The Run Away - Completed

[Shenanigans_SC]

Yay! My story is taking off! I thought I'd add links to each chapter here incase someone new decides to give it a read. This should make finding the chapters a little easier. Keep the comments coming!

Chapter 1 - A Name (THIS POST)
Chapter 2 - The Birthmark (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=695579&postcount=10)
Chapter 3 - Biding His Time (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=700075&postcount=22)
Chapter 3 continued (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=700077&postcount=23)
Chapter 4 - A Chance (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=700932&postcount=31)
Chapter 5 - The Betrayal (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=704609&postcount=43)
Chapter 6 - A Surprise (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=707746&postcount=53)
Chapter 7 - A Doozy (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=710001&postcount=58)
Chapter 8 - The Showdown (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=712495&postcount=68)
Chapter 9 - Freedom (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=713766&postcount=80)
Chapter 10 - For Sale by Owner (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=714441&postcount=96)
Chapter 11 - A Busy Six Months (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=715235&postcount=106)
Chapter 12 - Baby Blues (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=715992&postcount=118)
Chapter 13 - A Cookout (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=717111&postcount=128)
Chapter 14 - News (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=718420&postcount=138)
Chapter 15 - History (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=719726&postcount=145)
Chapter 16 - Letters (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=721243&postcount=152)
Chapter 17 - No Such Person (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=722617&postcount=163)
Chapter 18 - A Birthday Party (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=723881&postcount=168)
Chapter 19 - Overdrawn (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=725295&postcount=177)
Chapter 20 - A Dirty Little Secret (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=726545&postcount=184)
Chapter 21 - Innocent Words (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=727670&postcount=195)
Chapter 22 - Because of Love (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=728727&postcount=206)
Chapter 23 - The World Keeps Spinning (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=730043&postcount=220)
Chapter 24 - A Meeting with the Teacher (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=732637&postcount=229)
Chapter 25 - A Wager (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=735059&postcount=239)
Chapter 26 - Coming to Terms (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=736719&postcount=250)
Chapter 27 - It's a Small World (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=738106&postcount=269)
Chapter 28 - Moving On (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=739525&postcount=278)
Chapter 29 - Questions (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=740675&postcount=285)
Chapter 30 - The 'Shin-dig' (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=741073&postcount=288)
Chapter 31 - Falling (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=741985&postcount=295)
Chapter 32 - The Process Begins (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=743485&postcount=306)
Chapter 33 - Dinner and a Movie (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=745003&postcount=319)
Chapter 34 - An Outing (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=745829&postcount=328)
Chapter 35 - The Past Returns (part 1) (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=746143&postcount=338)
Chapter 35 - The Past Returns (part 2) (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=746143&postcount=338)
Chapter 36 - His Choice (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=749804&postcount=368)
Chapter 37 - Happily Ever After (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=752747&postcount=395)
Alternate Chapter 36 - His Other Choice (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=753869&postcount=410)
Alternate Chapter 37 - Back Where They Belong (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=754373&postcount=415)

Chapter 1 - A Name
=====

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter1_01.jpg

"Lets head in here real quick and pick out a movie." Anita motioned to her two best friends to follow her into the rental store.
"Are we going sappy or scary tonight?" Jackie asked teasingly.
"Oh, I know! Let's get that new one where the serial killer falls in love with his victims! Then we'll have both at once!", Felicia's voice was dripping with sarcasam.
"Felicia!" Jackie and Anita said in unison.

As they entered the rental store, they were greeted with the standard "Hello." Felicia had the urge to roll her eyes. The forced politeness at this place always bugged her. Usually it was some pimple faced geek restocking the DVDs.
Before she could look in the direction of the voice, her two friends erupted in giggles.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter1_02.jpg

"He's new here." Anita said in a hushed voice.
"Yeah, can we rent him? He's a 'new release'." Jackie blurted out.
Felicia turned her head to see who her friends were fawning over. She was surprised to see a dark haired hunk walking away. She nudged her friends over to the new releases wall. "Come on, let's get a movie."

The three girls browsed through the movies, but only half heartedly, as they kept sneaking peeks at the video guy.
"He's so hot, he even makes that dorky uniform look good." Jackie observed.
"How old do you think he is anyway?" Anita wondered aloud.
"Like it matters? Come on guys... I thought we were here for a movie."
"Aww... come on Felicia, you never want to have any fun." Jackie gave her friend a big pouty lip accompanied by puppy dog eyes.
Felicia shrugged her shoulders, "I'm just trying to save you the embarrassment of being dissed.", she teased.

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Jessie got a playful punch to the shoulder. "You know those girls are all talking about you."
"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?"
"The giggles, the laughter... Come on now, you know those movie titles aren't that funny."
"Well, maybe they're laughing at you!"
"Ha! I was quite the looker when I was your age."
"Oh yeah? When was that? Eighteen o'six?"
"Ha ha... Very funny you whipper snapper!" Greg teased with his best old man impression.
Jessie couldn't help but take a peek at the young ladies.
"You better be caaaaareful.", Greg told him. "By the looks of them, they might get you into trouble!"
"Yeah, I know," Jessie sighed, "ever since I turned nineteen that's been painfully obvious."

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The girls finally decided on a few movies and started to approach the check out counter. "You're up." Greg said motioning his head towards the counter.
"Did you find everything okay?" Jessie started the routine.
"Why yes, yes we did." Anita said rather matter of factly.
"The two liters are on sale, want any soda for your Saturday night party?" He knew the sales pitch so well, he could say it in his sleep.
"Well, now that depends, will you carry them home for us?" Jackie was a terrible flirter.
"Now I can't go about leaving my post now can I?", he replied without missing a beat. "I will, however, be all too happy to put them in a bag for you."
"Aww... You're no fun!" Jackie tried to recover.
"I guess that's a no then." Jessie continued on, "All righty then, your total comes to nine dollars and fourty cents."
Anita handed him a ten dollar bill and received her change. Felicia made sure she was the first one past the security detectors to accept the movie cases. "Thank you," she paused slightly to read his name tag, "Jessie."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter1_05.jpg
"She said my name." he mentioned to Greg as he watched the girls walk away through the glass store doors.
"Yeah, so? We do wear these wonderfully fabulous name tags you know."
"Come on Greg, seriously.", Jessie protested. "You've been working here for how long now?"
"Far too long, it hurts my brain to think about it." Greg put his hand to his forehead as if he had a migrane. "Why?"
"In all your years here, how many customers have said your name?"
Greg paused to think about it. "You know, I don't think anyone ever has."
"That, old man, is my point."

=====

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Felicia was pretending to watch the movie but really her thoughts were elsewhere.
"Earth to Felicia... Hello!! Come in Felicia?"
"Huh?? What?" she said as the credits rolled up the screen.
"Do you want popcorn or what?" Anita was getting a bit annoyed.
"Oooo... she's daydreaming! Can't you see it in her eyes?" Jackie teased.
"Who? Me? Nahh.... I'm just kinda sleepy." Felicia knew her friends would see right through that lie.
"Aww... give it up already girl. Come on! Let's put the next one in." Jackie's perkiness never took a holiday.
"Nah," Felicia objected. "You know what, I really should get home. It's getting late."
"Are you ditching us? Your number one girls? Where ya going?"
"Home!" , Felicia snapped back. "You know my father doesn't like it when I miss curfew. I better get home, don't want to end up grounded now." She really wished Jackie would just let her go.
"Okay then." Anita could sense Felicia's tension. "We'll see you Monday at class right?"
"Unless we're lucky and the school burns down."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter1_07.jpg

Felicia gave her two friends a hug, and started walking down the block. She considered herself lucky to have friends not too far away. The night air was crisp and cool as she made her way home. She could hear the little pebbles crunch under her shoe. Her mind's eye drifted back to the video store. "Ah, get over it already looser." She told herself. "Not like you've ever had a guy look your direction anyway." As the shilloete of her house came into view she glanced nervously at her watch. Her body tensed up when she realized she was five minutes late. Her steps quickened as if to turn back the hands of time.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter1_08.jpg

Very slowly she opened the front door praying it wouldn't squeek. She glanced inside the livingroom. She breathed a big sigh of relief as she saw her father passed out in his recliner in front of the television. "Thank you God!" she said in a whisper. She quietly tip-toed past him and headed straight for her room.

[unicorngurl180]

I really like tis so far. It's well written and the pictures are well done. and it seems like it is going interesting places.

[melanie_SC]

What unicorn said :). Really good writing and pics to match.

[Tixi]

i agree
this is great and the pictures are equally good
cant wait to see what happens next

[vio1ette]

good story so far accept I don't know what's up with Jessie, so what if she said his name?

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thanks for the feedback! Previously, I've always just played the game and took pictures, then made a story that made them all go together. But every time without fail, the stories just kind of dropped. I couldn't wrap them up. This time the story came to me first. So I'm trying to 'arrange' the pictures. It's really difficult! So I was worried about that. Thanks though. I have chapter 2 written, but I gotta make the sets and take the pictures.

vio1ette- I'm not 100% sure. I worked fast food a lot when I was younger, and the very rare time someone would actually use my name, it always stood out. I guess guys may not care as much, but given I'm a female writer it's in there. But, oh well. :hmm:

[Loco]

Nice start, I really like it! Hehe, Felicia's making a really cute face in the picture where they're talking to Jessie... just thought I'd point that out. :D Keep it up!
Oh, and I'm writing a story the same way you are... only I've written up to chapter 12 and I haven't started taking pictures yet. Oops... :D

[sims2addict01]

Nice!! I like it so far!! :]

[[Telectual]]

Me likey!

Please update soon! :D

[Shenanigans_SC]

Heh... I had extra time today, so took some pictures to go along with chapter 2. I tried to hint to it in the story line, but realized I forgot to mention the school year was nearly over in chapter one. There's a couple week's time between chapter 1 and 2, just so no one's confused. Okay, shutting up now.

Chapter 2 - The Birthmark
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"They're looking at me." she thought to herself. "Why do they have to stare at me?" Felicia quickly grabbed a random book off the shelves and sat down on the couch. She wished she could just crawl up in some hole and die. The library was as close to that wish as she could manage. Unlike most teenagers, Felicia hated the summer. She actually liked school. At least it kept her away from home. She took some deep breaths and closed her eyes. "Come on now, you should be a pro at this by now." she told herself, refusing to cry. "Been there, done that, suck it up."

Then a voice broke her concentration, "Read much?"
"Uh... Yeah... Love it." Felicia muttered, refusing to lower the book. She felt nervous, where had she heard that voice before?
"Well, that makes two of us. Mind if I sit here?"
"Why can't they just leave me alone?" she thought as she flipped another page of the book she had been blankly staring at. "Help yourself." she answered.
"Ah... So then, if you don't mind me asking, just what is so interesting about tree sloths?" Now that caught her off guard!
"What the...? Tree sloths?" she blurted without thinking. She lowered the book ever so slightly so she could get a peek at whoever it was pestering her.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter02_02.jpg

She quickly raised the book back to it's prior position. What in the world was HE doing sitting next to her?
"Yeah, the spine of your book says 'True or False: Tree Sloths'." he said flipping through a book of his own.
Felicia quickly turned the book to look at it's cover. To her horror she discovered that the random book she grabbed off the shelf was in fact about tree sloths. She quickly returned the book to it's prior position, blocking all view. She thumped the book against her forehead feeling incredibly stupid.

"You weren't really reading that there book were you?" he asked knowingly.
She let out a sigh. "No." she said quietly.
"That's good, cause truth be told, I'm not really reading this one either." Felicia let out a small laugh. It was the first time in days she had laughed. The woman at the computer table turned to shush them. "Shh!"
Jessie closed the book he had grabbed off the shelf. He was determined to drag her out from underneath the sloth book. "You know... You have an unfair advantage. You already know my name, I never caught yours."
"He remembers?" she thought to herself. She slowly lowered the book with her left hand and reached out with her right. As she shook his hand she quitely said "I'm Felicia".

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter02_03.jpg

She saw the smile fade off his face. His facial expression became unreadable. "What? Do I have something on my nose?" she did her best to defuse the situation.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter02_04.jpg

Jessie tried to gather his composure. "Oh, no... I'm sorry. I guess... I just... Uh..." the proper words to say escaped him. Did proper words for such a situation even exist?
"It's okay.", she assured him. "Well, now you know why I was reading about Tree Sloths. Or, ur... Wasn't reading about them." The same lady shushed them again. "Shhhh!!"
"Uh... Yeah." Jessie cleared his throat. "So, uhm... Do you come here much?" Jessie asked, trying to resume the conversation.
"In the summer, yeah. It's cool, quiet, most folks leave me alone. And I never run into anyone from school." she was doing her best to appear light hearted.
"Uh... I know it's none of my business... but I just have to ask." Jessie had a feeling he was treading on thin ice.
"Please don't." Felicia said quietly, her finger tracing the edge of the book in her lap.
"You know, if your boyfriend did that to you, I'd be all too happy to return the favor." Jessie knew he was rather blunt and had hoped he didn't go to far.
"Boyfriend?" Felicia laughed.
Now others joined in with the shushing lady. "SHHHH!!!"
With a lower voice she said "No, I don't have a boyfriend."
"Now that's hard to believe." Jessie cringed at how lame his words sounded.
"I can't believe you recognized me." Felicia said desperate to change the subject.
"Well, it's not often someone takes the time to learn my name."
"Oh yeah..." Felicia paused, doing her best to act as if she was having a hard time recalling it. "Jacob... err... uh... Jessie, right?" Another wave of "SHHH!!!" came from the people around them.
"Heh... We just might get kicked out of here." Felicia said as she stared nervously down at her shoes.

"Yeah..." Jessie said,taking note of all the annoyed people surrounding them. "Hey... you wanna go get something to drink? You know... so we won't be the only people in history outlawed from the library?"
So many thoughts ran through her head. "Could this be happening? Did he just...? No way! He couldn't have... but he did... Didn't he?" "Uhm, sure." she said with the best calm and cool voice she could manage.



=====

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He gazed at her eyes as often as he could without it being terribly obvious. He noticed how she rarely looked him in the eyes. Even when they were deep in conversation she always glanced away. He hadn't mentioned the nasty bruise framing her right eye since the library. He was determined to get the real story.

"So you mentioned school, are you a student at the University?" he asked.
"University?" she asked shocked. "Oh heavens no. I'm going to be a senior this year."
"Oh." Jessie said, taken by surprise.
"How old did you think I was?"
"Uh, I just hoped you were a little older. How old are you then?"
"Seventeen," she hated saying that, "but I'll be eighteen in December!" she quickly added. "Okay, your turn, how old are you?"
"Just turned twenty."
"Ah... so you're the college kid, not me."
"College?" Jessie said with a slight laugh. "No, no college for me. Can't afford it. Was straight to the working force for me. Glamourous Videos-R-Us all the way baby!"

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Again Felicia laughed. Jessie was so good at making her laugh. She had forgotten all about the bruise on her face hours ago. Then there was a silence that fell upon them. She could tell he was struggling with something.

"Look," he began to say, "I know you'd rather me just not say anything, but when I see someone hurt, I'm not the sort of guy to walk on by." Felicia sighed and closed her eyes. Why did he have to end her happiness?
"I promise... I won't do anything you don't want me to.", he continued. "But a person can't keep this all to themselves. I just want to help. Who hurt you?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter02_07.jpg

"It's referred to as a birthmark." she said quietly refusing to look at him.

Kind of puzzled Jessie asked, "Birthmark? I have a splotch on my lower back, that's a birth mark." His voice began to rise. "Some folks have a mole, that's a birthmark." His voice got a little louder still. "That there on your eye is a genuine shiner, not no stinking birthmark!"

She raised her hand in effort to calm him down. "I know... I know. That's not what I meant." She could feel her eyes begin to swell with tears. "My father, that's what he calls them. He calls them birthmarks. Cause I was born to wear them." She suddenly felt so cold like a giant shadow had come over her. She just wanted to leave. "Once again, the laughter fades. Figures." she thought to herself.

"I'm so sorry," his voice was now soft and quiet. "I didn't realize."
"Yeah, don't worry about it." she scooted her chair out, preparing to stand up. "It's no biggie."

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He put his hand on her arm to stop her from leaving. "No, please don't go. You don't have to go."
"What? Don't you want me to leave now? This isn't exactly my topic of choice you know."
"I know, I'm sorry. Please, sit, I don't want you to leave."

Felicia couldn't believe what she was hearing. This guy was too good to be true. Usually folks would brush her bruises off as if she had done something to deserve them. She had been told her whole life she was worthless and deserved nothing better. This was weird for her. She had a new feeling sweep over her. Fighting her natural urges, she decided to stay.
=====

[Beccasapphire]

Wow it's really good! The dialogue is very realistic. One thing though, what do Felicia's friends think of her bruises?

[Loco]

I agree with Beccasapphire, this is very well-written - it's a fantastic story. Poor Felicia... and I want to steal Jessie... :D

[melanie_SC]

Great story :) The pictures go well together with the words, like they did in chapter 1.

[Tixi]

great updates, this is great
poor Felicia =(

[violet kazoo]

Wow, this story is really good. Very well written, as others have said.

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thank you so much for all the positive feedback. It helps give me a drive to keep on at it. As I was writing chapter three, I found myself on the verge of tears, so ya'll are warned. I had to remind myself it wasn't real. lol I might need help. :blink:
I'm hopin to write another chapter tonight, but probably won't get to post anything till tomorrow night or Monday maybe. But it won't be too long.
Thanks again.

[Sarahdarling_SC]

I really like this story.
How did you get the bruise on her?
[Sorry if this is answered, I don't read the comments, just the story.]

[Shenanigans_SC]

I'm sorry to those who are actually waiting for my next chapter. My husband had surgery yesterday, and family will start arriving tomorrow for the holidays. It's gonna be a bit longer than I thought to get chapter three up. I have it written, and over half the pictures taken, there's just one scene that's giving me problems. lol

Sarahdarling, the bruise is costume makeup. I got it off of ModtheSims2 somewhere, but can't find it at the moment. Sorry!

[jennywren]

out of interest, why is this story called the runaway? does felicia run away from home?

