Chapter 6-4: Carried Away

                “Miles, um, I know this wasn't arranged but, I’m pregnant.” She hadn't wanted to wait any longer to tell him the news. She knew it was his. It had to be. Her father’s words had really hurt her but they’d struck a chord as well. She’d known, all along, that what she was doing was wrong. If she really thought hard about it, and was honest to herself, the reason she didn't tell Neal wasn't to spare his feelings, it was to protect hers.

                “You are?” He reached a hand down and stroked it over her belly, barely swelling yet from the life they’d created together. “I, I think that’s, great.” She had wanted him to be the first to know. When she went home, she was planning on telling the rest of her family.

                He certainly looked rather proud of himself, that was for sure.

               

                “Emerson, are you sure you’re getting enough to eat?” She waited, listening to his response. “Your sister told me about your apartment. Are you sure it’s safe? Yes, yes I know that the neighborhood isn't dangerous but she said that it was rundown. You know, landlords are obligated to provide a clean space with working appliances. I’ll have to come take a look…ooh, what’s that? Honey, I have to go. Call you later. Love you.”

                Camille had begun to feel a tingling sensation starting in her legs, working up through the rest of her body. When she lifted, just slightly off the ground, she knew it could only be one thing. Grim had finally come to take her.

                “Please, no! What am I going to do without her?” Donovan couldn't believe that it was her time. She was healthy! She ate right; she worked out, even in her old age. Why now? Grim was unrelenting though and wouldn't be delayed. Death had come and death would take its prize.

                Though her father was officially the “adult” of the house, the grief of losing Camille left him absent minded. Evangeline knew that she’d need to get things taken care of around the house. Her first order of business was calling her brother. When he arrived, she fell into his arms, sobbing. “I can’t believe she’s gone!”

                He held her, letting her cry her tears and then went inside to look at his mother’s urn. “Why wasn't I here? Why did I have to leave home so soon?” He kicked the coffee table, spilling the radio onto the floor with a crash. Renata rushed in to see what had happened?

                “Em, she was so proud of you for living your own life.”

                “I should have been here. It sounded like something was wrong. I didn't even get to say that I loved her back. She just hung up.”

                “She knew you loved her.”

                “Is my stuff still in my room?” She nodded. They hadn't moved anything out yet in case he had wanted to come back for some of his belongings. “I’m going to stay here tonight,” he said with a shaky voice, heading up the stairs.

                Donovan too, had barricaded himself in his bedroom, taking the urn with him to have a final resting place on the fireplace. She could watch over him from there. Evangeline scrubbed the kitchen and even made some food to take the police department to break the news to them.

                That night, Renata was the last to bed. As she climbed the stairs, she listened outside the bedrooms, wondering how each of her adoptive family members were doing. All was quiet and she hoped that they were getting a little rest. She felt like an intruder to their grief and thought about pulling one of the old sleeping bags out from the garage and staying in the living room. Just as she turned to go down the stairs, she heard a muffled cry.  

                “Em, are you okay,” she whispered, pushing open the door to his bedroom. She knew it was a stupid question, of course he wasn't okay, but she wasn't sure what else to ask. He didn't look up so she wasn't even sure if he’d heard her. She stepped in, closing the door behind her and crossed the room to him.

                “Em?” As she stepped close, he finally looked up, his eyes red and face blotchy from crying, seeing her for the first time since she entered the room. “I was just, um, just making sure you didn't need anything. I’ll leave now.”

                He reached out, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer to him. “Stay.” His voice was scratchy and hoarse but she could tell it wasn't a command, it was a plea.

                She lay down beside him on the small twin mattress and pulled him close. He rested his head on her shoulder and let her hold him. She didn't ask him to talk. He didn't offer her any words. They just lay in silence, each remembering Camille and the special impacts she had made on each of their lives.

                The hours drifted by and Renata was sure that each of them had slipped in and out of sleep a half dozen times. She shifted, trying to ease the prickles in her arm from the dead weight of his head. She realized he was also awake when he looked up at her. Slower than she thought time could move, she saw him lean forward, coming closer and then time exploded, his lips crushed against hers. He rolled up, propping himself on his knees, cradling her head in his hand. Her arm circled around his waist and pulled him to her. Death had crept into their lives and both of them wanted to be reminded of life at that moment.

                With his wife gone, Donovan found it hard to sleep. Their bedroom felt so empty and the bed was cold without her there. He kept a picture of them, from so long ago, up on the wall. It didn't feel that long ago that they had been so young but now she was gone. He only hoped it wouldn't be long before he was able to join her.

                “Renata, I know you planned on moving out and finding your own place but please, stay with me here? With mom gone, daddy is in a practically  zombie state and I’m going to need your help.” Renata looked at her curiously. “I’m pregnant Ren.”

                “You are! When? Why haven’t you said anything before? Who’s is it?”

                “One question at a time.” She smiled at her friend’s excitement. “I was planning on telling all of you but then…” Her voice trailed off. “It’s Miles’.”

                “Of course I’ll stay.”

