Chapter 2.8: Indifference

Michael takes over potty training duties while Amira runs off to work. As a Getaway Driver she works until the early morning hours.

When Amira gets home she cares for Vera while Michael, Varinia and Claude head out to work. Just her and Vera all day. It's hard to find trime to sleep. The lack of sleep makes her grumpy, it's not a good combination.
"This is our home. Can you say home?"
"Home!"
"Right, moving on."

Exhiliration and terror at its finest.

"You can do it," Michael coaxes.
Michael's phone rings incessantly but he ignores the calls. This is his family time.

Varinia provides brilliant music for her daughter. Amira turns back to the chemistry set. It bugs her that she's never mastered the right combination of ingredients to make a young again potion.

Right in the middle of working on some chemistry Amira is hit with a wave of nausea. She hopes it's because of the chemicals and not something else.

The twins, always doing things together.

The grandparents sense that Amira and Micahel could use some help and they step up. Claude has never had to deal with a toddler before. This is all new. He manages not to drown the baby and counts that as a success.

Michael's mother is getting old. She recently dolled out the inheritance to her three children. Michael gets a lamp. Almost everything else is left to his brother and sister. He's not surprised seeing as Rico and Teresa have continued to live with and care for Lolly in her old age.

With her recent promotion to Bagwoman under her belt, Amira discovers that the nausea is due to pregnancy and not chemicals. She isn't sure how she feels about it. On the other hand, Michael is thrilled. He has always wanted babies.

With Lolly's impending death on the horizon they agree to stop by and bring Vera to see her as well as announce their second pregnancy.

Lolly is happy to hear that she has another grandchild on the way.

For the time being she bonds with Vera.

"So do you think this new baby will be red like you or green like Vera? Any chance it might look more like Michael?"
Even Rico thinks his mother's question is rude. Amira lets it roll off her back. Lolly has gotten so old she's practically senile.

Michael arrives to his mother's home with news of his most recent promotion to Code Monkey. He's climbing the ladder. Lolly is proud.

"I'm so happy for you Michael!"

Shortly after congratulating Michael and Amira, Lolly feels a tingling in her gut and starts to glow. She knows it is time.

She dies right by the kitchen table where her family shared a last meal with her.

Her family is there to watch her pass. Seeing Michael's mother die makes Amira realize that her parents will one day die too. The Young Again potion has prolonged their lives but they are still aging.

Grim appears in the middle of everyone mourning.

Lolly shakes his hand, content with the life she has lived.

Shortly after Lolly's passing, Amira goes into labor. Michael wants to name the child after his mother but Amira refuses.
"What if it's a boy?"
"We can figure out a name," Michael says.
"Our child should have its own identity." Amira counters.

Micahel moves 10 times faster than Amira can waddle.

I wish I could have kept up my workout regimen.

Michael is running at 500% Amira is at 50%. It's been this way her entire pregnancy. Excitement versus indifference. Amira knows that her feelings make her sound cold-hearted but she just doesn't know how she'll be able to love another child as much as she loves her first. Selma and Maeve have tried to convince her that her heart will expand to include her second child but Amira is not convinced.

Back at home this little guy appears in the kitchen.

Amira carries her second daughter out of the hospital. They name her Dahlia in honor of her birth on Spring Fling day. Amira doesn't feel the sudden rush of love and emotion just resignation. Michael is through the roof with excitement. The only thing Amira knows is that she does not want any more children.

"You have a little sister, Vera!"
He scoops the little girl up to introduce her to her new little sister.

Lacy Darer's ghost comes to haunt the Van Hofwegen lot.

Amira still isn't feeling as joyous as she thinks she should.
"Vera, will you just repeat after me? Baseball."
"Lightbulb!"
"Seriously?"

"I'm going to have to beg my boss not to fire me after all this maternity leave. Can you say 'beg'? Can you say 'Mommy would rather be at work than chained to her house like a pet'?"
"Beg!" Vera squeals.
"Great."

No one notices that it's Vera's birthday this time.

"Yipee!" Vera sings as she explodes into childhood.
She doesn't notice that no one is paying attention.

Childhood.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dahlia Van Hofwegen
Clumsy
Loves the Heat

Vera Van Hofwegen
Brave
Genius
Bookworm    

Generation 2 Rolls:
Marital Status: Couple
Children: 2
Primary Career: Criminal (Thief)
Secondary Career: Video Game Designer (Engineer)
Generational Goal: ?
Miscellaneous Fun: Opposites Attract/Perfect Match