Chapter 3.4: Somewhere Between Here and There

"We should just get married and stop sneaking around like we're teenagers," Jude says in the lobby of his apartment building.
"We should get all our ducks in a row. You need to finalize your divorce and there's the matter of Rebecca. . ."
Jude cuts her off with a heavy sigh, "Why do we have to talk about Rebecca? I wish I had never gotten involved with her."
Vera steals a kiss.
"I'm not running away," she assures him, "I'm in this."
"I wish I had meet you first."
"Me too."

These days Vera finds herself almost exclusively tutoring her cousins' children. She longs to have a child of her own but things are still very complicated with Jude.

"Is a planet an invertebrate?" Moshe asks.
"You're such a doofus," Vivian whispers under her breath.
"Planets are not animals and therefore are not invertebrates. A jellyfish or an insect would be considered an invertebrate."

"Michele, you made it."
"My dad made me come. What did you want to talk about?"
"As you know, your dad and I have been seeing each other for a little while now."
"I'd have to be an idiot not to notice all the sneaking around. So what?"
"Well, it's getting a little more serious and I'd like to ask you both to move in with me and my family. I'd like to take this next step forward with your blessing."
"What does it matter?" Michele asks harshly. "You'll get bored and take off just like everyone else my dad has ever dated. Why do we need to move?"
"Michele, I have no intentions of leaving. I'd like to marry your father one day."
"Yeah, right! Who's going to want to take on a man with TWO kids? You do know he has another kid on the way, right?"
Vera lets out a shaky breath that she didn't even know she was holding.
"I'm aware. I want you to be comfortable with our relationship and I hope to be able to build a relationship with you too."
Michele frowns and sighs, "Whatever."

"How's it going over here," Jude asks.
"I guess we're moving." Michele says abruptly. "Since you both insist on doing, whatever this is."
Michele gestures wildly at the three of them, "It doesn't really matter if we live downtown or not."
"Oh?" Jude looks between Michele and Vera. "Is that so?"
"I was thinking about what we talked about this morning," Vera says. "I'd like you all to move in. I'd like to start building our family."
Jude grins from ear to ear.
"We'd love to," he says as he reaches for Michele's hand.

Michele gives her dad's hand a small squeeze.

"Um, I have to go to work so I guess I'll see you guys later."

Vera and Jude bump into Jess as they start to make plans to move in.
"Haven't seen you around much lately," Vera points out.
"Been super busy with all my roadie work," Jess admits. "I wasn't even aware you were dating someone new."
Vera blushes, "Yeah, Jude's moving in soon."
Jude nods, "Hopefully sooner rather than later."
"Very cool. He's better looking than your last beau."
"Jess!"
Jude stifles a laugh.
"Well it's true!"
Jude's cell goes off right then and Vera watches his smile fade.
"That was the hospital, I have to go."
"Is everything ok? Is Michele ok?" Vera asks frantically.
"Rebecca is in labor. I'm sorry I have to go. I'll call you later!"
"Who's Rebecca?" Jess asks.
Vera sinks her head into her hands.
"His pregnant, unstable, evil, mooch of an ex."
Jess' eyes go wide, "Oh."
Vera sighs, "Yeah."

"This is Lindsay," Jude says. "I want to move in tonight."
"I don't think I even own a crib?" Vera says honestly. "What happened with Rebecca?"
"She handed the baby over and told me to leave."
"Just like that?"
Jude nods.
"I want a fresh start," Jude admits. "Let's start fresh together."

Meet Bodica.

Varina enjoys the existence of fresh blood in her house. The baby is cute too.

Writing new songs about yellow babies and men in tiny shorts.

Amira is keeping her distance. She's not sure how she feels about the instant family her daughter has brought into their home. She hasn't decided if she trusts Jude yet.

Michele and Jolie start hanging out. It's weird to be in high school at the same time as your potential step-aunt.
"Do you know how to cook fish for dinner?" Michele asks.
"I'm a vegetarian. I'll probably just throw any fish I catch back."

Three men and a baby.

Bodica is a kitten no more but only Jolie notices.

"Are you going to sue for custody?"
"This burger is great! Much better than hospital food." Rebecca exclaims around a mouth full of food.
"Rebecca, I'm here to talk about Lindsay."
"I gave her to you didn't I? What more do you want?"
"Will you sign over your rights?"
"You've got the kid, isn't that enough?"
"I want full custody."
"And I want to be able to see my daughter some times but maybe you could convince me with a few hundred thousand simoleons"
Jude hangs his head, "Don't do this to us. Just let us go."
"She's MINE too," Rebecca spits out through clenched teeth. "I should be compensated if you expect me to just walk away."
Jude stands suddenly, "This isn't over."
Rebecca smirks, "It never will be."

Michele thought living here would be weird but having someone to hang out with and do homework with is pretty sweet.
"What'd you get for 2?" Jolie asks.
"Unethical business practices."
"Of course!"

She may not trust Jude entirely but it's not this baby's fault. Amira inspects Lindsay and then snuggles her close.
"I suppose you're almost my granddaughter."
Lindsay gurgles and sighs.

If Jude has any hopes of paying Rebecca off he needs to start bringing in some simoleons of his own. The equestrian center calls his name.

Varinia plays with the adorable yellow baby and blows raspberries until her lips go numb.
"You remind me of my Maeve. Such a sweet baby."
Varinia wipes at a stray tear.

The garden is coming into its own. Even the gnomes have taken notice.

Amira works away in the garden making sure her family has fresh ingredients at all times. With a growing family comes growing needs.

"Does the cat enjoy this at all?" Michael asks.
"I don't know but it's pretty funny," Michele admits.
"Fair enough."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I just realized I never gave you all Dahlia's adult stats.

Dahlia Van Hofwegen
Clumsy
Loves the Heat
Neat
Neurotic
Great Kisser
LTW: Mystic Healer

And our other additions as follows:

Jude Hubbard
Technophobe
Artistic
Bookworm
Charismatic
Green Thumb
LTW:  Home Design Hotshot

Michele Hubbard
Adventurous
Can't Stand Art
Lucky
Socially Awkward

Lindsay Hubbard
Artistic
Friendly

Bodica Hubbard
Adventurous

And for the sake of keeping track Lindsay's mother really is a gem.
Rebecca Jeffrey
Mooch
Evil
Charismatic
Sailor
Unstable
LTW:  Zombie Master

I didn't realize that Jude had another child on the way until after he started a relationship with Vera and then I felt awful for being such a terrible sim!goddess and not keeping track of what was going on in my town. It helps that Rebecca is a total psycho so I didn't feel too bad taking her child away.