Rae's PARTY

Mouse is getting all the party things out and the DRD's are lined up ready to be rolling servers. As everything gets put up, Mouse looks around and is satisfied.

"RAE! You HAVE to get down here NOW! The...um...DRD's have gone wild and we need you and Raegun to get things back to normal! NOW!"

The Guest of honor walks into the ballroom, feathers ruffled, two mismatched slippers, and a look that said, "This BETTER be good."

(Knew you could do it. Neither rain, nor sleet, not car robbers could stop our interpid hero from finishing, presenting, and defending her thesis. Party on Rae! You deserve it!)

Mouse bumps Raegun to a vertical position so he can shoot confetti into the air. WHOOSH!! Weird but nobody thought Raegun could hold that much confetti. The Scoobs were covered in glittery confetti and laughing. Rae just stands there for a minute with an "I might have known" look on her face.

"Nope, wasn't me this time." Jila grinned and hugged her friend. "It was Mouse. Crais! Rae's favorite drink please!"

Rae and starts whirling her around chanting "Raaae did it, Raaae did it!" over and over. Laughing, Jila and Mouse join the circle and Rae is twirled till she finally gives up and laughs.

"Pina Colada, Crais?" Kay asks, hoping to have one of his special drinks in her hands shortly.

The five Scoobettes milled around, Jila talking with Rae, Mouse,and Chryse and his lovely Kaye standing at the bar. He understood the party was for Rae, who'd finished her thesis and was about to leave for basic training.

Castor knew the military. He'd done a number of years himself, and knew all the wonderful experiences that could be had given the right circumstances. He'd been places not many others had; the Black Sea, Leningrad (which had previously been Saint Petersburg, and was now again Saint Petersburg). He'd seen the Colusseum, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids, and the Parthanon. Sometimes he smiled when he remembered those adventures.

He'd even tried on his uniform again after 25 years. It fit almost as well as it had then. Now it was slightly tight in the chest, but fairly loose over his hips. Kaye had to spend about five minutes helping him out of the top, which they'd hoped they wouldn't have to cut off him.

Castor crossed the floor with his normal confident stride, and took Rae's hand up as he circled around to her front.

"Congratulations, Rae." He said quietly, interrupting her mid-sentence in what she'd been saying to Jila. Jila rolled her eyes and blew a puff of air up through her bangs as if to say "Oh god, not now" as much as it might also have been a "stay on your toes" to Rae.

Castor turned slightly toward his sister and commented "I'm being good. I'm only wishing Rae a happy adventure and many good travels. Mom doesn't need to get involved."

"Well, thanks, Castor!" Rae said. "But I'm not really expecting to have many adventures. It's just something I think needs to be done. For a number of reasons."

"Just keep in mind that you have many options. Regardless of what they've told you already. They'll likely break every word they've given you, and they'll try to break you down. Mostly, Basic Training is all about psychological horse pucky, that I'm sure you'll see for what it is right off. But they think it's necessary. And then, if you've not limited your option too far, things can get kinda fun."

Kay must have been reading Castor's lips, a pasttime that engrossed her more often than she'd normally admit to - not necessarily trying to see what he was saying, but more just staring at his mouth. In any event, the jukebox she was currently standing in front of fired up with a lively tune, just as Castor had said the word "fun".

Not having released Rae's hand yet, Castor took advantage of Kaye's informing him that Rae liked being twirled around the ballroom. So he did his best to twirl Rae around the room a few times without tripping over anything or stepping on her toes.

The second time they passed the spot where they'd started, and not looking like they were going to stop, Jila turned to the main doors and shouted "MOM!!!"

"Hey Crais," Jila said as she slid onto one of the bar stools. "Why don't you mix up a batch of page 106. Or is it 103. You know which one I mean."

"Jila?" Crais said as one eyebrow arched. He handed kay her drink without taking his eyes off Jila.

"You know what those drinks do to the male Scoobs." Crais watched Jila's face for a reaction that didn't come. "Do you want to do that to your brother?"

"ummmmm, well, ummmmm." Jila's mom had told Jila recently that Jila was a terrible liar, that she stuttered if she tried lying. "Oh I Suppose Not." she said as she frowned and blew a puff of air out her nose. "Spoilsport." Crais gave her one of his rare smiles and Jila sighed. She hated it when Crais was right. It was Rae's party after all and if anybody was going to be the center of attention it should be Rae. "Okay then, make me a Strawberry Daquiri."

