Chapter 10

"You'll enjoy the family of events though don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed, because there's always a ton of people at least 150 to 200 at one time. The house is always bursting at the seams during the holidays," Deanne told Griffen as the two of them headed out the front door.

"That's hard for me to imagine since Mira and I have no other family other than each other," Griffen said. "Still, I'll take your word for it."

"I don't blame you really, as most families are comparatively small compared to us, but you'll soon see for yourself that I'm right," Deanne agreed, even as Griffen drove towards the bakery. They had no bags as they hadn't been intending to spend the night here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"As my dad told you immortals never get too old to have children, and so my family usually has four every generation, which means that my family is humongous," continued Deanne. "My godparents do the same thing that my parents do and no immortal is going to die in childbirth, so that's one thing we don't have to worry about. The Hotchners might not technically, related to the Rossis, but that doesn't mean that we don't consider them family."

"I can actually see why you consider them family, because I remember your mom saying that she and your godmother have been friends all their lives," Griffen said.

"True they have," Deanne agreed. "Ever since kindergarten where they met and connected that first time, which was more decades ago than either likes to think about."

"It's amazing to me that both their husbands were immortal," Griffen said. "I'm assuming that it was your father and uncle that gave their wives immortality."

"That's right," Deanne agreed, amazed at Griffen's insight, considering what he had learned had been earthshattering from his perspective. "And I believe the reason that it happened that way is mom and Aunt Shonda took a magical oath back when they were 12 when they didn't know any better. Just so you know magical oaths can be a dangerous things to take and magical children are taught not to take such a vow until after they reach adulthood and to make sure the other party they're taking that vow with is being honest with them or there could be consequences. Life changing or deadly consequences."

"I see, I don't know anything about magical oaths, but I'm assuming that's why both their future husbands were immortal. I guess the vow they took bound them in a way that could have positive or negative consequences. In the case of their vow, I'm assuming the consequences were all positive."

"In that case, it worked out," Deanne admitted, "but that doesn't mean any magical needs to take such a vow without being well aware of possible consequences."

"Could you explain you how turn someone immortal?" Griffen wondered curiously. "At one point both your mother and aunt were completely mortal like I am now, so how do you turn someone immortal?"

"Of course I can. To answer your question it has to do with DNA," Deanne told him and watched, as he blushed quite charmingly. Griffen's neck and entire face including his ears turned beet red

"If that's the case, I don't have the right equipment," Griffen said his voice sounding strangled and Deanne nearly chuckled at how embarrassed her mate sounded.

"There is more than one way to transfer DNA," Deanne told her mate quite amused at Griffen's reaction to what she had said.

"That's true. The other way is through blood," Griffen said finally getting his emotions back under control. "I'm actually glad Mira isn't here, as she would be just as amused as you are at my reaction to what you said and the last thing I need is her teasing me about how modest I am for all eternity."

"She'll never know about your reaction as we can't tell her about the immortality or the magic," Deanne told Griffen, reminding him of what her father had said.

"She would never believe me anyway, as she's much too practical," Griffen said. "I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't had a demonstration of both those things in a way that you can't exactly fake, especially not without advanced warning."

"I know you don't like lying to your sister and I can't blame you for that since I've never liked lying to my siblings," Deanne said and Griffen shook his head.

"No I don't, but we really don't need to know everything about each other, even though we are twins and close. By the way, are you sure I don't need to be the same blood type for you to give me some of your blood? Are you sure it won't cause me any harm?" Griffen asked.

"Yes, I'm sure, as my family have had to do this kind of thing before on multiple occasions," Deanne should him. "You're not the first one that we've had to give this explanation to Griffen or the first male we've had to turn immortal. My parents and godparents have done it multiple time now. Really, family, is all an immortal has, someone they can relax completely with. That so many of them have met their mates have made both my parents and my godparents very happy.

"Besides, you would never find a immortal with the same blood type, so it's a good thing that that's not a requirement. My family knows there are other immortals out there in the world somewhere, but since they are basically human, it would be impossible to find them, without actually seeing them come back to life or get an injury of some kind and see it heal right before their eyes."

