1. Chapter 35 – Beyond the Storm Part 2
The story continues...

2. It was morning, and Calico Legacina was playing with her new toy, a stuffed bear named "Kirstial". Her favorite Auntie, Toshiko, had sent it to her
while on vacation, and Calico had eagerly ripped the package open. Auntie Toshiko had suggested Callie use the bear as a punching bag whenever
she got mad or anything.

3. Callie was taking the advice to heart. At the moment, she wasn't exactly stressed about anything, but she didn't like the way her dad's face had gone
all scary when he saw the bear, so she beat up the bear to make him feel better.
"Take that! And that!"

4. By lunch time, the bear was a bedraggled mess, and Ian Legacina's face was back to its normal colour.
"Come and eat, Callie!" he called, carrying a plate of salad from the kitchen to the dining room. "Your friends will be over soon!"

5. "Do you really live in Paris?" Callie asked Laertes Smith, her eyes widely incredulous.
"Of course I do," Laertes smirked. "With my mom and dad, and Grandpa Gavin."
"Cool," Callie said. "What's Paris like?"
"Um, there are a lot of buildings," Laertes shrugged. "I guess it's nice."
"So why did you come here?"
"Err, I dunno," Laertes shrugged. "I think my mom is friends with your dad or something. And my dad is friends with your mom."

6. "Hey everyone, watch what I can do, or I'll zotz you all," Persephone Biggs said in a bragging tone of voice.
"I know what you can do," Sterling Buccaneer shouted. "You're really good at blocking the TV!"
"Aw, be nice to Persephone, Sterling," Orlando Pseudo protested. "She's company."
"So'm I," Sterling shrugged. "And you don't see me blocking the TV. I'm telling my dad."
"Which one?"
"Both of them!"

7. "Okay, that's enough TV for now if all you're going to do is argue,"
Coxinga chuckled after exchanging glances with Ian. He shut it off. "Callie and Laertes."
"Now, why don't you kids have go and play?"
"That's what I said!"
"I think we should play right here!" Callie exclaimed. Making a gun
out of her thumb and forefinger, she pointed at Orlando. "Bang! "No you didn't, and I want my name to come first."
You're dead, you rascally robber!"
It wasn't long before the entire game dissolved in a chorus of giggled
"No way!" Orlando squealed, ducking behind Zing's leg. "I totally accusations.
dodged your shot!"
Persephone didn't join in. She just watched, a demonic smile playing
"Gotcha!" Laertes chimed in, 'shooting' at Sterling. "You two crooks across her pixie-like features.
will never get away from the dynamic duo of Laertes and Callie!"

8. "Yesterday wasn't so bad," Ian said the next morning to his wife, Angora. "Nobody went home crying, anyway."
"That's good," Angora chuckled. "Those kids! They're a handful and a half. I wish I could have gotten the day off of work, but with my maternity
leave starting soon I didn't want to leave everyone scrambling."
"Well, you're here now, and no more work until Junior in there is a lot older," Ian said. "I'm going to like having you all to myself again."

9. "Silly, I'm always all yours," Angora chuckled.
"Yeah, but there's no feeling quite as strange as being kicked in the middle of a cuddle," Ian said. He hastily reached forward and patted Angora's
swollen belly. "Meaning no offense, kiddo."
"I think you offended him. Or her."
"Oh?"
"The baby's kicking up a storm!" Angora said.

10. "Maybe he's just ready to come out and meet his family," Ian said. cleaning up the breakfast dishes in here and then I'll treat you to one
of my expert backrubs."
"It wouldn't surprise me," Angora said. "I'd want to meet me if I
didn't know myself already." "You're in a good mood today," Angora observed as she headed out
the door.
Ian blinked at her.
"It was nice seeing Toby and Opie yesterday," Ian shrugged. "I
"Okay, that made a lot more sense in my head before I said it," haven't really connected with anyone from home in forever. I know
Angora laughed. Opie doesn't live there anymore either, but still."
"Why don't you go relax on the sofa?" Ian suggested. "I'll finish "I'll be waiting for that backrub!"

11. However, the backrub never materialized, because no sooner had Ian put the last dish in the dishwasher when he heard Angora cry out with pain.
"I'm giving birth, not performing live theatre! Do I really need an audience?!?"

12. "She's fuzzy," Ian managed, a short while later. "My daughter is fuzzy. Why are they always fuzzy?"
"Aww, she's an adorable little Ragamuffin," Angora crooned, cuddling her new daughter close.
"Is that really what you're going to call her?" Rani, Angora's mother, asked.
"Why not?" Angora chuckled, bouncing the baby gently. "It fits!"

