"So I've been meaning to ask how you're going to turn me immortal?" Jazz asked Dave several days after dinner with her family.
"I was wondering when you were going to ask," Dave said simply smiling.
"So what you going to tell me?" Jazz asked.
"Of course," Dave agreed, as he and Jazz sat in her living room sharing a bottle of wine
"Is it painful?"
"Nope," Dave said. "You know how I've been using a condom every time we've had sex since we met."
"Well, yeah, but what does that have to do with it?" Jazz asked confused. "I just thought you did that so I wouldn't get pregnant. An extra precaution, even though I'm on a potion that should protect me from conceiving. Remember, I told you that I was on a pill, but that was back when you didn't know about magic or at least I assumed you didn't. But since you thought I was on the pill and they are not always 100% effective, I just thought you used a condom as extra security."
"That was certainly part of it, but mostly it was so I wouldn't turn you immortal without telling you first," Dave explained. "If you had realized that I had turned you immortal without telling you what I was you would've been rightfully mad at me for keeping it a secret that it was even possible. That immortals even existed. I just told you when I started to use a condom when we got around to having sex that first time that I didn't want to risk getting you pregnant."
"That makes sense," Jazz decided thoughtfully. "Yes, I know myself well enough to know I would've been furious at you if you had turned me immortal without my consent. Our relationship might never have recovered."
"And you would've had a right to be very mad at me, because I had kept something so important from you, which is why I was so cautious," Dave told her seriously. "I wasn't about to make that kind mistake, as I only had one chance at true happiness and I wasn't about to wreck that because I did something so stupid and thoughtless."
"So have you turned any other woman immortal on accident?" Jazz asked curiously.
"No," Dave said honestly.
"How did you not? I mean something like condoms didn't exist centuries ago," Jazz said.
"Because I can only turn my soulmate immortal," Dave explained.
"Come to think of it, you did infer that on several occasions, though you were very subtle about it. I guess that I didn't catch what you meant."
"You have had a lot on your mind," Dave said.
"And been under a lot of stress too, which likely explains why I didn't pick up on what you said," Jazz said.
"It doesn't really matter Jazz," Dave told her kissing the tip of her nose. "Now that we're going to be wed I'll take great delight in turning you immortal."
"I'm assuming we can't have a family until I am," Jazz said.
"I'm not sure, but probably," Dave admitted. "It wasn't the kind of information that Godfrey Ambrosius gave me. You just didn't talk about that kind of thing back so long ago. He likely thought I'd figure it out for myself when the time came."
"I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," Jazz said.
"It won't be long probably no more than a year or so. I can't give you an exact timeline because I just don't know," Dave admitted ruefully.
"That's okay I can be patient," Jazz said. "We have a wedding to plan after all. I think that's going be enough to deal with right now."
"You do whatever you want sweetie," Dave said. "I am very wealthy, not just well off like I told you previously."
"My parents will want to pay at least part of the cost," Jazz said.
"Well, you are their daughter and they love you. We'll come to some sort of agreement," Dave promised. "After all, I know that a man has their pride and your father obviously loves you very much. We'll discuss it and I'm sure that your father will likely want to pay a great deal of the cost, but we also have to remember that they have three other children and they'll probably eventually get married."
"That won't matter at all because dad's a very successful stockbroker," Jazz reminded Dave.
"Alright, alright," Dave said laughing holding up his hands in defeat. "Let's not argue about it until we have a chance to discuss it with Sinclair."
"I'm sure dad's probably assuming that he's going to be paying for everything, since I am his daughter and its traditional," Jazz said. "I will, of course, be doing my own wedding cake. There's no way I'm going to the other bakery on the other side of town not for my wedding cake."
"I don't blame you there," Dave said. "Of course, you want to do your own wedding cake considering you're a baker. I'm sure all the guests will probably expect it. You have quite a reputation as an excellent baker after all."
"True, people probably will expect me to bake my own wedding cake. Or maybe they'll think I outsourced it because I just didn't have time. If they really think that they don't know me very well. I would never consider letting anybody else make my wedding cake, except myself and my team."
"I'll bet you every baker who is also a bride does their own cake," Dave suggested, then tactfully changed the subject and the two talked quietly for awhile and Jazz let him.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~
"So I've been meaning to ask you about Jorge and his powers," Jazz asked her mother one day when she was over her childhood home as the two of them were discussing wedding plans.
