Fortune’s FancyChapter 1 part 2

A Legacy by Nicbemused and

simself Nicki Bemused with possible commentary by Other

Characters

Alex arrived to find that her spacious new residence was an empty lot.

“Glad I stopped at the mall to get new clothes and a good hair-cut. I can see it will be a while before I’ll have time to do that again.”

(Well, I did warn her that she was going to need to develop. Oops, 4thwall, sorry).

Fortunately, Alex’ new job in her dream career and what was left of her college money gave her a bit of money to start construction and she soon had a roof, walls, and one or two other necessities.

And she was very very happy when the last necessity arrived. He’d even gotten himself polished up for the occasion. (really his cousin couldn’t stand the cowboy look and took him shopping and made him get a haircut, not that he minded that Alex thought he looked hot).

First, Leif got a quick tour of the common areas.

“We’ll just pass through here. Keep going back.”

Which were mostly bare.

“Not much to see here, let me show you the bedroom.”

And a much much more thorough tour of the bedroom, during which they were mostly bare.

“I missed you so much!”

“I missed you as well.”

“Lets just stay here all day.”

And so they did.

Alex couldn’t believe how nice it felt to snuggle up to Leif at night in their very own home.

However, Alex soon became somewhat suspicious that they might have been a bit too anxious to “tour the bedroom”.

“Oh, Goddess, this is the third time this week!”

And then she became even more suspicious.

“Blargh. Not again!”

Finally there came a day when noting fit but an ancient sweatshirt and some ratty old gray sweats.

“Stupid jeans. Why won’t they zip? And why is my belly showing in my tshirt? Oh. Oh? Oh! How long has it been since….?“

There was no denying it. Alex was pregnant. She sighed and called in to work. There would be no promotion today.

Leif had been halfheartedly looking for a job while he worked on his paintings and made contact with the local art community. However, with a new baby on the way and his fiancée on maternity leave Leif’s search suddenly became more urgent. The police department was hiring, so he signed on. Alex thought he looked very handsome in his uniform.

“Oh, officer, take me.”

“Any time, shweethart, any time.”

“Have you been studying all day?”

“Yep, Woodprose and Berngeist’s book on how to break the story of the century is really interesting, and I don’t want to lose touch with my field while I’m out.”

“As we are discussing the baby and your maternity leave, do you think we should become married before the baby is born and you return to work?”

“I’m happy with our relationship right now. How about you?”

“I am content.”

“Well, that’s settled then.”

“Darling, I checked our balance today and there does not appear to be much in our account.”

“I know.” Alex sighed. “But the baby will need a crib and a changing table and clothes and diapers. Do you think you’ll be selected for the promotion? Or should we start looking at maybe a second loan?”

“My friend who runs the local gallery did ask if I would like a few spots in the next big show. He usually does well.” He said it tentatively. Though he preferred to work on his art, Alex had encouraged him to get a “day job” when she discovered she was pregnant.

“I know you love to paint. If you think you can get enough done when you aren’t on shift and it will bring in enough to tide us over, I’d say go for it.”

Even though Leif was now painting to prepare for the art show as well as working full time and prepping for his promotion, he made sure to help around the house so that Alex didn’t tire herself out. He was beginning to wear himself out instead.

Fortunately that promotion he was hoping for came through and, with that and enough paintings for the show, he could relax a bit.

Leif even had time to appreciate his fiancée.

“Darling you are so beautiful. I wish the baby would come so that you were comfortable again and we could enjoy each other fully.”

Leif was the best not-a-husband he could be.

It was not long before his wish came true and the baby was on its way.

“Goddess damn you! This hurts.”

Not really a good idea to damn your love, especially not when your goddess can hear you.

“Did you hear something?”

“No! I’m BUSY!

Alex was in labor for so long that Leif eventually laid back down on the bed to watch.

“You could at least have had the grace to keep panicking.”

“It is difficult to panic for an extended amount of time. I was unable to continue.”

“You may want to rethink that. Hold your son for a minute. Bryan, this is your Papa.”

“What? Why? Darling?”

Oh. Oh dear.

“Darling, it is not that I do not adore babies, but we did not plan for twins.”

“You. Can’t. Plan. For. Everything.”

“Are you sure we can…”

“Shut. Up.”

And so Bryan and Brenda arrived in the world. The first generation born to our Legacy! Aren’t they cute! Who’s Nicki’s widdle legacy babies? Who’s Nicki’s widdle legacy babies? Er, ahem. Sorry.

“I guess we really do need that second crib my boss gave us at the shower.”

Guys. Guys? Are you sure this is a good idea? You just had twins literally 30 seconds ago. Guys?

“Do you hear something?”

“No. Goddess. That third trimester was long, get over here!”

Oh, well, I guess you know what you are doing. Though you probably should have filled that prescription first.

“Who loves her mommy? Who loves her mommy? Brenda does, oh yes she does, oh yes she does.”

“Darling, your boss is on the telephone.”

“Give me just a second.” Alex snuggled Brenda to her again. “Your mommy love you back, but she loves her job too, yes she does, so she’s going to lay you back down for just a minute while she talks to the big editor man and then she’ll be right back.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m sure I’ll be fine. I was just dizzy for a second.”

“You are certain? You appear somewhat green.”

“I’m sure. I’m probably just a little short on sleep.” Then, under her breath, “I hope.”

“Are you well?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

“Perhaps the doctor? I think this is not ‘just short on sleep.’”

It was a less and less likely theory. And Alex knew it.

