Smoothie Sims, Inc. proudly presents…

Elle’s Bachelorette Challenge - Day 6

“You’ re WHAT?”

“I’m sorry! I didn’ t mean to!”

“How can you NOT mean to Try For Baby, Deanna? Generally that’ s done onPURPOSE.”

“I didn’ t even think about it! I’ ve been doing so much genetic experimenting it’ s habitnow--”

“Dammit, De, you are NOT turning my game into your personal Rhys-baby-breedinggrounds, okay? Do you hear me? NOT.”

“Okay, God, I’m sorry. I really didn’ t mean to--”

“Then learn the meaning of contraceptives!”

“I KNOW what contraceptives are for, Marina.”

“Then use them, dammit!”

“Stop yelling at me!”

“I’ ll stop yelling when I’m darn good and ready! It’ s bad enough that you and Rhys can’ tkeep your damn pants on for five minutes put together, but the fact that--where thehell do you think you’ re going?”

“Somewhere less noisy. You’ re upsetting the baby.”

“Get back here! I’m not done yelling at you!”

“Well, I’m done listening!”

“DeANNA!”

“I love how Marina’ s acting like the pregnant one,” Ursula observed, sliding into avacant seat on the couch. She, Azula, and Dominic were the only ones left in the room;Rhys had fled in fear of Marina’ s reaction, and Spencer had ducked into the kitchen sohe could laugh without rebuke. From the sounds of it, he hadn’ t been able to stop.

“So what do you think so far?” Azula asked. Now that she was over the initial shockof having some of her dead relatives come to call, she was actually kind of excited tomeet Ursula. The previous generation of Fitzhughs had all known her well and spoke ofher with reverence.

“Well, I missed most of it so I’m not sure how much my opinion counts,” Ursula said.“I don’ t know your sister, but I’ ve heard about how shy she is, so I’m surprised she’ sdoing this well.”

Azula smi led, proud of Elle. “Mostly she is. You missed the kissing dates yesterday,that was the worst freak-out she’ s had the whole challenge. Otherwise it’ s been good.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“So who do you think she’ ll pick based on what you saw?”

Ursula shrugged. “To be honest, I think she should send them both home.”

“…what.”

“The Victorian dude is treating her with kid gloves. He’ s way too careful.”

“That’ s his upbringing,” Azula said quickly. “You should’ ve seen the kiss date lastnight, and what he did after.”

The other woman lifted a shoulder. “The one she just sent home was worse. Niceenough, but too much of a chameleon. Too eager to do everything she wanted to do.”

“I liked him. I thought he should’ ve stayed.”

“No, I think she made the right decision. And as for the third guy, he’ s got someserious baggage issues and I think she’ s keeping him because she feels sorry for him.”

“Ellie wouldn’ t do that!”

“You sure about that? She seems like a very nice girl. Maybe a li ttle too sensitive.”

“I’m sure. Dominic, help me out here?”

“What? Don’ t drag me into this!” Dominic had been trying hard not to get involved andrealized too late that in order to do that, he should have left the room.

“Dom!”

He sighed. “Okay, look. Everybody calm down.”

“I’m perfectly calm,” Ursula pointed out. “She was the one who asked.”

“Okay. Azula, calm down.”

“Hey--”

“Ultimately, this is between Elle and the guys,” Dom went on, ignoring her. “She’ s asmart girl. She knows what she needs. She’ ll pick the guy who can give her that, andif neither one can, she’ ll find someone else. It’ s not like she has to get married to theone she picks.”

Azula bit her lip. “I just want her to be happy.”

“I know you do. But it’ s up to her.”

***

Elle took her time setting up for tea that day. Instead of calling Stuart and Liam overto join her right away, she had one cup by herself and contemplated the upcomingdecision she was going to have to make. Like all the others, it was a full day away,but sending Ham home had been one of the hardest things she had ever done, and shewas not looking forward to saying goodbye to the last guy, whomever he would be.

For all that, though, she would miss this. She fully enjoyed tea time and she likedmost of the guys she had met in the past week, and would not mind pursuingfriendships with them. Except for the eliminations, it really wasn’ t so bad and shewas glad she had agreed to do it.

