#SBL01W15

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Oct 23rd Post 3

Cut for potential spoilers, chronological order reading recommended

Layla: I’m listening

Johnny: You are passionate, and kind, and gentle, and I love you

Layla: But Mal-

Johnny: Forget about Mal for a second. Think about me, what it’s like when we’re together, how easy everything is

Layla: Johnny, I don’t know that I can-

Johnny: For me Layla, try

His hand moved to my cheek and he pulled me in for a kiss before I could object.

[changingplumbob]

As my family sung me happy birthday I reflected on all that had happened to me as a young adult. The surprise pregnancy, and the next. Completely missing Johnny being in love with me. Watcher I hoped my adult years would be more straight forward. As I blew out the candles I wished with my whole heart that this marriage would be the start of a stronger chapter.

Coraline: What did you wish for Mummy

Layla: For all of us to stay a happy family of course. Now come on, I have a husband to get

Byron did an a cappella bridal march as we moved towards the arch in the corner of our yard and Mal kissed my cheek before the vows began.

[changingplumbob]

Struck by Love - Oct 21st Post 4

CW: Low level sim spice - Guide to content warnings

Yvonne pulled Malcolm in for a deep kiss and her hands began to undo his belt.

Malcolm: I uh- I may have been wanting to see your hair out of it’s bun but this-

Yvonne: Shush darling. Let me treat you, you deserve it

Malcolm: This blows my birthday reception at home out of the water

Yvonne: Oh I can blow with the best of them. Now, close your eyes and grab my hair birthday boy

Malcolm: Yes ma’am

...

Malcolm: That was...

Yvonne: I was right about you wanting me. I'm also right about the business deal so... care to sign the approval

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Oct 23rd Post 4

Cut for potential spoilers, chronological order reading recommended

So I tried. For one stupid moment I tried. I imagined life with him instead of Mal. Having someone by my side I could laugh with, someone who'd never given me cause to doubt. Someone I knew loved my kids as much as I did.

But my kids... the confusion they would feel... I couldn’t. If I left their father for their uncle they would be so ashamed. They'd never talk to me and Mal wouldn't let me see them. I snapped out of the moment and stepped back. I had a fiance, I would not do this. I couldn't betray him, it wasn't who I was.

Layla: Johnny... I can’t. I’m sorry but... we can’t

Johnny: *sighs* Because of how the kids would feel

He wiped away tears I hadn't even realised had fallen.

Layla: Yeah and- how did you know

Johnny: *forced laughter* All the times I imagined this, they are what stopped you most. You’re too damn good Layla. Too damn good for my brother

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Oct 23rd Post 2

Cut for potential spoilers, chronological order reading recommended

Layla: Wow, you sound so serious, come on in

I took him in to the lounge but instead of sitting down like normal he just stood fidgeting.

Layla: Johnny... are you okay? You seem tense

He moved close to me and rested his hand on my shoulder.

Johnny: Layla... please don’t marry my brother

Layla: What?

Johnny: Don’t marry him

Layla: But- I-

He moved his other hand under my chin, lifting it so I was looking him in the eyes.

Johnny: Please just let me say this before I loose all nerve

[changingplumbob]

Yvonne: I can’t believe you just went on honeymoon, all my careful scheduling thrown out the window

Malcolm: Don’t be sad, I’m here now

Yvonne: You missed three board votes, including the one on the zoning by the school. To make it up we-

Malcolm: Shhh, I missed those but there’s something else I missed

Yvonne: I thought, now you’re married you might want-

Malcolm: I have eyes still. How could I resist you? Just tell me what I need to do to appease the board, I’ll do it, then we can spend some time getting reacquainted

[changingplumbob]

Byron: This is for you

Coraline: But it’s your birthday

Byron: Just open it. Now I know you’re super busy with your gym practice but I thought this could help

Coraline: Your bike! How did you get it so small

Byron: Your guess is as good as mine

Coraline: I guess I won’t be able to tease you about your braces now

Byron: Hey you’re going to need them to. Delarosa’s against the world?

Coraline: Delarosa’s against the world!

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Oct 24th Post 1

Cut for potential spoilers, chronological order reading recommended

CW: Language - Guide to content warnings

Layla: It wasn’t cheating. It was a stripper and a favour for a dumb drunk friend

Johnny: Bullshit! I saw those photos

Layla: Wait- how did you see the photos

Johnny: *sighs*

Layla: Johnny... how the fuck did you see those photos? Mal doesn't even have them

Johnny: *sheepishly* My friend who’s a security guard at the comedy club, he covers shifts at the strip club and he thought I’d want to know my brother was fooling around. I used the bartenders phone to send them to you

Layla: I can’t believe you did that! Didn’t you think about how hard it would be for me? Alone with my kids getting photos of my partner kissing other people? You lived right next door, why not wait until you could just show me in person?

