Romancing the Apocalypse Chapter 19 – After the Fall

Welcome back to Romancing the Apocalypse! Episode 18 spelled lights out for Celebrity Chef Ratna Miguel, courtesy of a play datewith a rather large pair of scissors. How will Rachel and their young son Kai fare in the aftermath? Will Robin feel comfortable leaving her twin to strike out on her own with Gordon? And with the “triplets” now on the verge of adulthood, will more restrictions getlifted?

For the most complete set of rules for Pinstar’s brilliantly crafted Apocalypse Challenge, as well as the Apoca-borg’s proposed set of rules for the FreeTime and Apartment Life expansions, check out http://apocalpysechallenge.boolprop.com.

Note: I have installed and am playing this Apocalypse through the Bon Voyage expansion only, so none of the new Borg rules apply.

“Enough of this childishness,” Rhea said testily. “I have to go to work.”“That’s okay, I’ll wait for you.”“Don’t be ridiculous!” She wasn’t in the best of moods and Tyson’s constant fawning was getting on her nerves.“We could go out when you get off,” he suggested brightly.Rhea was about to refuse, then suddenly remembered tomorrow was her birthday. Perhaps he would come in useful after all...“Go. I’ll call you later.”

“Don’t make any plans, bro, I need a ride after I finish picking some pockets.”Juno waved her off, his attention on a very nice looking girl milling around the mailbox.

“Juno Jones, it’s nice to finally talk to the nicest boy in school, a perfect ten, get it?, who also happens to be a distant, very distant, get it?, cousin.”“Emily? As in one of the notoriously nice Outside sisters? Haha, that’s like the pot calling the kettle black.”“Well, I only have nine,” Emily said modestly.They chatted about his job as a Security Guard and discovered that their sisters had met up at Sim State, and before Juno knew it, Rhea’s carpool was dropping her off from her shift. He decided to save Emily and her scalp the dubious pleasure of meeting his sister.“See you at school, okay? It’s nice talking to someone who thinks nice is a good, not goody-goody, thing. My sister has zero and acts like ten is a character flaw.”“Yeah, I’d better get home for dinner and my homework. Don’t work too hard and stay safe, Juno. Us Nices need to stick together, you know.”“Boy, do I.”

“Where to? Shotgun decides.”“In my car, the driver decides.”Rhea gunned the engine but they didn’t move.“Easy!”“Stop being a baby.”“.....”“I’m waaaaiting...”“Cell phones?” Jenny piped up from the back seat.Rhea gunned the engine and they peeled out in a noxious plume of burning rubber.“Hey!” Juno yelled.“Yikes!” Jenny squeaked.

After the trio purchased their cell phones, Juno was approached by Gwen from school, and he tried to establish a connection with her, but they did not seem to hit it off. As she walked away, he couldn’t help thinking of a taller, less gaudy blonde...

“So, you struck out with Gwen? Not to worry, a good noogie oughtta make it feel better.”“Hey look, your puppy dog followed you over,” Juno said, wincing.“Tyson?” Rhea released Juno from the headlock. “Tyson, get over here!”

Jenny had come along, hoping to take a page from her sister’s book.“Hi, I’m Jenny.”“Tyler Berry, son of Haley and Blue. Glad t’meetcha.”“Tyler Berry, as in one of the notoriously reclusive Berrys? Whoopee, another cousin!” She looked away and grumbled to herself, “I should have known.”“Gee, thanks a lot.”“Sorry, no offense, it’s just hard finding someone I like, like that. Especially one that’s willing to make a commitment.” She sighed. “And you’re cute, so I was hoping I’d finally found one.”“In that case, thank you. Sorry about the other.”“Where do you keep yourselves, anyway?”“Well, we like Guitar Hero a lot.”“That sounds like fun.”“And it takes time getting ‘Raining Blood’ on Expert down...”

Whee, one of the Berrys finally came out of hiding!

Meanwhile, Tyson was falling completely and utterly under her sister’s spell as Rhea topped her aspiration level for her upcoming birthday.

