Rose 5: We'd better get busy

   I deleted the lot I'd previously used for the seasonal festivals (the one for Starlight Shores), and installed and plopped down the one the sim guru did for Monte Vista on a 30x30 lot near the water.

    Going back to Rose's perspective.

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    I come down the stairs to the sound of Pedro cursing at the oven. I giggle and ask him what happened, and he shows me the burnt waffles. Then, I smell them. Ew! 

     I walk up and kiss him sweetly before I offer to make another batch. He merely rubs his very short beard, shrugs and walks over to slump down in the computer chair.

    When we sit down to eat, he's a bit more talkative. Um, a lot more talkative. He asks me what I think about having kids. I nearly choke on the bite I just put in my mouth.

    "That's okay. I can understand why you wouldn't have even thought about it yet. We don't have to anyway." he says almost sadly. "Forget I said anything."

     I swallow the tasteless waffles when he turns back to face the front.

     "You didn't let me answer! I just got taken off guard is all!" I say quickly. He turns back to face me again, and I feel myself sink down in the chair. "I ... just haven't thought about it."

     We sit quietly and eat breakfast, then he says he's got to go out and do something. I do the dishes and head upstairs to paint some more.

     I'm freezing, so I get the idea to paint something to make me feel warmer. I'd seen a great photograph of a place called Sunlit Tides, so I try to create what I have in my memory of it. In the meantime, I think about what Pedro said about kids. Me a mom? The idea sounds crazy. I was just getting used to the idea of being engaged. My painting takes on this unreal aspect. I wish I could get more realistic with my paintings, but I just can't seem to grasp the concept of realism. Still, I see promise in this one.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pedro walk in behind me. For some reason, he prefers to go around the house in his underwear. I don't mind, but I do wonder what he'd do if someone should happen to come by.

     "Hello." I say quietly.

     "That looks nice. Certainly warmer than here."

     "That was the idea."

     "I'm sorry about breakfast, about asking about kids and all." he says and then gets quiet again. He acts like he wants to say more, but he can't figure out how. 

      I put down my palette and turn around to face him. "I was just taken off guard is all. I haven't given it much thought before you asked."

      "That's okay! You don't have to."

       "But I have been thinking since you left this morning, and yeah, I think that could be fun."

       "Fun." he asks me to clarify.

       "Well, not all fun. I mean yeah, we'd have to get a new house so it'll be a little while before we can, but I do want kids." I grin. He smiles back. It's so cute... it's like he's trying to hold back showing me just how very happy I just made him, and he's not being very successful at it.

    I giggle and reach up to hold his adorable face in my hands. "I see that smile." I tease. "You really do want kids, don't you?"

     He lets out a large, quick sigh and says, "Yes. As many as you think you can handle." Whoa. "But only if you want them. It's not going to make or break me, but yes, I do."

     "Well, then we'd better get busy ..." I say. Then when his eyes widen, I quickly add, "Get busy making money so we can buy a new house."

      He laughs a minute before his whole countenance crashes. He goes on to explain to me that when his boss called yesterday it was to tell him he'd been let go. His face looks crushed like he feels like he's let me down.

     "But your book sold. We'll be okay." I say quickly.

     "My book got bad reviews. I think the only sales it's making are people that are curious to see just how very bad it is." he says sadly, but then his face looks more determined. "I think I just chose the wrong genre. I have a great idea for a Sci-fi novel."

      I sigh a little. "Well then, we'll make do until that gets written. Besides, we have my paintings.. even if I want to keep this one."

      He actually laughs. "If we keep them all, we'll starve."

    So, we get to work, and the weeks fly by again. I work on my paintings. One particular painting of a cat I want to keep. He laughs when he sees the cat has got a fishing pole.

      He doesn't act like he really likes it, but he agrees to let me keep it when I tell him we could put it in the kids' room.

   He makes over a grand for a fishing opportunity that came our way, and I get reimbursed for the cookies recipe as well as get $100 for making two batches for a bake sale. I guess they really liked my cookies. That pulls us through before his book gets published.

     It's a hit! His book does awesome! So much better than the last one, and sims are begging for a sequel.

     Before we know it, spring starts showing signs of its arrival.

     Knowing that we want to look good for the wedding, we both head to the gym. I can feel Pedro watching me from across the room. When he sees me looking over at him, he gives me this small smile. He's still got those sunglasses. When I asked previously about them, he told me with a shrug that he'd always worn them and he was used to them. I let it go.

     We're planning on getting married on Love Day. It's so romantic! 

     My parents can't come over, but they sent us their congratulations and a death threat if we didn't send pictures. (just kidding about the death threat) Pedro tells me he'd prefer it if his parents don't come. This makes me a little sad. He's at least met my parents over the internet. I wouldn't know his if I passed them on the street. He simply says he doesn't want them as a part of his life.

