"This is really nice, Dave," Diana said smiling. She looked around the restaurant, which was one of the most expensive ones in Las Vegas. This was only their first date, so David Rossi sure was doing his best to impress her. She'd had to buy a new dress as all her dressy clothes were years out of date and of course, she had to buy new shoes and purse as well.
At least Dave had been kind enough to warn her in time to accomplish her shopping, which was very courteous of him. Some men wouldn't even have thought about the fact that their date might not have any dressy clothes, ones that were appropriate for an exclusive restaurant. This just showed Diana that Dave was thoughtful. He had of course, known that she hadn't dated ever since her ex-mate left, but that didn't mean that he would've thought about warning her that he was taking her somewhere other than a casual restaurant, so she could shop for an appropriate outfit.
He had gotten them into this exclusive place on very short notice, as it had only been a few days, since they had met by accident. The two had talked several times, on the phone, but hadn't actually met again till now, conversations that had lasted quite awhile.
"Yes, it is," Dave agreed, although he wasn't talking about the restaurant.
Diana blushed when she realized that Dave's gaze had not left her face the entire time he had been speaking. His meaning was perfectly clear.
She hadn't felt like a giddy schoolgirl, since she was actually a teenager. She certainly hadn't felt like this when she and Will had been courting over a decade ago.
Dave thought it was absolutely adorable the way his date blushed and it told him many things. One of those things it told him was that she wasn't used to being genuinely complimented. She might have dated some, ever since the relationship that produced her three children had ended, but he had no doubt that she had been careful about who she had dated and brought to her home. Unfortunately, some Alphas could make unreasonable demands. Like for example, send whatever that children they had to boarding school, just because some Alphas didn't want to deal with that Omega's children from another relationship. No Omega, well, most of them, would ever give into such ridiculous demands and they had every right to refuse without that Alpha getting upset or angry. From what he could tell of Diana, she was a good mother and very careful with who she dated.
Dave had yet to meet Diana's children, but then she had yet to meet his either and yes, he had been mated to at one point. He and Carolyn had had twins instead of triplets, both boys, who were only a little younger then Diana's children. His children however, were back in Virginia with the housekeeper that looked after his place. His children, James and Marshall were eight.
"So why don't you tell me about yourself?" Dave suggested.
"Well, you already know I have triplets, a boy and two girls," Diana said. "Spencer is the oldest of them and it's already clear that he can choose whatever career he wants once he finishes college, as he is super intelligent. He also has a eidetic memory. There have been problems though, with him making friends, because so many children don't like to be shown up, so he's mostly on his own or just with his sisters."
"That happens to a lot of really intelligent people who are way above average in brains as children," Dave said sympathetically.
"Spencer just hasn't learned how to blend in and not show how intelligent he is," Diana sighed. "Tell you the truth, he shouldn't have to, as he should be able to to show how intelligent he is without the other children teasing him and really he shouldn't be in a regular public school, with those of more normal intelligence. I refused to let him skip grades, because I knew the children would resent him even more than they already do if he did so."
"Unfortunately, that's very true," Dave said. "Those that are super intelligent often don't fit in with the more normal children. They don't understand the need to blend in and even if they don't mean to show off they often do. I've known a few people like that in my time, though some people who are intelligent do get along with their classmates and manage to make friends."
"That's only because they are more outgoing then my son is," Diana sighed. "As for my daughters they're also very intelligent, but work hard to blend in better. That would probably improve if he had a strong male figure in his life. I hate to say it, but Will wasn't exactly a good influence."
"So Spencer is probably an Omega," Dave summarized. "I can guess very well that your former mate probably didn't treat him very well as some Alphas want their sons to also be Alphas, though you can't really predict what's going to come out of the gene pool."
"I would think Will would've been happy that all his children were born healthy and are far more intelligent than their peers," Diana sighed. "Will was so attentive it first, but looking back, he never once treated me as an equal. If he hadn't treated his children so shabbily I might have put up with it for longer. I know our history very well, but I thought I was in love with him. I think he didn't want any children at all or if he did he wanted his son at least to be an Alpha, instead of his daughters. He really didn't treat any of them very well, but Spencer got the worst of it."
