"Now JJ we have something to discuss with you," Dave told the beautiful woman sitting beside him.
"JJ figured that there was something else going on other than just a dinner with friends," Clare told Dave. "I did tell her you were bringing the food, but I didn't tell her anything else no matter how much she wanted to know."
"I admit, I've been curious," JJ admitted.
"Well, now you're going to find out," Dave told her looking sober and serious, as he knew that this conversation could go very wrong.
Dave then began to explain all about immortals just as Aaron had done for Clare months ago.
JJ looked disbelieving as she listened, but as she looked at Aaron and Clare, they also looked sober and serious as Dave talked and didn't look disbelieving at all.
JJ was just waiting for somebody to say April fools, even though this wasn't April much less April Fools' Day.
"I know how hard this is to believe," Clare told her friend whom she had been watching during Dave's explanation and had seen JJ's face go through a myriad of expressions from disbelief to anger, to astonishment and a lot of others. At least a dozen different emotions passed over JJ's face before Dave finally ran down.
"Hard? Try impossible," JJ said. "I don't know how you can believe it Clare."
"I didn't at first," Clare said. "Immortality seems like something out of a fantasy novel not something that's relevant to real life, but then, Aaron demonstrated for me and I had to believe it then."
"How exactly...?," JJ begin to ask.
"It's simple," Dave spoke up before Aaron or Clare could. "I'll simply cut myself somewhere non-vital and it will heal faster than any medical technology can even in this day and age."
"It's what Aaron did for me, but even then, I wasn't sure I loved him enough to last what is technically multiple lifetimes," Clare agreed.
"So what changed your mind?" JJ asked.
"What do you think changed it?" Clare asked with a raised eyebrow at JJ's rather naïve question, as she thought it should be obvious to her friend why exactly she had changed her mind. "That idiot Ricky nearly strangling me of course. I already told you how Aaron helped me out during that time and slept on my couch and that was what made me realize I did love him enough to last for centuries to come. It made me realize that he was nothing like Ricky Martin, which was a good thing."
"OK, why tell me?" JJ asked looking directly at Dave when she asked her a question. "If what you say about immortals is true and if they do exist, it's got to be one of the biggest secrets going, even in this century, so how could you trust anyone to not reveal it?"
"Remember, I mentioned about mates doing my explanation," Dave answered the question calmly, though his expression was slightly worried.
"So you told Clare because she was your mate," JJ asked Aaron who nodded in confirmation.
"An immortal knows immediately, when they have met the one that they can settle down with," Aaron confirmed with his next words.
"That's what happened to me the minute I set eyes on you at their reception," Dave told JJ. "I never expected to meet my mate if you want to know the truth, as I am much older than Aaron is. I always hoped I would, as I've been lonely for a long time now, but it's been so many centuries and I had about given up hope about having a wife and children.
"I was shocked when you asked me if you could sit down at my table and I felt that instant connection to you. I hardly expected to meet my mate at my best friend's wedding reception and that it was his mate's best friend was also a shock. I accepted it instantly though, and immediately asked you for a date as you know, which you accepted.
"I'm actually really glad I didn't bring a date to Aaron and Clare's wedding, as it would've been rude to dump my date in the middle of the reception and I also wouldn't have wanted to give you the wrong impression to where you didn't agree to go on date because you thought I was dating someone else."
"It is rather hard to believe so I'd like that demonstration just for my own peace of mine," JJ said finally.
"Of course," Dave answered calmly. "I knew I would probably have to provide one, as you too intelligent to take what I tell you at face value without proof."
"I'll get a knife and we can have the dessert JJ brought at the same time," Clare said, speaking for the first time in the last few minutes. Clare rose to her feet and went into the kitchen coming back, just a few minutes later with a stack of plates, silverware, and napkins as well as the pie that, JJ had brought.
Clare cut the pie into pieces swiftly, and then took the pies server and gave everyone a piece and once that was done, she handed out forks and napkins.
Once everyone had a dessert Clare handed the knife to Dave without him having to ask as well as some extra napkins, so he could wipe his had afterwards.
"Ready for that demonstration or do you want to eat your pie first?" Dave asked JJ putting his slice of pie on the coffee table in front of him, but then retained the knife and the napkins.
"Let's go ahead and get that demonstration out of the way," JJ decided, and Dave nodded. "I want to be able to enjoy my pie and I won't be able to if I think you are feeding me a pile of dung."
It was clear that JJ wanted to say a wanted to say a curse word but substituted dung instead.
Dave cut his palm swiftly without JJ having to say anything else and she watched closely, even as she held the piece of pie she had brought on her lap.
