Ready to start tonight's story? ;)

Mike: Trip to England could be interestin'...

Peter: I can't wait! :D

Micky: This oughta be fun!

Davy: I can't wait, either, Petah. ;)

(We open in the main parlor room of Kibbee Manor, about a month or so after Davy and Daphne's wedding. Mike and Emma come in first, Emma holding Katie in one hand and luggage in the other. They're followed by Peter, then the three unmarried Abbies and the Four Martians.)

Mike: Place ain't changed in a few years. Still borin'. :p

Emma: Mike, after the hectic last six months or so, that's EXACTLY what we need.

Katie: Pwetty! :D

*The twins run in next, Nyles and Jack chasing after them.* :D

Katie: Hi! (Emma lets her down, and she runs after the twins) :D

Emma: Don't break anything, guys!

Mike: (To the twins) And where are your folks?

*Micky and Lauren are next. Micky laughs at the twins playing keep away with the two men.*

Lauren: Right here. :)

Kimberly: (As she, Jenny, and Maxine jump out of the way of the kids) Whoa! I think you guys need to consider slowing down, before you run people over. ;)

Micky: They don't know the meaning of "slow down." ;)

Lauren: And in case anyone's wondering, Davy and Daphne are out in the foyer. ;)

Chris: I'm assuming that means the newlyweds are busy.

Micky: Very. ;)

Tilly: (Joins them, carrying two big luggage cases) Wow, guys! This place is great! It's bigger than the entire Orange Grove Apartments complex! :o

Peter: (Puts a hand on his head) Yeah.

Mike: Pete, you ok? You look a little out of it. (Mutters) Well, a little more than usual. :p

Peter: I just...I don't feel well, Michael. I felt funny when we were here the last time, too. It'll pass.

(Mary and Lance Kibbee appear at this point, looking very much the same as last time...only Mary is very, very obviously pregnant and has longer hair, and Lance is easily standing upright. ;) )

Mary: Hello there, everyone. Nice to have you back. :)

Lance: I'm glad you all decided to join us. We're really hoping to make a success of this. (Frowns) Where's Davy? His grandfather's already here, talking to Mary's father in his room.

Micky: Davy's on his way. ;)

Kimberly: How much longer before the kid comes out? (Maxine elbows her)

Mary: Just two months, if the due date is anywhere close to right. :)

Lance: (Puts his arms around Mary) We're going to 'ave a little boy to carry on the Kibbee name. ;) :D

Mike: Hey, that's awesome, man! :)

John: Great! :)

Micky: Groovy, man!

Jack: That's fantastic. ;)

Mary: Why don't we get all of you settled, then meet for lunch? You'll get to meet some of the other guests and learn more about the manor. :)

Lance: We'll be 'avin' good ol' fish n' chips with honeyed carrots and bean and carrot casserole in the dining area in about an hour, and our cook, Lavina, is absolutely smashin'. You'll love 'er. She's been with the Kibbee estate since my late uncle was Davy's age. ;) :)

Mary: We didn't really 'ave much time for story tellin' the last time you were 'ere, what with the Fair and all, and I've studied up on the 'istory of the estate since then. :)

Lance: (Put his arms around Mary) Become quite an authority on it, my wife 'as. ;) :X

Mary: Oh, Lance... (she chuckles, then turns to the others) I'm 'opin' to write a book on the 'istory of this area. It's really very facinatin', some of the stories around 'ere. :)

Tilly: (Raises her eyebrows) Stories? Like...aliens?

Mary: (Shakes her head) None that I know of, but the estate does 'ave some othah interestin' tales. It's been around since the sixteenth century.

Lance: The estate 'as it's own ghosts! I'll bet no one told you THAT the last time you were 'ere! :D

Mary: Lance, that ain't real!

Lance: You're no fun sometimes. :p

Tilly: Ghosts? :o

Mike: (Rolls his eyes) Oh, brother. :p

Nyles: *rubs hands together* Ghosts! :D ;)

Peter: (Looks up at Mary) Ghosts? You didn't mention ghosts when we were here last time!

Mary: (Sighs) Lance is convinced the estate is 'aunted. 'As been since 'e was a tyke. I don't believe in ghosts. That's a lot of rubbish, it is! :p

Lance: But Mary, what about the story of the treasure?

Mary: Lance, it'll take more than some story to get us out of our troubles! :p

Mike: Troubles?

Mary: (Sighs again) We'll discuss it at lunch. Why don't you guys go upstairs?

Peter: Yeah. (Rubs his head) I'm feeling a little nauseous. Maybe it was the ride down here. (Nods) Valerie's outside, getting all of our stuff together for our concert later this week.

Mike: Pete, are you ok?

Tilly: Maybe he's feeling the ghosts! I hope they don't try to take over his body! I've read that ghosts will posses the body of someone they...

(Peter whimpers :( )

Mike: Tilly, cut it out! I'm with Mary. There ain't no ghosts!

