Part 8

Sean tried not to stare at Emily Prentiss as soon as he had been introduced, because he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Aaron noticed this and looked at his mate winking and Penelope smiled slightly, as she to saw how both Emily and Sean were very attracted to each other.

"It's nice to meet you," Emily said, as she shook Sean's hand, thinking that Aaron's brother was very handsome. Sean and Aaron didn't really look that much alike, but they still shared some of the same features. Sean had sandy blond hair while Aaron had black, Aaron was taller by several inches and had broader shoulders, while Sean was slenderer, though not lithe by any means. Still, they had the same cheekbones, nose, eyes, the color not the shape. They might be twins, but they were fraternal and fraternal twins could be very different from each other, no more the same then two brothers who had been born years apart.

"It's nice to meet you too," Sean said trying not to stutter, as he had never been so awestruck by a woman before. He had dated plenty of beautiful women, but none of them could compare to the vision before him.

"Well, let's go shall we? Or we'll miss our reservation," Aaron suggested trying not to smile. He had never seen his brother so at a loss for words or seen him so starstruck over a woman. Of course, he also admitted that he didn't see Sean that much, which was partly his fault he knew.

Both Emily and Sean shook their heads, as if coming out of a daze and followed their two friends into the restaurant.

"Did you expect this?" Penelope asked Aaron quietly, as Emily and Sean want ahead of them very lost in each other.

"Not really," Aaron admitted, just as quietly, as he didn't want the pair in front of them to hear their conversation. "I did tell Sean that Emily was unattached and that she was an Alpha. I told him that she was a good person and that he wouldn't have to be cautious around her like he does around other alphas until he gets to know them, since we both know that there's a lot of alphas that would take advantage of a Omega that wasn't on their guard. I said I'd introduce them, but that would be the extent of my involvement."

Since Penelope knew how alphas could be from experience she nodded.

"Well, it looks like they're getting along splendidly," Penelope said smiling a little.

"I was actually hoping this would happen, as I have no problem with your friend joining the family. Of course, they might not mate, but considering the way they're looking at each other intently and talking softly I consider that possibility nil. Still, there is a possibility that they won't actually get together permanently."

"I agree with you, I think they will mate," Penelope said. "I only hope that Emily doesn't go to live in New York with your brother, because I won't get to see her very much if she does. On the other hand, I do want her to be as happy as I am and if Sean makes her happy then I'm certainly not going to object, as Emily's happiness and your brother's of course, is what's important here."

"I agree," Aaron said proud of his mate, for wanting her friend to be happy, even if that meant Emily moved to New York. On the other hand, maybe Sean would move here to Baltimore, as he could get a job as chef anywhere. It wasn't his decision though or Penny's for that matter, as the decision was between the two people in front of them.

The four them entered the restaurant and Aaron strode forward telling the maître d that they had a reservation under Hotchner.

They were taken immediately to their table and they all sat down. Sean made sure he sat next to Emily, though he didn't make it obvious. Aaron and Penelope saw this and were amused, because Emily at least seemed to be oblivious.

Unlike Aaron and Penelope thought Emily was far from oblivious to Sean's interest, though she certainly didn't allow it to show in her expression or her body language. Still, she was very interested in Aaron's brother whom she had never met before tonight. She almost wished they had met several years sooner, but she couldn't change the past, so she would concentrate on the present.

She hadn't been this attracted to an Omega in a long time and Emily wondered if Aaron's brother Sean might be 'the one'. She was attracted to him that she knew, but whether it went farther than that she would just have to see. Who knew how long Sean was going to be here as it might only be for a few days. Hardly long enough to get to know each other.

"So how long you staying for?" Penelope asked Sean making Emily internally cheer, because that was the very question she had wanted to ask herself, but didn't dare, as it would let her interest be known and she wasn't ready to reveal that interest, especially not in front of her two friends.

"Well, a couple of weeks anyway," Sean said. "Aaron said I could use your spare room."

"I did," Aaron confirmed.

"That's no problem," Penelope said cheerfully. "There's no point wasting money on a hotel when we have a spare room you can borrow."

"Thanks," Sean said with a smile.

"You're quite welcome, but if you had come next year after our house is finished then we could've offered you better accommodations or at least a better bed," Penelope said.

"Well, me sleeping on air mattress isn't going to kill me," Sean said. "Or maybe the couch in the living room will be better."

"That couch is pretty comfortable, as I didn't buy it just because it would look good in my living room," Aaron said. "Some people go for furniture that's pretentious, but uncomfortable to sit or lay on, but that's definitely not me."

"Well, I can try it out for tonight at least, even if my feet will stick off the end," Sean said. "If that doesn't work then we can worry about blowing up the air mattress that you have stored tomorrow."

Their food was delivered and all of them dedicated themselves to enjoying a fine meal, so conversation was relatively light as they ate.

