Shining the spotlight on the kids: Babies 98 & 99

~As this is the second last post before the challenge is completed... I decided try something that's a little different. All of us challenge mothers, we always go on about "how the challenge is all about the kids". Well, this post is specially dedicated to these awesome kiddos! The entire post will be written in any of the kids POV's, so expect a lot of switching~

-Annabelle's POV-

Homework is the banality of my life, the menial task that's so easy yet we never want to really do it. Yet today, I'm struggling my little butt off trying to figure out Biology. My mind keeps wandering... Wandering to my daddy. Mom told me she would get him to meet me, but nothing has happened there.

Somewhere a light bulb flicks on in my brain, and I know exactly what I have to do: take the matter into my own hands. If mom couldn't get my dad on the phone for just five minutes, then I would go visit him, in person. But I would feel stupid just pitching up there all alone... Another way to go is ask Brandi to accompany me. It's her father too.

Typically like Brandi, I find her in her most favorite spot in the house: the kitchen, busy cooking up a bowl of salad for mom. My hands are literally shaking, as I scrounge up the courage to ask her that one small question.

"Brandi.. Uh... I have a question for you... And I'd like you to keep an open mind," I start off, stuttering slightly.

"Sounds dangerous, but okay. Shoot."

"...I'd like to contact our dad."

Brandi turns to face me, plonking down the plate of Autumn Salad on the counter. Her face expression makes me realize I made a mistake; I shouldn't have mentioned our dad to Brandi.

"Uh, seriously, Anna, but we have not seen or heard of this guy since our birth. I think if he wanted to be apart of our lives, he would have contacted us long ago. Why the hell do you wanna talk to him all of a sudden?"

The way she refers to our dad as "that guy" really offends me". Two or three very inappropriate sentences pop into my head to say in response, but I hold my tongue for now.

The entire night, my mood is soured after my outburst with Brandi. She's the good looking one, the one with all the friends, and all the popularity. What do I have? A lonesome dream to come in contact with my dad.

"Screw it, screw everything...," I mutter, and kick the side of the couch.

"Hey, your Brandi's sister? What's got you all frustrated?"

Ethan Bunch. Even by my standards, he's not that much of a looker, yet Brandi likes the guy, which is why she invited him over, having planned to ask him to the prom. Now I know exactly how to get my revenge.

"Ethan, I know this is very bold, but... You seriously have the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen!" I flatter him.

Ethan can't stop giggling after I complimented him, he's so hyped up just to get a little attention from a girl. After a few minutes talking, he does the brave move and asks me to prom, which I accept. And two seconds after that, we share our first kiss.

Revenge is definitely sweet.

After Ethan leaves, Brandi and I work side by side on getting the toddlers talking. Mom is downstairs taking a snooze, after having an all-nighter taking care of the babies. It's actually a pleasant educational lesson, making me decide I won't be having kids for a while; they're just too hard to manage, no wonder mom is passed out right now.

As Sierra dances into childhood, we can't help but giggle at the cute faces she pulls!

These three, Sierra, Violet and Persia, are extremely secretive in their ways, and hardly interact with us seniors (we refer to ourselves as that, as we've pretty much earned it). But from what we can deduct, Sierra is the outsider, Violet is the snobby one, and Persia is Miss Popular, who probably already has a boyfriend.

With one set of triplets age up, we do mom a favor and age up the next batch of kids, and make sure we take extra pictures to show her later on.

Mei, Luke, and Sindy are almost exactly like their child siblings, the blue triplets, only pink this time around, with mom's blue eyes. I usually liked pink, but I think I just got an overdose of it; they're the definition of babies, with all their cuteness and gurgling sounds!

As I peek out the window, I see the sun setting on yet another day. It would be risky to sneak out now to go visit my father. The only time would be tomorrow, during school. Another risky choice, but it's better than sneaking away from mom. I go to bed, looking tired, but feeling like nothing can stop me now.

-Sierra's POV-

Outside is where I'm at this point. It's where I'm always spending my time. After my first day of school, being the loner that I am, I have not made one friend, and my sisters resent me for just being their sister. I feel to nervous to even walk into the house, where mom, Violet and Persia are busy with video games.

I do have my toy friend named Pat, that I found in a box full of older toys that looked similar. Mom told me when I found it, that those were the previous toys of my other, much older siblings, who had given them to mom to give to her new kids. Whoever my older siblings were, they sound much nicer than my current siblings.

