A few weeks later

Alex leaned back on the arm of the couch and sighed. She knew she was falling in love with David Rossi. Dave had been courting her slowly and also carefully if she was any judge.

There was something strange going on and she wasn't sure what, something that was familiar. Until she figured that out, she didn't want to get too involved with either Aaron or Dave. The only problem was that her heart was giving her trouble. Her father had told her to be very careful because she was, a witch with magical powers and she could be controlled if someone got some of her nails, hair or skin even her saliva would work, though once it dried it wouldn't be very effective. She always made sure to burn any hair or nail clippings she shed just to be on the safe side.

Alex sat there and thought about Dave, who was certainly a handsome specimen of a man, though that wasn't the only thing that attracted her. While she appreciated his attractiveness, she also appreciated his intelligence. He was quite knowledgeable about many subjects, but especially about the ocean. Alex could understand that, because it was a subject he taught, so he must have a degree in it. Come to think of it he didn't have any diplomas or doctorates displayed around the beachhouse and neither did Aaron. Of course, they could be in their offices...

She was being too suspicious Alex thought, as she simply leaned her head against the arm of the couch and stretched out fully. She closed her eyes and just drifted. She had met Dave and Aaron on the beach before breakfast at about 6:15. Now, that wasn't really suspicious in itself, because a lot of people liked to walk the beach early in the morning and it was apparent that both Dave and Aaron were early risers. They probably had to be if they had to teach early-morning classes during the school year.

Finally, Alex's eyes snapped open having finally realizing what had made her so suspicious. Well, not suspicious precisely, just set her instincts to tingling. Both Aaron and Dave had been barefoot on the beach when she had met them, that wasn't what had attracted her, as it was reasonable to assume that Dave and Aaron liked the sand between their toes.

She had only noticed it out of the corner of her eye or she had only glanced at it, then looked away and not realized the significance of what she had seen. Not only had both Dave and Aaron's feet been wet, so had the cuffs of their pants. Aaron had been carrying a backpack, and Alex had assumed it was to collect specimen shells and so forth, but what if it had concealed two sealskins. She was nearly positive she was correct, but she had to go about this carefully as she didn't want to accuse them unless she was sure. She was nearly positive that they were selkies that had just decided to live near the ocean.

They were probably looking for mates of their own, just as the ones in her own town did. Living on the beach and not wearing shoes when you were walking on sand wasn't evidence, but the selkies in her own town did the same thing and also the cuffs of their pants were always wet and they were constantly leaving wet footprints whenever they took a step. She had never actually seen the cuff of Dave's and Aaron's pants dry. The two of them never left wet footprints though, Alex thought in frustration. But what if there was some kind of spell that prevented them from leaving wet footprints, Alex thought in desperation. That was entirely possible actually, because like magicals, selkies had magic of their own. If they taught at the local university and she had no reason to doubt them, then there must be a spell that allowed them to work without leaving wet footprints behind.

She was sure that Dave and Aaron were going to tell her once they were sure they could trust her or at least that's what she liked to believe. Telling somebody you were a mythological creature was dangerous and Alex knew it.

She would need to reveal her secret in a sign of trust, but in order to do that, she had to talk to her father first. She had sworn to her father to not reveal that she was a witch unless she had his permission first or unless her life was in danger. In fact, she literally couldn't tell anyone she was under the magical oath that only her father could release her from. She was sure that Dave and Aaron meant her or magicals in general no harm, as selkies were gentle creatures, unlike other mythological beasts that came from the sea. They would defend themselves and their family of course, but they would prefer not to have too."

She would contact him right away and tell him her suspicions.

Alex dialed her father's number and it rang precisely 3 times before it was picked up. Hello? This is Sedgwick Blake."

"Hey, dad, this is Alex."

"Well, I didn't expect to hear from you," Sedgwick told his daughter with surprise as well as happiness in his voice. "Didn't we just talk a couple of days ago."

"We did, but I need you to come see me as soon as possible," Alex requested.

"Is there a problem?" Sedgwick asked immediately in concern.

"It's not a problem precisely. I just don't want to talk about it over the phone," Alex explained as vaguely as possible.

"One of those things, huh," Sedgwick said in instant understanding. "I'll be there within 20 minutes."

"I'll be waiting," Alex promised.

Alex knew there would be no way that her father could be here so soon if it wasn't for magic. Magicals could teleport from place to place, so long as they were sure that they would be unobserved. Since her father would be teleporting directly into her apartment, nobody would know how he got there.

As stated within 20 minutes Sedgwick arrived.

"What's the problem Alex?" Sedgwick asked after giving his daughter hug.

"I told you it's not a problem precisely," Alex mildly protested before leading her father into her living area where tea was waiting, still hot.

Alex poured her father a cup of tea then herself, before sitting down across from him.

Once father and daughter had taken the first appreciative sip, Alex began to explain what she suspected. She knew that her father would not disbelieve her, as someone else might just because they didn't know her as well.

