Part 12

Several months later

People were wandering in and out of the house where music was playing softly. Many of them hadn't known what to think about the mansion that was being built in their neighborhood. In fact, many felt sure their new neighbors were going to be snobby and self righteous, but the opposite turned out to be true. The whole neighborhood had been invited to this open house once the Hotchners had gotten somewhat settled into their new home. They had been genuinely warm and friendly and not high and mighty at all.
Many of the neighbors had asked questions and the Hotchners had done their best to answer them, so long as they weren't to personal.
When asked why they had had such a big house built Aaron had explained very calmly that he and Penny wanted a large family. He said that alpha/omega couples usually had large families, although not always, since having children depended on a number of factors and money and space were two of those factors.
The humans in the neighborhood had not known this, as there were no Alpha/Omega couples nearby, but still, it did make sense most of them decided, even if a few still disapproved of having more than two or three children money or not. Such peoples opinions were largely ignored, because they would complain if it rained instead of it being sunny.
Some asked what the Hotchners did for a living and Aaron said that he owned several theaters and so could afford to have such a big place built and as for Penny she was into electronics and computers and did most of her work from home.
"This was a great idea," Dave said, as he walked up to where he was standing beside Aaron.
"Penny and I thought so," Aaron smirked. "We thought having a house party would allow the neighbors to get to know us a little and maybe shoot down some of the misconceived notions about us. You know how rumors go around whenever somebody new pops up in a neighborhood, and this house was being built for over a year, so the neighbors were bound to be curious about who could be having such a big place built. I'm sure they thought that we'd be snobs, self-righteous and having this house party shoots down a lot of these notions, before people really have a chance to get those ideas set in their minds."
"Like I said it was a good idea and for the reasons you just stated," Dave said. "It's good to get along with your neighbors, even if you don't interact that much."
"Yes, it is, as I want Penny in particular to feel welcome here," Aaron agreed. "I want her to at least be friends with the neighbors, even if that's just friendly acquaintances."
"Well, you've certainly made an impression, because I've heard people talk about how they thought you'd be all full of yourselves, but that you actually seem like a nice couple."
"Well then, mission accomplished," Aaron grinned smugly.
"Of course, there are some people that don't like you very much," Dave added smirking.
"That's okay, I never expected to be universally liked or accepted, as that's unrealistic. So long as the most of the neighborhood isn't against us," Aaron shrugged.
"No, from what I've heard most of the neighbors are beginning to relax around you," Dave said.
"Why don't you go circulate as there are plenty of beautiful single women here," Aaron suggested. "Who knows you might meet someone that you at least want to date."
"I think I will," Dave decided. "I admit I've been rather lonely since the triplets grew up on me. Oh, they visit frequently, but it's not the same. It was hard enough when Spencer went and grew up, but a mere two years later the triplets grow up. Now all of them are done with college and have their own lives."
"That's just what happens when you have children, as you can't stop them from growing up forever," Aaron said. "Might I point out though, that you are plenty young enough to mate again and have a whole passel of children if that's what you want."
"I'd be happy to if I could find someone I'd be happy to mate with," Dave said, "but that has proven a problem."
"So go circulate, as who knows you might meet someone," Aaron urged him.
Dave shot Aaron an amused look not saying that he was acting like a mother hen as he knew the younger man would likely take it as an insult. On another level though, he was rather touched at Aaron concern, because normally, he didn't get involved in people's personal lives, as he believed that peoples lives were private. There was also the fact that Aaron didn't have time to get involved in even his employees personal lives as he'd have no time for himself or for Penny if he did, which was something Dave understood and respected.
Dave wandered away picking up a soda from the buffet table, before he continued to wander around the room chatting to the various guests including a lot of beautiful women who he admired, but didn't chat up because some were mated and others while he thought they were very pretty there just wasn't any attraction there.
