Chase comes inside and sits down heavily in one of the kitchen chairs as Marisol looks over at him questioningly, and a little fearfully.
Seeing her for the first time, Chase realizes she has his skin tone and hair color, but with big, expressive blue eyes.
Eyes that look more than a little scared, so Chase says gently, "It's okay Marisol, you're safe here. I'm, I'm your father. You weren't expected here but you are welcome, and I want you to make yourself at home. This isn't our permanent home, just a temporary one for me, us, to use during my first college term. We're on the Uni campus, a college town with classes for university students, but there are no schools for kids your age here. So I need to introduce you to someone, someone who will watch over you and care for you, help you out, while I'm at class."
Marisol's eyes haven't left Chase's face the whole time he was speaking, but at his last words, her gaze darts around and she asks, "Like a babysitter? Is she coming soon or not 'til after you leave?" Adding nervously, "Will I have to stay here by myself!?!"
Chase smiles and says, "Yes, like a babysitter! But she watches over me too, so she doesn't just take care of babies, but of our whole family. I don't have time to tell you everything right now, and it's probably best if you learn about stuff a little at a time, so you're not overwhelmed. The thing is, it will seem like you're by yourself, because you can't actually see the Watcher, but she can see you and she can speak to you."
I helpfully interject, "Hi, Marisol! I'm the Watcher. It's nice to meet you."
Marisol jumps and says, "Holy cow! Who was that!?!"
Oh, maybe that wasn't as helpful as I thought.
Chase tries to smooth it over saying, "That's the Watcher, no need to be afraid. She's very helpful and if you need anything, just ask her and she'll take care of it for you. In fact, she was hoping to help you out with some new clothes, in your favorite color, pink, if you want to do that while I'm gone."
"I'd rather do something fun. Do you have any games or toys?"
Chase gets Marisol set up with a video game and soon she's so engrossed that she's leaning towards the TV, controls in hand, bouncing in her seat.
Chase claps encouragingly as she performs a flip and outmaneuvers a rival, shouting, "That's my girl! You're a natural Marisol. I'm sure the games will keep you entertained for quite some time, but grab anything you want out of the fridge, and feel free to look around the house. And if you have any questions or need something, the Watcher will be right here to help you."
Caught up in her game, Marisol says distractedly, "Games, food, ask the Watcher. Got it."
So Chase slings his backpack over his shoulder, cheerfully says, "Have fun Marisol," and strides towards the door.
He smiles and says, "You know Watcher, this may work out fine after all. Marisol's happy with the video games and I'm eager to get to class. But I do have one request."
"What's that Chase?"
"Could you please not 'forget' any more important aspects of my world? I'd rather not come home to anymore unexpected children or life-changing events!"
Knowing that Chase it actually letting me off the hook rather easily, I say, "I'll try Chase. Have a good first day and work hard!"
"That's the plan Watcher. I can't get an 'A' without putting in a good effort, so hard work it is!"
This time, I'm happy to say, Chase hops into the motive mobile and he says, "You're right again Watcher. The way this baby fills my needs, using it often should help me get through Uni much easier."
"That's the idea Chase."
Then, as he realizes I'm tagging along with him, he says pointedly, "I thought you were going to keep an I on Marisol!?!"
"I am, but she's busy with that video game so I'm going to see you off to your first class. I can't follow you inside so I'll be spending most of your class time with her. But I'll check on you in between, to make sure you're doing okay. No sense having you stay at Uni if you don't focus and get an 'A'. And I want to do my part to make that happen."
Chase, a note of accusation in his voice, says, "Doing your part should have included remembering that one of the consequences of exploring in the time machine was having a child!"
"I know, I know! But now that she's here, I can't change that. And frankly, I wouldn't want to. Would you?"
Chase, his tone softening, replies, "No. I wouldn't….couldn't give her up now!" Then a note of pride enters his voice as he adds, "Did you see how well she picked up on that video game!?! A chip off the old block!"
I laugh and say, "Like a Frio in that respect as nerd has been their social group of choice over the years, and playing games is a big part of that."
"I didn't think of it that way! But it makes me feel better to think she's got that in common with other Frio family members."
By this time we've reached Chase destination, well, a place to park anyway, and I follow Chase as he runs down the paths towards his 8 am class and enters the building.
"See you later Watcher! Please go home and keep an eye on Marisol."
"I will Chase. Good luck!"
