2 years later

"So is there any chance of another little dragonling around before mating season is over?" Dave asked Liana one day a year and a half after their daughter had been born.

The birth had been relatively easy, especially for a first baby thanks to the witch midwife that Brigid had known.

Luckily, the baby came out looking perfectly ordinary, which made Dave glad that they didn't change into their dragon forms for six months.

"Well, our daughter is still a handful," Liana considered. "I know Brigid helps out when she can, but yeah, I think I'd like to have another before your mating cycle is over for the next 300 years. I might even consider one after that, but I think three is plenty this time around."

Dave got a big grin on his face and hugged his mate kissing her passionately. "I think three is plenty to, especially since this is the first time either one of us have ever been parents."

"You've already been a parent to Brigid," Liana reminded him.

"While that's true she's not technically related to me, though I love her dearly," Dave said. "This is only the second time I'm ever going to have children with my mate and really the only time I've ever had children that are biologically mine. That doesn't mean I don't love and adore Brigid, just that she's not mine by blood."

"I understand," Liana said. "People don't necessarily have to be related for you to love them. You raised Brigid from a tiny babe, so of course, you're going to love her, unless you are either an evil sob or completely without emotion. If there's one thing I've learned over the last couple of years is that love isn't finite its infinite. All of us, humans included, have a great capacity to love, but you also have to open yourself up to it. I was afraid to love for a long time, afraid that Templar or one of his goons would come after whoever I got close to. I knew better then to trust anyone too deeply, because most people would betray their own parents if the price was right, which is a lesson I learned while I was on the run. Very few people are not amendable to bribery, especially if it's for a lot of money."

"You had some close calls," Dave guessed and Liana nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, I did, but I was still young and incredibly naïve. I lost that naïveté pretty quickly though," Liana admitted.

"Living like you did everyone would lose their naïveté very quickly or they wouldn't survive very long on the street," Dave said. "You survived and that's all that matters to me."

"Yes, I did, but still, that was hard until I was 18 and I could get a legit job, one that paid enough for me to get my place, although it wasn't very big. I did get some odd jobs when I was 16, which at least put food in me."

"That part of your life is over now," Dave said quietly. "Now you have me and our daughter with hopefully, another child in the next year and a half."

"And I wonder sometimes why I let you talk me into having another kid," Liana groaned dramatically. "I had nearly forgotten how long the gestation was. I'm clearly insane to commit to having anymore until the next mating cycle."

"You don't have to you don't want to," Dave said not unsympathetically . "I won't force you, because I know the gestation period is long, double that of other supernaturals or humans."

"No, I'm going to have another," Liana said. "The pregnancy really wasn't much of a problem until we got to the last six months when I really started to show. I did feel like a beached whale about three months from giving birth, but other than that..."

"I'm sure all pregnant women feel like that the farther along they get," Dave pointed out.

"Yeah, I was mostly joking," Liana admitted. "Yes, I've heard talk from women who have had children and they always joking about the pains the farther along they are. You can pick up a lot if you just stay quiet and listen. I don't really care what sex we get, though it would certainly be nice to have a son since we already have a gorgeous little girl."

"I don't really care either," Dave said. "You're never going to get too old at least not until the very end of what your lifespan has become, to have children and the end of our lives is still many, many centuries away, so long as you or I aren't fatally wounded."

"Well, we're certainly going to do our parts to repopulate the dragon species and I'm sure others of your kind have done that as well," Liana said.

"That's very possible, even likely," Dave said. "If they have I haven't heard about it, but that's not really surprising, because dragons have gotten better at hiding over the last few hundred years."

"No wonder considering your species was almost entirely wiped out at one time," Liana snorted. "If I was part of a valuable species than I'd get better at hiding too. While I understand why people wanted dragons for their blood, their scales and even their claws instead of killing you off they should get to know one of you and ask you to donate instead of nearly knocking out an entire species. That would've been the proper thing to do. To kill off an entire species just because they are of great monetary value to me is stupid, because once that resource is totally gone it's not coming back, which means many potions and rituals are then useless."

"Our blood can create some of the most powerful protection wards or charms ever known," Dave said quietly. "Just wear a charm with a dragon's blood used in its creation and it will protect you from almost everything except a nuclear holocaust. Create wards around the property using our blood and they will be nearly impossible to bring down without killing a whole platoon of magic users."