13. "I still don't get the whole orange thing," Ian confided to his father-in-law, Pierce, a little while later. "But I think she's even prettier than Callie
was, if that's possible!"
"I don't try to understand the orange fur myself," Pierce shrugged. He regarded his granddaughter. "Who's a cute little Ragamuffin? You are! You
are!"
"Can you say 'daddy', Muffy?" Ian added in a singsong voice.

14. The entire family doted on Muffy, and it wasn't long before they were celebrating her birthday. Everyone was eager to see what the younger
Legacina child looked like.

15. And here she is! While Callie looks a lot like Ian (you'll have to take my word for that, but it's true), Muffy is a tiger-striped clone of her mother.
The adorable toddler didn't take long to have the entire household wrapped around her little finger.

16. But the one who loved her best was her big sister, Callie. Not a moment went by when Callie wasn't playing with her little sister, and she eagerly
awaited the day when Ragamuffin was old enough to play Cops 'n' Robbers with her.
"Where did I go, Muffy?"
"Go? Can't see you!"
"Nope, can't see me! Peek-a-boo!"

17. "Eeeee!" the little kitten dissolved in gales of laughter. "Boo!"
Lest you die of sugar-shock and cuteness overload, let's visit another household, shall we?

18. This is Cate Pseudo, and she's fully living up to the expectations of the rest of her household.

19. She's stalking the fish.
This is something of a tradition in the Pseudo household, by this point.

20. Cate's older brother, Orlando, is an avid adherent. He's been watching the fish since he was a wee toddler. (The tank is in the bathroom--it's kind of
hard to miss, and there's not much else to look at while you pee!)

21. Orlando's mother, Lainey Pseudo (née Barthelet) was not raised with the tradition of fish-stalking, but it is a tradition she has come to embrace
since marrying into the family. Now she is as avid a practitioner as anyone in the household.

22. And even the oldest generation in the household participates. Will Pseudo, along with his wife Orikes, originated the tradition when he moved to
the house and first stocked the tank.
The activity has become something of a trademark for all of the Pseudo bunch.

23. "I saw your sister stalking the fishies when I went to the bathroom a few minutes ago," Auntie Liv Pseudo chuckled to Cate's twin sister, Sarah. Liv
was the most avid practitioner of fish-stalking in the entire family, though she no longer lived in the family home. She had her own fish tank now.
"Do you like the fish, Sarah?"
"Nummy fish!" Sarah squealed. "Kill 'em and eat 'em!"
"No, you let other people do the killing," Liv advised. "And you don't eat aquarium fish anyway. Instead, you go downtown to Auntie Liv's
favourite sushi restaurant, and you order the chef's special. That's the way to eat fish."
"Sushi?"
"Sushi."

24. "Auntie Liv, why do you encourage Sarah in being weird?" Orlando demanded once Liv's arms were free.
"Sometimes it's fun being the weird one in the family," Liv smiled. "I like it."
"Yeah, but you're an Auntie," Orlando pointed out. "I don't think Sarah is weird the same way you are. She's mean, and you're nice."
"Why thank you, Orlando," Liv chuckled. "But you shouldn't say your sister is mean. It's not very nice of you to do so."
"But she is mean," Orlando insisted. "She's always trying to strangle Lila." Lila was the family dog.

25. "I think that's supposed to be a hug," Liv said. "You weren't very gentle with Lila when you were that small, either."
"I suppose," Orlando said doubtfully.

26. "All done looking at the fishies, Cate?" Will asked, sitting down on the toilet to read his newspaper.
"Potty time? Where my book?"
Like grandfather, like granddaughter?

27. Orlando got along pretty well with his sisters, all things considered. But he did think of both of them as being pests of the highest order, and
because he wasn't the nicest of children himself, he took every possible opportunity to torment them.
"Want the horsie, Sarah? Do you?"
"GIVE HORSIE!"

28. "Too bad! You can't have it!" Orlando snickered, pulling the toy out of Sarah's reach.
"Aah! Bad 'Lando! Kill you and eat you! Wiv sauce!"
"Now, Orlando, don't tease your sister," his father, Hugo, said absently. "And Sarah, that's not very nice."
"'Lando sushi!"

29. The two girls, however, were exceedingly fond of one another, though they were pretty different when it came to personality. Cate was all
sweetness and light, while Sarah had a meaner streak. Mostly this was expressed via a myriad of extremely creative threats when she didn't get her
way, while Cate's sweetness was shown through the large quantity of hugs she bestowed on other people.

30. She also liked to dance. Whenever there was music playing, Cate wasn't likely to be far away.
"Pway dat funky music, steweo!"

31. "You know," Hugo murmured to Lainey one evening, "it won't be long until the girls celebrate their birthday. What do you say we try for another?"
"Aren't three enough?" Lainey blinked.
"Well, I would like more... but it was more the 'try' part I was talking about," Hugo winked.
"Oh. Oh!"

