The Martinez Family pt. 3

Gabriella did not get sick or felt any other of the early symptoms of pregnancy, but then a belly began to protrude from her slim figure.

Kennedy had not expected that Gabriella would get pregnant so soon, but he tried to be a responsible boyfriend and father. He had recently started to see his older brother Matthew more often and he was always telling him how happy he was with Nina and their little son. Nina was already awaiting her second child and close to give birth.

Gabriella felt wholly comfortable being in a steady relationship now.

Even as her pregnancy progressed she felt very well and Enrique remarked to her when they were sitting at dinner one evening how exceptionally happy and healthy she looked.

Gabriella thanked him for the compliment and then glanced at Kennedy. Her look was more telling than any words and Enrique was very glad that his sister was so happy with her lover.

He was looking forward to the child as well, although it made him think of David and how little he had seen of him growing up. Once again he wondered if it might be time for him to settle too and how it would be like to live with Diane.

After Kennedy had finished his plate he got up and kissed Gabriella tenderly.

'I think you look more beautiful than ever too. I didn't expect you'd get pregnant so soon and I have no idea what it will be like to be a father. All I know is that I've been very happy with you since I moved in.'
Gabriella smiled at him. 'You're right, I did not leave you much time for preparation. There is a tacit agreement between us not to talk about my previous way of life, but it's no secret that I had my fun and that's all I wanted then. But me and Enrique come from a large family - no, don't ask why we don't see them - and I always knew I would want a child one day. When the moment came, it was no question for me who I wanted to have it with. But maybe it seemed like the right time to me, because I understood that I had found the right man.'

Only a few days later Gabriella woke up from labour pains. She gave birth at home since her pregnancy was without complications and she was in a very good condition. Enrique was called over by Kennedy when the baby came. Sina was staying with him and she followed him into their bedroom to see the baby as well.

'Don't you think you need some rest?', Enrique inquired. The son of his sister showed much more resemblance to Kennedy than her, but it did not make him less of a relative and he would have liked to cuddle him.
'No, I feel great and I can not stop looking at him. Look at his tiny hands and his beautiful eyes. Isn't he just perfect?'

But then she felt sorry for Kennedy, who was also eagerly waiting to hold his son. He looked at him, too moved to say anything. He still found it hard to believe that he was the father of a child.

Gabriella, although she had passed the child to him, could not really let go and was talking to the baby. It fascinated Kennedy how easily she adapted to her new role. He understood what his brother had meant when he said that their child had created a bond between him and Nina.

Sina was still in the house in the morning and did not look like she intended to leave. Since Gabriella got pregnant, Enrique had begun to think very earnestly about a more steady life for himself. The number of his affairs surpassed Gabriella's by a lot and he was even more tired of them.
He was much less sure though, who of his girlfriends was the right one for a serious and long term relationship. Diane was a lovely and kind women and he was close to ask her move in. But Sina was more like him, very attractive and they were probably more compatible. He didn't know though, if she was the right person to live with. He had invited her over a lot lately to find this out, but for some reason her presence annoyed him now. She was in a very romantic mood and had obviously expected him to follow her into the hot tub. But although he usually never objected to such an offer, he was not into it and when she came into the living room and tried to flirt with him, he wished she would leave soon.

He said goodbye to her, not showing how he felt. Since he liked her so much that he had seriously considered her, besides Diane, to move in, he could not understand why he had felt this sudden reserve towards her and it was on his mind the entire day.
When he looked at Kennedy holding Felipe, as they had called their son, he was further convinced that this was what he wanted for himself. He had a good relationship with David, but it was different to live with the child.
'I had no idea it would be like this', Kennedy said. 'Yesterday at this time he wasn't even in the world and he already means so much to me now.'

Enrique hardly slept that night. He kept on thinking about what Kennedy had said, and Diane and Sina, and why he had reacted towards her like that. And then suddenly it was all so clear to him, that he wondered how he had managed to overlook it for such a long time. Whether it was Diane or Sina, he had always worried about Kaylynn and her reaction to him living with another woman. He understood that he had not feared the jealous scene that could arise, but that he neither wanted to give up Kaylynn nor hurt her. Maybe it was because she was so quiet and shy, that it had taken him so long to see that she was the one that he wanted to be with, but immediately the next day he asked her if she would live with him. It came as a big surprise to Kaylynn, but she was more than happy to say yes to it.

The next evening she arrived with her few belongings and a considerable amount of savings. She had cleaned in so many households that her agency was in panic when she had phoned them earlier and quit her job.
Enrique welcomed her with a romantic hug. He had no doubt that he had made the right choice with her.

