Season 4

March 21, 1986

Amelia yanks the curtains open of 'Sweet Talk' and sighs softly at the welcoming sun. She gives it a small smile, it was a beautiful day. Eight months has passed since Jim was gone and each day have become a little bit easier to get through. She had Starshine and her friends to help her, and she had the town for support. She looks down at her growing belly. Dressed in a tank top and a long tie dyed skirt with flip flops, she grunts as she moves away from the window. It was getting closer to the due date and she couldn't wait to see them both. For many nights, she has been experiencing dreams of her children. Seeing them as clear as day and knowing exactly what they'll carry. The boy will look so much like Jim. They both will carry his eyes. The girl will have his dirty blonde hair, She'll love them and spoil them as much as she could.

So far what's been going on for the past eight months: Will, Johnathan, Joyce, and Bob are still living in California. Bob is a manager at the RadioShack in Lenora Hills. Joyce managed to get a job to work from home...selling encyclopedias. Johnathan has been trying to deal with being so far from Nancy by getting high with his new friend, Argyle. Will spends most of his time painting and avoiding bullies.

Robin, Steve, and Theo still work at Family Video. And yes, Theo remains as human since he likes the attention from females.

Lucas joined the basketball team. He mostly spends time on the bench but it's a foot in the door for him. He has to keep his friends a secret and when his teammates aren't looking, he spends most weekends with Dustin and Mike, playing Dungeons and Dragons in a club called Hellfire, ruled by a senior named Eddie Munson who was an outcast to the town. But Amelia always welcomed him in the shop.

Dustin and Suzie are still going strong despite the distance. From what Amelia learned, they talk almost every day in cerebro.

Mike and Eleven are still together and yes, he still comes over every day. Either to help Amelia or make out with El. When they're catching their breath, they spend time learning more about each other. Listen to music, go on dates. Mike is even trying to teach El about D&D.

And there's Max. Amelia rarely see her anymore. She couldn't understand what was going on with her. She's been avoiding everyone, even Amelia. But Amelia knew that she was having troubles. The guilt of Billy's death continues to eat her alive. And her mom has been working more than one job so they could have food on the table. After Billy's dad left, they barely could afford anything. They were even forced to move into the trailer park. Lucas also told Amelia that Max dumped him... again but this time it was different. Usually, they would get back together after a few days or weeks but...she never came back.

Amelia begins to head towards the counter to set up her morning cinnamon rolls for the display case. As she was about to bend over, she feels a gentle hand on her arm. She turns and sees...

"I still cannot believe you made yourself human." She says with a scoff, still impressed with Theo's new appearance.

Theo grins, after discovering his new identity, he was getting use to being 'human'. As much as he loved the cat form, it was fun exploring a new territory...and annoying Steve. He chuckles and exclaims as he shows off himself, popping his collar. Dressed in a blue jeans, a burgundy t-shirt and tennis shoes.

"Not bad, right?" He begins to flex, making Amelia giggle.

"It's something to get use to." She sighs, "But, remember the story. You're my nephew and you're staying with me until you get your own place." She says with a warning finger.

"Yes, Aunt Amelia." Theo snickers.

Amelia grimaces, "This is just too weird."

Theo laughs and moves to help her with the food and sets them up for her, "Hey, you gotta admit, this form has some advantages."

Amelia sighs and places her hands on her back, trying to rub away the ache, "True. You okay to watch the shop while I'm in California with Starshine?"

"It's no problem. Your powers aren't any different from mine." Theo shrugs.

"Just don't conjure up anything that'll scare the town and don't pig out on the whipped cream, that's for the ice cream and fruit." She says.

Theo snorts and moves to stand in front of her, "Boss, I got it." He grips her shoulders, "Don't worry so much. The kids can feel it. Go to California and have sun and fun as much as you can. By the way, is it safe for you to fly while so close to the day you'll pop?" He rubs her belly, feeling the children move around.

"The doctor says no, but who's the psychic here? They'll pop out on March 28th at midnight on the dot. I'll be home before then." Amelia says, waving it all off.

Theo sighs and gives her shoulders one last squeeze, "Okay. Again, have fun."

