"So you said the decision was mine as whether or not to stay with you," Cassia said once they had all finished lunch that Dave had prepared. That Dave could cook so well considering his real age was astonishing, but then, Cassia supposed at the time he had been born that there were no restaurants and he'd had no wife, so it would have been a necessary skill for him to pick up. His mother had likely taught him what he knew and he probably picked up more skills as he went along. Cooking back then would've been very, very primitive. It didn't really matter Cassia supposed because at least they wouldn't have to eat out all the time.
"Yes, that was something Aaron and I agreed on long before we met Sabella. Our ethics and morals would never allow us to force someone into it no matter how much we were attracted to that person or needed them to complete us. Luckily, Sabella felt that attraction to, which made it easier than normal."
"I also didn't have any family to worry about if I suddenly disappeared," Sabella said, "and that made it easier for me to accept their offer. Sure, a lot of the theater people that knew me at least causally might have wondered what happened to me but probably wouldn't have done anything about it. Most of them would've forgotten about it in just a few days or a few weeks at most. Remember, I was basically a nobody. I didn't have any close friends and there were plenty of other young women that could do my job just as well, so it's not like I caused any hardship for the theater."
"The theater employees and the manager would've just assumed she'd gone to another theater or perhaps gotten married as it did happen occasionally. She wasn't under contract after all," Dave said.
"Of course, without Sabella or you we are incomplete as that's what soulmates are all about," Aaron said. "Finding the one or ones to complete you, so that you're happy instead of just content. Every immortal supposedly has one or more."
"Living forever is a lonely business, especially if you have no one to share it with, not even a best friend like Aaron and I. Sure, we've been friends for a very long time but it's not the same thing, as having a mate," Dave said.
"Immortals have been known to get depressed so badly that they kill themselves or have someone else do it for them just because they haven't found their mate after a few centuries," Aaron said. "They don't trust the goddess enough that she would have already seen who their mate would be.
"Some of our kind just have no patience and feel like they've lived long enough," Sabella said.
"It really depends on the Immortal," Dave said. "Me, I've always trusted the goddess that supposedly made us knowing even if it took awhile that me and Aaron had at least one mate out there even if it takes centuries to find them."
"Dave and I have always been happy with just Sabella so we didn't exactly expect for you to show up. It's not even that we are against it, it was just a surprise," Aaron said.
"Definitely not!" Dave and Sabella both exclaimed at the same time.
"Surprise or not, you're most definitely not unwelcome," Dave said with an adorable grin that made Cassia go weak in the knees.
"I would certainly be surprised if a second mate showed up if you weren't expecting it," Cassia giggled.
"I wouldn't blame you if you were," Sabella said with a laugh. "I mean the three of us knew it was possible, but that's different from it actually happening. Still, I hope you will join us Cassia. I, for one, could use another female around that knows what we are."
"Well, I want to, but I do have a job and my vacation is about over," Cassia said clearly thinking about it.
"I need some time to think," Cassia decided. "I have a brother I need to talk to and also another sister. At least I want to remain in contact with them. Perhaps you could visit and let my family get to know you. They probably won't object to me getting together with two men, as it's quite common nowadays to have more then one partner and a lot of people do so. I can't deny I'm very attracted to you and as you'd know I was lying about that. My siblings likely won't believe I fell in love, just on my vacation and will likely consider it just a fling that I will soon get over. Such a thing as immortals isn't supposed to be real after all. My siblings love me, so they will likely try to convince me not to do it, because they would see it as a mistake, even if I know it isn't. I just have to decide if I want to put up with their strong urgings to not throw away my life."
"You wouldn't be," Sabella protested.
"I never said that's what I believe, but it is what my siblings will likely believe, especially my brother," Cassia stressed the last words.
"So that's one reason you want us to meet them," Dave said in understanding.
"One reason yes," Cassia agreed. "I'm hoping if they see us interact together... My brother can be pretty stubborn if he thinks I'm making a wrong choice and even reminding him that he's the baby and therefore, several years younger probably won't do any good. Since our parents died he's been that way. I know he fears losing me and Petra, my sister. He was around 14 then while I was 16 and Petra was around 19."
