Chapter twenty; Sisters and brothers.
Hehe… I am awesome…
The weekend after Henry's proposal and Adam's visit Henry found himself looking out of Jo's car window staring at the house ahead as if it was Adam. Jo invited him along to her niece's birthday party, but unfortunately he was scared to death over his secret. Once he met the family and married Jo they would invite him to family events. When they started noticing that he nor she aged they'd be sent to NASA for dissection. Well, maybe he was overacting a little.
"Come on, Henry. It's just my sister and some of the kids. They won't bite your head off." Jo said with a smile.
"This is a horrible idea." Henry said as he slowly rose from the car. "I haven't done something like this in two-hundred years." Henry said with a sigh as he held out his elbow for Jo. She gladly took it and they made their way across the street.
"Oh you're over exaggerating. I'm sure you had family events like this with Abigail and Abe." Jo said as she rung the doorbell. 'We never did.' Henry thought as the door swung open and they both came face to face with Rosaline.
"Jo! You actually made it." Rosaline said excitedly and her smile grew as she saw Henry. "And you brought the man who was stubborn enough to sweep you off your feet. I'm Rosaline, Jo's younger sister." Rosaline greeted friendly as she held out her hand. Henry smiled politely and took her hand placing a gentle kiss on it.
"It's a pleasure. I'm Henry, Jo's fiance." Henry smiled brightly as he stole a quick glance at Jo.
"So I've been told." Rosaline snickered. "The kids are outside dressing up the poor dog. Tony is in the kitchen keeping Mark busy." Rosaline said as she lead them inside.
"Tony's here?" Jo questioned excitedly. She hadn't seen him in over two years and now he just pops by.
"Yeah, he surprised us this morning when he appeared at our front door." Rosaline said as they entered the kitchen. Tony and Mark turned towards them as they heard the footsteps.
"Hi Jo. Great to see ya squirt." Tony said with a deep Australian accent. He had sexy blonde hair and deep brown eyes. He was dressed in a jean and a red t-shirt accompanied with a leather jacket. On his head a pair of dark sunglasses rested. Next to him a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes. Jo narrowed her eyes at her brother.
"You know I'm only a year younger than you. I'm not exactly a squirt." Jo declared with a coy smile.
"Yeah I guess you're right squirt, but old habits die hard." Tony snickered before he turned towards Henry. "Is this a friend of yours?" Tony asked with a coy smile. Henry nodded with a smile as he held out his hand.
"In some way yes. I'm Henry Morgan." Henry said as Tony took his hand.
"Aye, mate. I'm Tony, Jo's older brother and what do mean in some way? Are you two a couple?" Tony asked straight forward. Jo blushed furiously before she answered.
"He's my fiance." Jo said as she and Henry shared a glance at each other.
"Whoa, I didn't think that someone'd be brave enough to sweep you of your feet again. Bloody well done, mate. When's the wedding?" He asked as he slapped Henry's back as praise.
"A month from now to be exact." Henry said as he took a hold of Jo's hand giving it a soft squeeze. Jo smiled brightly as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Then we'd better start planning." Rosaline said as she grabbed Jo's hand and pulled Jo deeper into the house. The three men chuckled at her antics and continued their introductions.
"I'm Mark, Rosaline's husband." Mark said as he shook Henry's hand. "How long have you and Jo been together?"
"About eight months we've known each other for more than a year now." Henry said as he firmly placed his hands behind his back.
"Do you two work together? I mean I know for a fact that she'll never start dating a guy from the bars. She's got too much self respect." Tony said with a low chuckle.
"And she is too stubborn." Mark added.
"I have to agree with you gentleman on that, but I am the most stubborn person that you will ever meet. To answer your question, yes we do work together. I am her partner on most cases and the head ME of the NYPD." Henry said with a proud tone.
"Thanks for proving my point." Tony said as he shook his head. "Your accent though? Are you a Brit?" Tony asked with curiosity.
"Yes. I originally come from London. My parents owned a shipping company back then, but it's long forgotten. Shall we accompany the women outside Henry said directing the attention away from his past as he heard Jo and Rosaline outside.
