HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | ADVENTURE AWAITS

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | GEN 1
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— Waylon and Mae Holden —
After saving Strangerville during Waylon's time in the military, the Holden family retired to the town of Chestnut Ridge. Once they settled into their small property in the neighborhood of Riders’ Glen, the Holdens established their name in Chestnut Ridge as the proud owners of the newest nectar distributor in town, Vintage Vineyards. Famous for her classic vintage grape nectar, Mae can typically be found on the Holden's vineyard. While Mae is running the nectary, Waylon can be found running their small family ranch, Family Ties Ranch, with some occasional help from his son, Wade. The ranch currently has two horses— Trusty and Lady, two mini goats— Sugar and Spice, and two mini sheep— Maple and Honey.

— BONUS PICTURES —
Lady and Trusty (along with all the mini animals)
https://i.imgur.com/gLzb4c3.png
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HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | GEN 2
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— Wade and Darla Holden —
Wade is the only son of Waylon and Mae Holden. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and join the military after he graduated University with a Distinguished Degree in History. He frequently visits the family ranch on the weekends to help out his father, but he currently resides in Oasis Springs with his wife, Darla. The two met at the University of Britechester and have been inseparable ever since. Darla is originally from Oasis Springs, and the couple inherited their home from Darla's parents, Hiram and Jolene Morrison, after their sudden disappearance when visiting Forgotten Hollow. Darla graduated University with a Distinguished Degree in Culinary Arts. She had dreams of opening a restaurant with her mother, but as the possibility of that dream faded, she found a new passion in the beverage industry while visiting the Holden’s nectary. Since the Holdens already have a successful nectar distribution business, she decided to put her efforts into a fizzy juice start-up brewery, Fruit N’ Fizz. Currently, Wade and Darla are planning to travel all around the sim world before they settle down and start a family of their own.

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 01
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MONDAY
The season was off to a sizzling start as Oasis Springs expected its first heat wave of the summer. Though it was scorching hot outside, Mondays were always reset days for Darla. She started off her day tending to her berry garden full of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. After she finished her yard work, she relaxed on the patio by the pool with a cold glass of iced tea. Ahh, her own little oasis!
https://i.imgur.com/5Vsf2WY.png

Inspired by her surroundings, she decided to put her creative juices to the test and create her first flavor of fizzy juice for her start-up, Fruit N' Fizz. This flavor was for her REFRESH line called "Sparkling Citrus" that featured a blend of freshly squeezed lemon, orange, and lime juices.
https://i.imgur.com/cdWZ6MR.png

Later that afternoon, Wade came back from work with quite a surprise and a rather large ask. He brought home a puppy!
"Darrius said he found him near the docks in Brindleton Bay. He's been fostering him for the past couple of weeks, but he doesn't have the space to keep him with two babies on the way" Wade explained to Darla. "We've been wanting a dog anyway, right? Want to keep him?"
Darla agreed to keep the puppy. "So what's his name?" she inquired.
"Well he probably belonged to sailor in Brindleton Bay," Wade added, "so let's name him Captain!"
https://i.imgur.com/6x9U1cb.png

The Holdens were expecting company that evening. It was game night and the neighbors, Miguel and Elena Santos, were ready to bring it on! The group tried Darla's new fizzy juice flavor alongside Wade's famous char-grilled hamburger sliders for dinner. Naturally, they were both delicious and paired very well together! After their bellies were full and the heat started to subside, Wade and Darla challenged Miguel and Elena to a game of sabacc out on their balcony. The ambiance was quite delightful as the sun set with pop music playing in the background!
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That one game turned into five games real quick — time flies when you're losing money!
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As the night came to a close, Miguel and Elena offered their gratitude to their hosts and headed home to relieve their babysitter. After some quick cleaning, the couple retired to their bedroom, kissed one another goodnight, and fell asleep to the faint sound of wind and crickets.
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TUESDAY
The next day, while Wade was at work, Darla started off her morning with some relaxing yoga by the pool. She kept getting splashed by Captain who kept jumping in and out of the water— what a little swimmer he is!
https://i.imgur.com/jh6Ptoi.png

She spent the rest of the lightly cleaning the house and meal prepping some breakfast for the week. She made a huge batch of fruit salad which inspired her to try developing another fizzy juice flavor. She made a flavor for her VIBRANT line and called it "Cherry Sangria" which featured a blend of juices from freshly picked cherries, oranges and various berries.
https://i.imgur.com/BxStlBp.png

After Wade got home, they invited Miguel and Elena out to dinner for a double date at Cactus Cuisine on Mirage Canyon Avenue. The Santos couple talked about their upcoming trip to Selvadorada which peaked the Holden's interests. The Holdens love to travel around the globe, and it's their goal to visit as many places as they can before the year is up. This made Darla want to go home and research some vacation spots.
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After dinner and multiple drinks, the couples parted ways. To finish off date night, the two decided to watch 'Roaring Vice,' a romance movie about a budding romance that got cut short due to an outstanding arrest warrant.
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Even though they both really enjoyed it, they both fell asleep before the end of the movie! They must have been exhausted.
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Once they woke up, they decided to go up to bed and end the night with some alone time!
https://i.imgur.com/run3Sxk.png

