Music Lover's Alert: "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper

Chapter 38 Girls' Night Out

"But Mokuba can look after Janet just fine," Serenity assured her brother over the phone while running a comb through her freshly washed auburn hair.

"Don't you think he'd rather be out meeting chicks? Besides, I'm already looking after Hermos tonight, so one more kid won't be any trouble," Joey insisted.

"But Janet knows Mokuba better than she knows you."

"Yeah, but I'm her uncle, too. It's about time she got to know me."

Serenity bit her lower lip. Despite Joey's reassuring words, she knew that Janet felt more secure around her and Mokuba than she felt around other adults. She also managed to do OK with the nursery staff who worked at the hospital during Serenity's shift, but if she was left alone with Seto, she threw a fit until Serenity or Mokuba came back into the room. Seto had given up trying to work his way into Janet's good graces, claiming that he did not have the time to learn how to be good with babies, but that he would spend more time with her after she learned how to talk in complete sentences and got over her separation anxiety phase. However, Serenity could not, or rather would not, tell Joey that. Instead, she just said, "All right. Don't hesitate to call me if anything goes wrong."

"Sure thing, sis. You and Mai have fun tonight." Joey then let Serenity go so that she could finish getting ready.

Serenity paced back and forth in her walk-in closet, trying to decide what to wear. She had never been to a club before, but Mai insisted that she should try it at least once while she was still young and beautiful. Plus, it would be a good sister-in-law bonding experience.

Serenity's hand trailed over the hangers in the closet and stopped on a skirt she had bought a long time ago, but found too bright to adequately match anything else she owned. If only she could change the colors of her clothing at will! The hot pink skirt would be great for going to a club, but as long as she had nothing to wear with it, it was useless to her. Serenity sighed and stared at her collection of rose and pastel yellow clothes. Then, she spotted another brightly colored piece of fabric hiding in the corner of her closet. Of course! It was a costume that Tea had worn in a dance recital when she was seventeen, but since then she had put on more muscle and it no longer fit her.

Serenity smiled and pulled the outfit out to get a better look at it. It was much skimpier than what she normally wore, but the fact that it came with arm and leg warmers made her feel a little better. She took it off the hanger and was pleased to find that it actually fit her. She had lost every single ounce of her baby weight by breastfeeding and she felt fabulous! The top was made of spandex and had a built-in bra that allowed it to dip low between her breasts without any loss of support. The top, like the tight shorts that went with it, was red with white and black vertical stripes that followed her curves. She twirled around in front of the mirror and noticed that she had become a completely different person. She was no longer the sweet, kind nurse and mother Serenity; she was a vibrant young woman ready to go out and have a good time. Well, almost. Serenity tied her long auburn hair up with a ribbon rather than leaving it loose like she usually did. Much better.

The mansion's intercom beeped that someone was at the door, and Serenity ran downstairs to find the butler already letting Mai, Joey and Hermos inside. Neither of them recognized Serenity until she opened her mouth to greet them.

"Serenity, what happened to you?"Joey asked in a worried tone.

Serenity's face fell. "You don't like it?"

They all stood in awkward silence for a moment. Mai cleared her throat. "Are you sure you want to wear that, hun? With an outfit like that, you'll have a hard time keeping guys off of you."

Serenity looked over Mai's tight white corset that made her cleavage bulge over the top, her short purple skirt, and her little purple jacket that she always left open. "I… um… I thought I was supposed to dress up. Besides, it shows less than what you've got."

"Hun, I can get away with wearing anything - or nothing if I really wanted because I know how to repel unwanted attention. That skill takes years to master, though."

Serenity's olivine eyes brimmed with tears. "But Tea gave this to me and I've never had a chance to wear it until now."

Mai huffed out a sigh and said, "All right, but just stay close to me so I can protect you. I don't want any assholes messing with my sister-in-law."

Serenity smiled again. "Thanks, Mai! You're the best. Shall we get going now?"

"Wait! Where's this kid I'm supposed to babysit?" Joey asked.

"Her name is Janet," Serenity reminded him.

"I knew that," Joey said with a funny grin on his face.

Serenity cringed, but forced herself to look Joey steadily in the eye. "She's in the nursery. I'll show you." She then led Joey and Mai up the stairs and through the hallway until they came to a room with the door slightly ajar. Inside, Mokuba was sitting on a red bean bag chair reading a textbook with Janet asleep at his feet.

When Mokuba looked up and saw Serenity, his violet eyes bugged out and his tongue tied itself in a knot. However, in this case speechlessness was to his benefit because if he had said what was really on his mine, Joey would have punched him without hesitation.

"Mokuba. Joey brought Hermos over to play," Serenity said.

Mokuba gulped and nodded.

"Not only that," Joey added enthusiastically, "but I'm going to babysit so that you can go out tonight, too!"

"I… I have to study," Serenity's other husband said.

"Don't be ridiculous! You're young and single and you should go out tonight," Joey insisted.

Janet opened her electric blue eyes and noticed that there were three more people in the room than usual. They were invading her home, her territory. She cried out in distress, and Joey scooped her up off the floor. The crying did not stop.

"You can ride with us to the club, and then we'll go our separate ways," Mai offered.

Mokuba stared dumbly at Serenity as she rushed to soothe Janet. "There, there, Janet. Uncle Mokuba and Mommy are going out for a few hours, but we'll be back later. Right now, you get to play with Hermos," she said as she stroked her daughter's silky brown hair.

Hermos looked up at his cousin with wide brown eyes and said, "Don't cry, Janet. Play is fun."

Janet sniffled and said, "Uncle Mokuba play."

"Yeah, I think it's better if I stay here. If Janet needs anything, I-" Mokuba began.

"-Man, you've got to get out of the house. Have fun! Get laid!"

"Joey!" Mai said sharply.

"What?"

"Don't say that in front of the kids."

"Sorry."

Serenity looked at Mokuba with her sweet olivine eyes and said softly, "Joey has a point. You should get out there and meet new people."

For two seconds, Mokuba forgot that Mai and Joey were in the room and spoke impatiently, "Serenity, we already discussed this. I… yeah, I should go, I guess," he finished dismally rather than professing his love for Serenity.

"Then it's settled. Come on, stud!" Mai said in an attempt to cheer him up. She grabbed Mokuba by the hand and dragged him out the door. His textbook tumbled out of his lap and onto the floor, its pages creasing in awkward directions.

Serenity kissed Janet on the forehead and followed her in-laws. Almost immediately, Janet started crying again. However, Serenity ignored the sound and walked bravely out of the mansion. She knew that Janet would survive, but part of her wanted to run back and tell Joey everything just so that Mokuba could stay and keep her happy.