3.12--Sprouts & Roots

Dasia becomes a child.

And as if that doesn't create enough of a space problem for the Harris', the twins grow into toddlers just two days later.

The day after Ellis ages up, she receives a doll in the mail by one of Cedric's estranged family members.

Cedric can't understand why only one was sent when they clearly had two children (or how they got his address in the first place), but he gives it to her anyway.

She names him Knob and grows close to him...

...REALLY close.  

If her crazy eyes are any indication, that is.

Ellis also grows close to her older sister; so much so that she decides to play in her room at all hours. EVERY.DAY.  Dasia has since learned to leave a few toys on the floor to distract her enough while she sleeps.

Dasia survives her first couple days of school and manages to make a new friend in Lizzie Wells.  They had both gotten in trouble the day before for fighting a school bully and protecting another student, but were given a free pass from the principal once she learned of the situation; so long as they promised to tell a teacher before budding in next time.  Little did she know that Dasia and Lizzie were lying when they both agreed to her terms.


From that moment forward, Lizzie and Dasia go to each other's houses to plan their strategy.  "We should form a team." Dasia whispers.


Lizzie smiles. "Like superheroes." 

"Do we have to wear stupid tights and capes?" Lizzie asks.


"Well, I do have my ballet tights." Dasia offers.


They both take a moment to picture it, them fighting off bullies in tutu's and ballet slippers, and start laughing at the ridiculousness of it.  "No." Dasia says, "I think I'll just wear my regular clothes."


"Me too." Lizzie agrees.

Being a superhero makes Dasia believe she can do anything.  She can be an astronaut, like her father is working for, or maybe a famous musician, like her mom.  She shakes her head and decides that she's too young to pick just one career.  Playing pretend is much simpler; she can be anything she wants to be without having to actually grow up and work, after all. 

Harper finally gets a promotion and Cedric decides to take her out for a celebration.  So Cedric calls a babysitter and they head over to the local pub.


"You suck at this, sweetheart." Cedric laughs as Harper misses the board.


"Shut up.  I'm concentrating." 

Her darts litter the surrounding wall, not one of them actually hitting the mark she was aiming for. "Goddamn! You would think having instrumental dexterity would help, but no! Of course not."


Cedric laughs. "Let me show you how it's done."

Cedric manages to win all three games, leaving Harper in frustration. "You're such a sore loser." He muses.


"Nah-uh.  Don't pin that solely on me.  Remember when we played chess and you lost those two games and then made up some lame excuse to leave the game early?  What was it you had to do again? Re-read some report for work?" Harper smirks.


"Nope.  I don't remember this losing streak you speak of."


Harper smiles sarcastically. "Wanna see if we can re-create the scenario with a nice, friendly game of Shuffle Board?"


Cedric rubs his hands together. "You sure? What if I'm amazing at this game too?"


"Oh it's on now." Harper laughs. "I need to bring you down a few pegs."

After Harper's multiple wins at Shuffle Board, they go home convinced that they had each proven themselves worthy opponents. 


"Just so you know-" Cedric smiles as he pulls Harper into a kiss. "-I totally let you win that last one." 


------------------------------------------------------

This belated, plot-less chapter is brought to you by:
--The Ico Jello Wrestling Team
--Buckley: the motivational speaker


On a serious note: thanks Melissa and Colleen for making me laugh. : D I needed it. 

*Ahem* The obligatory close-up's

Dasia

She gained the Virtuoso trait.

Ellis

Traits: Brave, Friendly, Virtuoso

Gideon

Traits: Brave, Evil, Virtuoso

So I've encountered a glitch with the IF's.  Dasia never received one and neither did Gideon, but Ellis did. However, Knob (the IF) turned into a mega creeper when Ellis aged up to a child.  The way he walked and watched Ellis reminded me of the dolls from the "Night Terrors" episode of Doctor Who and I was not havin' that AT.ALL.  So I deleted him.  Poor fella'.

UPDATES!

--Cedric is at Level 5 with the Military (Flight Officer) and Level 8 with both Athletics and Handiness.

--Harper is at Level 9 with Guitar.

One more kid to go and I'm done with that roll. Thank the fraking gods.  

3.11--Additions

Before Harper and Cedric know it, Dasia is suddenly a toddler.

Mother, daughter bonding.

Harper can't tell if Dasia's expressing her disgust for learning, or is going to need a diaper change soon.

Uther wasn't sure how he'd relate with a child, being his first time around one outside of school in many years, but he quickly grows fond of her.  She's a better roommate than Cedric; so that's a positive.

