"Are you OK?" Minerva asked Jason several days later. The two of them had to come back from Nashville and while Jason went to work it was apparent there was a lot on his mind.
"Yes, sorry, if I've been distracted for the last few days," Jason apologized taking Minerva into his arms and hugging her close.
"Don't apologize I know what we told you shocked you to the core," Minerva said. "It takes awhile to recover from that kind of thing."
"You sound as if you know what you're talking about," Jason said with the reluctant smile.
"Not personally no, but you are not the first one we've given such an explanation to," Minerva said.
"Your family has given this explanation before?" Jason asked not knowing why he was shocked. Of course they had. Their teamwork had been to smooth for it to be their first time.
"I am not the first to find my mate Jason, as there have been others before you," Minerva said. "The first, was my cousin Shawnda Rossi oldest daughter of my Aunt Jazz an Uncle Dave. While she was the first to meet her mate she was not the last, as there have been many after her, which my parents as well as my aunt and uncle find amazing. You see finding your mate is more due to chance then anything else."
"Which is why it's so amazing that so many of your family have met your mates," Jason said and Minerva nodded.
"And all within a few hundred years, which isn't a long time for an immortal trust me," Minerva said.
"I'll take your word for it," Jason said, as hundreds of years sounded like a long time to him, but then he was still very mortal at least at the moment.
"From what I know your reaction was rather extreme and none of the others that were told reacted like you did," Minerva said.
"I'm sorry for the way I reacted," Jason apologized.
"There's no need to apologize Jason. My family has come to expect shock and amazement and every other emotion your can name, when we tell somebody what we are. Awe for instance, wonder, astonishment, you name it you probably felt it," Minerva explained shaking her head. "Everybody just reacts differently. I know my family will be giving the same explanation to other mortals who are mates of one of the family in the future."
"So how old are you really? You never did say," Jason asked.
"Are you sure you're ready for that information?" Minerva asked. "I would hate to shock you again considering what you just went through a few days ago."
"I'll be fine," Jason said. "Your question tells me that you're probably older than humans can live, even in this century."
"I am," Minerva agreed grinning at him.
"So?" Jason asked again and Minerva gave in.
"300 or so," Minerva finally said. "I'm still young for an immortal, just so you know."
"300 doesn't seem young to me," Jason admitted feeling amazed all over again.
"Give it a few decades and that perspective will change," Minerva told him with a smile, giving him a kiss.
Jason accepted the kiss and got lost in it and soon he didn't care how old Minerva was so long as she was his wife. The feelings he had for Minerva were hardly normal as they were way out of this realm. Minerva was sweet caring, intelligent, kind, loving and tender. Maybe the way he felt for Minerva was because she was his soulmate and loving anybody else who wasn't his perfect match like Sarah, was just a pale version of the real thing.
It was certainly an interesting theory anyway, but he'd think about it later. The kiss finally broke and Jason just stood there looking rather stunned.
"That's how much I love you Jason Gideon," Minerva told him.
"I love you too," Jason told her sincerely, but the emotion in his voice told Minerva all she needed to know about how Jason really felt about her.
"I know you do," Minerva told him kissing him again quickly this time. "I know I've asked you to accept a lot, but I have one more thing to tell you. You had better sit down."
"This must be along the lines of immortality and magic if you want me to sit down," Jason said.
"It is rather astonishing news," Minerva agreed calm. "I don't want you falling down when you hear what I have to tell you. You might hurt yourself. I would hate to have to take you to the hospital."
"Lay it on me," Jason told her once he sat in one of the chairs that were in what passed for Minerva's living room, since they were in her condo.
"You see, a magical has a main talent to their regular magic. That little witch light we all showed you was something that every magical can do and that was just a small example. My mother for instance is a powerful telepath."
"Does that mean your mother can you read my mind?" Jason suddenly looking very ill. With the kind of thoughts he'd been having about her daughter he sincerely hoped Shonda had not read his mind.
"I know what you're thinking and you don't need to worry," Minerva laughed at him.
"How do you know what I'm thinking," Jason asked.
"It's as obvious as the nose on your face and no, I'm not a telepath like my mother. That is not a talent I inherited. Remember, I've been around for over 300 years and I've learned a lot about body language and facial expressions in that time," Minerva explained.
