Baby 100! - Life after Challenge

 After Marc's death, nothing made me happy. My paintings reflected my feelings, often being dark, and empty. Still, I made enough money off of them, but I was not proud. The paintings were simply something to do to take my mind off my lovely husband who left me, and our family so suddenly.

 I looked into the glass of juice I was drinking. I knew that the young again potion was mixed in, but I still didn't want to drink it. I didn't want to be young, again, without Marc in my life. I was miserable. I tried to keep a smile on my face around the kids, because I wanted them to be as happy as possible. I was struggling both emotionally, and financially. I knew that this house was too big, and too expensive. We would have to move… I couldn't bear to leave this house behind.

 As I walked out of Marc and My bedroom, I looked around at the things he had touched, the places he had stood and sat, and the things that had meant a lot to him. I would try to bring as much as possible with us when we moved. 

 I went over the Stephen, and immediately taught him to talk. I was glad that he and Damon were so young, and that they would not remember much of their father. They would live happier lives than their sisters would.

 Anna took her mind off her father's death by playing chess - sad to say it didn't help, because she knew how much he loved chess. She would always be the black side, too, which was Marc's favorite side. She claimed that it helped, so I didn't want to push her to find a different activity. Besides, she was a genius.

 Jamie opted to relieve her mind from thoughts of her father by playing in the sandbox,

 and on the bouncy toys in the back yard. Even after losing the person she loved most, she still had the same bubbly personality. I don't think that anything, could change that. She is unique, that one.

 After I finished teaching Stephen to talk, I figured I would go teach Damon as well. Teaching the toddlers skills really helped me put Marc's death behind me. I would teach them, until I could teach no more.

 Of course, after talking came potty training. Mid-pee, I was interrupted by Anna and Jamie coming in to the nursery screaming. At first I was terrified, and extremely concerned. I asked them what was wrong, but the smiles on their faces, told me nothing was wrong. They both giggled, and took their hands out from behind their backs. They had gotten on the honor roll! They were thrilled, and I was beyond proud. They asked if they could age up into teenagers, which of course, I agreed to.

 Anna was a stunning young lady. She still loves aqua, but toned it down a bit in her every day look. She tried to smile in this picture, but I knew deep down, she still wasn't happy.

 Jamie, too, was stunning. Her long golden blonde hair suited her perfectly. She was even less happy than Anna. I knew that she and Marc had been very close when she was younger, and I think that his death would always weigh heavily on her.

After the birthdays, I taught Stephen to use the potty. He learned quickly, which I was grateful for. I was starting to get stressed out from teaching the toddlers their skills. That worried me, I would have to find something else to take my mind off of Marc.

 As I was throwing out the remnants of Stephen's potty training, I got a phone call from James. I was angry at first. How dare he call me. I yelled at him for trying to flirt with his brother's wife. Suddenly he started laughing, and I realized how wrong I was.

 "Im so sorry James… I… Im so embarrassed right now!" I cried out. He laughed again, said "Stay right where you are" and hung up the phone.

 Soon enough he was at my door. 

"I have a proposition" he said.

When I looked at him with a blank expression, he continued.

"When Marc called me, he asked me to do him 'the biggest favor in the world'." 

I kept looking at him and waited for him to continue.

He sighed. "He asked me to be the father of baby 100 if you didn't have enough children. And from the looks of it, you only have 99."

 "He asked you to do that? Why?!" I screeched, clutching my hands to my chest.

"Because he loved you Catherine, and he wanted you to succeed in this challenge, and he knew that you would have a hard time continuing after his death - especially if it were with some random man."

I nodded, and followed it up with a sigh.

"Fine.." I said

 We went to my room, and heard the lullaby. It was not a romantic experience, nor a pleasant one. But I was now pregnant with baby 100, and my challenge would come to an end.

 As we got out of the bed, I asked him to leave. He shouted and me, and his hands curled into fists.

"HOW DARE YOU ASK ME TO LEAVE AFTER I JUST DID YOU THE BIGGEST FAVOR IN THE WORLD?!"

I stared at him with my eyes wide, and my hands protecting my face, and stomach.

He suddenly backed up a few feet, and put his hand over his mouth. Without saying anything more, he ran out of the house, across the street, and into his own home.

 I tutored Anna for school, she was falling behind, which worried me. Obviously the death of their father had a great impact on them, both emotionally, and school wise.

 I taught Damon to walk,

 and ran to the toilet just in time to puke!  I was pregnant, for certain.  Only a few more days until I get to meet my newest addition, and completion of my 100 baby challenge! 

 I read Damon to sleep with a children's book, and kissed him on his forehead before walking over to where Stephen was playing with the block table.

 I scooped him up in my arms, and tickled him. I carried him into the open area of the nursery, and taught him to walk. it would be time for them to age up soon, so I tucked him into bed before checking on the girls.

 They were both working hard on their homework, and I was proud to see that they were putting so much effort into their school grades.

 Anna met this boy named Jess Garnett… they hit it off immediately, and he asked her to go to prom with him! She giggled and said yes! She came home thrilled about the events of the day, and told me all about it.

 After she and Jamie had gone to bed, I was slammed into by major contractions. I took deep breaths, and concentrated. Soon enough I felt the baby coming out.

 And what a beautiful baby she was! Welcome to the world Centennia Barker, baby 100! 

 I held her in my arms for hours. She didn't make one noise all night long. Eventually, I fed her some warm milk, and carried her around with me while the girls got ready for their big nights! 

