Zac bopped excitedly as they drove past Disneyworld.
"You're more excited than Shep," Kate observed tiredly, finally having gotten Junia to settle down again.
"I love this place," Zac chuckled, leaning over to kiss his wife on the cheek. "Glad to be almost done?"
"I like being on the road," Kate smiled. "But yes. I'm very much looking forward to being back in our own bed."
"Well, hopefully this hotel will have a good bed," he replied. "My back is still cramped."
The bus pulled up at the hotel and Zac cheered quietly, careful not to wake Junia again. He helped Shepherd up and headed off the bus, stretching his legs.
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"Here we are!" Isaac announced as he pulled into the parking lot.
Taylor fell into the seat beside him, watching where they were going.
"We made pretty good time," he reasoned.
"I think Zac lead-footed it a bit at the start," Isaac mused, "because it's better than 'pretty good'."
Once the bus pulled to a stop, Taylor retreated to help get the kids organised.
~*~
"Got everything guys?" Nikki looked between her charges.
"Yes Auntie Nikki," River and Ezra chorused, Everett just nodding.
"Great, let's get settled into the hotel and then you know what!"
"YAY!" Everett exclaimed, running off the bus after Zac.
Kate, Zac & Shepherd
Kate carried Junia carefully off the bus and looked up at the hotel.
"I'll check us in," she said to Zac, who was starting with bags.
Shepherd hung by his mothers side, rubbing his eyes.
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
"Everyone out! Let's go!" Taylor announced in his business voice.
He waited as everyone filed off, before Isaac went to open the bottom compartment to pull out their luggage.
"I want my Minnie case!" Penny announced, running around behind her Uncle.
"Here you go," Isaac handed it to her.
She made to follow Kate, but Taylor put his hand on her head to stop her.
"Wait here honey," Natalie insisted, "everyone goes in at once."
Isaac continued handing out bags before Taylor helped him close the door. Then they moved onto the second bus to do the same thing.
Kate, Zac & Shepherd
Kate came out ten minutes later, holding everyone's room card-keys. She went over to help Zac with the bags and their kids.
"Thanks, babe," Zac kissed her cheek, before coming back to wrangling all of their equipment.
Kate went over to Natalie to hand over their key-card and then went to give Nikki theirs.
Nikki, Natalie, Isaac, Taylor, menagerie
"Thanks K," Nikki smiled, slipping it into a pocket as she grabbed the bag Isaac handed her.
"Everyone stay together," Natalie insisted, indicating for Ezra to help her with River, Monroe, Viggo, Everett and Penny.
"When do we get to go to the park?" he asked.
"Once we're settled we'll head over. Your Dad needs to get ready for his show."
"Alright, that's it!" Isaac announced, closing the door as Taylor moved stuff out of the way, "everyone inside!"
"We're leaving the gear in the bus?"
"Might as well," Isaac shrugged to his brother, "only have to carry it down to the park anyway.
Kate, Zac & Shepherd
A little over an hour later, they were finally all sorted and ready to head out to Disneyworld. Kate had managed to give Junia and Shepherd quick baths, convinced Zac to have a proper shower, and had a quick shower herself. Funnily enough, it was Zac who argued the most about showering.
She strapped Junia into their back-carrier and Zac helped her ease it over her shoulders, with Shepherd bouncing excitedly as they made it down to the lobby to meet with the rest of the crew.
"Disneywooooorld!" Zac grinned.
Isaac, Nikki, Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
Isaac grinned when he spotted him.
"Just waiting on Taylor," he informed him.
"As usual," Nikki rolled her eyes.
"I swear, he was right behind me," Natalie insisted, "then we got in the elevator, and..."
She cut off as Taylor appeared with Viggo on his shoulders, from the stairwell door.
"What happened to you?" Nat asked incredulously.
"Missed the door," Taylor shrugged, "we ready to go?"
"All set," Isaac held up the bus keys, before starting to lead the way outside.
"So what's the plan?" Taylor caught up to him.
"We'll take all our gear down, suss out the venue, then see what we can do about getting some time in the park. Worse comes to worse we'll cover for you."
"Thanks," Taylor smiled.
Zac, Kate & Shepherd
"Leggoooo!" Zac grinned excitedly.
"Have we got everyone?" Kate said, looking around to double check.
Shepherd appeared by her side and smiled up at her. "I'm here, Mommy. Can I sit with Ez?"
"You sure can," Kate smiled.
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"When can we have cake?" Ezra asked.
"Always the first thing he asks on his birthday," Taylor shook his head.
"Not until tonight," Natalie insisted.
"Awww," he whined, but stepped forward and took Shepherd's hand.
Everett ran up to take his other hand.
"Mom?" Penny looked up at her, pink backpack on her back, "where's Auntie Avie?"
"I don't know hon'," Natalie suddenly looked confused, "Tay?!"
"Yo!" he turned as he walked.
"Weren't we supposed to meet Avery here?"
Taylor looked to Isaac for confirmation.
"I thought so," he shrugged.
"Zac?" Taylor checked.
Zac & Kate
"Um," Zac scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, she's meant to already be here. She flew from LA to here, Kate?"
"Yeah, she was going to do some sight seeing and shopping before we got here," Kate nodded. "That was the plan. I'll call her."
