The Broke Legacy: Gen 3.2

[simgaroop]

Previous update: Gen 3.1.





NO!
She can't be dead!
She just can't!

Those were my thoughts as I watched in absolute horror the lifeless body of my wife.
Mom cried out as she entered the room.
"Take Andrew away, Mom. I'll bring her back!"
I kneeled at her side and tried all the maneuvers I had learned at medical school.
I tried CPR, heart massage, everything.
But Bella didn't respond.
And that's when I felt a cold breath behind my neck.
I turned around, and I almost fainted as I stood face to face with no other than the Grim Reaper.
And he was here to take my wife away...




Ignoring that I was facing Death itself, I fell on my knees.
"Please! I beg you! Don't take her away! She's just had our daughter... she can't leave her alone!"




"I'll do anything! ANYTHING! But please save Bella!"
I wasn't even sure why I was trying to negotiate with the Grim Reaper.
I just felt the need to do it. Anything to save her...
Perhaps there was some way... a true miracle...




"Very well..."- said Grim, his voice deep and terrifying-"I've seen into your heart and I've confirmed that your feelings towards this woman are pure and sincere. I'll give you one chance to save her soul..."
I stood up.
Had I heard well? Would the Grim Reaper really give me a chance to save my wife?
That... that was incredible...




"Listen carefully, Cosmo Broke, for this is the only time I'll explain this little game to you. This is Bella Broke's soul. If you want to save her, just listen to your heart and find it. I'm going to hide it in one hand and you have to choose the correct one. You only get one chance: Miss it, and Bella will join her late husband and daughter for all eternity."




"Choose well, Cosmo Broke, for there is no room for failure."




My heart pounded hard against my chest. My hands were wet and I felt like I would faint at any moment.
I'd never been so terrified in my whole life. This was it. This was the most important choice of my life.
Left or right? My children's future depended on my election.
"I choose the right hand"- I whispered.




The Grim Reaper opened his hand...

It was empty.

I chose the wrong hand. My heart couldn't listen to Bella's soul.
And now I had lost her forever.

"You've chosen the wrong hand, Cosmo Broke. Your heart wasn't connected to your wife's, after all. You've lost your chance... her soul is mine..."




I couldn't take it anymore.
I don't even remember what happened in that moment.
The only thing I know is that I screamed and screamed.
This wasn't happening! I loved Bella! I really did! How could I lose her in such a stupid way!
I'd failed her! I'd failed my children!




But Death didn't listen to my cries and screams.
I'd lost my only chance.
Raising his scythe, he pointed it at Bella.
And took her away... forever.




Leaving her ashes in her place.




On the other side of the room, I heard my father cry.
But it wasn't only because of Bella's death...
Between his sobbing, I heard him whisper- "He... he was right after all... Father... you were right..."




We buried Bella in the backyard the following morning.
The ceremony was as small as possible.
We didn't want any kind of media involved in it.
It was hard enough that Alex wouldn't be able to make it in time.
He was devastated...




Just as I was.
I was deeply depressed... and angry at myself.
I'd failed everyone!




In the end, the only ones present during the ceremony were my parents, Andrew and I.




As much as I wanted to stay serene, it was impossible.




Dad was silent.
I knew that something else besides Bella's death was bothering him.




And as for Mom, she listened to Bella's last wishes and comforted Andrew as much as she could.




After the burial, and once Andrew and Wanda were asleep in their cribs, Mom asked us to wait for her in the dining room.




She sat down in front of us and said, "I know this is hard Cosmo, but you must not let Bella's death destroy your family. You must be strong."




"I... I wish I could Mom but... how am I supposed to live without her? I miss her so much! And I have no idea how to raise them all by myself..."




Dad then said softly, "Just like my mother did, Cosmo. Now I understand what my father meant. Lilith! It was true! My father wasn't lying when he said it was possible to save someone from death! The Grim Reaper is real..."
"Yeah... but that knowledge is useless, Dad. I couldn't save Bella..."
"I know... don't feel bad Cosmo... but... I just can't help it but wonder if our family is really cursed... poor Wanda... she's starting her life just like me!"




"Stop it, you two! You can't live in the past! Don't say such stupid things, Beau! Wanda's life is different than yours! And even if they were the same, just look how far you've made it! That curse is a big, fat lie!"




"I know things are going to be different with Wanda! Cosmo is not going to raise his children alone! He's got us!"




"Exactly! Cosmo, sometimes life gives us challenges and it's at times like this one when you must show your true strength. You are going to be fine."




"And I understand your feelings, Cosmo. I lost my first husband, Dirk, when Henry was the same age as Andrew. But I wasn't alone. I had my family and then your father at my side. And I was able to raise Henry just fine. I'll always miss Dirk, but I know that he's happy to see me enjoy my life and to be able to raise our son into the fine man he is today."




