"Are you sure this is a good idea, mom?" Spencer asked his mother, as Diana prepared to go out on another date with Dave. It was a couple weeks later.

"I know you're apprehensive, honey," Diana told her son gently. "I can understand why you are, but I promise, that Dave is nothing like your father. I wouldn't date him if he was. You know how lonely I've been over the last couple of years and while I love you and your two sisters, I need someone for myself. Once you meet him, probably on the next date, you'll lose a lot of your apprehension I'm sure. You need to give Dave a chance to prove his intentions, before you paint him with the same brush as your father."

"I suppose," Spencer said seeming unsure.

He didn't want his mother to be lonely and she had been, he knew that, but he also knew it wasn't really enough to just have her family around. He knew that he and his two sisters helped with that loneliness and also her colleagues at the University, but it wasn't the same as having a mate.

"Give Dave a chance," Diana suggested gently. "He has two sons of his own that are only a little younger, that I'm sure you'll like to play with."

"What are their names?" Spencer asked immediately.

"James and Marshall," Diana answered. "Twins of course."

"Well, maybe," Spencer decided. "I do want you to be happy, mom."

"I know you do, sweetie," Diana told her son, leaning down enough to kiss him on the forehead. "There's no guarantees things are going to work out between Dave and I, but I would at least like to give it every chance. I know you're worried that Dave is like your father, but I promise you he isn't. We've talked on the phone quite a bit and our conversation always leads around to our children. Trust me, that's a sure sign that he is nothing like your father at all."

"How do you know?" Spencer asked curiously.

"Because your father and I never discussed children when we were courting years ago, before you and your sisters came along and I admit I didn't realize it at the time. Children are very important to our race and most Alphas are very proud of their children, even if they no longer have a mate for whatever reason, that means they often talk about them. At the very least they want to have a few of their own with a mate they love."

"They could have died for some reason," Spencer suggested.

"That's certainly possible," Diana agreed. "It does happen, even though our race usually gives birth easily, much more easily than most human women, especially to multiples. Still, things do happen sometimes, that no one can predict or prevent. Would you like some brothers or sisters?"

"Yes, I would," Spencer answered immediately. "I love Mercia and Meriel, but I would love some brothers."

"Well, if my relationship with Dave reaches that stage, it's certainly possible for me to give you and your sister some siblings, other then James and Marshall, who could become your stepsiblings. There's no guarantees though, that it will or that I'll have those brothers you want as I might only have girls."

"Well, there is at least a 50% chance," Spencer said.

"Yes, there is," Diana agreed smiling, surprised once again at how intelligent her son was.

"I would love some sisters too," Spencer decided.

"I know you'll be a good big brother to them," Diana told Spencer sincerely. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, as this is only our third date. Just so you are warned in advance if things do work out we'll likely be moving to Virginia as that is where Dave's home is."

"I hope they work out for you mom I really do," Spencer said seeming to accept the news that they could possibly be leaving Las Vegas. Of course, he was well aware that things might not work out between his mother and this David Rossi, though he was actually hoping it did so long as this Alpha wasn't anything like his father. He and both his sisters wanted mom to be truly happy after all and she hadn't been in awhile. She hadn't been super lonely, because her parents and siblings visited frequently and her work colleagues also helped, but still, while having people that were friends and family close by helped, it wasn't the whole solution too a happy life at least not for their race, something he was well aware of no matter how young he was.

"So what's your opinion of us possibly moving if things work out like I hope?" Diana asked her son.

"I think it would be a good thing," Spencer said slowly. "For one thing, father would have no idea where we had gone and that could only be a good thing. While I would be a little apprehensive at possibly starting a new school I would also understand that you had every right to be happy. So long as this Alpha treats me and my sisters with kindness at least I'll be satisfied."

"Dave already loves you, because I've told him a lot about you and your sisters, just as he told me a lot about his sons," Diana told her son gently. "I know he hasn't met you yet, but I know that he'll fall in love with all three of you, just like I'm falling in love with his sons. He cares deeply about me, and therefore, he cares about my children too sight unseen. Of course, once he meets you that love will deepen, once he has a chance to get to know you and your sisters. This is the way it should be, son."

"So you are saying that father was an aberration," Spencer said.

