"Marry me Emily," Marcus proposed. "You have accepted me for who I am so I would be honored if you would become my wife and my mate for eternity."
"Yes!" Emily nearly shouted in excitement.
She loved Marcus so much and while she still found it amazing that he was immortal not to mention the magic that didn't mean she was going to turn him down. She knew she would soon be immortal herself when she and Marcus started having sex. She now understood why she and Marcus weren't making love yet and at first she had been confused as to why not, but not now.
Marcus certainly had far more patience than most men she had dated in the past, but she also knew he was centuries-old, which probably had a lot to do with it.
"Good," Marcus said ecstatic that Emily had accepted his proposal immediately. "Plan whatever kind of wedding you want, money doesn't matter. I have plenty of money I promise you. I've been around for a long time and I made quite the fortune and not just through my jewelry store.
"We can split the cost, as I have some money from my own family since my parents were quite wealthy, which was then split between their three children and since my brother is now dead I got half of his share and my sister got the other half, " Emily said.
"I'll teach you how to invest so that your money will increase, though I would never let you go without, but since I know women have a lot of pride..."
"Yeah, we do," Emily agreed. "Most women don't want to be taken care of by a man whether that's a father or a husband or a brother. In my case, I have none of the above as my father is dead and so is my brother and while I know we will be married I'm still pretty self-sufficient, even if you will be my husband."
"I know and I would never try to stifle your independence," Marcus promised.
"Which is just one reason I love you so much," Emily told him kissing him passionately. "You treat me as an equal and a lot of men even in this very advanced time just don't."
"We should tell the family about the engagement," Marcus said. "Everyone will be really happy for us."
"I know, I really like your parents and your aunt and uncle," Emily said. "They are so not insane."
"Your parents weren't really insane were they?" Marcus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not my father from what I can remember but my mother... Insane might not be the right word, but she was definitely controlling and also a type A personality. She always had to have her way every single time. She had no warm, fuzzy feelings for her children, which is why all three of us were glad to get away from home. She didn't agree with Casey about wanting to join the Navy SEALs and wanted to him to become an attorney. She didn't give a damn if he would've been unhappy in that profession or even if he had an aptitude for it and demanded he obey. When he didn't and he joined the Navy SEALs anyway she refused to speak to him again and tried to order me and my sister to cut off our brother completely. As if! Yeah, like that was going to happen!"
"She sounds like a complete narcissist and also domineering," Marcus said.
"Unfortunately, that's pretty accurate," Emily said. "The way my mother communicated was by shouting what she was thinking instead of being reasonable and talking calmly about things. She just wasn't the lovey-dovey type."
"I would say not," Marcus said grimacing. "I'm glad I'll never meet her, as I'm sure she probably wouldn't approve of me, even though I make a very good living."
"Probably not," Emily agreed. "She never did approve of any of my boyfriends or my sisters Sandy's either.
"Why not?" Marcus asked.
"Why do you think?" Emily told him, "because she didn't want either of her daughters to be happy with someone. She wanted us just as miserable as she was. She always claimed that none of them were good enough for us whenever Sandy or dared introduce our boyfriends to her, but considering she was just a miserable human being and she and my father were hardly a good match what does she know?"
"I've met people like your mother before and I'm glad you didn't listen to her about dating, as you probably would've ended up just as miserable as she was in the long run. We also might never have met."
"Now that's the truth," Emily agreed wholeheartedly. "I never understood why mom was like she was."
"Maybe your father cheated on her?" Marcus suggested.
"That wouldn't surprise me in the least, but I doubt that's the reason she was like she was. I doubt it would've been a surprise to my mother if my father Edward diddled with someone else behind her back. If that's the case, I doubt she was allowed the same privilege as there was probably a prenup agreement there was to be no sex outside of that she had with her husband."
"Privilege is not the word I would've used in that sentence, Emily," Marcus told her.
"Oh, what word would you have used?" Emily asked Marcus with a raised eyebrow. "It would have been seen as a privilege for my father to be able to cheat with impunity and not be worried about consequences. It's obvious to me that you don't come from a broken home, but I certainly do."
"Well, I suppose when you put it that way," Marcus admitted, "it would be seen as a privilege by your father to be able to cheat with impunity. I have trouble imagining that kind of thing you know. I know cheating on your other half happens all the time, but it's still a rather strange concept to me."
"That's because your parents would never imagine cheating on each other or your aunt and uncle for that matter, but the human race is flawed Marcus," Emily told him compassionately.
"I understand that in my head, but in my heart it's a different matter," Marcus said. "The concept of someone cheating on the person they've decided to settle down with just doesn't compute. Now those marriages that are arranged, like happens even today, then I could understand a spouse cheating, but if it's your choice, then why would you cheat on that person? Why not at least try to work it out?"