MOAR DASIA SPAMMMM

I need to re-download the CC I lost. The toddler hair selection is HORRIBLE. Also:  /end spam

Dasia's rapid growth makes Harper and Cedric realize that they need to expand the house if they are going to have enough room.  So they gather what little they get from their paychecks and build an upstairs master suite. Their old room will eventually be refurbished for Dasia.


"Do you think it's done?" Cedric asks.


Harper smirks. "Done or not, it's all we can afford."

"So, the hallway and balcony are still unfinished; but we can worry about that after we get the new room set up for 'Sia.  I think we have maybe 500 dollars left in our back account and bills are due sometime this week, and-"


Harper interrupts. "Babe, don't worry.  Everything will work out.  Besides, I see a brand new bed that hasn't been used yet and Uther is taking care of our lovely daughter for us tonight; I think we should take advantage of the opportunity."

Cedric smiles and then raises his hand to her cheek. "You're right."

Is she taking advantage of their alone time, or taking advantage of Cedric? You decide.

-----------------------------------

The familiar nauseousness plagues Harper just a couple days later. "Well..." she sighs, "looks like I'll be taking more time off from work."

Cedric gets the news before he heads off to the base.  He's elated, but nervous.  Their house is already full and their bank account depleted; adding more kids will be a strain.  But it's what he wants, what they both want.  "Hopefully that promotion goes through." He mutters.

Harper gets a different response from Uther.


"There's no need to tell me..." Uther says, breaking the silence; "I can sense them before you can."


"Them?" Harper gasps. "We're having more than one?!"


Uther nods. "Two to be exact."


They fall back into silence as Harper contemplates birthing two kids at once.  Uther lets her have a moment, before continuing; "I received a correspondence from Lord Vincent last night."

Harper frowns. "Let me guess; another lunatic blood sucker has found out about me and we need to flee."


"Nothing so exciting, I assure you." 


"You wouldn't have brought it up unless it contained something that I need to know."

Uther laughs. "True.  The letter was mostly for me.  I will be turning into a full vampire soon and I won't be able to control my... well, you know.  Lord Vincent has deemed it safe for me to return to the clan and for you to return to your life without our interference."

"What? I thought... well, I assumed that you liked it well enough here to stay.  Dasia considers you her Uncle and we all like having your surly ass around."  Harper inwardly chastises herself for getting too close; she always knew he would someday leave and now she's too damn attached for it not to hurt.

Uther gazes at Dasia playing on the floor.  He would never admit it out loud, but he was beginning to hope that his stay would be permanent; that something else would arise and keep him here.  "It's not a matter of whether I'm wanted, it's a matter of whether I'm needed. And you, all of you, don't need me anymore." He sighs. "There's also the matter of me turning; I cannot and will not risk endangering anyone by staying.  No, Lord Vincent has called me back and I must obey."

"When are you leaving?"


"I do not know yet.  I feel myself slowly growing more powerful every day though, so soon."


Harper looks dejected as she gazes at Uther. "Can you promise to stay until after I give birth?  I want them to be able to say goodbye to their Uncle."


"We shouldn't have let this happen.  I was to watch over you all, not become apart of the family." 


"Promise me." She interjects.


Uther smiles weakly. "I promise that I will stay as long as I can."


-----------------------------------

Uther stays true to his word, but when his abilities become too difficult for him to control; he knows it is time to leave.


He originally planned to sneak out in the night while everyone was asleep, leaving no trace behind; but knew that it would be unfair to go without some word of goodbye.  So he lingers to write a quick goodbye letter. As he sets the letter on his bed, he's surprised to find Dasia sitting up in her crib and staring at him. He moves toward the door, hoping to get a clean getaway, but her muttered "Unc Ootie" brings him back.


He picks her up and hugs her tight. "Goodbye 'Sia. Maybe I'll see you again someday." He kisses her lightly on the forehead and then reluctantly places Dasia back in her crib.  As soon as she falls back asleep, he finally makes his way toward the front door.

No second glance is spared once Uther's outside.  "This portion of my life is over," he sighs; "it's time to move on."  And as he leaves, he hopes that Harper can do the same.


-----------------------------------

Cedric wakes the next morning to find a note on Uther's bed.  It's addressed to Harper, so he leaves it for her to find.  The unmade bed, the letter, and Uther's lack of presence all add up however, and Cedric knows that he is gone.


Harper joins them downstairs a few hours later. "Uther left a note for you on his bed..." Cedric starts.


Harper sighs. "He left, didn't he?"


Cedric motions his head toward Uther's old room. "I think he wanted to tell you in his own words, sweetheart.  It's on his pillow."