"Luck will have nothing to do with it Watcher! Working hard and paying close attention, along with taking reams of notes is what will earn me that 'A'!"
True to my word I check on Marisol at the house and she's still happily playing a video game.
I don't want to distract her by speaking so I focus on making her home more kid friendly.
Not something I was planning on at all for Chase's time here, but she needs to feel just as comfortable as he does.
Probably more so being an impressionable child thrust into a situation that's going to take some getting used to.
But after I think about that, I decided it may actually be easier for her than it is for the adults in the family, children being so adaptable and not set in their ways.
When I'm finished, the yard has plenty of activities I found in the family inventory to keep Marisol busy.
A play tower as well as a kid's club house, a busy bee ride on toy, a hopscotch court as well as a lemonade stand.
And I added a bustin' bronco to the covered porch too.
With a swing and a teeter totter, I consider the outdoors complete, and start on the inside.
Besides a twin bed with a pink coverlet in the lone bedroom, I add a blocks table in the kitchen, along with a toy oven, a dollhouse, and a clown-in-a-box.
The living room becomes more kid friendly with a toy box and a costume chest.
When I'm finished with all of that, I say, "How about we work on your wardrobe Marisol? I can pop you into stylist and we can pick out some pretty pink clothes for you."
Marisol agrees, though a bit reluctant to end her game, and we go through the clothing options fairly quickly, choosing her formal outfit for her introductory bio.
Marisol Frio---Chase's human time machine child
Traits: Light Sleeper, Easily Impressed, and Frugal
Favorite color: Pink (I'll check the others next time I'm in game)
By the time we're finished she's much more comfortable with me and says, "That was pretty fun! I love all my new pink outfits. Thank you, um, can I call you Watcher too?"
"Yes, Marisol, I've gone by that name for quite some time and I'm quite used to all my Frio family members using it. I do have another name, one you'll learn when you move to Hidden Springs, the town the rest of your family lives in, but that's a bit complicated to explain right now."
"Hidden Springs sounds nice. Will there be other children to play with there?"
"Yes, the town is filled with children of all ages, in fact you have two baby sisters, twins, and several cousins, but they are all younger than you. But they'll grow up soon and you can meet them and play together as much as you like."
"I have two sisters!?!" she asks excitedly. Her face thoughtful she adds, "I guess that's part of the 'everything' daddy mentioned before he left. Can you tell me more about my family?"
"Sure. But why don't I tell you while you take a bath and get all cleaned up?"
"A bath?" she asked wrinkling her nose, "what's a bath?"
"Head off to that small room off the kitchen and I'll explain. Better yet, you can go on a submarine adventure and have fun and get clean at the same time!"
That suggestion has Marisol quickening her step as she heads towards the bathroom.
"This is so much fun Watcher! I'd never imagined going on any adventure, but a submarine one in a bathtub, wow!"
"Well, I think the point is to keep children interested long enough to get squeaky clean and it works so well, it's hard to get them out. Speaking of out, it's time you finished up and got some sleep."
"Aww, do I have to get out already? It seems a shame to waste all this lovely warm water! And you promised to tell me more about my family."
"That's your frugal trait talking and also a way to try to get to stay in longer, but I'll give you a few more minutes and tell you about your family. I already mentioned your baby sisters, their names are Janette and Jemma. And their mom's name is Odette. And Odette's parents are Rory and Cindy, but you'll probably call them Grandpa Ro and Cici, just like all the other grandchildren."
"Cici? Why not just Grandma?"
"Because Cici isn't quite the grandmotherly type, she's very young still being a fairy…"
"A fairy! Really? With wings?"
"Yes, Cici has beautiful pink wings. And turquoise hair."
Marisol's eyes grow huge and she says, "Is everyone else a fairy with pink wings and turquoise hair?"
"No. In fact, she's the only fairy still living in the main Frio house. But you have an Aunt Merida and an Uncle Eric who are both fairies with pink wings but they have dark hair. Your Aunt Ella, Eric's twin, has dark hair too, but she's a witch. And that's enough family history for now! You need a nap so you'll be wide awake for this afternoon. Besides I've got a surprise for you in the bedroom."
"A surprise? For me? What is it? What is it?"
"Dry off and meet me in the bedroom and you'll find out!"
A few minutes later, fresh and clean from her bath, Marisol scampers into the bedroom and gleefully picks up her surprise.
"Oh, a teddy bear! And she's dressed in pink! She really is for me!"
