Emma: Ok, let's finish off this story. (To the twins) You kids ready to finish your trip to the zoo? :)
Little Mick: Me weady! :)
Shelly: Me too! :)
Micky: I need some dry pants. :P
Mike: (Leans back as the group finishes their food) I think it's time we headed home. Janelle's gonna want the girls back, and Em's mom and dad and brother are arrivin' tonight.
Emma: (Nods) Yeah. We've got to pick them up at the airport.
Peter: Weren't we all going to the movies tomorrow, too?
Lauren: *smiles at the twins* And we need to have a little talk. ;)
Shelly: 'Kay, Mommy.
Little Mick: Okay. :)
"Shelly: (Looks at Little Mick as she eats her corn dog) Do you think we're still in trouble?"
"Little Mick: I don't think so. I think she's just gonna make sure that we know what we did to Daddy and leaving without them were wrong."
*Little Mick finishes off his corn dog.* :)
"Shelly: I feel really bad about that. I didn't mean to get them upset! (Makes a face) Doesn't your tummy hurt when you eat so fast? :p"
"Little Mick: No, my tummy doesn't hurt. I feel bad about it, too. :("
"Shelly: Auntie Emma and Unca Mike were REALLY worried about Katie! I guess we shouldn't have brought her. Maybe they thought the bad lady was here. :("
"Little Mick: But none of them were watching her! (Pause; realizes) Oh, yeah, the bad lady. :P"
"Shelly: She's always trying to take the adults away! They must have thought she took US away. :("
"Little Mick: We'll really have to make it up to Mommy and Daddy for this."
"Shelly: But what can we do? We can't make Daddy's pants suddenly get dry, or change what happened this afternoon!"
"Little Mick: No, we can't...but we could do something for them. :)"
"Shelly: Like what?"
"Little Mick: Ummm...maybe we could make them something! :)"
"Shelly: Oooh! (frowns) But what? What makes Mommy and Daddy happy?"
"Little Mick: *frowns* Maybe a drawing..."
"Shelly: Oooh, remember how Daddy showed us how to fingerpaint? :D ;)"
"Little Mick: Yeah! A painting! We'll make some paintings and give them to Mommy and Daddy. :D"
"Shelly: They'll love that! Maybe the girls could help us, too. I'll bet they feel just as bad as we do."
"Little Mick: I bet they'd love to help! :)"
(The kids turn back to the adults, who are discussing which movie to go to.)
Emma: I thought a revival house would be great. You know, something different than the usual stuff. :)
Micky: It's a great idea!
Lauren: Considering that Mick has seen just about every movie of late. ;)
Mike: What HAVE you and Davy been doin' at the movies since the musical ended? I know he ain't doin' much besides the stables...
Lauren: I know ONE thing they do there. ;)
Micky: *curious look* What?
Lauren: You guys like to play empty JuJuBee boxes. ;)
Micky: That wasn't us! :P
Peter: Do they make good sound? ;) :)
"Little Mick: Yes, it was them! I saw Daddy's box under the bureau!"
Micky: *guilty look* How should I know? :P
Mike: Mick, you know better than to bother the patrons at a movie. :p
Peter: Yeah, they'll throw things back!
Emma: Especially if you were at one of those run-down little neighborhood places. :p
Micky: It wasn't... *gives up* It was Dave's idea! :P ;)
Mike: Miiiicckkk....
Emma: Takes two to tango, Mick. ;)
Lauren: You of all people oughta know that. ;)
"Little Mick: I think Daddy's in trouble with Mommy again. ;)"
"Shelly: For playing a box in a movie theater?"
"Little Mick: *shrugs* I don't know, but that's what it sounds like."
"Shelly: I wish we could go to the movies with them, but I've never met Auntie Emma's mommy and daddy and brother. They come all the way from New Jersey!"
"Little Mick: That's really far away! I would like to go to the movies sometime, too, though. :)"
"Shelly: Auntie Emma likes movies where everyone dances and sings and wears fancy clothes with lots of shiny stuff and feathers! Unca Mike likes movies with John Wayne. :)"
"Little Mick: Daddy likes movies where things get blown up. Mommy likes those movies, too! ;)"
"Shelly: Me too! I like movies where the boy saves the girl...but she ends up being able to save HIM, too. ;)"
"Little Mick: I like the ones with sword fights! :D"
"Shelly: With that guy with long hair called Errol Flynn! :D"
"Little Mick: Yeah! He's great! :D"
"Shelly: I liked 'Robin Hood!'" :D
"Little Mick: He's good, too!"
