Falderol Falls: After Happily Ever After
(The author would like to express her concern about real-life depression. It's not a joke. It's not always something you can 'just get over.' And chances are, no prince (or princess) is going to ride over the hills and sweep you away from everything. If you have depresseion, please get help!)
Erin was a little nervous to tell Price about the baby. It hadn't been part of their plan, after all, and she wasn't sure how he'd react. She was especially nervous because, deep in her heart, she wanted a ton of babies and if Price handled this one badly, she wasn't sure she'd get any more. She took a little time to think about how she would break the news while she cleaned up the yard.
Raven (Bigfoot) was a great help, too.
Finally she decided to talk to him when he was nice and relaxed. Half-asleep wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea, either. When he got home from work that night, she screwed up her courage and told him. She should have known, wonderful man that he was, he was overjoyed--and also that he already had an idea.
Winter set in to Falderol Falls with a bang. Erin and Raven were barely able to get their eggplants harvested before a heavy blanket of snow fell overnight. Since Erin couldn't do much outside anymore, she settled in to studying. She was always surprised how many things a person can learn from reading a book.
Price found a more fulfilling job as an architect. He even made a few contacts who were willing to work through the winter to expand their little house, to make room for the baby. Early one morning, just as Erin was getting out of bed, a pain ripped across the front of her belly.
The last thing she remembered consciously thinking was that if this was labor, maybe having just one baby wouldn't be so bad after all. Of course, the moment she held her newborn son, all that thinking was over.
Or maybe it wasn't over until she'd held her second-born son. The twins were a giant surprise, but all the more welcome for it. Price wasn't sure HE could go through another labor scene, though. He frankly admitted that when Erin started screaming, he'd panicked and basically ran around in tiny circles, unsure of what to do first. Especially when, after Bradley was born, it started again.
Little Samuel was just perfect, however, and no one could help loving him. Price would sometimes walk in and pick him up out of his crib for no reason at all.
Raven loved to watch over the babies--it made him feel helpful and, because they loved the tickles of his furry body, every time he picked them up they would squeal happily. Raven often insisted that Price and Erin go spend a little time alone together. They were happy to comply.
There's only so many times you can go on a conventional date, though, before they become boring. Price began to take Erin to some places he'd been before they met. Price had been a doctor when they first started dating, but he'd quit because he didn't want the long hours or longer distances to take him away from their life together. He did teach her how to research medicines, though.
He also taught her a few lesser-known surgical truths.
He even taught her a few of the things he'd learned on the golf course when he'd been a business tycoon.
It was on that golf course that Erin realized she wanted to be a teacher and teach people all of the things she'd learned in her life. It would have to wait for awhile, though...
...because one evening as she reviewed Price's latest architectural drawings, she felt a little movement and realized she was pregnant again. She'd known, of course, that she was a little more tired than usual, but she just assumed that was the extra strain of looking after Bradley and Samuel. Price took the news well, but he had a private conversation with Raven later. He and Raven had never been friends--frankly, Price was more than a little nervous around Raven--but they both loved Erin. Price couldn't take any time off work to help her with the babies since they were in the middle of a big project, but he knew that she needed more help than she would ask for. Raven promised he would do all he could for Erin, but he was in the middle of a big venture himself. He'd recently become a business tycoon and had his hands full running a fledgling business, Dance. Between the two of them, though, Erin would never be left alone. Not that she even noticed. She had never been more active--or happy.
She cooked and cleaned and scrubbed and polished. She taught the boys--who had suddenly become toddlers--how to walk and talk. They even picked up a few of her favorite nursery songs, which she sang as she darted around, getting things ready. She even spent a little time, when she couldn't sleep, looking over Price's projects and making sure everything was clearly labeled and totally finished.
Hoping for a girl, Erin began hanging lavender wallpaper in one of the new bedrooms when the pain started.
She had only one section left to do and she tried valiantly to hold it in just a little longer. Of course, she couldn't. Raven rushed to her side, just as clueless and scared as Price had been. Erin handed Nicholas to him as the pains began again.
James soon joined their little family. Erin was happy, but exhausted.
She went from being everywhere all at once to being just able to hold one baby at a time--and that in the presence of someone else, just in case she got too tired to put them back in the crib. Raven and Price were worried and had another conference. Price had a business trip coming and Raven offered to stay home with the babies if Price would take Erin. Price jumped at the offer--a change of scene might be just the thing to snap Erin out of her funk. He made the arrangements immediately.
He knew he wouldn't have tons of time to spend with her, but he was confident that she could find plenty to interest her. How many times does a Sim get the chance to visit some place as exotic as the Far East, after all? But when, after his first day of meetings, Price met Erin in the park, he found her playing mahjong by herself in old-lady-looking clothes and her hair not only undone, but dirty.
Price immediately scooped her out of her chair and deposited her inside the nearest salon with strict instructions to the stylist to not let her out again until she was ready for a night out on the town--no expense was to be spared. Meanwhile, Price looked through racks and racks of clothes until he'd found several that met his approval, combed through jewelry racks until he was satisfied he'd found the perfect accessories, and made arrangements--with the help of a friendly local--for not just one date, but for half a dozen dates scattered over the time they'd be on vacation.
