4.2 Touch of Grey

Ami spends a lot of time perfecting her recipes. With Jasen's constant supply of delicious, fresh produce, she has plenty of ingredients to experiment with. Of course, Jasen ends up eating most of it (mermaids can eat food, but it isn't terribly filling.)

Not all of her time was spent cooped up in the house. She still had her job, which she wasn't quite determined with, and there was also convincing Alia the Unicorn  to stay with them. Her persistence paid off and Alia joined the family late one evening.

Having a unicorn around was quite the boon. Alia was already an elder, but that didn't damper her magical capabilities at all. She helped Jasen with his crops by blessing them, which accelerated their growth rate and allowed him to bolster the quality quicker.

With Jasen's garden doing well and Ami slowly climbing the ranks of what her father referred to as a "gypsy", they were ready to expand their family. Sure, they weren't married, but what did that matter? Ami didn't tell her dad right away. It was just easier that way.

Ami's pregnancy progressed, which left her pretty tired most of the time. Evenings were spent quietly with Jasen reading what to expect when your girlfriend is expecting while Ami dozed on the rocking chair. The animals usually hung out nearby, though when the cats started noisily fighting, they'd rouse Ami from her stupor.

Telling her dad wasn't easy. Phoenix was still stuck on the fact that they weren't married and that she was having a baby with a gypsy. Ami was technically one now, too, but he refused to acknowledge that. He'd come around, eventually.

Gabby, on the other hand, was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of being a grandmother. She'd had her last kid years before after Ami initially moved out and was having the baby itch again despite her age. Jasen's mother was ambivalent about the whole thing. Babies were babies.

Ami went into labor while fishing. Thankfully, it was relatively close to the house and she was able to get back and rouse Jasen before the pains took him out completely. They called her midwife and proceeded with her water birthing plan... which was a lot messier than Jasen had anticipated. He'd assumed water birth meant it would be relatively clean and not gross. He was wrong.

Twins Misty and Mia entered the world. Both parents were quite elated with their new bundles of joy and grateful that the nursery was almost finished. At least the cribs were there, which was more than enough for babies.

New twins were a bit more of a challenge than just a new baby, so Ami spent a lot of time in the rocking chair, trying to stay awake while holding either Mia or Misty. Sleep was a luxury of the past. Worse yet, she had to return to work shortly after giving birth.

When the twins grow into toddlers, both parents are relieved until they realize that now they're more mobile and require more attention--walking, talking, and potty training don't come naturally. At least Misty and Mia seemed to get along. Ami was even more shocked to see that Misty had inherited the mermaid magic. Everyone had assumed it would die out with her.

Jasen was a doting father for the twin girls, happy to teach them the skills necessary to succeed in life. His own childhood had been rather strange. He hadn't had much guidance and so he was determined to do better for his own children.

Jasen isn't thrilled about Ami's mother making random visits. He may have been raised a gypsy, but that didn't mean he wanted ghosts spooking him around every corner. Kelsey started popping up almost immediately after the twins were born, determined to see her grandchildren.

Alia the Unicorn passes on, having already been an elder by the time she joined the household. The family mourns their loss, Jasen especially. She was such a good unicorn!

Jasen and Ami are hit with the sudden urge to get married and so they do, quietly in their backyard. Ami's father isn't happy at all about it and he's certainly not thrilled to find out that she took his last name in the process. To him and the rest of Isla Paradiso, Ami is still a Voss, even if she technically goes by Hashini-Patel now.

Ami delights in teaching the girls their skills, especially talking. They're getting so big so fast that it's almost hard to believe that they'll soon be children.

As always, Gabby is more than happy to help out. She visits constantly now and is always playing with one of the twins. She's hoping for more babies and from what Jasen and Ami have said, there's a good chance of it. Gabby's age no longer bothers her with the thought of even more babies in the future.

Not long after, Ami is pregnant again. She enjoys her last moments with the twins as they are and tries to rest as much as she can. At least her job gives her time off while she's pregnant, saying that being so messes up her 'energies' and makes her readings off.

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Whew. I am beginning to regret making this house so small! It's already absolute chaos with all of the animals and just two kids... but with four? Oh boy. 

I was so sad about Alia the Unicorn dying. :( I had no idea she was already an elder by the time Ami got her into the household. So sad! I had hoped she'd be around longer... I had even entertained the thought of unicorn foals.  

Ami and Jasen have to have four kids. The twins were incidental. I did nothing to increase the chances of multiples. I'm really shocked at how strong the mermaids genes are. Sheesh! And Ami's idle career is driving me nuts. I can do absolutely NOTHING to encourage promotions, so she sort of languishes. At least I've figured out how to make money with Jasen--red berry plants! 

I should mention I'm having some issues with the world now, but I don't want to give it up. :( I also just really love playing this style. It's so much fun!