Sean tried his best not to shoot glances at Emily and pay attention to the conversation, but it was difficult at best.

"Can I show you around the city while you're here?" Emily offered. "Aaron and Penny are welcome to join us of course."

"That would be splendid," Sean said with a beaming smile. "I'm sure my brother and Penny have better things to do then show me around."

"Well, we would've been happy to do so," Penny smiled, "but if Emily wants to show you around our fair city then that's just fine. We can join you on some of those outings I'm sure or at least for lunch or dinner."

Everybody knew what was happening between Emily and Sean, but that didn't mean that Aaron and Penny should wreck the illusion, that all Emily was going to be doing what show when Sean around the city with no ulterior motive.

Everybody grinned at each other conspiratorially.

"Perhaps I can fix a few meals while I'm here," Sean said.

"That would be wonderful," Penelope answered smiling. "I've heard from Aaron that you're a terrific cook."

"So you're a chef?" Emily asked no dummy.

"Yes, in New York," Sean confirmed.

"He's quite good at it," Aaron put in.

"Well, I can't wait to try some of your cooking then," Emily said smiling.

"I'll be happy to cook for you sometime before I leave," Sean said brightening.

"Perhaps, we could just invite her over when you cook for us as that would be simpler," Penelope suggested.

"I would accept such an invitation," Emily said pretending to be haughty. When Penelope merely rolled her eyes at her and Emily burst into laughter. Apparently, her friend was feeling playful tonight and she suspected she knew exactly why that was.

"We'll do it one night soon," Sean promised.

"If you're sure," Emily said.

"It's fine, I love to cook," Sean said. "It's one of the reasons I became a chef in the first place and to cook for people I actually know and like is a bonus."

"When you love doing something it's hardly work," Aaron said calmly. "Me, I love going into the theater, even though I'm the owner. However, I've certainly cut back on my hours since Penny and I got together."

"Before you were lonely so you worked a great deal, now you're not," Sean told his brother.

"That's true," Aaron admitted.

The four of them chatted, as they finished their meals though it was clear that Emily and Sean talked to each other the most, while Aaron and Penelope simply smiled at each other, knowing that their friends were heading towards a happy life together.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"I'm so happy for Emily and Sean," Penelope said, as soon as she and Aaron were alone in their bedroom.

"I am too," Aaron said. "It's way past time for Sean to settle down since he's the same age I am, but then it was way past time for me to settle down to. I suspect that if he and Emily do mate that Emily will be pregnant with her next heat, because she's not getting any younger."

"And we only have a certain number of fertile years just like humans do," Penelope finished.

"Depending on how many children they want, well, she'll need to get pregnant at least every couple of years just like you intend to do, or if she wants a great many of them she'll have to get pregnant every year, since she's several years older than you are," Aaron added.

"I don't think Emily will care how many children she has just so long as she gets at least a couple," Penelope said. "I know she's been wanting children for years, but then, so have I."

"Well, in your case at least as soon as the house is finished and furnished I'll be getting you pregnant," Aaron leered playfully at her.

"I can hardly wait," Penelope said, smiling. "I certainly won't mind being pregnant. In fact, I wish that you could get me pregnant at my next heat, but that's not wise and I know it."

"I wish I could to," Aaron said, as he pulled his mate closer to him. "It won't be long though, before we'll have some kids of our own."

"I'm looking forward to it," Penelope said. "Do you think your brother will change his last name to Prentiss instead of Emily changing hers once they do mate?"

It wasn't unusual at all for male omegas to change their name to that of the female alpha they had mated with. Doing so depended on a number of factors

"I don't know," Aaron said. "I suppose it depends on how much Emily wants to carry on her family name."

"She does have a sister, who got mated," Penelope said. "I believe though, that her sister Amy took on her mate's family name, just like I did when you and I mated, but then I have two brothers so me keeping my name wasn't as important."

"How come I've never met your brothers?" Aaron asked.

"We're not exactly very close," Penelope said. "They are twins just like you and Sean are and me and my sister were sort of late arrivals in the family. There're quite a bit older, so we never really developed a proper sibling relationship. I think my sister and I were sort of an accident. I'm not positive, but maybe the condom broke, as that's possible."

"Yes, that's very possible, especially if your parents bought a cheap brand," Aaron said.

"They live out in California, San Diego and are over 10 years older than me and my sister are. Gabriel is a doctor and Grant is an architect, owns his own company. We keep in contact over email and that's about the extent of our relationship," Penelope explained.

"You really should change that if you can, as family is important," Aaron said, "but then, I'm not really one to talk, because while Sean and I love each other we don't see each other that much, though that might change now if he moves here. We should go up and see them maybe before the house is finished. I can understand not being close as kids considering the age gap, but now, you're grown up and your brothers are over 40, so they should be mature enough to mend fences. They had the responsibility to never let contact lapse, physical contact, not just over email. I understand that life gets busy, but what if they are mated and have families? Wouldn't you want to get to know your nieces and nephews?"