When she didn’ t yell down for them to come up, they came in search of her and foundher deep in thought. “Are you not ready for us yet?” Stuart asked.

“No, go ahead and sit down,” she said, looking up and managing a smi le. “The tea’ sdone. We might as well start. How are you guys doing?”

“I am well,” Stuart said.

“Yeah, me too,” Liam agreed, eyeing her. “You?”

“I’m okay,” she said dismissively. “Give me a sec and I’ ll pour your tea.”

Once they each had a cup, she poured herself a new one. “So I’ ve been thinking aboutwhat question I want to ask today,” she said, “and it occurred to me we haven’ t donemuch talking for a couple of days in favor of, um, other things, so what I want toknow today is a li ttle more about the people you love. Specifically, who your bestfriend is back home.”

“Did you wish to begin?” Stuart asked.

“Yeah, I’ ll start and we’ ll go counter-clockwise. Okay?” The two of them nodded inagreement and she sat back to contemplate her answer.

“I definitely have to say that Azula i s my best friend,” she said, after thoughtfullytaking a sip from her cup. “We’ve been close as long as I can remember and she canbe really annoying but she always looks out for me. She makes me do a lot of things Idon’ t want to because she knows it’ ll be good for me. And we can talk about anything.”She smi led, although she felt a li ttle embarrassed knowing her sister was listening.“I love her so much.”

“That is obvious, from the way you talk about her,” Stuart said.

“Good, it should be. She’ s the best sister ever. What about you?”

“Bertie,” he said, without hesitation. “My elder brother. I believe I have mentionedhim before. I do have lots of other friends, but Bertie always has been and alwayswi ll be my best friend.”

“That’ s really sweet, Stuart. What’ s he like?”

A fond smi le came to Stuart’ s face. “He’ s a li ttle reserved and sometimes finds ithard to do things that scare him or are unfami liar to him. But, he is a good man andvery loyal. He often says he could not do without me, but frankly I need him just asmuch.”

“He sounds like a great guy.”

“He is.”

“I think it’ s good for siblings to be close,” Elle said. “My brother Bi lly and I aren’ tjoined at the hip like Zuzu and I are, and we fight sometimes, but we’ re sti ll goodfriends. Though I guess the businesses helped. Azula was at college and we didn’ t haveanyone else to commiserate with.”

“Are the two of you very simi lar?”

“Not at all. He’ s a lot more like Zuzu. Different at the same time, though.”

“I should very much like to meet your siblings sometime soon.”

“Yeah, I’d like to meet your brother, too.” She glanced up and caught Liam’s eye onlyto have him turn away slightly. “Liam? Are you okay?”

“Nah, I’m good. You two talking about your fami lies just got me thinking.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Elle said, suddenly appalled at herself. “You never got a chance toanswer. I didn’ t mean to monopolize the conversation.”

Liam frowned slightly. “I’m really not sure what my answer is. I mean, I had agirlfriend when I was a teenager. Her name was Meadow and I liked her a lot. Iguess she could qualify.” He shrugged. “My sisters and I had an okay relationship.Cordy’ s dead though. And Buffy…well, i t’ s complicated. So I don’ t know.”

“You didn’ t have anybody you were close to?” Hearing this made Elle more than alittle sad. She had her difficulties with people, but she couldn’ t imagine not beingclose to anyone at all.

“It’ s a li ttle hard to develop close relationships when you’ ve got an angry ghost ki llingoff your fami ly members and the phones are down so much it’ s hard to stay in touchwith people.” He shook his head. “Speaking honestly, Elle, you’ re the best friend I’ vehad in a very long time.” A thought struck him and he smi led a li ttle. “Abe was cooltoo, though. We got along pretty well.”

“Yeah, he was,” Elle said quietly. The memory of Abe’ s departure was sti ll a sore one.

“Do you wish to be close to your sister?” Stuart asked.

Liam spared him a grimace. “There are a lot of things I wish were different and we’dbe here all day if I listed them all. And now I think we should change the subject.”

