The Broke Legacy: Gen 4.7 (2 of 3)

[simgaroop]

Previous update: Gen 4.6.






Since they had started going out on double dates, Marsha and Tim had become as close as they used to be as kids.
In many ways, it was as if they were still the two kids who used to annoy (and stalk) each other with "cooties".




They went back to their favorite places, like the old Arcade.
Marsha still beat Tim every single time they played SSX3.
Being the son of a videogame designer wasn't really an advantage when they played.




Opal wasn't very fond of videogames, but nonetheless she did her best to learn how to play them.




Tim often spent the whole time at the arcades discussing with Marsha about the new games that would come out the following Christmas.
They also complained about the patches released by the videogames companies, which often borked the games instead of fixing them.
Opal had no idea what they were talking about.




They also talked about serious topics.
Marsha was the first one who listened to Tim's worries about his sister.
He had noticed how sad and depressed Rosie seemed since she had gotten married.
Marsha listened to him every time he felt the need to talk.
She never judged or criticized his family's actions, and for that, he was thankful.




But no matter how close he now felt to Marsha, Tim was aware that he'd always will second best in her life.
He was deadly afraid of falling in love with her all over again. Or as deeply as he had felt a few months before.
He didn't want to betray Opal...




And he also didn't want to betray his cousin, Hobbes.
Hobbes was a nice guy who really cared for Marsha.
Tim knew it wouldn't be the right thing to steal his girlfriend back.




So, Tim focused most of the time in his developing acting career. After his moderated success at the Lulu Lounge, several clubs hired him once a week to perform his show in front of the clients. Tim was glad to do so, for it made him forget about his love issues, while letting him save enough money for his college studies.




Pretty soon, no matter where Tim went, there was a small group of fans who followed him everywhere.
It was overwhelming to the young teen, but "freaking cool" at the same time.




But none of his "fans" were as enthusiast as Opal.




Tim enjoyed the attention.
And most of all, the profit he earned from his odd choice of job.
He would live a comfortable life at Academie Le Tour if things kept going that way.




So, in many ways, Tim could say he was on top of the world.




Then why...




Was he still obsessed with what he wouldn't have?

___________________________




Rose Mary envied her siblings.
She'd give anything to go back to the lively teen she used to be, not too long ago.
Although it now felt like an eternity has passed since then.




She also wished she could be as innocent and carefree as Cody.
Able to enjoy the little things around him, like the taste of the first snow he's ever seen.




But no, she was now a "grown up".
And was now forced to deal with a situation she knew she wasn't ready for.
During the last months of her pregnancy, Wanda tried to motivate her to decorate the baby's nursery.




"We should go to downtown together! There's a new store that sells the cutest baby furniture I've seen!"




"I'm sorry Mom... but I'm not in the mood to decorate the nursery..."




Her husband was the total opposite, for he grew happier as the day of birth got closer.
He didn't mind that his job was unsatisfying.
He always came back home feeling on top of the world.




Although most of the time he came back so exhausted and stressed that he just plopped in front of the TV for a few hours.
That was the future he had promised her about?
A mediocre life, as a nobody? Just a host that wouldn't show the world his amazing talent as a cook?
Working his ass for a few cents, and then spend the rest of the evening in front of the TV?
And what about her? Taking care of her baby, and forgetting about her music career?
She couldn't take it anymore.




"Hey Rosie! How are you feeling?"
"A bit better... thanks. What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm just catching up with my favorite cooking show. You never know what you can learn from Selene McCook..."




"Oh, that's right! Selene McCook! Who the hell needs to go to a prestigious cooking school like Academie Le Tour when you can learn anything you need just watching a shitty cooking show?"




"Hey, what's going on, Rose Mary?"




"Everything's going on, Buck! We've become just what I always feared we'd be if we got married! There's no future for us! Just this... unhappy existence! I don't want to be a mediocre like..."
"Like me? You're calling me a mediocre? Do you think this is easy to me? Have you forgotten how since I was a child, I've dreamed about going to new places? This is not what I wanted for my life either, but I'm working my ass off to make it better for you and the baby!"




