Gen 2 Chapter 1: Penelope

Well, here it is. Mom's blog passed on to me. Mom's legacy passed on to me. You'll have to excuse me if I'm a little overwhelmed about it all!

Reading back over Mom's life has been fascinating. I had heard the stories before, of course, but reading it from Mom's point of view is something else entirely. I'm not sure I'll be able to live up to it... I'm not the writer that she was.

Was. I still can't believe she's gone! I'm an orphan!

Ok, maybe I'm being a little overly emotional and dramatic about things. Mom always said I had a tendency to do that. She also said I was too much of a perfectionist, but that it was balanced my my friendly nature so I guess it all works out in the end.

Anyway, I just couldn't stand to live in the house where my parents died so I took my share of the inheritance and bought myself a cute little place.

I didn't really want to move away from the water, the view has always soothed and inspired me, so I headed up the coast a bit. I can actually see our old house from my backyard, should I care to look the right way.

Life alone is soothing in itself, if a little lonely.

I miss my mom more than a little. I wonder if I did the right thing in making such a big change all at once?

 

I've been indulging my artistic side and taking advantage of the fantastic view from my gazebo. I even make a little money with it.

My partner, Letitia, commissioned a painting from me and I was more than happy to deliver it to her in person. It was so nice to see her outside of work, though I was surprised to see her out in the sun.

I've taken to playing chess in the park to improve my logic skills for work... this has the added benefit of getting me out of the house and meeting new people!

All of my hard work paid off, too, when I was promoted onto the Special Agent track at work! I can't believe I'm officially Special Agent Penelope Hodgins.

Just after my promotion, it was my birthday. I ended up spending it with Letitia and a few of her "night owl" friends.

For some reason, having a birthday gave me some kind of complex about age. I played it off by making some awkward joke about Letitia's sun allergy. I'm not usually so insensitive... maybe it's a midlife crisis?

At least I still look good! Mostly. Except for the wrinkles. And the tummy pooch. And the wrinkles. Wait, what was my point?

Anyway, Mom and Dad seem to be getting along better now that they're dead.

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A/N: Sorry everything is so dark, I didn't realize that I'd taken so many night pictures. Things are moving right along with Neli's career... when will she roll some social wishes? And this whole mid-life crisis thing is getting to me. It's so hard to keep her happy when she's frowning at her belly or poking fingers at her face!

Gen Chapter 22: Death becomes us

Trixi here!

I had another computer malfunction and lost a bunch of pictures, which is really sad because some really big stuff happened around here lately!

First off, VJ managed to improve his relationship with both Fiona and Storm... though Neli remains elusive. I can understand how betrayed she feels, though I can only imagine how difficult it must be for her to face her co-workers when her Dad is the Emperor of Evil.

I started writing again and finished my romance novel. After that, I decided to go in a different direction and wrote some Sci-Fi ("Die! Evil Warlord!") and mystery ("Who killed the Emperor?"). I guess you could say that I was able to work out a lot of my inner turmoil through my writing... I've been pretty much ignoring the whole family to master that skill and achieve my goal of being an Illustrious Author! I can't believe I finally did it! As an added bonus, I can officially make a living as an author now... not that it matters to an old retiree in her last years.

Fiona and Neli are moving quickly up the ranks of their chosen professions. Storm graduated from high school and has decided to get by on his guitar skills and charisma instead of getting an actual job. I'm not sure how I feel about him essentially being a talented drifter, but I have hope that he will turn out ok.

VJ randomly decided to take a side job fixing Christopher's stereo. I'm not sure what possessed him to try it, he's handy with plumbing but has never done much with electronics. The kids and I were all asleep when we heard a horrible sound and rushed into the study to find VJ shot through with electricity! He died right then and there, before we could consider reconciliation and without ever reaching old age. It seems kind of sad that the Emperor of Evil was taken out by an old stereo and not one of his numerous enemies. The kids and I were distraught... well, except for Neli, who mostly just seemed bored. VJ and I may have been estranged, but I discovered that I did still love him and grieved intensely.

After his death, I spent most of my time reading and sleeping. Neli continued on with life as usual, working hard to earn her promotions.

Storm continued to be a suffering musician... thought the suffering was mostly on my part, wondering when he was going to get a job and contribute to the household.

And Fiona went and got herself arrested! I hope her jail time will convince her to at least be a little less careless about her criminal activity!

And then, late one night after a nice nap, it was my turn.

I wonder if VJ and I will get along better now.

I watched as Fiona and Storm grieved my passing. I feel so guilty for leaving them, even though they are adults with lives of their own to live. I will miss seeing my grandchildren born (assuming any of my kids ever gets around to having children). I will miss seeing what Neli's, Fi's and Storm's lives will become.

I watched as Neli did the only thing she could think of to make life with her shiftless brother and criminal sister bearable...

She moved out.

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A/N: I can't believe I lost more pictures! Not even my computer geek hubby can figure out where they went. It would be weird for things to just delete themselves, but who knows. I'm sad that I lost the pics of Trixi making her LTW and, especially, the ones of VJ's death. Neli looking bored while everyone else carried on about it was just too funny. On the other hand, it certainly wrapped up Trixi's story quickly! Next up, Neli takes over.

