Slide 2:“Tess... do you have any idea what this is, or why it is here?” “What the– AHHHH! What is that– holy CRAP!” “...I have left something for you in your backyard. Please use it wisely. Take care...” ****


Slide 3:**** “You’ll be fine, Claudia. Stop worrying.” “But what if they don’t like me? What if they don’t like my hair? Lots of people don’t like my hair!” “Really?” Boots chuckled, turning to her. Then he shook his head. “Not important. It’ll be alright, Claud. Don’t you worry. I’ve told them only good things about you.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She turned to him with a reluctant smile, and then the door was flung open.


Slide 4:“Boots! Oh, you’re home!” Rowena cried, Clarence behind her, grinning. She wanted to rush and hug her son but she did not wish to embarrass him. “And Claudia, finally we meet! I do like that hair color on you.” Boots and Claudia shared a quick look and laughed. “You’re allowed to hug me, you know, Mum,” Boots said. Rowena looked even more thrilled and advanced upon her son, enveloping him.


Slide 5:“I’m so glad you’re home,” she said in a muffled tone. “We’ve missed you here. On our own.” Her thoughts automatically turned to Clare and Adam, but she shook them away. “And Claudia! Boots has told me nothing but good things about you. I’m so glad you’ve found each other.” They both smiled. “Thank you,” Claudia replied, nervousness melting away.


Slide 6:But although Rowena seemed happy on the outside, Boots had noticed something different at first sight of her. She looked tired, drained. “Mum?” he asked. She turned to him, alerted by his strange tone of voice. As soon as he looked into her eyes, he knew something was wrong.


Slide 7:“What’s happened?” he asked, in a voice that was almost a whisper.


Slide 8:Rowena was caught mid-breath. Abruptly, her face fell. She looked crushed. “It’s Aerie,” Clarence informed Boots quietly. He looked drained, too. “What—” Boots began. “She’s sick. She’s very sick, and she isn’t getting any better,” Rowena said, her eyes closed. A tear leaked out. “Come inside,” she murmured.


Slide 9:“Why is Aerie sick? When did this happen?” Boots urged, once they were all seated on the couch and a chair had been pulled up for Claudia. “We’re not sure. She’s mostly been passed out for the last few days,” Clarence said seriously. “She’s woken up a couple of times... mentioned a dark-skinned man in an orange suit.” “But... wouldn’t that be that man who harassed you once, Mum? The one who was looking for Aerie?” Boots said in realisation, alarmed. “We don’t know. We don’t know anything,” Rowena said, voice filled with hopelessness.


Slide 10:“Well, it’s got to be him! Who else would it be?” Boots was upset at his mother’s tone. “We can’t rush into conclusions, remember. We have no proof,” Clarence reminded him quickly, seeing his wife’s face. Claudia watched all this with huge, concerned eyes. “Something should be done about him anyway! He’s dangerous,” Boots said forcefully. Then, “Mum, I’m sure she’s going to be okay,” in a gentler tone. They all became lost in their thoughts for several moments, until the loud sound of whirring propellers interrupted them.


Slide 11:Rowena stood up silently, not at all ready to face another day at work. She didn’t know if she could handle business right now– or ever, in fact, not with all this happening at the same time. Was her big sister really going to be okay? And could they really do anything about Joe? Really?


Slide 12:Clarence drifted away, too, leaving Boots and Claudia alone. Claudia silently joined Boots on the couch. “Boots?” she began hushedly. “I’m sorry. If I’d’ve known...” “It isn’t your fault at all. I just can’t believe this. And Mum’s attitude is not making this any better! Hell, I’m the one who’s supposed to be acting like that!” “I can’t blame her. If I were to lose my sister...” she shuddered. “You are, in a way,” Boots said, turning to her. “Moving out here with me, in the desert.” “That’s different,” she argued. “This is you we’re talking about. I couldn’t go on without you with me.” Boots gave a small smile in spite of everything and hugged her.


Slide 13:..................


Slide 14:Donte was beside himself over Aerie. Why had he not made anything official with her? Why, when he loved her so much? It was all he could do to be by her side now, constantly, when she seemed always on the edge of death.


Slide 15:On top of everything, Rowena received a hurried phone message from Egypt explaining where she was, and were given a rushed phone number. But when, in a considerable amount of distress, she tried calling it, the only sound she heard was a harsh beeping. Her mind jumped automatically to the worst. Where was Egypt?