"You were right," Anastasia told her daughter. "He did have powers, even if he wasn't aware of them and was using them subconsciously. From what we discovered it's some kind of an ability to hypnotize just like you guessed, except instead of using an objects motion to hypnotize someone this is done totally by magic. Its not exactly hypnotism, just similar in certain respects. You don't have to worry about him ever using that ability again. We made sure we pent it away from him and he doesn't remember having it, as all mentions of magic were removed from his mind."
"That's good. I'm rather relieved that he can't escape prison using his weird hypnotizing ability," Jazz told her mother. "So what have you found out about his family," Jazz asked next, as she and her mother looked over the material for a wedding dress.
"I'm still researching, sweetie," Anastasia said. "After all, I think your wedding is more important than researching Jorge's family considering that he is not likely going to have a child anytime soon."
"It's unlikely he'd ever have a child anyway," Jazz snorted in disbelief. "I wouldn't be surprised to discover that he was still a virgin, as I can't see any female warning anything to do with him. Well, maybe when I was gone off to college and he stayed here, but I doubt he has very much experience, if any," Jazz conceded.
"Well, he does have a bit of a reputation as a nasty piece of work," Anastasia admitted, "so maybe you're right."
"Besides, he's been obsessed with me since he was a teenager, so I doubt he had sex with anybody else. He probably decided to keep himself pure for me or some such nonsense," Jazz said hatefully.
"Jazz," Anastasia said quietly her voice firm. "I know that Jorge is not your favorite person something I don't really blame you for, but there's no reason to talk so nastily about him."
"I'll try not to," Jazz promised. "But even though I haven't seen him in weeks I keep having nightmares. They are so intense and realistic that I wake up shaking. It always takes awhile for Dave to calm me down enough for me to go back to sleep."
"I'm so sorry," Anastasia told her daughter giving her a little hug. "I had no idea that you were having such horrible dreams, though I suppose I should have expected it considering all you've been through. You should've told me sooner."
"I was hoping they would go away by now," Jazz said.
"But they haven't yet," Anastasia said in understanding
"No, they haven't and while Dave is trying his best to help he's at a loss on what to do. He knows I'm in pain right now, but doesn't know how to comfort me. I was hoping my restless nights would go away once Jorge was dealt with, but apparently they aren't ready to leave me alone yet."
"I can give you a potion that will help you sleep better, but I only want you to take it sparingly understand?" Anastasia told Jazz sternly. "It can be addictive, so you don't need to be taking too much of it. I would only take it when your nightmares are particularly bad, so you can get at least a few hours of decent sleep."
"Okay," Jazz said. "I haven't had a night of decent sleep ever since Jorge attacked us in the alley behind my bakery. I would nearly sell my soul for a full eight hours."
"Don't say stuff like that Jazzlyn Lincoln it's dangerous. You know this," Anastasia scolded her daughter her voice very stern. "There are forces in the universe that could take advantage of such words."
"I'm sorry mom," Jazz said. "I'm just tired."
"I should've noticed sooner sweetie, though I have to admit you haven't been by in awhile. I should've known that you be having nightmares after what happened. After all, you've had plenty of nights of restless sleep over the last few years because of him," Anastasia said.
There was no reason to say who he was out loud.
"I'll mix up that potion and give it to you by tomorrow," Anastasia promised. "I need to buy certain herbs."
"Thanks mom I appreciate it."
"So how is Dave handling it," Anastasia asked.
"He's been very supportive, loving, tender, caring. He's never once lost his patience with me for being woken up in the middle of the night when one of my nightmare rips me awake. He's never once snapped or been irritated with me," Jazz told her mother. "He doesn't like seeing me in so much pain, but he's hoping that the nightmares will end soon, once my subconscious accepts what happened."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it," Anastasia said pleased.
"He's looking forward to being married and is eagerly anticipating the wedding," Jazz added smiling brightly as she said that. "So am I. I've never anticipated something so much as my wedding day."
"That's the way it should be," Anastasia said. "I certainly anticipated my wedding day to your father, but then we are mates, just like you and Dave, so there were no last minute cold feet that so many brides suffer."
"That'll be no getting cold feet from me," Jazz promised smiling. "Or from Dave either. Dave was so eager for us to wed that he suggested we go to another town so you know who wouldn't try to cancel arrangements. I was sorry to disappoint him when I told him that probably wouldn't work."
"No Jorge would have found out about it I'm sure," Anastasia agreed. "I'm assuming that you were going to inform the guests about an out of town wedding and you have to give them some warning."
