7.24 Look Who's Talking Now

by

Jenn S.
(windsorcastle@home.com)

It was 10 A.M in the Sheffield household and momentarily everything was peaceful. Sunlight was streaming into the nursery and the twins were sitting up in their cribs.

"I don’t feel like napping Jonah. Want to play the Uncle Niles and Auntie C.C. game ?"

"Sure Evie, you go first."

"Talcum Tush!

"Milk breath!"

"Bed wetter."

"Hey! You should talk. You’re not exactly able to go dry through the night yourself Evie."

"Jonah, it’s just a game. Oy! You’re such a baby sometimes. Never mind. I’m bored already, let’s talk about something else."

"Daddy’s show was good yesterday. It was pretty funny when Karen got amnesia and got into the Jacuzzi with Charles."

"Yeah, the best part was when Giles came in and found them splashing each other."

"Do you think that really happened to Mom and Daddy?"

"Jonah, think about it. This is Mom we’re talking about. How hard is it to believe that Mom got amnesia and forgot who she was?"

"True. Mom does have a knack for getting into some pretty strange situations."

"Speaking of Mom, I heard her talking to Daddy about getting a baby gift for Emily. Daddy thinks they should get a set of engraved silver baby cutlery. Mom didn’t go for that idea though. Maybe she’ll buy some monogrammed baby luggage in a zebra print or maybe a little muppet fur and sequined christening gown by cousin Toddy? Now that would be more Mom."

"Dad’ll never go for that Evie."

"Oh yeah? Since when has Dad ever gotten his way when it comes to Mom and shopping Jonah?"

"You’ve got a point there. So when do we hit the stores?"

Max put two coffee cups and a plate of bagels on the kitchen table and sat down beside his wife.

"I still think the engraved sterling silver baby cutlery set is more along the lines of what C.C. would appreciate as a baby gift for little Emily."

"Maxwell, that poor kid is gonna have enough problems what with being the kid of the wicked witch of the west. Do ya really want to add having another silva spoon in her mouth to all that?"

"Really Darling, I think motherhood is changing C.C. for the better. You heard her last night. She’s mellowed already."

"I don’t think screaming ‘If you ever touch me again Butler Boy, it’ll be the last time you ever walk like a man’ counts as mellowing Sweetie."

"Well actually, the old C.C. wouldn’t have referred to Niles as a ‘man’ in the first place, so you see Fran she really has softened somewhat."

Fran rolled her eyes and muttered something about hoping Niles could run fast under her breath. "Moving on……"

"All right fine then – we don’t have to get silver spoons, but please - no Cow print baby booties either - are we at least agreed on that?"

"Yeah, yeah. I get your drift. You want tasteful and classy gifts only. It’s not gonna be as much fun, but I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, how about you go get the twins ready. Val’s gonna be here in half an hour ta go shopping with us and I still gotta finish my make up."

Max raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Don’t worry Sweetheart, when Val gets here, I’ll tell her you’ll be down in an hour."

"OW!!!! That bagel hurt Fran ! You didn’t need to throw it at me quite so hard!"

Max heard the sound of the twins babbling happily from the nursery as he came down the hall.

"Hello Evie, hello Jonah. Daddy’s here to get you both ready to go out shopping with Mummy and Auntie Val."

"Oh good Daddy’s going to dress us. That means no Purple plaid overalls or orange shirt today. Yayyyy!"

"Admit it Jonah, those are your colors. You love that outfit," Evie stuck her tongue out at her brother.

"I do not. I prefer the white shirt and the navy overalls with the little sailboat on the pocket. Perhaps something tasteful, understated and classic by Oshkosh or Carter’s, not those weird getups that come from Oilily. Daddy understands my refined taste in attire."

"Yeah well you can wear navy blue all you want but I like my tiger jacket."

"Yuck."

Max leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. "Okay Evie, we’ll dress you first. Up you come to Daddy. Oh you’re getting heavier!"

