Chapter 2.2: Bad News

     Ochre was outside putting his rocket together.  He'd spent the last two summers working with his Uncle Viridian to save up money to buy the parts and now he had enough to start building.

     It was tough work but he enjoyed being out in space with his uncle on their shipping trips.  Uncle Viridian and Dad had promised that as soon as his rocket was complete they would give him flying lessons so he could test for his pilots license.  Once he had that he could start taking local jobs on his own.

     "Excuse me.  Is this the O'Malley residence?"

     Ochre turned around.  A strange sim and kid were standing outside his work fence.

     He picked up his grease rag and started wiping his hands clean.

     "Yeah.  My dad's at work but my mom's here.  Who did you want?"

     "Rachael.  Cerulean should be on his way back, I called him once we hit the city line."

     Ochre frowned.  It was unusual that a sim would talk to his dad before coming to the house.

     "Are you a Palette?" he asked.

     She nodded, "Sage Palette-Summers."

     "This way," Ochre led the way to the house.

     "Mom, you have a guest," he called from the living room.

     "I'm cooking lunch," Rachael answered.

     "Mom this is Sage.  She asked to talk with you."

     "Hello Sage.  What can I help you with?"

     "Actually, I brought some news for you.  Some bad news," she added with a nod towards the child with her.

     Rachael frowned and glanced at the child.  "Ochre can you show.." she stopped when she got to the child's name.

     "Emrys," the child said.

     "Can you show Emrys to the playroom.  We have a lot of toys that you can play with," she said to the child.

     "Sure.  C'mon," Ochre said and walked out of the kitchen with child following him.

     "This is the playroom," he said passing through the archway.  "You can play with anything in here."

     "Thank you," she said picking up the child's violin and running the bow over the strings.

     Ochre winced as he walked out of the room.  Like most kids she played with enthusiasm if not actual skill.

     Once away from the sound he could hear crying coming from the kitchen.

     He entered the room and his mom was bent over the counter crying while Sage was wringing her hands.  "I'm so very sorry," she kept repeating over and over.

     "Mom," Ochre walked up next to her, "what's wrong mom?"

     Rachael shook her head before hugging him and crying on his shoulder.  Sage stood up and left the room.

     Ochre was startled by her breakdown so he was very relieved when the front door opened and his dad came in.

     "Ray?"

     "In here dad," Ochre called.

     Cerulean entered the room and pulled his wife off his son.  He walked her around the island towards their bedroom.  Ochre watched them whispering together from where he was at.

     "What's going on?" River asked sitting at the counter.

     "I have no idea," Ochre admitted.


     Emrys walked with Aunt Sage into the living room where the two adults were waiting.

     She sat with Aunt Sage on the couch.  Aunt Sage wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her.

     "Emrys, this is your Aunt Rachael and Uncle Cerulean.  She's your mom's older sister.  They're going to take care of you now."

     "What about you," Emrys asked.

     "I have to go home and find out who killed your mom and dad," Sage said.  "You'll be safe with them."

     "Okay," Emrys said looking down at her hands.

                                                                                            

Random Ramblings

   Jeez,  my heart is breaking for poor Emrys.  She's got a good future in store for her though, I promise it gets better.  Maybe just not right away though. :p

   Oh and how is the view point change from Emrys to Ochre and back?  Does it make sense.  This is the first time I've tried to do that in a story, so some feedback would be appreciated.

Chapter 2.1: A New Generation

     Emrys' mom had the radio on while she cooked dinner for when her dad came home.  While she was cutting up the food she sang along,

"I'm lookin' out the window

Happy just watching my world go

Around

And I think to myself

How lucky can a girl be"

     Emrys loved listening to her mom sing.  At night her dad would play guitar while she sang.  It was Emrys' favorite time of day because everyone was together and happy.  It was perfect.

     "Hurry princess the clock is going to strike midnight.  You need to leave before the carriage turns back into a pumpkin," Emrys said picking up the toy carriage and placing it behind the toy horse.

     The door opened and Emrys looked up.

