Generation 01, Chapter 11: ☼ Fun in the Sun ☼

Now that the girls are older, it's quite obvious how different there personalities are.  When they were toddlers they always wanted to be the same and now they're as different as hot and cold.  Yet, despite their differences, they're still very close.

Zoe is much more extroverted and athletic.  She enjoys her after school dance class and loves to annoy play with her older brother.

Calla is much different from her sister.  She's extremely studious and driven.  In fact, she's already declared that she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up.

Homework seems to be a breeze to her and she often helps her brother and sister with their homework.

Kadie dies in her sleep shortly after Calla, Zoe, and James age up.  Her death is very hard on Adam but with quite a lot of consoling and man tears, he heals up quickly.  We decide to wait a while before getting another dog.

In the mean time, we agree to take a family vacation to the beach behind my old house.  Returning to this beach reminds me of when I went those many years ago.

James doesn't want to go at first.  I suppose he doesn't see it as a "cool" thing to do but eventually he gives in.  Swimming is one of his favorite sports so I think that's what got him.  Either that or the fact that Adam wouldn't teach him how to drive if he didn't go.

He and Zoe play in the sand together while Calla reads on a bench by herself.

"Do you think she's okay over there?"  I ask worriedly.

"Well, it depends, what book is she reading?"  Adam finally replies.

"I think it's her logic book.  What does that mean?"

"Well, as long as it's not her atomic bomb book I think we're all good," Adam grins.  "Besides, whenever she reads her logic book, that means she did really well on a test at school."  And by really well, he doesn't mean 100%.  He means that somehow she managed to get extra credit on a test that probably didn't even have extra credit.

"Goodness, I don't know where that girl got her brains from."

"Hey!" Adam says offensively.  "What's that supposed to mean?"

I ignore his remark and kiss his puzzled face.

It's nearly noon and we all eat a nice picnic lunch that Zoe helped me pack earlier.

"C'mon Calla!  Let's get in the water!"  James and Zoe shout to their sister after their meal.

"Uh, well, I kind of want to finish reading this chapter.  It's really good!"  She yells back.

"Oh come on Calla.  You've already read that book, like, a million times," Zoe complains.

"Please Zoe.  I only have a few pages left, I swear."

"Fine," Zoe says, mostly likely while rolling her eyes.  Then she joins James in the cool salty water of the ocean.

"I think I'm ready to take a dive too," Adam announces, getting up.  "You?"

"Um...," I shift in my chair uncomfortably.  "Maybe."

"Come on, Cal, I don't want to swim without you.  Pleeeeaasseee...," he begs, giving me puppy dog eyes.

"First I want to go to the swing over there.  It looks new."

I get up quickly and hope that Adam will forget that I don't want to go swimming but I look back behind me and find Adam quickly following my trail.

Coolly, I lean against the broken branch holding up the swing.  Adam's arms wrap around me.

"Cal, please tell me.  Is something bothering you?"

"It's just... it's just that I don't think the swim suit I'm wearing is very... appropriate.  I'm not sure if that's the right word but that's all I can think of to describe it at the moment.  I would have worn a different one but it was the only swimsuit I could find.  It's a bit more revealing.  I think."

"Hey, I'm sure whatever it is I'll enjoy it."  Adam throws me that grin again that makes my legs wobble.

"I know you will.  But what about the kids?  I mean, it's a one piece but it's a bit... sheer."

"All the more for me to enjoy it," Adam repeats as he begins to slip off my cover up.  I giggle at his touch and lean up against him.

"Fine, you win."  I slip off the cover up and cover my arms over my chest.  "See, I told you it was-"

"I love it," Adam states.  Then he grabs me and hugs me tight.  "Now let's go swimming!"

He dives right in but I walk slowly to the edge of the sand.  The small waves moving toward the shore tickle my feet and I wade in the crystal clear water.  I go in deeper until I can barely touch.  Adam's grip hold me to him and we float around in the water.

Later he grabs some floaties and we float on the water's surface, soaking up some rays.  I get a little bit tanner (okay, I get pink) but Adam gets a full on tan.  And it looks good.  

By this time, Calla has joined us and is laughing and playing with her brother and sister.  It's nice to see her so happy.  She usually seems so serious it's hard to tell if she's even having fun.

Dawn sets in and soon it's very dark.  Adam and James decide to have some fun being all manly and lighting fireworks.

Unfortunately, the girls are too young but Adam and I play around with sparklers.

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Everyone sleeps in the next day and we all have a lazy day.  Adam and I are the only ones to get dressed and as I'm walking a passed the front window, I notice the mail carrier shoving something large into the mailbox.  Curiously, I walk outside to see what it is.

It's from Simon Simmons.  It'd take forever to explain who he is so long story short, he's a good friend of mine.  We don't see each other very much anymore but I still consider him a close friend, despite our history together.

