'Come on and marry me, Michael ….' Sang out Lisa putting her spin on the old song,' be my wedding day 'She bopped around the living room of the Matthews home where the girls insisted upon throwing her a casual bridal shower: it was casual because her mother had already thrown her an elegant shower inviting practically everybody both of her parents knew while the girls shower was strictly old friends which was splendid to the bride.

Lola and Quinn had helped Zoey decorate the house with streamers and corny gold paper bells, a long table was set against the empty wall covered in a gold lame tablecloth (Lola's contribution to the event) while Quinn's fizzy non- alcoholic punch sparkled in the punch bowl, finger sandwiches, chicken salad in flaky croissants, mingled along with the fruit and vegetable trays. Lola, surprisingly the baker out of the group, had even made a cake.

A small table in the middle of the room was overflowing with brightly wrapped presents while around her a handful of her closest friends chatted amongst themselves. Stacey Dillsen had grown out of her awkwardness having grown into a lovely young woman, her curly brown hair had been tamed into a chignon, the lisp barely there, and she was dressed in a flowy bright turquoise shift looking quite happy to have been invited. No one had seen the up and coming artist since Quinn and Logan's wedding a few years back as she was living in San Francisco.

Lola paused to stare at Lisa.' Pretty sure those aren't the words to the song, Lisa...and wasn't his name like Bill or John Boy? '

'You're a riot, Lol,' responded Lisa in kind,' I'm not marrying Bill.'

' Which is really good since Michael would be mad enough to spit nails ' commented Lola , doling some punch into a glass cup to hand to the bride ,' Did you see the rock on Martha's hand ? It's got to be damn near 2 carats and no way Jeremiah could freaking afford that working at the station with Michael and freelancing...dude isn't that good '

Martha was an old P.C.A. friend and high school sweetheart of reporter/cameraman/videographer Jeremiah Trottman , who worked with Michael at the television studio. The on and off again couple had recently gotten engaged and she was giddily showing off the ring to anyone in the room.

Lola was thrilled for Martha but it was also pretty tacky. This was Lisa's party.

'It's a big, beautiful ring,' muttered Lisa, under her breath,' unless Jeremiah hocked his soul, there is zero chance he could afford one that size. He makes less than Michael...but I am thrilled for them all the same, Lola '

Lola dunked a strawberry into the marshmallow dip with flourish.' Really? You won't be catty and bitchy with me? The sapphire Michael got you is way beyond beautiful and he didn't go hock the family silver or anything '

Lisa took a sip of her punch.' Play nice, lo'

'I'm trying but if she calls me a wannabe actress it is so on….' Insisted Lola, stuffing the berry in her mouth,' catfight time '

'No Dynasty scenes today, no acting, period. Just be my friend, please '

Lola smiled serenely,' Of course '

Lisa moved to the center of the room listening in on the current conversation between Quinn and Stacey who sat on the sofa. Quinn looked soft and dreamy in a red and gold printed dress that had been an early prototype of Zoey's dress line a few years back. She looked like the happy newlywed that she was while the sometimes dour Stacey was super chipper.

'I've moved out of squab art into pottery recently,' explained Stacey, animatedly,' I found an old kiln recently at a flea market, took a few classes, and I have a knack for it. I've gotten a hand with the drips …' She cast Lisa a look,' I can't help but think of when Michael made up that silly 'Drippin' word in high school…needless to say, it or he inspires me '

'What a lovely thing to say, Stacey,' replied a touched Lisa,' I know that will touch Michael's heart when I tell him what you said. Occasionally the man still likes to pretend he is 16 throws in a couple of his Drippin to make a point ….'

' Well I am sure they are all acting like a bunch of slathering teenage morons together ,' says a wry Quinn ,' according to my hubby, they were flipping a coin on strip joint for Michael or and it bears repeating staying to hang at our home with the guys while bringing a stripper in '

Quinn couldn't help but roll her eyes heavenwards as if annoyed.' I know it's as much a male bonding ritual as the bridal shower but it reduces them all down to a bunch of slathering , slobbering cavemen ogling a barely dressed woman baring all for cash in her G-string '

'That the argument you used on Logan to make him rethink stripper? '

Quinn's lips curved into a knowing smile.' I had a much more eloquent speech prepared for my husband which didn't sway the jerk in the least 'It had also seemed to have more weigh when they were sixteen, newly dating than a married couple of two years it would seem.

