Author's Note: Remember, reviews equal more chapters!

~MC~MC~MC~

"Dil, gimme the rattle."

"NO!"

Tommy narrowed his eyes, staring down his baby brother, his hands on his hips as he adopted his best 'stern voice'. "Dil…"

"NO!" Dil exclaimed.

"Come on, we agreed that I should have the rattle for this part-"

"MINE!" he shouted, clutching the rattle to his check.

"…you are such a dork," Thomas 'Tommy' Pickles said with a laugh, rubbing his stubble-covered chin.

Dylan 'Dil' (but only if you were his friend because he was so tired of people making the 'Oh, Dill Pickles!' joke) Pickles smiled brightly. He'd long grown out of having his hair a big curly mess and now kept it in a nice buzz cut that let him look much more mature even while acting like a giant goof. "And proud of it, big brother, proud of it." Dil held up the rattle, which was made from a large yellow fruit with a tough waxy skin and had attacked to it a thick green stalk, and gave it a shake right in Tommy's face. "We all have our parts to play, you know that."

"Yeah, but I thought maybe this time I could be the one embarrassed. You know, like how it is funnier if the straight man gets hit by a pie?"

"Meh, that is 20th century thinking. Trust me, the goof ball getting slimed is funnier."

Tommy looked to his right, where the camera crew was handling the final touches. The sounds of the South American rainforest echoed around them and Tommy stepped forward, pushing a massive green leaf out of the way. In his left hand he held the bomber jacket that had become his standard look, waiting to put it on at the last possible moment due to the heat. Not for the first time he envied Dil for being able to get away with a Hawaiian shirt for his costume. "Kimi? What do you think?"

"No fair, you know she'll side with you!" Dil complained.

"Why? You think she can't be a fair judge?" Tommy asked.

"No, because you're her husband so she has to side with you! It's like… the law and stuff!"

"Don't stick me in the middle of this," Kimiko 'Kimi or Miko, depending on who you were' Pickles said, not bothering to look up from the script she was going over. The prop glasses she wore during filming were perched on top of her head and she had her lab coat draped over her free arm. "As long as I'm not the one holding the rattle… Tommy, don't even think about it… I don't care who has it."

Tommy threw his hands in the air. "Fine. Sue me for trying to be nice."

"I would but I have too much money as it is," Dil said with a grin as he made sure the rattle was ready for their scene. "Steph, what do you think… to the right or the left of Tommy?"

The Hispanic woman thought it over for a second before answering. "My right, your left. And we end with a final close up of you, Dylan, with Luke's camera, though I'll keep mine on all three of ya just in case Tom decides he'd prefer a wide shot." Hefting the heavy digital camera onto her shoulder Stephine 'Steph' Vega snapped to get the rest of her crew's attention. As the lead camera operator she was in charge of making sure they got every shot… especially ones like this, where setting up for a second take would mean an hour of work lost. Considering this was the last shot of the day she wanted it over and done with. She knew how particular Tommy could get about framing. "Alright people, this is the last shot of the season, let's make it count! If any of you camera monkeys goof this up I'll sic the babies on you!"

Just behind the cameras, sitting in a playpen that Kimi had set up, were said babies, who stopped playing with their Reptar dolls when they heard what Steph had said. "What does did Aunt Steph mean by that, Brian?" the 1 year old tot asked. "I don't see any monkeys and I'm not sick!"

"Think she wants us ta sneeze on them if they goof sup!" Brian, who was 18 months old and thus far wiser than his little friend, told him.

"But Mr. Nickels smells ucky. I don't want to sneezies on him!"

Brian considered this. Mr. Nickels did tend to smell like a diapie that had been left in the sun too long. Both babies still had nightmares of the time he'd tucked them both under his arms to carry them out of the mud puddle they'd found. His pitties had nearly made them pass out. "I'll sneezes on him then but you have to sneeze on both Mr. White and Mr. Morris."

"Deal!" Brian's little friend proclaimed.

Tommy raised his hand, signaling for quiet. Even the babies grew silent, watching as Tommy, Dil, and Kimi took their spots. Tommy slipped on his jacket while Lil made sure her glasses were straight and Dil threw a goofy grin on his face. "Alright, Scene 17 in 3…2…1…" Tommy watched for all the red lights to light up on the cameras before he began talking. "They say that music soothes the savage beast and that is as true in the city as it is in the jungle! One of the tradition musical instruments of the Modingo is the Fruit Rattle. Dating back over a thousand years, fathers pass down the making of these jungle grown instruments to their sons, seeing it as a rite of passage."

