David writes about his life after graduating from university, including his breakup with his fiancée Juliet and subsequent struggles. Over time, he meets and begins a relationship with Titania. They become engaged and marry in an outdoor ceremony. David closes by expressing confidence in their future together and the impending birth of their first child this winter.

1. Welcome Back to Familiar Faces!
Chapter 16: You Oughta Know

2. I've asked to be allowed to write this chapter of my families chronicles myself rather than have
our normal family scribe report them. My therapist believes, and I have to agree with him, that
writing out my feelings and my thoughts about the events following my return home from
university will help me to put them behind me and to move forward with my life.

3. I will admit that during the time immediately after graduation I went a little crazy. I felt that my
world had collapsed, my long term relationship with my former fiance Juliet Capp had ended in
pain and confusion. Returning to my parent's home minus a bride was a disappointment to all.
As heir to the family legacy ,it was expected that I would marry forthwith out of school and go
about the process of bringing in the next generation. More so it had been hoped that I would
find a love equal to that which my parents have. On all counts, I had failed.

4. My family had been very supportive of my decision to break it off with Jules, she hadn't
endeared herself to them with her behavior while we were at college. They told me to take the
time I needed to get my life in order and not to rush into anything I wasn't sure of. At the same
time, they were anxious for me to get over her and move forward. I wasn't ready to be over it
yet, I still had a lot of anger in me, and I was taking it out everyone and everything around me.

5. I don't know why but I took to walking past Juliet's house late at night. I knew where she lived,
Charles had told me about his new neighbor across the river in unplayed land. As I'd walk past
her house I'd stop and contemplate going up and ringing the bell, but I couldn't do it. I was too
angry and confused. Mad at her, mad at myself, mad at the world.

6. One night as I once again stood on her sidewalk wondering what the heck I was doing there,
the door opened and a she came out. She asked me if I'd made up my mind yet.
Made up my mind about what? About whether I was going to come in or not, I was welcome to
do so.
Good Wright but seeing her again was good; at that moment I couldn't seem to remember why I
was mad at her. Oh I knew why, and I knew it was wrong to let her tempt me I just couldn't seem
to help myself.

7. We ended up in her hot tub and then moved to her bed. Why did I continue to let myself be
pulled under by her? She was like a drug that I knew was bad for me, but I just couldn't stop
using. By morning I'd come to my senses and I snuck away before she awoke.

8. The next time I saw Juliet. I was downtown. I think it was Chris's bachelor party, I really can't
remember, so many bachelor parties that month they all just run together. I had to sit there
toasting to all my friends and razzing them about getting leg shackled when just a few months?s
before I too had been looking forward to the being in the same situation. Slowly I'd drink myself
into oblivion and at the end of the night they'd pour me into a cab and send me home, alone.

9. But that night was different. I don't think she saw me at first, she was playing the crowd. She
noticed me watching her as she danced with some guy. As they walked off the dance floor I
approached her.
"Oh, so you're talking to me now? I thought you were in hiding."

10. "Um yeah, sorry about leaving like I did without saying goodbye; but I shouldn't have been there
to begin with, it was a mistake, and I think we both know that."
"I don't think it was David, I think it was meant to be. But I'm not going to beg you to take me
back. Call me when you're ready to be an adult and talk. Until then you won?t be hearing from
me."

11. An adult? Who was she to accuse me of acting juvenile? She was the one that wasn't ready to
commit. that wasn't ready to settle down. I went back to the party with a renewed vengeance for
getting over her. It was time to move forward with my life once and for all.

12. As time went by, I was able to put Jules in the back of my head. I'd gotten a job and I was trying
to get back into my role as family heir. I watched as one by one the majority of my friends settled
into married life. All of them happy and looking forward to having children and being parents.

13. And then it was time for the round of christenings, and the toddler tosses. All the happy little
family units celebrating just as they'd always planned. Moms, Dads, and cooing babies, it was
sweet enough to be sickening.

14. Don't get me wrong I love children, and I want several of my own, but when you're standing on
the sidelines looking in it's just not the same as being a part of the action. And when they'd start
in on the toilet training talk, gah! How does toilet training become more interesting than the
latest baseball scores?

15. I think everyone was starting to feel sorry for me. They'd expected me to get over my
disappointments more quickly than I had and to jump back into the swing of things. The girls
were playing match maker, they'd call me up and ask me to drop by for supper and when I
arrived they'd tell me how their girlfriend had just happened to drop by and was going to stay as
well and wasn't that wonderful. They'd then go through the list of said girlfriends attributes, and
how they were sure that the two of us would get along wonderfully.

16. It wasn't that I was uninterested it's just that most of those young ladies just weren't what I was
looking for none of them sparkled. For the most part they all seemed too insipid. It seemed that
they were mostly interested in shopping and the latest fashion trends. It got to the point that if I
had to listen to one more play by play of some girl's trip to the mall I thought I was going to
scream. Several times I picked up the phone to call Juliet, but then I'd find my determination and
hang up before she could answer.

17. Back on the home front Grandma was getting her affairs in order, her time was running short
and all of us knew it. My biggest regret was that she wouldn't get to see me married with
children

18. I wasn't her only grandchild of course, so it wasn't as though she didn't get to see the next
generation spring forth. She was there to see Christopher toss his son Dannon into toddler hood
and for Celeste and Cort's, oldest child, Dolcelatte toddler birthday as well.

19. Demi and Chay had assured the continuation of the direct legacy line with the birth of their
daughter Delphine. As my eldest niece, Delphy will always hold a special place in my heart. Her
mother was constantly getting on me about spoiling her.
What? I think every infant needs a five foot teddy bear.

