Natalie rolled over and opened her eyes. Weird, she didn't recongise that side table, and -
She sat up and looked around, confused. Where the heck was she? This wasn't her room...
Then it all came back to her. She had come over to Taylor's, and his alterego had gone outta control, and she had used her power on him for much longer all up than she normally would... She must be there still.
As she got up, she noted she was still wearing her clothes she had put on that morning. Just adding some credence to her theory. She walked stepped out of the door and started heading towards the kitchen. Or at least that's where she thought she was heading, having not explored every part of their house before. Well, sooner or later she was bound to bump into Isaac or Taylor - which was her ultimate goal.
Taylor
"Hey Nat," Taylor greeted when she appeared in the doorway to the kitchen as he was cooking dinner.
"I hope you don't mind. I called your parents and Tony and told them you fell asleep. We weren't sure if it was a good idea to wake you up or not, so..."
Natalie
Natalie nodded, enjoying the smell of Taylor's cooking.
"Okay, thanks," she said. "Wait... you spoke to my parents?"
Taylor
Taylor hesitated in what he was doing, then looked up at her.
"Yeah," he said.
"And apparently... they recognised my voice."
He gave her a teasing smile.
Natalie
"Okay... yeah... you've spoken to them before, huh?" Natalie replied. "Sorry... previous ranting still locked in head. What's food? It smells nice."
Taylor
"No, I hadn't actually spoken to them before," Taylor shook his head as he started cutting up vegetables for a salad.
"And it's just a roast dinner, nothing special. Ike's in the music room as you can hear."
He nodded in the general direction.
"But I'll bet he isn't actually working on anything musical."
Natalie
"Oh, okay, sorry," Natalie replied. "For some reason I was thinking that you has spoken to them when I got the job. So how'd they recongise your voice then? And since when is a roast dinner nothing special? What? You have them every night? And I find it ironic that Ike may not be actually working on anything musical in the music room."
Taylor
"What are you all of a sudden? You go from mush to my interrogator," Taylor teased, throwing a bit of lettuce in her direction.
"And I don't know how they recognised my voice. I should be asking you that. As for dinner, I meant it as nothing extravagant. Ike's more than likely working on a book with 'musical accompaniment' as he calls it."
Natalie
Natalie giggled, picking up the lettuce.
"Sorry," she said. "Well, thanks for letting me sleep. And thanks for the lovely smell of dinner. My goodness, what time is it?"
She glanced at the clock.
"Egads, I've been here for hours! Well, I suppose that stands to reason as it was lunch time when I got here and now it's dinner time, but yeah."
Taylor
"You don't have to eat now if you don't want to," Taylor offered, sneaking pieces of the salad into his mouth every now and then.
"I'll just make up a plate and keep it in the microwave for a while. How hungry are you?"
Natalie
"Oh, I'm hungry," Natalie assured him. "Don't put that lovely roast dinner in the nuker, would ruins it."
Then she coindered what she said.
"Okay, watched Lord of the Rings too many times if I'm starting to say things like Gollum."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
"I would say so," he said, pushing the salad plate across in front of her so she could pick at it before going to check on the meat.
"Not too long now," he sighed.
Natalie
"Nifty," Natalie replied.
She started picking at the salad plate.
"You're a good cook," she said in an observational tone. "You're going to make some lucky woman a good husband one day."
Taylor
"Well thankyou," Taylor smiled.
"Though at the rate I'm going that won't be for a good many years yet."
Natalie
"I said 'one day'," Natalie replied, also smiling.
She began munching on some lettuce.
Taylor
"I know," Taylor nodded.
He hesitated for a moment, before beginning to get some plates and cutlery together. Once he'd put them on the dining table, he came back for the salt and pepper shakers.
"Can you go and tell Ike that dinner's almost done? I don't know how long it'll take for him to finish off whatever he's doing."
Natalie and Isaac
"Sure," Natalie replied.
She hopped up and made her way to the music room. She didn't bother knocking on the door, just let herself in - and it was much louder in there. Isaac had at least half of the instruments playing, while he was sitting back, typing away furiously on his laptop.
"Coming to a suspensful part, are we?" Natalie asked loudly to be heard over the music.
Isaac visably jumped, the instruments fell out of motion and the music came to a halt.
"Ooh, sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
Isaac looked up at her.
"That's okay... yeah..." he looked around, and chuckled. "I didn't realise I was so into it. Have a nice sleep?"
"Yep. Was it?"
"Was what?"
"A suspensful part? It sounded like suspensful music."
"Heh, yeah it was a bit."
"Sorry to break your train of thought."
"It's okay."
"Taylor wanted me to tell you that dinner's almost done."
"Okay great. I'll just pack up here."
"Okay."