After all, being short on rest almost never forces you to wear your ugliest PJs.

“Leif?”

“Yes?”

“I’m afraid we are having another baby.”

“Hurray!”

“You must rest! I shall take care of everything.”

Leif had no fear at all of dirty diapers and was always willing to change and feed and play with the babies which was fortunate because Alex was much more tired with this pregnancy.

“I’ll be there in just a minute to get Brenda. Just a minzzzzzzzz.”

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me haaapeeee when skys are gray….”

Leif didn’t mind doing the housework this time around either. It is unfortunate that his singing voice did not match his cleaning abilities.

“You’ll never know dear, how much I loooovvvveeeeyou...”

Fortunately, Alex had a great appreciation for his singing.

“My friend has offered me another show.”

“Did you see the article my paper did on the last one? You were a huge critical success.”

“So I should take it?”

“Absolutely!”

“It hardly seems as though any time has passed since our first babies arrived.”

“Believe me, if you were carrying this belly around, you’d know exactly how mu time has gone by.”

“All right, little ones, time to get older!”

“Happy Birthday Brenda!”

“Happy Birthday Bryan!”

“Isathwp!”

“Weeeeeeeeee!”

“Papapapapapapa.”

“Yes, Bryan, Papa. Papa thinks Bryan is a handsome little boy.”

“Papapapapapapa.”

“Yawn.”

“Aw, time for beddie byes for you, isn’t it Brends.”

Brenda patted Alex on the shoulder three times and then laid her head against her mother.

Once the twins had had their naps, though, they were raring to go and their parents were anxious to have them up and about as well.

“Come ooooonnnnnn Brenda! Two! More! Steps! YayBrends! ”

“Say Papa, Bry, say Papa.”

“Uh uh.”

“Mama, Papa where Brends?”

“I here Bry. Bunny is make noise. Mama is make noise too. Papa is beddie byes.”

“Hi Brends. Hi Brends. Hi Brends. Play with me! Not Bunny!”

“K.”

Mama was definitely “Make noise.”

“Leif Johansen, you wake up! This baby is coming now! Leif?!”

“Your papa gets no woohoo from me ever again. No he doesn’t. Oh no he doesn’t.”

“Coo.”

With Bastien born, Alex had more energy to spend playing with the twins, even though she went back to work almost immediately.

“Yay, Brends! You go girl! Do what feels right!”

“Feel right! Yay!”

“Play with me, mama, play with me!”

“Is yum?”

“Is yum.”

“Papa say milk is from moos. He say lernt in school soon.”

“Ok. Is yum. Is good. Yum.”

“Slee Brends.”

“Bry? Why noises?”

“Not know.”

The twins hadn’t heard the noise makers since their own birthdays, so they didn’t recognize the sound.

“Happy Birthday, Bastien!”

“Mfffrazle.”

Leif was always enthusiastic about teaching the children new things, though Alex was often interested as well. Leif got to Bastien first, however.

“Say bottle, Bastien, say bottle.”

“No. Say Papa. Papa Papa Papa. Papa. Mama. Bwends.”

“How is Ms. Bemused doing, darling?”

“She’s great, she says to say hi.”

Most evenings Leif worked on his art while Alex networked or tracked down leads for her next story. They were both working hard as well as taking care of the babies.

In no time at all, the twins were ready for their next birthday.

“Goddess, Bryan is hot. I hope we can grab some quiet time tonight after the kids birthday!” Alex thought.

“Mmmm, Alex, yes….”

“Another birthday darling.”

“I know, it seems like they are growing so fast.”

“All right, you two, blow!”

“Hee, hee, crandles, Bry!”

“Fi-yer! Brends, Fi-yer!”

The twins were growing like weeds. Near instantaneously, in fact.

“Yay! Yippee! Another birthday! I feel great! I love you, Bry and Mama and Papa!”

“Didja see how fast we grew? Didja? I wonder what did that? I feel funny!”

“All right, you two, eat your cake.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Alex and Leif snuck in a quick dance while Bryan grabbed his cake and hurried over to take the desk chair.

“Hey! I wanted to sit there!”

“Too bad, so sad, it’s mine now.”

“Maaammmaaaaaa!”

“Sorry Brends, Bry got there first.”

“Aw. That’s not fair.”

“Brenda, life sometimes isn’t fair. Eat your cake.”

“Yes, Papa.”

“What isa cake? Why nobody here? Aw, evbody is beddie byes. I grow soon, bunny! I grow soon!”

The first day of school was hard for Alex and Leif because neither of them had been able to see the kids off. Alex was back by the time they came home, though, and waited for them to get off the bus. They both rushed up to her to tell her about their day.

“Mama!” Bryan said. “There’s so much to learn! I want to learn everything!”

“Mama! Mama!” Brenda was not going to be outdone. “There were so many kids there! I wanna be friends with EVERYBODY!”

Seeing her own kids so happy made Alex wonder about her half-siblings. They’d nearly be teenagers now, so she took a look to see if anything had appeared about them in her old home-town’s paper. She saw a couple of society pictures of Robert and Bunny, but none of the kids. Ah, well, maybe someday.

Thank you for joining me for the part two of chapter 1. This part has been rewritten from the original version, and I believe it works better.

Coming up:

How will the twins adapt to school?

Will Brenda learn anything?

Will Bryan make friends?

Will Bastien ever grow up?

Will Alex ever catch a glimpse of her long lost siblings and, if she does, will she like what she sees?

Questions, Questions, so many Questions!

See you later!