The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 21 - Daring to Dream

Marlie's announcement was followed by a period of unusual quiet in the Monroe household. That evening whilst she and Brody went about their usual routine, the children seemed to be thinking of how this news would affect their dreams of the future.

Well, when I say the children I mean all of them except for Georgia.

Georgia figured that at fourteen she had a while before she'd be having to make any choices so she just went and admired herself in the mirror. She wondered if Marlie would let her have some of her money in advance because she really wanted to get her teeth whitened. Marie Fox had it done and it looked so good, though of course Marie really needed good teeth to make up for the rest of her face!

Georgia decided that she'd just see what life threw at her so she went to bed with an easy mind.

Belle had taken her guitar outside to think. She knew that she wanted to be a huge star and the pressures of a family might not be compatible. Belle knew that she had time to think but she wasn't sure if she had it in her to put the family name ahead of her own dreams. She thought that maybe she'd make it great in another way - by seeing a Monroe at the top of the charts!

Belle decided she'd sleep on it - she had her first day on the job at the local studio the next day and she couldn't wait!

As Belle played, Hallie painted. She'd been working on a gift for her parents for a few days and as she lost herself in the brush strokes she wondered if she had a chance of  being chosen.

Lola was smarter and Belle was louder, Georgia and Oscar were pretty and popular, she was the odd one out. Even her hair marked her out as different. But she loved this place, she was proud to be a Monroe, maybe..... no, Hallie told herself that there was no point building castles in the sky.

Hallie sighed and went to wash her brushes and finish her homework though her mind was elsewhere.

As she watched Hallie daydream, Lola's thoughts went in rather a different direction. The money was a huge relief - with her academics and a decent scholarship she would be able to go to medical school. But to be the heir to a legacy - that was a responsibility which scared her. Lola put on her coat and headed out for a walk only to be jolted from her reverie by a familiar and unexpected face.

She stopped dead as Carson said,

'Sorry I missed your party, my plane was late.'

Lola's high-school heartbreak was now a handsome man of 23 and it seemed he'd flown in from Europe to be there for her birthday. He said he was leaving again the next evening.

Lola was stunned.

They conversed awkwardly on the doorstep for a while, avoiding the subject of their past or any current relationships until Lola felt the walls she had carefully built around her memories of him begin to wobble.

Sensing the danger, she asked him to come back the next day to see the whole family before wishing him a shaky good night. Lola knew that she couldn't do that again. That she needed to find somebody new, and if Carson kept looking at her like he had that night she wouldn't be strong enough to do the right thing.

The next day Lola left at 5am to go fishing and despite the pouring rain she didn't return until after dark, avoiding the questioning gaze of her mother as she hurried up to her room and the safety of her textbooks. She knew that she wouldn't always be able to run away from her problems but with Carson on the other side of the world she had a chance of healing enough to move on.

Lola knew that if she was chosen to be the heir, she would need to be braver than she was. She resolved to be more like Belle, her twin was the bravest person she knew.

Whilst Lola had been fishing Oscar had been blowing off steam. Hallie's friend Marisol had blown him off again and Georgia was being extra annoying, screaming with laughter down the phone.

Oscar didn't really even know why he liked Marisol, she wasn't popular or stunningly beautiful but she was the only person he'd really been able to talk to recently. All his friends were mad on sport and girls and he just wanted someone to talk to about the big announcement, someone who would listen and sympathise.

 His face must have been a picture because Georgia hung up the phone and with the sisterly concern that lurked behind her flirty exterior asked if he was okay. Reluctantly he told her about Marisol, sure she'd laugh and suggest a more preppy girl but Georgia just listened and then went to speak to Hallie.

With Hallie's help she hatched a plan to help her hapless brother out!

The next day they all went to the Spooky Day festival, Georgia was there with Oscar and Hallie was meeting Marisol. When Hallie was called away with a "work emergency" Oscar would be able to get Marisol alone for once. Despite Oscar's doubts it worked perfectly!