"I agree with you 100% on that," Emily told Marcus kissing his cheek. Marcus was such a good man and she would happily marry him and have children with him. From the way he was talking Emily knew she never had to fear Marcus cheating on her. It's like it was a foreign concept to her fiancé, which told Emily that his parents had a harmonious marriage. All she could figure what is this mate bond she had heard about must be a powerful force.
"I have a feeling that we'll have a very happy marriage and that pleases me," Emily told Marcus. "I don't want the same kind of marriage that my parents had with the constant arguing and sniping."
"No, that would be hell," Marcus said shuddering, as he thought about that. "Let's change the subject to something more pleasant."
"Fine with me," Emily agreed pushing the previous conversation topic to the back of her mind.
The subject was then changed and the two chatted for sometime before going to get something to eat.
~~~Marcus and Emily~~~
"It's nice to meet you Marcus," Sandy said.
Emily had finally gotten around to introducing her sister to her fiancé. It didn't help that Sandy traveled quite a bit for her job so there had just never been a good time.
"It's nice to meet you too Sandy," Marcus say gallantly kissing the back of her hand like the gentleman he had been raised to be.
"You have a charmer here sis," Sandy said giggling while Emily rolled her eyes at Marcus's fake gallantry.
"Yes, I know how charming he can be," Emily agreed with a faint smile.
"It's really nice to see you so happy sis," Sandy said, as she looked at her sister.
"It's nice to actually be happy," Emily answered truthfully.
"Yeah, it is," Sandy agreed.
"So are you ever gonna settle down sis?" Emily asked Sandy.
"It's not that I would mind settling down you know that," Sandy told her sister.
"It's just tough to find a guy that I understands you," Emily said in understanding. "I was lucky when I met Marcus, something I know very well."
"I was certainly lucky when I met your sister," Marcus spoke up. "She's an amazing woman."
"Oh, I really like him," Sandy said. "He's a sweetie."
"He might be sweet, but he's also being sincere," Emily told Sandy. "I met his family you know and they are nothing like ours was. His parents are stable, loving and supportive. They were very excited to hear that Marcus was finally settling down."
Emily didn't mention why they had been so excited that Marcus was finally settling down. Emily didn't tell her sister that Marcus was immortal and that she was his mate and that an immortal never settled down until they had met the one.
"Well, your family sounds so different from Emily's and mine that it's like in another universe," Sandy told Marcus.
"Not really," Marcus said. "My parents love each other, but they also respect each other and believe me that does make a difference. My father never complains that my mother has a business to run and so doesn't spend every minute with him while my mother respects my father as well. They always discuss any decisions that need to be made and make them together."
"Sounds like your parents love each other a great deal," Sandy said.
"They do," Marcus agreed. "Me and my siblings we raised with love and understanding. We were disciplined when necessary when we misbehaved so we turned out to be well behaved adults. We were taught generosity and kindness and also honesty and integrity. We were taught to help the community in which we live, as not everybody is as well-off as my family and to give to charity."
"I think I would really like your parents," Sandy said. "It's clear that they raised you and your siblings well. So many parents don't you know, like mom."
"You'll probably meet them at out wedding," Marcus said. "I'll make sure I introduce you."
"So when is the wedding," Sandy asked, since she had been given the perfect opening.
"That is still to be determined," Emily said. "Marcus only proposed to me within the last couple of weeks so it's gonna be awhile. It's going to be fairly large so it's gonna take awhile to plan."
"You don't know that many people Emily," Sandy said.
"She might not, but my family is large. I'm not just talking about my immediate family, I'm talking about my cousins. I have numerous cousins between my family and the Rossis," Marcus said.
"The Rossis," Sandy asked.
"They're good friends with my parents," Marcus explained. "My Aunt Jazz and mom have known each other all their lives and they've remained best friends for all that time. My Uncle Dave and Aunt Jazz are godparents to every single one of my siblings. The reverse is also true and my parents are also the godparents for all the Rossis children."
"Technically, they're not related, as I've met them too, but Shonda and Jazz are so close that they just think of each other as sisters," Emily said.
"My mother was an only child while my aunt has several siblings. They became close from the first day they met in kindergarten," Marcus added. "They might not technically be related, but they are basically sisters down under the skin. They did everything together growing up."
"I understand," Sandy said. "I can see why you consider the Rossis family."
"My siblings and the Rossis children grew up together and we still communicate to this day and occasionally see each other like on Thanksgiving or Christmas," Marcus said. "Emily and I are going up to Reno next week, because it's my mother's birthday and we've been invited to the party my father, aunt and uncle are throwing for her. It will be Emily's first family event, as a lot of the family will be there for it. It'll be a madhouse. It will definitely show Emily what she's getting into with my family since it's so large."