     "Dad," she squealed when her father walked in the door.  She dropped her toys and jumped up to run over and give him his welcome home hug.

     "How was school, princess," he asked hugging and kissing her cheek.

     "Good.  Mrs. Katser gave back the spelling tests today and I was the only one who got all of them right."

     "Good for you.  You studied hard for that test."

     "Dinner's almost ready if you'll wash up Kaleb.  Emrys can you set the table?"  Mom called from the kitchen.

     "Okay Mom,"  Emrys said going to pick up the plates from the counter and putting them on the table.

     As Dad passed Mom at the stove he stopped and pulled her into a hug.  Mom laughed and gave him a kiss before shooing him over to the kitchen sink, smiling she went back to cooking.

     Mom always smiled when Dad kissed her.

     Everyone ate tacos while Emrys told them about her trip to the park with her friends afterschool.  They laughed at all the funny things and asked her about her friends.

     After dinner Emrys took her bath and put on her pajamas.  While she was brushing her teeth she heard her Dad tune his guitar.  "Wait," she squealed, "I'm coming."

     Mom laughed when she came running out of the bathroom.

     "Come here Emrys," Mom said.

     Dad smiled as Emrys walked over to her mom.  Mom wiped some of the paste Emrys must have missed off her cheek.

     "We wouldn't have started without you, Princess," Dad said strumming the guitar.

     "But I didn't want to miss a single second," Emrys said, already swaying to the music he played.

 
     Mom sang while Dad played and Emrys danced.

     "Okay, Emrys. Time for bed," Mom said standing up when Dad finished his tenth song.

     "Aww, Mom," Emrys whined.

     "Listen to your mom, Emrys," Dad said firmly.

     Emrys ducked her head and mumbled, "yes Dad."

     Emrys walked over to her dad as he put the guitar down.  "Goodnight Daddy," she said opening her arms for her hug.

     "Goodnight Princess," Dad said giving her a kiss.

     Mom tucked her into the bed and kissed her head, "Good night my littlest love."

     "Goodnight Mom.  I love you," Emrys yawned.

     As soon as Mom closed the door Emrys climbed out of the bed and crawled over to the door.

     Opening it a crack she looked out and watched Mom and Dad snuggle on the couch.  Then Dad looked over Mom's head and saw her.

     "Into bed Princess," he said.

     Mom turned and seeing her at the door, she stood up.  "Emrys," she began, when someone knocked at the door.

     "I'll get it.  You put Emrys to bed," Dad said.

     "Come on baby," Mom said walking toward Emrys.

     There was a loud boom as the front door slammed open.  Mom turned toward the front door.  "Kaleb," Mom yelled.  Emrys couldn't see what was happening.

     "What are you doing?" Dad sounded confused when another, louder bang sounded.

     Mom turned around and slammed the bedroom door closed.  Then she pulled Emrys with her, climbing on the bed towards the window.

     "What's happening Mom," Emrys asked.

     She didn't answer.  Instead she picked Emrys up and started to push her out the window.  Emrys dropped onto the fire escape.

     "Remember the plan," Mommy whispered and pressed a kiss to Emrys' forehead before pushing the window closed and shutting the curtains.

      Emrys moved as quietly as she could and climbed up the stairs to the roof and the hideaway her parents had made in a storage shed.

     Just as she made it over the edge of the roof another loud bang and a crash sounded below her, like the window breaking.  As the glass trinkled down to the ground below, Emrys dropped to her knees with her hands over her ears, biting on her lip until it bled so she wouldn't scream.

     It took her a moment but she started to crawl towards her hiding spot as quietly as possible.  She had to follow 'the plan' now.

                                                                                                 

Random Ramblings

   The start of the next generation.  I am waaaayy too into sad/gruesome beginnings.  First Rachael's mom is dead and now this.  Well, on to the next chapter.

   Oh and the song at the start is one of the verses from Jamie O'Neal's "I Love My Life".  It's one of my favorite songs and I thought it best described how the mom felt about her life.

Chapter 1.31: Epilogue

     After the longest nine and half hours of her life Rachael heard the first scream of her new son.

