Vol. I - When we were Kids - Track 04 (Part B)
Volume I: Track 4 - Part A ( Click here)
Volume I: Track 4 - Part B (Under cut)
Brandi and Darren were in the kitchen with the younger kids, when they heard the noise coming from the livingroom,
but didn't take more than a minute before the teens were pulled apart by a stronger pair of adult hands.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!" Darren screamed loudly, making both boys startle abruptly.
They immediately stepped away and tried to explain what had happened, but Darren didn't give them the chance to talk.
"I don't care who said what to who." He lectured strongly "There are no excuses for fighting like that and I'm not going to tolerate it in my house! None of you!"
The teens looked around awkwardly muttering apologies, but considering the state of the house and the already stressing situation for everyone on it, Darren decided to let them go with only a warning, which they did promptly and eagerly.
With Dustin and Dirk away, the house calmed down and Brandi put the baby back on his chair.
Darren observed quietly, relived that they had managed to keep, at least, the kitchen clean and free of debris for her younger children.
But it was their oldest sons who worried them the most, and Darren knew she was wondering the same thing.
Were they taking the right decision? Was moving in together really the best for both families?
Inevitably, his mind drifted back to the night in downtown when he meet Brandi. The day his life changed...
He remembered ashamed, how he used to sneak out like a rebel adolescent, looking for a escape from his own problems, and even his own son, who always acted more like an adult than his ow father, until the night he found Brandi Broke in the bar of a quiet pub.
It was shortly after her husband's funeral, and though she wasn't wearing black anymore, you could still see a silent despair on her expression.
"This is where he proposed, you know, long ago ... " She mumbled sadly and clearly drunk, as he stepped closer.
Of course, as neighbors on a small town, Brandi and Darren already knew each other, and knew of each other's situations well, but they have never really talked before and the casual tone of the young widow caught him by surprise.
"I'm really sorry for yous lost" He said awkwardly, but she didn't seem to be paying attention to his words.
"It was very different back then, though... " Brandi added heavily "It seems like yesterday some times..."
"Maybe you should head back, Brandi" He adventured hesitantly, but she wouldn't listen and continued mumbling softly
"I was pregnant, you know, just like now ...."
There was a tense silence, as Brandi's words not only shocked with the news, but also reopened an old wound. One he had kept hidden from almost everyone, even his own son. Darleen, his departed wife, had died of complications cased by a very brief, but delicate pregnancy. Deep down his heart, Darren always felt guilty, and now this woman, he barely knew, but reminded him of his wife so much, was brusquely reviving the old, painful secret he had kept hidden for so long.
"Then you should really head back home now." He insisted again, this time decided and pressing, feeling suddenly responsible for Brandi, even though he still couldn't figure out why she had confided in him in the first place.
"I can't, Darren, it hurts too much! You're probably the only one who can really understand how it feels to loose someone so close; to be left behind to care for your family alone; to be left without will or wish to live, only reasons to." She sobbed hiding her face on her hands and cried desperately "How do you cope...?"
"I .... I don't." He sighed heavily, unable to give anymore comfort on his words.
But at the same time, hearing his own answer had made him feel ashamed of himself.
He had been acting like a kid, holding on to his own grief like a child's blanket. Trying to fill the empty space left by his wife by following ghosts of the past or hoping for impossible futures, but never accepting his present for what it really was, nor appreciating what he had left. He had lost much, but still had much left, and looking at the distressed woman made his own pain feel lighter, and even vanish in comparison with hers.
That night Darren had decided to change his life, save his family, himself, and hopefully her too on the process.
He had taken her back to her house, and for the following days, he called every evening just to make sure that she was home and ok. Soon it was Brandi inviting him over and quickly they had became close friends and supporting partners, in both business and personal levels.
However, the question of being 'in love' or not, wasn't part of their equation. Or at least not in the conventional meaning of the term.
