Chapter 11

Later that same day

"I'll be happy to dad," Stephen said seeming thrilled that he had been asked to be best man

"I'm so glad you didn't turn it down son," Jason said and the emotion in his voice was obvious to Minerva. There was relief as well as a touch of pride in Jason's voice. "What changed your mind about me and Minerva?"

"I've had some time to think dad," Stephen tried to explain looking embarrassed where he was staring at his father from the vid screen. Telephones now had a video screen so you could see who you were talking to. They also weren't called telephones anymore, but links instead. The old fashioned telephones were a thing of the past as the new ones did a lot of different things. They could be used as home security, as telephones and even to watch the screen. It was just a lot of different things that were now combined into one device and they'd been improved on over the decades until they were a slim and attractive addition to any home.

"I realize that I wasn't thinking about you, as mom wouldn't have wanted you to remain alone for the rest of your life, which could be a couple of centuries. I know you're still young, as 40s is really, the new 20s. I might not like you getting involved with anyone, but that's only because you're my father and I loved mom a lot. As you pointed out the other day she's gone now, so it's not like you're cheating on her since she's dead."

"You believed that was I was cheating on her memory," Jason said in understanding. "However, you're also right in what you say, that Sarah would want me to get married again if I met the right person. She wouldn't want me to remain alone just to honor her memory or something. She would be rather pissed off at me if I did such a thing Stephen and you know it."

"Exactly," Stephen said. "I can't even call Minerva a gold digger or a con artist since she showed me her financial statement without being asked. Sorry, Minerva but that's what I believed," Stephen apologized to the woman standing beside his father.

"I'm well aware of it," Minerva told him her expression amused. "I told Jason to give you time to get used to me that you were still young. I also told him that a lot of children don't want to see one of their parents get involved with anyone else, even if those parents are divorced or one is dead."

"Minerva was right son. She told me to be patient with you that you were still young and immature and she was absolutely correct about that too. I know you still miss Sarah and you should. I still miss her to just so you know, but I also realize that she's dead," Jason told Stephen. "Sarah wouldn't want me to stop living my life just because she was no longer around."

Stephen wanted to protest that he wasn't immature, but he knew he was in someways, even if he did like to acknowledge it most of the time. He was only 20 and most 20 years olds weren't very mature despite being considered an adult by society.

"I'll be there on the big day if you just tell me when it is," Stephen promised.

"It's going to be in the summer, so you'll be home from college," Minerva spoke up. "In August, though we're still trying to decide on the best day. We'll let you know when we do decide."

"It's only gonna be a small ceremony son with 100 people or less there," Jason said.

"You consider 100 people small dad?" Stephen asked with an eyebrow raised in astonishment.

"It is when you have a lot of extended family Stephen," Minerva told him with mischief in her expression. "However, I don't know most of them very well, as they are flung to all four corners of the world. The family that will be invited will include those like my parents, my godparents and my siblings and your father of course wants to invite some of the professors from Stanford. Technically, there are several hundred Hotchners that are related to me that my parents keep in contact with, even if that's distantly," Minerva said.

Minerva didn't bother to tell Stephen that technically those Hotchners were her siblings, even if not for her generation. That didn't even include Uncle Dave's and Aunt Jazz children from different generations which would have added to the mob.

"Well, I suppose, 100 is small then," Stephen admitted rather astonished that there were so many in Minerva's family, even if they were only distantly related like fourth or fifth cousins.

"I'm glad you can support your father in this," Minerva told him. "We'll get to know each other better soon I promise."

"You don't seem to resent that my father has a child," Stephen observed looking at Minerva. "You aren't trying to take my place like I expected."

"Of course I don't Stephen," Minerva said shooting a look at Jason telling him with her eyes to not say anything. "As I told you when we met that first time love is infinite not finite and I don't expect Jason to not have other people that he loves. He can love both of us Stephen and also any children we have, which will be your half siblings. I expect you to be a major part of their lives when they arrive."

