AN: I call this chapter "Meeting Mrs. Valli". Also, a couple of quick things about the timeline of this story. I had to move everything up by one year (meaning '62 becomes '63), so Theresa & the guys could be in the right positions to appreciate certain historical events. She's twelve years younger than Frankie, which means she was born in 1946. I'm not sure of the age difference between each Season, only that Bob was the youngest.

Theresa never thought she'd be so thankful for a burst pipe. That day at school had been rough. She had a migraine during lunch, which meant she had to eat and rest a bit in the nurse's office. She would've left earlier, if she didn't have that important biology test. She felt okay now, thank goodness, but she still couldn't wait to get home and have a nicer, longer nap. She mentally crossed herself, praying she'd never have to tell the guys about it. She knew how they'd worry about her. As she was walking past the office, the receptionist stuck her head out from the doorway.

She asked, "Rees?"

"What is it?"

"Your brother left a message."

"Which one? I've got two of them."

As casually as that sounded, Theresa inwardly cringed. She felt bad that she wasn't as close with her other brother, the other Nick, as she probably should be.

The receptionist then said, "It was Tommy. He said that he wanted you to meet him at", and she paused while checking the paper, "-Crewe's place. He said they were having a little celebration, but he neglected to mention what it was for."

"Thanks for telling me."

"No problem."

She wondered how much information had truly been shared with the woman. So far, she'd told nobody else that her brother was a Season. She didn't want to be treated differently because of it. Not even her best friend, Brie, knew. She regretted how little they'd seen of each other lately. Hopefully, that would soon change. When she got to Crewe's building, she was surprised to find that her brother was nowhere to be found. Instead, it was Frankie, who met her in the lobby. Her heart fluttered when she saw him, and she briefly glanced at the ground to hide the blush in her cheeks. Thankfully, she sensed it go away, before he approached her.

"What's shakin', doll? Ya doin' okay?"

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she replied, "Yeah. I'm pretty good."

"I didn't expect ya to be here so early. I mean, I know Tommy left the message for your school, but we didn't think you'd arrive for another couple of hours."

"A pipe burst and caused some flooding. They sent the students home early."

"How long do they think it'll take to get fixed?"

"Soon. I mean, we were going to have a three-day weekend anyway. So, it should be done by next Monday."

"Sounds good."

He smiled, as he clapped her on the shoulder. She didn't quite understand the sweet prickling that touch left behind, but she still liked it. She didn't know he felt the same way. Frankie turned around and began walking towards the elevator, clamping down his top teeth on his bottom lip as he reined in his emotions. Once they got into the cramped space, Theresa's good mood chased away his anxiety.

She asked him, "So, what's this whole", and she made air-quotes, "-'celebration' thing about, anyway?"

"Yeah. I meant to tell ya in the lobby. 'Walk Like A Man' hit the top of the charts this mornin'."

"You meant to tell me", and she giggled before continuing, "Frankie, that's fantastic! I'm so proud of you guys!"

They were both laughing joyfully, as they hugged. The spark from earlier was still there, but it was easier to ignore this time. Crewe greeted them at the door, hugging the seventeen-year-old , as she walked inside.

"What's up, baby?"

"I caught a lucky break at school."

She repeated the story about the burst pipe, before looking over her shoulder and smiling when she spotted another familiar face. Bob was at the bar counter, rolling a glass of what appeared to be scotch back-and-forth between his hands. As she, too, took a seat, she patted the keyboardist on the back.

"Hey, Bobby."

"Hey, Rees. How are you?"

"Doing fine. You?"

He held up his half-empty glass and said, "Never better."

"I can imagine why. Frankie told me the good news in the elevator."

Bob's cheeks briefly flushed scarlet. Then, as Theresa took a breath, she noted the thick, sweet scent in the air.

"That...what the heck is that smell?"

"What smell?"

"Take a deep breath", and she continued after he'd done that, "See what I mean?"

"Oh, that's Colin. He's doing something in the kitchen, but he won't say what."

Colin was a "friend" of Crewe's. They "hung out" a lot.

