Silver's Sims: Crystal Legacy - Generation 5 (Part 25)

Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.

Spangle: Watcher, you’re so skinny. Are you eating enough?

Citrine: Ha…two bowls full of Pop’s stew. I’m a stuffed Harvestfest bird right now.

Spangle: *laugh* Welcome home.

Citrine: Good to be home. Thank you for helping them find us.

Spangle: Of course. Anything I could do to help, I’m glad to have done.

Citrine: …Spangle, how did you know any of this? How did you know who to call?

Spangle: Hey, I was your age once too, you know. The trouble I used to get into…drove my old man nuts. He had contacts everywhere, and…well, I inherited most of them. Be surprised what a few calls can do even in this day and age.

Citrine: So all this time…you knew about the Hunters, and the Occult, and–

Spangle: And the old stories, yeah. …They’re not really stories, are they.

Citrine: …no.

Spangle: …well. That’s a bucket of existential horror I wasn’t expecting.

Citrine: *snort* …you must have questions. About what happened.

Spangle. Oh, yeah, a couple dozen, but…

Spangle: …I can see a lot of the answers on your face already, so. I’m not gonna ask until you’re ready. Are you?

Citrine: …no. Not really.

Spangle: Okay. Then no, I don’t have any questions. None whatsoever

Citrine: Just like that?

Spangle: Sure. It’s your story, Citrine, it’s what happened to you. Only you get to decide when you’re ready to talk about it.

Citrine: And if I’m never ready?

Spangle: Then we never talk about it. It’s your story to tell or not. What matters to me is that you’re still here. The rest…take it one step at a time. Can you do that?

Citrine: I….I think so, yeah. Thanks, Spangle.

Spangle: Anytime, kiddo.

Army: Well, it is a little unorthodox, but I’d say you’re a perfect fit for the job.

Fern: Even though I’ve never done this before?

Army: Hah! This is my first time owning a business, so we can just keep any mistakes between us.

Army: Besides, if you don’t take chances you won’t get anywhere! And I can see you’re worth taking a chance on.

Fern: I’ll try my best.

Army: Perfect. Wait here–I’ll get the paperwork. …if I can ever find it in that mess I call an office…

Army: Hm–oh, sorry, we’re not open for customers today.

Mantis; I won’t be long. Just need to talk to…my niece. Five minutes.

Army: …Ten minutes.

Mantis: Thank you.

Mantis: Didn’t I teach you to watch your surroundings, girl?

Fern: *gasp* Uncle Mantis!

Fern: What’re you doing here?

Mantis; I was in town. Thought I’d…check in. You look like hell.

Fern: Yeah, well, a year in vampire custody’ll do that to a girl.

Mantis; I heard. So, Sanguine’s dead?

Fern: …yeah. I killed her.

Fern: And Master Terra lifted my exile.

Mantis; I heard. But you’re here, not there. Why?

Fern: …my fighting days are over. I’ve got more reasons to stay here now.

Mantis: So, you’re still doing all of this for a pretty face.

Fern: Because I love her. And because I’m tired of fighting. It’s not my life anymore.

Mantis; ….no. I can see why it wouldn’t be. *sigh* …listen, Fern, I.

Fern: Yeah?

Mantis: ….I’m…glad you’re doing better now.

Fern: …me too.

Mantis: ….And…I was wrong to blame you for what happened to your parents.

Fern: Wait…are you apologizing?

Fern: For what you said that morning?

Mantis; *heavy sigh* …yeah. I’m…sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I was…mad. At myself. For letting that happen to Leaf. I was wrong.

Fern: Uncle…

Mantis; No. You and me…we aren’t family anymore, kid.

Fern: …you’re my Dad’s brother. That makes us family.

Mantis: No. Family stands behind you, stands with you. I didn’t. I’m not your family, the Crystals are.

Mantis: They took you in, cared for you, looked for you. That makes them your family.

Fern: …yeah. It does.

Mantis: You hold onto that.

Fern: I will.

Mantis: Right. Well. …take care of yourself, kid. See you around.

Fern: …see you around.

Fern: ….nothing holding me to that life anymore. …Heh…feels…light. Hey, boss! I’m gonna get some air, okay?

Army: Okay! I’ll find you! …once I find that paperwork!

*crash from office*

Army: I’m fine! Nobody all get up at once! …darn earbuds…

Fern: Hey.

Citrine: Hey. Was that Mantis I saw just now?

Fern: Yep. He stopped by.

Citrine: …and…are you okay? Do I need to punch him?

Fern: Heh…no. We…worked things out, a little. I don’t think we’ll ever see him again, but…it’s okay. I’m okay.

Citrine: Okay.

Citrine: So…got the job?

Fern: Got the job. You?

Citrine: Kept it. ….one day at a time, huh?