"Happens all the time," Dave said truly sympathetic, as Carolyn had been the same way. Still, their parting had been better than what happened to Diana with her mate just walking out with no explanation.
"Unfortunately true," Diana sighed. "It's been five years since he just walked away, my children were only about 5 at the time. I'm so glad I actually had a job, so the I could support them on my own, because Will certainly hasn't paid any child support."
"So did you report him?" Dave asked curiously.
"Yes, I did," Diana said and Dave nodded approvingly. "I set up miniature cameras all over the house to prove that he wasn't treating his family in the proper way with respect at least, if not love. I don't think it ever occurred to Will that I would do such a thing as I'm only an Omega after all and supposedly stupid."
Dave snorted at that and Diana smiled.
"I would think any Alpha with any sense would know better. You're a professor at Las Vegas University after all and that ought to show Will that you are in no way stupid, but then, most Omegas aren't. It takes a lot to get a teaching degree, as they aren't just handed out like poker chips."
"I don't think Will ever thought about it at all actually, but surely, it would have occurred to him that I could report him. I'm not even sure that he's even looked at the list that is publicly available. I'm positive he would confront me if he knew. He might even try to threaten me, as he does have a temper. If any Omega is smart they'll check that list before getting involved with him and then refuse to date him or at least mate with him, knowing that he's a bad bet, though some don't I know."
"I'm assuming you did the same thing for me," Dave asked, positive he was right, because Diana struck him as way too careful to go out on a date with anyone without checking that list first, but then, she had triplets to think about, so it was understandable. Any Alpha that didn't understand that, wasn't really a true Alpha, even if they had the personality of one. A lot of Alphas got insulted if they were told that the list had been checked, just to make sure that they weren't on it. To him that was just stupid as it was only sensible thing to do to make sure an Omega or a Beta for that matter didn't get into a bad situation, especially if one had children.
"I did," Diana admitted studying Dave's expression. "I have my children to think about after all and I don't want to bring anybody into my home that might hurt them, whether emotionally or otherwise. All three of them have been through enough with their father."
"It was the right thing to do," Dave said calmly. "I'm not one to take insult like some are."
Diana relaxed at that. "You're the first I've dated in five years since Will left."
"You must have been lonely," Dave's said
"Some, but my children help with that and also my job."
"So I hope I'm not being too personal, but does your husband have any asterisks after his name?" asked Dave.
"It's not to personal, as the list is publicly available after all," Diana said smiling a little. "To answer your question he has two. One: for mistreating his children and his mate. He never hit them or me, but he still treated them as if they were a bother often with little insults thrown in. Humans might not think that kind of thing is too bad or at least it doesn't get most people in a lot of trouble, but it's pretty serious for one of our kind."
"That's only because children have been known to commit suicide in the past and adults to, usually Omegas, if it gets really bad," Dave suggested. "Besides it might have eventually turned to physical abuse, you never know."
"Very true," Diana agreed.
"So what's the second asterisk for?" Dave asked.
Diana told him and Dave nodded.
"Well, it sounds as if William Reid is going to have trouble finding another mate. It's no more than he deserves really. If he had only treated you and his children decently, then he wouldn't be on that list, which is just like the sexual predators list among the humans. Refusing to pay child support is also another mark against him and considered in very bad taste. A lot of Omegas are homemakers and mothers or fathers and don't have any outside job to help support their family. If your relationship is solid and that the Alpha treats his family with respect and love, well, they're too honorable to do the wrong thing. At the very least they pay child support if a relationship does break up at some point for whatever reason."
"I'm glad I had my job at the University too," Diana agreed. "I'm glad I'm not one just to be a stay-at-home wife. Will didn't seem to mind that I worked, which is one point in his favor, but it doesn't make up for the way he treated his children in particular."
"No, it doesn't," Dave agreed.
"So tell me some about yourself," Diana suggested.
"Well, my home is in Virginia and I'm only here for another few days, though I will be back to visit frequently. I'm well aware that long distance relationships almost never work, but I'm willing to try. I was mated to, at one point, but she asked to be released and left our twin sons with me. Our parting was much better then what happened to you with your ex-mate. I suppose we didn't court long enough."