"Of course, I try to accommodate my charges whenever I can. Now hop into bed for your nap. Once you're asleep, I'm going to check on your father and make sure he's doing okay between classes. But I'll be back soon."
And with all the excitement of her first day in a strange place, followed by a warm bath, and having a cuddly new friend to snuggle with, Marisol is off to dreamland in the blink of an eye.
I quickly find Chase and he's finished his first class and studying course material for the next one.
I check his academic performance bar and stare as it's already half full!
"Wow, Chase, your group study sessions really paid off! I wasn't sure they would count before classes started, but you're already half way to your 'A'!"
"Yeah, and I figured if I studied in between classes, it would keep it up. Is that happening?"
"Yes, the bar is increasing!"
"Good. How is Marisol doing? Should I come home before my next class."
"She's sleeping now and we had a great morning. While she played video games I added a bunch of kid stuff to the house and yard. Then we worked on her clothes, and she went on a submarine adventure, while I told her about her family. She's pretty excited about meeting everyone, especially the fairies. When she wakes up, I have several activities planned for this afternoon, so you can focus on your classes. I think I've got this."
Chase gives a relieved sigh and says, "Then I'll just study and head on to my second class, it's starts soon, then my last one is from 4-6, so I won't be home until after that. The course material, so far, is really interesting and not too difficult. If the rest of the week goes like my first class, my 'A' should be in the bag!"
"Great! I don't want to leave Marisol alone too long, so I'll leave you to your studies."
When I get back, instead of still being asleep, I find Marisol eating ice cream for her lunch.
Probably not the best lunch choice, but I'm not going to object to that right now.
We'll save the nutritional lessons for when she's more settled in, besides, ice cream's made of milk and she can use some vitamin D!
And, like most sims, she loves it!
"This stuff is the best Watcher! It's so sweet and cold and just melts away in my mouth! What's it called?"
"That's ice cream Marisol! A favorite treat for sims of all ages."
"Oh, a treat, not really something I should have had for lunch then?"
"It won't hurt this one time and the sugar from the ice cream should perk you up for all the activities I have planned this afternoon. But I'd actually though you'd still be asleep. You didn't nap for long."
"I heard a noise and it woke me up. I looked out the bedroom window and there were horses in the back yard! They were so pretty, I just had to watch them and after that, I couldn't go back to sleep."
"Well, you are a light sleeper like your father, so I guess horses would wake you up. I can't wait to see them next time they show up. I love horses myself. But let's get you started on some fun activities. Is there something special you wanted to try?"
"Can I paint? That sounds fun!"
As she's paints, she returns to our earlier conversation, asking, "Do they have horses in Hidden Springs? At daddy's house there?"
"There are horses in Hidden Springs, but the family doesn't have pets anymore. They all moved to the farm, the cat, the dog, and the Unicorns."
"Unicorns!?! Real live Unicorns!?! Wow, Hidden Springs sounds really magical with fairies, witches, and unicorns!"
"It is. It's one of my favorite towns in all of Sim Land. And your Aunt Ella is the one that helped restore magic to the land along with safeguarding the unique sims with green skin. Your family has pale skin, peachy skin, gray skin, dark skin, and the honey tone skin of you and your dad. But though their skin is unique, it's not what makes them special."
"So what does make them special? The turquoise hair?"
"Well, I do love the turquoise hair, and one of your cousins even has it. But what truly makes them special is that they accept everyone, whether they are rich or poor, pale or dark, or something in between, whatever their hair colors or whatever traits they may have, your family tries to give everyone a chance to be their best self."
"Even me?"
"Even you! Like your daddy said, you might have been unexpected, but you are very welcome in this family. We've only ever had one other family member come from the time machine, and she was a young adult, so you are our first child. And if I have anything to say about it, the only child from the time machine!"
"Well, that's good then."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because, since I look like daddy, with his skin and hair, there's nothing all that special about me, but if I'm going to be the only child from a time machine, then that would make me unique too!"
Marisol was so engrossed in her painting that she painted all afternoon and into the evening.
In fact, it was dark by the time Chase finished his last class and returned home.
But he'd just gotten onto the porch when his phone rang with an invitation to a party being held on Tuesday evening, from Professor Sparks.
"Marisol, if the Professor says it's okay would you like to attend a party with me?"
"Sure, daddy. A party sounds fun."
"Well, let me find out what kind of party and see if it's appropriate before I accept."
Then Chase rushes onto the front lawn and calls Marisol to join him, saying, "Quick Marisol, there's a shooting star!"
