Generation 1.3 And the plot thickens...

Life quickly fell into a pattern that Sera could live with. She hurried to work every morning.

Worked out until her feet gave way.

Attended emergency after emergency. In her opinion, it was just as silly to burn incense in the garage as it was to burn it outside, but it was her job to put out the fires, not tell Sims where they should use incense. She did wonder if fire safety should be a subject at the Community School for the Gifted. How gifted could the Hidden Springs residents be if they kept setting things on fire? 

And hung out with Silas after work. The more she got to know him, the more they had in common. They even had the same favourite colour. Once in a while she let herself think about what it would be like to have met him while she was single...he was so nice, and he really seemed to enjoy her company, unlike Andrew, who just put her down all the time. 

Silas wouldn't treat me the way Andrew does. Sera realised on Thursday evening when she popped by to see him after the gym. He always has a kind word. She was hungry for his attention, for the reassurance that she wasn't such a horrible person to live with, that she wasn't as selfish as Andrew told her she was. She certainly felt a lot more attractive when Silas was around. The way his face lit up when he saw her made her feel like the most beautiful person in the world.

One thing's for sure, Sera thought on Friday afternoon as she put out yet another small garage fire. Ebonee was right about the need to work out. We do have some weird emergencies.

Why do I always need to pee after putting out fires? Sera wondered when she got off the phone with her boss. She'd just been promoted to Hose Handler, and had received a very nice bonus.

"I got a promotion!" She told Andrew excitedly when she got home. She had been doing her best to treat him as though she did love him, she was still hoping he would forget about her rejection earlier. She let him hug and kiss her now, but did her best to always get home after he had gone to bed to avoid the problem of before bed extra curricular activities. She definitely wasn't going to go down that path after the way he had been treating her recently.

Andrew smiled. "That's good, Sera. Maybe we should go out to celebrate. You've been so stressed recently, and working so hard for this promotion. It would do you good to relax."

Sera looked at him in surprise. He never wanted to spend money. She'd had to insist on dining room chairs when the ones the house came with broke, for heaven's sake.

"Sure...that would be nice." It will be good to get out and see other people, too, she thought. She didn't dare entertain the thought that Silas might be going out as well, since it was a Friday night.

"Where are we headed?" Sera asked when they got in the car. 

"I thought we'd start at The Grind then spend tonight at Redwood Heights Luxury Lodge. Really get away from it all. It's the weekend tomorrow after all." Andrew said. "I booked us a king size room"

"Sounds good." Sera said, forcing a smile. Seemed like he was planning on it being a special night...

I can always say no. She comforted herself. It's not like he's going to force me.

Standing outside the club, listening to the pulsing music...this was fun already. Just what she needed to get rid of the stress of the past couple of weeks. And the night had only just begun. As long as Andrew didn't push anything tonight, she could see herself really enjoying this.

Once she actually got inside the club and began dancing with Andrew, she really began to enjoy herself. It was so nice to just have some time away from the house. And it was so nice that Andrew wanted to celebrate her promotion.

"Let's get some drinks." Andrew yelled over the music. "Neither of us have to work tomorrow, so let's cut loose!"

"Okay!" Sera agreed. Wow, he's really being loose with the money tonight. She thought in surprise. Taxi, drinks, hotel...this is so unlike him.

She continued to dance while he bought them both an Alien Brain.

It tasted great, and definitely put her in the mood for more dancing. It made her feel smarter too.

After about twenty minutes, Sera was really starting to feel thirsty again.

"Want another drink?" Andrew asked. 

"Yes please," Sera said, surprised he was asking AND willing to spend the money.

While she was waiting for him to get back, she looked around, and noticed Silas in the corner of the club. 

"Silas!" she called out, hurrying over.

"Wow, Sera, you look amazing." Silas told her as she walked over.

Sera smiled shyly. Andrew had said nothing about the hair, or the outfit. "Thanks, Silas. You're looking pretty sharp, too. Special occasion?"

"Just glad to get out of the house. You?"

"I got a promotion at work!"

"Congratulations, that's wonderful. You here alone?"

"No, with Andrew," she said honestly. "He suggested the whole thing."

"Wow, that seems unlike him, from what you've said." Silas said tentatively.

Sera nodded. "Yes, but...well, maybe he's settling in. He's getting drinks right now. Want to dance while we wait?"

Silas grinned. "How could I say no? Your outfit is made for dancing in."

Silas is a good dancer. Sera noticed, as they moved together. It was like he anticipated her every move.

She was having so much fun dancing with him that she didn't even notice Andrew until he was right there, staring at both of them.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, trying to flirt with my girl?" He shouted at Silas. "Get your grubby hands off of my WIFE!"

