Ok, everyone ready to find our way out of the desert?

Mike: Actually, I'm kinda enjoyin' this burger. ;)

Peter: But I'm NOT enjoying the scorpians!

Micky: Only if we get to come back to this diner sometime. ;)

Davy: Ready.

(We open with another shot of the open desert highway, this time of a lovely, well-designed van, like the Abbies', but brand-new and with no flowers painted on it. Lauren drives, while Valerie sits next to her. The twins are behind them, and Emma, Katie, and Jordan are in the back. "Take A Giant Step" plays as Emma points out various desert landmarks to the kids. Valerie holds the monitor with the boys' signals and gives Lauren directions.)

(The girls stop alongside a park area with picnic tables and a playground. Emma spreads out a cloth, and Valerie puts out sandwiches and cookies her father's cook Sophie made, along with a thermos of water and another of juice. The twins try to run for the playground right away, but Lauren insists they stay and eat first. Katie immediately reaches for the sandwiches...at the same time as Shelly. Emma finally cuts the sandwich into two halves.)

(Jordan watches Little Mick in amazement as he gobbles his sandwich and cookies.)

*Little Mick lets out a very loud burp! * ;)

(Katie tugs on her mama's shirt. Can they play now, can they? Emma nods. Sure, but just for a little while. The mamas need to talk and figure out what to do next. Katie whoops with glee and turns to the twins, repeating what she was told.)

*The twins jump up and down.* :D

(Emma smiles and watches the trio run over to the small playground, followed more slowly by Jordan, as the music ends.)

Emma: They're so cute. Look at them go! (Katie chases Shelly, and SHE'S chased by Little Mick, while Jordan just sort of follows them)

Valerie: Poor Jordan. He's still trying to catch up with them, but his legs aren't quite there yet.

Emma: Speaking of catching up (turns to Lauren, who now has the monitor) how close are we to the guys?

Lauren: Well, I'd say we should find them within an hour.

Emma: Good. I'm worried. Has anyone tried calling them or heard from them since we left?

Valerie: I did call Peter, but all I got is "We're running, gotta go."

Emma: I haven't heard from Mike at all. Lauren, heard from Mick?

Lauren: No, haven't heard anything.

Emma: (Sighs) And I have...(looks at her stomach)...something to tell Mike, too. I went to the doctor this morning. (Sighs again, louder this time)

Lauren: *quirks an eyebrow* You mean...

Emma: (Pats her stomach) Yes.

Valerie: Katie's going to be a big sister? :D

(Emma just nods.)

Lauren: That's great, Em! :D

Emma: I'm not sure what the sex is yet (looks at Lauren) but I do know it's only one.

Lauren: *grins* I was just lucky, that's all.

Valerie: (Winks) And I say the boys are just about done with the movie and should have some time off coming soon, with no tours or filming. You'll get some time to spend with Mike before Katie has to learn to share her room with a brother or sister.

Emma: If I can drag him out of the studio.

Valerie: I'll board the damn studio up if I have to. I AM technically his boss.

Lauren: That might be a good idea anyway. ;)

Valerie: I'd like to see my husband every now and then, too. He's been spending hours and hours there with his friends lately, and I know Peter's come home having ingested more than one thing he really shouldn't have.

Emma: They've probably done it on the set, too.

Lauren: Mick isn't easy to handle when he's normal, let alone after being on the set.

Emma: It would explain some of the stuff Micky's been building lately, like whatever resulted in them being shrunk a few months ago.

(The kids run up to their mothers, chasing each other again, once again with Jordan tagging along behind.)

Emma: You kids look thirsty! You've been out running in that hot sun. (She hands them all little paper cups of water)

Katie: Tank you, Mama!

Jordan: Hot! (He drinks thirstily)

Valerie: (As she packs up the picnic basket) We're going to be moving on now. We need to find your daddies and help them get their car fixed.

Katie: Papa! :)

Little Mick: Let’s go! *drags Lauren toward the car*

Lauren: *laughs* Oh, Mick!

(Emma and Valerie laugh, too, as they follow Mick and Lauren to the car.)

(Cut back to the inside of the car, which is now on the road again. The girls pass the same place the boys did before, though the kids don't look as happy.)

Katie: How longer?

(Jordan makes a face.)

Emma: Soon, Katie.

