It's been nine years since I posted the first chapter of the story that started this saga: Strangetown, Meet the eXtremes, and I am proud (and somewhat surprised) that this fanfiction saga is still going on! I officially wrote the ending for Welcome to Slavestown over two years ago, and since then I have written three stories for the archive. Honestly, I was nervous for a while to start this fanfiction due to its monstrous planning sheet, but I've missed these characters and the series' avid readers, and there's no better time than now to get this fourth story started! The title of this chapter adverts to the fact that none of the previous stories in this series began on a positive note. This story features the biggest collection of Strangetown sims than any of its predecessors, but it mostly centers around Isabella and the Curious brothers with Crystal, Loki, Circe, and Ripp having fairly large secondary roles.

Thank you everyone for your patience, and I hope you enjoy the first chapter of this long-awaited fic! As always, feel free to leave me a review telling me what you think, I'd really appreciate it! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own The Sims.

Still in Love With You by SClownzZzZz

Chapter 1 – A Pleasant Beginning (For Once)

Isabella eXtreme is lying down on Pascal's bed, alone, staring up at the ceiling. She sighs, her mind going a mile a minute as the events of the last year race through her brain. She thinks about college, the war, and the kiss. And how, at the base of it all, she is deeply confused.

Just one year ago, Isabella knew exactly what she wanted: She wanted Ripp. But one walk in the woods changed everything, and soon, she found herself with three new roommates and up against the most nefarious man in the city.

And she found herself falling in love again.

Deep down, she knew her relationship with Ripp had been diminishing. Perhaps her crush on Vidcund was just the final nail in the coffin to end it for good. And although she would do the same things all over again, at this moment, Isabella can't help but yearn for a time when things were simple.

Isabella sighs once again as she sits up against the bedframe. She stands up and creeps towards the open doorway, passing by a peacefully-sleeping Amelia in the process. Isabella slowly peeks around the corner, looking both ways before she enters the empty hallway.

"Hey Izzy, is there anything you would like to tell me?" a voice rings out behind her, causing the young woman to shriek and nearly collapse in response.

Isabella quickly turns around, her hand placed on her rapidly-beating chest, as she locks eyes with her best friend, Kea. "Kea! How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that?!" Isabella cries, her heart rate slowly decreasing, "That's the second time today you've scared the pants off of me!"

Kea scrunches her forehead, clearly perplexed by this statement. "But…you don't wear pants," Kea replies, gesturing down at Isabella's pink shirt and black and white argyle skirt combo. "Anyway, since we're getting a tad off topic here, I'll ask once more: Is there anything you would like to talk to me about?" she asks.

"Uh…what do you mean?" Isabella wonders, suddenly feeling quite awkward.

"Well," Kea sighs, taking a step towards her friend, "I saw something last night on the roof that I thought you may want to tell me."

Isabella's stomach drops, knowing exactly what Kea is referring to, but hoping her friend won't press her further. "And what exactly did you see?"

Kea sighs, before reaching into Pascal's bedroom and taking two alien figurines out of Amelia's toy box. She holds one in each hand in front of her torso. "You know, something like this," she begins, holding up one doll and making her voice ridiculously low, "Thanks for saving my life, hot face," she grunts, speaking for the male doll, before holding up the female doll in her right hand, "No prob, the city needs you, you super hunk!" she squeaks, bringing her voice up a register. She moves the male doll up and lowers her voice again, "Ooh Izzy, I can't live without you," she coos, then switches back to the female doll, "Ooh Vidcund, kiss my face!" Kea cries, before holding the male doll up again, "With pleasure!" she shouts in a super-masculine voice, before crushing the dolls together repeatedly and making kissing noises.

Isabella pushes Kea's arms down, her face in a line. "Please don't ever do that again," she states.

Kea turns slightly, placing the dolls back into the toy bin, before grabbing Isabella by the arm and lowering her voice to a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me that you still like him?" she asks, a hurt expression on her face.