"You are a strong man, Cosmo. Everything's gonna be fine."
"I know... thank you so much, Mom."




Mom's words stayed with me the following months. It still hurt like Hell to wake up every morning and find Bella's side of the bed empty.
But it wasn't time to cry... it was time to live for my children.
And just as they said, my parents were at my side all the time.




Dad told me everything about his parent's story. He even let me read Grandpa Skip's diary and all his notes related to his experiment with Death.
"Don't get funny ideas, Cosmo. You can't play with the Grim Reaper. Just look what happened to my father. Promise me you'll just... let it go."




Don't worry, Dad. I'm gonna be just fine...




Wanda wasn't an easy baby to handle. She was constantly sick and her eyes were always bloodshot and irritated.
She cried in pain day and night and no matter how many doctors we visited (and I knew plenty of them), none of them knew what was wrong with her eyes.




I spent many nights awake taking care of her.




I must admit that those nights weren't pleasant at all...




With time, those tiresome nights gradually disappeared.




Wanda's eyes seemed to get better and she soon became a mellow and sweet baby.




I'm afraid I neglected Andrew a little bit during those first months.




He was almost three, and he didn't talk yet. I was worried, so I sat down with him one night and tried to teach him his first words.




It wasn't easy.
Seems that Andrew was so used to communicate his needs and feelings with gestures and by pointing at things, that he didn't think it was necessary to talk.




By the third unsuccessful night, I was feeling quite frustrated.




But I didn't give up.
One week later, my efforts paid up: Andrew's first word was "Daddy".




Listening my son's first words, must of them directed at my old Rabbit toy, was the best reward I could imagine.

________________




And so the years went by.




On the day of Dad’s 60 birthday, I asked him if he was afraid of growing old.




"Of course not, Cosmo. I've lived a very long life and, despite the hardship we've faced in the past, we've made it through.
I have everything I ever dreamed of as a kid.... so there's nothing else I could wish for now, besides enjoying my last years with my family"




Old age didn't change Dad too much. Sure, his eye-sight wasn't as good as it used to be.
But he was still as kind as always. And a blast with the kids!




Speaking of which, soon after Dad's birthday, Andrew turned five.








And he was still the spitting image of his mother.




Finally, three years after Bella's death, it was time for Wanda to become a little girl.








I now knew the reason behind Wanda's eye illness: She didn't inherit Grandma Brandi's gray eyes.
She inherited Pollination Technician's 56 alien eyes.
It was such a shock to me to realize that at least one of my kids still showed her alien blood.
I had completely forgotten about my duties as a Graslaxian with everything that had happened these last five years.
Good thing that I had Andromeda, who had also become a father a couple years earlier, to help me.




Speaking of my brothers, Molly was still engaged to Andromeda.
Their first son, Saturn, was born six months after Wanda's birth.
Icaro had graduated with honors at La Fiesta Tech and married his high school sweetheart, Kendall.
They didn't want to have children yet.
Icaro was working as a musician at a bar.




His wedding reminded me so much of Bella that I couldn't help but cry in the middle of the Ceremony.
Of course, I told everybody that I was crying out of joy for my brother's happiness.
If only that was true...
I still missed her so much...




That's why I spent all those years taking care of my children.
I wasn't interested in seeing other women.
Bella was the only one and that wasn't going to change.
Despite what Mom said about second chances (she had married Dad, after all), I wasn't ready to move on.




Besides, no woman would make me as happy as my kids.
They were part of Bella, after all.




And following my knowledge streak, I made sure to teach them everything they needed.
Especially little Wanda.




Wanda was so sweet.
So mellow... but there was also an air of sadness in her smile.
Perhaps she missed her mother?
It broke my heart to think that she had no memories of her.




I tried to make up for that loss.
I wanted to give her all the love her mother couldn't give her.




Wanda and I spent all the time together.




So much that the only times I could study my medicine books (or a couple of paranormal articles I've borrowed from the library) was during her naps.




Which she took at the study, so I could keep her close.




Grandpa Skip's notes had intrigued me. Not even the Graslaxians knew the stuff I read in that notebook.
There were actually people who were able to contact the Grim Reaper at will and bring back their loved ones.
Most people thought it was non-sense, but deep in my heart I knew it was true.
I had almost brought back Bella...
Of course, these studies were only done for the sake of knowledge.
Not that I would try that someday... of course not!




I spent a lot of time with Wanda... but I barely saw Andrew during the day.
Don't look at me like that! It's not that I didn't try!
But Andrew was... different. He was quiet and preferred to spent most of the time alone in his room.
And it was so strange to find him playing with his toys.
So much that the lone morning that I found him playing with a toy boat, I couldn't help it but take a picture.




