Bernard 4: Round 16

Last round, Luke and Cindy Bernard moved into their new home. Cindy soon found herself pregnant, and by the end of the week the couple had welcomed a daughter named Tempera. Meanwhile, Luke joined the detective career to try and catch his father in the act, despite his aspiration to become a mixologist like his wife.

Hi, guys!

Cindy: Oh, hi mysterious voice...

Luke: Sorry, can't stay to chat. Gotta run to the station.

Cindy: Already? It's barely 6AM...I was hoping you could help with Tempera...

Luke: Sorry, honey. Crime never sleeps, you know.

Luke: Hey, you! What are you doing out this early?

Mitchell: Um...

Luke: Yeah, a likely story. Move along...

So, they have you patrolling the streets at 6AM? How much crime could there be at this hour?

James: Luke, your shift should have ended hours ago. What are you still doing here?

Luke: Putting in some extra hours today. I think I finally picked up the person who damaged all those apartments...just need to run the forensics through a few more tests before I start the interrogations.

James: Interrogation? But you're not...

Luke: Look, I know what I'm doing, ok?

Erika: I'm telling you, you've got the wrong person...

Luke: Don't try that with me...we both know you're the one who broke into that apartment building. The janitor saw you with his own eyes...

Erika: Of course he did...I live there! You took the pictures in my apartment.

Luke: Um...that was you? Oh...um...well, then...

Maybe we should call it a night?

Luke: (sigh) Hi, honey...sorry I'm so late.

Cindy: (sigh) I guess it's all right. I just got Tempera to sleep. You'll have to hear all about her day at play group tomorrow.

Let me guess...it's your guys week to host it?

Cindy: Yeah...I don't know why I agreed to it. I was exhausted before I even got to work...hey, you're off tomorrow, right?

Luke: Oh, I don't think...

Cindy: Luke, please...

Luke...I would listen to her if I were you.

Luke: Well, I guess I could give it a try.

Cindy: Oh, thank you...you know, I'm not that tired right now...

See, Luke? Doing what your wife wants has its rewards...

Including unexpected ones, apparently.

Cindy: Can you believe it?

Luke: Um...no, not really...

Cindy: I can't wait to tell everyone at the restaurant. Are you sure you can handle Tempera today?

Luke: Yeah...how hard can hosting play group be? What time does this thing start anyway?

Cindy: The group gets there at 10. You should probably get to the park a bit early to set up. Oh, just a heads up, you should probably check the lock on the park gate ahead of time. And make sure no one broke the dollhouse or they'll all start crying as soon as they show up.

Luke: Um...right. Gate...dollhouse...got it.

Luke: Ok..play group! Let's do this...why aren't you dressed?

Luke, she's a toddler. You need to help with that.

Luke: Oh...right.

This should be a show.

Tempera: Rey! Padme! Come slide!

At least Tempera's got some friends in her cousins...

Huh...looks like she's not getting along too well with Celestial though.

Tempera: 'Lesital mean! She doesn't let me play space...she only wants to play pirate.

There are space pirates, you know...

Nice going, Cindy.

Cindy: Thanks...so, how did play group go today?

Fine...

Chief: Oh, Luke...I've been meaning to talk to you...

Luke: Listen, about the other day...

Chief: Good job uncovering all that evidence at the crime scene. I think it might be time for you to join the detective team.

Luke: Really...I mean, thank you...

So, does this mean you finally caught whoever vandalized those apartments?

Luke: Um...not exactly. But you heard the chief-my evidence really helped out.

Feel like telling your sister about your good day?

Luke: (sigh) Yeah...hold on. Let me just change...just in case.

Leia: Luke! I'm so glad you could come!

Luke: Me too...

Looks like the triplets are happy to see you too...Finn seems to be making some sort of masterpiece in your honor.

Leia: (laughs) Come on, let's head inside before these guys destroy the entire neighborhood.

Luke: Wow...I haven't been back here in awhile...

Leia: It's been too long, Luke. We miss you...we all miss you.

Luke: He's not here, is he?

Leia: (sigh) No, he's not. You know he works nights. Besides, even if he was...he still thinks your a mixologist, remember? 

Luke: You don't get it, Leia. I'm still so mad at him...

Leia: I know, Luke, but...come on, I want to show you something.

Leia: Look. Remember when you guys took that?

Luke: (laughs) Yeah...it was before I graduated high school, when he brought home the camera for the first time...that he probably stole.

Leia: But the first thing he did with it was take a picture with you. Luke, I know you don't like to talk about Dad, but he's not getting any younger. And I just don't want you to have any regrets when he's gone...

Rey: Mama!

Leia: (sigh) It's the triplet's bedtime...

Luke: Want some help?

Leia: Really? Don't you have to get home? It's probably Tempera's bedtime too, isn't it?

Luke: Cindy can handle it...besides, it usually takes awhile to get her down. I'll be home before she's actually asleep.

