8.22 Family Ties

The music was therapeutic for both Lauren and Wilson. Slowly the pieces of their lives started clicking. Through their nightly jam sessions the two were able to catch up on the years of bonding they missed.

Soon Brooke joined them, and it seemed that the family was back together.


Lauren had a new interest in school. Although Wilson was fairly sure there was a guy involved. Brooke reminded him regularly that Lauren was a big girl, and she could take care of herself. In truth, Lauren found out she needed high grades to get into the police academy. Boys was the last thing on her mind.

Through her family research, Lauren found out that there were many career driven, independent women in her family. Lauren longed to be one of them. She put her dedication into her studies.



Wilson aged gracefully into an elder. Even though his body was physically changing, Wilson was still as shy and clumsy as ever. He decided it was time to start a new hobby, tinkering. In his spare time, he attempted to teach his daughter to drive, although he soon regretted it.



Lauren learned to drive with little time to spare. She quickly graduated into a beautiful young woman.

8.21 Mistaken Intentions

Ruining lives wasn't exactly what Lauren had hoped would happen. Her mother was also slightly over exaggerating her behavior. Yes, Lauren skipped school regularly, but she was visiting her grandfather mostly. Yes, Lauren's grades were dropping, but Lauren felt the best lessons were taught out of school. Her intentions weren't to ruin lives. But when her mom went off the deep end and aired all her dirty laundry, Lauren , as well as the rest of the family, was shocked.

Leaving was easy for Lauren. She loved her aunt and her Pop Noah. Plus the grass was greener on the other side. Until she arrived on the other side.

Lauren entered the house after the death of her Pops to a problematic marriage. She longed to go back but knew that going back wouldn't be any better. Her father's marriage issues plagued her.
She could hear them arguing. Something she'd never heard before. She had caused the problems. After all she was born to the wrong father. Sleep was hard for her; many nights she tossed and turned.
Some nights she would finally get to sleep only to be disturbed by a knocking noise. The noise returned night after night until finally she left the comfort of her room to inspect the noise. She crept across the house trying to find the source. It wasn't until she entered the garage that she noticed the rhythmic beat of drums.


Reluctant to break the beat, Lauren tip toed down the stairs. At the bottom she found her father. As if sensing someone was there, Wilson stopped drumming and turned to see Lauren watching him, "That was good."
Wilson smiled and motioned at a guitar across the room, "Why don't you join?" Lauren wasn't any good at either instrument, but she would try for her father.

8.20 She wouldn't understand

Wilson felt a string of emotions. In the past week he had found out that he indeed did have a child. Even better, not one child but two! Kids were something Brooke always detested, but she enjoyed her nieces. This fact made him feel over joyed. Shame was always nagging because of all the people these two children could come from their mother was his wife's sister. He was angered by the fact that his daughters were now sixteen, and he was just now finding out they were his daughters. He beat himself up for never realizing the family resemblance before.

Once everything was said and done, only Lauren decided to move in. A fact that both upset and elated him. Although Lauren decided to move in, her twin sister Shante decided to stay with the man she called 'father'. He'd always heard the girls call Dean father before, but now it bit at him. Chewed at him. Ate at him from the inside. What he hated the most was that he couldn't tell his own wife. She'd never understand.

She had tried. Many nights, when her father was asleep and Lauren had retired, Brooke would leave her drafting room and find Wilson in the kitchen staring pensively out the window. She tried to comfort him. He could remember being her support all those years ago. He couldn't open up to her though. She'd never understand.


Brooke never quit her job; Lauren was at school, and there was only so much of your father in law you could take. Wilson frequently excused himself to go grocery shopping even though the family didn't really need more food. In the past, Wilson enjoyed watching the families play. He'd dream the impossible, of a family with Brooke. He did this for years, until Dean started taking his baby twins to the park. Every day. At the time Wilson was walking past. He pushed the anger down. He had no one to talk too, and the one he should? Well she wouldn't understand.

It killed Brooke to watch her husband walk away. Something he did a lot now. She knew that he was going through a rough patch, although she didn't know how bad. Brooke felt betrayed. It was her twin sister that did this to her family. Of course, every time she reached out for him he'd find some way to walk away.

Noah, although not oblivious to the stress in his own home, was content. He still talked to all parties on a regular basis. His wife was gone, something he has finally learned to live with. Both of his daughters were adults and beautiful. Even though they had never fought this hard (or had any reason too), he knew they would eventually get over it. He now had four grandbabies (although he really wanted five). And now one of those grandchildren lived in his house.

He knew it was his time to go, and when the reaper came he gladly went home.

8.19 Parental Conflict

Brooke came home from work to find Lauren in the den. "I don't mind you here," Brooke said to Lauren as she played video games, "but you have got to start listening to your mother and not arguing with your father. Lauren, do you hear me?"
"Yes Ma'am," Lauren said, setting down the controller.
"Your mom is worried about you. I think you should go home and visit with her." Brooke thought her niece would argue, she hated going home to the babies and her family, but she went willingly. She even stopped to give her aunt a hug on the way out the door.

