Thursday, August 8, 2013

Chapter 6-7: Unreachable

                Exhausted, Evangeline left the hospital carrying a basket, like her children were a picnic lunch. She had no choice though as she hadn't prepared for the eventuality of twins. She figured that she shouldn't be that surprised. After all, she was a twin herself and her mom had mentioned distant family, many of who were twins as well. It seemed that twins, especially fraternal brother/sister twins were an Avendale tradition.


                With both Donovan and Camille gone now and two new babies in the house, Evangeline and Renata had had no choice but to move into the master bedroom. It wasn't exactly the most ideal of set-ups but, other than converting the downstairs study into a bedroom, they would have to make due with the room they had. Eventually, Flynn would share a room with his little brother and Gemma would share a room with her cousin but, while they were still infants, Hanley and Halden shared a room.


                Life settled into an exhausting routine. Feed the babies, change the babies and snuggle with each of them a bit before getting Flynn up and ready for the day. She’d spend time with him playing and reading before she had to get ready for work and then Renata would take over for the afternoon. When Evangeline got home from work, she’d check on the twins and make sure they were happy and snuggled before she trudged off to fall into a heavy, dreamless sleep.


                Miles stopped by first thing after he got back from the latest set of away games. She stopped him in the hall so she could warn him before he went up to the nursery.


                “I know we wanted to have more kids.”
                “Evey, is everything okay? You said your labor went fine.”
                “Oh…yeah! It’s not bad. Just…we have twins.”
                “Twins! That’s fantastic!” He hadn't been upset when she’d found out she was pregnant with Flynn. He took the news of the twins with excitement and happiness. Evangeline couldn't describe how lucky she was to have him.


                With three children now, the small foldaway crib Miles had for overnight visits in his apartment just couldn’t cut it anymore so usually he came to visit them. She felt awkward asking him to stay the night though because there was no space for privacy, especially with Renata in the bunk above. The nights they spent together became more and more infrequent. And that was when he was even in town. It seemed that the team was traveling more often though Evangeline thought maybe it just seemed that way since she was so busy with the kids.

                Before she even realized it, her birthday was right around the corner. Renata had been all for skipping a celebration entirely but Evangeline had overruled her.
                “We’re full-fledged, mature adults now! We need to celebrate surviving this long!”

                They decided to throw a party downtown and get out of the house for one night. Though it had been her idea, Evangeline was still a little uneasy leaving the kids in the care of a stranger. Usually at least one of the family was home with the kids all the time.

                “This is fun, right?” Ashley, one of Evangeline’s coworkers, shouted over the music to make herself heard.
                “Yeah.” Evangeline grimaced into her cocktail. Going out and partying with infants at home was stressful!


                If only Evangeline had been able to see what was going on in the house, she might have decided to head home then. The babysitter, who had assured them in her interview that she loved kids and was thinking of becoming a teacher, was yelling at the babies and covering her ears, hating the screeching coming from the poop monsters.


                The bartender pulled the cake from behind the counter while Renata and Evangeline scooted in close, friends crowded around behind them, to blow out their candles.


                Unbeknownst to them, the babysitter had decided she had had enough and ran, screaming from the house. She left the doors unlocked, the lights on, and the kids were all just left where they had been sitting. No diapers had been changed; none of the children had been fed. It was only by sheer chance that the neighbors didn't notice the babysitter leaving and call social services. When Renata and Evangeline came home, they swore they wouldn't be hiring babysitters ever again.


                Evangeline didn't like working out any more than she had as a child. Jogging was different. Jogging cleared her head and released all the stress she’d build up. With the snow at least ankle deep and the temperatures below freezing though, jogging wasn't the best option for staying in shape and she didn’t want her body to appear as though she’d had kids.


                “My little boy, going to be all grown up soon!” She couldn't believe it was Flynn’s birthday and that he would soon be starting school.


                “Cake!” She laughed and carried him over to the cake. Emerson ran in, just in time to join in the cheering. Miles had been able to make this party and would only be in town for a few more days before leaving, once again, for another trip. While she had been being honest when she’d told him that this arrangement worked, it was tiring trying to make sure to see him when he was in town, video chat with him when he was away, and make sure the kids got to know their daddy from so far away.



                This is my party! Why is Uncle Em dancing on the counters? It’s supposed to be about me!


                Miles and Evey had a special night planned for his last night in town. Renata had agreed to stay home to take care of all the kids while Evangeline spent the night with Miles. She was going to meet him at his place and then they’d head out for dinner and maybe dancing or a movie before coming back to his apartment. When she arrived, she noticed that his car wasn’t in his designated spot. She pulled out her phone and checked her text messages.