JJ watched avidly never taking her eyes off Dave's palm so she saw the bright red blood well up and how it flowed from the wound for a few seconds, but then almost immediately slowed as the wound healed right before her eyes.
Dave flexed the fingers in his hand to show that the wound was all healed and then calmly cleaned off the blood before it dried with a napkin and so wouldn't have to be put under the water in order to get it wet to be removed.
"That was amazing," JJ spoke up as Dave showed his mate his now healed palm.
JJ inspected it closely seeing absolutely no sign of further injury.
"I'm glad you think so," Dave said with a slight smile.
"So if I'm understanding right, I'm your mate?" JJ asked
"Yes you are," Dave agreed. "Which is why I just told you I am immortal, just like Aaron told Clare, months ago."
"Something I had trouble accepting as you know," Clare said.
"That's very true, but you finally did accept that I'm different from most people and that's all that matters," Aaron agreed.
"But only after that idiot Ricky nearly strangled me," Clare remind Aaron.
"It doesn't matter anymore and if Ricky dares come after you he'll regret it," Aaron looked fierce and protective, JJ immediately noticed. Is that how Dave felt about me? JJ wondered silently. Protective, gentle, loving?
The kisses they had shared had been amazing and when they got around to making love, even with Dave using a condom it had been damn spectacular. She had been kissed by plenty of guys and some had been pretty good but Dave, blew every single one of those guys she had kissed, out of the water. Was that because they were mates? Which meant, they were perfect for each other?
What is she really ready to live forever though? If she accepted Dave's offer she knew that she would live for hundreds, even thousands of years and that was very hard concept for someone like her to accept. Before tonight she would have gone to her grave claiming immortality was nothing but a fantasy, not real, but she also couldn't see how Dave's hand could have possibly healed in five seconds flat if he wasn't who he claimed to be, an immortal who had been around for centuries.
There was also her best friend Clare to consider. There was no way her friend would lie to her, as they had been best friends ever since her family had moved to Denver and even though, she had stayed in Denver for a few years after Clare had moved to get away from Ricky they kept in contact. She had finally moved to be nearer to Clare because of complications in her personal and professional life.
When Clare had met Aaron on her vacation to the moon colonies she had been very happy for her friend, but to find out that Aaron was immortal and to have this confirmed that Aaron had turned her was just a bit much to take in.
On the other hand, it meant that she would have one of her best friend's with her for eternity if she agreed to let Dave turn her immortal.
JJ realized suddenly that the question wasn't so much was she ready to live forever but could she live and be happy without Dave and the answer to that was a resounding no!
While living forever was still a strange concept to her, there was no way she could live without Dave in her life. She'd be miserable if she turned Dave down no matter how strange a man he was.
JJ had assumed that Dave hadn't wanted to get her pregnant, but now, she believed that he would have started to turn her immortal by having unprotected sex with her or at least that's what she believed. Of course not getting her pregnant might also have been part of it as well.
JJ was assuming that those children would be immortal and there's no way Dave would risk her having a child that would be immortal without telling her first.
"This is really hard to believe, even after the demonstration. I never imagined that something like immortality existed, even in this advanced century," JJ finally spoke.
"Believe me, I know it is," Dave said. "I'm not unaware that such things are written about in books and shown in vids. The thing is that there had to be source material for those books and vids that are out there. I won't say that a lot of it isn't the imagination of the author, but in order for those creative people to have such ideas in the first place there is almost always some sort of source material rather that's legends and myths or something else entirely."
"I understand your point," JJ said she considered what Dave had said. "I never really thought about it, but that doesn't mean you're not right."
"Of course you never thought about it as most people don't think like that," Clare who had been silent said.
"Not unless they encounter something that has obviously has no scientific explanation," Aaron added.
"Which happens even if they never want to admit they encountered something that wouldn't exactly be what would be considered normal," Dave said. "It's how some of those books that are then made into movies are created though."
"Someone sees something supernatural and then turns that experience into a novel," Aaron said.
"Which is then eventually made into a movie," JJ said and everybody else nodded.
"Then of course more such books are created until there's a whole genre of books," Dave said. "Genres didn't exist for a long time, you know, and the first books that came out that could be considered so, were mysteries and that wasn't until the early 20th century. Then there are other books of course things like cookbooks, bibles, history books, but really, books weren't economical until the printing press was invented by Benjamin Franklin, as they had to be printed by hand."
Which of course, made then expensive," JJ said, "Well, more expensive."
