Part 7

"How are you feeling this morning?" Aaron asked solicitously, as soon as his mate opened her beautiful brown eyes.

"Better than I normally do actually," Penelope reported once she had determined how she actually did feel. "I still feel weak and I'm sure that I'll be moving carefully for the rest of the day at least, but having you there really did help tremendously. Still, the effects of my heat should pass relatively quickly and by 1 or 2 o'clock this afternoon I'll probably be back to normal."

"Well good," Aaron said. "I'm glad to know you are okay."

"I've been through it before, multiple times, ever since I was 16 and I survived every time, although I'm usually not in such good shape, so you did a good job taking care of me," Penelope praised truly meaning her words.

"I was happy to, as I love you after all," Aaron said, as he kissed her softly.

"A good meal should help set me to rights," Penelope said. "I'm starving, but then I usually am after one of my heats."

"Are you well enough to go out or would you rather I fix you some breakfast?" Aaron asked, even as he put an arm around her.

"I'd rather go out, as I've been stuck in the apartment for days, but let me test my limbs by using the restroom and then we'll see," Penelope said.

"You know I was thinking," Aaron said, "that once we're done having children you could have an operation to have your womb removed and your Fallopian tubes tied. Doing so would stop your heats completely."

"You know that's an interesting idea," Penelope said, as she walked slowly to the bathroom. "Actually, I think it's a very good idea, though I admit that I never thought of doing that once I was done having children."

"You were never mated before either, so why should it have occurred to you?" Aaron said standing in the doorway of the bathroom, as he watched his mate pee for what seemed like forever before she was finally done.

"Well, even if I'm going to do that, it's years away, because hopefully, I'll have my children at least two years apart. Depending on how many I have each time, as I could just have twins every time, if we're really going to have those 20 children we discussed, well, it'll be a long time before I could have those operations you were talking about," Penelope said.

"I'll be happy with just half a dozen," Aaron said, "so if you have them about two years apart, well, that means, that you could have an operation in just four to ten years, depending of course, on how many you have each time. Just because we're having such a big place built doesn't mean we need to fill every room, as they could be closed up and used as guest rooms when necessary.

"Well, let's say I go through pregnancy four times and however, many we get out of those pregnancies is all I'm going to have. If we do it that way, as it is just a suggestion, we'll get at least eight children and possibly more," Penelope suggested a little tentatively not sure how Aaron was going to react to her suggestion. "By the time I go through those four pregnancies I'll be over 40, especially if I do space them two years apart.

"That's reasonable," Aaron decided. "I'm not going to punish you for a reasonable suggestion," Aaron added smiling a little. "It's only a suggestion after all, not something that you consider set in stone. If I didn't agree with that I'd let you know, but so long as you don't argue with me over stuff that I have my mind set on then I doubt I'll ever have to seriously punish you. Unless you cheat on me of course, and then I will tear your butt up before I throw you out making sure you land on that same body part."

Penelope chuckled, because both of them knew that neither one of them was about to cheat on the other, so Aaron wasn't being serious.

"So how do you feel?" Aaron asked growing serious again.

"I actually don't feel too bad," Penelope admitted once she had flushed the toilet and washed her hands. "I think I'm well enough to go to breakfast."

"If you're sure," Aaron said and Penelope nodded firmly.

"I'm sure. I have felt far worse then this when I go out in public, so I'm actually feeling much better than I normally do," Penelope said. "I might be moving a little slower for a few more hours, but otherwise I'm fine.

"Alright," Aaron said, as he watched Penelope move a little less gracefully than she normally did. "If you need help getting dressed let me know."

Penelope nodded, but didn't answer, as she started to select what clothes she wanted for the day.

"I'm just going to take a quick shower before I get dressed," Penelope said. "I'll feel better if I'm clean."

"I did get as much of the sweat off you as I could so that you would sleep better, but still, it's not the same as a full shower," Aaron said.

Penelope was touched by her mate's consideration and kissed him gently. "Thank you for that. I probably did sleep better because you got off as much of the sweat as you could without waking me."

"I doubt an earthquake would've woken you, you were that out of it," Aaron teased her lightheartedly.

"I'm not surprised, since I usually am," Penelope smiled a little. "Of course, I don't normally have such a big, handsome, strong Alpha to carry me too bed or to wipe off the sweat either."