"Well, you're in quite the pickle aren't you Alex," Sedgwick said thoughtfully. "You've fallen in love with this David Rossi and you believe he's a selkie, likely seeking a mate."

"Yes, he's been gently, but cautiously, courting me, I realize that now. Gently I can understand, as he wouldn't want to scare me off, but cautiously doesn't make sense unless he has some secret to hide. He's been very careful about what he says around me and at first I just figured he didn't want to offend my sensibilities, but there's also other evidence."

"Like what?" Sedgwick asked.

"Well for one thing he and his friend Aaron know a great deal about what the bottom of the sea is like and while I realize that is not evidence, it tells me they have an intimate knowledge that most people never gain," Alex said, then explained everything else she had noticed of the last few weeks, but had not paid attention to until a couple of hours ago.

"Except the selkie who actually live in the sea until one them is ready to take a mate," Sedgwick finished what his daughter had not said.

"Yes," Alex answered simply. "I realize he could have gained his knowledge by scuba diving, but there're some things he said that struck me at the time, but I couldn't figure out what, stuff that there is no way he could find out out just by diving frequently."

"I'll tell you what I'll give you permission to avail your secret on one condition," Sedgwick decided finally.

"What's that?" Alex said, as calmly as possible.

"If you reveal your secret and they react negatively, you'll immediately make them forget what you said. Don't leave them with knowledge that witches and warlocks did not die out completely hundreds of years ago. Shock or amazement is okay, because you expect them to be shocked or amazed considering that most magicals were killed, for supposedly possessing the powers of the devil, but anger, disgust, loathing, any emotion in that range you're not to wait around or give them a chance to kill or capture you or any other magical, is that understood daughter? I know you think you're in love with this David Rossi, but I don't want your feelings to stop you from doing what you need to if necessary. I know you're practical and I know you won't put magicals in danger unnecessarily. These two men might very well be selkies who have just decided to live on the beach and look for mates or they could be something else entirely."

"I promise, dad," Alex promised solemnly. "I give you my magical oath on it."

A sparkle of magic left Alex's hand and absorbed into Sedgwick chest.

"Alright, Alex, I trust you, as you're sensible, unlike your younger brother," said Sedgwick relaxing. "You're very likely right and they're both selkies. I just want you to be very careful until you're absolutely sure. Keep yourself, alert and safe, until you know one way or another."

"I will," Alex promised.

"You will inform me the minute you know one way or the other, is that understood? If you're right and this David Rossi is courting you, then I will soon have a new son-in-law so long as you accept his proposal," Sedgwick ordered his daughter and waited on her nod, before relaxing.

"I will because I am deeply in love with him," Alex admitted, blushing as she thought of the very handsome David Rossi. Aaron was a handsome man to, but she wasn't attracted to him in the same way as she was to his friend.

"Are you sure he hasn't put you under any spells?" Sedgwick asked suddenly.

"I'm positive dad. I watch out for that kind of thing, you know that. I burn every single hair and nail clipping, just to be on the safe side," Alex said. "Why don't you check just to ease your mind."

Sedgwick nodded and did so and found no spells on his daughter, which made him breathe a little easier. There were no love spells for instance which would've made Alex fall for this David Rossi slowly, until she had believe she was really in love with him. It would've seemed totally natural. They were also no spells so Alex was attracted to this man, an attraction that wasn't natural, that would have made Alex very, very reluctant to be parted from him because she would've thought that he was the one for her.

Apparently, this Dave wanted Alex to fall in love with him naturally, which spoke well of him and Sedgwick was very pleased.

"You're free of spells, good," Sedgwick said finally, very pleased.

"I told you I was, dad," Alex said in mild rebuke.

"It doesn't hurt to make sure, sweetie," Sedgwick said giving his daughter a stern look, and Alex caved immediately, as she knew the very existence of magicals depended on being extremely careful in who found out that they still existed. If the wrong person found out and then found out their location it would be chaos. All that protected them was secrecy.

"No it doesn't," Alex agreed. "Would you please encourage Penny to come and see me I miss our conversations. I'll be home the rest of the day and I don't start teaching classes for another few weeks."

"I'll talk to her as soon as possible," Sedgwick promised. "I believe she's been very lonely without your company, which is understandable, since I know you both are close."

"Then she should've known she could come to visit at anytime," Alex said.

"I'm sure she just wanted you to settle in before she came for a visit," Sedgwick gently suggested and Alex nodded, as that was likely the answer of why her sister hadn't visited. "I'll make sure I give her the coordinates to your apartment."

"I'll look forward to seeing her either today or tomorrow," Alex said more calmly, finishing her tea and setting the delicate tea cup on the coffee table.

"Come and visit your mother and me when you can," Sedgwick requested.

"I will," Alex promised. "Maybe I'll be able to bring Dave with me so you can officially meet him."

"Make sure you trust him before you bring him to our secret little town," Sedgwick reminded his daughter who nodded obediently. "Our future safety depends on it."

"I will," Alex promised soberly.

Sedgwick nodded and after he kissed her cheek he vanished from the apartment with no sound at all.

~~~Criminal Minds~~~