Natalie trotted back to the kictchen.
"He's just packing up. i'm afraid I gave him a bit of a start."
Taylor
"He probably deserved it," Taylor chuckled.
"He should know not to completely cut himself off from reality when it gets to this time of night."
After setting the table, he'd set to cutting up the meat.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie giggled.
"Mmmm... food..." Isaac said, walking in. "Hi Nat, long time no see."
"Oh, yes. So every long. It's been what? 2 minutes?" Natalie grinned.
Isaac chuckled.
Taylor
"Just a sec."
Taylor quickly finished cutting the meat, put the dishes in the sink, and then carried the meat tray out to the table.
"Who wants a drink?" he offered.
Natalie and Isaac
"Yes, please," Natalie said.
"Dr Pepper, thanks Tay," Isaac replied.
"Ugh. I can't believe you like that stuff."
"What?"
"It tastes like cough medicine."
"Maybe I like cough medicine."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, heading over to the kitchen area again.
"Well we have that, water... I think we have orange juice... and lemonade. What would you like, Nat?"
Natalie and Isaac
"Try the Dr Pepper. Oh, i'm sorry, the cough medicine," Isaac grinned.
Natalie poked her tounge out at him.
"I'll have some lemonade," she said. "I don't think that orange juice would go with a roast."
Taylor
Taylor smirked before fetching their preferred drinks.
That done, he retrieved a small bowl from the cabinet and took it back to the table with him. He proceeded to fill it with salad and leave it to the side.
"Will you do the honours?" he looked at Isaac.
Natalie and Isaac
"Sure," Isaac replied.
He bowed his head.
"Dear heavenly father, we thank you Lord for this food that we're going to eat. We ask that you bless it to our bodies, and bless Taylor's hands for preparing it, Lord. We also thank you for Natalie's company tonight. In Jesus' name, amen."
"Amen," Natalie replied, smiling.
Taylor
"Amen," Taylor grinned, then sighed.
"Let's eat!"
Isaac and Natalie
"Yay, food," Isaac said childishly.
Natalie giggled and got stuck into her plate.
Isaac grinned, and he too started attacking his food.
Taylor
"You're welcome to call your parents after dinner," Taylor offered between mouthfuls, looking at Natalie.
"Or you can just spend the night. I did warn Tony that we might call on him tonight."
Natalie and Isaac
"Oh, umm..." Natalie said. "Yeah sure..."
"You're gonna call your parents? Or stay the night?" Isaac asked with a teasing grin.
"Well, I don't have anything to do tomorrow... I could... if you wanted me too..."
Taylor
Taylor shrugged.
"It's up to you," he insisted, "the room's there if you want it. I told your parents I wasn't sure what you'd want to do."
Natalie and Isaac
"C'mon, stay," Isaac coaxed. "We can have a Austin Powers marathon."
"Austin Powers? I might go home then," Natalie replied.
"Okay, no Austin Powers then."
"Heh, okay, sounds like a plan. I should still call my parents and let them know."
"Good idea."
Taylor
"Thank God you said no to that," Taylor rolled his eyes, in reference to Austin Powers.
"You can call them after dinner. Just use the house phone," he offered.
Isaac and Natalie
"Thanks," Natalie replied.
"Aww, what's wrong with Austin Powers?"
"One word, Ike: Shagadelic."
Taylor
"Don't gethim started," Taylor warned, seriously for once.
"I beg of you. I'll have to put up with it all week and longer."
Natalie and Isaac
"Okay sorry. Besides I can sum up what's wrong with that series in another, much more fitting word."
"Oh?"
"Everything."
"Hey. I like Austin!"
"Yes, Ike. This is why Taylor gets the girls."
Taylor
Taylor almost choked on his food, but eventually managed to swallow it.
"There you go," he laughed.
"Though I will admit to liking Austin before the impersonations got out of hand."
Isaac and Natalie
"Well, ruin my theory, why don't you?" Natalie replied, but there was a grin on her face.
"I get girls," Isaac defended.
"Yeah, but the majority of Hanson fans fawn over Taylor."
Isaac paused, then asked micheviously: "Do you?"
Taylor
"Not always," Taylor defended, concentrating on eating all of a sudden to try and hide his blush.
"And she'll get enough of that from Zac, eventually."
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac chuckled.
"Heck yes. I can't wait to tell him."
"Have I missed something?" Natalie asked.
"Don't worry. You'll soon get the idea."
"I've totally missed something."
Taylor
Taylor's eyes darted between them before he swallowed what was in his mouth.
"Nevermind," he insisted.
"But let it be known that subtle hints from our younger brother are hardly ever subtle."
Isaac and Natalie
"Well, that's because you're guys," Natalie replied.