     Cerulean put off the talk with the cops until after the birth and she had a day to recover but she had to tell them her story for them to keep Grey and the henchmen in lockup.  Eve was already on her way back to the prison since she was an escaped convict so Rachael wasn't worried about her.

     The Palette Agency pulled some strings and kept Rachael in the hospital until the trial began and Rachael finally brought her baby home.

   

     "Let me see Ochre.  You're hogging the baby," River piped up from her spot by Rachael.

     "He's my brother I get to hold him first," Ochre countered.

     Rachael smiled as the two older children argued over who would argue the baby.  Cerulean finally settled the argument by telling them they could lay on the bed and watch the baby.

     Both children climbed up while Cerulean picked up the baby.  Just as he was about to put the baby between the children the baby began to cry.

     "Sounds like someones hungry," Cerulean said turning around to give the baby to Rachael.  

     Rachael hummed while she nursed the baby.

     "That's the lullaby you sang to me," River said.

     Rachael nodded, "It's the same lullaby mom sang to me and the others at night when we were little."

     "What's his name," Ochre asked.

     Rachael smiled up at Cerulean.  "Hunter," Cerulean said, "his name is Hunter."

     Ochre and River got off the bed and stood at Rachael's shoulder.

     "Welcome home, baby Hunter," River said.

     "Welcome to the family," Ochre added.

     Rachael kissed each child on their head before shooing them out of the room so she could put Hunter in his bassinet.

     She smiled at the yawning baby as she heard Cerulean and the children laugh as they pulled out food to cook for dinner.

     "I made a promise once," she whispered to the baby drowsing in his bed.  "I made a promise to protect our family and I've done that.  I'm going to make a promise to you now.  I will never let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do.  You can be anything you want to be and do anything you can dream of."

     "You'll be amazing Hunter.  I just know it," she said brushing her lips to the top of the sleeping baby's head.

     "Hi Mom.  Hi Dad." Rachael said later that day in her family's garden cemetery.  She looked down at the silent headstones.

     "Your first grandchild was born.  Little Hunter certainly has a set of lungs on him," Rachael chuckled.  "And your second grandchild will be born the beginning of next year."

     She sighed, "but so much has happened.  Rebecca's run away.  Lean and Mags are doing their best to track her down but she has learned the Palette way of secrecy and hiding well."

     "They'll find her eventually.  They always find their sim.  I'm sorry it got to this point.  When they find her I'll talk to her, try to understand why she ran away from her side."

     "Until they find her, can you watch over her from the otherside?  She needs family the most right now and she's not letting us be there for her."

     Silence was her only answer but Rachael felt lighter somehow.  As if the spirits of her parents heard her request and took that weight off her shoulders.

     "What did I ever do to deserve such faith?"

     Rachael smiled and turned around when her husband spoke.  He walked over to her and took her hands in his.

     "You were there for me when I was in pain and couldn't share it with anyone.  You loved me even when I was too scared to admit I felt the same way."

     "You kept secrets from me but when they became dangerous you trusted me with them."  She shrugged then, "and you've always kept your promises to me.  Why wouldn't I have faith in you?"

     "I'll spend the rest of my life ensuring you never have a reason to doubt me, Ray.  I love you."

     "I love you, too," Rachael said.

                                                                                                            

Random Rambling

   So this is the end of Rachael's story arc.  I'm torn between two paths right now.  Play and write about the years between now and the heir's story or just jump to the heir's story. Any opinions?

Chapter 1.22: Continuity

     Cerulean was overdue to return and Rachael needed him home today.  Rhidian and the kids were silent as they were gathered around.  Everyone dressed in black.  Everyone mourning the loss of Patrick, their beloved father and mentor.

     During his afternoon out with Rebecca he suffered a heart attack.  By the time Rachael and Rhidian made it to the hospital the doctor was waiting to tell them he was gone.  Rebecca cried while Rhidian hugged her and Rachael spoke to the doctor.

