"I never considered filing a suit for harassment, but I would say go ahead and do it," Aaron told Dave and Alex. "If I had thought about it, I would've filed a suit years ago. Asking us out on a date is one thing, but continuing to ask after we've turned them down probably 100 times is ridiculous. I know none of us want to leave this area, as Dave and I are at home here. I doubt we'd find another college in a seaside town with three similar positions and I like working together."
"We also have to consider the fact that when Alex is pregnant she's going to be in a more volatile temper than normal, she's not going to be as patient with people's idiocy, especially in the latter stages. If those women say the wrong thing when she's pregnant they could seriously come to harm and I know you will feel guilty about that Alex, even if they deserve what they get," Dave added. "I'm sure you'll stop short of actually killing them, but you might seriously hurt them."
"I would say go ahead and do it," Alex said. "Unless they are totally stupid, it will get them off yours and Aaron's back and hopefully, make them leave me alone as well."
"We have plenty of witnesses to the treatment we have undergone for the last few years, though finding a witness that's willing to get involved might be a bit difficult," Dave said.
"I would say we should try it anyway or at least threaten to unless they leave us alone," Aaron said. "I am so sick and tired at their persistence. Being polite doesn't do any good. I mean seriously they cornered Alex, just because she was the newcomer and she was dating you, Dave, which is selfish and stupid."
"So did Dave tell you his theory?" Alex asked Aaron.
"About them having just a touch of magic, just enough for our own otherworldliness to attract them," Aaron said immediately and Alex nodded.
"I told Dave that it was very possible, but their magical ancestor is likely be so far back in their bloodlines that they've likely forgotten they had a witch or wizard in their family at all, maybe even more than one," Alex said. "Its rather unusual to have three such people working in the same college, especially considering that this isn't a major city just a town with a few thousand residents, but not impossible."
"So we might have to move elsewhere," Aaron said. "I don't want to do that as I've made this little seaside town my home, but if we absolutely have to then I'm willing, so long as Penny comes to of course."
"I don't didn't want to move either," Dave told his friend feeling very sympathetic. "I'm hoping if we file a harassment suite they'll realize that there really going to be in trouble if they don't stop. I mean I lost my temper with them for the first time ever and you probably need to do the same at some point. Just think of how they're likely to react when they find out that you're in a serious relationship with another women. You wouldn't want them threatening Penny like they did Alex. While Alex came to no harm, as they would not dare, especially when they are cameras everywhere, that does not mean that Penny cannot be harmed if they approached her away from where there's a lot of cameras. I really don't think that they'll go that far, as they are not stupid, just persistent. We can bring them up on charges if they dared harm any one of us, but you never know, what someone who is jealous will do."
"They'd have to find her first," Aaron said fiercely, feeling very protective. "Its not like she teaches at the college, which means it would have been relatively easy to locate her."
"Still, you have to admit, it is a risk," Dave said and Aaron nodded in agreement.
"Yes it is," Aaron said pensively. "I really don't want to leave here, because not only is there several treasure ships on the bottom within close proximity of the shore, that we can go to for gold when we need to, there's also a selkie colony close by, close enough that the selkies can watch whatever children we have while we work."
"Something that I've already gotten some of the older females to agree to," Dave added. "We might not have the same situation somewhere else."
"Not unless we moved to Refuge," Alex mentioned. "I don't necessarily want to do that, though I don't know why we can't find a job outside of Refuge and just make the town our home. It has a large selkie colony as you know and I'm sure father could find us a place to live. It also has the added advantage of my mother and most of my family living there and my mom would be delighted to look after any children a few days a week."
"That's true," Penelope said speaking for the first time. "I don't necessarily want to live in Refuge permanently either. Oh, the town is nice enough and everything, but some of the people I could live without."
"That would be true anywhere," Alex said in Penelope nodded.
"Yes, that's true, but in most places I don't have a personal history with certain people," Penelope said and the two sisters exchanged a look.
"So who is this person you don't want to see on a regular basis?" Aaron asked curiously
So Penelope explained to him what had happened when she had been much younger. "You don't want to see dad really mad," Penelope added shuddering. "One of the veins on his forehead actually pulsed. I'm surprised he didn't have a brain hemorrhage or something."