32. It seemed like no time at all before the girls were ready to celebrate a birthday. First, Grandma Orikes brought Cate to the cake.

33. And then Lainey (who was feeling decidedly ill and doing her best to not show it and risk spoiling the party) brought Sarah to the other cake.

34. The two girls grew up extremely cute! They wanted to dress alike, but Lainey convinced them to wear the same outfit in different colours instead.
She suggested that Sarah stick to pink and Cate to blue, and to her relief the girls agreed.
"But we look way different," Sarah insisted seriously. "Cate has your colouring, Mommy. And mine is like Daddy's."
"That's true, dear," Lainey said fondly.
Then she clapped her hand over her mouth and bolted for the washroom.

35. To her complete lack of surprise, she popped out into her second trimester belly that night.
"Another little one," she said fondly, rubbing her stomach. "Well, I cannot say I am unhappy. And I know Hugo will be pleased. I do hope my
career will not suffer from this delay, though! It is difficult being a businesswoman and a mother at the same time."
But she didn't really mind. She had plenty of time to top the business career track before her next birthday.

36. "Hey Cate, pull my finger," Sarah said, a devious grin spreading across her features as she rubbed her feet on the rug in the family room.
"What? Why would I do that?" Cate asked, disgusted. "You're just going to fart all over the place and blame it on me!"
"Am not!" Sarah protested in an injured voice. "This is something completely different. Besides, only boys do that."
"Yeah, Orlando is the stinkiest!" Cate giggled.
"Are you going to pull it or what?" Sarah asked impatiently.
Cautiously, Cate reached forward.

37. "Aaaaaaah!" she screeched as the spark jolted between her and her twin.
Sarah doubled over with laughter. "Gotcha!"

38. Once she'd recovered, Cate couldn't help laughing either. "How'd you do that?" she asked.
"It's so easy," Sarah said proudly. "You just wear fuzzy socks, like I am, and then you stand on a rug and rub your feet really fast on the carpet.
And then you touch somebody and it 'lectrocutes them!"
"That's awesome. Let's go do it to Orlando."
"I like how you think!"

39. "Aaaaaaah!" Orlando's shriek could just be heard over the sound of "Fat chance," Orikes snorted. "Like I'd let my guard down. You can't
kicking and punching. distract me that easily, my dear. I'm going to kick your butt at this
game."
"The kids off murdering each other again?" Liv asked, jamming
furiously at her controller. "Oh, I don't think so," Liv said. "I'm past mistress in the art of Mortal
Kombat."
"Probably," Orikes said.
"FINISH HER!" the TV commanded.
"You should go separate them."
"Oh yeah?" Orikes smirked.

40. "Aw, man," Liv pouted. "I was totally winning."

41. "I've still got it," Orikes crowed, waving the controller around airily.
"How does someone of your generation get so good at playing video games?" Liv complained.
"Er, have you forgotten what I do for a living? I thought you were following in my career footsteps?"

42. "Yeah, I suppose," Liv conceded. "Hey, you want to try this new game I brought home from work? It's still in beta testing, but it's supposed to be
pretty cool."
Orikes looked at the packaging and shrugged dubiously. "I guess. It doesn't look as interesting as the second one in the series, though."

43. Upstairs, the kids had gotten tired of electrocuting each other and instead were involved in the serious business of blowing each other up.
"This is a real missile," Cate said importantly. "Only I'm allowed to touch it."

44. "No it's not," Sarah contradicted her. "Anyway, didn't you get the memo? We're playing with cars today, Cate."
"I'd rather play with the rocket ship," Cate insisted. "You guys can have your dumb old cars. Cars don't esplode."
"They do after I've had them for a while," Sarah giggled deviously.

45. "Stop being weird, Sarah," Orlando ordered, turning his back on the one sister and facing the other. "Just ignore her, Cate. I'll play with you."
But their playing was soon interrupted by a shriek from downstairs.

46. "Baby! Coming now!" Lainey, who had been outside working on her Logic skill for the past several hours, cried shrilly. "Oh, where is Hugo? He
has not appeared once in this update and now he is at work for the birth of his child! Drat the man!"

47. In the end, it was William who assisted in the births of his newest two children. Say hello to Dominic and Billy Pseudo, everyone!

48. On the other side of Pirate Island, Liv greeted the birth of her two newest nephews with glee, bouncing all over the house.

49. The very first thing she did was invite over her older nephew, nieces, and big brother so that Lainey could get a bit of a rest.
"Thanks for coming to visit, Cate," she smiled, stooping to give her niece a kiss. "I can't wait to hear all about your baby brothers!"
"They just sleep all the time," Cate said disgustedly. "Except at night. That's when they cry, so Mom is always tired. She's napping now and
Grandma is playing with the babies. Except they're little and can't play, so she just makes faces at them and they stare at her."