"Are you disparaging us because of our gender?" Isaac asked with a mock gasp.
"No. I'm sure you guys are good at something that women aren't. Can't think of anything at the moment..." Natalie winked.
"Ha ha."
Taylor
"I can be subtle!" Taylor defended.
"I just haven't had to be subtle for a long time."
Natalie and Isaac
"I never said that you can't be, I said that you weren't very good at it," Natalie replied.
"I know something we're better at!" Isaac beamed suddenely.
"Yeah?"
Isaac took a swig of his Dr Pepper, pulled a few faces, then burped out "Hello".
Taylor
Taylor rolled his eyes.
"That's mainly Zac's forte," he said, attempting to get back to his meal.
Natalie and Isaac
"True, and he's much better at it than I am," Isaac replied. "But who do you think he got it from, eh? I wasn't always the charming fellow you seen before you."
"There's only one charming fellow at this table, Ike, and it ain't you," Natalie replied.
Taylor
Taylor raised his eyebrows, swallowing what he had in his mouth before replying.
"You're only saying that because I cooked dinner, aren't you?" he teased.
Natalie and Isaac
"Yes," Natalie replied. "You should never bite the hand that feeds you."
Isaac laughed at that.
Taylor
"Wise words," Taylor pointed his fork at her.
Then he looked to Isaac.
"Watch and learn."
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac poked his tongue and began scraping the last of the food off his plate.
"I can't believe you're done already," Natalie said.
"Not done. Still all this lovely gravy left," Isaac observed, reached for a piece of bread. "Mmm."
Taylor
"And there'll be plenty of leftovers if you want it for lunch tomorrow," Taylor observed.
"And then, bro, it is your turn to cook."
Isaac and Natalie
"I can cook," Isaac said. "I'm a master at cooking."
"Oh yeah?" Natalie challenged.
"Yeah. And you're just going to have to sleep over again another night so you can taste my fabulous cooking."
"Okay then, I will."
"Good."
Taylor
"And don't you dare tell Zac it was my idea," Taylor ordered, pointing a dirty knife in his brother's direction as he stood from the table.
"This is between you two."
Isaac and Natalie
"I won't have to. Even if I told Zac it were my idea he'd still pin it on you. Since when did Zac let facts get in the way?" Isaac asked.
Natalie chuckled.
Taylor
"Well thankyou for that," Taylor said sarcastically.
"As to that, you can do the dishes. Come on."
He grabbed his plate and the salad and took them over to the bench.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac gave a mock sigh.
"Okay, fine," he said.
And from where he was sitting, he poked his tongue out in concentration, plugged the sink, turned on the hot water tap, opened the cupoaboard and pulled out the detergent. Natalie laughed.
"You do that often?"
"Yep. It's a little tricky because from here I can only see part of it, and none of it had a strong smell or sound, so part of it is feeling it out with my telekinesis, and knowing the place so well."
"Huh, cool. Could make you a little lazy though."
"Naw, I work out."
"Well, that's good."
"Sometimes I workout and write and play all at the same time."
Taylor
"It just makes him get bored easier," Taylor shrugged, before grabbing the bowl of salad he'd put aside.
"Back in a moment."
He headed for his room.
Isaac and Natalie
"Well, makes sense - when you can do everything at once, what's left for you to do when you're done?" Natalie replied.
"This is why I'm a creative person," Isaac nodded. "When there's nothing left to do I make stuff up."
Natalie laughed.
Taylor
Taylor returned a moment later, less the bowl.
"I've left the door open," he informed them, "so watch your feet when you walk."
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay," Isaac nodded.
"Watch my feet for what?" Natalie inquired.
She cleaned off her plate, put down her knife and fork and pushed it aside.
Taylor
Taylor gave her an odd look for a moment.
"Oh," he began when he realised she didn't know.
"I have fuzzles. Five, in fact."
Isaac and Natalie
"Oh wow!" Natalie exclaimed. "That's so cool. Can I see them?"
Isaac lifted Natalie's plate and took it over to the sink to wash it.
"Anyone want dessert? I can organise it while you're showing off your fuzzles, if you want, Tay."
Taylor
"Ah... sure," Taylor's eyebrows rose.
He indicated for Natalie to stand and follow him down the hallway.
"Of course they're eating, so we can't play with them just yet."
Natalie
"That's okay," Natalie smiled. "I always wanted a fuzzle."
She followed Taylor to his room.
Taylor
Taylor poked his head around the doorway to make sure they didn't tread on any of them, before nodding to Natalie and stepping through.
He went to kneel down next to them, quickly explaining that Natalie had wanted to meet them. A few excited squeaks followed before they got back to their food.
"Flavian is the father of this lot, Meena the mother," Taylor pointed them out.
