Chapter 12: Love Will Keep Us... Apart

After realising she was pregnant with the Grim Reaper's baby, Harlow knew that she was alone. Death had an important job to do and he couldn't just leave it to tend to his pregnant lover. Still, Harlow felt she had to see him.



With a fresh prisoner installed in the cells, Harlow had to find ways to pass the time. She decorated her basement apartment with furnishings for the baby and took up painting.



Harlow wanted to be prepared so she read some pregnancy books. It was often hard to concentrate- waiting for Death was, well, time consuming. But eventually she heard screams from the basement and knew that He was coming.



The latest faceless victim lay slumped on the floor of her cell, her body racked by starvation. Harlow didn't care- her lover had returned and that was all that mattered.



As she walked up to the Reaper, Harlow hoped she had that lovely pregnant lady glow, and not the look of a ten-tonne truck... She didn't even need to tell him the news, it was strikingly obvious.



He congratulated her, of course, but Harlow felt no warmth in it. His hand was as cool as ever but not as comforting as before. As she peered into his black eyes, Harlow couldn't help but wonder- was she the only one? She'd thought she was special, but what if the Reaper had other women in his life?



After Death had vanished Harlow headed to the beach. She needed to breathe, think, get some perspective. She began to wonder if she could convince the Grim Reaper to move in with her...



Unfortunately there was to be little time for thought. Yes, Harlow went into labour on that beach. Alone, just as she had feared.



She stayed for a couple of minutes; she hoped that somehow He would know that she needed him, that He would come to her. But no black smoke descended on the sand, and eventually Harlow had no choice but to head for the hospital.



A few hours later and the world welcomed Pandora Mars.



Harlow loved Pandora with all her heart. If Death wasn't around then she would have to pour all her love for him into this tiny girl, and maybe then the loneliness wouldn't be so strong.



Each day she would look at her baby in wonder, admiring the product of her feelings for the Reaper. She hoped that one day he would come to love Pandora as much as she did, and that he would stay with them.



The days passed quickly, and soon it was Pandora's first birthday.



As soon as she could Harlow told her daughter of the Reaper; of her father who she would one day meet. She told the story like a fairytale- Harlow and the Grim. She told her daughter that they would be together once upon a time and would live happily ever after.



Once Pandora had learnt to talk, Harlow set about teaching her to walk.



Pandora was a happy little girl with a grin like the Cheshire Cat. How cute...



And wherever Pandora was you could be sure Harlow was nearby. Caring for her daughter left Harlow minimal free time, so she was unable to lure any more victims to the house in hopes of summoning the Grim Reaper.



Meanwhile, in the world outside the basement, Harlow's mother Scarlett had just completed her lifetime wish by reaching the top of the Medical Career. She retired not long after.



Soon enough it was Pandora's birthday. Harlow had made sure her daughter had everything she desired when she was growing up, and thus had secured her a happy route into childhood.



Bless...



As a Loner, Pandora first attempted to dress all in black so she couldn't be seen, but Harlow persuaded her to put some blue shorts on : )



Now that Harlow had time to herself she was able to kill again. Other poor Sim died of starvation at Harlow's murderous hands.



Immediately Harlow rushed to the basement to greet her love. Her heart raced as she approached his sinister self. It had been too long- much too long. After embracing Death fiercely, Harlow asked him to move in with her and, to her delight, he agreed.



Next she asked him to be her boyfriend and he said yes to that too. Harlow could barely contain her excitement- soon her little family would be complete, there was just one thing left to do...



As Pandora first laid eyes on her father she was a little bewildered. How could this man; this inhuman thing, be her dad? She waited nervously as her new dad walked over to her.



The conversation got off to a tentative start, but soon both Sims relaxed as they got to know each other better.



Harlow, meanwhile, watched from the sidelines as the two most important people in her life met for the first time. Finally she felt complete- Grim was now hers. It was her fairytale.



Harlow was even so overcome with joy that she let long-suffering prisoner Jolie out of her cell, but only after threatening her with death if she ever told anyone what had happened here, of course.



That night, Harlow sunk into the Grim's arms, bliss filling every pore of her being.



She slept better than she ever had before.



Now that the Grim was living in the mortal world he had to get himself a job.
But he didn't want to do that. No, as a Couch Potato, Grim was content to spend his days lounging about on the sofa watching television or playing video games.



He also tended to let his Childish side out with Pandora's toys...



As life with the Grim stretched on Harlow often felt some of her ease slipping. Yes, he was her boyfriend and they had a child together, but Harlow wanted more.



Often she'd make suggestions to him, just little hints about how happy they could be; how much better things would be if they were married. Grim and Wife. Most of the time he would just ignore it, change the subject, but Harlow wasn't one to give up.



Often Grim would get sick of Harlow's incessant comments. He'd snap- yell at her, tell her to shut up. Often Harlow would look in his eyes, so full of rage, and she'd feel fear. She never thought he'd make her feel this way.



Of course, these flashes of anger never lasted more than a few seconds. Grim would look at Harlow, see her revulsion, and he would stop and apologise. He'd say he didn't mean it. He'd say it wasn't his fault- if only she didn't nag him so much then he wouldn't behave this way.



She forgave him of course- she always did.



This pattern of destruction went on for a while; every few days the same argument. The anxiety of the situation would make Harlow nervous, and her suspicions would plague her. She'd hear Grim on the phone and wonder who it was to. She thought she heard a name- Ruby something...



That night Harlow was feeling particularly emotional. She tried to explain to Grim; she told him that she loved him and she only wanted to be with him- be married to him.



Her heart filled with feeling as she sobbed on his shoulder, keen for some sort of comfort. She needed to find solace in his arms. Grim would say what she wanted to hear, as always- how the timing wasn't right and it would happen soon. She almost always believed him.



There was just one thing bothering Harlow, something about that call; that name. Who is Ruby?



As soon as the words slipped from her mouth Harlow knew she had made a mistake. She cowered as she saw the malice form on his face; the anger boiling to the surface.



The first time he clenched his fists she never saw it coming; never could have expected this is how it would turn out. She thought it was just a normal argument, but it wasn't.



Harlow put out her hands to try and protect herself, but it was no use.



Later, broken and bruised, Harlow lay on her bed and tried to sleep. Thoughts swam through her head- "Why did he do that?" "What did I do wrong?" But no answers were there to be found in her troubled mind, only more questions- and pain.



After a few hours Grim came to her and apologised. He said he didn't mean it. He said it wasn't his fault- if only she wouldn't make him angry then he wouldn't behave this way. She forgave him of course- she always did.



The next day Harlow's life got even worse. Her mother Scarlett had reached the grand old age of 92 and time had ran out.



Now that Grim was retired from the business a different Reaper came to collect the soul.



Pandora was there to witness Scarlett's passing, and the poor girl cried for her grandmother. She never even got to know her as much as she wanted to.



Of course Harlow was devastated. Her mother had been one of the few constant presences in her life and now that she was gone Harlow didn't know what she would do. That feeling of all-consuming loneliness that she had felt without the Grim had returned- even more bitter now that he was here, and had caused part of it.



Strangely enough, Grim was a little upset over Scarlett's death too.



And the Mega Lord Sponge? Well, he was inconsolable...



Rest In Peace, Scarlett Mars.



So how will Harlow cope without her mother? Will her relationship with the Grim remain as troubled as it is currently? And what will Pandora's life be like when she turns into a teenager? Find out in the next chapter of The Mars Family Legacy, coming soon.


You can find the original on the story board here- feel free to rec that if you've enjoyed this : )