Evie frowned at her father. "Hey watch it with the ‘heavy’ comments there Daddy. Ya don’t want ta give me a complex before the age of one!"

"Ha! You’re the one who snatched and ate my Arrowroot cookie after wolfing down your own breakfast," Jonah snorted.

"Gramma Sylvia says I’m more active than you are and I need to keep up my strength - so there Skinny Butt!"

"Playing Auntie C.C. again Evie?"

"Shut up Jonah."

Max pulled a white t-shirt over his youngest daughter’s head and got a pair of pale pink overalls and white socks out of the dresser. "How’s this then my lovely wee lassie? I think all the other mothers at the mall will be green with envy at how pretty you are." He deftly adjusted the outfit and held Evie up to the mirror.

"Not bad Daddy. A little plain, but it’ll do," Evie preened and turned her head from side to side making sure everything was okay.

"Don’t you think my hair’s a little flat?"

Jonah made a squawking sound. "As if any one could tell the difference - it’s only two inches long."

Evie shot out her arm catching Jonah on the ear. He started to howl.

"Evie! That wasn’t called for!" Max put Eve back in her crib and quickly retrieved the sobbing Jonah from his.

"She didn’t mean it son, here let me see your ear. Hmmm - looks okay - Not a mark as far as I can tell. At least she wasn’t armed with a rock hard bagel. Let me tell you - those things really smart when they hit you!"

Max tilted his head to one side and caught a glimpse of a slight bagel shaped imprint on the side of his own face in the mirror. He rocked his son gently and stroked his hair. "There, there Jonah. It’s okay, Daddy’s got you. You’ll be fine. We Sheffield men have to stick together for protection."

Jonah raised his head from his father’s shoulder as Max wiped the tears from the little boy’s face. Max returned to the dresser and pulled out a white shirt and a pair of navy blue overalls with a little sailboat embroidered on the front. "How about these my boy?"

Jonah brightened and started to smile again.

"There now - that’s everything taken care of. You’re both ready and look very nice indeed. It’s almost time to go downstairs and get ready to stall Auntie Val while Mummy finishes doing her makeup. I just hope Auntie Val doesn’t want to talk about how Uncle Fred’s doing at work. He served everyone on the set prune Danishes three days in a row this week and half the film crew missed work on the day we taped."

The front doorbell sounded from the first floor.

"NILES!" both Fran and Max yelled simultaneously from different rooms.

Max remembered the absence of Niles first & yelled back: "I’m getting it" as he rushed past the half open door of the master bedroom carrying a twin tucked under each arm.

"Hi Val, come on in. Fran’s just finishing her makeup."

"Oh good that means I have at least an hour or so to catch up on my favorite TV soap opera before she comes downstairs."

Val settled into the sofa and searched for the remote control.

Max placed the twins on either side of her.

"Can I get you a coffee or something Val?"

"You don’t happen ta have any prune Danish do ya? Fred says it really cleans you .….."

"NO! Please!…. I mean…. Sorry, we’re all out …but there’s some coffee cake in the fridge if you want it."

"I wonder if I should mention that I sort of chewed on the corner of that cake," mused Evie who had crawled onto Val’s lap and was contemplating searching Val’s open purse for some of those cool little lipstick samples to play with.

Max spotted the movement from the corner of his eye and quickly snatched the purse away from Evie. "Oh no you don’t young lady."

"Sorry Val, ever since she’s been crawling she’s into everything. It’s been especially challenging to keep up with her this past week. Yesterday she kept taking all Fran’s shoes out of the closet and now Fran swears she can’t find one of her orange and black pumps."

Max tweaked Eve’s nose. "Sometimes I think she’s really trying to tell us something."

Eve pouted at her father, "Yeah. I was trying to find something to go with my tiger jacket Daddy. Too bad it was the wrong shade of orange. Which reminds me, I guess I should dig that shoe out of Daddy’s sock drawer next time I’m in Mom’s bedroom."

