"I can’t believe they’re meeting us here," Peter Criss shook his head as Gene sat at the table with the Brats for a possible show gig as an opening act. Choked with thick smoke, the new strippers bumped and spun aroudn the poles, each in a mask. The first few dancers had been the usual fare, but these girls were far more seductive in their movements to the blaring house music.

"So are we agreed?" Gene asked.

"Easy gents, let’s watch the show," the lead singer laughed, lighign up his smoke as he started his beer. "WE’ve got all night to play…"

"Ooh they have a few new flavors," his friend grinned, as one girl in a maribou feather pasty and white feathered mask moved up to the edge of the runway and tossed her gloves in his face.

Peter nudged Gene, whispering, "Say LOOK at that girl with YOUR Makeup!"

He looked quickly over to see the dancer in long flowing black cape, and his eyes opened wide. He didn't recognize her at first, with the leather bustier, fishnet tights and gloves she pulled off one by one. He watched her a bit, then his eyes narrowed.

"Wonder who she is?" he said slowly and walked closer to the stage. By now she had pulled off the bustier to reveal a lacey black bra and garter stockings with brief underwear. As she twirled around the pole she stopped before the table to Gene’s left. Dollar bills and tens were slipped to her, but she felt a hand reach up and grab her, tugging her down into the mess of people clustered around the table.

"I don't know, but she's being groped," Peter muttered, as he saw her being unwillingly dragged off of the stage by a guy who was drunk. Gene’s blood boiled when he recognized who she was. Angrily he sauntered over to the stage. Close behind him and determined to keep Gene out of trouble, Peter Criss followed.

"Get the HELL OFF her!" he yelled. "Now, for Christ's sake!"

"LET ME GO!" she screamed.

"You and WHAT army?" the guy slurred. He seized her by her arms and pulled her away.

"LET ME GO!" she hollered. Gene reached forward and tore the man’s arm’s off Ray, swinging her behind him.

"You asshole!" the guy yelled and swung at Gene who dodged. A second later a fist flashed past Gene as Peter punched him.

"Fuck you, you drunken BASTARD!" he yelled, on the floor. He staggered to his feet, rubbing his jaw.

Peter yelled back, "YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Gene pulled Raina away, then went to join the fight. Peter Criss’s fists swung in a series of punches, quickly and brutally knocking him out. Another guy lunged up, yelling and cursing, obviously the other’s buddy. Gene grabbed a bottle off the table and waved is menacingly. He moved Raina out of the way as Peter pinned the guy, and said, "You better KNOW not to touch the merchandise, asshole!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" the manager shouted, seeing one of the patrons pinned to the wall.

"THIS bastard touched the dancer! That’s against he rules!" Peter shouted.

"Your fucking customer is just about ready to get his balls ripped off!" Gene yelled, with anger in his eyes.

"OH shit," the manager gasped.

"But man..." the guy blabbed. "She was asking for it!"

"Pinched the shit out of her!" Gene glared.

"Shut up, piss ant," Peter gritted. The Demon girl cried, her makeup smearing.

"Like she wanted your filthy-ass hand on her tit!" Gene yelled, eyes wild with rage.

"Get him out of here," the manager said to a bouncer. Together the bouncer and Peter hauled the offenders into the street. Gene glared at the man, bottle still in hand as they hauled him away, then he turned slowly to the dancer who seemed so familiar. He looked at her for a moment, and then surprise registered. She hid her face, huddling on the floor.

"You...you...crap..." he stammered.

Peter returned, and then saw them both in a strange tableau, Gene standing over the girl in shock, "What an asshole... hey WAIT..."

"THIS is your idea of FUN?" Gene bellowed.

"I..." she stammered. The manager stood to the side, still yelling at her.

"So you're what? Just going to take your clothes off for ANYONE now?" Gene said.

"You shut up, you’ll have her when I’m done!" the manager turned and yelled at Gene.

"Get her out of here, I'll take care of this clown," Peter said to Gene, with disgust. He turned to the manager and started cussing him out. Gene walked up to Raina and grabbed her. She protested. He picked her up and puts her over his shoulder.

"You don't know anything!" she cried.

"Shut up, Ray." he growled, "Let's get the hell out of here."

"I was TRYING to help you!!!"

"You can tell me what the HELL you were thinking when we get the fuck out," Gene mumbled, carrying her out of the club. A few brochures fall out of her costume, but Gene doesn't notice them. Noticing them, Peter picks them up and saw they were fliers for their next concert. Karen rushed after them.

"What the fuck are YOU doing here?" Peter asked her, and waved the brochures in her face. Gene stomped toward the waiting cab, anger apparent in his eyes. Ray sobbed and squirmed. Gene set her down on the street so she is facing him.

"You needed money... so did Stan and KAREN!" she yelled.