Of course as consenting, single adults, they also looked and welcomed each other for more than just friendly company, and it was easy to make everyone else believe them a couple than explaining the fine details of their personal life, specially to their own children knowing how delicate the situation in their families already was, but they have never promised, neither expected a committed relationship and what kept them together wasn't emotional dependency, chemistry or physical desire; it was mutual understanding and similar goals.
But it was all worthy, or at least it was for Darren, and he trusted Brandi felt the same.
****
"Mum, can I go with Dustin!? He's right around the corner, I can still catch him!" Beau asked cheerfully.
"They are going to see their girlfriends, honey, I don't think they would welcome you tagging alone" She explained calmly.
"But they can drop me off at Lucy's ... please, mum" He begged in that playful tone he always used to convince her "I did my homework, and I promise to be back early. I can't do anything her with all that stuff around.Please, mommy, pleeease..."
"Ok, fine!" She answered smiling "But you stay at Lucy's! Don't you end up at the Pleasant like last time. You know how much your brother hates that, Beau."
"But the twins don't mind me going ..."
"Of course they don't, you are adorable." Brandi though smiling inside, but trying to keep a straight face for Beau as she shook her head, and ended the discussion with just one look.
"Ok! OK! I'll be at Lucy's, I promise" He replied back quickly before his mother would change her mind, and ran out the door to meet the teens.
Brandi approached the kitchen window and observed her children walking down the street, as her mind, just like Darren's, wondered about their current situation.
The baby would grow with a loving and stable family, in a great house, oblivious to old tragedies and suffering;
and Beau who was too young to have much personal memories of his biologic father, had quickly and easily bonded with Darren,
but Dustin was the one who had lost, and suffered the most.
Not only he had lost his father, but was now also loosing the house that held all their memories together. That old home that saw the Broke family being formed and grow until destroyed in one dreadful night. And though Brandi trusted that one day her son would look back, and thank her for taking them out of the trailer house to give them a better future; there was so much she was keeping from him, so many secrets she didn't dare to share with anyone, Brandi feared he would eventually discover the truth and, not only hate her for ever, but be scared for life. Even worse than he already was.
Now, the only other person who knew the whole story was Darren, and she was relieved he hadn't stepped away after knowing the truth.
Even though their relationship wasn't as passionate or romantic as many seemed to assume, Darren was a supporting friend, and unconditional partner, and a good, honest man who wouldn't lie to her for years, and then get himself killed because of gabling debts, by gangs that also threaten their whole family if ever reported.
Her children were safe with him, and that was worth more than anything else.
Continues soon
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I can't believed it really took me a year to post this thing!!! But it was a hard one (A hard year, I mean), so I lost inspiration for months and only felt like writing this again recently. We'll see if it lasts this time. :)
This story, in general, is meant to include all kinds of relations, friendships and couples, not just the usual "I love you, you love me, let's get married and have many pretty children". Brandi/Darren is one of those unconventional cases. In short words, they would be like very close friends, with benefits. They have a lot in common and their relationship evolved pretty naturally from there, but they lack of that extra spark that makes a couple being undoubtedly in love with other. They have no plans of marrying, not even living together "for ever", but at that point on their lives, is the best for them all.
JIC, all of the first part and most of the images were done last year, and almost all the second part was done during the last week, so hope it doesn't feel too disjointed.
For the flashback about Skip in the bar, I used images from the entry I made for maxis_taste about Brandi and Skip's engagement and, like in many previous chapters, most of the family flashbacks throughout the story are recreations I've done of the original household pictures.
Not sure if the way I'm telling the story is getting too confusing, though (in this, and older updates).
In every household, I'm trying to show all the different points of view and the story is constantly going back to different moments in the past of each character. All the older events (mostly inspired in the game original storyline and images) are retouched, but with everything after the game starts, I've been only counting only on the sims looks to show the time progression and not sure if the storyline is coming through clear enough. Is it too confusing??