At first, conversation was a bit stilted. Erin was worried about how the boys were doing back home and Price wasn't sure whether or not to bring his concerns directly to her. He'd heard a little about scary topics like... postpartum depression... but he didn't want to make her mad and drive a deeper wedge between them. Once Erin took her first bite of nectarine tartlet (her favorite), though, things lightened up considerably.
She even went so far as to tickle him as they walked out of the restaurant.
And she happily posed for a funny picture in the lobby of their hotel.
Their next date was equally successful.
Price was pretty sure if Erin had realized how sheer her skirt was, she never would have put the dress on. He wasn't about to tell her.
The next date had to be canceled for just that reason. Erin was so self-conscious about how revealing her dress was that they ordered room service and stayed in.
Which was just fine with Price.
Price was relieved that Erin was slowly becoming more like her old self. He especially loved listening to her tell him about what she'd done all day while he was in meetings with city officials. Some of her stories were proud moments--such as when she finally caught her first fish.
Others were a little more humorous--she'd taken a tour of a nearby bamboo forest and somehow walked right into a beehive.
Some were even a little mystical--like when Erin stumbled across an old man in a pagoda who told her a strange legend so vividly, she could almost see pictures in the air.
Erin seemed to like the little routine their trip fell into. One day she met him as he walked into their hotel.
She suggested a place they could go for the evening. Price readily agreed.
They didn't get home until around two in the morning. Erin ran a nice bubble bath, but Price needed to get a few hours of sleep before his final presentation the next day. He was too keyed, up, though, to sleep right away. He started pacing the halls. When Erin got out of her bath, she was surprised to find Price wasn't asleep. She was afraid he might have locked himself out so, key in hand, she ran to find him. He wasn't far--sitting on a couch in the hallway, chewing on the side of his lip like he always did when he was thinking hard about something. She sat down beside him and quietly took his hand. In the quiet of the night, he told her how worried he was about this presentation, about being a good father to the boys, about how she'd seemed to pull away from them. Erin quietly reassured him that he was a wonderful father and provider, that she was just tired and a little afraid he wouldn't find her attractive after four boys, and that she'd gone over every inch of his presentation and couldn't find a flaw on it. Price responded the only way he knew how.
Fortunately for the upholstery, they weren't the only ones awake at the buttcrack of dawn. Unfortunately, by the time they realized he was there, he was already smitten with Erin and seemed to watch her wherever she went for the rest of the trip.
That morning, while Price gave his presentation, Erin made an offering to the local wishing well.
Unfortunately, her coin disturbed yet another hive of bees.
Of course, the board loved Price's proposal and the two went out on their last night in the Far East to celebrate.
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Erin was a little nervous to tell Price about the baby. It hadn't been part of their plan, after all, and she wasn't sure how he'd react. She was especially nervous because, deep in her heart, she wanted a ton of babies and if Price handled this one badly, she wasn't sure she'd get any more. She took a little time to think about how she would break the news while she cleaned up the yard.
Raven (Bigfoot) was a great help, too.
Finally she decided to talk to him when he was nice and relaxed. Half-asleep wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea, either. When he got home from work that night, she screwed up her courage and told him. She should have known, wonderful man that he was, he was overjoyed--and also that he already had an idea.
Winter set in to Falderol Falls with a bang. Erin and Raven were barely able to get their eggplants harvested before a heavy blanket of snow fell overnight. Since Erin couldn't do much outside anymore, she settled in to studying. She was always surprised how many things a person can learn from reading a book.
Price found a more fulfilling job as an architect. He even made a few contacts who were willing to work through the winter to expand their little house, to make room for the baby. Early one morning, just as Erin was getting out of bed, a pain ripped across the front of her belly.
The last thing she remembered consciously thinking was that if this was labor, maybe having just one baby wouldn't be so bad after all. Of course, the moment she held her newborn son, all that thinking was over.
Or maybe it wasn't over until she'd held her second-born son. The twins were a giant surprise, but all the more welcome for it. Price wasn't sure HE could go through another labor scene, though. He frankly admitted that when Erin started screaming, he'd panicked and basically ran around in tiny circles, unsure of what to do first. Especially when, after Bradley was born, it started again.
Little Samuel was just perfect, however, and no one could help loving him. Price would sometimes walk in and pick him up out of his crib for no reason at all.
Raven loved to watch over the babies--it made him feel helpful and, because they loved the tickles of his furry body, every time he picked them up they would squeal happily. Raven often insisted that Price and Erin go spend a little time alone together. They were happy to comply.
There's only so many times you can go on a conventional date, though, before they become boring. Price began to take Erin to some places he'd been before they met. Price had been a doctor when they first started dating, but he'd quit because he didn't want the long hours or longer distances to take him away from their life together. He did teach her how to research medicines, though.
He also taught her a few lesser-known surgical truths.
He even taught her a few of the things he'd learned on the golf course when he'd been a business tycoon.
It was on that golf course that Erin realized she wanted to be a teacher and teach people all of the things she'd learned in her life. It would have to wait for awhile, though...