"Don't you DARE RUN!" he yelled back. "I don't need THIS kind of money. I don't need money that gets you pawed, or raped, or killed."

"I can't let Karen and Stan starve!" she cried, wiping her eyes.

"This is the same girl who was so ashamed of her BODY when we first met?" Gene demanded. "You're not doing this for PLEASURE. You're doing this for money and that makes you no better than a first class..."

"Go ahead and call me a whore!" she screamed at him. "Go right ahead!"

"I don't WANT to, damn it. That's not what I MEANT," Gene snorted, and stomps around in anger, walking away from her. She pulled her costume around her, the long cape, to hide herself. "For God's sake, don't you think if I truly thought you were some slut, I'd leave you in there for the assholes to peck."

"And this is coming from a guy who wears TIGHT leather pants and has the girls scream FUCK me onstage?" Ray yelled. "What is the damn difference!"

"I don’t have them groping me and I’m not taking it off! That’s what!" Gene shouted.

"And what about the girls who were strippers that you dated. Just because I take it off does NOT make me a whore! You should KNOW dammit, you DATED one under my goddamn NOSE! Would you call Shirl an WHORE?"

"NO… that’s different… Shirl and Steph didn’t work in a place like this!" Gene shouted. "They…"

"You are a hippocrite, Gene Simmons!" Ray screamed. He walked after her, as she rubbed at the makeup with a towel, smearing it off. Peter Criss raced after them.

"Gene, wait!" he yelled.

"I LOVE you, Ray, and you have NO idea what it's like to walk in there and see you on display like a piece of meat. THEN to see some idiot abuse you like that."

"You..." she turned around.

"Gene..." Peter said, handing him a stack of papers. "Look at THIS!"

"WHAT would you have done if I hadn't come in? Or Peter? Your manager friend sure didn't knock himself out to help, until the bitter end, in case you didn't notice!" Gene shouted.

"She was canvassing for us," he muttered. Gene looked at the papers, aggravated. He threw the fliers down in frustration.

"This is a silly-ass way to do it," he grumbled.

"Yeah, but people were talking about us," Peter muttered. "They were asking WHAT it was about."

"AND???? I'd rather play a show with 10 people, then to have her flash her twat to get a hundred!" he yelled.

"I agree,' Peter Criss nodded. "Let's go. I got her things..."

Gene walked away a bit in frustration, head in his hands. Carrying a bundle of Ray's clothes, Peter stomped over to her.

"Girl what did you think you were doing?" Peter demanded. Gene couldn’t even look at her because he was too angry.

"I was trying to help," she whispered.

"Some way, damn it," Peter gritted. "Girl, you are LUCKY Gene found you. Fuck, are you trying to ruin a good thing?"

Gene turned around and howled, "I FORBID you to come here!"

"You'd better LISTEN to him," Peter said. He shoved her clothes into Gene's hands.

"Let's get the hell out of here!" Gene grumbled.

"You go HOME with your man girl, if you know what's good for you!" Peter snapped at Ray.

"My night's already ruined," Gene mumbled.

"What do you care," she whispered, speechless that Peter seemed so angry. He turned around, pointing in her direction.

"You're my brother's friend, and my friend Maurice's friend..." Peter yelled at her. "I'm NOT gonna let a good girl ruin herself."

"Raina, we ALL care about you." Gene yelled. She began to cry, and walked toward Peter, seeing Gene so furious she turned to the one person she figured would understand.

"I'm sorry, so sorry..." she stammered out.

"Do you have ANY idea what kind of game you're playing? This bar is ROUGH, just in case you didn't notice?" Gene shouted.

Seeing how upset Ray was, Peter put his arm around her. "Look, you should have said something... Shit Lydia could have gotten you a job helping her if you needed extra money. I grew up in a gang girl. You don't fuck with this shit..." Peter said softly.

"She could get a job ANYWHERE. Look at her, for God's sake. She's beautiful. She's smart. She's gifted," Gene shouted to the whole world in general.

"Yeah..." said Peter. "Don’t do this to you... don't do this to Gene."

"She's throwing it away on crap like THAT!" he tossed his head toward the bar.

"Gene shut the fuck up," Peter snorted. "I think you've made your point."

"My point is NOT made!" he continued to pace.

"OH fuck off! She’s sorry." Peter waves his hand in the air. She sobbed into Peter's shoulder. He hugged her and stroked her back.

"My point will NOT be made until she promises me she won't get messed up in crap like that."

"Hey, now just stop crying already, girl," he urged. Gene turned around and walked further down the sidewalk.

"I'm so ashamed, and I've let him down," she sobbed.

Peter sighed, "C'mon, let's get you home, Ray."

Stan tried to stick his head out the window to figure what was going on, but Gene just gave him a dark look and kept on walking, with his hands in his pockets. Peter walked with Ray, urging her along. "He hates me," she whispered.