With her move-in he began to feel very protective towards her. He knew a little bit about her affairs with Daniel and Don, and thought that both had abused her and her hopes. But he would not disappoint her and do everything for her happiness.

Even the sex with her was different on that first night.

Kennedy and Gabriella still had a good love life too, but at the moment they were mainly occupied with their son. Gabriella was as happy as she had hoped and did not miss her former life style in the least. She had no intention to get married to Kennedy, but that did not mean she loved him less. In fact she was growing fonder of him every day.

Kennedy's worries about his ability as a father had been unnecessary. Once again a sim man was finding out that you did not need to be the family type to do the job well. He was taking his share in the care for the baby and he was very good at it, although or because he remained the same straight-forward and practical person he had always been.

Since her move-in Kaylynn had started to care for the baby too, telling Gabriella how much she wanted a child herself, but Kennedy's help still meant a lot to her. Gabriella was more tired now than she had been during her pregnancy. Felipe would not sleep more than four hours in a row, but sometimes it was simply too tempting to woohoo with Kennedy during those short breaks. He had started to exercise and she could not help to notice his well shaped body when he stood in front of her holding Felipe. She found him much more physically attractive than she used to and some of his particular features, his pale skin and his reddish hair as well as his slighlty broader build really turned her on.

Meanwhile Enrique tried his best to make Kaylynn comfortable. She was very shy and her lack of confidence made her vunerable. He showed her a lot of affection, was respectful and careful not to hurt her. He assured her that she did not have to worry about him being a romance sim and that he would like to have a baby as much as she did.
He had tried to get her pregnant as soon as she moved in, but without success so far.
One day he asked her if she would like to go to town for the afternoon. It was his day off and he was in the mood to buy her a present.

They went into a clothes shop and he asked her to pick whatever she liked. Then they bought some toddler clothes for Felipe for the time when he grew up, got a meal and headed back home.
When they arrived there and got out of the taxi, Kaylynn leapt into his arms and hugged him. 'I had a wonderful afternoon. You know, in the beginning when I met you, I had my doubts about you, but you are the best man a woman could find.'
Enrique was glad that Kaylynn could not read his thoughts, which were rather indecent at the moment. She had really surprised him with her choice of clothes earlier on. She did not seem to notice that the tight and short dress and the high heels she picked looked very provocative and were in stark contrast to her character.
It was a very exciting mixture though and Enrique was highly aroused when he held her in his arms.

When they sat on the bed in the evening he had the distinct feeling that this would be the lucky night. He had kept looking at her since they returned and could hardly wait to get her into the bedroom.

He was longing for her very much tonight. Kaylynn combined a sweet and modest nature with the body of a sex goddess and the new dress was really showing it off.

It was a very special night for both of them. Enrique felt as if he made love to her for the first time. Kaylynn had been very susceptible and had given herself to him completely and he had lost himself in her while they woohoo'd. 'You wonderful creature', he stammered, 'this feels so good, it feels so good to be with you'. He had never been touched by lovemaking like this before.

He moved close to her and put his arm round her waist.

Kaylynn did not get sick, but not long afterwards it became visible that Enrique had been right with his premonition.

Some time passed. Enrique was off work with a flu and needed a lot of rest. At noon he got up and went downstairs to join the rest of the household.
He looked lovingly at Kaylynn and the little belly that had grown on her. 'You can't imagine how happy I am! Isn't it wonderful? We are going to have a child.'

After that one event followed the other. Felipe had grown and was ready to become a toddler. Both parents had wanted to help their baby with the age transition, but Kaylynn was very keen on it and so Gabriella passed Felipe to her and walked up to Kennedy, watching the birthday of her son cuddled up in his arm.

It was only a short time after his birthday and Gabriella had just succeeded in teaching him to walk (a skill he learned almost immediately).

Enrique passed the baby to Kennedy. 'I am sorry I can't help out, but I have to look after my own daughter. I leave you alone with your children for now.'

'Did you have any idea Gabriella?'
'No, I didn't expect it at all. I was holding our son and then I went into labour again and this little princess was born.'
'So much about you not wanting a large family. If you count all of us together we are the biggest household in Pleasantview now. Do you know what this means? No sleep, no food, a 24 hour shift, I don't know how we will be able to handle it.'

But in the end the joy about their children wiped away his worries. He was playing with the girl which they had named Stella while Gabriella was holding their son now, who was given the name Emilio.

When Kaylynn picked up Annika, Enrique returned to help them feeding the babies, while Gabriella was having a short rest. 'This looks more like a nursery than a family home', she thought when she came into the kitchen. Gabriella was grateful that her brother and Kaylynn were living with them. Even if they had a baby on their own they would have to depend on their help.

