Epilogue
"I'm so happy for you," Emily squealed excitedly clapping her hands together. She had just learned that Dave and Penelope had gotten engaged about a week ago.
Emily and Aaron had just returned from their honeymoon, after a month away. They came back looking very happy, relaxed and contented. They had tanned skin from being out in the sun a lot.
"One of my best friend is getting married to Aaron's best friend, this makes us family," Emily added.
"We were already family," Dave told Emily. "Aaron is my brother and I don't give a damn if there is any blood relationship. I'm well aware that some people would mind, but I don't."
"Neither do I," Aaron agreed. "Dave is my brother in every way. I never had one of those before him. We've been through too many trials together to not either be very close or hate each other with a passion."
"That's true," Dave said amused.
"Though we've often been mistaken for being in a sexual relationship," Aaron added laughing Dave following him.
"What kind of idiot believed that?" Penelope asked looking shocked.
"It was way back in the past when such things were absolutely taboo," Dave explained. "Aaron and I were often mistaken as sexual partners, instead of just as brothers."
"And trying to explain that to a bunch of idiots often didn't have any affect," Aaron added with an amused little smile. "Apparently, men weren't supposed to be so close, unless they were actually siblings. It didn't seem to matter that Dave and I thought of each other that way whether we were related or not. We often passed ourselves off as half siblings just to stop people from running us out-of-town."
"Half siblings don't have to look a thing alike because they only share one parent in common," Dave added chuckling remembering those days. "That's what we made sure we told folks, before they made any erroneous assumptions."
"That was only after we were chased out of two or three different places," Aaron said.
"It's certainly wasn't amusing at the time, but now, we can laugh about it." Dave said. "It doesn't matter what people assume now, as such things are much more acceptable."
"Yeah, we won't be run out of whatever village or town we are in often with stones thrown after us," Aaron added.
"So what did you do to those idiots?" Emily asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What makes you think we did anything?" Dave asked in return with an innocent expression.
"Because I know Aaron and how much people making assumptions, especially wrong ones, upset him and he always found a way to get back to them, without it being traced back to him," Emily explained with a smirk.
"I never did it to anyone high ranking enough to have me hung or some other form of punishment decided on. I had my family to think about after all," Aaron protested with laughter in his eyes.
"Alright, fine, we picked their pockets for them and they never knew that things were missing until we were gone," Dave finally admitted causing Emily at least to chuckle.
"It's no more than they deserved," Emily said remembering the looks of pity she had received as Berenice just because she was poor. She also received other kinds of looks like she wasn't worth anything, because they had money and every advantage and she didn't.
"But that was dishonest," Penelope protested.
"They deserved it," Emily told Penelope firmly. "It was a different time back when Aaron and I were born. Just like today, people often took advantage of others, but some lord could order the death of someone and no one could help him a her or they would share their fate. It wouldn't matter if that person had not done anything just the lord or someone else fairly wealthy like a business owner thinking they had was often enough."
"Trust me, those we stole from, could more than afford to lose a few coins," Dave told Penelope. "We were often chased out of town with only the clothes on our backs, just because someone didn't like how close Aaron and I were, often mistaking it for a sexual relationship. People don't listen to reason when they're as mad as fire. We often didn't escape without at least a few bruises, which healed immediately, but still, its the principle of the thing. It's not our fault that people made wrong assumptions."
"We had to buy supplies, and while we kept our money pouches on us we never had much. We had to be able afford to buy new clothes, food, stuff like that," Aaron explained. "We didn't have horses, because we couldn't afford to, not back then."
"So what built the foundations for your fortune?"
"We invested in this business, when we had a little extra money and it grew over the years. It didn't take much money to start a business back then," Dave explained. "That was like in the 14th century I believe. That's what started my fortune. I, of course, loaned Aaron some and he invested as well so made his own fortune. We shared money and supplies."
"It was the only thing we could do back then really, even if we both carried money pouches. We always split what money we had between us, from whatever odd jobs we could pick up," Aaron added.
"Those were different times," Dave said. "I won't say I miss them a great deal, but sometimes, I yearn for a much simpler and less technological time."
"I don't blame you there," Emily said. "You have to realize Penny that all of us were born in a far less technological time, well not me, technically, I suppose, but my former incarnation of Berenice."
"Dave told me about that and said that you would confirm his words," Penelope said. "I was going to ask you, but I just had to share my news first."
"Yes, I was Aaron's wife, Berenice," Emily promised her friend. "I realize how strange it seems to believe in reincarnation, especially in this century. I have no doubt that real reincarnation is as rare as hens teeth, but yes, it does exist. I can describe things from when I was Berenice. The way the roof leaked on the house that Aaron and I raised our family in, how crowded it was with eight people, how cold it was in the winter because the shutters weren't sealed against the cold, so that the freezing air leaked past them."
"No glass in the windows?" Penelope asked in shock.
"Of course not, glass was expensive Penny," Aaron told her. "We couldn't afford glass in the windows and this was not unusual for the time."
"Sounds like a rather hard existence," Penelope said.
