ZEDD - A WEEK LATER AT THE PARTY

I am bored out of my mind. In spite of the fact that this party is much more casual than my parents usually throw, there is still a taste of formality to it and it is truly making me wish for some natural or personal made disaster to occur and liven things up a bit. Not that I really wish to destroy anything, or upset anyone, but truly two hours of this is more than enough for anyone to expect me to take. Plus, making small talk with all these people is annoying at best. Fortunately, with the exception of a few that insist on trying to curry my favor, most of them seem to gravitate to Thomas.

Speaking of Thomas, one look at him across the way seems to show that I am not the only one that is currently in a rather unhappy mood. I catch a spark of annoyance from him and look closer to see that he is, indeed, not just displeased but rather downright irritated. Before I can get to him, however, Mother steps in. It's almost amusing that she can read his expressions as well as I can - even without the help of the bond. A brief conversation and Mother hooks the arm of the woman that was talking to Thomas and leads her away - but not without one more heated look from the female. I drape my arm over Thomas' shoulders once I reach him and he instantly slides his arm around my waist. "Everything all right, love?"

He exhales heavily. "What is it with your species? We've been married more than twenty years have two children and a third on the way and I'm still getting hit on by damn near everyone here!"

"Sexy as you are, I'm not all that surprised." He shoots me a look at my lax take on the matter. "Love, you have to remember, we've spent most of our time on Earth or the palace. They've not seen us interact all that much for them to know that we are still very much committed to each other." I take another quick look around. "Quite frankly, a good many of these couples have been together for many centuries and they're probably getting bored and either looking to spice things up a bit by adding to their beds or replacing who's already in them."

"That might explain why I was propositioned by both Lord and Lady Ackson."

"Ah, they must be tired of the gardener and stable mistress then."

"And both Lord Castons?"

I raise an eyebrow at this. "Really? Well, then either they're getting bored or you've made that much of an impression, love. The last I knew they were as committed as you and I are." I feel him get mildly upset. "What's wrong, Thomas?"

"Nothing."

"Something. What is it? What did I say?"

"I- Zedd, I don't want that to happen to us. I want you to be happy, but I don't think I could handle it if you wanted to bring someone else into our bed or mate with someone else."

"What?" Floored by what he's said and where his mind is right now, I barely recover from my shock before he continues quickly.

"I mean I know you said couples here don't necessarily leave each other, even when they find new mates, but I don't think I could be okay with something like that and what if you do get bored with me when this other person comes along and-"

"Okay stop. Inside now." Quickly, I pull him into the house, before he can get himself worked up any further with his completely absurd scenario or draw any more attention to us as some of the guests nearby were becoming clearly too interested in our discussion. Once safely away from the crowd I return focus on the matter at hand. "Okay first of all, there is no other person, Thomas. No one is taking my attention away from you or going to ever be allowed to situate themselves in our bed or mating. You are mine, love, and I am yours and only yours. Why would you even think that I'd do such a thing, especially when I know how you feel about others even making advances on me?"

He blinks rapidly for a minute, still looking upset but clearly trying to push it back before seeming to succeed and finally laughing lightly. "Sorry, mate. Hormones got the better of me for a minute there."

I pull him close, but make sure that I can still see his face. "Talk to me."

"Zedd, you're full Eltarian, raised around this and from what I've seen, it's considered a rather normal thing for your people to take up new lovers from time to time. And I get that I can't hold your species to the same standards that I hold for myself - I really do - but just the idea of you getting bored enough with me that you'd want someone else, even briefly..."

"Thomas, my parents have been together longer than I've been alive and neither of them have ever taken another."

"As far as you know. Or is that another one of those things that Eltarians aren't shy about? Telling their children that they're screwing around?"

"Well, I was out of touch for several centuries, but I'm certain that I would have heard something by now - through Serena if nothing else."

Father steps in the house. "Come on, boys. You're missing the party." He suddenly realizes all isn't well. "What's wrong?"

Thomas gives him a weak smile. "I'm just being human and hormonal, Kerch, that's all."

"He's been propositioned several times and it's apparently made him concerned that I'll get bored with him one day."

"Zedd!"

Deciding to go the direct route, I ask Father, "By the way have you or Mother ever looked for relief or entertainment outside your marriage?"

"Zedd!"

Ignoring my husband's protest, Father shakes his head. "No. Not to say that there hasn't been temptations along the way, but no we haven't openly sought out another or taken up any offers we have received from others we know."

I turn to Thomas. "See? There's hope for us yet."

"Not funny."

"It's not a species thing, Thomas, but a societal thing. It's acceptable here simply because of our long lives. Humans have such short lifespans that they haven't learned to work around it."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see my father wince at the same time I realize that I've phrased myself badly. "Zeddic, perhaps you should go back out to the party. I'll bring Tommy along shortly."

