Olivia - Gen 4 Ch 2

Surprise! Here we are in France. Mom and Daddy surprised us with tickets for a wedding gift. Mom raved about how nice Grampa Gustave's cottage was. I sincerely hope it's nicer on the inside.

I was relieved to find out the caretakers had done a much better job keeping up the inside.

"So what shall we do first?" I asked with a wink.

"Let's see.. I might have an idea."

With the first bit of fun taken care of, we were off to the ancient Celtic ruins.

"Wow, I wonder how these plants survive down here."

"I dare you to take that gem from that skeleton!" Lane teased.

I laughed. "Easy peasy! He doesn't scare me."

"Oh wow, look at this, sweetie. It's so cool."

"Can't you just feel the ghosts that haunt this place?" I whispered.

"Not really. Do you think there are ghosts here?"

"I know there are. I can feel them. Someday I'll invent something to make them visible, I just haven't figured out how yet."

"Hmm, okay Hon." He didn't sound convinced.

"What do you suppose happened to this guy? He looks like he's been here a while. Hey, I dare you to check out his tent!" I could tease right back.

"Oooo, Lane! I have a great idea! Let's sleep here tonight. It'll be so fun!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Hon?"

"Are you scared?" I teased. I knew he wasn't. He is one of the bravest people I know.

"Course not, silly. Come on in then."

"Livie, are you sure? Here?"

"Shush, you, and kiss me."

Thinking about those amazing ancient Celtic ruins gave me a fantastic idea for an invention. What if I could figure out how to get back to the  time they were built?

Lane's head was buried in some old book he had found on the bookshelf.

So I decided not to bother him, and set the dials on my new machine for ancient France.

It was an amazing trip, and I met lots of strange people, but not the ones who built the tomb.

I must have been gone longer than I thought, because Lane was waiting anxiously when I returned.

"Livie, oh Livie! You scared me so bad. Where were you? And what happened to your clothes?"

I told him all about my trip, and promised I would never go time traveling again without telling him.

"I almost forgot, Livie! I found an old book written by your grandfather, one that isn't in your library in Riverview. 'The Abandoned Nectary' it's called. It's a fantastic story about Gustave's grandfather and how he lost his lands. And look what else! There was a handwritten note inside, wrapped around a key. 'The Dutiel's know more than they are willing to tell. The basement holds the key.' What do you suppose that means?"

What a mystery! I couldn't resist checking it out. After asking around, we discovered there was indeed a Dutiel family in Champs Les Sims. So we headed there with the key. Charlotte Dutiel was very helpful. She didn't know anything about the basement, except that it had been locked up tight as long as she could remember, and no one could find the key. She invited us to look around as long as we wanted.

I was ecstatic when the key easily slipped right into the keyhole. Come on, Lane, let's go explore! We can play foosball any time.

What in the world was an Egyptian sarcophagus doing in the Dutiel's basement? We checked out the whole basement thoroughly, and even found a passage to a secret garden, with an ancient tombstone, but nothing that had anything to do with the abandoned nectary, or anything else, for that matter. I was so disappointed.

The sarcophagus fascinated me, however. I wonder.....

"Come and check this out with me, Sweetie."

"Why do you suppose Livie wants me to climb in there with her? I think you know, don't you?"

Silly Lane.

"........"

My grampa Gustave's book said he had checked out the old Landgraab Estate thoroughly, and didn't find any clues regarding the abandoned nectary, but Lane and I decided we'd explore there anyway. Sure enough, there were fire traps throughout the place, but they had all been disabled long ago.

A few of the chests contained some old coins, but that was all we found.  Still, it was a spooky old place, and that always got my adrenalin going.

"Hey, Lane sweetie, you know what we should do? Let's check out the upstairs!"

"Hey, stop playing with the fire and come here!"

"Geez Livie, are you sure this is a good idea? Here?"

I managed to convince him it was a great idea. The Landgraabs surely weren't using the place.

It was our last night in France, and I didn't want to leave quite yet. I had an idea to extend our vacation by just a little.

"Come on, it'll be fun to do it in the time machine!"

"Are you sure about this, Livie?"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the time stream with me.

All I've got to say is Wow! Best. Vacation. Ever.

Olivia - Gen 4 Ch 1

I was so surprised when mom placed her pendant in my hand. I had always known there was something very special about it, but I figured she'd hang on to it forever. I could feel a sort of power in it when I hung it around my neck. I wonder how old it is, and where it came from?