"Well, it's a good thing then our kind tend to be stronger than humans, even if we don't exercise, because I doubt I would've managed it otherwise considering the condition I was in if not for our kinds natural strength and in my case, an alpha's natural stubbornness.

"Are you doing okay?" Penelope asked instantly in concern.

"I'm fine, as I was in much better shape then you were," Aaron promised his mate tenderly. "I don't have to go through a heat after all, so I was a little weak from being dehydrated, despite all the water we drank during the four days of your heat, a little stiff and sore, but other than that I'm fine. A good night's sleep curled up next to you, set me rights."

"I'm glad to know that you didn't have as rough a time as I did," Penelope said.

"I can't go into heat because I'm male, which does help," Aaron said. "I was tired, since I'd basically been awake with only short naps for four days straight, but some sleep took care of that. How about I join you in that shower and that way will be done faster."

Aaron winked at her causing Penelope to giggle.

"I'll even promise to behave, as I don't think either one of us needs to be straining ourselves right now, as we just had sex nearly continuously for severl days straight after all and you're still recovering from your heat," Aaron said.

"Sounds good," Penelope said agreeably. "You're right, as disappointed as I am, I don't think it's a good idea for us to have sex right now, as I, at least need time to recover from my heat. Still, by tonight I should be fully recovered and we can get back to making love."

"Something I'll always enjoy doing," Aaron grinned.

Penelope simply laughed knowing that every alpha she had ever met would say the same, as they all loved having sex whether or not that was with a mate and since their kind couldn't get pregnant, except during they're heats, well, that meant that alphas didn't have to worry about a female of their kind getting pregnant, except four times a year.

"So when can we go retrieve Shadow from Emily's place?" Penelope asked eagerly.

Emily had agreed to look after Shadow while Penny was going through her heat, so that the poor kitten wouldn't be lonely and wouldn't starve to death because her masters couldn't attend to her needs due to Penelope's being in heat.

"I'm glad to know that you love my gift so much," Aaron smiled softly.

"I do, Shadow is so cute and adorable," Penelope smiled. "Of course, if I didn't have plenty of friends that could take her while I was in heat I never would've imagined getting an animal, because there was no way I would be able to see to her needs while I was going through my fertile period."

"Well, once we hire a housekeeper and a nanny once the house is finished, both of them will be responsible for looking after Shadow while you're in the midst of your heat," Aaron said. "Of course, we don't need a nanny quite yet, since we're not going to start having children for awhile and we don't really need a housekeeper right now either."

"But in year, a little bit less we will," Penelope reminded Aaron. "A year really isn't so long to wait for our house to be finished."

"No, it's not, because the time will pass fast with everything else that's going on," Aaron agreed.

The two of them walked into the bathroom and Aaron turned on the shower where it heated up quickly.

"Gorgeous," Aaron said gesturing and Penelope got the message and stepped over the rim of the tub first before Aaron followed.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

Several weeks later

There was a knock at the apartment door and Aaron who was home at the time answered.

Standing outside his door was his twin brother who he didn't get to see too much of.

"Sean what are you doing here?" Aaron and asked his face lighting up.

"You didn't expect me to come and see you when you tell me that you have finally settled down?" Sean asked with a boyish grin. "I had to come and meet the lady that has finally stolen your heart."

"Still, I could've picked you up at airport, if only you had called," Aaron said.

"I'm fine, I rented a car," Sean said smiling. "I thought I'd stay for awhile, as I've never been to Baltimore."

Aaron gestured for Sean to come into the apartment and he did so.

"So where is this lady I've been hearing so much about?" Sean asked.

"She's out shopping with Emily," Aaron said, rolling his eyes at his brother's cavalier attitude. "Emily is a good friend of mine, but Penny's known her since they were children. I don't mind, if she spends some time with some of her girlfriends as I'm not her jailer after all. I believe they were planning on going clothes shopping and then furniture shopping for the house that we're having built. They are just looking around because the house won't be done for months. They should be done around dinnertime."

"So it's kind of a girls day out," Sean said and Aaron nodded.

"She deserved it too, because she just went through her heat a few weeks ago and it was one of the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen. I don't know how any female of our kind goes through it once, much less multiple times," Aaron said.