Isabella sighs, "Because I don't, Kea."

Kea rolls her eyes up at the ceiling, "Yeah," she says sarcastically, "I could sure tell that yesterday when you were feasting on his face!" Isabella steps back, letting out a heavy huff as she turns away from her friend. "Look at you, going after the Mayor of Strangetown. Admit it, it's for the free cheese, isn't it?" Kea remarks, pointing her finger in Isabella's face. Izzy crosses her arms. "It's okay, I'm not judging. I'm sure a lot of people think I'm with Tank cause of the meat baskets!"

"Kea," Isabella sighs once more, hoping to put an end to this confrontation, "I don't like Vidcund, okay?"

Kea moves her eyes behind her and smiles, "Oh, hey Vidcund!" she beams.

Isabella shrieks and hides behind the doorframe, her heart pounding. After a few moments of silence, Isabella slowly opens her eyes and scans the area, finding only the two of them in the hallway. Isabella looks to Kea, her best friend sporting a sassy smirk on her face with her arms crossed.

"That…doesn't prove anything," Isabella states between breaths.

"This doesn't prove what now?" Pascal speaks up, taking a bite of his toast as he walks up behind them.

"Isabella likes your brother," Kea smirks, the girl in question severely blushing at this comment.

"I knew it!" Pascal chimes, pointing his finger at Isabella as he chews another piece of his toast, "Wait, you're talking about Vidcund, right?" he asks.

Kea nods matter-of-factly, "Yep."

"I knew it!" Pascal points his finger at her again.

Isabella crosses her arms, clearly annoyed by the amount of attention this topic is getting. "You guys both don't know what you're talking about," she claims, her face still florid, "I don't like him like that!"

Pascal laughs. "Right," he states as Isabella trails her eyes to the floor. He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Look, don't feel bad, Izzy. A lot of girls like Vidcund," Pascal begins, stopping for a moment to ponder this statement over, "Well, maybe just you and Circe. But sometimes Circe seems like she's five different people-Oh, hey Vidcund!" Pascal greets as a sim walks into the hallway.

"Oh, no," Isabella cries, a hint of irritation in her voice as she stares up at her friends, "I am not falling for that one again-" Isabella turns around, almost bumping against Vidcund's chest. She steps back slightly, nervously rubbing her arm as she stares up at him. "Hi," she squeaks.

Vidcund nods, clearly nervous as well. "Hello."

"Well, we better get going, sounds like you guys have a really important conversation going on here," Pascal remarks, gesturing Kea towards the door.

"Wait, you guys don't have to go!" Isabella cries, holding her hand out towards them.

"Yep, gotta go count my toenails!" Kea chimes, following Pascal into the kitchen, "See ya, peeps!" she waves, holding her hand up towards the ceiling, leaving the two of them awkwardly alone.

Isabella smiles, giving an anxious laugh as she makes eye contact with Vidcund. "Roommates, am I right?" Isabella states, hoping to fill the silence, "What are we going to do with them?"

"Are you avoiding me?"

"What?" Isabella squeaks, pretending to be baffled by this claim, "Why would you say that?" she wonders.

"Well…it's just I haven't you since last night, and this house is ridiculously small," he replies, staring down at Izzy, who can barely look at him, "Look Isabella, it's okay if you were avoiding me," Vidcund states, "I understand yesterday was a lot to take in, but I'm ready to talk about it if you are."

Isabella sighs, knowing that sooner or later she would have to face her feelings. She looks up at Vidcund and nods, "Okay."

"So…we should probably talk about the kiss, huh?" Isabella speaks up, after the two of them sit down beside each other on Vidcund's bed a few minutes later.

Vidcund nods, surprisingly calm and collective since they arrived in the room. "Alright."

"So, um…" Isabella begins, eyeing the closed door separating them from the open hallway, "I guess you like me."

Vidcund smiles and nods once more, "I do."

"You know I like you," Isabella adds, giving him a small smile.