"So you see it was stupid of evil people to send out dragon hunters to kill your kind. You were a finite resource, since you only procreated every three centuries and you died out, or at least most people believe that you did. I won't say that's a bad thing precisely, just that once they used up what they had stolen, there was no way for them to get more, because they had already knocked out an entire species. A dead dragon is a useless resource."

"I agree with you a hundred percent," Dave said, as he kissed Liana. "Get the trust of a dragon and they would've given you whatever you asked for, within reason of course. Of course, dark practitioners just get what they want underhandedly instead of doing it honestly and that was mostly who knocked out our species, though I won't say the more honest supernaturals didn't also play a part because they went to the black market for such things. Mostly though, it was those that wanted to harm others."

"I bet you, none of the ones after dragon parts bothered to learn that you were only able to have children every 300 years," Liana added. "If they had learned that they might not have been so eager to totally annihilate your species. That a few survived is more due to the fact that you became aware of the danger and managed to start rumors that the last dragon had been killed."

"We did and then we hid ourselves away never transforming unless we were absolutely sure we were alone," Dave agreed. "I also agree it was stupid all around and I don't think dragon hunters or anyone else, ever thought that dragons would ever be totally annihilated, which was very shortsighted of them."

"Didn't I just say that?" Liana asked with a smile kissing Dave.

"You did," Dave grinned. "So why don't we head up to our bedroom and get started on another brother or sister for our little Marilyn?"

"Why don't we do it right here in front of the fireplace," Liana suggested instead, as she started to unbutton Dave's shirt.

"That works just as well," Dave grinned, as he shot magical fire at the fireplace that started to burn even without logs.

"Well, that certainly sets the mood," Liana said with a giggle

"It was my pleasure," Dave said the grin never leaving his face, his brown eyes twinkling happily. "You got pregnant so easily last time it's very likely that it'll happen this time as well.

"Well, here's hoping that this second pregnancy is easy on me as the first one, since I know every pregnancy is different," Liana said.

"I think this calls for a celebration before we really get started," Dave said.

"You're going to open one of those very expensive bottles of wine?" Liana asked smiling. Liana had come to accept Dave's wealth and didn't even think about it most of the time. It was rather nice actually to not have to worry where her next meal was coming from, but without complete trust Liana never would have accepted Dave's offer.

"I think this occasion calls for it," Dave said.

"I have to agree," Liana said. "Why don't you go get that bottle of wine and I'll wait for you here by the fireplace."

Dave knew that meant that his mate would be naked by the time he returned and he could hardly wait.

Dave walked to a solid wall that had no furniture or anything else against it and said the spell quickly. Once the glowing doorway opened he disappeared. As soon as Liana saw him disappear and knowing he wouldn't be gone long she walked over to the nice thick rug in front of the fireplace and begin to get undressed.

She sat down and reveled in the warmth of the magical fire remembering the many times she had been cold when she was living on the street, especially in the winter, so that made her even more grateful that she now had a nice warm bed with a nice warm body to sleep with and that it was the man she loved was just icing.

Dave emerged from his trove that he had in a pocket dimension, that didn't hold anything except his gold and his other possessions and Liana watched as her mate closed the doorway after putting down the bottle of wine that he was holding.

Liana didn't move knowing that Dave would get the wine glasses from the kitchen and that he wouldn't want her to lift a finger. She did like to do her share of the chores or tasks, but in this case, she let Dave have his way.

If truth be known she was too comfortable on the nice, thick soft rug to move at the moment.

"Here you go, my lady," Dave said gallantly, as he brought two wine glasses already poured and also a bowl of fruit with a thick and heavy cream, in a pitcher.

"Why thank you, kind sir," Liana said winking at him coquettishly.

"You're quite welcome, Madame," Dave said with eyes sparkling with laughter.

Liana accepted the tray and put it on the marble of the hearth near enough to both of them that they could each sample the offerings with ease.

"This is quite a feast you have prepared," Liana said, as she and Dave leaned towards each other at the same time. It was as if electricity crackled between them. Dave got undressed quickly and then sat down across from his mate.

"I thought you would like some refreshments before we get started," Dave offered, smiling. "You're going to need your energy."

"So it's going be like that, huh?" Liana said smiling softly, knowing that they were going to be making love all day and probably most of the night. She didn't mind that at all really. Dave was very good at getting her body to sing, which didn't surprise her considering he couldn't've gone without sex as old as he was.