"The cubs are Mya, Xanthe and Dorian."
Natalie
Natalie knelt down.
"Hi," she said in an eager, cutsy voice. "Oh aren't they gorgeous?"
Taylor
Taylor smiled at her enthusiasm as Mya finished up her portion of the dinner.
She shook herself a little, then ran over to Taylor's kneecap and cuddled herself into it.
"'Mya' is Hawaiian for emerald," Taylor explained, scratching the fuzzle on the head.
"Avie and Mac each own one of the cubs too."
Natalie
"Oh, cool," Natalie replied.
She lifted her hand, then hesitated.
"May I pat her?"
Taylor
"Sure," Taylor smiled.
Not without a few grunts from the fuzzle, Taylor lifted her into his hand. He cooed to her a little, before holding her out between them.
"This one particularly likes to be scratched on the head," he offered, "but if you do it for too long she'll fall asleep."
Natalie
"Okay," Natalie replied.
There was no mistaking the joy and excitement in Natalie face as she held Mya and scratched her head gently.
"She's adorable."
Taylor
Dorian and Xanthe had soon had their fill as well, and while Dorian began to annoy his mother between scratching at an itch, Xanthe waddled over and started climbing up Taylor's thigh.
He eventually helped her up to his shoulder, still keeping his eye on Mya.
"If they weren't such a close bunch by now I'd offer for you to have one," he admitted, "but they've been together too long now."
Natalie
"That's okay," Natalie replied.
She grinned.
"I can always play with them when I come over... if that's okay..."
Taylor
"Of course you can," Taylor almost scorned.
"I just wasn't sure if you'd mind. They can always keep us company while you work if you want."
Natalie
"Of course I don't mind," Natalie replied. "I've love it."
She held Mya up closer.
"They have such beautiful bright fur, don't they?"
Taylor
"The healthier, the brighter," Taylor shrugged, tapping Dorian away from Meena so she could finish eating in peace.
"I just try and take good care of them. I've had Flavian for years now. Since he was just a cub himself."
Natalie
"You must take wonderful care of them, then," Natalie replied. "Hmm, I think she's starting to get sleepy... better put her down."
Natalie moved her hand to the floor, and stopped - if reluctantly - scratching Mya's head.
Taylor
"I try," Taylor shrugged, watching her.
He heard Xanthe yawn in his ear, and reached up to put her down with Mya.
"It's almost their bedtime anyway," he sighed.
Natalie
"Okay," Natalie said. "Do they sleep a lot?"
Taylor
"Average I guess," Taylor tilted his head, considering.
"They're curteous enough when they're awake during the night to stay quiet. I just have to make sure I close the door so no one has to worry about squashing them in the dark."
Natalie
Natalie nodded.
"Sounds like my make very good pets," she observed, standing up carefully.
Taylor
"Well I'm not sure if they're as curteous to those who can't communicate with them," Taylor shrugged, "I don't think they'd know to be. But most would if they knew to."
He stood up as well as Xanthe and Mya started playing together.
"Shall we go see what Ike's done to the kitchen?" he offered.
Natalie
Natalie grinned.
"Okay," she said. "Oooh, sounds ominous... What could have Ike done to the kitchen? Dun, dun dunnnnn..."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, before following her from the room. He left the door open again as they made their way out into the dining area.
"So what's for dessert?" he asked as he headed for the table.
Isaac and Natalie
"You are about to witness the marvel of my cooking," Isaac said solomnly. "Ta da!"
He gestured to the table where there were three bowls. Natalie looked at the one where she had been sitting.
"It's ice cream," she said. "The marvel of your cooking?"
"Hey, what do you expect when you're only gone for ten minutes?"
Taylor
Taylor rolled his eyes again.
"This is generally why I do a lot of the cooking," he chuckeld, picking up his spoon.
"That and boredom."
Isaac and Natalie
"What did you expect me to do?" Isaac asked. "I could have put on that apple pie we have in the freezer, but it takes 20 minutes."
"Ice cream is fine," Natalie replied. "And I love all the crushed nuts, sprinkled and chocolate topping you have here. You really go all out with your ice cream, huh?"
"Yes indeedy."
Taylor
"Of course he had to at least try to impress after my work with dinner," Taylor chuckled.
"I'll bet if you weren't here I wouldn't have even gotten ice cream. Let alone with topping."
Isaac and Natalie
"Is this true?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah, I would have made him get his own dessert," Isaac nodded.
Natalie laughed.
Taylor
"See?" Taylor nodded.
"Underappreciated. That's me."
Isaac and Natalie
"Aww, poor Taylor," Natalie said. "Ike, why don't you appreciate your brother more?"