"Dave and I heard this story before and I at least think that that boy got off too lightly," Aaron growled.
"Not really," Alex disagreed. "Dad doesn't get mad easily. He scared the boy enough that he'll never try anything like that again within the boundaries of Refuge, as dad would be bound to hear about it at some point and that young man would be in deep trouble. The town isn't that big and we all know how rumors are."
"Outside the town boundaries is a different matter though," Penelope said. "He was not quite 21 when that happened, which is one reason he got off so lightly. Its not only him I prefer never too run into again, but also certain other people who have made their opinions about me and my brother known."
"What do you mean by that?" Aaron asked him he suspected he knew.
"Just that to some people my brother and I are not really Blakes, even though Sedgwick and Branna adopted us. My brother and I don't have any of Blake blood and therefore, they feel free to comment on it whenever I'm in their presence. They keep reminding me that one of my parents was human instead of a witch, like that should matter," Penelope snorted contemptuously. "To some of those old fuddy-duddies the fact is, that Dade and I are only half magicals, which makes us lesser in their eyes. To them we really don't belong and they truly believe that mom and dad only took us in, in order to protect the secret of magicals, not because they have compassion and kindness. I'm not saying that part of the reason wasn't to protect our secret from outsiders, but they genuinely love my brother and me and for that I'll always be grateful."
"Those old fuddy-duddies can just go stew in their own arrogance and stupidity," Alex told Penelope firmly giving her a little sideways hug. "No matter what they believe our blood needs to be renewed or we'll end up inbred at the very least. We might not have precisely the same problem as Dave and Aaron, but when you breed to much to close relatives you develop defects both mental and physical. I won't say we're close to that now, but it won't be long at all before we are marrying people that are related to us. Even if that's a third or fourth cousin it's still not healthy."
"That's the problem with small towns, they tend to be isolated. Sometimes the people are afraid to get out of the wider world. They don't realize the problems that breeding with their relatives can cause, even if that doesn't happen for 500 years or more. Unlike a lot of small towns Refuge doesn't welcome tourists, since it's a secret and well hidden. Not only would tourist help the economy, there is a possibility of a total stranger falling for one of the town residents and therefore, bringing new blood into the community, which would help with the problem of inbreeding," Dave said.
"And that's one of the reasons I don't want to live in Refuge permanently. I want any children we have to have experience in the wider world," Penelope explained to Aaron who nodded. "I know they'll probably decide to either live with the selkie colony or in a ocean town, but I want them to experience all the things that the wider world has to offer. The food, the sensory experiences, the experience of making friends that won't look down on them just because of their family, even though having a selkie spouse is considered an honor by most, having a decent Internet connection."
"I knew that was coming," Alex laughed. "Our Penny here is obsessed with the Internet. She discovered it in college. I'm afraid that our little town doesn't boast that kind of technology. We have electricity, computers, but they aren't connected to the Internet and we have phone lines, but I know we're a bit behind the times."
"A lot a small towns are, so it's not like it's unusual," Aaron offered.
"She's become rather obsessed with it, but she's also really good at computers so I don't blame her," Alex said. "She seems to have a knack with all kinds of technology. They are simply just so many things at the wider world can offer that Refuge simply cannot. If It was our only option I would be mostly satisfied with it. So long as I had my family around me, I can live without anything else."
"But humans need stimulation, particularly those that are more intelligent then most and you just can't get that in a small secret town, hidden by magic," Dave said.
"There are plenty of towns dotted around the US that are very near the seaside and have at least small colleges," Aaron said. "They might not be Yale or Harvard, but you still get a good education at a college in a small town."
"You don't get as much pay though, at a small town college, but that's only a small problem," Alex mentioned. "It's mostly childcare we need to worry about. I don't want to have to stay home, waste my education to look after them. I'll love and adore any children Dave and I have, but I want a career as well."
"We could always go overseas," Dave mentioned. "There should be colonies of selkies somewhere around Ireland and Scotland and also Scandinavia. They probably wouldn't welcome us with open arms, because they're bound to be suspicious of our intentions, but so long as we don't mean them any harm then they would learn to trust us in time."
