Challenge From Missy:

I'm going to go ahead and post a Reunion Fic challenge: Any form (Script or story), any pairings (But you must use L/L to be included on my 'shipper list and archive), and any theme (Drama, comedy, etc.), any length.

Your stipulations:

1): We have to deal with the same amount of history that ABC has to for the reunion movie. In other words, everything that happened in the show right up to its last episode has to have happened to these characters; Carmine in New York in the chorus of "Hair", Shirley pregnant in Europe, Mr. DeFazio divorced and a Councilman, Squiggy and Lenny just sort of...there...as is Rhonda. All of this happened, and it can't be ignored ;-)

2): Just like ABC, you're going to have to deal with twenty years having passed since the series ended. Since the show's timeline ceased in 1967, that would mean that your script would be set in 1987 (I can see Feen smiling from here, LOL). Shirley's little blessed event would be twenty, and any other progeny you create would therefore have to be younger. The gang (duh) will have aged twenty years, putting them all in their mid-forties to early 50's.

3): Sadly, like anyone who will be doing a Real Life reunion movie for the cast, you also have to deal with real-life circumstances; the death of Phil Foster and David L. Lander's MS (which he's always said that he plans to apply to Squiggy's life.). Therefore, you'll have to do some creative thinking as to what you'd like to do about Frank and Squiggy, at least for this challenge.


How Time Has Passed
by Lauren

Disclaimer: I own nothing… matter of fact, this time even the plot isn't mine! It's Missy's. I *do* own Lauren though (duh!). Enjoy!

* * * * * * * * *


LA 1987. What was Laverne & Shirley's apartment… is still Laverne's apartment. She comes down the stairs and notices a pile of mail on the table.
"Lauren?" she called out, looking around.
"Over here, ma," came the reply.
Laverne walked out to their tiny little terrace to find her daughter leaning on the wall, looking out over the city. "You're up awfully early. You're not still mad that I wanna bring you with me to the reunion, are ya?"
Lauren didn't reply at first. Matter of fact, Laverne wasn't sure if she was even listening… until she finally looked at her with a smile. "No, I'm not mad anymore. It's only my Spring Break, right?" She gave her mother a wink.
"See? Was that so hard?" Laverne said, placing a hand on her daughter's head, then proceeding to mess up her hair.
She shrank back, trying to get away. "Awe, ma!"
Laverne laughed as she went back into the apartment and over to the table. She picked up the mail and started through it.
Lauren came in and walked up next to her, just as she pulled out an envelope. She looked at her mother's face and noticed the frozen look. "Ma? What's wrong?"
Laverne placed the rest of the pile back on the table and put her right arm around her daughter's shoulders… and smiled. "Nothin'. Nothin' at all."

* * * * *


O'Hare airport, Chicago. A plane had just landed and its passengers are entering the airport. Laverne and Lauren enter into sight.
"All right, ma, you said once we got into the airport you'd tell me what the surprise is," Lauren said.
"In a minute," Laverne said.
Lauren stopped, while Laverne continued walking, and threw up her arms in disgust.
"Just c'mon and help me get our bags," Laverne said.
"Fine, fine," Lauren said.
They got their bags off the luggage claim and walked into the nearest waiting area.
Laverne pointed into a far corner. "There he is."
"Is that…" Lauren started, but didn't have a chance to finish, since Laverne grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
The two women stopped in front of a man who seemed to be sleeping very comfortably, while waiting for them to arrive.
"Absolutely dying to see us again, I tell ya," Laverne said. She shook the poor guy as hard as she could, then all but yelled, "Carmine!"
"Wha-!?" Carmine said, nearly jumping out of his seat. "Laverne!" He stood and gave her a hug. "It's been…"
"Twenty years!" Laverne said, then gave him a slight shove.
"I called!" Carmine said, defensively.
"Am I even in the room?" Lauren said, then paused. "Can I atleast say hi?"
Laverne looked at her and nearly burst out laughing. "I forgot you were still here," she teased.
"I take it you're Lauren," Carmine said.
"What gave it away?" Lauren asked, then smiled. "You look better in person than on TV." She hugged him.
"Really?" Carmine asked.
Laverne pulled Lauren away. "Don't give him a complex."
"Only stating the truth, ma," she defended.
"Are you ladies ready to leave or would you like to try for round two?" Carmine asked.
Lauren held up her bare fists. "No gloves."
They laughed, as Laverne put her arm around Lauren's shoulders. "Maybe we oughtta get goin' before we draw a crowd," Laverne said.
"Just follow me, then," Carmine said, then picked up their luggage.
"Show off," Lauren said, then winked.

* * * * *


Carmine lead them out of the airport.
"Good thing you came to get us, we'd be lost in there, wandering around, begging for people to help us find our way out," Lauren said.
"I could see you two doing that," he said. "Over here." They walked over to a "fire engine red" Buick Century.
"It ain't a limo, but it's definitely red," Laverne commented.
"And it's roomy. Hop in, I've already found a hotel," Carmine said.
"Ya thought of everything," Laverne said.

