Chapter 11
"Well, you weren't gone long," Mira teased him once Griffen and Deanne had returned to Portland Maine.
"We weren't supposed to be gone long," Deanne told Mira. "We were up there only long enough for Griffen to meet my parents and godparents. We had a terrific meal and an even better dessert. If you tease us too much, I'll eat the pastries that Griffen got you from, the bakery, my mother owns."
"You better not," Mira cried immediately, cutting off her teasing, as Deanne produced large bakery box from behind her back.
"We made a special stop just for you, and it was already prepared because Jazz called ahead and told her staff that the pack up a large box of sweets all containing chocolate," Griffen said. "It really didn't take any time at all because all we had to do was pick them up and I didn't even have to pay. In fact, none of the staff would take my money at all."
"Why didn't you have to pay?" Mira asked confused. "I would think they go out of business if people didn't pay for what they bought."
"Family policy," Deanne said rushing in to save Griffen from his sister's building anger. "No Hotchners or Rossis has to pay for anything gotten at any bakery owned by my family. That policy goes all the way back to the first bakery we ever owned in Moonlight Gorge Louisiana. Griffen and I are going to get married and my parents knew it. My mom called ahead and gave her staff instructions that when we showed up they were just to hand over what she had them put aside for us and not make Griffen pay."
"Seems like a weird policy," Mira said her anger deflating like a balloon.
"Maybe, but that's the way that the Rossis have always done things and my mom doesn't need the extra money trust me," Deanne said. "For one thing my dad would never let her go without, even if the bakeries owned by my family didn't make plenty off other people."
"I told Jazz I would be glad to pay for whatever I got for you and for me, but she stuck to her guns and said no payment would be accepted no matter how much I argued about it so I gave in gracefully," Griffen added.
"Well, I guess I can't be mad at you when you offered to pay and it was refused," Mira said her building anger disappearing like fine mist, even as she opened the box and took out one of the pastries immediately taking a huge bite. "This is great, seriously great," Mira almost groaned, as the rich chocolate taste, hit her tongue.
"You were right about the desserts being spectacular, because there was one after dinner, a cake that had strawberries on top of chocolate frosting, with vanilla cake with strawberries in it. It was seriously great," Griffen said.
"Hey! Didn't I tell you so?" Mira told him with a knowing grin, and Griffen simply shook his head at his sister smiling, as she continued to gobble down the pastry.
"You did," Griffen agreed. "You were also right about the fact that I didn't need to be nervous that they would want Deanne to break up with me."
"You actually believed that would happen?" Deanne asked him in surprise. "I didn't believe you were seriously worried about that despite what you said before we went up to Tulsa."
"A lot of parents take a dislike to their children introducing them to their significant other and while it was clear you adored them I really didn't expect such a warm reception. I am very glad I was wrong about the reception I would receive as your parents are so warm and welcoming, which is unusual in my experience " Griffen told her kissing her cheek.
"I'm glad it was such a positive experience," Mira commented as she finished her pastry.
"We've already been invited back for the holidays, but I told them I would have to spend at least part of those holidays with you," said Griffen.
"My family is large, so we celebrate Christmas through the whole month of December and into the new year," explained Deanne. "And as for Thanksgiving, we celebrate it for a week before the actual day. The house is always crowded on both those holidays and we have food every day some freshly made, but a lot leftover from the day before."
"Sounds like quite the party," Mira said smiling.
"Oh, it is and a lot of the family comes to visit sometimes just to say hello to their parents and godparents and to get some food before they then leave again, others stay longer," Deanne said. "Not everybody makes it every year, but a lot do, even if they have to come from other places. I have family spread all over the world, not just in the USA."
"It must be nice to have so much family," Mira looked wistful.
"You have a large family now too Mira, since your brother and I will eventually get married and have children giving you nieces and nephews. You are now considered part of my family."
"They'll welcome you into the family fold just like they did me," Griffen told her smiling. "If you'd like to travel with us whenever we go up there for some event I'm sure they won't mind if you come with us."
"They won't, though we'll need to warn them in advance that we're bringing a guest," said Deanne shooting Griffen a look.
"I'll think about going with you next time you go up there for the holiday or something," Mira said not promising anything.
"By the way, there is a bakery in Bar Harbor owned by my family if you're ever up in that area," Deanne told her. "It's the closest bakery to where we live."
"That's not too far away," Mira said thoughtfully. "I wouldn't be able to go every day or even every week, but every month or so wouldn't be too much trouble. Thanks for telling me about the bakery in Bar Harbor Deanne."
"You're more than welcome," Deanne told her with a smile. "It's run by one of my many cousins."
Griffen knew that Deanne meant by one by one of her many siblings, not cousin, but she couldn't tell his sister that so she passed her sibling off as her cousin instead, which was smart. It was clear she was used to doing so.
"You sure do seem to have a lot of cousins," Mira said, shaking her head, smiling ruefully.
"What can I say except the Rossis are a very prolific family," Deanne returned.
"I'll say!"Griffen exclaimed.
~~~Deanne and Griffen~~~
"Do you know why I went into the profession I did? Why I decided to get my Horticulture degree?" Deanne asked Griffen one day several weeks after they had come back from Tulsa Oklahoma.