50. Inside, Orlando and Sarah were involved in a cutthroat game of Cops 'n' Robbers.
"Dad!" Orlando whined. "Tell Sarah she's not allowed to kill me all the way dead!"
"Fight your own battles, Orlando," Hugo called from the table, where he was sitting and having coffee with Uncle Nick and Uncle Green.
"I hate it when he says that," Orlando grumbled.

51. Still, Hugo started slapdancing to the music playing on the radio a few minutes later, and Sarah gave up on tormenting her big brother to join him.
"People are weird, Grandpa Jack," Cate said seriously to the plush bear she'd found under Auntie Liv's couch.
"Arr, that be th' truth, lass."
A great time was had by all, and when the kids and their dad went home, they were greeted by a rested Lainey who was much more her old self.

52. Unfortunately, the brightness of the kids' visit was soon tarnished by an unexpected visitor. Kilo, the very first pet that Nick and Green had
adopted, was taken by the Grim Reaper shortly afterwards.

53. "This house just doesn't feel like home without a cat," Nick said sadly to his twin brother Will a few days later.
"So what are you going to do about it?" Will prodded.
"We don't know yet," Nick said. "A cat is a big responsibility, and if we got one it would outlive us."
Liv, who was eating dessert at the kitchen table, turned around at that. "Uncle Nick, if you want a kitten, go ahead and get one. I like cats--I'll be
glad to take care of it for as long as you need me to."

54. Nick and Green didn't have to be told twice, and the next day they welcomed the arrival of their new kitten, Cobble.
She was absolutely adorable in all her buttery gold downy softness and everyone fell in love with her instantly--even the dogs.

55. And everyone thought it was hilarious when Cobble got lost in the snow drifting high around the house. She really was tiny!

56. Still, it didn't take long for her to turn into a full-grown cat. To the surprise of all, Cobble lost most of her golden colour and grew into a gorgeous
ragdoll. And, like all cats, she completely ruled the roost.

57. Days at the small cabin hidden in the forest of Pirate Island were busy, but for Liv, at least, the nights could be a little lonely. Nick and Green had
each other to talk to for long hours in the evening... but Liv was alone.

58. So when she saw a familiar figure striding down the sidewalk in front came to visit!"
of the house one chilly night, she didn't even put on her coat before
flying outside. "All the way from Paris?"
"Randy!" she squealed, launching herself at the pale-skinned "I have not been able to get you out of my mind," the Count said
individual. "What in the world are you doing here?" fondly.
Count Randy Fuchs didn't reply for several minutes, as he was being "Me either," Liv said. She grabbed the unprotesting Randy's hand
quite thoroughly kissed. When Liv let him up for air, he smiled-- and led him into the house. "We can talk later. For now, I've got a
revealing two glistening fangs. "My dear Liv, what do you think? I few other ideas."

59. Several hours later, Liv and Randy sat down to a sparklingly healthy dinner of freshly caught salmon.
"It has been far too long since we last saw each other," Randy said in his sultry voice.
"Yeah, but I think we're making up for lost time," Liv laughed throatily. "How come you've not visited before now?"
"I thought you were angry with me," Randy said.
"Angry? Why would you think that?"
"Well, you were in Paris for some time and yet you did not even tell me you were in town."

60. Liv blinked at her lover, and then realization dawned. "Ohhhh... that." In a few short sentences, she sketched out the tale of her adventures with her
cousins Ching Shih and Toshiko.
"I see," the Count nodded. "I had heard... tales. Kirstial Legacina is not one to be trifled with. She is very powerful."
"Was very powerful," Liv corrected. "Now she is a soft children's toy."
Randy laughed delightedly. "Such an ending is... fitting."
"We thought so," Liv agreed.

61. Suddenly, she stood up and clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oooh... I don't feel well."
"Is it the fish?" Randy asked concernedly. "Being undead, I am unable to taste if something has been prepared incorrectly."
"No, I don't think it's the fish," Liv said, gulping. She sat down quickly. "I think--"

62. "I don't think we were as careful as we ought to have been."
Liv's words echoed loudly in her own ears over the next several months.

63. What? You were expecting something different?

64. Meanwhile, in Paris...
"How was your flight?" Rakshasi Thayer asked Terry Ottomas. Terry was her high school boyfriend.
"Entirely too long," Terry groaned, massaging his neck. "It's a long way from Pirate Island to Paris and I didn't get a wink of sleep."
"Maybe you should have a nap," 'Shasi suggested. "I remember how brutal the jet lag can be."
"Hmm, I can think of something else I'd rather be doing," Terry said, standing up and stretching.
"Oh?"

