Hermione's ABCs Ch. 36

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Hermione’s ABCs Chapter 36 Secret-Keepers

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A Note From the Author So, EAxis released a patch that allegedly fixes the Exchange. Well, I ain’t buying it! A patch will not fix the stupid website! Hermione’s ABCs will now be forever on AuthorStream/LiveJournal/PowerPoint, and the Exchange can go crash and be unreliable by itself. And when I say, ‘Hermione’s ABCs’, I also mean any current projects, such as the BC, and any future projects, such as I don’t know yet. Anyway! This chapter is rife with intrigue, a word that starts with I, which just so happens to be our current generation. The cover’s probably messed up because of all the pictures, which makes me sad because I worked hard on it. Oh, well. Enjoy! P.S.- This chapter’s quite long as has become typical. ~June

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Hi, and welcome back to Hermione’s ABCs! Our last chapter concluded Generation H’s Uni years. And the heir poll named our heiress as the lovely Helena! “Hell yeah!” Hush. This is the third generation in a row that the youngest child has won heirship; Fred, Gabi, and Helena were all the babies of the family. But you know, all the heirs before were the oldest children, so I guess that evens it out. No middle children as heirs yet. Funny thing, too, Helena’s been the Generation H heiress since before she was born, regardless of the poll results. “Why?” Muwahahaha. Plans, I has them.

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There, new clothes, much better. Helena here is a Knowledge Sim like eleventy billion other members of this family before her, and she wants to top the Journalism career. “Hmm…this room…it’s too pink.” Thought you might say that. As heiress, this bedroom is yours to do what you wish to it, and your wish is my command!

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There. Better? “Way.” Pun? “Yeah.” No one gets it. “Then they are losers.” Helena, be nice! Seriously, don’t go scaring our readers away. “Pfft. They’ve seen worse. If they’re still around now, they aren’t going anywhere unless you like kill everyone.” …Shut up?

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“My…my room! What did you do to my room?!” Sorry, Gabi, Helena’s in charge now and it’s her room, and she doesn’t go for pink.

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Helena liked being home. She found herself wandering back to the dark, cold little room she had spent a good chunk of her teen years in. The heavy feeling of hopelessness and misery was still thick in the room, as though her miserable teenage self was still crying in the corner.

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She gave the room one last look. She murmured to it, “I don’t need you anymore,” turned heel, and left.

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Switching over to our placeholder, the ever-perky Mimi! Mimi’s living in the pretty fairy-tale style house in Bluewater, which I renamed 26 Ocean Breeze Way. Helena: “More pun!” Indeed. Mimi: “…I don’t get it.” Good, that means you’re still sane.

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*sigh* Well, time to break out the boolprop, the engaged-in-college glitch still lives. “Hey, look! Propose…Move In!” WHAT?! How come it didn’t show up for George and Nicole?? What the hey, EAxis, stop messing with my brain!

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“Haha, yes, I’m so cool I averted the glitch!” Don’t be smug, artist boy, I still have boolprop turned on. You know, a bunch of people got mad at you for telling Mimi off last chapter. “I didn’t have a full grasp on the situation! And it was for the better, it made her come clean!” Yeah, I know, right? Anyway, it’s time for a wedding! “Mine?” No, Bigfoot’s, of course yours!

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“Hi, Harry, hi, Helena, I’m so glad you guys could make it!” Mimi said, greeting her siblings with a smile. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Harry said.

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“Having fun, Mom?” Mimi grinned, pushing her mother on the swing. “Yes, Mimi dear, I am.” “I’m glad we don’t fight anymore,” Mimi said truthfully.

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And so Mimi and Simon tie the knot, yay! I had Mimi take Simon’s last name, Hutchins. I don’t know why, I just thought it sounded good. And besides, the Granger last name is far too common around here.

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Wait, where’s Harry? “He’s on the swings.” Dammit, Harry! Act like a Family Sim!

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But truth be told, I don’t think Mimi and Simon noticed. <3!

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“Lookie, June! I’m pregnant!” So you are, with the first child of Generation I! Well, unofficial first child.

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“Argh, this isn’t fun! No wonder Pleasure Sims never roll baby wants!” But you can play with your baby, and that’ll be fun! “Yay!”

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And Mimi pops out a boy with S3, brown hair, and brown eyes. *sigh* The curse of the dominant genes strikes again.

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Now, what would Mimi name her child? I deliberated over this for some time. And then I got an idea. “His name is Knox! Just like the fort and that celebrity baby!” Also, “Knox” sounds like the spell from Harry Potter, Nox, which puts out light generated from the spell Lumos.

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Mimi’s a remarkably good mother, she always rolls random “play with” wants and gives Knox some tickles. And Knox is adorable, of course, and he’s a Taurus just like his mommy, 9/4/9/10/3. Neat, shy, active, playful, and mean.

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Still cute! Hee. I think Knox is capable hands here-- “Does vanilla extract taste like vanilla ice cream?”* No, Mimi! Geez, and you want to be a chef? Well, I suppose Knox is in capable hands, as long as those hands aren’t Mimi’s. Moving on. *-True story. One time I was making cookies with vanilla extract, and it smelled so good, so I tasted it. Long story short: the smell is a LIE.

