Love Remaining, 2005

Peacar, winter, 2005
Lyndon is 51, Nicole is 49 (Susie MacAstral is 19, Anthony Wren is 24)

Nicole didn't remember entering her name in the raffle, but apparently she did. When they called to say that she had won a free trip for five sims to the grand opening of the vineyard Montalcino, she started laughing, thinking it was a joke. It was no joke and now she was browsing the market at Montalcino waiting on her table for lunch.

As she looked over the menu she hoped that Lyndon would stop and grab lunch on his way back from the airport. He had left earlier to meet Susie and Anthony who had agreed to the trip.

Nicole sighed, Faith was unable to come for obvious reasons. Her morning sickness was really bad and her recent appointment had revealed that her nutrition levels were not optimal for the baby's growth. She worried about her baby girl, she knew that she was no longer a baby but she couldn't help but worry. Would Faith be able to care for her child, especially given her job situation. Nicole wasn't a fan of Faith's choice of employment, but there wasn't a lot of options for a university dropout who refuses to wake up before noon. Nicole giggled, that would be ending soon as Faith's baby inducted her into the society of motherhood with middle of the night feedings.

Lyndon soon arrived with a very groggy Susie and hyper Anthony. After saying hello, the couple retired to their room while Nicole and Lyndon decided to enjoy a vintage sparkling nectar.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Nicole nodded, "Are you?"

"I'm a bit nervous, I hope I don't get cold feet."

Nicole laughed. "You better not, besides you're still married to me anyhow."

"Thank goodness," Lyndon said kissing her.

The couple made sure to enjoy their quiet time with a soak in the hot tub,

relaxing as the sun's rays bathed the vineyard

and a spirited debate over glasses of an early TS2 era nectar.

They enjoyed dancing in their private balcony

and relaxing before

a light dinner.

The next day Nicole and Lyndon stood before Susie and Anthony and renewed their vows.

Promising to continue to love and cherish each other as they grew old together.

They sealed it with a kiss, naturally

to the happy claps of their foster daughter and hopeful future son-in-law.

After the short ceremony, Nicole kept one eye on Anthony as he whispered to Susie. She liked the young man, he had ambitions and was brillant. She loved watching him discuss philosphy with Lyndon or tickling Susie. Susie was bright as well, but not in the same way her brother, Harvis was. Susie's plans didn't involve finishing her degree.

"Have you made a desicion?" Nicole whispered to the young woman.

Susie nodded. "I'm going to finish this simyear. The university said that my studies would qualify me for an associate's degree."

"That's good."

"It is. I'm nervous though, I just hope I can line up some auditions."

"You'll be fine."

"Are you two going to whisper the entire day away," Lyndon said coming up behind them. "Our table is ready."

For their vow renewal meal, the group enjoyed fresh food from the market and the best vintage nectar the vineyard had to offer.

The nectar continued to flow, after all this was a vineyard, after the meal.

"May you continue to have many simyears of love remaining and may one day I have a love as strong as yours." Anthony toasted the happy couple.

---

The trip couldn't last forever, no matter how much they wanted it to. Eventually they had to return to the snowy county. Lyndon was excited to try his new recipe learned during one of the vineyard's cooking lessons

while the cat was entertained with something floating in the air.

"What's wrong with the cat?" Nicole asked after enjoying gooseberry crepes for dinner.

"Not sure, it's like he took a couple of puffs on the bubble machine."

Lyndon's work continued. He had some new clients, like Suzanna.

Suzanna was trying to deal with her unexpected pregnancy and the remorse over not finishing the vaccine in time to save the life of young Ping.

"You must not hold that over your head."

"I know..." she said. "but I can't help it. I feel like I failed."

His other client, Tobi, also had complex issues, but then again Lyndon would be hard pressed to find a resident that didn't have complex issues.

"I think I'm over her," he said, "but everything is so complex now. I was working on building my relationship with my girlfriend. She's pregnant again, can you believe that? I'm going to be a father again. I'll be a father of six...five...can you count a child who is..."

"He is still your child."

"Yes, well, I'll be a father of six...five...six..."

Ginger was finishing up her sessions.

"I ran into her at the store," she said touching the fabric of her dress.

"How did you feel?"

Ginger thought about that day. She had been minding her own business, wondering why she always looked so huge so quickly when she almost bumped into the woman.

