"I am so happy for you," Shonda almost squealed as soon as she was told about the engagement.
"Yes, this is indeed great news," Aaron said from where he was sitting at the large kitchen table. "Welcome to the family Alex."
"Thank you," Alex said beaming. "I just need to take a trip up to Kansas to let my parents meet Perry."
"I'm sure they'll be very happy for you," Perry said speaking for the first time the he had been congratulated and hugged by both parents.
"I will warn you now that my father will likely run a background check on you," Alex told Perry. "Even if he didn't, one of my brothers would, as they want me to be safe."
"You don't need to worry," Aaron told Alex with a wink. "Your father will find nothing unusual in our background.
"We have someone change our background every few decades," Perry explained.
"Yes we know it's illegal to change our background, but it's the only way to get by in this high tech society," Shonda who had been listening while she was cleaning up the counter said.
"Sometimes I long for the days where you could tell somebody your name was Henry Fairhaven or some other name and they would have to believe you because there was no computers or the Internet to prove differently. They were also nothing like telegraphs and sending a letter while not impossible could be time consuming and that's only if the letter wasn't lost before it could reach it's destination, which often happened," Aaron said.
"I understand," Alex said and it was clear from her expression she did. "I might not like it, because I was raised in a family of police officers, but I do understand."
"It might be a crime technically, but we're also not hurting anyone," Perry told Alex.
"Which is why I can live with it," Alex said. "I understand you're immortal you have to change your identity on a fairly regular basis."
"Oh we keep our names first and last, but we do have to change our data," Shonda said she came to sit beside Aaron. "Birthdates and such. It might be a little easier if Aaron had a more common last name than Hotchner but that's about it really. It is what it is."
"Like Uncle Dave's last name," Perry commented, "as Rossi is pretty common in certain parts of the world particularly Italy.
"It is pretty common name, even here in the states. In fact, it's almost as common a name as Smith or Jones," Alex said. "Blake is also pretty common."
"So is Walters, which was my original surname before I married," Shonda said.
"I figured that since your business is called Walters Antiques and naming a business after the person that started it is a common practice," Alex said.
"Oh, Walters Antiques has been around since long before I was born," Shonda said. "It was run very efficiently by my father and also several generations before him."
"So it's been around awhile," Alex said remembering Shonda mentioning Walters being around for generations during an earlier conversation.
"Hundreds of years," Shonda agreed. "I promised my father, Mike, that I'd keep it running for a long time before he died. He knew about Aaron, knew that I would become immortal, so he knew that Walters Antiques would continue for centuries to come. That pleased him a great deal, as did me meeting my mate and having a son we named after him."
"He saw Michael born, but it was soon after that that he passed away. He knew his daughter was happy and that was all he ever wanted. The antiques business his ancestors started was only a secondary consideration," Aaron added.
"You didn't mention your mother," Alex told Shonda knowing there was a reason for that.
"My mother passed away before I met Aaron. She lived just long enough to see Jazz marry Dave. It wasn't long after that, that she was gone. Jazz was another daughter to her as we were over at each other's houses often when we were growing up. She was very happy for Jazz to meet her mate."
"I'm so sorry about that, though I know there's no point of saying that, because both your parents have been dead for a long time," Alex said.
"Thank you anyway," Shonda said. "We named the first girl child after my mother and the second after Jazz."
"It was only fair, because Dave and Jazz named their first child Shawnda after my wife since the two were best friends," Aaron said.
"Try coming up with a similar name to Jazzlyn and see how hard it is," Shonda said smiling.
"You're right. It's an unusual name, so I doubt there are any variations," Alex said.
"That's exactly what I said at the time," Aaron smiled.
"The main nickname was already being used, so we called her Lyn at home, so she didn't get confused with her godmother," Shonda said then shrugged. "I think Aaron and I did a pretty good job of coming up with that variant."
"We've used more normal names since," Aaron said.
"We should be going," Perry said looking at his watch.
"This is been an interesting experience," Alex said. "I'm looking forward to Christmas, though we'll probably have to spend at least part of it up with my parents."
"We understand that your family is important," Aaron told Alex seriously. "You need to spend as much time with your parents and your brothers as you can before they pass away."
