Kids Inc | You’re the One That I Want: IV - Love Somebody

[luxken27]

Title: You’re the One That I Want
Fandom: Kids Incorporated
Universe: Canon (Season 1 – 1984)
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Mickey didn’t realize just how much Gloria had come to mean to him until it was almost too late.

Links: DW | LJ | FF.net | AO3

And, finally, we reach the end of our journey ~ and find an ending that is somewhat unusual for my stories.

This chapter is the romance portion of the story - and its also the end. Though I didn't originally plan it this way, turns out the pieces of canon I wanted to use made it fit quite neatly into a year's time - covering the entirety of the first season. When I saw the performance of the song that ultimately stole the title away from "Cruel Summer," I knew I had to use it. How fortunate for me that it's the second song of the last episode of the season, eh? Bookends things nicely =)

Between 1x13 and 1x26, the shippiness of the onstage performances continues - and increases. It sorta becomes ridiculous, even compared to the chemistry-fest that is S5, LOL. In order of appearance...

1x17 "Superbike"

1x20 "Historical P*lace"

1x23 "NASA Space Week"

1x25 "Siedah Garrett"

Which brings us to the final episode of the season, and this hidden gem of a performance:

Just...WAT?! LOL, if that's not screaming for a story, I don't know what is :P

I decided that instead of just doing this (the most famous) song from Grease, the Kids would tackle one of their patented special projects, and do a revue, of sorts. Even though the musical contains references that would probably fly over Renee & Stacy's heads, the boy meets girl/boy vs girl story is timeless. I thought them the perfect ones to bring this idea to the table, just like how Devyn & co are obsessed with Dirty Dancing in my SiB universe.

It proves to be perfect timing for Mickey, who's finally decided to stop denying his ever-changing regard for Gloria and tell her how he feels. I don't know why, but he's always struck me as the sort of guy who'd really try to plan such a special moment, hence shoring up his nerve with the performance, and coasting along on the after-set mania. It's all perfect...until it's not. That's the moment when his parents decide to drop the bomb about moving, and it totally ruins everything.

Except, ironically, the moment. It's perfect, exactly as he'd hoped - but now, instead of confessing his feelings for Gloria, he has to tell her that he's leaving.

It was a tricky scene to write, even though I'd had the conversation dialogue almost from the start (quite a bit of it survived my original loose outline of the chapter, which is highly unusual for my work). I had to find a way to convey Mickey's growing horror over what she's telling him, even though it's exactly what he's wanted to hear for so long. At any other point in their friendship, this could've turned out so differently, but instead...

Then there was the way Gloria reacted to his news. She's always been so calm and patient and good-natured; I don't really recall her being upset at any point in canon, but I have to think that, if she'd just laid her heart bare only to have it inadvertently broken, it would drive her to tears. Romantic feelings are so intense and live on the absolute edge of all emotion that one little nudge is all it takes. Passion is what it is for a reason, LOL - but I had to keep things in perspective; these are fifteen-year-olds we're dealing with here.

And so begins Mickey's cruel summer, as he has to share this news over and over again, and find some way to deal with it himself. He doesn't want to leave, not when everything's finally falling into place (the band survived an entire year intact! the girl he's in love with likes him back!), but he doesn't have a choice in the matter, no matter how much he protests.

One of my favorite scenes in the story is when Mickey tells the rest of the band about his impending move. From each character's reaction to the way they eventually pull themselves together to forge ahead, enjoying the time they have left together. It also feels like Mickey has truly come full circle; in the end, he grants the others his blessing to continue the band he started without him. Contrast that to his insecurity and possessiveness in the first chapters. I really enjoy writing characters who manage to grow and change without even realizing it =)

I also couldn't resist referencing something I've always loved about Stacy - her attachment to her friends. Crawling into Mickey's lap looking for comfort is not exactly without precedence:



and, of course, we've seen her reactions to Mickey's departure (Season 2) and Gloria's (Season 4). It's one of the things that makes her my favorite character: she's loyal, but vulnerable, even as she gets older and grows into herself.

Gloria really steps up for Mickey with their friends, keeping the band in good spirits and enjoying the time they have left together. He appreciates that, though it still leaves him in limbo regarding their relationship. What has it become?

They don't really talk about it until the very last moment, which comes moments before his departure. I definitely looked at episode 2x1 for inspiration for this final scene, with the group saying goodbye to their beloved bandmate. Even though in the canon Mickey's family leaves from the Garage, I decided to shift it to his actual apartment building, which would have a stoop and thus, steps reminiscent of those next to the Garage. I also changed the manner in which his family left (no U-Haul for them, LOL!). It was a nod to GloriaFan's love of crossing KI & BSC that sorted their destination - Connecticut - which meant I could draw a little bit on Stacey McGill's memories of moving back and forth between CT and NYC.

But, finally, the Kids are forced to say goodbye, and Mickey takes the first opportunity he has to get Gloria alone. He can't leave without knowing what, exactly, they are to each other now - and this is where I decided to work in the kiss. It's the climactic moment of the romance, and I knew I had to make it a good one, LOL =) It definitely ranks right up there among my personal favorite kiss scenes, which is pretty impressive, considering (1) how many kisses I've written in my day, and (2) how many of them have happened between my various OTPs.

Though, after having written this story, I have definitely come around in a big way for these two. I completely get it now, how they could be someone's OTP (in the way that Ryan/Stacy is mine), how adorable they are together, and how much amazing chemistry they have. I've even confessed to totally falling for this ship on Twitter, LOL, and it's true. I am definitely hoping more Mickey/Gloria fic is in my future - including a possible look back at the crossover universe I created for a different giftfic for GloriaFan. All of my KI stories thus far have sort of grown out of each other, and with the slightly open ending to this one, who knows what could happen?

The ending, by the way, is almost totally different from the first draft. Originally, it was very bittersweet, with the kiss but without the promise. If I'd been writing this for me, I probably would've left it that way - but I didn't want to shortchange GloriaFan, who's been such a great supporter of my work, and such an ardent fan of this ship. I had to find some way to wrench the happy ending out of their parting, if only because I didn't want to disappoint him. I hope I haven't ♥

The title of this final chapter is "Love Somebody," which is one of my favorite of Mickey's covers, period:

...and it seemed to fit with the theme beautifully ♥

I have to admit, diving back into the KI canon has made me long for Stacy in Bloom in the worst way - I've found myself rereading that story and remembering why I love it so much, and just wanting to throw myself into working on it again. There's just something about these characters that's absolutely enchanting to me ♥ But, I must refrain - I've spent this entire year writing KI fic, and it's time to point my attentions elsewhere, to projects that are *long* overdue to be finished.

KI will always be here for me - it is truly my happy place ♥

I hope if you've read this story, you've enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed writing it!