Gen 7 Ch 4

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Random Rolls for Generation 8 - Topaz

Single Parent

Two Children

Career: Artist

Goal: Hobby or Obession

Just for Fun: Tattoo Addict

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Coal and Raven arrived home from Eugi's to find Jade in tears.

"Aunt Jade? What's wrong? Are the kids alright?"

"The kids are fine..."

"Then what's wrong?" Coal asked again, although in his heart of hearts, he somehow knew.

"It's ... it's Emmy..it's your mom, Coal. She passed away tonight. William just called me. He and Tiffanie are on their way over now."

William arrived bearing Emerald's urn, and Raven rushed to comfort him. Tiffanie disappeared upstairs immediately as soon as they arrived, so Coal went searching.

He found his sister reading up in the nursery.

"Tiffanie?... Are you alright?"

"Aww.. come 'ere sis. It's okay to cry. We're all gonna miss her."

Despite their grief, though, two toddlers still must be attended to. Agate especially was way to young to realize that he had lost his grandmother, and he and Topaz required so much attention, there was little time for mourning.

Agate's favorite game was 'The Claw."

"I'm gonna get you!"

"Ahahahaha! Again, daddeee!"

"I got you now!"

"Ehehehehehe! Again, Mommeee!"

Time for Topaz' birthday. She's growing up to look a lot like Coal.

One night not long after her birthday, Coal was awakened in the middle of the night by a commotion in the bedroom.

"Topaz! What're you doing? It's the middle of the night!" He blinked sleepily at his daughter as she swung a pillow around the room randomly.

"Hehehe.. Oh, sorry daddy. Beebee and I were just having a pillow fight."

"Well, go to bed. Now."

Half asleep, it was only later he began to wonder and worry about her odd behavior. He hoped it was something she would grow out of...

...especially since Agate was now exhibiting the same obsessive behavior toward his own odd doll.

"Coal! Where are you? I need you to watch Agate while I run to the store!"

Coal frowned as he worked the weights. He really wanted to finish this workout session but it looked like it wasn't going to happen.

"Okay love, I'll be right there. I'm in the basement working out."

"Working out? I don't think I've ever seen you working out before. First the new clothes and new car, then the tattoo, and now this? What's got into you?"

Coal shrugged and grumbled a little.

"I dunno. I'm just feeling a little .. well...old lately. Thought I'd do something about it, that's all."

Now that Topaz was in school, Coal was finally finding time to start on his community garden. There was nothing like a little gardening to make him forget his mid-life crisis for a while. It took days just to clear the weeds and rocks out of the field.

He fretted about the extra expense of adding a picnic area and restroom, but city ordinances required them, so in they went. Afterward, he was glad he had installed them; they provided a nice buffer between the garden and the street.

The koi pond was his own idea - a central focal point for the walkways.

Finally the soil preparation and mulching were complete....

...and the planting could begin. Many days he would stop by after work to add another plant or two, as he perfected more varieties of seeds.

One day he as we worked, he forgot the time, and looked up to see that darkness had already descended on the city. On his way out, a woman stopped him to compliment him on his garden, and they struck up a conversation.

Suddenly he had an overwhelming urge to flirt with this woman whom he hardly knew. Part of him watched in shock, at what this new Coal dared to do. It was not that he didn't still love Raven, far from it - sometimes a man just needs a little excitement in his life.

He was annoyed yet somehow relieved, when his phone interrupted them. It was Raven. She was crying.

"Sweetheart.. it's your aunt.. she.."

"I'll be right home, love."

Ignoring the flirty glances from the woman, he turned and raced for home.

Jade had been helping Topaz with her homework in the study when it had happened.

When he arrived home, Raven and Topaz were still in the study, comforting each other.

He pulled Raven into his arms, guilt rising along with his grief. What had possessed him to flirt with that woman? As he held his beloved wife tight, he vowed to himself - never again would he be so foolish. No, he didn't need any more excitement or change - everything he wanted was right here with Raven.

After a few minutes, he glanced over Raven's shoulder at Topaz, pretending to hug her imaginary friend.

"It's okay, Beebee, everything's gonna be alright."