"Neither of them are mated as far as I know and I don't think they ever intend to do so," said Penelope. "They're both 44, so they'd have to get mated to women who were at least five years younger if not 10 and while there's nothing wrong with this I still don't think they're going to do so. I'm sure I would've heard about it long before now if either one of them had actually met anyone."

"Still, you need to try your best to renew your relationship with them as they're your blood after all," Aaron said. "I hope you at least told them about mating."

"I did, as I could not tell them, even if we're not very close," Penelope said. "They were happy that I have finally found someone to settle down with. I give them little facts about our life together and they know I'm happy. I suspect if I wasn't and I told them so they'd both be down here like a shot."

"Now that's behavior I approve of and is the way they should act," Aaron said approvingly. "If Sean was in trouble, serious trouble, I would certainly have flown up to New York and if he had asked me to and helped him sort it out. I probably would have done so, even if he hadn't asked me, but that would depend on how serious the problem was. If Sean does mate with Emily I don't have to worry about him so much anymore, because Emily is a very strong alpha and she can handle most things. I'm not saying Sean can't handle himself, but you can't exactly beat up a female that's being persistent, but sometimes diplomacy doesn't work."

"Yes, I've met females like that as well," Penelope agreed. "Ones who want what they want whether or not the omega agrees or not. Some of our kind just aren't very sensitive to others feelings or stomp all over their rights, but since the same is true of humans to it's not like it's unusual. I would never allow myself to be mated to someone like that, as I think I would've killed myself first and if it was forced upon me I'd commit suicide right afterwards before being abused by an alpha, who didn't care about what I wanted. There's no way I could bring children into the world if they were only going to be abused."

"I wouldn't be able to blame you if you did if that kind of situation had occurred," Aaron admitted.

"Luckily, for me I met someone who treats me well and whom I love very much so you don't have to worry about coming home someday to find my corpse," Penelope teased him.

"I know our history very well and how that happens when somebody forces a mating on another, though I know they'll always be alphas that forces a mating on an omega, since alphas are always the ones that are strong willed enough to do that. It almost never works out and usually ends with the death of the Omega in question," Aaron said.

"We can only take so much before we decide it isn't worth it," Penelope said. "In that way we're much like humans, but at least humans have a way out, but for our kind there is no divorce unless the alpha releases the Omega and in those types of situations you were just describing that almost never happens."

"Sometimes another stronger alpha can make other other alpha listen to reason, but that doesn't happen very often either," Aaron said, "No, both Sean and I learned how to treat a woman, just from doing the exact opposite of our parents, especially our father. I'm actually surprised mom has never committed suicide like so many do when they're forced into a relationship. Arranged marriages just don't exist among our kind as that always ends in tragedy, unless both parties agree to it in advance, which is what happened to my parents. I believe that my mom was kind of bullied into it by her parents, as she's an Omega like you, but much more meek and very downtrodden."

"That's just not right," Penelope said shaking her head. "I'm surprised that she hasn't committed suicide either."

"I know one thing and that's she refused to have anymore children when she was in heat and luckily, my father didn't want anymore, as he had me and Sean to carry on the family name, so mom had her ovaries removed and her tubes tied, when Sean and I were young. If Sean takes on Emily's surname, if they do mate, that will really poke our father in the eye. I admit I would have preferred taking on your surname, but that is just not done for a male Alpha."

"You still could have it changed legally if you wanted," Penelope said.

"I could, but I won't, no matter how much I dislike my father in particular. I doubt very much that my parents even play the game and if that's the case is no wonder my mother always appeared so dissatisfied and unhappy."

"Yeah, we play the spanking game at least once a week," Penelope said happily. "I always enjoy you spanking my behind and I like how you go all Alpha on me. Of course, I know it's just a game, because I know I would be frightened, likely terrified if I didn't know that since you can be rather commanding and menacing, but since I know you won't really harm me I really enjoy playing that game with you."

"Good, I'm glad you realize that," Aaron said, as he cuddled closer and kissed Penelope's blonde hair.

"You've always treated me like a princess and it is often said that actions speak louder than words and that's something I agree with," Penelope said. "Besides, the Omega in me knows that she doesn't need to be frightened of you and they tend to be the better judges of character then the other part of us. I should have listened to her when I first met you, but I chose to ignore that part of me and because I did that brought both of us pain."

"That's in the past," Aaron said firmly. "So you mentioned a sister?"

"Daphne," Penelope said supplying the name. "She's an alpha, so that means I'm the only Omega out of four children."

"So where does she live, is she mated and do you have any nieces and nephews I need to know about?" Aaron asked.