"It was in a lot of ways," Emily said, "But I wouldn't change a single thing if I'd never met Aaron. It might've been hard to have enough food to eat, to keep ourselves clothed, but Aaron and I loved each other so much, that's what made it bearable. I'm definitely glad I was reborn, so I could be with him and I know that our existences this around time will be much better."
"Yes, it will, because now I'm not as poor as a church mouse anymore," Aaron said. "Dave helped me build my own fortune and always shared everything he had with me, which wasn't much a lot of times I admit, but it was more than enough."
"I also have my own share of the family fortune waiting on me so long as I have at least four children and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm pregnant now," Emily added rubbing her belly.
"I wouldn't be either," Aaron smirked. "I'm definitely looking forward to having children again and this time they'll have every advantage."
"Oh! A baby," Penelope nearly squealed excitedly.
"Don't get excited Penny, there's no guarantees I'm pregnant," Emily warned her friend.
"If you're not, it's not for lack of trying," Aaron smirked again.
"I probably am, but it's much too soon to tell," Emily said. "I'll give it another few weeks at least, until I take a pregnancy test."
"You aren't going to age anymore, so it doesn't matter how far you split those babies apart," Dave pointed out.
"You forgot about my mother and my siblings," Emily reminded Dave. "They would be very suspicious if I got pregnant at 50. No, it's better, if I have them close together this time and after they're dead we can spread them out more if we want."
"That's a point," Dave admitted. "Don't want to make any of your family suspicious."
"Definitely not, because unlike me or Penny they'd never believe in immortality and the only reason I did, is because of my memories of being Berenice."
"That is a good point," Dave admitted for a second time.
"So when is the wedding?" Emily asked Penelope.
"Not for a few weeks at least, as Dave only asked me last week, so I've only started planning," Penelope answered. "It won't be anywhere near as large as yours was, due to all those politicians, businesspeople, governors and senators your mother had to invite or have them insulted."
"I have to admit, except for that one guy, things went pretty well," Emily said.
Penelope knew all about the idiot that had started talking politics without even introducing himself. The guy had been rude and had chosen to ignore Elizabeth Prentiss's edict that was written on the invitation in capital letters.
"That guy should have known that mother never would have put that warning on the invitation if it wasn't going to be enforced. It was supposed to be a festive occasion, though he probably assumed it was an arranged marriage, since so many in political circles are," said Emily.
"His name was Daniel Carruthers," Dave told everyone.
"Alright, I know his name, but he was still rude," Emily said. "Dave definitely saved that guy from being punched in the nose."
"Surely, you wouldn't've done that. Not on your wedding day," Penelope protested genuinely shocked.
"You've known me for how many years, Penny?" Emily asked her friend with a raised eyebrow.
"Alright, you would have," Penelope admitted. "You hate politics I know that, but to get your wedding dress all bloody, even if it's only a couple of drops..."
"I don't really care about that," Emily said. "All I care about was having a good time considering it was my wedding day and I deserved to be left in peace for it. I admit I was left alone for the most part, as most people obeyed the edict or at least didn't bother me, even if they talked about politics amongst themselves. Dave came to the rescue before I could punch Mr. Daniel Carruthers. I probably would have gotten blood on my hand at least, maybe even on my dress. Getting blood on my dress would've upset my mother, but since she would've gone after Mr. Carruthers and not me for not listening when I told him I wasn't interested and that I hated politics that would've been fine with me. All I wanted was a nice, peaceful wedding day," Emily repeated.
"It's over with, we're married and that's all that matters," Aaron told Emily holding her gently. "Come hell or high water, I'll never lose you again, not now that I have you back."
"Yes, that's all that matters," Emily said snuggling into Aaron's arms contently, Aaron kissing the top of her head lovingly.
"So did you tell your mother about your engagement to Penny?" Aaron asked Dave. "If you did, I would think you could hear her squeals of joy all the way here in New York."
"Yes, I did and you would be correct about how she squealed in happiness," Dave chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if you could hear them for several miles at least."
"Well, she's been wanting you to settle down for a long time," Aaron reminded him with a grin. "You are the oldest son."
"It's not easy to find someone, even when you're mortal and it's harder still to find someone when you live practically forever," Dave said.
"This is something I know very well," Aaron agreed solemnly. "I'll be grateful forever to have Emily for the rest of my very long life."
The two men shared a look of complete understanding that neither lady could interpret. This was fine, because they both knew Aaron and Dave had known each other for centuries, while the two of them had not, even if Emily, as Berenice had known her husband very well indeed.
"She was very excited when I told her I had proposed to Penny and she said she had a feeling that Penny was going to be the one that I finally settled down with," Dave told Aaron what his mother had said.
"Sometimes a mother just knows," Penelope said with a soft smile. "Mine was certainly overjoyed when I told her I was getting married. The only thing left to do is introduce Dave to my parents."
"We'll go up to California soon," Dave promised. "Spend some time with your family, so they can get to know me. I just wanted to be here for Aaron and Emily's return and I know you did too. Now that their back we can visit your family in California."
"There're so many things to plan though," Penelope protested.
