A/N: The usual disclaimers apply, and as always, thanks to all readers and especially to my reviewers. Happy spring, everyone, and enjoy…

§ § § -- September 12, 1996

"You mean you're not planning to record any more albums?" The question came in a shocked tone from Myeko, who along with six other women sat around the swimming pool at Julie MacNabb's B&B. Prince Errico and Princess Michiko had taken a two-room suite, which Julie had had constructed out of a wing of the house that had formerly been a den, for their month-long stay on Fantasy Island.

Michiko laughed. "Don't look so panicky, Myeko! I don't plan to stop singing, no. It's just that I want to take a break for awhile. I'm thinking about trying something else. I'm not sure exactly what—maybe co-producing my next record, or writing my own songs for a change. All I know is, I just need some time away from the recording business. My other albums are selling just fine, so I see no need to rush my decision."

Leslie, reminded of something, smiled. "Incidentally, Michiko, I know you probably really hate it when people ask you this—but I wanted to see if you'd autograph my copies of your CDs." Everyone laughed.

"Of course, silly," Michiko assured her. "Just bring them over anytime and I'll be happy to do it. Anyone else want autographs, as long as I'm taking requests?"

"You might as well do ours too," Maureen said, chuckling. Her gaze strayed to the pool, where Michiko's stepdaughter, Adriana, was supervising Brianna Harding, Alexander and Noelle Tokita, and David Omamara in the shallow end. "Adriana's so good with the children," she observed.

"She loves kids," Michiko said, "and she's starting to ask why Errico and I haven't had a child yet. I think she wants a little sister."

"Who could blame her?" Tabitha asked, grinning. "I always wished I had brothers and sisters myself. I know Fernando and I want a large family, since he and I are both only children…and we're getting started on that right now."

"You mean you're going to have a baby?" Leslie exclaimed, and everyone sat up and offered delighted congratulations when Tabitha nodded, eyes shining.

"Not to steal anyone's thunder," Camille broke in with an embarrassed little grin, "but I am too, actually." More exclamations rose up, and she hunched her shoulders. "I'd like to have a girl, just to even things out. When're you due, Tabitha?"

"April second," Tabitha replied. "How about you?"

"Early March or so," said Camille. She spotted a movement in the pool and yelled at her son, "David James Omamara, give Alexander back his ball, right now!" She watched him till he had carried out the order, then sat back and sighed deeply. "I'm so glad he's in school. First grade seems to be good for him, but he's really acting out a lot."

"Sometimes kids get jealous of babies," Myeko said, "especially if they've been an only child for awhile. He'll probably calm down eventually." She turned the conversation back to Michiko. "How much longer are you here?"

"Two more weeks," Michiko said. "The children should really be in school, but this was the only chance we had to get away, with Errico caught up in so many duties. So we brought a tutor to help them keep up. And it isn't hard to monitor the Worldwide Orphans Fund from here." This was a charity Michiko had founded shortly after her marriage to Errico, to which all proceeds from her album sales went. It was designed to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing to orphans around the world, and she had admitted that Leslie's experience as an orphan had been part of her inspiration. "It's just so nice to be home, I'm glad we were able to take a full month."

"So are we," Leslie agreed. "We don't get to see enough of you. But maybe now that we have e-mail, and you guys have it in the palace, we might get to keep in touch more often than usual."

Michiko nodded. "You'll all have to give me your e-mail addresses. Leslie, do you have Lauren's?" Lauren hadn't been able to join their gathering; she and Brian conducted daily inter-island tours for vacationers with their hydrofoil launch, and at the moment she was out on one such run.

"Sure, I'll give you that too," Leslie agreed.

"So…what's on the agenda for the weekend, Leslie?" Maureen asked, grinning and invoking chuckles in the other girls. They all well remembered their high-school ritual of grilling Leslie in regard to the fantasies.

Leslie grinned back. "Oh, some fairly mundane stuff. We have a guy who's always wanted to be a TV news anchor, and there's an all-female singing group looking to finally achieve the fame and fortune they've been after for ages. Nothing really out of the ordinary." She tipped her wrist to check her watch. "It's almost lunchtime. Wonder what Julie's got cooking in her kitchen of wonders?"

"Let's find out," Michiko said. "I'm hungry, and I'm glad you are too, Leslie…especially after what you just went through."

Leslie shrugged. "I'm coping. It helps to keep working." She was a touch chagrined, yet perversely glad, for the fact that Christian had stuck to his promise to send her e-mail, even though she found it difficult to send him more than an "I'm fine, thanks" in response. She shook off the cloud of melancholy that tried to descend on her and pushed back her chair. "Come on, let's go talk to Julie." She'd much rather think about the upcoming weekend, which despite its less-than-unique premise still promised to be interesting. It had been her understanding that the singing group was very good, and she wanted to know if they really had a shot at the big-time; they were booked for two concerts at the supper club on Saturday night, which reminded her of something else. "Listen…that group I mentioned? Do you guys have Saturday evening free? They're performing that night, and I thought you'd all like to come to the early show. I'll get you the tickets. I hear they're really good."

Her friends all accepted, and Camille added that she'd see to it that Lauren came as well. Michiko fell in beside Leslie on the way to the house. "What else do you know about this group, Leslie?"

"Not very much," she said. "I think they're all related in some way, but I'm not sure how. Supposedly Father heard a copy of their demo tape, so if he thinks their fantasy is worth granting, then we should really enjoy the concert."

§ § § -- September 14, 1996

Joe Charlimansky, the would-be TV anchor, had just stepped into the clearing from the plane dock, looking excited, and Roarke had summarized his fantasy. "He looks just a bit too well-groomed, if you ask me," Leslie observed with a touch of humor. "He's got TV-anchor helmet-head."

Roarke paused long enough to turn a very dubious look on her. "He has what?"

Leslie giggled a little sheepishly. "That's what I call hair like his, the kind that doesn't move even on a windy day like this. Look at it—it's not budging."

"I suppose that means he looks the part," Roarke said dryly, and she let out a laugh. His eyes twinkled in response for a moment before he shifted his attention to the dock, where a quintet of women were piling out of the seaplane. "This is the singing group that is performing at the supper club tonight—the Foster Sisters. In the order you see them: Joy, the oldest, aged 31; Daphne, the youngest at 26; Brooke, 29; Shara, 28; and lastly, their 30-year-old cousin, Cyndy Malouin, also a group member."

"And their fantasy is to find fame and fortune as a singing group, right?" Leslie asked.

"Yes," Roarke said. "They have worked toward that goal for ten years, beginning even before young Daphne had completed her compulsory education. Unfortunately, they already have one problem that may ultimately hinder their quest for stardom." Without further embellishment, he accepted his drink and raised it. "My dear guests…I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island!"