"She is actually and she lives in Los Angeles, still in California, but far enough away from our brothers that she's independent, so I'm the only one that left California completely. I did so because I didn't want Daphne constantly visiting, as she can be rather hard to take sometimes as much as I love her. I don't need to be protected in cotton wool so that I don't have my own life," Penelope explained.

"There is such thing as being too overprotective," Aaron agreed. "Just because you're an Omega doesn't mean you can't defend yourself. Not every Omega gets mated and they can be just as strong-willed as any alpha, especially if they feel like their life is in danger."

"Perhaps, I should invite Daffy and her family to come down," Penelope mused. "She has visited me several times over the years, usually with at least one or two of her kids tagging along. She's urged me on more than one occasion to move back to California. She thinks I need to be constantly protected which is why I moved away in the first place."

"She could be doing it because she loves you and wants you close by," Aaron suggested gently.

"Alright, maybe. But she went about it in the wrong way. I suppose, when you're young you often don't have any tact. I moved out here in the first place, because Emily had moved here, as she was actually born here in Baltimore at her aunt's house, though she grew in California, so I knew I would have at least one good friend already," Penelope said.

"So does Emily have any other family besides her sister Amy?" asked Aaron due to shear curiosity.

"No, it's just her and Amy. They're still pretty close actually. Unlike my own sister Emily has tact to spare. I'm not helpless, as I did take martial arts classes, so I can defend myself if necessary," Penelope said.

"You know part of your sister's problem might be that our kind does better with lots of family close by and having Emily here does help, since I'm sure you consider her a second sister," Aaron suggested gently.

"Well, if that's the case she should've said so, instead of annoying me, by insinuating I can't take care of myself," Penelope said, grimacing as she remembered. "It's true that our kind does better with plenty of family around, but then, she's mated and I do have quite a few nieces and nephews, so it's not like she lacks for family. As for me, I was happy with just Emily, though now I also have Alex, Kate and Tara."

"She was probably just worried about you being basically by yourself out here except for Emily," Aaron said.

"Well, I have a lot of girlfriends now and I've made a good life for myself, so I'm not exactly alone anymore, still, perhaps, you're right," Penelope said. "I'll contact her and ask her to come down maybe with her family, as I do miss seeing my nieces and nephews."

"It might be better if we go up there because traveling with so many children is expensive," said Aaron.

"They can afford it," Penelope said smiling. "Daphne, has a very successful career as a model and her husband also has a very successful career, as a veterinarian. Between the two of them they make a very good living."

"Sometimes sisters don't get along even if they are twins, if one has an especially strong personality," Aaron admitted. "Of course, that often improves as they get older. I don't think she meant to insinuate that you couldn't take care of yourself that's just the way it sounded, because you were still young and probably a little immature and so that's the way you heard it."

"That's possible, as I did feel like I was being smothered back when I was much younger, but it only happened after our parents deaths. In any case, I was determined to break away, live my own life and not be treated as an invalid, but it's more than possible that's not what Daphne was trying to do that's just the way I took it. I think I will invite her to come up or I suppose we could go down there once your brother either leaves or gets mated to Emily. I think I prefer for her to come up here onto my territory until we work things out though. You might very well be right and I just took her overprotectiveness the wrong way, as it did happen after our parents passed away, so I suppose it could have been grief talking, but if that was the case then she should have said so."

"Maybe you should wait until the house is finished because if she brings her whole family we're going to need the space," Aaron suggested. "Depending on how many children they have, well, staying in a hotel would be expensive.

"Alright, sometime right after the house is finished, which won't be for awhile," Penelope agreed. "I'm actually surprised she hasn't been up here demanding to meet you, considering how overprotective of me she's been in the past."

"Maybe she has finally realized that you have a right to your own life and that her overprotectiveness was just pushing you farther away," Aaron suggested. "With age often comes wisdom and maybe she finally understands that she's the one that caused you to move away in the first place."

"That's possible," Penelope said. "Daphne is very intelligent."

"Which only makes sense, because apparently all of you are intelligent. I mean your two brothers are in demanding careers that take intelligence, as well as drive and hard work. You work from home, but still, you make a lot of money and starting your own business is even harder," Aaron said. "Considering that your brothers and yourself are so intelligent it stands to reason that Daphne would be to."

"I hadn't thought of it like that, but you're right," Penelope said.

"I think we should get some sleep," Aaron said. "I have no idea what time Sean will be up in the morning."

"I suppose," Penelope said.

"I know what you are thinking, my mate and you know I would adore making love to you, but with Sean right in the next room..." Aaron said smiling.

"I know," Penelope said, sighing. "That's one problem with having a guest when your apartment is so small and our kinds hearing is so good."

"He won't be here forever and he'll likely be with Emily for most of the day tomorrow," Aaron said.

"That's something anyway," Penelope decided.

The two of them kissed tenderly before they both closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~