[Enigmagirl4]

Great story, I cant wait for an update

Hope your husband gets well soon

[auroraspirit]

I really am enjoying this story, especially with Jessie being there for her.

I understand your circumstances Shenan, if you can't update for a while, we will all be still waiting patiently :D

Hoping your husband makes a full recovery and feels better soon :baloons:

PS- Jenny, I think the title of the story remains a secret don't you? ;)

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

Well, the pictures still aren't where I'd like them to be, but I figured it's gonna have to do. Chapter 3 is a bit longer than the previous, so I'll use two posts for it.


Chapter 3 - Biding His Time
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Felicia felt her cheeks turn red. She wished she could stop from blushing. She had the most wonderful summer she could have ever had. She spent many days with Jessie just doing much of nothing. Sitting in the park, walking the mall. With his help she had renewed her self esteem, she no longer felt totally worthless. He was so sweet to her, she wished it could go on forever. However summer was now coming to a close, and school was back in session. Her girlfriends wouldn't stop nagging her about her lack of activity with them. They wanted to know anything and everything about her new 'friend'.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter3_02.jpg

"So, is it like, official? Are you two an item? Are you in looooooove?" Jackie just wouldn't give it up.
Felicia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I mean, we've kissed," Felicia's sentence was interrupted by her friends' excitement.
"I knew it! You are so lucky!" Anita sighed.
"What's kissing him like?" Jackie knew no boundaries.
"Hmm," she said putting her finger to her chin assuming a thinking pose. "I'm not telling!"
"Awful... he's gotta be an awful kisser or you'd tell us!" Jackie protested.
"Nah, I just want you to think that." Felicia gave a playful wink. "Like I was saying, we've kissed a few times, but neither of us has said the 'love' word. I don't know, I think he's scared of my age. You know, he is three years older than me."
"Yeah so what?" Anita protested. "My dad is five years older than my mom, age doesn't mean much."
"Our ages do! I think he's waiting for my 18th birthday." Felicia saw her friend's funny looks. "I don't know, he's just like that."
"So... Back to this kissing thing," Jackie insisted.
Felicia's glance caught the time on the wall clock. "Oh crap!" she said suddenly as she quickly gathered up her stuff. "I have to go guys, my dad wanted me home an hour ago!"
Anita tried to help, "I'll just have my mom call and tell him you were here, and we lost track of time and stuff. You'll be okay."
"No!" Felicia blurted out. "I'm sorry," she said recovering, "I didn't mean to yell. I just really need to get going."

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She hurried out her friend's door and down the sidewalk. She ran as fast as her legs would let her, wishing she could turn back time. Sure the summer was good, and nothing much had happened. But that was all the more reason that her time was due. She just knew that she was in for it. How could she have been so dumb?

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"Where the hell have you been?" her father was already shouting as she opened the door.
"I was at Anita's. We were studying." she said trying to catch her breath.
"Like hell you were!" His breath reeked of alcohol. "My little tramp has been out doing things she has no business of doing, haven't you?"

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"No, dad, really. I was at ..." he didn't allow her to finish her sentence.
"Stop lying to me!" he hollered as he grabbed her wrist. "You're just like your mother! One hundred percent trailer trash!" He was twisting her arm. "You'd open your legs to anything with a pulse!"
"No dad, please no!" she pleaded, realizing he now had her cornered.
"I'll teach you to sleep around!"

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Felicia anticipated the sting of the blow as he swung his arm back readying to hit her. His right hand made solid contact and she fell to the floor in tears. Why? Why her? Why now?

[Shenanigans_SC]

=====

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"Finally! Time to close up shop Jessie." Greg instructed.
"Yay! Quitten time. My favorite time of day!" Jessie cheered as he locked the shop doors.
"Got any plans tonight?" Greg made small talk.
"No, not really. Relax in front of the TV a bit and pass out on the couch."
"Ahh... The life of the bachelor!" Greg said reminiscently.
"Oh, come on now! You get to go home to a gorgeous wife. You're the one that's got it good you know."
"Yeah, well, it has it's ups and it's downs. Wait!" Jessie's words just clicked over in Greg's head. "Have you been eyeing my wife?"
Jessie chuckled, "Just keeping you on your toes old man!"
"Better watch it bud!" Greg warned. "Hey! You know what you need Jessie?"
"What?"
"A dog."
"A dog?"
"Yeah, then you'd have someone to greet you and give you kisses."
"Ha ha ha... Very funny! Very funny. Why? Is clover pregnant?" Jessie asked with a suspicious eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to unload puppies on to me?"
Greg chuckled. "No... No... Oh man I hope not."

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As they were shutting down the lights and leaving the store Jessie gave Greg a pat on the back. "You know, you've got to be the best boss I've ever had."
"Heh... you're not so bad yourself. Just keep that head on your shoulders and out of the clouds, you'll be just fine. Well, see ya next time."
"Yup." They gave each other waves as they pulled out of the parking lot.

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Jessie drove home in silence. Greg's words echoing in his mind. "A dog eh? Nah, what I need to do is wait till January." he said talking to himself. The vision of Felicia's eyes ran through his mind. He couldn't help but feel like this time it was for real. Felicia was different. She didn't act seventeen. She didn't have the giggles most girls do. Perhaps that was because she had very little reason to laugh. Man how he wanted so badly to do something for her. Even though she hadn't had any bruises over the summer, he just didn't trust that man. Yet, she refused to tell Jessie where she lived, and she refused to talk to the police. She said they wouldn't do anything without proof. Like the bruises on her arms and stuff wasn't proof enough? His heartbeat quickened as he thought of it. "Calm down now." he said aloud. "You'll figure something out."

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With a hand over hand motion he turned onto his street. From the distance he thought he saw someone outside his house. He leaned forward trying to see who it was. As he pulled into his driveay, he was shocked to see it was Felicia. As fast as he could, he exited his car and ran over to her. Her chest rose and fell with deep sobs. "Felicia! What are you doing here?" He gently lifted her chin and quickly discovered her reason why.

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She fell into his arms. "I'm so sorry Jessie. I just... my dad, he..."
"It's okay, it's okay. You're safe here." Jessie comforted her, trying his best to hide his own anger. "Come on, come inside." With one arm still around her, he unlocked his front door with the other hand. He led her inside and sat her down on the couch. "Here, let me get some ice for you."
"I can't go back Jessie, I just can't. He was worse this time. I thought," she paused, the words caused her so much pain. "I thought he was going to, you know..." her voice trailed off.

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Jessie didn't know, and when he thought of the possibilites his blood began to boil. "Shh... it's okay now." he said handing her the ice. "You don't have to tell me." He held Felicia wishing he could make her feel better. Wishing he could take her pain away. He wanted to do something, but he didn't know what. "Do you think he knows where you are? Is he going to come looking for you?"
She lifted her head, doing her best to recompose herself. "No, he doesn't even know I left. He went back to his booze, and I slipped out my bedroom window. He won't notice I'm gone till tomorrow night."

"Okay then," Jessie said, making plans in his head. "I have to go to work tomorrow, but you can stay here tonight. You can sleep in my bed." He suddenly realized how that sounded when Felicia gave him a 'look'. "I" he began boldly, "will sleep on the couch." Felicia smiled. He always could make her smile.

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He gave her an old jersy of his and pointed out where the bathroom was. She gladly took the clothes and gave him a quick kiss. As he made himself comfortable on the couch, so many thoughts ran through his mind. He couldn't allow this anymore. He just had to do something.

[auroraspirit]

Oh my goodness, I am so badly sucked into this story, I love this a lot, its great to know that she has got someone there to be beside her during her hardship.

I would love to see this story go from beginning to end please :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Captain THPS4]

This story is great, I like it! I feel so sorry for Felicia. Can't wait to see where this story goes! :)

[auroraspirit]

I'm such a sucker for romance :valentine I can't get my head out from the clouds, hehe :lovestruc :luff:

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Loco]

Aw, Jessie's gotta do something... poor Felicia-baby... fantastic update, I really love this story. :D

[jennywren]

I'm enjoying this

[sims2addict01]

OMG! This is so awesome..This story is great! :]

[Shenanigans_SC]

With all of your guys' support and encouragement, I just HAD to sneak in one more chapter before my holiday break. This Chapter isn't the most exciting ever, but I hope it leaves you waiting for more. :)

Chapter 4- A Chance
=====

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The next morning Jessie was up early. Truth be told, he couldn't sleep well at all. It wasn't that the couch was uncomfortable, his mind just wouldn't stop running in circles. He felt helpless to help the girl he cared so much about. One thing was for sure, he wasn't letting her go back to that house. That house with that man. Oh the things he'd like to do to that man.

"Good morning Jess." Felicia caught him off guard.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you? I was trying to be quiet."
"No, no, it's okay. You're fine."
Jessie felt a little awkward. "Look, I gotta go in to the shop this morning. I should be back late this afternoon. I'm gonna try to get off early."
"Aww... How sweet of you. You know, I might be younger than you, but I don't need a baby sitter. I am a big girl." she said teasing him.
"That's not what I meant, you know that." Jessie didn't seem his usual light hearted self.

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"What's with you?" she asked.
"Nothing." Jessie realized he sounded so short. "I'm sorry. I just want you to stay here, I don't want you going back.."
"Okay, okay." She looked at him knowingly. "Jess, are you planning something? We've been over this, I told you, my father has a gun, just let..."
He put a finger to her lips to stop her from saying another word. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything rash. Okay? You have to trust me."
"Okay. I trust you." Felicia gave in. There was no use in arguing with him.

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Jessie put some money down on the kitchen counter. "This is for you to go do something today. I don't expect you to sit around couped up like some animal in a cage."
"Jess!" she started to object.
"Now, come on. Let me do this for you." he quickly replied. "Go get your hair done, or nails, or do whatever it is you girls do."
"Okay, okay." she caved in.
He grabbed his keys, blew her a kiss, and walked out the door. Felicia watched as he drove away.

=====

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Greg was annoyed when he heard a tapping at the shop door. "We don't open for another hour, krimity people!" he said under his breath, turning around to shoo the customer away. He was shocked to see Jessie out the window.
"What's with you boy? You know you don't have to kiss up to me by coming in early." he said letting Jessie in the store.
"Yeah, I know. I'm coming to you as a friend today, not as an employee."
Greg hadn't seen this look of such concern and seriousness on Jessie's face before.
"Okay then, lay it on me."

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Jessie told Greg of the situation he was in. He refused to sit and ignore what was going on. He had to do something, but didn't know what. Felicia had asked him to just stay out of it. Let her finish highschool then she could leave forever. But the thought of Felicia living with that just one day longer killed him.

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"Man, you got yourself in one hell of a mess." Greg was trying to take in all the information.
"Yeah, tell me about it! So what do I do?"
"Are you sure she's telling you the truth? You know her father is abusive?" Greg said with all seriousness.
Jessie couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Yes I'm sure Greg! She didn't do this to herself!"
"Okay, calm down." Greg paused. "You really love her huh?"
Greg's words made Jessie realize something. He had never told Greg they were dating, he referred to Felicia as just a "friend". It was time he admitted what was obvious to everyone else. "Yes, yes I really do. There I said it. I love her."
"Well, what you have to do isn't going to be easy. Not for you or her. You might push her away, but," he paused to make solid eye contact with Jessie, "You're gonna have to take a chance."

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That afternoon Felicia had decided to take the money Jessie left behind to buy some groceries. Jessie was a sweet heart, but his fridge was just like any other bachelor's... Empty!
As she walked down the sidewalk, she took a deep breath. There were storm clouds on the horizon behind her and she just loved the smell of rain. Even with the incoming showers the air felt different here. The birds were still singing. She had never noticed the birds chirping in her neighborhood. Even the basket of groceries she carried felt lighter. Life was good here. She tried to imagine what Jessie's face would look like when he came home and found her cooking dinner. "Gee whiz... I'm acting like some newlywed house wife!" she said to herself.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter4_08.jpg

As she turned the corner and caught a glimpse of Jessie's house, the shadow of her own personal doom cloud returned to her. Her body tensed up as she tried not to panic. Why in the world was there a cop car outside his place?

[Captain THPS4]

Nice cliffhanger! I think I can guess what will happen next... :)

[violet kazoo]

Great updates! Jessie's a really great guy.

[Julieth]

Wow, neat story! I love the way it's written, and the pictures are great! It's really nice to see a story of this class!
I have just one little tip...some of your pics are taken in build mode and you can see the lines...but other than that, a job well done! I can't wait for the next update!

[auroraspirit]

That is so sweet of you to update Shenan, I have a feeling also as what is about to happen :D

I believe I can just hang on maybe for a week, otherwise I will die of cursioty, hehe.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thank you so much everyone!

Oh my goodness Julieth, thank you for pointing that out. I get so focused on setting up the scene, I didn't even notice the lines! I'll have to see about maybe redoing them for picture sake.

I'm kinda curious to see just what it is you all think is gonna happen. I might be an okay writer, but I'm awful at making them surprises. lol

[exactduckwoman]

Hey, no fair! I just came here and read the whole thing and now there's a cliffhanger and you're mean ._.

But I'm really enjoying this story-- I'd looked at it once before and seen the first pic and been like "Yuck, another teen story" but I was soooo wrong. This looks really good. Updateupdateupdate... when you're ready of course :D

[Dragonball161]

Where is the mother in all this? Did she run out, or is beaten as well? Might like to hear about that.

I started reading expecting that I'd hit the back button after the third picture, but this surprised me. I hope it updates, I do know life happens, but please continue.

[jennywren]

OMG OMG now we have to wait until after christmas, nooooooo!

[Loco]

Aw, evil cliffhanger! Nice update!

[Shenanigans_SC]

I wanted to quickly say a thank you to everyone for their feedback. Even the comments about the pictures turning some people off from the story initially helps. Lets me know, that maybe I need to work on my picture choices a little harder.
Dragonball - I wanted to let you know I took your post to heart. I hadn't planned on delving into that aspect of it, but I found a nice spot where that information could be given. It at least makes the characters deeper, more defined, and gives the reader the abiltiy to sympathize with them better.

Also, to say, I've just finished taking pictures for the next chapter. It should be up shortly. :)

[Shenanigans_SC]

Okay... here's chapter five... just in time for Christmas. And there's no cliff hanger this time. ;) Enjoy it, cause chapter 6 ends with one. lol

Chapter 5 - The Betrayal
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Felicia's steps quickened with the most dreadful of thoughts running through her mind. She remembered Jessie said he'd try to be home early. Was he home? Did the cops come for her? If they did, how'd they find her? What on earth was going on?

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She raced inside and found Jessie sitting on the couch, talking to an officer. "Jess, what's going on?" she asked, her voice panic stricken.
"Hi, Felicia!" It seemed as if he was caught off guard.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, no, everything's okay. This here is officer Petty." The female officer nodded her head to Felicia and accompanied it with a standard "Hello miss."
"I uh.. She's a...", Jessie was struggling for the right words. "She's a friend of Greg's and I asked her to come talk with us." he said all in one breath.
Felicia 's heart dropped. "Why'd you do that?" Her voice was mixed with anger and betrayal.
"I... I just wanted to get some information about our op..." He wasn't allowed to finish his sentence.
"Jess! I told you not to bring them into it!"

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Sensing Jessie's struggle, the Officer stepped in. "Please don't be mad at him. He's concerned for you." The officer was taking mental notes of Felicia's face. "He did the right thing. I wish someone had done the right thing for you long ago."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if we can get your cooperation, we can get a file started. And if there is another occurrence.."
"Occurrence!?! An occurrence?? Oh, you mean if my father beats the living crap out of me again?" Felicia interrupted.
"Well, I hope...."
"I told you Jessie! I told you they wouldn't do anything about it. If my dad finds out, he's not gonna just hit me, he's gonna kill me!"
Jessie didn't know what to say.

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"Please, Miss, try to take a deep breath and calm down." Officer Petty may have appeared to be stiff, but cases like this broke her heart. She knew the legal system was terribly broken, and failing girls like Felicia. "Jessie," she continued, "you were seeking advice, and now I'm going to give it." She handed a card to Felicia, "On this card is an address and phone number of a shelter. You can go there and be safe. You'll meet other people that have been in your situation. Talk with them, it'll help."
Felicia took the card but didn't even glance at it.
"Thank you, Officer Petty." Jessie steped forward to shake the officer's hand."

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"Before you go I have one question." Felicia's voice was very small and timid, "If my dad reports me as a runaway, what will happen?"
Officer Petty swallowed hard. "Well, we know where you are, we'd have to come get you."
"And take her where?" Jessie asked quickly, afraid of the answer.
"Regrettably, we'd have to take her home."
Officer Petty turned to leave and shut the door carefully behind her.

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"See Jessie! You should have just left it alone! Now I have to go back!" Felicia wasn't furious, she was more scared than anything else.
"No," he said determined, "No, I won't let you go back."
"Oh yeah? How are you going to stop them? When he reports me they'll come get me!"
Jessie didn't have an answer. He rushed over to hug her. She began wailing her fists, beating him in the chest. "Why?? Why Jess?? You're the only good thing that's ever happened to me! Why'd you have to do this?"
He wouldn't let go of her. Not yet. "Felicia!" his voice had just enough force to get her attention. "I'm sorry. But now we..." she had stopped hitting him and was just leaning against him. He saw that no explanation would reverse what was done. There was only one thing he could say to her. "I love you."

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"You what?" she asked surprised.
"Heh... Well that's not exactly the response I had hoped for but okay." Jessie said with a chuckle.
"No... no... Say it again. Please?"
Jessie thought her request was rather odd, but what else was he to do besides fulfill it? "I love you Felicia."
"Are you sure you mean that?"
Jessie laughed. "Yes I'm sure! Why is that so hard for you to hear."
"Oh Jess, all my life I've been told I'm not worth a dime. All my life I've been nothing."
"No!" he interrupted her. "All your life you've been something special. Those around you are just to blind to see it."

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Jessie leaned in to kiss her, and Felicia felt something like never before. Sure they've kissed before, but it was different this time. There was passion, and sincerity in their kiss. It was as if the emotions they had kept buried for for so long finally came to their peek. Jessie held her tight, not wanting to ever let go. Their desire for each other rose. They no longer thought about anything but each other.

