chapter 40

[simtopi]

[ ch 37 ] [ ch 38 ] [ ch 39 ] « previous chapters || [ All ]

Chapter 40: Disconnected

Warnings: coarse language
 
And yay, 40 chapters! wow O_o

It was a good day to have off; no worries about classes or throwing in hours at the store downtown. Meadow opened the windows a touch, smiled at the sunshine and decided it was much too nice of a day to spend completely indoors.


Meadow: Hi Ben. Hope you don't mind us joining you.
Ben: Mind? Not at all.
Meadow: The winter's kept us in for too long. I thought Sage would enjoy being out for a little bit.


Ben: I'm guessing it looks like you might be enjoying it more than a little bit too.
Meadow: Can you tell? I'm glad all the mid-terms are done with. I felt like I was drowning in stuff to do for a while there.


Ben: How did you do?
Meadow: Well, I don't have a perfect GPA but I'm passing. Thanks to Willow.


Ben: Give yourself a bit of credit there. I'm sure all that determination of yours had something to do with it.
Meadow: It was difficult. I really don't know how anyone else in my position gets by. I guess I'm just not good at handling all of it yet.
Ben: Some sims manage, some don't. Some have it easy and some have to make sacrifices.


Ben: But you got by, and I'm proud that you did. I know it wasn't easy for you.
Meadow: I had help. Willow, of course, but you're a bit of a big deal around here too.


Ben: I'm just the babysitter. And you know, I'm happy to look after Sage any time.
Meadow: Thank you for that. Really.


Ben: Well, it's been hard getting back on my feet for a while... Sage has given me a good reason to enjoy interacting with people again.
Sage: vrrrrrrmmmm...


Meadow: I’m glad for that. I like that you’re in his life. He needs someone like you...
Ben: What, a “strong male role-model?”
Meadow: … well, yes. Not like I believe in those kinds of conservative gender-roles, but I like having someone like you around. Someone who's intelligent, reliable... mature. Someone that he could really look up to.


Ben: Flattery will get you everywhere, Miss Thayer. But you’re selling yourself short again. He has you.
Meadow: And I'm barely around lately. You know what I mean though. He needs...


Meadow: He needs a father-figure...

Ben smiled. There was a brief moment of awkward silence.


Meadow: Sage, don't play too far now. Stay close.
Sage: 'kay, Mommy!


Meadow: He likes you too, you know.
Ben: You think so? I could never tell with him. He seems to be in his own little world most of the time.


Meadow: Oh I know. Sometimes he’s shy. Sometimes he’s impossible. I know where he gets that part from.


Ben: You mean from his father.
Meadow: Yeah. His father.


Ben: Meadow...all this talk about father-figures.... have you ever thought of having him in Sage’s life?


Meadow: All the time. I don't know though. Being connected genetically doesn't necessarily make one a good parent.


Ben: True. But I know on my part... if I had a son, I’d want to know. And I’d want to be a part of his life.


Meadow: You’re not Rowan.


Ben: Look, I didn’t want to upset you. Whatever decision you make, I’m here to help. I just want you to be sure. And to be honest, I'd be okay if Rowan doesn't end up in your life. In fact... if it was up to me that is... I like it better this way.


Meadow: You’re right. We're family, Ben. It’s not perfect, but what is.




She didn't stop him when he leaned forward and kissed her gently. For a long moment, his lips pressed against hers, tenderly, almost innocently. She had always wondered what it would be like with him, being in a real relationship, but she had never made the first move.


Though in her mind, she knew this would be the easiest thing to do. Being with someone who was her friend, and who already cared for her child.

Someone who wasn't Rowan. So why was she still thinking of him?


She pulled herself away.


Ben: Meadow...
Meadow: We should get going.


Meadow: Sage?


Meadow: Sage, honey, time to go inside now!


There was no answer. She couldn't even hear the creaking of the tricycle he was riding.

She began to panic.
Ben: Meadow, calm down. He's probably just already went inside. I'll go look, okay?


Meadow nodded dumbly but mostly ignored Ben as he rushed inside the building. She swore at herself, angry at letting Sage out of her sight, even if it was for a moment. She called his name one more time...






Sage: Vrrrrrmmmm vrrroooom...!










They looked at one another for a moment.

Rowan: Where do you think you're going, kid? Nothing back there but a busy street.

That should have been enough. Most kids were scared of him. He wasn't expecting the reply.


Sage: Move!!!


Rowan: What the...?


Meadow: Sage?!

Her heart leapt into her throat as she turned the corner to see who was standing there. With her son.


Sage: 'm here, Mommy!




Meadow: Hi, Rowan.
Rowan: Meadow?


Meadow: Sage, come here, sweetie.


He couldn't say anything as he watched the little boy walk over to Meadow's waiting arms.


"It's important." Gabriel had told him.


She didn't have to say a word.

---

Linden: Jesus, Rowan.
Rowan: I know.


Linden: If Gabriel told you to go over there, you know that means. Willow knows too. I just saw her today, and she didn't say anything at all...
Rowan: You've probably noticed Willow doesn't really like to mention these important little details.
Linden: I'm beginning to see that.
Rowan: But I don't really give two shits about that right now.


