The Green Family Story - Chapter 4

  Generation 2: Under the City Lights

Your parents lived a simple life on the farm, but that was never right for you. Instead, you dreamed of escaping to the big city and living under its ever-bright lights.

1. Complete City Native and Friend of the World (spouse) 

2. Reach the top of the Business career and Social Media (Internet Influencer) career (spouse)
3. Max the charisma skill and singing skill (founder) and video gaming skill (spouse)

4. You don't share your parent's traditional values...so don't get married FAILED
5. Have kid(s), but only a single pregnancy...you can't take more time off work! P
6. Learn all the city food stall recipes

7. Attend every city festival at least once P

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Well, it took a lot of hard work and long hours in the office, but I've been promoted again - I'm now the CEO of my company! The only way up from here is to branch out into multiple companies, but for now, this is a huge milestone.



Darwin and I celebrated in our favourite way, especially because Darwin also got a promotion into broadcasting, and his own career is taking off too. He's more famous every day, I swear - his audience love him. I like the times I get to have him all to myself for a little while, though.



I don't have to work weekends any more, so the following day, once Darwin is done with work, we head to the park in Willow Creek to relax. Darwin bumps into Ben, Tiffani's husband, and they have a catch up.



Meanwhile, I like to spend my down time at the communal chessboards, honing my game. I've gotten pretty good at chess over the years.



Back in the city, when Darwin and I run into Delilah she's VERY pregnant. Due any day now. I really think Darwin is starting to get baby fever after our party.



Which is lucky, because I haven't been feeling great recently. In between the usual grind of work and seeing our friends, I had a lot of mornings like this. At first I thought it was just stress and I considered taking a vacation day or two, although the company really needs me there at the moment. But, I had my suspicions when I wasn't getting better, and took a pregnancy test. Sure enough...positive! Darwin and I weren't really trying, hadn't even discussed it properly yet.



I'm not surprised he was shocked when I told him what had happened. 
"Pregnant?! Weren't we using protection?"
"Yes, and I didn't stop it either. But you know it's not fail safe, and there've been quite a lot of opportunities lately..."

 

"I thought you might be excited actually. So many of our friends have started having kids. Don't you want a family of your own?"
Darwin smiled and kissed me, then.
"Of course I do, I just didn't expect it to happen right away. I'm happy though, really! Are you?"
"Mostly I am. I'm a little worried about work, but there was never going to be a perfect time, right? The company is always going to keep me really busy, and same for your work. If we don't fit a kid in sometime soon, we'll run out of time."
Darwin nodded. "It'll be tough, with how busy we are, but we can make it work. Just one kid, then?"
I nod emphatically, not only because we really are busy, but because being pregnant is also pretty rough and I'm not sure I want to do it again.
"One kid. It'll be great."



First, though, we both agreed it was time to leave our first apartment behind. Darwin and I were both making good money at our jobs, and though our little place in Culpepper House had a room for a child, the pest and wiring issues meant we didn't think it was safe. Plus, I'm the CEO of a major corporation, and Darwin is pretty well known; we needed an apartment more suited to our lives now. So we moved to the financial district, into a beautiful place, and bought a whole lot of new furniture too.



Then we invited our families over - mine much bigger than Darwin's! - to show them the new place and share the big news.



I had to tell my oldest sister first, of course. She was the one who'd been pushing for us to bite the bullet and have a baby.
"I'm pregnant, Clover!"
"I knew you guys would want kids eventually! Oh, I'm so excited my lot are finally going to have cousins!"
"Cousin, sis. We're only having one."
Clover smiled. "You might change your mind." But I was fairly sure I wouldn't, and in fact, I hope I don't have her propensity for twins!



Basil and Fern were both excited for me too, although Basil looked kind of confused by it all.
"I thought you guys were loving being footloose and fancy free in the city?"
Darwin laughed. "We are, but we think we can have a kid here and still enjoy San Myshuno. You don't think you'll want one of your own?"
Basil shook his head. "Definitely not. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, and I'm happy for you guys, but I can't see myself settling down with one person."



Brayden, who is technically my uncle but was so much younger than our Dad that he feels more like another sibling, also never settled down and had kids, but was just as happy for us and spent the party chatting with Clover about uncle duties.