And that would be all for now, but I'm working on the next update, so hopefully is done before my muse decides to go awol again :P
Thanks for reading! :D
Volume I: Track 4 - Part B (Under cut)
Brandi and Darren were in the kitchen with the younger kids, when they heard the noise coming from the livingroom,
but didn't take more than a minute before the teens were pulled apart by a stronger pair of adult hands.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!" Darren screamed loudly, making both boys startle abruptly.
They immediately stepped away and tried to explain what had happened, but Darren didn't give them the chance to talk.
"I don't care who said what to who." He lectured strongly "There are no excuses for fighting like that and I'm not going to tolerate it in my house! None of you!"
The teens looked around awkwardly muttering apologies, but considering the state of the house and the already stressing situation for everyone on it, Darren decided to let them go with only a warning, which they did promptly and eagerly.
With Dustin and Dirk away, the house calmed down and Brandi put the baby back on his chair.
Darren observed quietly, relived that they had managed to keep, at least, the kitchen clean and free of debris for her younger children.
But it was their oldest sons who worried them the most, and Darren knew she was wondering the same thing.
Were they taking the right decision? Was moving in together really the best for both families?
Inevitably, his mind drifted back to the night in downtown when he meet Brandi. The day his life changed...
He remembered ashamed, how he used to sneak out like a rebel adolescent, looking for a escape from his own problems, and even his own son, who always acted more like an adult than his ow father, until the night he found Brandi Broke in the bar of a quiet pub.
It was shortly after her husband's funeral, and though she wasn't wearing black anymore, you could still see a silent despair on her expression.
"This is where he proposed, you know, long ago ... " She mumbled sadly and clearly drunk, as he stepped closer.
Of course, as neighbors on a small town, Brandi and Darren already knew each other, and knew of each other's situations well, but they have never really talked before and the casual tone of the young widow caught him by surprise.
"I'm really sorry for yous lost" He said awkwardly, but she didn't seem to be paying attention to his words.
"It was very different back then, though... " Brandi added heavily "It seems like yesterday some times..."
"Maybe you should head back, Brandi" He adventured hesitantly, but she wouldn't listen and continued mumbling softly
"I was pregnant, you know, just like now ...."
There was a tense silence, as Brandi's words not only shocked with the news, but also reopened an old wound. One he had kept hidden from almost everyone, even his own son. Darleen, his departed wife, had died of complications cased by a very brief, but delicate pregnancy. Deep down his heart, Darren always felt guilty, and now this woman, he barely knew, but reminded him of his wife so much, was brusquely reviving the old, painful secret he had kept hidden for so long.
"Then you should really head back home now." He insisted again, this time decided and pressing, feeling suddenly responsible for Brandi, even though he still couldn't figure out why she had confided in him in the first place.
"I can't, Darren, it hurts too much! You're probably the only one who can really understand how it feels to loose someone so close; to be left behind to care for your family alone; to be left without will or wish to live, only reasons to." She sobbed hiding her face on her hands and cried desperately "How do you cope...?"
"I .... I don't." He sighed heavily, unable to give anymore comfort on his words.
But at the same time, hearing his own answer had made him feel ashamed of himself.
He had been acting like a kid, holding on to his own grief like a child's blanket. Trying to fill the empty space left by his wife by following ghosts of the past or hoping for impossible futures, but never accepting his present for what it really was, nor appreciating what he had left. He had lost much, but still had much left, and looking at the distressed woman made his own pain feel lighter, and even vanish in comparison with hers.
That night Darren had decided to change his life, save his family, himself, and hopefully her too on the process.
He had taken her back to her house, and for the following days, he called every evening just to make sure that she was home and ok. Soon it was Brandi inviting him over and quickly they had became close friends and supporting partners, in both business and personal levels.
However, the question of being 'in love' or not, wasn't part of their equation. Or at least not in the conventional meaning of the term.
