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“Micky.”
He woke with a start as a gentle hand nudged his arm. Blinking quickly, he forced his sleepy eyes to focus on the sight of Peter, clad in his orange stooge onesie and clutching his teddy bear tiger, standing over him.
“Micky,” Peter repeated softly.
“Wha- oh- Peter what's up man?” He sat up and rubbed his eyes “what time is it?”
“Around three.” The other man worried one of his tiger’s ears between his fingers. Micky frowned.
“Don’t you have work tomorrow? Man, we really can't afford you getting fired. You know we’re two months late on rent.”
“I can’t sleep.” He admitted softly. The other man just sighed, scooched back on his bed and opened up his blanket. It wasn't uncommon for Peter to end up snuggled in one of their beds. It had been slightly awkward the first time and Mike had been alarmed, but the 3 others quickly learned it was just something that comforted him. Then, It wasn't weird or uncomfortable anymore. Peter was part of their group and if snuggling made him feel safer, then they were all more than willing. It wasn't as though the others objected anyway. Quite the opposite, in fact, the four of them always enjoyed a good cuddle while watching TV or hanging around the pad. Sharing a bed was no different.
Peter smiled gratefully and slid under the covers. Wordlessly, he snuggled into the other’s chest. Micky almost sneezed as his night cap tickled his nose, so he tugged it off and deposited it on his night stand. Peter didn't acknowledge it.
The bassist waited with baited breath until the other man’s hand settled in his hair and began to gently pet him.
“Micky.” Peter said for the third time, finally breaking the silence after a moment of content cuddles.
“What is it, Pete?”
“Would you sing to me?” He sounded hesitant, like he was bracing for ridicule.
“Sure, buddy.” Micky was slightly taken aback, but quickly agreed. It wouldn't hurt and besides, Micky liked singing. If it made Peter feel better, then he didn't mind. Even if it was three in the morning. “What should I sing?”
“I’m not sure.” The older man mumbled.
“One of ours?” Most of their songs weren't bed time appropriate- unless you wanted to break out the dance floor at midnight- but there were a few options. “Sometime in the Morning?”
“No.” Peter surprised him.
“Oh,” he paused. I wanna be free? No, that was definitely Davy's song. Shades of Grey felt just a bit too depressing and if he were honest, Micky couldn’t remember half the lyrics for Riu Chiu.
He struggled to think of another one of their slow songs in his fatigued state.
Then he looked down to the blonde snuggled into his chest and suddenly it reminded him of his childhood. His mother used to comfort him the same way he was now comforting Peter. When he had a scary dream, or a tough day at school, she would lift him into her lap (or tuck him in when he got too big) and sing him to sleep.
Warmth filled him as he fondly remembered those times. No amount of bullying or imaginary monsters could beat out Pillow Time. His mother made him feel safe every time she sang it.
Ah that was it!
“How about this, babe?” He patted his arm, then instinctively pulled the blankets tighter over the two of them. “My Ma used to sing it to me when I couldn't sleep.”
Peter seemed to think about it for a moment before lifting his head to look Micky in the eyes.
“Alright, Mick.” He snuggled back down. “If you don’t mind.”
“Course not!” He whispered cheerily. “Now, close your eyes ok?” Peter nodded. Micky drew in a soft breath.
“There's a Wonderland for Alice,
There's a tall beanstalk for Jack
The sleepy train will take you there,
So safely down the track”
Micky felt Peter sigh quietly against him, his body relaxing into the mattress.
“With The Sandman at the throttle,
You’ll be off to dreams and back
It’s Pillow Time again”
His fingers began to gently run through Peter's hair.
“You will meet all your story book friends
While you go down Mother Goose Lane”
He felt him smile against his thin pajama top.
“Romp with Jack and Jill
Up and down the hill
And try to put Humpty together again”
Micky laughed a little as he sang the silly lyrics, quickly giving up on trying to stay quiet. He could deal with Davy telling him off for disturbing his beauty sleep in the morning.
