A Very Brady Reunion

[PPatters]

Foreword: This is a re-post of my "A Very Brady Reunion" fanfic all put together into one post. I'm going to end this episode (a special, longer episode) here and then am going to continue it into the regular series. I should get the next episode posted within a week or so, I hope. (My episodes will take longer than most, especially with school and a lot of time spent on my choir stuff, and the fact that my "episodes" are longer than most peoples.)

Carol sat on the couch reading a newspaper while the television blared on with repeats of The Partridge Family. She flipped the page and had completely ignored that the television had been on. As soon as she flipped the page, though, she heard a noise. A car stopped in her driveway and she heard the door close. She wasn’t expecting anyone. "Who could that be?" she asked to herself, knowing that she couldn’t possibly get any response. She moved to the door and waited a few moments, and then heard the doorbell ring. Carol opened the door and was greeted by someone she certainly hadn’t expected.

"Alice!" Carol screamed, embracing her old friend. They both embraced each other for a minute and then Carol pulled away. “"What are you doing here?" inquired the curious mother of six. "You didn’t call or anything," finished the lovely lady.

Alice looked at the confused, yet, obviously, happy Carol. "I was just passing through, and thought that we would stop over," replied Alice as she set down her bags.

"Passing through?" inquired the even-more-curious Carol. "From Florida?" she chuckled.

"Oh, I know I should have called, but I thought I would surprise you," started Alice. "Gosh, I hope you weren’t busy."

"No, no! I was just reading the paper," Carol had started, noticing that they weren’t even completely in the house already. "Come on in!" she said excitedly, very happy to see her friend again. Alice had moved to Florida with Sam about eight years ago, and five years ago Mike had died. While the kids had all lived within close proximity of the house, things did get pretty lonely without having an older face around.

"They had to fumigate the condo, it seems that we had some bug problems, so I thought we may surprise you and stay around here for a while. That is, if you don’t mind," Alice innocently said.

"Of course! You’re always welcome here! Have you talked to the kids yet?"

"No, actually, I haven’t gotten around to it. I wanted to be able to get here before Robby goes off to college, too." Of course, Alice was referring to Phillip and Jan’s adopted son Robby, who would be going off to college within just a few days.

"You came just in time, too! We were going to have a going-away party in just a few days, too. I think before we talked going-away party, though, we should put your bags in one of the rooms," Carol smiled and picked up one of the bags, leading her to the boys’ old room. "I would have put you in your old room, but I‘ve since changed that into an office."

"Thank you, Mrs. Brady," said Alice to her former-boss, still calling her "misses" and not by her first name.

"Alice," started Carol. "You don’t have to keep calling me Mrs. Brady. I’m Carol!"

"Oh!" said Alice who didn’t even notice that she had called Carol by a more formal name. "I’m sorry, just habit I guess."

"No need to be sorry, Alice," Carol commented as she put Alice’s bags on the floor and went to the closet to pull out some sheets for the bed. "We’ll have to call the kids soon," Carol stated, and then something popped into her mind. "You’ll be able to see Jamie! He’s gotten so big in the past few years!"

Alice laughed as she thought of Marcia and Wally’s situation. "Just as soon as they get the other two out of the house, they have another little one," Alice paused. "Sam and I never had a chance to have a child... And now Sam’s gone."

Carol realized things may get a little ugly. She went over to Alice and put her arm on Alice’s shoulder. "Why don’t we get some sleep now. It’s," Carol looked at her watch and then put her arm back on Alice’s shoulder, "It’s already ten o’clock. Tomorrow morning we can call the kids and all get together!"

Carol had just woken up and went out into the kitchen only to find Alice over the stove with the phone in her hand. "Yeah, Marcia," said Alice over the phone with Carol having no idea what they were talking about. "You’ll come over in an hour then?" there was a short pause and then Alice replied with a "Great!" and hung up the phone. Alice turned around and looked to see that Carol had been standing at the table the whole time. "Oh Mrs.... Carol! I didn’t even notice you came in. I was just getting off the phone with Marcia. I’ve already called Jan and Phillip, Cindy and Jake, Greg and Nora, and Bobby. I’ve still go to call Peter, though."

"My, you certainly have been up a long time haven’t you Alice?" asked the gray-haired mother of six rhetorically.

"Only about an hour. I was about to wake you up, too. I’ve got scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, and muffins and the doctor tells me I can’t eat all of that!"