But it worked out alright. Kennedy stayed at home for the time being and even if they had no time for themselves he and Gabriella were very close.

He admired her for her energy and the ease, with which she slipped into any role that the situation required. She could be stunning and seductive, but her intelligence and professionalism when she stood up for mayor were just as convincing. Or she could be a cheerful and warm-hearted mother and look completely natural.

Annika had a slightly different rhythm but it was not unusual during that period to find three adults in the kitchen, each holding a baby. The remaining household member would look after Felipe. It was very exhausting, but they were well organised and managed reasonably well.

If they did not have to leave the house nobody bothered to get dressed and they got used to see each other in their underwear or pyjamas. If seemed unnecessary and not worth waisting any time with. If they were lucky and all the children happened to be asleep, they usually used the opportunity for a nap.

But then Annika's birthday came and it would be a little bit easier with a toddler instead of a baby.

Felipe followed only a few days later.

Gabriella and Kennedy wished they could have spent more time with him before his birthday, but when the twins were born, they often had to leave him to himself or in the care of a family member. But Felipe knew that his parents loved him and he grew into a happy school child.

By this time Annika had already learned to walk from her mother.

Kaylynn picked her up and snuggled her. Annika was learning fast and Kaylynn was sure that she would soon learn to talk too. But at the moment she looked very tired and Kaylynn took her upstairs to sleep.

Afterwards she joined Enrique in the hot tub. Enrique did not miss being with other women, but for the past weeks there hadn't been a chance to woohoo with Kaylynn and he was missing that. They were kissing, but then Kaylynn said: 'Did you hear that? I think Annika has woken up.'

Kaylynn sensed it immediately when her daughter needed her and when she went upstairs Annika was in fact standing in her crib, waiting to be picked up.

When Enrique went inside he was stopped by his sister who asked him if he would mind checking on the babies for a while. Seeing him and Kaylynn in the whirlpool had reminded her how long it's been since she and Kennedy relaxed and had fun in there.
'Huh, wow, I really needed that', Gabriella said to Kennedy afterwards. 'I had almost forgotten, what it's like.'

But their thoughts quickly returned to their children too and before Enrique needed to look after them, Gabriella and Kennedy were already out of the tub and back upstairs. They had tried to guarantee that the babies were getting even attention from both parents, but it was hard because often it depended on who was available at the time. Gabriella had spent a little more time with Stella and her daughter had become very close to her.

and the same was true for Kennedy and Emilio.

Generally it was a bit easier though to make friends with Stella, simply because she was more active than her brother and awake for longer periods of time.

Felipe liked both his parents equally. His hair had grown and Gabriella thought him a very beautiful child.

As Kaylynn had expected Annika soon learned to talk. They fed her smart milk because it was considered to generally increase the learning ability in children, but she was a clever little girl anyway.

And although she was not much older than the twins, she was also potty trained by Kaylynn shortly before they grew up.

She obviously enjoyed the praise from her mother and smiled triumphantly at her.

But then it was close to six o'clock and after feeding the twins, Gabriella and Kennedy carried them into the front room, where they had set up a table with two cakes.

Emilio was born first, but his laziness made him a bit slower than his sister and he was second when they grew into toddlers.

He was lazy, but very sociable and Gabriella sensed that he really wanted to speak. Both children had slept until the afternoon and were awake and attentive. It was a good opportunity to begin with their training immediately.

While Gabriella was busy with Emilio, Kennedy was teaching Stella her first steps.

And while Kennedy and Gabriella concentrated on their family, Kaylynn seemed to be in a different mood. She showed a passion which was very unusual for her.

It surprised Enrique even more because earlier on he had wondered if it would work out if he went one step further and got married to her. It was as if she responded to this.

She caressed his cheek and said: 'You really mean a lot to me, Enrique, and not only because you have given me our wonderful daughter. You are a good man. Sometimes I wish that we would have a house on our own and maybe more children.'

'Who says it can not happen?', Enrique replied.

When they made love later at night it was the first time that Kaylynn initiated it. She usually did not seem to enjoy sex as much as he did, although he felt that it was not so much because he lacked ability as a lover, but because it didn't used to be such a great experience for her.
She was more concerned to please than to seek her own satisfaction. It was a welcome change to feel a real longing in her.

And the daughter he had with her was such a sweet creature that Enrique quite liked the idea of more children. It was completely unthinkable though without moving out. The idea had passed through the mind of every adult in the house since the twins were born, but Enrique and Gabriella hated the idea of living separate from each other. The children were also getting close and it would be nice to see them growing up together.