“My work here is done, time to go.”“Back to your house?” Tyson asked eagerly.“Go away, I am not talking to you.”“But what about... back there... back then... Can’t you see? I love you!”“Can’t you see, I don’t?”“But...”“It was a thrill for you, though, was it not, Tysie-Poo? Alas, you will have to be content since it is the last thrill you will ever have.”“But...”“For Rachel!” Rhea proclaimed triumphantly.“Who?”“BE GONE WITH YOU, LOSER!”“Meep.”“*sigh* Was that satisfactory, Lorin? And do not think for a minute that I am not keeping track. Fiiiive... Learn it. Know it. Live it.”I already have, so go ahead, keep quoting Fast Times to your heart’s content. You and your stinkin’ LTW don’t scare me anymore.“Drat.”

“I still can’t believe you couldn’t get lucky with Gwen.”“.....”“Who doesn’t get lucky with her? Oh, that’s right... you.”Juno’s eye twitched. Sometimes it wasn’t worth the breath responding to her relentless baiting.

He made his escape to the roof for a rewarding soak and a much needed respite. Rhea was such a know-it-all, but she didn’t really know the first thing about him. Take Lucy, for instance...

They had met one night when she passed by the house and inquired if Rose was at home. He explained that she had moved to Bluewater Village with Hooptytrib.“Hoopty’s great, good for Rose,” she said and surprised him by seating herself at the chess table, waiting for him to join her.He had never enjoyed the game of chess so much.

They’d played and talked for hours, about his job in Law Enforcement, which she knew a surprisingly lot about, and of course the Harry Potter books among her other obsessions.They had become instant friends and he, totally smitten with her.

“I had a lovely evening, Juno, but I must be going.”No! his heart protested, even as exhaustion had betrayed him. He never wanted that night to end.

And then there was the goodbye hug, without a doubt the best hug he’d ever had, and being a natural hugger, he hugged a lot.

Later that night, she had dropped off a gift along with a personal message:

It was lovely finally meeting you, Juno. I look forward to your upcoming birthday, as I hope you are. - Lucy xx

“Where’d the TV come from?”“...Someone gave it to me,” he said casually, the best part sitting neatly folded in his pocket.“Someone like a girl?”“Maybe.”“Good for you. Don’t forget, if you want to go to college, you’d better get cracking.” Just the thought of sharing a little house with Rhea for four years... yeah, right. “Thanks, but no thanks. They told me at work I’ll be getting a big promotion after my birthday.”“Whatever you want, little bro.”

The big triple birthday arrived, and with Lucy’s message forever burned into his brain, for once he didn’t give a flying leap about the traditional pecking order.“How dare you usurp my rightful place as Number One!”Jane peered at Juno, then frowned at Mark, who just shrugged. “Oh, look,” she said hastily, “Jenny’s up next!”“Hold on a minute! Jenny?!”

“Ooh ooh, too late, here we go...”*grrrr*

“Dolts, the both of you,” Rhea muttered from her shower of confetti.“Ah, Jenny,” Jane smiled, “you’re wearing Rose’s jeans! Let’s see... yup, those are her cowboy boots, all right.”“Don’t remind me, Mom.”“Argh, my eyes! Must obtain some black before I puke!”

After a quick change of clothes, Rhea leaned in and peered at Juno’s face.“What is that? Your lip is glowing.”“My lip is glowing. Like I’d fall for that.”“You don’t believe me?”“Give me one reason why I should.”

“Haha, you’re right, who ever heard of such a thing?”Did she just say he was... right? Juno hurried upstairs to the mirror.

She wasn’t lying, Juno thought, examining his upper lip. What is that..?

Rachel had been prepared to let Kai’s first birthday pass without any real fanfare, but Robin suggested she might like to catch up with her closest friends from Sim State, and she reconsidered. And if she was slightly apprehensive about inviting two loves over to celebrate the birthday of the product of another, Craig and Brenda dispelled that worry when they showed up with noisemakers and cheered for her baby and the first official birthday party of the Apocalypse. Still, it was difficult to be festive so soon after the death of her son’s father.

Though she couldn’t help laughing when Kai had the good fashion sense to dress up for this special occasion.