Vidcund beams warmly, "I figured as much."

"Uh…if you don't mind me asking, how long have you felt this way?" she wonders, shyly tracing the striped pattern on Vidcund's bedspread.

"I don't mind at all," he replies, "And I've liked you for a while. I know I wasn't the easiest sim to get along with at the beginning, but you grew on me," Vidcund confesses, "Then, I don't know, after seeing everything that Ripp put you through and watching him push you away – it just really made me mad," he adds, "At first, I thought it was because it reminded me of my relationship with Circe, but then I realized that I was…jealous," he states, his cheeks turning red, "And when we won the war, after you saved me, I knew I had to do something fast, or else I was going to miss my chance," Vidcund reveals, pausing and delicately grabbing her hand. He gives it a gentle squeeze, "Pascal was right," he smiles, "You're just my type."

Isabella smiles, her blush deepening. She turns her head, her shyness getting the best of her. "So, uh, I take it you really like me, huh?" Vidcund speaks up, stroking her knuckle.

"Of course," Isabella says, staring back at him and scrunching her forehead, "Do you not believe me?"

"No, it's not that. It's just – no one's ever been interested in me before," Vidcund reveals, "I mean, not for the right reasons. Usually it's for money or power or café coupons-" Vidcund looks up, noticing Isabella staring at him strangely, "I've had a very sad love life," he laments, holding her hand tighter, "But this'll be different. I can feel it."

"But what if we're just rebounding?" Isabella wonders, asking the question that has been one of her fears for weeks.

"Izzy, when your ex tries to kill you and everyone you care about, you get over them pretty quick," Vidcund replies, a surprising tone of indifference in his voice, "What about you? Do you still like Ripp?"

Isabella sighs, appearing as though she is thinking long and hard about this one as she stares down at the black tile. "I don't know," she answers honestly, giving a sigh, "I don't think so. When he kissed me at the party, I felt like I was going to throw up."

"He kissed you at the party?" Vidcund repeats, his stomach sinking at his news.

"Yeah," Isabella answers, "It was about ten minutes before we kissed. I'm sorry, I should've told you sooner."

"Oh," Vidcund replies, suddenly feeling guilty, "In that case, I should probably tell you-"

"-That Circe kissed you?" Isabella completes for him, "Yeah, I heard. Vidcund, it's fine. It's not like any of that stuff matters anyway, we weren't together then. To be honest, I'm not even sure we're together now," she voices.

"Izzy, you know that I like you," Vidcund states, staring at her warmly, "After all that happened between us, did you honestly think that I wouldn't be interested in pursuing something with you?"

Isabella sighs, staring down at the floor. "But do you actually want to be with me? Or do you think that you have an obligation to because I saved you?" she wonders.

"Izzy, come on," Vidcund sighs, "I could ask you the same thing," he states, moving towards her, "I can assure you that this is more than just physical attraction for me, and you know that. And I can assume that you feel the same way?" he wonders, Isabella nods and squeezes his hand back. "So, if you want to date me and I want to date you – then why don't we just date each other?"

Isabella smiles. "I'd like that," she replies, her attention immediately drawn to Vidcund's response, "Is that what you want?"

"Yeah," he nods in approval, "I can do this. I can have a real relationship." Isabella beams, seeing the excitement bubbling up in his body as he squeezes her hand once again. She smiles, "But are you sure you want to do this?" he wonders, "Once our relationship gets out, it's going to be all over the press. We won't be able to go out in public without creating a scene, and you may get a few death threats," he adds.

"Really?" Isabella chimes, somewhat shocked by this news. Vidcund nods, "Wow. I never knew you were that popular."

"I appreciate the flattering comment, but this kind of thing always happens with public figures," Vidcund explains, "And since I'm the mayor again, whoever I'm with opens themselves up to public scrutiny," he adds, staring down in concern at her, "Do you think you can handle that?"