“Fair enough.”

There was a long si lence, and then the boys put down their empty cups for Elle torefi ll. Glad to have something to do, she hurried to get them more tea. “So,” she said,“tonight each of you get me to yourselves for an hour. We’re going to use the dendownstairs and formal wear is mandatory.”

“For what exactly?” Liam asked, eyebrows raised.

“Dancing.”

“How delightful!” Stuart exclaimed. “I think that wi ll be very nice indeed.”

“I…yeah, okay, I could try that,” Liam agreed.

They agreed that they would each finish their current cup and then get up to getready. Stuart and Liam would decide between them who would have the first date, andElle would meet whomever it was in the den at 8:00 pm.

At 7:45, Elle was mostly ready, and stood in front of the mirror tucking the last strayhairs into place and worrying about the little things, as women do. “I sti ll think youshould ditch the glasses,” Azula advised.

“I can’ t see without them and I don’ t have contacts,” Elle replied. “Do they look thatbad?”

“No, you should be okay,” Marina said. “I wore glasses to my Prom and only took themoff for photos. And hey, they match your dress.”

“So I look okay?”

“You look great.”

“Yeah, go knock ‘ em dead, Ellie.”

Liam, who ended up getting the first date on the grounds that Stuart had gone beforehim both that morning and the previous night, was downstairs messing around withthe baby grand when she made it down there. He clearly had no more idea how to playthan she did, but he was having fun and that made her smi le. “Hey, Liam. You’ re first,huh?”

“Hi , Elle, I--oh my God, you’ re beautiful.”

“Really?” she asked, feeling a smi le tug at her mouth.

“Really. Just…wow.”

“Thank you. You look handsome too, I like your tux.”

“Oh, thanks.”

He stepped up to her. “So, ah…may I have this dance?”

She giggled. “I would be delighted.”

She rested her hand on his shoulder and gave the other to him as she had learned howto do from Azula. Liam seemed to get the general idea of dancing, but it was obvioushe was new at it--or, as her sister would term it, he had two left feet. Elle didn’ twant to be unkind and jump to that conclusion…

…but as the minutes passed it seemed likely that that was the case.

“Oh, dammit. I am so sorry.”

“It’ s okay,” she said quickly, trying not to wince and make him feel even worse.

“Let me try that again,” he pleaded. “Only…maybe less with the moving this time?”

“Yeah, we can try that.” She smi led ruefully as he offered his arms to her again.

If I give my heart to you

Will you handle it with care?

Will you always treat me tenderly?

And in every way be fair?

If I give my heart to you

Will you give me all your love?

Will you swear that you’ ll be true to me

By the light that shines above?

And wi ll you sigh with me when I’m sad?

Smi le with me when I’m glad?

And always be as you are with me tonight?

Think it over and be sure

Please don’ t answer ti l you do

When you promise all these things to me

Then I’ ll give my heart to you

When their hour was up, Liam stepped back slowly. “Well, that was fun,” he saidlightly.

“Yes, it was,” Elle agreed, with a smi le. “Maybe you’ ll get the hang of that ‘movingyour feet’ thing eventually.”

He grinned. “Maybe I wi ll. And with any luck at all, your toe won’ t be bruised.”

“Oh, I don’ t think you did that much damage. I’ ll see you in a bit.”

“Sure thing.”

She didn’ t have to wait long for Stuart to arrive, and he certainly seemed very eagerto get there, practically hopping down the stairs.

“Good evening,” he greeted her.

Elle giggled a li ttle. “Hi , you.”

“You look absolutely stunning, Ellie. Gold is a wonderful color for you.”

“Really?” She was very pleased by his compliment, but couldn’ t resist needling him alittle. “I thought you might object to the sheer fabric I’ ve got going at the waistline.”

Stuart colored a li ttle. “I noticed.”

“Well, why didn’ t you say anything?”

“If I had commented, that would have informed you that I was looking, and that wouldhave been extremely rude.”

“Well, thank you.” She smi led shyly. “You look great too. And hey, your tie matchesmy dress.”

He grinned. “So it does. It is almost as though we planned it.”