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Some time had passed, and as a late summer thunderstorm boomed outside, a storm of it's own was raging indoors. Before they knew it, they found themselves lying on Jessie's bed.
"I'm not letting you go back there you know."
Felicia put her finger to his lips. "Oh shush about that, please. I really don't want to think about it right now."
"Okay, I won't mention it again, as long as you're safe here in my arms."
Felicia smiled. "Oh, by the way..." her voice trailed off.
"Yes?"

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She scooted up so their lips were aligned, she looked into his eyes and said slowly and clearly, "I love you too." She kissed him deeply and passionately. She planned to show him just how much she loved him.

[Tixi]

awwww
but im mad at Jessie for trying to help >_<
he should have asked the police, not bought them round to his house!!!
great update

[violet kazoo]

Great update, seriously!

It's frustrating that she's only a year, or maybe less, away from being a legal adult. I keep thinking "Hurry up and turn 18 so you can leave your father for good!"

[Sarahdarling_SC]

Aww. Don't make her go back!
Yay for them loving. :]

[Dragonball161]

I'm glad to have been able to have you add something new.

If I gave the impression I disliked your pictures, I'm sorry, it's just that most stories have a paragraph, or block of text for every picture, and usually by the third block, or third picture, I realize if I want to keep going. In your case, I figured that I would.

As for the last chapter, I hope that she doesn't wind up doing anything to get her beaten up any more, asides from the normal anger of her father for her runaway. I do think that I might be one of the only ones who is ever so slightly weary about their relationship, at least at this point. I know he has but the purest intentions, but I can't help but to think that something will happen that will tick off the dad.

[melanie_SC]

Really great update again :)

Maybe Felicia and Jessie will run off together!

[auroraspirit]

Weeeeeeee, they're kissing, they're kissing :lovestruc :luff: :valentine. Hehe, its so cute.

I am glad though that Jessie stood in to help Felicia, please continue, I :lovestruc this story (no pun intended :D)

My heads are going to be up in the clouds all day Shenan.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[emopunk_boii5]

love it! they kissed! how romantic?

[Captain THPS4]

Nice update! I can't wait to see where this story goes now! :D

[Loco]

Nice update, Jessie and Felicia are very sweet together. I think he did the right thing... though I'm sure the police could/should do more to help...

[Shenanigans_SC]

This chapter is really short, sorry! I had my reasons. Also, I tried photoshopping since I couldn't figure a better way to do it in the story. Hope no one minds. I'm learning. :) Anyhow, here it is.

Chapter 6 - A Surprise
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He had slept deeper and sounder than he had in a long time. Jessie thought of how he sure could get used to this. With his eyes not yet opened, he reached to the other side of the bed to touch the woman he loved. But he couldn't find her. He opened his eyes and saw just a pillow. "She must be up already." he thought to himself. He put his pants on and wandered out of the bedroom. "Felicia?" he called out. There was no answer. All he could find was a note on the kitchen counter.

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What? How can this be happening? They just spent a wonderful night together, and now she's gone? Going back to the one place she wasn't safe? And just what exactly did this note mean? Is she going to come see him again soon? Was she staying away forever? These thoughts drove him crazy.

Several days had passed and there was no word from her. No phone call, no visit at his work. The not knowing drove him mad. Was she okay? Was she in some corner crying out with new wounds on her body? Why didn't she come around anymore? Greg had started to become concerned for his younger friend. He tried to reassure him that everything would work out, but Jessie didn't want to hear it. For all he knew her father had killed her.

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After a couple weeks, Jessie would spend hours just driving around town, hoping, praying to find her somewhere. He had no idea what he would do if he did find her, but he decided he'd just figure it out when, if, the time came. Why did she have to do this?

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The sunlight had been flooding his bedroom for a while now, but it was his day off, so he refused to get out of bed. Three months had passed since that day when he woke and found the girl he loved had ran away. It was November now and just as the trees outside appeared to wither after the loss of their leaves, Jessie felt he was dead inside. But the world keeps turning, and he'd have to keep going.

[auroraspirit]

Awwww, I don't want to cry no more Shenan :( :cry: Please update again, I want to see Jess happy again.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Julieth]

Oh wow, where is she?! Poor Jessie, I really feel for him, even if he did talk to the polide, it was for her own good. (Sorry, I'm still catching up from the last update) He and Felicia are so cute! I hope she's ok!
Also, I didn't mean to be critical about your pics, because other than the grid lines, they are really quite well set up!
Anyway, can't wait for the next update!

[emopunk_boii5]

where is Felicia? awww. poor Jess!

[Captain THPS4]

What an emotional chapter! I hope we find out what happened to Felicia soon.

[Shenanigans_SC]

Okay, Chapter 7 is a bit long, maybe it feels that way cause chapter 6 was so short. Anyhow... hope you like it. :)

Chapter 7 - A Doozy
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This morning he was awoken by his doorbell. "Ugh... Maybe they'll go away." he thought to himself as he rolled over. Then it rang again. Ding-dong! He stumbled out of his bed and made his way to the front door to see who was so persistent.

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"Felicia!" He was surprised to see her standing there. "I've been so worried about you! Where the hell have you been?"

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Felicia fidgeted while she stood. She had doubts about coming to see him. Was she doing the right thing? "Jessie," she took a deep breath. "We need to talk."
Jessie resisted his urge to reach out and hug her tight. "Are you okay? What happened?" Jessie's mind was running in all directions.
"Can we go in and sit down?" Felicia asked timidly.
"Oh... Yeah. I'm sorry. Come on in." he moved out of the way and motioned for her to come inside.

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They went into Jessie's livingroom and sat on the couch. The air between them seemed thick enough to cut with a knife. What a difference since the last time they shared the same space. Every ounce of Jessie wanted to reach out and hug her tight. Every ounce of Felicia wanted him to do that very thing. But each of them were unsure of what the other wanted.

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"Jessie, you have every right to be mad at me.." she began to say.
"I'm not mad at you. Worried? Yes. Confused? Definitely. But mad? No. I just want to know what's going on. I was starting to think I'd never see you again."
"I'm so sorry Jess, I just got scared and I guess I panicked and left."
"Yeah, please don't do that again. Leaving and not talking to me like that. I've been worried out of my mind."
Felicia smiled. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."

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"How do you feel about us?" her eyes were intently watching his face for any clue of how he felt. Her stomach was in knots. She hoped and prayed her leaving unexpectedly hadn't ruined the good thing they had going.
"Well, I told you I love you. Three months isn't going to change that. I mean what I say, and I say what I mean."
"Are you sure?" Felicia was very glad he still felt that way for her.
"Yes I'm sure. Will you stop doubting me?" There was a slightly uncomfortable silence.
"Jess, do you like surprises?"
"Well, the last surprise I got I didn't care too much for," he gave her a teasing wink, "but for the most part yes, I do like surprises."
"Well, that's good, cause I have a doozy of a surprise for you."
"I get the feeling you're stalling."
Felicia gave a slight chuckle, "You do know me well."
"What ever it is, just say it." Jessie encouraged her.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_06.jpg

"Jessie," her voice was slow and her words were forced. "I'm pregnant with your baby."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_07.jpg

Jessie's jaw dropped. "Wha..?"
Felicia's eyes closed. She had wondered what type of a reaction that statement would get, now she knew.
Jessie began pacing the floor. This was a doozy all right. "You mean? Wait! How did this happen? I mean, I know how this happened, but it was only that one time. That night with the... Well, you know what night. Hey! You told me you were on the pill!"
"Yeah, uh... I lied about that." Felicia was really rather uncomfortable.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_08.jpg

"You lied to me?!? How could you lie about something like that?"
"Jess, please!" Felicia strained hard to not break down in tears. "I wanted to be with you! I wanted to show you I loved you. When you insisted on protection, I said the first thing that came to my mind. I didn't think I'd get pregnant!"
"You didn't think...? Oh my God." Jessie plopped down onto the couch. Was this really happening? Three months of nothing what so ever and now she shows up at his door pregnant? This was just too much. Taking a deep breath to get his composure back, he realized freaking out about it wasn't going to help anything. "Okay, look. You shocked me, I'll give you that much. So what do you want to do?"

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"I don't know Jessie! I don't know what to do. That's why I came to you." Felicia was trying extra hard to not break down in tears.
Jessie shook his head, "I can't make this decision for you Felicia, you're the one carrying..." his voiced stalled.
"Carrying our baby?" Felicia asked.
"Yeah... I guess those words are just hard for me to say."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_10.jpg

"Jess," she took his hand in hers, and looked him in the eyes. "I had suspicions of being pregnant for a while now. Three weeks ago, I took a test to make sure. The first thing I thought was that there is no way I could have this baby. So, I made an appointment at the clinic to get rid of it. But when the time came, I couldn't do it. I just couldn't Jess. This baby is a part of you, and a part of me. I'm keeping this baby. And now, I'm coming to you for help. I know how I left was wrong, and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I still love you Jess."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_11.jpg

"Okay," Jess took a deep breath, trying to get a grip on the situation. "So I love you, you love me, and... and... and you're gonna have my baby."
Felicia smiled placing a hand on her stomach. "Yes, yes I am."
Jessie's face turned serious, "Does your father know?"
"Hell no! If I were to tell him, he's liable to actually kill me."
"You're not going to be able to hide your pregnancy forever, and I do not want you to live there with him. You're carrying our baby, and if he hurts you..."
"I know Jess, I know. But what am I supposed to do?"
"WE are going to go to your house together, and I will break the news to him."
"Jessie! No! You can't!" Felicia inturrupted him.
"No Felicia, I HAVE to. I lost you once before, I'm not willing to do that again."
"But Jess, you don't understand!", Felicia pleaded.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter7_12.jpg

"Babe, I know you're scared, I understand that." Jessie's voice was low and sincere. "But you have to become a fighter now. It isn't just your own life anymore, think of that baby, our baby. You have someone else to fight for now, and you won't be fighting alone. I'll be right by your side."

[Captain THPS4]

Good update, though I guessed that she might have been pregnant. I bet the next chapter will be intense, looking forward to it! :D

[Tixi]

no! i dont think jessie understands how bad her father is
=S

[violet kazoo]

Whoa, I hope Jessie is very, very strong!

[grape_merchant_001]

Its a tonnes good story! the pictures go heaps well with it to!!! Good Job!

[melanie_SC]

Great job :) Great update, looking forward to the next chapter!

[emopunk_boii5]

love ur update! very cool! she's pregnant! cool! Jess, DON'T! Don't do that! her father will kill Her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[emgyp12]

more please!

[auroraspirit]

I can usually predict the following chapter, but I didn't see this coming LOL, that was amazing Shenan, it sounds like Jess is here to stay, even during the pregnancy, which is great :)

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Loco]

Awww, that last bit was sweet... I'm so happy for them! But Jess, no, don't make things worse...

[Shenanigans_SC]

Once again, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who left some comments. I'm so glad ya'll are enjoying it. Here's Chapter 8! I'll warn ya, there is a little bit of language in this one.

Chapter 8 - The Showdown
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_01.jpg


They spent the rest of the morning talking, and a little catching up with each other. The thought of having a child was both exciting and terrifying. The prospect of becoming parents led to conversations of their own childhoods.

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Jessie shared how his father walked out on he and his mom when he was eight years old. His mother struggled to make ends meet but did the best she could. Jessie carried anger towards his father for a long time, and had vowed that when it was his turn, he'd be a good father, the type of father he didn't have. Then his mother was killed unexpectedly in a car crash a month after he graduated from High School. He struggled with having to sell the house he grew up in. Greg helped Jessie out and really became like a father to him.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_03.jpg

Then it was Felicia's turn to share. She told of how she doesn't really have many memories from her childhood. The few people she's opened up to have often mentioned the possibility of her having blacked them out because they're too painful. She does have nightmares that seem just too real to solely be dreams. If her dreams are actually suppressed memories, then the story would go something like this.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_04.jpg

Felicia's mom was a very young mother, caught in an abusive marriage. One night she got the courage to run. She took Felicia in the middle of the night and ran with only the clothes on their backs. In Felicia's dreams there are lots of men in and out, and a dirty motel to call home. She thinks her mom turned to selling herself just so her daughter could have clothes and food.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_05.jpg

Then one night her father had tracked them down. He vowed he'd make her pay for the things she had done. He snatched Felicia, taking the one thing that meant the world to her mom. He swore if she ever came after Felicia he'd kill them both.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_06.jpg

Sharing their stories was a little painful, but it also helped repair their own relationship. They felt closer to each other, and they both wanted to give their child the things they grew up without. A mother, and a father, that loved them unconditionally.

Afternoon came around and Jessie insisted Felicia take him to her father's. She still wasn't looking forward to it, but she felt better now, and knew this was something they'd have to over come.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_07.jpg

Felicia looked at her watch. "Hopefully he hasn't had too many drinks yet."
Jessie turned the wheel, following Felicia's directions. He knew that what they were about to do was necessary, but that didn't stop his nerves. He was pretty confident that he could defend himself and Felicia if necessary, but he really didn't want to engage in an all out war with this man.

"That blue house on the corner there, that's it." Felicia said pointing, nervousness obvious in her voice."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_08.jpg

He turned off the ignition and turned to Felicia. "No matter what, we're in this together okay?" She nodded her head. They sealed their pack with a kiss, then they got out of his car and began walking to the front door. It was merely a couple yards, but that walk felt like miles. Jessie raised his hand and knocked on the door.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_09.jpg

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Felicia's father asked rather grumpily.
Jessie reached his arm out to shake his hand, "Hello sir, my name's Jessie, and I was wondering if we could come in and talk a bit."
He didn't accept Jessie's hand and instead asked, "We? Who's with you?" Felicia had been hiding behind Jessie, like a scared little kid. Now she had to step up to the plate. She took a step to the side and gave a small, fake smile.
"Oh. What the hell are you doing with my daughter?" he asked.
"Please sir, can we come in?"
"Yeah, go ahead." he said with an exaggerated sigh. He stepped out of Jessie's way and stared Felicia down.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_10.jpg

Jessie walked in, and sat on the couch. Felicia followed right behind him refusing to return her father's stare. She felt a weird range of emotions. On one hand she felt safe with Jessie so near by. On the other, her Father had always tormented her. She wasn't sure which side was going to win, good or evil?

"So who is this Felicia?" her father retorted. "You don't usually bring your boys around here."
"Sir," Jessie began hoping politeness would win out.
"Last I checked my daughter had a voice, why don't you let her use it young man!"
Jessie sensed that her father may have felt threatened. Abusers like to pick on those that can't defend themselves. Jessie was sure to show him Felicia was no longer an available target.
"Well sir, I don't believe you really care to hear anything she has to say."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_11.jpg

Felicia's father was taken aback. Jessie continued, "Sir, I've known your daughter for nearly a year now. And I assure you, I love her with all my heart."
Felicia's father let out a laugh. "Yeah, so what?"
"Well," he took a deep breath, "I've come to ask if you'd let her stay with me."
"And why the hell would I do something stupid like that?"
"Well sir," This wasn't exactly how Jessie had planned it. But, here goes nothing. "Because we're having a baby."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_12.jpg

The beer he was drinking just about came out his nose. His eye's shifted to Felicia, "You whore!"
Jessie tensed up, his voice forceful, "Surely we can remain civil... sir!"
"Oh calm down already hot head.", he brushed Jessie off.
Jessie was furious, but kept focus on Felicia. If she wasn't here, he'd likely give the man a dose of his own medicine.
"So, my daughter went and got herself knocked up ehh?" he was looking at Felicia with a twisted gleam in his eye. "And her little boyfriend wants to whisk her away. Say there, boy," he turned to Jessie, "just how do you plan to support her and a brat too?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_13.jpg

"I do have a job sir. It isn't glamourous, but it's honest money, and I can provide for your daughter."
"Hmm... a working man huh? Judging by the looks of you, you're no teenager huh?"
For the first time Jessie felt nervous. He was scared this was going to happen. He had kind of hoped her father would have been either too drunk, shocked or just plain stupid to think about this. "Yes sir, I'm twenty."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter8_14.jpg

"Well, I'll let you have my daughter..." he paused. Felicia's heart did a little leap of joy. She never thought those words would come from her father's mouth. "IF" he continued, "you marry her and make an honest woman of her."

[auroraspirit]

Wow, that was a sudden turn around from Felicia's father, it makes you wonder if his word is true though :confused:

That was well handled though about going approaching her father, hopefully it all won't be too deceiving.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[LadySwig]

I expected more of a resistance from her dad. I agree with Auroraspirit there might be a catch somewhere

[GummiBears]

Wow what a shocker!
I wonder what the dad is thinking hmm..
(Great updates by the way :D)

[Captain THPS4]

Yeah, that can't be it, there has to be a catch. Good update!

[Tixi]

ohh i think hes nice on the inside
or at least has good intentions
he doesnt want her to end up like her mother i think

[Bite_My_Tongue]

Geez. I'm such a sucker for love stories.. My eyes watered few times while i was reading all these chapters. Wonderful story, and i'm definitely looking forward to more of it.

[violet kazoo]

So I guess that's why Felicia's father calls her a whore, because her mother had to sell her body. I had been wondering about that since she has never done anything to make her father call her that.

[melanie_SC]

That was really action packed. I'm thinking the police will get involved the next chapter. How old is Felicia?

[emopunk_boii5]

cool update! can't wait for the next!

[Loco]

I'm worried, I don't trust him... there has to be a catch. Still, either way, it's great for Felicia and Jessie! I really loved the flashback pictures, that was a really nice effect. And your avatar is so sweet! :D Update soon, please!

[Shenanigans_SC]

Wow... I was amazed at everyone's comments. I don't want to spoil the next chapter, but thought I'd answer some questions.

I didn't give exact dates for the characters ages. But it's barely November now in the story, and Felicia turns 18 in December. So she really doesn't have that much longer being forced to be at her house. The stipulation is IF they get married. I felt the father thinks that would scare a 20 year old away from his daughter. And if it doesn't, very young marriages rarely work out. Also, he really took Felicia as a way to hurt his wife that had left him. She never came back for Felicia, so he won that battle in his opinion.

Anyhow, next chapter should be up later today!