"That's right!" Dil said, jumping in front of Tommy and shaking the rattle. Tommy adopting a mild look of annoyance, playing along with his televised persona of being the slightly uptight big brother to Dil's goofy little brother. In actuality Dil and him had worked on the script for this scene together and come up with the each joke and line beat for beat. "But they don't make these rattles for fun! Oh no no no!" Dil took a step towards the camera, dropping his voice to a spooky whisper as he looked about to his right and left. "Legend states that beyond the normal dangers that lurk in these jungles there also exists the shadow cats, beasts with one paw in the world of the living… and one in the world of darkness."

Tommy quickly stepped around Dil, taking back over. "Which is just a story, Dylan," Tommy stressed. "The rattles are used in the traditional Spirit Dance, performed once every three months by the strongest warriors of the tribe. Painting themselves using dyes made from wild berries, the men gather at the edge of their village and perform the traditional dance."

"To ward off evil spirits!" Dil said, popping his head over Tommy's shoulder and giving the rattle a shake. No sound came out of it; that would be added later in post.

"Right," Tommy said dryly. "But, of course, rattles can't be bought in the store; the nearest Wal-Mart is 500 miles away! Instead, the tribe must make their own rattles… isn't that right, Kimiko?"

"That's right Tom!" Kimi said; when on camera all three of them used their full names.

"Where are da pictures?"

Brian shushed his little friend. "They haven't used the magic box to put them in."

"Oh. Brian? How does the mag-ies box work?"

"With magic!"

"Ah!" The one year old looked down at his Reptar toy. "How does mag-ies work?"

"Shhhhh!" Brian said. His little friend pouted at that but soon forgot his question as he found watching Tommy, Dil, and Kimi far more interesting.

Kimi fought the urge to roll her eyes as she went through the instructions on how to build the Fruit Rattle. Not that it was even called that; it had an overly complex name but Tommy reasoned that 'Fruit Rattle' would work well enough for the basic tv audience. Not like the natives would be watching and even then half the tribe fought over what the rattle was officially called. Dil had even managed to convince one elder to name it "Dylan's Awesome Shaker Shaker". What annoyed Kimi though was that she knew that everything she was filming would never make it on screen. Every time they did one of these 'How is it Made?' segments Tommy chose to cut to an animated blackboard with her doing voiceover work. Even her dialogue from this shot wouldn't be used, as she and the boys would have to do dubbing in a few months to get everything sounding perfect. But Tommy lived in fear of not getting a shot he might need and Kimi cared for him too much to argue the point.

Thus why she was spouting off dialogue she knew was just a waste of time and energy.

"And then you have it. One easily made Fruit Rattle."

"Hey Kimiko?" Dil called out, shaking the rattle hard over his head. "What was that you said about-" as he said the words Dil subtly pressed on the crack their prop master had made in the fruit, causing it to burst open and shower him with sticky fruit pulp. He blinked, seeds running down his face while Tommy struggled to keep from laughing and she just shook her head. "-hollowing the fruit out first?"

All three of them froze, giving Tommy just enough time later on to edit in the segue before he called cut, the crew whooping in delight.

"Geez, Dylan, look at ya!" Steph complained, making sure to set her camera far away from the dripping redhead. "You're sticky and covered in juices." Dil opened his mouth but Steph hurried over and forced his jaw shut with two of her fingers. "Don't even."

"What?" Dil protested.

"I know what your filthy mind was thinking. Tom, why did you let him cover himself in juices? You know how hard it is going to be to clean him up?"

"Like you two weren't going to shower together after this anyway?" Tommy called out as he pulled off his jacket and tossed it to the wardrobe girl, several grips moving in to remove the fake jungle backdrop and plastic plants they'd used to recreate the South American jungle they'd visited two weeks ago. Someone shut off the hot studio lights, much to Tommy's relief, and flicked on the normal lights and activated some fans to help cool everyone down.

Thornberry Studios

New York, New York

"Hey, I'm the one that forced the issue, beautiful," Dil said, leaning forward and planting a quick kiss on his fiancée's lips. Steph rolled her eyes, keeping her body just far enough away so he didn't gloop all over her. The woman from wardrobe was glaring at the mess he'd made of his loud Hawaiian shirt but he didn't honestly care as he knew the shot was perfect. "And tell me I wasn't right, Tommy!"