Slide 16:But in the midst of death, comes life, or it may be the other way around, but either way Claudia was pregnant with the first child of generation 4. She was excited, of course, and pleased, but it seemed a pity that the child would be born amongst all this strife.


Slide 17:Boots, throwing away all subtlety, was totally nuts over his new son-or-daughter already.


Slide 18:So they got married, while Claudia could still squeeze into the dress– a family heirloom. In my typical disastrous-wedding style, all the guests totally ignored the lovely seats (that were rather expensive) I’d set out for them, and stood in a row from the other direction. Whatever. I’ll pretend it was all planned.


Slide 19:Meanwhile Fern also got married, to her beloved llama-mascot boyfriend whose name I believe is... ... ........... ........ ............ ... I’ll get back to you on this one. [I have now remembered. It is Brian.]


Slide 20:And as for Flick– she married her old sweetheart, Mark Wood, who makes the best faces.


Slide 21:Then Claudia had the kid. I can see why you all love this legacy.


Slide 22:My writing is going rapidly downhill!* -- but as I try my best to write something that may count vaguely as ‘writing’ at all... here is baby Caspian. He has both his mother’s eyes and skintone, which is nice, and, I believe– as a nice kind of twist– blonde hair. *You can blame the endless essays we always seem to be assigned in English. They are quite physically draining.


Slide 23:Boots adored Caspian. He was so utterly infatuated that he quite frankly forgot to be emo. Having a son had such a profound effect on him that he actually went around smiling, occasionally accompanied by humming or, in the rare case, loud singing. In fact, if Boots didn’t still look it, one would scarcely be able to recognise him...


Slide 24:While the new parents got some well earned rest, Rowena and Clarence would sometimes watch over the sleeping baby... Until one day, at 6:00pm... [How I hate this time]


Slide 25:*Poof* “Oh, good heavens! I wasn’t expecting that.” Hmm, now just as a side note, does anyone know a single lady over the age of about 15 that would wear a shirt like that... Let alone 55? Ah, Maxis, Maxis. *Lesigh* At least it matches the confetti.


Slide 26:Oh dear... Ro’s hardly been elderly for one day and she’s already acting senile. You can blame my genetics. Ahoy mateys I do like rum


Slide 27:Quartz grew up after quite a spectacularly bad day (involving three fires, one near-death experience and getting fired on top of all of it– I wish I was kidding).


Slide 28:And soon came another birthday– that of Clarence’s and Caspian’s. Claudia helped her son grow up first, since the adults had all been standing around chatting for a while, and it was getting a little late. “Cathpian thleepy,” the small boy mumbled after being cooed over for several disconcerting minutes. “Yes, it’s way past your bedtime, little man. I’ll carry to your bed, how does that sound?” “Mhhmm...” he was already dropping off to sleep.


Slide 29:Clarence returned for his turn to grow up. He remains much the same, only older of course, and with less hair.


Slide 30:Claudia, meanwhile, was pregnant again. This pregnancy put a lot of strain on her. She hardly had the energy to do anything anymore, let alone put on her usual heavy eyeliner. Boots was noticing, but he didn’t say anything.


Slide 31:I do like Caspian, really, though I know I haven’t said much of him. Here’s some cute pictures of what he spends most of his time doing– he’s rather obsessed with those leaves.


Slide 32:His birthday soon rolled around– is it just me or is the toddler life stage getting shorter and shorter? The only guest was Coral and her glitching glasses, because I scrambled together a hasty anniversary party for Clarence’s LTW, inviting the first five people on the list, and she was the only one who bothered to come and then I figured out it was Caspian’s birthday... so it all coincided quite nicely and that is that and I do like run-on sentences.


Slide 33:“Hello.” I know you’re having fun cleaning that toilet, but your school bus is here. “I wonder if the people at school will like me...” “Well, if they don’t, kid, you know you’ve already made one friend: ME!” “You’re a bus driver...” “A FRIENDLY bus driver!”


Slide 34:Days passed, and still no improvement in Aerie– or word from Egypt. Caleb, her entirely unlovely boyfriend, was becoming rather bitter about her absence. He’d thought he could trust her not to run away like this. Stupid girl.


Slide 35:Life, jobs and relationships were keeping everybody very busy, but eventually they all managed to scrape together some time to talk about the matter at hand– namely, Tess’s mysterious gift.