20. Mom and Dad are delighted to be grandparents. It didn't stop them from wanting more children
of their own, though. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. They'd always wanted a large family, but the
three of us were it for them and it was too late for more.

21. Whenever I had time off from work I?d head down to the shop with Grans. She was trying to
teach me the secrets of running the family business. Eventually it would come to me, and so I
needed to know all the ins and outs.

22. I don't think I'll ever be as great at the job as Grandma but I'I've learned the basics. Adonis will
be there to help me out just as he was for her. Adonis is a lifesaver when it comes to managing
such things.

23. Grim came one morning and took our beloved dog, Daisy, to the great doggy playground in the
sky. We miss her, she was a great dog. Daisy's death reminded us that her daughter, Buffy,
wasn't getting any younger and if we wished to carry on that line we should look to get her a
mate. We've adopted a terrier named Scotty; the two seem to be getting along well together.

24. Mom and Dad celebrated their elder birthdays together. We had a huge crush of people over at
the house for their party. Most of the family was there, and many of their friends past and
present attended as well. It was a fun time and probably the last large party that we will have for
quite sometime.

25. Mom and Dad are amazing. All these years together and they are as much in love today as they
were when they married. They are the reason I wanted to hold out for someone special. I didn't
want to settle, I want what they have.

26. It was at their party that I met the first woman to really intrigue me since Juliet. Titania
Summerdream, what a great name. With all the people at the party we didn't have much of a
chance to talk, but I got her number.
After the party was over I called her and we stayed up late talking on the phone till the wee
hours of the morning. Getting up for work the next day was difficult but I finally felt I had
something to look forward to when I awoke.

27. Then, just as I felt my life was coming together Grim ripped Grandma from us. She knew it was
her time and had invited the entire family over so that she could say her last goodbyes. We
were all devastated by her passing.

28. Rest in Peace Betty Familiar, you were a grand old lady till the end.

29. Titania and I took our relationship slowly in the beginning. We both have baggage. She has two
children from a previous relationship, and I had Juliet to put behind me. Our first date was for
bowling. I can't say either of us was very good at it but we did enjoy ourselves. The more I got to
know her the more I knew she was the one for me.

30. Titania and I became engaged near the end of summer. We had a wonderful dinner at The
Botanical and I popped the question during desert. It was a beautiful evening that neither of us
will ever forget. We still had some details to work out but we hoped to share our first Christmas
together as man and wife.

31. The morning after my engagement Mom told me that Juliet had called while I was out. I
wondered why she would call. She swore she wouldn't be the one to call first, but then she had.
I'm sure she was surprised that I hadn't called her and so was just changing gears to try a new
tactic. I didn't call her back. I finally felt that my life was coming together and I didn't want
anything to mess it up.

32. Time passed . . . . Summer turned to Fall

33. Preparations for the wedding were going full force; our primary concern prior to it was how
Titania's two children, Puck and Bottom were going to deal with our relationship. Due to legacy
rules they won't be able to live with us and will instead remain with their father as part of the
townie pool. We wanted to ensure them that they would still be a large part of both our lives.

34. We took them to the park one Sunday. As a teen Puck wasn't too thrilled to be seen hanging
with his mom and sister, so he and I fished while Titania pushed Bottom on the swings. Puck
and I got to know each other a little bit better; all in all he's good kid, I'll be proud to call him
mine if he'll let me.

35. Dwight came over for dinner one night, since graduation he's been living with a group of our
cousins in a retro playboy pad. From the sounds of it the four of them are still living every night
as if it were a frat party. Girls are in and out of the place constantly and the police often have to
break up their gatherings.

36. I don't want to sound like I don't approve, who am I to cast judgment? And it's not like they laze
around all day living off their trust funds, they all have good steady jobs, Dwight has already
reached the top of the Artist Career, my little brother the Visionary. Not that hard to believe I
guess, he always was the creative type.

37. After dinner Dwight cornered me and tried to talk about Juliet. He said he'd seen her a few days
earlier and I really should call her or go see her. I told him that we had nothing to talk about, if
she wanted to hear from me I'd send her an invitation to my wedding. He seemed on the verge
of saying more but Dad walked in and I walked out. Nothing was going to spoil my wedding,
certainly not Juliet Capp.

38. There was one thing Titania insisted upon before the wedding. Loose the hat. She wants to be
able to see my eyes. I'd grown kind of attached to the hat, but I'd figured that since I was
starting a new life I could ditch the old headgear.

39. The morning of our wedding dawned clear and bright, I was afraid that the weather would turn
sour and we'd have to delay the outdoor celebration. We scheduled the wedding for a Saturday
afternoon since we wanted the kids to be able to attend without breaking curfew. Puck was my
best man and Bottom was our flower girl. I've recorded our vows to each other so that I may
always remember them.

40. I, David, take you, Titania to be my wedded wife. With deepest joy I receive you into my life that
together we may be one. I promise you my love, my fullest devotion, and my tenderest care. I
pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband.

41. .

42. I, Titania, take you, David, to be my wedded husband. I offer you my Love. I offer you my
strength. I offer you my weaknesses. I offer you my support. I offer you my loyalty. I offer you my
faith, for as long as we both shall live

43. .

44. And so as I close this journal, I close the chapter of my life that brought me from the depths of
my sorrow to the joy of my tomorrows. I hope that you dear reader will join us as Titania and
myself continue down the path of our life together and welcome the birth of our first child this
winter. I feel confident that our devoted scribe will report the future accurately.
Until then,
Thank You for Reading and Happy Simming!