Bebe Populous needed some fresh air. Nichola was moving into the house, and Bebe felt it wiser to give her some space to settle in. Some new neighbours had moved in next door to Udagawa, and she offered to go round on Asa’s behalf and canvass votes for him.

Hans seemed an affable, if eccentric, chap.

And his housemate Dark was something else entirely…

Bebe spent a long morning chatting with Hans and Dark, and when Hans had to leave for work, she offered to show Dark around town.

Some of her family were there, and she took great pleasure in introducing them to Dark. They all played a game of tiggy together – something he seemed to take a lot of enjoyment in.

They spent the whole afternoon talking about family. Bebe gushed about Yabbie Creek, the little boy from Twinbrook she’d adopted. With Dark, she felt something of a kinship. She told him about all her children and grandchildren and great (and great-great) grandchildren, about how she’d arrived in Sunset Valley with a vision to populate the town, and now, wherever she turned, she saw family.

Dark was stirred by what Bebe said – was it fate that they had met? He too had a vision to have many descendants, and he had volunteered to help in the Twinbrook relief effort. If he was accepted, he hoped to go out and help those poor souls – and to make that the place where he would hopefully establish his own legacy.

Whilst Bebe and Dark were at the park, Nichola was settling in very well to her new home. And when she heard Asa’s car pull up as he arrived home from work, she decided to put her plan firmly into action.

Asa came through the door to hear Nichola asking him for help with her unpacking. Happy to oblige, he made his way to her room.

Hearing his footsteps on the landing, Nichola laid back and smiled. Everything was working out perfectly.

She asked Asa for his opinion on a painting she’d hung opposite the bed. He stood and tried to assess if it was straight or not. She patted the side next to her, saying that he would get a better view if he sat down.

Asa was a little nervous – he hadn’t expected Nichola to be wearing quite so little, and it had been a long time since he’d been in close proximity to a woman other than Bebe… but his body was remembering what that felt like, and it made him uncomfortable.

Leaning over him, Nichola asked Asa if he liked the view. Asa started to back away slightly, trying to fight the urges sweeping through him… but as Nichola pressed in towards him closer, he couldn’t help but respond.

Nichola whispered that there were no strings attached here – Bebe need never know what the two of them got up to in private.

She whispered to Asa that she really did love him.

Asa Populous had never been able to resist a woman’s love.

As evening fell, Asa had to go and give a rallying speech at the town hall, and took the baby with him. Nichola took the opportunity to head to the spa for a facial.

Bebe returned home with Dark to find no Asa or Nichola, and a note saying Xenia was playing with Caleb at Paige’s house.

Dark asked her about her children being named alphabetically. Bebe blushed and admitted that when she was younger she’d once wondered if she could get through the alphabet. A longing stirred inside her and she tried to choke it down.

Dark whispered in her ear that it would be a shame to stop one child before the letter Z. Didn’t she want to complete the set, he asked. And with that, she could hold back no longer. Bebe melted into his arms, and they shared a passionate embrace.

Something primal overtook Bebe, something that went beyond her heart or her head, something instinctive. This was right.

This was her destiny.

Meanwhile, Nichola rushed out of the spa, feeling sicker than she’d ever felt.

Normally, as a politician, she’d be mortified at throwing up on the pavement in case someone saw. But this was different. This was a sign that her plan was working out. She was living in his house, and now she was carrying his child – Asa Populous would be hers.

–

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