Maxwell peered intently into Eve’s eyes, wondering just what was going on behind those pretty brown curls of hers. "Soon you’ll be able to let us know what you’re thinking won’t you Sweetheart?" A sly expression crept across Eve’s face.

"Can you watch Jonah for a minute Val. I’ll take Eve into the kitchen with me and we’ll get you some coffee cake."

"Mmmmm coffee cake." Eve licked her lips as Max carried her through the door.

Jonah looked up from the corner of Brighton’s new chess board that he was teething happily on. "It wouldn’t really matter to Val if Evie had gnawed that cake a little anyway," he thought as his father and Eve disappeared into the kitchen.

Tragic theme music was playing and the end credits of the soap opera were rolling on the TV screen as Fran made her way down the stairs.

"Hi ya Val, hope ya haven’t been waiting too long."

"Naaaa, it’s okay Fran. I got to see what happened when Angie’s sister was kidnapped and no one knew that her brother-in-law’s, mother’s niece had undergone a sex change and she turned out to be the person the police sketch artist had drawn when everyone thought they were looking for a man!"

"Oy! Didn’t they do that on Days of Our Lives a few years ago when Shane’s daughter was kidnapped?"

"Uhhhh maybe? I can never figure out what’s going on in that one. So where are we going first Fran?"

"Well I thought we’d drive to Nordstrom’s on Wilshire to check out their big sale. Last time I was there, I saw some really great Dalmatian print baby dresses and ….."

"I heard that Fran!" Max emerged from the kitchen carrying Eve and wiping crumbs off her face.

"Come to Mommy Sweetie." Fran plucked Eve from Max’s arms and motioned for Val to pick up Jonah and start moving towards the door.

"Okay Val, I guess we’d better get going now. Is the stroller in the car all ready Max?"

"Yes it is …. and Fran - pleeease – you promised no animal print items of any sort or species."

Fran leaned over and lovingly brushed a stray lock of hair off Max’s forehead.

"I think that vein above your eyebrow is starting ta twitch again Honey. You really should try to relax while we’re gone." She planted a soft kiss on his lips and winked at him.

"Love ya."

Max smiled feebly and rubbed his forehead as the front door closed behind the departing shoppers.

"Okay Val, here’s the plan. We’ll park at the garage just up the street a bit. Nordstrom’s validates for that one. First we’ll go to the lingerie department. They’re having an amazing sale on lingerie. Then we’ll go to infants wear and see what looks good. If I can pick up something sexy in lingerie first, Max won’t be paying any attention to the print on whateva I pick out for Emily."

"Isn’t Emily a little too young for lingerie Fran?"

"It’s for me Vaaal!"

"Oh. Then what are we getting for Emily?"

"Did you clean your ears a bit too deeply again Val? The instructions on the Q Tip box say neva ta go in further than the outer ear."

"Huh?"

"Neva mind Val."

"Fran look there’s a parking space. Hurry there’s another car circling to get it!"

"No one beats a Fine to a parking space when there’s a sale on Val. Outta my way bozo!"

Evie strained to look sideways from her car seat. "Hey Mom? Mom?! Look who that is. I think that’s Gramma Sylvia and Grampa Morty in that car we just cut off."

Jonah turned around to get a look too. "Yeah and I think Gramma Sylvia is saying hi to us. Look she’s waving with her middle finger."

"Oh Oh Fran. It’s your motha and she don’t look too happy."

"Quick Val, hold the kids up to the window! Grandchildren always calm her down."

Sylvia’s angry face appeared at the driver’s window of Fran’s car. "What the hell do you think you’re….. Oh Jonah what are you doing in the driver’s seat of this car?"

Fran’s timid voice came from behind the seat. "Hi Ma. Funny meeting you here. Are ya going ta the big sale too?"

"Fran? Franela is that you back there on the floor behind the seat? Where’s the limo? So that was you who cut us off! Daddy was sayin’ words that no one’s ears should hear."

Morty gazed into the back of the car.

"Err… Hi Daddy. Sorrrryyyyyy ."