Finally, he stood in a corner just observing the people, needing a break from mass of humanity, when a gorgeous women came and stood not far from him. She was white with long and dark brown hair and although they couldn't see her face he would guess her eyes were likely brown, a dark brown the same color as her hair.
Dave studied her unintrusively and noticed that she was relaxed, despite the chaos mere feet away. For some reason her posture intrigued him and he would like to get to know her better so long as she wasn't already mated or married. She looked rather lonely and Dave wasn't sure how he could tell, except maybe her posture.
The woman looked up as Dave approached her her eyes startled for a few seconds before she recovered her composure.
"You looked rather lonely, so I thought I'd come over and introduce myself," Dave offered as an opening line.
"That's got to be the corniest thing I've ever heard," Alex laughed.
"It doesn't make it any less true," Dave defended himself. "David Rossi at your service. I'm a friend of Aaron's and have been for years.
"Dr. Alex Blake," Alex introduced yourself. "I'm a friend of Penny's actually, we've been friends for several years."
"Well, I'm surprised we haven't met before now," Dave smiled. "So what are you a doctor of?"
"Linguistics actually, I teach classes at Maryland University."
Dave was pleased Dr. Alex Blake was intelligent, very much so, as linguistics wasn't the easiest course to get a degree in. She must really have an ear for languages if she taught classes in the subject.
"So what is it you do?" Alex asked in return.
"I actually manage the theater, one of them anyway, for Aaron," Dave answered. "It's not as easy as you might think as actors can be very temperamental and there's always a stream of problems. Water isn't wet enough for some of them."
"Yes, I can see what you mean," Alex said seeming genuinely interested. "People with their different personalities often clash or they have to have something a certain way like a spoiled child."
"Most people don't understand that," Dave said, even more pleased. "They think it's a snap to handle problems, but people in general and actors in particular, can be so petty that sometimes you just want to strangle them, although you don't of course. Still, I enjoy it for the most part, as it's rather challenging and the pay is more than decent."
Dave didn't say so, but he could tell that Alex wasn't mated at least at the moment although she could've been in the past.
"So any children?" Dave asked Alex.
"Not at the moment," Alex said giving him a rather sharp look, as if to tell him that she wasn't fooled by his supposed casual question. "So same question, any children?"
"Yes, actually, I have triplets, but unfortunately, Caroline died given birth to them so I raised them on my own," Dave explained. "Also, there is Spencer."
Dave then explained the story behind his adoption of the then ten year old boy.
"I can't believe his father would treat him so callously," Alex said shaking her head. "He's an alpha, he should have known better. Don't get me wrong, I know it happens, but still, it's just ridiculous to treat Spencer so poorly just because he's an Omega, if that's the real reason for this William Reid's behavior. I'm certainly glad you rescued him and that you managed to convince the court that William Reid wasn't a suitable father."
"That wasn't hard when I hired a private investigator that gathered a lot of evidence for me. Still, I know very well that the judge could have decided William Reid's favor and I'm grateful he did not," Dave said. "It helped that the judge was an alpha like myself, and understood the issue much more deeply then a human judge would have."
"It was really compassionate of you to take the boy in to, even take the father to court over his treatment of his son," Alex said.
"His intelligence might never have been realized if he had been placed in foster home, which a lot of times will be just as bad as a child's real home or even worse. He likely would've at least been bullied by some of the other children in the home and even if he wasn't, well, he could've been taken advantage of by the adults. The adults wouldn't have encouraged him to get good grades, wouldn't have loved him or at least that's the likely possibility, though I realize there are exceptions. No, it's very likely that his exceptional intelligence never would have been fully realized. Also, I doubt that if he had been placed in a foster home he would have been taught the social skills that are necessary to survive in the world, as he was quite poor in that area. I can't believe that his mother didn't try to get him to interact with other children, to perhaps, find some others that were just as intelligent, even if it was in different things. Some children just need help in that area, help making friends, because they are not naturally outgoing."