"I'm looking forward to not being an only child," Stephen said before he and his father said goodbye and ended the call.

"Well, I'm glad Stephen accepted being my best man," Jason finally said, as he and Minerva had sat down on the couch side-by-side. "It looks like asking your brother to step up isn't going to be necessary and I'm glad.

"Me too," Minerva said, as she put her head on Jason's shoulder.

"I can't believe Stephen thought that you were trying to take his place in my life," Jason said finally going over the conversation with his son in his head.

"I am afraid it's a common theme," Minerva told him gently. "I understand your son's fears Jason. A lot of times the new wife tries to take the place in the husband affections leaving any children out in the cold. They try to control every aspect of the relationship so that the spouse will have no one to depend on but themselves or their new wife. They don't even try to get along with whatever children there are in the family and a lot of people don't realize it that they are slowly, but subtly being encouraged to lose contact with their children."

"I know it happens," Jason sighed. "I'm not a total innocent. I'm just surprised that Stephen would think that, though I suppose I shouldn't be. As you have pointed out on several occasions he is still young and really doesn't have much experience in the world as of yet. All he knew was a new woman had entered his father's life so of course he thought that you might be a con artist or want me for my money."

"I'll just continue to include him whenever it comes to family time and he will eventually realize that I don't want to take his place or the place of his mother," Minerva said.

"He'll get the message, as he's a smart young man," Jason admitted finally smiling.

"Stephen agreeing to be best man is just the first step to integrating me into our new family," Minerva with a smile. "In letting him see that I'm not an invader in your family."

"I love you so much Mia," Jason told her, as he kissed her passionately.

Minerva accepted the kiss and the nickname. She certainly didn't mind being called Mia sometimes, as it was nice and simple and also a nickname for Minerva.

"I love you too," Minerva promised him with a wink. "Oh, by the way, you're welcome to call me Mia anytime, as it's nice, it's simple and only contains three letters. Just never call me Minnie."

"Don't like that nickname?" Jason asked him Minerva shook her head empathically.

"Reminds me to much of Disney's Minnie Mouse," Minerva said making a face, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "I know she was created early back in the 20th century before women could really do much of anything with their lives, but really, what's her role in the cartoons other than being Mickey's girlfriend? That's not the only reason I dislike, her but it is the main one. My favorite character was always Pluto the lovable pooch of Mickey and also Porky Pig."

Disney movies were still very popular even though Disney himself of course, was long dead. However, the universe he had created with many lovable characters and also his theme parks still existed even in this advanced time. There was even a planet Disney out in space that millions of tourists visited every year and was owned by Walt Disney's heirs.

"I got on Rosa Rossi about calling me Minnie just a few months ago, as she was helping mom out in her antique store. She called me that just to annoy me, but then she's 17, well 18 now and doesn't know any better," Minerva explained.

"So that means she's started college," Jason said.

"Last I heard, she hadn't decided what she wanted to do for career, what she was passionate about. Right now, she's a little aimless, but hopefully, that will change once she takes in the college experience," Minerva said. "She's a bright, intelligent girl, even if she can be annoying, so she'll eventually land on her feet."

"So she had a summer job in your mother's antique store," Jason said and Minerva nodded.

"It helps that mom was her godmother, just like she is for all the Rossi children and vice versa of course. Mom was paying her over minimum wage so she could save for when she went to college. She has a talent much like mom does for finding antiques and not necessarily furniture but things like old mechanical piggy banks, even old toys from good brand names. The antique field is wide and varied and unfortunately, it's not a talent I inherited. There's a certain knack to being good at that kind of profession. Who knows Rosa might decide to open her own antique store once she graduates, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon, since she's just started college," Minerva explained.

"I'm looking forward to a wedding in August and we really need to nail down a date so we can send out invitations," Jason said.

"What about August 25," Minerva suggested. "That should fall on a weekend so that there will be no work commitments for some people to worry about."

"Sounds good," Jason said smiling at his fiancé.