Brooke's phone rang interrupting her cuddle session with Wilson. She reached over to answer only to find a frantic Addison on the line. "I need you and Wilson to come to Hideaway Fort. It's an emergency." Before Brooke could ask any questions, Addison had already hung up the phone. Wilson looked at his wife and nodded, there was no use in fighting about it.

Brooke's Bwan Speedster was immediately speeding through town. She could only image what had happened. Her mind told her something was wrong with Lauren. Why had she suggested she leave so urgently?

Brooke's car screeched to a stop in front of the Hideaway. Brooke was half way out of the car before it was even in park. But her sister was crying. She ran to her sister throwing her arms around her. "I have to tell you," she said through sobs, "I can't deal with it any more."

She continued jabbering. "She stays out at all hours. She fights with us. I think she knows. She knows." Brooke rocked her sister trying to calm her.
"Addison, you aren't making any sense right now. What's wrong? Is Lauren okay?" Addison shook her head, relieving some of Brooke's grief.


"Wilson is Lauren's father," she said through gasps. "Well, both of the twins." Brooke's mouth fell open. Addison's eyes darted around the room as Wilson stopped in front of them.
"What!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the empty room's walls. "You didn't think you should tell me this years ago?"
"I wanted too," Addison yelled over him, "Dean didn't want me too." Brooke took a step back trying to soak it all in. Her husband was her nieces father. The issue in front of her escalated as she watched her timid husband's anger hit new highs, "Dean," he shouted, "didn't want you to tell me that he was raising my daughters?"

Suddenly Dean's hostility towards Wilson made sense to Brooke. "No, No," Wilson shouted, "Don't give me your excuses Addison." Brooke wanted to interfere, to lessen the pain on Wilson, but she knew this wasn't her battle. "I want you to let my daughters decide where they want to live." He spat towards Addison.


"Like hell I will," she shouted.
"They are teens now, they can decide," he bellowed. Addison didn't seem to like this idea for as soon as it was out of his mouth she reached through the space separating them and slapped him twice.

With all her rage gone, Addison looked from her sister to Wilson and ran in tears out the door.

Wilson stood, trying to push his rage down. He'd never been that angry before. He'd never had a reason. "Let's go," he whispered to Brooke.

8.18 Unearthed Memories

Sometimes Lauren would go to school once leaving her aunt and uncles. Most days she would spend time by the ocean, playing chess with old widowed men. Lauren loved Sunset Valley. It was a small town with a warm temperature and the majority of the population was ‘old’. Lauren loved the stories the little old people told her.
Lauren found herself skipping school frequently to visit the library. At least once a week her grandfather would join her. At first, she was scared. Scared he would tell her mom or aunt. But Pop Noah didn’t care if she was in school or not. He was lazy himself, and although he was strict on raising his daughters, education had taken a back seat since Lauren was born.

Pop Noah was like clockwork in his old age. Every Wednesday at 11:00 he would visit the library to see Lauren. Lauren would attend school for the first few periods, Art and English class, then slide out the back door. Lauren in turn would always be waiting by the door, book in hand. “Today I have something special,” Pop Noah said, flashing a thick book at Lauren.

“This is our family book,” he said opening the dusty cover, “I just happened to find it while I was cleaning in that horrible outdated basement.” Lauren was intrigued. She flipped open the book. Inside were pictures of people. Very dated pictures. Above the pictures of the happy couple was the name Parkes. Lauren figured this was where her family came from. Each page showed the passage of time as the couple grew and a family was born. As each family grew the elders would pass and a new family was born.

“It stops here,” Lauren said, looking up from the page, “Gavin Brandon.” Noah chuckled. “That’s my father,” he said pointing to a picture. Lauren looked between her grandfather, who was looking away as if remembering, and the image. She could see the family resemblance. There was a long pause before Noah spoke, “He must have worked on this during a project. I guess we have to add on to it.” Lauren looked at her grandfather as he winked her special wink.

Lauren knew what she had to do, and she knew just the place to start.

8.17 Mind of their own

The day after the funeral Addison gave birth to two more twin girls, making Anastasia's drug induced prediction correct. Against Wilson's wishes, Brooke stayed at her sister's house. Four kids were demanding, even in the best of times. It really helped; however, that the twins had just aged into tee


Wilson tried to be the best son in law ever by spending time with Noah on the couch. The two bonded over the cooking network and video games. They were the hardest days of his life, and he wanted nothing more than to have a day job like his wife.


Addison called Brooke regularly to update her Lauren's new defiance habits. "Brooke," she'd often say, "she's staying out all night, she's arguing with Dean and myself, and her grades are dropping."

Brooke usually just listened. "I'm sure it's just a phase," she tried to comfort her sister. Addison hoped it was true, but Lauren's behavior never got any better.


The sun light poured in through the windows. Ugh, Brooke thought as she looked at the clock, why didn't Wilson wake me. Before the thought was even finished Brooke heard a female laughing in the kitchen. Jealously raged through her as she flung open the bedroom door.

