Chapter 6

"She just doesn't understand!"  Bailey had enough of her mother's lectures, all she ever talked about it seemed was how bad she had it, and how she was heading down the same path.  "We're in love, and that's the difference, I didn't just jump in bed with him, I love him, he was my first, I know she doesn't believe me, I know she thinks I slept with all the other boys, but I didn't.  Who cares what she thinks, she's just an old woman stuck in the past."  She hung up the phone, absently stroking her belly.  

She wasn't sure how to make her mother happy, she couldn't erase the past, couldn't take back that first time with Trevor, and she didn't want to.  She hadn't planned on having a baby her senior year, but what was done was done, and she couldn't pretend she wasn't thrilled.

She thought back to the last months, after her mother had found out about her and Trevor, she had called and demanded that Trevor come over immediately.  He had charmed her mother, just as he had charmed her.  He didn't miss a beat when Mom had told him that she was pregnant and he was going to marry her.  Just smiled and replied, "I would expect that is the right thing to do, it would be my privilege to have your daughter's hand in marriage."  

Bailey had put her foot down though, insisting that the wedding wait until she was thin again, until after the baby was born. " I don't want people thinking we are getting married just cuz I'm pregnant!"  Her mother had smirked at the comment, finished swallowing her lunch, before adding her thoughts, "Dear you are getting married because you are pregnant."  It had infuriated Bailey, her mother just didn't understand. "No, we are getting married because we are in love and want to spend the rest of our lives together!"  

The next months flew by, Trevor moved in to help take care of her, but her mother had insisted they sleep in separate beds until they were properly wed, it didn't stop anything though, they just had to be more creative to have their time together. 

As her belly grew, so did the discomfort of the pregnancy, her tiny frame didn't appreciate the added weight the baby caused and she hurt all the time.  she soothed herself, telling herself it would all be worth it when their baby was born, when Trevor saw his child for the first time he would know how much she loved him, that she was willing to go through anything for him.

She hadn't been prepared for it, she just hadn't.  Trevor had arrived home from work first and she was thankful he had, she wasn't sure if she could have handled being the first one in the house.  Her mother was gone, dead, deceased, forever.  A heart attack had stolen her away before she could meet her newest grandchild, before she could see Bailey get married, before she saw her graduate high school, before she was ready to face the world without her mother. 

 The day of the graveside service dawned clear and bright, she went with Trevor and was shocked to find they were the only ones there.  Her sister couldn't be bothered to return from France with her newest husband ( She was on husband number 3 now) and Bailey didn't know anyone else to call.

Shortly after arriving home Bailey went into labor, standing outside working on her latest ice sculptor, trying not to think about living life without her mom around.  The pain ripped through her abdomen and wrapped itself around to her back.  She put away the chain saw and made her way into the house to tell Trevor.

They had decided to have a home birth, Trevor said it was better that way, he didn't want doctors and nurses messing with her and the baby, he wanted it to just be them.  So it was, he stood by her side as one contraction after another tore through her body, after 20 hours of pain the world had become fuzzy and out of focus, she couldn't breath anymore, all she could do was cry through them.

29 hours later Trevor helped her into position, the baby was coming, the pressure was unbelievable, but the pain was even worse as she began to push her child into the world.  She couldn't stop herself, the screams tearing from her throat,her body wasn't meant to do this, she couldn't do this.  She felt ever little bit of her child as she tried to move it out of her body, but nothing seemed to be happen. " Come on Babe, you have to push, push hard now, there I can see the head, keep pushing or it's going to go back again!  Push!"  

She did she pushed with everything she had, the burning and tearing grew worse and she was certain she was dying, but she kept pushing, "I can see the head babe, it's coming, our baby is coming!"  She screamed through the next push feeling her tender parts shredding as the head came out followed by a gush of liquids, it was almost over, she pushed again and her baby slipped into it's father's arms. " It's a girl, a beautiful little girl babe!"  

Trevor cleaned up her daughter and together they lay on the bed staring at the new life she had delivered.  "You were amazing babe, I love you, just look at her, our Madeline!"  She couldn't stop looking at her,as exhausted as she was, her daughter was flawless,  she wondered who she would look like  as she grew up. She was awful sorry she was going to have to grow up an only child, but not sorry enough to ever go through that again.

Chapter 5

After Hannah moved out it seemed things got easier financially for Anna, she had received two promotions in as many years, and finally had saved up enough money to build her family a proper home.  Rather then destroy what had already been built, they added to it.  She finally had a home she could be proud of, she finally had a proper kitchen and living room, and three nice bedrooms.  By most standards it was a small home, but to Anna it was grand and spacious.

It seemed she blinked and Bailey was 15, so much like her sister in so many ways, and yet so different.  She had her love of painting, but for Bailey it was more then just a hobby, it was a passion, often failing to complete her homework because she spent too much time at the easel.