Isabella exhales and brings her free hand up to her chin, seriously thinking this over. "I, uh…"

"It's okay if you're unsure, Izzy," Vidcund speaks up, a soothing tone in his voice, "This is a big decision. I'll give you time to think about it." Isabella watches as Vidcund gets up from off his bed, twists the door open, and steps into the hallway.

Isabella stares down at the floor and sighs, a guilty feeling forming in the pit of her stomach as she stares up at the open doorway. Isabella gets up from the bed and steps into the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest as she finds it empty. "Vidcund!" she calls out, "Vidcund!"

Nearby, Vidcund steps out of the bathroom, locking eyes with his friend. "Sorry, I had to use the bathroom," he states, scanning the distressed woman over, "What's wrong?" he asks.

Isabella grabs Vidcund by the arm and pulls him towards her. She sighs as she lovingly wraps her arms around him and presses her lips against his, bringing him into their second kiss. Vidcund moans and wraps his arms around Isabella, pulling her close to him.

Isabella pulls back slightly, her eyes shining as she stares at him. "I don't want you to think that I don't want you," she explains, her voice in a gentle whisper.

Vidcund smiles, still taken back by the kiss. "I would never think that," he claims as he shyly turns his head to the side, "Is this a bad time to tell you that I forgot to wash my hands?" Isabella laughs and pulls him in closer. "Yeah, I didn't think so," he states.

The front door creaks open, causing the pair to immediately separate from their embrace. Vidcund stares down at Izzy, who appears rather panicked, and rubs her back comfortingly. "It's okay. We don't have to tell anyone yet," he whispers, flashing her a small, reassuring smile, "This'll just be our little secret."

Isabella nods. If there was one thing Vidcund knew a lot about other than 90s fashion, it was finding solace in bizarre situations, "Whatever you say, Mr. Mayor," she beams, "I trust you completely."

…

Fifteen minutes later, Vidcund walks into the kitchen only to find Pascal feeding applesauce to his daughter, Amelia, in her neon green, alien-themed high chair. Pascal smiles when he sees him and sets down the bowl of applesauce. "Hey Vid, look!" Pascal chimes, picking up the only magazine on the counter and holding it up to his middle brother, "You've been voted Strangetown's Sexiest Bachelor in The Strangetown Monthly!"

Vidcund looks down at the magazine, his face distorting slightly when he eyes the photo of him posing suggestively in an orange speedo on the cover. "Geesh!" he cries, his face filled with horror, "Where did they get that photo of me?" he wonders.

Pascal shifts his eyes from side to side as he nervously fidgets with his hands. "Who knows!" he shrugs, having an incredibly hard time keeping his volume under control, "I mean, I certainly don't!"

"Whatever you do, don't let anyone see that," Vidcund instructs.

Pascal nods, "Right," he states, before gesturing the 'cut it out' expression to Tank, Kea, and Lazlo who are all reading their own copies of the magazine in the nearby living room. At the gesture, Tank and Lazlo both hide their magazines while Kea continues to read hers. She looks up when she notices the other three staring at her strangely.

"Hey, don't blame me! I just read these magazines for the ads," Kea explains, drooling a bit as she turns the magazine over and shows them a photo of a bacon cheeseburger in an advertisement for Carl's Bacon Shack, "With ads like this, who needs a man?"

Close by, Pascal watches as Vidcund paces the kitchen, fiddling with his hair and looking like a nervous wreck. "I don't get it, Vid, why are you so on-edge about this?" Pascal asks, narrowing in on his brother and tapping the magazine cover, "You should be proud of your achievement! You had some real competition there with me and Ajay Loner," Pascal lightly shakes his head and sighs, "Such a loner…"

"Pascal, you know I don't like this kind of attention," Vidcund remarks, holding himself shyly as he says this, "I don't want my supposed relationship status to be broadcast for the world to see! This is a nightmare for someone like me!"

