Create a Family With a Twist 3

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Santo[/name_m] [name_m]Nanok[/name_m] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] (38) is Arturo’s brother, Łukasz’s uncle, and co-worker of Arturo’s friend. He’s been the one making things evened out between [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] and his ex-wife. He sees from both perspectives as to why [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] wanted adoptive children but why his ex-wife wished to have had her own children. He doesn’t find either “wrong” per sé although he’s disdained Arturo’s wife leaving her adoptive children though he’s happy for her that she was able to have her own twins. He felt bad and comforted his brother throughout this as it felt wrong of her to say after 7 years of marriage to [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] that she felt her children “were not hers”. [name_m]Santo[/name_m] worries she didn’t love her children but never had the nerve to say or ask about it.

[name_m]Santo[/name_m] currently works as a pet surgeon, a challenging and rewarding career. [name_m]Santo[/name_m] has 3 cats: [name_m]Benji[/name_m], [name_m]Carlo[/name_m], and Petra; all of whom are really close with Arturo’s friend, a huge cat lover. The two work together in the same clinic and they have many similar hobbies and people they hang out with, especially given this friend is buddies with both [name_u]Willow[/name_u] brothers. This friend knew [name_f]Merel[/name_f] much more than [name_m]Santo[/name_m] however, although the two know the [name_u]Van[/name_u] [name_m]Peeter[/name_m] sisters well through medical, despite them both being “people doctors”, as [name_m]Santo[/name_m] calls them. The [name_m]Golding[/name_m] family knows a bit about this clinic, given the eldest female [name_m]Golding[/name_m] is engaged to someone in veterinary school who is planning on being a future co-worker of [name_m]Santo[/name_m] and his friend. Like [name_m]Santo[/name_m], both his friend and the future co-worker have adorable pets of their own. [name_m]Santo[/name_m] tends to be serious in his job but is social and friendly outside the job and really gets along well with wholesome people! He’s most wholesome when around his cats but he feels anyone who loves cats, regardless of whether they have cats, are super wholesome.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Mazarine[/name_f] ‘Mazzy’ [name_f]Linette[/name_f] Blanchett [35] is a co-worker of [name_m]Santo[/name_m] and a friend of [name_m]Arturo[/name_m]. She’s a vet tech at the clinic and has often been teased by her older sister that she’s ‘just a tech, not a full vet’ whenever their parents end up bragging about how proud they are of [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f], but it doesn’t bother her too much. She knows it reflects more so on her sister’s own issues rather than her success in her career, though she does feel bad that her sister feels the need to bring other people down. Still she’s happy with her career and how she’s able to help all the different animals that come through the clinic. Including her own cat, Tripod.

The brown feline was brought in after being hit by a car and found on the side of the road by a jogger. He sadly lot his left back leg due to the damage it sustained in the hit, but it didn’t really slow him down. After he was weaned off the anesthesia he was back to running and jumping around his crate like nothing had changed, though there was some worry about him popping his stiches so they did sedate him just slightly to bring down his energy until he was more healed.

Nobody came to claim the cat and he had no microchip. It seemed that he was a stray. The various employees of the clinic fell in love with him and dubbed him ‘Tripod’ on account of his three legs. [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] especially fell for the charismatic cat and soon put in a request to adopt that was soon granted. They’re both often cuddled up on the couch watching movies together when Mazzy’s home from work. She’s not too social, all her friends are either her co-workers or have fur. With the exception of [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] whom she met at a wedding many years ago. It turns out her college roommate is his cousin. They happened to be seated beside one another at the table during the reception and were accidentally given one another’s meals, he order the chicken and she ordered the veggie option since she’s a vegan. As they swapped plates they ended up bonding and have been friends ever since.

She’s known [name_f]Merel[/name_f] much longer however. They went to high school together. [name_u]Ever[/name_u] since she met him she’s felt as though he would be a good match for [name_f]Merel[/name_f] since she had been sort of ‘chronically single’ much like [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] herself since they graduated. But neither of them were really interested in being fixed up at the time. So that idea sort of got put on the back burner for a while until she made a joke about it once again to [name_m]Arturo[/name_m], and to her surprise, he said he was open to the idea. Thankfully once she brought it up again to [name_f]Merel[/name_f] she was also interested as well. It was a match made it in heaven, or rather a match made by [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f].

