"You certainly made my mom think and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. She might figure out you were born in a different time, even if I know that's unlikely," said Penelope once they were alone.

"Well, if she asks I'll have to tell her," Dave said with a shrug unconcerned. "I know I'm not like most other men, but then, I was born a very long time ago, so my ethics and morals were already set long before modern society came around. There are people like me around that were born in modern society, though I admit they are few and far between."

"Well, we'll see what happens," Penelope said. "My mom will keep your secret just so you know, so you don't need to worry about her telling anyone not even my father if you ask her not to. She's probably just thinking that you're a little bit too perfect, but on the other hand, a lot of older men, have many similar personality traits. They've learned to be less selfish and more generous and kind."

This was true, so Dave nodded.

"So what do you want to do while your mom's fixing dinner since she wouldn't let me help?" Dave asked.

"You impressed her by offering to help with dinner," Penelope said. "My mom isn't too easy to impress but you managed it. None of my other boyfriends ever offered to help prepare supper, even if it was something simple like a salad, because they didn't know how to cook. That you did, really impressed her."

"Well, I'm glad I did, even if I wasn't trying to," Dave smiled.

"No, you were simply being yourself, I know," Penelope giggled kissing him passionately. "I think my mom's decided that you're not going to abuse me now."

"I'm glad, because I want to get along with my in-laws," Dave said. "Now, all I have to do is meet your father once he gets home from work."

"Which should be within the next half an hour," Penelope said looking at her watch. "My dad doesn't worry so much about me that my mom does. He knows that I would divorce any man that abused me in a heartbeat if I happened to be married to someone like that. Besides, dad taught me how to defend myself when I was a teenager, so whoever had the bad manners to hit me would regret it I promise you."

"Luckily, for me I'm not like that at all," Dave said.

"Luckily, for you, you'll never feel my foot in your groin," Penelope giggled.

Dave winced comically, as he had been hit in that part of his anatomy a few times over the centuries and he knew how painful it was.

"So you've been hit there before," Penelope asked seeing the wince.

"A few times," Dave admitted with a pained grimaced. "Not by a female though, by several men who knew how painful it is to get hit in that area."

"You'll have to tell me how it happened sometime," Penelope said.

"I will, but later," Dave said and Penelope nodded, knowing that now was not the time.