"Shelly: Errol Flynn was IN 'Robin Hood,' silly! Auntie Emma told me! She knows all about the movies! :D"
"Little Mick: *makes a face* I knew that. :P ;)"
Mike: (As he finishes off his burger) I think it's time we start gettin' home. We've gotta go get Em's folks and her brother.
"Shelly: I wonder what Auntie Emma's family is like? Especially her brother. I wonder if he's anything like Daddy's sisters?"
"Little Mick: Good question."
Emma: Their plane should be arriving in an hour. (Grins) I can't wait for Mom and Dad to meet their new granddaughter. They're both thrilled. This is their first granddaugher. My sister has a boy. :)
Mike: Your folks are nice and all, Em, but don't let your dad slap me on the back, ok?
Emma: (Sighs) Daddy doesn't know his own strength.
Micky: He'd definitely knock Mike over. ;)
Emma: (Grins) I should show you pictures of Dad when he was younger. He was tall, as skinny as you and Mick, and had an Afro even bigger than Mick's. ;)
Micky: *eyes widen* A bigger afro? :-O :P
Mike: And he got that big? What's his secret?
Emma: Twenty years of working on commercial fishing boats. (Grins at Mick) Daddy's hair is still really curly, though nothing like it was when he and Mom first met. ;)
Lauren: *runs her fingers through Micky's curls* Don't let yours get any bigger. There's at least one comb still in there somewhere. ;)
Micky: *dull glare* Funny, babe. :P
(Emma, Peter, and Mike chuckle.)
Emma: (Tugs at her own loose curls) I know how you feel, Mick. :p
Peter: That's why I like my hair. I just brush it and go! :)
Lauren: That's when Mick's afro is at its worst. ;)
Micky: *sighs* Do I have a bullseye on me today? :P ;)
Mike: Ok, ok, gang. Let's get goin'. Mick's been through enough.
Micky: Thank you.
(The group stands, throws away their trash, and heads out. The kids wave to the petting pen as they do. :) )
*Everyone heads out to the parking lot and splits up into the cars. The entire Dolenz crew go back to their house, while the others head off to the airport. Once at the house, they unload from the car and go inside.*
Micky: Nothing like being packed in like sardines in the car. ;)
"Shelly: Yeah! We're home! We have room now! :D"
"Little Mick: I was squished in there! :P"
Lauren: *shrugs* I don't know. I was fine.
Micky: You were driving, babe. ;) :P
"Shelly: (Tugs on her mother's pants leg) Can we finger paint, Mommy?"
Lauren: *kneels down to Shelly's height* What is it, Shel? :)
Shelly: (Grins) Finger paint! :D
Little Mick: *tugs at Micky's pant leg* Paint! :D
Micky: (Shrugs) Why not? We've got an hour before the girls go home.
Lauren: Sure! The girls could give you a hand with painting, too. :)
Coco: I love painting!
Shelly: (Claps) Yeah! Paint! :)
Little Mick: Yay! :D
*As the entire group go into the living room, "Saturday's Child" starts. Micky pulls out a box containing the finger paints. He spreads out a no-longer-white sheet on the floor. Everyone gathers on it with paints and paper.*
(Shelly takes the red paint pot and starts smearing it around the paper, making swirls and circles.)
(Micky dips his whole hand in Shelly's red paint and makes hand prints. ;) )
*Little Mick grins at what Micky's doing and copies him. Lauren quirks an eyebrow and pulls off a shoe and sock. She puts some of the paint on her foot and makes footprints. She sticks her tongue out at him.* ;) :P
*Little Mick laughs.* :D
(Micky sticks his nose in the red paint and makes noseprints. ;) ))
*Coco watches ther others' antics and puts both hands in different colors. She smooshes them together and makes swirls.*
*Lauren shakes her head, grinning.* :P
(Shelly sticks one finger in each color and makes a rainbow. :) )
"Little Mick puts a finger in the blue and makes waves. Then he puts a finger in the yellow and makes a sun.* :)
*Lauren sticks her finger in one color, then leans over and smears it on Micky's cheek.* ;)
(Debbie makes an apple, a banana, a pear, and a bunch of purple grapes.)