"I'll have formal invitations printed and sent out tomorrow," Minerva said. "I believe it's time for us to turn you immortal like you suggested awhile back. We just got a bit distracted and so didn't go through with it," Minerva suggested. "I know it's a bit early for you to go to bed and we can wait until tonight if you like..."

"Can't you just eject me and leave me awake," Jason said.

"It's never been done that way before, but I suppose we can give it a try," Minerva decided. "So long as you agree you're not to leave the house at least until tomorrow. There should be no ill effects, but I'd just rather be safe. I wouldn't want you to have some kind of accident if you were out running errands or something."

"That's fine with me, I don't usually leave anyway once I get home from the university," Jason agreed.

"OK then," Minerva decided. "If you notice anything odd that's out of the norm for you let me know, no matter how minor. I don't expect anything just so you know, but I'm not the one that's inside your body, so I have no idea what's going on within you."

"I'll tell you if I think anything unusual is going on," Jason promised hearing the worry in Minerva's voice.

"OK," Minerva agreed. "If you get dizzy or anything sit down where you are so you don't fall."

"I will probably just be right here in the den watching a movie or something while the process is taking place within my body," Jason said keeping his tone calm, as Minerva was emotional enough. Jason understood that Minerva was just worried about him, because he was half her soul. It was a concept he had come to understand over the last few months.

He and Minerva had had several conversations where he had come to understand that for any immortal to lose their mate was devastating to a destructive degree. An immortal that lost their mate would eventually end their own existence or more precisely have someone else do it. It was supposedly impossible for an immortal to take their own lives, because they healed too fast, but there was a way to do it nonetheless, even if it required a partner to do the deed.

That had never happened in her family, Minerva had told him, but that didn't mean it couldn't.

"Choose a movie to watch, before you do it and I'll just sit here beside you," Jason said. "Just let me go to the bathroom first."

"I'll gather the supplies so you'll have to draw my blood from a major vein," Minerva said. "One of the veins on my arm should be good enough."

"OK," Jason agreed. "Finding a vein and getting some blood seems simple enough that even someone untrained like I am should be able to do it."

Jason went to the bathroom in order to do his business but was soon back to find Minerva with the needles she had bought at a nearby pharmacy.

"Are you sure this isn't gonna hurt you in anyway?" Jason asked. "I couldn't stand it if you got hurt just because we use your blood to turn me immortal."

"It isn't that much blood Jason I'll be fine," Minerva promised him her voice tender. "Even if you don't get the vein the first time there will be no bruises or other signs of this little experiment, since we heal so fast."

"Alright," Jason agreed knowing that two syringes full of Minerva's blood wasn't that much. There was no point of doing a third syringe until they knew if two would work.

Jason found a vein easily enough with Minerva's soft instructions in his ears. He did his best to be gentle, as he tied the vein off with a makeshift tourniquet so it would be easier to draw blood from it.

"Just do it," Minerva told him gently. "You won't hurt me Jason I promise. We just have to get two syringes full and hopefully, that will be enough and then, we'll never have to do this again, well, so long as you don't need a third syringe anyway," Minerva corrected herself.

Jason nodded and stuck the syringe carefully into Minerva's vein were it begin to fill with blood immediately, which meant he had hit his target the first time. Minerva made no sound at all simply watched him, as he did his job as fast and effectively as possible. When the syringe was full Jason put it aside and did the other one, just as fast.

"See that wasn't so bad was it?" Minerva told him, even as she kissed him on the cheek.

"No it really wasn't," Jason admitted smiling. "Are you feeling OK sweetie? No dizziness or anything?"

"I'm fine," Minerva promised. "Let's inject you, shall we? Tomorrow morning we'll test if you're immortal or not and if you heal more slowly then I do then we'll need another syringe full."

"OK then, let's get it over with," Jason said.

"Don't like needles?" Minerva asked him and Jason shook his head.

"I won't say I hate them, but I've never been fond of being stuck with a needle, not even a pressure syringe which is supposedly much easier on a person than the old fashioned syringes," Jason said. "It's really too bad we can't use the other method as that sounds much more pleasant."