Anyway, before mom called me out to the pond, things were just getting interesting between Lane and me. If it had been up to me, I'd have jumped him ages ago, but he insisted on being a gentleman and waiting until I turned eighteen. I was hoping to make my birthday night a night to remember, but by the time my mom and I were finished, daddy told me Lane was sorry, but he had to be up and the crack of dawn the next day, and he would see me tomorrow.

The next morning I was trying something new at my workbench when, ka-boom! I connected two wires wrong and before I knew it, my newest invention was an exploding ball of fire.

I was really glad right then there was a bathroom right off my workroom, and I hightailed it into the shower.

I was just stepping out again, my clothes soaking wet, when Lane rushed in.

"Livie! Are you alright? I was so worried when your dad's call came in at the station."

"Ya, I'm fine. Just a little singed on my behind."

"You need to be more careful. I..I really ..care for you. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..."

He had such concern in his voice, it shook me up. I shivered a little, I think probably from the cold water...

"You're soaking wet... come here."

He didn't seem to mind the wet clothes at all, and took me in his arms. Then I forgot everything else as he kissed me for the first time. It was just as wonderful as I'd been imagining it would be, ever since the night we first met.

Then I started shivering for real from the cold, and I let him carry me upstairs, even though I could have walked if I wanted to. He left me to change while he went to make sure there were no hot spots left in the basement.

Later we went down to inspect the damage together. My workroom was nothing but a pile of rubble. No wonder everyone had been so worried.

"You were lucky you didn't get caught in that cave-in."

"Looks that way, huh."

There was no way I'd give up my inventing. I compromised by putting my workbench outside behind the barn, though. And it was a whole lot nicer working outside. I never realized before how invigorating the outdoors could be. Being outside was actually inspiring, somehow.  

Lane insisted on installing a "safety shower" in the barn, and on that we were in total agreement.

Today Lane and are are getting tattoos! He asked me to go with him while he got tatted up, and I decided I'd get some too. He knew exactly what he wanted, so he went first, while I checked out all the designs.

He got a few flaming tattoos, to show off down at the fire station.

I decided on three - a rose for my ankle, a butterfly on my lower back, and a line of pretty little flowers for my wrist. The rose and butterfly turned out great, but I hate the flowers on my wrist. The tattoo artist didn't make then nearly detailed enough, and from a distance it looks like a little worm. Not that I mind worms, really, but not tattooed on my wrist!

Afterward, we headed over to the  White Rose for a few drinks.

And then a walk in the little park nearby...

"Livie, I was going to wait and ask you on a real date before I gave this to you, but its burning a hole in my pocket, and I can't wait any longer. I never realized until the past few days, how much you mean to me, and how much I love you, and have loved you for a long time - ever since that night your mom made you return that silly dish set, remember that? Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will. I think I've loved you since that night I smacked you with that pipe, remember that?"

"How could I forget? I had a lump on my head for days!"

It was late by the time we got home, and Lane had to go. He doesn't want to be tired for an emergency, and I guess I don't blame him. So my birthday wish will have to be delayed again.

It wasn't hard to prepare for the wedding. I can't stand dresses, so even though daddy advertised it as "formal", Lane and I decided to be the least formal we could and still get away with it. I knew mom, Lily, and Lance would refuse to dress up anyway, and I was right. All the usual family were there. There sure is a lot of us when we all get together.

Lane and I said our vows next to Sunflower's pond, in the grand Greenbow tradition.

...and kissed under the stars for the first time as husband and wife.

My sis Lara is having a baby! She doesn't even have a boyfriend.

"So who is the daddy? Inquiring minds want to know."

"Umm.. Trey.. Trev.. something like that. You know the guy in the top hat that hangs out downtown?"

"Are you getting married?"

"Heck no, I barely know the guy."

"Uh... how'd that happen?"

"Long story involving a double dare and several bottles of nectar. You don't wanna know."

Actually I did want to know, but it was obvious Lara wasn't going to share, so I dropped it.

Mom is excited as can be about grandchild number two. I suppose she'll be after me next.

We only had one party crasher, an old guy no one knew. He had the audacity to die right in the middle of the reception.

And to top it all off, just as the party was ending, Lara went into labor! Mom hustled her off to the car and drove her to the hospital.

Later that night, I had a new little nephew, named Antwan.

I didn't find that out until late the next day, however, as I was busy finally making my birthday wish come true.