This chapter is inspired by pretty much every Olsen Twin movie before they went to Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Part 18

Determined to get the mom they so desired, the porcupettes kept track of the days. Though they weren't in the same grade, their recesses were at the same time, so they made sure to get close to the piglets, gathering information. Until school let out for the year.

Lance was working the night shift that night, so they were with the babysitter. Raquelle looked at the calendar. "This is it, Lancy. Hannah said they're leaving tonight at six." She was so glad they learned how to tell time in the last couple of weeks. Raquelle had paid extra attention to how to read the analog clock.

"But how do we get past Miss Magoo?" He referred to the elderly bear that was watching them. It was 5:30. They only had 30 minutes to get in position if they were going to pull this off.

She thought about it. "Miss Magoo, can we go outside and play at the playground?" She asked innocently.

The old bear smiled. "That's a great idea dear." She got her purse and took them to the nearest playground, which happened to be near the theater.

The porcupettes were happy to see the big pink bus that the piglets had told them about. "Okay, Lancy, that's it." They began playing, pretending to ignore the bus, listening to the crew packing up their stuff, waiting for their babysitter to get complacent. It didn't take long before she picked up a book she'd brought along. "Now!" Raquelle whispered. "Go, go, go!"

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Barry was back in the driver's seat waiting for the go ahead as everyone climbed onto the bus. He always got elected to drive. He didn't mind that much, driving relaxed him.

Meena's mother sat beside her daughter, her father and mother-in-law. "Have you spoken to Alphonso today?"

She nodded. "Yeah. His dad is getting excited." They had gone back a week ago to finish getting everything settled. Turning in the lease on their shared apartment and spending time with his father. "We offered to have him move in with us but he doesn't want to leave his friends at the nursing home."

To try and make up for his thoughtless words, Ryan and Johnny had gone back with them to help. Meena was glad they had found a way to work things out. She loved Alphonso and wanted him to feel welcome.

Ash passed Clay her guitar before climbing onto the bus with him. Gunter helped Rosita and Norman get their kids settled for the trip.

Marcus and Stan boarded last. "Alright. Everything's loaded up. Let 'er rip Barry!"

With a loud honk of the horn, the bus pulled away from the theater. No one saw the two little figures sneaking into the baggage compartment.

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Miss. Magoo did love babysitting these lovely children. They rarely caused her any problems aside from normal kid stuff. She looked at her watch. 6:15. "Okay kids, let's get home…" She looked up and her mouth fell. "Kids? Lance! Raquelle!"

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The trip was relatively quiet. Random conversations could be heard around the bus. Clay and Ash were having a small jam session. Rosita and Norman laughed at Gunter and Nooshy who were entertaining the piglets. She had a small bag beside her and now and then she'd massage her abdomen.

"Ooo, they're really kicking today," she said with a smile.

Meena looked over at her. "Do you know how many yet?" She asked.

Rosita nodded. "Only five this time. That's fine. Five is a good number since we already have 25. Oh! The condo is completely ready for you, Meena. We've got all our stuff out and into the new house. We'll be moving in when we get back."

She smiled. "I'm so grateful, Rosita. It's such a beautiful place and it'll be nice to start our life in a place that knew such a happy couple and family."

Norman nodded. "We hope you'll be as happy there as we were. We hate to leave but with so many kids, and five more coming, Nana's offer came at the right time. And we're glad we can pay it forward." He squeezed his wife's hand.

Ash stopped playing suddenly and looked up. "Do you guys hear that?" She asked. They all got quiet and listened intently. There was a definite knocking coming from the baggage compartment.

Marcus held up his walkie. "Barry, pull over. I think we might have a problem."

Fortunately there was a truck-stop just ahead and they pulled in. Porsha grinned sheepishly. "I think my bag must have opened. I packed too much." She admitted as they got out to check. She opened it and shrieked. "What the!"

Everyone peeked around and Ash fairly shouted. "What are two doing here?"