Normally, Aaron wasn't one to admit his feelings like this, but Sean was his twin brother after all and they had grown up together.

"So any children in the near future?" Sean asked.

"You just want to know if you're going to be an uncle," Aaron told him smiling. "The answer to that is not right now, as the house isn't going to be done for months and since it only takes six months for the fetuses to gestate it's just not a good idea right now. As you can see, there's just no room in this apartment for infants. Of course, after we move in and buy all the furniture and everything then yes, she'll be pregnant soon after, but that's months away."

"So around a year from now," Sean said and Aaron nodded.

"More or less," Aaron agreed. "I would love to get Penny pregnant, you know I would, but we also have to be sensible about this. Timing is everything."

"You always were sensible," Sean said smiling.

"So when are you going to settle down after all you're the same age I am," Aaron asked changing the subject.

"I haven't met an alpha yet that I would consider settling down with," Sean sighed. "A couple of them have been fairly persistent, but nothing so far I can't handle."

Unlike himself, Sean was an Omega not an alpha and Aaron knew that his brother was right, alphas could be fairly hard to deal with, as a lot of them tended to be aggressive and would make demands of an Omega that they had no right to make, even if they were only dating at the time. Dating was a lot less serious then courting. Some alphas didn't want to take a polite no, for an answer.

"If you're sure," Aaron said and Sean nodded.

"I'm sure that I can handle it. I can't come running to you every time I have a problem with an alpha that just gets a little bit too demanding," Sean said.

"Well, you could and I would take care of the problem, but you really wouldn't learn anything, would you?" Aaron smiled. "Just be careful is all I ask. After all, how will our children get to know their Uncle Sean if you get yourself killed?"

"That's true," Sean laughed.

"Can I get you anything to drink or eat?" Aaron asked.

"I wouldn't mind some soda if you have it, either Pepsi or Coke. If you don't then water will be fine," Sean said.

"Well, luckily, for you Penny loves Coke, so you're in luck," Aaron smiled. "Help yourself."

Sean did so and got himself a soda off the door of the fridge, then came back into the living area.

"You know I could introduce you to Emily," Aaron said looking speculative. "She's not mated either and she's an alpha."

"Now don't try to set me up Aaron," Sean protested laughing.

"What about if I just introduce you and if you two are interested in each other then you can take it from there?" Aaron suggest with a twinkle in his eyes. "You never know the two of you might click. You two might have that spark that Penny and I did."

"Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind being introduced," Sean decided. "I'll probably meet her anyway."

"You'll like her," Aaron promised. "She's not like those aggressive alpha females you were telling me about. She can be aggressive just like I can, but she isn't as demanding like so many alphas can be, she has manners and isn't unreasonable. She's not one that you can make angry easily and she's usually polite unless someone annoys her. Believe me, there's no way Penny would be friends with someone who threw their weight around, just because they could and neither would I."

"Well, if you like her than that really says something," Sean said, thinking that meeting Emily wouldn't be so bad. Nothing might happen between them, but he didn't really know did he until he met her.

"I really do, we've been friends for a few years," Aaron said. "Besides, Emily's the one that introduced me to Penelope and for that alone I'll always be grateful to her. I wouldn't mind at all if she became a member of the family officially."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Sean laughed. "Still, I'm glad to know she has your seal of approval, as that means I won't have to be so cautious around her like I am other alphas until I get to know them."

"No, you won't," Aaron agreed. "She's a good person, as I said, so you can relax around her and not have to be on your guard.

"Well, I wouldn't mind meeting her then," Sean decided.

"I'll call Penny and suggest we meet somewhere for dinner, tell her that you're in town and that she's welcome to bring Emily along. Penny will get the message, as she's a very intelligent lady," Aaron said.

"So your mate will know that you're trying to set me up with your friend," Sean said.

"Yes, she will, but since she wants to see Emily settle down with someone she certainly won't object," Aaron said by way of agreement. "She wants Emily, to be as happy as she is with me, but Emily's having a hard time finding love."

"So am I," Sean sighed.

"Some people do you know," Aaron said. "I certainly had trouble finding happiness, until I met Penny that is. I knew as soon as I met her, through Emily that I wanted to get to know her better."

Suddenly there was a meow and there was a cute gray kitten standing on it's hind legs with its paws on Aaron knee, looking at Sean inquisitively.