That's all for now! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 02
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WEDNESDAY
It was that time of year again where the Sol Festival rolls into town. The Sol Festival is a giant summer music festival that sims look forward to every year! This year, the festival was going to be held in Glimmerbrook. Wade and Darla got their tickets months ago and have been really looking forward it. Though they had tons to look forward to, the day started off just a little rocky for them. After frantically rushing to finish packing, they were finally ready to leave. However, Wade..well, he forgot to call ahead and book a sUber to the train station.
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"You didn't book the ride?" Darla scolded. "So not only did you forget to pack, but you also forgot to call the sUber? That's just great, Wade, now we're probably going to be late. The train leaves in 30 minutes! Ugh, you're just so irresponsible" she said with an eye roll.
Now here’s the thing, Wade has been married to Darla for nearly a year, so this is not his first rodeo. She doesn't truly mean anything she's saying— she's just stressed. The best plan of action is to stay calm, apologize, and fix it.
"Babe, relax! It's going to be okay," he reassured, as he held Darla's hand. "I just booked one, and the app says they'll be here in 10 minutes."
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During their route to Glimmerbrook, they made a quick stop in Evergreen Harbor to grab some lunch at The Caboose, an old train station renovated into a trendy new restaurant and bar. Unfortunately, Darla still wasn't quite over the mess from earlier that morning; asking Wade how in the world he managed to forget everything she asked him to do the night before. At this point he just thought the whole conversation was funny which made her even more annoyed.
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After nearly 4 more hours on the train, the Holdens finally got to their destination. They stopped at the Slumber Cabin to get a room since they planned to stay overnight in Glimmerbrook. By this time, the dust had settled from the couple's little tiff earlier that morning. They walked into the motel hand-in-hand and all smiles!
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After freshening up and putting on their festival outfits, they headed over to the festival ground in the forest. A bunch of their friends were already there ready to greet them!
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Wade and his friend, August, tried to get the party started right with a keg stand!
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"Chug! Chug! Chug!"
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Everyone was having a grand ol' time socializing, drinking, and dancing. It was the time to let loose!
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Eventually, Wade asked Darla if she wanted to try doing a keg stand. She was no stranger to keg stands; it was actually her go-to party trick at University! "Of course!" she answered. They made their way over to the juice keg and Wade lifted her up. "You got me?" she asked Wade. "Yeah, yeah— I got you!" he replied. Their friends crowded around them yelling "Chug! Chug! Chug!"
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Darla was almost done sipping the last remnants of juice until she suddenly felt herself lose balance..
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Yep, that happened..Wade dropped her. :D
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Darla got up holding her lower back. "You said you had me!" she laughed.
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The festival went on for a few more hours. Some festival goers were still energized and dancing, but many decided to huddle around the fire pits to wind down. Around the fire, Wade wanted to grab Darla's attention to apologize for earlier that day.
"Hey, I'm sorry I forgot to pack and call the sUber. I didn't realize it meant that much to you, and I promise I listen to you! I'll try do better" he explained.
"It's okay! I was just trying to avoid the inevitable I guess" she said with a smile. "I'm not upset anymore."
Wade lifted Darla up and gazed up into her eyes. "I love you" he whispered.
"I love you too" she whispered back.
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Once he put her back down, Darla put her arms around Wade's neck and leaned in for a kiss. It was such a great end to that magical night!
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THURSDAY
The next day, the Holdens slept in for most of the morning. They were up so late last night, no wonder they were exhausted!
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After they got up, cleaned their motel room and enjoyed some continental breakfast, they decided to soak up some sun at the motel's pool deck.
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Once the pool started to get a little overcrowded (it was a very small pool area), they went into the motel bar. Darla loved the bar's atmosphere and thought the beach theme was really cute. They had a couple glasses of strawberry rosé and called it a day! Later, they got their belongings together and made their way to the train station to go back home.
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Later that evening, they arrived back in Oasis Springs. Home sweet home!
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Overall, the day was pretty uneventful since most of the day was spent traveling back home. The Holdens have a big vacation coming up over the weekend, so they spent the rest of the evening relaxing and getting in as much puppy cuddles in as they could!
https://i.imgur.com/dsoN6kB.png

That's all for now, thanks for reading! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

It's a nice story. Thanks for sharing.

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 03
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FRIDAY
It's the first day of the Holdens trip to Tartosa! A destination with a romantic aura, breathtaking scenery, and lots of nectar! In the early hours of the morning, the Holdens were off to the Sim City Airport to catch their plane. It was going to be a three hour trip, so they made sure to pack some snacks. If you're wondering, Wade did remember to pack and call the sUber this time!
https://i.imgur.com/FQzyoRA.png

They landed in Tartosa just before noon, and their rental was only a short drive from the airport. Once they arrived at their rental, they just stood there taking in its beauty. This place was straight out of a dream! After the picked their jaws up off the ground (from them dropping in awe), they went inside to check out their new home for the next couple of days!
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After they unpacked and changed their outfits, Darla cooked up a late brunch. She made eggs benedict and served it with some champagne. Since it was such a beautiful day, they ate out on the terrace.
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Wade: "So what are we doing today?"
Darla: "Well I figured we might be a little tired after traveling, so I only have two things lined up in the evening."
Wade: "Cool. What's happening in the evening?"
Darla: "Hmm let me see, I made us a reservation at La Cucina Italiana. It's supposed to have the best food on the mainland! And then, I booked us a couples stargazer's massage for the end of the day."
Wade: "What's a stargazer's massage?"
Darla: "That's just what they call their nighttime massage packages."
Wade: "Well that sounds perfect!"
Darla: "I try!"
https://i.imgur.com/vqOGsgX.png

After brunch, they weren't very tired, so they decided to see what they could do in the Tartosan Town Square. They visited the floral shop, the produce market, and the bakery. While they were in the bakery, they bought a box of biscotti to take home. After shopping, they sat on the fountain that was in the middle of the town square and talked until they realized it was almost time for their dinner reservation. Time to go back to the rental and get ready for dinner!
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They found themselves at La Cucina Italiana right around sunset. The ambiance in this place was amazing— so romantic! They ordered dinner; Wade got the Italian meatballs with the most expensive red grape merlot nectar, and Darla got the classic spaghetti with a glass of their sweetest apple rosé nectar.
https://i.imgur.com/WinpjRc.png