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“Hello? Oh, hi Dad. Yeah, I’m here. Huh? Oh, the place is fine, I just can’t wait until he leaves. What? What do you mean, ‘to where?’ To you guys, of course! What do you mean, ‘since when?’ He’s Helena’s fiancée, isn’t he? Yes, they’re still together! No, he’s moving in with you guys. Oh, come on, Dad, don’t be like that. Why? Cause Helena will kill you, that’s why, she’s threatened me into being decent to him.” Harry rolled his eyes. Helena had arranged for Seb’s old place to go to him, and Harry wasn’t particularly fond of accepting a favor from Seb, but he needed a place, and this one was nice. He shouted a good-bye over his father’s complaints and hung up the phone.

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Unfortunately, Harry’s future brother-in-law had not yet left. And while Harry had promised Helena he would be civil to her fiancée, he had not promised friendship. “So, do you like the place?” Seb asked. “It’s nice,” Harry replied with an air of frosty formality. “I’m glad you think so…I can’t wait to leave,” Seb said, his last few words muttered darkly. “Why?” “Oh. Uh, no reason.” “There aren’t rats, are there?” Harry asked, his eyebrows raised. “No, nothing like that.”

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They regarded each other silently for a moment. “Does the roof leak or something?” Harry asked, still wondering why Seb was so eager to leave. “No, nothing like that.” Harry looked dubious. “You don’t trust me, do you.” Seb asked. “Or particularly like you,” Harry added. “But I promised my sister I’d be civil to you, and I keep my promises.”

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There was another long pause. “Let me get this straight,” Seb replied slowly. “You dislike me because I’m a Romance Sim and you think I’ll hurt your sister.” “Yes.” “Yet you yourself are engaged to a Romance Sim?”

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“Bella’s different! And it’s none of your business!” Harry said, immediately getting defensive. “She seems worse than me. So different, yes.” “How would you know?” “Helena and I do talk, you know. She’s worried about you.”

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“Worried about me? Why?” “The same reasons you’re worried for her,” he replied simply. “I don’t need a lecture from you or her,” Harry said defiantly.

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Back home, Audrey found something she hadn’t seen for many years. “I remember this old thing…I wondered where it’d gone off to.”

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“Hey, Fred, remember this?” “Ugh. Unfortunately, I do,” Fred said, looking upon the teddy bear with disdain. “Oh, don’t be like that. It warned me about George, Ginny, and Gabi getting sick, you can’t deny that.”

Slide 31: 

“I dunno, Audrey, that bear just freaks me out. It’s got some like weird energy or something. How could it have warned you anyway?” “I don’t know, but it did.”

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“Also, Audrey, that thing brings back a lot of bad memories…that time they were sick was no fun at all.” “And we never got a chance to thank those kind people who found the cure…” “I know. They never left a phone number or anything, and they never called again. I wish I could thank them.” “Which one of them called you that night and gave you the cure?” Fred furrowed his brow. “It…it was the younger woman. The redhead. Her last name was Brown, but I…I forget her first name.”

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Fred shook his head. “Forget about all that. Audrey, I love you, and I know you love the bear, but please just get rid of it. It bothers me.” “Alright, Fred. I’ll…take care of it. Don’t you fret.”

Slide 34: 

Helena has gotten her Journalism job. I just wish she’d stop bringing home creepy Peter Ottomas. I dislike him and it’s pointless to make friends with him unless you’ve moved the Ottomases into a house, which I have not.

Slide 35: 

So now that Helena’s sent off creepy Peter Ottomas, time to get Seb moved in and get started on the next generation! Yay!

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But of course, the instant Almeric got involved, trouble ensued. He took one look at the couple and said simply, “No.” “What, no hello first?” Helena asked, rolling her eyes. “Come on, Daddy!” “This is my house and--” “Technically it’s my house. I’m the heir after all,” Helena said firmly.

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“Daddy, I’m not a little girl anymore and you can’t tell me what to do. I don’t expect you to be friends with Seb but I do expect you to be nice and civil.” “Why?” Almeric shot back. “Because someday soon there will be children here, and watching Daddy and Grandpa fight all the time will be traumatic, yes?” “Yes,” Almeric said, admitting defeat. “And what kind of a Popularity Sim are you, looking for enemies?”

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Almeric sighed and shook hands with Seb. “If you break my daughter’s heart I will break your spine,” Almeric said as quietly as he could. “I have no intention of doing so.”

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“Thanks, Daddy,” Helena said, smiling brightly. “Yeah, yeah. I still hate the guy.” “He’s right behind you, you know.” “I don’t care.”

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Almeric stalked off to the kitchen and scowled. “I knew inviting that guy over for dinner was a bad idea! Yeah, great idea, I give you my hospitality and you steal my daughter’s heart, oh yeah, that’s a winner!” He muttered darkly to himself for a minute or two.

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Audrey came into the kitchen and said, “Almeric, I need a favor from you.” Her voice was hushed, as though she was telling a secret. “What do you need?” Almeric asked, curious.

Slide 42: 

“First, I need you to know this is very, very important to me. I need your help. You see, Fred and I are getting up there in years. After we’re gone, I need your to give something to Gabi for me.” “Uh, okay,” Almeric said, thoroughly confused.