"No, I just figured it was because you loved to have your hands in the soil as some people do," Griffen said.
"That's true I do, but it's not the only reason I chose to go into the profession I did," Deanne said. "You see the one thing I haven't mentioned yet is that most magicals have a special skill that is specific to them. In my case, one of the reasons I went into the profession I did, is I understand plants on a deeper level than anybody else unless they have the same talent. I can make them grow faster than nature can. I can also bring back a plant that is almost dead into full life again."
"You'll have to show me sometime," Griffen said not disbelieving what Deanne was telling him, because if he could believe in magic and immortality, it wasn't such a stretch to believe that his girlfriend had such a skill.
"You've seen my garden and how lush and green it is and how the flowers are in full bloom and the reason for that is I use my talents. The plants, though I can't do too much where somebody might see it and realize that something is blooming out of season, but that doesn't mean that my roses haven't won state fairs in the past and will in the future, and the same goes for my begonias
"You've won first prize at state fairs?" Griffen asked, and Deanne nodded.
"Yes, decades ago, I entered for 15 years in a row, but then it got boring. Not to mention, other women got jealous that I won every year so I stopped. It looks could kill some of those women would have gladly burned me to ashes with the hate in their eyes alone. That doesn't mean I won't ever again enter a state fair and win when I do, just that I haven't done it in a long time," said Deanne.
"That's something that I want to see whenever you decide it's time to do that again," Griffen said.
"When I do enter again, I'll let you know and you can be there when I win first prize for the best and biggest roses," Deanne promised. "It's not really fair for me to keep winning every year, because of my talent instead of natural ability."
"And with you being immortal that means you could've kept winning technically forever," Griffen said.
"I suppose technically, but since people can't know immortals exist. I had to stop entering state fairs at some point, because mortals don't live forever," said Deanne. "An immortal always has to be careful about how they act and what they do and think about consequences when they do something that could draw attention."
"So when do you want to get married and where?" Griffen asked Deanne.
He had proposed soon after they had gotten back from Tulsa and Deanne had of course accepted happily.
"As for where, I say, we get married at the estate in the garden," Deanne said.
"I don't know if that will work if you invite your whole family," Griffen said. "I don't mind if we do get married there and I know Mira won't either, but I'm just thinking about space requirements."
"A lot of my family probably won't want to come, because they don't know me and I don't know them, even if we are technically related," said Deanne. "That's one problem with being immortal you know, as you have more relatives than other people and also you can't get to know them all so most immortal families like us stick to only their immediate one. If we do it that way the garden will be perfect, as I say no more than 50 to 75 people. Most of my family are likely tired of attending weddings anyway, as they've been to quite a few over the last few centuries. Even if we RSVP them, they'll probably not want to come."
"I can see that many working," Griffen said. "I want to invite some of my friends and I'm sure Mira will want to invite a few people, but I would say 100 or 125 or so is more than enough. If that's all we're gonna invite I think the garden is the perfect place, because it's what brought us together, technically anyway. You've done a great job on returning it to its former gorgeous state something that both me and Mira appreciate."
"Thanks, but it was a pleasure to work in such a gorgeous setting," Deanne said modestly. "I won't be accepting anymore outside jobs though, so make sure you tell people that when you tell them my profession. I've already had a word with Archie about extolling my praises and telling them I'm the best at my profession. I told him to tell people that I don't take any side projects for any amount of money. I made an exception in yours and your sister's case, but it will be the only one. If people ask if they can hire me, you tell them that I only did the garden of the estate as a favor to you, but I will be accepting no other jobs."
"Now I understand why you did make an exception, something I can't tell Mira," Griffen and. "She'll probably wonder why if she ever finds out that the Wilton Estate was the only side project you ever agreed to take on."
"Just tell her that I liked you well enough to take it on, which is why I made going out on a date with you a requirement," suggested Deanne. "Tell her, I don't plan on taking anymore side projects and that you were the only exception."
"That might work," Griffen mused. "I told Mira I was going to propose so she was really excited about the idea as she really likes you, which I'm glad of."
"So am I, as it will make things easier. You realize that your sister won't be around 500 years from now," Deanne questioned him and Griffen nodded sadly
"I know, and that makes me sad, especially since we're twins," Griffen admitted looking sad at the thought of his sister dying.
"We'll name one of our girl children after her in the future," Deanne suggested, "and that way her name will live on in our family."
"That will be good," Griffen agreed brightening, really liking the idea. "So when are you going to turn me immortal?"
"If you're ready, anytime you like," Deanne said. "I've already bought disposable syringes from the pharmacy. I bought them after my family had told you about what they are so I would be ready when you were. I was just waiting for you to bring it up."
"We might as well get it over with," Griffen said.
"Why do you sound so reluctant?" asked Deanne.
"I just realized that my sister isn't going to live for centuries and though I know we're still young I'll stay the age I am now while my sister ages as the years and decades pass," Griffen said and Deanne nodded in understanding. "We've always been close and done everything together. I just realized that things are changing."