' Now Quinn,' reminded Lisa , taking another sip of her punch ,' I am sure we are forgetting that Michael's bachelor party will somehow turn into being a shared stripper since the guys never did anything for Logan ..What with Bart on the loose and all '

As if any of them, let alone Quinn needed the reminder of her wedding being overshadowed by a psychopath who claimed to be Logan's brother escaping prison then stalking them. Most of the couples expertly laid wedding plans had flown out the window for an impulsive small wedding once Bart had been recaptured by the police. It had been terrifying. Still despite or maybe because of it all, Logan and Quinn's wedding had been touchingly beautiful that day.

Lisa winced,' I'm sorry, Quinn, it slipped ….that wasn't what I meant to say but surely you understand what I meant about the guys '

Stacey glanced from Lisa back to the scientist.' I think we've all moved past Bart that you shouldn't have to tiptoe if you accidentally mention his name, Lisa '

'Stacey is correct 'answered Quinn, quietly,' besides my wedding was still perfect '

'Indeed the stars aligned for you and Logan,' responded Janna Martinez, breezing into the room with Quinn's mother,' and as I have already seen for dear Lisa and Michael '

'Thanks so much for checking for us, Janna '

' Of course, dear ,' responded Janna noting that Zoey appeared in dire need of rescuing from an overly enthusiastic Martha as she cut between them,' Zoey, why you are practically radiating with pregnancy glow . I must say that it certainly agrees with you'

Zoey shot her a grateful yet confused look as Martha promptly clammed up.' Uh that is really nice of you to say , Janna, but I am only now starting show and I feel like I am hungry all of the time so I don't know about the radiating part '

'Take the compliment while you can 'contribute Quinn's mother from the corner chair.

'Gotcha, radiating and all '

Martha appeared momentarily stunned.' Oh my God, your pregnant, Zoey Matthews? I. I just thought you had gained a little weight with being married and all...Wow '

Zoey let the remark slide.' Sure am expecting 'She zeroed in on the bride to be who was trying hard not to laugh,' I think we've had enough chit chatting for now, why don't we let Lisa open up some of those presents '

'Good idea 'Quinn gestured for Lisa to take her spot beside the table,' start opening before this shower turns into a throwback from the 1950's please '

Lisa shot her a questioning look but picked up a silver wrapped package with a purple bow.

'This is from Stacey '

With the bridal shower underway in town, the women doing the time honored tradition for Lisa; Michael was also involved in another form of tradition as the groom namely the bachelor party at the Reese home. Though Michael had a large number of friends it mainly consisted of his best buds , Jeremiah Trottman, and Malcolm Reese who had brought out the best scotch ( though none of them really liked the stuff , they drank it ) and Cuban cigars .

Given their previous bad luck regarding strippers and clubs, the guys had fallen back on the gentleman's game of poker with Malcolm insisting that he would take care of the entertainment. Well aware that their former friend and a sort of an ex of Logan (Dana, anyone?} they all insisted it was cool. Jeremiah thought they had all gone insane.

'Dude, Dana isn't the only stripper in L.A. …let Malcolm hook us up here "whined Jeremiah, who was helping himself to another drink, pausing to lean his hip on the gaming table,' the women are smart, independent souls who will expect us to have strippers '

'Man, stop being whiny, this here is my party,' expressed Michael, peering over his hands of cards,' I am cool with it. 'He wondered if he could bluff his way through this round,' Besides knowing the damn luck we don't have, if a stripper did show up I'd somehow probably manage to get myself handcuffed to her or worse '

Vince took a gulp of the scotch as he folded his cards down.' We don't actually know that would happen, Michael. Men have had bachelor parties for thousands of years, I am sure that kind of hijinks only happens slim to none '

Chase blew out a puff of smoke from the Cuban then coughed making a face. These things really were disgusting! This was one of the reasons that he was a non-smoker. He made a face as his eyes darting around for an ashtray before Malcolm just took it away from him.

' That statistic is a little steep, Vince , more like hundreds of years ,' picked up Chase, conversationally ,' you were in Louisiana at my bachelor party at the bar , Vince, or have you forgotten that mess ? Dustin has footage of the humiliation if you need a reminder '

Dustin Brooks then underage had followed the guys to the bar , managing to sneak in to hang with them, alcohol had been consumed in vast quantities , women had come onto them all and all of this before a pissed off Zoey and the rest of the women had arrived .

Vince shook his head.' No one cursed us while we were down South, guys '

Logan sat a plate of chicken wings on the table catching Vince's argument and couldn't resist adding his own opinion. These days Vince had become the voice of reason within their group giving Chase a run for his title. Okay so he and Quinn had a little tiff on the whole stripper deal before she had left for the shower but that was only natural.

