Keeping it Hot, Remar 2004

Remar, summer, 2004
Jorge and Jolie are 37, Grace Elise is 9, Ashlee is 6, Esther is 2, Chase and Amyra are 1

With only a few weeks of summer vacation left, the older Dawson girls spend many nights staying up late giggling about overheard gossip and cartoons. Grace Elise has entered that strange stage of the tween years and thankfully she is still the sweet little girl adored by all. However she has begun to drift off into her own secret world as her parents call it. There have been many times when they enter the backyard to find the girl staring at the sea, lost in a trance. At first it scared them, thinking that she had some sort of neurological disorder, but Julio confirmed that everything was fine and that she was simply a dreamer.

Jolie could understand that, she often found herself staring into the abiss contemplating her next recipe. She never did follow up on the offer to open her own bakery and she could no longer work for CupaJava either considering the commute. Instead she focused on her writing career and working on new recipes. She had to travel occasionally and even enter a competition now and then to stay revelant and desirable in the ever competative cookbook market.

Jorge was doing the same, keeping up his physical stamina that his job demanded. Sometimes a hostage situation proved scary and sims got hurt. Being in top form helped to prevent that and insure that he would always come home.

Jolie ran into her office to add a last minute note to her stack of recipes while Jorge gave the babysitter a set of instructions.

"Come on, we're going to miss the train into the Metro." Jorge said pulling her away from her laptop.

When they arrived to the Metro, Jolie could hardly contain her excitement. She loved these dates with her husband. Sometimes she planned them and sometimes he planned them, but either way they both ensured that thier spouse had a great time. They were making more of an effort to keep the fire hot bewteen the two of them since her slip up a few years ago. Jolie tried not to think about him and how much her mistake almost cost her. Thankfully she had a supportive and sexy husband to help her recover.

"Happy anniversary!" Jorge said when thier champagne arrived.

Fifteen simyears ago, they were married. Yes, they had thier ups and downs, but the love was still there and stronger.

"Did you see that Grace Elise was assigned the part of the oak tree for the back to school play?"

Jolie groaned, she needed to somehow create a costume.

"I did see the letter. I've been looking in all sorts of crafts books trying to find some sort of easy costume to make. I think a paper bag and green construction paper will be the best I can do."

"I also have to do some shopping, both of the girls have grown so much. Grace Elise needs new shoes and Ashlee needs some new jeans."

Jorge laughed. "We're like those old married couples. Tis is a date and yet we're talking about the kids."

Jolie laughed as well. "I know, what on earth did we talk about before?"

"Music?"

"Um, do you think we should sign the girls up for violin lessons?"

"I think that counts as talking about the children."

"Ok...tell me why Fiona insists on visiting our house? Do you think it has something to do with the next election?"

"The hood council has been asking for my advice concerning security matters."

"Is everything ok? We're not going to war or something are we?"

"No, there are no wars on the horizon, but we still have security issues that need to be addressed."

"Oh."

Jolie chewed on her lobster, thinking how to word her next thoughts.

"I want another baby." She blurted out.

Jorge gagged on his fork.

"Another baby? Sweetie, we have five children as it is."

"I know, but sometimes I want another baby. Especially since the twins are now crawling around. Soon they'll be in school and headed to university."

Jorge took another bite to give him time to think. "How about we wait a few more years. Until Esther is in kindergarten at least."

"But you know how long it took to get pregnant with the twins, we might not have another chance. I'll be 40 soon and my fertility will start decreasing faster then a train falling off a cliff."

"Let's give it some time, let's just wait and make sure this is really what you want, ok?"

Jolie nodded. He had a point. Some days she craved to hold another child and other days she wondered how she would survive with the children she had.

After dinner, they enjoyed some time on the rooftop, taking in the sights of the metro and enjoying each other's embrace.

Jorge couldn't get the thought of thier family expanding again out of his head. He thought about it on the train ride home.

He considered it while tucking in Esther.

He looked into the eyes of his youngest daughter and considered what it would be like to have another child with his green eyes running around the house.

Or even what it would be like to have another son. He couldn't see himself being very comfortable with the idea of six children, six university tuitions, six mouths to feed, six weddings to contribute to, six sets of school supplies, six sets of grandchildren. However, his heart warmed at the thought of six sweet smiles, six giggles, six sticky hugs after work and six 'I love you, daddy's.