P.S. Bite_my_Tongue & auroraspirit - I'm such a sucker for romance too. lol
And Loco - Thanks :lovestruc

[Shenanigans_SC]

Chapter 9 - Freedom
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter9_01.jpg


Felicia's jaw dropped. "What?" She knew he didn't give a damn about her being an 'honest' woman. He just wanted to control her life. Maybe he thought he'd be ruining hers one last time before she left his rule. This was a low blow, sure, Jessie and her had talked about raising this child together, but they hadn't talked marriage. She looked at Jessie, wondering how he'd combat this.
"Well, sir, I think marriage is something that your daughter and I should talk about on our own, and if we get married, it needs to be for our own reasons, not because someone says so."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter9_02.jpg

"Well," he was scheming away. "If you don't, I'll report you for statutory rape." He shot Jessie a look. It was the look he'd use to portray 'I got you now' to his usual prey. However, he didn't see fear in Jessie's eyes as he usually saw in the eyes of a helpless woman. Instead he got a look from a man who was anything but afraid of him.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter9_03.jpg

"Sir," Jessie stood and stepped closer to his opponent. "I am an honest man. Unlike some others, I try my best to do what's right. I do not believe getting married just because a child is on the way into our lives is necessarily the right thing to do. I love your daughter," he turned quickly to face Felicia, his voice softening, "and if she would have me, I'd be damn privileged to have her as my bride."
Felicia's eyes grew wide. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Shouldn't she have a say in this? Things were all going way too fast.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter9_04.jpg

"You fool!" her father demanded the attention. "She's trouble, just like her mother. You think you know everything. You're a fricken idiot!" Jessie turned back around, clenching his fists tight. Oh, how he'd love to just deck him. "If you want that little tramp so bad, you can have her. She isn't worth crap anyway!" His eyes shifted to Felicia, "You best not come back here you hear? If you walk out that door, I never want to see your sorry *** again."

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Felicia was scared. She felt like a caged animal paralyzed in front of a newly opened gate. The thought of freedom was overwhelming, yet she was scared of what the future might hold. Jessie turned to her, and took her hands in his. "Felicia, go get your things from your room, get whatever you hold dear. We're leaving now." Felicia nodded her head yes, and numbingly walked towards her room. Jessie could see the fire in her father's eyes. He was truly ****** off. Hoping to maybe calm him down Jessie began, "I can promise you..."
"Oh shut up!" her father interrupted him. "You have nothing to say that is worth hearing. I feel sorry for you fool. You have no idea what you're in for." he gave a cold hard stare.

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Jessie could take it no longer. He kept his voice hushed because he didn't want Felicia to hear him, but he was in her father's face. "I have pity on you sir. One day, you're going to wake up and realize you're all alone. Because of the crap you dish out, no one's gonna give a damn about you. You're going to be dead, and only the stench of your rotting corpse will prompt people's curiosity as to where you've gone."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter9_07.jpg

"Oh, like that is supposed to bother me?" her father sneered back. "That's nothing compared to what your future holds."

"Do me a favor," Jessie continued, "while you're spending all eternity rotting in the depths of hell, remember that it's payment for the hell you put her through. And if you ever even think of coming after her, or our child, I will personally send you there early."

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Felicia came out from her room with her few things stuffed in a backpack. She saw Jessie and her father in what appeared to be a showdown. "I'm ready Jess." she said desperate to break them up. Jessie turned towards the door and opened it for her. Her father was yelling all kinds of obscenities at the young couple on their way out. Felicia's heart was pounding hard and fast. "Don't look back," Jess whispered to her, "don't give him the pleasure of being acknowledged." She was terrified her father was going to do something.

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They quickly climbed into Jessie's car. After they got a few blocks away Felicia erupted into tears. "I can't believe it Jess. I'm free. I'm actually, really free." Jessie smiled. "Thank you Jess, thank you so much."


=====
Well, there's that chapter. Hope no one's terribly disapointed as there wasn't a gundown or police. lol

[lonelydoowoop]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Do we get to see the baby?

[auroraspirit]

Awwwwww :lovestruc :luff: :lovestruc that was so great, YEAHA! I hope they find a nice place and that they move to a whole other town, it would be lovely if Felicia could find her mother again.

Great update on this, can't wait till the next one :D Mooorrreee please :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[GummiBears]

Its not over is it? Great update, I hope its not over and we can see the baby(ies?? ;)). I can't wait to read more and Happy New Years!

[Shenanigans_SC]

Oh shoot, I didn't realize "Well there it is." sounded so final. I really was refering to just that chapter, not the story as a whole. I edited my post to be a little clearer. I have more rollercoasters in mind for my favorite couple. :luff: I might have to bypass the actual pregnancy though and just cut to the birth. I'm having a problem and I can't figure out why. She's pregnant all right , but she isn't showing. I sped time up and sure enough out popped a baby but Felicia never shows. :confused: I exited without saving, so she's still only pregnant, but it's really putting a damper on pictures for a pregnancy chapter. :cry:

[jennywren]

I don't think it's over quite yet, my danger, somethings gonna happen are tingling, or is that pins and needles?...

[jennywren]

I don't think it's over quite yet, my danger, somethings gonna happen senses are tingling, or is that pins and needles?...

[melanie_SC]

Wow, that was expertly written again :) Now Jessie and Felicia and drive off into the horizon.. or not! mwahahah!

[violet kazoo]

Wow, go Jessie! I'm glad someone finally stood up to Felicia's father!

As for the pregnancy not showing...I think that maybe the kind of clothes she wears might be the problem. I think she has to wear a certain kind of maternity outfit for the pregnancy to show. I know there are some outfits, like on Mod the Sims 2 for example, that are specifically for pregnant sims.

[kitsel8266]

Oh my gosh, THIS STORY IS AWESOME!!!!!!

[Captain THPS4]

Great update! Jessie is such a cool guy, he was so tempted to fight Felicia's father but he was able to resist that urge. :)

[IntrepidLlama]

Great story, I can't wait to read more! ^_^

[inviisible]

I just read the entire thing in one sitting! it had me on the edge of my seat! This story is so good! I can't wait for updates!!! I wanna see their kid so bad!

[Loco]

Eee, lovely chapter! She's finally free! And I want to keep Jessie, he's, like, the perfect guy. *giggles* :D I wanna see their baby too, it's really exciting!

[Shenanigans_SC]

:) All your comments make me grin from ear to ear! I've been on break the last few days, that's why there's been so many chapters. It's back to work today though, so they will slow down just a little. I'm going to put up the next chapter this morning for ya'll though. :)
As for the problem I mentioned earlier, I searched and downloaded Squinge's mod that allows pregnant women to wear every day clothes, and then downloaded some maternity clothes. She just wouldn't wear the game's clothes. In the loading screen she's nakid! :loco: So, you'll see the baby before too long. It was just born in game last night. (Had to have it born so I could write about it's gender and what not. lol) Anyone want to guess if it's a girl or a boy?

Anyhow... I'm gonna work on posting the next chapter right now.

[emopunk_boii5]

AAAWW! i can't wait for the next update! it keeps getting better every chapter!

[Shenanigans_SC]

*Warning*
This chapter may contain major mush.

Chapter 10 - For Sale by Owner
=====
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_01.jpg


"Jess, do I look fat?" Felicia was standing in front of a mirror terrorizing Jessie.
"Oh puh-lease!" Jessie claimed in his most exaggerated voice. He snuck up behind her wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. "You're not even showing yet! What are you going to do when that baby is ready to join us?"
"Cry! I'll be as big as a blimp! This little house of yours will be busting at the seams!", she teased him.
"And you'll be more beautiful than ever!"
"You're such a suck up!" she turned around to face him.
"And you love it!" he gave her a kiss. "Are you ready yet my blimp to be?"
"I oughta slap you!" Felicia loved their little teasing sessions. Life had changed so much in just three weeks. She had never thought she could be so happy. All the years she spent living in her own personal hell were just rotten memories now. Jessie made her laugh and gave her such a sense of security. They had spent several days with Greg and his family. Greg's wife, Trina, had really done her best to help Felicia out. It was nice having an older woman to talk to about her fears and joys of being pregnant.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_02.jpg

Today Jessie was bringing Felicia somewhere, but he wouldn't say where. It was a strict surprise that he had been working on for a week or so.
"Come on! Just a little teensy weensy hint? Please?" Felicia begged him.
"Nope, my lips are sealed! If you'd stop taking forever to get ready, we could be there already!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming already!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_03.jpg

They got into Jessie's car and he began driving. Jessie had taken her to a part of town where she had never been before. The houses weren't as nice as Greg's place, but they were several steps above what she was used to living in. Then Jessie pulled into the driveway of a house that seemed a little out of place. The bushes were over grown, the exterior left much to be desired. Then Felicia spotted a "For Sale" sign in the front yard. She started to have suspicions.

"What are we doing here Jess?"
"I'm curious." he teased. "Wanna look around?"
"Okay Jess... You need to fess up!"
"This place is for sale, and I got the keys from the owner. I want you to look around and tell me what you think."
"Whyyyyyy?"
"Just because! Come on, humor me!"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_04.jpg

They entered the house and Felicia was greeted with the ugliest carpet she had ever seen. "What color is this? Puke orange? Eww."
Jessie laughed, "At least your honest!"
The two of them looked around a little. It was a nice two bedroom, two bath house with garage. It was definitely in need of some work, but all in all it was a decent house.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_05.jpg

"Okay Felicia, don't pay attention to the peeling paint, and the barf colored carpet. That sort of stuff we can work on, and you could even pick the colors. There's a second bedroom, and the neighborhood really is a good neighborhood. Safer than my side of town. Do you think you would like living here?"

"Well, yeah Jess, I mean, with some elbow grease and loving care, this could be a nice place. But, surely, you're not thinking of buying it are you? I mean where would you get the money?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_06.jpg

"Well, I told you about my mom right? What I didn't mention is that my mom had a life insurance policy, and when she died, I put the money in a savings account. The owner of this place really wants to get rid of it, he's selling it cheap. I know it's an eye sore now, but like you said, we can fix it up, and it could become our home."

"Oh geez Jess, I don't know what to say. Really, this is such a huge thing. I can't ask you to do that."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_07.jpg

Then Jessie dropped down to one knee. "Felicia, a while back, you said that I was the best thing that ever happened to you. But I think that you got it backwards. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. The three months we were apart made it so obviously clear to me that I really want you, no, I need you in my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is," he gulped hard and pulled a box out of his pocket.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_08.jpg "Will you marry me?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_09.jpg

Felicia's heart was going a mile a minute. There was only one thing she could say. "I'd like tan carpet, marble counter tops, and a flower garden."
Jess was confused for a second. "Huh?"
"Yes you big lug! Yes!" She jumped up and down like a giddy school girl.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter10_10.jpg

"It's gorgeous Jess!", Felicia commented as he slid the ring on her finger.
"Well, I had a little help."
"Oh yeah?" she raised one eyebrow showing that her curiosity was peeked.
"Yeah, I took Trina with me to help pick it out."
"You little sneak!"

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They spent half an hour walking around the house talking about what they planned to change, and what they wanted to do to make the house their home. "Well, let's get to the bank." Jessie said finally. "Hopefully next time we come, we'll be moving in."

[auroraspirit]

Awwwwwwww YAH. They're engaged. YIPEE :giggler: :baloons: I feel so elated too :D

Weeeeeeeeee, that house sure looks like its going to be a lot of fun to redecorate, I think some nice wooden floors and some pastel looking colour walls will spruce up the place a bit.

Great chapter, oh yah, tthey're going to get married, they're going to get married.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[longdaysend]

i so rarely read stories but the title of this chapter got my attention..its a great story! keep it up :D

[Tixi]

awh
such a beautiful chapter =)
i hope they're happy together but im sure Felicia's father will come and ruin it >_<

[Loco]

EEEEE! *is happy* Yayness, it's all sweet and cute and they're engaged and YAY! Felicia's response was fantastic, I have to say. :D Thanks for another wonderful chapter!

[Julieth]

Cuuute! Hehe, I don't think I've ever heard of a wedding proposal answered with "tan carpet, marble counter tops, and a flower garden"! How adorable! And good job finding a workaround for the pregnancy thing!

[auroraspirit]

That was a strange reply to a proposal wasn't it Julieth? :blink:

At last though, they are together in more ways than one ;) Hehe :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[kitsel8266]

Awww! I love this story more and more every update!

[Captain THPS4]

Yep, this story is getting better and better! Felicia's response to Jessie's proposal was funny, it made it different from the typical "will you marry me? Yes!" proposal. :)

[melanie_SC]

That is so cuttte! aww!

[Shenanigans_SC]

I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to get to the baby. This chapter is really short, and really fast. I appolagize. I promise to make up for it with the next chapter!

Chapter 11 - A Busy Six Months
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The next six months were filled with many joys. The sale of the house went through with such perfect timing, it was an unbelievable birthday gift for Felicia. They pulled up the living room carpet and painted the walls just in time to celebrate their first Christmas together.

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February found Felicia getting her GED and the couple went down to the courthouse to officially tie the not. Felicia was a little bummed that she didn't get a dream wedding, but with no family members they decided they'd save their money and put it towards the house. With the weather warming up slightly in March Greg and Trina spent most of their weekends with them. They'd help out with different household projects. While the guys would be tinkering with things Felicia and Trina would be in the kitchen munching on food and talking girl talk.

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April they were busy getting the nursery ready. They weren't able to buy the best of the best for their coming child, but they each took heart in knowing that they would be able to provide plenty of what the baby needed most of all, love.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter11_04.jpg

Then finally the big day came. Felicia was doing her morning stretches bound and determined she wouldn't have a ton of left over baby weight. Then she felt a pain she would never forget. After many, many hours, their little girl arrived. It was time to send out the birth announcements.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/announcement.jpg

[auroraspirit]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! :lovestruc :luff: :lovestruc

Their wedding was so sweet, and it was wonderful to know that they celebrated their first Christmas. Most importantly...

:baloons: Welcome to the world Erica :blow: :baloons:

Unfortunately all the good bits left out Shenan :eviltongu Ah well, I am sure next chapter will be even better :D

Thankyou for sharing us the baby photo, glad to see that you found clothing to make her show :D

Great work, YIPEE!

Auroraspirit :angel:

[kitsel8266]

Awww... I feel tears comin' on!!!

[lethifold]

Awww. I just found this story.

:baloons: Little Erica is so cute! :baloons:

I'm glad they got to spend their first Christmas together :santa:. I love that first picture

[darksixx]

Awww, cute little story you have here. I'll be watching.

[inviisible]

i can't wait for updates! What a cute little family!!

[Plumeria330]

this is a really cute story, good job!

[emopunk_boii5]

Wow! she's really cute! a real cutie!

[Loco]

*squees* Erica is adorable! Lovely name, too. Congratulations to them and you, you (all) must be very proud! :D Lovely update. :D

[violet kazoo]

Aw, so sweet. They deserve all the happiness in the world after what they've been through.

[Sarahdarling_SC]

Erica is so cute. Yay :3

[Captain THPS4]

Nice update! I was guessing that it would be a baby girl. :)

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thank you everyone for understanding my short chapter. As promised, I'm making up for it with this long one. :)

Chapter 12 - Baby Blues
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"Congratulations, again." Greg patted Jessie on the back.
"Heh.. Thanks... Again." It was Jessie's first day back to work since the birth of little Erica. His tiny fair daughter was only two weeks old, and already she had taken her toll on her parents. Who would have known having a baby was so much work!
"So, trying for another yet?" Greg teased.
"Ha ha ha.... Very funny! She's small, but she has a set of lungs on her! We'd have to be able to get a good night's sleep first! Man, how'd you two do it with your twins?"
Greg and Trina had twin boys who were eight years old now. "Heh... Don't look at me. That was all Trina's doing. Her mom helped out and what not, but I didn't have too much to do with their day to day stuff."
"Lucky man!" Even though Jessie joked along with Greg, he really did love his little girl. It was amazing to him how such a little person could make a grown man act so childish.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_02.jpg

"So how's Felicia doing?"
"All right, I guess." was Jessie's answer.
"You guess?"
"Yeah, I don't know what's with her. I know having a baby isn't easy, but she spends so much time sleeping and moping around. I changed more diapers than she did these past two weeks. I dunno, I guess I'm just worried about her. She was so happy before, now she almost seems, what's the word? I guess, depressed."
"Hmm..." Greg scratched his chin. "Would you like me to mention it to my wife tonight, maybe she has some ideas."
"Yeah, what would it hurt? Maybe there's something female going on and she just doesn't want to talk to me about it." Jessie speculated.

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"So, how was your day hun?" Greg and Trina had just put their boys to bed and were relaxing on the couch.
"Not bad, not bad." Trina answered. "Remember I told you about Cooper?"
"The new intern right?" Greg asked.
"Yeah, that's him. I swear, I don't know where they find these people! He needs to just go find some circus to join. It's gotta be illegal or something for him to be in our building he's such a clutz."
"Now that's saying something. Seeing as your in a law firm, maybe someone will find a code he's violating." Greg joked.
"How 'bout you honey? Anything happen?"
"Well, I found out Joan is planning on leaving later this year."
"She's your regional manager right?" Trina verified.
"Yup, that's her. So, I was thinking of submitting my bid for the job so to say."
"That would be wonderful Greg!"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_04.jpg

"Yeah, I think I have a good shot at it. Most of the other store managers would have to move, and I have been stuck in my current spot for a while now. I kind of thought that if I get it, they'd give Jessie my spot. He sure could use a promotion having a daughter now and all."
"How is their little girl doing?" Even though Trina had said no more kids after their twins, she still loved babies.
"Jessie says she's loud." They both laughed together. "But he's worried about Felicia."
"Oh yeah? Why?" Trina was concerned.
"He says she mopes around and just seems like something's wrong."
"Hmm... I wonder if she has postpartum blues." Trina speculated.
"Post what?" These female things always confused him.
"It's a depression that some women fall into after they've had a child. It's caused by a variety of things..."
"You seemed okay after the twins." Greg kind of interrupted her. He really didn't want to hear about womens depression.
"Well, yeah. I wasn't so young, and I also had my mom here to help out. Besides, it doesn't hit everyone. I think I'll stop by and visit her tomorrow during my lunch break, since they don't live too far from the office now."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_05.jpg

Greg scooted closer to his wife, "Your so thoughtful. How'd I end up with the perfect woman?"
"I was desperate." she teased.

