Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 40 ||

           

Claire and Maisie were sitting on the couch in the van, looking through some magazines. The door swung open and almost hit the tiny TV on the wall behind it. In came a panting Owen. Claire's first thought was that something was wrong and she was up and standing, ready to act, instantly. Owen put one hand on the door to steady it and the other in the air to steady Claire. "Owen what the hell?" She said, close to yelling. Maisie looked up at her from the couch, with a disapproving look of the chosen words. Claire could feel the girl's eyes on her and turned to give her an apologetic look. Turning back to Owen, she put a hand on her hip. "Care to explain?" She asked, head to the side awaiting an answer. Owen took a deep breath in an attempt to stop the panting. After catching himself, he said. "It's done".

The girls both narrowed their eyes at him, waiting for an explanation or an elaboration perhaps. "The house" He said, making himself stand up straighter. "It's done".

The girls finally understood. Claire couldn't believe it. She knew that this didn't mean they could just go live in it now. But it was ready, for furnishing and so on. Soon there would be no more living in a van, and that was the thought that excited Claire the most. "Really?" She asked as she took a few steps towards him. He nodded proudly and opened his arms for her. Knowing damn well that she was on her way in for a hug, with those steps. Maisie jumped up a second later to join them, and both parents pulled her in.

Letting each other go, Owen took one hand in each and led them outside. Leaving the van, Maisie let go quickly and ran for the house. When Claire and Owen made it, Maisie was nowhere to be found, until she came running down the stairs. "I wanted to see my room" She said giggling, making Claire giggle slightly as well. "Is it good enough for you sweetheart?" Owen asked sincerely and Maisie looked down at the ground with a shy look on her face. Quickly glancing up at Owen, her shy smile broke into a huge one. "It's perfect" She said and ran into his arms. "Thank you thank you thank you" She said. Owen rocked them back and forth as Claire watched, while also taking in the entrance of the house.

"Owen, this is beautiful" She said. He couldn't help but smile proudly at the compliments and stepped back for the to get a better look. "I mean, it's just a house" He said, feeling the blush creep to his cheeks slowly. "No Owen, baby this is amazing" She said. Taking a few slow steps towards him, she leaned up to give him a kiss. Letting her fingers play with his hair on the back of his head. Reaching up front to stroke it out of his forehead where it had fallen down. She gave him another kiss. This one slower and more tender, if that was even possible. "It's perfect" She whispered against his lips, as their foreheads leaned against each other.

The very next day, Claire sat down to get all the furniture from her apartment, shipped over. She could finally get all her stuff here and not pay anymore rent to a place she didn't use. They left for the city when Claire finished up the shipping arrangements. They had made a list of things that were needed other than Claire's stuff. A lot of the basics were already covered from her apartment but the house was much bigger. Maisie had nothing either and both Claire and Owen had agreed very quickly on making sure Maisie got what she needed. That her room was the most important part of the house to get done first. The girl needed her own space and somewhere she could relax without them breathing down her neck.

Of course, the money part of the whole scenario was no problem at all, so Claire basically told Maisie to let loose, of course with some boundaries still. The girl found a lot of stuff quickly. Having known what her room looked like for some time now, she had run a lot of ideas through her head and many of the magazines she looked in with Claire had been furniture ones, giving her inspiration.

Claire's and Owen's bedroom were covered by her apartment. So was the living room and dining table. Most of the kitchen appliances such as microwave and coffeemaker, was being sent from Claire's apartment as well. She had insisted that she would get it send with the rest. Owen didn't understand why. "We have it all here in the van" He had said and Claire couldn't help but laugh at that. "This old crap?" She had asked and he knew already by then, that he had lost the fight. Plates and what not, came from the apartment as well. Claire's clothes were still there with toiletries and so on.

Maisie's and the baby's room were what was missing and while Owen walked around with Maisie as she explored the shop. Claire made her way over to the baby section, where the others found her an hour later. Sitting in a chair next to a basinet, looking down in it with a far away look. Owen quickly walked over to her, very concerned, with Maisie right behind him.

"Claire, honey?" He asked calmly as he bend down in front of her. "Baby are you okay?" He asked, but no answer came. "Claire look at me" He then said, more firm, almost sounding like it was an order. She slowly turned her head and met his eyes. He found tears trying their best to make it out as she was trying her best to keep them in. Putting a hand on her knee and giving it a slight squeeze, he asked, already knowing the answer. "It's all hitting you...isn't it?" She slowly nodded and a tear finally made its way through her hard exterior. "Come here baby" He whispered, pulling her into him, holding her close until she was calmed down.

When Claire pulled away from Owen, Maisie took a step forward and Claire looked up at her with a sad smile. "You okay sweetheart?" She asked and Maisie nodded, smiling back. "Are you?" She then asked with a sad tone to her fragile little voice. Claire nodded again, same sad smile still on her face. "I'm fine sweetie" She said and reached out for Maisie's arm to pull her into a hug as well.

All three looked around the baby section with Claire, mainly to keep her calm and grounded, but also because they both wanted to help choose some stuff as well.

Hours later, they got it all ordered and the things that were in stock, which was most of it, was going to be arriving within a few days. Claire's was going to take three to four days so they wouldn't be able to move in until the end of the week. But what was another few days when you had waited as long as they had.

When I asked if you guys wanted to see the house that I build in the sims, no one said no. So, it's happening, I just want to know how much you want to see. Like just the façade and the layout or more. I can do it all fellas.

The baby room is decorated already though, but I made it gender neutral.