"What is that stuff?  It looks so beautiful yet so deadly," Adam comments.

"Perhaps we should read the letter," I suggest as I notice the envelope on the floor.

Dear Calista and Adam, 

Gabrielle and I are ecstatic to congratulate you on your anniversary last week.  It's amazing to think that's it's already been so long since the wedding.  And congratulations on your three beautiful children.  They're already so big.   

Anyway, here's what could be considered an anniversary gift, if you'd like to look at it that way.  I don't know if you want to use it or not but if you do, I should probably let you know what it is.  It's a new potion that my research work has been developing.  It allows a person to stay young - permanently.  I know it's a big decision but I wouldn't want anyone else to have it before you.  So, if you do decide to take it, just know that it is a work in progress and that if something goes wrong, call the Science Facility's number I've written below. 

Again, congrats on the anniversary and, uh, feel free to keep me updated on the potion.  If it doesn't work, feel free to shoot me.   

Your friend,

Simon Simmons

PS:  Makes sure you shake it before you drink it.  When it turns from blue to pink, it's ready to drink

PSS:  Haha, that rhymed.

"Goodness, this is... quite the gift," I say, after reading and scanning the letter no less than five times.

"I'll say," Adam murmurs.

"So," he says a minute later, "should be go for it?"

"Are you sure?  This is a very big decision.  This is quite a selfish thing... not to mention the environmental factors....  Okay, let's do it."

Adam hands me one of the flasks and gets one for himself and swishes it around.

"One of us should drink it first so the other one can call the Science Facility, just in case something goes wrong."

"Good idea.  Should I do it?"

"If you'd like to."

"I actually would," Adam says.  Then he takes a sip of the flask and nothing happens.  "I feel fine.  I think it's safe for you to drink."

I put the flask to my lips, take a deep breath, and take a small sip of the pale pink liquid.  It's warm as it rolls down my throat and into my stomach.  There's nothing at first until Adam starts to glow around me.  Then I start to glow.  It's a warm, happy feeling.

"I think it's working!"  I exclaim.

"Oh my God, this feels just like being drunk.  Except without the weird vision and impaired functioning," Adam thinks aloud.

Suddenly, I feel a burst of energy and... newness?

Whatever it is, Adam's right.  It feels great.

"Oh my goodness, I feel amazing!  I cannot believe it worked," I chuckle.

"Okay, I feel great and all but I really need to use the bathroom.  I feel like I just downed fifty gallons," Adam complains as he scampers to the bathroom.

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NOTE

Okay, so just so you guys know, there will only be one more chapter of this generation (and it's a very short one) until Generation 2 starts!  WOO!  :D  Obviously I'm sad to leave Calista but she'll be making appearances for... a long time.  ;3

Also, thank you Dessie Sims for the idea of making the legacy heirs and heiresses immortal.  It's a great way to part with them without actually having to part with them.  

Thank for reading!!  :)

Generation 01, Chapter 10: Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing

NOTE

The quote in the title is by Phyllis Diller.

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Mystic finally gave birth to two foals, Magic and Miracle (both girls), last week so that probably explains why I'm riding them in my dreams.  They're carrying Adam and I through a jungle when all of a sudden a monkey speaks to me. "Mom, mom! You need to get up."

"What?" I ask. I must be delirious. I shake my head and turn away.

I open my eyes and see James staring out the window of our room. "Mom! Look, it's snowing! Wake up and see!" He repeats. I shake my head and rub the sleep out of my eyes. 

Then I shake Adam's shoulder.  "Honey, wake up. Look outside."

Adam groans and peeks his eyes at me.  He smiles and then looks over at James.  "How about you go put on the new winter gear we bought you, James.  We'll be out in a sec."

James stands there and then squeals and runs out of the room with Kadie in pursuit.

Adam embraces me under the covers and closes his eyes.  "Adam," I whine.  "You can't go back to sleep."

"Just a few minutes," he murmurs against my neck.  His hands wrap about my sides and he pulls me close to him.  I have to admit, it's very tempting to just stay inside next to this warm hunk of man but I don't want James to be outside alone.  Plus, this is the very first snow that we've ever seen.  We should probably go out and enjoy it.

His breath is warm against my skin as he whispers, "So, have you thought about more children?  Or are we done?"  I'm stunned by his question (considering that it's too early in the morning for clear thinking, especially about important topics such as the former) but tell him that I have to think about it.

The girls' cries bring me to my feet.  Adam finally gets up too and we get the girls ready for the outdoors too.  I look out the window and see James has somehow already built a large igloo. 

It takes about forty-five minutes but Adam and I finally get ourselves and the girls ready for the coolness of the outdoors.  I step out the door and the snow crunches underneath my feet.  It's a pleasantly cushiony substance and I just want to fall into it.

