Rose gently pressed the organic fertilizer into the soil around the grapevine. The sun was warm on her shoulders, and the sounds of young women laughing and chatting floated across the lawn to her ears.
As was often the case, Blossom was standing by the pond, teasing her lure through the water. From time to time, a splash would announce a fresh catch. Then Iris would look up from the portrait she was painting at the backyard easel and cheer. Rose liked hearing their voices, so carefree and uplifting. Soon, Iris would be married, and Blossom β well, Blossom had her own plans.
Iris put the finishing touches on the portrait and put her paints away. It was time to go finalize the guest list for the wedding and the music for the reception. There were so many details to plan, when all she wanted was her Rogelio.
The days sped by, though, and Iris’ wedding day came. Iris stood nervously in place, stealing glances at the unusually quiet Rogelio as the guests gathered around. Blossom stood by and watched her cousin and soon-to-be cousin-in-law gaze into each other’s eyes. She dreamed of the day when her prince would come.
Reed looked on, too, as the ceremony began. He was having a hard time believing his baby sister was getting married. He could remember her banging the square blocks against the round holes, learning to talk, crawling out into the garden when no one was looking, and being a general nuisance like little sisters are supposed to. He smiled to himself as he watched the all-grown-up Iris promise to love, honor, and cherish Rogelio for the rest of her life.
Iris felt light-headed as she took Rogelio’s hands in front of their family and friends. She had waited so long for this day and wondered if it would ever come. Now here she was, hand in hand with Rogelio, and everyone was witnessing them make their promises of love. She suddenly realized she was holding her breath, and she let it out slowly as Rogelio slid the ring onto her finger. They were married!
Their family and friends all clapped as the happy couple kissed and then turned up the music to dance the night away.
Except for Daisy, of course. Daisy had intercepted a guest, one of Reed’s friends, and was trying to decide whether he would be better for heartbreaking or drawing into a life of crime. As she evaluated his attributes, she thought maybe both.
Over the next few days, Rogelio began to find his place in the Foliage household. He decided to grow his hair out longer like he used to wear it, so that Iris could run her fingers through it. He signed up for a fitness class, and he also took a job at the Diner, after finding out that the family founder had been a great culinary success.
Reed made an effort to get to know him better, without interfering in the couple’s newlywed phase. He found Rogelio to have an admirable desire to save money when possible, although he wondered at some of his more childish behaviors. Oh, well, maybe it meant he would be a good dad.
As Rogelio was settling in, someone else was preparing to spread her wings and leave the nest. Now that Blossom was an adult, she was prepared to put the plan that she had discussed with Reed into action. She had been biding her time until the wedding, since Lily was so happy to be involved in the preparations. It also gave her time to finish what she liked to refer to as her “perfect aquarium.”
She also tried out BodyPro Super Steamer Saunatizer that had been in the family for generations. Blossom was quite pleased with the results.
But it was finally time to go. Lily’s heart was weak, and she needed rest. In the busy Foliage household, Blossom knew she would not find that rest, because her active mind was always seeking ways to help out around the house, whether treating an illness or upgrading an appliance. Besides, the upgrades were in Iris’ court now, since she had declared her ambition to be something of a tinkerer. Blossom knew she had to take her mother to a more restful place to live, and the only way was to convince her that Blossom needed her to have the courage to move out. Truthfully, it was a little scary to think about moving out on her own. So she talked with her mother, and they said their goodbyes.
Rose hated to see Lily and Blossom go, but she knew it was the best decision. After all, it wasn’t like they’d never see each other; they were just moving to a little house across town.
……………..
Throughout all these household changes, Reed was busy both at home and at work. He was dedicated to his music and finally reached the very pinnacle of guitar skill. He knew Poppy would be proud.
He still had a couple of steps to climb in his career, and he still found it exhilarating. Even so, he was always happy to head home to his wife.
One night he strolled into the house, changed his clothes, and headed for the kitchen for a bite to eat. Weird, he thought to himself, where is everybody? That is, until he walked into the room and at the same instant he saw the birthday cake, he heard them all yell SURPRISE! He had forgotten all about his birthday, but his family hadn’t.
When he got over the shock, he was happy about the little impromptu party. Especially when his wife whispered in his ear what his present was going to be⦠ and then smooched him. Rose smiled to herself as she walked past them with the salad platter.
The other couple in the house also enjoyed those coming home from work moments, but Iris tried to fill her days with things that challenged her mind and talents. She repaired the computers when they lost files, gave error 13 messages, or simply starting emitting gray smoke. She upgraded a faucet in the guest bath and helped out in the garden, too.
Maebe was inspired by her husband’s musical abilities to take up the guitar, too. She hoped it would be a good way to relieve stress after a trying day of work at city hall. They were very insistent that she have just the right clothes and perfect makeup and hair, so she tried to keep herself looking poised and self-assured.
One morning, however, she was feeling anything but poised when Iris walked in and found her bent over a certain porcelain plumbing item.
Iris had not been having a good day already, and was feeling rather grumpy on her way Β to repair a leaky shower when she heard some horrible noises coming from the bathroom. Wasn’t Maebe the one who made breakfast this morning? Glad I didn’t have any of it! she thought, until another idea hit her. She helped Maebe up and gave her a cool, damp washcloth along with a questioning look. When Maebe grinned back, she knew.
“Don’t say anything to anyone, okay Iris? I’m going to tell Reed tonight.” Maebe was pleased when Iris agreed.