“We’ll be stuck in these caps and gowns forever, won’t we?” Craig half joked.“Never mind that,” Brenda said, “we’re here, that’s the important thing. Your boy is absolutely beautiful, Rachel.”“Thank you. I’m sorry, I thought I could, but... I’m not in a very celebrating mood today.”“That’s okay, we understand.”“But please, stay if you want and make yourselves at home.” She handed Kai over to Robin. “I’m going to lie down. Do you mind?”“Of course not.”

The grads lingered past dark, and Rachel came down in time to catch Craig just as he was leaving.“I’m sorry for being such a party pooper.”“Don’t even think such a thing.”

“Is Brenda still here?”“You just missed her.”“It’s hard,” she whispered.“I know.”“Thank you. You are such a dear friend.”

“Tell Brenda I’ll call her, okay?”“I’ll tell her.”

“Hi, you must be one of Rachel’s friends.”“That’s right, I’m Craig.”“I’m Jenny.”“Ah, one of the famous... or is it infamous?... triplets.” “Famous, I hope, at least enough to get elected to Mayor some day.”“I’ll vote for you,” Craig with a smile.She smiled back. “How was my nephew’s party? The Assembly ran late; you know, us politicians loooove to blather.”“It was... good. Kai is really something.”“He most certainly is,” Jenny said, beaming like the proud aunt she was.“Well, hey, good luck with the election. I probably should go.”Jenny blurted, “Do you have to?”Something in the way she was looking at him made him think he did have to.“No... I guess I don’t.”And then he was following her up the stairs.

Dear Brenda,

I was so looking forward to catching up with you today. I’m sorry. I guess the irony was more than I could handle right now. Please be patient with me and I’ll talk to you soon.

Love always,Rachel

“Would you like to get in the hot tub?” Jenny asked.“Sure, if you want to.”“That wasn’t really why I brought you up here.”“Then why did you?”“I wanted to see you out of your cap and gown and the hot tub was all I could think of.” Tentatively she reached out and touched a finger to the front of his mohawk.“Go ahead if you want,” he said and stepped a little closer.She touched her fingertips to each spike and stepped a little closer.This time she ran the palm of her hand along its length. She closed her eyes and did it again. It’s like I’m... petting it.“Do you like it?”She let her hand rest on the back of his neck before moving it across his shoulder and down his arm.

“Yes, I like it.”

After Craig left, Jenny picked up her little nephew and swung him joyously around.“Ooh, you adorable little boy. I love you, love you!”

After Rachel had missed most of her own son’s party, Jane wasn’t about to leave until she was sure her daughter was going to be all right. Apparently, she wasn’t.“He doesn’t know yet,” Rachel whispered. “This was the easy one.”“I’m sorry, Rachel. I feel so bad for leaving.”“Do you really think that would’ve changed anything?”Jenny joined them and said quietly, “It doesn’t have to be this way.”“What do you mean, Jenny?” Jane asked.“He doesn’t have to stay like that. We could resurrect him.”

“That’s not a good idea, Jenny.”“But I thought you... Surely Kai needs his father!”“He was never Kai’s father!”“You mean..?” Jenny began incredulously.“Of course not! But he wasn’t Kai’s father, Jenny, not in any way that matters. He never fed him, never held him, never talked to him, never played with him, never cuddled him.”

“Maybe he’d be... different this time around?” Jenny suggested.Just the thought made Rachel’s stomach churn in protest.“No, Jenny. It would be different if he hadn’t done it himself, but he made the decision to leave us.”“Are you sure?”“He... he was awful to me, Jenny, and I let him treat me that way. It was sick, and I know in my heart he would not have been good for Kai. I never want to see him again. Do you understand?”“But...” And to Rachel’s surprise, Jenny bowed her head and began sniffling.“What is it?!”“I... guess I wanted the chance to say I’m sorry.”“You sorry? Why?”Jenny recounted her exchange with Ratna the night he was fired. “Afterward, I was thinking all sorts of mean thoughts, and now I feel bad about it, okay?”

“I’m sorry that happened, but don’t you see, that doesn’t change my decision, it just reinforces it.”“I know, it was a dumb idea, okay?!”“No, not dumb! I won’t deny the thought hasn’t crossed my mind too, but believe me, I know him and it’s the last thing we should do.”“Would you like me to stay over tonight?” Jane asked.She started to refuse, but Jenny squeaked, “Yes?”Rachel grabbed her sister’s hand and held it in both of hers. For the first time in years, she was able to say honestly, “Yes, I think we need you tonight.”