Marisol manages to see the shooting star just as it flies to the edge of the sky and says, "That was awesome! Do you know a lot about the stars daddy?"
"Some. In fact, I discovered a comet once and named it after my wife, Odette."
"The twins, my baby sisters' mom, right?"
"That's right. I guess the Watcher explained a few things when I was gone today."
"Some things. I know I'm unique because I'm the first child to come out of the time machine in this family, but…. Daddy, how will your wife feel about that? Will she want to be my mom too?"
His enthusiasm for the night sky evaporates at Marisol's innocent question.
But then, his voice gentle, he says, "Technically she'll be your step-mother, Marisol, but she'll be the only mother you've ever known, and if I know her heart, she will definitely want to be your mom."
Marisol says, "I hope so daddy. I already love knowing I have baby sisters, and a Grandpa Ro and Cici, who's a fairy, and Aunts and an Uncle and cousins too. But a mom is special, and I'd really like to have a mom too."
The two of them chat for a while until the night air stirs with a colder breeze and Chase says they should head inside for some dinner.
Chase hasn't had much experiencing cooking, but he figures he should be able to make mac 'n' cheese.
It started off pretty well, but then he got distracted, cheese oozed out of the pan, and while he was trying to clean that up, what was in the pan burned and stuck to the bottom!
But Marisol had much better luck with her first cooking attempt with the toy oven.
Mixing the batter like an expert, she said, "It's okay daddy, I'll make muffins! Do you prefer plain vanilla or would you like yours with blueberries?'
Chase, still cleaning up the mess from his disastrous dinner, asks, "Whichever you make is fine with me, but where did the toy oven come from? And that dollhouse? And this blocks table?"
"Oh, I told you I made the house and yard kid friendly, Chase. But you were busy studying so you probably didn't take in that information."
"You bought all this stuff Watcher? For Marisol?"
"No, most of it was in storage in the family inventory, I just dug it out for her to use while we're here in Uni. Frio children have been using these toys since the first generation, back in SV. Well, except for the twin bed, I did by that for Marisol and add a pink coverlet, and the teddy bear, I bought that too. After all, every child needs something that's just for them. Something special to call their own."
Chase ate his muffins quickly and headed off to take a shower, while Marisol helped herself to
another muffin and we chatted a bit more.
"Daddy really seemed to like my muffins, Watcher. Do you think he was just being nice when he said they were good?"
"No, he wasn't just being polite, they really are good quality. Don't you think so?"
"I love them! And I was thinking, that I could stay busy and earn some money if I baked a bunch and sold them! But only if they were really good. I wouldn't want to think they were good and try to sell them and have them be awful! That would be disappointing and such a waste."
"Well, if you keep practicing your baking with the toy oven, you can make muffins, cookies, and brownies, then you can bake different varieties and try to sell them."
With dinner over and Chase fresh from his shower, the two of them settle down for a game of chess.
As they start the game, Marisol brings up her bake sale idea.
Chase says, "Well, if you're planning on doing that, make sure you check the baking report first, then you can see what baked goods are in demand. Today's paper is still on the porch, so you could check it out after we're done with this game. But make sure you check out the new paper the day of the sale, to make sure you get the most current report."
"That's a great idea Daddy! But I need to learn a few more recipes before I set up my stand. I can practice baking all day tomorrow though, if you're busy with classes."
"I felt bad about leaving you here alone all day today and that's going to happen again on Wednesday with my full course load. Friday too, I'm afraid, as I have my finals in each class that day. But tomorrow I only have my class activity and that's not until 4 pm, and since it's held at Keith's Komics, you can come with me and check out the store while I work with my brain enhancing machine. So we can spend most of the day together. Thursday too, but I have a lecture that day and you wouldn't be allowed to go with me for that. It'd probably bore you to tears anyway."
"Oh, I had a great day today daddy! With the Watcher here, explaining things to me, I didn't even feel alone. And I loved painting! But getting to spend the day together sounds really good too. What will we do?"
Chase smiled lovingly at Marisol and said, "Whatever we want to do! It's our day! And we still have tonight, so let's get this match under way and see what else we can do before bedtime."
After the game, Chase decided to work on his inventing as Marisol wanted to continue with her painting.
But after she checked the baking report.
"It says that Vanilla goods are in demand with chocolate and other goods doing okay. But now I know where to find it, so I can keep checking before my bake sale and see if it changes."