Later on in the day, Persia and Violet got invited to a social party thing hosted at the beach, by some of our classmates. More accurately, their classmates. I just so happened to end up in a different classroom. Mom waves them goodbye, calling out they can't stay later than 8 o'clock PM. Smiling, she goes to the garden area, where I'm hiding out.

As mommy gets her fingers dirty from all the weeds she's pulling out, I snuggle my friend Pat. She's the only one that understands me, the only one that would listen to me.

"You know, one of your brothers also loved that doll to death. But after he got along better with his siblings, he abandoned the doll, and it was placed in that box along with all the others...," my mom speaks out, just loud enough for me to hear.

My mom walks up to me, and I have to bend my head up quite far just to see her pretty face properly. If only I could be taller.

"Sweetheart... Your so distant from your sisters. Are there...problems? At school?" she continues.

I awkwardly look down, kicking a stone or two. "Well, uh, no. But, um... I'm a lot different from them, you know. By personality. They're so outgoing, but I'm just someone who enjoys my own company. They hate me for it."

"Oh, honey! They would never hate you! If they would hate you for just who you are, then that's a very big fault on their side. You are special, my little angel, just the way you are. Introvert or extrovert, it doesn't matter."

For the first time since I became a child, I smile, genuinely happy. My mom gave me the reassurance to continue with my life, and not be sulking everyday.

"Thanks, mommy...," I whisper, giving her a hug.

As mom accompanies me inside, we chat a bit about my first day of school. Our conversation is interrupted by a blonde haired man, who is knocking on the door, with a big smile on his face. My mom greets him and they start talking, really intense too. I take this opportunity to sneak into the study, somewhere I've never been before.

The computer screen is still on, and even though I'm not a snooper, I go look what's on it. The email program is open, more specifically at something in the inbox: a new email from a guy named Wilbur Higgins. Further, he mentions things like "hospital" and "IVF". Also something about a meeting for that day. I thought mommy already has a boyfriend? Why is she communicating with other guys?

-Annabelle's POV-

Cautiously, I walk into the grounds of the local swimming pool. It's my first where my father would be during school hours, seeing as he has a job there, and he loves being in the water. And this is exactly where I find him.

Will he recognize me? What will he think of me if I want right up to him and say, 'Hey, I'm your daughter, long time no see!'?

As I take nervous footsteps towards him, Simis Bachelor starts talking out of the blue. "You two... You know, you look a lot like each other."

That breaks the ice between us two, and he finally looks into my eyes.

"Um, hi!" I chirp. That's about all I got with colloquial conversation. A second or two passes, before I try again. "Um... My name is Annabelle. Annabelle Rose. I'm your-"

"Daughter," he completes. "I know. Your mom sent me a picture or you and your sister when you were toddlers. You look so much like me. It's like looking at a clone of myself, just in female version, and much prettier."

My smile stretches across my entire face at what he says, giving me hope that maybe we could have a good relationship. Unfortunately, his following words aren't so touching.

"Listen... Me and your mom agreed not to keep in contact after the kids' birth, and I agreed I don't want any part in your lives. Even though you're a teenager now, I still keep with that statement. I can't handle kids, I would mess up. So, um, I don't know what you came looking for, like the ideal dad or something, but you wasted your time..."

In a few seconds time, my heart fluttered and became incredibly happy, and  now it's back to awful depression. I content myself with the fact that, even though I can't build a relationship with my father, I at least met him, and know I look exactly like him.

-Brandi's POV-

School today was just something that never wanted to end. I don't even know how survived, with crappy tests to write, and stupid classes that are boring. I am so relieved to finally be back home. As I walk up the steps, a hunk of a blonde guy is standing on the porch, waiting for me to enter the house. What a gentleman! I think. Mom has all the luck with guys.

Walking around mom to get to the TV and video game system, I notice she's a bit (okay, not just a bit, VERY) absentminded, staring out the window after the guy that just left.

"Yo, mom, you okay? You look a bit dreamy..."

"I'm fine. Perfect, in fact."

"How so?" I frown.

"I think I just got a boyfriend...," she trails off.


I roll my eyes. My mom seems to have an obsession with guys, and getting the perfect one.

I do not have time to worry over my mom's trivialities and guys she is dating, as the limo that will take us to prom pulls up in front of the house. Making sure, one last time, that our make up is absolutely perfect, Anna and I rush out the house in our heels to get into the sleek, white limo.

4 hours and a few champagne glasses later, we get back home, with a long list of stories to tell our siblings, and most importantly, mom. My summary of the evening: danced with someone else's date, got punched in the face for it, saw a llama running around, had a little accident on the floor, and got juice all over my dress... And yet I still walk out prom queen.

