The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
Chapter 23
A/N1—The weekend getaway. Some of this chapter (and the next) is written for Shelleymh, and it was also inspired by a Brady fic that's no longer on here. Anyway, enjoy!
It's Friday. Mike and Carol are preparing to spend a night alone together at the bed and breakfast. The twins are down for their naps. As Carol packs, in the master bedroom, for the trip, the kids come home from school. They only have a half day due to district-wide parent-teacher conferences. Mike comes home from work.
Mike: Hi, honey! He lightly embraces her and kisses her on the lips. Are you all packed?
He steps back, keeping his arms around his beloved.
Carol: Yes, and I can't wait to spend the weekend with just the two of us.
Mike: It's going to be great.
As they take in the quiet, they hear shouting coming up the stairs.
Cindy: Yelling. Bobby, no!
Bobby: Why not?
Cindy: Because I said so! That's why!
Bobby: Why won't you give it a try?
Cindy: I. Don't. Want. To!
Bobby: Chicken!
Cindy: I am not!
Bobby: Then, why won't you try it?
Cindy: Because I've got the game tonight and I can't cheer if I'm injured, you dork!
Back in the master bedroom, Carol sighs, resting her forehead in her husband's chest.
Carol: When do we leave?
Mike: I wanna leave by two, three at the latest.
Carol: Well, we'd better see what's going on before the kids wake up the...
As if on cue, Ryan wails at the top of his lungs.
Carol: ...kids. Sighs.
They walk out of the bedroom and see their two youngest school aged children arguing.
Carol: What is going on? Exasperated. You just woke up the twins with all your shouting.
Bobby: We're sorry.
Mike: I'll handle this if you want to go get Ryan.
Carol picks Ryan up from the crib, and sees that Carolyn is still asleep.
Carol: I'm sorry, baby boy, that your brother and sister woke you up. With Ryan on her hip, she joins her husband and Bobby and Cindy in Bobby's room.
Mike: You wanna tell me what's going on?
Bobby: Only that Cindy's a chicken.
Cindy: Rolls her eyes. Get real!
Mike: That'll do, you two.
Bobby: See, we were getting a group of friends to go race go carts over at Woodland Park and Cindy's too chicken to come along. They put in a really neat racetrack and we wanna go try it out.
Cindy: For the last time, I don't want to.
Bobby inhales to speak, but Cindy stops him.
Cindy: I am not chicken, and I'd like to race go carts, but I can't risk getting hurt. I'm captain of the varsity squad and how would that look if the captain was sidelined?
Carol: She's got a point.
Bobby: Resigned. I know, but Mark and I wanted to have a brother/sister against brother/sister race. Jennifer's going to be there. So are Jeremy and his sister, Theresa.
Cindy: Irked. Jennifer'd better not. She's one of our spotters.
Mike: The solution's simple. Why don't you guys wait until tomorrow or Sunday to go racing? That way, if Cindy and Jennifer want to race, they won't have the game to worry about.
Carol: Looks at Ryan, who lays his head on her shoulder. Well, I need to get the twins fed before we leave. She leaves.
Mike: Do you have any homework?
Bobby: Algebra.
Cindy: English.
Mike: Why don't you go ahead and get it done so you'll have the rest of the weekend free?
Cindy: Okay. She goes through the bathroom to her room.
Bobby: Sure.
Mike: Get to it.
Mike exits Bobby's room and joins his wife in the nursery. Carol's nursing Ryan. Carolyn stirs, so Mike picks her up. She snuggles against him.
Mike: C'mere, Kitten. You hungry?
Carol: She probably is. She didn't eat much breakfast.
Mike: Feels her head. She feels a bit warm.
Carol: She's cutting that tooth and probably has a little fever.
Mike: Should we give her some Tylenol?
Carol: No, she'll be fine during the day, but I'll make sure to tell Jan to give her some after dinner. Bring her over so I can get her fed.
Mike places Carolyn in her mother's lap and helps his wife get situated. Carolyn latches on.
Carol: Surprised. Ouch!
Mike: What?
Carol: She bit me!
Carolyn detaches. Mike feels her gums.
Mike: I don't feel anything.
Carol: Ryan detaches. Can you take him?
Mike lifts and burps Ryan and Carol feels her daughter's gums.
Carol: Yep! I feel a couple coming in on the bottom. Smiles at her daughter. Yes, I do!
Carolyn grins and coos.
Carol: Okay little girl, go ahead and finish up.
Mike: C'mon, little man, let's get your fruit and vegetable. What would you like? Blueberries, blackberries, peaches? And how 'bout some green beans or carrots or corn?
As he walks out of the room, Carol grins and relaxes into the rocking chair.
Carol: Carolyn, I hope when you grow up you find a man just as wonderful as your father.