                -babe running late. U know where the key is. Be there asap-

                She let herself into the apartment and sat on the couch. A sneaky smile came over her face as she decided that reordering the night wouldn't make it any less special. She went upstairs to make herself at home in his bed and surprise him when he got there.

                As she reached the top of the stairs, she noticed the bed unmade and a small slip of clothing up by the pillows. Stepping closer, she realized the navy blue sliver of cloth was a pair of underwear. And it certainly wasn't her underwear.


                She angrily brushed the tears from her face. She should have known. Karma is a bitch and she knew that she probably deserved this after the way she had treated Neal so many years before. But why now? She didn't understand why karma had taken so long to exact its revenge. She rushed from the house, hoping she’d make it out before having to face Miles. She sent a text as she drove home.


                -Sorry not feeling well. Really contagious. Don’t stop by, don’t want you sick.-

                When her phone rang 20 minutes later, she let it go to voicemail. When it rang again, she’d made it home and forced Renata to pick up the phone, repeating the lie. Renata looked at her curiously but didn't ask.

                For the next few weeks, she made sure to be busy whenever Miles called. Usually she let Flynn pick up the phone and talk to his dad before rushing Miles off the phone with some kind of baby emergency or another. Why am I being such a coward? She didn't know why she couldn't confront him but she couldn't bring it up. Every time she got the courage and had the words rehearsed in her head, she’d hear the phone ring and the indignant speech would float away, like smoke on a windy day.

                She knew she couldn't avoid Miles forever. In fact, he was due to come back to town the day before Snowflake Day. Evangeline still didn't want to face him and had no idea what to say to him so she scheduled the holiday party for before he could get back to town. The twins were going to be toddlers as well she she made it a joint holiday/birthday party. She knew it was underhanded yet she didn't want the tension to ruin the party.


                Imagine her surprise when she heard the front door open after all the guests had been seated and were taking turns digging out their presents. She glanced down the hallway and, as she saw his arrival, her stomach dropped.


                Evangeline felt a light tap on her shoulder and she stood, peeling herself away from the festivities.
                “Why didn't you wait until I got back?”
                “Well, um,” she faltered. “It just worked better for everyone else this way,” she offered weakly.
                “You've barely talked to me since last time I way home. What’s going on?”
                She cracked. “You know what’s going on. I don’t know why you’re acting ignorant about it.”
                “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”


                “Fine, keep playing dumb,” she hissed. “I can’t deal with this now.” She knew that every eye in the room was awkwardly avoiding looking at her and Miles. She fought to put a smile on her face for the guests and stalked away, picking up Halden and carrying him to his cake. Renata followed suit and scooped Hanley up, bringing her to her cake. They blew out the candles together. When Evangeline looked up, Miles had left, apparently not wanting to cause any more of a scene.


                Halden and Hanley were practically identical, from the color of their hair and eyes, to the shape of their noses.  Evangeline hoped that they’d grow up to be friends like she and Emerson had.



                 Gemma wasn't so sure about having to share all the toys with the babies now. Before she could toddle off to find and claim her rabby, Renata scooped her up and carried her upstairs for her night time bath.


                “You’re getting so big! Your birthday is right around the corner and then you can go to school with Flynn.” At the word school, Gemma frowned at her mother. She didn't want to go to school. She didn't want to leave the house and her toys and her cousins to go to some big building by herself. Even if Flynn would be there, he was older so she’d be all alone.


                “Flynn, go on and get upstairs and ready for bed,” he heard his mother call as she cleaned up the kitchen from the party. He gave his brother and sister each a hug before running up the stairs to brush his teeth. He wanted to be the best big brother ever.


                With the kitchen finally clean and the leftovers put away, Evangeline finally was able to get the twins bathed and ready for bed. She stared into Hal’s eyes, eyes that looked so much like his father’s, and knew that she would have to talk to Miles eventually to at least work out a custody arrangement. She sighed and kissed her baby boy on the head, tousled Flynn’s hair, and slunk off to her own bed.


Chapter 6.6                                                                                                                                                   Chapter 6.8

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Yet another filler chapter for the most part. Pretty much the only thing happening in game right now are birthdays. All the drama in the early chapters and now it's just mundane, ho-hum nothings. I've already picked a favorite and am ready to move on with that story, even though that story hasn't even been chosen by an heir vote yet.