"Yeah! Look what good all your work is doing to us!"-
"At least I'm making an effort, instead of complaining all the day like you do!"
"In that case perhaps you shouldn’t had asked me to marry you!"
"Fine! Perhaps that was the mistake after all!"
Buck left the house like a fury, slamming the door behind him.





And once she found herself completely alone, Rose Mary broke down in tears.

____________________________________




Rose Mary spent the afternoon in the empty nursery.
She knew she had hurt Buck's feelings, and felt remorse for that.
Why couldn't he understand how she felt?
The baby moved.
She smiled: After spending so much time in the same body, she was now able to interpret every movement inside her belly.
Despite how terrified she felt about the whole pregnancy deal. Despite her fears about losing everything she had always dreamt about... she was now used to the special presence of her baby.
Maybe... just maybe... things would work out in the end...




"Rosie?"
Buck whispered as he entered the room. He looked tired and much older than his mere 19 years of age.
Rose Mary sighed.
"I... I'm sorry... for everything..."




"It's all right, Rosie. I'm also sorry for yelling at you like that. It's just that... I don't know how to make you feel better. You've been so miserable since our wedding, and it hurts to know that somehow I'm responsible for it..."
"I've hurt you too... it's just that I can't get used to the idea of dealing with all this right now. We should be at college, with all our friends and ..."
"You have to put your dreams away... at least for a while. I know it is not easy..."




"I've been so selfish... I'll make an effort..."
"We'll do this together. Don't worry, I promise everything will be all right soon..."

______________________________________





Helena left for college the following week.
She couldn't help it but feel guilty as she said good bye to her sister, but Rose Mary told her to not worry about her.
"Promise to send me an e-mail every week! I want to know everything about Academie Le Tour!"
"All right... if you insist..."




Tim was a bit sad as he said good-bye to Helena.
It often amazed him how much things had changed between them in the last year.
It was hard to believe that once those two fought and annoyed each other all the time. And now they were best friends.
"Don't be silly, Tim. I'll be waiting for you next year. I'll look for a good apartment for us, you'll see!"







The family soon got used to Helena's absence, and things went back to their normal course.
Buck still studied cooking books on his free time.
He decided that since he wouldn't be able to go to the Culinary Academy, he'd teach himself everything he needed to be a great cook.
So, he tried new recipes often, and soon the house was constantly impregnated with the sweet aromas of his baking goods.




Tim and Rose Mary often tried Buck's new recipes.
Well... except that time Buck made a strawberry cheesecake, for Rosie hated cheese.
"Your loss is my gain!"- had said Tim as he ate another slice of cake.




Just as he had been when Wanda was pregnant, Tim couldn't wait to meet his little nephew or niece.
He was excited about being an uncle, and already imagined how much he'd spoil the baby with toys and candy!




And before they knew it, the big day arrived.
Rose Mary went into labor just as the sun was going up.
Everyone was woken up by her terrified screams of pain.
"This... this hurts so much! Someone help me!"




But before Puck and Buck could get dressed to take Rosie to the hospital, she gave birth to a baby girl.




A girl who inherited her grandfather's unusual red hair and icy blue eyes, but also had her father's sweet face.
They named her Lyla, after Buck's mother.




Perhaps she was the product of an accident, but she was welcomed by her family with open arms.




But no one was as happy as Buck.




The moment he saw his daughter for the first time, he knew that everything that had happened in the last months had been worth it.
From now on, there would be nothing more important than Lyla's welfare.




But Rose Mary didn't share his opinion.
As soon as she looked at her daughter for the first time, small and fragile as she was, the real weight of what having a baby implied fell over her shoulders.
The size of such a responsibility overwhelmed her, and she felt extremely anxious.
She suddenly had difficulty breathing.
She had to leave now...
So, she handed Lyla to Buck,






She went to the still empty nursery...





And in that moment, Rose Mary suffered the first of the several mental breakdowns that would plague her the following years.
Not able to cope with her fears and anxiousness, Rose Mary's mind isolated itself from the real world.
For a moment, she lived inside one of the many dreams that wouldn't come true now.




"What is it, Buck? Do you want to see me play at the Campus Cafeteria? Of course, sweetheart, just let me finish my essay. You know how strict Professor Zimidy is!"