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The next day found Felicia not wanting to get out of bed. "What's wrong with you?" she would ask herself. It wasn't that she didn't love her daughter, she really did. It's just Erica is so much work. Cry cause she's hungry, cry cause her diaper's wet, cry cause she's cold, cry cause she's hot, cry cause she's tired. Cry, cry, cry, cry! Felicia sort of missed not being a mom. Wow, how awful that sounded. "Waaaah!" interrupted her pity party.

After a few moments, Felicia forced herself to get out of bed, and made her way to the nursery. Just as she got Erica out of her crib, the doorbell rang. "Ugh!" Felicia said exasperated. "Maybe they'll just kill me."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_07.jpg

"Oh, hi Trina." Felicia said kind of shocked.
"Hey honey, how ya doing?" Trina asked.
"You've got to be joking. Look at me!" Felicia half heartedly joked. "Sorry, I didn't realize I'd have company today."
"Oh don't worry about it honey." Trina called everyone honey. "You look like a new mom who's sort of worn out. Perfectly normal!"
The two women went in to the livingroom.
"Can I hold her?" Trina asked motioning towards Erica.
"Yeah, just watch out, she loves to spit up on everything." Felicia warned.
"You look really tired."
"I am."
"I have about an hour before I have to go back to the office. Why don't you go take a bubble bath, and I'll take care of darling Erica here." Trina offered.
"Oh, you really don't have to do that." Felicia was being polite.
"I know, but I want to. Go ahead." she motioned her head towards the bathroom. "A nice soak does the soul wonders."
"Okay. Thanks."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_08.jpg

Felicia went off to soak in the tub, and Trina loved on Erica a bit. She missed the smell of new baby. She threw a load in the washer and gave Erica a bath. She remembered all the help her mother gave her when she had her boys. It was saddening that Felicia didn't have that same support. The hour passed all too quickly and before long she had to return to the office. "I'm sorry honey, but I gotta get going." she appolagized to Felicia.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter12_09.jpg

"Oh, don't be. Thank you for coming by, I appreciate it."
"I'll be sure to come by a little more often." She gave Felicia a hearty hug and went on her way. Felicia felt a little better, but she was still sad inside.

[inviisible]

poor Felicia! She'll get used to her new role as mother, hopefully! New babies are always tough! I hope everything turns out okay for their little family! Trina seems really nice to be so caring about Felicia & Erica. What great friends!

[auroraspirit]

Being hit with postpartum is hard, it can lead to all crazy things which I won't mention.

This is a great update, very insightful to Felicia's life more so, I feel for Jessie though too :(

I hope things look up on the bright side for them both or maybe not :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[gazania]

Yes, postpartum depression, coupled with lack of sleep, can wreak havoc on your body and mind.

Felicia is so lucky to have someone let her have a little alone time. I remember when I was convinced I was crazy (well, more than usual) and my mother watched my son for a short time every day while I napped. I felt a whole lot better when I woke up.

[Sarahdarling_SC]

I'm so glad for an update. :] Trina is such a sweetheart to help out Felicia like that. I hope it all looks up for Felicia soon.

Great story.

[GummiBears]

Poor Felicia!
I hope her real mother shows up and then helps raise the little one and takes Felicia out of this depression.
Great update :)

[xgrrlx]

I just read the story tonight and I really liked it. Keep it up!

[Captain THPS4]

Wow, I hope life gets better for Felicia, that hair really shows how stressed she is. It was also good to see a bit of the story from Greg's point of view too. Looking forward to your next update! :)

[Loco]

Aw, poor Felicia, and poor Jessie - they're lucky to have Greg and Trina as friends. :) Good update! :D

[emopunk_boii5]

Lol! cool update! lil erica is sooo cute!

[Shenanigans_SC]

First, thanks once again to everyone who left their comments. I have to tell you, it's kind of heart wrenching to hear everyone wants a 'happily ever after' for Jessie and Felicia right now, when I have more 'obstacles' in store for them. :lol: I so hope ya'll won't be mad at me. :P Anyhow... on with the story!

Chapter 13 - A Cookout
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Things continued in the same manner for months. Trina would stop by and check up on Felicia about twice a week. Trina had hoped with proper time for Felicia's body to heal up that she would start to feel better. However, Erica was five months old now, and Felicia still seemed to have the blues. Felicia's sour mood was starting to take it's toll on Jessie too. He missed his wife terribly. Sure she was there physically, but there was no sparkle in her eye, she rarely laughed at his jokes, and didn't seem to have time for him anymore. As soon as he'd walk in the door from work, she'd hand him a dirty, unbathed, hungry Erica, and she'd go to bed. He'd be left to feed, bathe, and play with Erica. Juggling that and work, Jessie was feeling worn out himself. Felicia didn't do laundry, wash dishes, vacuum or anything. She simply spent her days watching TV.

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"Come on Felicia! They invited all of us, not just me!" Jess was arguing with Felicia.
"I don't want to go already! Just take Erica and leave me alone."
Jessie hated hearing those words. This is not what he imagined their marriage would be like.
"Felicia! You know I hate going places without you. Won't you come for only a little while to say congratulations to Greg? Besides it's beautiful outside today. The fresh air and good company would do you some good."

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"I said no damn it!" Felicia was irritated. She was always irritated. "I don't want to go to any stupid cookout. Leave me alone already!" she slammed their bedroom door shut. The loud noise startled Erica and she began to cry. Jessie went over to comfort his little girl and get her ready for their visit. "It's okay sweetie." he said to comfort her. "Everything's all right." he tried to convince himself.
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"Uncle Jessie! Uncle Jessie!" Greg's twins greeted Jessie at the door.
"Hey there rascals!" was his familiar response.
"Where's my baby?" Trina called from the kitchen. She absolutely adored Erica.
"Hey man, come on in." Greg welcomed Jessie as his wife made a beeline for the baby.
"Oh, is Felicia not feeling well?" she asked taking a hold of Erica.
"She never feels well anymore." Jessie muttered.

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Everyone made their way to the back patio. While the boys were playing in the pool, Greg and Jessie were gathered around the grill.
"Congratulations old man!" Jessie complimented his friend. "I can't believe you're leaving me for some regional manager job!" he teased.
"Yeah yeah." Greg said with a chuckle. "I'll have you know, your name is the only one I gave when recommending my replacement."
"Hmm... Don't know if I can fill your shoes. They're awfully big, and they stink!"
"Hardy har har! Always a comedian."
"Well," Jessie shrugged his shoulders, "I try."
"So, just between us, what's with Felicia?" Greg asked.

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"I don't know man. She doesn't do anything around the house, and if I mention maybe doing the dishes together or something she gets all ticked off at me. Everything I say is wrong. I bought her some perfume, she accused me of telling her she stinks. I brought her home flowers, she said I was hinting she needed to fix the garden. Stupid me brought home something sexy for her to wear, well I won't even repeat what she said about that. Man Greg, we haven't had sex since before Erica was born."
"Ouch." Greg responded.
"I just want my old wife back. I want to help her out, but she gets offended at the mention of doctors, or counseling. I tell her I want to take her out on a date, and she tells me to go out with my buddies. She just constantly tells me to leave her alone."
"I don't know what to tell you man." Greg said sympathetically.
"I know, it's all right.", he let out a heavy sigh. "It's my mess I gotta live with it."

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Jessie stayed a bit later than he had planned at Greg's place and was just returning home around dinner time. He really enjoyed the good company and a chance to relax and have a good time. As he pulled into the garage his mind quickly returned to his situation at home and was wondering what Felicia would be doing. He entered the house and laid a sleeping Erica in her crib. After he gave her a kiss and tucked her in, he made his way to the livingroom where he found his wife sobbing on the couch in complete and total darkness.

[breena_SC]

Great story Shenanigans! I feel bad for Erica and poor Jesse he's trying :(

[Loco]

Poor Jessie, it must be so hard on him... and baby Erica too. And Felicia, but that sorta goes without saying! Heh, I had a feeling things weren't gonna end happily for them, don't worry. :) Oh, another reason I love this story - regular updates! :D

[Captain THPS4]

Yeah, poor Jessie! Life is so hard for him, good thing he hasn't given up yet. I wonder if the upcoming chapter will be a special moment between him and Felicia or if that crying in darkness is just routine.

[violet kazoo]

It must be so hard being a young couple with a baby and not having much money. Postpartum depression must be tough for both of them.

The dialogue is great. And the frequent updates are awesome! They are very much appreciated.

[Tixi]

oh i feel terrible for Felicia =(

[auroraspirit]

I feel for both Jessie and Felicia, I hope that she gets some help soon, I feel that she will won't recover if she doesn't.

Its good though with how this story is progressing Shenan, life is never a straight path sadly :(

Please do update, I want to see them with some progress hopefully lol.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[emopunk_boii5]

Lol. i wonder..?

[Plumeria330]

Good update. :)
Hopefully they'll grow through this tough time

[melanie_SC]

I hope Jessie and Felicia don't break up or do anything rash..

I hope we get to see a toddler Erica soon *hint hint* lol

[Shenanigans_SC]

Hi again. :howdy:
This chapter is a little short length wise, but it's not lacking of twists and turns. I wonder how many saw this coming? Happy reading!

Chapter 14 - News
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"Babe? Are you okay?" Jessie peered into the darkness. There was no answer, he only heard muffled sobs. He went and sat by his wife. "Babe what is it?" he said putting an arm around her.
"Just let me be, please." came a quiet little tear filled voice as she slid his arm off her shoulder.
"You know," Jessie began, "you've been telling me to leave you alone for a long time now. I'm tired of being alone Felicia. I miss my wife."
"You're not the only one."
Jessie was silent.
"Do you think I like living like this? Hell, if you can call it 'living'. I'm a walking corpse Jessie! You should have just let my father kill me."
"Oh babe, no, don't say that."
"Well, it's true. I have a beautiful baby girl that I can't stand to look at. And I have you, my knight in shining armor, but I can't stand it when you touch me." Those last words were like a dagger in Jessie's heart. He really didn't know what to say. "I can't keep going on like this Jess."
"What do you want me to do Felicia?"
Then there was a knock at the door. "Damn it." Jessie muttered. "I guess I'll go get the door." He stood and made his way to the door. These people really had bad timing. He was surprised to see two officers standing there.

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"Hello officers, can I help you?"
"Good evening sir. Yes, we're looking for a Felicia Roberts? Does she live here."
Jessie was shocked. "Uh, yeah. Well, Roberts was her maiden name. What do you want with her?"
"I'm afraid we have some terrible news. May we come in?"
"Uh, yeah, sure." Jessie said, motioning for them to enter. He quickly turned on a light. Felicia had been trying to dry her eyes since she heard the nock at the door.

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"Mam? Are you okay? I'm sorry if we interrupted anything." the female officer said noticing Felicia's tear streaked face.
"No, it's okay. I'm Felicia, what do you need from me?"
"Well mam, there was a call to our department this morning." She took out a picture from a notebook she was carrying. "Can you identify this man?"
Felicia looked at the picture and was taken aback. "Yeah, that's my, uh, dad."
Jessie was now standing by his wife, wondering what was going on.
"Well, there's no easy way to say this. I'm sorry to inform you mam, but your father has died."
Felicia didn't have any fond feelings for her father, but the news was still shocking none the less. "Wha?? How? When?"
"Well, the autopsy is yet to be completed, but we suspect it was a drug overdose. The landlord gave us your name, that's why we're here."

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The four of them sat for a while discussing what needed to be done. Felicia felt a sort of numbness. Her father was often drunk and a not a very nice man, but he still was the only parent she knew her whole life. For Jessie the situation was a terrible reminder of all he had to go through after the death of his own mother.

After things were settled, the officers left and Felicia sat on the couch staring into space. Jessie sat next to her, "I didn't realize your dad did drugs too."
"He didn't." she said coldly. "Not while I was there anyway."
There was silence.

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"Do you want to talk about anything?" Jessie asked finally.
"No," she said monotone, "I just want to go to bed." She walked to their bedroom, and climbed into bed. While Felicia was curled up sleeping, Jessie laid in bed unable to sleep. He recalled how they met, and their courtship. He had always wanted to take care of Felicia, to rescue her from what ever it was that threatened her. Now they were married, and he felt that she needed his help more than ever. But this time the enemy was unseen, and had no name. He felt totally powerless to rescue her.

[Captain THPS4]

Great update! No, I definitely didn't see this one coming! :D

[Loco]

I didn't see that coming either - it's sorta good-bad, I guess. But poor Jessie, he's still not getting through to her... And poor Felicia once again, that really can't help things!
P.S. I'm disappointed - no Erica in that one. :P I'm kidding, it was a fantastic update!

[Shenanigans_SC]

Hee hee Loco. You know, when this story first came to my mind, it was centered around the character slot that Erica is in. To give that background I started with her parents, and low and behold, the story took on a life all it's own, that it's not even close to the origional story I had in mind. But take heart, you'll get to see toddler Erica in Chapter 16. I'm off to grow her up now. :)

[Sarahdarling_SC]

I'm glad he died. Rotten piece of freakin' trash. I don't like no guys who hit women, even in Sims. =D But, still it's so unexpected. YOU KEEP ME ON MY TOES WANTING MORE. Lol.

[inkbottleblue]

Hi, I just finished reading your story and I really like it! The plot and your writing is really good-- keep up the good work :)!

[auroraspirit]

This story is full of twists and turns like you say Shenan :)

I really hope Felicia manages to find the courage to find someone to talk, I really feel for Felicia, baby Erica and her hubby Jessie, let's just hope things start to pick up for them, I mean after all it is a fresh start for them both now that Felicia's dad has passed. Sadenning, but a new path for them both, freedom :)

Great chapter update Shenan, good thought for food here, makes you ponder really.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

Chapter 15 - History
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"Well, lets go." Felicia muttered to Jessie. It was the first time in months that she had left the house. Who would have thought she'd be going to her father's burial at such a young age. Her father didn't have many friends so they skipped having a big funeral. Instead Felicia just wanted to see his casket put into the ground. Jessie came along with Erica in tow to support her.

After they were finished at the cemetery they dropped Erica off with Trina. They were headed to her father's place. The landlord wanted the house cleaned out, and threatened to burn everything if it wasn't out soon. Felicia didn't really know why she said she'd take care of it. She would have been better off just forgetting that whole part of her life.

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Jessie pulled up beside the yard. Returning to this house brought shivers up his spine. He wondered what they'd find in there. "Are you sure you want to do this babe?"
"Yeah, lets just go." she responded.

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As soon as she entered the house Felicia was bombarded with flash backs. Corners she cowered in, doors that were slammed. This place didn't hold many happy memories. The whole house was trashed. Apparently her father quit taking the trash out, and didn't bother with cleaning anything. She stepped into her room and was surprised to find that it was just as she had left it. It seemed her father didn't step foot in that room after she left. She found a few things that she hadn't taken with her when she left last time. She struggled with the decision if she wanted to take them now. All the while, Jessie felt really awkward and out of place. He wondered if doing this would open old wounds, or perhaps it could help bring some closure to those chapters in Felicia's life.

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Then they went into her father's room. All her time growing up, she never dared step foot in this room. It was eerie. There was stuff stacked up everywhere. Felicia found some old year books and began to look through one of them. She searched for her father's name, and was shocked at the picture she found. He looked like a completely different person, like a happy person. She decided to read some of the notes that were scribbled in it's pages. One stuck out to her. It was obviously a girl's handwriting and was surrounded in Xs and Os.

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"Felicia, you might want to see these." Jessie said as he sat on the bed next to her. He had begun going through a stack of papers that were sprawled on the floor. "Are these court papers?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think they are. They look like they're your custody papers."
Felicia looked over them. Her father had never talked about her mother, except for his occasions of comparing Felicia to her in an awful way. "Her name was Hope. How ironic." Felicia noted out loud.
"There's more." Jessie handed her several envelopes. There must have been at least twenty of them, all unopened, and all from a Hope Elliot. Felicia's hands began to shake. "I don't know if I can open these.", she gave them back to Jessie. She sat there rather numb, while Jessie went through them and rattled of the post mark dates. "That's like an average of four a year for five years in a row. The last one is two years old." Jessie commented. "I think we should open them."

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"I don't know Jessie. My mom has always sort of been dead to me. I like having my own version of what happened. What if my dreams are bogus, and she really left cause she didn't want me? My dad always said I ran her off and that she didn't care what happened to me."
Jessie felt for Felicia. Given her father's track record, he was pretty sure he lied to Felicia. But if he was honest with himself he couldn't assure her that those things weren't true. After all, his own father had walked out and never looked back. "How about we take them home and you can decide later?" He thought it was a good compromise.
"Yeah, all right." she agreed.

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They stayed a little longer and took what they wanted. The land lord had told them to leave the keys on the counter and lock the door behind them. Once they did that, there would be no going back. Felicia lingered in the doorway longer than she had thought she would. She was so glad to leave last time, this time it was kind of sad and she couldn't figure out why. "Good bye, dad." she said in a whisper and shut the door tight.

[Loco]

Aw... poor Felicia, that must be so hard. I'm still hoping things will get better after this, but... eh, I dunno. Very nice update, you're such a good writer!

[Branwen_SC]

I love this story!

[lonelydoowoop]

Awwww. That was such a good update.

[Captain THPS4]

Hmmm...so Felicia's father was once a happy man, so something must have happened somewhere along the line that changed him. I wonder what comes next?

[auroraspirit]

Great news for Felicia that she knows her mum's name, Felicia in the end will find out the real reasons as to why she was taken away from her mum.

Another wonderful update :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[longdaysend]

excellent updates!..very "secret life of bees"-esque quality to that last chapter..to most of it really :D (if you never read it i sugest you do, fantastic coming of age story)keep em coming, i cant wait to see what happens next!

[Shenanigans_SC]

I just wanted to say thank you for the comments again. Keep them coming! They effect the story more than you know! And now I present a chapter that has a semi-happy ending. Finally. :lol:

Chapter 16- Letters
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Jessie rolled over in bed half asleep and half awake. He felt for the warm body of his wife, but found her side of the bed empty. He lifted his head to glance at the clock on the bedside table. "It's three in the morning, where is she?", he mumbled as he sat up to get out of bed. Rubbing his eyes, he found Felicia sitting on the couch with paper and tissues strewn about on the floor around her. "What's going on babe?"

