Disclaimer: Nope. Still didn't claim ownership. All belong to the writers and creators and WB. 

A/N : Hopefully, this chapter is long enough. I'm trying to make the story as if it goes day by day that's why the time can be seen on top. If the day changes, I'll type it too so it won't be confusing.

 I love writing about Cheaper by the Dozen cos' they're so fun. Hope there'll be CBTD 2 coming out. Cross my fingers!

To the reviewers: Thanks for reading!

Rating:  PG-13. Just in case. A bit of curse words here and there but nothing too vulgar. I'm not a person with such 'colorful' vocabulary  : p

 The Split of the Dozen

By avren

3   Baker's Fiasco

6.20 pm – Before Dinnertime      

After finishing up in the kitchen, Kate sent both of them up to clean up and change for dinner. Trudging up the stairs, Sarah and Jake headed to their own rooms. Jake glanced momentarily at Sarah and snickered.

"What?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"You've got a potato peel on your forehead," he pointed, amused. Feeling her forehead, Sarah peeled off the potato skin off. Cheekily, she tried to plant it on HIS forehead.

"Hey!" he cried out, evading her hands and backing away from her. Sarah giggled slightly at him. Chucking the peel away, she turned right and went into her room but not before Jake heard a sigh escape her lips. Frowning, Jake grabbed her elbow and halted her steps, stopping her from going inside her room. A puzzled expression marred her face.

"What?"

"What's with the sighing?" he asked.

"Nothing." She denied.

"Oh please, if there's nothing wrong, then why are you sighing?"

"Can't a person sigh when they're tired?" Sarah replied, exasperated. She tried to move into her room but Jake held on tight to her elbow. She turned fully towards him and crossed her arms, a scowl on her face.

"You could tell me what's troubling your tiny little brain, ya know," Jake joked, trying to lighten her up. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Mine's tiny? Yours even microscopic," she scoffed back at him.

"I'm just joking! Your brain and mine are equal sized," placated Jake, and adding on quickly, he said, "Now tell me what's been bothering you. And what happened today in homeroom?" Jake had hit a jackpot with that one as he saw a look of surprise cross her face before feigning ignorance.

"Homeroom? What gave you that idea? Nothing's wrong with me. You're over-reacting," she babbled, face contorted with emotions. "Anyway," changing the subject, "we'd better hurry and change. Dinner's in ten minutes." She quickly slipped away from Jake's grip and shut the door of her room with a, "See ya at dinner".

Jake stood in front of Sarah's door, his nose merely inches away from the it. Before he moved away to his room which is across from hers, he called out.

"Don't think you're getting away with that! You'd better tell me or I'll find out on my own," he warned. Getting no answer from the other side, he just sighed and went into his room to change for dinner. He resolved to find out what's bothering his sister and best friend, but will ask her later, when she's ready to tell him.

Meanwhile downstairs, the rest of the Baker's are already in the dining room. Jessica, Kim and Lorraine had already set up the table with the usual cutleries while Nigel and Kyle are playing with Gunner on the floor. Mike was surprisingly subdued and quiet at the dinner table. No one knows what's been bothering him and someone has yet to find out. Usually, it will either be Sarah or Jake, or his parents as they're the ones closer to him. Beside him, Mark sat with his rat, Scrubs in his hands. Since Beans had died last year, Tom and Kate had let him buy a new pet but this time, he wanted a rat for a pet. He got acquainted with Scrubs at Barney's Pet shop at the mall downtown. Scrubs has a beautiful and clean white fur and seem quite cuddly that even the girls sometimes play with him. Also seated at the table were Charlie and Henry, who were discussing enthusiastically about football. Things have gone back to normal for them after the family had adjusted with their new home and neighborhood. Tom was sitting at the head of the table, the Weekday Daily in front of him.

