Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: I figured I'd go ahead and post this chapter before my family gets on the road just in case we don't have internet tonight. But hopefully we will. Anyway. This episode showed Claudia's twenty-first birthday. After a crazy mission where Artie was almost left permanently deaf, the gang ended the episode at a bar where Cherie Currie of The Runaways showed up to sing a duet with Claudia. I couldn't really think of any missing scenes for this episode, so I wrote a small chapter as the team is leaving the bar to head home. It's not one of my better chapters, but it's more lighthearted than the last few have been. And after this begins the build to the season finale, which means things will begin to get more serious. So enjoy this while it lasts.
Let It Rock
"Oh, man!" Claudia said as she pushed open the doors into the cool night air. "That was so awesome!"
"You were great on that stage," Myka told her with a smile.
"You rocked it!" Pete said. He promptly proceeded to play a few dramatic notes on his air guitar.
"I still can't believe Cherie Currie was actually here!" Claudia cried excitedly. She spun around to face Artie, who had only just managed to catch the door before it swung shut on him. "How did you make that happen?"
"I actually saved her life in '79," Artie said proudly.
"No way!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Way," Artie said. He stepped out into the open air so the door could swing shut. "She said she owed me a favor. So I decided to cash it in."
"That's so insane," Claudia said, shaking her head.
"You got to meet her and sing with her," Myka said with a smile. Claudia's eyes widened as a thought struck her.
"Please tell me someone got that on video," she said.
"I lent my camera to the bartender," Artie said, patting his pocket. "He filmed the whole thing."
"Sick!" Claudia cried. She gave an excited jump that drew a laugh from Pete and Myka.
"And she signed your guitar," Steve reminded her.
"That's why you were so interested in when my lesson was," Claudia said to Artie. "You wanted to steal my guitar!"
"I thought you might want an autograph," Artie said with a knowing smile.
"Well, you thought right," Claudia said.
"We'll have to get that picture of all of us printed out," Myka said.
"I can hang it on the wall with my new posters," Claudia said excitedly. She glanced back at Artie. "Which, by the way, are awesome."
"I told you I could throw a good party," Artie told her.
"You wanted me to stay at home with black balloons and psychedelic posters," Claudia pointed out.
"Maybe I was just trying to throw you off my trail," Artie said smugly.
"Are you telling me you had this planned the whole time?" Claudia asked.
"Oh, ye of little faith," Artie said.
"Seriously?" Claudia cried. "You sly dog."
"He certainly fooled me," Myka said. "I was half expecting to come home to find the B&B full of clowns making balloon animals."
"I like balloon animals," Pete said indignantly.
"Okay," Myka said with a chuckle. "Well, maybe we can hire a clown for your birthday."
"Please no," Claudia groaned. "I hate clowns."
"Why does everyone hate clowns?" Artie asked. "They're hilarious."
"They're creepy," Steve informed him.
"Plus, I'm not ten," Claudia said flatly.
"Speaking of," Pete said. He reached over and rubbed his fist across the top of Claudia's head, causing her to duck away. "How's it feel to finally be a full adult?"
"I don't know if I'd go that far," Artie said drily.
"Pretty great," Claudia said with a smile.
"Aw," Steve said, making his most patronizing face. He sniffed loudly as if he were getting emotional. "Our little Claudia's all grown up."
Claudia stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yes, she is," Myka said with a proud smile.
"So now what?" Pete asked. "Shall we continue this party back at the B&B?"
"I don't know about you guys," Myka said, stifling a yawn, "but I'm about ready to head to bed."
"You are getting old," Claudia teased.
"But not as old as Artie," Steve said with a grin.
"Watch it," Artie warned.
"Well, we've got two cars here," Pete said. "Who's going with who?"
"My guitar's in Artie's trunk, so I guess I'll go with him," Claudia said.
"Okay," Myka said with a nod. "Pete and I can go with Steve."
"Shotgun!" Pete yelled. Myka punched his shoulder in mild irritation.
"Works for me," Steve said.
"Alright then," Artie said, pushing his sliding glasses back up his nose. "We'll meet you back at the B&B."
"Last one back has to fix the F.I.S.H.," Claudia said with a grin.
"Oh, you're so on," Steve told her.
He took off in the direction of his car with Pete and Myka close behind him.
"Come on, Gramps!" Claudia said, taking hold of Artie's sleeve. "Let's go!"
"Children," Artie said with a roll of his eyes. Nevertheless, he allowed himself to be dragged across the small parking lot toward his car.
"Can I drive?" Claudia asked when they reached the car.
"Absolutely not," Artie said immediately.
"Why not?" Claudia begged. "I'm a good driver!"
"First rule of adulthood," Artie said, holding up a finger. "Never drink and drive."
"I had two drinks!" Claudia protested. "I'm not even buzzed!"
"And I am not in a hurry to die," Artie said flatly.
"Fine," Claudia said with a pout. She hurried around to the car's passenger door and tugged at the handle. "Hurry up and get in! We're gonna lose!"
"And who decided to make it a race?" Artie asked drily as he pulled out his keys. He pressed the unlock button and almost immediately Claudia was in the car with her seatbelt buckled. Artie, of course, took his time getting in.
"Come on, come on!" Claudia urged.
"Relax," Artie told her. "I have been living here longer that Steve has been alive. I know shortcuts that he can't even imagine."
"So let's go!" Claudia insisted.
"First, tell me one thing," Artie said. He stuck his key in the ignition and looked over at Claudia. "Did you have a good birthday?"
A wide grin immediately spread across Claudia's face.
"Definitely," she said emphatically. "Best. Birthday. Ever."
"Good," Artie said with a smile of his own.
"Thanks, Artie," Claudia said sincerely. "You're awesome."
"You're welcome," Artie told her.
"But you'll be even more awesome if we beat Steve back," Claudia added.
"Oh, we will," Artie said competitively. He reached up and turned the key in the ignition. "Buckle up. We're about to see how fast Scarlet can go."
He backed the car out of the parking space and turned it out of the parking lot. Then he pressed down hard on the gas. Claudia's whoop of joy echoed behind them as the car shot off into the night.
Like I said last chapter, my family will be out of town this week and I'm not entirely sure what sort of internet access we will have. But hopefully I'll be able to keep updating this story throughout the week. While we wait to find out, how about leaving a review letting me know what you thought of this chapter? :)