     They would have to do an autopsy for certainty but the doctor was Patrick's own physician and he thought it would be an unnecessary procedure.  He told Rachael that he had been seeing Patrick for heart problems over the last year and a half and he thought it had been only a matter of time until his heart gave out on him.

     Rachael took care of the necessary paperwork to release his body so they could cremate his remains and get a gravestone made for the backyard.  Then they went home and told River and Ochre who had remained at the house with Mags to watch them that Patrick was gone.

     Rebecca retreated to her room while they spoke.  When Rachael told them the sad news River cried in Rhidian's arms and Ochre hugged Rachael.  While trying to comfort her family Rachael couldn't let herself feel her own pain of the loss they shared. 

     Unlike when they lost their mother no one cried that morning as they said their own goodbyes to Patrick.  They'd had him for so long it was time to let him go.

     Even River as the youngest had always recognized her Daddy was unlikely to see her grow up.  "Just watch me Daddy.  Like I told you, I'll find the best husband ever, as good as Lean to love me," River said before placing the rose she'd plucked before his headstone.

     Ochre said nothing aloud but looked intently at the gravestone before nodding his head and putting his own flower down.

     They waited for Rebecca to speak next but when she didn't Rhidian started his own goodbye.

     "You were the best and the worst of father's old man.  You've shown me what it means to love my family.  But you've also shown me the hurt I can cause them.  I hope to be the man you've shown me I can be because like you, I'm only human."  Rhidian knelt before the stone and brushed his fingers over their fathers name then placed his flower with the others.

     Rachael looked at the simple gravestone and thought of the man she knew.  Loving to a fatherless child, attentive to a lonely little girl and patient with the confused young woman she had been.  There were so many things Rachael wished she could say to him if given the chance but in this moment there was only one thing she wanted to say the most.

     "I love you Daddy," she whispered.

     Rachael turned at the footsteps behind her and turned to see Rebecca walking out of the garden cemetary.

     "Rebecca," she called and stepped toward her sister.

     Rebecca turned back at her name.  "I have to go," she said.

     Rachael was worried about her sister.  Over the last couple of weeks Rebecca was eating and sleeping less. She had bruises under her eyes and she had lost more weight than was good for her.  Neither Rachael nor Rhidian had been able to comfort her, she shrugged off their concerns and went on doing her thing.

     "Rebecca don't go," Rachael pleaded, "stay here."

     "Why?  So you can lecture me on how it's my fault Dad died," Rebecca held up a hand and Rachael fell back into silence instead of objecting, "no thanks.  I've gotta go.  My friends are waiting."

     Rachael watched her sister turn and walk down the street in the direction of her friends' houses.

     "How can she think it's her fault," Rachael whispered.

     Rhidian hugged Rachael,  "It's Becks, Ray.  She's always been extra sensitive when it came to losing mom.  I think that might be where it's coming from."

     "Come on munchkins," Rhidian said to the kids, "let's get you guys to school.  I'll take you on my way to work."

     Ochre and River each gave Rachael a hug before following Rhidian inside to change clothes for school.

     Once she was alone Rachael sat on the bench set in the corner of the garden.  As she sat there in silent contemplation her mind drifted through memories of Patrick one at a time, making her smile, chuckle and sigh.  Through them all she felt the trickle of tears running down her cheeks until she was bent over on the bench crying.

     "I'm sorry it's taken me so long."

     In shock Rachael looked up at his voice.  Cerulean was there.  He was finally there.

     "You're really home right? I'm not imagining this?"

     "I'm really home Ray."

     Rachael jumped up from the bench and threw herself into Cerulean's arms.  She cried into his shoulder while he just held her wrapped in his arms until her tears ran out.

     Once her tears finally stopped they sat on the bench together and looked at the small family cemetery in their garden.

     "I don't know where Grandpa Ray is buried," Rachael finally broke their silence.  "Or great-grandma Melody and great-grandpa Roy.  Our family is scattered about the sim world."

     "What do you know about them," Cerulean asked.

