1.16 - A Second Chance

Isabel's excited to show her work to her Dad. The next day, he comes outside to look at her amazing dinosaur reconstruction. He's really impressed, and asks Isabel if she wants to start doing some work at his lab with him.

You can imagine how happy that makes Isabel!

A future budding Paleontologist?

Appaloosa Plains once housed a large number of scientists for the dig site of ancient fossilized remains.
But now most of the remains had been removed to museums. Isabel had managed to revive a little of that excitement. Her impressive talent earned her a place among the prestigious geek ranks at Dad's Lab.

"Your daughter has a very rare talent and we'd love to offer her a full scholarship when she graduates."
 (That's Simon's boss Kenji)

Isabel loved going to work with Dad. Her teachers even let her out early every day so she could spend part of her day studying at the science center. Her grades and performance were perfect and she had been on the honor roll three straight semesters running.

It was here, spending hours digging through the old science archives, that Isabel began to formulate her future.

"William Bedlington, first Archaeology Specialist for Morcucorp Acquisitions Dept."

And when her Dad began to spend a LOT of time talking to that woman and visiting her, Isabel used the lab computers to learn some other tricks too. Isabel overheard Simon inviting Sarah over to spend an evening at the lab with them.

"Of course you can come hang out with us here, we'd love your company, darling!"

Isabel has other ideas.

<insert evil laughter here>

She dabbles a bit with the chemistry table.

This is probably something Simon should be giving somewhat more supervision on, but he's typically lax as ever with Isabel, and busy messing with fish in the aquarium.

"Despite their name, not all catfish have prominent barbels ... OWW! Ok, this one does!"

And the perfect potion has been mixed ...

"Liquid Horror"

<insert more evil laughter here>

Isabel's not really evil, she's just too damn smart for her own good. She figures she can scare Dad's girlfriend away one way or another.

But the unintended victim of her computer prank ended up being Dad when he tried to check his bank balance.

"Aaaaagh! ... Isabel!!!"

And lamo-girlfriend never even showed up, complaining of a "headache" ... so Isabel decided to save the potion for later use.

But try as she might, nothing she did could convince Dad away from his new girlfriend. In fact, just when Simon was about to reassure Isabel that he was only dating Sarah casually, things took a turn for the worse in Isabel's opinion.

Simon yelling: "Sarah, lets go, we're going to be late for our dinner reservation!"

Yeah, things were about to get complicated.

"Simon, I know this is crazy, but ... I'm pregnant."

Simon was just getting used to the idea of being in love again after such a terrible heartbreak with his ex-wife. He considered himself years away from re-marriage, let alone having another child.

A rather awkward moment.

But to his credit, Simon has learned a tough lesson from his failed first marriage. He's not going to let this woman down, and he's going to do the right thing. He just needs some time to think and figure this out.

Like his daughter, Simon thinks best when surrounded by his work down in the underground lab.

He faces his fears.

"Simon you old fool, you're about to hit your middle years. Time to get your life in order."

And he realizes he's ready to stop being so paranoid about money all the time. His position was moving towards senior scientist and he had a good retirement fund.

"I'm not going to worry about the simoleons anymore!"

He was ready to embrace the hand he was being dealt and be a family man. He had fallen in love with Sarah, of this he was sure. And more importantly, she needed him. She was carrying his child and as much as he loved Isabel, he knew he would love another little one too.

And so it was easy the next day to head out to the Equestrian Center where Sarah worked as a stable hand to let her know his decision.

Being a dignified professional horsewoman is impossible when you waddle.

Sarah was frightened when Simon showed up. She thought she would end up dumped and a single Mom like her sister Stacy had just went through - a complete embarrassment to her prestigious family.

"Sarah, don't turn away. I'm not going to hurt you like your family has done ..."

Simon lets Sarah know he very much wants to have a child with her.

"Another little Twist Genius in the making!"

And right there on the spot he proposes to Sarah. They'd only been together a short time, and Sarah can't believe it, but she's so relieved and so happy!

"Oh Simon! Thank you for making me the happiest woman on the Sim Planet!"

Other parties, however, are not quite as thrilled with the news.

"Getting married... having a BABY?! Dad are you trying to ruin my entire life!?"

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Read HERE  for Ch. 1.17 - "Growing Pains"

1.15 - Mothers and Monsters

Simon had not expected to meet someone so soon after he and Emma had divorced. It had only been six months, and Isabel was just settling in and finishing up her first school year. The school was putting her in a special program for 'gifted' students and her work took up a lot of Simon's free time helping her study.

They went for ice cream one afternoon to relax. Simon sent Isabel inside to pick out her favorite flavor when he heard a commotion over near the performance stage. Some crazy old lady was waving her cane at a dark haired woman and making a big embarrassing commotion.

"I'm not gonna have my daughter livin' in some shack! Our family has a reputation in this town!!"

Simon's not normally the type to interfere, but something about this poor woman's face made him feel like he was watching a helpless animal being mistreated ... and Simon does not like that.