"I'll have to look at the footage…" Dil just stared at him with big puppy-dog eyes and finally Tommy caved. "You were right, it was better that you got gooped."

"I know comedy," Dil said, tossed the pretty much ruined shirt aside and grabbing a wet towel and running it over his fuzzy scalp, getting much of the juices and pulp cleaned off. He could still feel the sticky liquid though and knew that Tommy was right: he needed a shower bad. But that didn't mean he had to go right away and his favorite little man was waiting for him. Hurrying past Steph's cameramen and the boom mike operator Dil made his way to the craft services table, snagging three cookies before he leaned down and picked Brian up. "And how is my favorite one and a half year old? Got a laugh for daddy?" Brian giggled and grabbed his nose, pulling on it. When Dil heard another squawk of protest he looked down and smiled. "I said one and a half year old. You are just a year old and are my favorite one-year old. You're also my favorite nephew."

"At least until Chuckie and Angela another baby," Kimi said, having removed the fake black glasses she

D been wearing and begun retying her hair into her favorite style: a top knot with two pigtails. "Now, come to mama, Louie."

Lou 'Louie' Pickles cooed and reached up to his mommy, squealing when she purposely rocketed him up and spun him around.

"Mommy's little guy was so good today… yes he was!" Kimi rubbed her nose against Louie's before kissing him on the forehead. "Now, let's say hi to daddy before he goes and locks himself in the editing bay."

Tommy grinned as he finished signing a form one of the assistants had given him, his smile only growing all the bigger as Kimi walked over and passed him their son. "Hey champ," he said, tickling Louie's stomach. "He's looks more and more like me every day," he said quietly to Kimi, who nodded in agreement. When he'd been born Louie had looked like every other baby: namely a squirming, crying, red blob of baby. But as time went on he began to look more and more like Tommy until now, at one year old, he looked almost exactly like his daddy when he'd been the same age. The only differences were that Louie had black peachfuzz on his bald little head and Kimi's dark eyes. But otherwise he was the spitting image of him. Kimi kept suggesting they put him in the old 'blue shirt and diaper' outfit but Tommy refused; partially because he'd worn that so much that he could barely stand the sight of a blue t-shirt anymore and partially because it would be creepy to walk around with his son looking like his infant clone. "Don't worry, I shouldn't be too long in editing."

"In fact you'll not be there at all!" the entire crew stopped and turned respectfully as their boss, the famed Nigel Thornberry hobbled into the room. The famed explorer's hair had gone snowy white and he now had to walk with a cane due to a bad knee but his attitude and persona still filled up any room he entered. "Simply smashing, Thomas, simply smashing!"

"Thanks Nigel," Tommy said with a grin. "We got some great stuff out there but the rains forced us to leave a day early if we wanted to make it back to New York at all. I'm just sad we couldn't get the shot on local."

"Think nothing of it, my boy!" Nigel said with a laugh. "You did most of it out in the wilds so that is good enough for me."

"Not for me, Nigel," Tommy said. "You used to go out and film and edit everything in the bush."

"Too true, too true," Nigel said, his voice growing thoughtful. He looked over at Dil as he played with his adopted-son-in-all-senses-but-on-paper-but-that-would-change-soon-enough and then Tommy with Louie and stated, "I also uprooted my family and never gave them a chance to settle down. Too much in a hurry, always needing to see something new. Glorious times, I'll admit, but when I see how things are now I envy you." He nudged Tommy in the side and said with a conspiritor's whisper, "Especially the merchandising rights. Oh my… if only I had half the deals you had, Thomas." While none of them did their work solely for the money the licensing deals Tommy and Nigel had signed for the show easily made them very comfortable. For the last six years, when things had really taken off, September to December became 'money printing time' as everything from backpacks to lunch boxes to little plastic figures to coloring books were gobbled up, each and every one featuring Tommy, Dil, and Kimi's faces. "Besides! All the other shows I produce make use of this studio… you might as well get a taste of it as well."

"These cookies are free, right?" Dil called out, Brian laughing as he began to shove some into the baby's diaper bag.

"Not the taste I meant," Nigel said with a snort.

Kimi called out in response, "Dil, I've seen your bank statements… you can afford to BUY cookies!"