Brandi & Annabelle

As per our agreement with mom, we are allowed to age up just after prom. I definitely am the best looking of the two of us. My sister, Anna... Eh, she doesn't look so bad. I like her hairstyle. We've both decided previously that we won't be moving in together, as that will just be complete and utter chaos, trying to live with each other as young adults.

-Persia's POV-

A day after the beach party thing, Violet and I are back at exactly the same spot we were yesterday. I wanted to talk to her alone: I have a guilty conscience that won't leave me in peace.

"Violet, mommy talked to me yesterday, after we got back. She asked me why we were... What the word she used? Shunning, that's it. She asked why we're shunning poor Sierra."

"Uh, do you expect me to know what 'shunning' means?"

"No... Ugh. Let's just stick with 'ignore'. But seriously. I feel really bad for Sierra. We're her sisters. And yet we treat her like that one kid at school, Tommy..."

"Tommy is a total loner and loser," Violet points out to me.

"Okay, so maybe he is. But that doesn't mean we have to think of Sierra in the same way."

I can see that Violet isn't very interested in socializing with Sierra. But I know that I will not continue to be that way; I will be the best sister anyone can have, and I'll always be there to support them. Other than family, who do we really have to help us through life? No one.

As sunset approaches, Violet and I cast our fishing lines out in the water, absentmindedly chatting about the guys in our school. After a good argument about a boy named 'Leonard', we both decide neither one of us will date him, and then we head back home.

As mom sends us to bed for the night, and we all climb into our respective beds, I see that now is the perfect moment to apologize to Sierra.

"Hey, Sierra... Can I talk to you?"

"Um... Okay, sure," she shrugs.

I turn to face her fully, and I notice she really is nervous about talking to me.

"I'm really, really, really about the way that I've been acting like a hostile pig towards you. I promise I will not to it again, and.. I really want to have a better sister bond with you!"

Sierra frowns at first, probably thinking I'm taking her for a ride and that I'm lying. I probably deserve that. Suddenly, Sierra's face lights up; she grabs a pillow and throws it at me.

"That's for treating me like dirt!" she laughs. I hop out of my bed and we have an awesome pillow fight.

After our crazy pillow fight, Sierra and I collapse on the floor, laughing. I laugh so hard I have to hold my stomach in, because it hurts! As I cast my eyes upward, I see Violet baking muffins, with a not-so-impressed look on her face...

What have I done? I just turned my other sister against me..., I think, hopelessly.

-Violet's POV-

I can't help feeling the way I feel. Jealous. Each time my sister just talks to someone else, or even my other sister, I feel this incredible surge of jealousy. Maybe because of my personality, I have no one else to turn to other than Persia.

The only other room that is open to use is the nursery, and even then I'm not in the mood to face the crying of babies. Going against my normal attitude towards babies, I go into the toddlers' room. Sindy looks up at me, smiling cheerfully.

Maybe I can survive without Persia..., I smile, looking at Sindy.

In a hour's time, I play peek-a-boo with Sindy, and have a great time listening to Luke play the xylophone - at least, trying to play it. The way he giggles while  playing it makes me laugh along with him, and I end up hugging him tightly.

Over the span of the next two days, I become best friends with each of the toddlers, learning exactly what games they wanna play, what not to do around them, and what to do when they cry. Mom is really thankful that I'm entertaining them, as that gives her more time to do housework.

Even Chica has figured out you get the most attention by hanging out in the nursery. I massage the areas around her neck and ears, and in return, Chica is rolling around the ground crazy. For the rest of the time before I have to go to bed, I give her a good grooming session.

As I walk out of the room, deep in thought, I hear the strangest sounds coming from the bathroom. I shrug, thinking that I must be imagining things. But then I hear it again.

Standing next to the door, I nervously call out to the person. "Uh, you alright in there, who ever it is?"

"NO! I'm... Not," huffs my mom. I start biting my nails. What's wrong?!

Hours later, while I'm feeling dead tired, my mom walks out of the bathroom all chipper, with a baby in her arms.

"You just had babies? In the bathroom? Isn't that a bit unhygienic?" I frown.

Baby #98
Wesley Rose

Baby #99
Blaine Rose

~♥~

This post is specially dedicated to all the children of the challenge, and to all the people that have helped me through it with their awesome love and support.

1 more baby. 1 more post. Anyone else as excited as me? I CAN'T freaking believe it, to be honest!!!

Again, thank you for reading this post. Know that I spent a lot more time on this one than a lot of the previous posts, because I wanted to make it extra special and focus only on the kids. Pretty please, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Ciao!

:)