I decide to cut my losses, so to speak, and let Father handle this. "I'll see you in a while, Thomas."

Much to my surprise, it takes another half an hour before Thomas returns to me. Fortunately, he's very much calmer and gifts me with a genuine smile. "Sorry, kalleimat."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Thomas."

"Not even pregnant a month and the hormones are taking over" he jokes lightly.

Before I can respond with a joking remark of my own, a commotion across the yard draws our attention. We hurry over, curious. Mara Jane and, to my surprise Jacob, are squaring off with a couple of older Eltarian children. While all the children look rather hostile, Mara Jane's eyes are still purple, much to my relief.

"If you ever dare to try such a thing again" Mara Jane hisses "I will make sure that you can't ever again!"

"And I will help her" Jacob adds angrily. "Never mind if either of our fathers were to get involved."

"What's going on?" Mother questions, having reached the group at the same time as Father and us.

"Megan, Dylan - are you all right?" Gina asks anxiously.

They move quickly to their mother even as Thomas and I close ranks behind our children. "We're okay" Megan is quick to reassure Gina. "Thanks to Mara Jane and Jacob."

"What happened, Mara Jane?" I ask, more than ready to destroy anyone that has upset the younglings.

Disgust drips from her voice. "They were trying to treat Megan and Dylan like pets - special pets."

Thomas snarls, "Even if they were pets - which they most definitely are not - but even if they were, they are obviously far too young for such things."

"Not to mention that if they were pets, you would require our permission to use them in such a fashion. Permission that definitely has not and never will be granted" I add.

The parents of the offenders immediately start groveling. "Lord Zedd, Lord Thomas, please forgive our children. They don't know any better."

"Don't know or don't care?" Thomas snaps. "From what I can see, they are MORE than old enough to know better!"

The altercation has drawn everyone in. Mother speaks loudly and angrily, her voice carrying clearly over the group. "These three are under the protection of my sons, my husband and myself. They are to be accorded the same courtesies that we would get. In a year, Gina will be returning to run Zeddic and Thomas' household as an employee. Do not shame yourselves."

Mara Jane's focus is still on the ones before us. "Apologize. Now. And you better mean it or else."

The elder of the pair mumbles out a half-hearted apology, but the younger does much better. "My apologies. I misunderstood your purpose here and have most definitely broken the rules of etiquette. I beg your forgiveness and assure you that I won't ever make that mistake again." He looks at Megan. "Perhaps when you return, I will be able to earn a second chance."

"He's interested in her - courting her" I tell Thomas under my breath. I return to my regular volume. "I think your request is more than a little premature, especially given your earlier behavior."

He bows deeply to all of us. "I understand and apologize once more."

Seeming satisfied with the boy, Mara Jane allows him to back away before she refocuses on his sibling. "Want to try again?"

Deciding to let her handle it for the moment, as she is doing well controlling her temper, I look at Thomas to see if he's of the same mindset, getting a calm nod in response I wait to see what the other girl will do at my daughter's command.

"Listen here, I don't know who you think you are-"

"I am Lord Zedd's daughter." Pulling herself up to her full height, and glowering at the rather foolish child, Mara Jane calls forth a ball of dark power, letting it simply sit in her hand. "My title alone gives me the right to reprimand you as I see fit for your insulting behavior toward my friends."

"Zedd?" Looking at me with just the barest hint of concern, Thomas is waiting for my assessment of the situation now.

"It's low power, just for show" I assure him, barely feeling anything from ball in her hand and again seeing her eyes have not darkened to an unmanageable rage.

Not knowing what I do however and looking concerned now at the energy orb she is still holding, the girl backs up slowly looking to her family for aid and unsurprisingly not getting much aside more groveling.

"I however was brought up with far more class and restraint than you clearly were." Dissipating the ball of power as calmly and quickly as she'd called it forth, my child doesn't miss a beat. "You will however learn some today. Now I strongly recommend you apologize once more and do so as if your life depends on it."

Quickly, she does so although without the formality of her younger sibling. I set my hand on my daughter's shoulder and jerk my head at the child, allowing her an escape. "Go."

Swiftly, the entire family departs and the crowd begins to disperse. Mother sighs. "Not how I'd intended to make the announcement, but it's still done."

"I'm sorry, Lady Mara" Gina apologizes. "I know it's not our fault, but-"

"Then why are you apologizing?" Mother laughs. "Come, dear, let's you and I get something to drink and let this whole nasty incident be forgotten."

I barely hear my daughter mutter under her breath, "I won't be forgetting it any time soon."