“What a coincidence.”

“Indeed.” He offered his hand. “Would you do me the honor of giving me a dance?”

“I’d love to.”

Stuart drew her in closer than Liam had almost immediately, and her heart skipped abeat. “Is this quite proper, Mr. Legacy?”

“Do you care, Miss Fitzhugh?”

“Not really, since you’ re asking.”

He smi led and leaned to whisper against her ear. “Neither do I.”

L is for the way you look at me

O i s for the only one I see

V is very, very extraordinary

E is even more than anyone that you adore can

Love is all that I can give to you

Love is more than just a game for two

Two in love can make it

Take my heart and please don’ t break it

Love was made for me and you

Elle caught a glance of the clock over Stuart’ s shoulder and groaned a li ttle. “What isit?” he asked.

“It’ s ten. Past ten, actually.”

His arms tightened. “That cannot be right. I am certain we have another fifteenminutes at least.”

“Be fair, Stuart,” she said, sternly, but with a smi le.

“I suppose I must, if you insist.”

“I do.”

He pressed his cheek against hers for a long moment, leaving a kiss on it as he finallypulled away. “I wi ll see you in the morning,” he said softly.

“Good night, Stuart. Sleep well.”

“And you, as well.”

Elle intended to go straight to bed, but when she got upstairs she saw Liam sitting onthe couch, seemingly deep in thought, and decided to sit with him for a minute first.“What are you thinking so hard about?” she asked him.

He started a li ttle, then shrugged. “Loads of things.”

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” she quoted.

“Ha, that’ s pretty accurate actually.” Liam bit his lip, as if wondering whether heshould say something he wanted to say, and then went on. “Elle, I want to apologize forbeing so stony at tea earlier. Sometimes I feel like the things I hated about my oldlife are all I can talk about and I don’ t mean to be a downer.”

“It’ s fine, Liam.”

“No, it’ s not fine. This is about you, not me.”

“It’ s about both of us, Liam. Maybe I’m the one who makes the decision in the end butI can’ t do it if I don’ t know you and if I’m going to pursue a relationship with the guyI choose, it has to be a mutual agreement.”

He seemed stumped by this, because he only nodded without further comment.

Elle got up, motioned Liam up as well, and gave him a hug. “I’m going to go to bed. I’ llsee you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Good night then.”

She thought she could feel his eyes on her back as she left, but she kept going withoutlooking back. All of a sudden, she felt a distinct need to be alone.

Instead of posing in front of the mirror and admiring herself as long as possible, as agirl might do the first time she dressed up formally, Elle hung up her dress rightaway and undid her hair, slipping into bed and hoping sleep would come soon.

It was several hours before she finally dropped off.

***

“Did you get any sleep at all?”

Elle smi led faintly and shook her head. “Not much. I kept worrying about today andwho I was going to choose and what I would say.”

“Have you come to any conclusions as to either of those things?” Marina asked gently.

She bit her lip. “I know who I’m going to choose. The more I thought about it, thesurer I was. I think I’ ve known for a few days now.”

“Well, I’m glad that part’ s not any harder than it has to be. You don’ t have to tell me.”

“I can tell you want to know, though.”

“…yes, well, that’ s because I’m a greedy person and I love spoi lers. But I trust you tohandle it yourself. We’ ll find out when you tell them.”

“Is there anything you want me to do before noon?”

“Not if you’ re already sure. Just get dressed, go have some breakfast, and then tellthem. How you do that is up to you.”

“Easy for you to say. I could really use someone telling me what to do right now.”

“Ellie, trust me. You’ ll be fine. You don’ t need anyone, especially not me, telling youhow to live your own life.”

“Thanks. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, hon. Give us a shout if you need anything.”

Breakfast was an unusually si lent event. Elle could tell that Liam and Stuart were justas agitated as she felt. Liam wouldn’ t look anyone in the eye, choosing instead to glareat his plate, and Stuart seemed so out of it that he hadn’ t even bothered to get dressedbefore stumbling in and taking some food. This was not going to be pleasant.