She said, "Mm. It seems there's been a lot of secrecy, going around today."

Some of it was on her end, and she didn't want to talk about it yet. Frankie joined them, standing at a spot on her right. A few minutes later, Colin emerged from the kitchen. He carried a large sheet cake in his arms, a cake which had three stars done in frosting on the top. The stars were pink, blue, and green, respectively, and each contained a song title. Theresa could hear two men, talking loudly out in the hall. The corner of her mouth twitched, as their voices drew closer and closer. She'd recognized them immediately. She didn't comment, though, as she heard the apartment's doorknob turn.

When the cake was placed on the counter, the producer said, "Didn't I say the stars were in alignment? Three number ones in a row."

Bob told him, "Well, you are always right, Crewe. You're always right."

"Yeah. Where's Tommy and Nicky? Get them in here."

Apparently, he was more perceptive in that moment than Theresa thought.

Then came that voice she knew so well: "Look. He's got golden ears. He's blind as a bat."

Tommy walked up behind his sister, placing both hands on her shoulders and quickly kissing the top of her head.

He then gestured at the cake and said excitedly, "Look at dat! Three numba' ones! Come on! Who's the best freakin' team, huh?! Up here, Frankie!"

He grunted when they exchanged high-fives, each man sporting a wide smile. Theresa's mouth was watering, as she cut herself a piece of the cake. She was just swallowing her first bite, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Enjoyin' yourself, Rees?"

"Oh, yeah", and she giggled as she hugged him, before saying, "Hey, Nicky. How are you?"

"Real good. You?"

"I'm alright."

"Gonna come sit with me and Tommy? The couch is more comfortable."

"I'll be there in a little bit. Promise."

"Okay."

Theresa chose a book from a nearby shelf, and she was happy to lose herself in it while she ate. She was debating whether or not to have a second piece, when there was some movement in the corner of her vision. Trying to act like she wasn't paying attention, she watched Frankie go over to look at one of Crewe's beautiful paintings. Bob followed soon after, somehow managing to eat his slice of cake and not accidentally walk into a wall. She felt bad, listening to their conversation. But given how close by they were standing, it was inevitable she'd hear something.

Bob said, "Maybe, we should make an investment."

Frankie asked, "In what? In art?"

"Mm-mm. In us."

"What do you mean?

"Well, you've got the voice. I've got the songs."

"Yeah. So?"

"So", and he put down his now-empty plate, "-we make a partnership. I give you half of everything I write, and you give me half of everything you record outside the group."

"Why would I want to record outside the group?"

"I don't know. Things happen."

He was right. Theresa had been a Girl Scout, and she was still a firm believer in their motto: "Always be prepared." But still...something inside her said this arrangement would prove bittersweet in the end. She just wasn't sure who'd get the bitter end, and who'd get the sweet. She didn't want the group to ever split up. The idea of it just didn't compute in her mind.

Frankie didn't know it, but his next words reflected some of her musings: "What about Tommy and Nick? I mean, Nicky's the one who really got me singin'. And Tommy...I wouldn't be here, if it weren't for him."

Speak of the devil. As if on cue, Tommy made his way over to a piece of wall near his bandmates. Unlike his sister, he wasn't as discreet or guilty about eavesdropping. Theresa would've been embarrassed for him, if someone caught this. Luckily, no one did. Meanwhile, the conversation continued.

Bob promised, "It won't cut into their share. I'd never do that."

Frankie said, "But we gotta tell 'em."

"Yeah. Of course."

He returned his focus to the painting. But apparently, the singer wanted to keep talking. He lightly tapped his friend's arm.

When they remade eye-contact, he asked, "Hey, if things work out, you think we could talk about a saxophone?"

Theresa stifled a giggle. She knew how much Frankie loved jazz, and how he was always keen to include references to it.

Bob replied, "If things work out, we can talk about a whole horn section."

A look of consideration was followed by, "Okay. I'm in."

"Great. I'll have somebody draw up a contract."

"What? You mean, like, sign a piece of paper from a lawyer?"

