Apocalypse Please!

I think her name was debraWeek 22

HippieLayla86

Welcome back to Apocalypse Please! Please pardon the long hiatus, I didn't mean to keep everyone on their toes for so long! I've been working on some joint legacies that kept pushing this off (don't get me wrong I love playing them!) the Encores, Opuses and now I've got my hands on the Sitcoms. But I decided to make some time for the Lakshmis in Hiddenbrook.

I think a little recap is due - Last chapter, generation 4 heir Frank had just met and fallen for Debra Peters (from my previous Peters Apocalypse challenge), but they were trying to take things slow since Cam had only just recently broken Frank's heart, and Debra was new to all of this. So Frank was keeping his news from his parents, but quickly regretted it when Benny (his father) died without knowing his son had moved on from his first heartbreak.

When we last left it was Tuesday again, meaning Frank could finally call Debra, invite her over and introduce her to his mother, Eileen, and brother, Isaac.

This story is told from Frank, the heir's perspective, if I have anything to add I'll do so at the bottom of the slide. If our other narrator is speaking, the font will be in purple, now let's continue shall we?

I'm home from work with another promotion! The old Police Chief has retired, and I was given his job. I was thrilled because it seemed like I would finally be able to implement getting fire detectors, but I can't – what more could I possibly do to protect Hiddenbrook than be the police chief?

Putting my work worries aside, I practically ran inside to make a phone call. You see, it's finally Tuesday and the lines are briefly open for the day.“Hello – may I speak to... oh okay thanks... I'm so glad Tuesday is finally here, are you ready to come over?”

I know I told Debra I wanted to take things slow, but when I saw her, I just couldn't help myself.

“Oh Frank, I'm happy to see you too!” Debra said giggling as I lavished her with affection. “Frankie, you haven't told your mother about me yet, or introduced me, shouldn't we do that first?”

“Just like I do”

“As it so happens my dear, I asked mother to come outside, she should be over here any minute.”“Okay, now I'm nervous...”“No need to be nervous Debra, she's going to love you...”

“Frank honey, who's this charming young lady I saw you embracing a moment ago?”

“Mom this is who I've been telling you about, Debra, this is my Mother” Debra: Right then Frank's Mom pulled me into a tight a hug, talk about a friendly greeting!“Mrs. Lakshmi, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Debra Peters. I'm a friend of your son's”Mrs. Lakshmi laughed, “Friend my dear? I think you two are much more than friends. You must be the reason Frank has had such a smile on his face lately...”

“I know we don't have electricity, and I know you'll miss your family, but Debra, I can't live without you.”Debra: So my sweet friend asked me to move in, and move in I did. I brought Barbara Anne my cat with me too.

“Debra, I'm going against everything I said to you last time we saw each other. But I've lost my Dad since then, and I've realized life is entirely too short to be without the one you love. I can't just see you on Tuesdays anymore...”

I thought originally that since my Grandma Ivy had restored electricity to half of Hiddenbrook, maybe I should too. But the closest job posting to her career in Science was Natural Science, and being a Tuesday, I had to take it before it was gone...

I am thrilled to be starting my life with Frank and his family! Though I must say, no electricity has been strange adjustment for me. I can't believe how much I've taken it for granted...

Eileen, Frank's Mom, is very smitten with Barbara Anne. I'm happy that she is finding comfort in my dear cat since she lost her spouse. I'm sad I will never get to know Frank's father. Though with all of these urns laying about, maybe he isn't too far away...

Frank works long hours. He's very dedicated to figuring out how to get smoke detectors back in Hiddenbrook. He thought becoming Police Chief would give him enough influence, but it just hasn't worked out yet.

Law Enforcement Restrictions Lifted : “Once a brave hero from the family emerges, the streets are cleaned up and order is restored, allowing police and firefighters to once again help people. The Law Enforcement restrictions are lifted. The smoke detector and burglar alarm may be purchased and used, even if the Science restriction has not been lifted.” Frank is now permaplatinum as well! The first sim since Mara and Alison, he is now Captain Hero.

Notice my proudly displayed fire detector! This should help keep premature sim death at bay.Frank came home today and said he had finally figured it out – to get home protection for all of Hiddenbrook without all of it having electricity, he had to think outside of the box. He said he's met some really influential people, and was finally able to retrieve the fire alarms that we need. I still don't know how he's going to make this work without electricity, but he said he's got it all figured out.

I have some big news too, I was promoted to an Animal Linguist after my first day of work! I had hoped that Natural Science would help me bring electricity to this side of Hiddenbrook. I guess I should have known that with the label “Natural” science I'd be more likely to study animals, and you know, nature... I was a bit down when I came home, even with the promotion, but Frank was really happy to see me, and then proud when I told him my news.