 Jamie looked absolutely beautiful in her red ball gown,

 and Anna wore a pouffier dress, in aqua and black polka dots! 

 They looked beautiful! During the prom Anna and Jess were voted cutest couple at prom! Jamie won prom queen, and in the middle of a slow dance, Jess asked Anna to go steady! She said yes! 

 After prom the girls helped me age up Damon and Stephen. Damon grew up looking absolutely adorable! He had thick black hair, and his father's eyes.

 Stephen had brown hair, and blue eyes, which must have come from somewhere on Marc's family's side.

 Here is baby Centennia! She is stunning, has my eyes and her father's hair! 

 Jamie, Jess and Anna also aged up, into Young Adults! Jamie was still stunning with the wavy blonde hair! She wanted to get highlights, but I think she is perfect the way she is.

Download Jamie here.

 Anna aged up beautifully as well. She looks the same as when she was a teenager! 

 Anna was truly in love with Jess, even after only knowing him for a  matter of days.

 He felt the same way about her, though! He asked her to marry him, and she instantly agreed! I think they are a match made in heaven, and that nothing, will break them apart! 

 Download Anna and Jess here.

 After Anna, Jess and Jamie moved out into their own apartment, I read with Centennia.

 She knew what was being said, so I knew that she would pick up talking very easily.  She loved  the colors in the book too! 

That night I slept alone in my bed… It felt cold… colder than usual. I had many nightmares about Marc's death that night, so I woke up much earlier than usual, and decided to do something productive.

I taught Cenna to talk, and I was right! she picked it up very quickly! 

I tickled her, and played tickle monster. She had the sweetest giggle ever!

Eventually I taught her to walk as well. One step left until she would age up into a child! 

Damon, Stephen and I had a nice dinner together that night… I told them to pack their things, and that we were moving. They were shocked, but thrilled to find a new place to make their own. This house was too big.

This is the new one! It is small, and very very quaint. I love it, already! 

To break in the new house, I decide to potty train Cenna before doing anything else! She picked up on it very VERY quickly, and before long we celebrated her birthday! 

She is a beauty! I couldn't be happier with how perfect all of my children have been throughout this challenge. She was certainly the perfect end to it.

She had an imaginary friend, named Ben, and they would play all the time. I knew that I would have to prepare ONE last IF potion, and I was more than happy to do so.

The next morning, Damon and Stephen celebrated their birthdays! Damon was gorgeous! 

And Stephen had a very interesting almost "Hard" look to him. Still, he was a happy young man.

"Catherine…?"
I jumped. I didn't even realize that James had been standing next to me.

I covered my body with my hands in an act of protection… I remembered how violent he had seemed the last time we were together.
He frowned. Sighed.
"Catherine I came to apologize… I am SO sorry about how I acted. I don't even know what came over me. My whole life, sometimes I've just been a little.. unpredictable…"
I squinted my eyes at him, and simply said: "You have a daughter" and walked away.

Although I wanted nothing more to do with James, I couldn't prevent my daughter from seeing her father. I walked into the house and told her that there was someone wanting to meet her outside. She ran out and screamed as she saw the man that looked so much like her. She knew who he was immediately. He waved, but she ran over and gave him a hug. He seemed surprised by the gesture, but smiled, and went along with it anyway.

They had pillow fights,

and told ghost stories, but eventually he had to leave. He told her that she could call him any time, and that he wanted to get to know her better. I was glad that he wanted to be a good father to her.

As I was helping her with her homework, I snacked on some lobster. She was brilliant, and didn't need my help very much at all. Soon enough, she had straight A's in school, and we celebrated her birthday! 

She was beautiful! Her hair uncurled some from the way it had been as a child. 

She immediately ran over to the computer and IM'ed her father and told him that she was a teenager. She asked him to come over.

And he did! They talked for hours, until Stephen and Damon were going to age up into Young Adults. They both came in to celebrate their birthdays

Stephen was handsome! Still had that hard look, but the look suited him.
Download

Damon was gorgeous as well! 

As I was outside on the deck celebrating the birthdays, James snuck up behind me and scared me. I could tell that there was certainly an evil side to the man. I didn't want to question it though, I was afraid that he would get mad at me.

I gave Centennia a potion for her imaginary friend, and he turned into a gorgeous young man!

He looked like he would fit in well with this family! He was a very sweet young man! Very smart too! 

He immediately began flirting with Cenna,

Gave her flowers,

and even snuck his first kiss! She was shocked! I don't think that she thought she would ever get so lucky! She had a wonderful best friend, who liked her in more ways than that! 

She kissed him back, and with that, became boyfriend and girlfriend.

He truly did love her, he was so gentle with her,

until they played with the pillows! He had no problem bashing her in the side with one! They were adorable together, and I made sure to sit them both down for the "talk".

After a few days, they got straight A's in school, and were both more than happy to age up. As sad as I was to watch the last of my babies leave the house, I was happy to see her go with the man she loved! 

I made him promise that he would take wonderful care of her, and when he smiled and promised, I hugged them both goodbye, and thought about what I would do for the rest of my life.

I knew that I wouldn't want to re-marry, or even date… but I didn't want to be alone for the rest of my life. I knew what I would do! I quit my job as a sculptor, and picked up the daycare profession.


This way, I would be surrounded by children, who I could show my love to, on a daily basis, and I wouldn't have to have any more of my own! Life will be good from here on out, I just feel it.