"No he doesn't. He hated WHAT you just did," Peter said, trying to calm her down. "Now for gods sake, SAY something to him."

Gene walked down to the end of the street and stands still for a moment. He angrily kicked a lamppost, refusing to turn around. Stan climbed out of the cab and looked confused. "Did I just miss something?" he said.

Peter stood with Ray, while she wiped off her makeup. He held up his coat as she struggled into her jeans and pulled a t-shirt over her head. He put his coat around her shoulders. Stan watched them, confused. He shook his head at Peter, and then took off after Gene, who was still staring into the street in anger. Peter was still trying to calm Ray down. She cried hysterically in his arms.

"Shit Gene, do something... she looked sorry damn it!" Peter cussed at him.

Stan caught up to Gene, panting, "OK, now I've got to know what the hell happened back there. Last I saw you were going to get us a GIG...."

"Fuck the gig," Gene grumbled.

"WE got one, but found another," Peter piped in. "And SHE was part of it..."

"Oh, FUCK the gig? That's just GREAT, Gene. Suppose you tell me how I'm going to pay my rent this month!" Stan snapped. Karen came running out.

"Oh god... " She got out, shrinking away. "Gene don't be mad. She was doing it for us."

Gene wheeled around, "I don't give a DAMN how you pay your rent this month. I CAN tell you I'm not paying MINE with slut money."

"Fuck," Peter said with a sigh. Stan looked at him, confused.

"Gene just CALM down damn it!" Peter stamped his foot. "And let's get the fuck outta here!"

Stan then turned around to see Raina, then Karen. He gasped, "Ohhhhh.... what the... KAREN?"

"I wasn't stripping, I was waitressing!" she said quickly.

"She was," Peter said quickly. "Waitressing."

"You might as WELL have been, in that get-up," he gasped.

"Aww shit," Peter threw up his hand. He cursed in Italian as Gene continued to pace.

"I wanted to help," Karen said darkly.

"Stanley, get your keys. We're going home!" Gene snapped, then walked quickly toward Ray. She looked away in shame.

"I let you down," she said. "I don't deserve to go home."

"I just don't...I don't GET this...you told me you were working for your aunt!" Stan cried, flabbergasted.

"I am," Karen said. "But this is for extra money."

"SOMEHOW I doubt your aunt would approve of THIS!" Stan grumbled.

"I guess not," Karen said slowly. Ray took the money she had earned and shoved it into Peter's hands, for she didn't want Gene to see it. Peter sighed and took it, slipping it into his pocket.

"Karen, why the hell didn't you waitress for the diner down the street? There are HUNDREDS of them...and you get to wear CLOTHES!" Stan gasped.

"Money is better," she muttered.

Gene walked over and stood right by Ray, mumbling, "Get up. Let's go home."

Ray couldn’t even look at him, she was so upset. Stan ran his fingers through his hair, sighing at Karen. Ray sobbed, "I let you down!"

"But if THIS is what you have to do to earn money... You let yourself down. Let's go." Gene grumbled.

Ray said nothing and followed Gene, looking down in shame. "Fuck," she sobbed.

"I obviously don't matter in this quotient," Gene added. He climbed into the cab and sat sullenly with his arms folded.

"What about your damn groupies?" she growled. Stan still looked in shock at Karen.

"There's a DIFFERENCE, little lady. I'm not in DANGER when I'm with someone," Gene snapped back. Peter walked over and sat down next to Gene. Ray sat next to Peter, tears in her eyes.

Karen sighed, "I guess I won't be working there anymore."

"You don't...I just can't believe this." Stan muttered, shaking his head.

"I wasn't stripping," she maintained.

"I guess I thought I was helping. Obviously I was wrong."

"You can see practically everything" he fussed, "Too much tit. WAYYY too far up your legs. Damn."

"And you wear pants so damn tight you can see your essentials," she snapped at him. She sullenly climbed into the front with Stan who closed his eyes for a moment. Ray was still wiping her eyes, not looking at Gene. Peter was staring at the money she gave him. Ray hadn't the heart to give it to Gene.

"Yeah, but I'm not you, and I'm not dating me," Stan said in frustration.

"I guess not," Karen said, sullenly. Gene stared out the window, too angry to say anything.

"Shit, this is a lot," Peter muttered, counting the bills.

"Just get rid of it," she whispered. "I don't want to see it anymore..."

Stan drove along quietly for a moment, then reached over to touch Karen's leg. She flinched, and shrank away from his touch. Peter folded up the money, and shoved it into his pocket. He looked at her a moment sadly.

"If you say so," he muttered.

"Gene wont' want it," she said to him.

"No, he won't," Gene finally said.

"And I don't feel comfortable the way I earned it... so just get RID of it..." she sobbed.