 Soon Marisol and he were talking alone together, forgetting that they belonged in separate cliques as they laughed the afternoon away. Oscar found his worries about the legacy melting away as Marisol pointed out that he didn't have to stress about it now, his mom wasn't expecting him to pop out five kids in the next year or two, he could just figure out what he wanted from life and if he became the heir - figure out how the two could work together.

When Oscar asked Marisol if she would be his homecoming date, she looked shocked before blushing and accepting. Emboldened by her answer Oscar asked why she'd been avoiding him.

Looking sheepish Marisol admitted that she'd thought he was flirting with her for a dare, she couldn't believe that a popular jock would be interested in one of the school's art freaks. Oscar was horrified and just so she knew exactly what he thought of her he walked her home and summoning up all his courage, kissed her goodnight!

Back at the fair Georgia had had a great afternoon. She'd made four new friends, collected two boys' numbers AND won a pie eating contest! She loved her life!

While the younger family members had been flirting and playing their evening away, Marlie and Brody had sat down with Lola and Belle to hear what they wanted their money for - both twins had said they were decided.

Ever impatient, Belle got straight to the point.

'Mom, Dad, I don't think I want to be the heir.  I'll tell you when I'm sure but you know me. I'm impulsive, I like drama and adventure. I want to travel and be a rock star and I don't know if I can do that and be here preserving the family name.

I'd like to have my money for an apartment. Once I've saved up some money from work I want to get a studio apartment in the city and chase my dream.

I hope you can understand'.

Marlie and Brody smiled knowingly at each other.

'Of course that's okay Belle', Marlie replied. 'We wondered if you might say this and we actually have a different kind of legacy for you. We'd like you to have my mother's guitar - you love music and so did she. We thought it should be passed to you.'

Belle leapt up and hugged her mom.

'Thanks mummy' she whispered, with tears in her eyes, knowing how precious the guitar was to Marlie.

'And how about you  Lola,' Brody interjected, knowing how carried away Belle was liable to get. 'What have you decided?'

Lola didn't hesistate, 'I want to go to college. To medical school. I've applied and they've sent me an aptitude test. If I pass as well as I should the money should be enough to pay for college.

I think I could be the heir, if I'm the right choice, for now I just need to stand on my own two feet and go after what I want though.'

Marlie and Brody looked proudly at the two women they had raised. Perhaps the next big thing and the next heir of the Monroe legacy were sitting before them. Whatever happened, they knew they had done their job, raised them to be individuals who would fight for their own happiness.

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To read on and discover who becomes the heir to the Monroe legacy read Chapter 22 - The Changing of the Guard now!

The Monroe Legacy - Generation 2 Heir Voting!

Hi there lovely readers - thank you so much for all your commenting and reading - it really has kept me pushing on when the story got stuck or the characters weren't cooperating! I'm equal parts excited and sad that Marlie's Chapter is almost at an end, I almost feel like she's my long-lost sister, but I can't wait to see what life throws at the new heir.

Each of them has a story in my head that's crying out to be told and choosing myself would be like picking my favourite child - so I'm asking for your help!

If you're a long term reader and you already have a favourite then scroll all the way down and vote away!

If you're not up to date/haven't started but think you might like to read in future (or maybe you just love to vote - hey, who am I to judge!) then below you'll find a short, as spoiler-free as possible bio for each candidate along with a photograph and their traits etc!

In age order (I've listed middle names but they're known only by the first!)

Lola Marie Monroe
Age: 21

Traits: Good, Loner, Can't Stand Art, Hopeless Romantic, Good Sense of Humour.