"From what I've heard it is, but it isn't as fast," Minerva said.

"Do you really care how fast the process takes place so long as it happens?" Jason asked and Minerva shook her head.

"I suppose not, but since that isn't a viable option for us, I'll stick you as fast as I can and if you need to close your eyes or turn away do so."

"I won't have anybody else call me a coward just because I couldn't watch you stick me with a needle, not even a pressure syringe," Jason said in mild protest.

"No one ever has to know not even mom and dad if you like," Minerva offered. "It'll be our secret."

"I'll be fine," Jason said.

"OK then," Minerva agreed not arguing further, as she knew how stubborn Jason could be, even as she stuck the first needle in a vein in his arm having already tied the tourniquet around it to make it more visible. She pushed down the pump and once it was empty she did the second one just as fast and it was only a minute or so later that it was done.

"They're done," Minerva said. "See that wasn't so bad was it?"

"No, it wasn't," Jason said looking a little green, but his color slowly returned to normal.

"Now all we have to do is wait," Minerva said. "In the morning we'll test you by cutting you on the hand and if you heal immediately then you're immortal."

"It's gonna be hard being patient," Jason said, "as I know this is really important to you."

"It is, but we can watch a movie and then go to bed. The hours will pass fast," Minerva said.

"We'll see, I suppose," Jason said, even as he and Minerva sat on the couch to watch an action movie that was already keyed up, but on pause.

~~~Jason and Minerva~~~

The next morning

"Ready for the acid test, as it's called?" Minerva asked Jason as soon as they had eaten breakfast and Jason and had his first cup of coffee.

"Yeah, let's get it over with," Jason said presented his hand to Minerva.

"I hope you don't get green at the sight of blood like you did with the syringes the other day," Minerva said.

"Nope, I don't," Jason shook his head negatively.

"Good, a lot of people do and some even faint when they see blood, especially if it's their own," Minerva said, as she cut a small gash on the back of his hand right below his knuckles causing Jason to wince at the sharp pain that the cut caused

Both Jason and Minerva watched as the cut healed in just a few seconds.

"Well, it looks like we won't need that third syringe after all," Minerva said with a very happy expression. She kissed Jason passionately in relief.

"I guess it worked. An immortal's blood sure is powerful stuff," Jason commented staring at his now healed hand, as if he had never seen it before. "Two syringes full really isn't that much."

"Yes, it did and yes, I agree that two syringes worth of blood isn't much at all," Minerva agreed. "I'm glad we won't need that other syringe after all."

"So am I," Jason said, as he rose and gave Minerva hug and a kiss. "I love you so very much Mia. You turned my whole world upside down, in the best possible way."

"I love you too Jason and now we'll never be parted," Minerva told him smiling broadly. "We'll get married and have those children we both want and then in a few decades we'll move on to another city and another state and that will be easier with you in my life than it usually is."

"Sounds great," Jason said. "We should tell your family the good news."

"Sounds like a good idea, though we'll have to go to see them as I don't want to pass such sensitive information over a video conferencing program or a link call, as both can be monitored.

"True, though why would anyone want to spy on a college professor or a writer?" Jason said.

"It's just safer," Minerva said and Jason nodded in understanding. "While there's no reason to spy on us you never know what people will do, whether it's on accident or deliberately. It isn't that hard to listen in on a video call or link call for that matter and there are plenty of dishonest people in the world that would love to try to blackmail us. You don't want to know what we would have to do if that happened so if it's better to be safe."

"OK," Jason agreed appreciating his fiancée's cautiousness. "We'll go up there next weekend if you want and tell them."

"Sounds good," Minerva agreed, as she and Jason sat back at the kitchen table just to talk not worrying about cleaning up the dishes and putting them in the dishwashing unit.

The two of them would get married and start the family that they both wanted and move to a new city a few decades from now. They would always have the family to spend holidays and vacations with and it was about as perfect life you could expect, especially for one who was immortal.