65. It wasn't long before Rakshasi and Terry were an established couple once more.
Unfortunately, due to some stupidity (read: Terry is a Romance sim, and not a monogamous one) on Terry's part, it wasn't long after that before
they were no longer a couple.

66. Venkat had heard about Rakshasi's newly single status and decided to try his luck.
"No, I don't think so," Rakshasi said warningly. "I'm done with Romance sims, Venkat."
"Fair enough," Venkat said. "You're gorgeous, Rakshasi, but I'm not one to beg."
"Good," Rakshasi said. "It's not becoming."

67. Her heart wasn't exactly broken by Terry's philandering ways, though, despite Rakshasi's pronouncement against Romance sims. She found herself
spending a lot of time with Terry's Family sim twin brother, James. The two of them were both chess aficionados, so that was what they did most
of the time.

68. Both of them were pleasantly surprised when their friendship turned to something more.

69. And by the middle of Rakshasi's fourth year of university, James shocked her by dropping down on one knee and proposing in the middle of the
sidewalk as they returned home from class.
"Oh my!" Rakshasi gasped. "I don't know what to say!"
"Say yes," James urged, his eyes shining with hope.

70. Yes!" Rakshasi giggled, slipping the diamond engagement ring onto her finger. "Oh, James! I'm so excited!"
James just smiled as his heart resumed beating. He'd always fancied Rakshasi, and ever since she'd broken up with his brother (and he'd broken up
with his former girlfriend, Caryl--yes, the two events are intricately intertwinted), he'd looked forward to this day.
"You'll have to wait a little while," he said slowly. "I've still got another two years of university."
"I can wait," Rakshasi said. "After all, we've got our whole lives in front of us."

71. Venkat, meanwhile, was not deterred from pursuing Pirate Island half-brothers told me about you."
girls. One day, on his way home from class, he decided to stop by the
girls' dorm on a whim. "Half-brothers?"
"Hi!" a green-skinned beauty said brightly, greeting him on the "Well, presumed half-brothers," Stella shrugged. "Borusa and
sidewalk in front of the residence. Spandrell. We were all born around the same time after our fathers
got abducted. So we're probably siblings."
"Er, hi," Venkat said awkwardly. "I'm Venkat."
Venkat blinked. Borusa and Spandrell hadn't said anything about
"I know," the girl said in a friendly voice. "I'm Stella Roseland. My having a sister, so that probably meant she was off-limits.

72. Then again, they hadn't said anything about not dating their half-sister.
Venkat found himself coming up with excuses to stop by the girls' dorm practically every day. In the eyes of the other girls in the dorm, at least, he
and Stella were completely inseparable.

73. "So, how many chicks has it been now?" Venkat asked conversationally around the dinner table on a fine evening about halfway through Borusa
and Spandrell's fourth year of university.
Borusa thought about that for a moment. "Ten," he said finally. "I don't think I'll get to twenty before graduating, though."
"Dude, I'm the one who wants to 'hoo twenty chicks. It's my lifetime goal! I thought you just wanted to be a sports star."
"Yeah," Borusa agreed. "That's still what I want. And maybe I'll slow down a little when I graduate. But for now I'm just being young and having
fun. I'm not ready to settle down."

74. "Settling down isn't so bad," Spandrell shrugged. "It has its benefits."
"Not so much for a Romance sim like me and Venkat," Borusa said.
"Our brother-in-law is a Romance sim and he doesn't seem to mind being married," Spandrell said.
"Really?" Venkat asked, growing thoughtful as he thought of Stella. "How would you guys like another Romance brother-in-law?"
"Is Stella dating someone?" Borusa said, his voice growing sharp. "She'd better not be with a Romance sim! I'll have to kick his arse!"
"Er, I don't know," Venkat said evasively, and changed the subject.

75. The talk of commitment preyed on Spandrell's mind for some time, and finally he decided to do something about it. One bright day towards the end
of his last semester of university, he took the plunge. He and Hades were enjoying a fairly ordinary date when Spandrell suddenly dropped to one
knee and pulled out a velvet-lined black box.
"Diamond of doom?" Hades gasped.
"Err," Spandrell blinked.

76. "Doomy goodness forever!" Hades grinned, slipping the ring on his finger. "This is groovy stuff, Spandrell. Wait til I tell my mother!"
"Didn't she disown your sister and strip away her immortality recently?" Spandrell gulped.
"Well, yeah, but Athena deserved it," Hades shrugged. "Mom's going to be so happy! She's wanted us to get married practically since she met
you!"
"Oh good," Spandrell said faintly. "Pressure."
"Stop worrying," Hades said consolingly. "Mom only dooms people who deserve it. Just let her plan the wedding and everything will be fine."