"You don't stay rich by paying for your own cookies, Kimi!" Dil shot back, Steph just shaking her head as she led Brian and Dil towards the elevator. "I'll see you at breakfast, Tommy!"

"See you there, Dil! Night Steph! Night Brian!" Tommy called out before looking at his boss. "What did you mean about editing, Nigel?"

"Thomas," Nigel began, leaning on his cane as he smiled at his protégée, "we've known each other a long time. I helped you get a start in this industry and in return you continued on with my dream for showcasing the new and amazing to the world. Continued! Ha! Listen to me… my dear boy, you took it beyond my wildest hopes! My show was beloved… yours is a cultural phenomenon! Other men might be jealous at seeing those they mentor surpass them but I only feel pride that I was able to leave my mark, no matter how small, on your grand legacy. But I hope that just because you have become a big success that doesn't mean you won't listen to me from time to time. I won't be here forever, you know, and while I breathe I want to help you however I can."

"Nigel, I will always listen to you," Tommy said honestly, clasping the old man on the shoulder. He was beginning to get worried; his mentor was getting on in years, his body getting weaker as the months dragged on. He began to worry that Nigel was hinting at something big… something ground shaking… and Tommy felt tears sting his eyes at the thought that the man that had given him his own show and helped him achieve all he had would not be long for this Earth. Nigel Thornberry had been his hero, the man had rescued him as a baby after all, and then when he was in film school Nigel had, thanks to Dil, come to reconnect with Tommy and give him his first job in the film industry. They had become friends… and then something much more. The man with the great mustache had become another father to him, helping him through the good and the bad. He'd given him a career, he'd helped ensure DIl and later Kimi could work with him… Tommy wouldn't be holding Louie right now if Nigel hadn't come into his life. All he had in the world he owed to Nigel and the thought of the old man finally moving on the the last great adventure-

"So listen to me now, Thomas: your vacation started 30 seconds ago and I just had Viggo padlock the editing bay."

"…say what?"

Nigel laughed, reaching over to tickle Louie, the tot laughing at his minstrations. "You work too hard, Thomas! This is the first vacation you've taken in ages and I refuse to let you waste a moment of it! So, the editing bay has been locked and I am, heehee, having you banned from the building until your vacation is done with. I'm also locking you out of the servers so you can't remote login and I'm having your crew ignore your phone calls for the next two weeks. Gave them nice bonuses to be insubordinate and not help you at all! No sneaking around and working, Thomas… I've thought of everything!"

"…say what?" Tommy repeated, staring at Nigel in shock.

Kimi laughed, kissing Nigel on the cheek. "You might have broken Tommy but I'm so thankful, Mr. Thornberry!"

"…say what?" Tommy whimpered.

"You broke daddy!" Louie cried out. "I sick on you! Achoo! Achoo!" Kimi reached over and wiped Louie's nose as he attempt to sneeze on Nigel.

"Think nothing of it! Family is important and so is knowing when to take a moment and simply enjoy them. Never forget that as much as I traveled having wild adventures I never forgot about my family… most of the time. Now then… DONNIE!" The sound of deep grunts filled the quickly studio and Tommy's crew all back away when a nearly 7 foot tall man who looked like a cross between a gorilla and a NFL Linebacker galloped in, stopping just beside Nigel. He snorted, looking down at a wide-eyed Tommy, sending strands of matted hair out of his eyes. The mountain of a man was wearing a Tarzan-like outfit… and a security guard hat. "Donnie, please escort Thomas off the premises and do not let him return until 2 and a half weeks later. Be gentle but don't let him escape… no need to have Thomas trying to claw into the editing room."

Donnie let out a random stream of grunts, animal calls, and shrieks before physically lifting Tommy up like he was a mountain man's bride.

"Is this really necessary?" Tommy asked before Donnie turned and marched towards the elevator.

"Daddy's held like me!" Louie exclaimed in delight.

"Thanks sir," Kimi said.

Nigel threw an arm around her shoulder. "Think nothing of it, my dear. You are all practically family! And I look after my family!"

"Uh, Donnie, normally we wait for the elevator to appear before we go down the shaaaaaa!"

Nigel grimaced at Tommy's scream, Kimi's eyes going wide. "You… may want to go check on them."

"…we're okay!" Tommy called out, his crew bursting into laughter, Kimi just shaking head head.

"Me next! Me next!" Louie squealed.