After dinner, the couple went to the attached spa for their stargazer's massages (which were really just hot stone massages). They felt so relaxed once they were done, but they wished the massages were a bit longer than they were. Again, the ambiance was phenomenal! The people and businesses in Tartosa really know what they’re doing!
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It was late by the time they got back to the rental, but they kept the romance and relaxation going with some drinks in the hot tub to close out the night.
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SATURDAY
The next morning, the Holdens started their day with breakfast on the terrace. They had a sweet breakfast consisting of chocolate biscotti paired with cups of espresso. Delicious!
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The main plan of the day was to go on a nectar tour at the Sweet Squeeze Nectary. First, they got to see how each nectar is made. They even got to make their own to take home as souvenirs! They were told the nectar was best after aging, and advised not to open them up right away. Wade made apple rosé nectar, and Darla made a version of purple grape pinot noir nectar. Full disclosure, they both fell a couple times while stomping the grapes!
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After they learned how to make nectar, and got to experience it, it was time to taste it! Wade and Darla got dressed into nicer outfits for this portion of the evening. They both tried the apple rosé which was a Sweet Squeeze classic! It was so sweet, yet not too sweet, with a hint of honey it seemed. Wow, truly amazing!
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While they were drinking their glasses of nectar, Darla heard the song 'Zumbray' playing. It's her favorite song! They got up and danced.
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After they were done at the nectary, they went down to the Tartosan Beach Club. There, they put on their bathing suits, got a couple more glasses of nectar from the bar, and sat down to watch the sun set. How romantic!
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SUNDAY
After a morning of traveling back to Oasis Springs, Wade was not finished traveling. On Sundays, he commits his time to helping his father, Waylon, on their family ranch. He dropped Darla off at home and went on his merry way to Chestnut Ridge. When he got to the ranch, his father put him straight to work! First, he cared for Trusty while his father cared for Lady.
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After the horses were cared for, it was time to give some attention to the sheep and goats!
Waylon: “Son, if you could feed little Maple here while I feed Honey I think that’ll help us get these little ladies all fed.”
Wade: “Yeah, sure Dad. Wait, which one is Maple?”
Waylon: “Are you serious? We got Maple before you moved out, son. She’s the brown one with the black and white markings on her face.”
Wade: “Got her!”
Waylon: “Alright, and then uhh I’m gonna feed Spice since she’s already right next to me, can you feed Sugar? (pause) Now just to be clear, she’s the little white one runnin’ around here somewhere. Man, you make me chuckle sometimes.”
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Meanwhile back in Oasis Springs, Darla was working again on her fizzy juice start-up, Fruit N' Fizz. She created yet another flavor for her REFRESH line and called it "Desert Pear" which featured juice from fresh prickly pears with a hint of ginger.
https://i.imgur.com/OWiYMUL.png

After a long day on the ranch, Waylon and Wade went to the local bar, The Oak Barrel. It has been a tradition of theirs to hit the bar every Sunday evening after work to get a couple of fizzy juices and watch the sports game. They even got a little crazy and did the cowpoke dance. Like father, like son!
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Once the sun set, Wade hugged his parents goodbye to head on back to Oasis Springs.
Waylon: "Alright son, well it's time you get going now. Give our best to Darla!"
https://i.imgur.com/YZh7ov0.png

That's all for now! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 04
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MONDAY
It was the start of a new week in the Holden household! Darla started off the day cooking breakfast in the morning. She made breakfast scramble which is Wade's favorite breakfast. It's actually a family recipe that Darla had to get from Mae. After a little practice, she's got the recipe down!
https://i.imgur.com/Rrzz3h6.png