Skills/Hobbies: Logic, Fishing, Gardening

Lifetime Wish: World Renowned Surgeon

Bio: Lola and her twin Belle are Marlie's children with a one-time crush Benjamin Schmidt. Lola is a quiet girl and struggles to connect with other people although her newly developed sense of humour may help with that. Lola excels at school and since having her heart-broken by first love Carson is trying to find a way to get over him. Lola wants to work in Pediatric medicine, finding the logic of it all soothing but the hopeless romantic in her worries that wit her social skills she'll never find another guy like Carson. She hopes to attend University to get ahead in the medical profession and maybe meet Prince Charming!



Belle Carolina Monroe

Age: 21

Traits: Insane, Friendly, Virtuoso, Daredevil, Dramatic

Skills/Hobbies: Piano, Guitar, Hanging with her friends and playing in a band, working out.

Lifetime Wish: Rock Star

Bio: Where her twin Lola is quiet and studious, Belle is a wild child! Her personality is really too big for just one person which is perhaps why she spends so much time conversing with herself. She blazed through high school as the queen of pranks, with a string of disposable boyfriends in tow. Belle thought she could have any guy she wanted until she met Harrison, the lead singer of her band who seems to not to notice Belle's blatant flirtation. With a personality as flamboyant as she is musically talented, Belle is sure that she'll make it to the top of the music industry.



Hallie Mae Monroe

Age: 15

Traits: Brave, Artistic, Easily Impressed, Great Kisser

Skills/Hobbies: Painting, Street Art, Hanging out with Belle, more painting!

Lifetime Wish: tbc.

Bio: Hallie is the eldest daughter of Marlie and husband Brody. She loves nothing more than getting lost in her own head and painting whatever she finds there. At the tender age of 15 she already has a flourishing relationship with the town consignment store and has had her first piece commissioned. Hallie is popular at school despite being quite aloof, rumour has it she's a great kisser but Hallie has never been kissed! If she could stop worrying about that Art scholarship and go out with her siblings she might find her muse and prove that theory, one way or the other! Her hair colour is still a family mystery - genetics are fun!




Oscar Brody Monroe

Age: 14

Traits: Athletic, Disciplined, Computer Whiz, Photographer's Eye

Skills/Hobbies: Working out, chasing boys away from Georgia, looking moody, video games, photography.

Lifetime Wish: tbc.

Bio: Oscar is the only boy in the Monroe clan and having four sisters is no laughing matter! Between working out, playing quarterback and keeping an eye on his twin's string of admirers Oscar barely has time to remember his schoolwork. This jock has an artistic side though, he loves to take pictures and is secretly crushing on one of Hallie's geeky art friends, though if anyone asks he's totally dating the deputy-head cheerleader. If Oscar could only apply his discipline to his studies then he'd be a shoo-in for collegiate football.



Georgia Grace Monroe

Age: 14

Traits: Clumsy, Virtuoso, Disciplined, Neurotic

Skills/Hobbies: Singing, piano, shopping, flirting, cheer-leading, annoying Oscar, cleaning things.

Lifetime Wish: tbc.

Bio: Georgia is the youngest of the Monroe children and she's still figuring it all out, but while she's thinking - she might as well be popular! Georgia's violet eyes, easy charm and endearing smile have made her a hit at high-school. Sure, she occasionally falls over in the corridor but that's the price to pay for wearing such fabulous shoes, besides which there's always an entourage of boys to pick her up! What will it take for Georgia to start taking life seriously and build up some skills. After all, high school wont last forever and with her slightly neurotic tendencies she's be wise to plan in advance.


So there we have the five Monroe kids - they're all very different with strengths and weaknesses to match. Still can'y decide? Chapter 20 has extra info on all the kids - though the best way to know them is to read the story from the start! Feel free to ask me questions in the comment, I'll respond as soon as I can!

This vote has now closed - to find out who won keep reading with Chapter 21 - Daring to Dream

Vote for the Heir of the Monroe Legacy

Lola Monroe

Belle Monroe

Hallie Monroe

Oscar Monroe

Georgia Monroe

Poll Maker

The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 20 - As Time Goes By

With everyone in the family either working or in school the years began to roll by faster and faster. Marlie was finally gaining ground in her career and now that she had no need to look on her colleagues as possible threats she quickly ascended to the rank of Yes-Woman. The night she was promoted, she disturbed Brody's chess time and explained her plan to him - they were planning a remodel and she wanted to keep costs down and save the money for the future.