"It’s Okay baby. Uh Sylvia … uh since there’s no more parking spots, how about I take off and you can go with ….."

"Fine Morty! Just go! Leave me alone like a dog. Maybe Fran’ll take pity on me and let me come back with ha and the babies."

Fran began struggling out of the back seat.

"Ya know Ma, if I didn’t know betta, I’d swear you guys planned this?"

"This from the daughta who cuts off ha own motha. When I think of how many hours or should I say - days that I was in labour with you….."

"Alright Ma! Ganung already, ya can come shopping with us. Geesh!"

"Come on Val, get out the strolla and let’s get in there before the best stuff is gone."

The twins started squirming as Fran lifted them out of the car.

"I’m riding in the front Jonah."

"You always get to ride in the front Evie. It’s my turn."

"No it’s my turn."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not… Ow! Evie do you always have to hit me?"

Jonah started to cry again as Evie was settled into the front seat of the stroller.

"Honestly Val, every time I try to put them into their stroller, something upsets Jonah, he winds up crying and I have ta put him in the back seat of the stroller ta calm him down. I don’t know why this always happens?"

Evie smiled sweetly from her front seat as Jonah sniffled in the back.

"Oh Fran look at this dress! Isn’t it just the sweetest thing ya eva saw."

"Ooooo leopard velour. Is it the right size for Emily?"

"The tag says it comes in 3 to 6 in Moss Fran? but I don’t see any in Moss color. They’re all this leopard pattern."

"Oy Val we’ve been through this before. ‘Mos.’ is ‘Months’ not ‘Moss’."

"Oh yeah, I rememba now."

Sylvia’s stomach growled. "Fran sweetheart, I’m gonna take the twins out to the food court. I need ta get some lunch before we buy anything else. It’s just not right to shop on an empty stomach."

"Ma, you were chewing a candy bar in the lingerie department. Can’t you wait five more minutes?"

"You took an hour to pick out that black teddie – and he’s gonna rip it off of you in seconds anyway….."

Fran slid a hand over one of each twin’s ears.

"Shhhh Maaaa! The babies are listening!"

"They’re only 9 and a half months old. What do they know from anything? Anyways, my doctor says I need to eat on a regular basis."

"Yeah but did he eva mention that you should stop eating on a regular basis too?"

"Fine. I’ll just faint over here where there’s a nice soft carpet and you can just drag my limp body under a sale rack until you’re done."

"All right kids, we’re going ta get some lunch now."

"It’s getting late Fran and we still haven’t found anything that you like for baby Emily. Maybe you should just give up and stop at Tiffany’s for some silver baby cutlery like Max wants ta get."

"Ptuey Ptuey Ptuey Val! No Fine has ev-va failed at shopping!!!! I know, we’ll go to that giant Toys ‘R Us store. There’s no way we could come outta there without something for Emily."

Jonah bounced up and down in the stroller.

"All right Mom! Toy’s ‘R Us. Brighton said they’ve got some great electronic junior chess sets there now. He’s going to teach me how to play."

Evie grimaced, "If he’s successful, let me know when you two will be appearing on the Sally Jesse Raphael show – Babies who play chess and the brothers who teach them."

"Someday when I’m a grand champion of chess you won’t be laughing Evie."

"Yeah – I will."

"Wow Fran, would ya look at all this great stuff! Coming to the Toys 'R Us Superstore was a great idea. For sure we’ll be able to find some great thing for Niles & CC’s Emily here."

"I know. This place is a-mazing! Oh Val, check out the Barbie aisle. Have ya eva seen so many kinds of different Barbies?"

"Look there’s Biker Barbie and ha Harley, Divorce Barbie and ha lawya and Oooooo Shopping Barbie and ha gold card!"

Sitting in their stroller, Eve and Jonah eyed the Barbie displays keenly while Fran and Val debated the merits of various dolls.

