Albany and Goneril moved to Riverblossom Hills to escape the unpleasantness of their parents' feud with the Montys.
Miranda set off for university immediately. Once she had set off, University, the family seemed somehow much smaller, and they all preferred the country area.
She did well at Uni and made many good friends. Her First Kiss was with Romeo, who lived up to his name and flirted with almost every one of his female dormmates.
But actually it was Mercutio Monty who interested her most. (Miranda was most impatient when her parents mentioned the family feud. "That's all Dark Ages stuff, the grandparents fighting the grandparents. It doesn't have to affect me or my sisters and brothers!"
Albany finally managed to land a job in Education as a Playground Monitor. After working as a Lobbyist for years, he found it very easy to control the children. Goneril was by now working (in between pregnancies) as a Mime.
Sadly, Goneril was not as well as she should be. Too many pregnancies had taken their toll, and she was severely anaemic. She kept falling asleep and was very thin. She went to the clinic to see Dr Circe.
"No more babies for you, Goneril."
Goneril smiled that secret smile of hers. "That's fine. Would you mind also telling Albany? He tends to be deaf to what I say..."
"Of course." Circe looked speculatively at Goneril. She hadn't taken her for an over-obedient wife, but then you never knew what went on behind bedroom doors. Poor Albany got the lecture of his life and was very quiet and cowed for a few days before reverting to his normal ebullient self.
Juliette came to stay with her aunt and uncle after she dropped out of university. She got a job as a Gumshoe, but her real ambition was to get married. She missed Romeo.
They lived in their small house in Riverblossom Hills for a long time.
Hal was missing Miranda badly. Juliette tried to help him with his studies but she had little confidence left in her own abilities.
Together, Goneril, Hal and Juliette converted the room that had been the nursery into a pleasant room for Juliette. "You know, I don't know how I would have managed without you, Juliette. This last year has been very hard for me, I am so glad you came here after University."
"Well Uni wasn't so good for me, and I'm glad to be here," said Juliette, "Happy to help. Anyhow, now that Ariel isn't a toddler anymore, it should be easier for you."
"I hope so," said Juliette's aunt, and sighed. "I have to go out to work and it's just so hard keeping up with everything. But the Doctor said I have to have no more babies, and that's actually quite a relief."
"I would love some babies of my own," daydreamed Juliette. "But I don't have a boyfriend yet..."
"You will," smiled her aunt. "What you need is to meet more people."
Well, it turned out Goneril did get pregnant again, and she became very ill. She would fall asleep anywhere, and was always ravenously hungry.
Albany took her to clinic and Circe was furious. "How did this happen?" she barked at Albany. He held up his hands - "It wasn't me, I swear." Circe looked at him in disbelief.
She made Goneril stay at the hospital, on bedrest.
"You are going to sit this pregnancy out, my lady. I'll call your work and arrange sick leave. I am going to make sure you and your baby both make it! Albany, I want you to buy separate beds for your bedroom for the time Goneril comes home with your baby. or I will book you in for a vasectomy!"
Goneril meekly accepted what Circe said, and actually quite enjoyed the rest; her food was brought to her as she rested and she didn't have toddlers to look after.
Albany and Juliette muddled through. Hal was old enough to help with the housework too, and even the two little girls helped with cleaning.
Finally Goneril in the hospital gave birth to two green babies, Ver and Emeraude.
Doctor Circe was surprised. "Well, well! Stranger things have happened, I guess. I owe Albany an apology!"
The babies were adopted in Strangetown, as neither she nor Albany felt able to cope with green children, who had special needs.
The twins were adopted by Kevin Beare, who lived in a tiny adobe house in Strangetown. Kevin also had a green baby, Kerr.
Goneril returned home, still quite ill. Albany, the other children and neighbours were told that the babies had died at birth.
Miranda returned victorious from University, having graduated, and set off for Belladonna Cove to start her new career in teaching.
To be continued