After Wade left for work, she stuck to her normal Monday routine. She tended to her berry garden which had a bunch of blueberries and blackberries to harvest. Then she practiced some yoga by the pool while Cappie swam. I think he thinks yoga time is his swimming time, because every single time Darla does yoga by the pool, Cappie runs outside and jumps in the pool. It's so cute!
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Later on, she took Captain on his walk. It was really hot, so the walk got cut a little short. She didn't want captain's paws to be on fire! When they got back home, Darla went to her fizzy juice station and created a seasonal flavor for her WILD line and called it "Red, White & Berry" which featured a juice blend of freshly picked strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
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When Wade got home, he had some great news— he got promoted to a Fourth Lieutenant! Darla was so proud and congratulated him!
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In celebration, they invited Miguel and Elena over for drinks, pizza, and games! Wade poured cream colas and ordered a Tiki Masala pizza in preparation. After they all enjoyed dinner, they went upstairs to the balcony and played a few games of Simbles.
Wade: "You know we're all waiting for you to complete your turn, sweetheart."
Darla: "Ahh, sorry y'all. I'm trying to strategize!"
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As the sun started to set, it was time for Miguel and Elena to head home. They made sure to congratulate Wade on his promotion before they left. After cleaning up, they went to bed and ended the night with a little fun!
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TUESDAY
The next day was Father's Day. The Holdens went over to Wade's parents house to celebrate. Waylon was outside waiting for their arrival to greet them.
Waylon: "Hey y'all, how was the trip? Not too bad I hope."
Wade: "Hey Dad, happy Father's Day! Oh no, it really wasn't bad on the way over here, ended up being only about 40 minutes because of the traffic."
Darla: "Hey Waylon, who are these cute little additions? I don't remember seeing these two.." (referring to the dark sheep and goat)
Waylon:"Huh? Oh yeah! Those are new. That little black one there is Sheriff, and the grey one is Bandit."
Wade: "Finally some names that aren't cutesy and food-related!"
Waylon: "Ohh now now, don't make fun of those names, your mom picked em'! But these two are actually males, so I decided I would name them before your mom picks something like Cookie and Donut— ha! Anyway, y'all ready to go to the fair?"
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— BONUS CUTENESS —
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Chestnut Ridge puts on the annual Hay Now! fair, and this year it happened to land on Father's Day. The entire Holden family made their way to the fair ground in New Appaloosa. At the fair, there was BBQ, karaoke, dancing, horse shows, and nectar tastings! First they decided to go around and socialize with everyone since the Holdens tend to know just about everyone in town.
Supriya: "Wade Holden? Oh my gosh, it's been a while since I've seen you in town!"
Wade: "Hey! Yeah I came up for Father's Day with the wife to celebrate with the folks. How are you? It's been a while."
Supriya: "Oh, just a day trip then? I've been good! Justin and I got married just about a month ago, so we've been enjoying our time together. I'm happy to see you made it over here, maybe we can have a little Chestnut High catch up sometime?"
Wade: "Oh congratulations! That honeymoon phase is a wonderful time. And absolutley! I'm always around here helping out my dad, I just don't come around and advertise it. Let's catch up next time I'm here!"
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After social hour, they went to the food stands and got a large order of BBQ ribs.
Waylon: "Isn't this just the best BBQ? I mean really, who makes it better than Chestnut Ridge?"
Wade: "I mean, Oasis Springs has some decent BBQ Dad, but I agree - Chestnut Ridge has the best BBQ. And don't get me started on the bison stew!"
Darla: "You know when I think about Chestnut Ridge, I think of nectar instead of BBQ. Speaking of, where did Mae go?"
Waylon: "Oh she's around here somewhere. She's probably at the nectar tent asking everyone their thoughts. Vintage Vineyards provided the nectar for this event, you see, and she wants to make sure everyone enjoys it."
https://i.imgur.com/r6keQ6g.png

Well it didn't take Darla long to find Mae. She was on stage picking a song to sing from the karaoke machine!
Mae: "Oh Darla, come sing with me! They have a wide variety of country songs, come pick one out!"
Darla: "Haha sure, I'll come sing along."
Darla picked out the song 'Everything She Ain't' and they had a blast singing! Of course Mae's #1 fan, Waylon, was right next to the stage cheering them on!
https://i.imgur.com/rEbrZVN.png

After some singing and dancing they all made their way to the nectar tent to have a glass of vintage grape nectar.
Darla: "This is wonderful, Mae. Honestly, the best nectar I've had and we just came back from Tartosa, so that's really saying something!"
Mae: "Oh thank you dear! I've been meaning to ask about y'alls trip. Did you do a nectar tour there?"
Darla: "Yeah we went to Sweet Squeeze, have you heard of it?"
Mae: "Why yes! Actually a lovely woman I met during my trip to Tartosa owns it! It's a beautiful nectary and her apple rosé is divine!"
Waylon: "Sure they're great and all, but they're our competition."
Mae: "Oh hush Waylon, there's room for everybody in the nectar business! No one is our competition."
Wade: "Yeah Ma, that's because no one can compete with your nectar!"
Mae: "Oh stop, now y'all are gonna make me blush!"
https://i.imgur.com/gq9m9o6.png

Mae: "Oh Geoffrey, is that you? Now what in the world are the Landgraabs doing slumming it in Chestnut Ridge?"
Geoffrey: "Hi there Mae! Oh we aren't slumming it, not at all. We're here in town looking to acquire The Oak Barrel. We think it'll be a nice addition to our portfolio. We didn't realize the Hay Now! fair was happening, so we were delightfully surprised. Of course we had to come in and grab a glass of Vintage Vineyards nectar. It's even better than some of those places out in Tartosa!"
Wade: "See Ma.. couldn't agree more, Geoffrey."
Geoffrey: "Oh Wade is that you? I barely recognized you, you're so grown up now!"
The Holdens are good acquaintances with the Landgraabs because of Waylon's small claim to fame from saving Strangerville when some scientist at the lab created one heck of a mess! The Holden name was on the news nearly every day due to the press tour. The Landgraabs came out to publicly support Waylon during the tour, and they have stayed in touch with the Holden family from time to time.
https://i.imgur.com/4DlCi0Q.png

While Mae and Wade were socializing at the nectar tent, Darla had a heartwarming conversation with Waylon.
Darla: "So Wade probably won't bring this up because he's too humble, but he got promoted to Fourth Lieutenant yesterday. I know he joined the military to make you proud, and he's done really well for himself."
Waylon: "I'll always be proud of Wade! Even if he didn't choose the military I'd be proud of him. He's my only son, and I just want see him happy and living life to the fullest. Now speaking of fullest, and I don't mean to pry, but when can Mae and I expect some grandchildren?"
Darla: "Haha whoa, we're getting ahead of ourselves! I think Wade isn't ready for all that at the moment. He's put a lot of pressure on himself to have all his ducks lined up in a row, and I guess he doesn't feel he's done that yet. He wants to save more money, travel more frequently, and most importantly he wants to make you proud before we focus on expanding the family. I think it would mean a lot to him if you expressed your approval."
Waylon: "Oh, I didn't realize I had to explicitly tell him I'm proud of him. Shouldn't he know that already?"
Darla: "I see where you're coming from, but I think he needs to hear it otherwise he doesn't believe it."
Waylon: "Oh Darla, bless your heart. Alright, I'll make sure I tell him...and then we can expect some grandchildren?"
Darla: "Hahaha, yes. Only then can you expect some grandchildren."
https://i.imgur.com/cTIBXuH.png

