2B: Settling InHere is a closer look at the inhabitants of Jewel's new home. Of course, the household includes her, her husband Brock, his mother Hollie, and his sister Kailey.
Hollie and Kailey make Jewel feel welcome immediately. The two are overjoyed when she tells them about their pregnancy.
"There's all my favorite ladies. Morning, Moonstone." Brock grinned at his wife as he took his sister's place at the table while she went off to her shift.
Jewel arched a brow at him. Before she could say anything, Hollie piped up, "Brock, you stop teasin' that girl, you hear me?"
Jewel laughed and stuck her tongue out at her husband, then blew him a kiss.
Brock laughed. "Don't worry, Mama. She doesn't need ya stickin' up for her."
Hollie arched a brow. "Just remember, she's carryin' my grandbaby. So I like 'er more n' you right now."
"But I'm yer baby boy!"
Hollie held up one hand. "You." Her other hand went up higher than the other. "Grandbaby. Sorry, son, no contest."
Jewel threw back her head in gales of laughter. Brock snorted. "Guess it's good to know where I stand, huh, Mama?"
"That's right, baby." Hollie winked at Jewel. "You just tell me if he gives you too hard a time, sweetheart. I'll box his ears!"
Jewel sent him a sly look, but batted her lashes at Hollie. "Oh thank you! I don't know what I would do without you!"
Hollie snorted. "Dear, you don't pull off the innocent, helpless look very well."
"No, no I don't," Jewel confirmed, snorting.
*****
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Jewel found that her new family were all very protective of her, especially when she was pregnant. She snuck up to the very top floor where the treadmill and weight machine was. She liked to get in a bit of a run in the morning.
"Jewel! Are you crazy, woman!"
She winced and looked at her husband. "I married you, didn't I?"
Instead of the laugh or grin she hoped for, he just gave her a steady look. She sighed. "Brock, I'm pregnant, not an invalid! I just wanted to get a bit of a run in."
"No, an invalid you are not," he agreed. "But you know you have to be careful. You're carryin' our baby."
"I know what I'm carrying!" she snapped. She huffed out a sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Sorry. Yes, I know I'm carrying our baby. Don't worry, I'm not being foolish. I swear."
She stepped around the treadmill and wrapped her arms around him.
He hugged her tightly. "I only worry cause I love you."
"I know, I know," she muttered. "Just remember, I'm not fragile. How about this, I'll take it easy for a bit, only go out for a jog until I'm too big to move. Is that acceptable?" The way she asked the question wasn't so much a question as a challenge.
He didn't bat an eye. "Sure. Go on, mama and Kailey were going to help outfit the nursery. Time for you to go shopping."
After she left, Brock got on the treadmill his wife had vacated, muttering to himself.
Taking your life into your own hands, ya know."So, the Watcher speaks to me now, huh? Is it a free day already?"
Hardly. I can't direct you, but I can certainly talk to you. No rules against that. No woman likes a dictator, ya know."I'm no dictator. Just looking out for her. Is that a crime?"
Not yet. But keep in mind who you're talking to. Just a friendly warning.He snorted. "Friendly. Right." He just kept running, deciding to ignore the voice in his head. He and Jewel would figure things out. In some ways, he looked forward to it. If he wanted a normal, even boring marriage, he certainly wouldn't have said yes to Jewel.
*****
What are you doing now?"Isn't she beautiful, Watcher?"
Yes, yes she is. Ok, ya know what... you're making it kinda hard to give you the stink eye now..."Hm?"
--sigh--
Nothing. You're sweet on her, huh?"I love her. Deep down in my bones."
Ugh, sap!"Guilty as charged. Gonna book me?"
Nah, that's your thing. Carry on.*****
"How's that wittle nooboo?" Brock gooed at his wife's stomach, his hands massaging it gently.
Jewel giggled. There was something about seeing this tough, bruiser of a guy, a cop no less, get all gooey and soft at her swollen belly.
He looked up into her eyes. "And how's mama doing?"
"Mama is fine," Jewel told him firmly. "Feeling pretty good actually. Finally no more morning sickness, either."
Brock wasn't the only one. Grandma and Auntie were both ecstatic and couldn't wait for the little one to get there.
"Any day now. Think we're ready?" Brock asked his wife.
"Ready as we'll ever be. I know I'm more n' ready to stop being pregnant," she replied, a rueful smile on her face. "I'm as big as a house!"
"But you're such a pretty house!"
Jewel had all she could do to keep her face serious. Her eyes narrowed. "Aren't you supposed to tell me I'm beautiful? What happened to your precious Moonstone?"
"Thought you didn't like that nickname?"
Jewel blinked. Then she began to laugh. "Think you're clever, huh?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Jewel rolled her eyes, finally letting out the laugh she'd been holding in. "Go on. I'm going to get ready so I can meet mom for the GeekCon." She kissed her husband's cheek. "Have a good day at work. I'll see you when I get home."
"Give your mom my best."
"I will."
*****
"There's my girl!" Ulrike enfolded her daughter in a gentle hug.
Then she held Jewel at arm's length. "Oh look at you! Look at your belly! My little one is going to have a little one of her own!" Ulrike had to touch her daughter's now bulging belly.
Jewel rolled her eyes, more for form than anything else. "Thought that was how this all works right? What do you think, Gramma?"
"Oh wow, that's right! I'm gonna be a gramma!"
Jewel laughed. "Well, not quite yet. C'mon, let's go play some games, huh?"
"Sounds good!" They headed toward two free gaming rigs.
You'd think that gaming would be a nice safe venture, right?
Jewel! Oh my- If Brock sees you doing this, at this late stage... he's going to have an aneurism!"Oh, ease up! I'm fine! See, I still got it!"
Yeah... you gotta go! Woman, why did you wait so long?"I didn't have to go quite so bad before! Outta my way! Pregnant woman, needs the bathroom!"
Except... no one would move out of the way in time! Poor Jewel... not one of her finest moments, that's for sure. Also a negative point for the dynasty.
Shortly after she returned home though, it was go time! Brock was a rock... well, actually no. You'd think a guy that was a detective would hold it together better. But as they arrived at the hospital, Brock was barking out orders as if he were at the police academy. "Get the water, the towels, something!"
Jewel rolled her eyes. "Are all men like that?"
Yes. Definitely all Sims anyway. Though, honestly... human men aren't far off either.Woah! Hey now, Brock! Do you want that to be the first word your child says!?"Hi. I'm Jewel Montero. I'm in labor." At a noise behind her, Jewel pursed lips. "Don't mind the idiot in the back there. That's my husband and he seems to have lost his mind."
"Don't worry. We're used to it. Go right on back. Dr. Spencer-Kim-Lewis is on."
"Hello Jewel. I'm Dr. Spencer-Kim-Lewis, SKL for short, if you'd like. I'll take good care of you. Just lie back and your nooboo will be here before you know it!"
Omgomgomgomgomg! What have you done!?"I-I don't- feel so- good, W-watcher. I-"
Omgomgomg! Put it back! Putitbackputitback!"Not helping Watcher! Not helping at all!"
If her husband gets in here, he's going to have to arrest himself for murder! Put it back!Eventually, the doctor seemed to get control back of her machine.
"Ug-ugh. Wh-what? Is the baby here?"
--glares at Dr. SKL--
Yes Jewel. Come and take a look.Olivia glared back.
You have a son, Jewel.Welcome to little Kai Montero, the third generation heir.