     "Not very much I guess.  I grew up with mom and grandma Meghan," she pointed to the solitary headstone. "I never met my grandpa, he died before I was born. I have vague memories of my great-aunt Marisa because she lived with us for a time but she died before mom married Patrick, so I was still little."

     "Her and grandma were the only children of great-grandma Melody and great-grandpa Roy.  My mom and my uncles Michael and Matt were Grandma Meghan's only children. Uncle Matt died a couple of years after mom did. He never married you know. Nor has Uncle Michael I think."

     "You know a lot about your family then," Cerulean said.  "I only know my mom, dad and one aunt.  Nothing about my grandparents and little about any cousins we have.  Though I work with my brother, sister and some cousins, we don't really socialize outside of the job."

     "Why not," Rachael asked looking at him.

     "To keep the secrets," he said.

     Cerulean hugged Rachael to him and looked back at her.  "I want our child to know everything we can teach him or her about our families.  I want them to have that sense of continuity I hear in your voice when you talk about your family.  You might never have met them but they are 'family' to you.  I'm kind of envious of it really."

      Rachael looked up at her husband and then kissed him. "Ochre and our children will know everything I can teach them about our families," she promised softly.

     Cerulean pressed his forehead to hers, "thanks."

                                                                                                               

Random Ramblings

   Like I mentioned in a previous post I had to reincarnate Patrick for some pics so now I've officially let him go.  It was kind of sad to see him go, especially since he was surrounded by his family.

   Though looking at the picture now I'm laughing to see Rhidian playing the guitar.  For anyone who's noticed, yes, this is pre-redesign house.  So it's Rhonan and Ochre crying, and Rachael just showed up I think or she finished her crying I can't remember.  It was too long ago now. And Grimmy is there too.

   This post was more reading than pictures but really since I'm not going to use any kind of pose player there are only so many actions I can get them to do and with this chapter there wasn't much more I wanted to do in terms of pictures.

Chapter 1.2: A Wake and Letting Go

     "Patrick," Rachael said knocking on his door the next morning.  "Patrick wake up, the Wake is going to start in a couple hours."

     There was no response so Rachael opened the door.

     Inside the room was empty.  Rachael looked at the bed in dismay, it didn't look slept in so where could Patrick be.  Downstairs the doorbell rang announcing the arrival of her uncles to help set up for the Wake.  Rachael closed the door and went to let them in.

     Rachael found her sister outside playing on the monkey bars.  In her dress no less, Rachael shook her head in exasperation.

     "Becky, " she called, "come inside before you get your dress dirty.  People are arriving."

     "Don't want to," she yelled.

     "Not today, Becky.  Come inside."

     The day was long, and seemingly endless.  With a parade of people stopping to give condolences.  People their mom worked with, people she knew and fans that had followed her career.  Rachael nodded at their words but paid little attention to the people in front of her.  Every time the door opened to let in a new mourner, her heart dropped a little more when it wasn't the one person she wanted it to be.

     Carl Sharp had been her boyfriend for the last three months.  He was a year older, a senior at school and he was the school sports star.  Their relationship was strained lately, he wanted to do more than kiss and make out and Rachael wasn't ready to go farther.  She felt him pulling away and sometimes she thought she saw him checking out other girls.  Every time she would confront him about it though he would tell her he wasn't and spend more attention on her for a time.

     Despite her doubts she needed his support to get through this torture and wished he would hurry and show up.

     Hours later the guests had left and only uncle Matt and uncle Michael stayed behind to talk with the kids.

     "Where's Patrick, Rachael, I haven't seen him today?"  Matt asked.

     Rachael turned to look at her sister play with one of her dolls in the corner of the room.

     "I don't know.  Perhaps we could talk in the kitchen?" she said getting up to lead the way into the other room.

     After checking to make sure none of her siblings had followed she looked at her uncle.  "He wasn't here when I went to wake him this morning.  He's gone a lot lately," she said wrapping her arms around herself, "sometimes we get a call from the bar where he's passed out drunk at night."

     Matt wrapped her in a hug.  "He's going through a tough time right now.  Your mother was his true love.  Losing her is like losing a part of himself."