"Whoa, I wasn't trying to flirt with her, we were just dancing," Silas protested.

"Andrew, please," Sera begged. "He wasn't being inappropriate, he just congratulated me on my promotion. It's a nice evening, let's not ruin it."

"Fine." Andrew glared at Silas. "But stay away from her, buddy. I'm watching you."

Relieved to have avoided a fight, Sera followed Andrew to the bar where he grabbed the KTHXBYEs. he had ordered. 

He watched her as she took a sip.

"What?" she asked.

"Just wondering how it tastes, I've never had one before."

"Oh..." she took another sip. "It's very nice."

Andrew smiled. "Good, I ordered it with you in mind. Let's dance again."

"Sure!" Sera said eagerly.

As she was about to go, Andrew pulled her into a kiss. Sera endured it uncomfortably.

"After one more dance, we should go," she said awkwardly. "It's been a long day, I'm ready to sleep." Without meaning to, she emphasised the word sleep, and cringed when Andrew's expression hardened.  She was surprised to see him smile almost straight away.

"That's fine, one more dance and one more drink, then we'll go. I have a special night planned, and I know you'll have a good sleep."

"Okay...cool." She smiled back at him. He really was being very nice tonight, it was such a wonderful change. And that drink had made her feel really nice, it was so sweet. Between it and the music, she felt very floaty, very eager to dance. Even eager to dance with her husband.

He seemed to be following her better, too. This was pretty fun!

"Thirsty?" Andrew asked after about fifteen minutes. "Let's get you another drink."

"All right," Sera agreed. She was feeling pretty thirsty, now. 

"I have just the drink in mind. It's called a Pomegranate Passion. Follow me."

Sera took a sip of the drink he ordered her. "Yum," she said happily, draining it. "It tastes really good." 

She felt a sudden rush of love for him, and stepped closer. "Thanks so much for tonight, Andrew. It's been so amazing."

"That's okay, I wanted to do it. Let's go back to the hotel, you must be feeling pretty tired."

"Okay." She smiled goofily at him.

They reached the hotel at around five am. It was a beautiful rambling building set against the gorgeous backdrop of the mountain.

Sera surprised herself by kissing him right on the front walkway. What's gotten into me? She wondered. She was even looking forward to going to bed. It's like all the bad feelings she had for him had been pushed away.

Andrew grinned at her. "Let's go to bed."

Their hotel room was beautiful too, and decorated in her favourite colour, green.

"Did you choose this room because it's my favourite colour?" Sera asked, touched.

"Uh...yeah. You know, you actually don't look bad all dressed up." Andrew pushed her hair away from her face. "But let's get you out of those clothes."

Sera stood before him in her underwear, smiling. "What do you think?" she asked.

"I think you should get on that bed. No more teasing."

This was what she was missing, Sera thought as Andrew kissed her hand. The love she had felt tonight that made her want to be with him. So strange that he had changed his ways utterly, even stranger that she could forgive him after everything. But it felt like this was a new beginning.

Andrew pushed her over and began to kiss her.

"Ow...not so hard."

"You're fine." Andrew told her.

Sera smiled. "Okay." If he said it, she must be okay.

"Time to live up to your clothes." Andrew told her. "You strut around in these outfits, and I want to experience the goods. No more holding out."

The next morning, Sera woke up in an unfamiliar bed, closer to Andrew than she'd been in a long time. Slowly, memories of the night before began flooding in.

She scrambled out of bed, feeling sick. Oh my gosh...did I actually...how did I forgive him last night? I must have drank way too much. It didn't seem like it but...

A horrible thought occurred to her. She really hadn't drunk that much. But Andrew had bought all her drinks, and he'd watched very carefully as she consumed each one. And the strange feelings of love, lust, and craziness weren't like her at all. Nor were they necessarily the side effects of too much alcohol. But some drinks, especially with extra ingredients added could do that...

She ran to the bathroom and threw up everything in her stomach.

Well, at least it's just one night. Today life can go back to normal. No more alcohol for me! Sera thought after she had flushed the toilet. And this really has to be the last straw...technically I didn't consent to having sex with Andrew last night. I have a good job now, and it would be far better to do it before we have kids.

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Sorry, but I had to do it. There's no way Sera would ever just have sex with Andrew without some serious grovelling, and there's no way Andrew's going to grovel. As far as he's concerned, he has a right to do whatever he wants, she's his wife.

Seriously, as I set the scene up, he kept rolling wishes to buy drinks, and watched her as she drank them. Very creepy.

Bonus funny shot: Andrew tries to fix the washing machine by stuffing his face in the bubbles.