*Wonder if Ragnar, Spy, Wiz, or the IQs will show up.* Jila thought as she watched Castor and Rae take one more spin around the dance floor.

"Actually all the guys have been conspicuous by their absence. You don't think we scared 'em all off do you?"

Kara and Jila watched Castor continue to twirl a laughing Rae, bunny slippers and all, around the ballroom.

and the two of them twirl each other around the dance floor. Then, on cue, the jukebox starts blaring out "We are Family" and the whole party moves to the dance floor to let Rae know that we ARE her family and are as happy about her pursuing her dreams as anyone can be.

in the air, as the One-Winged Angel himself appears in the ballroom, clutching a fine vintage wine and a bunch of roses for the happy Post-Thesis Raven.

(Sorry, gang, I've got two tests in the next two days, and I've got to study. Have a great party.)

HTML tags, Meta tags, you-name-it tags. Congrats, Rae! I'm glad you got through your thesis without any more of it being stolen by bank robbers, or being held as evidence by the FBI!

to be able to fully grasp why things in the ballroom are so noisy and why people keep grabbing her.

"I noticed. Now go enjoy your party." He gives her a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead and pushes her back towards the dance-floor.

Rae smiles over her shoulder and rejoins the party. She notices Ghost sitting in a corner, studying. "I know the feeling." she mutters, smiling at Ghost and giving her a big hug. "Good luck on your tests, Ghostie."

"Thanks, Ghostie." Rae smiles and starts towards the dance-floor. "So, Rae, how's it feel to be done?" Mouse asks.

"I know, I know." Rae shakes her head. "I am, too, but I don't care." She grins at Mouse. "Remember the first time we met? It was down here?"

"Was it?" Mouse asks, vaguely, wondering if she can change the subject before the conversation gets embarassing.

As if on cue, the two women are surrounded by other Scoobs, listening with curiosity to a story that has since been lost to time.

Rae smiles. "I thought you were a guy and asked you to dance, and you thought I was a guy and accepted."

"Mmm, VERY good thing." Rae sniggers. "Of course, you never did fulfil that promise." she teases.

Rae looks around. "Hmm... Castor's with Kay, Spy's with Chryse. Just you and me, Mousie." she teases.

Rae shrugs. "Ever watch 'Drew Carey'? Buzz Beer?" She shakes her head. "Never mind. Who's up for pool?"

"Sure, play against." Rae laughs. "No guys to play against. Can't have that. Who's up for s'mores?"

"Under the clock on the mantle-piece." Rae tells her, pointing. "The chocolate's behind the bar."

As Mouse and Kara retrieve the grahm-crackers, Rae and Vi run out to the garden to retrieve enough sticks to roast the marshmellows on. They return to the ballroom as Mouse, Kara, and Jila are laying out the ingredients.

"Crais, join!" Rae calls to him, sitting in front of the fire. She stares at it. "You know, I'm not loving this arangment."

The fireplace melts away and the fire shifts itself to the middle of the dance-floor, amid shrieks of surprise from the Scoobs.

He nods cautiously and begins steering Kay away from the fire. Rae laughs and activates the star-scape on the ballroom ceiling. Spy and Chryse stop dancing and watch as the walls of the ballroom take on the aspect of a sylvan glen -- with a bar and pool-table. The hot-tub can be seen through a gap in the trees.

"Perfect." Rae says, satisfied. She sits in front of the fire and helps herself to a marshmellow as Raegun begins singing 'Dancing in the Moonlight'.

All the Scoobs look at Sunny. Crais stares at her, mouth open. Sunny reaches over and closes Crais's mouth, "Honey, you'll catch flies like that."

"Yeah, It's getting fall where I live and well...it's perfect weather for hot cocoa with hazelnut in it. You all got a problem with that?" Sunny askes...eyeing all her Scooby pals.

Rae eyes Sunny dubiously. "Hey, welcome to the party, ScoobyScaper. Glad you could make it. Care to join us in some s'mores?" She gestures to the bonfire in the center of the dance-floor.

"And YOU," Rae says, pointing to Sunny, "you watch what you call MY mandroid!" Laughing, she grabs Sunny's arm and herds her towards the bonfire.

Is it possible for you to teach these mandroids to loosen up? I think Crais might enjoy a good term of endearment if he knew what they were.