If Enrique had no idea why Kaylynn had acted differently that night, Gabriella was guessing the reason for it and earlier on, she had come upstairs and apologised to Kaylynn.
'Kaylynn, I really hope I didn't hurt you. I had no idea who this guy was and how you felt about him. I didn't even like it when he flirted with me. I have no interest to start an affair, I am happy with Kennedy and he gives me everything I need.'
'You don't have to apologise. I know what he's like, and I think what makes me most angry is that I didn't see it before. I wish he had not come back, but maybe it was a cure to see him again.'

What the two women referred to was a meeting with Don Lothario who had recently moved back to Pleasantview. Gabriella had heard about Don, but never met him in person, so she had no idea who he was when he came up to her.

Gabriella did not like his approach and apart from that she was not into a romance outside her relationship with Kennedy at the moment. She would have forgotten about the encounter if Kaylynn hadn't reacted so extreme. She was usually so modest and kind that Gabriella had not believed her capable of such a rage.
Later Kaylynn told her that this sim was Don Lothario and that she had an affair with him when she was his maid.

Gabriella felt that Kaylynn was angry with her too, although she could not really understand it, and it saddened her that they had fallen out since it had taken them some time to become friends. She forgot all about it though when she succeeded to teach Emilio to talk on his first day as a toddler.

Afterwards she watched Kennedy who made equal progress with their daughter.

With the babies it had just been to busy to have visitors, but when all the younger children had become toddlers, Enrique used the first opportunity to invite David over. Annika approached him before he could enter the house, being very curious about this new sim.

'What a cute little thing you are', he said and snuggled her.

He carried her around for most of the afternoon, unaware that the scene resembled one from long time ago, when Enrique had visited the Pleasants and met his toddler son.
Father and son were more similar than anyone would have guessed, even more than they knew. It went beyond their appearance and having the same aspiration. Enrique, although successful as a romance sim, had a strong family streak and was therefore not as clear cut as he appeared at first. David was like his father a little bit too serious to be a full hearted romance sim and at the moment he and Enrique were even sharing very similar thoughts. David was a little mixed up about Ashlee and Wendy, but this actually made him think about going steady with Ashlee and his father was often thinking how he could show his commitment to Kaylynn.

Despite it being a bit easier now, the adults were still kept busy by the children. Teaching Emilio to walk turned out more difficult than it had been with Stella and Kennedy had the impression that Emilio generally preferred to sit somewhere with a toy and had not much interest in wandering around.

His sister on the other hand was very shy and therefore did not pick up talking as easily. Gabriella took it upon her to teach her while Kennedy was instructing Emilio. Snuggled they were equally by both parents and if there was a preference for one child it was only a slight one.

Enrique was the only one who went to work during that period, but when he came home he loved to play and spend time with his daughter. When the children were asleep, the adults used the chance to talk to each other, but often they were simply tired and happy to get an early night.

One evening Gabriella adressed the current situation. She and Kaylynn were good friends again and she felt sorry for her because she was convinced that Kaylynn would have liked to have another child and was only stopped by the house being too full. They could have moved out of course, but this was were the difficulty began. The atmosphere in the house was very good and it wasn't only Enrique and Gabriella who didn't want to separate. It was true that Kaylynn was dreaming of more children, but already the thought of leaving Felipe, Stella and Emilio was making her sad. When they looked at Felipe they understood that for the children their family consisted of all of them together and that it might already be too late with regard to them.

Kennedy still had some time off and so Gabriella returned to work. He had convinced her that she should use the next opportunity to run for mayor again. Actually a lot of the neighbours would have liked to see her in this position and were hoping to be able to vote for her, trusting her despite the scandal at the hearing. Gabriella did not want to give up her career, but the first day she went back to work, she would have liked to get out of the car again to be with Kennedy and her children.

So during this period Kennedy was the main one to look after the children, spending the day with them until Gabriella returned back home a two o' clock.

He potty trained Stella and Emilio.

Kaylynn wasn't working, but Enrique insisted to take part in the upbringing of their daughter and apart from putting a lot of effort into teaching her, he also liked to take over the daily tasks of feeding and bathing her and putting her in her crib when she was tired.

Kaylynn and Gabriella were talking about it one day. 'Since we moved to Pleasantview', Gabriella said, 'we were always careful to keep our love life within these walls and I think we did well. But even if nobody had any real knowledge, it was a kind of open secret, because we also didn't pretend to be what we were not. You were in our house every day and you knew that you wouldn't get an angel when you agreed to move in with my brother. But I'm not sure if you know how much this all means for a man like him. To woohoo with a woman, he's done that with quite a few, but this here, this life, living with you and Annika, a family, that's something he would never do with just any woman. He really cares a lot for you.'