77. Borusa, meanwhile, continued on his college conquest. Girl number eleven was Robin Zhang.

78. She did not depart unsatisfied, and afterwards she was often heard muttering something about creating a shrine out of the Arravast hot tub.

79. Even one of the campus cheerleaders, Julie Brown, couldn't resist Borusa's many charms.

80. And Borusa discovered that not every date had to end in woohoo. Julie was much too hyper to stay in one place long enough to kiss, let alone 'hoo.
By the end of the date she had the entire household slapdancing with her and looking like some demented boyband in the process.

81. But if Julie wasn't willing to go all the way with Borusa, others certainly were. Especially when Borusa was wandering around in nothing but a
toga.

82. Roxie Sharpe was Borusa's kind of girl, and she was just as disinclined to commit as he was.

83. For a while, there were no new girls and Borusa made do by dating some of his longer-term friends-with-benefits.
"Woo! Go Borusa! Inappropriate PDA!" Julie cheered loudly.
"Geez, Julie!" Borusa gasped, coming up for air. "It's only inappropriate because you won't leave!"

84. Later, at the same party, Borusa decided to introduce himself to a guest he hadn't met before.
"Borusa Buccaneer," he said charmingly.
"Ashlee Thompson," the dark-haired girl said.
"Ashlee, has anyone ever told you how utterly gorgeous you are?" Borusa purred.
"Ooh, not somebody with such a cute lack-of-nose as you," Ashlee replied, fanning herself.

85. "How dare you flirt with someone in front of me!" Julie cried shrilly, launching herself across the room at Borusa and slapping him so hard he saw
stars.
"Wha--?" Borusa blinked, putting his hand to his cheek. "You complain about the flirting, but not the making out on the couch?"
"Chill out, Julie," Ashlee advised.
"You're just as bad as he is, you tramp!"
Both Ashlee and Borusa stared at Julie in complete and utter confusion as the now sobbing cheerleader stormed upstairs and (presumably) out of
the house.

86. "Fortunately, I'm not about to let that ruin my evening," Borusa said, a little while later. "How about we make this a night to remember for other
reasons?"

87. "She really bought that cheesy line?" Spandrell said in disbelief as he waited for his brother to toss him the football. "Oh, man. No wonder you get
so many girls--they're all idiots!"
"I don't think it was so much buying the line as it was wanting the excuse," Borusa grinned, tossing the football to his brother. "But I think I'm
going to settle down a little after this."

88. "Right," Spandrell said, catching the ball easily and letting it fly back to his
brother. "You. Settle down." "Exactly."
"Not with a person," Borusa said patiently. "I just mean I'm not going to "So where are you planning to live when we get back?" Spandrell asked,
sleep around so much anymore. It would be nice having a second or third changing the subject.
date with someone. I might even try to get a steady girlfriend."
"Hadn't really thought that far yet," Borusa admitted. He tossed the ball
"That'd be a change," Spandrell smirked. back to his brother. "Probably find an apartment or something."
"But it might be a good one," Borusa said. "Anyway, I'll never know if it "Want to move in with Hades and me?" Spandrell asked. "If you do we can
works for me unless I give it a try. And since we're graduating and moving probably afford a really nice place."
back to Pirate Island next week, it seems as good at time as any."
Borusa shrugged. "Sure."
"Yeah, because nobody back home knows your reputation!"

89. With that decided, all they had left to do was graduate--which they both did, with flying colours!
Neither of them really wanted a party, so instead they hopped on a plane back to Pirate Island immediately. They decided to go for a
housewarming party instead.
Besides, they were eager to see the rest of the family instead.

90. "Papa, don't want a nap," Balthier complained as Jim tucked him into the crib.
"I know," Jim chuckled. "But you need your rest, my son. Tonight is a big night for you!"
"But I'm not tired!"
"Yes you are," Jim corrected him gently. "Just close your eyes and you will be asleep."

91. "It doesn't matter how much he protests, he always falls asleep right away," Ching Shih said gently, coming up behind her husband. Balthier was
already snoring softly in his crib.
"You do not know just how much I wish I could stay here and simply watch him sleep," Jim said with a foolish smile. "You and he are both so
precious to me."
"I love you too," Shih said with a happy smile. She leaned in a little closer and whispered something in Jim's ear.
"What?!?" Jim practically shrieked, and then cringed guiltily. Behind him, Balthier rolled over and murmured in his sleep, but he thankfully didn't
walk up. Jim continued in a quieter voice. "Are you certain?"

92. "Oh yeah," Ching Shih replied. "I've been throwing up non-stop for the past few days. Balthier is going to be a big brother!"