"That's a relief, because I'm not sure what I'm thinking about you is strictly legal," Jason said.
"We'll have to try out some of your fantasies sometime," Minerva told him with a grin and a wink. "Anyway, my mother never would have invaded your mind unless she suspected you not being on the level, as it would be an invasion of privacy. If she had thought for a moment that you meant harm to her family then that would've been a good time to use her telepathy.
"Happy to try out some of the fantasies I have running through my head about you," Jason grinned changing the subject. "It's nice to know that your mother wouldn't just read my mind for no reason."
"Those fantasies are for later, but I'll be happy to help you fulfill them," Minerva said. "What I'm trying to tell you Jason is I am a seer."
"A seer?" Jason said cocking his head in confusion.
"A seer, which is spelled S.E.E.R., is a person who can see the future," Minerva explained. "That's my talent and you need to be aware of it in case I go into a trance or something. I don't want you worrying about me, because I will come out of it, usually in just a few minutes."
"Now I remember where I'd seen that word," Jason finally spoke after a lengthy silence. "I was reading this article years ago and it mentioned how some people thought they had talents that could be considered supernatural. The article said it all had to do with a humans sixth sense, but there was no such thing as seeing the future or telepathy. It mentioned a bunch of other supernatural talents as well. It basically said it was all a bunch of hooey. It was a more tongue in cheek article than anything else,"
"What periodical was this?" Minerva asked curiously.
Jason told her and Minerva nodded.
"They are hardly a serious publication and it's just as well. They mock a lot of things that really are real. That serves a purpose though, as the people who read it are led into believing that such things don't exist and that gives people like my family cover. Most people might not really take such articles seriously at least on the surface, but it's like they're being programed to believe that such powers as being able to see the future or telepathy just don't exist."
"Just like most people don't believe in magic is real," Jason observed.
"Very true," Minerva agreed.
"So how exactly does this talent work," Jason asked.
"I'll go into a trance on occasion," Minerva explained. "I'll stare into space and my eyes will look blank. You're not to worry about me if this happens. I'll be fine. Mostly though, I have visions when I sleep, so if I wake up suddenly and bolt upright, I probably just had one."
"It seems rather troublesome," Jason admitted.
"They can be," Minerva admitted. "Luckily, they don't happen very often. I can hold one back to a certain extent anyway, but eventually it's going to take me. If I'm out in public when I start to get one I try to hold it off until I have privacy. I immediately head for the bathroom if I feel one coming on. If I'm being completely honest here, I had visions about you in my dreams night after night before we actually met."
"I did happen to notice that you had dark circles under your eyes when we met," Jason said suddenly remembering how Minerva had looked the first time he had seen her. Despite being exhausted she had still been gorgeous, but now he knew why she had looked so tired when they had met.
"That was because I was only getting a few hours a night, because of the dreams," Minerva said. "Lack of sleep isn't going to kill me, even if I am tired. Lack of sleep doesn't even kill mortal Jason, as a lot of people have insomnia, not unless the problem is extreme and those mortals commit suicide."
"True," Jason admitted. "That doesn't mean I won't worry about you, because I love you much more than I ever did Sarah."
"That's good to hear," Minerva said smiling at him causing Jason's insides to do a happy dance.
"My feelings for you are so deep that I will never stop loving you. I don't believe I can. What I feel for you doesn't seem normal," Jason said
"Oh, trust me it is, at least for immortals and their mates," Minerva said.
"How do you know?" Jason questioned with a slight frown. "I mean you've never experienced it before I'm assuming."
"You assume correctly," Minerva told him with a reassuring smile. Her tone was also reassuring. "However, my father and mother described how they feel about each other and so did my Uncle Dave and Aunt Jazz. Both are very reliable sources and since they are both mated as we call it in our family I trust what they told me."
"Mated I'm assuming is the same as marriage," Jason said.
"It is," Minerva agreed. "They did get married centuries ago when they first met just so you know in order to make it legal and we'll be doing the same at some point."
"I'll be happy to marry you," Jason said. "However, you need to meet Stephen first and see if you two can come to an understanding."
"Does Stephen know about me?" Minerva asked.
"Last time I talked to him was about a month ago," Jason said, "and I happened to mention I was dating someone. I told him I thought I was falling in love with you, but he didn't seem very happy with what I told him."