She currently has no plans to set any of her other friends up, or even hit the dating scene herself. [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] is perfectly happy with just her and her cat, for now.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Araluen[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Lula[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Winona[/name_f] [Blanchett] Corteniz (38) is Mazzy’s older sister and reliable source of sarcasm. If their younger child’s career accomplishments are gushed over by the Blanchett’s, where Lula’s concerned it always links back to her giving them grandkids: she has three children currently, and is expecting her fourth, who’ll also be her last. Having first gotten pregnant at 27, [name_f]Lula[/name_f] was actually living in another state at the time, where she and her husband [who she’d tied the knot with five months earlier] had been living post-college thanks to a job offer he received. They decided to relocate closer to family when this came to light however, as not only did [name_f]Lula[/name_f] fear becoming isolated once she was in the early period of parenting, but it felt too much being unable to regularly see her mom, dad and sister while going through such a significant life event; never mind them not being able to see her child.

For how some people like sugar coating, [name_f]Lula[/name_f] strives to be honest when it comes to parenting her brood [as she calls them]. There’s naturally stress when it comes to keeping everyone content and happy, most of all where her second and third children - aged 8 and 6 respectively - are concerned, as they’re at an age where annoying one another is the best game possible. It stems from how, when her eldest started school properly and hated being separated from her parents [resulting in [name_f]Lula[/name_f] having to stay longer in the reception area of the building in case her daughter became inconsolable], she noticed some people around her was in denial about their own children’s behaviour and reactions to new situations; the worst offender being a woman she knew from her antenatal classes, who still prefers to ignore her son’s loathing of sports, in spite of how she and his father try pushing him towards football and baseball regardless.

For her observations, [name_f]Lula[/name_f] hates coming across as preachy twice as much, especially thanks to her own cateer. She was able to remodel her business around the changes motherhood presented her with. A yoga and pilates instructor, [name_f]Lula[/name_f] moved to focus on maternity and post-birth workshops, designed to help women get back into exercising while encouraging them to socialise and express their concerns about anything going on in their lives. What she won’t do is pretend she can fix things or that she’s perfect and knows all the answers [although [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] teases her back here, given how their parents speak of Lula’s relationship with her children]. It also helps that her kids love their ‘cat cousin’, as they’ve taken to calling Tripod, although only her firstborn’s trusted to be alone with him, given how excitable the younger two prove to be around just about any animal!

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Deakin[/name_m] " [name_u]Deni[/name_u] " [name_m]Mario[/name_m] Corteniz (6) is the third child of [name_f]Lula[/name_f] and her husband. He’s ready to be an older brother and he tends to be a little rascal to the elder two siblings, especially the 8-year-old. He is very eager around [name_f]Lula[/name_f] and [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] when they’re around and always asks about Mazzy’s adorable cat Tripod whenever she’s around. He is never alone when he’s with Tripod but adores the cute kitty greatly. [name_u]Deni[/name_u] simply loves being a kid and getting all the fun perks of childhood. [name_u]Deni[/name_u] is glad he’s not being pushed into anything although he’s liked playing pretend and wants to get into school plays. He’s so excited for summer given his love for swimming and he is a summer baby himself, being a Cancer. He is much like the crab himself, enjoying vacationing at the beach but also having a crabby side - especially when his siblings annoy him or when it’s [name_f]Monday[/name_f].

[jinxed_peach]

[name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] [name_m]Palben[/name_m] Corteniz [8] is Deni’s oldest brother and the second eldest child of [name_f]Lula[/name_f]. He looks more like his father, Mr. Corteniz, than his mother but probably got the biggest share of her attitude. Similarly to how [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] and Lula’s relationship involves a fair bit of sarcasm, as does Hendrix’s relationship with [name_u]Deni[/name_u] and his other siblings. Much to his parents chagrin as he often comes off as mean and has made his other siblings cry on more than one occasion. Though he’s pretty unconcerned about the impact his words have just yet, he’s a little hung up on how his grandparents treat him like a prince.

