1.10: The Rampart Boys

“That’s my boy,” Camron murmured as he placed a soft kiss to Leo’s forehead.  ‘That’s my good boy.  All changed.”  Leo giggled and gave a soft coo.

Just as he lay Leonidas in his basinet, his twin brother let out a little cry.  Camron grinned.  “Right on time, Ricki,” he murmured.  He changed Alaric’s diaper, and held him close to his chest for a little cuddle as well.

It was Mulan’s first day back to work after the twins were born, so it was just him and the boys until Yoshi got home from school.  The last couple weeks, Camron had become pretty good at juggling the boys’ needs.  It was a challenge that was for sure.  He and Mulan had thought they were prepared after Yoshi.  Having twins was a whole different ballgame, though.  Luckily, the boys made it a bit easier by trying to keep pretty regular schedules.  Once one needed something, the other was often right behind.

Camron always waited for Yoshi to get home from school, and get his homework done so he could spend a bit of time with his oldest.

Once he checked on the twins and made sure they were sleeping peacefully, he’d go for a short jog around the neighborhood before Mulan would get home.

Yoshi knew if there was anything wrong, all he had to do was either yell out the door since Camron never went far or give him a call on his cell.  He never had to.  Normally, Camron would get back home in time to shower real quick before his wife would arrive home.  They’d catch up and spend a few moments together.

Mulan would change and then it was her turn to look after the boys.  She did enjoy the time with them, especially breastfeeding.  There was just something about it, that bond with her babies.

Once Alaric and Leonidas were seen to, she and Yoshi would sit down to watch some cartoons.  He’d often be snacking on some leftovers.  Today, it was pancakes.  “How was school, baby?”

“Good,” he answered.  “A little boring at parts.  I’m not so into the math class, but our art class was great!  And next week, we’re learning how to do shading!”

“Oh really?” Mulan asked.  “That’s wonderful baby!”  Her son was a quick study, but art was his passion.  He’d begun to really be interested in music, too.  “I got a call from your music teacher, baby.  She had some wonderful things to say about you.”

“Oh she did?”  Yoshi blushed.

“Yes she did.  She wants you to take lessons.  And when you’re a bit older, she thinks you’d do wonderfully with the guitar.”

He seemed to think about that.  “I think that’d be really cool!”

Mulan laughed.  “Well then, it’s settled.”  She pulled him to her.  “I love you, Yoshi.”

“I love you, too, mama.”

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“Hey Papa, how come I can’t hold them?” Yoshi asked, looking up at his dad.

“Because they’re delicate, son.  Not that we don’t trust you, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Don’t worry, when you come home from school, they’ll be big enough for you to play with.”

Yoshi leaned over his little brother Alaric’s bassinet.  “Hey there.  It’s just your big brother, Yoshi,” he told the infant.  “When you get bigger, we’re gonna be able to play all sorts of games!”  Camron chuckled.  Yoshi was good with the boys, though he chafed a bit at the fact that he couldn’t even hold them.

“Oop, I hear the bus, son.  Best get going,” Camron murmured.

Yoshi dashed out, calling over his shoulder, “Bye dad!  See you after school!  Bye Rickie, bye Leo!”

Camron smiled after his oldest son, then went to his youngest give him a bottle.  He had certainly lucked out in the child department.  He couldn’t imagine a better kid than Yoshi and even the twins, despite the constant fatigue of keeping up with two newborns, Camron realized it could be a lot worse.  Yoshi certainly made things much easier on Mulan and himself.

Wolf: Yeah, you got real lucky.  Yoshi’s a sweetheart.  I know some families where the term ‘sibling rivalry’ is a gross understatement.

Camron grimaced.  “I don’t see that happening.  Yoshi seems enamored of his brothers.  And I would assume twins would be pretty close, wouldn’t you think?”

Wolf:  Yeah, I’d think so.  Though you Sims… anyway, no point in worrying about it until you get there, right?

“Exactly.”  Camron gave a sharp nod.  He just didn’t see his boys having any kind of issues like that.

Wolf: Sounds like Mulan is up.  You guys ready?

“Ready as we’ll ever be to see our children grow up,” Camron answered softly.

Mulan came into the nursery and smiled at her husband, though she gave a distinct sniffle.  “C-can’t believe it’s that time already.  Time seems to be flying by.”

Linking hands, the two approached the bassinets.  “Go ahead, Wolf,” Mulan murmured.  She and Camron stepped to the side as the twins’ bassinets began to shake and then their two boys did quite the acrobatics, sparkles filling the air.

The two boys looked at their parents, then at each other and burst out laughing.  They both ran to the dresser to don their own style and fix their hair.  Leo went first since he was the older of the two (by a whole two minutes, as Alaric was quick to point out).  He liked a bit slicker look, being a bit more conscious of appearance than either Yoshi or Alaric, with an outgoing personality.

Alaric went in more for comfort than style.  He took after his mother, being quite the geek, though rather than being a history geek like she was, he was enamored of science fiction.  Already, he had the itch to play video games and watch all the sci-fi shows he could.

In fact, the first thing he asked his dad after getting his clothing and hair sorted out, was what was on.

Leo’s first order of business was to head straight outside to go take a swing on the monkey bars.

“Where’d the boys all get to?” Mulan asked.  She’d just been cleaning up the house a bit and hadn’t seen the boys in a few hours, since they’d sorted themselves out.

Camron was getting ready for work.  “Pretty sure they’re up with Yoshi in his room.  Once he got home from school, that’s where they disappeared to.  That and he brought home his little friend Olivia.”

“Ah, ok.  I’ll just go run up and check on everyone, see if they want any snacks or anything,” Mulan murmured.  Indeed, that’s where Mulan found all three of her boys and Yoshi’s friend Olivia Spencer-Kim-Lewis, in the twin’s room

Mulan walked in, grinning.  “Hey kids.  How’s everyone?”

“Heya Mom!” Alaric exclaimed.  “Guess what’s on tonight?!  SimFirefly!”

“Geek,” Leo snickered, though it wasn’t malicious as he read one of his new textbooks.  He wanted to be ready for school in the morning.

“Yup and proud of it,” Alaric retorted, grinning widely.

Mulan laughed.  “That’s nice sweetheart.  Well, when you kids get hungry, there’s some snacks and juice in the fridge, ok?”

“Ok mom!”  “Ok, Mrs. Rampart!”

Mulan went downstairs to see her husband off to work.  She gave him a hug and a kiss, then watched him leave, a soft smile on her lips.  She could hardly believe it.  Her kids were growing so fast.  Time just seemed to march on.  Such was the way of things, though.  Still, seeing her boys run around together and joke and josh each other tickled her to no end.  She sat on the couch, contemplating the turn of events of her life.  Maybe she was grateful to Wolf after all.

Wolf: I should hope so.  Her Watcher’s voice was teasing.  I really do have your best interests at heart, you know.

“Yes, I’m starting to see that maybe you actually do.  Thank you, Wolf.  For choosing me.”

Wolf: You’re welcome, Mulan.  Don’t worry, we’re not close to done yet.  You have plenty of time.

“Yes we do.”

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