Chapter 16 - Loss

The morning after the party, Jasper came downstairs to find Celeste already digging into her breakfast.
'Morning, Cescie.'
'Mmphomnomph'
'Listen, I just got a call from Mum. Something bad's happened.'
Celeste looked up from her bowl and sat down normally, shooting her brother a quizzical glance. He continued.
'Mum and Dad were out hunting with Grandma and Grandpa's pack during the full moon last night. They got into a fight with some other vampires.'
'Oh my God, are Mum and Dad okay?'
'Yeah, they're fine. But Cescie, Grandma and Grandpa died.'
Celeste was speechless. She stared at Jas with her eyebrows raised and, despite her never having met her grandparents, she began to sob quietly.
'I know, Cesc. Here, it's okay.' Jasper wrapped his arms round his sister. 'Mum was pretty upset. They're just sorting some paperwork and should be home tomorrow morning. We should clean up the house and make sure everything's back to normal here.'

So, after recovering from the news, Cescie woke and fed the twins. Helena was becoming a very lively little girl. She tottered around the house asking anyone she came across for food. She always seemed to be hungry! Lydia, however, was pretty quiet. She was much more reluctant to learn to speak than her sister and preferred to play by herself.

Jasper took Colin aside and told him the bad news but he seemed indifferent to it, being the odd, quiet boy he was. However he agreed to help the older two clean up and prepare for our arrival home.

I was still reeling from the news when we got back into town. It had been such a lovely reunion the morning we arrived, all 'WELCOME' banners and hugs and apologies. My parents had gotten so old I barely recognised them and I immediately felt sorry for holding a grudge for so long. My mum cried when she saw me, telling me over and over how she should never have sent me to France and how she'd missed me so much. My dad had a few tears in his eyes too and enveloped me in a huge embrace. They were all over Dayvid too and spent most of the time asking him about their grandchildren.

All we'd intended to do is go out for a moonlit hunt for old time's sake. Dayvid came along too. Vampires and werewolves have always been enemies but my parents' pack was lovely to him once I explained our relationship. We were just about to cross the city border into the countryside when our path was blocked by a group of vampires. Bridgeport vampires were notorious for preying on late-night partiers who stumbled down the wrong alleyways but they rarely confronted werewolves.

'Well, well, well! What do we have here then?' One said.
'A vampire? With these mongrels? Oh dear me.' Said another.
'You shame the vampire race by associating with werewolves.' A tall, white-haired woman said as she walked slowly towards Dayvid, who instinctively put his arms around me. 'Oh? Oh! So it's worse than that. You're in love? Tut tut. We shall have to do something about this.'
Dayvid stepped forward. 'Please. Leave us alone. We're not harming anyone.'
'Oh but you are, my dear. You're harming the dignity of vampires.' She said as she traced his chin with one slender finger. She gave a small, sad smile. 'Begin.'

After that, everything was a bit of a blur. I know there was a fight. A big one. I was knocked out by a vampire pretty quickly and the next thing I knew I was lying on the sofa in my parents' apartment. Dayvid was looking down on me. He held me close as he explained the situation. My parents weren't the only ones to have been killed. There was a casualty on the vampires' side and injured in both parties. 

I couldn't explain how I felt if I tried. My parents were old and I hadn't seen them in years, but they were my parents. We had to sign heaps of paperwork but all I wanted to do was come home. Katie was in the process of selling her house so couldn't come and meet us so it was a great relief when Dayvid finally pulled up outside our house.

A few weeks after we returned it was time for a birthday party. First up was Colin.

He certainly looked like his dad. He still didn't appear to have inherited anything from me but his hair colour.

Next was Helena. She seemed very excited to blow out her candles!

She too grew to look like Dayvid. She had his hair, face shape and skin tone, though it wasn't silver as she was a werewolf like me. She also had my eyes.

Jasper also helped with Lydia when it was her turn.

She grew to have my face shape and Dayvid's hair, eyes and skin tone. She needed glasses due to the large amount of reading she did.

Hazel too was due to become a toddler. She would be able to move into the nursery now the twins had outgrown it.

She was adorable! She had the perfect mix of her parents' features. Her hair and face shape she got from my side but she had Dayvid's silvery skin and golden eyes. My gorgeous little girl had become even more gorgeous!

With the inheritance money we were finally able to pay off our debts and were able to build an extension on top of the garage for the twins to sleep in. They helped to design it and settled on having one room split into two - one half for Lydia and the other for Helena. Helena's half was fairytale themed and even had its own jelly bean bush.