While his 11 year old sister is the oldest of his family, [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] is the first grandson on both his maternal and paternal sides and therefore is often doted upon by his extended family members. This situation has certainly drawn a bit of a line between him and his older sister who occasionally feels that he receives undue attention simply for the act of being male. Which brings a little tension in the house from time to time that is usually remedied by passing out some snacks and sending the Corteniz two oldest children off to their respective rooms.

At the moment he’s really into reptiles, particularly lizards. A friend from his class has a super cool bearded dragon named [name_m]Sanchez[/name_m] that the two third graders often remove from his tank and set up ‘obstacle courses’ on the floor of said friend’s bedroom floor for him to run. He initially wanted to start a campaign for his family to get a lizard of their own, but his father is terrified of anything with scales due to an incident in his childhood. So [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] has settled for planning out the different reptiles he’ll get once he’s all grown up and out of the house.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_u]Jade[/name_u] [name_u]Montgomery[/name_u] (10) is a close friend and neighbor of [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u]. She is often seen spending time with [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] and his siblings in their neighborhood. [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] has long, curly brown hair and lively green eyes that always seem to be filled with mischief. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] has a bold and energetic personality, making them great partners in various neighborhood adventures.

While [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] is fascinated by reptiles, [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] has a strong passion for insects, collecting different species and studying their behavior. The two children often combine their interests, sharing facts about their favorite creatures and creating imaginary scenarios where reptiles and insects coexist. Their shared curiosity has led them to form a small club, open for other kids in the neighborhood to explore and learn about the natural world.

Despite their occasional quarrels stemming from their strong opinions and personalities, their bond is strengthened by their unique interests. Isabella’s easygoing nature helps her understand Hendrix’s attitude, and over time, she plays a significant role in helping [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] to become more mindful of his words and learn empathy. Their friendship continues to grow as they navigate the challenges and joys of their early years.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Shevonne[/name_f] [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] Corteniz [11] is another friend of [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and the older sister of [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] and [name_m]Deakin[/name_m]. She often joins her brother and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] on their adventures around the neighborhood but sometimes she chases her brother out for ‘girl time’ with just her and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]. They’re not the bestest of friends, they’re pretty close but their personalities clash a little. [name_f]Shevonne[/name_f] is slightly more girly girl and princess-y than [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] but their proximity to one another’s homes is what their bond is really based on. So they often have differing ideas as to what to play. While [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] likes to check out bugs and critters in the forest near their neighborhood, [name_f]Shevonne[/name_f] likes to play dress-up and put on pretend pageants in her room. Though lately she’s also been interested in playing house, probably inspired by her mom’s impending delivery she’s been running a story for the last few weeks where she pretends her name is [name_f]Missy[/name_f] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] and that she’s a single mother, using her two favorite baby dolls to play the roles of Missy’s twin daughters, [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] and [name_f]Twyla[/name_f].

Unless her bestie from school is around, who recently welcomed a baby sibling as well and also enjoys mirroring her mother, she usually ends up playing by herself since neither [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u] or [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] are interested in ‘boring mommy stuff’ like that. She’s not too bothered, like her Aunt [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f], she’s gotten good at letting little annoyances roll off her back. She and her aunt are close, [name_f]Mazzy[/name_f] was the one who helped [name_f]Shevonne[/name_f] get over her hatred of school and being separated from her mom. She helped boost the young girl’s confidence over time and even rewarded her bravery by gifting her one of the baby dolls that’s now become one of her favorites, specifically the one who she’s currently calling [name_f]Poppy[/name_f].

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_f]Elysia[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] Corteniz (nb) was born on a sunny morning in the month of [name_f]May[/name_f]. She is the fourth child of [name_f]Araluen[/name_f] “Lula” [name_f]Winona[/name_f] Corteniz and her husband. Elysia’s siblings, [name_f]Shevonne[/name_f], [name_u]Hendrix[/name_u], and [name_m]Deakin[/name_m], were all excited to welcome her into the family. [name_f]Elysia[/name_f] has inherited her mother’s bright blue eyes and curly brown hair. She is a calm and peaceful baby who loves to be held and cuddled. Her parents chose the name [name_f]Elysia[/name_f] because it means “blissful” and “heavenly,” which they believe perfectly describes their new bundle of joy. [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] was chosen as her middle name to honor her [name_u]Irish[/name_u] heritage. [name_f]Elysia[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] Corteniz is a beautiful addition to the Corteniz family, and they are looking forward to watching her grow and thrive.

