Hi, it's me again. Sorry about putting this off for so long! The truth is that I'm not too great at writing and I find it difficult. I just want MOAR content! Here's the story continued, as best I can remember.

"What?!" Sam exclaimed. "For… for what?"

"So, there's like some kinda space… deal? And there's new, science-y critters in space? That you guys would know about? Uhhhh, I think one of you nerds better talk to her."

"Can I?" Flint asked excitedly, his mouth full of another bite of food. "Can I, can I? Pweeeeeth?"

The blonde meteorologist shot her husband the look. "Brent, I better get it."

After a few minutes, and Opal having a very heated conversation with her brother, Cal, about what a "space deal" meant exactly and where Great Britain was located in the world, Sam came back into the room, her eyes alight.

"Okay, guys, Brent pretty much had it! Apparently, the United Kingdom is starting to experiment with space travel and discovered what might be foodimals in outer space. If it's true, it's a scientific marvel, a groundbreaking discovery! And also they would need to be re-homed, since they're living right in the path of the space equipment. As it is, they are approaching the International Space Station, but our country, sadly, isn't really interested in space travel these days."

Flint took a serious look in his eyes and leaped up on the table, arching over and leaning on his hands. "Sam, are you serious?" He asked quietly, his eyes twinkling. "Because if so, your rocket plans would be PERFECT! Oh, this is going to be so much FUN! Nicky is going to SPACE! We're ALL going to SPACE! This is the greatest –"

"Actually, Flint, I… I don't think it's a good idea for Nicky to go." She thought for a minute, about the first time they had met any food in space… the food genetically engineered to protect the FLDSMDFR, even if it went looking for their blood. She gulped before continuing. "And that means that, well," Sam offered her husband a sympathetic look, "I don't think you can go either."

The whole party deflated, and Flint's eyes welled up with tears. He suddenly found it very hard to wolf down his breakfast, and looked away from the table.

"A scientiriffic expedition without Flint? It just ain't happenin'!" Earl cried.

"Whaaaaat Sam? But we NEED all nerds on deck!" Brent argued. Barb nodded at this.

"The mission wouldn't be the same without him," she said.

"But Mommy, I do wanna go to space though," Nicky's eyes filled with tears, too.

"Look, I'm sorry, sweethearts."

Tim offered up the best thing he knew: advice and a helping hand. "Well, if it's a matter of keeping the little skipper safe, well, I, I can do that. I don't need to go to space and can't really help with all that techno stuff."

"Well," Sam came around the table and put one hand on the brown-haired inventor's shoulder, and used her other hand to guide his chin to look at her, "every time that you've been on a major adventure, you've either gotten seriously hurt or almost killed. Remember your punctured lung and pneumonia? You were in the hospital for months after that. I can't afford to lose you. Nicky needs you… I need you." She punctuated this last thought with another kiss, landing it on his forehead.

"That was years ago…this isn't fair," he grumbled.

"Look, it's not like we can't ever go to space again. We just need to make sure that these foodimals are okay, and then we can go back. I already have the rocket blueprints, and we can just work from those."

Flint perked up immediately. He had an idea… hmm, but better not let Sam know. He'd be in trouble for sure. "Okay," he agreed.

"Here, let's perk ourselves up! After we finish our breakfast, and I take a shower, we can all go to the beach and play with the foodimals… okay?"

"YAYYY!" Nicky and Opal clasped hands and jumped up and down as they cheered.