"Yes, I agree, as I have encountered the same thing myself on numerous occasions, even among college kids," Alex said. "Kids who are awkward around other people and other people who don't understand them, so that they often tease them cruelly. Thanks to you, Spencer is now well-adjusted and I'm sure he appreciates it."
"It's nothing that any decent person wouldn't've done," Dave said downplaying his role.
Alex shot him a look, but said nothing on that subject.
"You know William Reid is lucky he didn't go to prison time, though his reputation as an attorney is certainly in the tank even now," Dave said changing the subject and Alex nodded in agreement. "The public doesn't like it when they learn something like that about somebody you should be able to trust to do right by you if the situation requires it. I'm keeping eye on him from a distance and he's not doing very well at all, mostly because I made sure it would get out about how he treated his son and that is the sort of revenge the alpha in me definitely approves of, even if he would prefer to see William Reid dead for what he did to his own child."
"I think it's a shame that William Reid didn't get prison time, because anybody who can neglect a child, just because they're not turning out like you expected or because they are an omega instead if an alpha deserves it. If I ever have children I would never do that whether they're alphas or omegas like me," Alex said with true passion in her voice.
"Neither would I," Dave agreed. "People like that shouldn't be allowed to have children, but it happens all the time. It's a shame that Diana Reid died, as she loved her son from everything Spencer's told me about her, but it does happen sometimes, even if it's always a tragedy."
"So is he an only child. I just meant our kind usually has at least twins," Alex explained and Dave nodded in understanding.
"He did have a twin brother, but he died and I suspect that William Reid would've preferred the brother live, as he was an alpha. I wouldn't be surprised if the father believed that Spencer actually killed his brother in order to live, which is ridiculous, if that's the case," Dave said.
"Yes, I agree with you. It's a tragedy when one twin dies in the womb or shortly afterwards while the other one is healthy, but no matter what some people believe it's never the fault of the other baby," Alex said. "Things just happen sometimes that no one can predict or prevent. The umbilical cord can get twisted around one baby's neck for instance so that their air supply is cut off and while it's certainly a tragedy, it's no one's fault, much less an infant's. Luckily, it doesn't happen often."
Dave nodded at this and was glad to see that this Alex Blake was intelligent and some of their thought patterns at least ran along similar lines, which boded well for their relationship if they did actually start to court. Of course, he had already known she was intelligent, but there was a difference in being book smart and being smart in the way of people and the way things worked in the real world.
"So Miss Alex can I interest you in a date this weekend?" Dave asked.
"Yes," Alex said calmly, although she really wanted to shout it from the rooftops, as she had been hoping that this David Rossi would ask her out. "I'll be happy to accept your offer of a date."
"Well, good," Dave said concealing how relieved he was.
Alex shot him a look, which told him he wasn't fooling her, but said nothing. It was as if Alex could read his thoughts, but Dave knew it was only because she was very intelligent and likely could read people pretty well. They would make a good match if it went that far, but for now he would take things slowly. Aaron would be pleased Dave knew that he actually had a date and that it was a friend of his mate's was just an added bonus. Dave doubted that Penelope would be friends with anyone who didn't know how to properly behave in public at least, but in private that was a different matter. He also knew that Aaron's mate wouldn't be friends with anyone that was going to be a bully or were very full of themselves, as he had gotten to know Penny pretty well over the last few months, since they had dinner together along with Aaron frequently. Sometimes JJ and even Sean and Emily joined them so it was kind of a dinner party. He was certainly happy with all the frequent company, as it made him forget he was lonely for a little while, but still, he wanted another mate, but he'd had no luck in that area until just now. Now though, things were possibly looking up and Dave was certainly glad that Aaron and Penny had decided to have a open house.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"You know what?" Penelope asked Aaron as soon as the last of their guests had left.