Pushing the swinging door of the kitchen open, Kate, with Kim, Jessica, Nora and Lorraine behind, came out carrying the dishes of food and placing them on the dinner table. When all the dishes had been brought out, they all sat around the table in their own seats. Kyle and Gunner continued playing with Gunner on the floor. Only Sarah and Jake haven't come down yet.

"Nigel, Kyle," Kate instructed, "Stop playing with Gunner and come sit down." They just ignored her.

Seeing this, Tom put down the paper and ordered," Boys! Stop playing or no dessert!" They quickly got up and went to their chairs.

"Great. They still listen to only their Dad," Kate muttered to herself.

"Don't worry Mom," Nora, who heard her mom mutter, piped up. "We still listen to you," she smiled reassuringly. Kate smiled back. Now where are Jake and Sarah? Wonder what's taking them so long to change, she thought, seeing that all of the family has already sat down at the table except the two of them.

"Why are they taking so long to get down?" Tom, also seeing that the twosome were the only ones missing, asked.

"Oh, I sent them up just now to change after they have finished with the potatoes. But they should have been down minutes ago," Kate replied. Just as she said that, the kitchen door swung open and out came two freshly scrubbed faces of Jake and Sarah. Sarah's hair was still damp so it was worn down on her shoulders. "Hurry the two of you," beckoning them to the table," sit down."

"Can we eat now?" whined Henry. "I'm hungry," as a loud growling sound came from the direction of his tummy.

"I can hear it for myself," said Kate. Henry just smiled sheepishly.

"Let's eat."

"Thank God," Henry cried out. He grabbed for himself a drumstick and passed the dish to Charlie. All hands were seen; either passing around a bowl of mashed potato or a bowl of salad or any of the dishes and it took a quite few minutes to have food on each and everyone's plate. Soon, small conversations as they chomp their dinner were heard around the table. Halfway during their dinner, Tom spoke up.

"Kids, your Mom have got something to tell you. Go on, Kate," he motioned her to continue. Everyone stopped their conversations and turned to look at her.

"Well, I told you earlier this morning that your Aunt Regina and Uncle Reginald will be coming to spend their holidays with us right?" she looked around the table.

"Yeah, so what? They've decided not to come?" Charlie asked, hopeful looking.

"No, they're still coming. It's just that they'll be coming earlier than expected. Just now, your aunt Regina called and she said that they'll be coming in about five days time," she explained, uncertainty on her face as how the children's reaction would be.

"WHAT??!!" a loud exclamation were heard from around the table.

"But I thought you said they'll be coming around the first week of summer!" Sarah spoke up.

"Well, sweetie, change of plans. Um, they said, they can't wait to meet you guys, so they're coming a week earlier," Kate said, a slight wince on her face when loud gasps disbeliefs were heard from the kids. 

"Yeah right!" cried Charlie and Henry.

"As if! Mom, they HATE us! Why would they want to come earlier?!" asked Sarah, disbelieving. A lot of nods and 'Yeah's and 'Dat's right' followed that sentence from the Baker's kids. Motioning her head towards Tom and mouthing "Help me out here" to him, she smiled innocently at her kids.

"Kids, they don't hate you. Hate is such a strong word," she continued," They just DISAGREE with us sometimes."

"Hah!" Jake and Mike scoffed together at their mom's words.

"Mummy, in this case, hate IS the appropriate word when dealing with the Reginald's," Jessica spoke.

"They truly do hate us and their dislike of us is WAY past the line for dislikes," Kim continued for her sis.

"And Mom," Kate turned to look at Mark, who until now had been very quiet. "Last time we went to their house, Harold nearly drowned PORK in their toilet," he complained. "I'm worried that they'll do something to Scrubs this time round," he finished; crease of worry marred his forehead as he patted Scrubs.

"Alright everyone! That's enough. Stop bombarding your mother like that. We have already told your Aunt and Uncle that they could come and we're gonna be HOSPITABLE and FRIENDLY when they come. No hostility and pranks-" Tom ordered, looking at Henry, Mike, and particularly at Sarah and Jake, the chief troublemakers, who just grinned mischievously at each other, "- AND you're gonna be sharing your rooms whilst they're here," he finished.

