Chapter 14: As Time Goes By

Right after the wedding, Paxton and Beatrix have their birthday. As children, they continue to spend most of their free time in Leo's daycare, helping their dad with the tots and doing their homework.

Pax and Dakota bond over the afternoon homework ritual. Dakota is getting older now, but she still loves to help out with her grand-kids whenever she can.

Ethan von Hagen, Kristopher's son, aged up shortly before Beatrix did. As a graduate of Leo's daycare and a good friend of both of Bea's parents, he finds himself frequently coming home to Beatrix's house after school.

Despite his father's quick rise to the top of the business career, Ethan and Kristopher still live in a run-down shack on the outskirts of town. For the most part, Kristopher largely ignores his son, leaving his upbringing in the hands of teachers and neighbors. Ethan's always been jealous of Bea's family, but especially Beatrix's dad Leo. He idolizes the man and longs to be just like him one day.

"My husband is going to be ripped," Beatrix tells Ethan one afternoon.

"Yeah? Well my wife is going to be a model," Ethan brags right back.

"Hah, good luck with that!" Bea laughs. Always quick to say what's on her mind, Beatrix never bothers to think before she speaks.

Ethan frowns. "Well, my dad says I don't even need to get married. He says that marriage is for suckers!"

"Is not!" Beatrix retorts.

"Is to!" Kristopher sticks out his tongue at her before going over to play with Pax.

Beatrix gets her revenge later by whacking him with a pillow. However, she forgot one vital bit of information when planning her attack...

Vampires hit H.A.R.D.

After some more pillow fighting, Beatrix invites Ethan to stay and have a sleepover with her and her brother.

Ethan readily agrees.

"Adult vampires seriously can't be out in the sun?" Bea asks Ethan as they get ready for bed.

"Nope, not for very long. Dad says it burns our skin."

"Will you burst into flames?!" Beatrix sounds excited at the thought. Fire is cool, but spontaneous combustion is even cooler.

Ethan shrugs and goes to change into his pajamas. He's learning to ignore Bea's off-the-cuff remarks.

Ethan sleeps in Beatrix's room in the only extra bed in the house. While Bea dreams of her future husband's six pack, Ethan doesn't dream at all.

The next morning, Beatrix heads downstairs to find Ethan already awake and eating breakfast with her dad. As Leo chats with the young vampire, Bea looks on in embarrassment. Whether it's because her father just got through explaining, in detail, Beatrix's struggles with potty training or because he's sitting around talking to Ethan in his underwear, who really knows. One thing's for certain though: Bea is mortified.

That morning, while Paxton, Beatrix, and Ethan are at school, the reaper pays a visit to their house. Dakota was working on one last painting, a portrait of her daughter, when death came knocking.

Knowing that she's lived a full life, she willingly goes with Grim.

Despite their rocky relationship, Lily is heartbroken to lose her mother.

Grimmy decides to hang around for a little while after collecting Dakota's soul. Leo thinks this is a fine opportunity to introduce himself.

The reaper likes Leo's house. Leo is quite taken aback by the compliment but grins in appreciation.

After Grim leaves, Leo immediately heads to the bathroom to check out his newly formed wrinkles. Age is starting to show on his once youthful face, and confronted with the reality of his own mortality Leo is experiencing a full-blown midlife crisis.

When Beatrix gets the news that afternoon, Ethan does his best to cheer her up.

While she feels a bit better after talking to Ethan, what truly brightens her day is dumping a bucket of water on her brother. That really lifts her spirits.

Ethan spends the night at Bea's house again. He hangs out at her place most of the time anyway, so it's generally just easier for him to sleep there too.

"Why are you drinking that?" Beatrix wants to know.

"I may as well get used to plasma now. I'm going to have to live off of it when I'm an adult," he replies.

"Aren't you going to miss real food?" Beatrix finds herself intrigued by her vampire friend.

"Nah, I'll be able to drink blood too. That'll more than make up for it."