     Rachael sniffed, "It's hard losing Mama right now.  I don't want to lose Patrick as well.  He's still the closest thing to a dad I've ever had."

     Matt rocked her side to side and  made soothing murmurs before saying, "Hopefully in time he will remember he has you children to take care of.  Until then all you can do is keep going.  Michael and I will be here for you until then."

     "Is it clear to come in," asked Rhonan from the doorway.  Wiping the moisture from her eyes Rachael turned to see him standing there holding piled up plates.

     Stepping forward to take them she said thanks and took them to the sink to begin washing.

     "Call if you kids need anything," Matt said while walking out.

     "Thanks Uncle Matt," Rachael called over the running water.  With Rhidian and Rhonan helping they picked up all the plates and wrapped the leftover food.

     "You two should head on up to bed," Rachael said after the last of the food was put away.

     "What about you," Rhidian asked.

     "I'm going to turn in after I get this last load clean and check on Becky."

     "All right.  Goodnight then Ray." "Yeah, goodnight Ray."

     "Goodnight boys."

     Rachael checked on Becky sleeping in her bed before walking around the house one more time to find any misplaced plates and such.  She had just finished the last plate and was turning off the sink when she heard a tap at the glass doors.

     Carl had finally decided to show up.  Rachael angrily stalked over to the doors.  Yanking it open she barely managed to stop the door from hitting the wall before turning on her boyfriend.

     "What are you doing here at this hour," she hissed at him.

     She stepped back when he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

     "Whoa, babe.  What are you angry about.  I made it here didn't I."

     "Angry.  I'm not angry, I'm furious.  I needed you here today. I needed you to be here for me," she said tapping herself on the chest.

      "Hey," Carl said putting his hands up defensively, "I told you last week that I couldn't make it.  I had other plans today that  I couldn't change."

     "And what are those plans.  You won't tell me anything, so I know where I stand on your list of priorities.  Dead last."

     "That's not true," he said stepping forward and holding her by the hands, "we're having fun and I take my fun very seriously.  You know you're kinda sexy when you get all mad like that."

     Rachael couldn't hold back the growl of annoyance as she snapped, "shut up." Jerking her hands away she grabbed him and pulled him down to kiss. "Just shut up and kiss me already," she said at his lips.

     This kiss wasn't at all like their usual kisses.  She would have described them as pleasant and all but this kiss.  Wow, this kiss was edgy, dark and thrilling.  Carl didn't just let himself be kissed, he took command of the kiss.  His lips were hard against hers, demanding entrance and when Rachael let out a little gasp he slipped his tongue in to tease along hers.  Rachael felt herself responding, hesitantly reciprocating the action.

     Carl's hands drifted down to her lower back, a hairs breadth from butt and Rachael found herself holding her breath, waiting to see what he would do next.  He pulled her closer to his body until she was slightly bowed back by the force of his kiss. 

     He was hard and hot against her.  Rachael gasped for breath when he pulled his mouth down to kiss along her throat.  Her eyes drifted closed as she squirmed against him, trying to hold on through the fire he was igniting within her or to put it out.  Anything to make it better.

     "Carl," she gasped as he kissed back along her jaw to her ear.  "Please, Carl," she pleaded though she didn't know what for.

     He stopped only long enough to take her by the hand and pull her up the stairs towards her room.  For a moment her steps halted as the reality of what they were going to do started to hit her.

     Before she could think over long about it Carl was kissing her again.  The fire from the kitchen that had started to turn to embers was fanned back to life with a vengeance.  Rachael opened the door to her room and let Carl carry her inside and around to the bed.

     Sitting next to him Rachael couldn't look away from him as he brought his hand up to brush back a strand of hair.

     "Beautiful," he whispered before kissing her again.

     Rachael leaned into the kiss and let go.  Let go of all the reasons why she shouldn't do this, of all  the hurt from losing her mom, of the stress of taking care of her younger siblings and fighting to keep their family from falling apart.

     Rachael lay back as Carl kissed her over and over.