"Yes, so they could take off from their jobs, buy the appropriate clothes and so forth. While I know my family and Shonda wouldn't've said anything in public, some people wouldn't have known to keep their mouths shut. It just wouldn't have occurred to them," Jazz said. "I can just see Jorge frothing with anger, racing to whatever venue we chose to interrupt the ceremony before it could be completed. Besides, I was going to invite Captain Bloodworth and he can't just disappear as even Jorge would notice his absence, since he's his boss."
"True," Anastasia decided.
"Dave was rather disappointed when I explained all this to him, but understood that things work differently in a small town like this one. Now though, you know who is out of way we can finally get married in front of friends and family and start our live together," Jazz said beaming happily
The two changed subject and went back to discussing weddings, what kind of flowers they wanted, cakes, decorations food and other things that went along with such ceremonies.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~
Epilogue
"A toast to the happy couple," Brian who was best man said. He raised a glass of champagne and took a sip. "I hope you are always happy together and that you have many children."
There was a double meaning to Brian's toast about many children, but not many people knew it. Jazz blushed and glared at her brother, but he simply winked at her. She knew what he was hinting at, which was what made her blush in the first place. Dave should've made someone else best man someone who wouldn't deliberately embarrass her. Unfortunately, Dave had no close friends here in Moonlight Gorge. He simply hadn't been here long enough. While people liked him they didn't really know him, though that would change in a few years once he became a permanent resident.
"Here! here!" said the rest of the guests as they to raised their glasses.
The wedding had indeed been planned relatively quickly considering all the preparations that had to be made. Everyone had pitched in, which is why it all come together so quickly. Shonda had been thrilled to be named maid-of-honor. Shonda had regained all the weight she had lost and looked fabulous, her white skin glowing with health. Her hair also wasn't the lank, greasy, unhealthy like it had been back when Shonda had lost so much weight. Now it was very healthy the red with hints of blond gleaming in the sun. Shonda's green eyes were also twinkling happily with joy, happiness and laughter. Jorge Mason for the moment was forgotten, as if he had never existed in the first place and on a day like today that wasn't a bad thing at all.
"Thank you," Dave said graciously taking a sip of excellent champagne, even as he gripped Jazz's hand giving it a gentle squeeze.
Jazz was now immortal and had been only for a few days. When they had started having sex without the protection of the condom the process had been relatively fast and certainly enjoyable. Jazz seemed to adore his cock in her body with nothing blocking sensations. It wasn't even that their sex life hadn't been more than healthy before just that it was 1000 times better now. Dave knew that making love to his mate would never get old.
"It is now time to cut the cake," announced Shonda. "After everybody has a piece it will be time for the first dance shared only by our newly married couple."
Shonda had chosen the music as she knew what Jazz liked, since they had been friends all their lives.
The cake was cut and Dave and Jazz shared a piece, before dancing their first dance as a married couple. Jazz soon found herself dancing with he father,
"I'm so happy for you sweetie," Sinclair told his daughter kissing her cheek. "To find your perfect match is always a reason for celebration."
"I know it," Jazz told for father as she danced in his arms. "Dave managed to bring down all he barriers I had built to protect to my heart, after that nasty break up in college."
"We all really like your mate sweetie. He's nice, polite, intelligent and while the fact that he was immortal was a bit of a shock that doesn't really matter. So long as he makes you happy I'll be satisfied."
"He does dad, he really does," Jazz said softly with a goofy grin, causing Sinclair to smile at his daughter's obvious happiness. "I'm looking forward to starting a family of my own and I never believed in a million years I'd say that, especially with Jorge always hanging around. He just would've disrupted anybody I decided to get together with not necessarily just Dave. To him I was a possession not a person."
"Well, he will be in prison for awhile so I suggest you just forget about him," Sinclair suggested. "Just be happy with Dave sweetie, so long as you love each other everything will turn out just fine. Don't rush to have those grandchildren no matter what your mother wants, just enjoy some time with your husband."
"You do know I'll be around for centuries now," Jazz told her father seriously.
"I had guessed sweetie," Sinclair said. "I knew there had to be a way to turn you immortal so you would always be together, despite the fact that the spell Dave mentioned has probably disappeared forever, which really, is just as well. Don't tell me how he turned you immortal, as I probably don't want to know the answer. I doubt very much that that immortality spell was ever very widely distributed at all. It might've been just a family spell, one that was only used by the Ambrosius family. You can tell your mother how you were turned immortal if you want."
"Alright, I won't tell you how it was done," Jazz giggled as that sounded like her father all right. He didn't want to think of her having sex with Dave, even though he knew it in the back of his mind. Of course, to be fair, she didn't want to think about her parents having sex either, even though she knew they did subconsciously. She just didn't want to think about it. They were her parents after all.
