(We open in a fancy restaurant in an older building. It's a beautiful old place, with crystal chandeliers and white linen napkins on the table and muted floral wallpaper. Emma, Lauren, Valerie, and Daphne enter, all sporting good dresses and suits.)

Lauren: Wouldja get a load of this place!

Matre' D: (A tall, slender fellow with a luxurious black mustache and an air of haughtiness) May I help you ladies?

Valerie: Yes. We have reservations. Thorkleson, party of four.

Matre D': (Looks at his list) Ahh, yes, Mrs. Thorkleson. (Smiles) I knew your father. He used to entertain special business clients here. Is he well?

Valerie: Dad's fine. He's conducting some business on the east coast right now, but he sends his regards.

Matre D': (Nods) Your table, ladies. Walk this way. (He walks stiffly towards the table)

Emma: (Whispers, giggling) Should we take the opening?

Valerie: In this place? They'll boot you out for walking weirder than the next guy!

Lauren: We'll take the opening later.

Matre 'D: Your table, ladies. (All four women sit down at a small circular table towards the back of the room. The chairs are covered with soft velvet-like upholstery. The tablecloth is good linen.)

Emma: (Sighs as she sits down) Ahhh. That feels good after vinyl nightclub booths.

Daphne: You aren't kidding!

Valerie: I figured by this time, we'd all need to take a load off.

Emma: (As a waitress in a white shirt and black skirt brings them their menus) Val, this was a great idea. I'm glad you were able to get another booking at this place after we had to cancel last week because of the storm.

Valerie: I have connections.

Lauren: They wouldn't dare turn Val away. ;)

Emma: I'm glad we didn't have to bring the husbands. They're all watching the kids at the Mansion.

Daphne: *chuckles* I'm not so sure the fellas would be allowed in here.

Lauren: Mainly because they can't behave long enough.

Emma: They'd probably start a riot or something.

Daphne: *picks up a menu* At least the menus are in English.

Lauren: Yeah, none of us will have to ask how you say meatloaf in another language.

Valerie: (As everyone laughs) The cook is French, but his wife is American, and while he's the world-renowned chef, she runs the business, and has since 1940.

Emma: What the lady says, goes. I knew I liked this place.

Lauren: Darn right. ;)

Daphne: I like that philosophy.

Emma: (Raises her eyebrows at the menu) Tell me that's not what I think it is.

Valerie: What, escargot?

Emma: Valllll, that's SNAILS!

Valerie: They're quite good dipped in butter.

Lauren: Eww. I'm sticking with food that I know I like.

Valerie: You guys don't know how to live.

Emma: Grilled salmon in orange sauce sounds far preferable.

Lauren: I've gotta try the veal parm.

Daphne: I'm going with the chicken Alfredo.

Valerie: I'll have the duck au vin in beurre and capers with walnut spinach salad and crumbled feta.

(The waitress takes their orders and leaves. Emma sighs.)

Emma: This is going to sound unladylike, but I wish they had paper placemats here. I usually pass the time in diners playing tic-tac-toe.

Valerie: (Rolls her eyes) This is NOT a diner. (Smiles) Let's yak and bash our hubbies instead. Who wants to start?

Lauren: Count me in.

Daphne: Me too!

Lauren: Have I mentioned how much Mick has been complaining about his hand?

Daphne: Yes, you have, Laur.

Lauren: Just checking.

Valerie: It still hurts? How's his throat?

Lauren: His throat's fine. The sore throat finally went away a few days ago. And it isn't so much that his hand hurts constantly, he said it kinda throbs if he moves one of his fingers the wrong way or something. I'm glad it doesn't hurt constantly. It'll heal quicker.

Valerie: He's probably just playing it up, like he always does.

Emma: I can't believe it. After everything that happens, the one of the guys finally break major bones in a fistfight!

Lauren: I know! Then again, they've been very lucky. They've been through some stuff that if it hadn't been for some sort of protection, at least a few of them wouldn't be here.

Valerie: (Nods) The same goes for us.

Emma: How's the kids, Lauren, and how are they handling Daddy's booboo? I know they like to climb on him.

Lauren: That's where most of the complaining comes from. The kids do understand that Daddy has a booboo, they just don't realize they can’t climb all over him. With Leah mobile now, he's getting triple-teamed. *sighs* He's also gotten very short-tempered. I think Mick's burned out, so I just try to skirt around him when he gets that way. I think the best way to compare it would be to PMS.

Valerie: I think all the boys are burned out, Lauren. Poor Peter looks like he's ready to collapse.

Emma: Mike is, but he'd never admit it in a million years. He's trying to get us to move out of the Pad. He says it's for the new baby, but... (sighs again)

Daphne: All Davy wants to do is spend time with me and Lizzie. I really don't have any complaints, other than the possibility of being smothered.

Lauren: Mick's been disappearing to the Cave to work on projects. Since he lost the chemistry set, he doesn't wanna keep anything at the house anymore. Not that I'm complaining about that fact.

