2:10 Overshadowed

Jackson popped in to visit Mercedes one evening. Summer started talking to him and was excitable as always. She announced that she was starting school on Monday, and wanted to know when Taylor would start. Jackson laughed.
"Summer, Taylor isn't even one yet! Not for a while!"
"When can I come play with her?" Summer seemed disappointed. She often referred to Taylor as her baby cousin, Mercedes and Jackson were like brother and sister, and even had keys for each others houses.
"Well, we're having an early birthday party for her tomorrow, you're coming aren't you?"
"Of course I am!!" Summers face lit up. "Who else is going to be there?"
"Well, there's your mummy, Lisas' parents, her three brothers and her sister. Her younger brother is only a year or two older than you, maybe you can play with him?" Summer pulled a face.
"EW!! Cortez Bunch?? Ew, no, he's yucky!! And he's a boy!!" Jackson laughed and challenged her to a game of rock, paper, scissors.

They were mid-game when Mercedes came into the room.
"How long have you been here, Jack?"
"Only about 20 minutes"
"Summer, bedtime!" Summer grumbled and stamped her feet as she went to her room - Jacksons old room. Jackson and Mercedes sat on the sofa, and talked for about half an hour, before Jackson had to leave, agreeing they'd see each other the next afternoon at Taylors' birthday party.


_____

It was early evening, Lisas' father and one of her brothers had left after dinner, claiming they had a lot of work to do around the house. Everyone else was catching up in the open-plan living space. Summer was getting bored, and was uneasy around Cortez. She wasn't sure what it was about him. He dressed smart and his skin was almost grey. She tugged on Mercedes' arm and convinced her to go outside to play with her.

Cortez followed the girls outside, and said he wanted to play too.
"Mummy!! You can't let him play!!"
"Don't be so rude, Summer! He's not going to bite you, he only wants to play tag!" Summer scowled and stormed inside, angry at her mother for playing with him instead of her.

She sulked in the rocking chair in Taylors room. Taylor was asleep and she didn't want to wake her up or her parents might get mad at her.
"I can't wait until you're old enough to talk to me and be my best friend." She muttered to the sleeping baby.



_____

The next day was Taylors first birthday. Overshadowed for Lisa by the fact it was a full moon. She spent the day fumbling and dropping most things. She tripped a few times and wished that Jackson hadn't gone to work that day. What if today was the day the witch came back? She didn't dare even go to the garden to check on her plants, so instead she spent the day busying herself as best she could.

Moonrise came quickly, Jackson had arrived home a few hours earlier and had spent most of the early evening trying to calm Lisa. Would she be like this for the rest of her life? It had been over 2 years and they went through this every month, it was definitely worse now they had a baby too. She would spend almost the entire night up just holding the baby, and would rarely sleep while the moon was up.

Lisa glanced out the window and saw movement. She shouted to Jackson to go and check it out.

As Jackson rounded the corner, he expected to see nothing, but was confronted with... Something.
"What is it?" Lisa opened the window a crack and called out to him.
"Just a stray dog." Jackson didn't dare move. What was it? It was the same shape as a man, a man he was sure he'd seen in the town at some point, but... He didn't look human, or rather, he didn't look alive. He heard the window close just behind him. "Who are you?" Jackson demanded of the being. His voice more confident than he felt. The man just stared, his eyes seemingly staring straight through him. "Why are you here?" He asked, less confidently this time, this whole thing was very unnerving. The man still didn't say anything. He had barely moved since Jackson had approached him, and he began to wonder if this was even real. He gave up and went inside, thankful that Lisa hadn't seen any of it.

Her parents had almost forgotton, but it was still Taylors birthday. She was too young to understand the events that happened on full moon night, or why her parents were on edge.

Not wanting her to know anything was different about tonight, except that it was a milestone in her young life, Lisa spent the majority of the night in the rocking chair. Taylor fought to keep her eyes open, as her mothers steady rythm pulled her into sleep.

Eventually, Lisa decided she should get some sleep. It was 3am and nothing had happened. She tucked Taylor into her crib, and headed to join Jackson in bed.

And so nobody was awake to witness the small crowd of undead gathering outside.



Yes, that was the same zombie that was peeking in the patio doors the first night Jackson moved in. Great for story purposes, but freaky all the same.