(Micky sticks all of his fingers in the paint and smears them across Lauren's forehead and cheeks. ;) )
*Lauren glares at him, trying not to laugh.*
(Shelly giggles at her parents. She rubs red paint on Little Mick's cheek.)
"Little Mick giggles and smears blue paint on his sister's cheek.*
(Micky sticks his tongue in the green paint and makes a tongue print...but then makes a horrible face as he closes his mouth and runs out of the room to wash his tongue off. :p)
*Lauren nearly falls over laughing.* =))
(Gina makes a house and stick figures.)
(Micky makes a face as he returns with a glass of orange juice and the song runs down.)
Micky: (To the camera as the music ends) Kids, do NOT try the tongue-print thing at home. :p
Lauren: *still chuckling* That was a good one, Mick. ;) :P
Gina: I loved the look on his face when he put his tongue back in his mouth!
Coco: Me, too! ;)
Shelly: Daddy silly! ;)
Little Mick: Vewy silly! ;)
Lauren: I'll third that. ;)
Micky: (Makes a face) Thanks, guys. (Sits down on the floor) So, can I see everyone's masterpieces? :)
Shelly: (Nods) Rainbow! :)
Little Mick: Sun and water! :)
Debbie: I made fruit in a bowl. :)
Coco: I made flowers!
Gina: I did Mommy and the girls and Micky and me in front of our house. :)
Micky: Um...prints. ;)
Lauren: I made a big swirly thing. *shrugs* ;)
Micky: Mommy made a psychadelic poster. ;)
Lauren: The colors! The colors! ;) :D
Shelly: (Points at her painting) For Mommy n' Daddy. :)
"Shelly: That's for you, to make up for what we did this afternoon. :)"
Little Mick: *points at his* Mine, too! For Mommy n’ Daddy! :D
"Little Mick: Yeah, we're really sorry about what we did!"
Lauren: Awe, that's so sweet! :)
Shelly: We sowwy. :(
Little Mick: Yeah. Sowwy! :(
Micky: Is this your way of apologizing for what happened this afternoon? :)
Shelly: Yeah. (Nods)
*Little Mick nods.* :D
Lauren: Well, Mick, what do you think? :)
Micky: Awww, you guys...(pretends to wipe a tear) I think it's the nicest thing anyone's ever done to me to make up for wetting my pants and scaring me to death. ;) :)
*Lauren chuckles at Micky's wording.* ;)
Gina: So, it's ok?
Micky: No, but we know you guys won't do it again. :)
Debbie: We know now we shouldn't have left. We didn't mean to scare you guys!
Coco: We really didn't mean any harm! We really thought we'd be back before you guys even noticed we'd left.
Micky: Emma was the one who realized you left when she saw Katie gone...and then we saw the rest of you were missing. We thought someone took off with you guys!
Coco: We took off with ourselves. :P *pauses* And we shouldn't have mentioned the ice thing around the twins...
Micky: (Blushes) Actually...I, um, mentioned it this morning when Mom called and said you guys were coming over, and I did it in front of Lauren and the kids. I didn't think they'd remember so well. :p
Coco: But we mentioned it, too, quietly, in the car on the way down. *blushes* We were gonna pull it again, but thought better of it. :P
Micky: Well, you've gotta remember, the kids aren't good at thinking better of it yet. They just think it sounds funny.
Coco: Yeah. Didn't think of that. I'm sorry, Cur... *grins* Micky. :)
Micky: That's ok, kiddo. Just remember to watch what you say around the kids. (Reaches over and pulls Coco under his arm) C'm here, kiddo. Gimmie noogie! (Gives Coco a noogie ;) )
Coco: Awe! Now I've gotta fix my hair! :P ;)
Lauren: Glad I'm not on the receiving end of the noogie for once. ;)
(The other kids laugh.)
"Shelly: Oooh, we almost forgot something! (Gets up and pulls Lauren over to a wall) We found something Daddy did!"