* * * * *


"Rosie's got the room next to ours!" Laverne said, very loudly… again.
"I swear I didn't know, Laverne!" Carmine said. "Besides, you haven't seen her in 25 years…"
"Yeah, we've got a lot of catching up to do," Laverne said.
"Ma, calm down. It's only for one night, we probably won't even see her, until the reunion, that is," Lauren said.
"And it could be worse. Just think of who you wouldn't want as a neighbor," Carmine said.
Laverne gave him a dirty look. "I already had them as neighbors."
*knock, knock* "Hello!?"
"What. Was. That?" Laverne asked.
Carmine shrugged. "One of 'them'."
"Lauren, why don't you answer it," Laverne said, then sighed and glared at Carmine.
Lauren went over to the door, took a quick look through the peep hole, then opened it. "Squig!" She gave him a huge hug.
"Geez, woman, get offa me!" he complained, laughing.
Lauren laughed and let him go. "Sorry, Squig, it's just been a while."
"Awe, forget it," Squiggy said, then messed up her hair and let himself in.
"Not again," Lauren groaned. "Why does everyone wanna mess up my hair?" She closed the door after him.
"What a welcomin' committee!" Squiggy said. Lauren walked up next to him. "An' I can still use this one to lean on!" He put an arm around her shoulders.
"Because, for some reason, she's the only one who doesn't mind being that close to ya, Squig," Laverne said, then paused. "How ya doin', anyway?"
"Not bad as long as I have an empty beer mug in my hand. That way if I fall, people'll just think I'm drunk," Squiggy answered.
"So, where are you stayin'?" Carmine asked.
"Down the other end-a the hall," Squiggy said. "I saw Rosie's in the next room, Laverne."
"Thanks for the reminder, Squig, I'd forgotten about her for a minute, there," Laverne replied.
"You're welcome," Squiggy said.
"For a reunion in Milwaukee, there's an awful lot of us stayin' here in Chicago," Laverne said, then started for the door. "I need a milk an' Pepsi." She left.
The other three sat at the table, and Lauren turned to the two guys. "So, have either of you heard if my dad's gonna be there?"
Carmine turned to Squiggy. "Have you heard anything from him?"
He shifted uncomfortably. "Well..."
Lauren threw her arms up and sat back. "He ain't comin'." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Does he even know I'm alive?"
Carmine and Squiggy exchanged looks. "Squig didn't say he wasn't comin'. Matter of fact, he didn't say anythin'." He glanced at Squiggy, who shrugged. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure he knows... of course, I haven't talked to him in twenty years. Squig?"
"I saw 'im a coupla times, but Laverne swore me to secrecy," he said, then paused. "Actually, she swore at me, then swore me to secrecy. I couldn't tell 'im."
"So, he doesn't know. If ma swore you to secrecy, then she probably hasn't told him & Shirley... I don't even know the last time ma talked to her," Lauren said.
"He'll show up, Lauren," Carmine said.
"He'd better or else I'm holdin' you responsible," Lauren said.
"Trust me. I have a pretty good feeling that Lenny will be at the reunion," Carmine said.

* * * * *


The next morning, the whole group is standing by Carmine's car, after putting all of their luggage in the trunk.
"Just remember, Lauren, if he does anything disgustin'…" Laverne started.
"Ma, I think I can take care of myself," Lauren said.
"Yeah, and if she can't all I hafta do is pull over," Carmine added.
"Awe, sure, go ahead an' pick on me!" Squiggy exclaimed.
"*I* love ya, Squig," Lauren said.
"All right, everyone in. We can continue this in the car," Carmine said.
They piled in: Carmine driving, Laverne in the passenger seat, Lauren behind Laverne, and Squiggy behind Carmine.

* * * * *


The red Buick pulled up into the empty lot of Filmore High School.
"I still think we should've woken them up before we got our rooms at the hotel," Carmine said, jerking his thumb to the back seat.
"Oh, you're just mad because you're sharin' with Squig," Laverne said.
"That's it," Carmine said, then turned to the back. "She really doesn't think he's repulsive."
"Amazin', ain't it?" Laverne said. She added, a little louder, "We're here!"
"Huh?" Squiggy said, looking around frantically.
"We're at the high school," Carmine said.
Lauren stretched. "I thought we were gonna stop at Hotel Pfister first to get rooms."
"Already done. One for you and me, and one for Carmine and Squig," Laverne replied.
"Wait... I gotta share wit' 'im?" Squiggy asked.
"I already pointed that out," Carmine said.
"You guys are awful," Laverne said, then opened her door, and the others followed suit. "It looks the same on the outside."
"Let's hope it's a little different on the inside," Carmine said, then made a face to Lauren, who laughed.
"I wonder if the decorations are up yet," Laverne said.
"It's three hours before the reunion starts... I highly doubt it," Carmine said.
"Let's go in and look, anyway," Laverne said. The other three groaned. "Awe, c'mon!" She grabbed Lauren's hand and dragged her along.
"Not again, ma!" Lauren said, laughing. "I can walk on my own, ya know!"
"Yeah, besides I need 'er ta lean on!" Squiggy added.
Laverne let Lauren go, and Squiggy came up next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and the group walked inside like they owned the place.
They easily found the gym, but Laverne stopped before they went in. "Well, Carmine?"
"It's exactly the same," he said, shaking his head. "I don't believe it."
Laverne and Carmine started into the gym, while Lauren and Squiggy stayed back. "What's that?" Squiggy asked.
"I don't know, let's check it out," Lauren said, and they walked over to a bulletin board. "It's got the whole list of tonight's events."
"Hey, lookit this," Squiggy said, pointing out one of the flyers.
"Tonight's entertainment..." Lauren began reading. "...Fronted by Lenny Kosnowski!" They looked at each other surprised. "Ya think we should tell my ma?"
"No way! She finds out an' she'll drag all of us outta here. Besides, I wanna stay for the food," Squiggy said. Lauren gave him a glare. "Yeah, an' I wanna see Len, too. Geez, ya can't take a joke!"
"C'mon, Squig," Lauren said, then dragged him along with her, going into the gym.

* * * * *