The sound of his daughter's happy laughter made Sinclair smile. Now that Jorge had finally been dealt with his daughter wasn't under as much stress anymore and so had lightened up a lot. Meeting Dave had helped with his daughter's new attitude as well Sinclair knew, as the same thing had happened to him when he'd met Anastasia, though there certainly hadn't been the drama when he had found his mate their daughter had been through. They had been close from the moment they met. His daughter had every right to be happy now that the matter of a few months ago had been dealt with finally. Doing so had finally allowed Jazz to relax and not always expect the other shoe to drop at any moment. She hadn't been able to truly relax in much too long.
He did feel sorry for Jorge's mother Marion though, even if he couldn't fill sorry for the boy himself. Marion's only child was going to prison, something that no loving parent wanted for their kid, but there was no preventing it, even if he wanted to, which he didn't. Not after all the stress and aggravation Jorge had put his daughter through.
Jorge had caused his daughter a great deal of stress, caused her many sleepless nights where she tossed and turned. Jazz had told her mother these things and Anastasia had told him. Sinclair had wanted to go beat the young man up, since reasoning with him wasn't doing any good, but knew that wasn't a good idea. Unfortunately, Jorge had all the sensitivity towards others of a toad, which was to say none at all.
Sinclair knew that his oldest son had talked to him, so had Captain Bloodworth and likely Marion as well. None of which had done any good, as Jorge's mind had been to stubborn, to set on it's path. Well, it didn't matter now Sinclair thought as the song ended. His daughter was finally blissfully happy and that was all that mattered.
"I love you sweetheart," Sinclair said kissing his daughter on the forehead. "I suggest you go to dance with your new husband."
"I love you too daddy," Jazz said that she kissed his cheek. "I think instead I'll head over to the food table I'm starving suddenly."
"That's probably because you didn't eat enough breakfast due to nervousness," Sinclair chastised gently. "I remember how nervous I was on my wedding day to and I didn't eat a bite for breakfast either," Sinclair added with a wink. "Like father, like daughter."
Jazz flushed at being caught but headed over to the food table.
"Here you go," Shonda said handing Jazz a plate of already prepared food.
"Thanks Shonda," Jazz said taking the plate her best plan handed her.
"I figured you hadn't eaten much breakfast," Shonda explained. "I thought you'd be too nervous, even if you knew you loved Dave."
"Yeah, I do, so much," Jazz agreed taking a bite of food savoring it. "He simply perfect for me and the exact opposite of Jorge Mason in nearly every way. Not only does he look nothing like Jorge his personality is a complete reverse. I'm not sure that I could have fallen in love with him if he looked or acted anything like Jorge."
"Luckily, for you Jorge has blond hair and blue eyes and is tall and lanky, nothing like Dave in looks at all," Shonda said.
"While Dave's darker of hair and eye, several inches shorter with broader shoulders," Jazz agreed. "By the way, personality is just as important as physical looks and luckily, Dave is the opposite in nearly every way to Jorge Mason in that way as well. He's nearly never rude for one thing, though I won't say he can't be when he thinks it's necessary."
"I think anyone can be in the right circumstances," Shonda said.
"That I agree with," Jazz said with a nod.
"I'm glad you have finally found true happiness and that's the way it should be," Shonda said smiling. "I'm just glad that that bastard has been dealt with."
"I can certainly understand your feelings considering," Jazz said quietly looked thoughtful.
"That bastard made me believe I was fat, by making a comment about how I ate to much junk food," Shonda said with real anger in her voice. "He had no damn right making that comment to the bartender. I know he didn't realize he had such a power, but if he had he just would have used it to hurt more people I'm sure."
"Well, you have to realize that he was a lonely little boy with no friends and that can affect someone. I'm not saying that excuses his behavior because it doesn't, just that it is an explanation for the way he turned out," Jazz said. "While I'm sorry he turned into such a nasty piece of work, I'm not sorry he's finally going to get what's coming to him. My one act of kindness in rescuing him back when we were 13 and trying to be his friend backfired on me in a big way. Jorge somehow got the idea that we were soulmates meant to be together forever. I know very well that the human mind is a strange place and that a lot of things can get it off balance. Dave believes that he was abused by his father until he died back when we were twelve. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but if it is it's what could explain why he is the way he is."
"You think he might've been brain damaged due to the abuse," Shonda realized.
"Or at least emotionally damaged. I just think it's a reasonable explanation for the way he was," Jazz shrugged. "It might not be the answer, as how do we know?"