The two started kissing passionately using their remaining time wisely before Penelope's father got home, so there were no more words as none were needed or wanted right then.

~~~Dave and Penelope~~~

"I'm very glad to meet you, Dave," said Penelope's father, shaking the other man's hand cordially.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Dave said giving him a firm handshake.

Penelope's father gave him points for politeness in his head and as far as he could see Penelope's fiancé didn't have an earring, a belly ring, a nose ring or anything else attached to his body like a lot of young men today. Of course, Dave was around Penelope's age, so he would've outgrown that stage if he'd ever been through one in the first place, as some kids didn't go through such a stage after all. Dave's clothes were nice, fitted properly and were high quality, which meant he had some money. Both the shirt and the pants were designer, though also very casual. A pair of high quality jeans and a nice collared shirt in black silk if he was any judge. Also, Dave's shoes were high quality leather. So far he approved of Penelope's fiancé, but he would see how things went before he said anything.

"So what is that you do for a living?" Juan Garcia asked as soon as he had settled in his favorite recliner with a glass of lemonade, that he liked to have just before dinner.

"I'm a businessman," Dave explained calmly. Dave then went on to explain all about how he and his best friend had invested in several of another businessman's projects. "Of course, before that I was just like anyone else. I was assigned chores when I was growing up, played with my friends when I had the time, but considering I was assigned to look after my three younger brothers, I didn't have as much free time as I would've liked."

"That's what every kid in the known universe says," Juan chuckled, starting to like to his daughter's fiancé a great deal.

"Probably," Dave agreed with the smile of his own. "I've never had any kids, so I really don't know, though I suppose I can ask my father and he could tell me."

"So no little Rossis out there?" Juan asked and Dave shook his head.

"No, as dad would have spanked me if I had dared get some woman pregnant and not lived up to my responsibilities. It wouldn't have mattered that I was an adult he would've taken me over his knee. Dad is very old-fashioned and expects all his sons to live up to their responsibilities, so if one of us is stupid enough to get some woman pregnant then we're expected to at least give the woman money to support the kid. Pay child support in other words, if you don't want to marry them."

Dave didn't bother to tell Penelope's father that there was no way he could've gotten some woman pregnant, unless they were immortal like he was and he had never had sex with a woman for long enough to turn them even partly immortal. What he had told Juan Garcia was nothing but the truth however, his dad would've indeed pounded on his behind if he had dared had sex with a woman enough to turn her immortal and then gotten her pregnant, unless he intended on marrying her. That's only if his dad found out about it however, but he had his ways of knowing things and Dave knew it.

"Well, I think I would like to meet your father," Juan said in approval. "He raised his children right, which is so rare in today's world."

"Yes, sir, he did," Dave agreed with a slow, easy smile. "I won't say I wasn't punished a few times when I was growing up, but I was more inclined to obey my parents then disobey. I can't say the same for my siblings though. I was smart enough to learn my lesson the first time, so there wasn't a repeat for the same offence."

"Well, I'm glad to know that," Juan said. "So how many siblings do you have Dave?"

"Nine," Dave answered immediately.

"Wow! That's a lot," Juan said blinking in surprise.

"Yes, sir, I know it is," Dave agreed calmly. "I have three brothers and six sisters. Both my parents love kids though, which is why they had so many. Back when I was born kids died from so many diseases that had no cures, that I'm not surprised my parents had so many, as you never knew if a child would survive to adulthood. Just because all their kids lived didn't mean it wasn't a possibility that one or more of them couldn't've died due to an accident or one of the diseases that were prevalent back when I was born."

"Well, so long as they can support them, I suppose it doesn't matter how many a family has," Juan said.

"My parents didn't have a lot of money, but we always had enough for food, mostly vegetables, fruit and bread, as meat was so expensive. However, my family's clothing was made by mom and my sisters once they were old enough too sew a decent seam."

"That's how they did it way back a long time ago," Juan said approvingly. "A lot of families didn't have money to buy their clothes, even at a cheap second hand shop."

"I don't think there were any second hand shops in our area, not when I was growing up, anyway," Dave shrugged. "I suppose that there could've been, but since mom sews so well and could make all our clothes I doubt my parents ever looked. It certainly saved a lot of money, thanks to mom's and my sisters sewing ability."

They would not have bothered Dave knew to look, as such shops hadn't existed back then, except maybe in major cities. It had mostly been bartering back so long ago, especially in small villages.

"Our childhood might've been rather simplistic, but it was also a less technological time and personally, I think that the way my parents did it stopped us from being spoiled too much, except with love and affection," Dave said and Juan slowly nodded.

