I.VIII. Freedom

Once more they slept by the pond again. The sound of the fountain seemed to sooth Claire to sleep faster than usual.

In the morning, both Rebecca and William went back to fishing. They were so close to their goal. Today's fishing should probably just about get them to that last little bit that they needed. Freedom was indeed within reach.

Come evening, Rebecca scooped Claire into her arms. "Are you ready to be a free woman, baby?" she asked her.

"Ga! Ga!" Cooed Claire and it reminded Rebecca that she had never taught the little one to talk. Once the stress of trying to make money was done, she would have to make an effort to make sure Claire was well educated.

With dark falling upon them, Rebecca took Claire, saying she was heading off to try and get just a little more money and William was off to sell the fish they had caught together. She was worried it wasn't going to be enough so she was going to try and get just the slightest bit more.

While perhaps it was wrong to rob the dead, they had no more use of the items that they had. So if she took a few things from them, she was sure the Spirits would forgive her. She was doing this to protect her daughter, to build a better life for her.

She was in and out quickly. The dead seemed to watch her with rotting eyes and in the end she had fled after only grabbing one or two things. She couldn't bear to take more, figuring whatever else was in there could remain there.

She met up again with William, who had Claire in his arms. "Sorry, I left her by herself, I was trying to get a little more money" She told him.

"It's okay. We have enough. Come on, we have to wait until morning and then I'll take it into the guard."

"You? Alone?"

"Yes. I'll go alone. It'll be safer for you and Claire." She frowned at him but knew better than to argue.

"Alright, but I'll wait outside." She told him. He didn't seem happy about that, but they were married. She loved him very much and couldn't imagine living without him. She would wait outside, with their daughter. They were a family. It was this or nothing at all.

They made their way to the guard's tower. It was an imposing place and Rebecca was a little scared of it after so much time as an Outlaw. Still, she saw some promise in it. At least now they would be able to live as they wanted.

William handed Claire to her. "Take care of her. If anything happens, run"

"Nothing is going to happen" Rebecca's brow furrowed angrily. He had seemed so confident a moment ago. He gave her a kiss and kissed the top of Claire's head. She could see he was scared. She was too but this had to be done. They were so close.

Watching him walk away was one of the hardest thing to do. She wanted to go in with him but he knew the guard so he would and did know who to take the money to. It wouldn't take him as long if he went alone.

She waited silently until Claire began to cry for him. She snuggled her daughter and tried to calm her with soothing words and silly faces. It hadn't been long, when she began to cry "Pa! Pa! Pa!" and point behind Rebecca.

She turned to see William coming out of the building, looking towards them. She hurried over to him, wondering it had worked. Were they finally free?

"It's done" He told her. "We're free!"

"We're free? Really?" And she began to laugh, happy to finally know that they could do as they wanted. The giddiness only lasted a moment when she realized that William was not laughing. "What's wrong?"

"What do we do now?"

And Rebecca had no answer for him.

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So, this first part took me only a little less than 3 Sims weeks to complete. I had to work them really hard to reach it before winter struck in where I knew they'd probably freeze to death haha. Anyway, I'm not going to continue off right from this point. The next part will have a bit of a skip in it but I'm really enjoying this challenge and I'm looking forward to the next part.