"Which you can plan from California as well as here," Dave said, "especially in this era of technology. It won't hurt to go visit your family for a few days, a week or so at least. They need to see that your genuinely happy and that you're not getting into a bad situation, since so many men are bastards with a capital B."
That was a good point Penelope admitted and agreed to Dave's plan without arguing farther. She wanted her mother in particular, to know that she had made a good choice, so she wouldn't worry about her, as her mother was something of a worrywart.
"Alright then, it will stop my mother from worrying that I'm in a bad relationship," agreed Penelope without arguing further.
"At least your mother and father aren't as likely to argue about your choice and trust me my mother would have if she hadn't liked Aaron," Emily reminded Penelope. "I'm positive she had a background check done on him to make sure that he wasn't a gold digger at least."
"It's a good thing we have our data adjusted every few years," Aaron said.
"Good thing," Dave agreed grinning. "We have to do so, because this is a high tech society we live in," Dave explained to Penelope.
"I understand that," Penelope agreed. "Someone might do a background check on you like Emily mother likely did with Aaron."
"Oh, she did, trust me, Elizabeth Prentiss is nothing if not thorough," Emily said. "She would've wanted to make sure that Aaron wasn't just leading me into heartbreak. It's not like I could've told her about the past lives aspect, she never would've believed me and probably would've had me committed or tried anyway."
Penelope had met Emily mother on several occasions, so agreed with her friend's assessment.
"I can see her doing something like that yeah," Penelope agreed. "I have to admit that Emily mother can be a rather hard woman."
"Some people are like that," Dave told Penelope. "I can't blame her if half of what I know about her is true. Her marriage was arranged and that often leads to discontent and unhappiness. In fact, it happens at least 90 percent of the time. Immortals never arrange marriages for their children, because you just aren't stuck with someone for a few decades, but for centuries."
"Yes, they are. She tried to do the same thing to me a few years ago and I don't know about my brothers, but she probably tried to arrange marriages for them as well as me, as I wouldn't put it past her. In fact, its something she would do. I told her no to her face and said I would only marry for love and she knew me well enough to know I would never agree to an arranged marriage with some man I probably barely knew and that I had about as much in common with me as a pig loving a chicken."
"I'd rather live alone for the rest of my life would be stuck in a marriage of convenience," Penelope shuddered. "Luckily, my parents would never even think about arranging a marriage for me. Thank God, they don't think like that."
"That's exactly what I told my mother to," Emily immediately agreed. "I'd rather never get married or have children if I couldn't do so with a man I loved. I think paying for the honeymoon was her way of apologizing for the inattention to me when I was growing up. She didn't pay us any more attention then she absolutely had too. I understood that she was busy, but still, other busy people manage to pay their children some attention, read them bedtime stories when they are small, sit by a child's bedside when they are very sick, just little things that let a child know their mother or their father loves them. Neither of my parents did a single one of those things. We were left in the care of the nanny most of the time, a nanny that was more of a mother to us then our own was. I won't say she wasn't a nice older lady, just that she wasn't our mom and dad."
Emily said this more for Penelope then anyone else, who were already aware of her opinion one this particular subject.
"My childhood wasn't exactly unpleasant, just lonely and boring a lot of times," Emily told Penelope.
"I feel sorry for you as my childhood was much different," Penelope said. "I knew you had it rough, just not how rough."
"It's okay. I've gotten over the past. I barely see my mother at all anymore," Emily shrugged. "I'll have to think about if I want to have any contact with her grandchildren at all. I only let her plan the whole thing, because all the details that go into weddings would've driven me crazy in no time. I probably would've forgot to invite some high muckety-muck, a senator or a governor, who would then have been insulted they weren't invited. It was just easier to let my mother handle it and just veto some of her wilder ideas."
"Like what?" Penelope asked.
"Like a 10 foot train trailing behind me," Emily said, rolling her eyes. "It would've taken a dozen people just to stop it from trailing along the dirty floor. That might've been done in the past, but not for my wedding thank you. Still, my mother did a relatively good job and didn't take a year to plan it. I'm sure she knew I'd elope before I waited until next spring or summer to tie the knot."
"I would hate to wait that long to get married," Penelope agreed. "I could already have my first kid by then or at least be pregnant with them."
"Let's not worry about that right now they're not even conceived yet," Aaron suggested. "I mean they might be, but we don't know for sure. Stress can stop you from getting pregnant, so let's not worry about it until we know one way or the other."
Emily dropped the subject but she would be thinking long and hard if she wanted to allow her mother any contact with her kids whatsoever. She would also discuss it with Aaron before she made any definite decisions as he often had good advice.
Both Dave and Aaron would see their friend's project completed, because it would help many poor people and they would also deal with whoever wanted Taro dead. They would kill without remorse in order to protect Taro who was one of the worlds best hope for the future, as he was honest and kind and as honorable as you could possibly expect in this corrupt world. The world needed him around for as many years as he could get, even if people never knew it and both Dave and Aaron would do their best to protect Taro's ideals until it was time for him to pass into the next world.
Dave was looking forward to the future for the first time in a long time. He would marry his Penny and they would have many children over the centuries, which would definitely make his mother happy and also his grandmother.
The future, for once, looked very bright indeed.