"I will find a use for it," Peter said. "Believe me. This money's going to someone who needs it, no questions asked. But it's not ME or Lydia."

"Well, thank God for THAT," Gene muttered, "AT least the girl has enough sense to know she shouldn't be doing that."

"She does Gene," Peter insisted. "I think she got a bad scare..."

"Gene, you're being a first class asshole," Stan muttered.

"Excuse the fuck ME, Stanley?" asked Gene.

"And if you had any sense you'd see that she is sorry. People make mistakes," Peter snapped at Gene. "Look at me. I was in a fucking STREET GANG."

"The only reason they did it is for the money. We all know money is fucking tight right now" Stan sighs, "Not like I like this any more than you do, but shit, it's over.... I think."

"It is," Karen said. "I won't go back there, if it means you'll hate me."

"I'll sign up for double shifts" Stan said quietly, "You need to quit this job tomorrow."

"I'll go to work at the diner down the street," Karen said, wiping her eyes.

"I take care of what is mine," Gene growled. "Like you said."

"Yeah, including making her cry?" Peter asked. "Shit. She's probably not gonna speak to you for a week..."

"You sound like a damn cave man, "Stan said, almost chuckling, "You've done just about everything but grab her by the hair."

"Peter shut up, he's right," Ray said. "I can fight my own battles. I let him, down, and he's justifiably pissed."

"You could have been KILLED, Ray," Gene snapped. "Or worse."

"He's right," Peter said. "Even if he is being an ass."

"I doubt she would be KILLED," Stan muttered.

"Girl, I've seen that shit. I'm alive only because I got out of it..." Peter said.

"Anyone ever grab YOU?" Stan asked Karen, darkly.

"The streets are a mean place. And those guys GO to those places..." Peter said to her, patting her shoulder.

"NO!" Karen cried. "Never."

Stan squirmed out of his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Here, wear this. There's other guys in this car." he grumbled. She held the ends of it closed. "Thank you," she muttered, wiping away a tear. "Can we just go home?"

He smiled at her briefly, and tried to touch her leg again. She fell into his arms sobbing. Gene rode along further in silence. Paul held Karen with one arm, drives with the other.

"That's PERFECT" Gene grumbled.

Peter Criss was still muttering to Ray about the dangers of stripping and street life. She listened in silence, before saying, "I know Peter, but I just..."

"Ray, don't do that again," Peter told her. "I'll talk to Lydia. Maybe she can get you a job in her studio..."

"What's PERFECT?" Stan glared into the rear view mirror.

"Yes," Ray whispered. "Anything."

"You and your sweetie, everything's OK now," Gene glowered sarcastically. "Just like that? No recriminations?"

"Aww come on!" Peter snapped. "Stop it BOTH OF YOU, shit!"

"I never said it was OK!" Stan snapped. "I just said that it's her life and fuck it, I can't TELL her what to do."

"I'm not telling Ray what to do either," Gene said miserably. "But dammit I can’t just smooth things over like it wasn’t a big deal cause it IS!"

"I've heard ENOUGH of this crap!" Peter yelled at both of them. "So she fucked up, and got the hell scared out of her! That's far WORSE then anything else... and you're making it worse Gene. And you Paul, have some balls damn it! Your woman did something you hate, so stand the hell up and let her know you HATE it goddamn it! Are you wearing the pants in this relationship or NOT?"

"You two morons have no idea what we've gone through," Gene said, calming down a bit.

"Yeah, is that so?" Peter asked.

"You got a problem with ME?" Stan glared at Peter, ready to stop the cab.

"Well you've never been in a fucking gang, Simmons!" Peter snapped. "And you, Paul, you’re acting like a sissy boy letting your woman push you around!"

"I'll pound your head into the dust," Stan yelled. Gene laughed.

"And you, if you'd keep your woman where she belongs!" Peter yelled at Stanley. "Instead of letting her off..."

Stan stopped the cab quickly and jumped out, slamming the door. Peter’s attempt to make Stanley angry had succeeded. "Oh shit, the Kid wants to fight you now" Gene said, mildly amused. Peter also climbed out onto the street.

"C'mon pretty boy, let's go!" Peter taunted, as he punched his fist into the flat of his other hand, teasing Paul. "You want a piece of me?"

"I'll take a piece of you any damn DAY!" Stan howled, showing off for Karen’s sake.

"Both of you, shut the hell up!" Gene said.

"C'mon you pansy assed waist... fight me... fight for your lady's honor!" Peter goaded.

"Petey, get the hell over here!" Gene yelled.

"Oh and you'll stare me to death?" Peter shouted. Stan looked at him in anger, advancing on him. C'mon... you want a piece of me, STANLEY?"

"Stop it!" Karen screamed. "Leave him alone!"

