9.9

Brooke welcomed elderhood with open arms. Although she saw the ghost of Wilson less and less, she felt complete with Nathan by her side.

The two parents fell into sync with each other. Each day was almost as dull as the next. Soon Lauren aged into a full adult and everything hit her at once. She hated where her life was.
She hated her job. She hated her coworkers. She hated everything.
Some would call it a mid life crisis. Lauren called it bad luck. She tried countless things to better her life. A new car. New clothes. New job. Nothing seemed to fill the gap. Nothing made her happy.

Nathan and Parker grew up well. Both attended to by Brooke. Since even the sight of Parker made Lauren upset. She was once again unhappy in the one place she was always happy. On the eve of Parker's birthday she finally made the decision. The decision to leave it all behind.

9.8

Brooke sat by Lauren's side throughout the delivery. When everything was said and done, Lauren brought home a baby boy, Parker, named in honor of her ancestors. Parker would have his mother's last name and, Lauren swore, he'd never know his good for nothing lying father.

Work was terrible once Lauren returned. Of course everyone in every department knew she was dating the bank robber. Everyone, even Lauren, thought Derik, Leland, had known who she was. Lauren felt used. She'd never forgive him.



Life at home was just as hectic. Eventhough Brooke was able to stay home with the babies, it hardly made Lauren's life any easier. With the arresting of Leland, there was more paperwork than ever.

Parker made it worth it. At the end of each day.

9.7

Lauren slid into work with moments to spare and booted her computer. She hadn't been feeling well that morning, and she hoped the banana she picked up from the break room would do the trick. On a quick search her wiretap had picked up a conversation. She investigated the conversation finding good evidence, but no real leads. But she was sure she had her bank robber.

By time to get off Lauren's back was aching, so instead of her run, she left for the house. That afternoon First Bank of Sunset Valley was robbed.



She knew her body was changing, and it was only a matter of time until she accepted the reality. She was pregnant. She couldn't hide the signs anymore. She comtemplated how she'd tell Derik. It would have to be tonight.


A "quick nap" set her back thirty minutes. Lauren rushed around the house trying to clean and cook before Derik's arrival. Had she not napped, Lauren would have noticed Derik's tardiness. But just as dinner was finishing, Derik strolled in the house with a quick kiss and headed straight for the shower.
"Late evening," he called down the hall.

After his shower, Derik found Lauren alone on the couch. She sat pensively as if she was pondering world peace. He loved her like this. However, usually she started asking questions he couldn't answer.


Finding his seat beside her he fell into her arms, "What's up?" Lauren shook her head, waiting for the inspiration. She wanted the words to fall in her lap. She knew they'd never come. That it would be better to just spit it out. "I'm--" But before she could finish the sentence the house exploded.



It wasn't a fire explosion. No. It was the all the doors breaking open, the windows falling shortly behind. Derik shoved Lauren to the floor and covered her. She knew it was instinct, but it hurt her and the baby. Lauren heard Brooke scream in Nathan's room. Black dressed people swarmed the room, "POLICE, GET ON THE GROUND!"

Thoughts swarmed Lauren's head as the baby kicked in protest. Why were they here? They couldn't be in the right place. "Leland Currior, you're under arrest," a blonde said wrapping handcuff's around Derik's wrist, "for robbery of First Bank of Sunset Valley and as potential suspect of fourteen other robbies."

Thoughts and memories flooded Lauren as the blurry images of grainy silhouettes became clear images of Derik. She wasn't sure if she should cry or run after him.


Just as the blonde hauled Derik off the premises, Lauren went in to labor.

My favorite preggo pic....

9.6

Brooke didn't like this Derik. She felt like things didn't add up, and although Lauren loved him, Brooke was sure Derik didn't return the favor. But no amount of proof would steer Lauren away. Ah to be young and in love!

Slowly the nights out with Derik became nights in as the two started hanging out more and more at each others homes. Lauren didn't mind it waking up next to him either.

Brooke soon went into labor, and the baby looked exactly like his father. Brooke named him Nathan.



Even though he was different, Nathan was well loved in the house. Brooke had watched her nieces grow from a distance, so she knew children grew fast. But it was a completely different feeling when it was your own child. And boy did he grow quickly.

During the day, Lauren continued her search for the bank robber. Tapping cell phones and hidden cameras placed in public spaces and banks. Sometimes she would squint at the only picture she had of the robber, a grainy surveillance shot, hoping to get clues or ideas.



At night, Lauren would seek comfort in Derik's arms. She'd lay next to him, her eyes traveling his face trying to memorize the lines. She'd always feel the most connected to him at times like these. They were connected on so many levels. That's how she knew it had to be true love. It wasn't just a physical bond because they hadn't reached that point. And tonight as they laid in each others arms, she'd never wanted anything as much as she wanted him.

Finally they explored the last level.

9.5

Lauren’s hard work and continuous effort didn't go unnoticed. She was soon offered a choice between the secret service and a forensic scientist. Since she felt her calling was in forensics, she quickly accepted the position and moved to a bigger office.