Lydia wanted what she called a 'library themed' bedroom. It was a warm red with scattered rugs and a large bookshelf.

In the meantime, Cescie's relationship with a certain young fairy was thriving. He had returned to the house the night after the party and left a bouquet of pink roses outside the front door. Since then they hadn't really left each others' sides!

I had a feeling this was the start of a beautiful relationship.

To my delight, Colin finally made a friend! 

Well, perhaps a little more than a friend. Her name was Emilia and she was perfect for Colin! They were besotted and would meet every day after school.

I was out tending the garden one night when I got a call.
'Hey Katie!' I said.
'Hello, darling. How's my Lizzykins?'
I chuckled. My sister always spoke like that. 'I'm very well, thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure?'
'Well, you'll be pleased to know that we're moving! Mimi, Jake, Brett, little Jolene and I are all coming down this weekend! Will you come see us?'
'Of course! I'm so happy. This is perfect, especially since Mum and Dad-' I stopped as a lump rose in my throat.
'Yeah, I know Lizzy. It's okay. In less than a week we'll be together and everything will be fine.'
'Yes. Oh, I really am glad. I'll see you then!'
'Bye!'

Finally, my family would be complete.



Sorry about the late post, guys. Thanks for sticking with me and have a really wonderful Christmas!

Chapter 15 - Smells Like Teen Spirit...

After getting both myself and our daughter (whom we named Hazel) checked out at the hospital, Dayvid surprised me with a weekend trip to see my parents! I was a very nervous, what with not having seen them in well over a decade and Dayvid having chased them out of their family home(!), but my husband had spoken to them before the visit and settled all conflicts. We decided against bringing any of the children as it was term time and Jasper was finishing his final exams. Celeste promised that she would be fine looking after the twins and Hazel.

However, as soon as we left she took out her mobile and invited half the teenage population of the town over for a party.
'My house. Tonight. Bring food. Tell your friends.'

She brought Helena and Lydia downstairs so she could keep an eye on them while she waited for the guests and the pizza delivery man.

'Thanks, Hot Stuff! You don't fancy sticking around a little do you? I'm having a party.'
'Sorry, Ma'am. Pizzas don't deliver themselves.'

The first to arrive was Rebecca. She was using the party as an excuse to come and see Jasper. Their relationship was blossoming beautifully and, despite my qualms about him being so young, Jasper was already thinking about engagement. The both of them were due to graduate in a few weeks and his internet history displayed a number of online engagement ring shops. I had asked Dayvid to speak to him about this but he pointed out that we were still in our teens when we became parents so we decided to leave him to it.

'Thanks for coming, Rebecca. Jasper's in the garden. He has to take care of Mum's plants whilst she's gone.'
'Thanks, Cescie. Looks like this party's going to be good. I was wondering why you held it on a full moon, though...'

'What do you mean, full moo-'
But Celeste could barely finish her sentence before her body was held in a tight grip. The hair on her head began to shed and her carefully painted fingernails grew into claws.

Humiliated, Celeste began to go to her room, but a knock on the door stopped her in her tracks. Her boyfriend Rickey was the only person not yet at the party and she was worried about what he might think of her.

Luckily, Rickey was the perfect gentlemen and didn't mind one bit.

Everyone was having a great time. Colin, Helena, Lydia and Hazel were all tucked up in bed and had no idea that there was such a legendary party going on downstairs. The fun and games ground to a halt, however, when a zombie stumbled through the door and made a lunge for Rickey.
'Get your filthy paws off him!' Celeste yelled as she tackled her to the ground. The zombie cried out and within moments more zombies began to crawl through the windows and doors.

Jasper was still in the garden tending to my plants, oblivious to the commotion going on inside. He preferred to work by moonlight as he was so sensitive to the sun. The shrieks from inside the house caused him to look up to see an undead fairy lurching towards him with blackened wings and shuffling feet. Acting on instincts, he charged at the zombie with vampiric speed and knocked him clean off his feet.

Jasper bolted into the house and, with one withering glance in Celeste's direction, he chased everyone out. Zombies and party guests alike. His eyes blazed red and his fangs were lowered but before he could unleash hell on his sister Becca entered the room. She placed a gentle hand on his chest and a loving kiss on his cheek. He sighed, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on the top of her head.
'Call me in the morning.' She said, and walked out the door.
Jasper turned to Celeste and opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but he thought better of it and closed it again. Cautiously, she stepped closer to him and took his hand. 'I'm sorry, Jass. Really I am. It won't happen again. I'll take all all the blame.' She paused. 'Thank you.' 
He smiled faintly at her and together they went upstairs to check on the the younger children.