Harper walks into Uther's room and frowns when she sees the small, folded note.  With a heavy sigh, she gingerly unfolds it and begins to read:


I apologize for leaving so suddenly, but I have never been particularly good at these situations.  I hope you consider my promise fulfilled as I did attempt to remain as long as possible.  However, I am quickly becoming more dangerous to be around and I feel it is best that I go while I still have my faculties.  Send my regards to Cedric and Dasia.  I will, if Lord Vincent allows it, write to you all when I can.  
I feel it my duty to leave you with some parting advice.  For one, don't let past experiences dictate your future choices.  You love each other Harper, so what is holding you back from taking that next step?  Secondly, learn to forgive.  It is only through this that you will truly heal and come to terms with what happened.  Now that I know what it feels like to be separated from those I care about, I think I can relate to how Adamaris and Lord Vincent feel.  Please give them a proper chance; they are your family, after all.  Now that I have adequately written down what I hope is a successful guilt trip, all I have left to say is be happy and live your life to fullest. I will be very cross if you do neither.  
                  ---Sincerely,
                         Your favorite 12-year-old.

When she finishes, she folds the letter again and places it on the nightstand, before heading back into the living room.


"Are you all right?" Cedric asks cautiously.


Harper nods and then settles onto the couch.  Her silence is an indication to Cedric that she doesn't want to talk about it, so he heeds her wish.

And as Harper watches him play with their daughter, she realizes that Uther is right.  She's let too many things hold her back from embracing what she has right in front of her.

So, a couple days later when she welcomes their new daughter (Ellis) and their son (Gideon) into the world; she resolves to fix her mistake.

"Ask me again." She says.


Cedric smiles, confused. "Ask you what, babe?"

She laughs and then caresses his cheek lightly. "To marry you."

And just like that, the Harris' are now official.

--------------------------------------------------
I forgot to write down Ellis and Gideon's traits, so I'll have to put that in the next update.  Ellis was technically second born, so she will be heir.

Okay, on to the good stuff: The house they are in is only a 20x10, so there's not much I can do as far as a mega expansion for their generation goal.  However, I am building a new house from scratch for a later move (that is needed; way too many sims!), so...  yeah.  Expansionist fulfilled as far as I'm concerned.  I hope I'm not breaking any more rules. 0_0   


UPDATES!
--Cedric is at Level 4 with the Military (Squad Leader) and lookin' snazzy is his new uniform.
--Harper is at Level 3 with the Music Career (Stagehand).

3.10--Uther the Wise & Dasia

Cedric hit a stalemate with Harper.  Even though they talk, it's never about what he wants to discuss. Harper being in her pregnant state makes everything more difficult, as he doesn't want to upset her by bringing up unpleasant topics. But he also doesn't like allowing their feelings to fester.


He decides to take his frustration out on the appliances, if only for distraction. "Damn sink. WHY.WON'T.YOU.WORK?" 

Despite the circumstances, Uther can't help laughing at Cedric's angry mumbling throughout the house.


"Having trouble?" He asks.

Cedric doesn't turn when he mutters an impatient "no" and then resumes his abuse of the sink.  


"Just thought I would offer my aid." Uther sighs.  

Cedric drops the wrench in the sink loudly and then leans on the bar, staring out the window. "Why won't she marry me?" He blurts. "She should know by now that I'm not going anywhere." Cedric passes his hand over his brow, before looking over his shoulder at Uther. "Do you think I'm being unreasonable?"


Uther let's the question hang in the air, choosing his words carefully. "No..." He says gently, "under normal circumstances, your intentions would be seen as rational; but Harper is a complicated case."


"Tell me about it." Cedric smirks. "I just don't know what to do.  I want to continue being patient with her, but I love her and I want her to have the family she never had."

Uther quirks his brow. "Are you sure you love her?"


"Of course I do.  My constant flirting with her should be a tell-tale sign.  Oh, and the fact that we're having a baby and I asked her to marry me." He adds, sarcastically. 


"You've flirted with me too." Uther retorts.


"I just like to see you blush."


Uther shakes his head, as if admonishing a child. "The point I was trying to make was; if you love her, as you say you do, then you'll wait.  I know Harper will come to her senses eventually, but you need to be patient.  What you two have..." He stops, sighing; "... She loves you just as much as you love her. Harper just needs more time to put things into perspective."


Cedric looks down at his feet, absorbing Uther's advice. "You're one smart twelve-year old." He says with a lopsided grin.

Uther turns his attention back to his homework. "And you are insufferable." He smiles. "You two truly deserve each other."