Gene looked at Ray a moment, rolls his eyes, and then gets out of the cab. He walked between the two of them, just as Stan threw a punch, and Peter dodged it. Karen grabbed Stanley, holding him back. "You TWO, get the hell back in the cab." Gene yelled.

"Stanley don't. Please..." she begged.

Gene turned to Peter, "He's just trying to look good for his girl, Pete. Shit. You'd do the same. You don't want to fucking fight him. We've got a SHOW in two days!"

"FUCK you, Simmons!" Paul glared, eyes black. "Stay out of this or so help me I’ll bust YOUR ass too getting to him!"

"I know, I made my point," Peter said, raising both hands as he turned to Karen. "You see how much he cares for you, girl? He’d whoop my ass to prove to you he’s man enough to be your boyfriend. Doesn’t that MEAN anything to you? Cause if I were you I’d LISTEN and BEG on your hands and knees and thank GOD that he GAVE a shit."

"So, then hit ME, Stanley. I'm not as pretty as you, and it doesn't matter if I look like shit for the show!" Gene said.

"I was just messing around," Peter said. "To get this girl to see how much her man loves her. "And would do anything for her."

"I'm not fucking PRETTY!" Stan pouted, anger melting. Stan regarded him, angry for a moment, then broke into a light smile.

"You are too, pretty boy," Peter poked his chest. "The girls LOVE you. God knows why."

"DON'T touch me!" he glared, as Gene rolled his eyes.

"And you Simmons, you have balls," said Peter. "You're a pain in the ass, but you know what's good for your woman."

"Get in the cab, you idiots," Gene yelled, a wink to Pete. "I told you I take care of my own, and for some fucking reason, you ALL are mine, I guess."

"Right Geno, like a fucking rash," Peter grinned. Karen flipped Peter the bird as he climbed into the cab.

"God..." Gene sighed as he got back in the cab. Stan was still pouting profusely, failing to see the humor.

"I can bust chops with the best of 'em..." Peter laughed to Gene, and of course, hoping he looked tough for Karen. He slugged Gene on the shoulder. Karen gaped in awe.

"Stan," she whispered. "You... would have floored him..."

"Pete, tell the kid you're sorry," Gene said, with a wink.

"Sorry Paulie," Peter said to him. "I was doing it for your own good."

"Bite Me," he grumbled, then took Karen's hand. She goes over and hugs Stanley, kissing his cheek.

"Let her do that," Peter laughed.

"My hero," she smiled.

"Raina, tell Gene you're sorry," Gene said with a smile.

"I'm sorry," Ray said. "VERY sorry."

He smiled at her, but Peter said sharply, "Gene, tell Raina you're sorry. RIGHT now. Or you might find ME pounding your ass next."

"Screw you, Petey boy," Gene snorted. He paused a moment, then took her hand and kissed it lightly.

"I'm sorry," he answered himself.

"I don't deserve you," she whispered.

"I'm going to be SICK," Stan mumbled.

"Get the roses," Peter grinned. "Geno's getting mushy."

"I'd have pummelled the hell out of him," Stan said proudly to Karen.

"Yep," Peter said. "Whatever. Now get me HOME to my WIFE! Before she bitches me out and makes me sleep on the goddamn sofa. And I’m not spending a night on the fucking sofa, or else you both will get your asses kicked, gotcha? I’m an asshole when I don’t get enough sleep, you know?"

"I'm not getting MUSHY, as you call it. I'm just trying to smooth things out. Trying to make a very sad lady feel a little bit better," Gene coughed.

"Gene," she whispered.

"What?" he said quietly.

"IS... it okay for someone who screwed up... to have a hug?" she asked. He smiled at her, anger melting away.

"It is." he said as he hugged her. She cried into his chest, hugging him tightly.

"I feel like I lost my best friend," she said mournfully.

"I just know what you went through with Mark, and by God, I don't want you with those type of people again," he whispered in her ear.

"I promise I won't," she whispered. "Even if you have to tie me down to my chair."

"Good."

Stan was still glaring in the mirror at Peter. The drummer climbed into the back seat of the cab, first shoving Ray toward Gene before he sat down and stretched out on the seat so Ray was crushed against Gene. He made a motion to pull her on his lap, and Ray glanced over at Peter who gave her a sly wink. Into the front seat Karen swung in next to Paul. Shyly Ray repositioned herself on Gene’s lap. He took her hand. Peter shoved her stuff between Gene and himself; the rest of her clothes that she wasn't wearing, and her purse. Stan rubbed Karen’s thighs and kissed her lightly.

"You need to drive," Karen whispered.

"Umm, I know," Stan smiled.

"I think this means I'm fired," she whispered. "But I don't care. That diner is looking better by the minute."

"And I've seen the outfits they wear there.... granny material," he winked, calming down a bit.

"I have to wear stockings not hose, and I also have to wear a dress to my knees..." she winked back. "I'll go first thing tomorrow."

