Micky was seated on the floor of the living room, watching the twins play with a set of blocks. Little Mick stood and kicked over a tower he built and fell back onto his rear. He giggled.

Micky grinned. "You’re gettin’ real good at standing there, little man." He paused. "Mom been helping with your balance?"

Shelly made it to her feet next and wandered over to sit in Micky’s lap.

"Hey, little lady! Tired of your brother getting all the attention, huh?"

Shelly stuck her tongue out. "Da!" She reached her short arms as far around his neck as she could.

Little Mick stood and knocked over another tower of blocks. Then he joined Shelly on Micky’s lap... proceeding to knock Micky over onto his back.

"Okay, you two, don’t gang up on daddy, that isn’t nice!"

Little Mick crawled off and stood. He started across the room.

"Hey, where you goin’, little man?" Micky called after the wandering little boy. He stood, still holding Shelly in one arm. She watched with a small grin as Micky began to chase the little boy around the room.

Little Mick laughed as he ran around the room, dodging Micky.

Micky set Shelly down on the couch. "Shel, stay here. I’ve gotta go catch your brother before he does something or goes somewhere he shouldn’t and gets me in trouble with mom!" The little girl just stared at him. "Yeah..."

Micky left the living room, going into the foyer. He glanced around and saw little Mick headed toward the back of the house. Micky followed after. "Man, Lauren’s gonna have my head...!"

Little Mick climbed onto the bed and started jumping on it. Micky stopped in the doorway. "That is not a trampoline, little man!" He tried to grab for the little boy, but he dropped onto the mattress and slid down to the floor. He ran past Micky, back out the door.

Micky groaned and followed him out. He stopped in the foyer, looking around again. "Mick?" He headed back to the living room. Shelly was peeking over the back of the couch. "Shel, did Mick come in here?" She shook her head. "Oh, man..." Micky left the door way and headed for the stairs.

In the living room, Shelly seated herself on the couch again... and little Mick climbed up onto it, next to her. They propped each other up and closed their eyes.

Meanwhile, Micky frantically searched the entire upstairs. "Lauren’s gonna kill me!" He went back down the stairs and sat at the bottom, propping his chin in his palms. "How could I lose him?"

The front door opened and Lauren came in. "Hey, Mick." She went into the living room, not realizing the look he had on his face was absolute terror. She came back out and went over to him. "Mick, what’s wrong?"

"Uhhh..." Micky made a face. "I kinda lost little Mick."

Lauren gave a nod. "Oh." She paused. "Come with me, Mick, lemme show you something." She headed back for the living room and Micky grudgingly followed her.

She stopped behind the couch. Micky stopped next to her... and looked down. His eyes widened. "That little rugrat!"

Lauren poked Micky in the side. "He takes after daddy waaaay too much." She grinned and gave him a wink.

*~End~*