Painting wasn't the only thing Bailey was passionate about, she was boy crazy, every time Anna turned around Bailey had a different boyfriend, and if she wasn't doing something artistic, you could bet she was somewhere with her latest heart throb.

Shortly after her 16th birthday, her boy crazy ways caught up to her.  Anna had noticed her daughter looking pale, and had seen her in the bathroom throwing up through out the day, she had missed school for over a week, and Anna was pretty sure she knew why.

She took Bailey to the doctor and her suspicions were confirmed there was a baby on the way.  Anna was furious with her daughter.  "Don't you understand that is how I ended up alone, why should they buy the cow when the milk is free Bailey?"

 She wanted to shake sense into her youngest child. " You are getting married, you are going to make this right, for you child and yourself, he isn't getting away with this, I won't let him just leave you to raise this baby alone, it won't happen!"  Anna stopped, realizing she didn't even know for certain who the father was. "Bailey, do you know who the dad is?"

It was Bailey's turn to be angry, " Of course I know, is that all you think of me? I'm a tramp that just opens her legs for anyone, it only happened once Mama, I swear it, and I don't care if we have to get married, we're in love, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him!"

Anna had to sit down when Bailey finally confessed who the father was of her child, "Oh Bailey, he's so old for you, 28 and 16 are worlds apart, well it can't be helped any ways, too old or not he is going to marry you and do right by you!"

Chapter 4

Bailey grew quickly as the years flew by.  Hannah was a terrific older sister always playing with her little sister, helping out with things around the house.

She stayed true to her word and swore off men in her own life, with her two daughters, her own life held much less significance, she was determined to give them what she never had.  She watched as Hannah brought home friends, measuring them up, wondering how they could help her daughter's future.

Every day was a chance to potentially meet her daughter's future spouses, no matter where they were she made sure both her girls were dressed nice, and behaved accordingly.  Even a trip to the laundry mat was a chance to educate her girls on public behavior and finding a good man.

The years flew and soon Hannah was a teen, she was 17 when she brought home Rafeal.  Anna was thrilled, he was sweet, clean, and seemed completely smitten with her daughter!

They spent every spare moment together, going to the movies, or just hanging out at her home.  Anna started hinting about about a wedding, and Rafael seemed to be set on one too, it was just her daughter that kept dragging her feet.

A month pass her 18th birthday, Hannah announced to her mother that she was married, her and Rafael had went to the justice of the peace and had a private ceremony.  "I just don't want a big fuss, Mom, and I knew you would make it all a big fuss."  She also told her mother they would be moving out to their own place.
She was devastated in many ways, but still it was what she wanted for her daughter, she wanted her daughter to have a happy life, and Rafael made her happy.

Chapter 3

She stayed true to her word and spent the next months doting on her daughter as the child grew inside of her

Hannah was growing as fast as her tummy it seemed, she seemed to share so many of the same interests as her mother had, and the same talent.  She often wondered what the new addition to the family would bring, would he or she be artistic, or would he be the complete opposite of them.  

She received another promotion at work and with the money she was finally able to finish their house. It wasn't much, but at least it kept them sheltered and warm and they had some privacy at last.

Nothing in her life was easy, every penny counted, as Hannah grew and the birth of her sister or brother grew closer they both needed more clothing, it seemed every time she got a head a bit financially there was something waiting to spend the money on.  She had learned to use thrift stores and consignment shops for their clothes and other things, but sometimes she really wished she could just go buy her daughter new clothes, clothes that no one else had ever worn.

Babies really can have the worst timing.  As she tried to fix the sink, the always breaking, always costing them more money sink, her own water broke and she felt the first contraction.

One hour later Bailey, Hannah's new sister was born.  She looked down at her new daughter, and felt so lonely.  No one should do this alone she thought, no one should do any of this alone!  She promised her new daughter then, that she would make sure neither her nor Hannah would feel this way, she would make sure they both found husbands.

Chapter 2

Having Hannah definitely didn't make life any easier, now each paycheck she had to hand a large portion over to the babysitter, it really began to seem as if she would never get ahead.

Finally she received her first promotion and with the money she was able to add a bit onto their house, Hannah could sleep under a roof now!

Meanwhile it seemed her social life was improving.  She met Henry at a club, she had dropped by one night, large with Hannah and needing some sort of distraction.  Henry danced with her all night and told her to call him soon.  Unfortunately, Hannah came that next morning, and life became busier then she ever imagined.

 She didn't even have time to think of Henry until Hannah was a few months old, one lonely late night she remembered his sweet smile at the club.  She called him up the next day and invited him over.  That night she made her second mistake.  He was gone the next morning, and she was again alone.  She called him a couple more times, but her calls were never returned.

Single Parenthood was exhuasting it seemed a constant cycle of work and tending to the baby, repeat, she found she had little time in those first years for little more then basic survival.