"Gee, is there really that much of a shortage of singles in this town that they have to resort to broadcasting it on magazine covers?" Kea states, bewildered as she glances over the magazine.

Pascal nods, "Yeah, there's a serious shortage of women in Strangetown. Or I should say, dateable women in Strangetown," Pascal informs her, "And I guess I could say the same thing about the men. I mean, if it weren't for myself, it would be pretty sad, right?" Pascal pauses, glancing over at the group for an objection, "Right guys?" he desperately chimes once more.

Tank, Kea, and Lazlo silently exchange glances with each other. Pascal slumps his shoulders, feeling rather down as Vidcund walks up behind him and pats him on the shoulder. "You're a serious catch, man," Vidcund says.

"Really?" Pascal awes, "Would you date me?"

Vidcund steps leans back, quickly taking a step away from him. "Don't make this weird," he states, turning slightly when he notices Isabella walk into the living room. "Anyway, I'm glad everyone's present, because now that we have some guests living here, I feel as though it's important for us to establish some house rules," Vidcund begins, turning towards the six sims in the room, "Rule number one – and this should be a given – everyone has to wear pants in all communal areas of the house."

"Aww! You're no fun!" Pascal groans, as he takes a seat down next to Lazlo.

"This includes the kitchen, the living room, the TV room, the chess room, the hallway, anywhere outside, and I swear to Will Wright that I will kill you if you don't wear pants in the greenhouse," Vidcund warns, glaring at Pascal, "And if you're not wearing clothes in any of the other areas that I did not list – please, please, please shut the door," Vidcund cries, before he and Pascal stop and look to their youngest brother.

"What are you guys looking at me for?" Lazlo squeaks.

"-Naked Day," Pascal answers, sassily crossing his arms over his torso.

"Naked Day was a one-time thing that was created for the sole purpose of me not wanting to do the laundry," Lazlo explains, throwing his hands up, "And it worrrked!" he sings, the sound of the front door swinging open ringing through the premises.

Crystal steps into the room and gives a small wave. "Hey guys, sorry if I'm interrupting, but I just need to talk to the mayor really quick," Crystal explains with a smile.

"That's fine. We'll just pick this up later," Vidcund replies, giving a nod Isabella, who takes the hint and dismisses the others across the room, "What's up?" he asks as Crystal approaches him, he and his brothers now the only three house residents left in the area.

"I just wanted to invite all three of you guys to my birthday party this weekend," Crystal responds, reaching into her purse and handing Vidcund a beautifully-decorated, pastel-colored invitation. "I've never had one ever, so I'm really excited about it," she explains as Vidcund stares down at the piece of floral cardstock, "Oh, and you can bring Isabella if you want," she tells him, "Just try to keep things PG, I don't want a lot of press at my party."

Vidcund smiles and locks eyes with his adviser. "I think we can control ourselves," he nods.

Beside him, Pascal laughs. "Psh, yeah right!" he chimes.

Vidcund narrows his eyes, seemingly irritated by his older brother. He sighs and turns back to Crystal, "Great," he states, "Anything else?"

"Actually, yeah," Crystal replies, lowering her voice slightly, "I went by The Strangetown Correctional Facility today, and they're severely tight on space, so the council has to decide by the end of next week whether to execute Loki or put him up for parole."

Vidcund crosses his arms, exhaling through his nose. "Well, that's easy-"

Pascal takes a step closer to the pair and says the words, 'put him up for parole' at the same time Vidcund says 'execute him'. Vidcund turns to Pascal, a look of pure shock on his face.

"Well," Crystal speaks into the silence, "looks like we're going to have a lot to talk about on Monday. It should be interesting. I'll see you this weekend at my birthday party!" Crystal announces, before throwing her purse back over her shoulder and walking out the door, leaving Pascal and Vidcund to loom in awkward silence.

Vidcund folds his arms as he thinks about the first twenty-four hours he's now been in office, "So much for a smooth beginning," he mutters, wandering over to the kitchen counter.