Loud groans came from the kids and their dinner was forgotten in the midst of the news.

"This sucks," Sarah muttered to Jake who nodded in agreement.

"Well," Kate cleared her voice over the moans and groans. "This is how the arrangements will be like. Since we've got 10 bedrooms and that the guestroom's been taken by Nora, so here's how it will be."

She started to lay out the instructions. "Six people will be coming to stay so we need to clear out some rooms. One is for your Aunt and Uncle, and since the Nora's room is previously the guestroom, Nora, you'll have to move to Lorraine's room."

"Okay, I can live with that," Nora stated. She glanced at Lorraine and smiled, who smiled back saying," COOL! Then we can do makeovers!" Sarah rolled her eyes at her and mumbled," Oh brother," shaking her head at Lorraine. "Lucky it ain't me though," she said, relieved, in which Jake just snickered.

"Then, we have Will, the eldest, and since he is around Charlie's age, he'll be sharing a room with you Charlie," Tom ordered.

"Will? Oh, well, whatever. Just hope he doesn't bug me too much or I'll go back to Midland," Charlie replied.

"You will do no such thing!" Kate reprimanded. "You are not to leave here without permission young man! Not until you're 19!"

"Good, which will be in about a year. I can wait," Charlie said, leaning back against the chair.

"Three down, three to go," Tom counted.

"Next we have Katrina who is a year older than Lorraine, Harold who's the same age as Lorraine and Brandon, Jake's and Sarah's age. Now whose room shall they go to?" Kate pondered, skimming around the table, looking at her kids, some of which are groaning,

"Since Kim and Jessica are already sharing and so are Nigel and Kyle, which leaves Sarah, Jake, Henry, Mike and Mark's room. Mark's at the attic so that room is out. I don't think the Reginalds want their kids in the attic, fickle as they are.

"Katrina has requested her own room as she has an allergy," Kate continued.

"What allergy?" Sarah asked.

"Your Aunt didn't tell me; just that she needs to have her own room."

"Probably she doesn't want anyone to find out that she snores and drools," Sarah said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. The kids just snickered at that, ignoring the glare that their parents were giving.

"Well then, Katrina shall be moving in YOUR room then Sarah," Kate finally said.

"Oh man! Just hope that she REALLY doesn't drool all over my bed! And where shall I go then?"

"Well, Henry, you'll go to Mike's room and Harold can have your room. Harold is quite the trouble maker so he'll be alright on his own. Sarah, since YOU and Jake likes to play video games till late night, you'll move into his room then," Tom concluded. "Cool!" Sarah and Jake high-fived each other. "But remember! I'll be checking on the both of you just so that this morning's event won't happen again. If not, I'll double your punishments. Understood?!" He questioned.

"Sir, YES SIR!" they mock salutes their Dad simultaneously and grinned at him. Tom just heaved a sigh of exasperation at them.

"Well since that's all cleared, I want you kids to clean up your room the day before they arrive. Make sure they're clean and put on clean new bed sheets for them. Oh and Sarah, please replace your worn-out sports bed sheet with a clean fresh flowery one. I'm sure Katrina wouldn't want to use yours with her allergy and stuff." Kate instructed.

"Sure, Mom, And I wouldn't want HER drool all over MY blanket," she responded.

"Fine, now finish your dinner kids and I want the table cleared up. You know your duties. Oh, Jake, Sarah, your punishment starts tonight, so I expect the dishes cleaned and laundry done. Clear?"

"Yes Mom," both of them answered, groaning as they do so.

They all finished their dinner in the usual din, each planning the things that they're supposed to do and would be doing before the Reginalds arrive. Little did the Baker kids know that there is something in store for them when the Reginalds come in the forthcoming week ahead.   

TBC