When she was done, she got up and took her plate. “I’m going to go out and sit on theporch i n a few minutes,” she said. “I need to see each of you alone. You two decide theorder.”

***

“You’ ve got to let me see her first.”

Stuart, sti ll a li ttle incoherent even after eating and showering, blinked in surprise.“I do not have to do any such thing,” he said, carefully.

“Please,” Liam said. “There are some things I have to say to her before you see her.”

“Mr.Whedon, I feel that allowing this would grant you the tactical advantage and Isimply cannot do such a thing. I love her. I wi ll not lose her to you without a fight.”

“Stuart, I’m not blind. I know. I just have to talk to her and then I’m leaving. Youwon’ t regret it, I promise.”

Stuart studied him for a long moment, and finally nodded. “All right.”

“Thank you,” Liam said, relieved.

Stuart merely walked past him to the back door. “I wi ll be on the back porch,” he said.“I trust you wi ll let me know when you are finished speaking.”

“Hey, Elle.”

“Hi , Liam.”

They sat in si lence for a moment, and then Liam turned to Elle with a resoluteexpression on his face. “Before you say anything, I want to tell you why I almostasked you to send me home yesterday.”

“Liam--”

“Just listen. You’ ve already chosen Stuart and I know that and fully support thatdecision.”

“You don’ t know--”

“Elle, a person would have to be a complete idiot, not to mention blind, not to knowthat. I figured it out the other night and almost asked you to send me away because Ididn’ t see the point in staying if I didn’ t have a chance.”

“So why didn’ t you go through with it?”

“I didn’ t want to leave. I didn’ t want to go back to The Hellmouth. I also meant itwhen I said that you’ re the best friend I’ ve had in probably my entire life. Why wouldI want to go somewhere else when I’ ve got such a good situation here?”

“You could have just said that,” Elle chided.

He smi led faintly. “I guess the way I went about it wasn’ t very fair or considerate.”

“You really scared me. I was afraid you didn’ t want to be here anymore or that I’ddone something to make you want to leave.”

“No, that wasn’ t it at all. I swear.”

“Okay, you’ re forgiven, then.”

“’ preciate i t.”

“So what wi ll you do now?”

“I’ ll probably find a job somewhere. Save some money, maybe travel a li ttle. I’m sti llhoping to meet someone special someday.”

“I’m sure you wi ll.”

“Well, I’m not holding my breath, but you never know. Maybe after I work off some ofthis latent anger.”

“I think you’ ll manage it. You’d better keep in touch.”

“I wi ll if you invite me to your wedding.”

“It’ s a deal.”

They embraced, and Liam kissed her quickly before pulling away. “I’ ll see you.”

“Yeah. Take care.”

“You too.”

Stuart meandered out to the porch half an hour later and found her alone. “Has hegone, then?”

“Yeah, he left a whi le ago.”

“He was supposed to tell me when you two were finished speaking.” A quiet laughescaped his lips. “Though I suppose I do not blame him for forgetting, under thecircumstances.”

Elle smi led a li ttle. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“I managed. However, I am thankful I do not have to wait any longer.” He hesitated,then asked, “Wi ll you miss him?”

“Sure I wi ll. He’ s my friend and I love him.”

“I see.”

Elle shook the last bits of melancholy off and turned to Stuart with a smi le. “Not thesame way I love you, though.”

He caught his breath. “Really?”

“Really.” She scooted closer and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I love you,Stuart Legacy. You’ re the one I want.”

Hearing this thri lled Stuart so much that he kissed her without stopping to thinkabout propriety or any societal rules he might break by doing so.

“I love you, too,” he said fervently. “Nothing would make me happier than to be able tocourt you properly now that this is all over.”

“I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.”

At this, a cheer went up from the house next door so loud it could be heard all the wayin Sierra Plains. “She did it!” “He won!” “HOORAY!”

Elated, Marina raced for the phone. “Di ! She chose Stuart. How soon can you gethere?”