"I see what you mean about it being nearly impossible to find an immortal with the same blood type that I have, so you're right, it's a good thing that's not a requirement. There must be something about an immortal's blood that makes them kind of a universal donor," Griffen commented.

"That's what my family figures. We've had to give a mortal our blood on multiple occasions and not one of the people we've done it on has come to harm," Deanne agreed.

"That's very good, so I guess you were just the next to find your mate," Griffen summarized calmly once he had been assured that an immortal's blood would cause him no harm and Deanne nodded.

"Yes, it seems to go back-and-forth between my family and the Hotchners, as one of the my siblings will meet their mate and then it'll be one of my godparents children or grandchildren that does. Both our families have been very blessed as usually it takes centuries for an immortal to meet their mate, and that so many of the family has done so much sooner then expected, has everyone ecstatic," Deanne agreed.

"I can see that and it explains why your family is so huge. It also explains why they're so accepting of whoever one of their children bring home," Griffen said Deanne nodded in agreement.

"Believe me, my parents, and godparents don't mind if their family keeps growing," Deanne said smiling. "Really, when you think about it, family is really all an immortal has where they can be themselves and not have to be on guard as to what they say or how they act in front of others who aren't in on the secret."

"I did notice an undercurrent when we first met," Griffen admitted. "As if you were keeping secrets."

"That's because I was, though most people would never notice," said Deanne. "That just shows that you're more perceptive than most."

"I can understand why you don't go around telling anybody about how unusual your family is," Griffen said. "I know what I saw, and I have no doubt of my sanity, but that doesn't mean I'm not struggling."

"Of course you are and you should be struggling. It's normal when my parent and godparents reveal what they are and what they can do," Deanne said. "We realize that when we reveal that were not exactly normal that it can be earthshattering to people who have no idea that the paranormal existed before then. If you have any questions, just ask me and I'll answer them if I can, and if I can't, I'm sure my parents or godparents can."

"I'm sure I'll have questions once I've had time to think about what I was told," Griffen said, and Deanne nodded.

"I'm sure you will and now that you're in on our family secrets we will answer anything you ask, and there will be no more secrets," Deanne said.

"That's good to know," Griffen said.

"You don't ever keep secrets from your mate Griffen," Deanne told her mate seriously. "Keeping secrets can lead to distrust and that is something that none of my family that are mated would ever do. Not any major secrets anyway, though that doesn't mean not keeping them like for birthdays and Christmas presents, as those will type of things will remain secret until the day of. Every immortal is well aware that being honest with your mate, no matter how potentially embarrassing it is, is really the best policy.

"Remember, what I said that family is really all an immortal has, where they could be completely themselves and no immortal is going to mess up their only chance at happiness and having a family."

"Yes, I can see that," Griffen said his tone thoughtful. "I can see that an immortal wants the same thing that mortals do, a family to call their own with a spouse they love and can depend on and eventually kids. Having a mate just means that an immortal can't make the wrong choice when it comes to picking who they want to settle down with."

"That's very astute Griffen," Deanne told him her tone proud and Griffen glanced over at her away from the road for a few seconds. "You've hit the nail on the head and I can't say that about most mortals that find out about my family at least not right away, though they might eventually come to that conclusion after they've had time to absorb everything."

"I'm still trying to absorb everything," Griffen returned.

"I know you are," Deanne agreed, "but still that was a very astute observation. That you could think of that when it's been less than an hour since my family explained what they were is pretty amazing."

"So from what your parents said, you went up to see them after you met me, but why not just tell them you met your mate over a link call?" Griffen wanted to know.

"Because my family has protocols," Deanne explained. "I could've easily have alluded to the fact that I met my mate on such a call and they would have understood what I meant, even if I didn't come out directly and tell them. However, such communications whether over the link or a computer with a program like Lookit can be eavesdropped on, even if that's accidentally. The person who learned such dangerous information could then try to blackmail, whoever it was that had been so careless.

"Of course, it might be that even if somebody learned the secret that they would dismiss it as having misheard it or that we were talking about putting it into a book or something of that nature, but the greatest possibility is that they would hear the information and then try that blackmail.