"Of course, he's not. I'm not his mother," Minerva said. "A lot of people with children...well, those children don't like one of their parents to get involved with anyone. They want them to remain loyal to their dead spouse and never have another relationship, which is unrealistic. Now I realize that a lot of times some people are just trying to scam a widow or widower out of all or at least a large portion of their money and don't really love whoever it is, but sometimes that love is genuine. I'm sure he just doesn't want to see you falling in love with a con artist. Stephen will come around once he meets me and sees how happy you are."
"Let's hope so," Jason said. "It's bad enough our relationship is strained but I don't want him to never speak to me again."
"Jason, he's 20, he's still growing up," Minerva told him. "Give him time to mature. I'm well aware that 20 is considered an adult, but just because he's a legal age doesn't mean he doesn't have a lot of maturing to do and college will help with that. For immortals we aren't really considered mature until we reach 30, as that's when we stop aging. Yes, we go to college at the normal age, graduate and have lives of our own just that we aren't as mature at 18, as we are at 30. Immortals are basically humans as we mature at the same rate as they do the only differences is that we stop aging once we reach that age and we heal really fast from the minute we are born. Also, we never get sick. We can't even catch a cold much less anything more serious."
"I get what you're saying," Jason said. "Stephen just needs time to mature."
"He does, he needs to realize that the world does not revolve just around him and his problems. Young children and teenagers tend to be very self-evolved. Most of them eventually grow out of that stage," Minerva said. "You need to be patient with Stephen, Jason. Try to give him some space, don't badger him and he'll eventually come to see you or he'll ask you to come see him."
"You're right," Jason said. "It's hard though. I know Stephen is still hurting from his mother's death and I don't blame him for that either. Sarah was taken from us too soon. However, I am well aware, that if she hadn't passed away we wouldn't have been able to get together so I feel guilty for feeling grateful that she's not around anymore."
"You shouldn't feel guilty, as it's not like you caused her death," Minerva advised. "I know you can't help it, but that's only because you're a good person. I know that doesn't stop your feelings of guilt though."
"No, it doesn't," Jason said looking pensive.
~~~Jason and Minerva~~~
"I'm ready to be turned immortal and you never did say how you are going accomplish that," Jason told Minerva several days later.
Minerva and Jason had developed a routine. Minerva had moved into Jason's house, the same house he had shared with Sarah and Stephen. Jason's house was much bigger than her apartment.
Jason went to work every week day while Minerva stayed home and worked on her next book right on her laptop. That was the great thing about being a writer she could write anywhere. She was very comfortable in Jason's house, but that didn't mean she didn't expect Stephen to show up suddenly wondering what she was doing in his house.
"It's fairly simple," Minerva answered thrilled that Jason was finally ready to be turned immortal, as that way he would never die on her. "We simply insert pressure syringes of my blood into a major vein. An immortals blood is ancient and powerful and will immediately start transforming you overnight. By morning you should be immortal."
"It sounds simple enough," Jason said. "Don't we need to be the same blood type though?"
"That doesn't matter Jason," Minerva told him. "An immortals blood is different in that respect. Believe me, we've had to do it this way several times starting with Shawnda Rossi that I told you about."
"So there's another way to do it then," Jason said picking up on the way that Minerva wanted a statement.
"Yes, but we can't do it that way," Minerva said.
"Why not?" Jason asked.
"Because it involves having sex and an immortal's DNA," Minerva told him, "and since you're not immortal we have to use the other method."
"Oh! You're saying you don't have the appropriate equipment," Jason exclaimed blushing at Minerva's rather blasé explanation. Minerva wasn't even embarrassed about talking about such a delicate subject, a subject that most people never mentioned to their anyone and definitely not in public. "I should've figured that out."
"You would have eventually I'm sure," Minerva told him. "You've been given so much information it's no wonder you didn't figure that out right away."
"So how many syringes of blood do you think it will take," Jason asked.
"Well, with most men it takes two and my uncle had to figure out a way to do it for his daughter's mate Spencer Reid. We've got it down to a science now though, as we've done it multiple times," Minerva explained.
"Why do you say most men?" Jason asked.