Next ->

2:9 Fairy Dust

Lisa still spent all her time around the house. Her garden was growing nicely and so it gave her more to do, although now her stomach was growing and she was finding it harder to keep up with everything. She had been to the hospital regularly and the doctors had told her she was expecting a girl.

She had to take a break, and sat down and listened to some music while she waited for Jackson to get home. She felt useless. She'd planned to have a job before having children, but with everything that had happened in the past year, she just hadn't wanted to go out the house alone, let alone work. She often wondered about the witch. She hadn't seen her around before or since, and had started to wonder if she had been hunted. She also worried about the fate of her unborn child, would she be born a fairy? She had no idea how to raise a fairy, as she had been turned as a young adult.

Her thoughts were distracted as she heard her car pull up outside; Jackson was home. She waddled as fast as she could to greet him.

He announced that he had been promoted. He couldn't stop grinning. They hadn't been able to buy any things for the baby yet, and he'd got a bonus so they'd be able to go out and buy most of what they needed now.

They returned from shopping a few hours later, and Jackson went to the spare bedroom to build the crib while Lisa sat down and rested. Mercedes strolled in, she very rarely knocked, if she did it meant something was wrong. She'd just finished work and wanted to stop by with a blanket for the baby when she arrived.
"It was Summers', but shes too big for it now." She said as she handed it over. They proceeded to have the usual 'they grow so fast' conversation before she left, mentioning that she was already late for the sitter.



_____

Months later, although it felt like the next day, Lisa was about to have a shower when she went into labour. Jackson was at work and so she called her parents, who lived down the street, and her brother, Ethan, took her to the hospital.

The birth was difficult, a breech, but finally baby Taylor was born. Jackson made it in time to see his daughter enter the world as well, and there were tears all round when they looked into their newborns' eyes.

When they got home, Lisa made up her first bottle of formula and fed her newborn. She noticed what looked like fairy dust fall from Taylors' eyes as she wailed for more formula, and her heart sank. Please just be from me she thought to herself. She couldn't bear the thought of the other children teasing her gorgeous daughter.

Jackson took Taylor from Lisa, so she could go and shower. He held her close before laying her down in the crib. Fairy dust rained down to the floor and the newborn squirmed in his arms. Jackson didn't have the same fears about bullies as Lisa did. Whether his children would be cursed like their mother or not, he would love them all the same.

Lisa finished her shower and bought in a stuffed giraffe. She carefully sat the toy on the dresser, her brother Ethan had bought it from the hospital gift shop earlier. Jackson pulled her into a kiss
"We're a real family now!" He smiled, but his voice quickly took on a more serious note. "I'll have to skip paternity leave though, nappies and formula are expensive, and she'll be old enough to sit up and play with toys before we know it. I want to provide the best for our little cherub." Lisa was disappointed. She'd hoped they could spend the first few weeks together while they learned the ropes of child rearing. They both had some experience, Jackson with Summer, and Lisa with her two younger siblings, but she'd wanted them to be there for each other. She knew he was right, money was tight and they still had all the usual bills to pay on top of the new expense of a baby.
"I know." She sighed. "I want to get a job." She added.
"Well, you've got a fairly major job for now, it might be best to wait until Taylor is a little older, or until Summer is old enough to come over and watch her?"
"Or my siblings..."
"Yes, I'd forgotten about them. You can get a job any time you like, honey, but I think you should let yourself heal a bit first. You've been feeling ill, tired and rundown for 9 months and now we have a screaming little one to make things harder" He stroked her cheek and the pair went to the bedroom, asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow, despite their excitement.

Jackson got up early morning, he had no idea what time, but Lisa was so tired she'd slept through Taylors cries. He changed her first dirty nappy, and wrapped her in the blanket Mercedes had bought round before feeding her a bottle of formula. He felt so grown up, holding his child. The one he had with his wife.

Lisa spent most of the next day in her pajamas, trying to rock Taylor back to sleep. She didn't remember either of her younger siblings crying this much, but then she hadn't been the one staying up with them. Taylor fell asleep leaving Lisa just enough time to get showered and dressed before Jackson came home.

He grabbed her as he got home.
"You're dressed!" He exclaimed. Lisa had spent almost her entire pregnancy in her pajamas. Partly because it was comfy, and partly because she just hadn't felt up to getting dressed.

