Rose 2.75: Dragonheart

     Shauna is worried about the baby. We have been to many doctors. They tell me I am not allowed to woohoo my wife. I am tortured, especially with her in her maternity pajamas that the game chooses. Shauna would never choose this for herself--at least to run around the house in.
     The doctors tell us the baby is small. This terrifies my darling wife, but I tell her the baby is healthy, even if he or she is small. It is my job to keep her calm.

      Today is the last day for my oldest to be in the household. I can't believe my little Zozo is a grown man.
     "Are you sure you do not want to go to university?"
      He shakes his head. "No. I don't have much faith in teachers."
     "Not all of them are like your high school art teacher."
     "It's fine, Papa. I already have some work commissioned. I'll be fine."
     "Do not be afraid to come to me if you find you aren't." I'm reminded of when I said this to my baby sister Giselle. I need to take care of that. Clifton is on my list. For now, though, seeing my eldest off is my priority.

      I cannot believe this day has come.
     "Thanks, Papa."
     My voice sounds caught in my throat when I say, "Your mother would be so proud of you."
     He smiles, and the light in his eyes grows. "She would?"
     I nod. "You are so very like her." I never told him enough about his mother. It hurt too much to talk of Tiffany.

     He hugs me. I guess he realized I need it.
     Arlen walks by.

      "You two are a couple of babies," he mutters under his breath, but I do have a strange sense of calm come over me.
      Lorenzo tells me of how he's assembling several photographs of different things to pitch ideas to his clients. Shauna walks behind me to go water the plants.

      "DONOVAN!"
      I run into the computer room. Shauna looks at me in absolute fear. It's too soon!

     Mama claps her hands. She wants to reassure her that everything will be fine.

     I hope she's right.

     The 'powers that be' will have to get over it. I'm not taking chances with this delivery. We're going to the hospital. (Actually the Maker forgot, but it works.)

      Baby Stefan is born. He wasn't quite as tiny as they feared he'd be.

      Shauna looks overjoyed. As for me, all I can think is how scared I was. What if I'd lost Shauna? That was a difficult pregnancy for her. This is it. No more children. Plus, I feel a bit old.
     Do not misunderstand! Stefan is a wonderful child. I think he will have his mother's eyes, the first of my children to do that. It would be wonderful.
     "Are you okay, Donovan?" my sweet wife asks.
     I look over at her, so much love filling me. "If you are okay, I am okay."
     She smiles her lovely smile. "I'm perfect."
     I try to smile back. No. You could've died. I could've lost you. I couldn't survive that if it should happen. The rest of my life is so short!
    I lean across the seats when the limo starts moving, and I kiss my wonderful wife. Then, I kiss my baby boy's forehead.

     We pull out the crib, and Shauna goes upstairs with my youngest while I see my oldest out. Lorenzo had stayed long enough to see his baby brother, delaying his departure until he could.

      At breakfast one morning a few weeks later, it finally hits me. I have a good life. I have, as much as possible, adhered to the Living Green rules. Tiffany and I bought and redid the little park, even if I didn't give her much control over it, which I regret. I have four wonderful children. Well, Camilla is too beautiful for a father's peace of mind and Arlen is a handful at times, but they are wonderful children, each in their own way. And best of all--I have Shauna, and I fulfilled one of her deepest wishes: to have a child.
      I had a personal dark ages when things looked terrible, but I came out of it before it was too late, mostly thanks to that wonderful woman who is now my wife.
     My turnaround is mostly due to Shauna.
     You know what this means: I need a new tattoo!
     I got the dragon on my bicep because I was angry and felt alone. It made me feel powerful. Well, I am still 'powerful.' I am still wild. Only now, I have a powerful and wild woman with me.

      The Maker takes me into CAS. I like the result. Two intertwined dragons right over my heart.

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So, yeah, Donny was acting a little sappy there at the end, but that's allowed every once in a while.

Stefan Robles: virtuoso and genius traits. I picked them. I feel the need to have a goodie-goodie around. This will be further explained later as the story continues. I've looked into the future, and I'm liking what I see.
But I don't want to give too much away!

-Antonio and Fiona have a boy they name Marquis. Cool name, game.
-Antonio ages to elder. The clock keeps ticking, but at least, like he pretty much said, Donovan completed his goals.
-Monte Robles (Link and Chasity) ages to child.
-Eduardo GilsCarbo dies.
-Marcel marries Leigh

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