Shelly: Mommy, lookit!
Little Mick: Yeah! Lookit wall! *joins his sister at the wall*
Lauren: What the... (Frowns) It's just the bookcase. *shrugs* Micky made it and put it here a while ago.
Little Mick: Lookit wall! ;)
Shelly: Hole! Daddy make hole!
Lauren: Okay, okay. *kneels down and looks behind the bookcase; squints* Mick! :P
Shelly: Wit' chemis-ty set!
Little Mick: Go boom!
Lauren: No wonder he practically broke the land-speed record in making this bookcase. :P ;)
Debbie: (Grins at Lauren's expression) Uh oh. ;)
Coco: Curly's really in trouble now. ;)
Gina: This should be good. ;)
Micky: Umm, now, babe...
"Shelly: Uh oh. Mommy looks mad. Do you think we should have told her about the hole?"
"Little Mick: *frowns* I don't know. She would've noticed sooner or later, wouldn't she?"
Lauren: *gets up; forces a smile* Mick...I'm not gonna say anything in front of the kids. However, later is free reign. Got it? :) X-(
Micky: Got it. :o
Lauren: Good.
Micky: Hey...didn't you want to talk to the twins? (Indicates Shelly and Little Mick)
Lauren: *smiles at the kids* I think they've learned their lesson. *smirks in his direction* You, however... ;) :P
Micky: Oh, man. Come on, babe, I can fix the wall!
Lauren: Hmm. Yes, you can. *smiles again* Why do we play a game until Janelle comes over to get the girls? I've even got a game in mind, too. ;)
Micky: Sure! (Makes a "whew" gesture across his forehead) Which one? ;)
Lauren: *evil grin* Wrestlemania. ;)
Micky: What's that?
Lauren: That's where the kids and I get to see who can pin you first. ;) >:)
Micky: WHAT!? (Jumps up and runs off; the kids and Lauren chase him)
*"All The King's Horses" starts as the chase goes full swing.*
(Gina jumps for Micky, but he pulls away and dashes into the kitchen.)
*Coco follows him into the kitchen and ducks under the table, trying to cut him off, but Micky doubles back and heads back out of the kitchen.*
*The twins just chase him, laughing, out toward the back door.*
(Debbie jumps on his back, but Micky gets her off and runs for the swing set.)
*Coco dashes out the back door, grinning. She makes a B-line for Micky.*
(The twins latch onto his legs; he tries to shake them off. ;) )
*Micky does manage to shake them, as Coco lunges at him. He catches her and puts her down, then takes off again, headed for the fort as the song begins to wind down. He pauses under it for a brief respite, but he doesn't notice Lauren's up in the fort, waiting for him.* ;)
Lauren: *sweetly* Oh, Miiick... :) ;)
Micky: (Looks up) Yes, babe?
Lauren: Come up here. ;)
Micky: Is that an invitation? ;)
Lauren: *nods* Yes. Quick! Here come the kids! *points toward the swings* ;)
Micky: Yikes! (Grabs the rope ladder and climbs up and into the fort; grins) Ready, willing, and able, babe! Now, what is it that you so desperately wanted? ;)
Lauren: *grins* This. *tosses herself at him, knocking him over onto the floor with her on top. She slaps a hand down for a three count and cheers* Ha! I win! :D ;)
Micky: Oh, man! Baaaaabbbbbbeee! :o
Lauren: *grins* That was fun. ;) Gee, maybe I should imagine myself a championship belt. ;)
Micky: Uncle! Uncle! (Looks down) Maybe we should go retrieve the kids. They might be setting fire to the joint. ;)
Lauren: Nahhh, they wouldn't do that. At least as long as you're not around. ;)
Micky: Ha, ha, babe. Mom should be arriving any minute, though, and one of us is going to have to meet her at the door. Preferably not on top of each other. ;)
Lauren: Oh, darn. ;) All right. *lets him up* We can finish this later, anyway. ;)
Micky: When we have more privacy and fewer little ears listening. ;)
Lauren: *winks* Right. ;)
(Micky and Lauren climb down the ladder. The kids wait expectantly.)
Micky: (Clutches his chest) Mommy got me, kids.
Lauren: *nods* I won! ;)
Shelly: Mommy win! :)
Little Mick: Yay, mommy!