"That's the way to do it! Always make sure you know the market before opening any business."
"Are you planning on going into business after you finish here daddy? You seem to know a lot about it."
"No, not a business of my own, but I'm thinking I may go into Video Game Design. It's not specifically under my Technology Degree, but it is a passion of mine, just like inventing!"
"Oh, are you going to invent another time machine and maybe get a brother or sister for me!?!"
Chase jumps at the very thought, and says, "Noooo, I think one time machine adventure that gave me you, is enough for my lifetime! Besides, that makes you unique, just like being here at Uni makes me unique, along with becoming a game designer, as no one in the Frio family has done either of those things before."
Marisol smiles and says, "I like being unique daddy. I'll have to think about what I could do to keep being unique when I grow up. What other things haven't been done?"
"That's a question you'd have to ask the Watcher, I'm not sure of all the careers that all the Frio family members have tried. I know they have criminal, law enforcement, as well as athletics, covered. And your Gramlei was a master chef, just like the Founder, but there have been a lot of heirs, spares, and spouses through our nine generations, so I'm not sure what other career paths they all followed. But I'm sure there are a lot of other careers and lifetime wishes that haven't been done yet. And even if you did do something that has already been done, it's not been done by you, so you would bring your own ideas and creativity to it, making it something special that way. And though you may not be a Frio by blood, your love of art is something that several family members have shared, including your mother and your grandfather. And I enjoy it too, so I may go into the artistic branch of game design. I haven't quite decided on the specifics of that yet. Speaking of painting, it's getting late, so you'll probably have to work on yours in the morning. I'm almost finished here, so you go get in your nightgown, brush your teeth and I'll come tuck you in."
A few moments after Marisol heads off to get ready for bed, Chase finishes is current discovery.
"Down to the home stretch on my inventing skill Watcher. It's been so enlightening, discovering all these toys, gadgets, and widgets, and the big inventions, too."
"Even the time machine? The consequences of that will be around for the rest of your life."
"Oh, I don't regret Marisol at all Watcher! But I do regret the circumstances, having it happen this way, with Odette and me being so far apart. I can't help but wonder if she will be able to accept Marisol as her daughter. It's a lot to ask of a spouse."
"Well, yes and no. If you'd had another relationship and Marisol was the result of that, I think that situation would be much harder for Odette to accept. The way the time machine works, you are Marisol's only biological parent."
"What!?! I never even thought about that! But…biology doesn't work that way!"
"It can in your world Chase. Just like how time stops in HS while you're here or traveling anywhere actually."
"And having a back pack that holds an endless supply of stuff. And that disappearing and reappearing fishing pole you mentioned. I have twisted my brain thinking about that after you brought it up!"
"I told you it would do that if you thought about it too much! But getting back to Odette accepting Marisol, try not to brood about it too much. Odette knows the situation since you called her, but with time not really passing…"
"It's going to seem like I just left and then I came back with a school age daughter minutes later! Oh, no! But you mentioned giving them time to get used to the idea….the only ones having time to worry about it will be me and Marisol!"
"I'm afraid so. Traveling and time travel in your world messes me up too! All I can say is I'm sorry and try not to worry too much."
"Asking a brooding sim not to worry is futile Watcher. And not the best thought to try and go to sleep on, but I'll give it a try."
With Marisol joining Chase's Uni household, it's kept me busier than I would have been with just Chase here, that's for sure.
In fact, now that I've experienced a whole day of rabbit-hole classes, I'm sure I would have been pretty bored without having Marisol to watch over.
But since we got to spend the whole day together, I feel Marisol and I have a solid foundation for a true friendship, just like the ones I have with the other Frio family members.
And Chase is doing well in all his classes, with his academic performance bar 3/4 of the way filled already!
His absent-minded trait hasn't been nearly as detrimental as we'd thought it'd be, probably because his genius trait carries more weight, and he did work hard and study between each class today, so that was a big help too.
Chase and Marisol are bonding and their father/daughter relationship is coming along nicely.
But this is only day one of Chase's classes, and we still have the rest of the week to finish his term, so plenty of time for more bonding and socializing, and in Chase's case, brooding.
Can he hold it together and continue, or will his broody nature have him spiraling down a dark and dangerous hole?
And will Marisol be able to make it through the week with her only her father and me for companions?
It's a rather lonely existence for a child in Uni!
Let's see what happens in Chapter 230: Together Tuesday
Coming soon.