The only time Andrew left his room was when Mom was around.
He spent countless hours watching her paint...




Or even play.




Mom was very old now, and she wasn't as patient as she used to be.
She now needed sometime to be by herself, so she didn't pay Andrew as much attention as she used to.
But that didn't matter to him.
Those were the only moments in which I'd see him smile.




The rest of the time he played the piano.
Seems he inherited Icaro's love for that instrument.




Meanwhile, I spent the first few days of that Fall teaching Wanda to walk.




Andrew's first day at school was near, and it seems that made him very anxious.
One day, we were having lunch together.
As usual, I was the only one who talked.




Andrew looked so gloom and he barely ate.
"Is something wrong, Andrew?"




To my surprise, Andrew answered me.
"I'm scared, Dad. I don't want to go to school..."




"There's nothing to be scared of, Andy. You'll meet lots of kids and you are very smart too. I'm sure you'll do well.
And if you ever have trouble at school, remember that I'm always here to help you."
Andrew seemed happier after our little talk.
And so was I... perhaps with time, Andrew would learn to trust me.

____________________




I'll never forget that night.
Andrew was doing his homework.
I was studying some notes for a surgery the following day.
Dad was reading the newspaper in the hall.




Mom was in the kitchen, making dinner.
Wanda had just finished eating and was waiting for Mom to take her back to her room.
It was bedtime.




Then, at around eight-o-clock, someone visited us from beyong the grave.
At first, no one noticed her.




But then Wanda, who was usually quiet and sweet, began to cry and threw a huge tantrum.




Dad said that Uncle David used to cry just like that when he was toddler.




Mom was going to take the roast out of the oven when,
"Wanda? What is wrong...?"
Her screams were heard all over the house.




The ghost's appereance left Mom in shock for a couple of minutes.




Long enough for the dinner to catch on fire.
Good thing that Mom had enough experience dealing with them.




By that time, we were all running downstairs to help her.
Meanwhile, weird things were happening in the living room.
All the electric appliances turned on by themselves.




Andrew was the first one to enter the kitchen.
"Grandma? Are you all right?"


My heart almost stopped when I heard Andrew's terrified screams.
"Stop her, Daddy!"- he screamed-"That mean lady! Stop her!"




I had no idea what he was talking about.
But then I heard a bone-chilling scream from the Studio.
"Stay right here, Andrew."- I said.




I found her waiting for me at the studio.
I couldn't understand what she was saying.
Just a lot of gibberish... a lot of angry gibberish.
She disappeared after our brief encounter.




The following morning, I asked for a day off at work.
I wanted to make sure my family was fine after Bella's visit.
Mom was so scared that she fell ill.
"Her face, Cosmo! She was... absolutely terrifying! Don't leave the kids alone ever again!"




Wanda was fine. She still played a lot in her room and was as cheery as always.




Except for a couple of nights when she would wake up in the middle of the night and cry.
But she soon went back to normal.




But Andrew... he didn't take things well.
Especially after Mom accidentally told him that the "mean lady" was actually his mother.
He constantly made a mess in the hall.




He didn't talk to no one at all.
He spent most of the time alone, reading.




And when he left his room or the studio, his face was... so sour.




He often spent hours just sitting in the hall.
And when I tried to talk to him... he just ignored me.




And his grades were everyday worse. He refused to do his homework.




Dad tried to make the kids forget that experience.
When I wasn't at home, he spent all the time with the kids.
Wanda was easy to handle.




But Andrew also ignored him.
He wouldn't react, not even when Dad prepared him his favorite meals.




Yet again, the only one he followed was Mom.
But she was busy writing her memories.
Ever since her illness, she wished to leave her experiences and teachings for the future Broke generations.
The death of Aunt Angela, a couple months before, also helped with that decision.
But she wouldn't finish them...




Mom didn't know what to do with Andrew.
He would just stand next to her and stare at the screen.
But he didn't talk to her either.




"I'm so worried about Andrew, Cosmo. He's acting strangely ever since... her visit."
"I know Mom! It's just... I don't know what to do with him! He's not interested in anything I had to say!"
"Maybe you could share some interests with him. He loves to read, perhaps you could share with him some stories?"




I wasn't sure it would work, but nonetheless I asked him to sit with me that night.
I took out one of Andromeda's old books.
It was "Out-worldly Tales from Graslax", a Graslaxian storybook.
It was one of the first books I read when I got interested in my culture.
Andrew was ready to know everything about his alien heritage.




And it worked!
I had never seen Andrew smile like that.
"So that's why you are green! I thought you were just sick!"
"Oh come on, Andrew! You already knew I was an alien... right?"