                Donovan began spending much of his time at the public library in Kensington instead of home in his office. The library computers had a lovely view of the bay and there weren't any painful reminders that Camille had left him. He knew that his anger was irrational and that she hadn't chosen to go but he was mad nonetheless.

                When Evangeline heard that Neal’s parents had both been visited by the Grim, she decided to go over and check on him. Being an only child, he’d be going through all of this alone whereas she had her father and brother and Renata. She couldn't let him grieve by himself. His parents had been wonderful people and she’d cared about them too.

                “Neal, I’m so sorry. Can I do anything for you?”

                “No, I’m okay. I’ll be fine.” He glanced down, seeing her stomach for the first time. “You’re pregnant?” She winced, knowing that it must hurt him that she was having a baby with someone else.

                “Is there any chance it could be mine?” She shook her head. “It’s his isn’t it? The guy from graduation, that’s whose baby you’re having.”

                “Neal, that’s not fair! This baby is after us!”

                “It could have been us Evey! You never even gave us a chance. You ran off to school and started seeing someone else and then came home to me and acted like everything was fine. I still don’t understand.”

                “I told you, I wanted to figure out who I was.”

                “That’s a bullshit excuse and you know it.

                “Does it even matter anymore?” Her sympathy for his grief evaporated as the conversation continued. Why did he have to push her about it? “We were divorced, what were you even doing there?”

                He paused and stopped, the angry lines on his face crinkling into sad ones. “I came to win you back Evey. I still love you. I wanted to make it work.” He handed her red roses, leaving her speechless. “I still do, if you ever change your mind.”

                “Honey, are you sure you want to be working out right now?” Donovan smiled, thinking that his daughter was a lot like her mother. The past months had been hard but he’d slowly come to accept Camille’s absence. He only wished she’d stayed around long enough to meet their first grandchild.

                Renata had been on her way to get the paper that morning when the overwhelming feeling of nausea had washed over her. Unable to keep her breakfast down any longer, she hunched over on the porch. Embarrassed, she quickly grabbed the hose and sprayed down the steps.

                “Oh my Watcher! My baby is having a baby! What do I do?”

                “Get. The. Car.”

                “We don’t have a car! Just my motorcycle. I can’t take you to the hospital on a motorcycle.”

                “Dad! Call a cab! We have to go!”

                Finally they made to the hospital and got Evangeline checked into the maternity ward. Donovan, unable to sit still, paced outside, waiting. Miles finally showed up. “It took you long enough.” Though he hadn't been most welcoming of Miles into their family, in his heart, Donovan just wanted his daughter to be happy so he’d accepted their relationship. Miles smiled at Donovan and went inside. He knew the old man was just being gruff, as a father does.

                Flynn Avendale was finally brought home in the wee hours of the morning. The small, empty room attached to the master bedroom had been turned into a nursery. Donovan had offered to move into Emerson’s old room and let Evangeline have the master so she could be closer to her son. She had insisted though that her room was right across the hall and hadn't even considered taking him up on his offer.

                Evangeline decided to throw a small party with some friends to welcome Flynn to the world. Miles and Kieran arrived early to help set up and, later, Emerson, Lowell, Genevieve, and even Neal would be along to meet the small bundle. Evangeline had been hoping that inviting Neal would show him that she was happy and let him move on.

                When a delicate, attractive brunette arrived with the majority of the guests, Renata showed her into the house. “I’m Renata. How do you know Evangeline?”

                “I haven’t met her yet. I’m here with Emerson.” Her smile was dazzling. Renata hated her instantly.

                As soon as she got a hold of him, she dragged Emerson out onto the porch.

                “Renata, can’t we talk later?” He looked eager to get back to his date.

                “I’m pregnant.”

Chapter 6.3                                                                                                                                                     Chapter 6.5

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And generation 7 has finally been born! If it's not obvious yet, Evangeline's roll is Single With Help. Renata is that help. In their final semester of Uni, I started regretting that choice though and wanted to keep Emerson around. I couldn't kick him out of the story like I usually do with the spares. I like him too much. So I've been doing my best to keep him involved and there's still a lot of autonomous flirting going on with him and Renata. I used it to my advantage.

I did not, however, force Neal to flirt with Evangeline or her to accept said advances. She did that all on her own. Stupid sims. I swear, they all have a mind of their own.

Donovan is the last surviving old person that started in St Claire when I first began Camille's generation. After Pearl, both Ian and Jane went, then Sylie and Joshua in quick succession. Last to go was Angie who left her money and things to her only son and her cats. Donovan is now 3 days past the life span and I know his time is coming soon. I won't lie, I tried to cheat Camille into more time. When the Grim Reaper first showed up, I exited without saving hoping that starting my save new might reroll. Unfortunately, that was not the case. It was just her time.

Evangeline has mastered the Tinkering career and has completed 2 of the 3 challenges in the journal. I still need her to complete the 10 electronics repair but those items don't seem to break nearly as often as the sinks and toilets. The dishwasher, luckily, counts for that though and it breaks down every now and again so I hope we can get there. I'm also attempting to have Renata do this goal as well, but for Charisma. She's also mastered that skill. She's got a few more challenges to go on it but we're working on it.