Colin and the twins had all slept through the entire thing and Celeste went off to bed. Hazel, however, was making a bit of a fuss. Jasper changed and fed her but she still wouldn't settle so he decided to take her upstairs to his room and keep an eye out for any more intruders.

He sat at his window with her for the rest of the night.
Author's note
Hello again, I guess you're wondering what my excuse is this time! Thing is, I've recently started college and it's a lot of work. I'm studying biology, geography, geology and psychology and I get essays and homework to do most days. The little free time I do have is spent revising or playing Sims! I'm really enjoying it, though it does mean these posts will be even more infrequent. I definitely want to continue with this legacy as I've got what I believe to be some pretty interesting generations lined up. I'm not going to promise when the next updates will be but I hope you'll stick around. Jasper will be my second generation heir and will take over in the next couple of posts. Thank you so much for reading my legacy and, as always, comments are very much appreciated!

Chapter 14 - Secrets

'Ah, this dratted bump!' I muttered to myself as I tried for the umpteenth time to comfortably tuck my chair in. Yes, I was pregnant again. And I wasn't happy about it. We couldn't afford to care for another baby and I was trying to find work but, with less than a month left to go, my health was suffering. I was so upset when I discovered the child that I ignored it. I didn't tell a soul and even then, at eight and a half months, Dayvid didn't know of his impending fatherhood. He was at work most of the time and I dressed in large, baggy clothing to disguise my swollen belly, not going to a single check-up. So there I was, in an impossible situation. About to give birth to my sixth child without anybody knowing. Not even Katie, who was by then the mother of a baby girl called Jolene and preparing for her move to Moonlight Falls.

I heard the door open and jumped, forgetting that I was sitting in Jasper's room. I pretended I didn't notice and continued to tap furiously at the keyboard. I felt his eyes on me as he passed. Tonight was prom night and he was getting ready to leave with Rebecca who was waiting downstairs. It was also Celeste's birthday and a houseful of party guests were on their way. Everyone had been instructed to come in their swimwear as Celeste wanted to play on the water slide and I was dressed accordingly. My belly strained against the flimsy fabric of my costume but I had intended to put a robe on before I went downstairs, stupidly not factoring in the fact that I was in my son's room.

He spoke as he closed his chest of drawers.
'Mum, can I speak to you a moment?'
There was concern in his voice and it frightened me. 'Uh, sure, honey. What's up?'
He looked at me almost pityingly. 'Mum, I know.'
I tensed.

'I know you're pregnant. Why haven't you told anybody? Even Dad doesn't know.' He continued.
The truth was, I didn't know why. Tears welled in my eyes and trickled down my cheeks.
'I... I... How did you know?'

'No offence, Mum, but it's kind of obvious.' He gestured to my bump.
'I suppose.' There was a pause.
'Mum, you're not answering me. Why haven't you told anybody?'
'I don't know! I guess I just thought that if I left it then it'd go away! I know that sounds stupid but you don't understand! What if your father shunned me again? You know we're having money trouble!' I whimpered and lowered my head, ashamed that my teenaged son was more mature than me.
He looked at me with sad eyes. 'Mum, I'm sorry, but you need to just tell him. He's a changed man now. Just tell him. He'll be happy. Just tell him.'
He held me close as he repeated that phrase - 'Just tell him'. Oh, how many times had I thought about saying those words in my life? Just tell him you still love him. Just tell him she's not his daughter. Just tell him you're pregnant again. I felt embarrassed that Jasper felt the need to console me so I drew away from his arms and wiped my eyes.

He smiled at me and bent down, whispering to the baby as he placed his hand on the bump.
'We love you very much, little one. Please come out soon so we can meet you.'
I sniffed. 'Not too soon, honey. I need to tell your father and right now I've got a party to go to.'

Satisfied with our talk, Jasper joined Becca in the stretch limo her grandmother had hired for them, just as the guests were beginning to line up in their swimwear outside.