Amelia cups his face, "You, too, Theo. But not too much." She smiles and gives his cheek a light love tap before moving away to welcome the first customers of the day. "Hello! Welcome to Sweet Talk." She says warmly and shows them inside.

Today marks the first day of spring break for the kids. Eleven was in school with Mike, getting through one day at a time of being powerless and without Jim in her life. It was just as hard for Eleven not having her dad around as much as it was for Amelia. But, she had her friends and tons of support to help her get through the day. Amelia was beginning to sense something going on between Mike and Eleven. It's the way her face sours when Mike talks to her, as if he's not saying what she wants to hear from him. Amelia knows it's been exactly 8 months since Mike finally confessed that he loved Eleven, but that was the first and last time he ever said the words to her. Mike better say them again soon, she didn't want to wipe Eleven's tears again. She did enough crying since then.

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"BOO!"

Steve and Robin scream as Steve swirls the car around, trying to control his bearings as Theo was cackling in the backseat. Out of thin air, Theo appeared in the back of Steve's car while he was driving himself and Robin to school.

"Jesus!" Steve shouts as he misses oncoming cars and finally gets back on his lane, panting as the fear was slowly going down, "Don't do that!"

"You almost made Dingus poke my eye out!" Robin scoffs as she was putting on massacre.

"Why put that crap on your eyes anyway? You look great without it." Theo shrugs and looks over towards Steve, "But you enjoy it, don't ya, Hair-boy?" He ruffles Steve's hair, making him grimace.

"Aw, come on! I just fixed it!" Steve shouts and tries to drive with one hand while fixing his hair with the other. "What are you doing here anyway? Unless it slipped our minds, you're not a high school student." He scoffs.

"Would you believe it if I said I missed you?" Theo asks.

Robin snorts, "You missing me, I believe, but you missing Steve...try again." She scoffs.

Theo rolls his eyes, "Okay, ya got me. I'm bored. Amelia, Mike, and Eleven are leaving tomorrow and I don't have anyone to hang out with. And we can only hang out at work but that's such a long time." He say dramatically as his head thuds against's Robin's seat.

Robin scoffs and rolls her eyes, "I'm sorry you feel bored, but we can't keep you entertained 24/7, Theo. Today is a very important day. But if it gets me out of discussing about Steve's love life labyrinth and this stupid pep rally we have this morning and I look like a corpse!" She whines as she drags her face back, stretching her skin as she looks at her reflection in dread.

Theo frowns and grips her chin to make her look at him, he exams her face, "Corpse? Ha! I've seen corpses in the Underworld and trust me, Robin, you look a lot better. And to quote you, 'try again'."

"I actually agree with Theo." Steve says.

Robin and Theo, both, look at him in complete surprise and he begins to stammer his words.

"I-I mean when you said about the pep rally." Steve scoffs, "You're worried about a pep rally? Expect me to believe that?"

"Yeah? So?" Robin shrugs.

"So we both know what this is about. Not buying that. This is about Vickie." Steve snorts.

Theo arches his brow as Robin scoffs and shakes her head, "Absolutely not."

"Who's Vickie?" Theo asks.

"No one." "A girl Robin is crushing in band." Robin and Steve answer.

Theo sniffs loudly, "Ah! Yup, Hair-boy is right. I can smell it all over you."

Robin looks at Theo weirdly, "Smell what? Do I stink?" She lifts her arm to smell herself.

Theo snickers, "Demons can sense the seven sins, Robin. And you're whiffing Lust very strongly, especially when Hair-boy said her name." He bats his eyes, "Vickie." He says huskily.

Robin scoffs, "Demon or not, I will punch you, Theo."

"And you know what else?" Steve speaks up.

"Don't care." Robin sings.

"Spill it, Hair-boy."

"You gotta stop pretending to be someone else when you're around her. You just gotta be yourself." Steve says.

"You're literally quoting me to me. You do realize that." Robin scoffs.

"Then maybe, dear Robin, you need to listen to yourself." Theo says as he pats her shoulder.

"Exactly,ever think about that?" Steve asks.

"I listened. Look at me. Boom. Back in business." Robin states.

"Why even pretend to be something else? Aren't you humans happy with who you are?" Theo snorts.

"It's not that easy, my dear Theodore. During these times, accepting who you are also needs to be approved by society and you want people to like you." Robin explains.