"I didn't either," Diana agreed. "Will's and my courtship wasn't fast, but it didn't take as long as it apparently needed."
"There's only so much you can discover about someone in a few months," Dave said wisely. "Sometimes, matings just don't work out, but so long as you follow proper procedure the Alpha or the Omega for that matter should not be insulted. I know it doesn't always work like that, especially with the Alphas, but it should if they were taught at all properly."
"Alphas also aren't just supposed to walk out, with no explanation and never return either, but it happens," Diana pointed out. "I mean, he didn't even bother to leave me a note, which would've been the polite thing to do."
"Yes, it would," Dave agreed.
"I made sure that I legally divorced him in the proper way, so I was free to mate again if I cared too. It's not like I could trust Will to follow proper procedure, though how he expected to mate again, if he didn't is beyond me."
"That's true, so long as you register your mating to the appropriate governmental department like you're supposed to," Dave agreed. "Of course, a lot of our species do get married as well, but I take it that you and your former mate didn't do that."
"It wasn't necessary really," Diana shrugged. "He was just starting out as a lawyer and wasn't well-known back then. Will didn't want to waste the money. At the time I agreed, because while I had been teaching for several years I knew I'd be pregnant immediately, as my heat was close when we mated and I wanted to save the money for my children, since I knew it was very likely I wouldn't have just a singleton. I doubted Will would agree to wait a few years to start a family, just until he was better established and had more clients and I didn't want to cause an argument. I now see, I should've brought the subject up with him, though I'm not sure it would've been better if we had waited two or three years. Still, I'll always be grateful for our relationship, because it gave me Spencer, Mercia and Meriel."
"At least it would've given you a chance to see that he wasn't acting like a proper Alpha," Dave said. "Or perhaps, he would've acted more like one if only you had waited a couple years to have children there's no way of knowing."
"No, it's not and it doesn't matter now," Diana said. "It might've made a difference, but I somehow doubt it, as Will is stubborn and about the wrong things a lot of times. I could never get him to see that treating his children like he was, was not the way to go and caused quite a few arguments. I should've known then that I should left before it got worse, but I wanted to stick it out. That was my mistake and I should've left at least a couple of years before I did. I was thinking of the time that Will was just under stress from work and that things would improve. I should've known better."
"At least you finally did leave him, even if it wasn't for another couple of years as you saw how he was treating your children. A lot of Omegas or Alphas for that matter make the same mistakes, so it's not like it's unusual."
"Yes, I know," Diana admitted. "The only problem is Spencer's at least is going to remember his father's treatment for the rest of his life, which is one reason I should have left sooner. I know I probably should've started dating again after I got over my shock at Will's betrayal, but really, I haven't met anyone that I was interested in. I made the decision I wasn't going to get mated again unless I could find someone, that wouldn't mind my three children and would treat them properly, with affection at least. All three of them need a strong male role model in their lives, but especially my son. I will not have my children disregarded or considered an inconvenience. I'll not have someone demand that I leave them in an orphanage or at least put them in boarding school, just because that Alpha doesn't want to have to deal with someone else's kids."
"That's only right," Dave approved of Diana's attitude of protecting her children. "I would never give mine up either, though I wouldn't mind having a few more. Of course, in my case, the Omega wouldn't dare demand that I leave my children in an orphanage, put them in boarding school or foist them off on some relative. If they did they'd be lucky to get out of my house alive. If we happened to be somewhere public I would pay the check and leave and if the Omega didn't get the point then they weren't as intelligent, as I believed them to be. I would never act dishonorable enough not to at least pay my portion of the bill. That kind of thing usually happens when the couple is alone though and not in a public place."
"That's the way it should be," Diana said approvingly. "You have every right to kick them out and those Omegas would be lucky if you didn't put them in the hospital at least. To make such a suggestion to an Alpha, especially a strong one, is likely to get them in more trouble they can handle. I know very well that most Alphas love their kids, even if their mate is not around anymore."
"Luckily, it's never happened to me, but it did happen to a friend of mine, another Alpha, by the name of Aaron Hotchner. He was mated at one point to this Omega by the name of Haley. They parted ways, as I'm sure you can guess and they had triplets, two boys and a girl. Aaron kicked Haley out when he found her cheating on him, which happens as we both know."