"I would consider that a last resort," Penelope offered. "Only if there are no other options."
"I have to agree because moving to another country, there are so many things you need, a passport, a visa, for living in the country. We could become citizens, but that would take years," Aaron said.
"We have the time, but we must be very sure that's the route we want to take, as we're all still young," Dave said.
"I will see how things work out at the college before we make any decisions," Penelope said. "Give it at least until the end of the year, as that will give the dean time to find someone to replace the three of you. If things don't improve with Finnigan, Harcourt and Daniell by the time the school year is over for the year, then we can talk about other options. I say, just as we were discussing and have already agreed on, we file that harassment suit for now and if that doesn't make those women decide to just give up then and only then should we talk about moving elsewhere."
"I have to agree with my sister here," Alex said. "We have the perfect setup there. We have childcare due to a colony of selkies that are willing to take care of any children we have while all of us work. I'm sure Penny here, can find a job close by, even if it's not at the college."
"I've already been considering options," Penelope agreed. "I'd like to do something involving computers and technology if possible."
"As if that wasn't an obvious choice for you," Alex teased her and Penelope grinned at her sister.
"I'll contact the dean on Monday," Dave said, "Now, that we're all agreed."
"You should've known that I'd agree with you, as I've had more than enough of their persistence. If I wasn't such a gentleman, I would've done more than turn them down politely," Aaron told Dave bluntly. "They might not actually try anything physical, but we really don't know do we? They confronted Alex, because they thought of her as an interloper and an enemy in what they considered their territory and she hadn't really done anything to them at all. "They considered you and I their property, even though they had no right to do so. It might be that touch of magic that you mentioned, none of us know for sure, as there is no way to test that as far as I know. Even if there was, I'm really tired of hitting my head against a brick wall of their constant stupidity, stubbornness and noncomprehension. I must've told them at least 1000 times by now maybe even 2000 times no to a date. I might have a lot of patience, but I am totally and completely sick of it. I am at the end of my tether with the lot of them. I will not put Penelope in harm's way for even an instant."
"On that subject we're in complete agreement," Dave said. He and Aaron shared a look of complete understanding. "The way they cornered Alex and demanded she break up with me was the last straw as far as I'm concerned. If she had come to harm..."
"Yes, I know you can take care of yourself, sweetie," Dave added before Alex could protest. "I'm just telling you that what they did was very wrong and that was the end of my patience with them. "They went to far when they cornered you and deep down they had to know it and know there was no way I'd touch any of them with a 10 foot pole after that, much less marry one of them. They don't have magic, or at least not more than a touch, so it's not like they can put me under a love spell. They had no right to demand that you break up with me. I am not their personal slave or their personal property. "I'm free as anybody else so long as I am breaking no laws. I would never dream of marrying someone like that. The fact that they actually demanded that you break up with me, just because you were new and they thought I was their property was too far for me."
Alex was nodding at this and relaxed now that she realized that Dave was not saying that she couldn't protect yourself if necessary, just that them cornering her was the last straw when it came to his patience with them. He had been sick of them before that incident, but now he was totally disgusted with them.
"I love you and while I know you can protect yourself, I will not have those idiots threatening you. They might not be as dangerous as say a shark who will take a bite out of you if you don't protect yourself, but still, that doesn't mean they aren't trouble. They likely won't physically harm you or Penny, but that's not a given. If they don't give up after we're married, then, as Penny suggested we'll discuss what to do over the summer. Now, it's time for bed. We have a busy day ahead of us getting ready for our wedding and I, for one, have been looking forward to it for quite sometime."
"So have I," Alex promised him kissing his cheek.
"We'll see you in the morning," Penelope said taking Aaron's hand.
"I'll fix up the guestroom for you," Aaron said.
"What about we just sleep in the same bed," Penelope suggested boldly. "I'm ready to take our relationship to the next level if you are."
Aaron stared at his girlfriend for a long moment, as if trying to read her thoughts and then grinned.
"I would give in if I were you," Alex chuckled. "Penny can be very stubborn when she wants to be. If she's really ready for that stage of your relationship I would give in gracefully.
"I wasn't going to turn down her offer, I'm not an idiot after all," Aaron grinned happily. "I love you so much Penny and I wasn't sure if you were ready for that so I said nothing."