                                                                                                                                                        

Random Ramblings

   Oh my gawd, teens can now woohoo.  I don't care if they call it 'messing around' in the game you know what's going on under those covers.  Pretty cool addition to the game in my opinion.  Makes it more like real life without going overboard by letting them try for babies in my opinion.  Finally spent more time playing around with the teen age and this is what I discover.  I just sooo had to bring it in to the story.

   Anyways I got a little more risque there writing than I would have thought possible for me, but wow it just came writing out.

Chapter 1.1: Farewells and New Beginnings

     It was a bad dream.  It had to be a bad dream and the alarm would wake her up very soon.  That was the only explanation Rachael could come up with for this scene.  The cool, early morning breeze pierced through her dress, sending chills dancing up her spine.  Poor Becky was sobbing fit to break a heart; Rhidian could barely look and Rhonan was yelling at the tombstone.

     Their mothers' tombstone.

     She flashed back to that fateful morning.  It was just another morning.  One Rachel had relived hundreds of times over the years.  Brynna calling the kids down to a fresh cooked breakfast, chiding them to be good and listen to the teachers as they left the house to walk to school together.  Rebecca turning around to wave bye before going to her very first day of elementary school and Rachael taking her hand to walk her while their mother stood at the door watching them leave.  Her hand drifting to her very pregnant stomach.

     They were expecting a quiet house when they returned that afternoon.  Their mom was a famous violinist, often performing out of town and their dad was getting started in the tech field, putting in long hours at the office.  They weren't expecting their uncles to be there or for their dad to be sobbing in the living room.

     It was bad, whatever it was had to be bad.  Rachael couldn't remember ever seeing Patrick cry before.  At first she just stared at her uncle unable to understand what he was saying.  Then Becky was running across the room hugging her dad, Rhidian was dropping into a chair and Rhonan was yelling.

     But when she could focus on him again her uncle was saying the same thing over and over again.

     "I'm sorry.  There was an accident."

     "Stupid River.  I hate her.  I wish she was never born."  Rachael turned to her younger sister as she yelled.

     River, their baby sister.  Taken from their dying mother's body when the doctors gave up any hope of her waking up.

     Rachael went over to her sister and hugged her tightly.  "It's not River's fault Mom died.  You know that right?  It was a car accident, she was hit by a drunk driver."

     One second was all it took.  One second led to three days of fear. To four weeks of grief and six lives forever changed by one second.  All because of an accident, a stupid thoughtless accident.

     "Come on.  Let's go inside," she said pulling Becky around toward the house.  As they began walking back Rhidian tucked an arm around her from the other side and kept pace with them.  Him and his twin, Rhonan, were only 14, not quite children but not yet grown up either.

     "Dad should have been here," he said quietly.
   
     "He was up all night crying.  He wouldn't stir when I tried to wake him this morning," Rachael said as they climbed the steps to the patio.

     "Probably too drunk to get up," Rhonan said under his breath.

     Rachael didn't say anything to that.  She didn't want to agree, but he seemed to have taken to drinking ever since Brynna died.  They stopped inside as someone knocked on the front door.

     "Rhonan, can you take Becky upstairs for now?" Rachael asked her brother.

     "Sure.  Come on Becks," he said taking her hand and going upstairs.

     "Check on Patrick, will you?  See if he's up for food or anything,"  She asked Rhidian.

     "Yeah.  Then I'll come help you handle whoever this yahoo is."

      Rachael opened the door intending to tell whoever it was that they weren't welcoming visitors until the formal wake.

     "Uncle Matt," she said surprised to see him standing at the door.  Opening the door wider to let him in she continued, "What are you doing here?  The wake is tomorrow,"

     "I know but I finished talking with some lawyers who specialize in inheritances and need to discuss it with you."

     "Okay. Come inside," she said giving him a hug before gesturing over to the formal living room next to the front door.  Rhidian was coming back downstairs and joined them as they entered the room.  Rachael was relieved when he sat with her on the couch but was put off when Uncle Matt chose to stand on the other side of the coffee table.

     "How much do you know about inheritance laws?" he asked instead of saying what it was he had found out.
   