"So how did you to meet?" Juan asked.

"Mom has already asked Dave this question," Penelope smiled speaking for the first time. She was glad to see that Dave and her father were getting along so well, even though she knew Dave was at least partly lying about some of his past or at least stretching the truth. It's not like he could tell her father the truth that he had been born centuries ago, so Dave was doing his best to tell as much truth, as he could without lying too much.

"We met thanks to my friend Emily," Penelope explained. "Once Emily met Aaron, Dave's very good friend, Dave knew that his friend had fallen in love and so more seriously considered settling down himself."

"If my best friend and really my brother in every way except blood, was going to settle down I knew I needed to get my rear in gear and find someone for myself," Dave added. "Aaron and I always did everything together. We always traveled together, went to the movies together, attended concerts together and ate out together. I'm closer to him then I am to my own brothers, who I hardly ever see actually. We just don't have that much in common despite growing up together and having the same parents. Maybe it's because I'm the oldest and often had to keep them out of trouble."

"According to Emily she met Aaron at a concert in the park in New York and both of them were instantly smitten with each other," Penelope added.

This statement was the absolute truth, even if Penelope didn't say exactly why they had been so smitten and let her father assume that they were just really super attracted to each other, which might or might not lead anywhere, though in this case it definitely had.

"They just had their wedding and got back from their honeymoon a few weeks ago," Dave added, smiling. "I was very happy for my friend, as Emily is a lovely lady. Emily introduced me to your daughter while her mother was planning their wedding and we got along splendidly from the first. I proposed just a week before Emily and Aaron got back from their honeymoon and the rest as they say is history."

Juan was nodding at this, because sometimes, men could find that they got along very well indeed and become as close as brothers to each other. It happened particularly to those in the military who had been in combat together, as a bond often formed between men of the same unit, though it might not last for the rest of their lives once the danger was past.

"I, for one, happily accepted, as I knew I had fallen in love with him," Penelope said smiling. "He proposed on bended knee and everything. See the ring he got me?"

Penelope extended her hand, so her father could see the ring that Dave had gotten her.

"Very nice, Penny," Juan said examining the diamond ring. "Dave has very good taste."

The ring was at least a 3 carat, a brilliant cut diamond, in a gold setting.

"Yes, he does," Penelope said. "I'm certainly glad of it as some men have terrible taste," Penelope added teasing Dave a little.

"I was trained at my father's knee to know beautiful jewelry, so I would never pick out something ugly for my ladylove," Dave said in a teasing tone. "Once I had some money of my own, I invested so that amount increased."

"You didn't have to invest as much back in those days to get a good return," Juan said knowingly.

"No, you didn't, but that was years ago, and inflation has gone up a lot," Dave agreed. "I was just lucky that I invested in the right type of businesses that I got a good return on it to where today I'm not going to go broke."

"Well, welcome to the family Dave. It's clear to see that my daughter adores you and so long as you make her happy, I'm happy for you," Juan said.

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate it," Dave said shaking Penelope father's hand, accepting the mild threat for what it was. A father who wanted to protect his daughter as best as he was able, even though she was an adult. "I'll certainly do my best to make her as happy as she's made me."

"That's all anyone can do, son and that's try," Juan said. "Trying your best is all you can do. So any children in the near future?"

"No dad, I'm not pregnant," Penelope said rolling her eyes at her father, knowing very well what he meant. "Dave and I might get pregnant on the honeymoon, but not before the wedding."

"That's good," Juan approved. "I'm still looking forward to some grandchildren and I know Ivy is too. Our son hasn't provided enough for her."

"She's already said as much," Dave said amused. "We want at least four or five, but we'll see how it goes."

"It's not that we don't want more, but I'm older and we think that's all I have time to have," Penelope added. "Even if we only spaced them a year apart."

"Still, 4 or 5 is a lot nowadays," Juan said. "Your mother and I will be happy with whatever, so don't have so many on our account Penny, not unless it's what you truly want and it doesn't put your life in danger."

"I would never do that and Dave would never allow me to," Penelope promised.

"No, I wouldn't," Dave agreed immediately. "It's taken me a long time to find a woman I actually want to settle down with. Of course, I admit, I didn't really look too seriously until Aaron met Emily, as I was happy as a bachelor, despite my mother wanting some more grandchildren. She's been wanting me to settle down for years."

More like centuries, Dave added, but in his head not out loud.

"I bet you she was happy then that you're finally getting married," Juan grinned suddenly at the image that popped into his head.