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"Oh, hi Jess." she said before blowing her nose.
He picked up one of the envelopes on the floor and sat on the couch beside her. "How long have you been out here?"
"A few hours."
The envelope in his hand was one they had taken from her father's house a month before. "So you decided to finally open them huh?"
"Yeah, I guess curiosity got the best of me."
"So, wanna share?"
"I guess..." then Felicia started telling Jessie everything she learned that night. She began with the oldest letter and was reading her way up to the most recent. It seemed Felicia's mom, Hope, had been trying to arrange a meeting with Felicia's father. She must have been still scared of the man, as the return address was always a post office box. Her letters started kind and polite. Then they slowly got more desperate. She wanted to see Felicia and know that she was okay. Above all else she wanted a relationship with her daughter. She had promised to not talk bad about him to her and leave the past in the past. She apologized for her part in things and told how she had a new husband now, and a son to boot. She had no intentions of ruining his life, but she missed her daughter.

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"Reading these letters," Felicia began, "her pain jumps off the page at me." She looked up at Jessie. "She actually wanted me." Saying that sentence made her break down in tears. To her, the letters were confirmation of what she had suspected for so long. It was as if her walls were knocked down and she finally was able to feel the pain she carried around of loosing her mother. She wanted to go back in time, to be that little toddler and change how things happened. She wished she had grown up feeling loved and wanted.
Jessie scooted closer to Felicia and held her in his arms. For the first time in a long time, she didn't push him away.

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They sat there for a little while without saying a word. Felicia just needed a good cry, and Jessie was glad she let him hold her once again. They eventually crawled into bed to try to fit in a couple hours more sleep. Jessie snuggled up behind Felicia, glad to find that she didn't resist.

=====

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That day when Jessie came home from work he was pretty bummed. The company had dragged their feet on replacing Greg at the store but Jessie remained hopeful he'd get the position. Today they had decided to bring in someone from another store instead. Jessie had really wanted that promotion.

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He opened the door to his house and was shocked at what he saw. Felicia was up, dressed, and playing with Erica. "Look! Daddy's home!" she said scooping up their daughter and bringing her to the door to great Jessie. Erica, recognizing Jessie's familiar face, reached out for him immediately.
"Why, hello there." Jessie said obviously caught off guard.
Felicia gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and handed Erica to him. Jessie wasn't sure what to make of this. "Am I in the right house?" he asked half joking.
"Yes silly." Felicia answered with a roll of her eyes as she began to prepare dinner.

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"Okay, just checking." Then his attention turned to Erica. "Can daddy have a kiss?" He loved his daughters little kisses. He gave Erica a tickle in return and sat her down in front of one of her favorite toys.

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He made his way to the kitchen counter and sat on a stool to keep Felicia company. "You're different today. I like it."
Felicia smiled.
"Do I see a smile there?" he asked hopefully.
"Maybe a small one."
"I've missed your smile." he encouraged her.
"Yeah, I've missed smiling too."
"Perhaps, just maybe, I might be getting my wife back?" he asked.
"I think so. I'm trying anyway." Felicia said. "So tell me, how was your day?"

[Branwen_SC]

Loved that update! And your Sims are really pretty! ;)

[Loco]

*squees* Eee! Yay! Happy(ish)! Erica is gorgeous, and that end-bit was so cute!

[auroraspirit]

Awwwww :lovestruc I am happy to see that there is light for them both :)

It seems that the letters helped Felicia in more ways than one, it seems that Jessie too is happy that he starting to have his wife back again.

Thankyou for the update, please continue Shenan :D

Auroraspirit :angel:

[violet kazoo]

Aww, what a sweet chapter. I'm really loving this story.

[Captain THPS4]

Great update! Good to see that Felicia is on the road to recovery. :)

[Plumeria330]

yay for happiness!! Good update

[mandiegirlie]

Loved that update! Felicia is gorgeous, Jesse is so handsome, and Erica is simply adorable! Her hair is too cute! Great writing and awesome story-line!

[lonelydoowoop]

Awww. I'm gettin all teary.

[Tixi]

ooooh hallelujah!!!!

[emopunk_boii5]

awesome chapter!

[Shenanigans_SC]

Awww.... thanks everyone for your comments. If you've read all of this story, then you know by now, when things seem to be going perfect, something not so perfect isn't far on the horizon. lol I've noticed my chapters have been getting shorter. I appolagize if this bugs anyone. I'm just trying to keep on top of it to update daily and life's been kinda hectic. This one actually ends on a happy note too. (I'm thinking loco might enjoy it most of all.) lol

Chapter 17 - No Such Person
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The next few weeks found things beginning to look up. Felicia was trying her best, and had been taking much better care of Erica. With mommy's care and devotion she began thriving. Felicia didn't always get around to cleaning up the house, but Jessie never complained about it. He was just thankful Felicia was coming around. After all, she had spent months in a depression, she wasn't going to come out of it over night.

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The young family had just finished dinner, and were gathered on the living room floor to play with Erica and catch up with each other.
"You're kinda quiet tonight." Jess noticed. "Something on your mind?"
"Well, kinda, yeah." she said hesitantly.
"What's goin on?" Jessie encouraged her.
"You remember the letters we found at my dad's house right?"
"Of course."
"Well, I decided to write Hope a letter of my own."
"Good for you babe!"
"Yeah, well, I got that letter back today." Felicia said, her voice filled with disappointment.
"Oh. I'm sorry." He knew his apology wouldn't help, but he had to try. "Was it marked with a reason?"
"Yeah, it said 'No Such Person'."
"Hmm... I wonder if she moved." Jessie speculated.

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"Or she saw who it was from and just didn't want it." Felicia said looking down at the ground.
"Oh, come on babe." Jessie rejected. "She wrote for five years! As far as we know she never got a response. She probably felt like she was fighting a loosing battle, gave up and cancelled the PO Box."
"Maybe your right. It's just..." Felicia took a deep breath. "Oh, never mind."
Jessie recognized the sound of defeat, and he wasn't going to let her slide back into that frame of mind without a fight. "No babe. Please don't do that. Just say what's on your mind."

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"It's silly really. It's just... I guess I got my hopes up. I imagined what she would write back, I thought I'd get to know my mom. But instead I'm more heart broken than before."
Jessie scooted over to his wife. "I'm sorry babe. I really am."
Felicia leaned against Jessie and just stared at little Erica. Even though she was growing quickly, Erica was still so small. She depended on Felicia for all of her needs. Yet Felicia didn't feel like she was truly capable of being the mom Erica needed, and deserved. She didn't regret having Erica, as that beautiful baby girl was a reminder of the love Jessie and she shared. She just wished she had more time to grow up herself before becoming a mother. She'd never tell Jessie that, for fear of it breaking his heart.

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"Daw-dee." Erica splurted out trying to get Jessie's attention.
"Did she just?!?" Felicia and Jessie said shocked in unison.
"Oh my gosh I think she did!" Jessie beamed.
Erica quite liked the excitement her voice had brought on, so she said it again. "Daw-dee!"
"Oh my gosh Jess!" Felicia said, "She just said her first word!"

[Loco]

*squees* Eee, I feel all happy again now! (Shenanigans, you know me too well. ;)) Poor Felicia, that's so disheartening... could they try and track her another way? Apart from that, things do seem to be looking up for them... touch wood!

[auroraspirit]

WEEEEEE! :lovestruc :luff: I can not believe that Erica just said her first word that is amazing :D Too cute :valentine

I really hope that Felicia manages to contact her mum soon, I know there is still hope for them both in my opinion.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Captain THPS4]

Cool, Erica said her first word! :D I hope (no pun intended) that we will see Felicia's mom again somewhere in the story, that would be a nice twist.

[kristalshyt]

This is a marvelous story... well-written & great pictures. I'm glad I decided to read your story after you commented on mine. :D

[Shenanigans_SC]

Today's update is another feel good chapter. Enjoy it though, problems start up again tomorrow. :evilnod:
Oh, and just a quick word about Erica, she's going to be talking more soon, and I know when she's talking things are not spelt correctly... I've done that on purpose. Brand new talkers rarely say anything exactly, so I've tried my best to write it in a way that you could hear her little voice.
Also a note for everyone who's holding out for Hope to return, that's going to depend on you... but that's a little secret I have, and I'm just going to leave you all puzzled till later. :blink:
Anyway.... on we go. :)

Chapter 18 - A Birthday Party
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The next several months continued on and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Jess did his time at the store, and rushed home to see the two girls he loved most of all. Erica's vocabulary had enlarged to include 'Maw-Maw' and the all terrific 'NO!' It had become a weekend tradition to spend their Saturdays with Greg, Trina and their boys. From the outside looking in, you'd say they had it pretty good.

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Today was a milestone for their family. Erica was having her first birthday. To celebrate the occasion they invited their good friends over, and just had a great time celebrating the gift they were given. Erica quite liked being the center of attention and seemed to be basking in the glory that was hers.

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"Tia! Tia!" her little voice called to her favorite visitor, and Trina absolutely loved the sound of her little voice. She thought of Erica as the daughter she never had. For a little while she had even dared think she'd want another child of her own. But then her rowdy twin boys, and her husband, would change her mind.

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While Trina was playing with Erica, Jessie came up besides them. "Hey Trina, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure honey, what is it?"
"Do you know anyone who could help me track someone down?"
"Well yeah, we have a detective that works on some of our cases at work. Why? Who are you trying to find?"
"A woman by the name of Hope Elliot."
"And why?" she asked with one eyebrow raised.
"She's Felicia's mother. The address we had for her is no good. Felicia was trying to find her but she's hit a dead end."
"Jessie honey, have you told her that you were going to ask me about this?"
"No." he sighed. "It's just, she's been disappointed and hurt so much already. I don't want to get her hopes up in case we still don't find her."
"Okay, that's understandable." Trina stopped to think a little bit. "Get a letter to me containing all the information that you do know about her. An outdated address is better than nothing at all. I'll see what I can do."
"Really? You're the greatest!"
"You know it." Trina joked with a wink.

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After Felicia and Erica had opened her gifts together Greg stood and cleared his throat. "Dear little Erica, I know it's your birthday, but I hope you don't mind I have something to announce to your daddy." Erica, completely oblivious to the fact she was being talked to kept on playing with her toys.
"What do you have up your sleeve old man?" Jessie asked cautiously.
Greg then explained how another store in the company's chain would be in need of a manager in a few weeks. Given his place in the company, he had the authority to offer it to Jessie. "It would be a little further for you to drive, and you'd have to work more hours, but I believe the pay increase and the benefits would be worth it." he continued. "So what do you say?"
Jessie looked at Felicia to confirm what he was already thinking. "I say all my years of putting up with you has finally paid off! Of course I'll take it!" Jessie received pats on the back, and a kiss from his wife. Erica, not wanting to be left out, added her joyful "Daw-dee! Daw-dee!"

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Holding his little girl, Jessie could only think one thing. Life is good.

[Loco]

Aw, cute chapter! Erica is too cute. (I know I say that every time, but it's true!) :D I'm worried now, though, I don't want things to go wrong...

[Branwen_SC]

Oh please make it a happy ending!!

[jennywren]

new update, lol, daw-dee, sounds like 'daddy!' can't wait for tomorrows update

[GummiBears]

Nice updates!!!
This story is getting better and better,
I hope they find her mom for her, that would be real nice for her!
Great job :D

[auroraspirit]

Hehehe, that's wonderful news all round, little Erica is just so cute and I wouldn't worry about her vocab too much, she would be a little genius otherwise to talk so well :D

I'm glad Jessie is finally going to be receiving a bigger and better pay :)

Auroraspirit :angel:

[violet kazoo]

Erika is so cute! The pictures are great, as usual. And I hope Felicia will finally see her mom.

[Captain THPS4]

Good update! I think I can guess what the next hurdle is. :)

[melanie_SC]

I've just caught up on everything :) I love the sort of chapters that are all happy :)

[Shenanigans_SC]

*yikes* almost didn't make in to update this morning. My kids and I all got hit by the nastiest stomach bug I've seen in a long time. Luckily, I've worked ahead of time and still have an update anyway. :) Thanks again for the comments. :)

Chapter 19 - Overdrawn
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Two more months went by and things pretty much continued as normal. Being manager was more stressful than Jessie thought it would be. He had less time at home and more time trying to solve last minute problems at work. If someone didn't show up, it fell on Jessie's shoulders to find a replacement or cover the shift himself. When he came home he wasn't greeted as warmly as he had been previously. Felicia hadn't gone back to a full out depression, but Jessie got the feeling she resented being home alone so much.


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One late night that Jessie was at the store alone, he had some free time and decided to give Trina a call.
"Hey Trina, it's Jessie."
"Hey honey. What's goin on?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if your detective friend had found anything out yet."
"I'm sorry honey, Dru has been extra busy with work stuff right now. He said he'd look into it on his spare time, I guess he just hasn't had much time to spare."
"Oh, okay." Jessie said disappointed.
"I'll try to catch him tomorrow and remind him. Okay?"
"All right. Thanks Trina."
He hung up the phone and began closing down shop.


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When he got home he was surprised to see that Erica was still up. "Daw-Dee!" she said excitedly as was her custom.
"Well, I'm glad someone is happy to see me."
Felicia got the hint. "Hey Jess."
Eager to show daddy her new ability to take a couple steps Erica began walking towards Jessie.


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Her legs, still a little wobbly, she took a few steps and fell onto a toy. Seeing his little girl fall, Jessie rushed over to pick her up and comfort her. Doing her best to be a big girl she hugged him tight and told him, "It hut me!"
Jessie found this amusing and smiled at her. "It hurt you huh?"
"Ya."
"Now you got to see daddy, it's time to go to bed." Felicia spoke up. "Your dinner is in the microwave." she told Jessie as she took Erica.


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"Hey Felicia," Jessie began when he saw his wife returning. "I stopped by the bank today to get some money out for lunch."
"Yeah?"
"Any idea why our bank account is overdrawn again?"
"Uh, yeah... It's called you have a wife and a daughter, and we have needs too.", she said rather coldly.
"I understand that," he was trying to not upset her. "It's just, I've been manager for over a month now, you'd think I'd be able to afford lunch. We didn't have this problem before, where's the extra money going?"

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"What do you want me to do Jessie? You want me to call you up when I'm at the store, give you a detailed list of what's in the cart and get your permission to buy them?"
"No, come on now, that's not what I'm saying."
"Jessie, I'm stuck in this house all day..."
Jessie interrupted her, "Well, I'd love to take you out for once, but we need money to do that." As soon as those words left his mouth he wished he could take them back.

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"Fine I'll just let Erica go around naked. No use in wasting money on clothes, or washing them!" Felicia was mad, and she was on a roll. "I'll go around barefoot, and stop bathing. We'll sell all of our plates, and only eat cereal. Cereal morning, noon and night, all so you can have money in the bank!"
Jessie was kicking himself for having said such a stupid thing. "I'm just trying to say we need to watch what we spend."
"Yeah, okay, whatever." Felicia said with a roll of her eyes and went to take a shower.

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Jessie plopped down on the couch and turned the TV on. Maybe watching the news would get his mind off of things.

[jennywren]

oh no, poor felicia she seems really stressed

[breena_SC]

I think Felicia is secretly spending money on trying to find her mother :D yup that's what I think...can't wait to find out, bring it on Shenanigans! :anime:

[gazania]

I feel sorry for Jessie. He is doing his very best, and I believe he probably got a good raise with his promotion. You would think that Felicia would be thrilled at the new income.

When cash is tight, there are ways to economize. I've lived through years of living with a small income. Use coupons, take advantages of BOGOs at stores, and if your local store has a closeout on a product you liked, buy 6, 7, 8+ of it! Use day-old bread, learn to make a lot of recipes on your own, be a regular at the local dollar store (hey ... I got my new dishes there!), etc.

Back when my daughter was a baby, I wound up using some of her brother's more generic clothes (certain pieces would be presentable on a girl OR a boy). Needless to say, my girl often ran around in overalls and an undershirt! If Trina had any baby clothes left, she could surely offer them to Felicia. I also found that second-hand stores and really good clearance sales at department stores were my best friends.

Trina might have to give Felicia a good talking-to about saving money ... or as breena wrote, perhaps Felicia is spending the cash on something she doesn't want to tell Jessie about?

[Loco]

Oooh... I'm slightly suspicious, though I probably shouldn't be. Poor Jessie, that's pretty hard on him... he's trying so hard... (And Erica's still as adorable as ever!)

[Captain THPS4]

Yep, I guessed that Jessie's job would be a slight problem. I wonder what Felicia is hiding....

[Webster54]

I think the writer of this thread is terrifically talented, and should think about writing for a living . . .


with that said. . .I only have one question. . . Where can I find a Jessie? Are they expensive, because I don't mind the sacrifice. . .He's priceless!