     "Not much since it wasn't an issue before.  Mom wasn't an elder yet, Ray's not an adult and none of the doctors were even worried about her being pregnant again.  I guess the only thing we know is that someone else has to take on the title of Head of Household, since mom is gone," Rhidian answered for them.

     Matt sighed, "It's more than just a mere title.  It's a responsibility to care for the members of the family, even members in other houses and to raise the children that will carry on the family's name."

     He turned to look at Rachael directly, "Which brings us to you.  Sim inheritance law dictates that the family name and fortune passes on to the eldest daughter of the family line.  You, Rebecca and River are the only daughter's our family has.  As the eldest you would become the next Head of Household."

     Rachael sat up in her seat, "Me?  But I don't even know... I'm not yet seventeen.  How can I be a Head of Household?"

     Matt finally sat in the seat nearest Rachael and looked at her with a compassionate smile, "I know you are young.  That's why I went to the lawyers to figure out how this would work.  They were quite clear though that only a daughter can inherit from her mother.  Sons cannot inherit at all."

     Rachael stared at her uncle, "But we're only children.  I'm still a child."

     Matt reached over and patted her hand.  "No decisions have to be made today.  Custom holds that the bereaved have until the end of the Wake period to make such decisions.  You have one more week, but you need to know every option available to you.

     "You turn 17 in two weeks, old enough to succeed your mom and act as an adult.  Or, you can choose to pass on the inheritance and Becky or River can be next Head.  If you go that route then a proxy will be named to act on their behalf until they come of age."

     He sighed then, "however, the courts have a history of choosing the surviving spouse as proxy unless he is otherwise deemed unfit to act.  And he has no one to answer to until the heir comes of age."

     Rachael turned to look at Rhidian, who was looking at her with worry.

     "You said I have until the end of the Wake period to decide," she said turning back to her uncle and squared her shoulders, "then I need this week to think."

     "Of course," he said getting up.  "I'll go now and let you be.  I'll see you tomorrow for the Wake."

     "Thank you, Uncle Matt, for doing this."

     "You're my niece, my family.  It was nothing," he said kissing her on the top of the head before walking out.  "Come on sprout," he said to Rhidian, "you can lock the door behind me."

     Rachael stood and followed to the doorway and watched as Uncle Matt said goodbye to Rhidian.  She walked back into the room and sat in one of the chairs.

     Rhidian came back in and sat in the chair next to her.  For a couple minutes neither one said anything nor did they look at each other.

     Rhidian was the first to break the silence, "So, you're Head now."

     "I don't know.  It's too much to take in right now.  I mean can you really imagine me as Head?"

     Rhidian was silent for a moment before saying, "It's either you, Becky or River.  And if it's one of them Dad would be Head by proxy."

     Rachael grimaced, "Patrick can't even take care of himself right now."  She looked at her brother as he groaned and put his head in his hands.

     "Can't take care of himself," he groaned again, "Ray, right now Dad would drink himself to death if you weren't keeping the key to the liquor cabinet."

     Rachael grimaced hearing the worry and fear in her brother's prediction.  But just thinking it, Head of Household, was scary enough that she couldn't say it.  Even to herself.

                                                                                                                         

Random Ramblings

   So this is the new Sims 4 game.  Eek, oh no, I've fallen victim to a new system. (Used to play sims 3 exclusively)  Anyways,  this is the O'Malley family.  I started it with a single founder (female of course, which is why my make-believe sim world is a matriarchy) and played through two generations born in game (three if you count Rachael which I'm not since she isn't an adult yet).  Yeah, so Rachael is the fourth generation Head of Household.  That's pretty good for me, a lot more generations than I usually get through.

   Mostly I've been playing the family on their home lot.  Haven't been going out much for a generation or so, still trying to figure out a way that I can explore the world a little more but if I never get to it...well I'm not gonna cry over it.

   Right now I have an idea to play this generation and tell the story of Rachael for a bit but I plan to end it long before the next gen is ready to take over with their story.  I will see how that works out...