Leia: All right...you want to take Rey? 

Luke: And then the littlest llama said...

Salmon: Luke?

Uh-oh...

Luke: Dad? I thought...I mean, Leia said...

Salmon: I got off early tonight...so...the voice is with you?

Hi there, Salmon. Long time no see.

Salmon: Yeah...no kidding.

Luke: Well...I'd better get going...Cindy's probably getting worried. Pregnancy hormones, you know.

Salmon: Oh...are you two expecting again?

Luke: Um...yeah. I thought Mom would have told you...

Salmon: No...she hasn't mentioned it...

Well, um, listen, as lovely as this reunion is, maybe we should get back to your place?

Luke: Hey, sorry I'm a late...

Cindy: Let me guess...another last minute clue?

Luke: No, actually I...

Looks like you're going to have to hold that thought, Luke...It's baby time!

So I guess we're doing this here?

Cindy: No...choice...waited...too...long...

I think this is it...

Really? Another girl? Ok...welcome, Crayola...

She looks just like her sister so far...

Luke: Hi Mom...thanks. The baby's doing great...yeah, I was sorry to miss you the other night too. Tonight? No, I'm kind of tied up at work...right, weekends are busy at the bar...

Cindy: Yeah, we're keeping it kind of low-key...no, we're just doing it here at the house. Well, he has to work for the first half of it or so, but he swears he'll be home by the main event...

Main event of what?

Ahh, I see.

So we're having the party here?

Cindy: Yeah...that way it will be easier for Luke to get there from work.

Oh, hey Cyrus...I almost forgot you're Cindy's brother.

Cyrus: So where's the birthday girl?

Cindy: She's over there with Luke's brother and cousin...chatting up a storm.

Tempera: And then I'm gonna learn to read big kid books...and I'm gonna get to swing way high up on the monkey bars! But my sister's still gonna be little even after she gets growed up...

Wait, it's Crayola's birthday too?

Ahh, I guess that's why we're doing the party here.

Cindy: Yeah, we can't exactly bring a newborn to a party at a park...I sure hope Luke gets home soon. It's getting pretty close to...

Uh-oh...

Well, at least she got a good start...

Even if she does need a new hairstyle.

Maybe we should get Crayola done too...before we miss it?

Cindy: (sigh) Yeah, I guess you're right...

Hey, anything but fussy...

And she looks exactly like her sister!

And since all the play group kids are here she gets a head start on meeting everyone.

Harbor: Hey! You don't have play group clothes! 

I'm sure she'll have some by the time she starts going, Harbor. But I can see how seeing any toddler not dressed like that is strange for you.

And how are the big kids doing?

Snapple: We're telling Tempera about school.

Dragon: Yeah...it's a lot different than play group.

Tempera: It is?

Harrison: Yeah...you have to sit down at a desk and do boring work and stuff.

Snapple: But it's not all bad...at least we get to wear whatever we want.

Mark: Yeah...those stupid play group outfits look so dorky.

Gemini: Hey, I think your dad just got home...I saw him running through the yard.

Luke: Oh, good...I'm not too late. Come on, Tempera. Let's go have that cake...

Cyrus: Do you want to tell him or should I?

Luke: Tell me what?

Tempera: Hi, Dad...

Luke: Wait...Tempera? But...oh, no...so, that means...I did miss it, didn't I?

Tempera: Yeah...but, it's ok, really. It was a fun party anyway.

I don't think Cindy's going to be as understanding once the guests go home...

Luke: Yeah...say, why don't your friends hang out a bit longer? Has anyone gotten a picture yet? We can do that...

Aww, the play group is growing up...But I really do think it's time everyone headed home.

Luke: Sure we don't want to make this a sleepover?

Sorry, Luke...

Luke: Look, I know you're mad at me...

Cindy: Luke, you missed both your daughters' birthdays! What could have possibly been so important at work?

Luke: You're right, you're right...it's just...I'm so close, Cindy!

Cindy: I don't care.! You need to get your priorities straight...unless you want them to grow up and be out to get you one day...

Well, this seems like a good time for me to be on my way...

Luke: Lucky...

Good luck, Luke. I'll see you guys next round.

A Message from the Mysterious Voice: Man, this one took me a long time to write. This lot is another case of "writing around the glitches". Apparently the detective career is incredibly bugged when it comes to making arrests; the correct Sim either never shows up, or doesn't match the description in the notebook at all. And since you lose performance every time you make a wrong arrest, Luke would have been fired had I just gone for trial and error. So, Luke went to work alone for most of the week. (This is also why on the days I did go with him, he ended up staying late every day to make up for the mistakes.) Eventually, I will have to have him solve a case to get him promoted again...I'm just not entirely sure how with the bugs. And I was genuinely surprised that Cindy had another girl. The town's been on quite the baby girl streak lately.