"You could say that," Dave chuckled. "I'm sure you could hear her screams of joy for several miles, as I called her immediately with the news. I'm the oldest child," Dave explained when Juan looked like he was about to ask why his mother was so happy, "so she thinks I should've settled down long since. Both my parents have already met Penny at our friends wedding and liked her. Mom strongly hinted that I should ask Penny to marry me I told her I wasn't going to rush things, just to make her happy, as I didn't want to make a mistake. We'll be going to visit them next. Mom and dad consider Aaron another son, which is why they were invited to his wedding."

"So it's like they have 11 children instead 10," Juan said Dave nodded.

"Yes, it's like they have five sons instead of four," Dave agreed. "They were just as happy for Aaron, as they were for any of their children that got married over the years. I'm sure they'll consider any children that Aaron and Emily have as their grandchildren, just as much as they do all their offsprings."

"What about Aaron's parents?" Juan asked.

"Oh they're dead, have been for years," Dave said with a nonchalant shrug. "I think Aaron sees us as his family now. He never mentions them or hardly anyway. I get the impression that they weren't very close. It's only an impression though, as Aaron, has never actually said so. I didn't want to hurt him, so I haven't asked him about his parents."

Dave had never actually met Aaron's parents when he had originally met the man that had been his brother for centuries. He had assumed at the time that Aaron's parents were dead, since Aaron had never mentioned them, but they could very well have been alive back then, but been abusive or just uncaring. Of course, he hadn't known Aaron for very long before the influenza had hit, but Dave didn't see Aaron abandoning his parents if he was close to them just to travel with him, even once his family was dead. Aaron was nothing, if not loyal to those he loved, and would do anything for those he was close to, so Dave figured that his parents were more than likely dead before they had ever met. It wasn't unlikely at all, as people just didn't live as long back then. They could die at 30 or 40 or 50 and most people didn't live past that age, especially someone poor who wasn't getting proper nutrition. Scientists had discovered that meat was important to a growing child and that they didn't necessarily have to eat it after they were an adult. Still, meat provided certain nutrients and so long as you didn't eat it to excess it was good for you, chicken or pork in particular, but red meat not so much. So long as you ate it in moderation, though it was okay too. Unless you were immortal of course, then it didn't matter what you ate or drank, though you could get fat, but couldn't drink yourself to death or ruin your liver with excess drinking.

"Dave is always thoughtful of others feelings unless he's mad," Penelope said. "He doesn't get mad often and in fact, I've only seen him get mad once."

Juan listened as Penelope told him about the incident in a nightclub, weeks ago and he couldn't blame Dave at all for getting mad at the guy that kept persisting on dancing with his daughter. Penny had said no, I'm with someone and the guy hadn't taken the hint. Dave had apparently gone off to get their drinks, so she was alone temporarily. Juan understood why Dave had punched that guy when he returned from the bar. He had done it more for the fact, that he was being a pest then any other reason. That the guy had slunk off after that wasn't surprising as he probably hadn't wanted to be punched again, which he knew Dave likely would've done if he had continued being persistent.

"Well, I would say that guy deserved what he got," Juan said. "Normally, I wouldn't recommend violence, but I think you handled the situation as well as you could. Some men or women for that matter just don't know how to take no for an answer. I know this firsthand."

"You do?" Penelope asked her father in surprise.

"Of course, I do, sweetie. I was young once to you know. It happened several times, way before I met your mother, and a few times after we had married," Juan told his daughter. "Of course, I was never one of those people that prowled nightclubs, but there are other places like bars to meet women you know."
"Yes, there are as I go to bars all the time," Penelope agreed. "Bars and clubs aren't really all that dissimilar since they both have alcohol and dancing."

"The bars I went to there was no dancing, Penny, just drinking," Juan said. "You go to fancier and more expensive places than I did when I was young. There was less chance of somebody drugging my drink at the bars I went to and it also wasn't as common back then. That's not to say it couldn't happen, it just wasn't as likely."

"I always get us fresh drinks if we haven't finished ours when we want to dance as I take no chances," said Dave and Juan nodded approvingly. "I know very well what goes on in places like that, so really, that's the only safe thing to do unless you have someone to watch your drinks all the time. Leaving a half full drink alone is just asking for trouble. Nothing might ever happen, but you also never know."

"Good, I'll leave my daughter in you're capable hands then," Juan said, really liking his daughter's fiance, as it was clear Dave adored her and did his best to keep her safe. Really, that's all anyone could expect.

Penelope said nothing knowing that her father was basically giving Dave carte blanche to do anything to protect her, even though she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. It was a man thing, Penelope knew, so she didn't protest.