"And who is this?" Sean asked, as he held out his hand for the kitten.

"This is a Shadow," Aaron said. "I gave her to Penny as a gift and she adores her."

"Well, she's a cutie," Sean said, as he petted the adorable kitten that had jumped onto his lap. Her fur was so soft, like silk, Sean immediately noticed.

"Penny thinks so," Aaron smirked. "I had inside information because Emily wanted the two of us to get together, since she had seen the sparks of attraction between us and Penny was resisting at first."

"Why?" Sean asked puzzled. "I would think that if there were sparks of attraction you were talking about that she would've been more than willing to be courted by you."

"She was sure that I was just going to dump her, as she had been hurt in the past," Aaron explained, briefly. "You know how alphas can be, some of them don't have any manners. They often say things that aren't true and that can negatively affect people. Still, we're mated now, so the past doesn't matter."

Sean knew when to drop the subject so he did.

"Let me make that phone call before they make anymore concrete plans," Aaron said.

Sean nodded and Aaron rose and went into the bedroom so he could have his conversation in private making sure to shut the door all the way, because their kinds hearing was very keen.

The call didn't take very long and soon Aaron was back.

"There that's taken care of and we'll meet them at Amelio's at 5:30. It's a Spanish place that I'm sure you'll love," Aaron said.

"Well, I have nothing against trying a new restaurant," Sean smiled. "I am a cook after all, so I like to try new recipes."

"So how's your job going?" Aaron asked.

"Fine, I really love it," Sean said. "You don't need to worry about me, as I'm doing just fine, even if I'm not an alpha like you are."

"Of course, you are I didn't mean to imply otherwise," Aaron said. "Omegas like you do just fine on their own, without having a protector. A great many of them take measures to protect themselves from the more aggressive Alphas in our society though and who can blame them? A lot of them take martial arts classes or find other ways to protect themselves."

"Yeah, I can beat one of them up no problem, because I might be in omega, but I know how to protect myself," Sean said. "But when the aggressor's female it's certainly harder to protect yourself, because you don't want to beat a female up. I prefer not to be aggressive actually, as that usually just makes alphas mad, but sometimes there is no other way to solve the situation."

"Yeah, I know I prefer diplomacy myself, but as you said, it doesn't always work," Aaron said

"You're telling me," Sean said exasperation in his tone.

"So did you bring any semi-nice clothes with you because Amelio's is not casual. I should've thought of that before I made the reservation," Aaron said.

"I did bring a nice shirt and some slacks with me," Sean promised. "I thought we would probably go out to eat somewhere at least a little nice while I was here. I thought maybe I could treat you and your mate to a nice meal."

"That would be nice," Aaron said smiling. "So how long you going to stay for?"

"Oh, a couple of weeks anyway, as I have a lot of vacation time saved up," Sean said. "I could even take some of my sick days, because even though our kind get sick so rarely they're still required to give them to us. If you're not tired of me after a couple of weeks, I could stick around longer, but we'll see."

"Staying in a hotel for that long is expensive," Aaron said

"I'm staying somewhere cheap," Sean said. "Still, it does add up."

"I'm sure Penny won't mind if you take the spare room. It's set up as a nest for when she goes into heat but we could at least blow up one of those inflatable mattresses for you," Aaron offered. "Penny won't go into another heat for months so the room's available."

"That would be wonderful," Sean said. "Just make sure you ask your mate before I agree to it, as I would want her to be upset with me."

"Penny won't mind, but I'll ask anyway, Aaron promised. "She told me that she's looking forward to getting to know you."

"I'm really looking forward to getting to know her to, if only because she makes you so happy," Sean said.

"She does brother, she does," Aaron admitted with a bit of a smile.

"That's obvious, because I remember the last time I saw you when you came to visit me in New York you weren't very happy. More lonely than unhappy I know, because you hadn't found a mate of your own."

"Neither have you and you're the same age I am," Aaron pointed out.

"It's not like I haven't dated," Sean said. "I just haven't been lucky enough to find anyone although it's possible that Emily and I will start to court, but if we don't, then I won't be upset about it, as that just means that were not attracted to each other at least not enough to do anything but date."

"Well, hopefully, things will work out," Aaron said smiling.

"I certainly hope so," Sean said also smiling.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~