Chapter 26 - Heartbreak

 

 BIRTHDAY!

[NOTE: This was the point where my version of M.C. became unusable in many ways due to Stylist and C.A.S. refusing to work through it, so Tiara's stuck with a pregnancy shirt that clips horribly, haha. Hence why you get an oh so lovely view of her from behind instead.]

It should come as no surprise that Megan grows into a heartbreaker.

The piercing comes on a whim with the money she's been saving from her allowance since she was a child, but her mother doesn't fault her for it. After all, Tiara's younger sister, Naomi, was equally fond of nose piercings. If anything, it's sort of like going back to Tiara's adolescent days.

Tiara isn't aware of Megan's belly button piercing, of course, but Megan decides that Tiara really didn't need to know anyway.

A secret desire of Megan's finally comes to the forefront in the form of her birthday gift: a terrarium!

Megan politely asks Toulouse (who is now Level 8 in Hunting) to go find her a turtle.

Toulouse will accept this request.

He ends up bringing her a turtle worth almost 1,000 Simoleans, which sort of freaks her out. What if she drops it?! Will it die?! Will it eat her?!

Oh geez, oh boy, oh man...

The next morning, the sisters eat breakfast together.

"Mom's doing a lot better, isn't she?" Megan murmurs around a mouthful of cake.

Marie takes the time to chew hers and swallow before meeting Megan's eyes. "I thought so. But now I'm not so sure."

"What? Why?!"

"Remember that birthday party for Melissa tonight?"

"Yeah?"

Marie frowns. "She's apparently inviting Melissa's dad."

"..." Megan furrows her eyebrows and sits back in her chair. "So...why's that a bad thing?"

"Well, I mean, what if she just decides to use him or something? Sleep with him and kick him out all over again?" Marie sighs, nudging her hair out of her eyes. "Watcher, I don't even know who he is. I've never met him."

"Well...maybe it's a good thing, okay?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

Tiara cuddles her new baby close to her before blowing a raspberry on his tummy. Maxwell Toft has proven to her that the Tofts are at least capable of birthing males.

She sighs as she kisses his forehead and breathes in his clean baby scent. She meant it when she told Marie that her previous lifestyle was over. But that doesn't make the pull to get a babysitter and go out tonight vanish. Instead it just leaves her with a pulling on her body, with a tingling on her skin, and she wishes there was a simple way to make it go.

The front door opens and she hears a familiar Southern drawl. The little kickstart to her heart there isn't expected and, in fact, makes her wonder if this was the worst idea she's ever had.

Gussie arrives.

When Tiara sees him, she immediately smiles. "Gus..."

"Hey there, darling," he drawls, his voice soft and reverent, and approaches her to give her a hug. It slides into an embrace without either of them intending it. "Where've you been keeping yourself?"

She closes her eyes, the smile still on her lips. "I could ask you the same question. I feel like I never see you at work anymore."

"Yeah, well..." They pull out of the hug and meet eyes. "Gotta say, I've been missing you. I've been missing you a hell of a lot."

There's a long moment of silence only punctuated by Tiara's pounding heart. When Melissa titters on the floor behind her, it's the perfect distraction.

Gussie is very enthusiastic.

Melissa grows up to look sad due to her father's mournful features, right down to his eyebrows.

A peculiar crying in the back sounds later in the party, and it catches Gussie by surprise.

Tiara emerges from the bedroom after feeding Max and blinks. "Gus? You okay?"

He turns to face her, every part of his expression as serious and intense as a heart attack, and Tiara has to look away. "How many kids is that now, Tiara?"

"...four," she murmurs, her voice slightly broken.

"And which one of those is mine?"

"Melissa."

"Which number?"

"...number three."

"..." He breathes in slowly through his nose, a harsh and unwelcome sound, before he sighs heavily. "Damn." A long moment of silence stretches between them. "Y'know, I...I-I always thought that maybe..."

"...maybe what?"

"Maybe I'd...be your last. Not just another notch on your bedpost."

"Gussie..."

He's had enough and refuses to listen anymore. Off he goes.

------

Megan asdfghjkl

Chapter 25 - Rebellion

Mercifully, Tiara manages to sneak Jamie out that evening before any of her girls can get wind of it all.