"Just now, for you." She smiled and held his hand as he pulled out of the hug. She suddenly didn't mind that she'd spent all day with a screaming baby. This feeling she got of being complete when Jackson came home made it all worthwhile.




Lisa literally never got dressed when she was pregnant. Not that she did before. I'm assuming it's because of the 'inappropriate' trait she has, though she does get dressed on the rare occasion she leaves the house, thank God!
The whole Ethan taking Lisa to hospital is of course, a lie. But I edited the babys room part way through taking pictures, and relalised the giraffe toy suddenly appeared. I don't know if anyone would have noticed, but it annoyed me haha 

Next ->

2:8 A&E

A couple of weeks after the wedding, the presents were finally unpacked and had their own places. Lisas' parents had got them a treadmill.

Mercedes had bought them a telescope, and most of the other guests had given pictures and paintings to decorate their new home. They had hoped to go to Champs les Sims for a honeymoon, but didn't have enough money straight away so had decided to save and go for their first anniversary instead.

One weekend, Jackson woke up after Lisa, who was making herself busy with housework in her pajamas. She had quit her job at the spa when the witch had cursed her, and had only recently felt up to looking for a new job, and so tried her hardest around the house, cooking, cleaning and fixing the toilet, which constantly clogged up.
"What do you want to do today?" He asked, as he sat down with a bowl of cereal.
"I heard there's a fortune teller in town, I want to go to see her." Jackson looked at her. He didn't think his wife needed to see someone like that. Would it be a good idea? "I know what you're thinking, but please. I think it would help me a lot, she could tell me something to put my mind at ease. Plus, I barely ever leave the house these days since you take the car to work and I don't have much to do except mess around with the little veg patch." They had started a little garden outside. At the moment, it only had an apple tree and some tomatos, but they were hoping to grow it more. They weren't planning on being self sufficient, but were looking forward to having fresh produce.

They arrived at the park, and Lisa headed straight to the colourful caravan. Jackson wandered around the fountain in the middle, waiting for her to finish so they could go to the bistro for lunch.

He suddenly saw a face he recognised. Holly Alto, she had been a couple of years above him and Lisa at school, but she recognised him too. She was wearing a wedding dress and seemed in a rush, so didn't stop to talk long, just a quick 'hello' then she ran off again.

Eventually, Lisa left the caravan.
"So... What's in your future?" Jackson joked. Lisa smiled, trying not to laugh.
"She said I should avoid sims wearing orange." The couple looked at each other a minute, before bursting out laughing and heading for lunch.


_____

Later, that evening, they were settling down to an evening of horror movies and an early night. Suddenly a familiar green glow filled the house and Lisa got up, panicked.

It was a full moon again, something that scared Lisa since the witch had cursed her. It had been a full moon the night before it happened, and she'd felt as if she was being followed all day. Jackson knew this and immediatly pulled her into a hug. "I'm here for you, Leese, nobody will hurt you when I'm around. Lets go to bed."

Lisa didn't sleep long before she was doubled over the toilet, she wasn't sure if it was nerves, the food she'd eaten at the bistro, or something else, but something wasn't right.

_____

She woke up early the next morning, and decided to make some waffles for her and Jackson for breakfast. She still wasn't feeling great, but hoped eating would make her feel better.

Jackson joined her at breakfast and she mentioned that she had been sick in the night. He said he felt fine, but they'd eaten different food at lunch, so they didn't rule out food poisoning.

She headed off towards the bedroom to change and felt another wave of sickness wash over her, the waffles hadn't helped one bit.

She found herself once again over the toilet.

She decided a lie down would be best, and tried to get some more sleep.

She had barely closed her eyes when she found herself running for the bathroom again. Jackson had just got out of the shower and was really worried about her.

"I think you should go to A&E, sweetie, you're really not well and I think you should see if you can find out what's wrong." She agreed and went back to the bedroom to get dressed.

She started to feel a little better as she arrived at the hospital, maybe it was the fresh air. She decided it would be best to go in anyway. The doctor told her she was pregnant. About 3 weeks along. He gave her some pills to help with the sickness and she rushed home to tell Jackson the good news.

He was ecstatic. They immediatly headed over to Mercedes' house to tell her too. Lisa asked her all sorts of questions, hoping to find out more about what to expect while Jackson played with Summer.