Linden: I hate to sound insensitive, but how... I mean... how do you know if the kid’s yours? What did she say?
Rowan: She didn’t say anything.


Linden: What do you mean? Did she even talk to you?
Rowan: Didn’t give her the chance.


Linden: Wait. You didn’t talk to her?
Rowan: No. I just walked.
Linden: Rowan. Come on.


Rowan: What was there to say? What the fuck was I supposed to do?
Linden: I don’t know, Rowan. Thankfully I’ve never been in a situation like this.
Rowan: Hey you know you’re a whole lot of fucking help.


Linden: Help? Fuck that, Rowan. This is all you. You’re the one who’s going to have to deal with it. And if that kid is yours... well...


Linden: Rowan, you might be a Dad. And if you are, you're going to have to be a real one for him. You don’t walk away from this.
Rowan: Meadow hasn’t told me shit in all this time. What makes you even think I have a choice in what I can do?
Linden: Well you’re going to have to start by talking to her. If Willow already knows she could probably help...
Rowan: No.


Rowan: I'm done with it all. Willow especially. This bar is about the furthest I’m going for a while, because if it isn’t fucking zombies, vampires and witches, it’s ex-girlfriends and surprise babies.
Linden: You sound more scared of this little boy than you are of the zombies, vampires and witches.
Rowan: Goddam right.


Linden: And you don’t think that with all this weird supernatural shit going on around us, that this isn’t a good reason you should stay in his life? You know... to protect him?


Rowan: Or maybe he'd be safer if we all just stay away.

He threw down what he owed for the drinks, stood up and began to leave. Linden sighed and followed him out.






Linden: What’s his name anyway?
Rowan: Sage.
Linden: “Sage”? Jeez... he really is a Marlen isn’t he?

---

It was the end of the night. Everything that had to be done, was done.


There was nothing left to say or do except let the hours run it's course.






As soon as she felt her feet touch the ground, she bolted forward toward the house.


What she tried to hold back in front of Gabriel burst through, and even before she was in the door, she was crying uncontrollably. He had been nothing but perfect towards her. She'd made her mistakes and he was willing to forgive her. How did she easily let it all go?


After minutes had passed, she caught her breath. She almost couldn't stand the dark and the silence. She managed to get back on her feet, taking a few steps through the unlit hallway.


Almost blind, and without thinking, she walked to the cellar. The Mirror hung on the wall before her. She knew it could tell her something important, maybe even help her understand... but she didn't know what she could learn from it.


Jasmine was getting home. She wanted this night to be done. It was nearly 4 in the morning and she wanted rest. Even if every single one of her problems reappeared with daylight, she didn't care, as long as she got some sleep.



Gabriel hadn't been able to get to sleep. Giving up, he simply got dressed and started walking. He wasn't sure how long he'd been walking out in the cold, but he ended up here.


Seeing her cousin there, she sighed. Everyone else, it seemed, was having a worse night than she was.






Even from where he was, Adrian could see the look on Gabriel's face; the way his shoulders slouched, how Jasmine was trying to comfort him. He instantly sympathized.  Another time and place, Adrian had been there before. He didn't have to hear what they were talking about to understand what was going on.


The night stretched on slowly, yet there was little rest.


Some had the privilege of being comforted... having someone close, with soothing words and a gentle lullaby.


Some were happy to stay awake, just to make sure the ones they loved were safe.




She had pulled rugs down from upstairs so she wouldn't have to step on the cold floor. She found more candles to brighten the place with. After a while, she didn't even notice the discomfort. She had tried to make the Mirror work for her all night. All she could get was random glimpses of things that made no sense to her. Sometimes the images were familiar. She tried to write it all down anyway.


By dawn, she must have seen everything that had happened this night. From the inconsequential to the significant parts. She wasn't aware of how much time had passed.


Willow hadn't slept at all.


"You're quite determined, child," the Sorceress said, though she did not allow the girl to hear her. "What is it that you're trying to find?"


"The Mirror will only show you what you need to know, not give you the wisdom to solve anyone's problems. Least of all your own."


The girl was very intelligent, that was true. And the magic came to her naturally. Her spells bonded to her subconscious mind easily. Yet the Sorceress was still uncertain. Willow was still very naive despite all that has happened to her. If this girl was her Heir, she still was not ready.


But she was closer than Helene had first believed.



Next » [ Chapter 41: Trouble ]

----------------------------------------------------
Notes!
* about time, no? :D
* special guest appearances by smustleparty 's Chuck October as Ben, and naughtydolphin 's Yolanda Qwerty as Amara (evil witch in the bar :O )
* this feels more like a prologue of the next story arc, which is why it might be slow. I wasn't sure how to tell this chapter, but I think complaining about it in my last blog entry was kind of therapeutic and helped me sort it out.
* Ben and Meadow really weren't meant to happen. But apparently Ben's been crushing on Meadow hard, so I just went with it. And it also gave me an excuse to write him in. :D
* thank you guys so much for reading. And just generally being there and being awesome. *group hug*

Comments

[simtopi]

Yeah, ideally Rowan will be responsible. I think he has that in him. :) <3 Landy! :D