5. Meet the Hawthorne Family - Jumps Through Time

Before getting into the story, I want to apologise for not having posted in such a long time! I had some personal things going on (nothing bad or anything) but it took up a lot of time. This just meant that when I did have spare time, I didn't really fancy writing. Then I spent a couple of weeks away from actually playing the game, which made it even more difficult to find motivation to write! But now I'm back with the Hawthorne's and back to their story. I don't want to commit to saying I'll publish a story every week, because life does get in the way, and in the next week or so I'm starting back at both work and uni... so it might be more difficult. But I'm doing this forewarning now in advance, so I don't just disappear this time!

Another thing before actually starting, I did a poll on twitter to figure out if I should stick to writing the backstories in detail, or if I should jump forward to the actual gameplay. The gameplay vote just beat out the backstory, but I've decided to kind of meet in the middle? This post will still be kind of backstory, but not as detailed. It's going to be a lot of jumping through time, so exploring important elements of the family before I started playing, but not in quite as much detail as before. This way I'm not just diving straight in and there's no link from the last part, but it also means that I'm not spending ages in the past!

Now the intro is all out of the way, I can finally begin...

Kira and Bianca took their relationship slow to begin with; casual dates, but staying exclusive to one another. They didn't hide their relationship, but didn't publicly announce it for a while. Bianca got to know Trey better, making sure to build a relationship with the toddler. Kira bonded with Viola, as she knew she was an important person to Bianca. 

*

After six months of this, the pair knew their relationship was becoming more serious. Bianca was spending a lot of time around Kira's apartment anyway, so they both decided to bite the bullet and officially have Bianca move in.

*

Another six months passed, and Bianca celebrated yet another promotion. She could now officially call herself executive manager at Benton's Publishing Agency. She was earning enough money that if the two continued to save for another three months, they would be well on the way to buying a bigger house. With this news and realisation, the women realised they should probably discuss their future...

"Bianca... I wanted to ask you something, and it's a really big deal, so you don't have to answer right away. Give it some thought... but... would you like to legally adopt Trey? I mean, you're basically already his other mum. You do everything I do, and we live together, and I see this going further..."

"I don't need to think about it, because I already know that I would love nothing more than to raise our son together, and being his legal guardian would make me happier than you know!"

*

Bianca filled out the paperwork, and before she knew it, Trey was officially her son. Kira and Bianca began house-hunting and found a gorgeous Scandinavian home in Windenburg. It wasn't too far from where Bianca lived with Viola, but it was quite a distance from their current apartment in San Myshuno... The women took some time to ponder the house, but it was all they wanted a more. Not too large, but with enough space for more kids...

After two weeks of weighing up the pros and cons, they decided to go with their gut and sign for the house!

Within a month, Kira, Bianca and Trey had all moved into their new home, just in time for Trey to start school!

*

With Trey starting school, and Bianca working more hours and earning more money, this meant Kira could take on less hours at the publishing firm and would have more time to herself at home to continue writing her own stories. Through her job, Kira was able to get linked with an editor who helped her with her first novel, Grand Exposure. 

*

Before she knew it, Kira's first book was publishing and out in the world for all to read! Everything was falling into place, and she knew just what would make it better...

When Kira's first pay cheque for her book royalties came through, she took Bianca away for the weekend, with Viola looking after Trey. It was a much needed romantic getaway, the perfect occasion for a proposal...

Bianca was took by complete surprise when she saw Kira down on one knee, but she knew that she would love nothing more than to marry the woman she loved, so said yes!

*

A year later, in the cool autumn October, Kira and Bianca tied the knot and became the Hawthornes. They honeymooned in warm Sulani for two weeks, where they discussed expanding their family... 

When they got home, they asked Trey how he would feel about having a little brother or sister, to which Trey was smitten with the idea! So the process of adoption began...

*

After a few months, Kira and Bianca found the perfect candidate, who just so happened to love the couple back! The papers were signed, and it was agreed on that when the little girl was born, she would be Kira and Bianca's baby girl.

*

The biological mother's pregnancy flew by, and in no time, Kira and Bianca were proud parents to baby Harper. Trey was the best big brother, always doting on his little sister. They were such a happy little family, nothing could ruin this for them.

*

A few years passed, and Harper was a happy, smart, playful little toddler, obsessed with her big brother. Trey was starting secondary school the next year, growing up so quickly. Kira had resigned at the office, working purely as a freelance author. She has sold another follow-up novel to her first, and was planning on writing another final instalment. Whereas Bianca was loving her job as executive manager and had no intentions of leaving any time soon. But there was one thing on both women's minds... they still had one spare room in their house... 

Kira and Bianca discussed it for a period of time, working out if another child was a good idea. Kira was spending enough time at home, so someone could always be with the new baby, and Bianca's job meant they could easily provide for another child. They decided to mention the idea to Trey and Harper, see if they would be happy to have another addition to their little family. It was no surprise at all that both kids were delighted by this idea, and they confirmed it to both Kira and Bianca. And so the process of adoption started once again...

*

This time it took a while longer to find the perfect candidate, but the couple were determined not to give up. After a little over a year, they found the woman who was carrying their future son, and all three women were happy with the decision and signed the papers. In the next six months, baby Noah was born and joined the Hawthorne family.

*

Harper and Trey both loved their new baby brother, and Kira and Bianca were so thrilled to be new parents again. After welcoming Noah into their family, they knew that now their family was complete...

A couple of years passed, and Noah was a crazy, energetic little toddler. He took up so much of Kira's time that she struggled writing for long periods of time. Fortunately, her three part book series was all published and out in the world, that she need not worry about being in the middle of a project. She decided that while Noah was still young and needed a lot of care and attention, she would limit her writing time, and when she did have time for writing, she focused on her parenting blog. 

Bianca was still working at the publishing firm, but had reduced her hours so she could help more at home.

Trey was a teenager, obsessed with music and his new girlfriend, Kate. In his free time, he was either playing guitar or hanging out with Kate. 

Harper was halfway through her primary education, but she was always excelling at everything she did. She was smart and top of her class, but still managed to be a popular little girl with loads of friends. She was energetic and sporty, but also loved arts and crafts. A real jack of all trades. But this wasn't quite enough for her. She wanted to be the best of the best, and would stop at nothing to achieve this...