[avenmaide]

[name_m]Haroon[/name_m] Aadavan Prem Chaiwalla (1 mo) is the baby brother of Shevonne’s best friend, and was recently brought over for a “play date” with [name_f]Elysia[/name_f]. In other words, the two mothers wanted to hang out and coo over each other’s babies, and hopefully create another pair of best friends for the future!

[name_m]Haroon[/name_m] is like [name_f]Elysia[/name_f] in how quiet and pensive he normally is, but he isn’t as fond of being held, especially not by strangers, so he definitely puts up a fuss then. His favorite thing is listening to music. His mamma and pappa have a ritual at night. They make a calming tea for themselves (with a recipe that was passed down for generations in [name_u]New[/name_u] Delhi, which is how their surname came to be in America), and then they sing lullabies to [name_m]Haroon[/name_m]. He’s often fast asleep long before they carry him to his nursery.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Devika[/name_f] ’ [name_u]Devi[/name_u] ’ [name_f]Indira[/name_f] [name_f]Zerlin[/name_f] Chaiwalla [11] is the older sister of [name_m]Haroon[/name_m], or [name_u]Rooney[/name_u] Roo as she likes to call him, and best friend of [name_f]Shavonne[/name_f]. The two girls love to engage in all the girly girl things that [name_f]Shavonne[/name_f] suggests and she tends to go along with since her friend has a slightly more domineering personality, though [name_u]Devi[/name_u] can be stubborn too. In addition to makeup and fashion she also loves swimming and is on the swim team at school. She used to be a terrible swimmer but was recently voted ‘Most Improved’ by her teammates as her times in the 300m have shortened considerable since she joined the league.

While she’s her mother’s oldest child, she’s not the oldest Chaiwalla sibling as her father had a baby in high school with his then girlfriend. They co-parented amicably for a while but he was awarded primary custody when the child’s mother moved over seas for a work opportunity. They’re still good friends and have their child’s best interest in mind, and talk frequently though. It’s been interesting for [name_u]Devi[/name_u] to suddenly gain both an older sibling and a younger sibling one shortly after the other as before this year she only saw her half sibling every other month. So having them 24/7 has been a little weird though she’s glad to have them around as she admires them greatly. But sharing her room is a little bit of a bummer.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

Rajesh ‘Raj’ [name_m]Anand[/name_m] [name_u]Patel[/name_u] [14] is Devi’s half-brother and the son of her father and his high school girlfriend. He is a smart and friendly boy who loves science and video games. He moved in with [name_u]Devi[/name_u] and her family when his mother went to work overseas. He gets along well with [name_u]Devi[/name_u] and [name_m]Haroon[/name_m], but sometimes feels like an outsider in their household. He misses his mom a lot and hopes to visit her someday. He also has a crush on [name_f]Shavonne[/name_f], but he is too shy to tell her.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Himesh[/name_m] [name_m]Arjuna[/name_m] [Patel] Chaiwalla (32) is [name_m]Raj[/name_m], [name_u]Devi[/name_u], and Haroon’s father. He is Sanskrit but his wife and ex-girlfriend are Hindi, but he’s still close to Hindi culture and he raises his children multicultural. He and his then-girlfriend were just 18 when [name_m]Raj[/name_m] was born but the two managed to graduate, although their relationship didn’t last. [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] didn’t expect to have another child with someone else just 3 years after [name_m]Raj[/name_m], and truthfully he and his now-wife hadn’t planned [name_u]Devi[/name_u], but they really adore her and it’s strengthened [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] as a person. He and his wife are happily married although sometimes he can’t help but worry if his life is moving too fast. He worries about the future a lot, especially his career owning a small pet supplies business, which wonderfully took off when it started, but now isn’t as busy as it was. It’s nowhere near closure, but [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] tends to overanalyse the situation and has about 50 different ideas of how to promote the business. He’s had a setback that he hates to talk about, he had a promotion day for discount homemade dog treats after sunset, but spent more money on advertising and on the ingredients making the treats than he made actually selling them.

