Service Sims Legacy, Generation 3: "Like a Thief in the Night"
Despite Russ' excitement, reality set in for Phoenix as her pregnancy progressed. She felt too tired and sluggish to get out of the house and enjoy her nature walks and treasure hunting, so recently won back. It gave her many long, quiet hours to think about things, particularly things she had tried very hard to ignore. There were a lot of questions in her life, she had to admit, and most of them revolved around Russ. She realized they were questions she should have asked a long time ago.
No...that wasn't it, she finally admitted. She had tried to ask, many times. Russ always had an excuse or a means to deflect the questions. Shouldn't this have made her more worried?
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she nearly missed the twins' birthday. Both were now teenagers.
Perhaps it was the benefit of having a sibling who understood you almost as well as you understood yourself, but both twins were confident and outgoing. Dagger spent hours in front of the mirror, perfecting his hairstyle and admiring himself.
While Cloak, older than Dagger by a few minutes, had a keen eye for fashion and decorating, and was not afraid to be assertive when it came to getting what she wanted.
It was around this time that Russ started hinting that he really wanted to see his kids enrolled in private school. “We've got the money, Baby. I want them to get a good education, a good head start, you know? I want 'em to have a better chance at I did. Not everyone can be as lucky as I was and find someone like you!” So Phoenix called the headmaster and invited him over for dinner and an interview.
He was impressed. Perhaps Phoenix had been wrong. If Russ was up to no good, surely word would have gotten around, and in a town as small as Dream's End, gossip spread fast. If Russ had a bad reputation, the school never would have accepted their children for enrollment.
“I must say, you've put on an impressive show, Mrs. Bear. Our institution will be proud to educate your children.”
“Mom! Mom!!! You forgot to tell him the story about the rat that got into Daddy's--”
“Voleur Larceneigh Bear, what have I told you about telling that story to our guests?!”
“I still don't see why we have to wear these stupid suits.”
“Whatever, Ein. I look damned good!”
“Because the school said so, Einbrecher, and you both look very handsome. Now hurry up, before you miss your bus.”
Life went on, and Phoenix had to admit that regardless of her worries about Russ' work, he was clearly a dedicated father, happy to spend time with his children.
“Daddy, why is there a fence around the trashcan?”
“Well, Pumpkin, you see, there's an underground market in this town for high-quality garbage. We keep it locked up so our trash goes safely with the sanitation crews to the landfill, and not sold for a lot of money.”
When Phoenix went into labor, for a change, it was in the middle of the afternoon, rather than early morning or late at night, like her other children.
Because of this, she had an audience for the birth, more than just Russ. The family was so excited, most of them rushed in from outside without bothering to take off their coats.
Phoenix had been worried that her older children would think having a new baby in the family would be strange, or would be resentful, but that didn't seem to be the case. The twins, in particular, were very excited about the new baby.
“Wow! And to think all we got to do in Biology today was dissect a frog! This was way more exciting!”
“Ewww, Dagger, that's gross. But this was exciting, and educational, because now I know I'm never going through that, myself! Yay!”
Phoenix had been looking forward to the discussion with trepidation, but it couldn't be avoided. “Russ, the new baby needs a name...”
“I know! I have a great idea!”
“You do...”
“Yeah! How about Murtovaras? See, I was reading this book about Spain, and--”
“...Murtovaras.” She held the baby girl up to her face, nuzzling nose-to-nose. “The name is almost longer than she is!”
Later that evening, in the nursery, Phoenix snuggled the baby. “Murtovaras...I wish I knew what these names even mean.” She looked at the baby and smiled.
The baby yawned, and Phoenix kissed her head. Despite coming as a complete surprise, she was not sorry that Murtovaras was here.
Time passed, and Phoenix found that raising and caring for Murtovaras was much easier than it had been with her older children. Perhaps having three teenagers willing and able to pitch in and help made a difference. Perhaps she was older and calmer.
Whatever the reason, she found that she had more time than anticipated to enjoy her favorite hobbies, and now had the added bonus of being able to share them with her children. She gladly took the time to share with her children her love of nature, of being outdoors, and exploring the world around them.
“Dagger. I know you're back there, and I know what you're thinking. And so help me, if you toss a worm in my hair, or snag my shirt with your fishhook, you will experience a noogie the likes of which you have never experienced before...”
Phoenix loved her family. How could she stay sad, or worried, when it was obvious how much they cared about each other?
“...Russ...what...are you wearing...”
“Charity benefit, Baby. It's for, uh, sick kids with cancer or something. We're supposed to dress up as supervillains, and they're gonna bring in this herd of hero cosplayers to pretend to kick our butts. It's supposed to be empowering or something.”