"Mom please, everyone's listening. If you care about reputation, don't make a scene!"

Simon decides to intervene. Maybe its none of his business, but he feels like rescuing a fair lady in distress is the right thing to do. He goes over and interrupts the argument, asking the younger woman if she has seen his dog ... making up some story about how he had followed her here to the diner earlier today.

The trick worked. The distraction was just enough to get the old woman to back off and stop yelling.

"My dog, Cupid, he looks like a dark brown wolf, have you seen him?"

Sarah is so grateful for Simon's interference, she introduces herself, then excitedly listens and even agrees with some of Simon's conspiracy theory discussion once her Mother has given up and left.

They end up talking for quite a while before Simon apologizes and excuses himself to be with Isabel, but asks Sarah if he can call her later. She happily gives him her number.

"The world is full of crazy things (and people like my Mother). I'd love to talk more sometime!"

And just like that, Simon's got a date. He's not sure if he's ready for that, but fate seemed to think it was the time and something about Sarah felt right to him.

Not surprisingly, Isabel isn't very enthusiastic about Sarah. Simon decides it would be best to stick to adult dating and not try to include Isabel with someone new that he doesn't even know yet.

Isabel's busy with her own issues and doesn't really give the woman much thought anyways. Making friends has been tough on Isabel at school. Being 'gifted' is just as bad as being "retarded" when you're a new kid in school. Kids can be so cruel.

"She must be stuck up since she never talks to anyone ..."

Isabel invites her neighbor Malina over to hang out after school. They have absolutely nothing in common and just like everyone else, she seems to misunderstand Isabel entirely.

Malina is a couch potato. Going to someone's house with no television, and not even a couch is boring!

"Uh, yeah. I think I gotta go home now ... I'm missing the new episode of  'Sims Gone Wild'."

Even Bethany Barnes, the nicest girl in school, whose Mom was best friends with Isabel's Mom doesn't quite 'get' Isabel's intelligence.

"Don't you wanna try on some of my Mom's makeup or do our hair together?"

It's not as if Isabel means to be stuck up or boring, she just doesn't relate to other girls her age.

And so, inevitably, she ends up spending most of her time hanging out with Cupid, who never cares if she's popular, or pretty or wearing the fanciest brand of shoes.

"Cupid, you are kicking dirt onto me ... Ooh is that another bone for our collection?"

When Isabel isn't outside wandering the countryside looking for more collectibles with Cupid, she's usually at the library - because they have books and computers. Her Dad won't buy her a computer (he's cheap), so she plays chess against people online at the library.

"Eat my Queen pwnz07! Check ... and Mate!"

Friday after work, Simon has his first date with Sarah. He's anxious about leaving Isabel alone with Cupid, but she assures him she'll be fine. Eating ice cream out of the freezer and spending all evening playing in the sprinkler is just what she had in mind anyways!

"Ahh... this is the life!"

Of course, there's a slight moment of apprehension while checking for monsters under the bed ...

"Nope... no Monsters here!"

 Or ... were there?

"oh ... em ... gee!"

"Get real monster, I'm not afraid of you!" *POOF* (monster vanishes)

Our fearless little adventurer has finally started to reassemble the bits and pieces of bone she has spent the past several months digging up (with Cupid's help).

Tonight is the BIG NIGHT!

"Hmm... ok... I think I have everything in the right order"

Being exceptionally smart has given Isabel the uncanny ability to 'see' the pieces going together like a puzzle.

"This is too easy. I'm going to have to get more bits and try something more challenging."

All that practicing at chess has given Isabel's logic just the right kick for problem solving and within only an hour or two, she has her first dinosaur skeleton assembled!

"YESS! A perfect specimen!"

Meanwhile, after his date to a really terrible movie, Simon is invited over to Sarah's to "talk" - though he has suspicions she's got more in mind than talking as quickly as things were moving.

They do spend a lot of time talking about their lives. Simon learns about Sarah's family. The Gilberts are a very large and wealthy family of show and racing horse ranchers in Appaloosa, but Sarah despises the shallow money-centered lifestyle they lead. It turns out she's frugal too! (Simon is immediately relieved)

Her Mother was so angry with her the day Simon met her because Sarah had chosen to buy this really cheap little house and move out on her own instead of mooching more money off the family like the rest of her siblings.

"Thank you for being so understanding Simon. It's been really hard to be myself, but I feel so comfortable with you."

Simon's not quite sure what it is, but he feels it too. There's something relaxing and calm about being around Sarah. No big purpose or agenda. They just hang out and talk, and cuddle.

Surprisingly, he finds himself pulling Sarah in for a kiss. Simon's not usually so forward. He never felt this way about Emma ... but something about Sarah's shy, quiet demeanor makes him feel so at ease - and that's not an easy thing for a neurotic person!

Love does not follow rules.

Usually very shy and easily overrun (especially by her family) - Sarah also finds some bravery, asking Simon to stay and sleep with her.

And so he does (and it was good) - but he can't sleep afterwards. He has to think of Isabel, and his responsibilities as a single parent too. He feels a little guilty.