Slide 43: 

“After Fred and I are gone, I need you to give this box to Gabi. Just leave it somewhere she’ll find it. Don’t open it, don’t mention it, don’t ask about it. As far as you know, this box doesn’t exist,” Audrey said, pulling out a white box topped with a red ribbon.

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“Are you sure you want me to do this?” Almeric asked, regarding the package hesitantly. “Yes, please promise me you’ll do what I ask. It is so incredibly important.” “Could you tell me a little bit about it?” Audrey sighed. “There are many things I’ve never told my children, things that should never be said, things that you and I can’t imagine. But Gabi deserves to know about this, and maybe she can find some answers.”

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Almeric took the box. It was remarkably light; with the weight of such secrecy, he had braced himself for something much heavier. It seemed so nondescript, and yet it meant so much. Well, to Audrey, at least. He met his mother-in-law’s eyes. “I promise to get this to Gabi and keep this secret.” “Thank you,” Audrey said, sounding as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. With that, they both left the kitchen acting as if nothing had happened.

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“AAAH OHMIGOD A GHOST hey, look, a nickel!” Nothing much fazes Knowledge Sims.

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And it’s wedding time! I feel like I’ve been on Generation H forever, I’m excited for the I kids! It was a small service, because it was at 8 AM because everyone had work later in the day and I was impatient.

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If you marry me

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Would you bury me?

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Would you carry me

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To the end? ~“To The End,” My Chemical Romance Lyrics at weddings seems to be the popular thing to do lately…

Slide 52: 

The heck? Almeric, Fred, why aren’t you in formal wear? Fred, why is your arm going through Audrey? Argh, stupid glitches! If you’ll notice, the paperboy gatecrashed the wedding, the little jerk.

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I’m kind of mad now, Helena was supposed to have a different hairstyle for the wedding. I set it in the mirror, I know I did! She was supposed to have a bun with some loose bits like the girl on one of the MCR album covers, see? It would have been cool and I spent some time looking for the hair she was supposed to have. But no matter.

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Well, now Helena’s got a bun…a bun in the oven! *rimshot* “Please. Don’t make me throw up any more than I already have to.” Yeah, well, you have a severely broken ankle. So there. *pout*

Slide 55: 

Helena becomes the new death portrait painter. Because it would be weird for Gabi to paint her own death portrait.

Slide 56: 

Making another offering to the porcelain one? “Shut up!” Helena’s had more morning sickness than any Sim I’ve ever had ever. Our toilet may never recover.

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Whatcha doin’? “Spinning into my maternity wear.” Yay!

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“*gasp* My dress doesn’t have a pregnancy morph! Woah!”

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There, much better. The sundress suits you, Helena dear.

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“Seb, guess what! We’re gonna be parents, lookit!” Helena said excitedly. “Really?! Wow…that’s incredible news! Do you think we’ll be good parents or really horrible ones?” “Oh, don’t be silly, I’m sure we’ll be great,” she said confidently.

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“The only problem is, we have to give our kids these weird I names. June showed me her list, and boy, are they weird!” Hey! Not my fault there are only weird I names in Harry Potter!

Slide 62: 

Appropriately, on the day they learn they’ll soon be grandparents, Gabi and Almeric grow up. I will spare you the horrid outfits they grew up into. *shudder*

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They grew up decently enough, and are still cute together. ^_^ Gabi got the typical Face Two scary skeletal elder face, but I’m used to it now.

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I’ve learned that when mean Sims like Helena practice speech in the mirror, they look like they’re arguing viciously with someone. It’s quite funny to watch.

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No, Helena, stop! It’s the scary one, and you’re pregnant!

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“Haha, yay, it’s evil!” Oh, yeah, I forgot you’ve always preferred this one.

Slide 67: 

Seb gets a job in the Music career, as per his LTW. Dang, I never gave you his stats, did I? Seb is a Romance Sim who wants to be a Rock God, and he’s a Cancer, 9/2/6/3/5. Neat, shy, and serious.

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Helena starts writing a novel in her free time. Man, you type weird. “What do you mean?” You type with two hands! “…That’s how you’re supposed to type. You mean you type with only one hand most of the time?” Yes!

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“Uh, June? Going into labor here!” Yay!

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“Quit smirking, you two! ARGH IT HURTS!” Gabi & Audrey: “It’s not that bad!” “YES IT IS!”

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Yes, Helena got aspiration points for having a baby despite being a Knowledge Sim. Why, you ask? Because she’s awesome.

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And the firstborn of Generation I is a girl! Brunette, with light blue eyes like her father.

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Everyone meet baby-- Helena: “Bandit?” No, that doesn’t start with I. “There’s an I in it!” Quiet! Everyone meet baby Imperius. Imperius is a spell in Harry Potter, which makes the victim do whatever they are commanded by the caster of the spell. Unless, of course, they can fight it off like Harry Potter can. So expect a girl who always wants to be in charge and get her way-- “Go to the next slide now!” Yes, ma’am. Wait, what?

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Little Imp also has S1 like Seb. “Aww, who’s my little Imp? That’s so cute!” I know, right?