"I rather like myself than worry about what assholes think of me. In my case, if people knew about me, it's pitchforks up my ass and burning at the stake...you two..." Theo pats their shoulders, "What is the outcome in this age?"

"I rather deal with the pitchforks." Robin scoffs.

"It's not the same thing. Okay?"

"You ask out a girl and she says no. Big deal. Nothing happens. Maybe your ego's a little bruised. I ask out the wrong girl, and bam, I'm a town pariah." Robin states and scoffs at how unfair that was.

"I'd buy that, except Vickie is definitely not the wrong girl." Steve states.

"We just don't know that, do we?" Robin asked sarcastically.

"She returned Fast Times paused at 53 minutes, 5 seconds. Know who pauses Fast Times at 53 minutes, 5 seconds?" Steve exclaims.

"People who like boobies, Dear Robin." Theo smirks as he leans in close.

Robin makes a disgusted sound, "Ew! Gross. Don't say boobies. It's weird coming from a demon."

"Boobies." Theo repeats. "Boobies! Booooobieees! I love Boobies, Boobies love me!" He sings.

Robin gets out of her seat and smothers Theo's mouth with her hands, "Enough! That's grossing me out!" She giggles.

"Bmmmees!" Theo muffles voice continues.

Steve scoffs, "Not a big deal, okay? I like boobies. You like boobies. Vickie likes boobies." He shrugs.

Robin sits back in her seat, removing her hand from Theo's mouth. "Definitely." She sighs anxiously, thinking about how awesome but she was still so scared. What if she's wrong?

Steve parks his car and Robin hops out, but Steve stops her, "It's boobies."

Robin rolls her eyes and rushes to join her band mates to get for the pep rally. Theo grunts as he hops out of the car and Steve scrambles to get out of his seat.

"Woah, woah, Theo! Where are you going?" He rushes to catch up wit him.

Theo turns and jerks his thumb behind him, "Pep Rally, dude."

Steve moves to stand toe to toe with him, "Okay, again, you're not a student. So, that means your not allowed." He states.

Theo snorts and smirks, "Jealousy." He pinches his cheek and coos, "That's so cute!"

Steve slaps his hand away, "I'm not jealous. I'm just saying. You may be spoiled by Miss Holloway but this is the real world. You're not in the Underworld anymore, Theo. People will think it's very weird for a guy like you to be around a bunch of high school students." He states.

Theo crosses his arms over his chest, flexing his arms, "I may be spoiled, but naïve is not what I am, Hair-boy. I'm simply joining my friends on the way to school then being on my way out of here. Also wanted to make sure my dear...cousin!" He raises his voice as Eleven and Mike walks by, hand in hand. Gaining their attention. "...makes it to school with her dear old boyfriend." He grunts as he breaks them apart and throws his arms over their shoulders. "Hey, cuz." He smiles at Eleven and looks at Mike. "Mike." He snorts at his shirt that said 'Hellfire Club' with a comic drawing of the devil's face. "Cute." He leans and gives Eleven's cheek a wet kiss, making her groan in disgust and moves to kiss Mike, but Mike jerks away as Theo holds on.

"No! Do not kiss me, Theo! Do not kiss me!" Mike yells.

Theo cackles and ruffles Mike's hair, "Don't worry, Mikey, that's Janie's job, right?" He nudges him. "Anyway, I better get back to the shop before Amelia gets pissed. Have fun at the pep rally." He says as he walks away.

Mike grimaces and fixes his hair, "I liked him better as a cat."

Eleven giggles and wipes her cheek, "I like he's human now. Having another friend to talk to."

Mike scoffs and shrugs, "I guess." He takes her hand back into his and smiles down at her as they head to the gym, "Come on."

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Amelia looks up as the door chime rings. It was the mailman.

"Hi, George!" She smiles warmly.

"Good morning, Miss Holloway." He smiles as he walks in, carrying her mail and a big box.

"Good morning." She walks towards him and frowns, "Did Joyce send me something? I don't remember ordering anything." She frowns and reaches to take it, but George babbles in protest.

"Uh-uh, allow me."

Amelia places her hands on her hips, "George, I'm pregnant, not invalid." She scoffs.

