Gen 8 Ch 5

Sadly, not long before the Topaz and the girls were supposed to leave for China, their lives were turned upside down by an unexpected visit from the grim reaper. It was her mom's time, and nothing Topaz or Coal could do was going to stop it.

She wanted to cancel the trip, but her dad wouldn't hear of it. He insisted it would do them good to get away  for a few days. Topaz at least tried to convince him to come with them, but he didn't want to do that either, claiming he was way too old to be gallivanting all over the world - and besides, who would take care of his garden?

They finally reached a compromise, where Agate would stop in every day to check on their dad, and make sure he was doing alright. Topaz was still reluctant, but felt a little better, knowing that her dad would be taken care of.

When they arrived at the hotel in China, she was immediately accosted by a group of autograph seekers. They had heard a 'famous artist' would be visiting, she was told. She hadn't realized that people in China had even heard of her! Rose and Coral waited impatiently. They couldn't wait to begin exploring.

Their first stop was at the Terracotta Army. Topaz' contract specified that a painting of the ancient burial grounds be included in the final portfolio. Rose and Coral had a great time playing tag among the giant figures, and were only lured away by promises to visit the market square the next day.

The next day, they all headed down to the Forbidden City. Topaz set up her easel to capture the view of the market square.....

....while Rose and Coral wandered off to explore. Soon they came running back, all excited.

"Come here, mom, you gotta see this!"

"Wait just a minute, girls, let me put my paints away."

"Look, mom! It's a pad with footprints on it, just like the ones you told us you found in the tombs of Egypt!"

"Smart girls! It does look like some kind of triggering device. I've heard there is a secret entrance to the treasure rooms of the infamous Dong Huo somewhere in this square. I wonder if this is it?"

"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Topaz exclaimed.

Rose and Coral looked none too pleased with their mom's 'try it and see' attitude, and were even more shocked when a stairway appeared, leading down into darkness.

They stood in open-mouthed silence while Topaz explained about hidden doors, and directed the girls to pick up anything interesting that they found.

They were thrilled for a few moments, at finding a bag of money and a silver bar, but soon they lagged behind again, afraid to pass the silent watchers in the hall.

"Come on! You need to keep up, girls! Now stand back! I found a key. Let's see what it opens!"

Everything seemed safe so far, so Topaz wasn't really worried. After all, who would hide anything dangerous under the market?

As they descended the next set of stairs, however, Topaz stopped short in alarm. There were definitely traps here - dangerous ones.

"Stop right now, girls. Not another step. I never expected to find traps like this here. I'm taking you back to the surface."

After depositing the twins back at the market, and giving them some spending money to keep them occupied, Topaz returned below. There was no way she was going to leave this place unexplored. But so many traps! It took hours to navigate through the maze.

Her persistence finally paid off, and she found herself standing in one of Dong Huo's ancient treasure rooms. She didn't know if she should just take the loot, or... or what? Turn it in to the authorities? But who would that be? She gathered it all up, anyway. She would just have to ask around later.

When she arrived back at the market, she was amazed to see Rose and Coral working on a writing project. She had forgotten that they were supposed to write a report on their travels, as make up work for missing a week of school. She left them to it, while she went to check in with the relic dealer. There she got another surprise - she could keep all the relics she had found in Dong Huo's treasure room!

Then, the treasure packed, and the reports complete, it was time once again to head for home.

They arrived home to find Agate and Coal engaged in a rousing game of foosball. Topaz was a little put out, that they were so involved in the little swinging men, they couldn't be bothered to ask her about her trip. 

Coral and Rose scurried up the stairs to their bedroom as fast as the could, as soon as they stepped out of the car.

They couldn't wait to be back together with their imaginary friends.

Topaz surveyed her work one last time, before loading her new paintings into the car and heading to the art museum. She was please and was sure she'd be able to fund her next trip, on the proceeds from these China paintings alone.

One last stop on the way back from delivering the paintings - a new tattoo in the shape of a koi, to remind her of China.

Turn about is fair play, or so the saying goes, and Agate and Jojo needed a vacation. So Coal and Topaz agreed to watch all the kids for a few days. Reagan was now a teen, and was a huge help with her little sister and twin brothers, but there was no way she could handle that mob alone.

The twins, Lowell and Bennie, were quite a handful.

Jana was a real sweetie, and she and Rose and Coral had a great time together.

But Coal's favorite was little Bennie - maybe because he was the only one of all the grandchildren to inherit the famous Sinbad's red hair?

Note:

Sorry about the lame ending for this chapter. I wanted to include all the kid spam from Agate and Jojo; their kids turned out really cute, I think.

