Everyone ready to finish off this epic winter tale? ;)

Mike: Please. :p

Lauren: You bet! :)

Peter: I just want to get warm!

Micky: I wouldn't mind getting warm, too.

Davy: (Teeth are chattering) Tell me about it, mate.

(We open in the common room. Emma, Lauren, the twins, and the guys are gathered around the fire, sipping hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. The guys are wrapped with blankets and heavy sweaters. Katie is asleep on the couch, a knitted afghan pulled over her.)

Bert: Hey, gang. Everyone enjoying the fire?

Mike: Oh, man. I never thought I'd be warm again! :p

Micky: Immensely. ;)

Peter: (Shivers) That was so scary! I'm never going to look at ice in the same way again! :o :p

Micky: Or snow globes. :P

*The twins run around the couch Katie sleeps on, chasing each other.* :)

Mike: Man, I don't want to see another snow globe for a LONG time. :p

Emma: Shelly, Mick, remember to keep quiet. Katie needs her nap. :)

*Btoh twins stop and put index fingers to their lips, then start chasing each other again quietly.* :) ;)

Bob: So, how long have you girls been cooking this one up? ;)

Emma: I think this one came around in the fall when we were trying to think of a fun "theme" we hadn't done yet...and, since we figured we would both be in the midst of winter by the time we wrote these stories, we came up with a winter theme. :)

Lauren: And needless to say, we had a lot of ideas for this "theme," too. ;)

Emma: Like "Monkees to the Future" and "Monkees in Wonderland," this was a simple idea that expanded as we went along. It's definately the longest story we've done since early last fall. :)

Lauren: And one of the most fun, though the guys may disagree. ;)

Mike: Yeah...fun for you girls.

Peter: WE were sealed in snow globes and frozen into ice statues! :(

Lauren: And we had an annoying devil on our tails. ;) :P

Emma: That was the idea, guys. One of the things we decided on last fall was...it was time for your good women to shine. This was an all-girl story from the start. ;)

Mike: That explains a lot. :p

Emma: We'd never done a just-the-girls-and-kids story, so now that you guys are on tour, we figured we were due. ;)

Bert: How are the kids, anyway? They were big stars in this story, too.

Emma: You'll have to ask Katie when she wakes up. She seems alright.

Mike: She's certainly sleeping fine. ;)

Micky: *glances at the twins* And the twins are having a blast. ;)

Bob: Hey, kids, how did you feel about your first time in the snow? :)

Mick: It was fun! :D

Shelly: Love the snow! :)

Emma: I know I had a great time playing with them while the guys were preparing for their concert. :)

Bob: Hey, where's everyone else?

Peter: Valerie went to call Headquarters to tell them we'll be here for the rest of the week and to call her dad to see how Jordan is doing. :)

Emma: The Abbies are rehearsing.

Bert: So, what's next? More touring?

Peter: Valerie said she's considering more dates for us and another special after we get back from our vacation here. :)

Mike: And didn't you guys say something about a "dinner and a murder," or something?

Emma: (Grins) The warm up will return to the "mystery in evil house" genre. (Grins) Ok, who's up for a murder? ;) >:)

Peter: Oh, god, I hope not ours! :o

Emma: (Makes a face) No, it's not that kind of story.

Lauren: I'm up for it! :D ;)

Emma: Me, too. I've been watching some old favorites for ideas. ;)

Bert: How about the main story?

Emma: We're still working on that one. All we know is it's going to involve Davy and Daphne and be set in the Orient, probably Japan. ;)

Davy: Japan? What do Daph and I 'ave to do with Japan?

Emma: At the moment, we're not too sure, either. We're going to work on that as best we can.

Mike: Yeah. The big news between stories this time is Em's movin' in real-life.

Emma: Yeah. It'll be really crazy with me for a couple of weeks, so expect the next role-play to be late and nothing from me on the prose story front. :p

Bob: What was your favorite part of this set?

Lauren: Beating up on Alex. ;) :D

Mike: Lookin' up and seein' Em again after she rescued me from the snow globe...and that awesome concert in the first story. ;)

Emma: Rescuing Mike, playing some kick-ass hockey, and introducing the kids to snow. :)

Peter: I loved that concert, too. They really do give you a rush! And I had a great time on that sleigh ride in the first story. :)

Micky: I'm putting in a vote for the concert, too. :)

Davy: Same. And call me odd, but I found that strange plane ride to be rather...interesting. ;)

Mike: Yeah. YOU weren't tryin' to fly in every bit of weather Mother Nature's ever come up with. :p

Micky: *slight grin* I don't remember much about that plane ride... thank God! ;) :D

Peter: I remember! It was really freaky! Sun, then snow, then rain, then wind, then clouds, then sun, then clouds again! :o

Bob: How about the twins? What was the kids' favorite parts? :)

Mick: Play with snow! :D

Bob: Any other interesting plans for the remainder of the winter?

