Chapter 16: A Curse is Lifted

As summer starts, it's Neo's turn to have a birthday party. Unlike his sisters, he is less of a family guy, and more of a party guy and you're only turning into an adult once so why should he bother with a family affair when he could take his sisters and his friends to the club?
There is still cake, and everyone cheers as he blows out his candles, and then there is dancing and drinks and a lot of making out with Malik. Neo especially likes that part. All in all it's a good birthday.

Fact is that life in general is good. He's gotten another promotion, to ringleader, and Malik is getting more involved with "business" at the gym as people come buy asking for favours and loans or pay protection money. He likes saying no more than he says yes, and thrive on people's misfortune. Neo thinks he's awesome.

He's also been teaching Neo some handiness, so that they can start fixing up the run down shack they live in. Not that the run down state matters all that much, the water is running and there is, amazingly, electricity and there aren't any wholes in the roof - yet - but still, it could be nice if it looked better.

In Oasis Springs it's time for Sunny to have another birthday. Starting school? Already. Time really flies. Sandy and Rory has arranged for a party in their back yard, where they have installed a pool. But things get off to a bad start when Sandy gets a call telling her that both her grandparents on her father's side has died the night before. Which of course put a damper on things. Still she tries to make the best of the situation, for Sunny's sake.

And everyone is making an effort to make little Sunny happy, and the party is going well, until Candices parents are struck with death too, just like that, at the same time and right there at the party! It's hard to see how you can have a worse birthday party for a little boy. Sandy gets baby Christmas out of there, while the reaper is doing his work, and as everyone leaves, she comforts her now big boy.

Luckily, he inherited his grandfather's cheerful trait, so he's resilient. This also means that in a year, when he turns into a teenager, Growing Together will be unlocked.

You'd think the family would take some time to mourn after such a hard blow, but for Willow there is no resting. She only has a short window to get the final ingredients for her mother's remedy and only one place to get them. So she asks Olivia to come with her, to help her with Christmas while she searches for the right ingredients.

This time she rents a cabin, as she figures that's better for a small child than sleeping outside. But while Olivia seems to think they're on just another holiday, Willow is on a mission. And not an easy one at that. So their expectations of the trip are a little different.

"Seriously, you just brought me along as a baby sitter?"

Willow feels a bit guilty, so she tries to bring Christmas with her when she can.

But some ingredients need to be caught by night, and there is just not possible with a baby. So Olivia is the friend in need and takes care of Christmas even if she had hoped this would be a time for the three to have fun.

Caught! Willow now have all the ingredients necessary.

"Just remember what a good friend I am," Olivia says afterwards, on their last night before heading home.

Once back home, it's time for Summerfest and Christmas's first aging up party. While she wishes she had time to make the cure for her mother, she also knows that it can't be made at the solstice, but that she has to wait until the first day of fall. Not much to do but to invite the family over for a Weenie roast to celebrate that Christmas is soon a toddler.

She loves watching her father with Christmas. He really is a great granddad.

That night, she tucks her now toddler into her new bed, reading her to sleep. It's a special moment for both of them.

Once Christmas is sleeping, and everyone is gone, Willow relaxes by lounging in the new kiddie pool she's gotten.

The next morning, and the first day of fall, Christmas learns what good conversationalist plants are.

And she gets to try to kiddie pool on this still warm day.

And when she's down for the night, Willow changes into her work clothes, and take the time to brew the remedy that will help her mother. Time is of the essence, as her mother is aging up to an elder in just a few days. She has spent half her time as an adult under a curse, Willow hopes to save her to have at least a few good years without it.

Next days' birthday party is the perfect time to bring the cure to her mother. She gets there early, helping her mother cook the food and singing for her dad.

As the guests arrive, her mother is overdressed as usual.

But willow has a plan. She offers the cure as a birthday gift. Then tell her mother it's a brew to give her clarity of thought and focus, so that she can better improve her skills and advance in her career. Not technically wrong, as it will have those effects as well...

She feels like singing when she sees her mother drinking it.

A moment later, and Candice feels the curse lift, her shoulders becoming lighter, her mind becoming clearer as all thoughts of money, status and fame gives way for her actual personality to come out. And why is she wearing this ridiculous dress when it's only her family and friends here? She changes into her normal party wear on the spot.

It feels good to be herself again!