"Ignore him, Sweetie. He wouldn't know an honest sentiment if it walked up and smacked him. Takes after feather-head that way."

"I know what they are." Rae replies. "However, the term 'feather-head' remains off-limits to you. Got that?"

"Yes, Rae." Velorek takes Mouse's arm and leads her to the dance-floor. "Besides," he mutters for Mouse's ears alone, "bird-brain is just so much more accurate."

"No. I think terms of endearment make her uncomfortable. She simply gave us the capacity to learn them if we so chose."

Velorak leads Mouse to the floor and the jukebox starts playing something sweet and slow. As Mouse dances, she catches Rae's eye, and smiles and give her the BIG thumbs up. Good JOB on this one!

So there seems to be dancing here? I love to dance! ofcourse that must be why they call it a Ballroom lol

at Rae and Crais dancing, Mouse whispers to Jila, "So, who get's to keep Crais company when Rae goes on her away mission? " Jila wiggles her eyebrows and says, "I think that will be debated loudly at her going away party!"

Jila looked at Mouse and grinned. "Who's going to be keeping Velorek company while Rae's gone. I've seen the way you look at him!"

Hope ALL goes well with Bootcamp. SOOOOOO Sorry I wasn't here earlier for you going away party but DANG my life's been SOOOOOO busy cause of school. May your boot camp experience be as you want it to be. WE'LL ALL miss ya VERY VERY much. Love ya and warm wishes for your bootcamp days.

..into the kitchen and waited a minute or two to see if anybody else would come in. When nobody did she picked up the telephone and dialed.

"I need a slow song about missing somebody". Jila spoke quietly into the phone. "I'm at a party. A male friend of mine is leaving soon and I'll miss him. I'd like a slow dance with him before he leaves."

"Also, I need a song for a female friend that's leaving too." Jila thought for a moment. "But that one needs to be a real Kick-butt song, very lively."

"Please hold while I connect you with one of our specialists." the tired-sounding operator said.

"The very same, Jila, and thankyou for consulting the song-suggestion hot-line. Now, as to your male friend, the most obvious songs that come to mind are 'Beyond the Sea', 'I say a little prayer for you', and 'The long and winding road'."

"Now, as to your female friend, THAT is something more of a challenge. However, titles that come immediately to mind include 'Ruby Tuesday', 'Stand by me', possibly 'The long and winding road' once more, and, of course," Raegun sniggers "'I'm a bitch'."

"Which one of us do you think she'd kill first?" Jila laughs, knowing full well that Rae would probably get more of a kick out of that song than any of the others. "Thanks, Gunny."

"Not a problem, Jila. If you want more suggestions, or don't like these, or need lyrics, just call again. My extension is 42. Have a nice day and thankyou for choosing the Song-Suggestion Hotline."

Jila peeked into the Ballroom again. Nobody had noticed her absence. Or maybe they had, but just figured she was checking on the kids. Jila dialed again.

"You have reached the Song-Suggestion Hotline." An automated voice greeted her. "If you have a favorite representative and know their extension, please dial it now. For...."

"Sorry, yes." Jila sighed. "The songs you gave me for my male friend just don't seem right. Oh heck, I don't know why I keep saying that. You know who it's for and I guess I just want him to sing me something special."

"Oh yeah." Jila scribbled the new song titles on her note pad again. "Those are good! I know which one I'll play for Rae. I think I'll save "I'm A Bitch" for Rae's return. Thanks Gunny. I knew I could count on you."

"Any time." Raegun said cheerfully. "Have a nice day and thank you for choosing the Song-Suggestion Hotline."

Jila walked back into the Ballroom and resumed her seat at the bar. "A little birdie told me that you're going with Rae when she leaves."

"Yes." Crais said as he set the glass he had been wiping back down on the bar. "I'll be observing Riv as she starts her Human Military Studies."

"As I shall miss you my wife." Crais gave Jila one of his Almost smiles. "Dance?" Crais reached across the bar for Jila's hand.

"Mind if I pick the music?" Jila asked and Crais nodded once in agreement. Hand in hand they walked over to the jukebox and Jila tapped the numbers for her choice.

Meanwhile, Castor sat at a table with kay, a look of confusion crossing his face. "um, am I missing something here?"

"The... Mandroid, Crais, and my sister..." Castor said as one eyebrow arched. "She called him husband, he called her wife?"

