Emily was silent as she and Marcus left the Hotchner home.
Once they were in their rented car and Marcus was guiding the vehicle through the air traffic Emily said, "I have so many questions."
"I know you probably do," Marcus agreed. "But you need time to absorb my family's explanation before I answer most of them. Still, ask and I'll tell you if I can answer or if I don't think it is wise right now."
"I'm not the first one to learn about immortals am I?" Emily asked. "Your parents and aunt and uncle implied as much.
"No, you're not," Marcus agreed.
"So how many times has this explanation been given?" Emily inquired. "How many times have your had to tell someone like me who is completely mortal all about magic and immortals.
"You know, I don't think anybody has ever asked that question," Marcus mused with a quirk of his lips yo show he was amused. "I guarantee you I would've heard about it if somebody had asked that question on the family grapevine. As to the answer at least 30 or so and believe me, that's a lot."
"Why is that a lot it seems like a low number to me," Emily said.
"It would if you didn't understand that finding your mate is kind of a crapshoot. It took dad over 400 years to find my mother and that so many of his children have found their mates in just a few centuries pleases him no end. My Uncle Dave was even older than my father when he met my aunt and the same thing applies to the Rossis that applies to my family. That numerous children from both my family and the Rossis have found their mates is amazing.
"It basically means that those children who have found their mate aren't as conversant with the loneliness that my Uncle Dave went through or my father. You need to realize that the only time an immortal can truly relax is around another of their kind, which is usually only ones own family. We have to constantly be on guard on how we speak as language is constantly evolving and some words and phrases just drop out of a language after awhile.
"Also, the same thing applies to certain words and phrases that eventually come back into usage after being dropped from the English language long ago. Most people might not notice if we use an odd phase for example one that hasn't been used in a long time and just ask us what we mean, but others will be curious about where we learned such a phrase in the first place. Some people are so curious by nature that they seek to discover what they find odd not necessarily how someone talks but in other ways. This often leads them to getting in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?" Emily asked.
"Our families live quietly, but that doesn't mean we don't have connections Emily," Marcus explained. "A word in the right ear could cause that person to lose their job or at least receive a warning if they don't back off. There have been people in the past that have discovered what we are and so long as they don't go blabbing about it and don't cause problems then we don't have to do anything drastic."
"Well, I see you know how to play hardball when necessary," Emily said not seeming at all upset about what she had learned. She knew some people could be nosy whether or not something was any of their business and that sometimes it was necessary to do something about it.
"Yeah, we do," Marcus agreed. "None of us like taking that kind of action to tell you the truth, but we all know the secret of immortality and magic is more important than anything else. It's not my families fault or their responsibility if the mortal that discovers what we are can't leave well enough alone. That they can't mind their own business and then can't resist talking about it."
"So has that ever happened to you?" Emily asked curiously.
"No, but it has happened to my parents and also my aunt and uncle," Marcus replied. "It's only happened a few times when somebody didn't know how to mind their own business. It's happened at least once where mom and Aunt Jazz had to take this reporters memory of immortals and magic. They didn't want to do it, as such magic can be dangerous if it's not done correctly. They could have damaged the woman mentally so they had to be really careful. By the time they were through she didn't remember about what she had learned and she never had time to tell anyone."
"Why do you call the Rossis your aunt and uncle, as it's obvious you're not really related," Emily asked.
"Because all the children grew up together, as my mother explained. She and my Aunt Jazz have been best friends going all the way back to when they were mortal, as they mentioned while we were there. They always move to the same city so they can see each other practically every day. Remember, when I explained that an immortal can really only relax around other immortals. There's no need to be on guard about what you say or how you conduct yourself."
"They understand each other without either couple having to explain what they mean no matter how they phrase a sentence. My uncle especially appreciates that, as the language has changed a lot since he was born and he sometimes uses words or phrases that have dropped out of it.
"Also, the Rossis are the godparents for every single child that my parents have and the reverse is also true," Marcus added.
"I see," Emily said. "Your uncle did imply that he was older than your father, but didn't say how much older."
"Probably on purpose," Marcus smiled. "It might be hard to believe but he was born back at the end of the dark ages. At one point in time he was just as mortal as you are."
"Despite all I learned tonight that seems really hard to believe," Emily said. The amazement in her tone was obvious to Marcus. "I know he implied that he was older than your father, but didn't say how much older."