Beatrix makes a face. "Yuck!"

Ethan just smirks. It's fun grossing out Bea.

Paxton, Beatrix, and Ethan play in the tree house. Paxton likes to pretend they are the three musketeers. Bea thinks Pax needs to get a life.

Lily carves some time out of her busy schedule to get to know Ethan. She worries about the boy and wants to know what his home life is like. Ethan keeps his description pretty vague, as he doesn't want Mrs. West to worry about him.

Lily adores Ethan, but she thinks of him as a wild card. She worries about the influence he's having on her daughter.

Not that there is any cause to be concerned. Beatrix is simply wondering if Ethan is going to randomly burst into flames.

Paxton wants a girlfriend. Too bad the girls in town don't want Paxton.

Trying to play the overprotective older brother, Paxton corners Ethan one afternoon to discuss his intentions with Beatrix.

"If you hurt her, I will hunt you down and beat you with my musket," he tells the vampire.

"Dude, go away or I will pound you," Ethan replies, annoyed.

"Oh yes, right. Okay." Paxton poses no threat to the older and stronger vampire, and he knows it.

Paxton enjoys playing with the toddlers in Leo's daycare. At least they don't make fun of him.

Lily throws a party for Pax and Bea's birthday. By now, she's used to the folks around town crashing her parties, but one particularly unwelcome guest shows up as well.

"What are you doing here Kristopher?" Lily asks furiously.

"Ethan invited me," he responds coolly.

"If it weren't for Ethan, I would have run you out of town years ago," Lily hisses.

Kristopher smirks. "Well, it appears the boy is good for something after all."

Lily looks at him with outrage in her eyes. Before she can even respond, however, Kristopher vanishes with vampire speed. Lily is glad he left.

Paxton blows out his candles first. He wishes for a girlfriend.

Paxton, the teenager. He develops the flirty trait.

Beatrix goes next.

Ethan, now a teenager, is on hand to cheer Beatrix on.

Beatrix, the teenager. She becomes a hopeless romantic, although she vows not to tell anyone. She's going to keep her tough image alive if it's the last thing she does.

Challenge Notes:

Just to be clear, Bea is pronounced "Bee", as in a bumble "bee". I was really worried when I saw Beatrix as a child. I thought she was going to end up looking rather plain. I was pleasantly surprised at her teenage self, though. I quite like the shape of her face, and the fact that she is not identical to Leo or Lily helps a lot too.

Ethan the teenager looks different than I thought he would. I haven't decided if I am going to keep him dressed like that. I was trying to make him look rebellious without edging into the punk, but his outfit seems a bit sloppy to me. His original clothes, before I changed them, were hilarious.

After Makeover

Before Makeover

Considering his traits are brave, rebellious, disciplined, and daredevil (all randomly chosen by the game), I really didn't think that outfit suited him at all. It made me giggle though.

Oh yeah, as for the challenge, Dakota met all her requirements before she died. She didn't even get close to maxing her artist career (she got to level 7 I think), but she did complete her lifetime wish (Renaissance Sim). I was happy about that, as she barely made it before dying. She lived off of homemade food her whole life, even after Lily's generation took over.

As for generation 2's goals, neither Lily or Leo have completed their lifetime wish, but they are both close. Leo's wish is to master the mixology skill and buy a bar. I have more than enough money to buy the bar (or I will shortly when Lily completes that lucrative painting opportunity), and he is on level 8 of the mixology skill. Lily's goal is to reach the top of her stylist career, and she is on level 7 or 8, so she should get there no problem. They've been throwing a party every week (sometimes 2/week depending on birthdays/weddings), so I am definitely on track with those two.

The title of the chapter comes from the movie Casablanca (one of my favorite films, ever). It is the name of the song that the character Sam sings at Rick's bar. (I realize the song itself has nothing to do with my chapter, but I thought the wording of the title fit the theme of my chapter, even if nothing else does. Besides, I love Casablanca, and I will find any reason to talk about it. :)