Micky: I'm not so sure.

Marcus: (Puts a hand on Tilly's shoulder) Calm down, ok? If there are ghosts, I doubt they'd hurt us. We're innocents. Most of us ain't even British!

(Mike sniffs the air...and frowns. He pulls Micky, Lauren, and Emma aside.)

Mike: Guys, I have a bad feelin' about this place.

Emma: Honey, don't say that! :p

Lauren: *groans* Oh, great. :P

Mike: Seriously. My wolf's intuition is actin' up, and I smell two all-too-familiar scents. (Whisper) THEY'VE been here recently. Really recently, if what my nose is sayin' is any indication. And that's not all, either. (Sniffs) It's faint, but I think I can smell blood.

Micky: Wonderful. :P

Emma: Do you think they'd try to hurt us...or Lance and Mary?

Mike: It ain't them...or at least, not Alex. (Sniffs again) I'd have to get where it is to tell, but it's old blood. Really old. Before anyone in this entire house was born old.

Lauren: Wow...

Emma: What would old blood have to do with anything?

Mike: Bet it's one of those stories Mary's been reasearchin'.

Emma: They mentioned a treasure, too.

Mike: And somethin' tells me from the look in Lance's eyes it's more than the prize on the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. (Sighs) After lunch, I wanna have a look around here and the village. I'm worried, especially since we have two pregnant women and three very young children here. (Nods at Peter) And he's been like this ever since we stepped in the door. Come to think of it, he was a bit out of it the last time we were here, too.

Micky: *nods* Yeah...

Emma: I'm sure we'll be all right. We just have to stay on our guards. (Grins) Besides, we have eight bodyguards here. Shelia and Alex won't have an easy time getting past the Abbies, the Martians, Tilly, Jack, AND Nyles, not to mention Mary and Lance.

Mike: Yeah, but get three-fourths of those people drunk, and they're worthless. :p

Micky: A good point. :P

Mike: And the moment anyone even mentions ghosts, Tilly goes into hysterics. Remember the homecoming party we had for Pete and Val when they moved into the Montgomery House?

Emma: She fainted twice. :p

Mike: My point exactly. She thrives on paranoia, even more than me. Get her scared, and she's worthless. :p

Lauren: Our numbers are dropping like flies. :P

Emma: We're just going to have to be more on our guard. The only one of our crew who doesn't really know about Shelia and Alex is Jack, and I'm sure he could be counted to secrecy. AND we're going to have to try to keep as many people as possible away from liquor.

Mike: Let's go upstairs and get ready for lunch. We could ask Mary and Lance more about the history of this place. I'm wondering if there's somethin' in the vibes here that's makin' Pete sick...and attractin' the Devil Twins.

Micky: Right.

(Emma, Mike, Micky, and Lauren follow Mary, Lance, and the others upstairs. Cut to later, as everyone files into a large dining room. There's one long table in the front, with several smaller tables in the back. A huge fire roars behind a grate in a fireplace. The group settles at the large table, which Lance proudly sits at the head of. Mary is next to him, rolling her eyes.)

Mary: Lance, why can't I sit there tonight?

Lance: But it's for the 'ead of the family, luv!

Mary: I 'ave a 'ard time tellin' who that is sometimes. :p ;)

Mike: (He now wears one of his western-cut suits and his ubquitious glasses) Hey, guys.

Mary: Welcome back, everybody! We already ordered. The food should be on the table shortly. :)

Micky: *cracks his knuckles* Great! Bring it on! :D ;)

Lance: I'm sure you'll enjoy it. (Grins) Looks like some of you will enjoy it more than others. ;)

Peter: (A bit pale) Yeah...

Valerie: Honey, are you ok?

Peter: (Makes a face) It's the vibes on this place, Val. They're sort of...crazy.

Lance: (Eyes widen) You must be feelin' the ghosts! They've got a tragic 'istory, those poor blokes! :o

Mary: Lance, 'ow many times to I 'ave to tell you, it's just a story! Me fathah used to tell it to me before I went to bed at nights! :p

John: What IS this story you guys keep talkin' about?

Kimberly: And what's this about a treasure?

(Several young women arrive with fried fish and potatoes, bean casserole, carrots with a light herbed glaze, and several baskets of fresh rolls. They serve the guests, putting bread baskets and sweet cream butter down in the middle of the table.)

Peter: Oooh, bean casserole... :D

Maxine: Looks pretty darn good! ;)

Katie: Yummy! :D

Mary: Well, dig in, everybody! We 'ope you like it.

Little Mick: Like it, like it! :D

Shelly: Silly Micky. ;)

Katie: Weely silly. ;)

Micky: *shakes his head* Try it first, little man, then review it. ;)

*Little Mick nods and tries some of the food. He gives a thumbs-up.* :)

Mike: (Stuffs some of the fish in his mouth) Hey, not bad.