In the kitchen
Mike walks in, carrying Ryan. Alice is cleaning the kitchen.
Mike: What are you hungry for, son? He starts looking through the baby food jars. Ah! Here we go! How 'bout blueberries and sweet peas?
Ryan bounces up and down in his father's arms.
Mike: Is that a yes? You're certainly eager.
Alice: Laughs. He is an expressive little boy. Kinda reminds me of Bobby when he was that age.
Mike: He does. I've caught myself calling him Bobby a few times.
Alice: Carol says she's caught herself calling Carolyn Cindy.
Carol: Walking into the kitchen. Have what?
Mike: Placing Ryan in the high chair. Alice and I were just talking about Bobby and Cindy here. Smiles.
Carol: Confused. What?
Alice: We were just saying how much Ryan reminds us of Bobby when he was that age.
Carol: Placing Carolyn in the other high chair. And Carolyn of Cindy.
Mike and Carol open up the jars of baby food and begin feeding the twins.
Alice: When are the two of you leaving?
Mike: Probably around two; no later than three. We've got dinner reservations at six.
Alice: From what you've told me, Mr. Brady, it'll be a wonderful weekend. I may have to get Sam to take me there one weekend.
Jan and Peter come home and enter through the family room.
Jan: Hi mom! Hi dad! You're still here?
Peter: Obviously!
Carol: How was your day?
Jan: Oh, nothing special. I got an A on my ASL exam.
Carol: Wonderful!
Peter: So did I. We were paired up together.
Jan: and the teacher gave us a script that we had to read using ASL.
Peter: We got the highest grade in the class.
Mike: Congratulations!
Jan: Signs and speaks, "Thanks! The test was tough."
Peter: Signs and speaks, "We got a 95 on it. I messed up a sentence." That lowered our grade some.
Mike: Still, good job!
Ryan and Carolyn finish their food. Carolyn reaches out to her sister.
Carolyn: Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Jan: Signs and speaks, "You want me to pick you up?"
Jan picks Carolyn up and Carol lifts Ryan out of his high chair.
Carol: C'mon, messy boy! Let's get you all cleaned up.
Carol and Jan go up to the master bedroom.
Peter: Dad, can Julie come over to study? We've got a Geography test on Monday and this is the only time we'll have to study together.
Mike: Sure.
Peter: Thanks!
Mike goes upstairs to the master bedroom. Carol is bathing Ryan and Jan, Carolyn
Carol: Carolyn's got a low grade fever because she's teething, so she'll need a dose of Tylenol before she goes to bed. It's in the medicine cabinet.
Jan: And Ryan?
Carol: He hasn't had a fever, but if he does, you can give him one too.
Mike: Pokes his head in the bathroom. I'll put the suitcases in the car.
Carol: Don't take my overnight case yet.
Mike: All right.
Carol: Turning her attention back to Jan and the twins. Of course, there are bottles made up and I've already thawed some for tonight. They can have chicken and rice and either a fruit or a vegetable for dinner. I've also laid out their pajamas and clothes for tomorrow.
Jan: Drying Carolyn off. We'll be just fine, won't we, Carolyn?
Carol: Drying Ryan. I know you will. Sighs. I'm just...
Jan: Mom, it'll be all right. You and dad need this. Besides, it's only for one night.
Carol: Lifts Ryan. You're right. To Ryan. Let's get you changed.
Carol and Jan go the nursery and change the twins into clean clothes. Mike knocks on the nursery door.
Mike: It's nearly two-thirty. We gotta get a move on.
Carol: Okay. Mike, will you take him so I can get the overnight case finished?
Mike: All right.
Mike and Jan set up the blanket in the living room and retrieve some toys for the babies while Carol finishes packing her overnight case. She brings it down the stairs.
Carol: I'm all packed.
Mike: Starts to get up. I'll put in the car for you.
Carol: That's okay. I'll get it.
She loads it into the car and goes back into the living room.
Mike: Ready?
Carol: Yeah.
Mike and Carol go upstairs and tell Bobby and Cindy goodbye. Then, they knock on Peter's door.
Carol: We're leaving.
Peter: Have a good trip.
Mike: Is Julie coming over?
Peter: Yeah, she'll be here in about fifteen.
Mike: Be sure to keep your door open or study in the family room.
Peter: Sure, dad.
The couple tells Alice goodbye, then goes back to the living room. Cindy has joined Jan and the twins. They kiss both babies and tell Jan and Cindy goodbye.
Carol: Hugs Cindy. Good luck at the game.
Cindy: Thanks! We're debuting a new routine. I'm excited about it.
Jan: I think Bobby's going to take the Super 8. Grandma and Grandpa Brady and Greg and Marcia are meeting us at the game. If Carolyn still feels feverish, I'll stay home with her.