Fern: One day at a time.

I saw the sun begin to dim

And felt that winter wind blow cold

A man learns who is there for him

When the glitter fades and the walls won’t hold

‘Cause from then, rubble

What remains can only be what’s true

If all was lost, it’s more I’ve gained

‘Cause it led me back to you

And from now on

These eyes will not be blinded by the lights

From now on

What’s waited ‘til tomorrow starts tonight, tonight

And let this promise in me start

Like an anthem in my heart

From now on

When I stop and see you here

I’ll remember who all this was for

And we will come back home

And we will come back home, home again

Nova, off-camera: Dinner’s ready in five! Everybody wash up!

Citrine: Coming! Come on, sleepyhead, up and ‘attem.

Fern: Mmph….hey, hang on a second.

Citrine: Fern, it’s fajita night! Warm fajitas?

Fern: They’ll still be warm in a few minutes, just–come here a second?

Citrine: …you’ve got five minutes or I start dragging you.

Fern: Oh, so forward! I like a woman who carries herself with confidence.

Citrine: I’ll show you confidence…

Fern: Was that a threat, Miss Crystal? Because you’d better be prepared to back it up.

Citrine: I assure you, Miss Strike, I don’t make idle threats.

Fern: *laugh* Oh really. Well then–

Citrine: Ack–

*both laugh*

Fern: It seems I’ve caught you off guard.

Citrine: All a trap, so you’d let down your guard.

Fern: Oh no…what a surprise!

Fern: Now that I’ve fallen for your trap, what’ll you do to me?

Citrine: Oh, the most terrible, horrible thing…kissing.

Saffron: *snort* Oh, to be that young again.

Saffron: Get a room, you two! You do have one, remember?

Citrine: …yes Gram! Sorry!

Fern: *snicker* Did we just get told?

Citrine: We just got told. *laugh* I feel like I’m sixteen again.

Fern: Eh, we’re too creaky for sixteen, sunshine. Here–sit up.

Fern: I wanted to ask you something. Now that everything’s settled, and Pep and EG tied the knot…what’re you planning to do?

Citrine: About what?

Fern: Life in general? I mean…the Newscast went digital so it can expand. Any odds you’re going to, I dunno, Strudelville or something?

Citrine: Pff, no way. Too many military secrets for me up there. Nah, I’m gonna stay right here. With you, and the others.

Fern: Okay, phew…that’s great.

Citrine: Why? Were you afraid I’d leave you behind?

Fern: No! Well. Maybe a little.

Citrine: Oh, Fern.

Fern: No, no, not like that! I love my work at the gym but it’s kinda stuck in one place and I’d follow you anywhere so just let me know but–

Citrine: Fern! Fern take a breath!

Citrine: I’m not going anywhere! Not without you! You’re stuck with me, I promise.

Fern: Is it stuck if I want to be here? Really?

Citrine: …well, no, not if you want to be!

Citrine: But in that case there is something I wanted to ask you, too. If I can just…have one second…

Fern: Me too–I swear it’s in here somewhere…

Citrine: Make women’s pants with pockets and they’re too long–aha! Here it is!

Fern & Citrine: WIll you marry me–*gasp*

*both break out laughing*

Fern: You–and I—*laughter*

Citrine: Did we just– *laughter*

Fern: We did!

Fern: So that was a yes?

Citrine: That was absolutely a yes.

Citrine: Of course I’ll marry you, Fern Strike.

Fern: Mm. Fern Crystal now.

Months later…

Calcite: How’re you feeling? Nervous?

Citrine: Not at all.

Citrine: This feels…right, you know? I mean we were kind of already attached at the hip before, so this is just official stuff, but…

Calcite: *chuckle* I felt the same way about your Pop. It’s just the next step as a pair.

Calcite: *sigh* I just wish your Ma could see you now.

Citrine: …I get the feeling she can. She’s always watching over us, right?

Amber: Of course I am.

Calcite: Yeah, you’re right. She’d be so happy for you, baby. Growing up, surviving, finding love…heh, she’d be in tears and poking anybody who pointed it out!

Citrine: Oh, so you mean she’d be poking you for teasing her the whole time!

*both laugh*

Calcite: Well, I mean, if the shoe fits…

Amber: You wear it. She’s got your number, little brother.

Calcite: …there we go. All fixed.

Citrine: Thanks, Dad.

Calcite: Of course.

Citrine: …no, for everything.

Calcite: Always.

Calcite: Take a minute. We’ll be waiting outside when you’re ready.

Citrine: Kay. I won’t be long.

Citrine: *deep breath* …I don’t know if you can hear me, Ma, but…I can feel you here. I just…I just want you to know that I am happy. And I know…I know things may be dangerous ahead, but…Fern and I can face them together.