Angela rummages on, oblivious.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

'Ooh, what about this? Very chic, light enough for the warmer days, and florals never go out of style... oh, and this one comes in peach!'

'I... I guess? I don't know if it suits me...'

'Oh, don't be silly! You're my gorgeous girl! You'd look beautiful in anything.'

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

She focuses on Avery instead. Watcher, she can't believe she's starting high school already. The back to school wardrobe shopping was always her favourite part.

'Now you're dressing for autumn, so you'll need something sensible, but we want to be cute about it...'

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

Sometimes Angela wakes up and doesn't know who she is. She sees the twins babbling away, demanding her attention, and dreams that when she looks in the mirror, she's turned into her mother.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant #dustinbroke

Sumi doesn't talk about much of anything, now. They stick to safe topics like the weather, and how feeling sick isn't an excuse to dress like a slob, really, Angela.

(she doesn't find out about her new grandchild for a while after that)

#ts2 #thesims2 #marysuepleasant #angelapleasant

It quickly becomes apparent why.

Twins. Two little redheaded girls who will grow up to hate each other. Who will end up estranged by 16 and maybe dead in a ditch because Watcher knows where Lilith is now.

Angela misses her. So much. She's always hated being alone.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

It's all fine. Until she goes into labour several weeks early. In the bathroom. In the middle of the night.

Avery was born right on her due date. Brandi always joked Dustin was always late for everything. Just like always, Angela has to screw it up somehow.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

Dustin's working overtime almost every night. Angela's painting as fast as she can with every spare moment. But it's okay. It's all really okay.

("No, ma'am, makeup isn't meant to do that...")

#ts2 #thesims2 #dustinbroke #angelapleasant

They don't have much furniture. They had to sell the computer and they can't afford a TV yet. Avery just wants to know if she gets to choose the baby's name; Zoey for a girl, and if it's an icky boy, Jord "like Beppa!" (Angela has no idea what she means either).

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

He finally puts the menu down.

'Ange, it's okay. We've got money coming in. We can make another kid work.'

'You... you don't hate me?'

Dustin squeezes her hand.

'No, babe. I love you, Aves, *and* this new baby. I could never hate any of you.'

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant #dustinbroke

Now to come clean before it's too late.

'Are you even listening?'

'Course. Just deciding between the burger or the cheesesteak- '

'Dustin, this is a big deal. Another screwup on top of everything else. We need to focus.'

He won't even look at her.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant #dustinbroke

There's a newbuild estate going up on the other side of town. Angela sneaks out while Dustin's at work, has a look at one of the occupied ones.

They can make this work. They said they needed a bigger place anyway. But another baby?

They hadn't planned for that.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

Right now, it feels like Angela is trying to walk atop a very thin tightrope. Whilst wearing iceskates. After climbing a mountain in them.

Everything was going fine. She'd gotten too complacent to see the warning signs. Just like her mother.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

Everything is going great.

So does Angela feel like something is very wrong?

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

They're all working hard. Angela's books sell steadily; Dustin's working long hours, rarely seeing daylight. He still finds time to help Avery with her homework, because "I don't want her growing up in a trailer like I did, Ange."

#ts2 #thesims2 #dustinbroke #angelapleasant

Avery's a proper *person* now, bursting with life and joy and questions. She wants to see what Angela's writing, begs for stories to fall asleep to, tells her Zoey bear wants to be in the book too.

It is possible to be a good mother when you never had one yourself?

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant

Most days, Angela feels like she can smile. Slowly but surely, life is becoming easier. As is loving her daughter.

#ts2 #thesims2 #angelapleasant