"Sure, I still want to get all the details out of the squirt anyways." Tony said as he put on his sunglasses.
Henry, Mark and Tony took in their seats on the porch next to the two women.
"Anything important we missed on the wedding plans?" Henry questioned with a polite smile.
"No. Absolutely not. Rosaline is going over board as always. We're holding a simple wedding and I can't get that through her thick skull." Jo said with a huff.
"Oh come on, Jo. The venue is perfect. Mark and I got married in Hawaii, why can't you two?" Rosaline questioned with a pout.
"Because some of us want to retire someday…" As Jo said those words she realised that she and Henry wouldn't ever need to retire, because they would never grow old. She felt the tears brim in the back of her eyes. "Excuse me." Jo said as she quickly made her way to the bathroom. Henry stared after her sadly as he knew what had upset her.
"What's wrong with the squirt?" Tony asked worriedly. Henry rose from his seat with a sigh.
"She has been going through some rather hard things these last few months and I think that it's starting to take it's toll on her." Henry said with worried expression. Henry quickly made his way through the house the same path Jo had fled. As he saw the bathroom door closed Henry smiled softly and made his way to the door. Henry softly knocked with the back of his hand.
"Jo darling, may I come in?" Henry asked with a hopeful glance at the door.
"Sure." Jo said softly with a sniffle. As Henry entered he saw Jo sitting against the bathroom wall. Henry slid down the wall next to sit alongside her.
"It's going to be alright. I've been through this too. I've had to face so much heartbreak and pain alone, but you don't need to go through this on your own. You have me." Henry said as he kissed her head. Jo smiled warmly at him and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Yeah, I know, Henry. I still haven't told Rosaline or any of them about our condition. I don't know how." Jo said as she buried her face in his chest.
"All in good time my dear. When you are ready we can tell them, but for now we enjoy the little bit of mortality they can offer. Even if it is just for a moment." Henry said with a sigh.
As Henry and Jo made their way onto the porch Jo's phone rang.
"Is it really that necessary Hanson?" Jo questioned with a sigh. Then she nodded. "Alright were on our way." Jo said with a huff. She paused for a moment before shouting into the phone with irritation. "No you didn't interrupt that! We're at my niece's birthday celebration." Jo said with a scowl. "Pervert." She said before hanging up. She then turned around to face Henry.
"Another murder?" Henry questioned raising his eyebrow. Jo nodded with another sigh.
"Yeah. Reece wants all personnel on this one." Jo said with a sigh as they made their way back to the three waiting patiently at the table. "I'm so sorry I took off, guys. It's been a long week." Jo said half truthfully. 'And I'm sorry that we need to leave so soon. We have another case."
"Oh it's okay Jo. I was kind of pushing it, but if you need to talk I know a great Chinese restaurant around the corner." Rosaline offered with a soft smile. Jo smiled thankfully and nodded.
"Thanks Rosy." Jo said as she hugged her sister.
"It was nice meeting you, mate. Look after the squirt out there for me will ya. I'll kick your ass if she gets hurt." Tony said with a low threat. Henry chuckled softly knowing what he meant.
"Dully noted. I'll guard her with my life." Henry said as he shook Tony and then Mark's hand.
"Then we might get along just fine, mate." Tony said with a cocky smile. Henry gave Mark one last nod before following Jo to the door.
"Oh wait." Jo said as she quickly pulled a present box and handed it to her sister. "Give it to Mary for me will you? She's been begging me for it for months." Jo said with a giggle.
"I will." Rosaline said as she gave her sister one last hug before Henry and Jo left the house.
"Mary. That's what Nora and I would've called our daughter if we were blessed with one. Mary Kathrine to be precise." Henry said with a sad smile. "Those times seem so long ago." Jo smiled reassuringly at her fiance and gave his hand a squeeze. 'He would make a great father. I mean look at Abe.' Jo thought with a warm feeling. Maybe in the future they'll be strong enough to raise their own child.
The story is coming along nicely.