"That's understandable," Aaron said.
"If I have to I'll have to threaten to never see or speak with him again if he tries to stand in the way of his sister's happiness. That would make him unhappy but he knows I'd never tell him something like that unless I really wanted something and that he can either accept it or face the consequences."
"That seems a bit harsh," Dave winced.
"It is," Cassia agreed. "But it might be the only way, because there's no way he's standing in the way of my happiness. Saying something like that will let him know he's not gonna talk me out of it and that I'm totally serious in my intentions. We've always been close but none of us are married either and since he was so young when our parents died I fear that he's against either me or Petra getting married and settling down. He was always protective but that protectiveness has gotten out of hand. I do need time to think as I said before, but that's mostly so I can clear my head. While Alastair was a teenager when our parents passed away he was still really young to lose both of them like that, even though that kind of thing just happens sometimes. He's also immature at least about this subject. The few times that Petra has had a boyfriend Alastair didn't react well, especially when it got serious, but on the other hand, we can't keep coddling him forever. He is in his late 20s now, so he's just gonna have to get used to the idea."
"Well it's said that females mature faster than men," Dave said, "and that seems to be the case with your brother."
"Maybe he just feels that you'll get into a bad relationship as there are plenty of butthead's out there," Sabella suggested.
"While I can sympathize that doesn't mean that he can keep both of us unmarried forever," Cassia said. "We have a right to our lives and deep down Alastair knows that."
"So he can basically act like an immature teenager," Aaron said.
"Yes, at least in certain ways, but he needs to outgrow that, as he's 28, so it's way past time," Cassia said.
~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~
All four of them had discussed how to handle this rather delicate situation and it was finally decided that Aaron, Dave and Sabella would show up a couple of days after Cassia got home.
Cassia would've told her siblings about them by then and hopefully, handled any problems before they arrived.
"Welcome home," Petra greeted her sister.
"Thank you where is Alistair?" Cassia asked casually.
"Out with some guy friends," Petra shrugged.
"I need to talk to you while he's gone," Cassia said changing her plan.
"What about?" Petra asked raising her eyebrow in question.
"Let me get the rest of my luggage inside and then I'll tell you all about it," Cassia suggested.
Petra helped Cassia with her luggage and finally they settled in the kitchen.
"So?" Petra asked her sister.
"It's like this," Cassia began and began to tell Petra all about her vacation leaving out certain details that would be unbelievable.
"Well, I admit that's the last thing I expected to hear," Petra said as soon as her sister was done.
"I know and I certainly didn't expect it," Cassia said. "I went up there to ski and I did do a lot of that. Aaron was at the front desk because one of the employees had a family emergency and it was as if I had been struck over the head, as the attraction was really strong. I've never been so attracted to any man in all of my life. I, then met Dave, who was co-owner of the lodge I stayed at and the attraction was just as strong as with Aaron. It turned out that both men were already married to this beautiful woman named Sabella, but they were looking to take on another partner and Sabella agreed.
"So what did you say?" Petra asked.
"That I would have to think about it, talk to you and Alastair," Cassia said.
"But you really want to accept, because you're falling in love with both of them," Petra guessed studying her sister intently. "Believe me, it's as plain as daylight in your expression and your body language."
"I was sure you wouldn't approve," Cassia said in surprise. "I have only known them for a couple of weeks after all."
"If this is something you want to do then I won't object, because if you're that strongly attracted to both men you probably have something special and it would be a shame to give up your chance at happiness. Doing so, would only make you miserable in the long run, something I don't want to see happen. You do know that Alastair is gonna be a problem though."
"I know," Cassia said miserably. "I know he doesn't like the thought of either of his sisters getting married, but I am not gonna be miserable for the rest of my life just because my brother can't see that they make me happy. I'm going to hate to have to tell him I never want to see or speak to him again if he doesn't accept Aaron and Dave, but that's what I'm gonna do if he starts to get unreasonable. Basically, he needs to grow up and let his sisters get into serious relationships if they care too. You are welcome never to marry if you want, but that's not what I want.