"Let's go see what your brother is doing," I say once Adam and Calla come out.

I glance over at the stable and realize that it was good thing Adam called for a roof to be added to the horse stable because there's a lot of snow and more is falling down.

Calla and Zoe go into James's igloo but apparently, it's not very interesting because they both pop back out a few minutes later complaining about the cold.  James entertains them a bit with a game of peek-a-boo to distract them from complaining and it works... for a little while.  Adam and I bring them back inside and they eat their breakfast and watch cartoons.  They seem very content so I carry out a baby monitor and Adam, James, and I continue to play outside.  

We start off by making snowmen.  It's laborious and I feel like my fingers are going to freeze off.  I'm still tentative and have no yet touched the snow with my bare hands.  Adam and I invite James to build our snowman with us but he's convinced we're too old and so he starts making his own right next to us.  I have to admit, Adam does most of the building.

I'm just in awe of the snow.  It's such a strange substance that I can't help but constantly admire it.  I never knew I could direct my attention to such a simple thing for such a lengthy period of time.

Well, by the time James leaves for school, Adam and I have completed our snowman and James had fun ruining his.

Adam quickly drops the girls off at a friend's house for a play date and then he and I spend some time together making snow angels and building a snow cat.

James makes an amazing big brother.  He did get a bit jealous having two younger sisters stealing the attention but he discovered quite quickly that it doesn't help to pout and complain about them.  He constantly helps take care of them and because of that, he is privileged.

I find my two boys taking care of the girls while I cook dinner.  James is hanging out with Zoe while Calla babbles about her best friend, Chartreuse Flavius, another little girl who is Calla and Zoe's age.

For dinner, we have breakfast foods.  It has continued to snow all day today so much so that James' school was cancelled at noon and tomorrow there won't be any school either.  So the breakfast food, which is James's favorite type of food, is in celebration of no school.

Despite not having school tomorrow, James still decides to get started on his homework.  He's learning how to do long division so Adam sits down and helps him while the twins play contently by themselves with the new dollhouse they received on their last birthday.

"Oh, Cal!"  Adam exclaims.  "I forgot to tell you, Dexter and I are planning on going out of town to a horse show that only comes around every ten years or so.  It's not until the summer but I'm just warning you ahead of time."

"Really?  Okay, you'll have to remind me when it comes around."

"Dad!"  James whines.  "You're supposed to be helping me.  I don't understand how to get rid of this number...."

At last, James gets his homework done.  Adam and I put the little girls to sleep and James, Adam, and I go downstairs, snuggle on the couch together, and watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn in our hands.

The next day, on James's day off, Adam put up beautiful holiday lights up on the eaves of the house where a million icicles grew over night.  Adam and James spend more time outside.  Honestly, one day was enough for me.  I'm still getting used to this cold so I stay inside with the little girls.

James takes care of the two foals.  He's been given the responsibility of taking care of the foals and he's stated that one day he's going to grow up and take care of the horses "just like daddy."

We drop the little girls off at another play date and then Adam and James convince me to come outside and go ice skating.  Fortunately, Adam and I have gone ice skating on a rink before but James has not.

We walk over to a local pond that has been deemed safe to skate on.

James is wobbly at first and spreads his arms out to keep his balance.  Adam stays close behind him just in case he falls, which he does a few times.

He's a quick learner and is soon able to follow behind Adam and make full trips around the entire pond without tripping.

His confidence rises and he and I skate together in the middle of the circle while Adam shows off his moves.

"You showoff!"  I giggle as he skates around James and I backwards.

After many many months of snow, it's finally the beginning of summer.  Adam has gone with Dexter to the horse show so it's just the kids and I at home.  James does a great job of taking care of his little sister and even helps me put them to bed each night.

Kadie is getting old now.  She can barely walk up the stairs and prefers to sleep most days.  In a way she is like a cat, except bigger, of course.  The little girls give her plenty of entertainment what she's not asleep.

Summer should be a nice break from Winter, definitely.  Adam should be coming home soon and when he does, we'll be celebrating the twins' birthday as well as James's.  With the children getting older, I think back to Adam's question from earlier this year.  Then I text him:

Our family is complete.

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NOTE

Thanks for reading!!  :)  OMG, I cannot believe Calista is finishing with 103 children.  That's so strange to think about.  O_O

Meh, I tried to keep it somewhat interesting but I pretty much had to make a smooth story line out of a bunch of random pictures (because I was super excited to test out Seasons so I just took random screenshots of everything without thinking about making them make sense), which wasn't too successful but... oh well.

  

Generation 01, Chapter 09: Do you think Snowy the Bear is creepy?

James is a wonderfully well behaved boy.  He has his normal toddler antics but overall he is the perfect mix of Adam and I.  He has my blue hair and strange dark chocolate brown eyes.  They are beautiful but mysterious since neither my side or Adam's side of the family has them.  James has inherited my love of cats and Adam's love of horses.  He can't ride the unicorns yet but he loves to point at them and make neighing noises (he would ride the cats... if they let him).