"What?" Aaron asked intrigued.

"Dave has a date with my friend Alex," Penelope explained, smirking a little.

"Does he?" Aaron asked rhetorically with a smile.

"Yep!" Penelope exclaimed. "Of course, Dave isn't aware I know or Alex either, as I just happened to catch them talking and shooting gooey looks at each other when I was heading over to talk to Alex about hiding herself in a corner instead enjoying the party. I know Alex and though it's subtle, she was very excited, something I've never known her to be at least where a man is concerned. I would say that Alex is very interested in your friend."

"Well, hopefully, something will come of it," Aaron said smiling. "I don't know your friend well, but she seems like a nice lady."

"She is and also very intelligent and not just book smart like so many people, as she knows how to read people. Personally, I think she and Dave would be a good match, but that's just my opinion," Penelope said.

"Well, hopefully, it will work out," Aaron said.

"I certainly hope so, as I want to see both Alex and Dave happy and I know Alex has been rather lonely, though she keeps herself occupied teaching at Baltimore University and sometimes law enforcement even consults with her when necessary."

"Well, there aren't very many people that have a degree in linguistics, as not that many people have a natural talent for that field," Aaron said.

"That's true, as it is a rather difficult field of study," Penelope agreed. "I truly hope they do mate though, because it would do them both the world of good. I know you've been wanting Dave to find someone, just like I wanted Alex to settle down, because unlike Dave she's never been mated."

"Well, we can only hope for the best," Aaron said, "But for now, it's late, we need to head upstairs and get some sleep, because those little ones you're carrying, I'll go to put more and more of a strain on your body."

Penelope was now heavily pregnant by about three months which meant she was halfway to them being born. It had taken them all that time to buy enough furniture just to fill the downstairs rooms as well as the second floor. They had bought furniture for the den, the living room, the kitchen, as well as bedroom suites for every bedroom on the second floor. They had also bought a dozen sets of towels and washcloths for the bathrooms and for when those towels got dirty. They had bought multiple sets of bedsheets considering how many bedrooms there were in the house and also such things as laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, an industrial sized fridge for the kitchen, a washing machine and dryer for the laundry room. They had bought a large screen TV for the den while the living room was for having conversations. They still had a long way to go in filling every room the house, but they had made good progress in just three months and a few weeks before Penelope's heat. They had decided to skip the gym, the deck in the back yard and the poolroom for the moment as those weren't as important.

"I think we've made good progress and decorating the house," Penelope said.

"For just three months, plus a few weeks before you went into heat yeah, we have," Aaron agreed. "We have a long way to go as we still have the third and fourth floor to do.

"We have time," Penelope said. "We should be able to do everything over the next 6 or 8 months, but we must've been to just about every furniture store in town."

"So the fourth floor can be guestrooms only, as I doubt we'll ever have enough children to use that floor. I would say just choose something you really like and replicate it for that floor. I can understand you want each room on the first two floors to be individual, since they will no doubt be occupied by our children or close family like Sean, Emily or your sister Daphne and her family. Or maybe we can wait to decorate it until they come out with different furniture."

"I think you're right," Penelope said, as she and Aaron headed upstairs. "I'll just pick something I really like and then have the furniture store send me half a dozen of those bedroom suites, which might take awhile, as they might not have that many in their warehouse, but that's okay if it does, as we're not going to need those rooms right away."

"We can worry about that in the morning," Aaron said. "We knew it was going to be difficult to furnish such a large house, but we've done a pretty good job so far, even if we have two floors to go."

Aaron helped Penelope get undressed considering that she had trouble doing that, because of her pregnancy as she was carrying quintuplets. Emily had only carried triplets and Aaron suspected that next time she allowed herself to get pregnant, likely during her next heat she would probably have triplets again. Penelope on the other hand, had a bigger body type, so therefore, she was able to carry more children then Emily who was far different in shape.

If Penny had quintuplets next time she allowed herself to get pregnant a couple years down the road, then they would have the family they wanted very quickly. Penny had originally agreed to four pregnancies, but considering she was carrying quintuplets this time he wasn't going to hold her to that if she didn't want to carry through, because they'd have ten children in just two pregnancies if she carried quintuplets again and that would be plenty for him. He'd make sure that Penny knew that he didn't expect her to carry through on her promise to go through four pregnancies if she didn't want to, but not tonight, as both of them were exhausted after their open house.

"Let's worry about it in the morning," Penelope yawned. "As much as I enjoyed our open house it sure was exhausting talking to all those people and shooting down so many misconceptions they had about us."

"Well, at least some good came out of it besides shooting down so many misconceptions," Aaron said, referring to Dave and Alex possibly mating at some future date.

"Yeah, that was something of a surprise, but certainly a happy one," Penelope said immediately understanding what Aaron was referring to. "Hopefully, as you said downstairs it will work out. I certainly hope it does."

"Me too," Aaron said, as he climbed into bed beside her. "Good night, gorgeous. I love you more than anything in the world and I can hardly wait until our children are born."

"I love you too and I can't wait until they're born either, as I've been wanting children for years. It sure was tough to wait for you to get me pregnant though, but it will be worth it in the end," said Penelope.

"Yes, it will be," Aaron agreed, as he kissed the love of his life goodnight before spooning himself beside her and closing his eyes.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~