"I do appreciate him," Isaac replied. "I just don't like to show it all the time. Otherwise it might go to his head."
"I see. So you're trying to keep him humble?"
"Yes, exactly."
Taylor
Taylor couldn't help but chuckle, trying not to laugh with his mouth full.
"The big question is... would you say it works?" his eyebrows rose once he swallowed.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie giggled, wondering how Isaac planned on answering that.
"It's hard to tell," Isaac replied. "There are so many other forces at work also trying to make sure Taylor stays humble."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, before putting his spoon down and pushing his chair back a little.
"True," he mumbled.
Isaac and Natalie
"See now, I think you should try doing the opposite," Natalie nodded. "See, if there are too many forces trying to keep Taylor humble, then you might instigate an inferiority complex. You don't want an insecure brother do you?"
Isaac chuckled.
"Maybe I do," he joked. "No, just kidding."
Taylor
"Gee, thanks," Taylor mumbled.
He looked around for a moment, then got up to take his bowl into the kitchen.
Isaac and Natalie
"Aww, I think you hurt his feelings," Natalie replied.
"Ahh, Tay knows I was only joking, don'tcha Tay?" Isaac called into the kitchen.
Taylor
"Of course," Taylor replied.
"Just not very tactfully tonight."
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay," Isaac nodded. "Sorry."
Natalie finished off her bowl of ice cream.
"So... you guys planning on doing anything exciting tonight?"
Taylor
"I'm under house arrest, and you're using the term 'exciting' in relation to our night activities," Taylor's eyebrows rose.
"I see a problem here..."
Isaac and Natalie
"What?" Natalie asked. "I mean, y'know, are you going play some music, or watch a DVD or something..."
"You were using the term faceiously," Isaac said.
"Yes, that."
Taylor
Taylor looked in Isaac's direction.
"We hadn't really planned to," he shrugged.
"Bu I guess we could... It's either that or TV."
Isaac and Natalie
"Oh, don't let me interfere with, umm, whatever it is you usually do after dinner," Natalie said. "I was just asking..."
"It's okay," Isaac replied. "You are our guest. The least we can do is provide you with some entertainment.'
Taylor
"Well that highly depends on what form of entertainment," Taylor couldn't help but chuckle.
"But it shouldn't be a problem. What do you want to do?"
Isaac and Natalie
"Well, umm, I don't know... What do you want to do?" Natalie asked.
"I don't know. What do you want to do?" Isaac answered.
Natalie raised her eyebrows.
"This could go on for awhile."
"Noooo you're supposed to say 'I don't know. What do you want to do?'."
"Yes, I know that Ike," Natalie replied. "And right now I'm finding it scary that I knew that's where you were going with it. I have so been hanging around you guys too long."
Isaac laughed.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled again.
"Or maybe just Ike," he winked.
Isaac and Natalie
"Which is weird, because I spend more time with you than I do with Ike," Natalie replied.
"Or do you," Isaac replied, evilly.
"Or maybe it just means that you're contagious. Like a disease."
"Hey!"
Taylor
Taylor laughed.
"It still doesn't solve the 'what are we going to do?' question," he pointed out.
Isaac and Natalie
"This is true," Isaac replied.
"Whatever you guys want to do is fine with me," Natalie replied.
"Sky dive?"
"Very funny."
Taylor
"Well we can either bum around watching DVDs or cable, or we can do something productive," Taylor shrugged.
Isaac and Natalie
"Bum around! Why do anything productive if you don't have to?" Isaac beamed.
Natalie giggled.
"Hey, do you have Lord of the Rings? We could have a marathon."
"Yeah, sure it only goes for 12 hours," Isaac chuckled.
Taylor
"And yet you were the one complaining about watching it too much," Taylor raised his eyebrows at her.
"But if you insist, I'm up for it. And I vote popcorn."
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"Yeah, I do... help I'm addicted," she said.
"Hmm, well, maybe we should try and cure you of the addiction," Isaac suggested.
"But, but why? Then we'd have to think of something else to do."
"Point. I'll make the popcorn. Lots of it."
Taylor
"Great," Taylor grinned.
"I'll set it up."
He made his way into the livingroom and found the DVDs, before beginning to move the furniture around to clear floorspace.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac got up and started fishing out the popcorn and the popcorn maker. Before long the kitchen was filled with the noise of the popcorn maker.
Natalie wandered into the living room.
"Can I help with anything?" she asked.
Taylor
"Ah..." Taylor stopped to think.
"Maybe grab some pillows and blankets? Just the pillows from the beds - watch out for the fuzzles, the door's open - and there's blankets in the cupboard in the hallway."
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay," Natalie replied.
She left and headed back towards the bed rooms and the cupboard where Taylor said the blankets would be.