“Hey Einbrecher, d'you ever think about the mysteries of the universe?”
“No.”
“You know, like, why we're here? What our purpose is, in life? Why Dad never lets us turn up the thermostat?”
Phoenix and Russ both agreed on rewarding their kids for good behavior, and both trusted that they'd been raised well enough to be allowed on outings, especially at the end of the school term, after finals. Armed with mad money and a curfew, the twins and Einbrecher called a taxi and headed to a dance club.
“You guys suck, sorry to say.”
“Dagger, if you aren't going to at least dance, then go hide somewhere else than behind the speaker.”
“Dude. I'm telling you, she's totally serenading you.”
“She is not!”
“She's looking RIGHT at you, Dagger.”
“Shut up! The Stink Bomb does not have a crush on me, I don't care what you say!”
“So I told her, 'Look, it doesn't matter how you're dressed if you walk like a sumo wrestler!'”
“Seriously?!”
“Dagger, I don't know how you get through life without getting punched more often than you do.”
Eventually, the twins' weirdness was too much for Einbrecher...and as the eldest, he was certainly far more mature than either of his siblings.
“Those two? I swear I don't know them.”
“Besides, I've got more important things to focus on. Like, for example, that young hottie at the other end of the bar, the one who I just know is checking me out...”
“...Err...on second thought...”
Murtovaras' birthday was a bittersweet occasion, for Phoenix. She remembered thinking that Voleur would be her last time dealing with babies and toddlers, but that hadn't been the case. This time, however, she knew that Murtovaras would be her last.
“...look. Look. Have you forgotten about that favor I did for you? You'd be rotting in a jail cell if I hadn't stepped in! You owe me, pal. You owe me, and I'm coming to collect on that debt. So you can either do this the easy way and cooperate with me, or you can do this the hard way. Trust me, you won't like the hard way...”
The next milestone was Voleur's birthday, as she transitioned from a child to a teenager.
Phoenix secretly thought Voleur was the prettiest of her daughters, although she'd never admit it out loud. However...
“Ugh, why is everything in this house black and white?! Would it kill you to add some more color to things?!”
As time passed, Phoenix had to admit that things seemed to be looking up. She hadn't overheard any more strange calls in quite some time, and her children were growing up beautiful and healthy. Watching them interact was a constant source of happiness.
“Dagger, are you in the fridge again?”
“No...”
“Ein, if you don't move your big butt, I'm gonna kick it. I can't see the TV!”
“Soooo...you know we're gonna get it if Mom catches us doing this, right?”
“Yep. I'm just gonna keep doing this until someone notices.”
“You know what would be really awesome? Clothes in colors. You know, like blue, even pink. Anything but black and white.”
“Voleur, just give it up; it's like tradition or something.”
Not all was as it seemed, however. Unknown to Phoenix, not long after Voleur's birthday, Russ started asking...strange questions of his older children, questions he was very careful to make sure she didn't overhear.
“Pumpkin, I know you're young, but have you ever thought about getting into the family business?”
“What?! Eww, no, are you crazy?!”
“Young lady, I'll have you know that the reason you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back is because of my hard work! A little respect would be nice!”
“Dad, that doesn't mean I want to do that! I don't wanna hear how great you think your crime empire is; count me out of it!”
“Fine. And let's keep this between us two, shall we? I don't need your mother finding out about this.”
“I won't say anything, but only because her freaking out would be more trouble than me keeping silent!”
But not all of the children shared Cloak's reluctance.
“Son, I'm not gonna lie; you could get yourself into a world of trouble, if you're not careful. But I've got connections, and you're my son, and that entitles you to certain privileges. Such as police looking the other way when you are there, for example. I'll be there to help teach you the ropes, and keep the handcuffs unlocked.”
“Yeah...it sounds good, Dad, and really good for money. But what happens if I get caught?”
“We'll bail you out, of course. It'll be tough at first, believe me, but it gets easier. Just be patient. You'll have to work your way up and prove yourself, but like I said, I'll be there to help. And whatever you do, don't mention any of this to your mother.”
Phoenix knew nothing of the discussions and had no reason to worry. She loved her kids and believed they were good, trustworthy, and had no reason to doubt them. They had their moments, however.
“AAAAAH, Mom, Dad! Gawd!”
“Dagger, when the bedroom door is closed, there is usually a reason for it!”
Murtovaras' birthday represented a definitive end to diaper duty, for Phoenix. She suspected that she wasn't the only one in the household who was ready to see those days behind them.
For a moment, she felt melancholy. Her youth was in the past, and she'd never experience this again. But then she looked at Murtovaras and smiled. Every time she started worrying about things, she just looked at her children and realized that her life was not bad at all.
