Forever In Your Shadows

Chapter 18

****The Miranda apartment!!!! In the sims of course. Scarlett's room is the purple designed room, Amelie's is the red designed room, Alejandro's is across the house and as always the master bedroom is Pip's and Lin's room.****

Lin's POV

It had been a week since Pip had been gone and everything was chaotic. Alejandro was locked away in his room reading. Scarlett and her friends were out practicing for the talent show, and Amelie was locked in her room doing whatever she did... I felt like the worlds worst father.

"I'm home!!" I looked up from the couch and saw Scarlett walk in with Simba on his leash.

"How was practice?" I asked her.

"We're still trying to hit the certain notes in the symphony. Really hard when your not used to the tempo." She shrugged. I nodded and watched Simba walk through the living room. "He needs to go to the groomers soon. He needs a bath." She said while hanging up his leash. I nodded and looked at Simba sitting on the floor in front of me.

"You certainly were a good choice." I whispered while petting is head. "Make sure you guys are ready in an hour. We're heading down to my cousin's place for the party!" I reminded.

"Okay!" Scarlett yelled.

I waited a bit for the kids to start a whole new world war in the apartment. Amelie was always trying to steal Scarlett's clothes. It was actually getting old... 3...2...1... 

"Get out! You know you don't fit my clothes! Who are you trying to impress?! It's our cousins!" Scarlett yelled. 

"Then why do you own these clothes?!" Amelie screamed. 

"I'm ready dad." Alejandro smiled while walking into the living room. 

"Thanks son." I laughed. 

"Um... Dad can I ask your advice on something?" He asked while sitting next to me. 

"Sure. What is it?" I was a little concerned that he was asking for advice already, but happy that he was coming to me. What if it was girl stuff? Asking a girl on a date? It would have to wait until Pip came back so she could approve too, but I think I would let it happen. 

"Um... Well... How do I know I have a crush on someone?" He asked. 

"Well, it's different for everyone. But most people feel the whole butterflies in the stomach, nervousness, weak at the knees, sweaty palms, etc." I shrugged. "Why, do you have a crush on someone?" I asked while raising my eyebrow. He shrugged and looked away from me. I smiled and knew that he had a crush. But I wasn't going to pry it out of him. He would tell me on his own time. 

~~~

We made it to Washington Heights and met up with my old friends and family. We had picked up Sebastian on the way so he could hang out with his siblings and cousins as well. He ventured off with Scarlett to their older cousins and stayed well away from the adults. Amelie was with her aunts being cooed over while Alejandro was with his favorite cousin, Victor. I sat with the rest of the adults drinking with them. 

"So we heard your wife is out of town?" One of them asked. 

"Yeah, she's back in Chicago performing for a month. Kids miss her like crazy." I said while taking a drink of my beer. Everyone talked with each other and enjoyed each other's company. Within an hour of talking, someone had managed to get a hold of the speaker system and started blaring music. I laughed at their choices of music and couldn't help myself to dance with them. Scarlett and Sebastian of course rolled her eyes at the sight of me. Alejandro and Amelie hid from me, saying that I was embarrassing or something. 

"Dad.. Dad!" I stopped dancing with my sister and looked back at Alejandro. 

"Yes?" I asked. 

"Amelie is drinking something that doesn't look like juice or stuff that we're allowed to have..." He frowned. I looked up from him and saw her sitting with the one family member we told her not to sit with.

"Hector!" I yelled. He jumped at my tone of voice as I walked towards them. I snatched the cup from Amelie who looked like she could throw up at any moment. Scarlett and Sebastian swooped in to save anyone from my rage. Scarlett took Amelie inside while Sebastian held me back from our dumbass uncle. 

"Dad! Let's go! You don't need to kill him today! Maybe later." Sebastian frowned. I nodded and made sure all of my kids were out of the area. Of course he would ruin a great party like that.

~~~

"Daddy, I don't feel good.." Amelie frowned while laying in mine and Pippa's bed. 

"I know, I know." I whispered while putting a bucket next to the bed. "I'm so stupid. I should've been watching you guys more closely." I groaned to myself. I wanted to make sure she was going to be okay so I had her camping out in our bed. Sebastian was staying the night with us and was in Scarlett's room with Simba. I walked out to see them talking on the floor. 

"We're sorry we weren't watching her more.." Sebastian frowned. 

"Yeah... We got caught up talking to Will and Rebecca.." Scarlett frowned. 

"It's fine. I don't blame you guys. I should've made sure that this wouldn't happen." I sighed. "Have you two spoken to your moms yet?" I asked. 

"I told mom that we left the party early." Sebastian shrugged. "She was happy that we didn't spend too much time there." He added. 

"Mom hasn't facetimed me yet... So I haven't talked to her." Scarlett shrugged. I nodded and thought of how I was going to tell Pippa this happened. It was going to make her so angry.... "Are you going to tell mom?" She asked. 

"I have to... It'll kill her, but I don't want any secrets between us." I sighed. She nodded and looked at Sebastian who was nodding as well. 

"I know that Pippa isn't my real mom, but I know for a fact that she will be really angry. Just like you guys know." He pointed at Scarlett. She nodded in agreement with him. 

"I'll call her. That way she doesn't blame anyone except me." I said while leaving her room. It was only an hour behind where she was, so it was a bit different for us. 

~~~

"How are the kids?" Pippa asked. We were videochatting on our iPads. I hadn't said anything yet.. 

"They're okay.. Amelie is sick." I frowned. "So she's in the bed with me with a bucket next to the bed." I explained. 

"Why is she sick? Is she okay?" Pippa frowned. 

"Well.. She met Uncle Hector for the first time... Sebastian had to hold me back before I killed Hector..." I frowned. 

"What?!" She glared. "Where were you?!" She yelled. 

"I was talking with my sister! The last time I had seen her she was with her cousin! I didn't even see Hector walk by until after Amelie had met him!" I defended. 

"Fine. I'm not allowing any of our kids to go back to any parties with only one parent from now on. This is ridiculous. Every single time." She groaned. 

"I'm sorry... I'm making sure she's breathing and that she's okay. She's not going to go to school tomorrow either. I'll stay home to make sure she's alright." I said quickly. She nodded and I heard a knock at my door. "Come in?" 

"Dad?" Alejandro said while opening up the door. 

"Yes mijo?" I asked. 

"Is it Al?" Pippa smiled. 

"Say hi to your mom." I said while turning the laptop around. 

"Hi mom." Alejandro smiled while waving. 

"Hey!" She said happily. I turned the laptop around and looked back at Alejandro. 

"Did you need something?" I asked him. He nodded and started wringing his hands. I frowned and didn't know what he was needing, but he seemed really nervous about it... "Al?" I snapped him back to reality and he looked like he was going to pass out.. "What is it?" I asked. 

"Dad... I think I like boys..." He finally said.