Carol: Thanks.
Mike: We'll see you tomorrow evening.
They get in the red convertible and leave on their overnight trip.
In Peter's suite
Peter and Julie are studying Geography in his suite. Peter sits in his desk chair, while Julie lies prone on his bed, holding her textbook.
Peter: What are the countries that make up the USSR?
Julie: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus...Uhhh...Azerbijan, Georgia, Tajikstan, Moldova... She looks up, thinking. Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Latvia, and I'm forgetting one.
Peter: Smiles. Starts with an E.
Julie: Estonia!
Peter: Right!
Julie: Why are we studying for this test on a Friday afternoon?
Peter: I have to work tomorrow and you'll be at your grandparents' house on Sunday. This is the only time we'll get to study together.
Julie: Sighs. I wish we'd do something besides this.
Peter: Grins. We can do something else in a few.
Julie: Promise?
Peter: Promise.
Julie: Smirks. Can you name the capitals?
Peter: Sardonic. R, U, U, K, B, A, G, T, M, K, L, T, A, L, E!
Julie: Ha! Ha! Seriously.
Peter: Moscov, Kiev, Tashkent, Alma-Ata, Minsk, Baku, Tiblisi, Dushnabe, Chisinau, Bishkek, Vilnius, Ashgabat, Yerevan, Riga, and Tallinn.
Julie: Wow! You got 'em all! Now, name the Eastern Bloc nations that are under Soviet control, but are not part of the USSR.
Peter: You mean the countries under the Warsaw Pact?
Julie: Yes.
Peter: East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Albania, and Yugoslavia.
Julie: That's right!
Peter: Now, you name the capitals.
Julie: East Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Sofia, Prague, Bucharest, Tirana, and Belgrade.
Peter: Right! Now, let's go on to...
Julie: Interrupts. No more. Sighs. I'm so tired of studying Geography.
Peter: Me too. Closes his book and moves to the bed.
Julie: Bites her lip and slides her book off the bed. I know who I'd rather study.
Peter: Teasing. Who?
Julie: Leans up to kiss him, and stops short. You.
Peter grins, quickly enveloping her into an embrace. Julie pulls him into a passionate kiss.
Peter: Mmmm!
Julie: You sure no one's home?
Peter: I'm sure. He begins kissing her neck. Mom and dad left for the bed and breakfast a couple hours ago. Alice went home, and Jan, Bobby and the twins went with Grandma and Grandpa Brady to see Cindy cheer at Filmore's football game. So, it's just us (kiss) alone (kiss) together.
Julie: Grins a Cheshire Cat grin. Wonderful!
They envelope each other in a passionate embrace.
Later that evening, around eight.
Jan, Bobby, Cindy, and the twins come home from the game. Greg and Marcia are with them. Jan is holding a sleeping Ryan and Marcia has Carolyn.
Bobby: That was some game!
Cindy: I loved that last play Jeremy did. Wow! What a rush!
Greg: He definitely has the moves.
Jan: I'm going to put this little guy to bed.
Marcia: Right behind you. Little sis can't keep her eyes open.
Jan: She feel warm?
Marcia: No, I don't think so.
Jan: Feels the baby's head. Then, I guess we can skip the Tylenol.
Jan and Marcia put the babies to bed in the nursery. Then, they come back down to the kitchen to visit with their siblings. Greg gets something in the laundry room and sees that Peter's door is ajar. He peers through the crack and sees Peter and Julie asleep on the bed, together in an embrace. He bursts the door open. The couple startles awake.
Greg: Yelling at the top of his lungs. What on earth are you doing?!
Peter: Groggy. What?
Greg: To Julie. I think you need to go home.
Julie: Gathers her books and notebooks. I'll see you Monday. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Peter: I'll call you.
Julie: Please.
She quickly leaves through the exit by the laundry, so she doesn't have to see Peter's other brothers and sisters. Greg closes and locks the door. He pulls up the desk chair and sits facing Peter.
Greg: What is going on with you and Julie?
Peter: Tries to play dumb. What do you mean?
Greg: Sweeps his hand above the bed. This! I come into the laundry and see the two of you in a compromising position on the bed.
Peter: And?
Greg: I don't know, and I don't wanna know if you and Julie did anything, but you just can't do that.
Peter: What? Fall asleep? We didn't mean to fall asleep. We were studying Geography.
Greg: Exasperated. World or Julie?
Peter: Annoyed. That was uncalled for.
Greg: I'm sorry, but Pete, you've got to be more careful. You don't want to do something the two of you can't undo.
Peter: Smiles. I get what you're saying.
Greg: Good.
Peter: Can we just keep this between the two of us?
Greg: Sure. If they ask what the yelling was about, I'll just say I stubbed my toe.
