Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 48: Happiness

It was an ordinary day, no different from any other. Somehow amidst all of the stress, these kinds of days managed to be boring for Amelia. She waited patiently for Tiffany to finish eating her food as Onyx cooked dinner -- Claire was always too lazy too feed herself, especially since she kicked Jeremy out -- and tapped her fingers in a steady rhythm against the glass tabletop.

Her mind wandered off to somewhere far away, and she was only pulled out of her train of thought when she heard the familiar sound of the doorbell ringing. 

Onyx sighed, clearly finding it to be an inconvenient time for guests. "Amelia, could you get that? I'm kind of occupied with this food..."

"Sure, honey," she replied as she stood from the dining chair. "Just try to keep an eye on Tiffany. You know how much she enjoys putting food anywhere but her mouth..."

Onyx laughed lightly. "Yes, especially the floor. Don't worry, I'll look out for her."

Amelia nodded and walked to the foyer. 'Who would it be this time of evening?'

As two familiar faces came into view through the glass panes, her question was answered and she lit up. She raced to the door and opened it with enthusiasm, pulling her brother into a hug the moment he stepped inside the house.

"Alexander!" Amelia exclaimed. 

"Surprise!" Alexander grinned as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I guess you weren't expecting to see us?"

"I wasn't! It's just that we're all so busy, we rarely get the time to see each other. But I'm so glad you're here. And you got to bring Brynn this time!" Amelia was clearly excited, and it only made him smile wider. "I've missed you so much..."

"I've missed you too, sis," Alexander sighed. "My work schedule is just so crazy. And Brynn's isn't much better most of the time... you know we both wish we could visit more."

"No, I wish that Onyx and I could visit more." She frowned. "But since Tiffany became a responsibility we can hardly ever leave the house. Claire and Jeremy don't really do anything for her..."

Brynn cleared her throat and they parted from their hug, turning to face her.

"Where's my hug from my favorite sister-in-law?" Brynn asked with a playful grin.

"Brynn, I'm your only sister-in-law," Amelia replied with a laugh.

Brynn's grin widened and she pulled Amelia into a quick hug before stepping back. "So how have you and Onyx been?"

"Busy," Amelia sighed. "Claire and Jeremy are getting a divorce. She kicked him out, so now we're kind of struggling for money... I'm making some money off of paintings and Onyx has taken up some freelance writing. But now that he's doing that, he's even more busy than I am... and we don't have much time together anymore, either..."

Alexander and Brynn both frowned.

"Hey, things will work out! Brynn and I are busy all the time," Alexander smiled. "It isn't about how much time you have together. It's about how you spend the time that you have."

Amelia smiled a little. "Well, we're together any chance we get... and I enjoy every second that we have together."

"Then you must be spending it right, so don't worry," Alexander grinned. "You two will be fine."

"You're right!" Amelia smiled. "Thanks, Alexander. Now... I really need to get back to Tiffany. She's probably done eating by now... Onyx is in the kitchen if you want to talk to him while I go take care of her?"

"Hey, Brynn hasn't gotten the chance to meet her yet! The few times Brynn's visited with me since she was born, Tiffany was sleeping," Alexander said. "Brynn, come on, you have to meet her! She's adorable."

Brynn's cheerful smile faded just a little. "Right, of course."

The three of them headed to the kitchen, and Amelia noticed Onyx in the dining room with Tiffany. "There they--"

"There they are!" Alexander interrupted excitedly and rushed over to them, Amelia following closely behind.

"Alexander!" Onyx smiled. "It's great to see you."

"It's great to see you too, Onyx." Alexander smiled at him and looked down at Tiffany, being held securely in his arms. "Wow, she grows fast! She's getting so big..."

"I know!" Amelia smiled.

Tiffany smiled at Alexander and reached out for him.

"I think she wants you," Onyx said and handed her to him.

Alexander lit up as he held Tiffany, and the two went to laughing and playing without a care in the world...

Onyx hadn't even noticed Brynn standing in the archway, frowning as she averted her gaze from Alexander. But when he glanced over and saw her, he could tell something was wrong and quietly approached her.

"Brynn? Is everything alright?" Onyx asked. 

"Yes, I just... feel a little guilty seeing him so happy to be around a kid," Brynn sighed.

"What do you mean?" Onyx frowned. "You don't like children?"

"No," she replied. "Just the opposite. I wanted to start a family with Alexander..."

He nodded in understanding. "He doesn't want to?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't think there's anything that Alexander wants more than for us to have a family... but..."

Onyx placed a hand on her shoulder. "But?"

"We actually tried... for a long time to have a baby," Brynn began, looking down at the floor. "I-I just couldn't get pregnant. Or at least that's what I thought, until finally one day...  I had been feeling strange for a few weeks, then sick in the mornings for a few days, so I took a pregnancy test. It was positive. We were both so happy until I had a miscarriage barely a week later." 

Onyx felt his heart sink. "I'm so sorry..."

"It really hurt both of us, but especially him. The way he lit up when he found out we were having a baby... I'll never forget that," she said, the tears running down her cheeks. She looked up from the floor, smiling sadly at the sight in front of her.

"Seeing him happy like that when he's around Tiffany... it hurts," Brynn sighed. "After that happened, we decided not to try having a baby again. I just... wish I could have been the one to give him this kind of happiness."

Onyx looked at her and managed to smile. "Can I tell you something?"

She met his gaze, blinking back her tears. "Yes... what is it?"

His smile widened. "Brynn, you've already given him all the happiness in the world."