Odd...there he goes, wearing that suit again. Didn't he say it was for a charity event, before? I wonder why he's wearing it again? Hmm. Maybe they're having another charity event.
Having four teenagers in the house had challenges that Phoenix had anticipated. There were the occasional arguments and fights, the fits of temperament; those were to be expected.
But there was one thing that Phoenix had not considered at all during the time she was raising the kids: the day when they would start noticing others their age, and wanting to date.
The house became very crowded after school, as the kids brought friends and crushes home.
“Hey Romeo, d'you know she talks in her sleep? The other night she was saying stuff about how Robby Sorenson has a really cute--”
“Dagger, you are dead, you hear me?!”
Dagger, in particular, took to meeting girls with gusto.
Unfortunately, this caused problems when he chased after the same girls that his older brother was also interested in getting to know better.
Fortunately, it didn't cause much friction. Dagger wasn't terribly interested, at this point in his life, on sticking to just one girl.
Not all of the siblings shared Dagger's free-loving attitude, however.
Voleur had taken a shine to a young man named Randall Howe. He was a year older than her, but as far as Voleur was concerned, he had hung the moon. It was clear that Randall felt much the same about her.
*smack*
“OW, what the hell, Cloak?!”
“That's what you get for embarrassing me in front of every boy I bring home, you jerk!”
But Phoenix knew that these days would not last forever. She tried to spend as much time with her children as she could...even if she didn't quite understand the things they enjoyed doing.
All too soon, in her opinion, it was Einbrecher's birthday. Her baby boy was not a baby anymore.
It was almost painful, yet wonderful at the same time, to see the fine young man he'd grown up to be.
She was so proud of him. He was her firstborn and would always be her baby boy, but she could see that he was destined for great things.
“Listen, your mother and I both want you to know that you'll always have a home here, but I think we both know you're eager to get out on your own.”
“Yeah Dad, thanks, but I've got a place in mind already.”
“That's fine. Once you get settled in, call me. I know people, got friends in the business, they've got room for you. They'll get you some experience so that people know you're legit.”
“Just be patient with me, Einbrecher. We do this by the book, and if you play your cards right, you'll be set for life.”
“Thanks, Dad! I'll prove you right, make you proud of me, you'll see!”
“I already am, son. I already am.”
A few days later, he was ready to go. Einbrecher didn't bother dragging it out; before the rest of the family was really ready to start the day, he was dressed, packed, and had called for a taxi.
“You'll call when you get there, okay?! And oh, you'd better have a phone. Do you need me to pack you a sandwich or something? I can make you a boxed lunch. Let me get you a Thermos full of coffee. It won't take long.”
“Mom, seriously, it's okay. I'm just moving down the block...”
“Hah! I win, Cloak!”
“You cheated!!!”
“I did not! Dagger, back me up here!”
“No way. I'm just gonna stand here in my pool of zen, and be thankful that I'm not the one who chose to play Red Hands with my twin sister.”
Einbrecher was not the only one moving on to the next phase of his life.
Russ handled the approach of his elder years with grace and humor. Perhaps the suit and hat were meant to tweak Phoenix's nose, regarding her suspicions of his criminal activity, or perhaps he just wanted to look well-dressed. Phoenix certainly wasn't complaining.
“That's right. I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse. See, my eldest son is looking for a job...”
“Okay Cloak, I've got a bedtime story for you. It's titled, “Why You Shouldn't Date Brian Henry, Because He is the Biggest Nerd in School, And He Smells Like Lunch Meat.”
“Dagger, you're weird. Go to bed.”
Phoenix had been dreading her own transition. She knew that it would not be long; Russ was only a little bit older than she was, after all. Watching him reach that phase with such grace and dignity made her realize that there was no reason to be afraid.
In fact, in a way, it was kind of exciting. She'd made it. She'd gotten married, raised a family...what was there to regret?
The grey hair meant she'd succeeded. Silver meant treasure, right? She still had a lot of life in her, and many years ahead of her.
She did get a haircut, though; something more fitting for a woman her age. She had to admit that for someone who'd birthed and raised five babies, she still looked good.
It was clear that Russ agreed.
“Still as gorgeous as the day we met, Baby.”
“Oh, you...” Phoenix laughed, then paused. “Russ, I'm sorry I ever doubted you.”
“Baby, you don't apologize for nothing, got me? You gave me everything I ever wanted: a family of my own, five beautiful children, and stayed with me through the years. I love you, and always will.”
“I love you, too, Russ.”