Later, with Rachel’s words fresh in her mind, Jenny made her peace with Ratna and laid to rest any further thoughts of bringing him back.

“Jenny, I need some advice and your honest opinion, please.”“Shoot, brother.”“What do you think of my nose?”“I don’t know,” she replied with a shrug, “it’s your nose.”“But I don’t really have a nose.”“Sure you do, I see it right now. Why the sudden interested in your nose anyway?”“I’m gonna use Dr. Vu’s for my lip, and I thought, what the heck, while I’m at it, I could give myself a nose.”“Juno, it’s just a little glow. Cosmetic surgery is dangerous! You could lose your face altogether.”“But what about the nose?”“Change the nose and you may not look like you anymore. My honest opinion: I prefer to keep my brother as is.”“Thanks, Jen!”

“Please let me keep my face, please let me keep my face...”

Please let him keep his face, please let him keep his face... *SAVE!*

Just two tiny clicks and whew! Bingo!

Juno celebrated by whipping up a batch of Smart Milk for his nephew.

While up on the roof, Rachel glanced at the Resurrect-O-Nomitron glowing in the corner as it had been for three generations.Was Jenny right? Maybe..?Before she could finish the unbidden thought, an emphatic NO! reverberated in her head.He had made his choice, and it was not her, or his son. She closed her eyes and willed herself back to better days, days before Ratna had all but sucked her dry...

And remembered there had been another at Sim State with whom she had lost herself.

Demure yet passionate Brenda Lum was like the hope of a spring day to Ratna Miguel’s oppressive darkness.

And the heat that was missing between her and Craig? She and Brenda had it.

But in the Apocalypse, there had been other things to consider.“Let’s not kid ourselves, okay? I have nothing to offer you, except maybe my...” her voice tapered off, “love...”“Oh Brenda, I love you too!” Rachel began to inch closer, but Brenda put a hand out to stop her.“No, we’re not even going to go down that road. I could be skilled to the teeth, which I’m not, have dozens of friends, which I don’t, be the most famous Celebrity Chef in the world, and what good would it do?”

“But it doesn’t matter if I’m not the heir.”“If not you, then who?”“Well...”Certainly not Robbi, not with her so happy with Gordon. And not Rose because... well, she could see her laughing everyone out of the room and besides, rumor had it she was smitten with a simself. Of the “triplets,” Juno and Rhea weren’t eligible, which left Jenny, who had just become a teen. But did she want to wait that long when she was so close to graduating? Once she returned home, it could be done, just like that...“Okay, let’s say I’m willing to be the heir. What would be worth giving this up?”“Food,” Brenda said without hesitation. “I’m sick of being hungry, sick of the same few things to eat, day in and day out. Everybody’s sick of it.”“I hate to say it, but I agree.” Rachel heaved a sigh. “But what do we do about us?”

“For tonight, we do this. And then you find someone who can do some good.” And then I wait. And hope...

Later that night, Rachel kissed Brenda and what they had goodbye and resolved to win over the Celebrity Chef himself.

And not long after, her world teetered alarmingly on its axis as his hold on her all but eclipsed everyone she had loved at Sim State, including Brenda...

While Rachel was reminiscing, Juno was downstairs watching his nephew drink the Smart Milk. He became puzzled when Kai suddenly stared off into the distance and said, “Gay bed.”“Gay bed?” Juno repeated.“Gway...bwed.”“Gray...bread?”“Gway bwed!” Kai smiled up at his uncle, happy to be understood.

“Not gray, green. Green milk. Smart Milk.”“Geen! Unco is geen.”“That’s right, Uncle is green, and tonight Kai is green too. Pretty, glowy, Smart Milk green.”“Gowy geen!”“That’s right, glowy green.”“Wheh’s gway bwed?”“I... don’t know. But we’ll find out, okay?”

“Read it and weep, I’m going to kick his ass!”The race was on as to which one would lift their restrictions first.