"Can't be too careful, Miss Holloway. Don't want anything to happen to the little ankle biters." George says as he makes his way to place everything on the counter. "You need to sign." He says and hands her a clipboard.

Amelia takes it and signs her name, "You're too sweet, you know that. And your wife is a lucky lady to have a gentleman like you." She smiles. "Please give Andrea my love and tell her that the cookies she ordered will be ready tomorrow and she can come and pick them up whenever she can. Theo will be here to give them to her."

"Still can't believe you have a nephew with the same name as your cat." George scoffs. "Where is that little guy anyway?" He asks, looking around the shop.

Both of them look as they see human Theo burst inside, "Hey, Auntie, sorry I'm late." He says as he brushes by them to head to the kitchen.

Amelia chuckles knowingly, "Theo is an explorer. Like any other cat, he comes home when he's hungry." She smiles.

"Hope he's okay out there. He used to be attached to your hip...before...um..." He trails off.

Amelia sighs and gives him a soft smile. 'Before Jim died'. That's what he meant.

"Like I've said before, 'Animals are no different than humans'. We share the same emotions. He's dealing with grief in his own way. Like all, he needs time." Amelia says.

George nods, "I understand." He gives her sympathetic smile and bids her goodbye before leaving.

Theo sighs as he heard everything. He walks over to her and gives her a side hug, "You okay?"

Amelia sighs heavily, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm...I'm fine." She sniffles softly, "My eyes can't cry anymore. I did enough of that over the last six months, I'm dry."

Theo sighs, knowing how much pain his friend was in and he couldn't do anything about it. He tried cloning himself once and she freaked out. Banished him for a good month then they settled. He leans in and kisses her head.

Amelia sighs and pats his abdomen, "Thanks, Theo."

"I'm always here for you." He says softly and moves to the mail pile. "So, we got junk...bills...junk...junk...ju...hello." He stutters in shock.

Amelia frowns and moves towards him, "What is it?" She asks.

Theo slowly looks at her in shock and back at the package that arrived. It was covered in red stamps of a star and sickle. Which was pretty obvious that it came from Russia. Amelia's eyes widen, remembering the last time they dealt with Russia.

"Come on, Joyce. Pick up." Amelia paces the floor as she calls Joyce's phone in California. But it was still busy. "Shit!"

Theo sat on the counter, nervously tapping his foot against the wood, "Try Murray."

Amelia walks towards the phone and slaps the handle and redials Murray's number, but it just kept on ringing. She growls and slams her phone down. "Damn it!"

"Amelia, calm down." Theo says.

"How can I be calm? We just received a package from Russia." Amelia scoffs.

Theo sighs and hops off the table and moves to fumble with the paper until Amelia slaps his hand away.

"What are you doing?!" She exclaims.

"What? Aren't you curious what they sent?" Theo shrugs.

"Yes, but what if it's something deadly? Like a bomb or some sort of poison? Anything that could...crrrk!" She makes a cutting gesture at her neck.

Theo gives her a bored look and takes her hand and slaps it on top of the box, "Feel anything dreadful?" He asks sarcastically.

"No." She snatches her hand away.

"Well..." He presses his ear against the box and sniffs loudly. "I don't hear ticking. And only thing I smell is your fear and bullshit." He says and straightens his pose. "Well?" He snorts.

Amelia sighs heavily and moves to undo the string and pulls on the paper. She carefully removes the top of the box and frowns at what she was seeing. She picks it up and holds it for both of them to see.

"It's a doll." Amelia says in confusion.

"Wooooo, a doll." Theo moans eerily. "All that over nothing. It's just a doll." He scoffs.

"But what does it mean, Theo? Why send me a doll?" Amelia asks.

Theo sighs and looks at the creepy looking doll, "That's a good question." He scoffs.

"I'm gonna call Murray again." Amelia says and moves towards the phone and redials Murray's number.

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"Where the hell have you been?!" Amelia exclaims as Murray finally picks up the phone as she explains to him what just came in the mail for her.

"I have karate from 1:00 to 3:00 on Fridays. So let me see if I have this right. You received a doll in the mail."

"Yes. I'm looking right at it." She scoffs as she paces the floor.