He agreed and the resulting remodel was not much more than a new couch and a little re-arrangement of the upstairs now that the nursery was no longer needed.

Hallie and Belle now shared a room where they could talk about art all they wanted. The constantly fought over the easel but Hallie usually won. The two were very close and Hallie was excited to start high-school where she could get to know all Belle's arty friends.

Belle spent her time hanging with Hallie, practicing piano and playing with her band. She had developed a major crush on the lead singer, Harrison, but he didn't seem to be interested, always making an excuse to go home when she invited him to hang after practice.

Belle didn't want to talk to Lola about it, she knew from the times they did spend together that she wasn't really over Carson, not that she'd ever admit it. Instead she became closer to her mother. Marlie would comfort Belle with stories of her own teenage years, promising only that in time, the right one would come along.

To distract Belle they started working out together, Marlie was determined that middle age wouldn't see her return to plumpness and Belle just wanted a perfect physique to catch Harrison's eye.

Oscar would often join the two of them when Georgia was playing with friends. He was fiercely protective of his sister, the two were thick as thieves, as she'd already started to steal the hearts of the boys in her class who would beg their moms to arrange play dates!

Georgia was oblivious. Often in her own world she just loved to be surrounded by friends or playing with her brother. When little Humberto Pinkerton tried to hug her she didn't even notice. She left him standing in the wrathful glare of Oscar who was horrified that his best friend was sweet on his sister!

As Hallie approached her teen birthday she became more ambitious in her projects, even painting a portrait of Marlie. Marlie loved it - even if her nose was a bit wonky!

Hallie celebrated her birthday quietly with a trip to SMOMA (Sims Museum of the Modern Arts) and a cake at home.

There was something alluring about her aloofness and unique style and she started high school with a reputation for being a great kisser! She'd never even been on a date!

Hallie had no time for boys. She knew that if she wanted to pursue her artistic dreams she'd have to work harder than anyone - vocation was not an easy path - so she set about honing her painting skill, even taking up street art in the hopes that she'd get into art school.

After about a year Marlie started receiving postcards from a family supposedly called the Greensons. They were brief and vague, coming from all sorts of exotic locations, from China to Europe. "Rex, Nina and Colton Greenson" were all in happy and good health and hoped some day to meet them again. Marlie smiled, happy to to know that Norma was alive and well and loving the tidbits of her life that they shared through the post cards.

Every time one arrived Lola would ask about Carson (Or Colton as he was now known!) but Marlie never had much news, only that he would soon be starting at University. Lola was always quiet on the evenings the postcards arrived, lost in her own world, the hopeless romantic in her imagining scenarios which would bring them to the same place at the same time and with a magical explanation for them not actually being half-cousins.

The rest of the time she buried herself in her studies, she had decided to become a doctor, the logic and solo study suited her art-hating, loner ways whilst the idea of helping people appealed to the good heart beneath it all. Lola was determined to ace high school, that way she might be able to go to university on a scholarship instead of starting as a cleaner.

What none of the children noticed was that Marlie and Brody were out a lot more, Marlie was back to busking at the park after her shifts whilst Brody worked overtime and made a bit extra repairing things for the neighbours. Their reasons would soon become clear.

All too soon another round of birthdays arrived. This time a huge party was in order, both sets of twins and Marlie would all be celebrating together and Marlie knew that once the festivities were over it would be time to sit her children down and explain her will.

Marlie blew out her candles with just her family around her. Her hair was slowly turning white and she knew that she couldn't keep going as the head of the household indefinitely. She updated her blazer and dress ensemble to a version more appropriate for her advancing years but still felt young in her heart.