"Things go on behind closed doors all the time," Shonda agreed. "It was always rumored that Jorge's father was a nasty piece of work, but since we were kept away from him as children..."
"That's actually probably why we were kept away," Jazz said.
"Probably," Shonda agreed. "Like father, like son."
"Let's not talk about it anymore not on my wedding day. Let's never bring him up again if at it all possible."
"Let's not," Shonda agreed and the two shook on it. "I hope someday I meet my soulmate just like you met yours," Shonda said looking wistful.
"I hope you do. I really do," Jazz told Shonda sincerely. "Dave completes me in ways I never expected. It's like a piece has clicked into place in my heart. He brought down the barriers I had raised to protect my heart after that nasty break up in college. You know I had sworn off men entirely and maintained that for five years or so."
"Then Dave came into your life," Shonda said in understanding. "He brought down the barriers around your heart probably without even really trying."
"Yeah, he did and he didn't seem to have any trouble doing so. All he had to do was be himself," Jazz sighed happily.
"It sounds wonderful," Shonda sighed, as she ate her own plate of food.
"It definitely is," Jazz said her eyes glazing over as she thought about her husband.
"I can tell you are thinking low thoughts," Shonda teased her best friend.
"What do you expect, since we are we're newly married," Jazz told Shonda with a wink and a grin.
"So are you taking a honeymoon?"
"Yeah, we are, but Dave hasn't told me where we are going. He's the one that planned it, since he knew I had enough to do, between my bakery and planning the wedding," Jazz said, as she finished her plate of food. She was now no longer hungry, a good thing, as she didn't want to faint at her own wedding reception due to an empty stomach.
"Well, I know you'll have a good time. Tell me how it goes," Shonda requested.
"I will, as soon as we've returned," Jazz agreed.
"Maybe you'll get pregnant on the honeymoon," Shonda suggested.
"I already told mom I'm not having kids right away no matter what she wants," Jazz denied. "I'm still on the potion and I don't plan on having kids for at least a couple of years. Dave understands and agrees with my decision."
"Well, I can certainly understand that," Shonda said with no little envy in her voice. "You just want a little time alone to enjoy being married. I heard about that little lecture that Mrs. Blanchard gave your mother."
"Here's to hoping it works and that she doesn't make a pest of herself. I don't need the added stress," Jazz winked. "Besides, us being alone is what any newly married couple wants after all. Now, if you don't mind I'm going to go find Dave and get a few dances in before we retire for the night."
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Shonda giggled. "I suspect to be named godmother when you do have children."
Shonda had cheered up a lot ever since Jorge had been dealt with and Jazz couldn't blame her for it at all. Hopefully, she would never see Jorge again, as she doubted he would ever be able to forget what he had done to her. Or forgive. Usually Shonda wasn't the type to hold a grudge but Jazz had a feeling that Jorge was going to be the exception. If that was the case, Jazz wouldn't be able to blame her.
"We'll see," was all Jazz promised with a smirk, looking at her best friend's crestfallen expression.
Of course, her best friend was going to be named godmother, but she didn't want Shonda expecting it until it was time. Her best friend had to know that she would never name anyone else, especially not for her first child. The only problem was figuring out who to make Godfather, but she had time to make suggestions to Dave or perhaps he might make a friend in the next few years that he would consider naming for such a responsibility.
It would be nice if Shonda met her mate or at least married a good man, sometime before she gave birth to a child. She wasn't entirely sure how likely that possibility was, as the selection of suitable men in town was rather limited. There were only a limited number that were her age or even a few years older or younger that weren't married or in serious relationships. There were always tourists though, so hopefully, Shonda would meet someone, just like she had. She wanted to see her best friend just as happy as she was with Dave, especially after all she had gone through.
However, she knew that, Mrs. Blanchard was right, finding your mate, especially in such a small town was as rare as hen's teeth. She knew she had been lucky when Dave had come into her bakery. Many tourist might come through here, but still, the chances of Shonda meeting her mate like she had were slim and she knew it. On the other hand, Shonda did travel a lot for business, so it was more than possible that she would meet someone when she was gone from town. She certainly hoped so.
Jazz bid Shonda goodbye and went to find Dave.
Shonda soon followed her best friend after she had thrown away her empty plate of food. There were a lot of handsome, unmarried men here and she intended to dance with as many as possible. Maybe she would finally meet the one, as unlikely as that was in such a small place as Moonlight Gorge. She always had hope though and that maybe she would meet her Prince Charming and fall truly in love like her best friend.
Maybe someday.