"Hey Jonah here’s one for Daddy - It’s Broadway Barbie and she comes with her own costumes from Showboat, Fiddler on the Roof and … oh oh…. Cats! I guess Daddy wouldn’t like it after all."

Jonah giggled and pointed his chubby finger at another doll. "How about that one for Auntie C.C. Evie? It’s Chorus Boy Ken".

"I have the feeling Auntie C.C. would throw it straight at Mom's head Jonah."

"Huh? How come?"

"Never mind Jonah. Hmmmmm there's something Uncle Niles wouldn't mind having. It's the new CIA Barbie with the Bionic ear & wiretapping devices. Ever since Daddy stomped on Uncle Niles parabolic ear, he's been sulking and having to make do with a juice glass. Now if I could just reach it..... Help me out here Jonah. You're closer to the shelf. That's it... stretch your arm up just a little more.... a little more still…… Yeah! We got it. Good work Jonah. Now I'll just tuck this blanky over it and no one will ever notice."

"Evie! You can't just take it. That's wrong!"

"Just be quiet Jonah. We won't take the tags off & Mom can return it later after Uncle Niles has "tested" it. Besides, we're only babies. What are they gonna do - arrest us?"

Jonah began frowning & rubbing his temple with his fist just as Fran looked over.

"Would ya look at that Val? I swear he's such a carbon copy of his daddy, it's scary sometimes. Meanwhile Evie always looks so happy and innocent. She must get that from me."

"Jonah, whatcha whimpering for Sweetie? Do ya want Mommy to pick you up?"

Evie shot her brother a dark look. "Stop it Jonah. If you tell mom, I'll make sure you get double helpings of strained spinach at dinner tonight."

Jonah stopped whimpering and resumed rubbing his temples. Daddy was right. The Fine women would probably outlive the men of the family.

It was almost 5 P.M. when Fran and Val and the twins got back to the Sheffield house.

"So did ya get ahold of Fred in time so he could catch a ride home with Max for dinner Val?"

"Yeah while you were helping your motha carry all her stuff into her condo, I used my cell phone to call him. He said ta tell you he’ll bring dessert."

Fran looked frightened. "Oy I hope it doesn’t involve prunes! Maxwell can’t afford to lose any more time on the production of his show."

Meanwhile Fran, it’s a good thing you found that ‘CIA Barbie’ set in the twins strolla before we checked out of Toys ‘R Us. I mean we coulda been sent ta Alcatraz for shoplifting!"

"Alcatraz is closed Val and besides they didn’t take women and babies anyway….. but yeah, it’s a good thing Jonah needed ta be picked up or we coulda been in trouble. Every time we go shopping, I have ta frisk Evie’s seat in the strolla for contraband. I don't know where she gets these tendencies from."

"Yeah I don't know where she gets it either Fran. I mean you only used ta collect things small enough ta fit in your purse but Evie..."

"Alllll righttt Val!"

Eve was glaring ferociously at her brother.

"Jonah you rat! You just had to cry as we got to the checkout. It's all your fault that Mom searched our stroller. Now poor Uncle Niles is gonna have ta keep using that juice glass until he gets his parabolic ear fixed."

"Save it Evie. Daddy says guilt doesn’t work on the English. Besides, you kicked me!"

"You’re only half English and I was trying to remind you to keep quiet! You're such a schmendrick sometimes Jonah."

Val nudged Fran. "Look he's doing it again Fran. He's rubbing his forehead that way."

"Oy! I'm gonna have ta get him some therapy soon. Maybe Gracie could start working with him. She only charges the cost of a movie and snacks per hour. Hmmmmm. Let's see….. that's $10, plus a jumbo popcorn and a super size Coke at $4 each, plus a pack of gummi bears at $5 .....On second thought, maybe he'll just grow out of it.

Wanna help me with the twins dinner Val? Ma got a deal on strained spinach from the Shopping Channel and we got a whole case ta use up."

Jonah started to whimper again.

The door to the kitchen opened and Max strolled through it in time to observe Val picking spinach out of her hair and Fran wiping spinach off Jonah’s face.