"Little Mick: I like that game! :D"
"Shelly: Me too! That was fun! :D"
Shelly: (Yawns) Play, Mommy?
Little Mick: Can we? *also yawns*
Lauren: With yawns like those? Nope, it's time for two certain little ones to take their naps. :)
Shelly: Aw, no s'eepy!
Little Mick: Me either!
"Shelly: (Yawns again) I don't wanna take a nap! I wanna have fun!"
Lauren: Here's something fun. Let's play "Let's Make A Deal." If you're good, and take your naps like you should, we can play more later, okay? :)
Shelly: Ok! :)
Little Mick: Okay! :)
"Shelly: Yeah! I like wrestling Daddy! :)"
"Little Mick: I do, too! His noogies tickle! :)"
"Shelly: This was a great day, even if we got Mommy and Daddy upset. :)"
"Little Mick: It was great! Yeah, they were upset, but they seem okay now. We did just have some fun! :) "
(As the group go back inside, they hear a knock at the door.)
Micky: I think Mom's here. (Goes and opens the door; Janelle is, indeed, standing on the other side)
Micky: Hi, Mom.
Janelle: Hi, sweetie. :)
*Janelle pinches his cheek, grinning.* ;)
Micky: Aw, Mom! :p :">
(The twins giggle. ;) :)) )
"Shelly: Look at Daddy! He got so red after Nana pinched his cheek! ;)"
"Little Mick: I haven't seen that shade of red before! ;)"
Janelle: Time for the girls to leave, even though I'm SURE you'd love to keep them around, Micky. ;)
Micky: Nahh, I think the little ladies are all tuckered out. Right, ladies? ;)
Coco: *despite a yawn* I could handle another lap around the back yard. ;)
Micky: That's not what that yawn just said.
Shelly: (Also yawns) Me too!
Little Mick: And me! *yawns, too*
Janelle: My my, looks like you had a busy day. Okay, girls, thank your brother, and we'll get you home so you can recuperate for next time. ;)
Gina: Ok, Mom. (Turns to Micky) Thanks, Mick! I had a nice time at the zoo and at your house. :)
Debbie: I did, too. Even if we did leave you at the zoo. :)
Coco: Thanks, Curly! *gives his arm a punch* ;)
Janelle: *as she herds the girls out* Now, what's this about leaving your brother at the zoo?
Debbie: (As they step out) Um, well, you see, Mom...
Lauren: *closes the door after them* Looks like they've got a bit of explaining to do. ;)
Micky: Mom can handle them. (Grins down at the twins) And I say it's time to handle OUR little clan. ;)
Shelly: Nappie time. :) I-)
"Shelly: I guess I AM a little tired. It's been a long day. :)"
Lauren: *nods* Right. Perhaps they'd like to hear Daddy sing them a lullabye for nap time. ;)
Shelly: Ok! :)
Little Mick: Me s’eepy. *yawns again* I-)
Shelly: Me too. (also yawns) I-)
Little Mick: Lull-bye!
Shelly: Daddy sing! :)
"Shelly: I like it when Daddy sings. He has a nice voice. :)"
"Little Mick: Me, too! I hope I'll have a voice like Daddy's!"
"Shelly: Me too!"
*Lauren and Micky each pick up a toddler. They take them into the nursery.*
"Shelly: I like riding with Mommy. She has a nice shoulder. :)" (Shelly burries her face into her mother's shoulder)
*They lay the kids down.* :)
Micky: I know a song I think you kiddos will like that I haven't sang lately. *he begins to sing "Blackbird."* :)
"Shelly: (Yawns again as Micky finishes the song) See you later, Mick. I-)"
"Little Mick: *yawns* See you, Shel. I-)"
Micky: (Smiles as he and Lauren stand back and look at the two sleeping toddlers) Look at those two. Sleeping like little angels. You'd never know all the fuss they created today. ;)
Lauren: Yeah. *grins* But you're about to know about the fuss you created... ;)
Micky: (Grins) Let's misbehave, babe. ;)
Lauren: We TALK first, then misbehave. ;)
*Lauren puts Micky in a headlock and drags him out of the room. We hear "Awe, babe!" as the scene fades out.*