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

The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 19 - Goodbye Norma-Jeane

DISCLAIMER - This chapter includes references to violence which some readers may find upsetting.

Marlie stood frozen. What would await her on the other side of that door. Where there had before been noise there was now only silence.

Two shots. Hank? Ralph? Norma? If Hank was standing there could well be a bullet waiting for Marlie. She crept to the window and peeked through. A movement caught her eye and she jerked back. Prepared to run.

'Marlie, it's Ralph' came a voice. 'I need your help'.

Cautiously Marlie approached the door, afraid of what was through it but also of the spectre of death which had entered. The scene that greeted her was a relief. Ralph stood, gun still raised and Hank was curled on the floor, unmoving in a pool of blood.

'But I heard two shots', Marlie questioned, 'Tell me it's not Norma-'

'Norma-Jeane's downstairs. I think she's okay. I fired a warning shot and the idiot grabbed his gun and tried to shoot me. It backfired and hit him instead. If he dies then his blood is only on his own hands.'

Marlie hurried to roll back the rug as the Reaper returned with Hank's soul.

Even in death Hank was a bully, cursing Marlie and Ralph before turning to beg for his life. But even Death recognises that there are those who do not deserve another chance, no matter how unfortunate their death and it left with Hank in its grasp. All that was left of the man and the monster that Hank had become was a box of ashes which nobody claimed.

Downstairs Norma had lain listening with tears streaming down her face. Sh had heard the shots and the muffled voices but without hearing the words she had no idea whether the next feet on the stairway would bring her salvation or death.When the light filtering down the stairs revealed a blonde woman, Norma-Jeane convinced herself it was her mother as an angel, come to take her away from this horror.

Marlie rushed down and gathered her shaking sister in to her arms, Norma-Jeane barely seemed to register she was there. Calling for Ralph they hurried her into the light and Ralph quickly surmised that she was in shock from the psychological trauma of the situation. There didn't seem to be any major physical harm done.

 Marlie drove Norma-Jeane home with instructions to get her straight to bed, warm her up and keep a  close watch until he returned. Ralph looked around the shack before grabbing a large bottle of bleach, shuddering at the thought of its intended purpose, and descended to the basement.

Looking around and knowing what his wife had undergone he wished he'd fired the killing shot. But with Hank's misfortune came an opportunity. Ralph bleached everything Norma-Jeane may have touched, he bleached every surface. When he was convinced there was nothing that would tie his wife to that place he returned upstairs and repeated the process before leaving the cabin as abandoned as it looked,with nothing to tie Hank's death to any of his family.

The police found the crime-scene several weeks later and put out a request for information. Nobody came forward. The deceased was soon identified as the felon Hank Monoe and when the post-mortem came back with cause of death being a misfired weapon the case was left to go cold with an unofficial ruling of accidental death.

The family of Hank Monroe never came forward with any questions.

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Marlie and her family tried to go back to normal life but everybody was shaken by the danger which had come from nowhere and come so close to destroying them. Norma-Jeane recovered fast physically but the psychological scars were deeper. 

Where before she had been wary of exposure she was now completely paranoid. Added to this was the increasing presence of her biological father in the media as he ramped up his presidential campaign, the threat Hank had passed on from him fresh in everybody's minds. Norma-Jeane wouldn't even go to the mailbox on her own.

Ralph knew that they needed a change if they were going to heal and, with heavy hearts, Norma-Jeane, Carson and Ralph packed up to leave town. Ralph said they were going to go overseas, that he couldn't say where but that once they were secure they would make contact under an assumed name and the two families could at least exchange news in safety. Maybe one day they would meet again.

They left at dawn, less than a month after the incident. After saying their good-byes the Monroes retreated to the house to process. All except Lola, who watched Carson pull away with a heavy heart, hoping that now it was hopeless her stubborn heart would admit what her head knew, Carson would never be hers.

Inside Marlie cried at the loss of her newly discovered family and Brody held her, grateful for what they had to hold on to.

As the Monroes began to heal around the hole left by Norma-Jeane and her family, Marlie began to think of their future. Each of her children was so different, they each had such wonderful characters and they each had their own flaws. She hoped that they would all be able to find a way in life free from the tragedies she had gone through and began to think of a plan to safeguard her legacy.

She decided to wait to share this plan until all of the children were old enough to understand it, a time which was becoming frighteningly short. Before she felt she'd had time to enjoy the baby years of her little twins they were growing into children. It was a special occasion as Brody was sharing their birthday so they threw a small party for their close friends.

Brody blew out his candles before the guests arrived, not wanting a big fuss about him entering his twilight years. Although he was beginning to tire more quickly he was determined to keep advancing in his career and marching up the chess ranks until his hair was snow white!

Once all the guests were having a great time the twins were ready to blow out their candles. Oscar was older by 40 minutes to he went first. Having spent so much time playing with Belle's phone as a toddler it was no wonder that grew up into a handsome little computer whiz!

Georgia was next and as she blew out her candles she wished very hard to be just like her brother, they were firm friends. The birthday gods were obviously listening as she developed the Disciplined trait, just like her brother already had!

Marlie had been back at work bringing in a second income so as a special treat the twins were allowed to pick their own outfits to be delivered from the local salon. They both looked absolutely adorable.

Marlie couldn't believe how fast her family was growing up. That night she sat at the dining room table with a blank notebook and began writing. 

Under the title, The Monroe Legacy she wrote a list of rules she had lived by, a list of rules she hoped her children might agree to live by, rules she believed in.  

Then she turned to the next page and began her  story.

Generation One - Marlie Dee Monroe.

Marlie Monroe was a mess.....

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Click here to read The Monroe Legacy Chapter 20 - As Time Goes By  and then cast your vote as to who should be the heir to Generation 2!