She loved it some days, when Hannah would smile up at her, those days she thought it was worth it all, but then the nights would come and she would sink into her bed, staring at the crumbling walls, wondering if there would ever be anything more then this.

Hannah was almost 4 before Anna became interested in another man, and this time it hit her hard and fast..
He seemed absolutely perfect, he was even great with Hannah!  Their first date was at her place, he was too polite to comment on their living conditions, instead he asked about her dreams and life.  They talked well into the wee hours of the morning.

Then he kissed her and that was all she wrote, Anna was in love again!  She saw visions of wedding gowns, wedding cake, and her gorgeous groom waiting at the end of a long aisle.

They dated for 4 long months and the relationship seemed to be stalled, nothing more then a kiss, and tender words of endearment were ever exchanged.

 Anna was desperate to take things to the next level.  So she fixed him a romantic dinner for two, put Hannah to bed early.  When she woke up the next morning, she could still feel the fireworks fluttering inside her stomach, they had definitely taken it to the next level.

Over the next weeks Anna saw less and less of Wade, he always seemed too busy to come over, and twice promised to meet her for dinner, and didn't show.  Six weeks after their romantic adventure, Ann was four weeks late, and she knew what Wade had left her with. Hannah was going to be a big sister by her 6th birthday!

She called him and told him about the pregnancy, "Anna, I'm just really not ready for that kind of commitment, we had a good run, it was fun, but it's time for you to move on."  She hung up the phone, numb, that was it, just as quickly as the dreams came they disappeared.  She straightened her shoulders back, and walked out to her easel.  She had her children, and she would be strong for them.  Just as she began to paint the baby inside her kick it's approval to the latest plan.

Comments about First Chapter and My style of playing the Legacy.

You may find much missing in the first chapter, I didn't take as many photos as I had planned, as really it has been such a challenge just keeping Anna alive, she is almost never happy, even when her needs are all full she seems to walk around in a depressed mood most of the time.  I don't understand why this is, if it's a glitch in the game or what, but rarely is she satisfied.  It's that mood that has set the stage for her life and for my writing of her life.
You will notice that the townies may seem a bit more "made over" then they usually are, there is my only cheat on this legacy challenge.  I do not touch anything that changes their hereditary traits, nothing to make their basic structure any different, I do not mess with traits, likes or dislikes, I do give them make overs, no changing hair color, just new hair styles and better clothing, and maybe the addition of facial hair or the removal of facial hair.  In other words I don't do anything that a good stylist couldn't do.  I think this is fair enough.
As poor as Anna is she has relatively few clothes, the lack of wardrobe changes is purposeful, she has no money for a large wardrobe, it's bad enough she had to have clothes to accommodate her growing figure with the pregnancy.
 I was unable to choose any traits for Hannah, the pregnancy was not a good one at all, but she rolled pretty decent ones, she is artistic and a light sleeper.  I was thrilled to see she inherited her mother's love of art!

The Legacy Begins Chapter One Generation One

Anna St. John stood on the edge of the run down lot that she had been left, her only inheritance from parents that had been absent her entire life.  "Some win on this one!"  Anna thought to herself surveying the shabby  surroundings she was in.  Still it was all she had now, her family was gone and wouldn't be back, and everything they had went to paying the bills they left behind, this was all that was left.

Soon after she arrived she knew she had to get employment,  a job at the newspaper opened up and she jumped on it, it wasn't her ideal job, she would rather do nothing more then paint all day every day, but they don't call them starving artists because you make a ton of money doing it, and she needed money. No one could live like this all their lives!

She never missed a day of work, but her heart wasn't in it either, every day as soon as she got off Anna headed straight to her easel to paint.  Every day except one, the day was bright and sunny and she decided to spend a bit of time at the square, enjoying the fresh air and buzz of people around her.

 Maybe it was his slightly rocker look and brilliant red hair that attracted her to him, she wasn't really sure but when he introduced himself she was smitten.  They stood in the park all evening chatting and getting to know each other, and then he followed her home.   One kiss led to another, and another.  The next morning she woke up to find Darvin was gone, she had given her first everything to him and he had left as quiet as a ghost. She would never see him again.

He didn't leave her alone, soon the little surprise he planted inside of her began to grow, and grow...Anna had never been so miserable in her life, her back throbbed, work drained all the energy she had, and life in general  pretty much sucked.  She wondered if she would ever have a good life again, would she ever be happy?

The birth of Hannah was quick. The first contractions hit hard as her water broke.  Her baby girl was brought into the world outside as her mother leaned against the walls of her shack, the blood and birth fluids flowing into the green grass.  It was only two hours from the first pain to Hannah's first cry.  She had never been so relieved to hear anything in her life.

She cleaned her off and laid her in the bassinet, vowing to find a way to shelter her baby properly. She stood at the bassinet for some time staring down at her daughter's tiny little face, her hands balled up in little fists, everything about her seemed so perfect.