Mila Munch walked home as if in a trance. Was this possible? Were things really about to get so much better for her and her family? She couldn't believe her good luck, but she was ecstatic to get it! She walked into her house with a bounce to her step and a bright smile on her face. Her youngest son, Lucas, met her in the hall and gave her a tight hug.

"Mom! You're back! And you're happy!"

Mila laughed. "Yes, yes I am! I have some great news! Where are your brothers?"

"Wolfgang's in his room, practicing his guitar, and Gunther's in the family room talking with Maaike."

Mila's eyes widened with pure delight. "They are? Oh, this is going to be so wonderful! Go get Wolfgang and meet us in the family room. I have wonderful news!"

Lucas grinned. "Yes ma'am!" He took off towards Wolfgang's room. Mila let out a breath as it began to dawn on her that he would give her problems about moving, but she knew the move would be good for him. It should be good for him. Get him away from all the negative influences he had been surrounding himself with over the years since their father passed away. Gunther got the privilege of being the eldest and getting to spend the most time with their father. Lucas, on the other hand, had the least amount of time. But both boys could be termed 'mama's boys', always seeking to please their mother, Lucas more so than Gunther. Wolfgang had a stronger bond with his father, and the loss had hit him the hardest. But Mila had a good feeling about this move, it would, well, it should force Wolfgang out of his shell and open new opportunities for him, just like a new opportunity was being given to her.

She walked into the family room where Gunther and Maaike were snuggling up with each other. If there was one good thing that came from Wolfgang's influences, it was Gunther meeting Maaike. Both were aspiring authors, but Maaike had a sensible head on her shoulders, more of a realist than the optimistic Gunther. Yet Gunther managed to convince her to see the hopes he did as well as inspired her to go after some dreams she had. Romantically, they were doing pretty well, Mila could hear the wedding bells every time she saw them together, but financially it was a different matter. If Mila heard her boss right, maybe she could help them at least with the house.

Gunther saw her first and rose. "Mom! You're back!" He blinked in pleasant surprise. "You got some great news didn't you? What is it?"

Mila smiled widely. "Wait until Lucas and Wolfgang get here, then I'll explain." She turned to Maaike who was slowly getting up. "Oh, it's alright, you can stay and hear it as well. You're practically a part of this family now."

Maaike smiled. "Really? Um, well, thank you!" She sat back down. "I'm really curious as to what this good news may be!" Gunther sat down next to her, Mila sat down on her other side.

"Well, I certainly hope it will include you two. I should double check with my boss to be absolutely sure, but . . ."

Gunther gasped. "You got a promotion!"

Mila smiled. "Yes, yes I did!"

"Yay!" camed Lucas' cheer as he rushed into the room and hugged Mila.

"OK, so? What about it?" mumbled a voice. The three turned, Wolfgang was leaning against the doorway.

Mila let out a breath. "Because it means we would have to move."

"What?" came the unified exclamation.

"You're not going to be moving far away?" asked Maaike hopefully.

"Why should we be moving?" said Wolfgang angrily.

"It, it might be fun," said Lucas.

Mila held up her hands. "Let me finish, please!" The room went silent. "Thank you. Now, here's the entire story. My boss, Reggie King, has asked me to become the manager of a new restaurant he's opening in Glimmerbrook. However, the renovations aren't finished yet, so we're not going to be moving for another month or so." She looked pointedly at Maaike and Gunther. "That should give you two enough time to make whatever plans you want." Gunther grabbed Maaike's hand and nodded. She held up a finger. "And this is just speculation, but, I think my boss is willing to finish paying off the note on this house. He's already looking at getting a house for us in Glimmerbrook." Maaike and Gunther looked at her hopefully.

"So, you're saying . . ."

Mila smiled. "That you two can get married and own this house without having to worry about that, at least." Maaike and Gunther hugged each other, then hugged Mila.

"Mom, that would be great! But it's only speculation though, right?"

Mila nodded. "It is, I want to confirm it with Mr. King tomorrow, but even if he shouldn't pay it off, I am almost done paying it myself. With a higher paycheck, I'm hoping to be able to pay it off completely by the end of next year." She patted Maaike's hand. "I'm still giving it to you two as a wedding present."

Maaike laughed before giving Mila a hug. "Then I guess Gunther and I had better get a move on those wedding plans, huh?" She glanced at Lucas. "You'll be our ring-bearer?"

Lucas saluted her. "Absolutely!" They laughed and began to talk more about planning the wedding. Mila snuck a glance at the doorway, Wolfgang was gone. She let out a soft sigh. He might try to run away, but she was determined to get him to Glimmerbrook, she would drag him by the hair if she had to. They needed the change, him most of all. She was hoping he would find something more interesting to do than mope around all day, pulling pranks all night, and fitting guitar practice in between. She also hoped he would meet better people. And she would be right on both counts, but the people he ends up meeting have a dangerous secret of their own, and plunges them into an adventure that could either save Glimmerbrook, or spell its doom.

(All characters and places come from the Sims 4 game, which belongs to EA, except Reggie King, he's a character I created. This is sort of a prequel to a story I'm currently working on. There are some kinks I still have to get through, the main one being what it's actually going to be called, lol. I don't have a name quite yet, but I hope to have one soon. None of the ones I came up with first don't seem to fit. Maybe one will come to me the more I write on it, but that's going to be a while as I have other stories I want to get done first. To see what those stories are, check out my primary pseudonym, Aurora Mandeville. Thanks for reading!)