Jolie was there with Ilila and it was strange how they didn't even notice her standing there, mere inches from them.

"I miss her friendship sometimes. I know that we won't be able to be friends again. She said that her marriage is more important and that she can't be near him..."

"How did that make you feel?"

"I respect that. I'm doing the same thing with Tobi, I don't want Grex to doubt my love for him."

---

Anthony nervously fiddled with the menu. He thought of the simian visitor's center because Susie often said that she felt a connection to the mysterious stone statue.

Susie glanced at her boyfriend and wondered if today would be the day. She had been wondering that every simday since finding the ring box in his drawer. She didn't mean to find it, but she was slipping a note in there when she saw the black box. She didn't open it, but she knew what it was. It was the reason behind his questions concerning marriage and their future. She didn't fear it, she just hadn't thought about it.

"To quitting school," Anthony said bringing the glass of nectar to the air.

Susie giggled as Li gave the couple a strange stare. "I still have next semester to finish."

"To quitting school next semester and following your dreams. May they lead you to happiness."

The path to happiness. Susie grinned as the thought popped in her head. Unlike the first time she thought it, she allowed herself to enjoy the sensations that came along with Anthony's path to happiness.

"Are you happy?" Anthony asked as they cuddled on the cold bench.

Susie nodded. "Very happy."

"Are you happy with us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Am I enough? Is this enough for you?"

Was it enough? Susie still had thoughts of others. Thoughts that belonged in a porno even though she sometimes desires to fulfill those fantasies so bad. The thoughts won't leave her alone, they chase her into her dreams and follow her as she walks around campus, bumping into willing partners. Something always holds her back from grabbing a random stranger, or strangers, to fulfill her desires. Some simdays, it's the face of her foster sister Faith, pregnant and alone. Other simdays it's the face of Bill and the pain that he caused her...she doesn't want Anthony to feel that kind of pain ever, especially not because of something she did.

"It is enough." She said truthfully. She knew that the thoughts would never leave her and that she would always desire to be passionately wild with others, but she wanted the simple things in life as well. She wanted to grow old with one sim and perhaps have a kid or two. She wanted to dance more than anything and continue her training.

"It's not enough for me," Anthony said getting up.

Susie's tongue went dry. A break-up she wasn't expecting. She watched as the man paced back in forth in front of her. How do you respond to something like that?

"I want more, I want you to be my wife." He knelt to the ground. "Will you marry me?"

Susie's breath caught in her throat. She knew that he had the ring and she knew that he would eventually ask the question, but she hadn't thought about her response.

She was too young, much too young. Not quite twenty. She was supposed to be enjoying her youth, her singlehood, not planning weddings or thinking about the number of children she would have.

She still had her dancing dreams ahead of her. She didn't want to be teaching children the basics of dance all her life. She wanted to be on stage performing for crowds. She wanted the hear the thunder of applause and see new sights. She wanted to see herself in the music videos, popping and locking with the best of them.

How could she do that as a married woman? Anthony's new job wouldn't allow him to travel with her and she didn't want to ask him to give up his dream that he had worked so hard for...but she didn't want to give up her dream either.

"Susie? Susie, say something...anything." Anthony pleaded, his eyes watering as he watched the love of his life struggle with her answer. His heart was aching as each second of silence slipped by. He couldn't move from his spot on the ground and his body started to shake as the thought of being without her shot through his veins.

"Anthony...I...I don't know. I'm scared."

"Baby, please..." he pleaded, blinking back tears. "You don't have to be afraid, I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you."

"I know...I just don't think-"

"Don't think, Susie." Anthony demanded, not willing to allow her to run away because of something as insignificant as fear. "Tell me what your heart says."

Susie closed her eyes and listened to the steady beating in her chest. She breathed in, thinking of all her fears and worries and what-ifs and then she slowly released her breath. The answer was crystal clear.

"Yes...my heart says yes. I will marry you, Anthony."

---

• I needed a family to play-test my new lot, Montalcino, a vineyard resort. The Humphrey's were the lucky ones. I wish I were a sim so I could visit Montalcino, it's so pretty.
• Susie hasn't been rolling school related wants, she's makes the necessary grades based on her going to class, but her heart isn't into the university. After next semester she will drop out.
• Lyndon has been getting a lot of new clients, which is good for his business, but not for the general mental health of the hood.
• Lyndon and Nicole's conversation on the SUN Boards and the start of their relationship.