"That's probably why Uncle Dave didn't tell you exactly how old he was as he knows how hard it is to believe, not that believing in immortals is easy in the first place. Still, that might've been one revelation to many considering the circumstances or at least that's probably what my uncle thought. I'm sure he would've told you if you had thought to ask while we were there."
"So if he was once mortal like I am how did he become immortal," Emily asked.
"That's quite the tale and I really don't have time to tell it right now and you need to absorb what you learned before I do tell you," Marcus said.
Emily looked disappointed, but Marcus was right that she had a lot to think about over the next few days. That didn't mean she wasn't as curious as hell. She was, very much so, but she was just going to have to be patient.
Being patient wasn't exactly her thing but she would have to try.
"I know you're curious. I would be too if I was the one that really wanted to know something," Marcus told her with a smile his dark eyes flashing with amusement. "I know patience isn't your long suit."
"Normally not," Emily admitted with a huff of annoyance that Marcus knew her so well causing him to chuckle at her.
"It is not a short tale so it's better to wait until we have a lot of extra time," Marcus said.
"Just because I understand your reasoning doesn't mean I have to like it," Emily said.
"No, it doesn't," Marcus agreed, as he guided the hover car towards the parking lot of the hotel they were staying at.
~~~Marcus and Emily~~~
"So about that story you promised to tell me," Emily said.
It was three days later and Marcus and Emily were sharing a hotel room sleeping in the same bed. They hadn't had sex yet but that was coming soon.
Emily had finally accepted that immortals and magic were very real even if most people didn't realize it. Emily and Marcus had gotten even closer then they had been over the last few days, as Marcus had stopped holding part of himself back. He had relaxed completely now that Emily was in on his secret.
Emily had noticed a change and had guessed the reason for it. Marcus was no longer holding a part of himself back from her now that she knew his secret. It might've been a small change, but it was still noticeable to anyone who know Marcus well.
Emily was still amazed that something like immortality, not to mention magic existed, but since she's been given a demonstration of both she didn't know how either could be faked. It helped that she loved Marcus with every ounce of feeling in her body. He was gentle, generous, kind and that was only three of his positive attributes. She hadn't been aware that such men as Marcus, his father or uncle still existed in this century, but considering how old the latter two were it shouldn't be surprising. Marcus was a lot like his father Emily had discovered. He had gotten a lot of his personality traits, even if he looked more like his mother. Marcus had gotten his mother's red hair and a lot of her facial features.
"So I did," Marcus agreed, as the two of them sat on the bed Emily between Marcus's legs leaning back against his broad chest. Marcus's legs were splayed in front of him. "It goes like this," Marcus began. "Uncle Dave always liked to travel and that was unusual in the time he was born. Most people didn't go far from home as there were many dangers on the road. There were bandits and wild animals and that didn't even account for natural elements like rain, sleet, snow. Lightning could strike a tree that could then fall on you trapping you beneath it or even killing you outright. It wouldn't do to be caught in a bad storm with no shelter in sight, as you could catch pneumonia and die from it. There was no medicine for such back so long ago.
"Uncle Dave was in Wales when he came up on a small village and he knew that he desperately needed some supplies to continue on his way, but strangers weren't usually welcome in such places since as I said a few minutes ago most people didn't travel. Still, Uncle Dave decided to risk it and so started gathering supplies partly from the small market that was in the village square and partly from the outlaying farms. He then overheard a conversation between the primitive law enforcement and several prominent villagers.
"They were talking about how it was time to get rid of the evil influence of the Ambrosius family. Magic was considered evil back so long ago no matter how it was used by those that had it. The Ambrosius family wasn't evil themselves and in fact, they always went out of their way to help their neighbors according to what Uncle Dave learned, even if that was subtly. It was one of the children that finally let the regular people know that the Ambrosius family wasn't exactly normal. The youngest boy had a bout of accidental magic where somebody normal saw him and that was all it took for their arrest and execution to be ordered even the children. The rumors about the family didn't help, especially the ones about Merlin himself.
"My uncle heard the whole thing from where he was though nobody saw him, as he was in the shadow of a big old oak tree near where the conversation was going on. He decided right there that he would warn the family and help them escape. As a reward Godfrey Ambrosius offered to turn him immortal for his help once they had gotten away.
"Uncle Dave had to agree to it of course and once he did Godfrey explained that he wouldn't be able to have children except with his mate he also wouldn't be able to turn anybody else immortal except of course his mate. This way he could not be forced to turn someone immortal when he didn't want to. There are plenty of people that would want to be immortal for all the wrong reasons, which is why my uncle believes that Godfrey Ambrosius had to arrange things the way he did," Marcus finished.
