A/N- Oh Em Gee! I am just way behind on everything! I'm not sure why, but this past week has just been very strange for me. Last week was quite good, but this week I just can't seem to get the jump on anything. I fell behind in class, I took forever to post this, and I haven't even been able to read the last chapter of Doris Returns! or Robin's Like Looking In A Mirror. I feel like someone stole like three hours from every single day! I seriously seriously don't get it. I'm waking up the same time, but still, nothing! I guess my brain has just hit total overload :( But the good news is, I was able to crank out the rest of the first chapter of Artificial Romance, and I'll type it tomorrow and have it posted Friday. In the meantime, I have to clean my entire house by noon tomorrow, so there goes more time!! Note to self- take another sabattical! Oh well, enough of all that since it has nothing to do with this story :P There's not really anything to note on this chapter. Except, has anyone else ever played Heads Up Seven Up? Just curious. We played it all the time when I was in elementery school and even some of middle school! It was always a quick fix for the teachers when they promised free time. Oh and bonus points worth absolutely nothing if anyone can figure out the extremely easy clue in the kids' game...

The Games We Play

"Now that's what I like to see," Tallulah said as she joined Carl and the kids in the music lounge. They were all cleaned up and sitting quietly as Carl had asked them. "So what do we do next?" she whispered the question to Carl as she took a place beside him.

"I was hoping that you would know," Carl answered nervously.

"That's not good," Tallulah mumbled as she looked at the kids. It was clear that they were already growing restless. "We need to come up with a plan," she whispered to Carl before addressing the group. "Hey kids, I know that none of you just want to sit here. So me and Carl are going to think of some things for you to do. In the meantime, why don't you stay here and play a game called heads up seven up. Does anyone know how to play?"

Surprisingly, Buzz raised his hand eagerly. "I do! It's easy. We played it in school once."

"Alright Buzz. Why don't you explain it for those who don't know how to play and pick six more people to get the game started? Carl and I will be right back." She turned to Carl, but he didn't seem to be paying attention to her. "Come on, Carl."

"But I've never seen this game. I want to see how it works," he protested slightly.

"After we come up with a plan, okay," she pulled him out into the hall. "We can't leave them by themselves for too long so we need to think fast."

"You sure are good at taking initiative," it was a quality Carl had never noticed in Tallulah before.

"I guess you have to be pushy in the fashion world…oh no! The lunch tomorrow! What am I going to do? I can't leave you alone here with the kids and I certainly can't bring Johnny here to look at my designs while the kids are running all over the place."

The conversation of Tallulah's lunch with Johnny Vantino still irked Carl in a way that he couldn't comprehend. "How about we cross that bridge when it gets closer," he tried to hide the annoyance in his voice.

Still, Tallulah sensed something was off, but she decided now wasn't the time to question or argue. "Alright. Now we still have a good three hours or so before we can even think of serving them dinner. We have to think of something forty kids can all enjoy doing."

"There's forty-four, not counting Camila. I did a head count," Carl corrected casually. "How about a movie?"

"Hmm…one problem. How will they all fit around the television? Our family struggles as it is."

"Not a problem. I can download whatever they want to watch and project on a wall anywhere."

"Oh, in that case, why don't we save that activity for after dinner since it will make our job easier."

"Good idea. How about hide and seek?"

Tallulah raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding right? Do I even need to tell you what's wrong with that idea?"

"Right. Okay, next idea…I'm currently out of ideas."

"Maybe you're on to something though."

"I am?"

"An interactive game."

"But they're playing an interactive game right now."

"No, I mean one that won't require them to take turns and lose patience."

"I don't mean to be rude, but you're really not making much sense."

"I've got it! A scavenger hunt!" Tallulah exclaimed.

"Hey, that's a pretty good idea. But what would they be looking for and what exactly how would we make it work."

"The kids can split up into two teams."

"Of twenty two?"

"It'll be tricky, but we can make it work. Anyways, while I'm explaining it to them, you can pick a series of random things around the house for them to go after," Tallulah continued.

"I guess, I could just generate the list of items and clues randomly," Carl thought aloud.

"Brilliant!"

"And then you can come back and each of us will referee a team. Ooh, and the team that finds all of the items first could win the right to choose which movie we watch tonight!" Tallulah was becoming more and more excited by the thought.

"I guess it could work."

"I think it will. It's interactive and allows them to run all over the house without us losing track of them."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Carl was becoming more and more confident in Tallulah's sudden burst of inspiration by the moment. "I'll go work on making those lists."

--The Library--

"I wonder how Carl and Tallulah are doing with that many kids to take care of. I mean, when we left it was a pretty big mess," Wilbur stopped reading for a moment and pondered.

"Well, if I know that bunch, which I do, you can bet they're not making it easy on them. But I'm sure they're all fine. We just really need to focus," Camila answered.

"What are we even looking for? We've gone through several books with confusing mathematical equations as it is. How will we know which one is the one we need?"