"It's also possible that they would try to force whoever it was that had been so careless into turning them immortal so that they could continue their criminal behavior for all eternity."

Lookit was a computer program that worked like a telephone and had a video feature to where you could talk over the internet. Such a program while useful didn't mean it was completely secure just like a link wasn't.

"I see. I do understand why you're so cautious when talking over such a program or on a link, as I'm sure there's more terrifying possibilities than the ones you just mentioned," Griffen said again, sounding thoughtful. "What would you or your family have done if somebody tried to blackmail or force you to turn them immortal by threatening those you love, because they learned your secret? Would you have killed them so they wouldn't spread the information around?"

Griffin looked upset at the possibility and Deanne didn't blame him, so she rushed to assure him that's not how her family would handle such a situation.

"No, we don't kill, well, not unless there's no other choice. Since we have magic what we do is track down the person that learned our secret and we get them alone and then we perform a memory spell. Such spells are very delicate and you can't be ham-handed or you could damage that person's memory permanently, though usually just the short term memory, not the long term," Deanne explained. "Mom and Aunt Shonda handle that, as they're the ones most proficient at it and have the most experience with it. They also have the delicate touch that is needed. That doesn't mean that I'm not capable of performing the spell in a pinch, just like anyone of my family is, just that no one other than those two have experience with it."

"Well, at least you don't kill them," Griffen said, and the relief in his voice was obvious.

"No we don't believe in killing unless we absolutely have to, as I just stated a moment ago. Magic can be very useful, just so you know," Deanne agreed giving him a brilliant smile.

Deanne's smile made Griffen's insides squirm pleasantly, and he realized suddenly that he deeply and truly loved Deanne Rossi. That her family had taken the risk of telling him about immortality and magic, and apparently had done so multiple times in the past told Griffen how important a mate was to an immortal. So important in fact that the family risked telling those that were completely unaware that the paranormal existed at all before that.

"I won't say messing up someone's mind if you don't know what you're doing is better, but if they are dishonest enough to attempt blackmail or some other crime against your family, then I understand why you do it that way. Also, the way you your family does it means none of them will be facing a murder charge if you get caught on camera or there's a witness."

"Exactly and since there are cameras everywhere, it's just better the way we do it," Deanne agreed, as Griffen pulled up at the bakery. "I'm glad you accepted my family's explanation and didn't run away screaming."

"Has that ever happened?" Griffen asked his tone rather surprised at Deanne's statement.

"No it hasn't happened yet, but it's possible it will at some point, because my family knows very well that most people don't believe in the paranormal. The paranormal is hidden from most people unless they run across it on accident and so learn that they are more things in heaven and earth then what is considered normal," Deanne explained.

"I don't think that will ever happen," Griffen told Deanne seriously, even as he parked in front of the bakery. "I would think that if this paranormal sixth sense or whatever you want to call it, somehow just knows when an immortal has found their mate, which means you have found the correct person, so I don't see whoever it is running away when you reveal your secrets or betraying you by telling others. That's probably why it takes centuries for an immortal to meet their mate, as I figure they have to be honest and know how to keep a secret and also share some of the same qualities and interests that that immortal has."

"You might be right, because it never has happened," said Deanne. "At least not in my family, which is a good thing, because it would be a death sentence for the immortal in question if it did."

"So even though you say you're immortal, you can die," Griffen said catching on immediately to what his girlfriend was implying.

"Yes, we can and we call ourselves immortal, because it's the only word that mostly fits. It's not easy to kill off one of us and has to be done in a certain way, so that we stay dead permanently," revealed Deanne. "We can talk about it later, though, as we need to go pick up the box of treats they they should be putting aside for us and then go catch our flight."

"Yeah, we do," Griffen agreed, with intense curiosity, still clear in his expression and on his face as he and Deanne emerged from the now open doors of the car.

"My lady, shall we get going?" Griffen asked, even as he extended his hand for Deanne to take.

"Yes, we shall," Deanne smiling, as she took her mate's hand, and the two of them walked into the bakery hand in hand.

~~~Deanne and Griffen~~~