"Because it might take three or more with you, because you're broader at the shoulders then most of the mortals that go through the process," Minerva explained. "You also weigh more and that's likely a contributing factor, though I don't know that for sure, as I'm just guessing. If two syringes work fine, if not we'll try another syringe the next night and hopefully, that will be enough. Spencer for example is tall and lanky and not as broad at the shoulder as you are. He was also underweight for his musculature at that time, as he had never learned to eat a proper meal due to his home life"
"So I'm assuming you check I'm immortal by cutting my palm just to see if I heal as fast as your mother did," Jason said remembering how Shonda had cut her palm of her hand deeply enough that it would've been days in healing, even with healing treatments with the healing wand every day.
"I see you remember how my mother showed you we were telling the truth," Minerva smiled kissing his cheek.
"I don't know how I could possibly forget it," Jason said. "Not unless I suddenly developed amnesia."
"True," Minerva laughed, as she cuddled into Jason's tall form.
"To change the subject temporarily, are you the only one that got the talent to see the future?" Jason asked.
"Yes, I am," Minerva said. "Some of our future children might get the talent though."
"OK, question: why were you the only one in your family to get the talent to be a seer," Jason said.
"I know you're not really religious, Jason but all magicals believe in Hecate goddess of magic," Minerva begin to explain. "Magicals believe it is Hecate that watches over us and punishes us appropriately when she needs to. What I'm getting at is that my family believes that it is Hecate that gave me the ability to see the future. It does run in the family, just so you know, but the last person to have it was Godfrey Ambrosius and that was way back in Uncle Dave's time."
"You never did tell me your uncle's story," Jason mentioned.
"No, I haven't, but we have other things to be worried about right now. Really, you need to ask him that question, as I really don't know anything but the barest details. What I was getting at though, was the last person we know to be a seer, besides me, was Godfrey at least that we know about, as that information has been lost."
"Happens all the time," Jason said. "Most people don't keep good family records and your family is no different."
"True enough," Minerva agreed. "It's a talent I wish I did not possess, as it can be a pain in the rear. I'm really glad that none of my siblings got my particular talent."
"So if you are a seer you and your mother is a telepath what about your father?" Jason asked.
"Dad has no magic whatsoever, but he's the one that gave his immortality to mom a very long time ago now simply by having sex with her enough that she absorbed his seed."
"OK, what about the rest of your family. Any other talents that might show up once we start having children," Jason asked.
"Maybe," Minerva said. "There are a few in the family that got talent to shape shift."
"To be able to change their appearance would be a useful talent I would think, especially for an immortal who has to change their identity every few decades." Jason asked.
"True and they're lucky they can do that as changing your identity is easier if you have that particular skill," Minerva agreed. "There's also the ability to heal, though that's more a talent in the Rossi family at least as far as I know.
"But aren't they immortal like your family?" Jason asked.
"Yes, they are, so they help mortals, but very subtly," Minerva said. "I have a cousin that has basically made Egypt his home and he got that talent, as did two others in that family. Egypt is a very mystic country and they believe in the supernatural a lot more than most other countries."
"So is he of your generation?" Jason asked the odd question, odd to most people but not to an immortal.
"No, Aeon is a lot younger actually then me," Minerva said.
"You know that Aeon basically means eternity, right?" Jason laughed at the ironic name.
"I also have a cousin named Ambrose, just so you know," Minerva said with mischief in her expression.
"Ambrose, now there is an old fashioned name," Jason said shaking his head at Minerva's family naming conventions. "You're parents, aunt and uncle sure do use weird names."
"That's only because all the normal ones have already been used Jason. Names like Walter, Jason, Kelsey, Sarah and a lot of others have already been used in our family. By the way, the reason I mentioned Ambrose a minute ago is because his name basically means immortal. If you think Aeon is ironic think of Ambrose."
"I see what do you mean," Jason said laughing at what Minerva revealed.
"My uncle really wanted to honor the man that turned him immortal and Godfrey last name happened to be Ambrosius," Minerva explained. "Ambrose is just another version of Godfrey's last name."
"Yes, I see," Jason said. "I really want to know more of your uncle's history now, but that can wait."
"Your questions will eventually be answered, Jason. It's just gonna take time," Minerva told him smiling.
~~~Jason and Minerva~~~