I had planned on having Evangeline go kick that babysitter's ass but she seems to be completely missing from the game. I know she interacted with Flynn, if just to pick him up and plop him in the playpen but she doesn't appear in any of the relationship panels anywhere. It's like she never existed. I've pretty much failed the Fighter goal anyway. I realized (was informed) that Fighter should be actual physical altercations, not just arguing/fighting which was how I had been playing it all along.

Hopefully next chapter I'll have a little more juicy bits of the story. Maybe it will even be plot driven!

21 comments:

  1. Gemmais the cutest! I love that bath picture.
    And shame on you, Evey, for not sticking around to confront Miles. I know, panties in the bed doesn't look good, but maybe some fangirl tossed her panties at him and they wound up in his pocket without him realizing and...yeah, I'm not buying that either. But still, she should talk to the guy about their issues and soon.
    The babysitter was hilarious. Maybe she disappeared to avoid that ass kicking, lol.

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    1. She has the cutest toddler face I think I have ever seen.

      For all her grumpiness and anger, she's really not good at confrontation. She avoided it with Neal, ran out when he dad confronted her about Miles, and now this.

      It's certainly a possibility. Joined the Sim Protection Agency to hide from irate mothers.

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  2. Re: Miles, sad but seemingly inevitable. I hope Evangline kicks HIS ass, that can be her next fight, lol.

    Gemma is so gosh darn cute! I can't wait to see how she ages up. The twins are cute too.

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    1. It is sad but she really needs to talk to him about it. After all, they have 3 children together.

      Gemma is cute as a toddler. Not so much a kid, which you'll see in the next chapter.

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  3. Dang it Miles! I liked you! Hopefully there's a good explanation but...like yangthecat I'm struggling to think of one. I wouldn't believe it if he said hobos broke into his house and woohood in his bed lol. Poor Evangeline. :( Karma is a bitch. And Miles is a cheating ass.

    Glad you found the baby CC! Isn't it the best thing to ever be created?! Finally babies have arms and legs!

    Oh, and your filler chapters are never plotless and boring. This one was full of interesting bits. You're a great writer. Somehow even birthdays are interesting in your chapters.

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    1. Bahaha, that's an awesome excuse! Not his but I might have to file that away for later use!

      The baby CC is awesome. Only thing I don't like about it is that it makes their bodies smaller so they float in the adult's arms but playing with your angles can hide it for the most part.

      Thank you! <3

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  4. Thanks to your previous generation summaries I have finally caught up with your legacy. :D

    Ok, I cracked up when Uncle Em got busy on top of the counter. Go home Uncle Em, your drunk.

    Halden and Hanley are cuties, and so is Gemma. I have a feeling she will be quite a handful and I can't wait to see it. Flynn is a darling and sure to turn heads. That babysitter knew she was due for a ass kicking by leaving those babies like that, so she left town...yep that explains her disappearance.

    Miles, Miles, Miles. Tsk..shame on you if you did cheat. I want to hope he didn't though, but it doesn't look good. I don't blame Evangeline for feeling that perhaps its karma rearing its ugly head. She had been good to him and taking care of the kids, being practically mommy and daddy while he was away enjoying his dream. Then she sees the evidence of possible cheating, what a smack in the face.

    Great chapter!!

    Deleted previous comment, had to edit.

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    1. Oooh, I'm glad I put those up then. I hadn't done them before but I decided to, mostly since I'm awful about updating regularly.

      Uncle Em has the "Party Animal" trait so he thinks he needs to be crazy 100% of the time.

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  5. I could've sworn I commented when you first posted this but apparently I didn't press enter. O_o

    I actually really don't believe Miles cheated. Like the others, I'm having trouble coming up with an excuse, but I really don't see it. But if he did, I'm actually not that mad at him. I fully expected Evangeline to cheat first. : P Ah well.

    Gemma is so freaking adorable.

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    1. Glad I am not the only one that does that.

      I think it's sweet that you (of all people) are giving him the benefit of the doubt. It certainly is difficult trying to come up with just how those would be there though.

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  6. Your sim toddlers are adorable, I love the picture of Gemma in the bath giving her mother such a look... I feel sorry for Evangeline finding those knickers in Miles' bed, it would be nice to think there's a good explanation, but I'm hard pressed to come up with one at the moment. It does seem a little like karma though given that she started her relationship with Miles by cheating on her then husband...

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    1. You know once a cheater, always a cheater? Well, I think "once a cheater, always suspicious". You've done it before so it's easy to believe anyone can do it. It does seem rough that karma would have bided her time for so long before but complacency tends to dull the senses and make it hurt that much more.