93. "Oh, my beautiful wife... I am so happy," Jim said, reaching forward and caressing Shih's cheek lovingly. "Nothing in the world could make me
happier than this news."
"I bet I could think of something," Ching Shih laughed wickedly. Then she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Ooh... but it'll have to wait until I'm
feeling better."
"Perhaps you ought to have a nap too," Jim said solicitously. "I have heard that women who are with child are frequently tired."
"That sounds like a good idea," Ching Shih said, yawning. "Just call me when it's time for the party, okay?"
"It is a deal, my lovely one."

94. Nobody was downstairs when Balthier woke up, so he let himself out of his crib and started toddling around looking for someone.
Grace nearly tripped over her grandson when she came downstairs.
"What are you doing out of your crib?" she scolded, carrying him back to the nursery and changing him out of his pajamas.
"'Sploring, Grandma," Balthier declared solemnly.
"Well, how about we explore the kitchen?" Grace suggested. "Are you hungry?"
"Cookie?"
Grace set Balthier down on the kitchen floor with a laugh.

95. "Yes, you can have a cookie," she said, tickling him. "I think you're just a cookie monster in disguise!"
"No! No tickle monster!" Balthier giggled, shrieking with happy laughter. "Grandma, tan I have a 'tory?"
"Of course," Grace said, sitting down opposite him. "Which story would you like to hear?"

96. "A funny one!" Balthier decreed, so Grace obediently went and fetched a funny story from the library.
"Yay!" Balthier squealed when he saw that it was one of his favourites.
The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon reading the book together quite happily, though Grace did curse the hardness of the floor when she
stood up later. She wasn't as young as she used to be!

97. Six o'clock rolled around and the party guests soon arrived. It was a small party, with just family in attendance: Borusa, Spandrell, Shere Khan, and
Coxinga.
"Okay, Balthier," Ching Shih said in a sing-song voice. "You remember what to do?"
"Blow out the candles and don't spit on da cake," Balthier said solemnly.
"That's just right," Ching Shih said approvingly. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
Author's note: I tossed in alien default replacement skins around this time, which is why Borusa and Spandrell look a little different.

98. As Shih and her son bent over the cake, the celebrants twirled their noisemakers or hooted encouragingly.

99. With that kind of support, it's no wonder that Balthier grew up successfully! And he is still the spitting image of his father, don't you think?
He's also still a pirate, because I say so.

100. The party guests spent the remainder of the evening getting reacquainted. It had been some time since the whole family had been together, and they
all missed one another.
As for this particular legacy player? Well, I had my hands full keeping Gertie and Borusa from behaving badly. They're extremely bolty, and that's
just ew.

101. Balthier also took the opportunity to get to know his uncles. They'd bedroom than out of it since getting married."
been gone from Pirate Island since he was little, and while they'd
doted on him then and called frequently since, there's nothing quite "That is just too much information," Borusa said, shuddering.
like actual conversation in person to rekindle a friendship.
"What do they do in there?" Balthier asked.
"Just wait til we're a little more settled in our apartment, kid," Borusa
said. "Your other uncle and I are going to spoil you silly!" "Er, we'll tell you when you're older," Spandrell said hastily,
reaching past his mother and covering up his nephew's ears.
"And my little brother or sister?"
Balthier shrugged away. "But I'm already older!"
"Brother or sister?" Borusa blinked. "Does that mean--?"
"It's a grown-up thing."
"First I've heard of it," Grace said. "But it wouldn't surprise me if it
was true. Your sister and her husband have spent more time in the "Aw, phooey."

102. Somewhat disgusted, Balthier stomped upstairs and jumped on Spandrell's old bed until he felt a little better. Bed-jumping is fun, doncha know.

103. That night, after the guests had left and everyone was fast asleep, Ching Shih suddenly woke up.

104. "Finally!" she said happily as her stomach expanded with an audible *pop*. "I'm so freaking tired of getting sick."
And with that pronouncement, she crawled back into bed with her husband.

105. The next morning, Balthier left for his first day of school. Jim and Ching Shih both had the day off of work, so they spent the morning lounging
around without getting dressed.

106. "This is indeed a fascinating game," Jim said approvingly, watching as Shih lined up a particularly difficult shot.
"It's just physics and hand-eye coordination," Ching Shih shrugged. "Child's play, really."

107. "I suppose," Jim said. "However, it is the fact that you are able to play and win without your glasses that I find truly remarkable."

108. "That's just a result of long years of practice," Ching Shih said, studying the table. "I know roughly what each blob of colour represents. Sometimes
I make mistakes, but not often."
"I do not think I would do as well, given a similar visual impairment," Jim said.

109. "Yeah, but you do other things well," Ching Shih said, winking. "That's why I'm roughly the size of a house."