Of course as consenting, single adults, they also looked and welcomed each other for more than just friendly company, and it was easy to make everyone else believe them a couple than explaining the fine details of their personal life, specially to their own children knowing how delicate the situation in their families already was, but they have never promised, neither expected a committed relationship and what kept them together wasn't emotional dependency, chemistry or physical desire; it was mutual understanding and similar goals.
But it was all worthy, or at least it was for Darren, and he trusted Brandi felt the same.
****
"Mum, can I go with Dustin!? He's right around the corner, I can still catch him!" Beau asked cheerfully.
"They are going to see their girlfriends, honey, I don't think they would welcome you tagging alone" She explained calmly.
"But they can drop me off at Lucy's ... please, mum" He begged in that playful tone he always used to convince her "I did my homework, and I promise to be back early. I can't do anything her with all that stuff around.Please, mommy, pleeease..."
"Ok, fine!" She answered smiling "But you stay at Lucy's! Don't you end up at the Pleasant like last time. You know how much your brother hates that, Beau."
"But the twins don't mind me going ..."
"Of course they don't, you are adorable." Brandi though smiling inside, but trying to keep a straight face for Beau as she shook her head, and ended the discussion with just one look.
"Ok! OK! I'll be at Lucy's, I promise" He replied back quickly before his mother would change her mind, and ran out the door to meet the teens.
Brandi approached the kitchen window and observed her children walking down the street, as her mind, just like Darren's, wondered about their current situation.
The baby would grow with a loving and stable family, in a great house, oblivious to old tragedies and suffering;
and Beau who was too young to have much personal memories of his biologic father, had quickly and easily bonded with Darren,
but Dustin was the one who had lost, and suffered the most.
Not only he had lost his father, but was now also loosing the house that held all their memories together. That old home that saw the Broke family being formed and grow until destroyed in one dreadful night. And though Brandi trusted that one day her son would look back, and thank her for taking them out of the trailer house to give them a better future; there was so much she was keeping from him, so many secrets she didn't dare to share with anyone, Brandi feared he would eventually discover the truth and, not only hate her for ever, but be scared for life. Even worse than he already was.
Now, the only other person who knew the whole story was Darren, and she was relieved he hadn't stepped away after knowing the truth.
Even though their relationship wasn't as passionate or romantic as many seemed to assume, Darren was a supporting friend, and unconditional partner, and a good, honest man who wouldn't lie to her for years, and then get himself killed because of gabling debts, by gangs that also threaten their whole family if ever reported.
Her children were safe with him, and that was worth more than anything else.
Continues soon
--------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
I can't believed it really took me a year to post this thing!!! But it was a hard one (A hard year, I mean), so I lost inspiration for months and only felt like writing this again recently. We'll see if it lasts this time. :)
This story, in general, is meant to include all kinds of relations, friendships and couples, not just the usual "I love you, you love me, let's get married and have many pretty children". Brandi/Darren is one of those unconventional cases. In short words, they would be like very close friends, with benefits. They have a lot in common and their relationship evolved pretty naturally from there, but they lack of that extra spark that makes a couple being undoubtedly in love with other. They have no plans of marrying, not even living together "for ever", but at that point on their lives, is the best for them all.
JIC, all of the first part and most of the images were done last year, and almost all the second part was done during the last week, so hope it doesn't feel too disjointed.
For the flashback about Skip in the bar, I used images from the entry I made for maxis_taste about Brandi and Skip's engagement and, like in many previous chapters, most of the family flashbacks throughout the story are recreations I've done of the original household pictures.
Not sure if the way I'm telling the story is getting too confusing, though (in this, and older updates).
In every household, I'm trying to show all the different points of view and the story is constantly going back to different moments in the past of each character. All the older events (mostly inspired in the game original storyline and images) are retouched, but with everything after the game starts, I've been only counting only on the sims looks to show the time progression and not sure if the storyline is coming through clear enough. Is it too confusing??
And that would be all for now, but I'm working on the next update, so hopefully is done before my muse decides to go awol again :P
Thanks for reading! :D