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  7. I haven't actually tried to think of an explanation because I think I've already decided in my head that he's guilty >_< ...apparently I'm not feeling the "innocent until proven guilty" thing today, lol. They just spend so much time apart and he's a hot shot sports player and good-looking to boot... or maybe I've just seen too many womanizing jocks on TV :p

    Also, I'm very disappointed in Evey. "She sent a text as she drove home" *disapproving look* texting and driving is NEVER cool, even if you've just had your heart ripped out. what if there were kids on the road?! Other than some mild feelings of road rage towards Evey, I really liked how you wrote about her finding out and feeling like she wasn't capable of talking it through. I feel the same when I'm -really- upset with someone; I have all these biting, smart, logical arguments in my head that I want to throw at them but then I open my mouth and end up just shouting expletives or mumbling something lame and winey, trying to choke back angry tears... /me would NOT make a good lawyer, lmao. Anyway, she might as well put herself out of her misery already. S'pose there is always a small chance that there's a perfectly valid excuse but if that's the case, will the lack of trust come between them? She certainly didn't need any convincing that he was a lying cheat...

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    1. It's rather hard to come up with a logical explanation for that one. So I suppose I can't blame you.

      Hahahah! They run over kids all the time. People phase right through the vehicles. Though, since I play for realism, I'll pass your disappointment and scolding along. She'll probably tell you to mind your own business.

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  8. Haha! I knew it! There couldn't be just one with that line hanging at the end of the last one! What a house full you've got though! Too bad you just can't move Emerson in to help with his little darling. Love her expressions! She's adorable and hilarious already!

    Oh Miles. Just because you're not getting the attention you think you deserve doesn't give you an excuse to do that. *sigh. I'd kind of been rooting for him after Neal's obsessive behavior, but at this rate I think not. Maybe Evangeline will talk to him soon though and get some closure.

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  9. All of the children grew up into adorable toddlers. I can't decide if I feel bad for Evangeline or not. It's kind of like she is getting her "just desserts." Perhaps there will be a reasonable explanation to why Miles has woman's underwear in his bed. I can't think of any at the moment though. Lol. Great chapter!

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  10. Flynn is so darn adorable with his siblings. Giving them hugs. I wanna pinch his little cheeks.

    And I love love love Gemma. She's a ginger, which is awesome, and she's just so cute!

    Welp, I won't say much on the Miles situation because I'm not entirely sure what to comment on beside the fact that I don't think he cheated. Like everyone else already said, I can't seem to cook up a reason as to why there are underwear in his bed (a believable one anyway; I can come up with plenty of unbelievable reasons). I just hope that Evangeline works up the nerve to talk to him about it soon, at the very least. I can see why she would want to avoid the topic altogether though. :(

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  11. Alien invaders used his bed while he was gone!!? Poor Miles, and now Evey thinks he cheated, lol Or wait, alien space invaders took over his body, he was a victim! O.o lol All kidding aside, there certainly is a possibility that he cheated, though if somehow/someway he is innocent of it, then obviously this brings up another weak point in their relationship that both of them will need to deal with. Trust. Without it, it is hard to have a good relationship.


    I love Em dancing on the counter top, that was hilarious!

    All the kidlets are cute, but Gemma! She is a doll!

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  12. I caught uupppp! :D
    And do you know how weird it is to scroll through the comments on this chapter, and everyone is going "I love Gemma" "Gemma is so cute" (Gemma is my name, btw). Like everyone was welcoming me to the club ;) But I agree, Gemma is cute. The other two are too, but not as much as Gemma. <3

    So... Poor Evey! It seems like marriage breakdowns and deaths are your thing (last generation was surprisingly happy...), and you do them well. I have enjoyed every minute of catching up, and had a few quite late nights because I was reading one or two a night on my tablet in bed, and sometimes it'd be "Just one more..." until it was really too late to keep reading ;)

    Anyway, I'm not too sure what to say, as it feels a little odd commenting on one chapter after reading them all, so... Normal commenting will begin next chapter, but thought I'd let you know I made it finally (and it wasn't that bad! I mean, the length! That's what was putting me off.) and am now a follower who actually reads, after following you nearly a year ago.

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  13. Hi. I just started reading this legacy today. I'm still on the founding generation but I was looking through your home feed thing and I saw this post. I have a question about it. In the picture with the new twins and Evey feeding one of them, is that a mod to get the babies to look like that?

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    1. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I kept seeing it on my phone and meant to get to the computer with a link. Anyway, yes, it's a mod by quizicalgin although it's not a default replacement: http://quizicalgin.tumblr.com/post/57026039314/presenting-the-sleeper-footies-for-your-baby-sims#notes

      Yay for baby feet!

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