I've noticed that Frank is sometimes jealous of my college education, and I can see that he has a hard time relating to his brother Isaac sometimes because Isaac doesn't want to go to college... But Isaac has figured out what he wants to do, and it doesn't require a degree.

While I was in college, I had hoped to become a Game Developer, that dream seems a bit unrealistic now though in my current life. So because I had dreamed of software and technology and computers, I had a bit of studying to do for my job.

Frank: It has been such a joy to have Debra living here with us. So one beautiful sunny afternoon, I met Debra outside when she got home from work, and pulled her in for a kiss. As I held her in my arms, I made a decision.

“As each day passes, I am more sure about my love for you. My life and my losses have taught me when love is real. Debra Peters, will you make me the happiest man in all of the world, and marry me?”“Frank, of course I will! Yes, yes, I will marry you.”“Oh Debra, you've made me so happy! Debra, will you marry me now?”“Um... Frank, I already said yes...” Debra was chuckling as she answered me.

“I know, I mean, right here, right now. Let's get married. Today is perfect, let's take advantage of it.”

Plus, I was ready to become Mrs. Lakshmi.

Debra: And so we got married. Isaac and Frank's Mother, well my Mom now too, came outside to witness our happy day.We can't have wedding parties, or even an arch, so I knew Frank was right when he said we needed to take advantage of the beautiful day.

Our perfect day was ended in the perfect way for a newly wed husband and wife.

Barbara Anne has always been a special cat, but I had no idea she was so fierce. Normally a small cat would shy away from the wolves in our neighborhood, but Barbara Anne isn't afraid. She is ready to protect our home, and has actually beaten Olive here in a fight. Oddly enough, the two of them play together now. We're lucky to have such a great cat, maybe she learns some of her tricks at work?---Barbara Anne is in the security pet career.

Married life is wonderful. Though I will say, it isn't ideal to sleep in twin beds on the third floor of our home most nights. Along with no electricity, the Lakshmi ancestors are very active at night.---Paranormal was lifted in the second generation of my Peters apocalypse challenge that Debra came from, so she's never had to worry about ghosts confining them to one floor at night.

On a night with no activity from Frank's relatives, I was woken up by something else. That's right, I'm expecting! And it couldn't have happened at a better time. I have some days off at work, so I won't have to quit my job!---With the slacker restriction in place, if you miss work for any reason you have to quit your job. And once they quit, a sim can't take a job in the same field again, so pregnancy is a bit of a timing challenge.

Isaac may not need to go to college, but I think I can see him regretting his choice a little bit when night comes around. His brothers may not have the most fun at college, they have their limitations there too, but at least they don't have to worry about Lakshmis from the other side coming to say “hello”

Frank: Ever since I became Police Chief I knew I had to take to the skies to get things fixed. I haven't told Debra, but I was contacted by SimCity to try out a suit that helps me fly, so I'm able to fight crime from the sky... that's how I was able to get fire detectors for Hiddenbrook, because I'm the one responding to them.Now I find myself drawn to the night sky as well and I'll spend hours gazing through our telescope.

I've become more accepting of Isaac's decision not to go to college. He's growing up so quickly, and though I had wished he was with Henry and Gideon in school, it's nice that Debra has gotten to know him as well.

I am very proud to be protecting Hiddenbrook. I'm trying to be discrete about my methods, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to hide my secret from my family... I don't know if they would agree with my reasoning or if they would try to talk me out of my daily work.

And I'm also pretty sure she had a smile on her face. She knows how much the loss of Adia shook us all, and how I had promised that that fate wouldn't fall upon anyone else. I hope she is proud of me.

Though I'm pretty sure Mom saw me leave this morning...

These pictures are here because I still can't believe how tough Barbara Anne can be. She is a staunch protector of the Lakshmi home. She puts other sims family's dogs to shame.

She always befriends the wolves, but only after she's let them know that she's the boss. Too funny!

But she is a forgiving cat.

One of my fellow fighters Andrea has convinced that my family should know what I do at work. So she came home with me today. I suppose she is right, my family should know what I'm up to in case anything should happen to me.

As Andrea and I walked into the house poor Debra was asleep in her meal. Debra's pregnancy has really taken a toll on her. We're both eagerly awaiting the birth of our child so she can get some relief. At least when the baby is out, we'll all be able to take turns nurturing him or her.

After kindly waking her up, Debra was able to listen to Andrea and I explain what we actually do every day.“So you mean to tell me, you're up there flying around with the aliens?”“Debbie, you're such a kidder. I think if aliens existed Andrea or I would have flown into one by now.”“Frank, I wouldn't be so sure” Andrea chimed in, “Do you really think we'd stumble upon them? I'm sure they wouldn't want to be seen until they were ready”

After dinner Debra went up to take a bath and go to bed. The baby was really demanding all of her attention.

As Debra was getting ready for bed, I went out onto the balcony to gaze at the grand sky and millions of galaxies. Debra really had me going with that alien bit.