Emily thought about what Marcus had told her and finally asked, "Why do you think your uncle agreed to it I mean living forever is not all it's cracked up to be I'm sure."
"I think Godfrey Ambrosius told him something that made my uncle agree. He was rumored to be a powerful seer. Someone who could see future events," Marcus explained. "Seers as powerful as Godfrey aren't exactly common, but I'm not surprised that Godfrey Ambrosius was so powerful."
"Why aren't you surprised?" Emily said looking at Marcus speculatively.
"Because Godfrey and his family were descendants of Merlin Ambrosius," Marcus explained. "Merlin was said to be the first one ever granted such power. He was King Arthur's advisor and friend but when he wasn't traveling or helping out Arthur and his knights he settled in that village I mentioned. It is said to be his birthplace."
"So what happened to the family?" Emily asked.
"My uncle isn't sure, as he lost track of them hundreds of years before he met my aunt, which wasn't hard to do," Marcus said. "There are many things that could've happened to the family they could've truly died out for instance or they could've changed their surname to be something more common. There are plenty of common surnames in the world Walters or Lincoln for instance Smith, Jones, even Rossi.
"Yes there are plenty of common surname though Hotchner isn't one of them," Emily said.
"No it's not," Marcus agreed. "Hotchner is Polish just so you know and yes, I know it's not as common as some surnames. It's very, very rare actually. It's not like dad can help his unusual surname though."
"He could change it to something more common," Emily suggested.
"They could but they won't," Marcus said.
"Why not? I would think it would be easier," Emily asked.
"It might be, but dad will never agree to it and I believe he and mom discussed at one point and decided against it," Marcus explained. "For one thing and dad is proud of his last name and for another it's unusual nowadays, as it's almost nonexistent anymore. It's just one of those surnames that has nearly died out due to any number of factors. Wars for instance can make a surname disappear if it comes from a specific area and hasn't expanded beyond that. If those young men are drafted or join the military on their own and then become causalities what do you think happens to those with the same surname."
"I see what you mean," Emily agreed.
"There are more Hotchners in the world now thanks to my parents having had numerous children over the centuries not just me and my siblings."
"So how many siblings do you have I mean from every generation," Emily asked.
"I have no idea actually. I never bothered to keep track of how many children they have for each generation," Marcus shrugged, "My parents always have at least four every time they settle somewhere new. The same goes for the Rossis of course. You would have to ask my parents that question, as I'm sure they know how many children they've had over the last few hundreds years."
"It's not that important really, I was just curious," Emily said.
"I really can't blame you for being curious," Marcus said. "I would be too if I hadn't been born immortal.
"Your uncle must've seen so many things since he's apparently been around since the dark ages. I would be interested in talking to him sometime, as I'm sure he's been involved in many historical events, even if he didn't realize they were historical until decades later."
"You'd be right about that," Marcus agreed with a smile. "He doesn't often talk about his past but sometimes he does. I think he doesn't like to remember how lonely he was before he met my Aunt Jazz."
"Yes, I can see that," Emily said thoughtfully. "I'm sure he had relationships before he met your aunt of course, but never had a family and never permanently settled down. Most people want to put down roots, to have a place to belong."
"Most people yeah, but I have met some that don't want to risk an unhappy home life, because their childhood was so bad," Marcus said. "Also, some people just aren't suitable to wed, because they're abusive or treat women like whores."
"It's not all one-sided, some women can be the same way like my mother," Emily said.
"You've rarely spoken about your mother other then calling her the bane of her children's existence," Marcus noted. "I mean I knew you weren't close to her after you told me how she reacted when you told her you wanted to be a ballet dancer when you were a kid."
"As you know, my mother and I almost never saw eye to eye," Emily explained. "She was just an abrasive, bullying woman that didn't seem to have a maternal bone in her body. Elizabeth Prentiss didn't do warm, fuzzy feelings. She never really showed she cared about her three children. I'm actually surprised she had three children and that she didn't have an abortion for at least two of them if not all of them."
"Maybe your father prevented her from having those abortions," Marcus suggested. "He might have objected. We have no idea if there was a prenup agreement between them and the agreement might have stated that she couldn't have an abortion whenever she got pregnant."