I changed into a flowing dress and went downstairs to greet the guests. Briar was, of course, invited. His wife had had twins a little after Colin was born. Two boys called Aaron and Brandon. Not names exactly to my taste, but whatever. As Cescie blew out her candles, however, I began to feel what I thought were the early pangs of labour. A sharp, isolated pain in my lower abdomen that slowly spread through every inch of my body.

I breathed slowly, trying not to give anything away until my eldest daughter had grown into a beautiful teenager.

And she really was stunning - voluminous hair the colour of wheat fields, and a tall, athletic body. I felt very proud of my gorgeous daughter who I knew, with her brains, would go far.

Nevertheless, the pain continued and I made my way to one of the top floor bathrooms. I couldn't decide whether announcing my pregnancy to Dayvid when I was in labour or when I was holding our newborn child was better. I plumped for after the baby was born as I couldn't face explaining everything when I was in this state. I sighed and arched my back, rubbing my neck with one hand, and waited for the next contraction.

My mouth fell open as my water broke and the strongest wave of pain I'd ever experienced flooded my body. It was one hundred times more painful knowing that I'd have to explain it all to my husband afterwards. I clenched my teeth so as not to make too much noise and battled on.

Luckily the labour was over relatively quickly and before long my baby girl was in my arms. As I looked down into her little face I felt at peace for a moment, despite the fact that she was wailing at the top of her lungs. The colour of her skin showed that she was a vampire and a little tuft of golden hair sprouted out the top of her tiny head.

After taking a few minutes to calm down and get my thoughts together, I took out my phone and dialled Jasper's number. I stared at the screen for a while, contemplating whether or not I should press ring. It was his prom, after all, and I wasn't sure if I should disturb him. But I needed to speak to him and proceeded to make the call.

He picked up on the second ring and I told him everything.
'It's okay, Mum, don't worry. I'll be home as quickly as I can.'
'No! I'll be fine, honest. I just thought you should kno-'
But he had already hung up.

Within ten minutes of me contacting him, he burst through the door to find me snuggling my youngest child.

'Mum, are you okay?'
'I'm fine, darling. Thank you. Just a little overwhelmed.'
He smiled faintly. 'She's beautiful.'
'Isn't she just?' I looked into her big, dark eyes and felt a huge sense of pride for the person I had created.
'I moved the spare cot into your room. I think we should go and put her to bed.' he said.

We tiptoed downstairs so as not to alert anyone and I placed my little girl in her cot. Before going to give birth I had told Dayvid that I was going to Rebecca's house to wait for the young couple's return as the original plan was for Jasper to sleep over there. He still believed I was out.

'Mum, I'm going to get changed and go to bed. I'll leave you to talk to Dad. Goodnight.'
'Night, darling.' I replied. I could put it off no longer. I'd kept the news from my husband for seven long months and now his daughter was here, there was no way I could hide it any longer.

I found him on the landing, about to go to bed himself.
'Oh, hi honey. I didn't here you come back.'
I drew a deep breath. 'Dayvid, darling, I never left. I have something very important to explain to you.'
'What? What's wrong? Are you okay? Where's Jasper?'
'He's upstairs. He's fine, don't worry. Look, these past few months I haven't been entirely truthful to you.' I paused and studied the expression on his face, but it was one of concern and not of anger so I continued. 'Dayvid, seven months ago I discovered that I was pregnant.
'Liza! What!? What happened? Did you loose the baby?'
'Oh no, no. That's the thing.'
He looked utterly confused, as well he should have been. 

'Darling, I can't explain how sorry I am that I didn't tell you but... well maybe you should just follow me...'

He walked slowly behind me as I went into our bedroom. When he saw our child he froze. Without looking away from her he tried to speak. 'Is that... is that my... is...'
'Yes, Dayvid. This is your daughter.'
At those words a shakey grin formed on his face and tears began to drop onto the floor, from the both of us. There was a long pause. 'Hold her.' I said, and he nodded and leant over the cot.

My wonderful husband didn't ask any more questions. Nor did he shout at me for not telling him sooner. He just spent the night in a chair, cradling our sleeping daughter in his arms. I lay in bed, watching the two of them. Just as I was about to drift off, he spoke softly.

'I want a vasectomy.'



Author's note
Hello! I'm so sorry for not getting this out sooner. I got Island Paradise for my birthday and it's so good! I promise I will try harder to make more posts. In fact, I'm going to start another one right now! I definitely recommend IP. As well as comments, I would love to hear your views on The Sims 4 trailer. Thanks for reading my blog, I really appreciate it. Sorry again!