"I think that went well. Is your sister happy for you?"
Darwin grinned. "Thrilled. Now her kids will have a cousin too. With our parents passing away so young she's always wanted a big family. Our kid will be a lot younger than hers, but they'll still be excited."



I settle into life in the city while pregnant. Things don't change too much...I'm still terrible at using chopsticks, though I try, and I can still have most of the famous city street food when I want it.



Darwin, struck by a desire to make sure his family is close, supportive, and happy, goes out of his way to bring my nieces and nephews to the city from time to time, getting to know them and showing them around.



I get used to working through morning sickness and backaches, and although I feel less sick as my pregnancy progresses, the work is exhausting.



Even so, Darwin and I make time to stay connected.



Darwin also makes a vlog announcing that we're having a baby and it goes viral. His audience explodes, he's promoted again at work, and suddenly he's a B-lister and actually starting to get some attention from paparazzi. 





He's also recognised far more when we're out now, and often asked for autographs. He tries to keep me out of the spotlight while I'm pregnant, which I appreciate. I have my own degree of fame as the CEO of a big company, but Darwin's on a whole other level now.



Luckily, he likes the attention! He's an influential streamer and internet personality, and his brand has leaked over into the real world. He's started getting sent a lot of fan mail, and sometimes his pictures end up in the papers.



But to me, he's just my lovely husband and soon to be the father of our child. I'm sure he's going to be a great Dad.



One night, we're having dinner at our dining table in the new apartment, admiring a lovely sunset through the ceiling-t0-floor windows that look out over the hills.



"Darwin, I'm starting to feel kind of crampy. I think we should go to the hospital."
Darwin was worried. "Cramps? Do you think this is it?"
"I'm not sure, but let's head in to be on the safe side."



By the time we get there I'm not in any doubt. I was definitely in labour!



The doctors took good care of me, but giving birth isn't a walk in the park even with the best technology to help you out. I can't believe my Mum had three home births - it was bad enough doing it here.



But as they say, it was totally worth it. Darwin and I had a son! We named him Walt, after the founder of one of the greatest entertainment companies of all time, Walt Disney.

 

Darwin immediately filmed a vlog to tell his audience the big news, while I cuddled with our baby and shared the camera for a while. I don't go on Darwin's channel a lot, but I thought it would be fun to be part of his birth and baby introduction vlog.



As much as I adore our son, though, Darwin and I had agreed that we'd make parenthood and our careers work together, without sacrificing either one. So, as hard as it was to leave my little boy sleeping in his bassinet, I went back to work as soon as I could after the birth.



Darwin did his fair share of the childcare, especially as he works shorter hours than me, and we also hired a nanny for Walt to cover when we were both in the office.



When Darwin was promoted again, cementing his position as an online A-lister, our friend Miki - who likes kids but doesn't have any of her own - also started coming around to look after Walt a couple of days a week.



She was great with him and it made us feel like we weren't just leaving him with the nanny all the time.



Despite having a baby and very busy careers, though, Darwin and I tried hard to make sure we still enjoyed ourselves and made time for our friends and family, especially on the holidays.



Breakfast was just the two of us and Darwin's much improved cooking, with Walt sleeping peacefully upstairs.



Then, of course, family time!



We'd renovated the baby room into space for a toddler, as Walt was growing fast, as Basil exclaimed when he popped in to see his nephew.
"He's pretty cute, sis."
"I know. And such an easy baby. He barely cries, sleeps through the night. We got pretty lucky."



Not everyone is so lucky as us though, so when I passed a protest on my way home from work one day, I decided to join in. It was kind of fun, actually.



Time passed, and before we knew it a whole year had gone past, and then another, as we lived our lives in the city. We adjusted to having Walt around, both still working long hours and dedicating a lot to our jobs, but enjoying having our son as part of our lives too. Of course, it was also nice to get away from the apartment just the two of us sometimes, leaving Walt with his nanny, and Darwin especially liked taking me for a drink at the Stargazer lounge, one of the most romantic spots in town.



"Cheers to us, babe!"
"Cheers, Darwin."



Of course Darwin has to announce when he goes out any where - it boosts his followers so much - but I don't mind. I hung out and watched the comedian while he did his thing.



Then we finished off the night with some karaoke, still one of my favourite things to do. Walt is growing up fast so Darwin and I picked a family-friendly song to celebrate. Having a baby and a high-powered career hasn't always been easy, but I'm so glad we decided to do it.