"I told you, Buck... I told you these would be the best years of our lives..."




Tim was the only one who saw her mental breakdown.
He freaked out, because he didn't know how to help his sister.




"Rose Mary! What's wrong with you? Rosie! Please! Get a hold of yourself!"




"Uh? What? Tim? What are you doing here? Where's my daughter?"
"She's with Buck..."
"Oh... good... I guess I should feed her, right?"

As Rose Mary left the room, apparently back to her normal self, Tim felt almost ill.
What was going on with his sister?

_________________________________




Tim wasn't sure if he should tell his parents or Buck about Rose Mary's break down.
Was it a one time deal, perhaps due to exhaustion from giving birth?
If that was the case, it wouldn't be wise to upset them now.
But if it was a deeper problem... he didn't even want to think about it.
If only Helena were here. She'd know how to help Rosie.

Too bad that she was living so far away, and when Tim called to her apartment, he got no answer.




What he didn't know, was that his sister was currently having a small party with her... special friends.
Max Tyson, who was now over his "emo" phase.




Dawson Thayer, who was looking forward to the Llama Ramas first concert at Academie Le Tour, although he knew things wouldn't be the same without their bass player.




And Abhjeet Junior,




Who traveled all the way from La Fiesta Tech to spend some "quality time" with his first girlfriend.
Helena didn't hear the phone ringing so, after a few more tries, Tim hung up.




"Well, it seems it's up to me to make sure she's all right"
So, for the next few weeks, he observed Rosie when she was alone.




Tim noticed that Rosie seemed happy and well adjusted most of the time.
She even seemed to enjoy spending time with her new daughter.




But when Lyla was asleep, things changed.




Rose Mary's breakdowns weren't frequent, and most of them were induced by exhaustion or stress.
Taking care of a newborn baby was harder than she imagined, and she often found herself on the verge of an anxiety crisis.




Those were the precise instants in which her mind snapped out from reality, taking her to a world where all her fantasies were true.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! Now let me introduce you to my band, the Llama Ramas!"




Tim had little idea about the way the human mind worked, but he knew that Rosie needed a distraction.
Something that would let her do something she truly loved, at least for a little while.
Something that would serve as an outlet for her anxiety and exhaustion.
And soon he figured out the perfect solution.
"Buck, I need to talk to you about Rosie... Have you noticed anything odd in her lately?"




Sure enough, Buck knew about Rosie's breakdowns.
He had even helped her during a couple of episodes, just before they went to bed.
"I guess she's evading her difficulties by imagining herself in a fantasy world in which she's a popular musician, surrounded by her public..."
"Well Buck, I think it's time we let her live those fantasies... in the real world."




"But how...?"
"Well Buck, let's just say that my career as a comedian has put me in contact with several night club managers, and one of them has a project I'm sure Rosie would be interested in. Now listen well..."




Buck found Rose Mary in the hall a couple hours later, on the verge of another anxiety crisis.
"I'm so tired! I can't take this anymore! Why won't she fall asleep?!"
"Rosie? May I speak to you for a moment?"




"In a minute, Buck... Lyla needs her bottle and..."
"What Lyla needs the most at this moment is a happy mother..."
"But..."
"You've done an outstanding job taking care of Lyla so far, but you also need to go back to the things you love the most. Remember how I told you that our dreams were only on hold?"
"Yeah?"
"Well... Tim just told me he found the perfect job for you. There's a Battle of the Bands contest going on at the FM Club, and they need a judge. I'm sure you remember FM's owner, Nick. Well, he's really looking forward to having you as a judge, because you are a talented musician."




"That'd be amazing, Buck, but... what about Lyla?"
"You'd only need to be there a couple afternoons a week. I already asked my boss to give me the night shift those days, so I can stay home and take care of Lyla while you work at FM. Tim said he'd also help so... what do you think?"




"Oh, Buck! Thank you!"

__________________________________

Part 3

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Nice update! Where did you get Lyla's baby outfit replacement from instead, the diaper? I've been looking all over! and links please?

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Here's the baby replacement, from AmberDiceless:

http://ambular.djssims.com/index.php?category=2&subcat=18