CHAPTER TWELVE
(chapter title - Voulez-Vous)

That evening, Charlie and Tom were waiting in line to get their drinks when Ben walked over to them, Angel on one arm and Joanne on the other - both of them didn't look very happy.

"Hey guys…I bound girls for ya." Ben told them, his voice slurred.

"Let me go, Ben." Joanne ordered.

"Don't fight me, Joanne. You know you want me." Ben whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, right." Joanne laughed, breaking out of his grasp and led Angel away from him, talking in Greek.

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Mimi and Roger were dancing with each other while Joanna, Mark, Dumott and Adam danced around them, cheering and whooping in Greek.

"People everywhere
A sense of expectation
Hangin' in the air
Givin' out a spark
Across the room your eyes
Are glowin' in the dark
And here we go again
We know the start
We know the end
Masters of the scene
We've done it long before
And now we're back
To get some more
You know what I mean

Voulez-Vous
Take it now or leave it
Now is all we get
Nothing promised
No regrets
Voulez-Vous
Ain't no big decision
You know what to do
La question
C'est Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous

And here we go again
We know the start
We know the end
Masters of the scene
We've done it long before
And now we're back
To get some more
You know what I mean

Voulez-Vous
Take it now or leave it
Now is all we get
Nothing promised
No regrets.
" Everyone sang. Mimi felt someone pull her away from Roger and lead her to a table.

"Mimi, I won't beat about the bush.
I know why I'm here." Ben started.

"Ben?" Mimi asked, catching his face in the lantern light.

"And I have to tell you, I think it's
Brilliant! I've always wanted a little
Girl, and I big one's even better." Ben told her.

"Oh no, but Ben-I-" Mimi pleaded.

"I know, I know I'm rushing things-
Listen, does your mom now that you
Know?" Ben inquired.

"God, no - she can't-" Mimi squeaked.

"Indeed. Who's giving you away?" Ben inquired.

"No one." Mimi answered quickly.

"Wrong. I am."

"You!" Mimi exclaimed.

"Yeah. Now don't worry about Maureen,
She doesn't scare me - much." Ben told her, getting up from the table. Mimi rested her head on the table, feeling dizzy.

"Voulez-Vous
Ain't no big decision
You know what to do
La question
C'est Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous.
" Everyone around Mimi sang.

"Oh my God - I've got it! Talk about
Slow on the uptake! I'm your Dad!" Tom exclaimed, sitting at the table where Mimi was. Mimi lifted her head off from the table with great difficulty.

"Tho-mas!" Mimi pleaded.

"No, everything's becoming clear -
That's why you sent me the invitation.
You want your old
Dad here, to walk you down the
Aisle. Well, I won't let you down -
I'll be there!" with that, Tom got up from the table and walked away. Mimi put her head on the table and rubbed her temples.

"Voulez-Vous
Take it now or leave it
Now is all we get
Nothing promised
No regrets
Voulez-Vous
Ain't no big decision
You know what to do
Pas question
C'est Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous!
" Everyone sang.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud from the table where Mimi had been sitting. Roger, Maureen and Adam rushed over and saw Mimi on the ground. Roger removed his jacket and placed it under Mimi's head. The three of them waited, watching for a sign of movement.

"Mmm." Mimi moaned, trying to sit up. Roger gathered her on his lap, kissing her forehead.

"You all right?" Roger inquired.

"I'm just feeling dizzy." Mimi answered. Roger gathered her in his arms and carried her to her room.

"You're probably nervous about tomorrow, there's nothing to worry about." Roger reassured her, putting her under the covers.

"This time tomorrow, we'll be husband and…" Mimi's voice trailed off. Roger kissed her cheek, turned out the bedside lamp and exited the room, closing the door behind her.

"What happened? Is she all right? May I see her?" questioning voices reached Roger's ears as he headed back to the party.

"She fainted. She'll be fine and she's resting right now, so we should let her rest." Roger answered the questions honestly.

Once everyone left and the guests were settled down for the night, Maureen decided to check on her daughter. Quietly entering her room, she saw Mimi sprawled on the bed, her hair a wild mess around her head. Maureen kissed Mimi's forehead and exited the room, silently closing the door behind her.