Isaac brought out some bottles of drink and cups, and then headed back into the kitchen to keep an eye on the popcorn. When the bowl was full, he put in another lot.
Taylor and Natalie
Taylor finally moved the coffee table over to a corner before getting down to turn the TV on. He found the right remotes and put the first DVD in before going to turn off the lights.
When Natalie returned, he helped her spread out the blankets.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie plopped down the pillows and then curled up with one.
Soon Isaac was coming out with the popcorn, buttered and salted.
"I can make some more later if we decide we want some," he said.
And he settled down on the floor too.
Taylor
"Ready?" Taylor asked.
Without waiting for an answer, he made himself comfortable on the other side of Natalie and pressed 'play'.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie put the bowl of popcorn in front of her. Because she was in the middle, it meant that everyone would be able to reach it. Isaac reached in after Natalie and took a handful, munching on it as Gandulf and Frodo rode down the road in the cart.
Taylor
Five hours later, and Taylor was already having trouble keeping his eyes open.
"Ike," he murmured from behind his arms, "I think we need more popcorn."
Isaac and Natalie
"Hmm, I think you're right," Isaac said. "Be right back."
He took the bowl and headed into the kitchen to make some more.
Natalie, who was lying on her stomach, moved her head around to face Taylor.
"I love these movies," she said.
Taylor
Taylor turned his head to the side and just looked up at her.
"I noticed," he smiled.
"But I hope this doesn't mean I get quotes and impersonations for however many coming weeks. I'll get enough of that from him."
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"Naw," she said. "I'm not the quoting and impersonations type. Except, y'know, when I pull a Gollum and say 'my precious' and 'ruins it' for whatever reason. But I don't do that very much. I love Sam. Sam's my favourite character. He's the real hero of the story. He's an integral part of the main plot of the story - which is destorying the One Ring, of course. And he gets the girl in the end."
Taylor
"Then you're lucky," Taylor teased, kicking her closest foot a little.
"Because otherwise I might have had to sack you."
Natalie
A silly expression crossed Natalie's face as she kicked Taylor's foot in return.
"Aww, you wouldn't do that to little ol' me, wouldja?"
Taylor
"Well when I have to live with a certain Isaac Hanson who think he's the master of all things impersonated..." Taylor began, wrapping his ankle around hers.
"Don't be surprised."
Natalie
"My impersonations are terrible anyway. I wouldn't inflict them on anyone," Natalie replied.
She rubbed Taylor's foot with her own.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, mainly to himself.
"I guess the main worry is it leaking into your natural vocabulary, like what happened earlier today," he said, not minding at all what she was doing.
Natalie and Isaac
"Yeah," Natalie agreed.
Isaac came back in then, with a nice full bowl of popcorn. He noticed Taylor and Natalie feet and grinned to himself at their game of footsie. Then he settled back down on the floor.
"Fresh popcorny goodness," he said, wondering whether he should make some comment.
Taylor
"Awesome," Taylor ethused, reaching over and digging his hand in almost immediately.
He spilled some, but figured he'd pick it up later.
Natalie and Isaac
"Mmm," Natalie said, munching on some popcorn. "You put in just the right amount of salt, Ike."
"Always aim to please," Isaac replied.
Taylor
"Yet not always succeeds," Taylor rhymed.
He grabbed another handful of popcorn, making a pile in front of him so he didn't have to reach to get it when he settled down onto his side again.
Natalie and Isaac
"Can't please everyone all the time," Isaac replied.
Okay he had to comment. What comment should he make? Hmmm...
"This is true," Natalie nodded. "But this time, he has. Yum yum."
Taylor
"But does it rival my dinner-making skills?" Taylor winked.
"I don't think so. Go the sibling rivalry when it comes to food."
Isaac and Natalie
"Maybe not the popcorn making," Isaac said. "But I bet I can make a meal to rival yours and get bonus points for heigine and presentation."
"Let me guess, you plan on doing it all telekinetically?" Natalie asked.
"Yep."
Taylor
Taylor flipped him the bird.
"At least you can't talk to the food before you eat it."
Then he turned to Natalie.
"Considered becoming vegetarian once. Didn't last long."
Isaac and Natalie
"Oh, I see," Natalie replied.
Isaac chuckled.
"I remember that," he said.
"Ooooh!" Natalie exclaimed. "I love this bit."
She focused her attentions on the movie.
Taylor
Taylor turned his attention the the TV and popcorn again. When that part was over, he glanced at his watch.
"Gee, only another 6 hours to go," he said sarcastically.
Isaac and Natalie
"At least we're still awake," Isaac grinned. "Wow, I haven't pulled an all nighter in ages."
Natalie's eyes were glued to the TV.