Marie isn't a naive little kid, though. She's not only a teenager, but a genius. It's pretty easy for her to figure out things based on the tiniest of clues.

"...and he has a daughter named LaKecia. LaKecia! Isn't that the silliest name you've ever heard? Ah...but it almost makes me miss being pregnant. There's such an emotional drive behind it, knowing that it's no longer just you. You've got this other little thing hanging out inside of you that's depending on you. Watcher!"

Marie calmly chews her bite of food before she swallows. "So, do you think you're gonna see him again?"

"Who?"

"Jamie? The guy you just spent last night with?"

Megan's a little too naive to pick up on Marie's meaning, but Tiara looks at her eldest daughter with a frown all the same. "Why would I do that? Last night was fun, but..."

Even though Megan's just sat down and is discussing art, one of Marie's favorite subjects, she stands up wordlessly and makes her way to the sink with her plate.

Tiara frowns, turning things over in her head, before she follows, leaving Megan to chat nervously with Dizzy and Toulouse instead as she senses the tension.

Tiara stretches and yawns obnoxiously behind her daughter, trying to cool things off. "UGH. Plumbob. I am so tired."

Marie continues to wash her dish. "Oh, are you?"

"Yeah. It's crazy. I haven't been this sore in months."

"Hmm." Marie's tone doesn't change in the slightest even as she speaks. "Now, was this before or after you became the town bicycle?"

"..." Tiara stares at Marie, eyes huge, and wonders at the feeling of her heart shattering in her chest. "What?"

"You heard me."

"No, I don't think you made yourself clear enough, so why don't you tell me again?"

Leaving her dish in the sink, Marie whirls on her mother. "I am so freaking tired of you running around with all these guys and refusing to commit. Once, just ONCE, can you go on a second date?!" Marie leans close to Tiara and sucks in a shaky breath, trying to convince herself that she's not going to cry. "Do you know what Megan said to me a few days ago?"

Tiara is silent.

"She told me she wants a daddy. A DADDY, Mom. And you know, I'm starting to think that might be pretty cool, actually, having a guy around for longer than how long it takes you to sneak him into your bedroom? Ever think of that?"

If she was sad before, Tiara is equally as furious now. "You ungrateful...I...do you know what I gave up to adopt you? Do you have any CLUE what I go through on a daily basis just to support you girls? And if I want to have a little FUN, I don't think I should be yelled at by some selfish little girl because- Marie. MARIE. Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

Marie tears out of the house, holding her breath to try to keep the tears in, but they course down her cheeks anyway.

The beach is where she's heading, and by the time that she's run a quarter of the way and taken a taxi for the rest, her tears are dry. She just feels...dead. Numb. She knew this would happen. She just knows that she'll go home tonight and find all her bags packed with Tiara waiting for her to leave.

"Well, this looks miserable."

Marie wipes the snot from her nose before she looks over her shoulder, hoping her eyes aren't as red as she expects they are. "What?"

"There's this pretty girl on the beach who looks really upset. That's just not right."

"I...excuse me?"

"...I'm not doing this right, am I?" The guy grins at her and rubs the back of his neck. "My name's Dirk Hanley. We go to school together?"

"...we do?"

"Geez, good to know I've been making a good impression," Dirk murmurs with a chuckle.

Under any other circumstance, she'd be a little creeped out by this guy...but there's something comforting about someone taking notice of her being upset and wanting to make it better in their own little way.

The time passes remarkably quickly when they find out that they have a few things in common. For example, they both feel like they need to be anchors for their family, and it is incredibly important to them that their family always be provided for.

Marie ends up spilling everything to him: her worries about her mother, her worries about how it will affect her younger sisters, everything.

And, amazingly enough, Dirk is right there beside her listening, never once judging or making her feel bad for her worries. He's more comforting than she could ever imagine someone being.

By the time that nightfall comes and they are joined by a friend of Dirk's, Marie pictures her mother worrying about her, maybe wondering where she is, and reluctantly parts ways with them. But just before she does, Dirk steals her phone and types his number into it. "Call me," he murmurs with a grin, and she beams.