"If I didn’t know better, I’d think that you’ve made breakfast for Greg, Peter, Bobby, Marcia, Jan, Cindy, and even Mike!" chuckled Carol.

"But, you do know better," smiled Alice. "By the way, the kids should be coming over at around noon. I’ll make sure to vacuum the floors, dust the furniture, and..."

"Alice... Every time you come over you want to clean! Remember, you’re not the housekeeper anymore!"

"I know, but I do it because I like doing it, not because I have to," responded Alice.

"Anyways, it’s just the kids. With all of their messes that you had to pick up when they were kids, they should have to clean up for you," laughed Carol. That laugh was then followed by a laugh from Alice.

"Yeah, well, most of them had kids to clean up after, too, so I guess we can call it even," smiled Alice. "Oh, yes. Before I forget, I better call Peter!"

"I can do that for you, Alice, you know."

"No, no. You eat. Anyways, you get to talk to Peter everyday, it’s been months since I’ve called Peter," Alice smiled again and then picked up the receiver and dialed the number. She let the phone ring for a few seconds and then someone picked up.

"Hello," said the females voice over the phone.

"Jamie?" asked Alice, unsure as to who it was, though she thought it may have been Peter’s wife of five years, Jamie Brady.

"Yes. Who is this?" inquired the voice over the phone.

"It’s Alice Franklin!"

"Oh, Alice! Did you want to talk to Peter?"

"If you don’t mind. I’m in town, and all the kids are coming over for lunch, and I wanted to invite the two of you."

"When did you get in town? Peter never told me you were coming," replied Jamie.

"That’s because he didn’t know," Alice chuckled, and that chuckle was followed by one from Jamie.

"I’ll go get Peter."

Seconds later Alice heard the phone leave Jamie’s hand and put up to Peter’s head. "Alice?!" asked Peter excitedly. "You’re in town?"

"Yeah! I thought I’d surprise your mother. Anyways, Jan and Phillip, Robby, Marcia and Wally, Jessica, Mikey, Cindy and Jake, Greg and Nora, Bobby, your mom and I were all going to have lunch at noon, and you and Jamie are invited."

"Sure, Alice!"

"Great! Well, I should be going. I’ve still got to clean up the house before you all g..." she was cut off by Peter.

"You’re still doing it," he chuckled. "I’m starting to think you were born with a mop in your hand or something."

"Well.... I just... like things perfect when company comes over," she responded, trying to think of a excuse for her compulsive cleaning.

"Well, when company goes over you can clean. We’re family, Alice!" Peter said. "Well, anyways, if you must go, I’ll see ya soon, then." Peter hung up the phone and Alice did the same.

"How rude," she smirked and then took a dust rag and began dusting off the furniture...

Noon

All of the kids and grandkids and Alice and Carol had assembled at the Brady home. There were Greg and Nora, Peter and Jamie, Bobby, Marcia and Wally, Mickey and Jessica, Phillip and Jan, Robby, and Cindy and Jake. An extra table had to be set up just to accommodate the sixteen people. Alice laid down all the sandwiches, a large bowl of salad and started pouring lemonade in all of the sixteen cups around the table.

"It’s so great to have everyone here, together," said Carol to everyone. "Especially with Alice, here. Never have all of us been together. Not since Christmas over a decade ago, and even then we didn’t have Robby, Jamie, or Jake. Anyways, I think I should propose a toast... To togetherness, I hope we can only all do this again after Robby leaves for college."

"Here, here!" echoed around the room as everyone took a sip of the lemonade, only to have some of them follow it by a pucker of the lips.

"It’s very... lemon-y, Alice," laughed Jessica.

Of course, Mickey and Robby quickly drank their lemonade following it by a loud "Ahhh."

Alice began dishing out some of the salad on all of the plates, and then started passing around sandwiches. "Bologna for Greg, Nora, Bobby, and Jessica. Chicken for Mrs.." she was cut off.

"Alice," said Carol.

"Mrs. Carol, Cindy, Jake, Robby, Mickey and Myself. And then ham for everyone else!" said Alice, listing off everyone that everyone was having for lunch.

"Now, Alice, you’re done serving everyone. Sit down! I’m sure you didn’t come all of the way over here from Florida just to serve us lunch."

"I've said it once and I'll say it again. First I serve everyone, and then I sit," Alice said, reminiscing about something she had said during Christmas of 1988. "And I still have to get a glass of milk for Jessica."

"I can get it myself, Alice," commented Jessica. "You just sit down. You've gone from one end of the country to another, you don't need to spend your time serving me milk!"