"I love watching the Ents beating eveyone up. The Ents rock."
Taylor
"We haven't had a reason to in a long time," Taylor murmured, eyes now fixed to the screen though they were indeed beginning to close.
"But we have to keep the guests happy, and she won't be sleepy for ages."
He kicked Natalie again.
Natalie and Isaac
"Hey," Natalie said softly.
"Hey what?" Isaac asked.
"Umm, nothing."
Isaac grinned to himself.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, before turning to eat more popcorn.
"Are we still going for the third part?" he yawned.
Natalie and Isaac
"Yes," said Natalie, returning to rubbing Taylor's foot with her own.
"Yeah, we've watched this much," Isaac added. "Besides, it'll give you guys more time to play footsie."
He stuffed some popcorn in his mouth to hide his grin.
Taylor
Taylor almost choked on what he had in his mouth, quickly reaching for his drink.
Once his throat had settled, he cleared it.
"No comment," he said, before he too continued eating popcorn to hide his embarrassment.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac managed to swallow his popcorn before cracking up laughing. Natalie, also a little embarrased but not wanting to show it, scoped up some popcorn and threw it at Isaac.
"Hey, don't waste perfectly good popcorn."
"Ten second rule," Natalie replied.
Taylor
"Bullseye," Taylor insisted.
Then he reached over across in front of Natalie, grabbing some of it and putting it straight into his mouth with a grin.
Isaac and Natalie
It settled down for a little while after that (and Isaac's teasing wasn't enough to stop Natalie from continuing to play footsie). DVDs were changed over. Then Isaac decided he wasn't done teasing them, and softly started to sing:
"Taylor and Natalie,
Lying on the floor
Playing footsie all the more
First come love,
Then comes marriage
Then comes the baby in the baby carriage!"
"Ike?"
"Yes Nat?"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"Doesn't that strike you as a childish thing to sing?"
"Well, I always sing and say childish stuff. And I was creative and changed the words. Because y'know, you are playing footsie on the floor and not K-I-S-S-I-N-G in a tree."
Taylor
"Duck for a second," Taylor warned.
When Natalie did as he asked, he leant over top of her and punched his brother in the arm.
"There's more where that came from if Zac finds out."
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac poked his tongue out at Taylor (and then rubbed his arm).
"And why don't you want Zac to find out? Because you know that he'll take this teasing to whole other heights?" Isaac asked, knowing that was exactly why. "Aww, but that's the whole point."
"Ike," Natalie said patiently. "Trying to watch a Lord of the Rings movie marathon here. Stop being juvinile."
Taylor
Taylor laughed in the 'I got one over you' way before settling down again.
"At the rate we're going we'll need more popcorn again soon," he grinned cheekily.
Isaac and Natalie
"Hmph, you just want me out of the room so you can canoodle," Isaac replied
"Canoodle?" Natalie repeated. "No one says 'canoodle' any more."
Taylor
"Don't mind him, he's just that old," Taylor smirked as the second movie ended, and he got up onto his hands and knees to change the DVD.
Isaac and Natalie
"I got it off Dad," Isaac replied defensively. "I just use it because I think it sounds funny. Canoodle. It's one of those words that sounds weird if you say it too many times. Canoodle. Canoodle. Canoodle, canoodle, canoodle."
"Can you knock it off?" Natalie asked.
She tapped his arm.
"Go make more popcorn, you."
Isaac stood and saluted.
"Yes ma'am!"
"Good attitude, keep it up."
Isaac grinned and returned to the kitchen with the popcorn bowl.
Taylor
"He just can't resist orders from girls," Taylor smirked.
He put the DVD in and then settled down beside Natalie again - his finger on the button on the remote to start it.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie chuckled.
"This has been fun," she said.
Isaac got another lot of popcorn cooking.
Taylor
"Only because you're here," Taylor insisted.
"If it was just the two of us we'd probably be at each others' throats by now."
Isaac and Natalie
"Aww," said Natalie. "I'm sure you guys get along better than that."
Whilst waiting for the kernals to start popping, Isaac decided to replenish the drinks in the lounge room as well, since they were low, if not out.
Taylor
"Only because we're way overtired," Taylor replied, with a yawn to prove it.
"Or maybe the sugar is helping too."
Natalie
"Ahh, I see," Natalie replied. "So you guys make great friends on tour, then?"
She grinned and then yawned too.
"Darn contagious yawning."
Taylor
"Ah, but on tour it's always about the music and the experience," Taylor pointed out.
"Here it's just boredom and trivial stuff."
Natalie
"Point taken," Natalie replied. "Mmm...one more movie to go... and then sleep. Assuming we don't fall asleep before the movie ends."
She rolled on her side and looked at Taylor.