110. "Is there really a baby in there?" Balthier asked excitedly, waving at didn't know who he was, except that he was nice. But now he's
his mother's burgeoning belly. Papa."
"There really is," Ching Shih said happily. "What do you think, "He was always your Papa," Ching Shih said fondly, ruffling her
Balthier? Are you excited about being a big brother?" son's hair. "And he always wanted to be with us. I just had to go and
be a pirate first before that could happen."
"I guess," Balthier shrugged. "But the baby won't be able to play or
anything for a long time." "I'm going to be a pirate when I grow up," Balthier declared. "I think
it looks like fun!"
"I wish you were closer in age," Ching Shih said sadly. "But with the
troubles your father and I had before you were born and when you "Not as much fun as playing with your cousin all day," Ching Shih
were a baby, it couldn't be helped." chuckled. "School is canceled today!"
"Yeah, I remember when he came for the first time," Balthier said. "I "Yay!"

111. A short while later, Balthier was prancing around excitedly just inside the front door, watching for Sterling to arrive. He hadn't spent much time
with his cousin before, other than at school.

112. "Guess what?" Sterling said.
Sterling stopped bragging for a moment and considered that. "Hm.
"What?" You may be right. Do you know if it's going to be a boy or a girl?"
"I'm going to be a big sister soon!" "Nope," Balthier said. "I kind of want a brother, though. Someone I
can play with."
"That's so cool!" Balthier said. "I'm going to be a big brother!"
"Girls can play too!" Sterling said indignantly.
"Oh yeah? Well my dad's bigger than the whole wide world!"
"Yeah," Balthier said, but he didn't sound convinced.
"So's my mom," Balthier said, pointing.

113. Sterling shrugged at Balthier's obvious inexperience and suggested they smustle instead.
So they did that for a while, until they were bored.
"Hey, it's stopped snowing! Let's go out and play!"

114. The two of them ran down to the yard and tossed snowball after snowball at each other until their teeth were chattering and their lips were blue.
"M-maybe we should go get our coats!" Sterling stammered.
"G-g-g-good idea!"

115. By the end of the day, they were best friends--and somewhat stinky from all the exercise!
Sterling promised to come over and visit again soon.
"But we'll see each other at school anyway," she added. "So we can play there."
"Cool!"

116. Even though he was very outgoing and preferred the company of others, Balthier was also playful enough to amuse himself when he didn't have
someone to play with. He often spent time playing with his mother's old dollhouse after school.

117. "That was my old dollhouse before it was your mother's," Gertie said,
coming into the room. "That would be him."
"Really?" Balthier blinked. "That's neat." "Can you tell me about him, Auntie Gertie?"
"I think so," Gertie smiled. "And before it was mine, it belonged to "Of course, Balthier," Gertie said with a smile. "What would you like
my father, your great-grandfather Roche." to know?"
"He's the goofy one in the Pirate suit on the portrait wall, right?" "Everything!"

118. Gertie talked until the sound of a car door slamming outside signalled that "Auntie Gertie told me all about great-grandpa Roche today and I want to be
Jim was home from work. Balthier gave a hasty thanks to his great-aunt just like him when I grow up!" Balthier was breathless with excitement.
before barreling down the stairs as fast as he could and flinging himself into
his father's arms for a hug. "Well, you have a lot of time to decide," Jim said, thinking about Roche's
unhappy and ultimately failed marriage. "Perhaps you could do some things
"Papa! You're home!" like him and some things like other people?"
"Were you expecting someone else?" Jim said affectionately. "I guess," Balthier said. "But that means you have to tell me about more
people so I know who I want to be like!"
"Not really, but that would be kind of weird," Balthier said. "But guess what
guess what guess what?" "How about I tell you about your great-great-great-grandmother Mary for a
bedtime story?"
"What?"
"Cool!"

119. With Balthier safely tucked into bed, Jim was free to dote on his now very gravid wife. She'd taken to lounging about the house in her pajamas
because they were the most comfortable clothes she owned. She had a pair of daytime pajamas, and a pair of sleeping pajamas.
"Soon, my little one!" Jim said happily, waving at his wife's stomach. "Soon I will hold you in my arms!"
"Sooner than later," Ching Shih said, feeling an especially strong kick. "Come, my husband. Let's go to sleep while we still can."

120. Ching Shih's prophecy proved to be an accurate one. Less than three hours after falling asleep, she was awakened by a familiar type of pain.
"Ooh!" she whimpered. "Baby on the way!"

121. "What do I do?" Jim asked in a panicked voice. "I have never done this before!"
"Stop freaking out and get over here!" Gertie commanded. "She needs you!"

122. But before Jim even had time to walk across the room, it was all over.
Cradled gently in Ching Shih's arms was his second son, a little red-headed boy they decided to name Kennit.
And they lived happily ever after?
Tune in to Chapter 36 and find out--coming in late December! (Probably!)