The house may have been a bit quieter without Einbrecher, but it was no less lively. Voleur's boyfriend, Randall, was a frequent visitor to the house, as their relationship progressed.
Things were clearly starting to get serious.
Phoenix and Russ had never been very strict with the children; they chose instead to expect the best of their kids, and let the kids bear the consequences of their actions, come what may. That tactic had worked well with Einbrecher, and was working with Cloak and Dagger. Voleur was another story...
The consequences of Voleur sneaking out were predicatble.
Phoenix chose to try and reason with her, rather than lecture her.
“Honey, it's dangerous to be running around like that, after dark.”
“Mom, come on...”
“I'm not finished, young lady. You don't know what kind of weirdos you'll run into. You might get hurt, or worse. And I don't trust those parties. There could be alcohol.”
“Mom, geez! It was just me and Randall, and we just went to the park and talked! We weren't drinking!”
Russ took a different approach.
“Voleur, I'm disappointed in you. If you're gonna be running around like that, you're gonna learn how to lie to the cops, or I'll be a laughingstock!”
“Cripes, Dad...and to think my friends complain about their parents grounding them when they get caught...”
Murtovaras' birthday was a special time for everyone. Her older siblings were excited; they had had a hand in helping to raise her, after all.
“Happy Birthday Murtovaras! What are you gonna wish for?”
“New eardrums. Geez, you two...”
Phoenix had come to terms with her own aging, but she still felt a little melancholy that her last baby was no longer a child.
Murtovaras was a beautiful young lady, but Phoenix wasn't quite sure what to think of her daughter's taste in clothing. Russ protested, but Phoenix let it slide. Raising five children had taught her how to pick her battles.
She still made sure to take the time to spend with her daughters and their friends, however. She felt it was important to know what her children liked, and with whom they spent their free time.
All too soon, it seemed, it was time for the twins' birthdays.
Both Cloak and Dagger seemed eager to move on to the next phase of their lives.
And as twins sometimes tend to do, they made their transition together.
Although they were not in complete agreement about being entirely happy about the transition...
“Sheesh, Cloak, I've heard of crying at your own party, but aren't you taking things a bit too far?”
With adult transitions came restlessness, but neither twin seemed to have a clear idea of where to go from there.
“Dagger, do you feel a little...stifled, still living here? I mean, we're adults, still living in our parents' house...”
“Yeah, but where do we go from here? I suppose I could rent an apartment or something...”
“How about we get a place together? We could share expenses...”
“...And keep each other company...”
“...and we already get each other, so it's not like we'd have to figure out how to...”
“...find a roommate who works with you, yeah!”
“Better than trusting some fair-weather friend who then turns around and bails when times get tough.”
“Dagger, it's brilliant. Let's do it!”
“I knew you'd agree!”
“Just as long as you don't try to sabotage my dates, when I bring them home...”
“Well...we'll see...”
The twins didn't hesitate to put their plan into motion. As soon as they found a place, they made the move.
Phoenix was sad to see them go, yet at the same time, excited for them. She knew that they would support each other, and she was happy to see her children getting along so well.
After the twins moved out, Russ came to a decision. He made one last call, and retired from his job.
Whatever it was he had been doing, he wasn't doing it any more.
Phoenix felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Russ did not sneak around and act suspicious anymore. There were no more strange phone calls, and no more odd costumes. Instead, he stayed home and worked on his painting.
He also started a tiny victory garden for himself, taking to the process of planting and raising vegetables with gusto.
Phoenix felt as though everything was as it should be, and she didn't think it was possible to love Russ more than she did at that moment.
There was one thing Russ had been hinting that he really wanted, and Phoenix was glad to accommodate. She prepared the food, bought champagne, and called their eldest three children home so the entire family could celebrate their golden anniversary.
“Voleur, are Mom and Dad really gonna let us drink champagne?”
“Ours is not to question it, 'Varas. Ours is to partake in the alcohol.”
“To my loving wife, who has been faithful, gifted me with five beautiful children, and is so beautiful, herself, that it should be criminal!”
“Oh, you...” *giggle*
Phoenix was so happy, seeing her whole family in one place, all of them enjoying themselves.
Of course, she could not resist checking up on her older children...
“Dagger, now, you'd tell me if you met a nice girl, yes?”
“Mom, what? Sheesh...”
“And that hair, oh, honey, please, let me comb it back for you...”
“Mom, come on, lay off! My hair is fine as it is!”
“I just worry about you, honey. I want you to be happy.”
“Mom, life is great! You worry too much.”
“Sweetheart, that dress...”
“Mom, whatever you're gonna say, just stop right there. I like this dress.”
“Yes, but--” *whispers* “Sweetheart, your breasts are almost falling out...”