“Juno... of course I like what I see! I’ve liked what I’ve seen of you for a good long time now. Probably too long, if you want to know the truth.”“Even with the nose?”

“Let me see that nose... Aww, it’s a very nice nose. But now I fear mine must look absolutely ginormous.”“Your nose is perfect.”“Anyway, why are we talking about our noses?”“Because I don’t really have one?”“You most certainly do. I can see it right now.”“What about this way?” he said, turning his head to the side.“Juno. Don’t you think there are more important qualities in a person than how far our nose sticks out from our face?”“Well, if you put it that way...”“Things like kindness and mutual respect and honesty and loyalty and understanding? So yes, I most certainly do put it that way.”“I’m all those things, Lucy.”“And cute. Don’t forget the cute. Very cute.”

They both added good kisser to their lists.

And so began the first of many, many, many dates...

“I’ll be there soon to check it out.”What are you up to?

“I just bought my first business.”You’re really pushing it, aren’t you?“I needed aspiration points, hint hint. Or do I need to hit you over the head with this phone?”Next chapter, I promise. We have a lot to wrap up here.“You are making me be uncharacteristically patient, and I do not like it one bit.”

After their surprisingly sensual first encounter, Craig thought it best to keep things platonic with Jenny until he had a chance to speak to Rachel.

Or tried, anyway.

And Robin was busy, well... you know.

Is anyone else weirdly voyeuristic enough to take a look at Hot Tub WooHoo?

Someone decided to come a-haunting.

Hmm, that’s odd. In-game Ratna looked a lot redder.

In fact, at first I couldn’t tell if his ghost was red or pink, and was leaning toward red.That’s because I am red.But then I read up on ghost colors and found out Running With Scissors results in a pink ghost. I couldn’t have planned it better!I’m red, I tell you.Pink.Red.Pretty in pink. So fitting for a misogynistic so-and-so, don’t you think?Bah, everyone knows you women are colorblind.

(And I only make light of this spectral visit because he didn’t scare anybody, nor do they have any memories of seeing him. But he knows what will happen if he does. Not that he cares.)

That’s right, this is my bed and don’t you forget it.“Whoops, I think we’ll sleep upstairs.”“Pink really becomes him, don’t you think?”

Thanks to Ratna’s visit, Robin and Gordon spent their first night actually sleeping under the stars.

Kai was the apple of his family’s eye, not least of all his Auntie Robbi’s. She had never thought one way or the other about having children of her own, but her little nephew made her think playmate cousin.

“First.”You won. Why so crabby?“I don’t like waiting.”Patience. It’s time for your career spiel.“Not now.”

And Juno finished a close second.What about your speech, Juno?“Rhea and I have a debate to settle first.”

And Jenny a close third! (It took all three only five days.)“My fellow citizens, as your new Mayor I have abolished all outdated zoning laws, meaning we may build our houses and businesseswherever and however we choose. I also encourage you to use your influence not to divide us, but to unite us.”*polite applause*“Flights to and from Takemizu Village have been reinstated effective immediately, so be sure to pay a visit to our friends in the Far East. Also, the Teleprompter Podium is now available for your skilling and burping pleasure!”*whistles* *cheers*“And last but certainly not least: I dedicate this victory to my family and all the puppies and kittens around the world!”*wild applause* *standing ovation*“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”

“Now who lifted the better career? Let’s go over it for fun’s sake, shall we? I stopped those annoying protection payments to Joey ‘The Comb,’ whose ass I kicked, by the way. And no more of those stupid limits on crafted items. Yes, I think I shall be making an army of snapdragons. What exactly did you do, El Capitan?”

“I restored emergency services and pet adoption, we can buy fire and burglar alarms, and it’s safe now for teens and elders to go out, even the ones out of shape.”“ *yawn* Sounds major.”

“And I get to fly to work. Not in a helicopter or a plane or a rocket. Just me... flying.”“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

“Now that Jenny’s lifted Politics, maybe we should do some renovating?”“That’s a great idea, Robbi. Maybe a different look will help with some of the memories.”“Exactly what I was thinking.”“And we could set up a proper... spot for Ratna.”“Maybe we should move him to a cemetery in town somewhere.”“No, I’m... not sure I want that. I want to wait and see how things go.”“...Okay.”