"I can't wait." he grinned. Ray looked at Gene, still very sad.

"Hey," Stan whispered, as he played with the strap of her cocktail outfit, "Do you get to keep this?"

"Uh..." she said slowly. "I don't know... I need to call the manager tonight when we get back... To tell him I quit."

"Let 'em take it out of your last check," he whispered. "It's kind of...sexy..."

"That’s the idea," she said. "But I'll only wear it for you."

"I need a sandwich," Gene said, "And so does the lady."

"Shall we go?" asked Peter.

"So, I'm, what? A drive thru boy, now?" Stan grumbled at him.

"There's a McDonald's up here," Gene said.

"I don't wanna get outta the damn car," Stan mumbled crossly.

"For God's sake, would you make sure he gets laid tonight, Karen, so he's not so damn bitchy," Gene chuckled.

"I will," she smiled. "And I'll love a shake and fries..."

Stan was about to snap back, but instead caught Gene's eye in the mirror and smiled. "How about THAT?" Stan laughed.

"The three musketeers," said Peter rolling his eyes.

"Besides, might be more than YOU get tonight," Stan jabbed back, amusement in his eyes.

"And I'll take a burger," Peter muttered, reaching for his wallet. He urged Stan to pull up to the drive window and order them food.

"Screw it, I got it covered. Give you guys a break," Gene said, extracting money from his wallet. He has to get Ray to move so he can get it.

"Okay, whatever," Peter smiled. "Your wallet’s getting the dent, not mine."

"Besides, Ray finds me irresistible," Gene teased a bit, watching her out of the corner of his eye. She blushed.

"Yes," she whispered. "I'm just not feeling very irresistible right now."

Stan pulled up to the drivethru and orders meals for everyone. Once they had gotten their food, and Karen passed it back into the rear seat, they all settled down. Stan pulled into the parking lot so they can eat.

"Why do I feel like the goddamn dad?" he chuckled. He flipped the radio on, and Karen was sharing her fries and eating a cheeseburger, as she shared a shake with Stan.

"Daaaaad, I didn't want pickles on mine," Gene teased. Stan grinned at him in the rear view mirror and flipped him the bird. Peter ate a McChicken sandwich, and downing fries with a coke. Ray nibbled at a sandwich, a Filet O’ Fish, not very hungry.

"Good practice for you," Gene laughed, "Aren't Karen's folks always saying all you're ever amount to is an underpaid dad of ten?"

Stan laughed, "That's about it."

"Ugh," Peter laughed.

"Do you want my fries Gene," Ray asked slowly, holding them up to him. "I can’t finish them..."

"I'll take them, sure," he said, quietly. She was still a bit ashamed, averting his gaze. He ate one from her hand, licking her finger lightly in the process. She shivered, and a tear came to her eyes.

"I don't deserve you," she whispered.

"Hey, hey, not now," Gene whispered back. "Don't beat yourself up."

"You did a good enough job of that, both of you," Peter commented. Stan watched the activity in the backseat, still looking angrily at Peter on occasion. He was holding hands with Karen. Peter continues to eat. He finished his sandwich and fries, and shoved the trash into his bag.

"Man that's better," he muttered. "I hope I don't get hell from Lyd about being so damn late."

"So, are we a family again, or what?" Gene said, eyeing Stan and Peter.

"If you say so," Stan pouted.

"A messed up one," Peter added. "Even with ACE... He'd be laughing his damn fool head off if he were here tonight."

"What, the freak?" Karen asked. "Who needs TINFOIL to tune in the aliens?"

"You two about to go at each other," Gene laughed. They suddenly heard someone knocking at the window.

"Hey Curly, what’s shakin?" Ace said, looking into the cab. In a battered jeans jacket, bell-bottoms and a faded Jimi Hendrix T shirt, Ace waved at them from the parking lot. He was there with a young woman Gene and Peter had seen many times, but the girls didn’t recognize.

"What are YOU doing here?" Peter asked, incredulous. "Did you just friggin land from Mars or something?"

"Oh, God, speak of the alien freak," Gene moaned.

"Ace, you missed some fun," Peter joked. Stan looked over and smiled at Ace. He continued to caress Karen's hand, still hoping she's duly impressed from earlier.

"What?" Ace asked. "I was just out with my girlfriend Jeanette here... getting some munchies..."

Wearing miniskirt, tall boots and a red t-shirt, Jeannette looked at them and smiled as Ace introduced them, "Say hi to them, Jeanette. These are the ugly mugs I hang with..."

"This your new band?" she asked Ace. "I hope it lasts longer then the others did, Paul…"

"Fatso, the Kid, and Peter here seem to think so," he whispered to her, nodding towards Gene.

"Hi," Ray smiled at her. "I’m Ray… and the other girl is Karen…"

"Nice to meet you. You hang out here often?"