Peter: No problem.
Greg: Stands up. Let's go see what the rest of the gang is up to.
They enter the kitchen and see that the other four are eating ice cream at the kitchen table.
Cindy: What was all that yelling?
Greg: I stubbed my toe on Peter's bedroom door.
Jan: Ouch!
Peter: Going with it. Uhh, yeah. I opened the door and saw him hopping around.
Marcia: Not quite believing it. Uh huh. If you say so. She shoots Greg a look.
Greg: Mouths. Later.
Meanwhile, checking into the bed and breakfast
Mike escorts his wife to their room and unlocks the door. Carol starts to enter the room, but Mike stops her.
Mike: Wait. He smiles.
Carol: What?
He puts their luggage in the room, while Carol smiles, biting her lip.
Mike: Not until I carry my bride across the threshold!
Carol: Laughs. Mike! What are you doing?
Mike: Can't I carry my bride over the threshold?
Mike lifts his wife into his arms, shuts the door with his foot, carries her across the threshold and gently lays her on the bed. Carol, arms still wrapped around her beloved, pulls him closer to her. He loses his balance and lands on top of her, planting sensual kisses along her neck and lips.
Carol: Thank you for this getaway. Dinner was wonderful.
Mike: It was delicious. (kiss)You're delicious.
Carol: Giggles saucily. Well, I am your favourite dish.
Mike: You sure are!
Carol: Grins and fans herself. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Mike: Teasing. I could adjust the temperature in the room if you'd like. Pretends to get up.
Carol: Oh, no you don't, Mister! You come right back here.
Mike: Chuckles. Your wish is my command, m'lady!
He continues planting kisses on her neck.
Carol: I'm glad we came.
Mike: What (kiss) made you (kiss) change your (kiss) mind?
Carol: Oh, I realized you were right...oh!
Mike kisses a sensitive spot near her clavicle and Carol moans in response.
Mike: Grins. That good?
He kisses the spot again.
Carol: Yes! Oh!
He begins unbuttoning her blouse, and quickly divests her of it. Then, he tries to get her bra off, but is having difficulty. Carol raises up and he quickly removes it. She lays back down on the bed.
Mike: Takes in the sight. You are beautiful.
Carol: And you, sir, are over dressed!
Mike: Taking his shirt off. Well, let's remedy that.
Carol: You're still over dressed, Mister.
Mike: And so are you.
They hurriedly strip themselves of the rest of the clothing.
Mike: Better?
Carol: Purrs. Definitely!
Mike: Looks toward the bathroom. You know, there's a big tub with jets in the bathroom.
Carol: Intrigued. Oh?
Mike: Do you want to stay here or take a dip in the tub?
He kisses her left breast, eliciting a gasp.
Carol: Protesting. No fair! You ask that question and then get me all hot and bothered?
He strokes her right breast and she moans.
Mike: I'm evil that way.
He tickles her.
Carol: Laughing. Mike! Miiiiiiiike!
Mike: Stops and props himself up on his forearms. So?
Carol: Skin is tingling. Breathing hard. And now you stop?
Mike traces a path from her shoulders to her waist, using the tips of his fingers. She shivers under his touch.
Carol: Quit teasing and do me!
Mike: As you wish!
Back at the Brady house
Greg and Marcia had carpooled to the game and back to the Brady house, so Greg drives her back to her duplex.
Marcia: What was that about you stubbing your toe? I know you didn't.
Greg: I can't tell you; I promised Peter, but suffice it to say, if he and Julie don't cool their jets, they're going to get into a heap of trouble.
Marcia: Lemme guess. You found them doing stuff they shouldn't.
Greg: Kinda like that.
Marcia: I knew she was a fast one.
Greg: Not just her. He's just as fast.
Marcia: Curious. Oh?
Greg: He's always treated girls with respect, but I think he's moved too fast with girls he's dated. Trust me. I've been on a few double dates with him.
Marcia: You gonna tell mom and dad?
Greg: No, but he knows I'm gonna be on him.
Marcia: Good. I still can't believe mom and dad let him have Alice's old suite. It's so easy to sneak someone in and out with that door there. I didn't even see Julie leave.
Greg: Well, they had to do something, since he and Jan couldn't share the attic.
Marcia: Giggles. True, and Jan said the suite was too claustrophobic for her. Pauses. Well, maybe he'll listen to you and slow down before they do something they can't take back.
Greg: That's what I'm hoping.
They pull up to Marcia's driveway.
Marcia: Thanks for the ride. See you in class Tuesday.
Greg: See ya later.
Marcia gets out of the car, goes into her duplex, and Greg drives to his apartment.
-End of Chapter 23-
A/N2—Chapter 24 will be a direct continuation of this chapter.