"Yes, I do," Alex agreed. "I won't say me and my father Damon always get along, which is one reason I moved to New York in the first place, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other."
"That's what family is all about you argue and then you'll make up," Shonda said. "Every family does, as even Aaron and I argue occasionally."
"We do, but not often," Aaron agreed, kissing Shonda's cheek.
"We'll see you sometime," Perry told his parents. "It was nice seeing everyone."
"We'll see you for Christmas at least, if not before," Shonda told her son rising to give him a hug and kiss on his cheek.
Alex and Perry got up from where they were sitting and headed for the kitchen door in order to leave.
"I really enjoyed the food," Alex told Shonda before she followed Perry. "I'm going to have to tell Jazz that the desert she brought was spectacular."
"Too bad I didn't get any," Shonda said. "I'm sure it's gone now."
"Yes it is, as Alex and I got about the last two pieces. It really was exceptional pie," Perry said. "Also, might I remind you that you get Aunt Jazz's desserts on a fairly regular basis? Some of us do not, so you are very lucky in that regard."
"True," Shonda admitted. "I still hate that I missed one of Jazz's desserts."
"I, for one, can't blame you," Alex said before bidding the older Hotchners goodbye.

~~~Perry and Alex~~~

"It was quite the mob," Alex commented when she and Perry had gotten home.
"Yeah, it was and I did warn you," Perry said, as he sat across from her with his legs all stretched out in front of him.
"You did," Alex agreed, "but I still didn't know what I was getting into. Now I do. I'll be more prepared for Christmas as you did say that even more of the family shows up at one time or another."
"Usually," Perry agreed. "Christmas, really all through December, even if the main meal is on Christmas Eve. They are lots of small meals so that everybody has a chance to just talk and catch up with each other. Of course, those small meals aren't really small, as there's usually at least 20 people, but still it's less of a mob then on Christmas Eve itself."
"It sounds like quite the party," Alex commented.
"It is, but then Christmas is for family, even more than Thanksgiving," Perry said. "So many people forget that. It isn't about the presents that are gotten, it's about spending time with your family. People you might not see too often and I don't think once a year is too much to ask."
"It's not," Alex agreed touched. Perry really knew the meaning of family. It made her feel guilty that she wasn't closer to her own family. She'd only saw them once every couple years. It didn't help that they lived in Kansas and not in New York.
"I feel guilty that I'm not closer to my own family," Alex admitted finally telling Perry what she's been thinking.
"There's no need to, as it's a two-way street," Perry told Alex moving to where he was sitting beside her on the couch.
Alex was soon on his lap to where he cuddled her close.
"You might not be that close to your family, but then again, they haven't reached out either," Perry said.
"They haven't," Alex agreed. "My parents at least could come for Christmas if they wanted to, since they're both retired. I've always made the effort before and all they've done it to maintain contact is phone calls. I do talk to my mother every few weeks, but as for my father not so much."
"Most families aren't that close, as they're just too busy to be, but my family has always been different than most others," Perry explained. "Mom always closes down the antique store for several weeks in December, so she can be home with her family. My Aunt Jazz also closes down the bakery about a week before the holidays really kick off, even though she loses a lot of money doing so."
"There are other bakeries," Alex said, "though they're probably not as good as your aunts."
"True, as some places just don't close except on Christmas Eve itself," Perry agreed. "Neither my aunt or my mom need to remain open, because they need the money because they are already very wealthy. Even if they weren't my Uncle Dave and dad are and have been for a long time. Both of them use the extra time to spend with their families."
"It sounds like a nice arrangement," Alex said.
"It is," Perry agreed. "Someday we'll have our own children and believe me my parents will smother them with love and affection and the same can be said for my aunt and uncle. Even if we have to travel to where they're living at that time we'll try to always be there for Christmas."
"That's for the future," Alex said, even as she kissed Perry's cheek cuddling into his shoulder
"Yeah, we need to get married first," Perry agreed. "My parents wouldn't put up a fuss if you got pregnant beforehand, but I know your parents probably would."
"They would," Alex agreed.
