Round Ten - Nakamura

Hiro and Destiny's efforts to conceive had finally paid off. Destiny wasn't sure if the morning sickness was worth it and kind of wished Hiro could share her nauseous suffering.


Sachiko's cooking skills had not improved with age and she yet again almost burned down the house trying to cook a simple meal. She was henceforth banned from the kitchen - not for the first time.


Shiina brought her family around to visit and Sachiko finally got to meet her grandson. Jin was very polite and friendly, if boisterous. Gabe was clearly being a good father figure to him, in Sachiko's eyes.


Hiro wasn't quite so quick to accept his future brother-in-law and gave him a quick grilling. Thankfully he passed the big brother test and they got on famously.


"Will we be expecting the pitter-patter of tiny feet soon?" asked Sachiko. Shiina rolled her eyes.

"We've only just gotten engaged! Can't you at least finish nagging me about the wedding before you start on me about more grandkids?."

"I know, I know... it's just that I missed out on so much with Jin."


Destiny's pregnancy was progressing and she'd temporarily given up on styling her hair beyond relaxing it. She may have been tired, hungry and cranky, but there was no WAY pregnancy was going to get in the way of her playing pool!


Destiny eventually gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Momo, and invited her whole family around to meet her.


They seemed thrilled, with the exception of Amanda. Yet another thing to get in the way of her planned conquest of Hiro!


No-one was more thrilled than Nobuo and Sachiko, though. A grandchild in the house! Sure, they had Jin, but they hadn't been able to be involved in his early years. They wouldn't make that mistake with Momo.

Note: Amanda came over, started a slapping match with Nobuo, yelled at Adam and was generally very mean autonomously. She has more issues than the Daily Prophet.

Round Nine - Nakamura

Things were going well for Yuki. She asked Zara on an official date and it went amazingly well.


So well, in fact, that she asked her if they could go steady. It was more of a big deal than it would have been a few years ago - they were both graduating soon and would be adults. They were serious about each other.


Nobuo and Sachiko reaching elderhood hadn't curbed their amorousness, and Junko was more disgusted than ever. Old people! Old people KISSING! EW!


Sachiko had heard about Shiina's relationship with the handsome (and very rich) Gabe LeTorneau, and wasted no time in grilling her about it.

"So, when are you going to marry him?"

"MOM! He hasn't even proposed yet!"

"Well, you'd better make sure he does it soon. You're a single mother, you're lucky to have made such a catch..."


Junko and Yuki both graduated high school and grew into beautiful young ladies, but their boisterous and occasionally childish behaviour when together didn't die down. They still loved playing "Punch You, Punch Me."


But their childish dreams couldn't last forever. The house was far too crowded so they decided to move out together and find a snazzy apartment while Yuki made her way up the Oceonography career ladder and saved up for a proper house.


Hiro had reached the top of his chosen career - he was a sports superstar!


Unfortunately his efforts in the making-a-family area were not proving as successful as his efforts in his career. Destiny still wasn't pregnant and was getting a little upset about it. All she wanted to talk about was babies!


Thankfully, keeping on in their quest and trying for a baby was a lot of fun.

Round Eight - Nakamura

Sachiko may have been a mother of four and soon to be a grandmother and a mother-in-law, but that didn't mean her cooking skills had gotten any better over the years.


Destiny was integrating well into the Nakamura household. She had been worried that Yuki and Junko would resent her for taking up space but they were quick to dispel her worries.

"Are you SERIOUS?" laughed Junko. "Seriously, you are, like, the coolest sister in law ever. Plus it's not like me and Yuki are going to be hanging around here forever. As soon as we're done with school we're out of here. Nice apartment in the city and all that."


Destiny got on well with Sachiko, too. They shared important life goals like not wanting to get a job and hanging around the house all day in skimpy nightdresses.


Yuki was dealing with the failure of her "relationship" with Ruth Knox by throwing herself into work, as usual, but Junko had made a promise that she wasn't about to break. She was throwing a party, and it was going to be one to remember - for Yuki as much as for herself. Yuki wasn't unaware of what was going on. They were twins, after all, and she had seen Zara around and thought she was pretty.


The party wasn't BAD, as such, although Junko couldn't help noticing that Noah was more interested in playing pool than talking to her. Still, hanging out with her not-quite-boyfriend wasn't the point of the evening. She let things run their course - Zara knew what to do.


Yuki went outside away from the hustle-and-bustle of the party, hoping to do some gardening or just ANYTHING that would keep her mind off things, and Zara sensed the perfect opportunity to make her move, surprising her with a kiss. Yuki didn't object.


"I'm sorry," said Zara quickly. "That was rude of me. I - "

"No, it's fine." Yuki smiled widely for the first time in a while. "Shall we go back inside?" She held on to Zara's hand and squeezed tight.


The next day, Junko decided to try and get a straight answer out of Noah.

"Look, are we boyfriend and girlfriend or not? 'Cause I like you, but if you're just going to be a cold fish - "


"I'm sorry, Jun... I like you, but I don't love you. Not like that. We can still be friends - "


"No we can't. Jeez, Noah, you don't understand girls at all, do you?"

"I - "

"Save it. I'll call you when I feel like it."


Despite all the teenage angst, Hiro and Destiny's wedding went ahead as planned. They got married overlooking the sea and both their families were there, although little Adam seemed slightly judgmental about his half-brother's choice in formal wear.