Rachel went online to get some ideas on how to expand the house without completely gutting it. It was, after all, an integral part of her family’s legacy.

Time was proving to be the best healer. Not only was her grief subsiding, she felt some of the old confidence she had in herselfreturning. She had always been strong, she had friends she loved and who loved her back, a brother and sisters she adored, and yet with Ratna, somehow all that had gotten lost. She had gotten lost.But never would she lose her bright, beautiful little boy, who would soon be bringing the Apocalypse to a close.

They had their good days.

And their not-so-good days.

And he needed her as she desperately needed him.

And those times she needed a good cry, nothing gave her comfort like Kai’s solid warmth snuggled against her.

And thankfully, those times were becoming fewer and farther between.

“Bue cake!” Kai said, stretching out as far as he could trying to touch it.Juno was reminded of the night he had given Kai the Smart Milk and realized he hadn’t heard a peep about gray bread since. Call it a feeling he had, but he was relieved.“Don’t touch, it’s time to blow out the candles!”“Bow candos!”“Ready? One, two, three, blow!”

To no one’s surprise, the first thing Kai did was grab a piece of blue birthday cake.

The new White Radiance was conceived and built with the help of coolhouseplans.com and MATY’s stuck object remover for a few stubborn floor tiles.(Still planning to add more landscaping and a garden.)

First (upper) level – living room, kitchen, patio dining, Rhea and Jenny’s bedrooms. Top level – Rachel and Kai’s bedrooms.

Ground level/daylight basement – recreation/skilling, Juno’s bedroom. Tricked-out hot tub.

The pillars and platform were re-used in a playhouse/storage area for career rewards and a rooftop bar and observatory.

And in a far back corner lay Ratna’s final (perhaps) resting place.

“Yummy omelet.”What didn’t change was the front balcony/platform and outside eating area.

“Robbi, it’s time.”“Time for what?” Robin asked coyly.“You know.”

“But what if you need... I want to be here for you.”“I’m feeling better every day. I promise, I’m going to be just fine!”“But...”“Robbi?” Rachel said sternly.“.....”“If you want to make me happy...”“Okay...”“Find yourself a great place to live and be happy with Gordon.”“Are you sure?”“I’m ready. Ready to do this on my own. Of course, I won’t be totally on my own, I’ll have the circus freaks with me, right?”

“Besides, I need your help with Brenda.”Robin’s heart lightened several notches. “Say no more, I know exactly how to help.”“I always knew you were bright.”“I guess I’d better do some house hunting.”“Yes, you’d better, lest you end up homeless, and that won’t do at all,” Rachel teased.“Don’t you know by now all I need is Gordon and a tent?”“Go on, you!”

“I never knew there were so many to choose from.”

“Goodbye, Auntie Robbi!”“Goodbye, Kai.” She crouched down and said conspiratorially, “It’s not really goodbye, though, I’ll just be moving across the street.”“Can I spend the night sometimes?”“Of course you can.”

“Will that do? I may be leaving, but I couldn’t really leave, y’know?”“It’s wonderful... perfect.”

“I love you, bestest sister in the whole world. Remember, I’m just a call away.”

“Oh crud. Too late...”

At Sim State, living conditions weren’t being quite as conducive to the kickback lifestyle at Uni as Gordon had been expecting. He was used to roughing it, but the weather thus far had been pretty miserable – either hot to the extent that he had actually suffered a case of heatstroke, or he was deluged by frequent rain accompanied by thunderstorms that had resulted in two zaps by lightning.

“Boo!”“Hi! Hey, I’m hungry, are you?” he said and took Robin’s hand, steering her away from his painfully amateurish attempt at painting.“Always... you know that,” she said with an exaggerated leer.

“Mm, who says the best fish comes from Three Lakes!”

“Guess what, I found the perfect house for us.”“Our own house... that sounds great!”“The only thing is, it’s a little pricey, and I forgot to load up my inventory before I moved out. I mean, I had some good stuff, but we’re still a little short on simoleons.”“How short is a little?”