"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!" Mercedes beamed. "I know my circumstances aren't ideal, and when I was in your position it was the last thing I wanted, but I wouldn't change Summer for the world. If it wasn't for her I think I'd be failing my course, but instead I'm graduating next week. Having a baby was the kick up the backside I needed to grow up, Jackson knows, I was so immature and drank so much that I was either drunk or hungover the entire time. I do wish I was married to somebody I loved like you two though. But I suppose it means I don't have to share my precious Summer with anyone." She looked around Lisa to Jackson, who was tossing Summer in the air, making her shriek. "Except you two. But you're my free baby sitters anyway, so I don't mind" She winked at Lisa and touched her shoulder.

"Well, you'll be able to return the favour now won't you?"



Omg I feel so sorry for Lisa! I have no idea what happened, but she threw up 6 times!! Most of you probably know how scared I was that I'd have thousands of babies as I mentioned it on MTS.

Yes, that blue dress is her maternity wear and she's already fairly heavily pregnant by the time I took the photos for the end of the chapter...

PS: try and remember the 'wearing orange' thing... ;) 

Next ->

2:7 Forever Now

_____2 weeks later_____

 

It was the day of the wedding and Jackson was a ball of nerves. They had spent the last 8 months planning this, and agreed to have it in the garden of his house, soon to be their marital home. He again checked his hair in the mirror, straightened his bow tie and for what must've been the 7th time, checked that his vows were in his jacket pocket.

He heard the doorbell go. It was time. He let everyone in and headed out to the garden to join Lisa. She had thought long and hard about her wedding charms. Something old was the shoes she had worn to prom, something new was the fairy wings, which weren't going anywhere, something borrowed was the dress, a rental from the bridal shop in town, and something blue was the ribbon tied in her hair. Since the witches spell she had become very supersticious and had been worrying about today even more than Jackson.
"Are you ready?" She nodded. She couldn't get any words to form right now. She had spent a lot of time trying to find out about the curse the witch had cast on her. Would it shorten her life? Could she have children? If so, would they be affected? A lot of questions were left unanswered, but Jackson helped calm her nerves at every possible opportunity, and had been there night and day when she needed him.

They moved to the hired wedding arch, and all the guests followed to the carefully arranged seating to get a good view of the ceremony.

"Jackson Kenneth Mattell, you have been my friend since the first year of high school. You have helped me with my homework, and any problems I have had in the years we've been together. You have always been a gentleman to me, and have never argued with me, even when I have been wrong and done stupid things. I love you with all my heart, and I give you this ring to prove I will do all I can to keep you happy until death do us part."

"Lisa Judy Bunch, you were the first person to talk to me at school when I moved here, and I never understood why because you're so popular and I was just a geek and the new kid. You have always taken the first steps in our relationship, you asked me to prom, you arranged our first date, and so I had to be the first to propose. I needed to let you know how much I love you, how much I can't live without you, and how much I don't want to live without you. I give you this ring to signify all I have is yours too, and I will do all I can to give you all you want and need until death do us part. Together forever now."

As the happy couple kissed, the small crowd was cooing and sniffing back tears.

Jackson soon went over to cut the cake. He hadn't eaten all day for nerves, and he was sure Lisa had gone longer.

"Mrs Mattell" Lisa said to herself as she washed a plate she found in the bathroom. She smiled at herself. "Lisa Mattell" It had a nice ring to it, she would go down to city hall and change it in the morning.

Jackson called her outside.
"Mrs Mattell, my beautiful fairy bride, would you join me to end the perfect day by watching the stars like old times?" She sat beside him and they held each other for about half an hour when Lisa started to shiver. "I wondered how long it would take" he whispered "I know the perfect way to warm you up..." He stood up and pulled her into the house towards the bedroom.






As I said last chapter, I'm better at doom and gloom than lovey-dovey, so sorry if the whole chapter felt kind of stiff.

Also, I had a bachelor party for Jackson, and it was going to be the best party ever and have its own chapter, but nobody showed up :'( It was just him and a party dancer that his 'friends' called apparently. It was really upsetting.

Wedding picture spam!! :)

  Happy Lisa enjoying cake.

 

Jackson avoiding his new wife and opting to eat inside with Mercedes and Morgana

The kiss from yet another angle.

The two guests that I could have killed for not sitting :@ I tried to avoid them in all the pictures, but that man managed to sneak into most.

Just another wedding guest being polite... 


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