4.6 Rejection

Tammi's pregnancy is tumultuous for the entire household. One day, she and Lincoln are hardly on speaking terms... 

The next, they're glued to each other and can't be distracted. 

Kiss and make up...how long can they keep doing this?

This time around, they're on good terms again in time for spooky day. Evan throws a costume party.

Felix congratulates Tammi on her pregnancy. It'll be his first great-grandchild. 

Tammi smiles politely throughout these pregnancy conversations. She's glad that Felix, at least, hasn't touched her without her permission. 

"I wish mom could've made it," Olivia sighs. Naomi passed away a very long time ago, and now that several election cycles have passed, Nicole is making her own bid for presidential office. She spends most of her time in Bridgeport nowadays. 

But the sisters don't let that get them down. 

Tammi chatters on about the wedding to her grandfather-in-law. 

"I think it would be so romantic to have a winter wedding. The beautiful snow...it would match so perfectly with a bridal dress, don't you think?" 

Lincoln stares on in disbelief. Wedding? What the hell is she telling people!? 

"I've been waiting for him to pop the question for months now," Tammi complains to Lincoln's cousin, Chandra, "I'm not sure what else to do?" 

"Well... you could ask him yourself?" 

"That wouldn't be very proper, would it? The man has to ask," Tammi huffs. 

Werewolves make Wesley grumpy...for some reason. 

Chau is dressed in an outfit that Tammi criticizes for "showing way too much skin", which just makes her sister grin. Annoying Tammi is so easy. 

"Tammi, what the hell!? Why are you telling people we're getting married?" Lincoln whispers shrilly, "I don't remember having that conversation!" 

Tammi looks around worriedly, "Calm down, you're making a scene! What will people think if I'm just living with you, with a kid, and don't have a ring? Have you considered my dignity and reputation at all?" 

Lincoln stares at her in disbelief. "What does it matter if we're married!? You're still living here!" 

"Well then what does it matter to you, if it supposedly doesn't change anything!?" 

Lincoln glowers. He wants to argue back, but...she has a point... "I just don't want my future decided for me against my will!" 

She gestures towards her abdomen, "Like that hasn't already happened!?" 

Their spirited argument is cut off by contractions. Tammi's in labour! 

Olivia yawns. Boring! 

Lincoln drives Tammi to the hospital, still wearing his cow-plant costume. 

"Really? You're going to welcome our child into the world wearing that?" she criticizes. 

"The baby won't give a damn! Just get inside!" he ushers her to the hospital waiting room.

Her labour is mercifully short. They come a few hours later with baby Rosalind. 

When Lincoln suggested the name, she liked how elegant it sounded... but it now occurs to Tammi that Heather's last name was Rose... 

It must just be a coincidence. 

As Tammi recovers from birth, she spends a lot of time becoming... acquainted...with Evan and Olivia's strange habits. 

Just because you turn into an animal doesn't mean you have to act like one, Tammi internally tuts. She would never dare say this to Olivia's face, not only because of her terrifying second form, but because it would just be so rude. 

Evan is delighted to welcome his first grandchild. Despite Vincent's desires to adopt with his wife, the couple is yet to bring any children home. 

The stress of their living situation gets to Lincoln very easily. When he and Tammi aren't fighting, they're usually doing this... 

They have very clashing values and personalities, but neither of them can deny their chemistry. 

And for a little while afterwards, things are pleasant and agreeable between the two of them. 

Though Rosalind wasn't planned, Tammi is a doting mother. 

"Now all we have to do to make this family complete is to get your pig-headed father to marry me," she confides in her daughter, "Any ideas on how to get that done?" 

Rosalind can only tug on Tammi's blouse. She's hungry and hasn't been fed yet. 

In between caring for the baby and fighting then making up with Rosalind, Lincoln hasn't sold any of his inventions in some time. He's surprised to find that the consignment cashier has been replaced. 

"Mr. Duende? What are you doing here?' 

"Please- call me Andy! We're practically family at this point anyways," Andy waves off Lincoln's formalities, "I work here now!" 

"I thought you were a teacher?" 

"Well, for a while. But I misplaced on too many final exams and well...here I am!" his tone is upbeat, but Lincoln can't help but frown. 

"Oh..." 

"Now, what do you have for me?" 

Lincoln puts a box of windup toys and floor hygienators onto the counter. 

"....Andy?" 

".....hm? Oh! Right! Hoover, let's see what you've got there..." he starts looking through Lincoln's products. "Very nice, Wilson, very nice..." 

When Lincoln gets home, Tammi is waiting for him. 

"Lincoln, honey," her voice is low and sultry. 

"Let's go out for a nice dinner. Just the two of us." 

Lincoln doesn't have to be told twice! 

They sit down at a table on the bistro's terrace. 

"Wow, they're still playing the same italian music as the last time we ate here," Lincoln laughs, "Remember when that waitress brought us the pinot noir instead of the chianti?" 

"Oh, come now, Lincoln. That's not very romantic talk," Tammi chides him. 

"Huh? But we're just hanging out." 

"Hanging out!?" Tammi repeats, outraged, "We just had a baby together! Of course this is a date!" 

Lincoln smiles nervously. "Right..." 

Tammi tries to recompose herself, "I thought if we got out...just the two of us...that it would lead to a nice...romantic mood." 

Lincoln shrugs, "If you say so." 

Their food arrives, but only Lincoln looks happy about it. 

After the dinner, Tammi presses her body on Lincoln's, running her hands through her hair. 

"Wasn't this nice?" 

He feels himself start to get distracted. "Oh, yeah definitely." 

"Isn't there...anything on your mind, right now?" she asks. When his hands go too low, she bats them away, "No, not that! Anything a bit more...profound?" 

Looking at her hopeful gaze, Lincoln takes a deep breath. 

He does owe her, doesn't he? 

He drops down onto one knee and takes out a ring mechanically. He bought one at the consignment store. It's cheap, more like costume jewelry, but he thought it looked pretty. He was going to give it to her as a birthday present, but this works too right? 

"Tammi Duende, will you-" 

"No, no, no!" she shuts the box, "This is all wrong! That ring is horrendous, and you- you could be reading off the instructions to a tech manual!" 

He stands up slowly. She laughs, but it's not a happy sound. 

"Oh Lincoln. This is all so forced and so wrong." 

He can't help but agree, but... "Isn't that...what you wanted?" 

Tammi sighs, trying to cover her deep disappointment. "Not like this. I suppose we should wait until your heart's in it." 

When he gets home, his heart feels heavy. He wasn't eager to propose to Tammi, but her rejection stings for some reason. 

He starts a letter. 

Dear Heather, 

How are you? Today I proposed marriage for the first time and got rejected. I'm sure you would have found it funny. I miss you... 

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AN: I was pretty surprised. Tammi rejected Lincoln's proposal even though their relationship bar was full. I know commitment issue sims are more likely to reject proposals, but Tammi isn't the one afraid of marriage! I don't know.