She entered to find that the female voice belonged to Lauren. "Lauren, what are you doing here!"

"Baby," Wilson cooed, "She's been over here about an hour. She had an argument with Dean." Brooke eyed her favorite niece. Lauren smiled before grabbing her backpack, "Thanks for breakfast Uncle Will, but I gotta get to school."

8.16 Until my Return

Wilson decided the night shift wasn't for him anymore. Now that he had a wife, he needed to spend time at home when she was awake. Wilson quit the police force and after much pushing from Brooke, decided to put his energy and efforts into his music. Since work for a beginning musician was scarce, Wilson found himself doing a lot of chores around the house.


Brooke enjoyed listening to Wilson play any instrument. He was so passionate about it. Even the twins enjoyed listening to him play, especially Lauren. But Wilson's drum set was loud, and when Anastasia would join him with her guitar, the noise was almost unbearable when Brooke would try to work. Instead of arguing, she moved her work upstairs taking over her old bedroom.


One day during a jam session, Anastasia fell to the floor. An incident that resulted in her spending an overnight stay in the hospital.


Fearing that she was short on time, Brooke decided it was time to question her mother. She wanted to hear it from the source. Not someone who pushed papers or someone unrelated. She wanted to hear it from her mother. "Mom, were you a vampire?" Anastasia laid motionless on the bed. So still that Brooke almost thought her mom didn't hear her. Just before she repeated her question, Anastasia spoke. "I was baby. I'm sure you remember Kareem," as Anastasia spoke Brooke tried to remember him. It took a while, since he was an elder when she was just a child. "He was your brother." After seeing the confused look on her daughter's face she explained. "Vampires live longer than humans baby. I'm sure you have noticed you've aged faster than Jodi," Brooke had noticed it, "well, you'll die and she'll look exactly as she does now."

"I didn't want that. I met your father and I felt like I was ready to grow old with someone. To spend the rest of my life with someone. That's where Ricky comes in. He helped me. Kareem was happy. Vampirism missed him, although it didn't his son. My daughter though, Diane, she hate it. She hates you." Anastasia's voice sputtered out. Brooke wanted to cry again. She opened her eyes again to finish her story, "Just protect your sister and her babies. I have a feeling she has twins." Anastasia drifted into a silent sleep and Brooke stormed from the room, attempting to hold her tears back.


She was released later the next day. Anastasia busied herself with the childish things she'd always loved, the swings, cartoons, and the trampoline. She had just got comfortable when she felt a strange tingle.


But the grim wasn't finished laughing at the family's grief. Anastasia had inspired him; he decided to take a few jumps on the trampoline.



As the family was mourning, Addison came forth with good news of her own. Dean and she were expecting another baby. Although Brooke was happy for them, Lauren seemed to show different thoughts.

Addison pulled Brooke aside at the funeral to share her worries concerning her daughter's behavior. "Brooke, if she's like this now, how do you think she'll be as a teen?" Brooke shrugged. This is one of the reasons she never wanted to be a parent. The dreadful teenage years. "Have you spoke with Dean about it?" Addison stopped and stared at Wilson, who was approaching.

Wilson pulled Brooke into him. "Love, come with me,"he whispered into her ear. He could tell that a party was the last place she wanted to be at the moment. Even if the party was to remember the passing of her mother.

((Brooke has completed her ltw Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.))

8.15 Joyous Memories

The wedding invitations had been sent out, but a wedding wasn't all Brooke had planned for that day. Addison had also scheduled the twins birthday for earlier that day.

Brooke wasn't the least bit upset that "her day" wasn't just about her. She was excited to share it with the two best nieces ever. So what if she was biased?

Her extensive working with the twins ensured that she would take them to the cake on their birthdays.

The family gathered around the table to welcome the girls to their new responsibilities.

The girls quickly began to show their differences. Lauren, who loved the outdoors, quickly harassed Uncle Wilson to take her outside. While Shante the couch potato, preferred to bond with Noah over Saturday morning cartoons.

The morning sped by and soon it was time for the whole family to attend the wedding.


Anastasia broke out her guitar, something that made Wilson's fingers itch. He longed to feel the strings beneath his own fingers.

Sim weekly reported it to be the "wedding of the year," as it wasn't everyday the hometown four star celebrity sweetheart got married. Especially lost cost, family get togethers such as Brooke's.


Jodi showed up to congratulate her friend and party with the newly weds.

Finally there was the vow the Noah never thought he'd hear Brooke speak.



After the party, the newly weds returned home tired. However, Brooke had one more surprise for Wilson... a brand new drum set.


(((At this point in the game Kyra and Isaiah are still alive (Gen 2), all of Gen 3, 4, 5 is dead, All of Gen 6 is dead except the kids of the Gen 5 non heir, and for Gen 7 (that would be Noah and his brothers) only Gage the first born is gone. I seriously find it funny how that works... ))