Camila sighed and closed the book she had just finished speed reading. "I don't know. Can't you tell I'm already stressed about this, Wilbur? I might be smart, but I'm nowhere near as smart as your dad. Only he knows the intentions of what he wanted the machine to do when he last worked with it. I'm only guessing based on what I can gather from the mathematical equations. I'm really worried I won't be able to fix it."

Wilbur was shocked by her honesty and sudden vulnerability. "You know, I'm probably going to regret passing up this once in a lifetime chance to completely bask in your failure later, but I guess I should say something encouraging."

"Don't bother straining yourself. I'll be fine," Camila didn't want to hear any kind words from him.

"As much as I really want to take that advice…I think you can do it. I mean, of all the people to be able to fix this problem, you're at the top of the list," it was obvious that Wilbur was forcing himself to say it.

Camila wanted to believe him, but found it difficult. "You're just saying that because you need my brain or your family's stuck like that."

"Well, I…wait a second…that's it!"

"What's it? You found the equation we need? Because I find that very hard to believe."

"No…and hey! I meant that I think I might know a solution. I'll be honest; I'm at a total loss at how to help you figure this out."

"Is that so?" Camila asked sarcastically.

"Yeah. I'm more of a suave Bond-type. I let others do the miniscule brain work for me and I handle the action," Wilbur said egotistically.

"Miniscule?" he was beginning to work Camila's patience.

"Alright, not the best choice of words. The point is, I'm not the one with the brain to help you, but my dad is."

"And Wilbur finally cracks." Camila looked at him closely, trying to figure out if he was out of his mind. "Wilbur, your dad is stuck in that room. If he wasn't, then we wouldn't even be here."

"Not that dad. My other dad."

"You have two dads? I guess that explains why you're nothing like him…"

"I am too like my dad!" Wilbur said quite defensively.

"I'm sorry. I guess that was kind of mean, even if it was directed towards you."

"I'll review your apology and get back to you," Wilbur answered, not really wanting to even talk to Camila anymore. "I'm going to go back in time with my dad's time machine and bring his younger self here to help. Two big brains in one room might be the answer."

"You mean, you can really do that?" Camila stared at him with wide eyes.

"Yep, I've done it several times. Me and my dad are like best friends now."

"That is so cool. I wish I could do that…you know, go back in time and find my parents." There was a bit of an awkward silence between them. Wilbur had somehow forgotten that Camila was an orphan. She seemed so strong and independent. It was even more awkward to hear her talk when she let down her guard. However, Camila didn't let it last for too long. "Alright, Robinson. Let's go get your dad."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not so fast! You're going back to my house to wait. I'm going to go by myself to get him and bring him back. Got it?"

"No, I most certainly do not got it! I'm the other half to the solution to your problem. I'm going."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"And we're not going to stand here all day arguing about it either. Now let's go."

"Nope, I'm staying right here until you agree that you're not going," Wilbur crossed his arms and planted his feet.

"Alright, Mr. Stubborn. Two can play that game. And just for the record, I always win."

--The Robinson House--

"Okay, second clue," one of the kids read out loud to Tallulah's group. "When you see a house, I can be just as wide. I am rectangle or square or encircle with pride."

"A floor!" another kid shouted.

"Shh," several others scolded. "The other team is trying to listen to us."

"Besides, floors don't really encircle do they?" a girl pointed out.

"Oh, I know!" Talia whispered excitedly and they all ran to consult where the other team couldn't hear them.

Tallulah giggled at their youthful enthusiasm. She was about to follow them when she realized that Buzz, and a few other boys that seemed to follow his lead at all times, were looking at her intently. "Aren't you going to go help your team figure out the clue?"

"I'd much rather crack the clue to your heart," Buzz said precociously.

"What?" Tallulah was taken back.

"Are you married?"

"No…" Tallulah answered hesitantly.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Tallulah suddenly realized what Buzz was getting at. And although she found it amusing, it was also slightly uncomfortable. "You know, that is a very good question. I don't have a boyfriend yet, but I might very soon." She didn't realize that, although she meant she wanted to date Johnny Vantino, Buzz thought that she meant him.

"Well, I hope you like winners," Buzz said macho-like. "Come on guys, let's go beat those losers," he taunted the other team as the passed by.

"What was that about?" Carl asked as he let his team deliberate over their next clue.

"I think I was just hit on by a twelve year old," Tallulah said with a laugh.

"Uh-huh…well, that's awkward."

"You're telling me. The only guy interested in me isn't even a guy…he's a munchkin!"

"That's not what I meant..."

"I mean, just one decent guy," Tallulah continued, not listening to Carl. "Is that too much to ask? Or is it that I only appeal to little headstrong boys and men who haven't met my mom?" It was more of a statement than a question and was followed by an annoyed huff.

"You know what, you obviously need a little space to work this out, so I'm just gonna go, uh, check up on my team," Carl backed away slowly before making a quick getaway.

"Great. Even robots don't understand me," Tallulah sighed and went to go find her team.