[Shenanigans_SC]

I just have to tell ya'll it completely makes my day when I see folks getting into my story. Makes me happy inside. :) As many of you guessed, Felicia was hiding something, you'll get a glimpse at it today. Webster, your compliment was huge to me. As for finding a Jessie? I really wish I knew. Maybe someone needs to open a Jessies R Us type of store? lol

Chapter 20 - A Dirty Little Secret
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_01.jpg


The following week, things were very edgy at the Richard's house. Jessie and Felicia didn't say much to each other, and when they did speak it was rather short. However, today was payday and Jessie was determined to win his wife over. He had secretly got someone to cover his shift and cashed his check. He stopped at the bakery and bought Felicia's favorite dessert. Surely her heart would be softened by his gesture.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_02.jpg

When he returned to his house, Felicia was surprised all right.
"Jess! What are you doing here!" she said as she was putting something in the trash.
Jessie smiled, "Surprising you. Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Uh-yeah. But you're supposed to be at work."
"Well, I've been thinking," he sat the dessert on the counter, "I have been working an awful lot, and I thought it would be nice to spend the afternoon together. Just the three of us."
"You bought cheesecake?" Felicia noticed.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_03.jpg

"Felicia, I'm sorry for my part in things.", he continued. "I'm just stressed from work, and I guess I take what you do here for granted. Will you forgive me?"
"Yeah," Felicia caved in, "I mean, you know, you bought cheesecake."
Jessie looked around noticing Erica's absence. "Where's Erica?"
"In her crib, it's her morning nap time." Felicia answered.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_04.jpg

He looked at his watch. "Oh, so it is." He moved closer to his wife hoping to initiate some post fight romance. "Since I'm forgiven and all..." he held Felicia tightly and began to kiss her passionately. Suddenly he stopped.
Felicia was feeling a little awkward. "What?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_05.jpg

"You're kiss... It tastes like... Felicia have you been drinking?"
"Not really, no.", Felicia fidgeted. "I mean, it was just a little drink to help relax a little."
"At ten in the morning?" his voice was harsh.
"Yeah, so?"
Remembering she had thrown something away when he came home, he decided to check the trash. "This?? This is what you've been drinking?? This is hard liquor!", he slammed the bottle down on the counter.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_06.jpg

"Really Jess! I'm not some little girl you know. I am old enough to have a drink every now and then.", her voice was raised and filled with offense.
Jessie's thoughts ran wild. All these little pieces started to come together. The trash was always empty when he came home... Their bank account had been drained dry even though he was making more... It was ten in the morning, and her initial response was a lie. He may regret this, but he just had to ask. "Is this why we don't have any money?? Because you've been spending it all on booze??"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_07.jpg

Felicia was angry now. "Oh come on! How dare you accuse me of such a thing! So much for being sorry! You're still a f*****n jerk!"
Jessie watched as she stormed off to their bedroom. Could he have just blown a perfectly good day? Maybe she really was telling the truth.

Eventually he followed after her and apologized. They had some cheesecake and spent the day together. However, he just couldn't put his mind to rest about that liquor bottle. Something wasn't right.

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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter20_08.jpg


The next day when he was at work, he once again called up Trina.
"Hey Trina, it's Jessie again."
"Hey honey."
"I'm really sorry to bother you, especially about something like this, but I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"Can you please stop by and check on Felicia."
"Why honey, is something wrong?"
"I don't know for sure, but I think so."
"What is it Jessie?"
"I think Felicia's been drinking."
"Oh my... you're not serious are you?"
"Yeah," Jessie gulped hard. "Unfortunately, I am."

[Loco]

*gasps* Aw, nooo! Poor Jessie... poor Felicia! (I swear I end up saying that every few chapters... :P) Anyways, fantastic chapter... it's sad that they keep getting dragged down... have I mentioned I love this story? :)

[breena_SC]

Aww, call me a sap, but I need some happy endings! Poor, poor Jessie and baby Erica. I feel bad for Felicia too, I wish she could she how much support and love she has and get help :(

eta: I'm with Loco I lovessss this story too! :anime:

[exactduckwoman]

Jeez, you're mean. I hope she can get help and not turn into her father >_< Poor Felicia, poor Jessie, and especially poor Erica.

[GummiBears]

Oh wow! I hope she hasn;t been neglecting Erica while she's been drinking! I hope she gets help and stops it!! Poor Jessie!
Great update by the way! :)

[violet kazoo]

Oh no, she's going down the same path as her father! But I'm sure Jessie will help her no matter how much she resists. I just hope their marriage doesn't fall apart.

[melanie_SC]

Oh no! I hope Jessie and Felicia don't split or anything... poor Erica would be left in no mans land..

[auroraspirit]

Oh no! I missed the last chapter update, how can I miss out on one of my favourite author's work, I love your work a lot Shenan :D There's not once I don't feel sorry for them or don't feel happy them, your writing skills are amazing!

Oh dear Jessie and Felicia's fairy tale life seems to get more worse and worse, I hope that Felicia doesn't turn out like her dad, that concerns me a lot, good thing that Trina is on the scene.

Wonderful update, please continue! Desperate for some happiness for them both.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[kristalshyt]

As for finding a Jessie? I really wish I knew. Maybe someone needs to open a Jessies R Us type of store?

I found MY "Jessie"... his name isn't Jessie though, but it does start with a J too. :lovestruc I'm SO lucky. I swear I will never do anything to hurt him, though. :D

Ok, on to commenting about the actual story! I luvs it!! (if I'm using bad grammar/spelling, you know I'm really into what I'm writing about... lol)

[Captain THPS4]

Like father like daughter? Things just keep getting worse for them!

[Plumeria330]

I just read the last few updates, and I went from happy to sad! :(
Why Felicia?! WHY?!?!

[Shenanigans_SC]

Seeing all the responses that the last chapter got, I'm thinking I need to hide behind a rock for the next two. You're all likely to start throwing things at me or hitting me over the head with things! :frying: lol I'm gonna go hide now while you read this chapter. :bricks:

Chapter 21 - Innocent Words
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Now that he had suspicions, Jessie was more alert to things. Trina had told him that when she visited, nothing seemed out of place. She cautioned him to not jump to conclusions, as doing so could cause great damage and pain.

Today was Jessie's day off. He stayed home with Erica so Felicia could go out for an afternoon of alone time. Erica was definitely a daddy's girl, and that was just fine by Jessie. He never imagined he'd do the things she got him to do. Like talk in a cutsy-wutsy tone of voice, and using baby words. Yeah, she definitely had daddy wrapped around her finger.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter21_02.jpg

Today, Erica wanted to play with her doll house. This understandably wasn't daddy's favorite thing to play, but he sat by her none the less. His mind was half wandering off into no man's land when Erica did something that caught his attention.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter21_03.jpg

She took one of her dolls and hit another with it. At first he thought this was just reckless child's play but then she said something that made him second guess that. "Maw-maw hut me."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter21_04.jpg

Jessie was disturbed. "What do you mean Mama hurt you?"
"Maw-maw hut me.", she repeated giving the baby doll to her daddy.
"You mean like your toy hurt you the other day?" Jessie asked showing her the toy she had taken a tumble on.
"Ya, it hut me." she said with all seriousness, pointing to her toy.
Jessie pondered her words. Certainly she must have bumped into Felicia or something. Felicia would never do anything that would hurt Erica. She loved her too much.

=====

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter21_05.jpg



That evening when Erica was in bed, Felicia and Jessie were sitting on the couch.
"Thanks for giving me the time out today Jess." Felicia began, "I really needed the break."
"No problem babe, you deserved the chance to get out."
"I see you didn't do any of those chores we talked about." she teased him.
"Yeah, lets just say I respect moms a whole lot more now."
They both laughed together.
"Erica has just been talking so much lately." Jessie mentioned.
"Yeah, a little jabber jaw that girl is."
"The things she says are just so cute. Like when she fell on that toy she said it hurt her." Jessie wasn't sure if he should say what was next on his mind or not.
"Yeah, she is something else."
"Today, we were playing, she even said 'Mama hurt me.' Isn't that strange?" he asked doing his best to sound normal.
"Yeah, that is strange." Felicia said.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter21_06.jpg

Felicia swung her legs on to Jessie's and laid a big kiss on him. "Did I tell you thank you for my day out?"
Seeing the opportunity that was being laid before him, he went along with her game. "Maybe you mentioned it, I don't really recall. I mean, you know how forgetful I can be."
"That's true. Well then, maybe I need to show you how thankful I am?", Felicia said in an all out flirt.
"Yeah, I think maybe you should."

[Plumeria330]

Oh No!!!! Im getting so sad! Whats to happen to the once happy cute family? :weep:

[Loco]

*gasps* No! She can't.. that's... no! Oh, I really hope she isn't turning into her father, that'd be too sad! (Fantastic update, though. ;))

[GummiBears]

Poor Erica!!! Maybe it was a accident or something because Felicia didn't seem guilty, like when she got accused of drinking she blew up, so maybe its just a accident! Anyway *Great* Update and you don't have to hide!!! Can't wait to see whats next. :)

[Webster54]

as a social worker i gotta tell you, this story is RIGHT ON POINT! abuse begets abusers, whether it's child abuse or substance abuse or both. people learn to be that way from the folks who raised them. . .Excellent work Shenanigans!!! now there is such a thing as recovery. . .but the process is never an easy one. . . .

[Captain THPS4]

Wow, I'm surprised things didn't get awkward at the end! The third picture really goes with the writing well. :)

[violet kazoo]

It's kind of sad how much Felicia has changed. But I agree with Webster54, abused people can become abusive. I was hoping that wouldn't happen to Felicia.

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thought I'd peek out behind my wall real quick. :)

I know everyone wants a happy ending, but if the body of the story was "every thing is happy" all the time, then it's really not an interesting story. But I'm so glad you all are following my story, through it's ups and it's downs.

Webster - thank you for your comment. I know people who were abused when they were children, and I've seen one in paticular struggle day in and day out to break that cycle. People that have the courage to break the cycle are the type I admire and applaud.

Take rest in knowing that there's hope for Felicia yet. She's still young. Please don't look at her character as someone who's gone through a drastic change from nice to mean. It's not that she's a bad evil person, but rather she is someone who's struggling against her upbringing. I just finished working on the pictures for tomorrows chapter. I'll warn you, I I had a tear in my eye with that chapter. But if you can smile with the characters, and cry with the characters, than I've done my job. :)

Okay, hiding back behind my wall for tomorrow. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to ruin the story.

[longdaysend]

i keep reading hoping that things will work out in "this next chapter"..lol..it keeps getting worse..we have to be close to rock bottom now right? only way to go is up,right? *clings desperatly to that hope" they are too cute a family to go this route! Shenanigans...make the maddness stop! :D

[PlayLives]

Yea, account fixed, now I can comment!!!

I wanted to add for so long that I think part of Felicia's problem is also the fact that she never got a chance to know herself and even heal from her past pain. She went directly from an abusive home to being a wife and mother, with no time in between, not good. So, right now, she is going through the pains of dealing with those issues that she could have dealt with on her own. Now her husband and child have to go through it with her. Hopefully, Jessie's love for her can hold out in the "worse" while she works through this stuff.

Shenan, again, love the story. Thank you for telling it in such a way that displays the realness of life. Whatever happens in their lives I'm happy because the story is good either way, lol. :clap:

[auroraspirit]

Oh my dear goodness, yes it is a known fact that those abused can be abusive.

I did like it how Jessie played the game, hopefully Felicia will confess what she did to Jessie about hurting Erica either on purpose or intentionally, I feel that Jessie is going to take extreme measures into his own hands if something further happens, I won't say too much without giving it away.

Great update Shenan :) I can understand that not every story has a happy ending or is a happy one and sometimes this is what reality is like unfortunately.

I like the this story for its uniqueness from other stories that its not always happy go lucky.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

longdaysend- I love the optimist in you! You're right, once you hit bottom, there's only one way, up. Today we hit bottom.
PlayLives - You're so very right about Felicia's character.
aurora & everyone else. Thank you for all the comments! A lot may see this chapter as drastic. But truth be told this is the chapter that is the pinnacle of the story that came to me over a month ago. I spent a lot of time developing the characters, and it really pained me to do this to them, but this is what the story is really all about. I couldn't take it out and change it, then it wouldn't be "The Runaway" anymore. So anyhow, Chapter 22 -

Chapter 22 - Because of Love
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Jessie was taking inventory when one of his employees called out to him. "Mr. Richards! Your wife is on the phone."
"Okay, I'll be right there." he put his clipboard down and made his way to the office so he could take it in private.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_02.jpg

"Hey babe. What's up?" As he said those words, he heard Erica crying in the background.
Then he heard Felicia's voice, "You need to come home right now."
"Felicia, your voice, you sound like you're shaking, what's going on? Are you okay? Is Erica hurt?"
"I'm not saying it again, you need to come home now." Felicia repeated herself then hung up the phone.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_03.jpg

Jessie wasn't sure what to make of that brief conversation. Erica was crying so loudly, could she be seriously hurt? Wouldn't Felicia have enough sense to call an ambulance if that was the case? He told his employees that he had a family emergency to tend to and sped home as fast as he could, hoping there would be no cops between the store and his house.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_04.jpg

The drive home seemed longer than ever before, and all sorts of horrific ideas went through his head. But none of them prepared him for what was waiting at home. He rushed through the front door, at first relieved that he didn't hear Erica crying, then he saw Felicia. She came out of their bedroom, with a suitcase.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_05.jpg

"What's going on Felicia?", Jessie asked puzzled.
She looked up at him, her face was so pale. It looked as if she had seen a ghost. She answered him in so low of a voice that Jessie had to strain to hear her. "I have to leave now."
Jessie had no idea what was going on. "What are you talking about?"
"I called a taxi, it'll be here any minute."
Jessie heard her, but the words made no sense to him. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Erica is in her crib. I left a letter for her on our bedside table. Please give it to her when she's older and asks you questions about me."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_06.jpg

Jessie couldn't believe what he was hearing. "For God's sake Felica, what is going on?? I don't understand!"
"I'm leaving Jessie, I have to leave."
"Have to leave? What do you mean HAVE to?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_07.jpg

"Don't you get it?" she asked him. Suddenly she was yelling, "The other day, when she told you I hurt her, it wasn't some childish phrase." Jessie's stare communicated that she wasn't really getting through to him. Felicia swallowed hard, the words she had to say next hurt her to the core. "I hit our daughter Jessie!" she continued to yell. "Not some swat on the butt, or a smack of her hand, I HIT her! Not just once Jessie, a couple of times! I HIT OUR DAUGHTER! Do you get it yet?"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_08.jpg

Her words hit him like a ton of bricks to his chest. He leaned against the wall for support, his mind was racing. He had heard his wife, but he just didn't want to believe what she was saying.
"It's because I love her that I have to leave now, cause if I don't, she's going to end up just like me." Felicia said her voice quieter now and tears streaking down her face.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_09.jpg

"No." Jessie spoke up. "No! You don't have to leave. There's programs, and counseling." His voice was that of a desperate man. "You can get help, you can change!"
"No Jessie," Felicia's voice was filled with pain yet determined. "She is better off without me around to hurt her. You're an unbelievably great guy Jess. I know you love her, and I know you'll raise her well." Felicia was interrupted by the honk of the taxi's horn.

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"My cab is here Jessie." she picked up her suitcase.
"No Felicia. You're just...", he was straining for the right words. "You're just running away from your problems! That's what you're doing! Don't run away from me! From Erica! Stay here and fight this! You can overcome this!"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_11.jpg

Felicia hung her head in shame. "You think I haven't tried? Believe me, I've tried. This isn't some new thing Jess. It's been going on for a while." She opened their door and waved to the taxi driver to signal she'd be right there. "When I look at myself in the mirror, I see my father staring back at me. He may have ruined me, but I'll be damned if I let him ruin her through me. Jessie, you have to understand, I'm doing this because I love her."
"Where are you going?" Jessie asked quietly, feeling defeated.
"I don't know." she answered. "It doesn't really matter."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter22_12.jpg
Felicia walked through the door and got into the taxi. Jessie held his head in his hands in disbelief. He couldn't watch her drive away. It was as if he was stuck in a bad nightmare that he couldn't wake up from. How could he have been so blind to this? How could he have not known? This isn't how his life story is supposed to go.

[breena_SC]

*closes' mouth now, and blinks* Whoa! I'm at a lost for words so I'll just say...I love the realism of this story and you are absolutely right...

I know everyone wants a happy ending, but if the body of the story was "every thing is happy" all the time, then it's really not an interesting story. But I'm so glad you all are following my story, through it's ups and it's downs.

[Loco]

Wah... :( Poor Jessie. Poor Erica. And definitely poor Felicia. At least she's trying, at least she knows she needs to help herself and Erica. But even so... :( Not fair! And yeah, the title makes a lot of sense now. At least we know it's going to get better... touch wood!

EDIT: Heh, and don't worry about it being unhappy - it would be pretty boring if it was always perfect. It just seems unfair, but like breena said, it's realistic... plus you're a brilliant writer, which just adds to it. ;)

[PlayLives]

Wow. That really pulls at the heart. :cry:
So many things came to mind while reading. Is history repeating itself? Did Felicia's mother leave the way she is leaving now? .sigh. Well, at least it is for the best right now. Jessie is a good guy and he will understand later, if not now;
and all this time I thought it was called the Run Away because she ran away from her father, lol, anyway, :gjob:

[Plumeria330]

I really like how you put the drama in this, it makes everything so much more realistic. This was a sad chapter though....

[jennywren]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... *gasp* OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Oh no, I can understand why she ran away, but is she doing the right thing?

[GummiBears]

Omg! I hope Felicia gets everything straightened out and comes back to Jessie and Erica because they need eachother!
Anyway this is a great story, I love how everytime its not what I expected and thats just awesome and interesting :D Awesome Updates :D

[violet kazoo]

Oh, yes of course it wouldn't be much of a story if it was always happy. The realism in your story makes it so worthwhile and satisfying to read. It's so much more interesting when things aren't peachy. I was seriously at the edge of my seat while I was reading this latest chapter.

Excellent writing, as usual. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Captain THPS4]

I knew Erica saying that she got hurt would have some significance! I'm not irritated about how the story is unfolding because the story wouldn't be as good like other people have said. I actually thought the title had to do with Felicia running away from her dad to live with Jessie at first.

[auroraspirit]

#Can't find appropriate words to express how I feel# I can say that I feel disbelieved, yes this is drastic, what a day for Jessie, how on earth he is going to raise Erica on his own and now he has no way to contact or find Felicia.

I too like THPS4, thought that the runaway part was to do with Felicia as a teen, I didn't see this one coming. Its really hard to predict what's going to happen next to these two :(

Wonderful writing Shenan, looking forward to your next chapter, I'm holding onto my seat like the other's are.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[longdaysend]

fantastic update as usual,shenan...i had a tear in my eye reading it...i happen to agree with everyone that it needs some drama to be a decent story..everything seems to be against them is all im saying..im hoping beyond hope for some sort of a hapy ending for them..any of them really :)

[auroraspirit]

Ahhh you see long, life isn't like a box of chocolates, not all stories end happily and this is what it can be like in reality and I really admire Shenan for her uniqueness in this story, I haven't read another story like this one on the S2C and I really admire Shenan from being different from anybody else, so if the story ends miserably so be it.