Currently he’s helping integrate [name_m]Raj[/name_m] with his siblings more, although he doesn’t want [name_m]Raj[/name_m] to forget his mother. He encourages Raj’s love for science but doesn’t mind his video gaming and won’t be one of those “all work; no play” types. He’s also proud of Devi’s swimming improvement and how she hung in there when it came to swimming, even if she hadn’t been the best swimmer beforehand. He and his wife love tea, especially their authentic [name_u]New[/name_u] Delhi-based recipe, and tea has been something to calm him down when he’s insecure or worried. He loves to sing lullabies to [name_m]Haroon[/name_m] and is very pleased to have such a wonderful wife.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Anniston[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Anni[/name_f] ’ [name_u]Dove[/name_u] Telford [32] is a friend of [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] who went to school with him. They bonded long before their senior year as they had similar interests with Himesh’s ideas that would later become his pet supply business and Anni’s interest in learning how to code and work in technology though when they were both eighteen they were certainly brought closer due to similar circumstances. A few months after [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] and his then-girlfriend found out they were expecting [name_m]Raj[/name_m], [name_f]Anni[/name_f] found out that she was pregnant as well.

Rumors swirled around the school that [name_f]Anni[/name_f] and Raj’s mom were involved in some kind of ‘pregnancy pact’ but the truth was it was just a coincidence. The two girls weren’t even as close as [name_f]Anni[/name_f] and [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] were, only really being friends through him, but the rumor mill churned nonetheless. While [name_m]Himesh[/name_m] and Raj’s mom stayed together, for the time being, [name_f]Anni[/name_f] and her boyfriend at the time did not. Immediately following the discovery of the pregnancy he declared that he had no desire to be involved in [name_f]Anni[/name_f] or the baby’s lives. Though his own family felt quite the opposite and were greatly disappointed in his reaction, eventually cutting ties with him as Anni’s pregnancy progressed. Anni’s child’s paternal family, minus the father himself, even threw her a baby shower.

Anni’s side of the family was very supportive of her choice to keep and raise her baby, particularly her maternal cousins, [name_u]Dustan[/name_u], [name_f]Anett[/name_f], and [name_f]Nivaria[/name_f], who were sixteen, fourteen, and thirteen respectively at the time and ready to volunteer for babysitting duty if need be.

[name_f]Anni[/name_f] gave birth to her daughter a few months before she started college to study computer programming and when she moved into the dorm so did her newborn baby girl. She managed college and being a single mother as best as she could, though she did end up graduating in six years instead of the typical four, but it’s no sweat to her. She’s not too afflicted with the worldviews and potential judgement of others on her. She also hasn’t really felt a desire to seek out a romantic partner of any kind, at least for the moment as she feels that she and her fourteen year old are more than enough of a family. That being said, she has recently been more open about the fact that she’s pansexual as of late.

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[name_u]Dustan[/name_u] and [name_f]Anett[/name_f] were created by me!
[name_f]Nivaria[/name_f] was created by @CherryBomb50

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Emiliana[/name_f] " [name_f]Em[/name_f] " [name_f]Bloom[/name_f] Telford (14) is Anni’s daughter. Compared to [name_m]Raj[/name_m], Em’s interests are more typical of a young teenager: she’s often out with her friends, hearing about dating gossip and very much keeps up to date with trends, although she keeps true to her personal expression. When she and [name_m]Raj[/name_m] hangout, Em’s definitively the leader - having a naturally bold and upfront personality - however she’s got a much softer side to her, and this is present when he talks about missing his mom. While the circumstances are different, [name_f]Em[/name_f] understands Raj’s sense of loss, and she’s done her best to offer him advice on feeling more connected with his stepmother and siblings. [name_f]Em[/name_f] also admits she has it easier in the sense it’s always been her and her mom, although while [name_f]Anni[/name_f] might not be interested in dating currently, the teens done all she can to prepare in case the right person comes along and a stepparent becomes part of Em’s life.

