Chapter 15 - Fading Peacefully "
Nick, just give me the . . . yes, sweetie, of course you'll have another turn soon! Now, I made you some cookies so--oh, he's gone." Hello, Serena has returned! I've been very busy lately, naturally, with my elder birthday fast approaching. Zelda was kind enough to purchase a Food Replicator, and I used my magic powers to upgrade it.
As it turns out, I needn't have asked Zelda! I happened to consume an elixir that doubles lifetime happiness points before receiving my final promotion to Five-Star Chef, fulfilling my lifetime wish.
Thornton was waiting for me at home, with a "Congratulations!" gift of a new hot tub! We ended up cuddling there in the middle of the night, once we were sure Nicholas was sleeping.
"
You know I'm proud of you, right?"
"
Why don't you come over here and show me how proud you are?"
I think we all saw this coming . . . by the Watcher, I'll miss Thornton when he's--no, don't think about it.
"
Happy birthday, Serena."
"
Happy Anniversary, Thornton."
That's right, our wedding anniversary and my elder birthday fell on the same winter-wrapped day. What is it, but fate?
It was also the day that Alexander caught a bus across town to visit his son, Salvador. Bella appears to have gained a little weight, I see.
I think I was, perhaps, the only person to ever be excited for their elder birthday. After all, unlike most sims, my elder birthday is not the beginning of the end, but only the end of the beginning. I'm going to watch my descendants grow and prosper, and my husband's final days will be filled with our love. What more could I ask for?
Not too bad! The hair will have to go, as will the suit--don't the birthday watchers
know I detest gray?
See? I've hardly changed! A few extra smile lines, a few extra laugh lines--how is that considered bad? And my eyes are as young as ever.
The party progressed quite nicely despite my absence. Naturally, Kaylynn and Michael ended up in each other's arms.
The garden gnomes (Fred and Ethel) enjoyed their own little party in the greenhouse. Between you and me, I really hope there will be a few more baby gnomes running around . . . becoming an elder has introduced NOOBOO OBSESSION!
In other news, Alex and River had one more child, Kip. He has Alex's hair. Seneca, his older brother, is the only child to have blonde hair--we don't know where he got it from. It appears that Kip is their last child, since the young couple decided to break off their relationship. Both sides seemed to accept the change well.
My task had not yet finished. I entered the small shack that had materialized in the backyard, knowing that the most important step in my life was about to take place. Right. Now.
I descended the marble stairs to find a great hall, stretching on forever into darkness. On one side, memorials to Alexander and Zelda adorned the wall.
The other featured Kaylynn and Agnes.
I did not walk down this hall, but instead entered a small room beneath the stairs. Here, the walls were covered in mirrors, but the most prominent mirror showed a strange, alien face.
"
Are you . . . the Watcher?" I asked, nervous.
"Obviously," the face answered in an irritated sort of way. "You, Serena Elysi, have completed your requirements."
"
Truly? The way will be clear for my son?"
"Well . . ." the face hesitated. "You'll still have to do something for him, but it won't take long. Now, go find your food of the gods."
I obeyed and walked down the long, long Hall of Memory. At the very last section of wall, I found the memorial to Thornton. Him and me . . . him and Nicholas . . . and us, again.
Past Thornton I found the kitchen. A large, golden room inscribed with hieroglyphs and lit with torches.
I'd had the replicator brought down several days previously, so it was easy to operate. The ambrosia was ready--all I had to do was take my first bite.