Kate dug her phone out of her pocket and dialled Avery, frowning when she got the message that it was out of range.
"Who else is with AT&T?" she asked, knowing most of them would be with their iPhones. "Mine's working, but it says Avie is outta service."
Zac checked his phone quickly. "Mine's working."
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
Viggo took the cue to start crying.
"Oh crap," Taylor knew the cry, and quickly ducked down so Isaac could help get him off his shoulders.
"I'll try," Nikki offered, quickly dialling Avery's number.
She paused, then shook her head.
"Taylor? Can you... call her?" Natalie asked pointedly.
Taylor looked between her and Viggo, but figured it would only take a second. Isaac rubbed his nephew's back.
"Avie?!" he called in his head.
Zac & Kate
Zac paused for a few second, usually when Taylor called, she spoke to all of them at once.
"Look, maybe she's just out of range," he said, though he knew the chance was slim. "I mean, her range hasn't been as good since she... got sick."
Kate threw him a worried look.
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
"When she could hear us from the station before, and she's supposed to be in the building now?" Isaac pointed out, "I don't like this."
Taylor shook his head.
"Last time this happened..." he trailed off, trying not to think about it.
He knelt down to Viggo.
"Vig', what did you see?"
Taylor waited until his son gathered his thoughts, then began to carefully interpret what he came out with. His face lost colour.
"Tay? What is it?" Natalie asked worriedly.
Shepherd, Zac & Kate
Picking up on the worried and upset vibes of the group, Shepherd started wailing.
"I got it," Zac said, swiftly lifting his son into his arms. "It's ok, buddy, it's ok."
He looked at Taylor, waiting for his brother to say something.
"She's ok, right?" Kate asked nervously.
Taylor, Isaac, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
Taylor hesitated, taking note of where they were. The lobby possibly wasn't the best place for this.
"Come outside to the buses," he insisted, looking between everyone.
He took Viggo's hand and led the party out.
"Well this can't be good," Nikki stated the obvious, but followed anyway.
Zac & Kate
"So much for her flight being delayed theory," Zac muttered, taking Kate's hand.
Kate bit her lip as they went out to the buses.
Taylor, Isaac, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
Taylor waited until they'd gathered around the front of the bus, quickly making sure no one else was around.
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face awkwardly.
"It's happened again," he shrugged, unsure of how else to say it, "she's not here. She hasn't been here for a few days."
Zac & Kate
"Well..." Zac rubbed his eyes. "I mean, how do we find her? We can't just..."
"I hate to suggest it," Kate bit her lip again. "But... that guy who showed up at the wedding? Didn't he find her before?"
"No," Zac shook his head. "No way. We are finding her before Christian. If he finds her before we do, I will literally burn him from the inside out."
He paused.
"Because she's our sister, and I love her."
Natalie, Nikki, Isaac, Taylor & menagerie
"Guys? What about my Dad?" Natalie suggested.
"I mean it's a long shot, but I could ask him to try. We'd just need to get something of hers to him."
"I could call Tony?" Taylor suggested.
"What does your Dad do?" Nikki asked, confused.
"He has a power called Finder," Natalie explained.
"I hate to say it, but if that doesn't work..." Isaac began cautiously, "she does have a strong telepathic connection to Chris. It might be something we have to try."
"Well we have no way of contacting him to begin with," Taylor pointed out, looking for Tony's number in his phone.
Zac & Kate
"That's not the only connection," Zac muttered. "Alright, let's try everything. If I have to bomb a country, I am getting my sister back."
Kate rubbed his back soothingly, before tending to Shepherd, who was upset at all of the emotions flying around.
"I miss Auntie Avie," Shepherd hiccupped.
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie & menagerie
Isaac and Taylor both looked at Zac in unison.
"Tony! Hey," Taylor was soon distracted, "are you free right now? We have a job for you..."
"I hate to be the one to point it out, but we're overdue at the park already," Isaac shook his head, then looked to Nat, "do you guys want to go on ahead while Zac and I head over with the gear?"
"I guess we could," Nat looked between the girls, "I mean we were going to split up anyway. But..."
"He's on it," Taylor said as he hung up, "he's going to pick up the harmonica she left at our place and head for your Dad's."
"I'd better call him," Nat realised, pulling out her own phone.
Zac & Kate
"It's fine, let's just get through the next two shows, there's not much we can do right now," Kate reasoned. "It sucks, but it's true."
Zac nodded, though he was frowning, his eyes deeply troubled. "Alright, let's get this stuff organised."
Isaac, Taylor, Nikki, Natalie, menagerie
"I'll help," Taylor insisted, starting to walk to the second bus.
"Tay? I think you should stay here," Isaac suggested, "it is Ezra's birthday."
Taylor locked eyes with his eldest, face immediately softening.
"I'll just help with the gear, but I'll stay with the group," he insisted, "you call me if they need me though."
"And you call if you hear anything," Isaac indicated where Nat was on the phone talking to her Dad.
Nikki made her way over and gave Isaac a hug.
"We promise, you'll be the first to know," she insisted, "she'll be okay, Ike."
"She'd better. They don't know who they're messing with," Isaac insisted.
He gave her a kiss on the cheek, before helping Zac move anything musical from one bus to the other for easy transport. Once they were done, Taylor led the wives and kids onto the empty bus and they were soon on their way to the park.