Although she chose to keep just her mother’s surname, Em’s maintained a close bond with her paternal family. She adores her granny, who was the first person to offer babysitting help when her mom needed it, and has become something of the leader of her pack of cousins: thankfully [name_f]Em[/name_f] isn’t the sort of person to indulge in terror that often. Her father’s someone she still doesn’t have much to do with - he sends birthday cards and a gift every year, but in truth [name_f]Em[/name_f] finds it relieving that he isn’t around at her gran’s house - and the only real compensation she has is that he doesn’t have another family somewhere for her to compare her circumstances to.

A lot of her friend’s have similar relationships with their dad’s, and now she’s older, [name_f]Em[/name_f] admits she tended to be drawn to people with similar family dynamics like her own, as it prevented awkward or hurtful conversations about where her father was and why she seldom spoke of him.

Regarding the future, [name_f]Em[/name_f] doesn’t really have a fixed plan yet, not that anyone pressures her to make up her mind. The subject she enjoys most is Phys [name_m]Ed[/name_m], as she’s naturally quick and very flexible, having been attending gymnastics classes since she was 5, and the sport is still very important to her. [name_f]Em[/name_f] also has recently become a member of her middle schools cheer squad and this has boosted her confidence more, much to the delight of her mom. If she had to pick a favourite academic class, it would probably be [name_f]English[/name_f], as while she isn’t the biggest reader, storytelling is something she’s not just drawn to but naturally talented at. It’s allowed her to quickly gel with her new fellow cheerleaders, as they love how [name_f]Em[/name_f] recounts things, especially any story to do with one of she and her mom’s impromptu road trips, which usually have a light hearted chaotic vibe about them.

[jinxed_peach]

cw: mentioned religious trauma

[name_f]Audre[/name_f] [name_f]Ilona[/name_f] Penobscott (Born [name_f]Audre[/name_f] [name_f]Glory[/name_f] [name_f]Praise[/name_f] Penobscott) [14] is a close friend of [name_f]Em[/name_f], possibly one of her best. Initially their friendship was started due to their frequent close proximity as [name_f]Audre[/name_f] was a member of the same gymnastics gym that [name_f]Em[/name_f] attended. Seeing one another multiple times a week certainly leads to lots of conversations and eventual bonds, though as they aged they learned that they had more in common than they initially thought. [name_f]Audre[/name_f] also comes from a single parent household, specifically a single mother like [name_f]Em[/name_f].

Audre’s mother and father were raised in a very conservative [name_u]Christian[/name_u] area of the south. Things were very strict, especially in terms of who could do what with regards of gender roles. The women were expected to be perfect, obedient wives and mothers while the men were supposed to be the breadwinners and the leaders. Her parents got married straight out of high school when her mother was seventeen and her father was eighteen. By their one year wedding anniversary they were already expecting [name_f]Audre[/name_f] who was later joined when she was two by a younger sister, and a younger brother the year after that.

She was raised for the first five years of her life in the same strictness that her parents were, until a few months after her seventh birthday and her world came apart. Her parents revealed to her that they had been deconstructing their faiths for the last few years and had both come to the conclusion that they wanted to leave the church with their family. It was something that they had been grappling with more and more as their children aged, but they had always felt misplaced in the heavy religion that they were steeped in due to a very specific reason. Audre’s mother and father had both known since childhood that they were gay. They were each the first person that they had told one another about their sexuality and were close confidants for one another. Eventually deciding to marry as a means to protect each other and to give themselves a chance at being ‘normal,’ but it never really felt right. They now felt that they had the confidence to shift away from the judgmental and harsh reality that they had been subjected to and to give their children the chance to have the freedom and ability to be themselves that they never had.

The family moved out of the south and divorced, as well as changing their children’s middle names from the very religion heavy ones they had picked out previously. All the new updates lead to them being cast out of their families as ‘sinners’ but both of them agreed that they were happier now than they were living a lie. Later on Audre’s father would remarry but she doesn’t see him much in person nowadays as he’s heavily involved with LGBT+ outreach programs across the world and seeks to help save kids from going through what he did. They talk on the phone often enough but sometimes the service in the countries he’s in isn’t so great so it’s not uncommon for radio silence to occur for weeks on end. [name_f]Audre[/name_f] and her siblings still love their father, but there is a conflict arising from his absence. Especially from [name_f]Audre[/name_f] herself who is now reaching the age where she’s beginning to figure out her own sexuality and gender expression and feels that her father is spending more time helping other kids going through that process than he is with his own children. Sometimes she wonders if he regrets having her and her siblings and occasionally doesn’t pick up the phone when he calls.