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When Seb came home from work, Helena immediately had him meet Imperius. “Look, Imp, it’s your daddy!” Helena said happily. The little girl cooed. “You’d better be home for the next one,” Helena said, only half-joking. “She’s so…little,” Seb said in awe, meeting his daughter’s eyes. “I think she looks like you. She has your eyes,” Helena said.

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“Wanna hold her?” “Yes.” He cradled the little girl in his arms, and no words could describe how happy the two new parents were.

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And not long after, it was time for Imp to grow up. Geez, Audrey, would it kill you to look excited? What kind of Family Sim are you?!

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Aww, look, she’s so cute! And different-looking! Imp is-- “Do NOT call me Imp! My name is Imperius!” But it’s so cute and-- “DO AS I COMMAND!” Eeep! Okay! Imperius is a Cancer like her father, 9/2/10/8/6. Neat, shy (yay!), active, playful, and pretty nice.

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Imperius learned her skills quickly; Permaplat elders rock!

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“Grr! Blocks, bend to my will! Resistance is futile!” I don’t think that’s gonna work, Imper-- “FUTILE, I SAY!” *backs away slowly*

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“Hee hee, yay, I win! Resistance was futile!” Aww, you’re so cute when you’re celebrating victory.

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And the next day…*sniffle*…is Fred’s last day. *sob* Noooo! Fred, you can’t go! You’re too awesome to die! *wail* Well, why don’t you have one last date with Audrey…seems fitting.

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*sniffle* Aww…they’re an awesome couple. Stupid computer, stop playing “I Don’t Love You” as I write this! D:

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“Audrey, we’ve been through a lot. And through it all, I always loved you, and I always will.” “I love you too, you silly Pleasure Sim.”

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“Hey, I’m here to take the soul of an awesome Generation F heir?” Uh, wrong house? *sob*

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Death Stats: Fred Granger, Generation F heir. Pleasure Sim, LTW: 50 1st Dates- Completed. Oh, Fred. I never thought you’d be heir, and I never thought I’d love you so much. Somehow you wormed your way into my heart. You were just awesome in general, always the ideal fun Pleasure Sim. Also, the Legacy’s unofficial catchphrase will always be attributed to you: “This is just crazy, crazy I tells ya!” I’ll miss you, buddy. *sob* Fred is survived by his wife Audrey, his siblings Fleur and Felix, his children Ginny, George, and Gabrielle, his grandchildren Kelly, Mint, Alchem, Harry, Hermione, and Helena, and his great-grandchildren Knox and Imperius.

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“Don’t be sad. I had a good life.” I want you to have MORE good life! Wah!

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And of course poor Audrey is hit the hardest. If it’s any comfort, you’ll be with him again soon? “It’s not any comfort!”Sorry.

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That night, I begin the grueling task of transferring all the business perks to Helena. It takes a million years. Why is this so hard?!

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Off to work, Seb? “Yup. I’m a summer camp music teacher!” Ooh, you work at Camp Rock like the Jonas Brothers? “Stop mocking me!” Ah, good, you realized it wasn’t a compliment. *pats head*

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Wait, why are you back home?! “Got fired.” Stupid chance cards! At least you get to spend some time with your little girl now, right?

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And now you’ll definitely be home for the next one! “Chance card?” Yeah.

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And the next day, Audrey greets death with a smile. Wait, what?! It’s 11 AM! What the…stupid Grimster, fix your watch, it’s not 6 PM yet! I demand a refund!

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Audrey was in the middle of paying the bills when she suddenly put them down. I was like, “What?” And then when the Reaper showed up I was like, “WHAT?!”

Slide 96: 

Grim: “Sorry, but that Fred guy was really persistent! He insisted Audrey come as soon as possible.” Aww, that makes up for it.

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Death Stats: Audrey Granger, nee Wren, Generation F spouse. Family Sim, LTW: Become Captain Hero- Completed, Have 6 Grandchildren- Also completed. Audrey, you were a good little spouse. You were warned about your kids getting sick and stuck to it, even when Fred called you crazy. I gave you six grandkids just because I liked you. You’ll be missed by them all. I just wish you and Fred could have died together. Audrey is survived by her numerous siblings at her mother’s adoptee ranch, her children Ginny, George, and Gabrielle, her grandchildren Kelly, Mint, Alchem, Harry, Hermione, and Helena, and by her great-grandchildren Knox and Imperius.

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“*sniffle* I’m an orphan and it sucks! WAHH!”

Slide 99: 

Almeric also cried for his mother-in-law. I made a promise to you, Audrey…and I swear I’ll keep it…

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Wait a second. I just realized something. Today is Imperius’s birthday. Maybe Audrey died early so she wouldn’t ruin her great-granddaughter’s birthday! Think about it! Audrey was a good Family Sim, and she died early for no real reason! And she never got a chance to get close to Imperius, so maybe this was Audrey’s way to show Imp she cared. Wow. Thanks, game, for sometimes being randomly awesome.

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And so that evening, it’s time for Imp to grow up! “I’m not Imp! I’m IMPERIUS!” Yeah, yeah, whatever.

Slide 102: 

Imperius leans far more to her father’s side of the family than her mother’s, a welcome change. I gave her some glasses, they really suit her.