Cedric laughs. "Thanks, I guess."


----------------------------

Cedric takes Uther's advice to heart and drops the marriage subject for now.  When he plops down on the couch with her, Harper is surprised to see Cedric back to his old self. "So I was thinking," he smiles; "if we have more kids, we're going to need a bigger place."


Harper frowns.  She's just trying to get through this pregnancy. "More kids? How many are we talking about here?"

"Hmmm... I was thinking of seven?  And we can train them to do the stuff around the house for us.  What are the child labor laws here anyway?" He muses.

"Very strict, I imagine." She smirks. "I was thinking four would be perfect.  A nice, even number and all of them would have someone to grow up with."


"That's a reasonable amount." He nods. "All right then, deal. Four kids for us and no more." Cedric smiles suggestively. "We should probably get started on the baby makin'."


Harper looks down at her stomach and back up at Cedric, quirking her brow. "Uh... I believe we're ahead of the game on that front, sweetheart."


Cedric shrugs. "Details. Besides, practice makes perfect."

Harper agrees. 


I have their autonomy on low, because I'm controlling, and I forgot to have Ced shower for over two days and somehow didn't notice. Hence, why they went straight to the shower. Whoops.

Harper finds herself alone the next morning when Cedric heads off to work.  She's due to explode at any moment, but shrugs it off.  Her pregnancy has transformed her into a busybody; mostly due to the fact that idleness makes her hyper aware that there will be another life joining the household soon... and then she panics.


So she wakes up a little after Cedric leaves and begins cleaning the house.

But not before promising that she won't let herself become the household maid. "You hear that, little one?" She smirks. "Mommy and Daddy are not going to be your personal cleaning service. Nope!" The baby kicks and she laughs. "I'm just going to assume you agree for now."

Harper is invited to a little gathering by one of her co-workers, Abigail Salinger.  Normally, she would have declined; but she hasn't been out of the house much and needs a reason to lug her pregnant belly around town.

Abigail is the only other woman working in the theater besides their boss and Harper finds the female company strangely comforting.  After an awkward start to the conversation, Abigail asks Harper to show her a few new strings and Harper obliges.


"Wow." Abigail smiles. "Leliana told me you are good, but you're better than I thought."


"Hardly.  I've just had more time on my hands recently to practice." She says, motioning to her belly.


"Yeah, and you're more pregnant than I thought as well.  How long until the nightmare birthing scene?"


Harper laughs, appreciating Abigail's humor. "Not long.  A matter of days, maybe?" 


Abigail shakes her head.  "I don't know how you do it.  My boyfriend has a few kids and I'm never sure what to do with them when they visit. Not to mention Foster's horror stories about seeing his ex give birth." Abigail shudders. "Yeah, not happening for this girl."


"I can cement that for you by sharing my own tales..."


"No!" Abigail interrupts. "No... thanks, but just no.  I have enough nightmare material to last a lifetime, trust me."


Harper shrugs. "Suit yourself.  I do have some pretty good ones if you're ever interested."


----------------------------

Harper ends up spending the rest of the day with Abigail, before returning home with stomach cramps.  It's only a matter of hours before she realizes that they're contractions.

Uther has lived a long life and seen many things, but even then doesn't know what to do when Harper goes into labor.  So he panics...

...while Cedric rushes Harper to the hospital. 

They return home with a baby girl.

Cedric offers to make them both a late dinner (i.e. cereal) while Harper puts their new addition to sleep.


"Goodnight, Dasia." Harper says softly. "And welcome home."


What is Harper looking at?! 

Harper takes advantage of the time she has alone while Cedric "cooks" to take a quick shower.  Abigail was right, giving birth was certainly an experience, to say the least. Harper shudders. "At least I'll know what to expect next time." 


She joins Cedric in the kitchen for a quick meal, before they both head off to bed.  Before she can leave however, Cedric stops her.


"So... should we get working on baby number two?" He smiles.


"I'm way too tired for that."


"Me too." He admits. "Tomorrow?"


Harper laughs. "Definitely." 


----------------------------------------------------------

UPDATES!

--Harper now has friends guys! She is BFF with Abigail, and is best friends with Bea (I'm actually not sure how that one happened) and Leliana.  And Ced is best friends with Foster and Alistair; so that makes things a bit innnerestin'.

--Dasia's traits are Excitable and Brave.  She'll be getting Virtuoso (to fulfill the Runs in Family requirement) once she ages up.

Also, after getting confirmation from calisims (thanks Melissa!) about some questionable rule derailing, I can say that I'm really excited to get my generation four plot in the works. : D