...because one evening as she reviewed Price's latest architectural drawings, she felt a little movement and realized she was pregnant again. She'd known, of course, that she was a little more tired than usual, but she just assumed that was the extra strain of looking after Bradley and Samuel. Price took the news well, but he had a private conversation with Raven later. He and Raven had never been friends--frankly, Price was more than a little nervous around Raven--but they both loved Erin. Price couldn't take any time off work to help her with the babies since they were in the middle of a big project, but he knew that she needed more help than she would ask for. Raven promised he would do all he could for Erin, but he was in the middle of a big venture himself. He'd recently become a business tycoon and had his hands full running a fledgling business, Dance. Between the two of them, though, Erin would never be left alone. Not that she even noticed. She had never been more active--or happy.
She cooked and cleaned and scrubbed and polished. She taught the boys--who had suddenly become toddlers--how to walk and talk. They even picked up a few of her favorite nursery songs, which she sang as she darted around, getting things ready. She even spent a little time, when she couldn't sleep, looking over Price's projects and making sure everything was clearly labeled and totally finished.
Hoping for a girl, Erin began hanging lavender wallpaper in one of the new bedrooms when the pain started.
She had only one section left to do and she tried valiantly to hold it in just a little longer. Of course, she couldn't. Raven rushed to her side, just as clueless and scared as Price had been. Erin handed Nicholas to him as the pains began again.
James soon joined their little family. Erin was happy, but exhausted.
She went from being everywhere all at once to being just able to hold one baby at a time--and that in the presence of someone else, just in case she got too tired to put them back in the crib. Raven and Price were worried and had another conference. Price had a business trip coming and Raven offered to stay home with the babies if Price would take Erin. Price jumped at the offer--a change of scene might be just the thing to snap Erin out of her funk. He made the arrangements immediately.
He knew he wouldn't have tons of time to spend with her, but he was confident that she could find plenty to interest her. How many times does a Sim get the chance to visit some place as exotic as the Far East, after all? But when, after his first day of meetings, Price met Erin in the park, he found her playing mahjong by herself in old-lady-looking clothes and her hair not only undone, but dirty.
Price immediately scooped her out of her chair and deposited her inside the nearest salon with strict instructions to the stylist to not let her out again until she was ready for a night out on the town--no expense was to be spared. Meanwhile, Price looked through racks and racks of clothes until he'd found several that met his approval, combed through jewelry racks until he was satisfied he'd found the perfect accessories, and made arrangements--with the help of a friendly local--for not just one date, but for half a dozen dates scattered over the time they'd be on vacation.
At first, conversation was a bit stilted. Erin was worried about how the boys were doing back home and Price wasn't sure whether or not to bring his concerns directly to her. He'd heard a little about scary topics like... postpartum depression... but he didn't want to make her mad and drive a deeper wedge between them. Once Erin took her first bite of nectarine tartlet (her favorite), though, things lightened up considerably.
She even went so far as to tickle him as they walked out of the restaurant.
And she happily posed for a funny picture in the lobby of their hotel.
Their next date was equally successful.
Price was pretty sure if Erin had realized how sheer her skirt was, she never would have put the dress on. He wasn't about to tell her.
The next date had to be canceled for just that reason. Erin was so self-conscious about how revealing her dress was that they ordered room service and stayed in.
Which was just fine with Price.
Price was relieved that Erin was slowly becoming more like her old self. He especially loved listening to her tell him about what she'd done all day while he was in meetings with city officials. Some of her stories were proud moments--such as when she finally caught her first fish.
Others were a little more humorous--she'd taken a tour of a nearby bamboo forest and somehow walked right into a beehive.
Some were even a little mystical--like when Erin stumbled across an old man in a pagoda who told her a strange legend so vividly, she could almost see pictures in the air.
Erin seemed to like the little routine their trip fell into. One day she met him as he walked into their hotel.
She suggested a place they could go for the evening. Price readily agreed.
They didn't get home until around two in the morning. Erin ran a nice bubble bath, but Price needed to get a few hours of sleep before his final presentation the next day. He was too keyed, up, though, to sleep right away. He started pacing the halls. When Erin got out of her bath, she was surprised to find Price wasn't asleep. She was afraid he might have locked himself out so, key in hand, she ran to find him. He wasn't far--sitting on a couch in the hallway, chewing on the side of his lip like he always did when he was thinking hard about something. She sat down beside him and quietly took his hand. In the quiet of the night, he told her how worried he was about this presentation, about being a good father to the boys, about how she'd seemed to pull away from them. Erin quietly reassured him that he was a wonderful father and provider, that she was just tired and a little afraid he wouldn't find her attractive after four boys, and that she'd gone over every inch of his presentation and couldn't find a flaw on it. Price responded the only way he knew how.
Fortunately for the upholstery, they weren't the only ones awake at the buttcrack of dawn. Unfortunately, by the time they realized he was there, he was already smitten with Erin and seemed to watch her wherever she went for the rest of the trip.
That morning, while Price gave his presentation, Erin made an offering to the local wishing well.
Unfortunately, her coin disturbed yet another hive of bees.
Of course, the board loved Price's proposal and the two went out on their last night in the Far East to celebrate.
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