Her quick promotion only helped enforce her healthy running habit. She used this time after work to de-stress before returning home. Each day she would run the two mile track around Central Park before jumping in her car and heading home. She grew accustom to the track and hardly paid attention. Regardless how unsafe she knew that was.

Running calmed Lauren. Each foot on the path was one more step from her problems. One, two, three, she counted each foot step. It wasn't until she ran into a solid surface that she realized she wasn't paying attention. Then she realized it was a person. He was quick to apologize and even quicker to introduce himself. Derik.

Day after day Lauren ran into Derik running in the park. He always played it off as a coincidence, but Lauren wasn't naïve, she knew better. But she indulged him anyway.

As love blossomed, Derik's "coincidences" happened less. Instead of meeting her while running, Derik waited outside her office.

Their daily encounters led to a string of rendezvous. They spent their first date staring at the stars.

Brooke watched from a distance as Lauren put a man first and her job second. Brooke beamed at her step daughter’s growth. She knew Wilson would be happy. Thinking of Wilson brought a soft spot in Brooke’s heart. Brooke touched her growing belly, conceived without a living man’s touch, and knew Wilson would get his wish. They’d have their own child.

Work as a Wiretap Reader was boring compared to her life with Derik. The two were inseparable outside work. Lauren began to believe it was time to take their relationship to the next level. She invited him home.

9.4

After Wilson’s death, Brooke suffered with survivor’s guilt. She’d lie in bed at night her head full of thoughts. She wanted to talk to him one last time.

She’d drift into troubled dreams. The dreams scared her, but she had alone time with Wilson.

She didn’t waste time with small talk as their bodies connected again. He’d return night after night to be with her in her dreams. Each night he returned Brooke was satisfied less and less with just kisses.

Brooke woke the next morning astonished. She didn’t think she was dreaming about the incident, but there was no other explanation.

Life as a lieutenant was difficult for Lauren. Her desk was a constant paper shuffle as cases came in and cases were dismissed. Her longest open case was one of a bank robber who had successfully robbed fifteen banks in Riverblossom and three banks in Bridgeport. She studied his face everyday hoping to find a clue or at least that her boss would remove his cold file. She called three suspects in the first week, all of which had strong alibis.

9.3

Lauren was hit hard. Every time she turned around, something would remind her of her father. Lauren wanted to shake his memories. She pictured moving away. Away from the furniture. Away from his presence.

Wilson's death haunted Brooke for days. There were always little reminders of Wilson. The left over French Toast he made, the paused game on the Maxiod Game Simulator, and worst of all, her own bed with both sides messy.


Both women worked around the house quietly, stealthily avoiding each other. It was too painful to talk.

While Brooke busied herself sketching, Lauren looked for a new place to live. It had to be small, she only had a desk jockey's salary to work with. She knew she'd eventually have to tell her step mom she was moving out, but she'd cross that bridge when she got there.

Lauren looked at house upon house in town. Everything she wanted was out of her budget; everything she could afford was outdated. Nevertheless she pushed on.

Her luck began to improve with her promotion to Patrol Officer which came with a nifty bonus and pay increase. After months of looking, Lauren gave up on the house search and decided it was time to update the furniture in her step mothers home.


((In reality, my game is so loaded with errors that it froze up when I tried to move them. It's probably better that way as Gen 10 has to have four kids.))

9.2

As a desk jockey, the days were long and many nights were filled with over time. Lauren stayed busy while building her reputation at the station. Tonight's activity was servalence at the Llama Bowl. The camera's revealed spectators walking and a middle finger or two occasionally. When her phone rang, Lauren knew something was askew.

On the phone her step mother was frantic. All Lauren could decipher was come home and quick. Lauren was tore between her step mothers wishes and her job performance. Her boss would be upset if she left. Her job performance would suffer. But her step mother never asked anything of her. In the end, Lauren reasoned it was best to go.

"Mom!" Lauren yelled as she entered the house. A quick sweep across the living areas informed Lauren that Brooke was not there. Lauren checked the office, but Brooke's chair was empty.

Lauren headed towards her mothers room when she heard a faint sob from the open garage door. Hesitantly, she walked towards the garage and down the stairs into the basement, the sobs getting louder. "Lauren!" her mother cried before taking her into her arms.
A quick sweep of the situation and a cold chill told Lauren everything she needed to know. Her father was dead, and she barely missed it.

9.1

After her grandfather's death, Lauren moved into his old room. She had updated it a bit, even purchased herself a hover bed, although she couldn't quite figure out what all the fuss was about.

Even with the added comfort of the state-of-the-art hover bed, Lauren could hardly sleep the night before. All of her hard work and dedication had paid off and Lauren was eager to start in the police academy.

Lauren graduated from the police academy with top marks; however, it would be awhile before she saw action. Even upon completion, Lauren was still a snitch.

But the starter position wouldn't keep Lauren down; it was only a matter of time before Lauren was promoted.

Not feeling Generation Nine... But Generation Ten is kicking...