"So you never did tell me how you were going turn be immortal," Beatrix mentioned to Dave when she was sure they were alone.

"I didn't want to mention it in front of the rest of your family in case they objected," Dave explained. "You can tell them if you want once I tell you how it's done."

"So?" Beatrix asked.

"It has to do with my blood," Dave begin to explain. "You can either drink it or I can give it to you though an injection. We could also try a blood transfusion, though I don't know if it's ever been done that way before."

"So if I'm understanding you right it's my blood that will give me immortality," Beatrix said.

"That's right, but I don't want to do so, until you look the same age I do, which is eight years away. Once you're immortal like I am you won't age from that time forward."

"No, I don't want to look this young for the rest of my life," Beatrix agreed. "So many people think you don't know anything if you're too young or at least look young."

"I also don't want to be accused of robbing the cradle," Dave said. "Standards change decade to decade. There're so many opportunities you'll be denied if you look too young. Besides, people are going to start to notice that you haven't aged at all if I change you into an immortal after we're married. I've occasionally wished that I looked older than 30. Its one of the reasons I grew a beard in the first place, as it made me look a few years older. This beard easily makes me look 10 years older than I really am."

"Unfortunately, I'm female, I can't grow a beard," Beatrix said.

"You can change your hairstyle though and some of them will make you look a few years older. Hairstyles have changed a lot over the centuries, particularly for women," Dave said. "Also makeup will help and you'll learn to age yourself just a little."

"That's good," Beatrix murmured appreciatively. "Those are things I definitely can learn. There are also things like wigs that will make me look older. I know they do it all the time in the theater."

"I don't think we need to worry about that right now," Dave said. "We're not even married yet."

"We will be though soon," Beatrix said. "I think it's something I need to think about maybe discuss with my father at least. He's used disguises occasionally to catch the bad guy. I might not want to mention it to my brothers though as they might object. You're sure that your blood isn't do me any harm? I doubt very much we have the same blood type."

"It's been done before," Dave promised her. "With immortal blood type doesn't matter, but as I said it can wait a few years."

"Can we have children before I'm like you are?" Beatrix asked.

"Yes and they're immortal genes will override their mortal ones," Dave said. "The immortal genes will be dominate, thank God."

"So it'll be like I was immortal when I conceived them," Beatrix said.

"Exactly," Dave agreed. "I know why you don't want to wait too long to have children. It's because you want your parents to know them before they pass on."

"That's only one reason," Beatrix agreed. "There're certain standards that are expected in high society and that's to have children. At least one anyway. Its not that I really care what those old biddies think, but with you being immortal and me to become one in a few years it's better if we don't call attention to ourselves."

"That's a good point. I would hate to leave New York before your parents at least pass. I hope you know we won't be able to stay long enough for your brothers to pass on," Dave said.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead," Beatrix admitted. "I'm still rather stunned that such things as immortals exist."

"I can't really blame you for that," Dave agreed, taking Beatrix in his arms and kissing her tenderly. "If I hadn't been born one, I to would have trouble accepting it too. The shock will wear off eventually, though it might take a few weeks. We really shouldn't stay anywhere more than 20 years. That might change in a few decades as lifespans get longer, but right now we really can't afford to stay one place more than a couple of decades. We'll have to age ourselves, just like we were talking about a few minutes ago. There are ways for me to put white in my hair for instance. I normally don't stay anywhere long enough to bother, since it's such a pain, but I know you want to stay in New York at least until your parents pass."

"I'd love to stay in New York for the next 40 years," Beatrix said, "but I know that's not going to be possible."

"Well, if we can significantly age ourselves I don't see why not," Dave said. "We'll have to see what kind of products we can find for making ourselves look older."

"Well, that's for later," Beatrix decided. "It's not something we're going to have to worry about for at least the next 15 years or so."

"True, when there are other things we could be doing," Dave grinned adorably at her.

Beatrix simply giggled before Dave kissed her passionately.

Beatrix kissed Dave back just as passionately. They spent quite some time exchanging kisses, before Dave consented to take her home.

"I can't wait for our wedding night," Dave said.

"I'm looking forward to it to and for more than one reason," Beatrix said. "You do know I'm going to help out Wesley in his duties as the Shadow sometimes right?"

"You have these powers for reason," Dave said then paused. "Just you be careful, because I won't be turning you immortal for another eight years, not until your 30th birthday. I won't try to stop you because it wouldn't be right and you might not want to marry me if I tried to control your every action."

"Don't worry so much, both my brothers are just as overprotective as you are," Beatrix told him seriously.

"Well good," Dave said. "I want you around for the next few centuries."

"I will be," Beatrix promised, as she kissed Dave's cheek.

"Good make sure you are," Dave told her sternly, but then smiled at her. "It would kill me to lose you now. Once you're immortal like I am I won't worry about you so much, but since you're still mortal at the moment that means you can die very easily. Still, I know your father trained you well or he would never allow you to do anything dangerous."

"Now that's the truth," Beatrix snorted with a smile. "He was always overprotective when we were growing up, particularly of his only daughter and that hasn't changed."

"That only means he loves you," Dave told her. "Believe me, I've seen man do things in my day to children that would give you a heart attack or make your hair go completely white. Not all men love their children as much as your father loves you and your brothers. Be grateful that he loves you enough to let you live your own life."

"You're right," Beatrix agreed. "I know I'll miss him when he's finally gone."

"But that likely won't happen for at least the next 15 years or so," Dave said, "and by then he'll have numerous grandchildren to spoil. Maybe even a few great-grandchildren if he lives to his nineties."

"That's probably not too likely since he's already lived longer then his ancestors, but still, it's a nice thought," Beatrix said.

"Your ancestors didn't live because they weren't awakened," Dave reminded his fiancée.

"It's just as well really, from what I know of my grandparents," Beatrix said With a snort of disgust. "I'm actually glad I never met them, though I am sorry I never got to meet mom's mother Eleanor Lane, but she died several decades before I was born."

"It happens that way a lot of times," Dave's sympathized.

"I'm sure my grandparents would've tried to arrange a marriage for my father if they had lived. I doubt they ever would have agreed to let him marry mom. They probably would have forced some high society female on him if what I've been told about them is accurate. One that all she had between her ears was air," Beatrix said.

"Probably, though I doubt Lamont would've agreed to marry someone he didn't even know," Dave said. "Or had only met at social functions."

"He probably never would have become the Shadow though if his parents had lived," Beatrix said. "He might've turned out more like the them, particularly grandfather, cruel, selfish..."

"It doesn't matter anymore as his parents at been dead for a very long time," Dave said.

"That's true," Beatrix agreed, as Dave drove back to Cranston Manor. "It is just as well really."

~~~Dave and Beatrix~~~