    The Mancini brothers show up, and Camillo walks over to take the treadmill next to me. I'd flirted with him a few times in the past, but nothing, obviously, came of it. He congratulates me on my engagement, saying he'd heard about it from his brother. I can't help but feel a slight wave of disappointment coming from him. I thank him for the congrats and head off to take a shower.

     Apparently, Pedro doesn't break a sweat when he works out, so after my shower, I find him playing his mandolin for tips. (I've been corrected.. it's not a guitar.) I decide to practice my lackluster chess skills while I listen to him play.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I see Carlo (Mr. Evil) walk up to the chess table. He asks if he can join me. I don't mind, but I can feel Pedro's gaze.

     As we play, he starts talking about the upcoming spring festival and how they traditionally have a kissing booth. I get the feeling he's implying that if I worked it, I could make a lot of money from what he says and the way he says it. I act noncommittal about the whole thing, but I must admit I'm curious about the possibility.

     He doesn't stay long, and I'm guessing that's because of Pedro's hard stare pointed in his direction. I try my best to figure out how to finish the game Carlo just abandoned.

    Pedro ends up earning $138 in tips for us. He says he's going to spend some of the warmer days ahead playing in the city's town center. That should be great.

     The snow finally all melts, and the spring festival comes around. I decide to go ahead and try out that suggestion that I work the kissing booth.

     When Pedro sees me, he walks up, removes his sunglasses, and says, "Rose, what are you doing?"

     "What's it look like I'm doing? I'm earning a little money."

    "We're not hurting for money that bad, certainly not for you to be doing this." he says and stands right at the booth, discouraging anyone from approaching.

     "You're acting ridiculous." I say.

     He looks at the price list. "Five simoleons for 'on the lips' huh?"

     "Yeah." I say, wondering what he's up to.

     He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet and slaps five simoleons on the booth's counter. Then he looks at me with a lopsided grin and asks, "Well?"

      I can't help but laugh.

    I lean forward and kiss him. When I pull back, I say, "See? It's simple." Then I take in his expression.
     His eyes bore into mine as he says quietly, "Rose, as the man who's going to be your husband in a few short weeks, I'm asking you to get out of this damn booth."
     I nearly faint. That was so .... hot. He stares at me for a few seconds like he's debating walking around the counter and pulling me out of it himself.
      However, a small smile shows up on his face as he says, "Did you honestly think I was going to let anyone else kiss you?"
     I feel silly, but not really in a bad way. I'm kind of smiling as I bite my lip before I say, "I didn't think of that. I just thought it'd be fun."
     One of his eyebrows raises as he stands there waiting for me to get out of the booth. Oh geez, why didn't I think of how this would be for him? I certainly wouldn't want him manning the other booth. I bounce and skip my way around it, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him before I apologize. Then I take the fiver off of the counter.
    "Here." I say as I press it into his chest. "No charge." I can't help but giggle.
    He refuses to take it from me and says, "Keep it. It was worth every cent."
    "Better idea." I say and point to some silly machine I see. "Let's go spend it on that thing."
    "Okay." he says, sounding like he has no hurt feelings.

   I can tell Pedro feels ridiculous doing this, and that he's doing it for me. I'm a little disappointed that it doesn't give us the top results, but I guess he's still a little miffed at me for the kissing booth thing. I bet that messed up the results. He doesn't understand why I only look a little happy. Then he pockets the little piece of paper that the machine spit out. My insides turn into mush when I see that he very carefully did it so that he wouldn't accidentally lose it by not really getting it into his pocket.
    "What?" he asks when he sees me looking at him.
    "Nothing." I say with a smile.

    We wander around looking for eggs. When I touch one of them, it turns into a gnome statue! Cute! I'm going to put it next to the witch one that magically showed up.
    Pedro surprises me when he mentions that he'd like to have the wedding here. Since when is he a romantic? I agree as I look at him and try to figure him out. He really looks happy. I mean real happy. I mean.... he's so happy I wouldn't be too surprised to see fireworks shooting out his ears. Or something like that anyway.

    As night really falls, we play a round of horseshoes with Luis Toledo. He talks to us about how he never got married. He was always busy with his work.
    I think about how good the food is here and how happy I am that there were no dishes to clean up afterwards.

     I watch as Pedro looks behind me to someone walking by as I say, "Looser does the dishes for a week." That brings Pedro's eyes back to me just before he grins. "What?" I ask.
     "Remember this was your idea." he says with a twinkle in his eye.

    My turn rolls around and I miss. ... and miss ... and miss again.
    Pedro says behind me to Luis, "Bad luck I guess." I can sense the smirk on his face.
    I should've cast that good luck charm on myself, but no, that would've been cheating.

      He wins. I ask for best two out of three, but he declines, saying he's tired.
      "Alright fine. I do the dishes most of the time anyway." I almost pout.
      "Not true." he says, walks over, and lightly kisses me. Then he smiles and says, "But you've got them all this week." He laughs at my mildly-angry expression.