"If you ask me this Haley is lucky that Aaron didn't kill her and the Alpha too," Diana snorted.
"Yes, she is," Dave agreed. "Aaron should have, but he didn't want to kill the mother of his children. However, he did warn her that if she ever came back or ever caused him any trouble that he wouldn't be so nice the next time. She has no parental rights until the children are of age, which is a long time from now, as they're six. Just like you did he made sure that they were legally divorced in both the human way and our way. He started dating again just a couple years ago, but hasn't found anyone yet."
"Finding someone isn't always easy, I know," Diana said. "Then again I know plenty of happy mated relationships, including my own parents. My parents were rather disappointed that things didn't work out between me and Will, but understood, I had done nothing, especially when I showed them a recording from some of the cameras that I planted. They were rather appalled at how I was treated, but especially at how their grandchildren were treated. Will's lucky that my father didn't beat him to a pulp so that he landed in the hospital, as he was rather enraged. I know to humans what happened wouldn't be considered that serious, but with our kind it only would've gotten worse and it might've led to one of my children committing suicide. I think one of the reasons I stayed so long is I was trying not to disappoint my parents as they really liked Will when they met him, but then again, Will was on his best behavior when he was around them."
"Well, it's nice to know that your parents supported you," Dave said approvingly. "So many Alphas don't do the right thing or don't act appropriately, especially towards their family."
"My parents are wonderful," Diana said. "They adore their grandchildren and are frequent visitors to my home, which is another reason I haven't been as lonely as I could have been. They're always willing to take my triplets for a few hours. They have been urging me to try to find another mate though and I don't blame them. I know very well what sometimes happens, if one of our kind gets too lonely. I know my parents would've helped to support me financially if I didn't have a job, but luckily, I did. I have plenty of friends which only helps I know. I just wasn't ready to date again."
"I can certainly understand that," Dave agreed sincerely. "I'm not saying I haven't dated some, since Carolyn and I parted ways, but nothing ever clicked and I really didn't start dating until a year ago, once my twins James and Marshall were a little older.
"I wouldn't mind having a few more myself," Diana said looking a little wistful. "I adore my triplets but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like a few more. I'm certainly young enough to get pregnant again, so long as I do it sometime in the next three or four years."
"That's a possibility if our relationship proceeds that far," Dave suggested a little boldly.
Diana looked at him, saw he was serious and then said, "I truly hope it does, but you live in Virginia and I live here and I don't know that a long-distance relationship will work. Still, that doesn't mean, I'm not willing to try. If it does turn out that we're suited to each other and we mate I'd be willing to move to Virginia. I can always get another job at another university, even if Las Vegas University will try to retain me. I know my boss will give me a good recommendation."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but I hope it works out too," Dave said. "This is only the first date after all."
"That's true," Diana agreed.
"I don't mind flying back and forth to see you. Believe me, I have plenty of money and I'm going to do everything in my power to make this relationship work. It might not work out, but it's not going to be for lack of trying on my part."
"Well, considering the crowd in the bookstore, most of whom were there to see you I'm sure, since it's not usually so crowded, I would say you're pretty popular author."
"I am," Dave agreed. "I also own several restaurants, which do quite well."
"Well, I suppose, if you don't mind the expense I'll see you next time you visit," Diana said.
"Alright then," Dave said, as he paid the bill. "It will probably only be a couple of weeks, but I need to go give my housekeeper, whose looking after the boys, a break, as they can be rather mischievous. Still, they know they're to obey Ariel in all things or they will be punished when I get home."
Diana winced at Dave's twins being punished by spanking and she doubted that Dave would be gentle with them, especially if they committed the crime more than once. They weren't infants and toddlers anymore, as they were way past that stage.
"Yes, I know. I don't like to do it," Dave said guessing where his date's thoughts had gone. "But it's the only way that they'll learn how to behave. My parents did the same thing to me and my siblings when we were young to, as we got into quite a bit of mischief. My parents tore our butts up until they were sure we had learned our lesson."
"I haven't had to spank my own three much as they're usually pretty well-behaved, though there has been a time or two," Diana said.
The two talked softly, as they headed towards Dave's car.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~