The two little porcupines looked up at her with chastened grins, hoping if they looked cute enough they wouldn't be in too much trouble. Little Lance quickly hopped out and ran into the truck stop. Norman followed to make sure he'd be safe while Ash confronted Raquelle.

"Okay, start talking," she crossed her arms. She could just picture Lance's reaction. "Your dad's going to kill me, you know that?"

Raquelle bit her lip. "We thought if… if we could get Daddy to the wedding then you two would… would dance… like Cinderella and the prince and…" She began to cry as she felt what they worked for falling apart.

Rosita sighed, knowing what they must have been thinking or hoping. "Ash, why don't you go call him and I'll help get them calmed down." She said as Norman came back with Little Lance. "So you two have been back there for five hours? Do you know how dangerous this was?" They shook their heads.

"We fell asleep at first," Little Lance admitted. "Then I woke up and I had to go potty." He looked properly ashamed.

Clay shook his head with exasperation and a chuckle. Kids. That's the only thing he could think to sum up the situation. Kids.

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"HOW COULD YOU LOSE THEM!" The single father was beside himself with worry. When Miss Magoo first notified him, he'd run out of his job and he was fairly certain that he would be fired for it. He didn't care. He could get another job. All that mattered was finding his kids.

The babysitter sobbed with shame at having lost her wards. "I'm sorry sir. I looked up from my book and they were just gone. I'm so sorry,"

He shook his head. "Just go! I've gotta call the police. I have to find them…" His phone rang and he looked at the caller Id. "Ash, this isn't a good time, I'm in the middle of an emergency."

"If it's about Raquelle and Little Lance, they're right here. Or they're on the bus with Rosita," she explained. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea they snuck onto the bus."

At first, Lance felt a wave of relief hit him and he sat down, letting himself breathe and even cry quietly. Then he processed her words. "Where?"

"We're at a truck stop now, but we have to keep going," she said. "We're already about five hours out and Meena's getting married tomorrow."

Lance groaned as he remembered. "Redshore City? I'm sorry Ash. I'll try and meet you there as fast as I can. Just please keep them out of trouble until I get there. Where will you be?"

"We're checking into the motel on Clover Street," she said. "Don't worry, they're okay. They're safe with us." She sighed and they hung up. She went back to the bus. "Your dad is going to meet us in Redshore. He's very worried about both of you. I think you scared him half to death." She scolded them. "What were you even thinking!" A hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"They're just kids, they're not even five years old yet," Clay told her. "They don't really understand the weight of their actions.

Ash sighed. "I'm sorry Meena. I didn't know… I'm sorry."

The bride-to-be giggled. "It's okay. I love kids. The more the merrier." To punctuate her statement, a few of Rosita's piglets launched themselves at her.

Ash looked at the twins, their lips twitching dangerously. "I'm sorry kids, I shouldn't have yelled. But you scared me." She was realizing that she was just as scared as Lance must have been. They were so lucky they were okay. "You could have been very badly hurt. Never, never climb into the trunk or back of any vehicle. You never know what could happen."

Little Lance nodded sadly. "We just wanted a mommy…" He admitted. "And we thought… I'm sorry."

Ash shook her head while the others looked at them with pity. "Of course you want a mom, kids. That's something that you are entitled to and you have been denied way too long but… it can't be me. I'm sorry but I'm not the mom you want. I'm terrible with kids and…"

"That's not true," Gunter argued. "You play with the piglets all the time."

"That's different. I get to give them back when I'm done," she rebutted. "I'd be a lousy mom. You heard me. I just went off."

Rosita giggled. "You reacted in a very Mom way. I'm not saying you should necessarily try to be their mom but don't doubt yourself. You would be a good mother, Ash." She hugged her friend.

Marcus gave Barry the go ahead to move on and the bus pulled out.

AN: I know it's short but the main point of the chapter has been met. Please review.