Ramaswami/McDermott Random Legacy ch 8: Commitment Issues

Liam and Bridgette wasted no time, as soon as she came of age, they got married. Lakshmi was disappointed that they didn't throw a huge wedding party, so she threw a small party for them at her house. Morgana came, but Thornton did not. Morgana said he was away on business, but she didn't sound sincere. Lakshmi worried the rich old bastard might not approve of his daughter's choice, but if he didn't approve, why had he been so insistent that Liam take his family name? Lakshmi also wished Morgana had consulted with her before coming to the party in that frumpy dress. What was she thinking?

Rukmini was approached by Thornton in the park after school, asking her questions about Max. Thornton Wolff was not the richest or most powerful man in Sunset Valley, that honor would belong to mild-mannered, bookish Mortimer Goth, or self-absorbed playboy Malcolm Landgraab, or maybe even shady old Nick Alto, but the town generally treated him as their king, walking on eggshells in his presence, deferring to his authority and quaking in fear of his wrath. So he was quite surprised to be lectured by a teenage girl about his parental responsibilities to his bastard son.

"And it was very rude of you not to show up to Bridgette and Liam's party," Rukmini concluded.

"I couldn't face him," the old man admitted quietly, "I knew he would be there." By him, he meant Max.

And then Thornton swept her up into a bear hug. That was totally *not* creepy.

Rukimini came of age, looking just like her mother, except for having her father's green eyes.

She expected that he parents would buy her a house like they did for her brother, so Rukimini was surprised to learn they expected her to stay with them. She wasn't going to be able to buy a house on her own, so she had no choice. So she suggested they move into a new, larger house together. But no, her parents were attached to the pokey old house and her father was especially loathe to leave his garden. As a compromise, they allowed their daughter to expand the house, building a master suite for herself, plus a new laundry room, and adding a proper second story rather than the just the narrow attic room she'd been using as a bedroom. They also bought her a new car, a pricey Bwan Speedtster.

Rukmini ran into her brother and Bridgette at the gym, and excitedly told them about her new career in law enforcement.

Bridgette has news of her own; she and Liam are expecting a child. "Wow, already?" Rukmini gasps, "Didn't you want to wait?"

"It wasn't exactly planned," Liam answered from the treadmill.

"Stuff happens," Bridgette agreed, "But we're pretty happy about it, all the same."

She may have to live with her parents, but that's not going to stop Rukmini from living her life, and having her boyfriend over. Her father is hoping there will be a wedding soon, and new babies in the house to raise.

"Your dad is...applauding us..."

"Yeah, let's just go to my room."

"So, now might be a good time to talk about our future," Max suggests.

"No, it wouldn't," Rukmini replies, avoiding what she knows is coming "Right now, I don't want to talk at all."

The goddess of love smiles down on the couple.

Max sleeps blissfully that night, dreaming of happiness and home.

Rukmini's sleep is a bit more fitful, her dreams a bit more disturbed.

When Max leaves for work the next morning (he's a teacher at the school they attended as children) Rukmini ponders the future that he wanted to discuss the night before. They've been inseparable since childhood, they went steady in high school, and now of course, they should be getting married and having children, just like Liam and Bridgette. Rukmini loves Max, but that's not what she wants. She isn't sure exactly what she does want, but she's sure there is more out there to experience, and she's not ready yet to settle down.

Max leaves for work happier than he's ever been in his life, confident that soon he will have the real family he's always hoped for.

(Challenge Notes: Generation One goals have all been met. The generation 2 'Expansionist' goal has also been met, and I'm currently playing 'Hands Off'. Rukmini's Traits are: Artistic, Brave, Vegetarian, Schmoozer, Commitment Issues. I feel very sorry for Max, lol, as Rukmini is committed to being a single parent of 3.)