“Let’s see, if you move in with twenty thousand... about thirty-five thousand short?”“Thirty-five thousand? How much is the house?”“...A little over ninety?”“Whoa, that must be some house.”“I’m telling you, it’s absolutely perfect. And not to worry, I know Rach’ll be more than happy to give us enough to make up the difference.”Gordon frowned slightly. “About that...”“What about it?”“I don’t want Rachel to make up the difference. I want to.”“But I thought you’d be dropping out so you could, you know, move in with me.”“Now, you know how much I want to move in with you.”“But..?” Robin asked warily.

“Look, I don’t want to just ride on your coattails. Can you understand that?”“...I suppose.”“Right now there are three things in the world that I want. One: my degree. Two: pitch in for our house.”“And three?”“Love you every single day.”“Oh!”“Okay now?”“...Yeah, okay.”

“So... to us, Robin, and our new house.”“To us, our new house, and your degree.”

“How is Rachel, by the way?”“She practically kicked me out, so I take that as a good sign.”“That sounds really good.”He eyed the slow-moving stream. “Would you like to take a dip? As hot as it’s been, it should be warmer than the last time.”“Okay, I’ll give it a try.”

“You know, I used to dream of you in the water, just like this.”“And did dream me stay in for very long? Because real me is freezing!”“That’s fine, I got what I wanted.”

“I bet it’s nice and warm in your tent, though...”

“Your turn to have me over for the night.”

They rose a little before sunrise, and Robin said, “Oh, I almost forgot, Rachel needs our help, and you’re the best one to do it.”“How can I help?”“You need to get in touch with either Craig Larrea or Brenda Lum.”“And then what?”“They can explain it better than I, but... How would you feel about a couple of roommates? When we get our house.”“If it’s fine with you, it’s fine with me.”“Very temporary roommates.”“Craig or Brenda.”“Right. Gotta go, love you!”“Love you.”

With their new house paramount in his mind, Gordon started digging. That is, digging every moment he wasn’t studying.

And with the hours upon hours he spent digging and the (seems like) hundreds of pictures I took, not ONE of them was of him digging. :p

On one of the nicer days weather-wise, Gordon looked up Craig Larrea in the campus directory and invited him over.

“I invited you over to offer my help.”“Brenda and I are sort of... stuck here, so yeah, we could use your help.”“I don’t get it. If Rachel wants Brenda, can’t she just move her in?”Craig dropped his fishing rod in disgust.

“Look, the Apocalypse ain’t over yet, my friend. Rachel can’t do a thing because she had to go and move in that slimeball chef!”“Chill, dude. Moving in that slimeball did a lot of good for everyone. And sue me for not being up on all the Apocalypse rules and regs.”“Sue me, I’m little upset.”“Just sayin’...”“Look, Brenda has graduated. She doesn’t belong here anymore, I don’t belong here anymore, but that doesn’t seem to matter... we’re well and truly stuck here, unless someone intervenes.”“Okay, I get it now. That’s why Robin said you could move in with us.”

“And Brenda?”“Yes, Brenda too.”“Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to jump all over you. At first it seemed it was never gonna happen and then... well, we had hope again. And now it’s just taking damn longer than I want.”

“It’s nice here. Quiet.”“What’s that you got, I thought you graduated?”“It’s BS, but I’ll call it... studying for my Master’s.”“Just hold out ’til I graduate.”“...Thanks.”

Gordon graduated but opted to skip his graduation party. He had the degree, the girl, and was about to get the house, and he washappy with that.“Eighty-four bones, one hundred five rocks and this – here is our thirty-five thousand.”“Wow, you done good, honey!”

After selling the spoils and packing up the tent, they moved into their new house with two thousand simoleons to spare.“Well, what do you think?”“You really know how to pick a house.”

(Log Cabin by monmel at MTS [requires NL, Seasons and BV only!] :D)http://nene.modthesims.info/download.php?t=322597)

“Am I crazy to think you kind of rock that outfit?”“Yes, you are.”Robin took Gordon’s hand and led him into the house. “You get Craig and I’ll get Brenda.”

To be continued...

.....

And that, dear readers, leaves us with only Journalism left to lift. Thanks for reading and happy simming!