Emma: Mike's been better about spending time with me and especially with Katie...but I'm starting to wonder if the cure is worse than the sickness. He's driving me crazy. When he's not trying to fix what's left of his car collection or playing with Katie, he and Katie are hovering over me like they expect the kid to pop out any second. They won't let me do anything, even Katie!

Valerie: At least your house will be intact now. How's your yard coming, Lauren?

Lauren: What yard? There isn't much to it at the moment. There's drainage pipes and other things that I have no idea what they are being installed, and it's just really kinda ugly-looking.

Valerie: Just be glad your yard isn't nearly as big as ours. (Sighs sadly) It'll be months before my poor garden looks right again.

Emma: Val, are you ok? Between the car and the major damage to your yard, you really got hit between the gut with all this.

Valerie: (Sighs) I'll be all right.

Daphne: You'll find another car soon.

Valerie: (Looks up in wide-eyed sadness) I miss my old car.

Emma: Is that why you haven't tried harder to get a new one? Val, you're rich. You could have any car you wanted in the world.

Valerie: But I want MY car!

Emma: Not being a car person, I guess I don't see the deal here.

Lauren: I think I know how you feel, Val. I love my car. I would have no idea of what to do if anything ever happened to it.

Emma: I don't like cars much, other than Ursula, but I know Mike's really upset about losing his cars, even though he must have five or six or more by now.

Valerie: (Sighs and stirs her iced tea) I'll never find another car like that. They discontinued that model two years ago.

Lauren: Maybe the guys could check out some auto yards. They have found some great parts that way. :)

Valerie: I hope so. I can't round up Peter beyond his helping with the yard. He's been in Laurel Canyon a lot, spending time with his buddies. (She closes her eyes) He wants so much to be a part of that "hip" rock musician crowd that lives in the Canyon now. He's talking about us getting a second house there. (Sighs) I don't think that would be a good spot to raise Jordan. The things I've heard about what goes on there...

Daphne: *nods* It doesn't sound pretty.

Valerie: I know I've smelled and felt things on him that I've never felt before. I smell pot and probably four other weird drugs that have names they don't even remember.

*Lauren snorts.*

Valerie: Lauren, did Mick ever go back after that night? I heard about what happened.

Lauren: No, I wouldn't let him. Not that he really wanted to anyway, after getting sick.

Emma: (Smiles) Oh, that reminds me. I'm going to send out official invitations, but Mike says we can hold this year's Halloween party for the kids, parents, and friends after trick-or-treating at the Pad. Everything should be done by then...and we'll close off anything that isn't.

Lauren: *grins* Nice correlation going from Mick to Halloween.

Emma: I was thinking of parties to Halloween...but that works, too.

Lauren: *chuckles* Man, I hope the food shows up soon. I'm starving!

Valerie: I'm sure it will. Art can't be rushed, after all, and Remy's food is art.

Lauren: I know, but Mick's never-ending eating has rubbed off on me, especially after having Leah. *rolls her eyes* So much for ever getting rid of my gut.

Emma: You look fine, Lauren. (Sighs and rubs her stomach) Certainly better than I do. God only knows what I'll look like after I have him. :p

Valerie: It's not long now, right Em?

Emma: (Nods) Just a few weeks.

Valerie: (Smiles) Remember to call us when he comes!

Emma: Considering how big I am, you'll probably hear me screaming from across Southern California.

Lauren: *grins* You're gonna be fine, Em.

(The food finally arrives. Two waitresses and a busboy deliver large plates of steaming hot food and refill their iced teas and waters.)

Waitress: Enjoy, ladies! (She and the others head to another table with food)

Emma: Oh boy, this looks good! (She digs right in)

Lauren: Finally! *dives in*

Daphne: *grins at Lauren, leaning away* You're starting to eat like Micky, too.

*Lauren sticks her tongue out, careful to not show the food in her mouth.*

(Valerie daintily takes a napkin and spreads it across her lap. Then she spoons several shells onto a small plate before taking a strange-looking utensil and pushing on the shells, finally cracking them open.)

Emma: Very big nuts?

Valerie: (Wicked grin) Very big snails.

*The other three women stare at Val.*

Valerie: What? You eat what you like, and I eat what I like.

Emma: I always wondered what rich people ate. Now I wish I hadn't.

Valerie: (Looks at Lauren) Could you slow down? This is not a race.

Lauren: Sorry! Around Mick, if I don't eat fast, he starts picking off my plate! It's force of habit! I used to be really slow, too. No wonder I can't lose any weight.

Valerie: Well, Mick is not here, and we won't pick off your plate. Not to mention people are staring.

Emma: Lauren, if it makes you feel better, my sister Rose used to steal my milk at dinner. It took me years to catch on.

Lauren: *shrugs* Like I said, force of habit. *pauses* I'll try to slow down.

Valerie: Good. As long as we don't all start bickering and having mental food fights.