"The covers were also leather, as they're weren't paperbacks or hardbacks as there are today if you want to buy physical copy instead of an e-book," Dave said.
"This is very interesting, but I think we need to give Clare and Aaron some privacy, as they haven't been married that long," JJ said.
"You let us worry about that," Clare told JJ firmly. "First, we need to know if you that immortality is very real."
"I don't know how I can't considering Dave's demonstration, but I'm still in shock," JJ said.
"Which isn't surprising," Dave said in understanding. "All of us know very well how earthshattering this news is. Believe me, I understand that very well."
"We all do," Aaron agreed. "Dave and I discussed on many occasions about telling someone about immortality and how difficult that would end up being considering the century in which we are now."
"True, we did," Dave agreed. "We tended to see each other every few years, as even a decade isn't long for an immortal."
"A decade seems like a long time to me," JJ said. "Then again, I suppose an immortal has a different perspective then someone ordinary like me."
"You are hardly ordinary JJ," Dave told her sincerely leaning over to kiss his cheek and was gratified when JJ didn't pull back and in fact, accepted the kiss with every evidence of pleasure.
"I wanted to propose, which is why Aaron and Clare agreed to host a dinner at their house, because I knew that you had to know what I was before you accepted. If we wanted children and I know you do, I'd have to stop using a condom and you also need to be immortal before I can get you pregnant. You would have been furious at me if I hadn't revealed to you that I was different from ordinary men before you accepted my marriage proposal," Dave said.
"True, I would have been," JJ agreed. "You did the right thing, in telling me, even if the information is mindblowing."
"Most anyone would have been though," Clare said.
"Which is why I just decided it was time for me to reveal what I was," Dave said.
"That was a smart move and while my mind is still reeling I've come to realize that I love you. I'd be miserable without you, as you've managed to steal my heart without me even realizing it until tonight."
"Does that mean you'll let me turn you immortal?" Dave asked. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to remain human you know, even if that would make me miserable."
Dave didn't bother to tell JJ what would happen if she turned him down. He would seek a way to end his life and it would probably end up being Aaron that took it in such a way that he remained dead permanently.
Dave shot Aaron a look when JJ wasn't paying attention to warn him not to say anything about what would happen if JJ didn't agree to be turned immortal. He didn't want to guilt JJ into saying yes and Aaron nodded letting his friend know that he understood the silent message.
Clare was about to speak, but Aaron squeezed her hand and when she looked over at him he shook his head telling her not to say anything, so Clare shut her mouth before the words could emerge.
"Yes, it does," JJ said. "I know if I were to turn you down, just because of what I've learned tonight, I would never marry, never have children. I don't see myself ever getting close to anyone else, not close enough at any rate to consider marriage. Even if some other man proposed I have no doubt I'd turn him down and that's only if I could get close enough to any man that they would even consider proposing."
"You made me a very happy man," Dave told sincerely, as he dug into his pocket and produced a ring box. "Marry me, I love you and I swear I'll always protect you and treat you as an equal."
"I accept of course," JJ said even at she kissed Dave on the lips.
Dave accepted the kiss and when they broke apart both looked very happy.
"Congratulations to you both," Clare was the first one to speak up.
"Yes congratulations, Dave, JJ,"Aaron agreed smiling
"Thank you," Dave said grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes thank you," JJ agreed with Dave, even as she cuddled into Dave's side.
"Thank you for hosting dinner," Dave told his friend and his mate.
"All Aaron and I did was give you a secure location to tell JJ your secret," Clare said smiling. "You're the one that bought dinner for everyone."
"I knew there was a reason you were going to bring dinner," JJ told Dave. "Clare let it slip that you were going to bring dinner instead of her fixing something or them getting something from a restaurant where they paid for it."
"And it was certainly a good choice," Aaron said. "That blueberry pie was perfect with it so thanks for bringing dessert JJ."
"You're welcome. I was taught never to come empty-handed to any event involving food," JJ said.
"We should be going," Dave said rising to his feet and helping JJ to stand. "It was a lovely evening and I hope we can do it again sometime, but you two are still newlyweds and Clare is also pregnant so we'll get out of your way. You should probably be resting Clare as I know you're probably tired."
"I'm fine and yes, I'm a little tired, but not much, as Aaron won't let me overdo it," Clare said
"Still, we both should probably go to bed," Aaron said, "just as soon as I show our guests out. Thanks for dinner."
"It was the least I could do considering you offered your home for our conversation," Dave said.
The two old friends shared a manly hug before JJ and Dave left the Hotchner residence.
~~~Aaron and Clare~~~