"You were being an idiot," Penelope told him with humor in her brown eyes. "There is such a thing of being too honorable. I figured I'd have to be the one to tell you that I was ready for that because you never said a word."
"She's right, Aaron," Dave chuckled. "There is such thing as being too much of a gentleman."
"Alright," Aaron said holding up his hands in surrender.
Dave gave his friend significant look and Aaron nodded back. Dave said nothing but he knew Aaron was going propose to Penny, probably tomorrow or maybe tonight.
"So what was that look about?" Alex asked Dave once Aaron and Penny were gone.
"I can't get anything past you can I," Dave chuckled goodnaturedly.
"No, you can't so you should know better than to try," Alex grinned at him.
"I wasn't going to try to," Dave told her soberly. "We agreed to no secrets after all, except for those that were absolutely necessary. That look that you caught was me silently asking Aaron whether he was going to propose to your sister or not. I don't think Aaron would have agreed to share the bed with Penny if he wasn't ready to propose marriage. I was just confirming what I already suspected that's all. Penny after all, isn't just going to be a one night stand and Aaron would never treat her that way. She isn't someone he barely knows after all."
"Okay then," Alex said very happy at the news. She knew that Dave and Aaron were so close that they could often communicate without the need to speak at all. She couldn't always understand them when they exchanged looks and entire conversations silently. "So Penny is going to get one like this," Alex added fingering her right wrist. The selkies she had discovered didn't do rings. They had no way to buy them or make them unless they were like Dave and Aaron who had jobs on land, though sometimes in the past a selkie could bring up gold from the sea to buy his bride a ring, which was a lot more trouble in this century then it had been hundreds of years ago. A traditional Selkie gift was a beautiful bracelet made up of coral of varying colors, sometimes with gemstones and bits of colorful stone that they found in sunken treasure ships. It might not be particularly valuable, but that didn't matter.
"Maybe they can share our wedding on Sunday?" Alex suggested. "Make it a double?"
"If they want to I don't mind at all, though I'm sure your mother will be surprised to get both of you married off," Dave said immediately. "Aaron is my best friend since childhood after all, so no, I definitely don't mind. I doubt Aaron will mind either, but your sister is a different matter. She might want a bigger ceremony with more guests and Aaron will go along with what she wants."
"I don't think so," Alex said thinking about it seriously. "She might have wanted that at one time, but a lot of the people in our little town haven't treated her very well. The boys for example only dated her because she was adopted by my family, not because they genuinely liked her for herself."
"They dwell far to much on bloodlines in Refuge or the fact that ones of a child's parents was human, something they can hardly help."
"You know I agree with you," Alex said. "It's not something my family has ever cared about. A witch is a witch and a warlock is a warlock and that should be all that matters to anyone. Actually, marrying a human often makes the next generation stronger, because there is no inbreeding. A lot of the families in Refuge are stuck in their ways. Not all of them, just a lot of them. I won't say Penny doesn't have some friends outside our family, but they're mostly casual."
"I can't blame her for that," Dave said, as he and Alex walked towards his bedroom. "When some adults, who should know better, made it known that she and her brother weren't welcome among them, just because she is of supposedly lesser blood, I don't blame her for being so careful about friendships," Alex added. "I doubt she would've married if she had remained in Refuge. She might've found a man eventually that didn't consider her blood inferior and loved her for herself, but there are no guarantees."
"Well, I think I can say with some confidence that Aaron doesn't think of her blood as inferior. Some people, when far more used to know about us, didn't like us either, because we were considered half man half seal and therefore, basically half breeds. Some people care far too much about bloodlines. Of course, it was also known that we would bring up gold or silver from the sea to help support our spouse and children. We would also chase the fish into our spouses family net, so they would always have plenty to eat, even in lean times. Many people considered it lucky if one of their children married a selkie. Of course, this was a very long time ago."
"Back then, magic was more real and definitely more accepted," Alex agreed. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you."
"I love you too, sweetie," Dave agreed. "So very much."
Alex smiled serenely, as she closed her eyes and cuddled into Dave's side and drifted off to sleep immediately.
~~~Criminal Minds~~~