As the crowds of friends for the twins descended on the house Marlie was glad she's made plenty of food, the noise was enormous and she could barely hear the chorus of Happy Birthday beneath the blaring music and the whoops and screams of the guests!

Lola, the eldest went first, growing in to a beautiful young adult and developing a much needed Good Sense of Humour. She knew that the time had come for her to decide on the direction on her life and she swore she'd become a World Renowned Surgeon, specializing in pediatric surgery. The now traditional birthday makeover was kind of wasted on Lola, she just wanted a pretty dress and to keep on growing out her blonde hair!

Belle was next and she grew in to a striking young woman and developed the dramatic trait. Her exuberant personality, combined with this new penchant for drama and her virtuoso standing made her goal an easy choice, she wanted to be a Rock Star! To help her on her way Belle went for an edgy new look with messy bangs and a leather jacket.

Once they were done changing the girls posed for a quick photograph with their mother before hurrying back to watch Georgia and Oscar blow out their candles. Marlie couldn't believe that her little daughters were now gorgeous young women.

Oscar blew out his candles - he'd had enough of his friends fawning over Georgia but as he grew up it became clear he'd soon have a fan base of his own! All his working out as a kid had left him with a body that the high school girls would fight over.

Despite his jock-ish ways, Oscar also had a sensitive side which had developed from spending so much time with his artistic sisters, he preferred photography though and grew up to have quite the Photographer's eye.

 By the time it came to Georgia's candles, most of the guests had gone home. She grew up a little neurotic but was still the sweet-faced girl she had always been.

She was as girly as her brother was sporty, loving nothing more than pretty clothes, cheerleading
and slumber parties. It was clear that between them the Monroe twins would be ruling high-school!




Once everything was cleared up Marlie called the family together to the living room, knowing that they were now old enough to understand what she was going to tell them.

Marlie looked around at the family she and Brody had built and felt her heart fill with love and pride, she hoped that each of her children would know the satisfaction of looking at their lives and knowing that all their wishes had come true.

 Marlie cleared the lump in her throat and began,

'Your father and I are getting older now and we've spent a lot of time planning how we'll take care of you all, even after we're gone.

We hope that we have many years left together, but life can be unpredictable and the time had come for you all to know what we have decided.

You all know, and each of you have experienced on some level, how little I began with. I was lucky enough to find a man who loved me and provided for me, a job that I enjoy and I was blessed with each of one of you. The Monroe name has gone from being a mark of shame that I wore in high school to a source of pride as I watched each of you grow.

I would like this legacy of happiness to continue and to do this Brody and I have decided on an unusual plan.

We have worked hard to set up a small savings fund for each of you. When you turn 21 you will each receive four thousand dollars, we wish it were more, for you to begin to pursue your dream. You may spend it on whatever you like, University, a car, a house payment. It is yours to do with as you wish.

Lola and Belle, yours are now ready, the rest of you will find the money there when the time comes.

Everything else we posess is tied up in this plot of land and the home we have built. We want to keep it that way. We want our legacy to continue here and so, in the coming years, we will choose an heir.

This heir wont be the smartest, or the loudest or the one of you with the best grades but rather the one of you who we think needs this place most. The one of you who can find here the fulfillment that we have been blessed with.

Whether you are the heir or not, this will always be your home and the heir will be legally required to remember that although the house is theirs, any with the Monroe blood should be welcomed. In time we hope that the heir will select from their children an heir, and so on, until ten generations, or more, of Monroes have lived and loved on this land.

To be the heir is a great responsibility. If at any time any one of you decides that your path will take you elsewhere, please tell us, we will not force any of you to shoulder the burden unless you truly want to.

Take some time and think it over, you don't have to choose straight away. Follow your hearts as your father and I have and you will find the answer.

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Who will be heir to the Monroe Legacy?

YOU DECIDE!

Click here to read short Biographies of each of Generation 2 and to cast your vote.

Then read Chapter 21 here - The Monroe Legacy - Daring to Dream