“Close your sleepy eyes and listen
While we take a little hop,
The candy whistles blowin’
Don't you miss your station stop
So good night, my wee wayfarer
Pleasant dreams to you, old top
It’s Pillow Time again”
He combed the blonde’s hair out of his face as he continued onto the second verse. Gradually, he could feel Peter settling down and soon, he heard his breathing slow and even out.
Micky continued on until the song ended and he was sure Peter was asleep. With the crisis averted, he finished the last note and closed his own eyes. The weight of the other man snoring against him kept Micky wrapped in his mental blanket of security and contentment.
‘Must’ve been how Ma’ felt!’ he mused vaguely before he himself drifted off into a comfortable sleep.
At that time, he wasn’t aware of the two other anxious minds he settled and lulled to sleep with his mother’s song
***
After many months, Micky knew what was coming when his blonde boyfriend huddled against him with his teddy bear tiger squished under his arms; even more so when his other partners cuddled closer. He internally thanked whatever deity had put a bed frame big enough for the four of them in their neighbor’s bulk trash last month. When they had gotten together, they were faced with the challenge of all sleeping in the same bed. They tried to push their singles together, but that always ended with Davy falling or getting lost in the cracks and the 3 others did not want to spend another morning turning The Pad inside out to find him.
Davy quickly wormed his way into the space between Micky’s shoulder and chest and Mike settled over the rest of the drummer's arm. Being twice his size, Mike was able to comfortably lay his arm over Micky’s stomach while spooning the shorter man. Mike, Davy, and Peter all stared up at their fourth expectantly.
“I don’t know why you’re all looking at me” He lied after a moment, leaning his head against Peter’s while squeezing Mike’s shoulder affectionately.
“Come on, Mick!” The Texan whined light heartedly.
“I haven’t a clue- WAHH!” Micky's body lurched as pain bloomed on the side of his chest. His head snapped down to see what happened; instead, he saw a very chuffed looking Englishman pulling his teeth away from the scene of the crime. “David! Why!” Micky yelped then jostled Peter by his back when the boy began to giggle.
“Well, you were taking too long.” Davy grumbled.
“Taking too long?!!”
“Playing dumb isn’t charming, you know.”
“Playing dum- Oh, pushaw! You love it!” he huffed. Davy just laughed and gently kissed his point of attack. Before he could attempt anything else, Mike grabbed him by his forehead and yanked his head back.
“Ah ah ah!” Mike tsked, Davy playfully snapping his teeth in the air for dramatic effect. “You gotta be careful with these ones!”
As Mike and Davy began to wrestle on their side of the bed, Peter politely got Micky’s attention by tapping his nose.
“Micky?”
“Uuuh huhh?” he grinned innocently.
“Will you sing for us please?”
The drummer took a deep breath before loudly jumping into his announcer voice.
“Gentlemen! Gentlemen, settle down! Your bed time entertainment is about to start. Mike, please put out that light!”
“Alright, hold you horses,” Mike diligently yanked the chain on their bedside lamp while Davy immediately launched into a ramble.
“I used ta’ ride horses, yaknow. I was a stable boy when I was real little. You imagine, tiny old me mucking out with-” he cut himself off when Micky cleared his throat performatively.
“Everybody comfy-cozy?” The blanket shifted and the pillows squished as the four Monkees settled down for the night. “Alright, eyes closed-”
“Get on with it, ya twit!” even in the dark, they could tell Davy was smiling.
“Alright! Impatient!” Micky laughed as he spoke. Then he inhaled.
“There’s a Wonderland for Alice,
There’s a tall beanstalk for Jack
The sleepy train will take you there,
So safely down the track”
Micky ran his fingers through Mike’s sideburn with one hand and gently pet Peter’s hair with the other.
"With the Sandman at the throttle,”
He paused to kiss the top of Davy’s head.
“You’ll be off to dreams and back”
Then, he laid his cheek against him, snuggling down himself.
“It’s Pillow Time again”