(A/N): Hey guys! Sorry for the little wait and the shortness of this chapter. I've been super busy with schoolwork and high school orientations. This is sort of a quick, filler chapter, but I can promise that there will be alot more action happening in the next few. :)
Chapter 3
The next morning, Beatrice woke up to the heavenly scent of blueberry pancakes drifting up the stairs and into her nose. She groggily rubbed her eyes and sat up, her hair strewn about.
"That's weird," She thought, sniffing the air once more. "Mommy doesn't cook."
And it was then that she realized that she wasn't at home. Beatrice glanced around her surroundings, expecting to see her pink walls and her stuffed animals and her record player which was always blasting the latest Beatles album. But instead, she was greeted with gray walls, a mermaid statue, and four twin beds, one which she was currently tangled in. Suddenly, all the memories of the previous day came floating back to her: Mommy telling her that she could cut school and go out for the day with her, abandoning her on the streets. Her small seven year old self having to walk around in circles, looking around for her parent, while she wept at the thought of having to sleep outside without a roof over her head. And then, she remembered the nice man who she had tapped on the shoulder to try to ask for directions to her neighborhood, the nice man who took her home and told her that everything was going to be alright. Mike. That was his name. And this was his and his friend's house. But where were they? Springing up from the sheets that she'd been trapped in, Beatrice jumped to the floor and peered out into the hallway. She leaned over the railing and got a good view of the downstairs area. Slowly and carefully, she made her way down the spiral staircase and pattered around.
"Well, hi there sleepyhead!" Beatrice soon felt herself being lifted into the arms of the fuzzy haired one, as he grinned widely at her. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Micky.
"Hello!" She remarked back, her eyes twinkling. Micky smiled and started walking towards the kitchen.
"Did ya sleep well?" He asked as he turned into the room where the mouthwatering smell was coming from. Beatrice nodded as he set her down in front of Peter and the British one. Um…Donald? No, that's not right. DAVY. They smiled and wished her good morning.
"I hope Micky's snoring didn't keep you up all night." Peter remarked, causing her to giggle. Micky made a face at him as Beatrice turned her head and saw Mike stirring the batter for the scrumptious smelling pancakes. She got up from her place at the table and pulled at the back of his shirt. He turned and looked down on her, his face instantly lighting up.
"Hey there, little one!" He exclaimed, ruffing her messy hair. She just grinned and wrapped her small arms around his waist. Mike smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm just making us some breakfast here. Do you like pancakes?" He stupidly asked as the small girl was literally drooling as she watched him flip the perfectly chiseled circles onto a plate. Beatrice nodded and skipped back over to the table, sitting in between Micky and Davy. Mike walked over; setting the sizzling pancakes onto the table as the three Monkees hastily shoved their share onto their plates. He leaned over Beatrice and helped to slide two onto hers, and without even noticing, started cutting them into bite sized pieces. She smiled. Her mother never once cut her food for her. As orange juice and fruit was passed around, Mike cleared his throat.
"Well, today's going to be a busy day for all of us. Beatrice, we're going to try our hardest to-"
Suddenly, an urgent knock came pounding on the door furiously.
"Uh oh. There's only one person that can be." Davy remarked glumly, popping a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth. Mike pushed his chair away from the table as he got up and grudged over, swinging the door open. Putting on a fake, cheesy smile, he allowed the stranger inside.
"Why, hello Mr. Babbit," He cooed, ushering their landlord into their home. "What a PLEASANT surprise." Mr. Babbit just growled, a five o' clock shadow covering most of his chin. He pushed hastily past Mike and stepped into the living room.
"I don't suppose you four have got your month's rent in, do you?" He barked, raising his eyebrows as he looked around the place. Mike hiccupped nervously as he glanced at Peter with panicked eyes.
"Well, you see here Mr. B," He started, getting up from his place at the table. "As musicians, one does not simply ask one of us if we have a month's rent. No, we pay for our home with our wonderful skills, our voices, our magic. You should be honored and amazed that you've got such miracles like us residing in this here building, as we enlighten your-" Mr. Babbit rolled his eyes as he clamped a hand over Peter's mouth.
"Can it Blondie," He sighed. The man was about to let the Monkees have it until he noticed the bright eyed little girl sitting on the edge of her chair, watching the action taking place with great concern. Mr. Babbit strolled over to the kitchen and glanced down at her.
"Who's this?" He asked sharply, looking Beatrice over up and down with a snarky eye. Micky jumped up from the table and wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"Why, this is, uh, Mike's cousin's girlfriend's uncle's daughter!" He spit out.
"Twice removed." Peter added. Mr. Babbit snorted.
"Well, she better not be causing any trouble. If she's anything like you fellas, she's got a cell in prison with her name on it." Beatrice was disgusted by the way this man was acting, but Davy rushed to her rescue just in time, scooping her into his arms as he walked over.
"Now, you listen here. Beatrice is the most perfect little angel that you'll ever meet, and if you insult her, you insult us. Now we'll get your rent as soon as we can, but for right now, let us have our breakfast in peace, alright?" He demanded. Mr. Babbit was taken a little aback by the Englishman's sudden act of courageousness.
"Fine." He muttered, exiting the door, before calling back. "I want it in a week or you rats are out of here and onto the streets!" Then the door closed with a bang.
"Well that was nice." Mike sighed, returning back to the table. He saw Beatrice's lip start to quiver a little.
"Aw, don't take what that old bat said to heart. You're amazing in our eyes." Peter told her, placing a hand on her shoulder as Davy set her in her chair. She smiled, revealing a gap where her two front teeth would normally be that he hadn't noticed before. It only added a little more to her cuteness factor. Mike clinked his glass together.
"Now, as I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted," He started. "Today's going to be busy. We're going to go down to the police station and try to hunt Bea's mother down so she can be back at home safe and sound. But until then, we're going to have a lot of fun with each other, right guys?" All three Monkees nodded their heads in agreement. Beatrice smiled softly, but deep down inside, she didn't want to leave the four boys so soon. They were just so nice to her. They cared about her. They saved her. She didn't want to just forget about them already.
And little did she know that the guys were beginning to feel the same way about her too.
(A/N): Once again, I apologize that this is so short! I'll be able to write a lot more over the weekend, and there's a lot of twists and turns coming up. Please review! :)