[changingplumbob]

Struck by Love - Oct 21st Post 3

CW: Low level sim spice - Guide to content warnings

Malcolm: I just don't know that that deal is in the best interests of the tenants. I know it's our building but it's their homes

Yvonne perched on the desk and pulled Malcolm close.

Yvonne: And what about your interests? Don't think I haven't seen you staring at me. I think it's time we did something about that

Malcolm: No I- What if someone comes in

Yvonne: I’ve cleared your schedule for the morning. Don’t you want your birthday present? I've been thinking about giving it to you all week

Malcolm: Yvonne I- I really shouldn’t be doing this

Yvonne: But you want me. I can tell Malcolm. And I’m all yours, no strings attached. Surely there’s no harm in just once

Malcolm: But Layla- she's my fiance, I love her. She said if I stuff up again she'll leave me

Yvonne: Oh doctor, I won’t tell if you won’t.

[changingplumbob]

We ordered and then I did my best to work with Nancy and Geoffrey on wedding plans. Byron and Coraline drew on their placemats and joked together watched by Mal.

Layla: What do you think Mal

Malcolm: Hmm, sorry about what

Layla: The tiny event of our wedding

Malcolm: Right, sorry, I had a lot happen at work today

Nancy: I hired Yvonne so you could be present Malcolm, leave work at work

[changingplumbob]

Layla: I feel so old

Malcolm: You look beautiful

Layla: Flatterer. You don’t look terrible

Malcolm: High praise, no wonder you’re a famous author with sentences like that

Layla: *laughing* I’m happy Mal

Malcolm scooped me up and swirled me around.

Malcolm: Good Mrs Delarosa. I’m happy to

[changingplumbob]

Layla: Lunch is up!

Coraline: There’s more food on this plate than room in my stomach... perfect

Nancy: I don’t see why you didn’t tell us

Malcolm: You would have tried to talk us out of it, and made Layla change her name

Nancy: Yes I would have! Your ceremony should have had a professional photographer and- wait, she is Mrs Landgrabb now, aren't you?

Malcolm: We’re married now so just be happy about that mum

Geoffrey: Of course we’re happy, right Nancy?

The expression on her face was priceless. She had clearly thought I was aiming for a family name.

Nancy: Hmm, I better call Yvonne, have her draft a press release

Malcolm: It’s Harvestfest, surely you can let her have holidays off

Nancy: Nonsense. I pay her to be there when she’s needed

[changingplumbob]

As our kids watched on we promised to prioritise our relationship, our family, each other. We exchanged rings and it was official, husband and wife.

Coraline: *quietly* Do you think they’ll be happy

Byron: *quietly* Maybe. Mummy loves us, we love each other. I want dad to love us but we’ll have to wait and see

I am sorry friends. No amount of objection or your wonderful arguments could have stopped us from having to tick off the gen goal. The last couple of weeks we have been racing towards that giant redaction which starts on my Monday 28th (47 hours after this is published). After that aging will slow back down.

[changingplumbob]

Layla: Morning my darlings, it’s going to be a beautiful day

Byron: It is?

Layla: Meet in the garden in half an hour

Byron: For your birthday cake?

Layla: Birthday slash wedding, your dad and I are getting married today! It’ll be the four of us and who needs more than that huh

Coraline: Five... Six...

Layla: Did you hear me Coraline honey

Coraline: I’ll be there mum, just doing my daily stretches

Byron: *internally* You've got to be kidding me

[changingplumbob]

Coraline woke up and remembered it was Harvestfest! Food! As she excitedly jumped out of bed she was greeted by a scary sight. She squealed and did the emergency knock on the wall between her and Byron’s rooms and heard him get up.

Byron: What’s the- oh, the gnome

Coraline: It lost it’s clothes! What do we do? Do we give it more clothes?

Byron: *chuckling* Don’t worry, some of them come this way, you’ve just been lucky enough to not see one. Just give it a toy and it’ll be fine

Coraline: Here Mr Gnome, have this police car, it can take you to cop station when they arrest you for being out and about with no clothes

Byron: Nicely handled

[changingplumbob]

Layla: But we’re engaged so why not get married tomorrow

Malcolm: *flustered* For one, mum would kill us. She wants a big society wedding

Layla: What do you want? Because I want to marry you. You're the one I love, the one I want to spend my life with

I prayed that he wouldn’t be able to tell from my face that I kissed Johnny. I was so ashamed, I needed to prove Malcolm was the only one in my heart that way. And if he married me, I'd know I was the only one in his.

Malcolm: But Layla it’s already your birthday, and Harvestfest

Layla: I don’t care, I’m ready to be married

Malcolm: Right but my parents-

Layla: Can come for lunch. For the ceremony all I need is me, you, our kids and the watcher