"Only when we’re off hours," Ray said.

"Here. Here's an extra burger," Gene said, handing it to him out the window, "You're skinny as hell, but I know you'll eat it."

"Thanks Gene man," Ace cackled. He pulled off the wrapper, leaned on the cab and wolfed it down.

"Fucking pickles on it," Gene smiled.

"What was that about family?" Peter asked Gene. "WE got ANOTHER brother here... begging FOOD off ya!"

Jeanette looked at Ray, shrugging. Ray smiled as Gene explained, "It means we're all in this together, even when you're flexing your Italian mobster muscles and Pretty Boy over there is pouting like Marilyn Monroe."

"Uh oh," Karen muttered to Stan. "He has a girlfriend... Trish will flip."

"If you call me PRETTY one more time..." Stan said as he threatened to throw his burger in the back seat. Ray looked at Gene, and Ace raised an eyebrow.

"This girl YOURS Gene?" Ace asked, indicating Ray. "She’s too pretty to be hanging with a fat guy like you!"

"This is Raina. Raina, meet Ace. He's a moron. Enough said," Gene pointed out. "Wait a minute, you DID meet him at your birthday party…"

"And they say elephants never forget," Peter joked.

"Shaddup," Gene laughed.

"Earth to Ace," Peter snorted. "Like she was AT the party... remembering?"

"Paul hon, let's not keep them waiting," Jeanette looked at Ace. Stan chewed angrily on his fries, angry to be embarrassed by Gene.

"Woman, you HAVE to meet the family," Ace indicated everyone in the taxi. "This is Stan. Er Paul... his girl Karen, this is Peter... and the fat guy with the chick on his lap is Gene."

Gene motioned to Stan and laughed a bit to Ray. He pouted like Stan, imitating him, then smiled. "I like my men with meat on their bones," Ray pointed to Gene. "Not a guy I can see through."

"Hey, Jeanette," Stan muttered.

"Yes?" she asked. "So you're also named Paul?"

"Too bad he doesn't have a BONE to go with his meat." Stan chuckled, meanly. Gene tried to look mad in response, and then started laughing.

"Or a bone to pick?" Ace cackled. "Or a fucking boner?"

Ray winced at Ace's cutting cackle. "Get a muzzle," Peter laughed.

"He's got the fuckest smallest dick I've ever seen." Stan laughed.

"YIKES!" Peter groaned.

"Oh, that's RICH!" Gene laughed, enjoying the banter.

"I've got you ALL outclassed there," Peter smirked.

"Like I ALLLLWAYS say, it's how you USE the damn thing." Gene said.

"Fuck you, you do not," Stan said.

"It's not the size of the boat, its the motion of the ocean," Ray smiled.

"Don't go to sea in a fucking CANOE!" Ace taunted.

"That's right, baby," Gene said, finishing off the fries.

"Go blast off," Ray said to Ace. "Take a free rocket ride."

Stan leaned down to wipe the grease off his hands. "Hmm," Ace muttered.

"I need to get my girl home," he said, "And the rest of you nuts off my back."

"So do I," Ace grinned and waved to Karen, and blew her a kiss, "Bye bye Larry, Curly and Moe!"

"Ace, practice TOMORROW! Don't FORGET this time," Gene lectured.

"Uh huh!" he cackled, and Jeannette waved bye as well as they walked over and climbed into an old banger of a car that looked left over from the sixties. Stan started up the cab, and took Karen's hand again.

"Of all the coincidences," Karen muttered. "And he has a GIRL?"

"Yeah," Peter said.

"If it wasn't for Peter, he'd be the stupidest one in the band," Stan quipped, and Gene rolled his eyes.

"UH hey, boy, I've got LIFE experience!" Peter shot back. "I don't live at home with mommy and daddy!"

"For your info he's with me," Karen said proudly. "LIVING with me."

"I've got your experience right HERE," he said. "Get with the times, Peter."

"Hence the sex she's going to give him so he's not so fucking pouty tomorrow," Gene added.

"Uh huh," Peter laughed. "You just KEEP him happy. Cause he's obviously CRAZY about you. I don't see WHY you're nuts about him... but oh well... He's lucky to have a girl as pretty as you are, Karen."

"He TOLD you, Stanley," Gene cackled, "He's got a bigger DICK than you."

"Gene shut up," Ray sighed, and grabbed his chin to silence him with a kiss. He moaned a little as she pressed her lips to his. She tasted ketchup and salt from the fast food he’d practically inhaled.

"Does this mean I'm off the couch?" Gene sighed.

"I thought you were putting me there," she whispered.

"Nah, never," Gene breathed into her ear.

"Never?" she asked, looking into his eyes, stroking his hair.

"Guys never pass up sex," Stan added, then looked quickly at Karen.

"Get a ROOM!" Peter snapped. "UGH!"