"I'm determined to have you pregnant by the time we are finally done," Dave said with a happy grin at the thought of another child.

"Alright then," Liana agreed. "It's not like I'm going to object."

Dave said nothing just simply grinned at her broadly causing Liana to laugh.

It wasn't long before there was no more talking for quite some time.

~~~Dave and Liana~~~

"I haven't seen you in awhile so how have things been going?" Liana asked Brigid, as she sat down to lunch at a very nice café that she never would've been able to afford before she got together with Dave. Well, maybe with the money she had gotten for the jewelry she had sold, but all that money had been going to open her own shop, which she still planned to open sometime in the next few years. She had been so busy with her daughter however, that she just hadn't had time.

"Things have been going fine," Brigid promised. "Sorry, if I haven't visited, I've just been really busy lately."

"Busy with work or busy with a man?" Liana asked, knowingly. "Marilyn misses you, and so does Dave, though he has said nothing. Still, I know him pretty well by now and I know when he's missing his daughter who has not visited in months."

"You're right, I should have visited before now," Brigid admitted looking ashamed.

"So what's this guy's name that has you so enthralled you don't visit, because you knew we'd notice the difference in you," Liana asked.

Brigid flushed, but said nothing.

"Come on, you owe me the details," Liana told her.

"I don't…" Brigid protested and Liana simply stared at her.

"Who was it that insisted I go to Rossi Jeweler's, who told me squat about what I would encounter there. Who was it that pushed me in to doing so, even though I didn't know why you did at the time, but I trusted you enough to take your advice," Liana interrupted.

"I knew what was in your future if you would only accept it," Brigid protested. "I know if I gave you any details that you'd never set foot in the door. I could understand you're mistrust of relationships considering, but you would have been unhappy and so would dad if you had simply ignored what I told you. The way I did things was easier then any other way that I saw."

"While that might be true, you still lied by omission," Liana said. "You owe me the truth in this case, to make up for your omissions a few years ago, even if it was in my best interest. That you were right, that I never would've gone anywhere near Dave's jewelry store if you had told me the truth, that still doesn't mean that you didn't lie."

"Alright, fine," Brigid conceded with a put upon sigh, as if she was making a great sacrifice to tell her best friend who she had been dating.

"Don't pull that kind of act with me I'm not going to fall for it," Liana said staring at her friend.

"I suppose I do owe you," Brigid admitted seeing that her friend was not falling for her act.

"Yes, you do," Liana said and Brigid rolled her eyes.

"His name is Aaron Hotchner. We met one day when I was leaving work," Brigid said.

"Did you know you were going to meet him?" Liana asked shrewdly.

Brigid blushed, so Liana knew the answer instantly. This was instantly confirmed with Brigid's next words.

"Yes, I knew I was going to meet him," Brigid admitted. "I had been having visions for several weeks about meeting this handsome man who at the time I didn't even know the name of. I knew if I was having visions of him he was going to be important to my future, an enemy or a friend or a mate."

Liana knew that no seer had visions about unimportant events or they would go insane in no time. There were few seers who could handle being constantly bombarded by visions, about minor things like what they were going to eat for breakfast or what they were going to do for the day. No, seers only saw important events and some could only do so through using the proper tools while others got visions when it was important with none of the trappings that a lot of seers had to use.

"Congratulations, but you know Dave is going to want to meet this Aaron Hotchner and that he's going to want to give him the talk," Liana said.

"Please I can take care of myself," Brigid protested knowing that her father would do exactly what he thought was right and warn her mate about hurting her.

"You know that Dave has strong ideas about certain things," Liana reminded Brigid. "You, as his daughter, should know that he's going to do what he thinks best. He's only trying to protect you from being abused, as you know many relationships are physically abusive."

"Aaron would never do that," Brigid protested.

"And you know this how you've only been dating... what a few weeks?" Liana asked.

"Three months," Brigid admitted.

"Brigid! How could you!" Liana exclaimed genuinely shocked. "I mean, seriously, do you know what Dave's going to say that you kept this relationship from him for so long? He might have suspected it, because he isn't stupid, but really you should've introduced Aaron long before now, especially since you knew in advance that he was your mate."

Brigid hung her head, because she knew very well that Liana was correct.

"I just wanted some time alone with him before dad interfered," Brigid admitted.