"But she's already married?" Castor didn't think his sister had done anything Drastic lately.

"And you'll explain it to me later?" Castor looked relieved even though he still didn't know exactly what was going on. Poor Castor, he didn't think he'd Ever know what was going on here in the FarScape Mansion.

"Sing to me?" Jila said to Crais as the music started and they walked onto the dance floor. As Crais pulled Jila close and moved her around the dance floor he listened to the opening bars of the song, and then began to sing:

Keeping our country safe from harm! At least from here on out!! Good luck it's a very noble thing that you do!!!

"I know you have to go, but I'm going to miss you terribly! You promise to write, and be good, and listen to your drill sargent, even if he/she IS a bonehead..."

Mouse comes into the ballroom with her party dress on. Let's get this party started! Where's Rae! To start the night right, let's get groovy with the classic...

As codey walks into the ballroom she sees everyone in the room and smiles happily as she goes to the bar to get some drinks.

Codey looks around the ballroom as she waits for her drink and Louis to show up for the Rae's Party.

"Rae we'll ALL MISS you VERY VERY much. Please keep in touch with us if you can. SOrry I wasn't in here earlier but I least I'm here now."

Jila comes down the steps, and dashes in. "Can't stay, but I wanted to give Rae the biggest hug I've got." She scans the crowd and finds Rae, walks up, detaches Rae from Crais's arms, and hugs her. "I'm going to miss you, so very much. Write us and let us know when you get there."

With a final hug, Jila tkes off back up the stairs. Mouse wonders if she saw a glint in Jila's eye?

looks for codey. As soon as he sees Codey he walks up to her and offers her his hand. Codey takes his hand and he leads her off to the dance floor. As Codey rest her head on Louis Shoulder and Louis cuddles Codey close the glide over the dance floor happily. After the song is over Louis and Codey make their way to Rae.

"Rae I know we don't know each other too well but I hope you survive bootcamp and possibly thrive there. May you have as good a time as you can have at boot camp and hopefully we'll all see ya soon."

Codey - "Well Rae Louis isn't much for good bye's so I'll have to do better. We'll all miss you VERY much. Hopefully you'll be able to stop by once in awhile in here so we can know how you're doing. Email me if you can, then maybe I can write to you while you're at bootcamp. We'll all be waiting patiently for you to come back. When you DO get back you'll be SURE that you'll have one HECK of a Welcoming party. Fair thee well Rae, Via Con Dios."

Codey - "That hugs from me and Louis. I don't know if he's eaten yet so you're safer with me hugging you. Have fun Sweety and remember we're all rooting for you here."

You're looking spiffy, as usual. Help yourself to drinks, I'm heading to the fireplace to hang out and warm up.

Rivyn says with a smile. "I'll write to you all as soon as I can." She looks over at Crais who's eyes seem to be watering for some reason. "You okay, man?" she whispers.

Rivyn shakes her head but does not comment. "Go get yourself a drink, compose yourself and then get your eema back out here. I need backup."

"OY!" Rae shouts (her version of 'may I have your attention please), causing everyone to turn and stare. "Thanks. Bailar and I have something to say."

safe in a dark, dark corner. She saw all the other Scoobs hugging Rae good-by. She watched Rae and Crais sing.

"What are you doing sitting here in the dark?" Spy asked when he noticed Sunny, sitting by herself.

"So, don't say good-bye...say see ya...laters...or something along those lines." Spy offered.

Sunny tried to smile..."Spy, nice try. But being in the military...when someone leaves...one always prepares for the worst, whether one realizes it or not. I didn't want to bring anyone else down. Everyone is trying to be so upbeat about this. I can't, not right now. I know Rae is doing what's best, for her, for the country. That doesn't mean I have to like it." Sunny told Spy. He looked at her.

"Look Spy, I don't expect you to understand. I totally admire her for doing this. I will miss her." Sunny finished

Sunny closed her eyes, so Spy wouldn't see the tears that were threatening to surface. She let out a sigh. Just then, Mouse put on a fast song, a happy tune.

Sunny looked at Spy, "Care to dance, Angel?" she asked getting up and holding out her hand.

Sorry I made it after you actually left. I didn't know what to say...while I am extremely proud of you for doing this...I'm also worried. But that's me...I'm a worry wart. :) Take care, see ya when you get back. :) Don't let them boss you around too much! :) Be safe! Write when you can! :) Love ya kiddo!