Slide 103: 

Hi, Fred! “Wah! You moved my grave! It looked great right here in the middle of the living room!” The living room is not a mausoleum!

Slide 104: 

“Ew, Grandpa, that surgery dummy smells awful!” “OMG Imp, look, an airhorn!” “Ugh. Why do I put up with these people?”

Slide 105: 

“We all put up with each other because we’re a family and we love each other, little Imp.” “That’s not my name! I don’t like being called Imp, it’s degrading!” “An imp is a cute, mischievous little fairy. I think it suits you.”

Slide 106: 

Time for Imp to become a big sister! I think she was born to play the part. I can tell you from personal experience, the big sister is most always in charge. “Nobody cares about your childhood, June! ARRGHHH!”

Slide 107: 

And we have another little girl! With the typical brown-hair-brown-eyes combo. *sigh* Her name is-- “Bandit?” NO. Her name is Isla.

Slide 108: 

In Harry Potter, in the huge Black family tree, there was a woman named Isla. She was disowned for marrying a Muggle. So our Isla will be someone who accepts people who are different from her easily, and someone who’s a big hopeless romantic. I mean, marrying your true love even when you knew you were going to be disowned for it? That’s the stuff of trashy romance novels, friends.

Slide 109: 

How’s your report card? “Okay. But listen to this: ‘Imperius is a natural leader. But when she is not in charge, she does not work well in groups. Even after I specifically asked her not to take over a group project, she did anyway. She assumed the leadership role and took great pleasure out of bossing everyone around, even people not in her group.’” You promised you wouldn’t be a dictator! “…I lied. Teacher also says I have an attitude but I’m doing well in reading time.”

Slide 110: 

Imperius is a complete and utter daddy’s girl. She and Seb have always been very close. “How was school?” “Good! Teacher says I’m a natural leader! And I’m very good with omitted qualifiers!” “Oh, that’s--wait, what?”

Slide 111: 

Isla grew up! I think she’s cute. She has Seb’s nose. Gosh, I love all these new genetic mixings! Isla became a Taurus like her Auntie Mimi, 10/7/6/7/5. Neat, outgoing, active, playful, and pretty nice; I think it suits her character.

Slide 112: 

“Lookie! I got straight A’s!” What did your teacher write? “Uh, ‘Imperius still demands the leadership role. She has turned being class president into being class dictator, and effectively controls the entire classroom with an iron fist of terror. However, her ambition led us to the best-earning bake sale in school history.’ See? I’m good with bake sales!” You struck terror into their hearts! “But I got straight A’s, see?”

Slide 113: 

Well, look who’s Permaplat! “Me! Yay!” It’s a good thing, too, ‘cause guess who’s pregnant again? “Me? Oh…yay…”

Slide 114: 

Oh, stop. Helena is one of those Knowledge Sims who wouldn’t make half-bad Family Sims. She always rolls skill-teaching wants for her toddlers, and “So-and-So Gets an A” wants. So thanks, Helena, for being awesome. “No problem.”

Slide 115: 

Later that day, Gabi found a mysterious package. “Hmm…it says it’s for me. I wonder what it is,” she murmured. She flipped over the tag and her mouth dropped open. One side said, “To Gabi.” The other read, “Love, Audrey.”

Slide 116: 

“How…what? Mom died…how could she have left this for me? It…it doesn’t make any sense.” She shook the box hesitantly, and found it only contained one thing, a very light object.

Slide 117: 

She opened the package and was surprised to find a teddy bear. A very old teddy bear at that. It was ragged in places and could do with a good wash. It smelled musty, like if age had a smell. Gabi picked it up. In its front pocket was a letter.

Slide 118: 

Gabi held the bear in one hand and read the letter in her mother’s handwriting. My dearest Gabi, If you’re reading this, I’m already gone. Gabi dear, there’s so much I wish I told you. I wish we still had long hours to talk together, but we don’t and I’m sorry. There are some things you need to know. Your father never wanted you kids to know, but I think you deserve it. When you three were young, that sickness that afflicted you was no accident. It was deliberate; someone made the virus. Fortunately, we met three people who saved your lives by finding a cure. I met them once; two women and a man, and I never saw them again after the younger woman gave us the cure. I always wanted to find them to properly thank them. I never could. Gabi, the bear I gave you…I believe it has some link to the young woman who saved you. She seemed so familiar, and the bear warned me of the sickness long beforehand. Please find the owner of this bear. The young woman who cured you, her last name was Brown, but that’s all I remember about her. The bear belonged to one of your ancestors, but no one ever remembered who it belonged to. Please find them and thank them for me. I love you. -Audrey

Slide 119: 

Gabi regarded the bear. Well, it had to have belonged to a child, who must have put their name somewhere on it. Sure enough, inside the front pocket was a child’s careful scrawl: Property of Demelza Granger.

Slide 120: 

“Who the heck is Demelza Granger?” Gabi asked herself.

Slide 121: 

Hiya, Imp, whatcha up to? “For the last time, my name is Imperius! And I’m talking to cousin Knox online.” Bah, kids these days and their technology. Why, when I was your age I drew pictures and wrote stories! “That’s because you were the shy anti-social writer kid.” …Shut up?

Slide 122: 

What the--Imperius, you broke the computer! “No I didn’t!” There’s smoke coming from it! Now your pregnant mother has to fix it!