"... The science research center has created a new device called a 'weather stone' which will hopefully bring seasonal weather to Sunset Valley.  It'll be a new experience for most Sunset Valley citizens but the researchers at the Science Center believe it'll bring a new flow of people and cash into the city.  Now, onto the weather.  The weather stone has been activated today and so summer officially begins today.  It'll be a toasty-."

I shut off the television before he gives the weather report.  Weather?  I'd never experienced such a thing.  As long as I've known Sunset Valley has been a perfectly sunny (with very occasional showers) city.

Adam comes into the living room and smiles when he sees James playing on the floor with the kittens.  Then he moves his gaze towards me.

"Adam, tell me something.  What do you think about the new weather stone that they've implemented?  Yay or nay?"

Adam doesn't reply and his face creases as he ponders my question.  "I'm not sure," he says at last.  I've never really experienced extreme weather conditions but it can't be that drastic, can it?  I mean, we can adapt if we need to.  Hopefully it won't impact our lives too much."

"Do you think it's a stupid idea to go visit the stone?  I'd like to know more about it."

"Of course not dear, none of your ideas are stupid."

I dress in a light outfit but apparently it's not light enough.  "Oh my goodness, it's sweltering out.  How can it be so hot?"  Adam doesn't look much better and poor James is covered in sweat from himself and from Adam.

"Perhaps we should change," Adam pants.

"Mommy, I'm hot...," James complains.

"Yes, let's go inside put on some summery clothes."

We change into more comfortable clothing and head over to the Science Center.

"Wow, this thing is freakier in person," I say aloud.

"So true," Adam agrees.

"It says here that it controls the weather but it also allows Supernaturals to interact with it to create crazy unnatural phenomenons.  Apparently no one has really tested that out but it's a work in progress."

Adam swings James into the air to occupy him.  This little outing isn't really interesting for the poor toddler.

"Do you actually believe in Supernaturals?"  Adam asks curiously.

"Dear, remember that some of my children are vampires.  So yes, I do believe that they exist."

"I know that.  But seriously, fairies?  Witches?  Zombies?  It sounds... kind of crazy."

"Says the man that owns two unicorns.  I swear, what does it take to convince you anything?"

Adam laughs and I roll my eyes.  "I suppose I could think a little more outside of the box," he finally says.

"You'd better," I mutter as I try to stifle a laugh.  As much as he irritates me with his ignorance, he's extremely cute and I just want to giggle at everything he does.

James decides to walk on his own back home and the long journey wears him out, so much so that he falls asleep right as his feet step into the front door.  We slip some pajamas onto his sleeping form and set him into his crib.  It's so rare for him to sleep this much without making a peep that we don't dare wake him up for dinner.  We'll suffer the consequences when he wakes up in the middle of the night but Adam and I could care less.  A few hours of rest could do us good.

That night, Adam slips off his shirt and climbs onto the bed.  I slip on my pajamas and join him.

"So," Adam starts to say, "Now that James is asleep, perhaps we could have a little fun?"

"Oh you," I giggle as I eye him flirtatiously.  "I don't know... what if James wakes up?"

"We'll be quick.  I promise," Adam says.  All I can see is the lust in his eyes and it tempts me but I try to resist.

"Really, Adam, I don't think tonight is the night...."

"You know what I've been thinking?  Tonight would be a great night to expand our family, if you know what I mean."

I'm surprised.  "Really?  You want to try for another child?"

"Why not?  I know I want James to have a little brother and sister and he's already getting so big.  You saw him walk home.  He's getting older and it's probably best that there isn't a big age difference between him and his sibling-."

I pull him toward me before he can finish.

"Okay, you've convinced me.  Now make it worth it," I grin.

He gets the memo and shuts up.  And fortunately for the both of us, James sleeps the entire time, so we have quite the night.

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"Hi, my name is Snowy the Bear and I love you.  Can I give you a big hug?   And perhaps some kisses?"  Adam asks James in a high-pitched voice as he role plays as James's stuffed snow bear, Snowy.

James giggles as Adam makes Snowy hug and attack James's face with beary kisses.  I smile at the lovely scene.  I'm supposed to go into labor any second so I'm getting some things packed up before we go to the hospital.

Kadie stands next to me as she watches Adam and James interact and play with Snowy.  Then she stiffens as I feel my water break.

"Adam!  The baby!"  I panic.

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We welcome home two gorgeous daughters - Zoe Callia Cohen and Calla Calida Cohen.

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NOTE

Thank you to Zoe Chomas for suggesting the name Zoe!  I love it because without that, both girls would have horribly similar names that start with C.  >_<  So thanks, Zoe!!  :)