"That's alright. I did it for your mother, I can do it for you," Alice said to Jessica, trying to make an excuse for why she had been so generous. The truth was, though, that, since Sam died, she hasn't had a chance to take care of anyone.

"Yeah, well, you got paid when you did it for my mother, too. Just sit down, Alice. I haven't seen you in a chair since I got here!"

"I'll just get your milk, then I'll sit," replied Alice as she went to the kitchen and opened the refigerator door to get the milk. She walked over to Jessica's seat and then poured the milk. She returned to the refigerator to put the milk away and then sat down.

"Finally!" said Bobby to Alice. "So, Alice, you never did tell us why you came here."

"Well, we've had some pest problems in my condo in Florida, and since Robby's graduation party is coming up soon I thought I'd surprise your mom by stayin' for a few days."

"Ya know, Alice. You always have a place here if you want to move back," said Carol to Alice. Carol knew that Alice was very lonely without Sam, and teh truth was that Carol was a little lonely without Mike.

"That's alright. Florida's very nice. The beaches are great..."

"The condos are expensive, it's usually hot, and we're in California, not Florida," Greg explained to Alice.

"Alice, we do have extra rooms here at the house, and we've really missed having you around. We would love it if you would move back," Carol started. "Anyways, we haven't had any pest problems here," Carol chuckled, as did a few of the others.

"Alice, it just isn't the same without you here," started Jan. "I mean, you helped Marcia and Wally, and Phillip and myself during the early part of our marriages, and you helped Marcia and Wally out when Jessica was born."

"I guess it has gotten a little lonely in Florida," Alice thought out loud, and then continued. "And all of my friends are here... And I would have a room here."
"Come on, do it Alice!" Jessica encouraged.

Alice thought for a minute, and then finished. "Well.... I... Alright! I’ll do it!"

The room cheered as Alice made her decision. "It’ll be so great to have you here! And now, since nobody is living here with mom anymore, you’ll both have company, and a LOT of room!" commented Robby.

"That’s great, Alice!" started Carol as she went over and put her arm around Alice’s shoulder. "It’ll be just like old times... minus seven people!" she laughed.

Alice began getting teary eyed. She began breathing hard and then made the comment, "Everyone here’s just so great!"

"Oh, Alice! Don’t cry," Carol told to Alice, knowing that when Alice started crying, Alice started CRYING!

"I know, but it’s just so great being back...." Alice tried to say the next word, but she had to take a deep breath. "Home!!"

Everyone gathered around Alice and Carol. All sixteen of them were chattering as they congratulated Alice on moving back. They were all happy to see their once housekeeper, and current friend and mentor moving back to the area where she spent most of her life, and being with the people who loved her and who she loved. A huge smile was on Carol’s face and she began talking. "I’m sure Mike would have liked to have seen the return of Alice, but he’s probably watching over us from above with a smile."

Later That Day...

Alice was with Cindy at the supermarket buying some of groceries for the dinner the next night. Carol, Jan, Marcia, and Greg were all together at Carol’s house talking, and reminiscing. A thought, though, came over the mind of Marcia. "I have an idea! Well, we know that Alice probably won’t be expecting to have everything moved in for another few weeks. How 'bout we throw a special surprise party for her sometime next week with all of the stuff moved in for her!"

"That’s a great idea, Marcia!" commented Jan. "We could have everything trucked over here. But... Someone would have to leave to go get it..." They knew that it would look suspicious if one of them left to Florida for a few days.

Carol then thought. "Well, what if we had one of her friends pack all of the stuff up and have them drive it over. And, we could pay for the gas and everything!"

"That would be a GREAT idea!" commented Greg. "Hey! Maybe we can invite some of her friends from Florida over here!"

Carol thought again, and then her smile quickly went away. "Ohhh... But, Robby’s send-off is in a few days."

"Well, if we re-scheduled Robby’s party for Saturday, we could have everyone here for Alice on Monday night," Jan said.

"Still... Do you think he wants to share this time with Alice?" questioned Alice.

"I’m sure he won’t mind! He wanted Alice here as bad as everyone else!" came the voice of Jan.

"Well, then, it’s settled! We’ll have a surprise party for Alice!" said Carol.

[PPatters]

I know that I said I would have something on within the week, but I deleted EVERY FILE in my "My Documents" folder the other day to make a little room (there was a TON of stuff in there) and I deleted this story along with it. I shall honestly have something within the week, now, but I think I am also going to pursue another fanfiction first.