I told him everything. From the day Dad was abducted to my trips across space in the Graslaxian mother ship.
About his mother and how much respected and beloved she was by the Graslaxian culture.
He finally understood my odd costumes. The reason behind his sister's weird eyes.
I can't believe I was such a fool! Perhaps Andrew was only confused about who he really was!
Ever since that day, Andrew became closer to us.




And he even began to interact with little Wanda, whose black eyes always scared him in the past.




For the next couple of years, life was finally in peace at the Broke household.

But that wouldn't last...

______________________




It happened the day Wanda turned five.




In the blink of an eye, she grew into a lovely and happy girl.




My parents were so proud of their grandchildren.
Mom was so happy, that she couldn't help it but kiss Dad right then and there.




"Yuck! Can't they do that somewhere else?"- complained Andrew.




"I love you, Beau", she whispered, just as an unexpected visitor crashed into the party.




It was Wanda who noticed it first- "Daddy! Who is that?!"




"What's wrong, sweetie?"- asked Mom, still unaware that her life was finally ending.
My blood froze when I noticed who I was facing again... exactly five years after his last visit.




"Lilith Broke..."-it hissed- "It's time for you to join your antecessors..."




"No! Please! Not her! Not Lilith!"




"Your time is up, Lilith Broke. Say good-bye to your family, until the day they join you in the Great Beyond."




That scene broke my heart. Dad was crying his eyes out while Mom whispered "I'm sorry... I'll be waiting for you, Beau" over and over again.
This was a nightmare... taking place right in front of my kids' eyes.
That bastard Grim Reaper!
He couldn't take her away! It was not time!
She needed to see the kids grow up!
Molly was about to give birth to her third child anytime now! That kid didn't deserve to not meet his awesome Grandmother!




But the Grim Reaper didn't care... and took Mom away.
She died right then and there.
The kids and Dad cried for hours...




Me... well... I felt numb.
And I was so angry!
It wasn't fair!
That bastard Grim Reaper had hurt my children one last time!
Who was next on his list? Dad? Me?
I wouldn't let him leave my kids alone in the World.
I'd find a way to bring their mother back!
I'd win against Death!
I swear it!



________________________________________
Notes:
- Bella Broke died from hunger. Her pregnancy left her so tired she wouldn't eat... and she was so hungry she wouldn't sleep. I was tempted to use maxmotives to save her, but I didn't want to cheat. I was sure Cosmo would save her with their 100/100 relationship, but it didn't work! Man! Talk about bad luck!
- Bella is such a mean ghost! The worst one I've ever seen! She had only appeared once, but she spent the whole night haunting the house. She scared Lilith so many times I was afraid she'd die. It was such a close call and she almost died from hunger too. I almost deleted her grave after that! And I have no idea what she's so angry about! I didn't sell her bed! Just a W.C. and a bathtub!
- Right after Bella's visit, Lilith rolled the want to write a novel. With her 10 creativity points, I was sure she'd do it just fine. Lilith must be the slowest writer in the world. She almost finished it, but then the computer blew up. I was gonna make Cosmo repair it after Wanda's birthday but... you know the rest of the story. Man! I was so pissed! And I needed those asp points too!
- Lilith's death scene was so sad! They really made out on free will and just as they finished I saw the icon for "Dying" on Lilith's control panel. No Hawaiian dancers! It was so tragic! Was it because Lilith wasn't in the gold or platinum aspiration? Argh! If only she had finished that damn novel!
- Andrew is so odd. He's got 10 outgoing points but he barely interacts with anyone. Those "good times" pictures were all done in free will, though. And it seems that age (and perhaps Lilith's death) will make his mean personality to finally show. Just before I turned off the game, he was starting to look pissed all the time. Yay! I was tired of such nice Sims!
- And yup, he constantly followed Lilith, who also constantly ignored him. It was so sad! What happened to that doting grandma when he was a toddler?
- I hope I made Cosmo sound as messed up as he's supposed to be. Poor guy... he's so messed up that when Lilith died he didn't cry... he went straight to the guitar!
- Wanda is such a cutie! And she has alien eyes! ^___^ With the help of some really nice people I was able to fix the glitch. Halley and Saturn (Molly's kids with Andromeda) also show their alien eyes now:








- Beau finally acts like a family sim. He serves meal (that turkey was free will) and cuddles his kids all the time. I guess old age really kicked in his family instincts. Man! I don't want him to die yet! :(
- Here are Andrew and Wanda's (post-make over) stats:








- Thanks for watching! :)

Comments

[gryffindorstar.livejournal.com]

I've been quietly reading this legacy, it's one of the best I've ever read! Andrew and Wanda are so adorable! Awwww Lilth is gone =(