Later the sky faded from a pinkish hue to a midnight blue, and all the fairy lights lit up the fairgrounds. The Holdens decided to light a fire and socialize amongst themselves for the rest of the evening.
Waylon: "So Wade, I hear you've got some good news recently and got promoted to Fourth Lieutenant. How's that feel?"
Wade: "Ah yes! Did Darla say something? Anyway, it feels good! The goal is to work my way up to a Grand Marshal, so I've got a while to go."
Waylon: "Well go on, tell us the story, son! How'd you find out?"
Wade went on, telling his family the story of how he got promoted.
https://i.imgur.com/UXWojl9.png

The festival was just an hour away from shutdown, so Wade and Darla said their goodbyes to Waylon and Mae. They had a really nice time visiting Chestnut Ridge and cannot wait to come visit again soon!
https://i.imgur.com/FtpuH5T.png

That's all she wrote (literally!), thanks for reading! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 05
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WEDNESDAY
It was midweek and the Holdens fell back into their normal routines. The day started off with some leftover breakfast scramble and a conversation surrounding the couple's anniversary that was coming up the first day of fall. They decided they wanted to go on another trip to celebrate, but they weren't quite sure where. Darla agreed to do some research on a couple of different destinations while Wade was away at work. Just before Wade went out the door to head over to Stangerville, he kissed Darla goodbye and told her he couldn't wait to hear her ideas when he got home.
https://i.imgur.com/cBLLnY1.png

While at work, Wade got partnered up with Darrius for training.
Darrius: "Hey, how are things going with the puppy? I'm starting to miss that little guy."
Wade: "Oh, he's good! Yeah we named him Captain, and he's been adjusting really well. The only thing I feel bad about is we've been traveling a lot, so he gets boarded or stays with friends more often than we'd like."
Darrius: "Don't sweat it, man. I just really needed help finding him a home, and now thanks to you - he has one!"
Wade: "I get it— yeah two babies, huh? Y'all ready for that?"
Darrius: "Haha I mean no one is ever ready to be parents, but we're more excited than anything. Just hoping for two healthy babies!"
Wade: "Yeah, you're right. I guess no one can really be fully prepared for that kind of thing. Well I'm excited for you dude."
Darrius: "Thanks man. Now enough sentimental talk, let's work on our sparring."
https://i.imgur.com/UOQ3lgh.png

Wade and Darrius like to train outside mainly because it isn’t ever crowded unlike the military-owned gym. Wade gave everything he had into training, but Darrius was a Courageous Captain (a whole level above him in rank), so he had a little more experience than Wade and was able to predict his every move. In the distance he heard his Lieutenant Colonel yell for his attention. He knew something was out of the ordinary since training is normally never interrupted.
https://i.imgur.com/f6yPaeL.png

Wade got assigned to accompany the troop to the Strangerville lab. It was his first assignment as a Fourth Lieutenant. He suited up and got in the cargo truck. I can't give the details of his assignment as it's confidential, but I'll include this shot of him waiting outside of Command and getting ready to head on over to the Stangerville lab.
https://i.imgur.com/8zl6y1q.png

Meanwhile at home, Darla finished some research on a couple of her destination ideas to celebrate her anniversary with Wade. She was so excited to share them with him. While she waited for him to come home, she focused on Fruit N' Fizz. She created yet another flavor, this time for her ALLURE line and called it "Pink Pineapple Prosecco" which featured a blend of juicy pineapple, fresh strawberry and a hint of orange. She held a small yard sale to get an idea of potential demand. Her fizzy juices sold out very quickly!
https://i.imgur.com/pzJIrTz.png

After his long day at the lab, Wade was asked to stay in Stangerville overnight. His troop was expecting some communication from the military intelligence officer, and it required Wade to be on stand-by. He went to Cactus Pete's to buy himself a quick meal for dinner. Cactus Pete's is the only place with decent food on the military base, so he's been there quite a few times. He ended up ordering his usual— a classic BLT with house fries and a can of cola.
https://i.imgur.com/jjT268h.png

Wade really didn't have much to do after grabbing a quick bite. He called Darla to catch up on how things were going back in Oasis Springs. She told him about her fizzy juice success, and he was really proud of her. She's put so much time and effort into her start-up and he was happy to hear it was paying off! He told her he had to stay in Stangerville overnight as part of his assignment and reassured her he would be back by morning. After hanging up, he went to Moe's Motel and called it a night.
https://i.imgur.com/km8WmjK.png

THURSDAY
The next day was Summerfest. It's the ultimate celebration of the summer! It's all about grillin' out with good company, enjoying the water, and of course watching the firework show! Wade and Darla had plans to meet their good friends, Neal and Serenity, at Whalebert's Splash Park in San Sequoia. Once they all arrived, they claimed their spot, set up their cooler, and shared their summer stories.
https://i.imgur.com/LbXctKU.png

Once the conversation started feeling a little stale, Darla walked on over to the jumping post.
Darla: "Hey guys, who else is gonna jump with me?"
https://i.imgur.com/Z9114k5.png
Wade followed her lead with a huge cannonball!
https://i.imgur.com/lfy9ILe.png

After having a blast jumping and splashing around the pool, Wade and Darla nodded at one another and took each of their friends aside. You see, they're trying to be matchmakers and set up their friends with one another. Neal is a single father who was cheated on and left alone to raise his son, Adam. Serenity is only single because she's focused completely on her floral business, Sweetpea Florals.
Darla: "Sooo..Neal's pretty fun, don't you think?"
Serenity: "Yeah he seems nice. I mean, I don't really know him, but so far he's been pretty cool. Did you see that backflip jump he did?!"
Darla: "Oh yeah, he's such a show-off. He totally landed it though, so I guess if you got it— flaunt it."
https://i.imgur.com/bBaXFF9.png