"That's an idea," Emily murmured looking thought. "It's certainly possible, though I suppose we'll never really know."
"Does it really matter in the long run?" Marcus asked.
"I suppose not," Emily said, "but that doesn't mean I'm not curious."
"If it was me, I would be to," Marcus said.
"Your parents are so lucky they appear to have the perfect relationship," Emily observed with a touch of envy in her tone. "From what I can remember my father and my mother were always arguing. I'm actually surprised my father stuck around long enough to have three kids or that he and my mother married at all."
"While I'm sorry your parents were like they were I'm certainly glad you were born," Marcus told Emily sincerely with a smile. "You're right my parents have a very harmonious relationship and so do my aunt and uncle. I won't go so far as to say they never argue, but they rarely do."
"Well, if they've been together for centuries it shouldn't be surprising if they rarely do, as they would know each other intimately by now," Emily said.
"From what I understand, they rarely argued at all even when they first met," Marcus said.
"I only wish my parents had been the same way," Emily commented sounding wistful.
"Most couples aren't like my family, Emily," Marcus said. "It's sad, but it's an all to common problem. Couples forget to treat each other with respect first of all. To listen to what their spouse has to say when they speak not just ignore them or dismiss whatever they're told because they don't want to hear it or at least don't agree with it. A lot of times couples don't know how to listen to their spouse in the first place and it goes in one ear and out the other. This is what my parents do for each other, which means they rarely argue.
"They respect each other a great deal. They respect each others intelligence for one thing. Many couples forget to do so or never do it in the first place. They listen to each others opinions without treating one as if it doesn't matter or think that only one of them can make decisions or offer an opinion and have it count in whatever they are discussing. My father understands that my mother has a business to run and doesn't complain when she goes into work every day and doesn't spend every single minute with him. The same goes for my Uncle Dave and Aunt Jazz."
"So neither your father or your uncle fear that they're wives will cheat on them behind their backs," Emily said.
"You see that's the thing you don't understand," Marcus said shaking his head in denial. Emily could feel the motion, but not really see it since she was leaning against his chest.
"You don't ever want to cheat on your mate Emily. To damage the trust between couples or their bond. It is literally impossible to cheat on your soulmate and you never even think about doing so. The thought just never occurs, because they're so happy together."
"That sounds great!" Emily said.
"We'll have the same thing," Marcus told Emily. "You never have to fear me cheating on you, because I never will, never even want to. I've been waiting a long time to find my mate and would never even think about betraying you. I've been wanting to settle down for a long time but that just wasn't possible until I met you. You're somebody I can build a life with have children with and I'm looking forward to every minute of it.
"That sounds idyllic," Emily decided.
"That doesn't mean that we don't have a lot to learn about each other because we do, since we haven't known each other that long just that we'll never break up due to unsolvable differences," Marcus explained.
"I never imagined that I'd actually fall in love," Emily admitted candidly. "But I do love you."
"That's nice to hear," Marcus admitted kissing the top of Emily head. "I knew you did, but you hardly ever say it. I do understand why you don't though. Your family wasn't anything like mine. You come from a broken home. People who do often have trouble with their emotions, in admitting they care or love someone. They are afraid it'll come back to bite them in the butt and that fear holds them back. The thing is that life is too short, for mortals anyway, for them not to at least give love a chance."
"I don't believe there were any kind of men like you left in this world," Emily told Marcus candidly, snuggling into his chest. Marcus's arm held her gently and tenderly, as if she was a precious treasure. "Ones that are understanding, kind, generous and reasonable. So many men are not and I've dated a lot of them over the years."
"Yeah, in someways the human race has gone downhill," Marcus agreed. "I know my uncle and dad both would agree with me. We've seen a lot of things in our time, every immortal has. Standards have changed so much since my father was born, but especially since my uncle was. It used to be the females were more ornamental then they are now."
"I've read enough history to know that, just as I know I could never have lived back then as I am way too independent and intelligent."
"The females were used to their lot though," Marcus said. "I'm sure they were just as intelligent as you. Men rarely recognized that back centuries ago, as they wanted to put females on pedestals and keep them there."
"Don't I know it," Emily snorted. "They just didn't want to be outclassed by the females of the species. They knew they couldn't stand up to us females and so suppressed us as long as they could."
"You might be right," Marcus said amused, "but I wasn't around back then, so I couldn't tell you."
The two fell silent and just enjoyed each other's company.
~~~Marcus and Emily~~~