Daphne: Nah. I like to actually EAT my food.

Emma: (Rolls her eyes) They WOULD use our powers for that!

Valerie: Albert says they're banned from the Grand Dining Room when there's company.

Lauren: That would be kinda funny to watch.

Daphne: Definitely an interesting possibility.

Valerie: I've seen Peter and Micky eat together. (Looks at Lauren) Remember when you guys were staying with us after they got hurt?

Lauren: What a mess that was.

Valerie: Took Mrs. Weefers three days to clean the main dining room...and that was when she was sober.

Lauren: Considering the way they looked, I'm still surprised those two horsed around as much as they did.

Valerie: Lauren, Jordan wants the twins to sleep over again sometime when the house is in better shape. He loves having them there. He doesn't have any siblings yet, and there aren't many kids his age in that part of the neighborhood.

Lauren: Sure, they'd love it! And if you don't mind taking Leah as well, I know Mick would love it, too.

Daphne: *grins* I bet he would.

Valerie: No problem. Peter and I love having them. They're always angels for us.

Emma: (Mutters) Angels? Why aren't they ever angels when they sleep over the Pad?

Lauren: *doesn't hear Emma* Well, at least they're angels at some point. *sighs* I need to see if Mick's mom will take the kids for a weekend, or at least a day. We could really use a day not spent chasing them around the house. Mick could really use it...

Valerie: Peter's so good with kids, and I've missed taking care of children since Chrissy got older.

Emma: I'd offer to take them, but the Pad's still being worked on and I'm not really up for chasing the twins around. I can barely chase Katie around.

Daphne: Our house is still being worked on, too. It's enough keeping an eye on Lizzie.

Emma: She's up and running now too, isn't she?

Daphne: Running is the right word. You should see Dave try to catch her.

Daphne: *pauses* So, Em's almost due. Who's gonna be next again? ;)

Valerie: (Sighs) Well...Peter and I have talked about having more...

Emma: Jordan's going to have a sibling?

Daphne: I bet he'd be thrilled! *smiles* Dave and I have talked about it a few times, but I think we're going to wait at least a few more months.

Lauren: Do I really have to answer that question?

Emma: How many did Mick want, eight or nine?

Lauren: I'd kill him before we'd get to that many. *sighs* We were thinking of at least one more. I keep telling Mick we should wait a little while longer. His response is usually a pause and "Okay I waited a little while longer. Now?" *shakes her head*

Emma: (As the waitresses take their plates) That IS Mick's idea of waiting.

Lauren: *props her head in one hand* Yeah.

Valerie: So ladies, shall we have dessert? Remy makes a divine Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with Maple Whipped Cream. His apple pastries are to die for, too.

Lauren: Man, I really shouldn't. I mean, I really shouldn't... :P

Daphne: Will power, Lauren, use that will power! ;)

Lauren: *frowns* What will power?

Daphne: *grins* I'll pass. I had enough with the main course.

Emma: As much as my son and I would like some Chocolate Hazelnut Torte, it IS getting late. Maybe we'd better be getting on home and checking on the boys.

Valerie: Dad will have a fit if parts of the Mansion have been decimated. (Looks at Lauren) Are you SURE Mick's limiting the experiments to the Cave now?

Lauren: As far as I know, he still hasn't replaced the chemistry set, and the only things he's working on at the Cave are mechanical projects.

Daphne: Well, at least you won't have to worry about explosion damage to your house.

Lauren: That's a definitely plus.

Emma: And we don't have to worry about the guys being shrunk or blown up or walking around with blue skin or no hair.

Daphne: And they're all thankful for that.

Valerie: (As the waitress returns) We'll just have the check, thank you, miss.

Waitress: Ok, Mrs. Thorkleson. I'll be back in a minute. (She heads off)

Valerie: (Smiles at the four) How about coffee and tea at Dad's house? We're all sleeping there tonight anyway. Sophie should be long gone, and I know how to use a tea pot and coffee maker.

Lauren: *nods* That sounds great.

Emma: (Nods and yawns a little) I could use some good tea.

Daphne: Sounds like a plan.

Valerie: (Hands the waitress some money) Here you go. (Hands her a few bills) And that's for you and your helpers, miss.

Waitress: (Smiles) Thank you, Mrs. Thorkleson! Have a nice night! (She scurries off as the ladies stand and head for the Matre D'; three young men bring their coats)

Matre D': Did you enjoy your meal, Mrs. Thorkleson?

Valerie: Yes, we all did.

Emma: Your salmon was outstanding! Melted in my mouth!

Valerie: I always did like Remy's duck.

Lauren: The veal was great!

Daphne: The chicken Alfredo was fantastic!

Matre D': (Beams at their praise) I'll be sure to tell Remy that. He does love to hear compliments.

Valerie: Thanks again!

Matre D': Have a lovely evening, ladies.

(The ladies all give their thanks and head out into the California autumn night as more people in fine clothes enter.)