     A few days later and after a day of painting and writing, Pedro goes out to check the mail while I do the dishes.
     He walks back in with an unreadable expression on his face. He tosses a few things on the table while standing on the other side of it as he says, "You have a letter. And... a package." He pauses a fraction of a second before he continues, "From Giacomo."
     I immediately launch into an explanation that I'd told Giacomo that I was engaged and all that, but Pedro just stands there with his feet apart and his arms crossed, saying nothing. The bubbles on my hands from doing the dishes start dripping to the floor as the silence stretches out. When I realize I'm dripping, I turn around and reach for a hand towel to dry them off.
    That action apparently broke the tension somehow because when I turn around Pedro's hands have moved to his hips, and his stance is more casual.
    "Well, aren't you going to open them?" he asks and gestures to the items.
     I'd not wanted to open them in front of Pedro, but I realize that if I mention that that it might look suspicious. In the letter Giacomo writes about how if Pedro ever does me wrong, etc, that he'd be there for me in a heartbeat. I go ahead and show it to Pedro with an apologetic expression.
     "I didn't encourage him." I say.
     He's quiet as he stares at the letter for longer than it should take to read it. He looks resigned and a little sad. I want to snatch the letter from his hand, rip it into several pieces, and throw them in the trash.
      "Pedro?" I ask, worried.
      "I guess this shouldn't really surprise me." he says quietly, doing exactly what I wanted to do to the letter. Huh?
      "What do you mean?" I ask now, really getting scared. Does he think I'd cheat on him?!
      He sees my expression after looking up from the floor and rushes over to me to hold my face in his hands. "I mean that I figured that there might be someone who'd have a harder time letting go."
      I think back to the weeks before I'd asked him to move in with me. I'd liked all the attention I got, but I got tired of it. I decided I wanted Pedro more than the rest of them. And now he thinks I'm encouraging these men again. I don't want them! I want the man that's standing right in front of me.
      "I didn't do anything." I say with my eyes brimming with tears.
      "I know." he says simply and wipes his thumbs under my eyes.

      After he kisses me and makes me understand that he understands, I unwrap the blasted package. It's a painting that matches the decor quite nicely. I find a random nail on the wall and hang it up before I take a few steps back to look at it.
      I hear Pedro's voice say behind me, "I hate it."
      "Because it's from him." I state.
      "Yes." he agrees. "It's probably hot anyway." he says, meaning it's stolen.
      "So what should we do with it?"
      "I don't care. Sell it. Throw it out. Burn it." he answers.

     So, I take it with my usual drop off at the consignment shop. When I get there, I see Ron.
     I know he knows I'm here, but he refuses to look at me. He's really acting childish. How did I ever think I could really have something with him?

     After going to another store to peruse their magical items, I got to level one in alchemy in no time flat! Inspired from all that I learned, I painted this. I'm keeping it.

     I've started wearing the lingerie that Pedro got for me for Christmas around the house to combat him in his underwear.
      "I sold it." I tell him.
      "Good." he says simply. "At least I don't have to look at it."
      "Should I go talk to him again?"
      He stands up, (he'd been upgrading the toilet) makes the wrench disappear to I don't want to know where, and says, "I wouldn't. That might be what he was hoping for."
        "Okay."

     A sudden noise like a lightning strike wakes me up. I'm as scared as I'd be as a little girl during a thunderstorm. I wake up Pedro and tell him I'm scared. He sleepily wraps his arms around me and tells me there's nothing to be afraid of, kisses my shoulder, and falls back asleep. I hope he's right.

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The aliens didn't show up chronologically where I placed them, but I liked it happening then. If those blasted aliens abduct Pedro I'm so going to be tempted to alt-delete the offspring. That, or send it off to another house. I had downloaded a mod to get rid of them, but I thought I'd hold off because they weren't a problem. huh. might wanna change my mind on that.

I wanted to hug my sims during the horseshoe match. I loved how they set that up for me.

Giacomo -- I had no intention of setting up the 'girl marries guy but another guy is sad she does'. Honestly! It's overdone as far as my stuff is concerned. He's doing that all on his own (well, the stupid attraction system that I haven't set up the mod for yet).

I forgot to get the gnome statue out of Rose's inventory. I'll do that... put him right next to the witch and we'll see what happens!

Okay, so I've purchased wants rewards for them some more: Rose got the professional simoleon booster thing too. Pedro got the hustler one (actually just before the horseshoe match.. to make it even more fun).

Pedro is a two-star celebrity which is driving me nuts. However, I do have a funny picture of the paparazzi girl:

For those that don't know, that's a minecraft 'creeper' shirt. I consider her Pedro's stalker because she shows up frequently and walks about thinking of him, making her ... creepy LOL.

That same other paparazzi guy from earlier keeps showing up too, thinking about Rose, and ringing the doorbell in the middle of the night when he's finished his 'I'm a paparazzi guy' time quota. They never answer the door for him.

Sorry this was a little long. I had a lot to tell. :)