Darla got up and walked over the table Wade and Neal were at.
Darla: "Neal, Serenity is like really into you. You should go over there and talk to her!"
Neal: "What? Haha I don't even know her."
Wade: "Well great, now is your chance to get to know her dude. Go over there!"
Neal: "Alright, here goes nothing.."
https://i.imgur.com/x7s8iFe.png

Well let me tell you, Neal needs to gain some more confidence in himself because he and Serenity really hit it off! They walked out of the splash park hand-in-hand! Wade and Darla gave each other that look that said "Mission Accomplished!"
https://i.imgur.com/iBf19Ey.png

They changed into some dry clothes and walked over to the Sequoia Recreation Center which is where the firework show was going to be held. They decided to take the scenic route along the lake while heading over there. Once they arrived at the Rec Center, they grilled some hamburger sliders and hot dogs to munch on before it got dark.
https://i.imgur.com/nM7W05e.png

As they waited for firework show, each couple went their separate ways to go claim their spots with blankets and folding chairs. Wade found a nice little spot by the pond and yelled for Darla. "This is perfect!" she cheered. Once the sky turned dark, the firework show started. Not only were the fireworks beautiful in the night's sky, but festive paper lanterns and fireflies really added to the ambiance of the night. It was truly magical to witness!
https://i.imgur.com/LkJcNer.png

Then they broke out their sparklers to join in on the fun!
https://i.imgur.com/8yMizcm.png

The Holdens had such a wonderful Summerfest! It really was the perfect end-of-summer celebration. It's going to be hard to top this next year, but that's a future (me) problem.
https://i.imgur.com/tQ2frsF.png

That's all for now! :)
** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 06
https://i.imgur.com/tVqNz4g.png
FRIDAY
Happy Friday! It's finally the end of the week (in my game of course), and the Holdens have a weekend full of fun plans. First things first, we've got a birthday in the house. Can you guess who it is? That's right, Captain aged up from a small pup into one handsome fella! The Holdens figured what better way to celebrate his birthday than to take him on his first vacation?! They were going on a mini vacay anyway to celebrate their anniversary, so it was the perfect fit. And where are they going? The one and only destination hot spot for an outdoor retreat— Granite Falls. So get in Cappie, we're going camping!
https://i.imgur.com/v66Jfba.png

After a long road trip to Granite Falls, they finally made it to the Riverside Getaway Cabin.
https://i.imgur.com/CVqRwhX.png

Once they unpacked and fed Cappie, it was time to enjoy the outdoors! Wade took it upon himself to teach Captain how to fetch. He's a smart dog, so it didn't take him too long to catch on. Aww, look at how cute he is giving his daddy the ball!
https://i.imgur.com/t8F1Zkz.png
Well okay, he needs to work on giving Wade the ball back. He seems to think that once he retrieved it, he gets keep it! :D
Wade: "Alright buddy, you gotta give it me. Haha c'mon boy, hand it over!"
https://i.imgur.com/Puc3OeJ.png

Then the two went fishing in the river right next to their cabin. They caught some perch fish, but that wasn't sufficient for dinner, so they threw them back in. Darla managed to catch some sort of box though which she was really excited about! I wonder what's inside..
Darla: "Babe look at what I caught, it's a box!"
Wade: "Well look at that! Good job honey, but you're supposed to be catching fish! This is fishing not boxing!"
https://i.imgur.com/6JJzMw0.png

After they had enough of trying to catch a decent-sized fish, they threw in the towel and decided to grill up some chicken. It was such a beautiful day, perfect to eat out on the patio.
https://i.imgur.com/v48OYXQ.png

Now, one thing about the Holdens is they are extremely competitive with one another. They decided to break open the card deck they packed and start up a game of cards. Darla drew a pretty good hand, and she was certain she was going to win this round!
Darla: I've got myself quite a good hand, good luck beating me partner!
https://i.imgur.com/4fJHVYi.png
Wade: Ooh, would you look at that?! Looks like you're the one out of luck. Better luck next time little lady..
https://i.imgur.com/DUosz5k.png

After it got dark, they huddled around the fire pit, roasted some marshmallows, and told one another ghost stories.
https://i.imgur.com/dQJp3Rg.png

At the end of their night, they decided to pour a couple glasses of juice and relax in the hot tub!
https://i.imgur.com/TVBvtui.png

SATURDAY
The next morning, they each did their own thing. Wade woke up early to go hiking to admire the nature all around him. He leashed up Captain and took him along. Captain had so much fun going for a walk around Granite Falls with all the new smells and places to mark!
https://i.imgur.com/a54dz7p.png

Darla enjoyed all that nature had to offer too, but she took a more relaxing approach. Some good ol' tanning on the patio was enough for her. She typically would love to go hiking, but she just wasn't up for it that morning.
https://i.imgur.com/MyTeY7X.png

Later on in the afternoon, they went over to the Granite Falls Day Spa for some massages that Darla booked. She specifically chose the "Romantic Rendezvous" package. It was their anniversary after all! The massages were so relaxing and just what they needed.
https://i.imgur.com/sEZvLXi.png

The package included a complimentary pass to the rejuvenating hot spring. Let me tell ya, they took advantage of that complimentary pass.. <3
https://i.imgur.com/vLaGBu5.png