Slide 36:“So, what was it you found in your garden, again?” “A plant– a really big plant, with a cow’s head. I’m not kidding. I did some research on it, and you’re not going to believe it but this plant eats people. Why would Clare have left me something like that?” “But are you sure it’s Clare who left this for you?” “It’s got a cow’s head. Who else would it be?” Tess reasoned. “’Use it wisely,’ is what she said.” Tess had already told everyone about the note from her sister.


Slide 37:“Excuse me,” Clare piped up, “But don’t you think Clare– the old Clare, at least, might have actually wanted us to use the cowplant to eat somebody?” She received 5 blank stares from around the table. “You know, someone’s who’s causing the family a lot of strife at the moment? Someone dangerous?” “Such as...?” asked Rowena, knowing fully well who. “Someone like Joe,” Clare said quietly, hating to bring up the sensitive issue. A silence spread at the mention of his name.


Slide 38:“Well, yes,” Tess began finally, biting her lip, “He is dangerous, but don’t you think eating him might be a bit hasty?” “Hasty? He deserves it! Look at what he’s done to this family!” Clare said defiantly. “It still seems a trifle barbaric, though...”


Slide 39:“Are not legacies supposed to be a trifle barbaric sometimes?” Clare told her, raising an eyebrow. Tess couldn’t argue with that. Clare may have been new to the neighbourhood, and to the family, but there was the odd occasion where she really seemed to know what she was talking about.


Slide 40:“You do have a point there, Clare.” “It could work,” Boots agreed. “He’ll only cause more trouble if we don’t take care of him. And prison couldn’t hold him– if he escaped once, he can do it again.” “Then it’s decided?”


Slide 41:Tess nodded. “I’ll give the cowplant to Peri,” Tess told Flick, restraining from adding ‘Since he’ll probably go after her next’. Flick nodded too in response. She hadn’t said anything the whole time, but she spoke now, tears in her eyes.


Slide 42:“I’ll just miss Mum.” Her voice cracked. There was silence again.


Slide 43:And later that day... “Is everything alright, dear?” “No! Boots! The baby is coming!”


Slide 44:At this very moment, baby Echo won my heart. I can tell I’m going to love this little black-haired girl to bits.


Slide 45:*** Donte, ever present, was dozing in his chair, and didn’t notice Aerie open her eyes, look around at the bleak hospital room, and feebly lift herself up on her arms. “Donte?”


Slide 46:Donte’s eyes snapped open; he forgot, for a moment, where he was. He could not believe his eyes when he saw her, awake, sitting up. “Aerie?” he whispered incredulously, “Did you just say my—” “I would have married you, you know.” Aerie’s voice, contrary to her appearance, was remarkably clear. Donte was stunned into complete stillness for a moment. “You—” he said, so quietly he himself could scarcely hear it.


Slide 47:“I wish I had married you, Donte. Because I love you..” her voice was fading away. She couldn’t hold herself upright any longer. “Aerie! Stay with me here, please stay with me...” Donte crossed the room in two strides and spoke intensely to Aerie. It was too late. She was slipping away.


Slide 48:“Aerie. Aerie!” he cried, frantically checking her pulse. He felt nothing. “No!” he choked. Again, nothing. She was already beginning to fell cold, or maybe it was just his imagination. He fell back into his chair.


Slide 49:“But I loved her.” He broke down, sobbing. There was nothing he could do now.


Slide 51:Aerie Spiff was many things– she was a romancer, she had a lack of good judgment occasionally– but mostly she was independent, she said exactly what she meant, and she was a loyal friend. She valued her friends and most of all, her family.


Slide 52:Peridot now owned Aerie’s house. She couldn’t bring herself to step into Aerie’s bedroom, instead spending most of her time sitting outside with her mother’s grave and the cowplant. She hadn’t had time to contemplate what she needed to do with the cowplant. She just couldn’t believe Aerie was gone, that she would never see her again. She hated Joe. Hated him.


Slide 53:And he was closer than you’d think. Always closer. *****


Slide 54:Well, this would be, judging from the two random pictures, the end of the chapter. I know it was just a short one, but I’m moving overseas soon so I’m not sure how many other chapters I’ll be able to squeeze in. Better this than nothing, eh? I hope you enjoyed, anyway. It was probably a bit choppy and all but leave a comment please! I love them so very much. Tess got to be my FIRST sim to be electrocuted by lightning. Ehehehe.