"And it's creepy."

"Oh, yes." Amelia shivers, "It's giving me a really bad feeling, but not danger feeling. It's like...a warning feeling." She stutters, trying to explain what's she feels when she looks at the doll.

"And you believe it's from Russia, huh?" Murray asks as she hears water running in the background.

Amelia makes a disgusted sound, "Ugh, I know it is. The stamps on the package have that hammer with that hook." She says as she scans over the stamping again.

"Sickle." Theo speaks up.

"Whatever." Amelia scoffs.

"Who was that?" Murray asks.

"Just Theo." Amelia sighs.

"Why does he sound like that?" Murray frowns.

"Don't ask." Amelia scoffs.

"Anyway, sounds like it came from Russia." Murray states.

"Wow, I am so glad I called you." Amelia says sarcastically, rolling her eyes as he chuckles over the phone. "Should I be worried?"

"I would be." Murray scoffs and Amelia hears him swallow as ice rattles in a glass. "Ah! Could be a threat. After all, we did sabotage their U.S. operation and killed about two dozen comrades."

"But how would they know my name?" Amelia frowns.

"If it's the KGB, Amelia, and they wanna find out who you are, they will." Murray says and she hears clothing rustling.

"Ugh, are you about to take a bath?"

Ignoring her comment, "Wait, can you undress her?"

"What?" Amelia scoffs.

"The creepy doll. Can you remove her dress?"

Amelia turns and gestures at Theo, "Hey, take her dress off."

"Kinky." Theo wags his brows.

"Just do it." Amelia scoffs.

"All right. All right. Don't be saucy with me." Theo mimics a drama queen and begins to roll up the doll's dress, "Jesus." He grimaces.

"What?" Amelia frowns.

"She's got nipples." His face scrunches up.

Amelia jumps when she hears water splashing and Murray exclaiming as if he just dived in ice cold water, which Amelia assumes that's what he just did.

"Yeah! Ah! Okay. Now, do you see anything taped to her? Wires or a bug or something?" Murray asks.

"He wants to know if there's anything attached to her." Amelia says.

Theo picks up the doll, looking up her dress and all, "Nope, nothing but a big crack on her stomach."

"Did he say crack?"

"A crack?" Amelia frowns.

"Yeah, see?" Theo holds the doll up for her, exposing the large crack. "It's like someone tried to glue it back together but did a horrible job." Theo says.

"Okay, okay. Uh, do you have rope and something heavy?"

"What for?" Amelia asks.

"Smashing." She could practically feel Murray's wicked smile through the phone.

"Smashing? Wait, you want me to open it?" Amelia scoffs.

"From a safe distance, hence something heavy with rope." Murray says sarcastically.

Suddenly, a loud smashing was made behind her, making her scream.

"What is it?! AMELIA! Talk to me!"

Amelia gives Theo a furious look, "What the hell, Theo!" She shouts as she sees Theo's fist on top of the now-broken doll that laid shattered over the counter.

"What? We knew there was nothing explosive inside of it and there's no bug...just..." Theo frowns as he moves the porcelain pieces out of the way and sees a piece of paper stuffed inside.

"Amelia, are you okay?!"

"Murray, I'm fine. Theo is an idiot though. He smashed the doll."

"Oh, Jesus. Thank god you're okay. What the hell is his problem? Does he have a death wish?" Murray sighs in relief then scoffs.

"I don't know, I'm guessing brain damage from all that whipped cream I've been feeding him." She says as she glares at Theo, but she frowns as she sees him reading the paper that was inside the doll. "Theo? What is it?"

Theo looks up at her, carrying a very shocked face and he slowly hands her the paper.

"What is it? What was in the doll? Amelia?"

Murray's voice fades away as she takes the paper and begins to read. Her legs begin to give out as she begins to read, but Theo quickly catches her before she could fall and hurt herself. Limp in his arms, all Amelia could do was gasp rapidly in shock. Glued on the paper were several random words and letters from a magazine to form a message. A message that was for Amelia. What caused her to go into shock was the first thing on that paper.

'HOP IS ALIVE!'

*What does everyone think? Hope you're enjoying the book. Please leave votes and comments. Love hearing your thoughts. Lots of love ~Song~*