As I looked into the skies, everything seemed to be different tonight. One moment I was looking into the eye piece, and the next minute there was a blinding light all around me... what in the world could be going on. After all, it was the middle of the night, and we don't have electricity! I was a bit baffled.

This light was illogical. I was standing beneath part of our roof. The telescope wasn't out in the open...

I tried to look for the source of the light, but all I could see was the wood boards above me. I was starting to get a little freaked out. Maybe I should go inside?

The only thing that I could get a handle on was my telescope – and it's made from all fixable parts, so of course they pulled apart on me...Dear gods! What on simland could be happening??? “Debra!! I love you!!”

Before I had the chance to run inside, my feet started to leave the ground!!“Debra!! Debra come quick!”

Debra: I had just gotten out of a long bath when I heard Frank shouting from the balcony below. I ran out to the balcony. And where I know Frank had been standing a minute ago, he was nowhere to be found...

As I looked around I started to panic, Frank had screamed that he loved me... but where had he gone, would that be the last time I heard his voice??I was becoming hysterical - “Frank!? Frank darling! Where are you?” First lightning and now, well I don't know what – why is Frank so unlucky with the sky?“Debra – are you okay?” Andrea came running out, apparently she hadn't left yet.“Oh Andrea – what could have possibly happened? Did you see what happened? Oh Frank!”“Debra, take a deep breath. I didn't want to tell you this before, but you were really onto something at dinner. I've seen things while flying around, and they weren't jets.”

“I didn't know what to think about these objects, I'm not a scientist or engineer, I couldn't figure out what they were but that didn't mean there wasn't a logical explanation for them.”“What are you trying to say Andrea?” The tone of Andrea's voice was beginning to upset me more.“Debra – I know this sounds crazy, but I think there really are aliens. And I hope for all of our sakes and especially Frank's that they're just curious about how we've suddenly taken to the skies. But you need to be careful in your condition, a premature labor is the last thing we need right now, so come inside and I'll wait with you. Frank is a fighter, he'll find a way to come back to us.”

I went inside but I couldn't relax. My husband had disappeared and his many relatives had decided to come out tonight. The house was full of unrest.The only calm amongst us was our cat Barbara Anne. She came home with a note saying she had received another promotion. She is now a guard pet... it seems Frank could have used her more at home tonight than they did at work!

Alien Restrictions Lifted : “Earthlings are seen as quite primitive. It is a culture that still thinks digital watches were a pretty nifty idea. Pathetic.” Sim City has been using Alien Technology for over a year, gained from the crashed remains of an alien saucer. With the labs and factories that held this technology destroyed in the blast, the alien discoveries are once again a mystery.With Frank's abduction, he has gained access to alien technology, but time will only tell if there are any side affects from this trip...

Yes, that means aspiration rewards – ie smart milk - are free reign again – well, except for smart milk which is restricted by Oceanography... Poseiden is apparently angry at Hiddenbrook, but that's another story for another chapter...

Frank: All of a sudden the ground was before me, and it was hurtling closer to me too quickly for me to do anything.

My head was foggy, my vision was blurred and there was a loud humming noise above me.

The sky was radiating blue... wait... am I falling?

What in the name of the gods could that loud humming noise be? Why was everything so blue?

I hit the pavement with a large thud. Thank goodness my head fell in the sand... though my knees will be hurting for days.

The humming noise was coming from behind me, I slowly turned and looked around...

As I stood up, my knees weren't the only thing that was sore. Oddly enough my back... and my... well... everything hurt.

In an instant everything came back to.

I was abducted.

Aliens are real.

Aliens are not gentle.

My Mom, Isaac and Barbara Anne had run outside. The humming was apparently louder to them than it was to me, they gripped their ears in pain.

The humming noise faded away. The saucer must have taken off, but I couldn't bring myself to look back at it...

All at once, I wanted to know more. Why had they chosen me? What were they planning?

For someone in law enforcement, I surely didn't do too well with observing my surroundings this entire time.

Mom stood there holding me for what seemed like an hour. And Isaac came over too and just patted me on the back. I think he didn't know what to make of it. And really, neither did I. As I climbed into bed with Debra, I was very much wishing all of this was a bad dream.

“Oh Frankie dear! We thought we had lost you! Debra was hysterical. But I was able to get her to go to bed. I was worried the baby would come sooner than it should because she was so upset.... But my dear! My dear Frankie, come here son”

As I was falling asleep I tried to wish it away. Debra woke up and mumbled in her sleep, “I guess aliens are real”

Henry happened to call that morning and Eileen was relieved to tell him about what had happened. They had a lot of catching up to do. They must have a different phone schedule there at LFT than we do here in Hiddenbrook.

Debra: Frank slept for a long time after he got home. I on the other hand was up and reading with a fury to find out more about what all had happened to my dear husband.