Slide 123: 

“Darn kids. I’m always the one stuck fixing things, aren’t I?” Well, you are the heiress. Kind of your lot in life.

Slide 124: 

Grr, EAxis. EVER HEARD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE?! OR, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY FIXING WEBSITES OR RELEASING GAMES WITHOUT ELEVENTY BILLION BUGS? YEAH, I’M TALKING TO YOU, YOU CORPORATE STOOGES! “Um…what?” Sorry, Imperius, I have some baggage.

Slide 125: 

Gabi whipped up a bottle of Smart Milk for Isla and thought. Demelza Granger. The name had not left her head. Who on earth was she? One of Gabi’s ancestors…Audrey had said she found the bear in the house, left behind by a Legacy child. So why hadn’t Gabi herself or Fred or anyone, really, ever heard of her? As far as Gabi knew, Generation D had three children, three daughters. Daisy, Dolores, and Druella. And Daisy and Dolores shared the heirship. So who on earth was Demelza?

Slide 126: 

Gabi absently fed the bottle to Isla, who then went off and banged up a tune on her toy xylophone. Demelza Granger. It had been her bear. Demelza Granger had some connection to the woman who’d saved Gabi and her siblings, saved their lives. And Gabi had to find her.

Slide 127: 

Imperius is really, really bad at smustling. I think it’s because she’s so shy. She kept messing up, over and over. But she eventually got it, didn’t you, Imperius? “I am making a mockery of myself!” Guess not.

Slide 128: 

The next morning, an idea struck Gabi. Of course, why hadn’t she thought of it sooner? She dialed up the one person she knew had to know who Demelza Granger was. “Good morning, Aunt June…can you come over? I have to talk to you.”

Slide 129: 

“What’s going on, Gabi? Is everyone okay?” “Everyone’s fine. I just wanted to ask you something.” “Okay.” “My mother and father died recently, but my mother left me two things; an old teddy bear and a letter. The bear warned my mother that my siblings and I would get sick all those years ago, and she believed the bear had some link to the woman who cured us. She wanted me to find that woman and thank her. I took a look at the bear, and it belonged to someone named Demelza Granger, who I’ve never heard of. Do you know who she is?”

Slide 130: 

June looked uncomfortable. “Um, well, I don’t think I’m the right person to tell you that, Gabi. It’s…it’s not my place.”

Slide 131: 

“What do you mean, it’s not your place?! Every place is your place, you’re our creator, for heaven’s sake!” Gabi burst out. “I…no, that’s not right. It’s…it’s all very complicated, and…” She looked flustered, as though she couldn’t find the right words to say.

Slide 132: 

“I don’t think Daisy or Dolores ever wanted to… to talk about it ever again, or even mention it. I think they wished they could forget it, or do it all over, or--” “What are you talking about?! Do what all over?” “I’ve said too much already. I…I don’t think they even ever told their parents what really happened, I think they said it was an accident or something…”

Slide 133: 

“What?!” June sighed. “There are some things that you, your father, and your grandmother have never been told, that you don’t want to know. Some secrets are meant to be secret. And this is one of them. Don’t worry about Demelza Granger or the bear, just forget about it.”

Slide 134: 

“I can’t just forget about it! My mother’s last wish was for me to find and thank the woman who saved my life, because she never got a chance to! I wouldn’t be alive without that woman, and neither would my brother or sister! Why won’t you help me?!” Gabi cried, feeling close to tears. “Gabrielle, you’re acting like a child. Listen to me: you don’t want to know. Just stop, it’ll all only end in tears. It’s all too complicated. Your great-grandmother and your great-aunt never wanted anyone to know, and they knew what they were doing. You wouldn’t understand it all, they didn’t at times…you’d be horrified…it was a terrible time for your family. Just let it go.”

Slide 135: 

“I’m not a little kid! Don’t I deserve to know?” June closed her eyes and sighed again. “It’s not that you don’t deserve to know, it’s that you don’t want to know, believe me. If Daisy and Dolores never told, they had a good reason and they knew what they were doing.”

Slide 136: 

“Can you at least tell me who Demelza Granger is?” There was a long silence. June finally replied softly, “Demelza was their sister. Very sporty, very adventurous, and very sassy and independent. She did always have a teddy bear, though. She was the fourth daughter, and belonged to the third set of twins that generation.” “Third set of…what?! Whose twin?”

Slide 137: 

But with that she turned heel and left the lot quickly before Gabi had a chance to turn. “Wait! Come back! Why won’t you just tell me?!”

Slide 138: 

Gabi went up on the deck and sat with the bear in front of her. “So. There were at least six kids that generation. Three sets of twins…Dolores and Druella were one. Was Demelza Daisy’s twin? Or someone else’s? But that still leaves the last set of twins. This all makes no sense. What don’t I want to know? Why can’t I be told?”