After the day spa, they had to quickly head over to the Woodland Bar & Grill for dinner. They put in their order; Wade got the steak and a tall glass of Barley Bale while Darla got the herb crusted salmon which she paired with a glass of Riverblossom Cranernet Nuala. While they were eating their meals, they decided to talk about the "Rose and Thorn" of their trip.
Darla: "Uhm okay, I'll go first. Well my rose is definitely the fact that Captain got to join us on this vacation! It seems like he's really enjoying it up here, so I think we need to take him on our trips more often. Do you wanna give yours?"
Wade: "No, you can go ahead and finish. What's your thorn?"
Darla: "Hmm, this one is difficult...oh! My thorn is when you drew a star and beat me at cards! Ugh, that was so annoying!"
Wade: "Hahaha, next time I'll take the star cards out of the deck just for you."
Darla: "Okay, your turn!"
Wade: "Alright, I guess I'll start with my thorn and save the best for last. My thorn has to be that our trip is almost over. I've been really enjoying it up here and I don't wanna leave yet."
Darla: "Wade! That's such a cop-out answer!"
Wade: "I mean, it's true! I'm glad we picked Granite Falls as our anniversary spot, and I'm not looking forward to the drive home."
Darla: "Alright, alright— and your rose?"
Wade: "Well see, now this is the difficult one for me because my "rose" hasn't happened yet.."
Darla looked at him with confusion.
Wade: "So I've got a surprise for you back at the cabin. Once we're done eating, we'll head on back there. Don't rush though! The surprise isn't going anywhere, so take your time."
Darla: "A surprise?! How'd you get that past me? You didn't even know which cabin we were staying in!"
Wade: "I've got my resources.."
https://i.imgur.com/IP15pNK.png

They went back to their cabin, and Wade showed her what he had planned..
Wade: "Okay babe, turn around, you can look."
https://i.imgur.com/uwLJ8L6.png
Wade: "Sooo we're going to sleep under the stars tonight."
https://i.imgur.com/Ku6bpPM.png

Okay, as the writer, I need to interject for a minute. You're probably thinking "Oh, that's sweet" or "Aww, cute," but sleeping under the stars is not just the act of literally sleeping under the stars to Darla. Let me explain. When Darla's parents disappeared during their visit to Forgotten Hollow, she used to look out her window in Oasis Springs and wish upon a star that they would return home. After several months passed, she finally accepted that her parents were not coming back. Out of respect for her parents, she scheduled a funeral for them with a small circle of close family and friends. Though she did not have solid evidence of them passing, she just knew they were gone. At the funeral, she referenced the importance of stars as she closed out her eulogy quoting: "Perhaps they are not simply stars in the sky above us, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down upon us to let us know they are happy and at peace." Stars are not just luminous specks in the sky, they represent her parents and their happiness. With that said, "sleeping under the stars" in Darla's perspective is sleeping with the comfort that somewhere out there her parents are happy and at peace, which is the best gift Wade could've ever surprised her with.

With tears filling her eyes, she hugged and kissed Wade. They cozied up on the blanket outside of their tent, and looked up at the stars. There was a lot of silence for the rest of that night, which was very peaceful in a way. Wade really didn't mind it. Quite honestly, silence is loudest to the ones who love you the most. He knew how much this gesture meant to her, and her silence— yeah, that was his rose. They looked up at the stars until their eyes were so heavy they couldn't resist letting them rest.
https://i.imgur.com/iMPtzSk.png

Thanks for reading! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **

HOLDEN FAM 2.0 | UPDATE 07
https://i.imgur.com/g3ZTJTb.png
SUNDAY
As Darla started to wake up, she felt a cool breeze paired with Wade's warm embrace. They were still in the tent from the night before. Their Granite Falls vacation was coming to an end, and neither of them wanted to go home. The peaceful moment got interrupted with Cappie's whining outside their tent. He clearly felt a little left out as he wasn't allowed in the tent last night. After a few more moments of lying in the tent, they decided to get up and tend to Captain.
https://i.imgur.com/SsROiur.png

Wade got a call from his father, Waylon, asking if he planned to come by later that day. Sundays are usually the days he helps his dad with various chores around the ranch, and he wasn't planning on skipping it. He let Waylon know it would take a few hours or so, but he and Darla will be stopping by later to visit and help out. They packed up their belongings, and drove out west towards Chestnut Ridge.

Once they arrived at the Family Ties Ranch many hours later, Mae took Darla into the nectar cellar while Wade helped his dad tend to the horses.
Wade: "Dad, what do you think about giving Darla some riding lessons? Should we take her out on the trail?"
Waylon: "Hm? Oh sure, son. I think that'd be alright. Wait, isn't she afraid of horses?"
Wade: "Nah, I don't think so. I mean she's been around them plenty of times. She's just hasn’t had the chance to ride one, I think."
Waylon: "I guess it won't hurt to offer."
Wade: "Cool. I'll go get her."
https://i.imgur.com/oB2SZP1.png

Wade went into the nectar cellar and offered some horse riding lessons to Darla. Though she was afraid of horses (like Waylon thought), she felt obligated to give her husband a chance. She accepted his offer, and they both went back outside to mount their horses. Wade helped Darla up onto Lady's back. Lady was a pretty friendly and mellow horse, so she was perfect for a new rider. Darla looked down and her eyes widened. She felt uneasy knowing she could lose control and fall off of Lady at any moment! Why did she let Wade talk her into this? Wade mounted Trusty and started to lead the horses to the trail. He looked back to check on Darla.
Wade: "You good?"
Darla: "Yep. Let's do this!"
Okay, so she lied. She wanted to be a good sport about it, but as they took off, the look on her face gave away exactly how she felt.
https://i.imgur.com/Pl2dTm7.png