Mike: We're gonna do another album after we see how this one sells, and Aunt Kate is dyin' for all of us to come back to Texas and visit. ;)

Emma: We'll have to see if we can take time out and visit her. We haven't seen her in a long time, and she's never met Katie. It's about time she got to know the child who is partially named for her. :)

Davy: Grandfathah's been wantin' us to visit 'im in England, and I got a lettah from Lance Kibbee and 'is wife Mary. You rembah them? They're livin' in that manor I in'erited a few years ago. Seems they're gonna try to make a go of the place as a country resort and bed-and-breakfast inn. :)

Peter: Hey, that's great! Mary was a nice girl. I always wondered about those two. :)

Emma: You know, Shelly never mentioned HER favorite part. :)

Shelly: Snowballs! :D

Emma: That snowball fight we had in the beginning of the first story WAS a lot of fun. :D

Mike: You guys had a great snowball fight, and we missed it? ;)

Micky: Rats! :P

Emma: SOMEONE just had to get one last rehearsal in. ;) :p

Mike: (Puts an arm around Emma) Yeah, well, between this and the "Christmas Carol" story, I've learned my lesson. I'm not going to lie and say I won't get caught up in making the albums again, 'cause you know how I feel about my music. However, I DO promise to at least try to spend more time with you and Katie. (Grins) In fact, I'll call Aunt Kate and say we'll come out and visit her. Maybe sometime in the spring. (Looks at Peter) You think Val would mind?

Peter: I'd have to talk to her, but I'm sure we could work something out. I already told Val I'd give her and Chrissy more guitar and banjo lessons. :)

Bert: Whose idea was the weather machine, the maze, and the Winter Olympics tie-in?

Emma: (Raises her hand) We needed a plot for this one other than "hanging around in the snow." The maze and the Winter Olympics were last-minute ideas. There was a Winter Olympics in 1972...and there's one in 2006, too. The ice hockey game idea is from a while back, though. I'm a hockey fan...and, oddly enough, since I've only been on the ice once in my entire life, I'm not a bad skater. I can not only stay up, but move pretty well, which is amazing considering how long it took me to learn how to roller skate. ;) :D

Bert: Hey Davy, when ARE you and Daphne getting married?

Micky: When Hell freezes over? ;) :D

Davy: (Swats Micky, who chuckles) SOON. We're going to get married SOON. We just need to...work a few things out.

Mike: Sure you do. ;)

*Micky cackles.* :)) ;)

Davy: Look who's talkin', Mike. Remembah 'ow long it took YOU to propose to Em...and how much longer it took for the two of you to get it together enough to plan the weddin'? :p

Emma: (Sighs) Honey, he has a point.

Mike: Yeah, well, even WE finally did it. You've gotta either do it or call it off, Dave. Which one do you want? You love the girl, don't you?

Davy: (Sighs) More than anythin'. It's just nerves, I guess.

Peter: You'll be ok, Davy. You and Daphne really love each other. She stayed with you when Shelia turned you into that pony, right?

Davy: (Nods) Right.

Bert: That reminds me. What was with the "spirit" thing? How did Shelia pull that off while you were still in the snow globes?

Mike: As far as I can remember, she never actually took us out. She kinda...sucked our spirits out and sent them after the girls. We were supposed to keep them from movin' or lead them the wrong way. (Smirks) That completely backfired on her. Shelia don't understand how close we all are to each other.

Emma: Instead of separating us, it sort of drew us closer together...and made all of us understand how much we care about each other. :)

Bob: How are you guys feeling now? You ok?

Mike: Yeah, just cold. :p

Emma: I hope you all don't end up getting sick.

Mike: If we do, we'll send the doctor bills to PPF. ;) :p

Micky: That's fair enough. ;)

Peter: I've never been so cold!

Mike: That makes sense. I don't know how long we were in those snow globes...or frozen solid. We're damn lucky we don't have hypothermia. :p

Bert: Hey, anyone talk to the Abbies? How did they take being turned into animals for the latter half of the story? ;)

Emma: I chatted with Maxine before she and the other girls went to rehearse. Other than a major craving for veggies, she seems to be fine. Shelia apparently kept the Abbies and the snow globes in her room in the hotel before she brought them out for the maze.