Gen 8 Ch 4

Rolls for Generation 9 - Rose and Coral

Second Chance (two partners, a child with each)

Two children

Primary career: Fortune Teller (Genuine Pyschic)

1st partner's career: artist

2nd partner's career: Magician

Goal: Deadbeat parents

Fun: Partier

***********************************************************

First things first - Topaz quickly located the quaint French marketplace, and the art collector who was interested in her paintings. She introduced herself as Jolene Montague, and proclaimed herself 'smitten' with Topaz' artwork.

"I'll take everything you brought with you, these are amazing."

After their deal was concluded, Topaz headed out the door, eager to check out the rest of the market, but stopped short when she heard Jolene call out behind her.

"Wait a minute!" Topaz was a little taken aback when she turned to find Jolene pointing an animated finger at her chest. "You look like the adventurous type. How would you like to help me research my new book?"

Jolene's 'research', Topaz soon discovered, involved breaking into the old abandoned mansion on the edge of town. At least she recognised the traps at the entrance, from her adventures in Egypt. Who would have thought that the former owners of this French mansion would utilize the same type of traps that the ancient Egyptians used to guard their tombs?

There were more traps in the foyer; luckily the room also boasted a couple of statues that could be used to disarm them. What kind of sickos plant hidden traps in their front entrance, anyway?

This must be the library, where Jolene said Topaz would find the documents - something about a stolen nectar recipe.

Jolene had told her that anyone who managed to make their way past the traps could keep any relics they found inside, but it still seemed a little creepy to Topaz to be tip toeing about lifting vases in what looked like could be someones home.

Jolene had tasked her with finding three documents. The first had been in the library; she located the second outside in the grounds keeper's cabin.

The last one, dealing with the kidnapping of a young girl, was more difficult to find, but Topaz finally discovered it in a small office on the top floor of the mansion.

Jolene was beyond pleased when Topaz presented her with all the documentation she needed for her new book.

"How can I ever thank you?"

Topaz winked at her.

"I have an idea." She grinned as she leaned in for a quick kiss. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Topaz of course stopped off at the tattoo parlor on her way home. She decided on a simoleon symbol to represent the opulent Landgrabb mansion she had explored on her trip.

She could hardly wait to get home to her girls. She knew they were in good hands with her mom and dad, but she missed them fiercely.

"Hey, little Rosie! I missed you girls so much!"

"Mama? Wanna go see Jana! Pwease?"

"My goodness, you learned to talk so well while I was gone! Of course we can visit your cousin."

"How about you, Coral? Do want to go visit Reagan and Jana too?"

"Eeeee! Let's go now, mama!"

Agate and Jojo were not the best company, but Reagan wanted to hear all about Topaz' travels. As she described her latest adventures, Topaz couldn't help but wonder if Reagan and Jana would be getting a new little brother or sister soon. 

Meanwhile, Rose and Coral were thrilled to be playing with their little cousin. It took promises of cookies and bedtime stories to finally get them back in the car when it was time to leave.

When birthday time for the twins rolled around, Topaz went all out on their party. All the relatives were invited - Jade's daughter Crystal, now an elder, Coal's little sister Tifannie and her red-headed husband, and of course Agate and Jojo. They had brand new twin boys at home, and apologized for arriving late - their sitter had not shown up until the last minute.

 Since Rose Beryl was the oldest by a few minutes, she got to blow out her candles first.

Rose cheered enthusiastically as Coral had her turn at the cake, but Topaz suddenly felt hot tears welling up in her eyes. Her babies were growing up.

Topaz closed her eyes and sighed as Eva took the opportunity to poke fun at the proceedings. She couldn't remember any more why she had at one time fallen so hard for Eva. Those emotions had certainly died out years ago,when Eva revealed her antipathy to all things child related.

After the cake, Jojo brought out her guitar, and the dancing began.

Raven kept the drinks flowing from her usual place behind the bar.

To everyone surprise, Rose watched Tifannie's expert dance moves for a few minutes, then enthusiastically jumped out onto the dance floor, copying her great-aunt's steps perfectly.

"Come on, Coral, Reagan - come dance with me!"

"Uh... we don't know how."

"It's easy - like this!" Rose spun adroitly in a complicated dance step, while her sister and cousin watched in amazement.

"Where'd you learn how to do that?"

"I dunno, I just did it."

No one else but Topaz seemed to be aware of one special guest.

"I think that one's gonna be special," Jade gestured to where Rose was tearing up the dance floor.

"They're both special. You were right about them, you know. They're what I was searching for, all along."

And when the inevitable phone call came, asking Topaz to paint several Chinese landmarks for the Bridgeport art gallery, she agreed for one reason only - her girls were old enough now to make the trip with her.