“They are not! Why are you even looking?!”
“While they're busy...I think I'll help myself to another glass of champagne.”
“Young lady, you put that bottle down. One glass is enough.”
Later that same evening, after the guests had gone home, the family held a birthday party for Voleur.
Phoenix was so proud, she felt she would burst. Voleur was just as pretty as an adult as she had been as a teenager.
Voleur had always had a stubborn streak and a clear idea of what she wanted in life. In hindsight, although she did not hear the argument, she caught the gist of it.
“Voleur, pumpkin, I don't want you seeing that Howe boy anymore.”
“Dad, what?!”
“Look, having him around was fine when you were still a kid, but you're an adult now. You need someone with better prospects, and his family isn't the best. Plus, you need to think of higher education, of making something of yourself. You can't do that if he's around.”
“So? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Voleur, don't take that tone with me. I know things that you don't, and I know what's good for you. You need to cut ties with him.”
“You can't tell me what to do.”
“As long as you're living under my roof, young lady, I most certainly can tell you what to do!”
“Then maybe I won't live here anymore!” She had stomped off to her bedroom before Russ could say anything more.
Both Russ and Phoenix agreed that Voleur just needed time to cool off, and perhaps she would listen to reason.
But Voleur had other plans.
As soon as she was certain her parents and sister were asleep, she called Randall.
He came over right away, and Voleur explained the situation.
“My dad wants me to break up with you. He says we shouldn't see each other.”
“What?? Why?”
“Typical garbage about you not being good enough for his little girl. You know how it is.”
“You told him I just graduated from college, right?”
“Oh, you know my dad. He gets hung up on stupid stuff, like who your parents are, or what one family member did one time that has nothing to do with you.”
“Sooo...what's keeping you here? Why not move in with me?”
“You really mean it? That's a great idea!”
“Yeah, I thought so, too!”
“I love you, Randall.”
“Mmph!”
Voleur didn't waste any time. Before her parents could wake up and realize what she was doing, she was gone.
Phoenix tried not to worry too much. Voleur had been in touch, she was doing well, she'd found a small place with Randall and they were happy. She couldn't mention any of this to Russ without him grumbling a lot and getting angry.
It felt strange to only be cooking for herself, Russ and Murtovaras.
In time, things slowly went back to normal in the household. At least a smaller family meant it was easier to get everyone together for meals.
Phoenix treasured these moments, treasured every moment spent with her youngest child and her husband.
Shortly before her birthday, Murtovaras pulled her father aside. “Listen Dad, you and I both know I'm gonna be an adult soon, and there's gonna be different expectations for me. Now, I know you're gonna make me an offer I can't refuse or something, or try to set me up with some pencil-necked geek from the office. But really, it's okay, you don't have to bother with that. I kinda wanna get out, feel what it's like to be on my own.”
“You want to travel the world? And who will be funding this little excursion?”
“Haha, you're funny, Dad! No, I was gonna get an apartment in town.”
“Oh. Well, I'm sure your mother and I would be happy to have you over for dinner every now and again.”
All too soon, it was time for Murtovaras to become an adult.
Phoenix was secretly a little worried about her youngest daughter. Murtovaras didn't have the focus and drive that her older siblings had, when it came to thinking about things like careers and family.
But she somehow believed that everything would turn out all right, in the end.
A haircut and a change of clothes later, Murtovaras was ready to go.
“It's all set up. I'll meet the landlord at the apartment and sign the lease there.”
“Honey, call us when you get there, okay?”
“Mom, I'll be fine. It's just across town!”
And, just like that...
“Young lady, you are not leaving the house dressed like that!”
“Sorry Dad, I can't hear you over the sound of my adulthood!”
...she was gone. Their last child had left the nest.
It was a few weeks after Murtovaras had moved out, when the phone call came. Russ was out of the house. He'd told Phoenix he was meeting with the gardening club. For a change, when the phone rang, she was the one to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Bear?”
“I'm sorry, if you're looking for my husband, he's not available right now.”
“I don't need to talk to your husband.”
“Wait. Are you that weirdo who's been calling here for years? Look, you've brought so much stress to our home with your strangeness! These calls should be criminal, and you should be ashamed of yourself!”
“I need to talk to you about your husband.”
“What?”
“I think you deserve to know the truth. Everything. About your husband, who he is, and how he runs this town.”
“Who is this?! Listen, I'm of a mind to hang up this phone--”
“Haven't you wondered, all these years, about Ursa Major? Haven't you ever heard that name connected to Dream's End's criminal syndicate?”
“Well, yes, but--”
“Ursa Major is your husband.”
“...”
THE END
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