When she gets home, there's no suitcases packed. There's no angry parent waiting to beat her. Instead, Tiara is away at work, and the babysitter is rather relieved to see Marie. "Oh, thank Watcher, I thought you'd NEVER be here!" She shoves baby Melissa into Marie's arms with a scoff. "She's been crying all freaking night long and I'm sick of it. Look, I've already been paid, so I'm out of here."

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Marie promptly calms Melissa with a snuggle and a warm bottle before setting to help teach her to talk.

In the morning, Tiara is there when Marie prepares her leftovers for breakfast. They eat in silence.

A few moments into their food, Tiara looks up at her. "Jamie's it. No more, okay? I'm done with it all."

Marie glances down at Tiara's belly under the cut-off t-shirt she is wearing and recognizes the bright blue pants she's wearing. She's only worn them before for her pregnancy. In a moment, she understands. "...okay." More silence. "I love you, Mom. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorrier. And I love you too, daughter."

They fall silent again, but this time it's okay.

------

Awkward chapter to write. Didn't get everything that I was hoping for. But that's what happens when you take way too few screenshots, haha. :)

Chapter 24 - Blind Date

As much as they bonded when she was young, Megan and Dizzy are having problems these days.

Toulouse just thinks it's funny to watch a tiny pet attack a large human.

Ouch!

The next morning, as Marie lazily completes her homework, Megan pauses as she chews her cereal.

"Hey, Marie?"

"Mmm?"

"Is something wrong with Mom?"

Marie cocks an eyebrow at Megan before going back to her homework. A.P. Calculus. So. Easy. "I think she's going through a mid-life crisis or something. She hasn't had any friends over in a while."

"'Specially guy friends."

"Especially guy friends, yes."

The two are silent for a few long moments before Megan looks up with a sly smile. "Maybe she just needs more!"

"And how exactly do you propose she gets more? Apparently all the single men in this town are basically extinct."

"Well, I met a bunch of kids online before I went to school...maybe we can find a guy for Mom?"

"First of all, that was a stupid idea, Megan, and I don't want you to do it again. Second of all, why?"

Megan shrugs. "'Cause I want a daddy?"

"And you think we can find one online. Really." Marie chuckles. "What do you suggest, a dating website?"

"..." Marie looks up, a frightening smile coming to her lips. "A dating website..."

"Marie?"

"We could just make her a profile, find her a date, get her to start smiling again..."

"Marie, you look really scary right now."

Megan's words fall on deaf ears. Marie has work to do.

A few days later, Marie approaches her mother about it.

Tiara is notably displeased.

"Please, Mom, pleeeeaaaase?! It'd be good for you! Look, his name's Jamie, all right? He's moving here in a few days and he's gonna be a part of the music industry just like you. It's perfect!"

"Marie..."

"Just try it, okay? Just once. Just meet up at the Watering Hole and look at him. If you hate him, you don't have to stay. I'll take care of Megan and Melissa. Promise."

Well, how can you argue with that?

Tiara dresses to the nines and heads out to the Watering Hole to find this apparent hot toddy.

"Excuse me..." A deep voice sounds beside her. "Are you Tiara?"

...

Hot toddy he is not. Tiara manages to morph her frustration into a stretch.

Well. If she's here, she might as well make the most of it.

"Yeah. Are you Jamie?"

He smiles at her. "I am. Pleasure to meet you. I've heard so many nice things about you."

She chuckles. "Glad to hear that." She pauses, biting her bottom lip. "You...need to know that my daughter put me up to this. I don't normally...do this kind of thing. You know?"

Jamie shrugs with a grin of his own. "That's fine. It's still a nice way to meet new people out here."

He seems nice enough, at least, and not like a serial killer. Tiara feels herself loosen up. "Would you...like a drink?"

As the two share drinks, Tiara finds herself laughing more than she expected. It's sort of refreshing, actually, going out with someone as fond of music as she is. They share a mutual love of country rock, surprising as it is.

"So why'd you move here?"

Jamie hesitates for a moment over his hot wings. "Well..." He sets his fork down and purses his lips in thought. "My band and I back home in Bridgeport, we were really going places. Headed straight to the top. And then shit happened."