They trotted along the trail for a while until Wade turned Trusty around. Once he turned, he saw Darla nervous and struggling. He didn't want to put Darla through any hardship, so he offered to finish the ride together.
https://i.imgur.com/0tXEMDn.png

Once Darla was with Wade on Trusty's back, she felt safe and at ease. Now she was finally able to enjoy the ride! They came back onto the property smiling and laughing.
https://i.imgur.com/wqm5tge.png

After they finished helping around the ranch, Wade texted Supriya to let her know he was in town. They made plans to go on a double date at the Rusty Horseshoe. Once they all arrived, they went to the bar to get glasses of strawberry rosé and talked about their old high school shenanigans. Since Darla met Wade in University, she was very interested to hear all of their stories.
Supriya: "Did Wade ever tell you about the prank he pulled on Fool's Day during high school?"
Darla: "No!"
Supriya: "Oh my gosh, you have to hear it! Back in high school, for Wade's Fool's Day prank, he pulled the fire alarms in school. Everyone had to immediately stop what they were doing and line up in the halls to evacuate. I know, lame right? Well get this, the fire alarm wasn't even the real prank and it was just a way to get everyone in the halls. As all the students and faculty were lining up, he streaked through the halls singing John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt! It was so random, yet so funny!"
Darla: "Haha I'm not surprised one bit— that's my husband! Wade, how much trouble did you get in for that one?"
Wade: "None! I wore a Llamaman mask, so they never found out it was me."
https://i.imgur.com/4Vc8eiJ.png

The Holdens and Delgatos were having a great time exchanging stories until a loud, booming voice interrupted them.
Announcer: "Alright ladies and gentlemen, we're about to kick off our weekly karaoke content! If you'd like to participate, please sign up on the right of the stage and pick your song. We'll be starting shortly."
Without any hesitation, Darla got up and started heading towards the stage.
Wade: "Ooh y'all are in for a real treat."
Darla: "I couldn't agree more babe, because I'm signing us both up!"
She signed them up to sing 'Like No One's Watching.' The couple got called onto the stage and put on an amazing performance! Not because they were great singers, actually Wade can't carry a tune to save his life, but it was amazing because they were having fun. Sometimes it's more fun not to take life so seriously! Though they had the most entertaining performance, they didn't win. Mr. Crinkletop ended up winning the contest!
https://i.imgur.com/B3MwHHo.png

After the contest was over, it was time to get a little rowdy! The boys went back to the bar and each got liters of juice to fuel them for the rest of the night. They drank, danced, and overall had a great time!
https://i.imgur.com/0uy04nY.png

MONDAY
As the new week started, the Holdens were back into their weekly routines. It was the first official day of fall, and Darla started off the morning decorating the home for the season and tending to her berry garden.
https://i.imgur.com/JTJjQMH.png

After finishing some chores around the house, she was inspired by the new season. She went to her fizzy juice station and created a seasonal flavor for her CLASSIC line called "Golden Hour" which featured a citrus juice blend with a touch of sweet honey.
https://i.imgur.com/uQPw6Ci.png

When Wade got home, they decided to go on a small picnic date at a local festival called Fall Frolic on Mirage Canyon Avenue. Fall Frolic was designed to get all of the locals out to ring in the new season with some festive food and drinks. Darla packed some freshly baked pumpkin scones and some pumpkin spice milk to enjoy.
https://i.imgur.com/azAC2Uz.png

They went out to the Mirage Canyon Avenue and had such a cute and festive picnic!
https://i.imgur.com/qwxxraJ.png

After they got back home from Fall Frolic, they invited Miguel and Elena over for game night. This time they played Don't Wake the Llama and Darla was the overall champ! It's no surprise the player with the most patience won.
https://i.imgur.com/Ioq76Me.png

After a long night of games, Elena and Miguel headed home. Wade and Darla ended their night watching the movie, 'Khlumzee Sisters,' and fell asleep peacefully on the sofa together.
https://i.imgur.com/Tu083D1.png
https://i.imgur.com/5iuj9FX.png

TUESDAY
The next day after Wade went to work, Darla met with Elena and Serenity for a girl's day at the Burnt Bean Café in San Sequoia. They spent their morning drinking espressos and catching one another up on the latest gossip.
Elena: "Did you hear Don Lothario is back with Katrina Calienté? I give it a week before he's back on the streets."
https://i.imgur.com/z8uYKfy.png

After they were energized from the caffeine, they decided to stop by the Pamper & Polish Day Spa to get pedicures and massages.
https://i.imgur.com/jfv74xJ.png

As the girl's day came to a close, they all hugged one another and parted ways. Darla went to Penelope's Grill to have dinner with Wade. Penelope's Grill is a trendy restaurant that specializes in eccentric entrées. Wade ordered the Rustic Pate Drizzled in Aged Jus and paired it with a Silent Film while Darla got the Honeycomb Garden Vegetable Cups along with a Sunset Valley to drink.
https://i.imgur.com/QNb40Rc.png

Once they finished their strange and delicious meals, they went outside on the patio for one more round of drinks. They sat in the hanging chairs and admired the atmosphere around them. Just as Darla thought the night was over, Wade had a little surprise for her. A waiter came out onto the patio and handed him his guitar. He got up and serenaded her as the golden sun rays shined on him before they disappeared beyond the horizon.
https://i.imgur.com/vvo4W6C.png

Feeling flirty after all of the romance, the couple went home and ended their night with a passionate and fun time!
https://i.imgur.com/TOEkNQd.png

Thanks for reading! :)

** Comments are welcome and appreciated! **
** If you'd like to leave a comment, please leave them in the WHIYGT thread (here) to preserve the organization of my thread **