"I can understand that," Liana admitted, "but still, you should've at least introduced him by now. I understand that you wanted some time for the two of you before your dad learned of how serious your relationship had become. Before he learned that you knew all along that he was your mate. He may forgive you, because you introduced the two of us after all, but still, he's going to be more hurt than upset that you kept it to yourself for so long."

Brigid knew this to be true and she felt even more ashamed of herself. While her dad would understand why she had kept to herself, he wouldn't understand why she had done it for three months, especially since they were close.

"You're right, he's going to be hurt, which is not something I ever meant to do," Brigid said hanging her head.

"I understand that you were rather caught up, just as I was when Dave and I agreed to complete the bond between us," Liana said.

"I never did learn what made you agree to bond with dad," Brigid hinted.

"Oh no, you aren't going to distract me," Liana chastised

"I'm not trying to..." Brigid protested weakly.

"Maybe I'll tell you one day," Liana said. "But you're just going to have to wait to find out."

Brigid sighed and nodded knowing that she couldn't change her friend's mind. She probably deserved it actually considering her recent duplicity

"So what kind of supernatural is this Aaron?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Brigid tried to look innocent

Liana simply rolled her eyes and waited tapping her foot impatiently.

"He's a dragon," Brigid finally revealed knowing her innocent act wasn't working.

"A dragon?" Liana sputtered in total shock. "Like Dave?"

"Yes, like dad," Brigid agreed.

"What are the odds?" Liana murmured in shock. "Dave told me that a dragon only mates with someone very powerful unless they are another dragon. I always knew you had power, even if your main talent is being able to see events that have yet to happen. For you to be the mate of a dragon means that you're more powerful then I knew, though it might not come as a shock to Dave."

"No, it wouldn't, as he knows," Brigid agreed. "I'm surprised you never figured it out for yourself. Seers that don't need the proper tools tend to be powerful anyway, I'm just more powerful than most and if people were aware of it I'm sure I would have somebody like Templar after me for my abilities, which is why I don't advertise them. Dad was really good about warning me about using my abilities openly around people that I didn't completely trust."

"Good advice," Liana said. "I wish my mother had done the same, because if she had she'd likely still be alive."

"Not everyone thinks about the consequences of displaying their powers," Brigid said.

"That's true and you can be stupid or least naïve when you're young," Liana reflected. "You will tell Dave about this Aaron Hotchner as soon as possible, you hear me? You should've told him at least six or seven weeks ago, so you will make up for it now by facing the music."

Brigid groaned knowing that her father was going to be rather upset, but she deserved it for keeping such an important event from him for so long. If she hadn't told him for a month, that would've been better than waiting three times as long.

"You know if you wait any longer it's going to take him much longer to forgive you if he ever does," Liana told Brigid who nodded miserably. "If the two of you weren't so close it wouldn't matter so much waiting so long, but you are."

"You're right," Brigid agreed.

"Of course I am," Liana said just a little maliciously. "I understand that you got lost in the joy of finding your perfect match, but still, you should've known not to keep it from your father at least."

"Yes, I should have," Brigid agreed. "Aaron's been urging me for some time to tell my dad about him."

"Well, you should've listened to him," Liana said.

"I know that now, I knew it all along really," Brigid said, soberly.

"He loves you Brigid, so he'll forgive you for not telling him such important news. Of course, if I hadn't confronted you just now and you had waited even longer that forgiveness would be much harder to obtain, if not impossible. He'll be rather shocked that your mate is a dragon and it's possible that he's never heard of this Aaron Hotchner, which will tell you that he's likely younger than your father," Liana said. "Also he'll know that he won't lose you to death eventually as we will likely die long before you and Aaron."

"That's something I hadn't thought of," Brigid murmured.

"No wonder," Liana said. "I know it's something that Dave worried about in the back of his mind, even though witches can live a long time depending on how powerful they are. Still, the life of the mortal, no matter how powerful their magic is nothing compared to a dragon's."

Liana whispered the last word well aware that they were in a public place, but Brigid nodded knowing what her friend meant.

"I know it's something that I worried about as well," Brigid admitted. "Except I worried about how dad would handle my death, since we are close and he didn't have anyone else he could fully trust until you came along. A child is supposed to outlive their parents, but since dad took me in and I'm not the same species, which means we have different lifespans that wasn't very likely. Now though, the possibility is that I will outlive you and dad."

"Which is as it should be," Liana said and Brigid nodded solemnly.

~~~Dave and Liana~~~