It was a happy affair. Ewan was best man, of course, and Junko and Yuki were bridesmaids in matching dresses of contrasting colours - all very fitting for everyone involved.


Hiro's treatment of the wedding cake was slightly unchivalrous, but that was Hiro and Destiny for you - playful til the end, perfect for each other even if other people didn't quite get them.


But even a wedding couldn't keep Sachiko and Junko away from the pool table for long...


Note: Sorry for this seeming so disjointed, a lot happened and it was hard to keep up! I can't wait until the twins are old enough to move out, I hate having this many people around but it would have been just as crowded in the Davies/Knox house if Destiny had stayed :(

Round Seven - Nakamura

Life continued at the usual fun-loving pace for the Nakamuras. The pool table was getting a lot of use.


Thanks to Sachiko and Junko's sociable attitudes to life the house was almost always crowded to bursting point, and Junko's schoolwork suffered a little as she much preferred chatting to studying. But Yuki kept her on the straight and narrow, as ever. Junko wished she could spend more time with Noah and maybe make their dating official but it didn't seem like that was happening any time soon - he was so busy working!


"So, how are things with you and Ruth?" asked Junko. Yuki feigned ignorance for a moment but one look from her twin got her to admit it.

"We've... been seeing each other. I think I might be in love with her." She smiled. "But she hasn't called lately."

Junko frowned. She liked Ruth, but she knew her type. Yuki wanted someone stable and reliable who would want to stick around, and Ruth was NOT that kind of girl. She resolved to find someone better.


As it turned out, her friend Zara swung that way and had seen Yuki around. Junko wasn't entirely sure at first - Zara wore an awful lot of makeup and was a bit of a party girl.

"I don't know. I mean, what do you want to do with your life?"

"I want to be a doctor. Or a super-scientist. I haven't decided yet," said Zara enthusiastically. "Bet you didn't see that coming. Don't judge a book by its cover, missy."

Junko grinned. A smart girl would be perfect for her sister. She promised Zara she would throw a party soon and slyly introduce them.


Meanwhile, Hiro had decided to take the plunge, and proposed to Destiny while on a romantic dinner date at the most expensive restaurant in town. She was a little hesitant at first, not wanting to leave her family, but then she decided it was now or never. Plus, it wasn't as if she couldn't call, email and visit her parents and half-siblings whenever she wanted!


So Destiny moved in with the Nakamuras. Things were going to be more than a little crowded with four adults and two teenagers in the house...


Note: There isn't a photo of the actual proposal because I was waiting for Destiny to do the whole examining-the-ring thing, or at least look happy, but she looked MISERABLE. But she accepted anyway and got a good memory from it, so I guess she did want to get engaged after all.

Round Seven - Davies

Things were going well for Sabrina and her new family. Adam was a healthy baby with a big appetite, and his presence didn't seem to have upset the teenagers as it would have done in a less balanced "blended family". Jacinta and Destiny rallied round to help out, although Sabrina made sure they made time for school and meals.


Jasper was especially happy and even took breaks from his workaholic schedule to help care for his son. He couldn't have been more different from Sabrina's ex-husband, James, and for that she was extremely thankful.


One of the tactics they used in keeping their family together was shared mealtimes, especially breakfast. Even if Sabrina had been up all night taking care of Adam, she would cook pancakes or omelettes for the rest of the household before going back to bed.


Even though Hiro had graduated from high school and she still had a little while to go, Destiny didn't stop seeing her boyfriend. He was a professional sportsman now and that just made him hotter.


Jacinta was also dreaming of an age-gap relationship, although the gap was slightly larger in her case. She and Ash had yet to even kiss or do anything more dramatic than flirt but the chemistry was definitely there.


The house was definitely completely loved-up; even prickly Amanda was having some luck. She didn't have quite the same desire for stability that possessed Destiny and Jacinta, though, so after her first kiss she didn't even call the boy in question and instead put her energies into organising the Best Party Ever.


Destiny didn't let her relationship with Hiro get in the way of family matters. She still frequently saw Ruth, who was technically her aunt but was more like a little sister to her. Jacinta was slightly less involved, but didn't hide away like Amanda.



"You know, Dad, I wouldn't mind another baby brother or sister," said Destiny conversationally over left-over chilli.
Jasper smiled. "I don't think so. Sabrina and I are getting a little bit old for that..."


But when Jasper looked at Adam, he doubted his position on the matter. Yes, he and Sabrina were getting on in years, but their love and care for Adam made them feel young. Why not try for another baby?


Amanda's plans for the Best Party Ever were derailed slightly when her mother and step-father very firmly told her "NO BOYS!", but she went ahead with an all-girl party anyway and it was a blast.


Unbeknown to the rest of her family, Jacinta had her first kiss that night, and it wasn't with Ash. She'd never kissed a girl before, never even thought about it, but it was... nice. Very nice. After the party was over she pushed it out of her thoughts - she loved Ash! She couldn't let this get in the way of that...


Jacinta and Destiny graduated, becoming very beautiful young ladies. Jacinta moved out to Ash's place, just like she planned, while Destiny was waiting on a proposal from Hiro. They would both be sad to leave little Adam, but it wasn't like they couldn't visit, and he'd be old enough to use the phone soon!

Notes: Oh my gosh. Jacinta and the blonde was utterly spontaneous; curse ACR. She didn't even have a want for a First Kiss anymore, that span away a long time ago... Sabrina has a want for another baby that just won't go away, and it still pops up for Jasper from time to time. We'll see, though.