
     Lenny left the apartment, closing the door behind him. "If it's about the kiss, I'm sorry."
     "Len, ya don't gotta be sorry, I *liked* it," Laverne said. "Remember when ya gave me that note?"
     "Yeah..."
     "Well, I'd been hopin' that you were gonna follow it up with like a monster movie marathon an' an in person proposal or som'en," Laverne said.
     "Ya mean..."
     "I was gonna say yes, but ya didn't gimme the chance."
     "So, now what?" Lenny asked.
     "Well," Laverne started, "I was kinda hopin' maybe we can start from the beginnin' an' actually date."
     Lenny's face lit up. "Ya really mean it!?"
     "'Course I do, Len, ya big dope," Laverne said.
     "That's great!" Lenny said, then hugged her tightly.
     "Len... can't... breathe..." she gasped.
     "Oops," he said, sheepishly, letting go, "sorry."
     "It's okay," Laverne said, then pulled him into a long, tender kiss.

     Cowboy Bill's...
     "This is really nice of you," Shirley said.
     "Think nothin' of it. Besides, you really ought to take it easy, now," Edna said.
     Shirley leaned on the table. "Yeah, I know I should, but..."
     "No, buts! Laverne's been takin' care of herself just fine. Of course, Frank keeps wantin' to have her move in with us," Edna said.
     Shirley gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, I think things will be much better now."
     "I hope so," Edna said. "Here comes Laverne now."
     Laverne stopped in the doorway and turned around. "C'mon, will ya?" She went back out.
     "Well, that was odd," Edna commented.
     "You think *that's* odd..." Shirley mumbled.
     Laverne reappeared in the doorway, dragging Lenny with her.
     Edna stood up. "Laverne, what's going on?"
     "Len's just a little nervous 'bout bein' back," Laverne said, then elbowed him, "ain'tcha?"
     Lenny nodded, wincing. "Yeah."
     "I guess so. Well, sit," Edna said and they all did. "So, Lenny, where did you go?"
     "I asked him to write a book about that," Laverne interrupted. "Actually, I could ghost write it cuz I've heard it twice now."
     "I'll tell ya later," Lenny said.
     "Okay. Oh, I better go check on Frank and let him know you're all here," Edna said. She got up and went into the kitchen.
     Shirley turned to Laverne and Lenny. "So?"
     "What?" Laverne asked.
     "Remember, I told you I wanted details..." Shirley prodded.
     Laverne grinned. "We're datin'."
     Shirley gave a quiet squeal. "That's great!"
     "Yeah, but I'm kinda worried about how Pop'll take it," Laverne said.
     Lenny tapped her on the shoulder. "Think you're 'bout ta find out, Vernie."
     "So soon...?" Laverne mumbled.
     Frank joined them at the table. "Shirley!" He hugged her. "I'm gonna have a godchild before I'm a grandfather." He glared at Laverne.
     "Pop!" Laverne said.
     "Maybe only nine months before," Lenny mumbled. Laverne elbowed him--again--and he coughed.
     "An' you!" Frank said, pointing at Lenny. "Where've ya been?"
     Laverne slapped her forehead.
     "I'll tell ya later when I tell Edna," Lenny said.
     "That's right, because Laverne has something she wants to tell you, Mr. DeFazio," Shirley said.
     Laverne gave Shirley a pleading look, but Shirley just shrugged. "Pop, I... uh..."
     "Well, what is it, Muffin? Spit it out," Frank said.
     "I... uh..." Laverne said, sounding rather pained.
     "We're datin'," Lenny interjected.
     "What?" Frank asked. "This true?"
     "As of fifteen minutes ago," Laverne said, looking a little worried.
     There was an uneasy silence, then Frank said: "Well, he ain't Italian, but he ain't Squiggy and he's alot better than all those other guys you dated."
     "So... you're not gonna yell, then throw him out?" Laverne questioned.
     "Naw, why would I do that to a possible future son-in-law?" Frank said.
     Shirley nudged Laverne. "And you were worried."
     "I'm gonna get ya for this, Shirl," Laverne promised.

     The girls entered their apartment.
     "See, Laverne, there was absolutely nothing to worry about," Shirley said, sitting on the couch.
     "Nothin' ta worry 'bout? Shirl, d'ya remember when I told Edna 'bout that dream I had with us alot older and marryin' the boys, huh? Remember, she'd said it was a nightmare!" Laverne said, then paused a beat. "You've already been married, granted, he wasn't the right guy for ya, but up until the thing with Len, I was still datin' a different guy every few weeks. We're thirty, Shirl. An' I've been thinkin' 'bout this, I mean, I've had a whole *year*. Tell ya the truth, I wasn't really sure *what* I was gonna do until Len came back last night. I should've known a good thing all along." She sighed. "I'm sorry, but I had ta get that out." She plopped down next to Shirley on the couch.
     Shirley remained silent for a moment, then said: "Well, atleast I know you're not 'in trouble'." She glared at her best friend. "Besides, Lenny's like a completely different person when Squiggy isn't around. And I wasn't against this, I just want to make sure you don't go rushing in head first, like I did."
     "Awe, thanks, Shirl!" Laverne said, hugging her.
     The door opened and Lenny stood in the doorway. "That was beautiful, girls." He wiped a tear from his eye. "Awe, ya got any tissues? My face is leakin'..."
     Laverne grabbed the box of Kleenex and brought them over to him. "Here ya go, Len." She paused so he could blow his nose. "Why were ya listenin' at the door?"
     "I wanted ta see if ya were doin' anythin' tonight an' I heard ya talkin' so I waited," Lenny said.
     "Nope nothin' tonight. Ya got somethin' in mind?" Laverne said.
     "Could I offer a suggestion?" Shirley said. They turned and looked at her. "I'll take that as a yes. How about you two double date with me and Carmine?"
     "Has he asked ya or have ya asked him yet, Shirl?" Laverne asked.
     "Well, no, but..." Shirley said.
     "Ask before ya make plans," Laverne said.
     "Okay," Shirley said, getting up. "I'll go ask right now." She left.
     "Worked like a charm," Laverne commented.
     "Yeah, that was a good idea, Vernie," Lenny said.
     She shrugged. "Nothin' to it."

To Part Three

Back To Part 1



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