While Reed was conducting the symphony, Rose was putting on what felt dressy to her and preparing for dinner at the Bistro. It had been a while since she had dined at the family’s restaurant, and she felt that would do for a reason to invite Daisy to have dinner with her there. With Poppy gone and Lily moved out, Rose was moved to reach out to her wayward twin. She hoped they could be closer again. Daisy kept her waiting though, and Rose’s growling stomach had almost forced her to give up on her sister when she finally arrived.
They had a delicious dinner, although they couldn’t ignore the glances and whispers from the other diners. Of course, Daisy didn’t even try to ignore them β she loved being the center of any kind of attention! Rose told herself the whispers were just because they owned the restaurant or because her grandmother had been a five-star chef here, but deep down she knew that some of the gossip had to do with Daisy. It was that old problem from years agoβ¦
β¦ sometimes her skin still glowed with an odd red cast, and while other people thought it was a sign of the evil trash that filled Daisy’s heart, Rose was afraid it was killing her. After all, they had evacuated the plant and half the town after that incident, and even now, whenever Daisy was glowing, her eyes had an unhealthy look that argued against Daisy’s daily fitness routine.
Still, Daisy was Daisy and would do the things that Daisy did. Whatever they were.
Later that evening, Reed came home from work, ready for Maebe to untie that choker of a tie that his position forced upon him.
He had a bit of a surprise when he walked into the bedroom. It perked him right up after the long evening.
Reed caught her up in his arms and kissed her tenderly. “Maebe, how are you? When did you know? Do you want me to rub your back? Would you like a trip to the spa?”
Maebe smiled at him. Her take-everything-in-stride husband was now almost beside himself, his tongue tripping over the words as they spilled out. She assured him she was fine, but the very next day, off to the spa he sent her.
Before she went home, there was one more stop she wanted to make: the library, to borrow a book on having a healthy pregnancy. She found more than just the book, though.
Lily was thrilled for Maebe and Reed, and they had a good chat, getting caught up on all the news.
With all the fuss over the coming birth in the Foliage household, Iris perhaps shouldn’t have been surprised when she came home from running an errand and found Rogelio waiting for her with a certain look in his eyeβ¦
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Is this the Sims?
Yes, it is The Sims 3. Welcome!
SO much going on here! Love the code 13 bit. Love the wedding. So sad to see Blossom and Iris go, but hurrah on the fishing. I hope story progression gives her a mate. You can get Rogelio TSALing at the library! And yay for babies! I loved Reed thinking about babies at the wedding.
It was a bit full, wasn’t it? But I needed to get caught up, and a lot really did go on in a short time.
I was so sad to move Lily and Blossom out, but I needed the room, and I felt that after the death flower incident, I couldn’t really keep Lily. She reached 200,000 LTH before I moved her out, but I don’t think I should count the second point for that. ~sniff~ I hope Blossom gets a husband, too. I gave her the fertility reward, just in case, but I forgot to give her a job. Doh!
Oooo, TSAL for Rogelio! Yes! Can he read the library’s toddler books, or will he need to take his own set?
He can read the library ones. Taking your own set is just for the little ones so you don’t have to waste an adult’s learning time by reading to them.
What a beautiful wedding! Reed thinking about babies during the ceremony was fitting, eh? I love how Maebe surprised him with that after a long day at work – they’re such a sweet couple. And hooray for Rogelio’s look at the end! I’m guessing the Foliage house will be seeing a pair of cousins who will grow up together? π
Sad to see Lily and Blossom go but it had to be done to make room for little ones. I hope the timestream is good to them!
I know, I love it when the thought bubbles cooperate!
I’ll try to communicate any Lily or Blossom news that is discovered through visits, the newspaper, or random encounters like the one at the library.
great post!
Just wanna say: i love how you explained the empress of evil glow. very creative! @ Daisy: ‘deep inside of you, there’s a ruby glow, and it gets brighter than you and I will ever know.’ -Owl City
Thanks, Glee! Coming up with somewhat realistic reasons for the more unusual elements of sim life is a challenge sometimes. π
Amazing chapter! Absolutely thrilled for Reed and Maebe, what a darling couple. I still love Iris the most though and have a little cheer going on here for the final shot π
I thought that last bit might get be a crowd pleaserβ¦ π
Yay! Maebe and Reed have a baby on the way, and Rogelio is in the market for one as well…. It looks like you moved out Blossom and Lily at the right time. I’m going to be so sad when Rose has to leave, though… π¦
Yeah, there’s definitely a shift in the age balance going on in the household right now. And you won’t be the only sad one about Rose!
I love the picof maeb looking at her weeding ring? Does she have the snob trait or is she just very much in love with Reed maybe both?
this may sound rotten, but I’m glad Blossom is moving out.Welll done on the LTW an d i’ll miss Lily (gorgeous nae too) but… Blossom somehow never seemed to fit in. I do, however, fervently hope she ‘gets lucky’ in town…
I’m with Rad on error code 13. Very clever and very funny! π
Iris is soooo nice. (i still think she is the prettiest Foliage ever!) The way she helped Maebe… aw, the way you wrote that scene… just perfect!
I’m not going to spill words on the lovely but very wicked Daisy… because I’m blown away by that last picture of Rogelio. I LOVE that open shirt! π
Hi Moondaisy! Maebe is family-oriented, so I guess that’s why the happy-sigh-ring-contemplation.
Blossom always felt a little bit out of place, possibly due to being born late in her parents’ lives and losing her father when she was very young. Maybe she’ll feel like her own person now that she’s moved out.
Iris has turned out very pretty, but when she gets grumpy, she’s a pain, lol. Glad you liked the scene!
Rogelio is determined to work that look. Think Iris will go for it? π
I hope she does! Definitely more red-haired (and very pretty) babies there, I think… π
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