Lance: We're going to turn this place into a world-class 'otel and restaraunt when we get the money. Right now, it's just a stop on the rail lines.

Valerie: (As everyone eats) What is this about a story and ghosts and a treasure?

Mary: (Sighs) It's the family tragic history, luv.

Lance: It's very romantic. :X

Mary: 'Appened in the 16th Century. Lance's ancestor, Sir Donald Kibbee the Strong, was the owner of the estate then. 'E was a warlord, and was very fond of runnin' about, defendin' 'is 'ome against all those 'e thought were invadin' im...even those who weren't.

Lance: 'E 'ad a nephew, Paul of Lancastershire, who was just as much of a rascal...but unlike 'is uncle, prefered peace over war. While 'is uncle raided towns to add to the funs for 'is lands, 'is nephew supposedly stole vast riches from nobles. 'E fell for the young wife of Sir Donald, a beauty who lured both men to their deaths.

Mary: There you go, blamin' the woman! It was probably that nephew who lured 'ER, then turned 'er against Sir Donald.

Peter: (Voice raises an octave) To their deaths? :o

Mary: Accordin' to the local 'istory books, all three were mysteriously found dead in Sir Donald and Lady Violetta's suites in the East Wing, upstairs. Sir Donald and Lady Violetta were shot through the 'earts with arrows. Paul was skewered on a sword.

Mike: (Mutters) So THAT'S what I'm smellin'...

Peter: (Gasps) Oh, god! :o

Micky: Dang... :P

Lance: (Grins) It's a real mystery. They never found out who done it, so to speak. Some say Paul killed both of them. Others say Sir Donald killed his wife and nephew when he discovered their affair and someone killed HIM afterwards. Others say some angry peasant or servant murdered all three.

Mary: Gruesome, if you ask me. :p

Maxine: Not pleasant, no.

Peter: (Whimpers) Should we even be discussing this at the dinner table? What about the kids? :o :(

Katie: (Looks up from her fish and potatoes) Huh?

Tilly: What about this treasure?

Mary: If there IS a treasure, it's supposed to be on the grounds. Supposedly the last trunk of loot Paul and his boys gathered before Paul died and 'is group disbanded. Every single ancestor since then 'as searched the whole damn 'ouse, and we've 'ad othah treasure 'untahs, includin' unauthorized ones. No one's ever found more than dirt, brick, and back aches. :p

Lance: There is a treasure, Mary! Poor Paul 'ad to 'ave done SOMETHIN' with 'is loot when 'is uncle found out 'e'd been rippin' 'im off!

Mary: If there IS any loot, it's probably been stolen or removed by now.

Mike: Where can we find out more about this treasure and Paul and everythin'?

Mary: I could take anyone who's interested to the library aftah lunch. (Looks outside) Looks like it's gonna rain, anyway. Not a good day to be runnin' around outside.

Emma: We could split up. Half of us could take the kids to the main parlor room and play a board game or charades or explore the house. The other half could go to the library. (Smiles) Needless to say, I'm heading for the library. It's the first place I'd go, even without intriguing stories. ;)

Mike: I'm goin' to the library. (Mutters) There's somethin' I don't like 'bout all of this...

Micky: I'm going to the library.

Peter: I'm NOT going to the library! :o

Lauren: I think I'll stay here with the kids.

Valerie: (Frowns) I'll stay with Peter.

Jack: I'll go to the library.

Nyles: *nods* Me, too.

Maxine: I wanna find out more about this treasure. I'll go to the library.

Jenny: Just sounds like an old story to me. I'm out.

Kimberly: Count me in, though. :D

Tilly: I'm out, too. I don't want to hear about more ghosts! :o

John: I'll go. As long as the ghosts are friendly, it couldn't hurt. ;)

Chris: Hey, there's a cute girl ghost involved. I'm in. ;)

Marcus: (Puts his arm around Tilly) Maybe we could explore the house. :)

Tilly: (Nods) Ok! :)

Danny: Nahh, after the long trip up in two busses, I need a good, stiff drink, not long, involved tragic stories. I heard enough of THOSE on the bus. ;)

Davy: Think I'll stay here. *to Daphne* What do you say, luv? ;)

Daphne: I'll stay, too. ;)

Mike: (Mutters) Just don't rock the estate while stayin' here, ok? (Emma elbows him) :p

*Micky snickers.* ;)

Katie: Me go! :D

Mike: Nahh, cowgirl, this ain't nuthin' you're gonna be interested in. You can stay with Aunt Lauren and the twins and play games. :)

Katie: Awww! :p

Mary: Ok, then, everyone can head upstairs or just go walk around whenever they're done eatin'. :)

Lance: Just make yourself at home. All of the servants are good people, and we 'ave an excellent selection of spirits in the lounge. :)

(Peter whimpers. :o )

Valerie: Not THOSE spirits, dear. :p

Peter: Oh. :">