Katie: How soon?

Emma: Soon enough, Katie.

Little Mick: Mama, I'm bored! I wanna drive!

Lauren: Drive?

Little Mick: Daddy's been teaching! Wanna drive! Go vroom! Need some action. :P

Emma: Um, not for another twelve years or so.

Katie: Me drive too? :D

Emma: No, Katie, you really are too young.

Katie: Awwwww!

Shelly: I wanna drive too! :D

Valerie: Sorry, none of you have a license.

Little Mick: Wanna drive! *wiggles his way out of the child seat and leans over the front seat, reaching for the wheel. Lauren is distracted, telling Mick to sit down and trying to make him sit. Before they know it, the car is driving off the road, onto the sand!*

Katie: Yikes!

Jordan: Oooh!

Emma: Holy...

Little Mick: Uh oh!

Valerie: What was that popping sound?

Emma: Lauren, stop the van!

Lauren: *stomps on the brakes* I am, I am!

*The vehicle comes to rest before too much damage is done.*

(Valerie and Lauren climb out of the car to inspect the van. Other than scratches and minor dents, the only problem is a blown tire on the front end.)

Valerie: Damn.

Lauren: Great, just great.

(The only sound, other than a few bird squawks, is Jordan crying in the van.)

Valerie: Well, this is just fine. NOW what do we do?

Emma: (Peers out of a window) Well, how bad is it?

Lauren: The only damage that's keeping us here is the blown tire. *pauses* I wonder if we could blue light it?

(Even as Lauren says this, a truck passes by. Valerie waves her arms and calls to them, and they stop. A large, red-headed man with a scraggly beard and curly hair pops his head out of the truck.)

Man: Yo ho there, cutie, what's with the waving? Who was crazy enough to leave a couple of dollies sitting in the middle of nowhere?

Valerie: (Makes a face) We blew a tire. We're on our way to visit our HUSBANDS. (Emphasizes that last word)

Man: Why go 'ta them? I got plenty of room for you girls in the back there! (Points to his very large back end)

Katie: (Also pops out) What's goin' on?

Valerie: But do you want to transport our children, too?

Man: (Grins) Hell, I LOVE runts!

Valerie: Look, we just need to get to a phone.

Lauren: Without the ogling, thank you. :P

Man: I know where you can get to a phone! There's a service station and repair shop jus' 'bout few miles down the road!

Valerie: Good. We'll call a tow truck from there.

Man: (Pats the seat next to him) You girlies jump right in here. I'll get you where you're goin'.

Valerie: No, I think it would be better if our friend Emma and two of the children sat up front. Lauren, her kids, and I will sit in the back.

Emma: (Joins her daughter) Did I hear my name in vain?

Man: (Grins at her) I ain't had such nice-lookin' company since I drove up to LA to see the premiere of "Walkin' Tall."

Emma: (As she and the kids get out of the van) What is that, and why is it staring at us like raw meat?

Lauren: *mutters* I think it's a man, but I'm not really sure.

Valerie: He's our ticket to the nearest gas station and finding the guys, so be nice! (Turns to Lauren) Lauren, where are they on the radar?

Lauren: They're moving away from us, but we did get a bit closer. They might be about 10 miles away...

Valerie: I wonder if we could send this guy after them or borrow his truck once we get to the service station?

Emma: I'd rather do it ourselves then send this guy. He might scare them off. We just have to ask him the right way to borrow the truck.

Man: Well, are you dolls comin', or ain't 'cha?

Lauren: We're coming!

Emma: You know, this is really dangerous. What if this guy wants to kill us?

Valerie: I know, we're probably not really doing something very responsible, but there's three of us and one of him, for one thing, not to mention the kids.

Lauren: Besides, between me and Val, we could kick his butt easily, and we have our powers.

Emma: Ok. We need to finish this part. (Looks at the camera) But those of you who don't have powers should NEVER do this!

(The girls head for the truck. Emma loads Katie and Jordan up front, then gets in herself next to the window, as far away from the driver's seat as she can. The man opens the back of the truck so Valerie, Lauren, and the twins can get in.)

Man: (Grins at Emma, then looks in the back) You ladies comfy back there?

Valerie: (Tries to get comfortable in the grimy backseat with Shelly on her lap) Um, sort of.