Tiara blinks. "What kind of shit?"

"I sort of accidentally had sex with my bassist's girl."

"..." It's time for her to put her fork down next. "How do you accidentally have sex with someone?"

"Well, I mean-"

"No, no, you'd both have to be naked, blind, and EXTREMELY horny. And then you'd have to like...run into each other. At EXACTLY the right angle. And then you'd have to back up and do it again and again. You don't just accidentally have sex."

He smiles sheepishly down into his food with a chuckle. "All right, fine. She got me massively drunk, drugged my drink, and the next thing I know I'm waking up with a very naked woman next to me and a fucking awful hangover. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Tiara smiles back. "It's passable. So. How'd that get you here?"

"They didn't believe it was my fault. Kicked me out of the band, and I got stuck with the kid I didn't mean to father. So now I'm here."

She blinks. "What's her name?"

"LaKecia."

"...LaKecia?"

"Look, her mom named her, okay?"

The more Tiara drinks, the more attractive Jamie starts to become. His freckles start to suit him. His hook nose isn't half bad. Even that stupid goatee is okay.

By the end of the night, when Tiara suggests that he escort her home, she's surprised she actually means it.

It goes about where one might expect.

------

There is not a single even slightly attractive single man in Appaloosa Plains anymore. Not ONE. And if there's anything that Tiara won't do, I've decided it's break up a marriage.

Jamie is a Sim I made a long time ago just for kicks, and yes, that's his backstory, and yes, he does actually have a daughter named LaKecia, haha. I figured, hey, if Tiara's gonna have anyone else's kid, why not his in a brief cameo?

Chapter 23 - No Luck

Chance continues his awful babysitting skills by sleeping in Marie's new bed in her new room before even SHE can.

Marie always finds a way to laugh at him rather than get offended, at least.

Megan's birthday comes far too fast, and Tiara can only hope she raised the toddler to the best of her ability.

She throws another dinner party. Surprisingly, when she issues Zac an invitation he decides to come.

Things don't...go quite as well as they did last time.

When it comes down to it, people have fled the hairball-covered house before the candles can even be blown out. Hell, even her twin sister is dancing away instead of celebrating the aging of her niece.

But Zac, surprisingly, really gets into the whole birthday celebration thing. Tiara begins to wonder if she read him wrong before, that maybe he DID want to be a part of Megan's life. Maybe he just...was too scared.

Megan grows up, healthy and true.

Believe it or not, two additional birthdays happen the next day, so many that it's almost impossible to keep track of them all!

Melissa is first. Tiara can't help but snort every time she looks at her. Melissa, like Megan, is every inch her father's child in the face and hair, except it isn't quite as flattering on her toddler's face as it is on Gussie's.

Well, whatever. Tiara's made a vow to love and adore all of her children regardless of how they look. Besides, she fancies, she'll probably grow up to look absolutely adorable, like her older sister Glynnis with her pig nose.

Marie is next!

If she didn't love pink before, then she sure as hell adores it NOW.

With all of her babies growing up, Tiara is ecstatic. Her life is going wonderfully! She's got a crop of girls that she loves and that love her in return, she's done well enough to give Marie and Megan their own bedroom to share...what else could be missing?

Oh, wait. Still as horny as a hounddog. Right.

She starts to wonder if it could possibly be genetic. For a while, it felt as if Rhi was coming home with a different man every night, so...why not?

With Marie old enough to watch the kids and with an immensely huge itch to scratch, Tiara goes out on the town for a bit.

But there's no one at the Watering Hole.

No one's at the gym.

Watcher, she even tries the museum, but all there is is this attractive statue.

A journey to the pool just gets her heckled and followed around by some kid.

What is it? Is it because she's getting older? Is she getting ugly? Is it because she'd spent her golden years of young adulthood pursuing her career enough to become a Background Vocalist?

Whatever it is, Tiara spends half the evening awake in her bed, listening to Melissa's soft snores and trying not to cry. Something is wrong with her. That's all she can figure.

She eventually sighs and rolls over, curling into a small, warm, comfortable ball before she falls asleep, burning as she is.