"Yeah."

Frankie rolled his eyes and asked, "Look, you wanna do this thing?"

"Yeah, but we really should get-"

"So, we do it. You want a contract? Here", and he held out his hand, before finishing, "-a Jersey contract."

Theresa knew a promise like that couldn't be made lightly, especially in the environment the guys had grown up in. As the pair shook hands, Theresa heard a clipped huff to her right. Looking over her shoulder, she watched her brother's expression morph from curious and mildly annoyed, to downright angry. He turned on his heel and began walking away.

As he stalked past her, she asked, "What's the matter, Big T?"

"Nothin'."

If his short tone bothered her, she gave no indication of it. She played it cool, while Frankie and Bob made their way back into the living room. As the minutes ticked by, she saw that Tommy's stormy mood showed no signs of lifting. Thank goodness, the others didn't seem to notice, so there wouldn't be any drama induced by their questions. Sighing, she reached for the newspaper. Maybe, that would provide some kind of solution. She struck gold within a minute.

"Hey, guys", she said, "There's a new 'Dracula' movie, playing at the drive-in."

"So?"

"So, we should go see it. Is being cooped up inside, wasting this beautiful day, the way you really want to celebrate your newest success?"

Everything briefly went quiet.

Then, Frankie said, "You know what? That ain't a bad idea. I'll call Mary, and have her meet us there."

As he strode over to the phone to do just that, Theresa felt her stomach clench. This would be the first time she'd meet the singer's wife. She wondered if having this unsettled feeling was normal. She helped carry the portable chairs down to Nick's car. His significant other would meet them at the drive-in, just like Frankie's. Tommy was the last one to leave the building. She asked him what took so long.

He told her, "Hey, chill, a'right? I was just callin' a date."

"A date? What about this other sister-in-law I've yet to meet?"

"Stefania has her life, and I have mine."

"She really believes that?"

"She suggested it. Her 'rents were pretty strict, and she really wanted to get outta there."

As difficult as it was to hear this, Theresa understood what her brother meant. His wife had only married him, to escape a house she hated. They cared about each other, but they weren't truly in-love. That was why she was so okay with his casual behavior. She probably wasn't too different from him. Still, Theresa knew she'd at least have to send a letter at some point. That was the right thing to do, after all. The drive-in was pretty packed, by the time they arrived, and the sun was almost completely down. The guys busied themselves with different tasks. Frankie set out the chairs, while Bob and Tommy spread the towels on the grass. Crewe and Nick headed over to the concession stand to pick up every type of snack they could possibly need.

In a jokey tone, she called to them, "Don't forget my red vines!"

Nick shot back, "We got it, Rees!"

He smiled and winked at her, which earned a giggle. She then walked over to Bob and asked if she could help him with the towels.

"I've only got one left", he said.

"That's okay. I'm a little antsy. I need something to occupy myself."

She was smoothing out the last corner, when a blond woman walked over to their sitting spot. It was Nick's girlfriend, Lily. He'd mentioned having dated a couple of other girls, including a fiesty brunette named Cynthia. They were all aware of, and okay with, the non-exclusiveness. He often said he'd know, when the time was right to get married. After shaking hands with Lily, Theresa glimpsed her reflection in Crewe's car's rear-view mirror. In her orange t-shirt, dark jeans, and dark brown ankle boots, she looked all of seventeen. Younger, even, with the right lighting. She adjusted her headband, black with white peace signs, and she kept fluffing her hair. She wanted to make a good impression on Mary, despite the odd swirl of emotions she felt towards the woman's husband. Frankie must've been watching her fidget.

He walked up behind her and said, "Calm down, okay? She won't bite."

His words were meant to be reassuring, but they didn't help much. Then, another car pulled up close to their spot, and its driver got out. Mary Valli was every bit the bombshell Theresa had expected her to be. Perhaps without realizing it, she seemed to be a woman who only existed to make others feel inadequate. She wore a navy-blue, short-sleeved, peasant blouse. A flowy tan skirt emphasized her long, coltish legs, and the matching tan heels gave her a couple extra inches of height. Her wavy golden-brown hair drifted around in the breeze. Her cherry-red lips parted in a smile.