Diana wasn't surprised that her son knew such an advanced word, as he had read through the entire dictionary in a matter minutes, absorbing the information it contained at rapid speed. He'd done this at just seven years old and understood all of it. His speech patterns had always been advanced, but they had advanced even more after that.

"Unfortunately, that's true," Diana said. "I realized not long after you and your sisters were born that we didn't have a very equal relationship. I stayed with him longer than I should have. When he started mistreating you and your sisters though I'd had enough and I was planning on leaving him, but he left before I could leaving you and your sisters with me. I was very well aware that such treatment could lead, as I know our history very well."

Spencer absorbed that, then nodded.

"I think you're mature enough to understand that our history is riddled with death of innocents, just because of the way they were treated as children. A lot of times children feel like they have no other option but to commit suicide. This happens quite a bit if they're treated badly enough and why what happened to you and your sisters, would not be considered that bad among the humans we are different in that respect. Young Omegas, especially have been known to take their lives, though it largely depends on what kind of support they get. Most of our race love children, though there are exceptions like your father, while the same isn't necessarily true with the humans."

"Don't humans love their children too?" Spencer asked.

"Mostly yes, they do, but there are far more of those that don't take care of whatever children they have and leave them on their own far too much. However, there are plenty of humans that abuse them, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. If I had stayed with your father it's very possible that he could've gotten physically abusive at some point. We do share some traits in common with humans, you know. For one thing, some humans don't take disappointment well and I believe this was at least partly your father's problem," Diana explained.

"Why would father be disappointed?" Spencer asked.

"Most parents have expectations for their young and don't take it very well when they're turning out different than they expected or wanted," Diana said avoiding the question. "I also think that your father saw you as being competition for my affection, which just proves that he didn't really love me, because if he had he would've automatically loved you and your sisters too."

Spencer nodded, not even realizing that his mother had effectively distracted him from what he wanted to know.

"Now, you need to scat. I need to finish getting ready as Dave will be here any minute," Diana told her son gently. "We'll talk more later if you like."

"I hope you have a good time, mom," Spencer said sincerely his fears for the moment having been soothed.

