63 - Sun and Sand

After leaving the gypsy camp following her rendezvous with Shravan, Maia swung by the grocer’s to pick up the kelp she’d special-ordered, as well as a cake for Ryder’s aging up party that evening.

Happy birthday Ryder!

The next afternoon, Maia became certain of her pregnancy with Shravan.

Tesla and Pascal also aged up into toddlers that day.

The twins immediately began bonding with their IFs, Winks and Blinks.

Maia and Isak often took Tesla and Pascal outside to enjoy the nice weather and play on the spring riders.

The children often played in the sandbox together during those times. 

When it got too warm out, everyone played in the pool area.

And during the remainder of her pregnancy, Maia also taught the twins their skills with help from Isak while enjoying the sunny days.

Soon, Maia’s other set of twins were also ready to celebrate their birthdays.

Happy birthday Kai!

Happy birthday Marina!

Afterwards, the teens made Ripples and Bubbles real.

And later, Maia went into labor, giving birth to triplets!

Welcome Phineas!

Welcome Sibyl!

And welcome Cassandra!

Shravan immediately came over to meet his new babies.

Meanwhile, all the teenagers were off to attend prom. Caspian was elected Prom king and Angel was voted Prom Queen.

Once the triplets settled into a routine, Maia decided to take the older kids on an outing to the local beach, while Isak and Shravan babysat and bonded with their little ones at Maia’s home.

They sunbathed, swam, surfed, fished and enjoyed making sandcastles.

Everyone had a fabulous time at the beach, and Maia’s water-loving teens told her they wished they could do activities like this every day.

About a week later, Maia got the opportunity to make those wishes come true.

When she checked the mail, she found a package from Finley and Dylan, with tickets for her, the older children and their IF’s to travel to Isla Paradiso for a visit. 

Maia longed to go nearly as much as the kids did when they heard about the tickets, but the idea of leaving all her babies behind for Isak to be responsible for made her feel guilty.  It was one thing for him to watch Tesla and Pascal, and even Ryder, who would still be in school, but now there were her triplet newborns as well. And traveling with ones so young just wasn’t possible, nor would it be much of a vacation anyway with fussy toddlers and needy infants.

But when she expressed her concerns to Isak, he told her, “But you’ve taken care of all your children by yourself for so long!  And Shravan can help me; I’m sure he’d be more than willing to spend time with his kids too. Besides, that beach trip you’d gone on recently was a good trial run for us, so it’s not like we’re inexperienced. Everyone will be fine, and I really think you should take this break—you’ve more than earned it!”

And so it was agreed that after Destiny and Caspian aged up and graduated with Angel and Drizzle, that they, along with Kai, Marina, Ripples and Bubbles—who could be homeschooled to earn their remaining high school credits—would all go with Maia on vacation to Isla Paradiso.

And soon enough, it was time for the older teens’ birthdays.

Happy birthday Destiny!

Happy birthday Angel!

Happy birthday Caspian!

Happy birthday Drizzle!

The four of them graduated the following day, and Destiny was named class valedictorian.

And later, instead of hugging her new adult children goodbye as Maia usually did at this time, she hugged her little ones a temporary goodbye. Although she would miss them while she was gone, she knew they were in good hands.

And then Maia was off with her teens and young adults, excited to be on their way to island paradise...

Meanwhile, at Maia’s home...

“Oh, Shravaaaa-aan...”

“Pfffflllrrrrrggg! HEY! I’m the one who’s supposed to be pulling the pranks around here! Isak, where’s Ryder run off to now?”

“I dunno. Say, doll-kid, have you seen a little red-haired boy? He’s around your height...”

“Never mind that now, Isak! We’ve got toddlers screaming in stereo!”

“Maybe they’re just hungry.”

“Yucky-yucky!”

“Guess not!”

“But Shravan, if they’re not hungry, why are they eating their toys? Eaaahhhh!”

“EWWWW! Well, they sure ate something! But with all my experience as a psychic... how did I NOT foresee THIS in my future?!”

“Nooooooo! Now they’re all doing it!”

“IS MAIA BACK YET??”