Slide 139: 

Generation D Gabi went downstairs, pulled out the family history book, opened it to the section marked “Generation D,” and gasped. She counted the siblings in the picture. Ten. There were ten of them? She read, ‘The ten children of Generation D as they were in their freshman year of college at La Fiesta Tech. They are, in age order, Daisy, Dennis, Derek, Dirk, Dolores, Druella, Davy, Dean, Demelza, and Draco. This photo was taken before--’ But the rest of the sentence was crossed out in black ink, so that Gabi couldn’t identify a single letter. They were at MiniHouse. Of course…all those portraits on the wall had been identified as of a girl named Demelza, but Gabi never realized…

Slide 140: 

Gabi turned the page over to find that someone had ripped several of the following pages out, and there was even more crossings-out. She found nothing more on Demelza Granger, but was convinced the missing pages had all she needed to know. How had the ten become three? And why hadn’t Gabi ever heard of even the possibility that there were ever more than three D kids?

Slide 141: 

Gabi stood up and threw the book on the floor. “What’s the big secret? What happened to the other seven kids? ARGH! Why is this so hard?!” she screamed to no one at all.

Slide 142: 

Desperate, Gabi picked up the phone and dialed for an operator. “Hello? Please connect me to Demelza Granger.” “One moment, please.” So she does exist!

Slide 143: 

The phone rang twice. A hesitant man’s voice answered, “Um, hello?” “Is Demelza Granger there?” Gabi asked, a bit thrown off. There was a long pause. “Who is this?” “This is Gabrielle Granger.” On the other end, a woman’s voice whispered, “Who is it?” The main muttered back, “Quiet, Astoria, go get Dem.” Dem? Who was Dem?

Slide 144: 

After a minute, another woman’s voice spoke through the phone. “How did you find the name Demelza Granger?” she asked immediately. “I…well, it was written in an old teddy bear.” “Dammit!” the woman yelled, startling Gabi. Gabi heard the other woman say to the two others in the room, “She’s got my Beary!” The man answered her exasperatedly, “Shut up about the bear, Dem, what does she want?” Gabi felt a thrill of hope. “My Beary”…it had to be Demelza!

Slide 145: 

“Look,” Gabi said, “I want some answers. Are you Demelza Granger?” “Well, who exactly is Demelza Granger?” the woman said nervously. “I don’t know! She was my great-grandmother Dolores’s sister. And the bear with her name on it warned my mother my siblings and I would get terribly sick, and my mother believed that the woman who saved us had some connection to Demelza and the bear. But the more I investigate, the more confusing things get!” But the woman at the other end didn’t seem to have been listening past the part about Audrey being warned. She gasped and said, “How did…but I was…could it be…?”

Slide 146: 

“I have to go,” the woman said quickly. “What?! No! Please, I need to know! There were ten kids in Generation D, but I only ever knew about three of them. What happened to the other seven?” “Daisy killed them at MiniHouse,” said the woman simply. In the background, another woman’s voice screamed, “You idiot, why did you--?!” There was a click and the line went dead.

Slide 147: 

Gabi pulled the phone from her ear. She felt numb. Daisy…things were making less and less sense. Gabi realized June had been right. She really didn’t want to know. But…if Demelza Granger had been killed, how could she or her bear have a connection to the woman who saved Gabi’s life?

Slide 148: 

In other news, Isla grows up! I think she’s adorable. She has freckles, squee!

Slide 149: 

Imperius! This is why we can’t have nice things! You broke our OTHER computer, too! “No I didn’t!” It’s shooting out sparks!

Slide 150: 

And it’s time for Helena to have another child! Yeah, you have fun with that!

Slide 151: 

Imperius takes the safe route and hides behind the couch.

Slide 152: 

Helena finally pops out a boy! With green eyes, yay! And brown hair, boo! This little boy’s named Ignotus. SPOILERS! Ignotus is named for Ignotus Peverell, the youngest of the three Peverell brothers who created/owned the Deathly Hallows. Ignotus’s Hallow was the Cloak of Invisibility, whose ability to make you invisible never fades. Ignotus Peverell is also Harry Potter’s distant ancestor. The cloak made its way to Harry Potter, who is its current owner.

Slide 153: 

Woah, wait, STOP! Helena, what are you doing?! “Eating cheesecake?” NO! Cheesecake causes twins! Well, at least you’re not--

Slide 154: 

--oh sweet merciful crap. Nice one, Helena.

Slide 155: 

Aww, look at my I girls! They eventually got the hang of the smustle.

Slide 156: 

Imperius, you do realize you’re playing Punch U Punch Me with the meanest child in the neighborhood? Don’t punch my I kid, Pollux! “But it’s fun!” But Imp’s no fool, she’d stop playing with him before he could get a punch in. Call it a glitch, but I call it common sense.

Slide 157: 

And that night it’s Imp’s birthday! Yay! “I wish for dominance so I can abolish stupid nicknames! Ehehehe!” You know you could wish for, like, good luck in high school or something, right?

Slide 158: 

Well, look who grew up and is still totally gorgeous! Let’s see what the dice rolls for ya. *stares* And in a strange turn of events, Imperius becomes a Family Sim who wants to Marry Off 6 Kids. Meh. I think it suits her, in an odd way.

Slide 159: 

And it’s Ig’s birthday as well! You’re cool with me calling you Ig, right, Ignotus? “Yeah .” Okay, good. Ig here became a Capricorn, 10/4/1/10/2. So far, Imperius is the sloppiest one this generation, and she has 9 neat points. OCD becomes you!