"I suspect I will," Diana said, as she kissed her son on the cheek and then shooed him out of her bedroom.

~~~Dave and Diana~~~

"Welcome, welcome," Diana greeted Dave, as she opened the door, before the sound of the doorbell had faded.

The two had been dating for a couple of months now, and Diana thought it was past time that she introduced him to her children. For one thing she wanted to soothe her son's fears that Dave was just like his father. She couldn't blame Spencer for thinking that Dave was just like his father actually, as Will had hardly been a good example to his children and had left when they were still quite young. They had been dating long enough now that Diana was sure it would eventually lead to mating or at least that was was the most likely possibility.

It was clear that Dave was a good man and not like her former mate at all, though convincing Spencer of that had been hard. He knew intellectually that she couldn't just live the rest of her life alone. Well, she could she supposed, if she wanted to be lonely. She knew she could wait until the children were out of the house and off to college, but then, she'd be too old to have children and she really wanted some more if it all possible.

Dave kissed the back of Diana's hand like a proper gentleman, causing her to blush prettily. Dave often had that effect on her, though it was more the sincerity behind the gesture that made her blush. Men often kissed the back of a lady's hand, but it was more perfunctory, this was sincere and a genuine gesture of affection.

"I'm glad to be here," Dave said smiling, as Diana ushered him into her home.

"I'll go tell the children you're here, though I'm sure they heard the doorbell," Diana said.

"I'm sure they're just being polite and not come busting in here until will ready for them," Dave said.

"Probably," Diana said smiling. "They've been rather anxious actually, Spencer in particular."

"I can understand that, as meeting your mother's boyfriend is always nerve-wrecking, especially for children who aren't even teenagers yet. I'm sure it doesn't help that they're not used to you seeing someone, since I'm the first one you dated since your ex-mate left."

"Why don't you take a seat in the den and I'll go get them," Diana said, as she guided him to the den, which had several comfortable pieces of furniture. "I won't be but a minute."

"Take your time," Dave said squeezing her hand in a gesture of affection. "I'm in no hurry. This is just me going to get to know your kids, so that hopefully, most of their fears will fade, though I know that's mostly Spencer."

Diana nodded glad that Dave was so agreeable. He was usually very nice if a little intense occasionally, but then, that was just because he was an Alpha and Diana knew that. A lot of Alphas tended to be intense all the time instead of laidback like Dave was. While it was plain Dave was an Alpha, most of the time he didn't really go into what she called Alpha mode. Dave was certainly more kind and thoughtful than Will had ever been and she had been very satisfied with the way that her relationship was going.

While she was anxious to get to the sex part of their relationship, she also knew that she needed to take the relationship slowly. She wasn't so young anymore, so that her feelings weren't as overwhelming, as they had been when she was younger.

Dave also appeared satisfied at the speed of their relationship and he wasn't one to push her into something she wasn't ready for. She was grateful, because she didn't want to have sex with him until she was absolutely certain that their relationship was going to last, which was something Dave seemed to understand.

Diana headed upstairs to get her children. Her two daughters were sharing a room while Spencer had a room to himself, since he was the only boy.

"It's time for you to come down and meet Dave, kids," Diana told her triplets. She found them all in the two girls rooms, as it was the biggest next to the master.

"Yes, mom," answered both girls at once, while Spencer looked reluctant, but got up from where he was sitting to follow his sisters.

He had promised his mother that he would do his best to get to know Dave and though he was reluctant he intended to keep that promise.

He just couldn't let go of his fears that this Dave was like his father that had treated his own children badly. He understood that his mother needed someone in her life, a mate and not just her children who would eventually grow up and leave home.

Spencer knew his mother wanted more children, and by the time the three of them left for college, she would likely be to old to have any, as that was another eight years and Spencer knew his mother was close to 40 now.

"Dave, I'd like to properly introduce you to my children," Diana said, as soon as they reached the den where Dave was waiting. "I've talked about them often enough, but you haven't met them before now. This is Meriel, named after her maternal grandmother, and this is Mercia, named after an aunt that has since passed away and of course, you've heard a lot about my son, Spencer, named after Spencer's grandfather on his father's side."

The twin girls were different enough that Dave knew he would have no trouble telling them apart. Meriel looked more like her mother then her father, with Diana's blonde hair, while Mercia was the exact opposite and he assumed she got her looks from her old man. She had her brother's brown hair and eyes while Meriel was the only one that had gotten blue eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Rossi," Mercia said.

"It's nice to meet you to, Mercia," Dave said, as he silently shook her hand, that were small compared to his. She had the shape of her mother's palm and her long elegant fingers though, they would lengthen some as she grew, until they would likely look exactly like her mother's hands. The two girls would be beautiful, by the time they were grown he had no doubt that they'd have many boyfriends, before finally settling down. That was years away though, so there was no point worrying about it right then.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Meriel added, also shaking Dave's hand politely, as she smiled a little and Dave saw that she was even more beautiful when she smiled. Yes, both of Diana's daughters were going to have suitors galore, once they reached the proper age.

"I'm pleased to meet you, sir," Spencer said politely, also shaking his hand briefly.