This story, The Run Away, is way better than the traditional happily ever after story, although I would probably get sad all the time if I read story like these all the time lol, if it ends either way, I won't mind too much :)

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

Thank you for the comments and the feedback! Guess I surprised a lot of folks! The title is really more of her habit than any one occurance. Felicia ran away from her father, ran away from Jessie that first time, now she's running away again. All for different reasons all under different circumstances.

I tend to look at stories as they should be one of two things. (And I am not a professional, this is only my thoughts.) Either it should be realistic so people can relate to the characters on some level. Makes it believable. Or it needs to be such a fantasy that someone could get lost in it and forget about their real troubles. I love to read fantasy! Really rather prefer it, but I can't write it worth beans! So I tend to lean towards the realistic side when I write.

Jennywren - you asked if Felicia was doing the right thing. I personally don't think so. I'm more like Jessie. But I could see some young woman hurt and scared doing what she's done. Heck, a little part of me would like to run away from my own troubles! lol

I'm so glad to see the feedback and responses I've gotten so far! Thank you, for reading it. :)

[x_monkey_2005_x]

Oh wow! I've read this everyday and I love it. It is so interesting, and I feel bad for Jessie and Erica, and Felicia! I hope things get better for them soon...

[Shenanigans_SC]

The thing with having such a gut wrenching chapter like the last one, is no matter what the next one is kinda ehh. But anyhow....

Chapter 23 - The World Keeps Spinning
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter23_01.jpg


The next month was incredibly tough for Jessie. Naturally he had gone to Greg and Trina for advice and support. Trina told him to just be patient and give Felicia time. She felt that maybe Felicia just needed time to wrap her mind around the whole situation, and eventually, when she was ready, she'd come back.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter23_02.jpg

In the mean time, Jessie had asked around and found a very kind lady that did in home daycare. It hurt him to drop Erica off at someone else's house when he went to work, but he knew it was something he just had to do. And he had hoped it would be temporary.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/Mila_Muromachi/SIMS2/TheRunAway/Chapter23_03.jpg

The late summer weather faded, and Autumn came. The trees loss their leaves, and Erica grew. After two months, she no longer asked where mommy went. This was a double edged sword for Jessie. On one hand he no longer had to see Erica's sad little face asking for her mommy, but on the other, it meant Erica was forgetting about Felicia. She became a good walker, and a talker too. She loved when daddy flipped her around and would often ask him to do so.


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Winter soon came, and with it the holidays which made Jessie really miss Felicia. He recalled their first Christmas they had spent together in their new house. When he sat on the floor to play with Erica, his mind's eye would drift back to those happier times. Erica would catch her daddy with a single tear on his cheek and walk over to him. "Dada sad?" she'd ask in her cute, small, caring voice. Jessie would smile and tell her that he was okay. Erica would give him a good hug, just for safe measure. Several times Jessie had thought that if it wasn't for Erica, he'd have no real reason to go on.


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The days kept going and so did Jessie. Erica's birthdays just seem to come all too quick. Those occasions were bitter sweet for Jessie. He loved to see his daughter grow, but wished Felicia could see them too. He hadn't heard a single word from Felicia since she left that day. He had no way of knowing where she was, how she was doing, or what she was doing. Sometimes he would look at the ring on his finger. It said he was married, but his heart didn't feel that way.

[jennywren]

awww thats so sad, I hope he does hear from felicia but I don't think he will... ahh we'll find out

[Loco]

Aw... sweet, sad update. Erica just gets cuter and cuter, but poor Jessie...

[inkbottleblue]

this is such a good story! and I love that you update so often, thanks :)

[Plumeria330]

:weep: Felicia needs to come home. Good update as usual!

[kristalshyt]

*tear*
Those last few updates were very... sad...
Waiting patiently for the next one. :D

[Captain THPS4]

What a tearjerking update...I hope we at least find out what Felicia is doing soon. :(

[auroraspirit]

This story suits my mood right now lol.

A really good update, I too am waiting patiently for the next update, I feel however that Felicia won't be coming at all or any time soon.

Erica is really sweet too, I feel for Jessie :(

Auroraspirit :angel:

[GummiBears]

Aww so sad :( :( !! I feel so bad for Erica and Jessie!!!
*Felicia get back home!!!!!*!!!!!!
Great update :) :)

[Shenanigans_SC]

Hi :howdy: Thank you again, for the comments! Jessie looks a bit different this update. I wanted to have the time between chapters really hit home. Plus he's older now, is a daddy, it was time he cut his hair. Even though I prefer him the 'younger' way. Oh well. Happy reading. :)

Chapter 24 - A Meeting with the teacher
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As sure as the sun rose each day, life continued on, and eventually got easier for Jessie. It wasn't that he had forgotten, or given up on Felicia. Just things were so routine now. He was used to being a single father, and realized he really had to snap out of it for Erica's sake. Erica... She had grown so much over the years. Every now and then, when the light hit her just right, or she gave him just a certain look, Jessie swore he saw Felicia looking back at him through her eyes.

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Erica was seven now, and in the first grade. She loved to play with her Daddy and dance on his feet. She was a smart little cookie, and seemed to be doing just fine in school and anything she tried to do. That's why Jessie was surprised when he got a phone call from her teacher. She had called to set a time that Jessie could come down to the school, because she had something she wanted to discuss with him. Erica had never been in trouble before, so Jessie was really at a loss as for what it could be about.

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"Hello Mr. Richards." she greeted him warmly. "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you." Jessie said, obviously feeling out of place. Ms. Carter was a lot younger than Jessie had expected.
"First, let me reassure you that your daughter is an absolute joy to have in my class.", she was trying to put his mind at ease. "She is polite to her classmates, and just has such a sensitive spirit."
"Why, thank you." Jessie said a little shocked. He had half expected to hear she had been doing something wrong.

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"One of the reasons I asked to meet with you, and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I wanted to get some information from you about her home life."
Jessie wasn't quite sure what she meant by that. "I'm sorry, I don't really understand."
"Well, Mr. Richards," she gazed down at his hands which were nervously laid flat on the top of his legs. "Mother's Day is coming up, and given the very complex families that are common now a days, I always prepare my children ahead of time for the different activities we do to celebrate moms."
"Okay." Jessie said, his voice trailing off making it sound more like a question.
"When the bell rang for recess, Erica approached me. I could tell she was sad and she told me she wouldn't be able to participate in our Mother's Day activities. She asked since she doesn't have a mom if she could bring you instead."

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"Oh... Wow." Jessie wasn't sure how he should have felt about this.
"Usually in these types of situations I encourage the children to think of another woman that they're close to and make something special for them."
"That's a good idea." Jessie said, really only because he lacked anything important to say.
"I'm sorry to pry, but I notice that you do have a wedding band." she motioned towards Jessie's left hand.
Feeling awkward he covered it with his right hand. "Oh yeah. Well see, Erica's mom left us when she was just a toddler.", he began to shake his head from side to side. "Uh, I mean Erica was a toddler, not her mother." He felt so terribly stupid.
"Yes, I figured that." she said with a smile.
"Anyway, she has no memory of her mother I guess ..."
"That's okay Mr. Richards..." she raised her hand to signal he didn't have to explain.
"Please, call me Jessie."
"Okay, Jessie," she tried her best to put him at ease.

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Their conversation then drifted off to Erica's accomplishments, and the areas she might need a little help in. Jessie left feeling reassured that Erica had a teacher that really loved her job, and truly cared for the kids in her class. Teachers like that, he had heard, were very hard to find.

[Captain THPS4]

Great update! I quite like Jessie's new look, very suitable for him. I wonder when we'll find out what Felicia is doing, but I'm not complaining. :)

[Loco]

Aw, nice update. Erica's sweet, she really does look like Felicia. I preferred Jessie's old look too, but this one really does suit him! I'm glad everything's going okay for them now.

[PlayLives]

I like the way Jessie looks now. He looks good to me!
Glad to see that Erica is growing up okay, a little concerned about Jessie still wearing the ring. It means he hasn't really let go yet and is not opening up for someone else to be in his life. Maybe the talk with the Teacher will help him see that.

It is interesting how the story started out with Felicia and I was just concerned for her, now I'm concerned for Jessie and Erica as well. I want him to find someone to be with, even if not Felicia.

[Webster54]

that teacher seems pretty and caring. maybe he'll get with her. then felicia will show up and it will be just like jerry springer! how sweet through that he never filed for divorce or stopped wearing the ring after all this time. . .wow. guys like him don't exist outside of the sim world. . .what's he like never gonna date again? waiting on felicia?

[kristalshyt]

Awww.... Nice update. :D
I like Jessie's new look, too. And Erica is too cute. I think she should bring in her dad for Mother's Day. He's both mom & dad to her now, anyhow.

[darksixx]

Wow. How sad. :( Keep up the good work!

[auroraspirit]

I like Jessie's new look, it suits him and looking at Erica is just looking at Felicia.

I didn't see you update your chapter on the main page and when I saw the update I was like yikes, sorry Shenan.

A very wonderful update :)

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Shenanigans_SC]

AHH!!! I didn't realize I had forgotten to change the topic line to announce the update. Sorry Aurora. It just shows how rushed and busy I am lately. I so wanted in that darkness inside contest, and I completely missed it! Ahh well, probably better that way, I'm having a hard time keeping up with what I do have!

As for everyone's comments.... I'm not telling!! You can't make me!! I won't, I won't, I won't! All though, I will say one of you kinda guessed it. ugh! :lol: Ya'll are too smart, I can't sneak anything by you.

[longdaysend]

shes cute..and probably single..hmmm perhaps she'll be what it takes to get him to remove that wedding band :D ericas become such a cute child! well done,yet again shenan!

[Shenanigans_SC]

The more I write about Greg and Trina.... the more I like them. :)
Thank you everyone for the comments!

Chapter 25 - A Wager
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The one thing that had not changed in Jessie's life was the Saturday visits to Greg and Trina's house. Their boys now young teens, were very fond of, and protective, of Erica. One afternoon the adults were playing a friendly poker game, when the usually light hearted conversation gave way to a much more sensitive topic.

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"Jessie honey," Trina was saying, "do you really want to go on forever, alone?"
"Of course not."
"I know I said she'd come back, I really had hoped that she would, but you've got to stop living in the past, and start looking towards the future."
"She was my future.", he hardly ever said Felicia's name, as it seemed to make things a little more painful. "It's not like I'm moping around the house or anything. I'm not holding out for her to come back, I just don't really feel like dating."
"It's understandable that it takes time to overcome a broken relationship, but Jessie, it's been six years! That's longer than anyone could ever ask you to wait for her."
"We're not even divorced! I'm still married!" he protested.
"Only legally honey, and in some states, you're not even that."

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Jessie turned to Greg for a little help. "Come on old man, are you going to stick up for me or what? I need your help here!"
Greg let out a hearty laugh. "No way man. We've been married for sixteen years, if there's anything I've learned, it's that you can't win an argument with this woman.", he motioned to Trina.
"Seventeen dear.", Trina said still looking at her cards, "We've been married seventeen years."
"Uh-yeah, that's what I said isn't it?"
"No, you said sixteen."
"See what I mean! Can't win any fight with her. Only thing I can win is this card game."
"Nah, you can't win that either." she quipped back.
Jessie started laughing. It was funny to sit around with these two. At least the focus was off of him for a change.

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"Now just you wait a minute woman. I too can win this game!" Greg protested.
"No you can't." Trina said smugly.
"I'm willing to bet on it, I'll cream you this hand." Greg said determined.
"Oh yeah huh?" Trina had a twinkle in her eye, she was obviously up to something. "How about you Jessie, want to make a wager?"
Jessie lost in laughter went along with it just for kicks. "Sure, what are we talking about, looser cleans the other's house for a month or something?"
"Hell no!" Greg protested. "I've seen your house boy, no way in hell I'm cleaning that!" They all burst into laughter.

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"If I win, I get to invite someone else over next weekend to join our little escapades." Trina stated.
"Ahh, that's nothing." Greg said.
"And if you loose?" Jessie questioned.
"I'll clean your house for a month." she winked at Jessie.
"Hey, what about me??" Greg protested. "What if I win?"
"In the unlikely event you actually win...," Trina was thinking. "Well, I'll be sure to make you a very happy man tonight." she motioned seductively to her husband.
"Oooookay! That is something I did NOT need to hear!" Jessie protested.

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It was late at night, Jessie and Erica had left, and the twin boys went to bed. Trina and Greg were in their bedroom preparing for the night.
"If I know you at all," Greg began, "then I know that you're up to something."
"Who me?" Trina said innocently.
"Yes you! You knew you were going to win that hand! What have you got brewing in that brain of yours?"
"You remember Sherry right?"
"Vaguely."
"I think she and Jessie would make a terrific couple."
"Let me guess, she's the one you're going to invite next week."
Trina gave a nod yes. She was quite pleased with herself.
"I don't know Trina," Greg shook his head, "Jessie said he wasn't ready to date. I don't think you should push it."
"It's not a date." Trina reminded him, "She's simply going to come over for some good food, and good fun. I can't help what happens after that."
Greg shot her a look, "Like I said, I can never win an argument with you."

[Captain THPS4]

Sherry eh? Great update, can't wait to see how the next chapter unfolds.... :D

[jennywren]

Will we hear anything of Felicia again?

[inviisible]

i can't wait for updates! i love this story so much!

[auroraspirit]

Love this update Shenan, the boys look so cute as does little Erica, I wonder how Sherry and Jessie will go.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[Loco]

Oooh, I love it! Twill be interesting to see what Jessie thinks of Sherry... :D Trina is amazing!

[*Jennifer*]

Yay I'm soo happy Trina is trying to take things into her own hands! I can't wait to see what happens! ;)

[Webster54]

who's sherry?
btw shenanigans where did you get the hair for trina? i love it and want to download it. . .

[Shenanigans_SC]

Jennywren - If I could guess, I'd say you're the type of reader that likes to read the last chapter of a book before you get to it. :) I don't want to give anything away, but I doubt Felicia has dissapeared off the face of the earth.

I love Trina's character! Glad ya'll like her too.
Webster, I know I got it from Mod the Sims. Right now unfortunately that site is giving me real issues. I can't see any of the pictures. I think this link is the right one, but can't be certain since I can't see it. http://modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=207062
I'll be sure to check later.

EDIT: Just checked, it is the right link. END EDIT

As for who Sherry is, ya'll will find out soon enough!

Also, sorry I haven't been updating every day like I used to. Unfortunately real life has caught up to me. I'm not abandoning this story. Just I'll be aiming to update everyother day instead of every day. Sorry! But it's still more often than some stories.

Yikes... gotta run. Thank you everyone for your comments!

[auroraspirit]

Knowing Felicia, she'll probably return when Jessie is just settling into a relationship and little Erica has long forgotten and somehow she manages to spoil everything only to up and leave again leaving everyone heartbroken.

I do feel sorry for Felicia, she's messing up other's people besides her own and I think she needs to stop thinking about herself just for a little while or talk to someone about it at least and to stop running away from her problems, you have to face them in the end.

Auroraspirit :angel:

[kristalshyt]

I'm betting Sherry is the teacher.
Great update! Looking forward to the next. :D

[Shenanigans_SC]

Here's a short chapter 26... kristal - I'm thankful my sims aren't as smart as you :lol:

Chapter 26 - Coming to terms
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Jessie had gotten Greg to tell him what Trina had brewing. He was nervous this Saturday, and had half a heart to fake a sickness. As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he was trying to grasp just what it was that had him feeling so nervous. His heart told him he was still married, he had no business being nervous over meeting a new woman. However, the rest of him screamed that maybe he did want to meet a new woman. Maybe he wanted to move forward with his life instead of sitting idle watching his life go stale as the years pass him by. And was that really such a bad thing?

Jessie had a conflict within himself. One part of him thought staying true to Felicia was the right, the honorable, thing to do. But another part was nagging at him. Was he really just to weak to admit that his wife had left him? Was he actually a coward hiding in the past because he was too scared to make a new future? Jessie struggled to come to terms with his feelings.

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"Come on Daddy! I wanna go swimming at Trina's!" Erica's voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked down at his sweet little girl. She made it obvious that there would be no lying about some illness.
"Okay sweetie." he answered, "Let's go."

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They pulled into the very familiar driveway and Erica shot off for the front door.
"You still need to knock Erica!" Jessie called after his daughter. Erica really thought of this as her second home, and had quite often acted as if it were her own.
Jessie followed behind his daughter, wishing he had the excitement she had. He knocked on the door that Erica had already opened and called out "Anybody home?"
"In the kitchen Jessie!" came Trina's voice.

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"Hi Trina!" Erica gave her a big hug. "Can I go swimming?"
Trina smiled at her. "Yes, of course honey, the boys are already back there waiting for you."
"Yay!" Erica squealed with glee as she headed to the pool.
"Hello Jessie." Trina said looking up at him.
"Hey. Where's Greg?"
"Out getting the grill ready."
"And our special guest?" he asked sarcastically.
"She isn't here yet. I gave her a later time, I wanted to make sure you and I had a chance to talk."
"You know, I used to think rather highly of you before you went and pulled this little stunt of yours." Jessie half teased her.
"Jessie honey, relax okay? I really didn't set this up as some sort of a date thing. Sherry has no expectations what so ever. I simply told her it had been far too long since we've spent time together, and invited her to join us. So lighten up. Okay?"

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"Yeah, okay." Jessie caved in. He took a deep breath and convinced himself he was over reacting. That's when the doorbell rang. While Trina went to get the door, Jessie felt it was a good time to slip out the back and join Greg by the grill.
After a few minutes the guys heard Trina's voice announcing her approach. Jessie by instinct turned to nod his head to Trina. But this time he took a double take. The woman who followed behind Trina was stunning. Jessie shook his head and told himself to snap out of it. He couldn't help but feel as if he knew her from somewhere. Yes, surely he had seen her before, but he just couldn't place where.

[Loco]

Oooh! Coolness! Nice update, short and sweet. ;)

[Webster54]

I'm Pulling My Hair Out!!!!


And I Wear A Wig!!!!

What's Going To Happen Next Man??? What??? Can I Have Just A Little Hit. . .i Mean Hint. . .i Need It Man!!! C'mon. . .i'm Dying Here??