At least her father approved of Dave and that was a great relief to her, because she still would've married him, but her father probably never would've spoken to her again, if he didn't approve of the match, so it was just as well.

Ivy called dinner just then and everybody gravitated to the kitchen where are delicious smells were emanating.

"It smells heavenly," Dave complimented Ivy causing her to blush.

Everybody sat down and Dave bowed his head, as the family prayed over the food, before digging in.

"You're a wonderful cook," Dave complemented Ivy again.

"Thank you," Ivy said smiling. "Did you know that Dave is the cook is well Juan? Penelope said that he's a wonderful chef, as he's cooked for her at her apartment a few times already."

"Well, that's good, because Ivy never did manage to teach Penny how to cook," Juan said.

"I tried, but she just doesn't seem to have any talent for it," Ivy said with a shake of head.

"I get along just fine on my own mom. I can do simple things, but nothing complicated and that's always been enough. The crockpot is my best friend."

"There are a lot of simple meals that are real easy to prepare," Dave agreed. "I can do complicated, but if I'm not in the mood or I'm too tired doing simple is faster. I can fix a simple stir fry in less then 20 minutes."

"So where did you learn to cook so well?" asked Ivy.

"Oh here and there," Dave said vaguely. "Mom taught me a lot of it, because I asked her to, but I also eat out a lot. It's a good thing that I can cook, because Aaron can't and I did try to teach him."

"Well then, they're in trouble, because Emily isn't a very good cook either. I don't think that her mother ever thought about the fact that her children would be on their own at some point and they might not have a chef. Emily mother is a businesswoman," Penelope explained to her father, because while Juan had met his daughter's friend on several occasions he didn't really know much about her. "Let's just say they don't get along and leave it at that."

Dave knew that was an understatement, but he said nothing.

"Even if the mother had forced Emily to learn how to cook she might not have had any talent for it, just like Aaron doesn't," Dave said instead.

"Well, they can always eat out," Juan said, "though that can be expensive, especially once they start having children."

"Both of them could afford to eat out every day, all three meals, if they cared to," Penelope told her father who nodded at what his daughter had implied.

"We'll of course, invite them over for lots of meals," Dave said. "I usually cook more than I have to and freeze it. Aaron and I already discussed how we're not going to let his marriage or mine wreck our friendship. If they move somewhere else like New Mexico Penelope and I will follow."

"Why would they move?" Juan asked confused.

"Because as I stated earlier, Emily and her mother don't get along, 'really don't get along'," Penelope emphasized the last four words, so her father understood the intense dislike Emily had for her mother. "Elizabeth Prentiss can't stay out of her daughter's life and tries to correct what she sees as errors. Emily told me about the big argument they had, when her mother was planning her wedding.

"Emily told her straight out that she would have eloped if she could've gotten away with it and she wouldn't have been invited. The only reason Emily let her mother plan her wedding was because she's not very good at planning large events like that. Her mother has supported many senators and governors in their campaigns to win their position, so all of those people had to be invited, so they weren't insulted, when Emily rather would've kept it simple, with far fewer people.

"There were over four hundred people there, you see. Emily said she would have to think long and hard if she wants her mother anywhere near her grandchildren once they come. She's sure that Elizabeth Prentiss did a background check on Aaron to make sure he wasn't a gold digger, though that wouldn't have stopped Emily from marrying him, as she is unlikely to listen to her mother's advice. Luckily, for Emily, her mother approved of Aaron, because she would've gone out of her way to interfere in her daughter's life otherwise."

"I see," Juan said finally. "You're saying that moving far away is to stop Elizabeth Prentiss from interfering in her daughter's life. You know she has no influence any place, but New York, which is why you're moving somewhere far away."

"It's also to get away from everyone that knows her as Alan and Elizabeth Prentiss's daughter," Dave said. "The father was involved in politics and Emily absolutely loathes them. I don't blame her from what I know about her childhood. There was this guy that approached Emily and Aaron at the wedding while they were eating some of the food that was available. He started asking Emily her opinions on certain candidates, didn't even introduce himself, as he assumed that Emily, as Elizabeth and Alan Prentiss's daughter would know him. Emily nearly punched him in the nose, after telling him off of course. It was specifically stated on the wedding invitations that there would be no discussion of politics at all."

"In nice, big capital letters too," Penelope added with a grin. "I'm sure that guy assumed that it was an arranged marriage, since a lot of people in political circles do just that. Emily disabused him of that notion right quick from what she told me. She told him that this was her wedding day and the invitation said no talk of politics. Emily didn't particularly care if others talked politics, so long as they left her and Aaron alone."