Fran looked up in relief.

"Hi Honey, did Fred catch you in time to ride home with you? I invited him ta dinner since we were so late getting home this afternoon."

"Hello Darling. Yes, Fred’s just scraping some prune filling off the front floor mats of the Porsche. It’s really too bad. I had to swerve to avoid a sparrow drinking from a puddle and Fred’s dessert hit the dashboard. I guess we’ll have to make do with defrosting some of those 8 dozen chocolate eclairs that Niles made and froze for C.C. just before she went into labor."

Max winked at Fran who grinned back at him conspiratorially.

"How was your shopping trip? Did you find anything suitable for little Emily?"

"Yeah we picked up one of Ivana Trump’s collector’s edition dolls for her. It was so lucky that we got one. The only other place I’ve eva seen one is on the shopping channel. They only made 50 of them so it’s kinda like owning one of the first ALF dolls - it’ll probably increase in value over time. She cries too."

"Val show Max how she sounds. It's great Sweetie, wait til ya hear it. You'll love this."

Val squeezed the doll and it emitted a loud "Aaa- Haaaaa, Aaa - Haaaaa, Aaa - Haaaaa" sound.

Max looked at it in amazement. "Does she remind you of anyone Darling?"

Fran shook her head. "Ummm, no one I know, but she's got the cutest dark curls and brown eyes and she comes with a little Battenburg lace christening dress and matching lace booties. You said we should get something classy and tasteful so I thought how could we go wrong with an Ivana Trump original? I just had ta buy it for Emily. Do ya think C.C. will like it?"

"I 'm sure she'll be .... Uhhh - stunned by it!"

Max leaned toward Val and whispered: "Can her voice be disconnected?"

Val whispered back "No I don’t think so. She’s sounded that way since we were kids togetha in Flushing."

Max looked at her somewhat incredulously and quietly murmured: "I meant the doll."

"Oh."

Fran lifted Jonah from his high chair. "Meanwhile, your youngest daughter tried to hide another toy in her strolla. Luckily Jonah started crying and it fell out of the strolla when I picked him up."

Max shook his head and leaned down to get Evie out of her high chair. He still recalled the first time Fran had showed him her "pilfered memorabilia" collection of coasters, shoes & used chewing gum of her favorite celebrities. "Just remember Evie, you're half Sheffield too," he said quietly as he kissed her on the nose.

Evie tugged on her father's hair playfully. "Yeah Daddy, half British but I’m also half Yiddish. A girl's gotta have fun ya know."

Jonah sputtered and coughed up a small bit of his dinner. "Blecht I hate spinach."

Evie grinned over Max’s shoulder. "It's your own fault Jonah."

"Pass the potatoes please Mr. Sheffield."

"Here you go Fred and I keep telling you that it’s all right to call me Maxwell when we aren’t on the set."

"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting. You know what’s good for memory Mr Shef -. I mean Maxwell?"

"Uh no Fred, but I have the strange feeling that you’re going to enlighten us."

Fran leaned over slightly and whispered, "Oy we’re in for it now."

"Ginseng. It also relieves that dry scaly skin your wife gets whenever you guys have been in the jacuzzi too long together and it has the added benefit of being a gentle natural laxative so she won’t need to buy any more of that orange flavored Metamu…."

Maxwell interrupted quickly.

"Thanks Fred, we’ll keep that in mind. Fran could you pass me some spinach?"

Eve and Jonah were sitting in their playpen behind their parents.

"Gramma Sylvia says that Val and Fred should be an exhibit in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum."

"That’s not very nice Evie. True – but not very nice."

"Meanwhile I wonder how Uncle Niles is doing taking care of Aunt C.C. and Emily? When he came over to borrow some cornstarch yesterday, he was babbling something about needing 24 more hours of sleep and 12 more hands. Plus he smelled like disinfectant."

"Mom says Auntie C.C. is fanatical about anything that touches Emily and that she’ll probably try to sterilize everything - including Uncle Niles."