"So plan whatever kind of wedding you want. I'm very wealthy so don't stint it if you truly want something."
"I have a lot of money saved, as I don't spend much, but still thanks for the offer," Alex said. "Also, I'm sure my father is going to want to pay at least some of the cost."
"I'll talk it over with him when we officially meet," Perry said agreeably. "We'll work something out."
"I need to call my parents and tell them the good news," Alex said, "but it can wait until after Thanksgiving."
"Have you told them of our relationship at all," Perry asked.
"You might've come up," Alex said her lips twitching to show Perry she was trying not to laugh. "They've heard a lot about you and really want to meet you. I told them how you saved me from being mugged. Make sure you don't mention anything unusual and magic and immortality fall strictly into that category. Just be your usual charming self and you'll get along great with them."
"Can do," Perry said cheerfully. "We should head up there sometime in the next week or two, so they can meet me officially and I'm sure your father will want to get my measure."
"He will, be prepared to be questioned about your job,your family and anything else you can think of," Alex said. "So long as you're financially solvent then he likely won't object. He'll warn you to treat me right, but that's just my father and as I told you earlier he likely ran a background check on you to make sure you didn't have a record."
"I know," Perry said calmly "but since an immortal changes they're records every few decades he's not going to find anything damaging, though they may be a parking ticket or two."
"Those won't worry him," Alex snorted. "It is hard to find parking spaces sometimes, especially in New York."
"It depends on where you go though and if there is a parking garage nearby," Perry said. "Parking on the street is a crapshoot."
"True," Alex agreed. "I haven't heard back from him so that means he didn't find anything, not that I expected him too."
"It's about time for me to go home as we're both tired," Perry said.
"We are, but I want you to stay," Alex told him.
"You know what me staying will lead too," Perry told Alex.
"I know and I am more than ready for you to start turning me immortal. You did just propose after all, which means that you don't want me to die on you this because I'm still mortal."
"Hey! If you're ready for me to start to turn you immortal that's fine with me," Perry lit up despite how tired he was. Family events were very draining at least for him.
"I figured you wouldn't object," Alex told him her tone amused. "I'm usually having sex by now with whoever I was dating before we met. I wondered why we weren't, but now I understand."
"Yeah, I would've started the to turn you immortal unless I used a condom every time," Perry agreed.
"I'm assuming I can't get pregnant until after I am immortal," Alex said.
"That's right," Perry agreed.
"Well then, the sooner you turn me immortal the sooner we can start having children after wedding of course," Alex said.
"That's OK with me, though we're going to have to be careful that we don't get you pregnant before our wedding, which happened to Shawnda, after she turned her mate immortal," Perry said. "Luckily, Spencer didn't have any close family to cause a fuss and my family was ecstatic."
"Did I meet Spencer and Shawnda?" Alex asked trying to remember. She'd simply met so many people that it was all confused in her head.
"You did briefly and really, it was just a how do you do. Shawnda was one of the ones congratulated me on finding my mate."
"I think I remember vaguely," Alex said after a few minutes of thought.
"You'll start to recognize people once you've been to more these events it just takes time. Yesterday was not the time to really remember people, as it was crowded and everybody talking over everybody else. It'll just take awhile for you to start to remember faces and names," Perry said.
"Yes, today was very crowded and people might have introduced themselves, but I didn't have a chance to input them into my long-term memory," Alex said. "Let's head to the bedroom. You're welcome to stay overnight."
"Yes ma'am!" Perry exclaimed quickly getting to his feet after Alex had gotten off his lap. Alex led the way to the bedroom though it wasn't exactly hard to find, as it was only a small apartment.
"You've made me so happy Alex. I want you to know that," Perry told her, as the two of them stripped each other of their clothes before climbing into Alex's double bed.
"You've made me very happy to. Every guy I dated before you was in the dull and dented category."
"Yeah, lotta guys can be idiots," Perry said, even as he took Alex tenderly into his arms.
"Now that's the truth. Luckily you're not one of them." Alex said, even as Perry kissed her.
Alex got lost in the sensation of Perry's kiss and couldn't speak another word until he finally released her an eternity later.

~~~Perry and Alex~~~