Taylor
"Well put it this way," Taylor began, staring straight back at her.
"I wouldn't be willing to put money on not falling asleep before it's over."
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"Do you wanna have a contest to see who can stay up the longest?" she asked mischeviously.
Taylor
"No," Taylor insisted.
"Because you'll win it. You're the one who slept all afternoon and evening."
Natalie
"Yeah, but I was sleeping off another lot of fatigue. Oh okay, yeah, I probably would. Hmph. Take all the fun out of it," Natalie replied.
She reached over and tapped Taylor's nose.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, leaning back a little.
"You're very playful tonight too," he observed, "you're definitely more awake."
Natalie
"Nah, it just means I'm getting sleepy again," Natalie replied. "I get silly when I'm sleepy."
A worried look crossed her face.
"I didn't say or do anything embarrassing before, did I?"
Taylor
Taylor grinned.
"Are you sure you want to know?" he winked.
"But I won't let Ike use it as ammunition, don't you worry."
Natalie
Now Natalie was really worried.
"Okay, what did I do? No, don't tell me. No, tell me. I need to know..."
Taylor
"But you not knowing makes it more fun for us," Taylor teased, leaning his head on his left hand and smiling at her.
"But it wasn't that bad. You couldn't finish your lunch or anything though."
Natalie and Isaac
"Okay..." Natalie replied, an uncertain look on her face. "If you say so..."
Isaac came out then with another large load of popcorn.
"Alrightly then. Ready to press play," he said, then paused and added with a cheeky grin: "I hope I haven't interupted anything."
Taylor
Taylor picked up some popcorn that had been left on the floor and threw it at him.
"Bring on the food," he insisted, picking the remote up again and pressing play.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie immediately reached in and took a handful as the last movie began its run.
Isaac sat up, as he was drinking. And he noted that while footsie had ended, their feet were still entwined. He smiled to himself.
Taylor
Taylor threw the remote to the side before reaching for the popcorn himself.
Desperately trying not to yawn again, he swapped sides as he felt his arm tingling making him lean closer to Natalie.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie also rolled off her side and back onto her stomach, also bringing her closer to Taylor, (although her main intension was to see the movie better). There was only a few centimetres between them now.
Oblivious, Isaac drank and munched on popcorn as the movie played.
Taylor
A couple of hours into it, Taylor was definitely nodding off.
At one point, he finally had his eyes closed for so long, that when it came to a suspenseful part of the movie the music made him jump almost three inches.
"Damn!" he exclaimed, hiding his face.
Natalie and Isaac
"Ahh!" Natalie yelped, but more in response to Taylor's exclaimation than what was happening in the movie.
Isaac cracked up laughing and Natalie glared at him.
Taylor
"Sorry," Taylor couldn't help but laugh.
"How much longer have we got? I don't know how much longer I can stay conscious."
Natalie and Isaac
"We have about an hour or so to go," Natalie replied. "Less, I think."
Isaac yawned.
"And then we can go to bed. Or just conk out here on the floor, if we're too tired to go to all the effort of walking to our beds."
Taylor
"I'm with the latter," Taylor raised a hand.
Then he struggled to push himself up further so as to have a better chance of staying awake.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie rested her head back on the pillow (which in turn was resting on her hands). Isaac was leaning on the lounge behind.
"Bye bye Frodo!" Natalie waved sleepily as they got to that part in the movie. "Whiner."
"Whiner?" Isaac repeated.
"Yes. All he ever does in this movie is whine."
Taylor
"I'm going to start whining soon too," Taylor said.
"I feel like I'm dying."
Natalie and Isaac
"It's almost there," Natalie assured him. "Just a few more minutes..."
"Yeah see now that would have been a good spot to finish the movie, but oh no they have to go do one more scene," Isaac said.
"Stupid Tolkin. I blame him. His books rambled on and on and that's why the movie is so long and even then they still changed things and cut stuff out."
Taylor
"Yet Zac still convinced us to read them," Taylor mumbled.
"Come on. End already. Need sleep."
Natalie and Isaac
"I read them volunatrily," Natalie said.
There was quiet as the last scene finally unfolded and the movie, at long last, ended.
"Yay, Sam got the girl in the end," she mumbled.
Isaac yawned, and looked at the remote.
"Too far away..."
Taylor
Taylor gave him a subtle glare, before leaning over to grab it.
He turned the TV off, then threw it down.
"At long last, goodnight!" he declared.
Isaac and Natalie
"Goodnight," Isaac echoed, making himself comfortable.
"Nighty night," Natalie replied. "See you in the morning. Well, later in the morning. Or maybe the afternoon."
"Nat?"
"Yes, Ike?"
"Go to sleep."
" 'Kay."