Lauren: Kim had seemed okay with it. ;)

Peter: Jenny's all right, but you should have seen the huge plate of carrots she ordered right before she and the girls went to rehearse. ;)

Mike: Em, how are YOU feelin'? Shelia did try to...well, you had a rough time of it in this story.

Emma: (Gulps) Scared, honey. Shelia's always said she wanted to kill me, but she's never actually tried before. (she leans against Mike) Hold me, honey. Please, just hold me. :(

(Mike does what she asks, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her gently to him.)

Mike: You did the right thing when you told her you wouldn't fight her no more, though. I'm proud of you.

Emma: (Blushes) Thank you, Baby. That whole thing with her obsession with games had gotten plain silly, and I'd had more than enough. (Grins faintly) Even if wrestling as a bear WAS kind of nifty. ;)

Micky: *glances at Lauren* You seem okay after having Alex after you again. ;) :P

Lauren: *rolls her eyes* He's more annoying than anything. :P ;)

Peter: Valerie's worried, too. She's afraid Shelia will try to go after Jordan again...and not just through her and me. :(

Davy: Daph's just as petrified about this wedding business as I am...and she's deathly afraid that Alex will come after her with a collar and his "prized possesion" again. :p

Mike: (As Emma cuddles close to him) Look, from now on, we all try to stay together as much as possible. We should be safe enough when we're on tour, but you girls try to stay with others when you're at home...and we'll spend as much time with you as we can when we're around. No more runnin' off. I almost lost the two most important things in my life, and I don't want to go through that again...and I'm sure none of you do.

Peter: (Nods) I agree. Jordan will be ok in the Cartwright Mansion, and one or the other of us or Chrissy will watch him when we're home.

Emma: (Yawns a bit; nods at the twins, who are also yawning) I think it's time to go upstairs. We've all had a busy day.

Mike: (Nods) I sure could use some shut-eye, and Katie needs to finish her nap. (He gathers the little girl in his arms)

Lauren: *nods* Rest sounds very tempting right now. *glances at Micky, who grins* Oh geez. *chuckles* ;) :x

Peter: I'm going to go to the phone to see if Val's ok. (Smiles shyly) And I want to talk to Jordan, too. I miss him. I can't wait until he's old enough to join us. (Waves) I'll see you guys upstairs. Have a nice night! (He goes off to the lobby) :)

Mike: (Smirks at Lauren and Micky) You guys ain't gonna be doin' much restin'. ;)

Micky: Only if we can pawn off the kiddies onto a certain someone. *looks in Davy's direction* ;)

Davy: (Sighs, then turns to the twins) Would you kids like to go see Aunt Daphne and the Abbies rehearse? Maybe we could get some pie in the bar, too, if you're very, very good. :)

Mick: Yay! *nods* We'll be good! :)

Davy: Promise? Both of you? :)

Shelly: Of course, Uncle Davy! :)

Davy: All right, then. We'll go upstairs quick to get your coats and things, since it's still snowing outside, and then head out to the arena. :) (He takes the twins' hands and goes upstairs with them)

Emma: (Leans on Mike) Honey, don't ever leave me like that again.

Mike: Em, I'm still gonna be tourin'. I don't like it. I miss you and Katie somethin' fierce, but it brings in money, and the fans get a kick out of it.

Emma: (Smiles) That's not the only reason. Baby, you love performing. I saw it the other night. You really do enjoy the concerts. :)

Mike: You know what? Yeah, I do. ;)

*Micky and Lauren cuddle together. Micky grabs a throw blanket and pulls it around them.* :)

Emma: (Chuckles) I think that's our cue to go upstairs and let those two have some private time. ;)

*Lauren grins and swats Micky, holding up an index finger, meaning for him to wait.* ;)

Mike: Honey, when we get home, I'm gonna see if we can find someone who would be interested in your stories. There's gotta be some kids' magazines or somethin' who need a new writer.

Emma: (Sighs) I appreciate that, honey, but...I just need to find the courage.

Mike: Em, if you can find the courage to step out of that arena when bein' threatened by the Devil and the loss of your soul, you won't have any problems sellin' your stories. :)

Emma: You really think that?

Mike: (Puts one arm around her and the other around Katie) I KNOW that. (The walk off together, Katie between them) :)

Micky: *grins* Now, babe? ;)

Lauren: *rolls her eyes, but grins* Wouldja just pull the blanket up? ;)

Micky: Don't have to tell me twice. *pulls the blanket over their heads* ;) :x*

(And we fade out on the two under the blanket in the common room and fade in on "Love Is Only Sleeping" over "production stills" from the two stories, finishing with the still of the whole group from "Kids and Devils" and "A Raybert Production.")