Gen 1 Chapter 21: Life Goes On

Trixi here!

Well, life goes on. After all of the trauma and drama between VJ and me, I just didn't have the heart to write romance anymore. VJ has been staying out all night, sleeping on park benches and partying at all hours. The kids are doing well in school and don't really need me anymore. So I've just been throwing myself into my painting.

Day and night, night and day.

It was a good way to ignore VJ, too.

Before I knew it, the kids started graduating! Neli was first, of course. She left her rebellious image behind as she entered her adult years and started her career law enforcement immediately after graduation.

Meanwhile, Fiona and Storm both went to the prom. Neli was keen to get all of the gossip once they came home. Being the mom, I didn't get all of the dirt, but I hear they each found a bit of romance at the dance!

VJ will occasionally make an appearance and try to chat with the kids, but Fiona's the only one who will give him the time of day. I think Storm will eventually come around, too, but I fear Neli's relationship with her father is irrevocably damaged.

Next to graduate was Fiona! She's quite a beauty, if I do say so myself. She skipped graduation altogether and headed out to start her criminal career. Having a criminal under the same roof as a police officer could get interesting.

In a last ditch effort to save our family, VJ took us on a family vacation. Storm wasn't willing to miss school to come along so we left him home alone. I was hopeful that he was responsible enough...

I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised that the first thing he did was throw a party!

Luckily, he doesn't know very many teens and only two people showed up. Unfortunately, they were both girls!

I honestly wonder what those girls were on... I hear that one was passed out on the deck while the other danced around the fire! And the paparazzi were there to capture the moment...

Eventually, one of Neli's friends on the police force stopped by to warn Storm that the neighbors were starting to complain. I imagine he was less than receptive, but I appreciate her trying to help!

And our family vacation did nothing to improve VJ's relationship with the rest of us, so I'm not sure it was worth all of the trouble!

Then again, VJ and Storm seem to have bonded over the unlawful activities that occurred in our absence, so maybe it wasn't a total loss.

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A/N: This generation is going on forever! Trixi is really close to finishing her LTW, though, finally. And I have no idea what was up with that girl dancing around the fire like she'd never seen anything like it. Odd days all around.

Gen 1 Chapter 20: Changes

Trixi here!

Looking back, I should have known something wasn't right. Shouldn't I? Things seemed so normal, so routine. Maybe that was the problem.

VJ sure didn't lead me to believe that anything was missing from our relationship. On the contrary, he could barely keep his hands off of me most days.

But then I retired. I'd reached as high in my culinary career as I felt like going and I'd mastered my cooking skills. It was more than time to concentrate on my writing. The kids were so excited for me.

We had a little celebration and Fi told me that I should take some time at the spa... freshen up for my new life as a lady of leisure. It was her treat (using her employee discount) and it was fabulous! I've never been so pampered!

While I was there, though, I happened to overhear some women talking about VJ. My VJ... but apparently not mine alone.

I headed home to confront him. I told him that I knew he'd been cheating on me. That I was humiliated. That I couldn't stand that he'd been lying to me.

And he didn't deny it. He just stood there with that stupid, evil glow.

I couldn't help myself. I reached out and smacked him upside the head! I can't believe I hit him! I can't believe he let me!

We argued most of the night. He eventually apologized, though he never did explain himself. Not that it matters, really.

He said that he felt guilty, that he never meant to hurt me. I'm pretty sure that he actually just never meant for me to find out. I can't believe I've been so stupid. I wanted to ask him just how long it had been going on... if this was why he never made it to the kids births (except for Storm, and he almost missed that one too) or some of their birthdays, but I'm not sure I really want to know. How many other women have there been? Is this what it is like to be married to evil?

As if that wasn't bad enough, our kitchen caught fire! Right in the middle of our "discussion"!

I'm not sure which kid was cooking before heading off to school... but they obviously forgot to finish what they started!

Eventually, the fire department showed up and put out the fire. We only lost the one corner of the kitchen, luckily.

Of course, I wasn't going to let myself be distracted by a little thing like the house almost burning down... I started right back up yelling at VJ for betraying me.

He tried to suck up a little, but I was having none of it. I'm just not sure what to do now.

Even Raynoldo, our former babysitter, came over and yelled at VJ! I guess the news traveled around town pretty quickly. I was secretly quite pleased that people seem to be on my side. VJ has so much influence around here, being the major crime lord.

VJ just decided to go out partying. He and Christopher hit the town, staying out all night and getting into all kinds of trouble. Not that I care anymore.

I just wish I knew what to tell the kids. Neli and VJ had a strained relationship as it was... now she totally hates him. Storm and Fi are still trying to process what is going on, but they've heard more than enough from their friends around town.

I've toyed with the idea of kicking VJ out, but we honestly need his income... at least until the kids move out and I can manage with a smaller place. What am I going to do?

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A/N: I have no idea where this came from! Trixi came back from the spa insistent that she had to confront VJ about cheating. And then she slapped him! Then there were many wishes to be mean to each other so their relationship is totally at an all time low which neither of them want to fix. After the fire, VJ even wished to see "the fiery ghost of Beatrix"! They've both been wishing on and off to break up, but the wish boxes have been full at those points and I haven't had to go through with it. Crazy days.