"I'm looking forward to it and to some of his aunt's deserts," Emily said
"My Aunt Jazz is an excellent baker," Marcus told Sandy with a wink. "Emily's just like the rest of the family loves my Aunt Jazz's desserts. My aunt is such a good baker she does it professionally and there's always a line outside the door every day she's open, so that ought to tell you how popular the place is."
"She did this tiramisu, when Marcus and I went up there for lunch one day awhile back and it was really good. There was just the right amount of that rich chocolate taste with a hint of coffee. It was seriously great."
"It sounds really good," Sandy said smiling. "I hope you know what you're getting into Marcus, as my sister is serious is chocoholic. She's also a fancy coffee enthusiast."
"Since I am also a chocoholic as you put it at least of my aunts desserts then we're well matched in that way," Marcus told Sandy with a smile. "I'm also a fan of coffee, though I usually drink mine black with just a little sweetener in it. I'm not exactly a morning person, which is why I love my coffee so much."
"Well, I can see why you two connected so well," Sandy said smiling and shaking her head at the pair looking amused. "You share an obsession with chocolate and coffee."
"And you don't share my obsession with chocolate?" Emily shot back.
"I never said I didn't," Sandy said.
"You implied it," Emily told her haughtily.
"All right, let's not argue about it," Sandy said holding up her hands in defense.
"To change the subject I'd like you to be my maid of honor," Emily told her sister.
"I'll be happy to," Sandy squealed causing Marcus to snort in amusement at Sandy's reaction. "It's too bad Casey can't see you get married," Sandy said suddenly sober.
"Yeah, I know," Emily said somebody looking sad, even as she fingered the ring that was under her shirt.
"So your brother was Casey then," Marcus said.
"Yes, that was his name," Emily agreed.
"Casey would've been happy that you have found someone like Marcus that makes you happy," Sandy said.
"That's true," Emily agreed.
"So your parents live in Reno?" Sandy asked Marcus who nodded.
"Yeah, they do and so do the Rossis," Marcus said.
Marcus just stopped himself from adding for this generation to his sentence.
"I've never been to Reno, but I know it's known for its gambling much like it's sister city Las Vegas," Sandy said.
"That's true," Marcus agreed. "But my parents or the Rossis rarely gamble, even if they do live in a city that has a lot of casinos. It's not an activity that's really ever interested any of them. Why lose your money since such places are often rigged?"
"I had heard that yeah," Sandy agreed. "That's really sensible and if there's one thing I know a lot of people are not sensible. They get addicted to gambling hoping to win their money they lost back when that rarely ever happens. They then keep gambling and losing and soon they are in debt because they didn't know when to quit."
"I think we can both agree with you on that," Emily spoke up and Marcus nodded in complete agreement.
"So you never did tell me what you do for a living Marcus," Sandy questioned.
"He owns a jewelry store," Emily answered before Marcus could. "It's how we met. I went into Hotchner Jewelers to buy a chain for Casey's class ring so I could wear it under my clothes."
"Best day of my life when this gorgeous woman walked into my shop," Marcus said. "I quickly discovered she didn't even have a boyfriend, and wasn't married so I immediately asked her out on a date, even though I knew she was grieving for her brother. I had to take a chance that I'd be rejected, because I knew I'd never see her again."
"Well, you really got yourself a winner sis," Sandy said. "Your man is very financially solvent, as I've heard owning a jewelry store can be quite lucrative and make you very wealthy."
"That's true," Marcus agreed. "My parents are also wealthy and I had a trust fund set up for me, as did all my siblings so money is never going to be an issue."
"So what do you parents do for a living?" Sandy asked curiously.
"My mother Shonda runs an antique store. It's known as Walters Antiques and has been in her family for generations," Marcus replied. "My mother only buys and sells real antiques not the usual tourist crap. She sells mostly smaller items but she does sell furniture once in awhile."
"Well, I'm impressed," Sandy said a smile forming on her lips. "I might have to visit just to look around see what they have."
"You can if you want to go all the way to Reno," Emily told her sister. "That's where Marcus's family is remember?"
"Who knows I might have to go there for my job sometime and I can look up Walters Antiques if I do," Sandy said.
"My mother will welcome any and all business," Marcus said, "even though she does quite well. If you tell her you're Emily's sister she might even give you a discount if you decide to buy something because that will make you family."
"Well, I'll definitely have to go sometime," Sandy said.
"Feel free," Marcus said smiling.
~~~Marcus and Emily~~~