Gene laughed, "Noooooo, they don't. At least not THIS demon."

**

"I guess I should say, thanks for the ride," Gene said.

Peter looked at Ray, saying, "There's probably more I should say, but let me just leave you with this. Peter and Stan, don't kill each other on the way home. You let him take care of you. He's an asshole but he loves you."

Gene grinned, and pulled her out of the cab. She followed him, her bundle of clothes in hand. Peter stopped to call to her, "Ray, one more thing… "No more tittie bars, girl..."

"She's LEARNED her lesson," Gene said.

"Night, Simmons," Stan said.

"OH what a revelation," Peter cracked.

"Yeah, night, Kid…" Gene said.

"Nigh Geno," said Peter.

"Later, Pete," Gene waved. Ray watched them pull away. She was silent for a moment as they made their way to their apartment.

"Ray..." He started. She glanced back at him, anxious.

"You know you're a hell of a dancer and if that's something you want to do, just don't do it somewhere where you have to go nude," Gene said.

"I promise," she whispered.

"And if you MUST go nude.... do it in front of me."

"Gene, I love the fact you’re concerned, but what makes me different from the other girls up there. They are NOT cheap and they are NO better or worse then me…" Ray said.

"Ray, I’m sorry… I was an asshole," Gene said plaintively. "I just… well when it was you… it was different…"

"Gene, can you honestly say that Shirl and Steph are subhuman because they do take off their clothes for men?"

"No, I can’t. I never meant to say it like that. It’s just that there are different classes of strippers. And they always worked in classier joints, not dives like the pussycat club. And when those assholes were grabbing you they could have hurt you. I… had no right to subject you to a different set of rules just because…"

"Exactly," she said. "And you’ll agree that it’s no different then what you do… and there AREN’T two sets of rules for women who do and don’t do it. Even YOU would admit that. It’s something ELSE that made you annoyed, wasn’t it?"

"But is THAT what you want to do?" Gene asked.

"Having tried it, it’s tempting, but I think I prefer keeping my clothes on for the general public. And the fact that you gawk at women who strip makes you NO less of a man in my eyes. So don’t worry about it. It’s touching to see how mad you got, actually…"

"I don’t have room to talk. I guess I just… lost it. I admit that I never thought of you… stripping. I mean… well I guess I DID put you under some category that was silly, and for that I’m sorry," Gene said sheepishly. "Forgive me for being a dumb assed hippocrite?"

"Of that you can be sure," she smiled, still wiping away tears. He leaned down to hug her in the moonlight.

She hugged him, and realized the heels she's wearing put her at a good height.

"You're too damn tall," she whispered.

"We can do something about that..." Gene whispered back.

"Mmm?" she asked, looking up at him. He leaned down and kissed her again.

"I love you, you nut," he whispered against her lips.

She moaned straining to reach him, "I love you too, you silly idiot."

"Do you think Peter is dead yet?' he chuckled. "Kid hates him."

"I don't know," she whispered. "I hope they don't end up killing each other... Peter... he was really... different..."

"Or perhaps it was alllllll an act to look big and tough in front of Karen," he winked.

"He DID care about me... I mean I knew his brother... and Maurice was his buddy..." Ray mumbled. "But Peter, he was always quiet."

"We ALL care about you. Every last one of us, or we wouldn't have rescued you tonight."

"Like when you kicked mark's ass," she whispered.

"Absolutely. We work too hard at what we have to have some asshole take it away," Gene said, rubbing her back.

"My demon," she whispered.

"Your LOVER" he corrected. She smiled at him.

"I wish..." she started, and then stopped.

"Whatever it is, you've got it."

"I hope I don't have to leave you anytime soon," she whispered.

"I hope not either," Gene said quickly.

"And that someday we will STILL be together in some way..."

"I think we can arrange that," he said slowly.

"How so?" she asked. "We both are apposed to marriage."

"I just think...we can make plans to somehow stay connected. That's all."

"To always be there for each other, if one needs it?" she asked.

"Sure...and see what happens," Gene added.

"A promise to be friends no matter what?" she asked.

"Something like that" he smiled.

"No matter how many girls you have..." Ray added. "Or how much money either of us makes?"

"Only friends who have SEX, with fringe benefits," he grinned evilly.

"Mmm," she laughed. "CLOSE friends... You know Gene..."

"Mmmmm, yes. I know it all. By the way I'm getting cold, sweetheart," he said as he leans down to kiss her.

She ran her hands under his jacket, kissing him back, "I mean... that you and I..."

"Uh-huh..." he breathed.

"You are my best friend," she whispered.

"You're mine too," he added immediately.

"I will always love you," she whispered. "No matter what."

"And I'll always love you, and I'll always want you. And you'll always drive me nuts," he chuckled, touching his forehead to hers. "Now, let's go inside, little girl."