"I dunno what that means exactly Jonah, but it doesn’t sound too good for Uncle Niles."

"I wonder when we’ll get to meet Emily. She’s gonna need a lot of advice about how to cope with her mother. The sooner we get started, the easier it’ll be for her."

"I heard Daddy telling Uncle Niles that he may as well just put the phone numbers for Tiffany’s and the Beverly Hills Florist on his speed dial."

"And Mom said that for extra insurance he should add the number for Godiva chocolates."

"Bye Val, Bye Fred."

Max shut the front door and leaned against it.

"Whew! Darling I though we’d never get Fred to stop talking about Jonah’s rash and comparing it to all the others he’s seen. Is it my imagination or does he have an astonishing talent for making almost any topic repulsive?"

"It’s not your imagination Honey but I don’t know if I’d exactly call that a ‘talent’."

Max stretched and yawned. "Looks like the twins have fallen asleep in their playpen tonight. They certainly seemed fascinated with everything going on at dinner. Sometimes I look at them and I swear they seem to be communicating in some sort of secret language to each other."

"Well I dunno what kind of language they speak but I think they’ve ‘talked’ themselves to sleep. Care ta help carry them up to bed?"

"Do I get to carry you to bed after we settle them in?"

"Are you propositioning me Maxwell?"

Max stood up and extended his hand to Fran.

"As a matter of fact Sweetheart, I was hoping to do more than just proposition you tonight."

"Oh Mister Shef-field! You’re making me blush!"

Fran opened the front hall closet and removed a Victoria’s Secret bag from it and dangled it’s contents in front of her husband.

Max’s mouth hung open and he wiped it with the back of his hand as he hurried over to the twins playpen.

"Come on then, let’s get these two upstairs."

Jonah stirred sleepily as his mother gathered him into her arms and started up the stairs. Max was one step ahead carrying Eve.

"Have I told you lately how lucky I am to have you as my wife?"

"Yeah but keep doing it cause I never get tired of hearing you say it."

Fran and Max finished tucking in their youngest children and stood at the doorway for a moment, looking at them lying peacefully in their cribs. Moonlight softly illuminated the room as Fran blew them each a kiss.

"Sleep well my angels. Mommy and Daddy love you very much."

The door to the twins bedroom was closed halfway and soon the sounds of the elder Sheffields laughing and splashing could be heard faintly from the direction of the jaccuzzi.

A pair of bright brown eyes twinkled in the light of a moonbeam.

"Hey Jonah are you asleep?"

"Huhhhhh……Sort of….."

"I think tomorrow would be a good time ta start showing Emily how ta control her parents. We’ve got our work cut out for us considering who her parents are. I thought we’d start with ‘how to use crying to get what you want’ and if she catches on quick, we’ll move on to ‘mastering facial expressions to obtain attention.’ What do you think?"

"Jonah? ….. Jonahhhhhh?"

"Guess he fell asleep. Oh well Gramma Sylvia says that I’ve inheirited "The Power" of the Fine women. With me giving her my personal guidance, the sky’s the limit for Emily. Look out world, here we come!"

Evie snuggled up to her stuffed tiger and smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and began to fall asleep. Tomorrow would bring exciting new adventures for the youngest Sheffields.

Thanks to my "e friends" Sabine, Caryn and to Kate M. who cajoled, convinced, prodded and encouraged me to complete my first fan fic and then to attempt this V7 episode. Without the continuous motivation they've provided for me, I wouldn't have had the nerve to try my hand at it. Thanks also to Kate M. for being brave enough to meet me in person for the first time recently and for being such a gracious hostess and traveling companion. I had a really great time Kate. So where do we go next? ;-)

So wha'd ya think? Any good? Be sure
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7.25 Like Father, Like Daughter? by Meg When Andrew Lloyd Webber moves to California, the Sheffield house is turned upside down. Grace falls for his son & Max's sitcom suddenly has some competition!

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