Flicking her hazel eyes at each of them, her accent was clear as she said simply, "Hi, all."

Tommy, who was already chowing down on some popcorn, replied, "Yo!"

Mary rolled her eyes at his rudeness, before taking a seat beside her husband. He draped his arm around her shoulders, smiling as they made eye-contact.

"Hey, baby", she told him.

"Come here."

This was meant to be a tender moment between the couple. But for Theresa, when she saw their lips touch, she flinched. Her fingers twitched, and her eyes went to the ground as a sharp pain went through her stomach. What the hell was going on? Bob instantly picked up on her distress.

"You alright, Rees?"

"What? Oh, um...yeah. I'm fine", and she quickly thought up a plausible lie, before continuing, "I saw a wasp. They're, like, one of my biggest fears. Not sure if I'm allergic or not, but better safe than sorry."

"Okay."

He returned his attention to the images on the screen, missing the look of relief on her face. She looked up right as the count rose from his coffin for the first time. The background music was spooky, but also regal. It felt like a bit like the musical eqivalent of an earthquake. The camera zoomed in on his eyes.

Theresa smiled and said, "He might be playing a monster, but Christopher Lee is so handsome."

"Damn straight, he is."

Turning to the side, her eyes locked with Mary's. Frankie had already shared that this wife was a woman of extremes. She could be sweet and full of fiery, sarcastic humor, but she could also be volcanic with her temper. She was open and unashamed of how tough life had made her. That analysis passed in a couple of seconds. Frankie must've heard their exchange.

He asked, "And what am I? Chopped liva'?"

Mary let go a slight laugh, playfully backhanding him in the chest. The women faced each other again.

"You must be Tommy' sista'."

A shy giggle was followed by, "Yeah. I guess that's me."

"Nice to meecha."

"Likewise", she replied as they shook hands.

Things were quiet for the next little while, with only idle chatter about the movie breaking that up. When it was over, Theresa said that, because she'd done so little to help before, she should be the one to take away the garbage now. Crewe offered to go with her, saying, they had to use the buddy system.

"This isn't summer camp."

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching up with it.

She giggled and said, "Alright. Come on."

It felt like she was doing strength-training, with how hard she had to shove the wrappers, bags, and cups into the bin. Crewe was behind her, arms crossed and leaning against a wall.

He chuckled under his breath and said, "Go, muscles!"

That laugh got a bit louder, when she shot him a glare. She laughed, too, however, when he gave her a playful wink.

He then took a deep breath and said, "I know how it feels, sweetie."

"How what feels?"

Theresa's blood briefly ran cold, when he nodded in the direction of their sitting spot. She really thought she'd done a good job of being subtle.

He went on to say, "I meant that I know what it's like to want somebody, who society says you can't have. Crushes like that can be painful. So, if you ever need to talk, I'm here to listen."

She hoped he couldn't see the blush in her cheeks. She began nervously twirling a lock of hair around her finger.

She said, "Um...thanks. That's really sweet of you to say."

As they began walking back, she decided to take a page from her brother's book and use humor to deflect an awkward situation.

Tapping his arm to get his attention again, she asked, "So, does this make you, like, my conscience, or something?"

He smiled and replied, "Nah. More like your fairy godmother."

She gave him a light, playful shove, giggling as he took a couple steps ahead of her. Theresa was grateful he could no longer see the contemplation, coming into her facial expression. She began thinking back on what he'd told her at the trash bin. So, that's what this emotional craziness was about. It was just a crush. Crushes were cute, and they ultimately faded with time. So would this one. It had to.

AN: This will probably be one of the only times I mention Tommy's wife (the name's made up). That's because she was only referred to once in the movie, right before Frankie enters Tommy's apartment to tell him about the so-called shooting in his car. Also, I liked the idea that Crewe could understand what Theresa is going through ("to want somebody, who society says you can't have"), since he's been forced to hide his real feelings, too.