Frank has been home for a day now, and he's been trying to focus on what he can control. He has been feeling a bit ill lately, but he is remembering more about the incident piece by piece. It turns out he was sent home with invaluable knowledge from our friends in the sky, and he just needs to be willing to think about it to gain that knowledge.

Life has certainly been very different since I left college. I love my husband, and I love his family, but I do miss my family. And selfishly, I do miss the luxuries I had become accustomed to. I didn't realize how much more difficult it could be to pass the time and amuse myself without electricity.---Debra is a pleasure sim, and with no electricity it is very difficult to keep her aspiration high. To make things more challenging her LTW is to go on 50 dream dates. And since Intelligence and Show Business restrict dates she will likely never achieve her LTW.

“I guess so... I wonder why astronauts haven't seen them before? Why Frank?”“Hmm, not sure, maybe they were jealous that he could fly too?”

During dinner the day after Frank's abduction things were a little off in the Lakshmi household. I tried to break the tension with some humor, it had never failed me before.“So I guess aliens are real huh?”

“But in all seriousness, are you getting excited about your upcoming birthday Isaac? You'll finally be able to pursue your dream and go into Oceonography.”“It feels like it will never get here, but yes, I am really excited about it. Plus, the sooner I get a job, the sooner Frank will stop judging me for not going to college... I just don't want that life.”“Oh Isaac, I think Frank is starting to come around about it...”

Before I could finish my sentence, Isaac and Tosha ran outside.

I walked out to see that my mother in law was leaving us that night.---Eileen the ever happy family sim didn't complete her LTW of 6 grandkids, the poor thing never even got one. But she did reach the maximum lifetime points and therefore received a platinum grave. Eileen's lift of Education was a very pivotal restriction, especially in conjunction with her husband's military lift. She will be missed. Oh, and I'm also glad she passed away outside! Less hauntings maybe.

I feel so bad for Isaac, I never knew how lucky I was to have both of my parents still. He's just a teen and has lost both of his parents, meanwhile mine are very alive and well.

His friend Tosha seemed a bit shaken up about it too. I didn't stay outside for long, because I wanted to make sure I could be there the moment Frank woke up to comfort him... I know how devastated he was when he lost his father, I know this will be very hard for him too...

I had tried to stay by Frank to be there when he woke up, but of course pregnancy called and I had to run to the bathroom... it was there that I found out I was actually going into labor!

Ever since Frank got abducted he's been exhausted and hungry. I keep joking with him that he is acting more like a pregnant sim than I am!

I was overcome with joy, and just wanted to hold little Jonas, but I couldn't, because I still felt like I was in labor... what in the world could be going on?

The delivery ended up being easy, and before long I was holding our beautiful baby boy in my arms. Frank and I named him Jonas.

It turns out that Frank and I are doubly lucky, I also gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! I guess I shouldn't be shocked that we had twins, afterall I'm a twin, and my mother has a twin... nonetheless I am thrilled to have little Kate Eileen in our lives!

Frank must have heard me giving birth the Jonas, and he arrived upstairs as I was having more pain.

---Jonas is named after “My Name is Jonas” by Weezer off of their Blue album. This has always been one of my favorite songs, as Weezer is one of my favorite bands.

Kate is named after “Kate” by Ben Folds Five from Whatever and Ever Amen. If you haven't seen Ben Folds live, and you enjoy a good show – I heartily recommend seeing Ben Folds. He is an incredible musician, and even though I've seen him numerous times, any time he performs near me, I make it a point to go see him.

That night Barbara Anne also came home with good news. Our amazing cat has received yet another promotion. She is now a “Sniffer” I mean I get what that means, but couldn't they come up with a better title? We were told she needs to learn to play dead, good thing she already knows how! My pride for Barbara Anne is immense, I can't even imagine how great I'll feel when Jonas and Kate grow up and achieve great things...

And nutritional milk to drink. And lots of love to last them a lifetime and back.

Frank and I are so smitten with our darlings. I know our lives may not be perfect, and others may think we live a quaint life. But our babies have clean, warm water for baths.

Though I will say that Frank has been acting a bit odd since he was abducted...

Frank: I don't know how much longer I can keep my suspicions from Debra... I don't know how she'll take it...

And that's all for now for the Lakshmis – thanks for reading Chapter 11 of

Apocalypse Please! - I Think Her Name Was Debra. Boy week 22 was a long one, and I'll

warn ya, so are weeks 23 & 24! I wasn't expecting to lift the alien restriction so

soon, but I'm happy to have it taken care of :) Of course we know Frank will have an

(hopefully) adorable alien baby soon, but I didn't anticipate what else would

happen to the Lakshmis... things are about to get a little more interesting!

SiMania (www.z12.invisionfree.com/sim_mania)

Happy Simming! HippieLayla86