"I understand that the way mom and dad died made him afraid. He needs to see a psychologist or at least he needs to let me make my own decisions when it comes to this type of situation. I understand that he loved mom and dad deeply so did we. I'm not willing to stay single however, for the rest of my life to make him happy. I want a family and children eventually and that won't happen if Alastair doesn't grow up. I would hate to tell him that particular phrase, but I would mean it, because I am a fully mature woman and women have a lot more freedom nowadays then they did long ago. I will not let my brother control me. I would be miserable without them."
"I really can't blame you," Petra said finally after she was sure her sister was done. "I would hate never to have you come home. To meet Dave, Aaron and Sabella."
"See that's the thing I invited them here for a few days, I was hoping if Alastair saw how happy we were together that he would accept it easier. I know there are no guarantees..."
"Are you sure it wasn't just a fling?" Petra asked suddenly. "That you really love them and it's not just lost an attraction?"
"I'm sure Pet," Cassia said. "Believe me, I would never have brought them up if I wasn't sure and I definitely wouldn't have invited them to come for a few days and to meet you both. I know very well that Alastair never liked the couple of guys you brought home and he probably won't like Dave, Aaron or even Sabella either, but I at least want to try and see if they can form a connection, at least enough that Alastair will accept my relationship is going to be a permanent thing. I really don't wanna have to cut all communications with him, but will if I have too."
"Well, that you invited your beaus here says a lot," Petra said with pursed lips. "That tells me that you are definitely serious about them. As for Alastair, I don't know that he's capable of accepting his sister's beaus. On the other hand, while you love your brother you have a right to live your life the way you want."
"Something our dear brother doesn't seem to understand. For god sakes I'm 30 Pet and you're 33. If I wanna get married I should be able to without Alastair objecting. I should be able to have a relationship without Alastair's wearing his feelings of disapproval on his sleeve. The least he could do is keep his feelings to himself."
"That is a very good point, Cass," Petra said. "Alastair doesn't have to be happy at the situation, but I think he feels like he's being abandoned. In someways, he's still very much like his 14 year old self."
"I am well aware of that Pet, but at some point he's just gonna have to accept it, because if he doesn't, while I won't like to never see him again, it's going to happen. He will probably feel like I abandoned him if I tell him I never want to see him again. I really don't wanna do that."
"It's probably the only way you're going to get him to listen," Petra sighed "Alastair can be rather stubborn."
"That is so true," Cassia snorted in amusement. "We probably should've made him go see a psychologist when he was 14, but we felt so sorry for him that we didn't."
"Things were also really busy around then, as there were a lot of little tasks that I had to take care of, since I was the only one that was of age. I had to handle our parents estate among other things. I'm actually surprised that they didn't name someone older like one of our uncles."
"They knew you were up to the task," Cassia suggested. "That you were intelligent and that there were plenty of people to help you like their lawyer."
"Well, it was certainly a learning experience and yes, the our parents lawyer was certainly very helpful," Petra said.
"That's what they are paid for," Cassia said.
"True," Petra agreed. "So when are your paramours arriving?"
"Oh, not until the day after tomorrow. They wanted to give me a chance to settle back in and try to talk to you and Alastair. You at least were more understanding then I expected. Alastair on the other hand, is going to be a problem," Cassia said blushing at her sister's term for Dave and Aaron, even if they weren't quite that yet, as they hadn't had intercourse. If they had, well, that would have started to form the bond between them and Cassia hadn't been sure at the time if she was going to accept their offer. She had wanted to certainly, but she had to talk to her siblings first.
"You deserve to be happy sis and if this Dave and Aaron make you happy then I'll be happy for you," Petra said. "I mean you are 30 and really you need to start having children if you want them, though it does depend on how many you were planning on having, though knowing you I would say at least two apiece."
"At least," Cassia agreed blushing again.
Suddenly the sound of the front door opening let the sisters know that their brother was home.
"I'll talk to him tomorrow before the guys get here," Cassia said, her tone saying she was not looking forward to the task.
"I'll help," Petra told her sister and Cassia shot her a grateful look, but said nothing as Alastair was coming their way.
~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~