She’s also processing her own thoughts about religion, her parents are both now agnostic though encourage the children to settle with what feels right for them instead of following what they chose. [name_f]Audre[/name_f] isn’t sure at all where she stands and is highly confused by her feelings surrounding the topic. For now she’s mostly focusing on her life in the moment instead of worrying about morality and spirituality.

[name_f]Em[/name_f] has been very supportive of her family and Audre’s ‘general life confusion syndrome’ as the girls have been jokingly calling her attempts to figure things out. They joined the cheer squad together and have been known to sleepover at one another’s houses after practice. [name_f]Audre[/name_f] is also known somewhat by Em’s paternal family as they’ve been friends for so long and [name_f]Audre[/name_f] adores Em’s granny as well. Though she doesn’t miss the bigoted nature of her own extended family she does find herself sometimes craving some of that specific brand of comfort that she once received from her grandmother.

[name_f]Audre[/name_f] loves Em’s storytelling ability and always enjoys hearing whatever stories that she has to share with her and the rest of the cheer squad or gymnastics team. She’s also in the same boat as her in being unsure of the future, but she’s glad she’ll have a friend in [name_f]Em[/name_f] no matter what the two of them end up doing

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Lumme[/name_f] [name_f]Meeri[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] (14) is Audre’s friend and fellow cheer squad teammate. Adopted from Hiiumaa as a small child by [name_m]Santo[/name_m] [name_u]Willow[/name_u], she’s aware of the drama her uncle [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] faced when his ex-wife didn’t see his adoptive children as “real” children. At least she has biological twins but it’s completely understandable why she and [name_m]Arturo[/name_m] couldn’t stay together. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] knows that Arturo’s ex wife currently belongs to the church that Audre’s family left, and [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] hopes it hasn’t changed her or her twins for the worse. Her adoptive cousins relate to [name_f]Em[/name_f] and [name_f]Audre[/name_f] given they have an absent parent, although Lumme’s cousins have an active dad instead. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] herself was adopted by a single father so she was used to having just one, but she comforts her friends.

[name_f]Lumme[/name_f] likes cheering although she’s slowly fazed out of it. Still, she really enjoys the fellow squad members and loves sleepovers. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] is glad not to be head cheerleader and has no plans to ever get that role. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] admits she used to want to have the confidence the current head has but has learned she doesn’t quite have as good of a life as she seems. The head cheerleader is a huge party girl and [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] loves parties. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] has a crush on [name_m]Raj[/name_m] but knows he likes [name_f]Shavonne[/name_f] so she’s in this awkward phase of trying to let go, although she doesn’t think [name_f]Shavonne[/name_f] will end up with him either. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] loves video games as well and likes action games best. [name_f]Lumme[/name_f] still has a soft spot for Pac-Man, being the best Pac-Man player in school.

Santo was created by me.

Arturo was created by @jinxed_peach.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Charlize[/name_f] [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] [name_m]Westin[/name_m] [14] is another member of the cheer team alongside [name_f]Lumme[/name_f], [name_f]Audre[/name_f], and [name_f]Em[/name_f]. She’s been cheerleading since middle school and was actually named junior captain of the squad. The ‘captain’ captain, as she’s referred to by the rest of the squad is an older girl, it’s her last year on the squad and has been eager to give her final season her absolute all. Though she’s very proud to leave [name_f]Charlize[/name_f] behind as her successor and she’s equally thrilled to take the position when the time comes. For now she’s happy being just the junior captain.