Lost in conflicting emotions ...

Being with someone new was going to change everything, again.

But then again, some things never change ... 

Will Simon handle a new romance ... and more?


Go HERE to read on to Ch. 1.16 - "A Second Chance" to find out!


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1.14 - Just Me and My Dad

Quite a few things changed for Isabel once she settled in to life with Dad.

Dad got rid of a lot of dead plants that got neglected, and cleaned up all the piles of stinky dirty laundry too. He was a full time scientist now with more flexible hours. He now worked the same hours Isabel would be in school so they could spend a lot of time together.

Simon had really let the place go for awhile ... but now he had new motivation and happiness.

He even let Isabel paint over the bright butterfly wallpaper in her room and redecorate it herself - with dragon bedding and wall pictures of course.

Isabel's room is not very feminine, but this is just how she likes it.

Isabel learned to ride a bike and she was even allowed to go up to her favorite place so long as she always took Cupid with her.

Being the outdoors loving type was perfect for Appaloosa Plains since there was a lot of outdoors and not much else to do.

Isabel spent a LOT of time at the dinosaur dig site.

It's easy to imagine these old giant skulls are really dragons!

And Cupid proved to be an excellent bone hunter. Isabel was starting a collection of them which she hoped to re-assemble into a real dragon skeleton someday!

"Cupid has found something SPECIAL" (it better not be another empty chip bag!)

Isabel also gained a love and trust with animals like her Dad, though she was far more interested in fossils, bones and such. She did catch a pygmy komodo dragon that became her "first dragon" find ...

"I know Dad says you're not a real dragon, but you're my dragon!"

And Dad took her along on his zoological hunts, which she absolutely loved. She especially loved going up to the fishing hole with the waterfall.

Here she saw her first wild horse.

"SQUEEEE!"

 Oh lets see that face up close ...

Isabel you are too cute!

And even Dad got a big surprise when one of the rarest birds in all of the animal simdom made a brief appearance.

"The ultra rare Spotted Sixam!"

Isabel isn't afraid of icky things, and loves finding things, especially strange things. She catches water beetles to keep in the bath tub ...

"Maybe I can put these in Dad's drinking glass without him noticing ... that would be funny!"

And she learns how to skip rocks on the pond which Cupid loved to chase after and get muddy wet.

"Go get it Cupid!"

Even Dad gives rock skipping a try.

Cupid apparently wonders why he's not at work.

Throwing in perfect unison - with matching scrunched up faces. =)

And Simon teaches Isabel to fish. Where they spend a lot of time talking about life.

Isabel wants to know why Dad and Mom split up. Dad says its really complicated.

Isabel thinks it's pretty simple.

"Well I'm never getting married. Love is way overrated."

Dad catches a humongous mutant toad.

Isabel only catches a scrawny minnow.

"What the crap Dad, that thing must be eating toxic waste runoff or something..."

Isabel and Cupid quickly become best friends, never leaving one another's side for long. Simon feels confident that Cupid keeps a close eye on his fearless daughter and keeps her in line.

Cupid loves to play fetch almost as much as he loves to dig up stuff.

Best Friends Forever.

And the best part of the whole summer was when Dad helped Isabel build a tree fort, and actually let her sleep out in it all night. She wasn't afraid one bit and dreamed of far away adventures she one day planned to have.

"I spy a faraway land of strange creatures doing a mating ritual ... or the neighbors are just making out on their porch"

But even the best summers eventually come to an end.

And everything changes.

Isabel has to go to school now.

Whispering to her first friend Joe, "Dude, I think the bus driver is a robot, look, she never turns her head!!"

And then, the dreaded overrated thing happened.

Her Dad met a girl when they went for ice cream one day.

"blah blah blah, vegetables, blah blah" - Isabel is trying to tune out their boring flirtatious conversation.

Yeah - Dad wasn't going to stay hers alone much longer. Isabel was pissed.

She went over to Joe's to do homework. At least he didn't try to kiss her or be mushy and dumb.

Joe: "Yeah, girls like it when guys take them under the covers and wrestle. My Mom and Dad do it all the time"
Isabel: "Ugh, shut up and copy my homework faster Joe, you're grossing me out."

Isabel was only half paying attention to her homework. It was so easy she didn't even have to think. She could instead plot her next mastermind mission against the intruder woman  ...


Stay Tuned to find out if Isabel actually manages to run off Dad's new interest!


Go on to read Ch. 1.15 "Mothers and Monsters" HERE!


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Sidenotes:

Just a shorty update using some screenshots I had leftover before things start to change again. Simon's met someone he's compatible with this past weekend, so we'll see how that goes and hopefully get some fun prank action in for Isabel.

I changed Isabel's hair to straight (at the end) because she doesn't have Mama around to do up the fancy twisty buns anymore and she prefers the no-fuss look anyways. ;) She's turning into a real "tomboy" which is to be expected with her personality and spending a lot of time outdoors with Dad. The future Adventurer-to-be is doing great!