What Gabriella said about Enrique was true for herself. Around this time some developments were in process in Pleasantview, which had a serious impact on the love life of many neighbours and in some cases had led to casual romantic encounters outside of marriage. Curiously enough, those sims one might have expected to make use of the change in public moral first, turned out to be least affected. Maybe Gabriella and Enrique were satiated from their previous affairs because despite a lesser risk of spurning jealousy, they weren't even seen flirting with others. Only at home and with their partners there were some indications for the new atmosphere.

This could have been one reason why Enrique finally decided to make a proposal to Kaylynn. As much as he loved her he could not bring himself to propose marriage though, not yet. The natural aversion against it that resulted from being a romance sim was too strong.
At the same time he wanted to tell her that she had an important role in his life.

Kaylynn had made a few friends in the neighbourhood, like Marlon Jeffries, and when he got married to Angel she was invited. After the wedding he looked at her as if he was looking for her approval and she tried to show with her smile that she was really happy for him.
The whole celebration depressed her a little bit though. Not only was Marlon much more the type of sim she had imagined as a partner for life, she had also resigned to the fact Enrique would never ask her to marry him. Knowing that this was the type of thing that Kaylynn was dreaming of, may have been another reason for Enrique to make one step forward.

'I want to be completely honest and this is why I ask you to listen until I'm finished before you say anything.' Kaylynn replied with a questioning look and then nodded.
'Kaylynn, you know that I have been with many women before you and if someone would ask me if you are the greatest lover I've ever been with, I would have to say no. If someone would ask me if you are the most attractive woman I've ever met, I would have to say no. It's true even if it sounds terrible. But those are simply not the right questions. Because if someone asked me, who I like more than anyone else, who I feel strongest about, I would know the answer immediately and it would be you. I like you, I like your company and I like to woohoo with you most for the love I feel for you in those moments. I want you to be my steady girlfriend, the one above all others.'

Already this small step was a painful experience for a romance sim (actually this was the main reason why Enrique sometimes considered putting himself into the hands of technology and reprogram himself) and Kaylynn was aware that from him this proposal meant as much as marriage. It was a statement that he was seeing himself as belonging to her.
They way he started it was not paying her a compliment, but she understood that his statement as a whole did. It was the same he expressed when he came home from work and hugged or kissed her. He always looked so happy to see her.

Enrique thought that the short pain that followed his proposal was a small price for what he gained. It changed the way Kaylynn was acting towards him somehow, but mainly it was the change within him that made a difference. When he was in the bedroom with her that evening he realised that some very basic and primitive motives had been underlying his decision. By going steady he was making a commitment to her, but in return he got Kaylynn to be his and he felt like a winner. It filled him with a lot of joy to think that she belonged to him alone and it was beginning to make much more sense that some sims were striving for this type of thing.

It was shortly before Annika would grow up into a school child. In the last days all the family members tried to enjoy some time with her while she was still a toddler. Gabriella had been kept from making friends with her niece by her own children, but she thought that she was very cute.

So Annika got a lot of snuggling from everyone in those days, but most of all from her parents.

Enrique was glad that he happened to have a short holiday and would get his share too.

The day of Annika's age transition had an eventful start. Kennedy got promoted and reached the top of his career. He came back in the company of Ryan Delarosa.

He was greeted by Felipe, who had returned shortly before him with his first A+.

He had already reported it to his mother, but he was glad that he could tell his father now, who had helped him with his homework and taught him to study.

For Kennedy the most important event had already taken place in the morning. He was about to take a shower when Gabriella stopped him.
'You know Enrique asked Kaylynn to be his steady girlfriend?' - 'Yes of course'
'I want this too.'

'Oh Gabriella, of course I want to be your boyfriend, I AM your boyfriend. We have three children together, how much more commitment do you need?'
'I don't know, I think I might have other reasons than my brother. It's fun to meet someone and make a conquest, but you can have many lovers and still be alone in a way. I want you and everyone else to know that you are more than just one among others and that we aren't only living together because of the children. You are my one sim and I'm putting a claim on you.'

Although she felt miserable for a moment, she knew that she had wanted to make this proposal. While she was convinced that her brother would change his mind one day, she didn't ever want to get married and Kennedy wasn't interested either. There had been no need to do it for him, he was happy with the way they were living together. The moment when he comforted her after her demotion had always remained on her mind though. She was strong and could manage on her own but it didn't necessarily mean that she did not want to have a special sim she could turn to and who would be seen as the one she belonged to.

It was still too early to start with the birthday celebration and Enrique and Kaylynn separated from the others to pay a visit to their bedroom.

The Martinez Family pt. 5