[name_f]Charlize[/name_f] is sort of a legacy cheerleader, her mother actually cheered for one of the most iconic professional cheer teams out there back in the 80s, the [name_u]Dallas[/name_u] Cowboys Cheerleaders. Charlize’s older sister also served a few years on the team as well but recently left the team since she and her husband are ready to begin trying to conceive. After high school [name_f]Charlize[/name_f] is hopeful to try out for the team as well and either spend a few years with them if she succeeds or to become a vet tech. She and her cousin, [name_f]Moxie[/name_f], share a love for animals, dogs particularly, and she considers it to be one of her other passions. Tied for first place with dance and cheer of course.

---

[name_f]Moxie[/name_f] was created by @CherryBomb50

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_u]Madison[/name_u] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_m]Westin[/name_m] (27) is Charlize’s older sister. She recently left the iconic [name_u]Dallas[/name_u] Cowboys Cheerleaders team to focus on starting a family with her husband. Madison’s cheerleading skills and dedication have left a lasting legacy, and she is excited to support Charlize’s cheerleading journey. While she cherished her time as a professional cheerleader, Madison’s priorities have shifted towards building a loving and nurturing home. She shares Charlize’s love for animals, especially dogs, and is eager to start a new chapter in her life as she embarks on the exciting journey of starting a family.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_u]Noah[/name_u] [name_m]Silas[/name_m] Goldbaum (27) is Madison’s husband and hopeful soon-to-be father. A carpenter by trade, [name_u]Noah[/name_u] mostly works in restoration pieces, having a natural interest in history and preference for intricate design. The couple met through a mutual friend - a sports podcaster who interviewed [name_u]Madison[/name_u], who just so happens to be an old friend of Noah’s, and they were invited to a party celebrating the spike in success of the project. When they started becoming friendly, [name_u]Noah[/name_u] assumed the relationship between them would be strictly platonic - given the flood of attractive people Madison’s career bought her into contact with - however they found they could discuss just about anything, and it resonated with both parties going forwards as they met up more and more.

Their marital ceremony was Jewish, reflecting Noah’s faith and background, however he isn’t phssed about [name_u]Madison[/name_u] converting, having a very relaxed family - granted he does enjoy making jokes about legacies, so of course, one of he and Madison’s future children is going to become a cheerleader. Faith’s important to him but not a baseline for his relationship’s with any romantic partners, although he’s always happy to talk to [name_u]Madison[/name_u] and her family about his belief’s. He can read, speak and write Hebrew fluently, and has taught [name_f]Charlize[/name_f] a couple phrases when she’s enquired, making it clear if she wants to learn more, he’ll be happy to help.

The couple haven’t started looking into names too seriously, but they’re in agreement their kids will have first names tied to Noah’s heritage. When they moved into their home, they ensured there was space for starting a family, having always been open about their desire for children. Their home’s currently shared with a pseudo child - their beloved family cat, Sprite the calico - who was a gift from Noah’s sister when her cat became pregnant, and she needed to rehome a few of the kittens. Sprite’s the reason they don’t have a dog, as she’s very shy and wouldn’t handle it well, something the couple don’t want to risk; however she’s very fond of [name_f]Charlize[/name_f] whenever the teen drops by. It’s a bit surreal for [name_u]Noah[/name_u] being so much older than his sister-in-law, as the largest age gap between him and his siblings is the 3 years between him and his younger brother, then it’s 2 with him and his older sister.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

Time Machine!

Sarai Hadar Westin-Goldbaum (nb) is the baby daughter of Noah and Madison, and the niece of Charlize. Madison has always wanted a natural birth at home surrounded by her loved ones. She was 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant when she started feeling mild contractions around 10 p.m. on a Friday night. They called the midwife and the doula, who arrived shortly after. Around 8 a.m., the midwife checked her cervix and told her she was 8 centimeters dilated. She labored in the pool for another hour, with Noah by her side, holding her hand and encouraging her. With each push, Madison felt Sarai moving down and closer to being born. After about 20 minutes of pushing, Madison felt Sarai’s head emerge. With one more push, Sarai’s body slid out and into Madison’s arms. They looked at their daughter in awe. The midwife checked them both and confirmed they were healthy and well. Madison nursed Sarai for the first time, feeling an incredible bond with her baby. They spent the next few hours in bliss, snuggling, kissing, and talking to Sarai. They felt like they were in a dream. They fell asleep on the couch, holding each other tightly.