Slide 160: 

I got Imperius a teen job in Politics because everyone wants her to be an overachiever and, again, because I think it suits her. “I will become the authority figure in this town!” You’re a door-to-door poller. “Maybe I am today, but tomorrow I shall lead!”

Slide 161: 

That night… “Hiya, Uncle Harry!” Isla said cheerily. “Hi, Isla. Is your mom home?” “Yup, ‘cause she’s going to have a baby again. I like being a big sister.” Harry smiled. He loved having younger siblings as well.

Slide 162: 

“Harry! Hi, how are you? Isla, go inside, you’ll catch cold.” Helena smiled at her brother. “Well, this is a surprise.” “I just wanted to see how you were doing,” Harry said.

Slide 163: 

“How are you feeling? When’s the baby due?” “I’m fine. And babies, plural. Twins.” Helena smiled. “Really? Wow. Congratulations.” “I’m not sure if those are my sentiments exactly,” she laughed.

Slide 164: 

“Enough about me. How’re you?” “Oh, I’m fine. Bella’s finishing up at LFT. I’ve been planning the wedding and stuff.” “You look good. Healthy and stuff. How is she?”

Slide 165: 

“Bella’s fine. I miss her like crazy, but she’s really busy finishing up and writing her papers and stuff.” “Uh-huh.” Helena said skeptically, trying to keep her contempt for her brother’s fiancée out of her voice.

Slide 166: 

Harry remembered how Seb had said Helena was worried about him, and something suddenly became clear. “You don’t like her, do you.” “Who?” Helena asked quickly. “Bella. You don’t like her.” “I…well, I don’t hate her. But I’m not fond of her either. I…” “Yes?”

Slide 167: 

“I think you’re too good for her,” Helena blurted out, and immediately covered up her mouth. She hadn’t wanted to say that. “I’m sorry.” “What do you mean?” “I mean…” Helena shook her head. “Nothing. I know how happy she makes you. I’m not going to try and break you two up or anything.” Secretly, Helena thought it would be an easy task, but she didn’t say so.

Slide 168: 

Harry smiled wryly. “Well, I can’t exactly tell you how to think.” “Believe me, Harry, I would never do anything to end your relationship or hurt you like that.” “I do believe you.”

Slide 169: 

“I’ll see you at the wedding,” Harry said happily. “I’ll be there.”

Slide 170: 

Helena finished writing her novel and it did really well! Yay Helena!

Slide 171: 

“Forget the novel! OWWW!”

Slide 172: 

Geez, Gabi, would it kill you to react?

Slide 173: 

And the twins arrive! A boy and a girl. Helena has the boy, Inigo, and Almeric has the girl, Imago. Inigo Imago was an author in the Wizarding world, of the book The Dream Oracle, which Harry used in his hated Divination class.

Slide 174: 

“Now, why don’t you two have a little nap?” Helena said sweetly to her two youngest children.

Slide 175: 

… Inigo, can you hear me? Yes. …Do you think this is normal, Inny? I don’t think so, Immy.

Slide 176: 

That night was Ignotus’s birthday, yay! He’s aided by Imperius, who has assumed some leadership duties around the house.

Slide 177: 

Ig looks most like a Granger; or, at least, the previous generations, except around the eyes. I like him. All the I kids are so adorable and genetically diverse. I just wanna pinch their little cheeks, squee!

Slide 178: 

And not long after is Inigo’s and Imago’s birthdays. It’s relatively easy to tell them apart, they have different skintones and I bet they’re not identical.

Slide 179: 

Sure enough, they’re not identical. Inigo has Seb’s mouth but Helena’s nose and Imago, vice versa. Inigo is a Capricorn like Ignotus, 10/6/1/8/10. Imago is a Virgo like Gabi, 10/2/10/2/1. Yeah. Definitely not identical past neat points. They’re almost total opposites. Inigo is outgoing and Imago is shy, Inigo is lazy and Imago is active, Inigo is playful and Imago is serious, and Inigo’s terribly nice and Imago’s horribly mean.

Slide 180: 

Inny…I…I can’t see! Wait…I can see but I…I can’t see the room…I see somewhere else… Immy?! What do you mean, are you alright? Can’t you see it, too? N-no…I only see the room. Are you okay? I think so. I see…a room filled with benches…the walls are white speckled with black. Th-there’s a piano up near the front and…and someone’s sitting at it…

Slide 181: 

It’s…it’s Mama. What?! Is she okay? Is she hurt? Why can’t I see? She looks…she’s not hurt. She’s wearing a fancy dress. She looks like she can’t choose between misery and fury…she’s worried. And…and she’s saying something… What’s she saying? Can you see it, Immy? She’s…she’s saying... ‘oh’… ‘oh,’ something. The little girl was staring with her eyes open wide, forming her mouth like her mother’s in her vision. She’s saying… ‘Oh, Harry’…

Slide 182: 

Well, that’s where I will end this chapter. Next time, we catch up with Harry. How will his wedding go? What does Imago’s vision mean? Will Gabi ever find out the truth about the three people who saved her and her siblings’ lives? Tune in and find out! P.S.- Happy International MCR Day today, July 23! I found this eerily appropriate, what with Helena becoming heiress!