"Aaron hates politics, just as much as Emily does and so do I. It's often so dirty and underhanded. It's at least part of the reason that we get along so well, as we share the same opinion on many subjects," Dave added. "I rescued the guy before Emily actually punched him, as I was the best man and it was my job, but it was a close thing."

"Well, I always knew that Emily was something of a firebrand," Juan said grinning appreciatively. "That she was willing to possibly get blood on her wedding dress really says something. I know very well that wedding dresses can be really expensive, depending on what you choose."

"Yes, they are," Penelope agreed. "It's not Emily's or Aaron fault that the guy didn't listen to the warning on the invitation."

"No, it's not," Dave agreed. "He probably thought it was a mere suggestion. I only rescued him so that there wouldn't be a scene, not out of any concern for such an idiot. I didn't want people talking about the scene the bride caused when she punched Mr. Daniel Carruthers in the mouth, as Emily was gearing up to do just that and Aaron wouldn't have stopped her, thinking the guy deserved it. He did too."

"Well, at least her mother would've been mad at Carruthers instead of at her, since he's the one that didn't listen to the warning on the invitation," Penelope said. "The way I understand it Elizabeth Prentiss is not the type to put that kind of warning on any type of invitation if it isn't seriously meant."

"That's true, at least from what little I know of her," Dave chuckled. "Mr. Carruthers actually asked me if Emily really would've punched him and I told him yes, she would have and that Emily hated politics with reason to do so. He had assumed that Emily was also into politics, because her father was, but that's so far from the truth as to be very far from reality."

"You have to admit that a lot of children end up in politics in one form or another when they come from those types of families," Penelope said.

"You're right they do, particularly the sons, while the daughters often marry somebody's son who's a politic animal, because that's all they know," Dave agreed. "I doubt the daughters are very happy anyway, but who knows?"

"Emily told me that if Aaron had even the slightest interest in politics, she never would've married him that's how much she hates them," Penelope told her father, as this was something Ivy already knew.

"Well, that really says something," Ivy said. "Emily's not one to marry unless she's really, truly in love, so if she would've turned down Aaron's proposal, just because he had a slight interest in politics..."

"Then that means she deeply hates them," Juan realized. "So when is the wedding and I need to know how much money is required."

"Don't worry about it, sir," Dave said. "I told Penny I would take care of everything. I can more than afford it I promise and if it allows Penny to have the wedding she wants then it's all going to a good cause."

"I insist on paying something," Juan insisted.

"You can pay for my wedding dress, dad," Penelope said, knowing her father had a lot of pride and she should have known that he would have insisted that he pay at least something. "I've already chosen, which one I want from a catalog. It should be delivered in the next couple of weeks. It'll probably have to be taken in, but that's okay, as that's the normal way of things, in something that's store bought or ordered."

"How much?" Juan asked.

Penelope told him and he nodded. "I'll transfer that amount to your account as soon as I can get to the bank. Is there more I can do? This is my only daughter's wedding after all."

"Everything else is taken care of," Penelope said. "All you have to do is show up in a tuxedo and since I know you don't own one, I know where you can rent one for the day. Give me your sizes and I'll make sure one is ready for you when you arrive in New York for the wedding."

"Well, you have everything well in hand," Ivy said.

"You're still going to be helping a lot mom, because Dave's right, Emily's not really good at planning such a big event, and she's admitted as much. It's one of the main reasons she allowed her mother to plan most of her wedding, even though they don't get along. Emily knew her mother was very good at planning complicated events, as she has a lot of experience with doing so, parties and fund raisers mostly."

"I'll make sure I measure him before you leave to see Dave's parents in a week," Ivy promised. "We want him to look good in his rented tuxedo."

"I'm sure we could find a place to rent you a dress as well," Penelope suggested to her mother. "That way, you don't have to buy one that you'll likely never wear again, as I only intend to get married once and my brother is already married, so you won't likely be going to anymore weddings, though I suppose you can go to one for a friend's child."

"I'm going to buy something, sweetie, but thank you for the offer," Ivy said firmly. "I admit that your father and I don't attend many fancy events, but I can always leave it to one of my grandchildren, even if I know it'll be several decades out of style by then. Who knows old stuff might be back in style by the time your daughter or granddaughter is grown, as it could be considered retro."

"Alright then," Penelope agreed without arguing. She knew there was no point so she didn't bother. Her mother could be quite stubborn about certain things and this was just one of those times.

Penelope and Dave had a good time at dinner before they headed to their the hotel for the night.

~~~Dave and Penelope~~~