Chapter Sixteen:

We begin this chapter away from Twinbrook and our heir Emerald and her family. Instead we begin in the hills above the bright city lights that are Bridgeport.

Nestled up in the hills above the metropolis a newly built mansion was being inhabited. After having spent a couple of years with her mother, raising her young kids, Layla decided that she would make her home here in the city she had left decades earlier.

Layla, although still grieving for her late husband, was content with where she had decided to begin this next stage of her life. Derek was nearly in high school, and young twins Ginger and Eliza had just started at the local elementary school. Layla missed her life in Twinbrook, she missed her step-daughter Emerald, but she was happy here in Bridgeport with her kids.

Back over in Twinbrook our heir was getting ready for an exciting day.

Nora and Lexi got dressed up in their finest dresses and prepared for the wedding of their mothers.

After a few troubling years Tyler and Emerald were finally tying the knot. Emerald had wanted her brother and her step-mother there for the ceremony, but in the end they decided to keep it a very quiet event.

It was the happiest day of their lives. Finally Tyler was officially step-mother and guardian to the girls that grew up calling her mum. In order to honour this, the family took her last name. Emerald, Nora and Lexi officially became Reeds.

Now that they had everything they could want, the happy couple decided to re-decorate the house.

The floorboards were re-done, the kitchen moved to the other side of the open living space, the dining table and tv swapped sides and more of Emerald's sketches were put up around the house.

A lovely new modern kitchen was a welcome addition.

The old nursery was expanded to allow space for the dinig room and was converted into a new bathroom.

The bathroom was a bit larger than the last and had a nice modern twist.

The girls desperately wanted bunk beds and so Emerald gave in and the girls got what they wanted.

 Soon it was Emerald's birthday.

She had a few more lines than before and Emerald was quite happy with where her life had led her. She had started her family quite young, and now she was looking forward to spending this stage of her life with her family.

Emerald and Tyler didn't have jobs anymore and had been living off the fortune that Edward had left behind, and whatever money Emerald's sketches brought in. These sketches helped, but Emerald began to wonder what her girls would live off if the family fortune continued the way it was going now. Ideas began to form in Emerald's mind as she sketched.

Another addition to the house that the young girls loved was the playground. They spend most afternoons out on the wood frames of their new favourite hideout.

The girls were best friends. They had always been close and they remained close all through their elementary schooling.

And before long it was time for their birthday.

Lexi was a stunning young woman, definitely taking after her mother. Her eyes came from her father and her hair came from her grandmother.

Nearly a spitting image of her sister, Nora chose to make her image her own. Taking advice from her mother Tyler, she utilised dark purple hair dye to cover the brown hair she had inherited from Emerald.

Although they were polar opposites in appearance now, Lexi and Nora were still very close. The playgound they used to climb all over soon became their teen hangout.

Tyler was so proud of her daughters. Even though they were teenagers now they still loved both their mums very much, and told them so as often as they could.

The girls continued to sleep in their bunk beds and seemed in no to rush to seperate.

The months began to roll by. The family funds were on their minds constantly. And they soon came to a decision.  Tyler and Emerald both decided to get jobs to start building up the slowly shrinking funds.

It didn't pay much, but they both got jobs at the school that their daughters went to. Although the pay was important, the hours were the main reason the got such low paying jobs.

The months really began to fly by. Pay rises and promotions followed Emerald and Tyler in their advanicng careers, and romance was still a priority for them both.

Tyler began to teach the girls to drive. Lexi caught on quick and actually looked forward to her driving trips with Tyler.

The girls were quite ok with their situation. And they were pretty lucky that their school mates were  understanding of their unique situation. It was a little difficult trying to explain to their new friends just who Tyler was at first, but they all cottoned on pretty quick.

Nora wasn't as keen on driving as her twin sister, but Tyler was still adament that she had to learn.

While Tyler could be called the stricter mum, Emerald still took a part in the upbringing of her girls. She was pleased to help the girls out in enrolling in after school actvities. They could ultimately join as many as they wanted, but Emerald wanted the girls to be a part of at least one each. Nora joined the drama club, and Lexi was a part of both the study club and the debate club.

Lexi was quite popular at school, though she suspected it was more because of her blonde hair and her sister's skill with people. Lexi much preferred her homework to all the social calls that were common with other popular girls in her class.

But one call that Lexi would always take was the call from her new boyfriend Wilbur Cooper. The young couple had got together after he came over one afternoon after a feild trip to the science lab. And they were fast becoming the It couple at school.

 Wilbur was like Lexi in that he was a part of a number of after school clubs. They both worked hard at school and still managed to find time to let their new romance blossom.

While Nora was actually quite shy, she did enjoy her drama club and for some unknown reason, she was actually quite popular amongst the other kids in her class. And one person in particular that had taken a fancy to her was Alvin Diehl. He also favoured the dark purple hair dye and clothes.

Before long Nora also had herself a boyfriend. And both girls soon had dates for the upcoming prom.

The months went past. Tyler and Emerald were earning money at the school, Lexi and Wilbur both made the honor roll and Nora and Alvin spent every waking moment in each other's arms. Life was good for this unconventional family.

While her sister was busy studying or brushing up on her skills for debate club, Nora preferred to do her homework on the bus and spend her the time with Alvin.

Emerald was so very proud of her daughters. They were growing up into lovely young women. One studious and hard working, the other surprisingly popular, despite her gothic style appearance.

The girls were still as close as ever. Shy Nora was the quiet friend to everyone, and her closest friend, and twin sister, Lexi was the hard working and studious high achiever.

Alvin and Nora loved star gazing. After the sun went down most nights they would cuddle up on the front lawn and watch the stars. The inky black skies were the perfect back drop to their deepening romance.

One Friday morning Lexi and Nora raced to the bus with an added air of anticipation. That night was the school prom and they were really looking forward to it.

Nora was wearing a sweet black little number with some strappy heels and a sparkly necklace. Lexi, on the other hand, was wearing an innocent looking pink dress complete with silver jewelry.

Soon their dates arrived. Emerald and Tyler were fond of both boys, and didn't even need to warn the girls about curfew, knowing they hadn't any plans to sneak off after the dance.

The limo was soon pulling up on the driveway and while Nora raced off to make sure her hair was still in place, Lexi loaded the boys into the limo.

Nora bid a quick goodbye to her mothers and raced to the limo before all four of them headed off to prom.

The school gym had been transformed into a fantastic ball room. It was the night of their lives and Lexi and Nora, and their dates, had the most amazing night.

Nora surprised herself by being crowned prom queen. She and Alvin danced the night away surrounded by their friends.

Voted as the cutest couple, Wilbur and Lexi spent the night wrapped up in each other's arms, swaying to the music.

Alvin and Nora's fun loving nature was clear in their prom picture.  

And the 'Cutest Couple' were not too shabby either in their happy snap. Definitely a night to never forget.

That night the girls were supremely happy with themselves. They both had blisters all over their feet and were reduced to carrying their heels home, but it was worth it.

After the glitz and glam of prom, life returned to normal. Nora and Alvin were happy as ever.

Despite their somewhat 'emo' appearnce, these two were two of the happiest young people. Always playing and messing around. Alvin's home life wasn't so great, so he enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend in her stable home.

The only time the laughing stopped when their tounges were locked.

And here we end chapter sixteen.