***

Hey

Don’ t write yourself off yet

It’ s only in your head you feel left out

Or looked down on

Just try your best

Try everything you can

And don’ t you worry what they tell themselves

When you’ re away

It just takes some time

Little girl you’ re in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything wi ll be just fine

Everything, everything wi ll be all right, all right

Hey

You know they’ re all the same

You know you’ re doing better on your own

So don’ t buy in

Live right now

Yeah just be yourself

It doesn’ t matter if it’ s good enough

For someone else

It just takes some time

Little girl you’ re in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything wi ll be just fine

Everything, everything wi ll be all right, all right

It just takes some time

Little girl you’ re in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything wi ll be just fine

Everything, everything wi ll be all right, all right

Hey

Don’ t write yourself off yet

It’ s only in your head you feel left out

Or looked down on

Just do your best

Do everything you can

And don’ t you worry what their bitter hearts

Are gonna say

It just takes some time

Little girl you’ re in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything wi ll be just fine

Everything, everything wi ll be all right, all right

It just takes some time

Little girl you’ re in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything wi ll be just fine

Everything, everything wi ll be all right, all right

***

“Oof, that was some party.”

“I agree, wow. Next time, maybe not so much champagne.”

“Spencer wasn’ t complaining.”

“Spencer is positively incorrigible.”

“I wouldn’ t want him to be any other way. So what do you think?”

“Well, obviously I’m glad Stuart won just on principle. He’ s my boy and I’m fond ofhim. But they look happy, and that makes me even happier. He deserves that. Theyboth do.”

“I couldn’ t agree more.”

Once she had caught her breath, Di turned to Marina, expression serious. “So how,exactly, is this going to work?”

“Well,” the redheaded Author said slowly, “I’ ll be adding Stuart to my Apocalypseneighborhood, obviously. That’ s as much as I can do, though. I can’ t cheat theirrelationship up to what it is here because that’ s i llegal, and doubly so because Elle isthe heir.”

“Wi ll they even remember this?”

“No. None of them wi ll. Stuart and Ellie wi ll have to start from the beginning, andAzula and Dom have to go back and work through their issues.”

“I hate to see them go through all of this again.”

“I can’ t do it any other way, Di . They’ ve both met Rhys and Ursula. Rhys made severalincriminating remarks about me being the Creator i n front of Azula and Dominic.Azula hasn’ t confronted me about it yet because she’ s been concentrating on Elle, butshe wi ll. It’ s better that they don’ t know.” She bit her lip. “Especially Dom. He’dnever forgive me.”

“I wouldn’ t bet on that if I were you.”

“I told Rhys I would stay out of it and let his fami ly take care of themselves, and Iintend to keep that promise. They don’ t need to know.”

“So no promises where Elle and Stuart are concerned.”

“I’ ll make sure they’ re introduced. After that, it’ s up to them.”

Di chewed her lip. “I’m not sure I like the odds of that.”

“Come on, you know what Stuart’ s like even better than I do. If they get half a chanceto talk he’ ll draw her out of her shell like that.” Marina snapped her fingers toi llustrate her point. “And Elle, as she was before this all started, would definitelyfeel safe around someone she knows is going to respect her. Remember what happenedon the very first day?”

“You’ re right. If they can get this far once, they can do it again.”

“Exactly. Besides…”

“…I have a gut feeling that everything wi ll work out all right in the end.”

***

Aaaaaaand that’ s a wrap! Thank you all very much for reading!

Final Scores

Stuart - 100/80 = 180 (best friends, mutual love)

Liam - 100/74 = 174 (best friends, Elle in love)

-->

The Celebration Shot That Was Almost Perfect.

Ursula: *scrubs sinks WITH HER MIND*

***

Thank you very very much to Lark, Gin, Katy, Lea, Cait, Rose, and Di for lending metheir boys for Elle. I had fun with all of them and it’ s really too bad they all couldn’ twin. (Having said that, I am very pleased with Stuart as the winner and hope thateveryone else is too.) Thank you also for answering my many questions and helping meto write them to the best of my abi lity. I hope I’ ve done a good job.

I wi ll see you soon with a Behind The Scenes post at my LiveJournal, and hopefullysoon after that with Episode 18. Unti l then, Happy Simming! ^_^

~Marina