Spencer had on a neutral expression, Dave noticed. He knew the boy didn't know what to think about him yet, so he was going to have to try forge a relationship. He was willing to take up the challenge, as he had started to fall for the triplets mother very hard and very fast, but getting along with her kids was also important, as he didn't want Spencer at least, to resent the fact that he was taking a great deal of his mother's attention.

Children tended to resent when one of their parents attention was taken from them, by a new mate or even a significant other and that tended to lead to mischief. Spencer wasn't really that type at all, at least not from all Diana had told him about her son, but still, it was better to head trouble off at the pass. Just because Spencer wasn't the type to get into minor mischief, didn't mean there wasn't many ways to get into trouble. He could start hanging out with the bad crowd for example, get into drugs, let his grades drop, just because he was unhappy. Spencer was the studious sort, Dave knew, but that could change if his mother got so involved with him that she ignored her children and their needs. A lot of children could feel like a stranger was stealing their mother or father away. Some children needed a lot of attention while others did not and while Spencer wasn't the attention grabbing sort it didn't mean that he didn't need any love or reassurance.

In many ways, Spencer's two sisters were going to be easier, though they would need some attention too, but were likely confident enough that their mother had been careful this time in choosing who to date and hopefully, eventually mate that there would likely not be trouble from that quarter.

He had a feeling that Spencer was going to be the hardest to get close to, as the boy was quiet and knew how to keep his opinions to himself. He had often been criticized so harshly, just for saying what he thought by his father that he had learned early not to speak out, according to Diana. He had learned that his father didn't want his opinions and so had learned quickly to keep his mouth shut.

William Reid hadn't wanted to listen to anybody's opinion not his children and not his mate's. His opinion was the only one that mattered according to the gospel of William Reid Esquire.

"Children it's time for lunch why don't you go set the table," Diana suggested gently.

"Yes, mom," all three answered.

"Well, I felt that went rather well for a first meeting," Dave said, once all three children were out of earshot.

"I thought it went well too," Diana said quietly keeping her eyes on the door. "You already know that Spencer is going to be the hardest nut to crack, so you're going to have your work cut out for you."

"I'm up to the challenge," Dave said quietly confident. "He just needs to see that I'm nothing like his father before we'll likely get along better. Right now, he doesn't really know what to think about me. He wants you to be happy, as he loves you and he doesn't want you to be miserable, lonely or sad, so he's willing to at least try to get to know me. It might be difficult, but I think gaining his trust will be worth the work involved."

"I think you're right," Diana agreed with a smile. "They all care about my happiness and understand that I have been lonely. Spencer knows that I want more children, but if I wait for them to grow up, by the time they do, I'll be too old to have anymore. It's not even that Spencer wouldn't like some more siblings, just that he doesn't want me to fall for anyone that will mistreat me or him and his sisters. It's one of the reasons I didn't date again until we met. Perhaps, I should have, just to get them used to seeing a man in my life. It's too late now I know, so we're just going to have to do this the hard way."

"I really don't think this is going to to be that hard once he gets used to having me around," Dave said quietly. "He strikes me as really observant and once he sees that I mean what I say and that I don't act like his father I believe he'll come around. I think maybe I should take them to the zoo or somewhere else that's for kids. I bet you, the father, never took them anywhere, not even to school."

"No, I usually did that, or they walked," Diana said with a grimace. "He was totally disinterested in spending too much time with them. Luckily, the school's only a few blocks away, so they can walk that in about 15 minutes. In the summer, fall and spring that's mostly what they do unless it's pouring down rain, because it's warm enough, but in the winter, I usually just take them instead of them walking it. As for outings, I suggest for Spencer at least you take him to a museum, as he's always been fascinated with all the artifacts. The girls will enjoy that too, but not as much as their brother. I've taken them, but it's been awhile, as life just gets so busy. I'm sure they have several new displays by now."

"That's a good idea. We'll have to do that and we can all go make a day of it," Dave said.

"That sounds good, perhaps on the weekend," Diana said.

"I have in mind to send Spencer at least to a special school, one that has tougher courses," Dave said. "From what you've told me, a normal high school is not the place, for someone with his intelligence, not even if you allow him to skip grades. He's bound to be bored."

"I'm sure he is, but if so, he hasn't mentioned it to me, though to be fair he's not usually one to complain," Diana admitted with a sigh. "You know I would've liked to have sent him to such a school, but my salary from the University wouldn't cover that, not with all the bills that must be paid. If it was only him without his sisters I probably could've managed it. It'll have to be a day school though, as I won't be separated from him for a whole school year. Spencer would never understand me sending him away, even if it was to get an education. I'm sure he will believe that I didn't love him anymore and that's something I'll never do."

"I understand and agree," Dave said calmly. "Spencer might understand intellectually that you're doing it for his own good, but emotionally it's a different story. We don't want him to feel like he's been abandoned. I'm sure we can find a day school to where he doesn't have to board and he can be picked up every day after classes are over."

The two of them headed into the kitchen where supper was already ready and they all sat down at the round table that fit them all comfortably.

Diana's two girls chatted to the two adults and Dave listened indulgently. Mercia and Meriel chatted at him about everything under the sun, while Spencer remained quiet and ate his dinner without saying anything at all.

Dave mentally sighed and knew that Diana's son was unobtrusively observing him, trying to tell if he was indeed what he seemed to be.

He was sure Diana was right and that he had his work cut out for him.

~~~Dave and Diana~~~