'That we know of, dude, that doesn't mean it couldn't have happened. Think about the freaky that was mine …you can't tell me it was just a random thing that Dana showed up to strip for me or that my psycho half-brother escaped prison to come for me and Quinn before our wedding? It's bad voodoo or woo woo or whatever the hell you want to call it but is it really worth getting our jollies off if we try to do the same for our pal, Michael '

He straddled a chair then took a swig from his beer.' I, for one, don't want to risk it '

Jeremiah stared blankly at all three of them, dumbfounded.' You've all lost your fucking mind! He turned to Malcolm, 'Mr. Reese, talk some sense into these idiots and get us a stripper '

Malcolm poured another drink to his own glass as he eyeballed Jeremiah. ' I have tried reasoning with them when I was first invited ,' explained the producer , lifting his brows in a gesture that was very much a Reese trait ,' I have a woman ,,that is I can make a call and bring her to the party but the groom seems hesitant '

Michael placed his cards on the table, rubbed thoughtfully at his chin, before shaking his head then slapping Chase on the back.' So far it's been two out of three, man, and I don't trust them odds especially since James paid me and Lisa a visit the other night. Could be like one of those weird portents Lola's mama is always yammering on about it ….besides we got the good alcohol, those Cuban cigars and Malcolm brought the best in X rated so we're good '

'This is really the lamest bachelor parties in all of the bachelor parties ,' contributed a pissed off Jeremiah , who had been expecting the wild party of all parties . He had did the videography for Logan and Quinn's wedding but hadn't know all of the messy details of beforehand but he had expected more from the old friends,' Vince, your sane, help '

Vince busied himself with making a triple decker sandwich before offering the meat tray to the others. Chauncey Had put together a hearty meat platter, there were bowls of chips, cheese dip, and a crockpot of steaming meatballs along with a platter of eggrolls. It hadn't been the elaborate bachelor party none of them imagined ( Logan and Chase couldn't figure out how to combine elements of the 80's film Bachelor party with that of numerous ones depicted in the old shows that Michael was fond of binge watching ) so they had went for casual .

Lisa's father had gotten called out of town at the last minute to oversee a business merger that he hadn't trusted anyone else to attend, Michael's own Dad was helping put out a so called wedding fire (I've got it under control) in Georgia also not able to attend. Although their circle of friends was small, Michael's oldest, closest friends were there.

'Jeremiah,' reminded Vince, diplomatically,' if you don't want to be here, we're not tying you down. No hard feelings or anything if you want to leave….'

Chase had given up his hands on cards not getting anywhere nor wanting to have his wife ream him for losing their extra cash to Logan at poker. It would be amusing to see how the game played out or if Malcolm could fleece his own son out of money cause there was zero way in hell that Michael was going to come out the winner here. He wasn't that lucky either.

Chase helped himself to a plate began filling it with meatballs.' It's cool, man '

Jeremiah weighed his options knowing full well that Martha was still at the shower and probably would be until she ran out of gossip or realized they all might have outgrown one another. Having always been the roving reporter in high school then college now working at the station with Michael (in damn behind the scenes capacity) he yearned for his glory days. Jeremiah had been pumped when he had been invited to the bachelor party and only now realized they had nothing in common anymore except for the past.

Disgusted by his train of thought, the former reporter accepted another beer, raised it to Michael. 'Congratulations, Barrett, I mean that, it's about time you married Lisa. Hell, I remember when you acted like a fool around her …you came this close back in the day ' He held up his fingers to illustrate ,' to making the P.C.A. news for throwing up on the girls shoes during karaoke night if it hadn't gotten shot down '

Michael leaned back in his chair, with an embarrassed groan of his own.' Aw man, don't remind me! That was fucking humiliating! I swear I used to get up the nerve to talk to the woman then I got around Lisa turn into a damn, stuttering fool '

Logan chuckled at the memory.' That was hilarious '

Michael flipped him off,' Glad I could amuse you and this crap coming from the dude who was secretly in love with Quinn Pensky '

' Not going there , ' argued Logan , reaching for the bowl of pretzels near his Dad on the round table ,' not about me and Quinn, this is all about you and Lisa, Michael. The woman sure dragged her feet enough about the whole tying the knot thing we have our doubts '

'Reese, shut up,' Vince plopped down on the overstuffed couch, looked over his shoulder,' Michael and Lisa have been solid since they got together. One mini break up during high school are pretty awesome odds as far as I am concerned and it's been a hell of a rollercoaster for me just dating Lola '

'She's never going to want to marry you '

'Shut up, you asshole '

'Gentlemen,' interceded a calm Malcolm, amused by the exchange,' you might as well be brothers, you are family. Nostalgia and insults aside for the moment, it's good to see that Michael and Lisa's circle will be complete next '

No one could argue with that.

Family mattered most of all .