"I understand, believe me, I do, but you've made me so happy. I want you to know that," Deanne said her voice full of emotion. "Before you came into my life, I knew what I was doing every day, every week and every month, my life had gotten routine and to an immortal that will soon become very boring. An immortal needs, spontaneousness, and also drama occasionally to make life just a little less staid. I don't expect to be bored anytime in the near future with you in my life, and my family will be ecstatic when we start to have children."
"Mira to," Griffen said finally smiling, his sadness dissipating for the moment.
"Any children we have will be spoiled rotten from the minute they are born, as that's what my family does with people they love," Deanne said. "Just so you are aware it's a strong possibility that at least some of our children will get my mother's bakery magic since it seems to be dominant, as a lot of my siblings got that particular ability. I didn't and some others got different talents, but I just want you to know it's a strong possibility."
Deanne then explained what bakery magic was and Griffen listened.
"So if your mother has bakery magic, why didn't you get that ability as well," Griffen asked.
"Because it isn't the only ability that runs in the Lincoln's line, which was my mother's surname before she met and married my father. There are a lot of talents that run in our family and a lot of my siblings have gotten different abilities, other than their mothers bakery magic. With as many children as my parents have had it's no wonder that those talents have started to pop up again and the same goes for the Walters line as a lot of different talents run in their genetics as well."
"So those that got the bakery magic open bakeries or took one over that was already in operation but where the person who started it had to move on," Griffen, guessed and Deanne nodded in confirmation.
"Exactly! Now let's go tell your sister the good news," Deanne suggested smiling kissing his cheek.
"She'll be happy for us," Griffen predicted smiling. "She was certainly ecstatic when I told her I was going to propose and started jumping up and down and in excitement while clapping her hands together."
"That's excellent, as it's always good to get along with your in-laws!" Deanne replied with a laugh. "I really like Mira just so you know. It's clear she has your best interest at heart and you can't say that about everyone who has a sibling."
"True," Griffen said smiling.
~~~Deanne and Griffen~~~
Epilogue
One year later
"They are adorable," Mira cooed over the twins that Deanne had just given birth to a few days ago.
Griffen and Deanne had been married in a large ceremony where there had been over 150 people present and most of those had been her family and friends not his.
The ceremony had taken place in the garden at the estate, which was one reason they had to limit the number of people that attended as there was only so much room.
Mira had been a bridesmaid while Deanne's sister Sydney had been maid of honor.
When Deanne had gotten pregnant soon after Griffen had been turned immortal, she had been amazed that it had happened so soon but then very happy about it once she had gotten over her shock.
When the doctor had told them both that it was twins, several months later, both Griffen and Deanne had been amazed to have twins the first time. Yes, Griffen was one of fraternal twins, but twins did not run in Deanne's branch of the family at least normally.
Once the family had gotten over the shock at the announcement that they were going to have twins, all of the family were ecstatic for them and couldn't wait until she gave birth so they could spoil their grandchildren, nieces, nephews or cousins rotten depending on what branch of the family you were part of.
"Yes, they are," Griffen agreed, grinning from ear to ear as he held his new son. "I certainly didn't expect twins for my first children ever."
"Neither did I," Deanne said from where she was sitting in one of the comfortable chairs that dotted the living room practically glowing in happiness and contentment.
Deanne had already had a house and it was a comfortable home, but they needed to look for something bigger if they were going to have anymore children as it was only a three bedroom.
"Twins don't usually run in my family, as you are aware," Deanne told Mira, "so it must be Griffen's genes that caused me to get pregnant with twins. I do have one distant cousin, as you know, that has had twins, but he's not within my branch of the family, so he doesn't really count when it comes to the fact that Griffin and I had twins as well."
"Well, it looks like that has changed," Mira said grinning, as she held the little girl that Deanne had borne second.
"Yeah, looks like," Griffen agreed still, grinning, which had been his normal expression ever since the twins have been born over a month ago. He couldn't seem to stop himself from grinning from ear to ear whenever he held or was anywhere around or even thinking about one of his children. It was clear that Griffen had always wanted kids, and now his dream had finally been realized.
"You sure did pick unique names for them," Mira said.
"Unique names, run in my family," Deanne explained simply. She did not bother to say that the reason they did was because her parents had run out of the more ordinary baby names long ago."
"It also sets them apart from every David, Chloe, Aaron Christine, Tom or Harry out there," Griffen added.
"True, it does," Mira agreed. "I think the names you picked are lovely and definitely rare.
"Yeah, Tobin and Almeda are definitely unusual, in this part of the world. I really like them, because they've never been used in our very large family. The fact that they've never been used is one reason why I like them so much, as if prevents confusion with other family members with the same name," Deanne agreed. "Tobin at least is another version of Tobias, but unlike Tobias it can also be used as a girls name and has been in the past. We do have a Tobias and also a Toby so there are similar names in our family that mean the same thing, but still they are different enough that there will be no confusion whenever a lot of the family gets together in one place, at least if they are called by their full name and not a nickname."
"So you like the names so much, because they haven't been used in your family before," Mira said.
"Yes," Deanne agreed. "That's one reason anyway."
"You know, I'm very happy that my brother proposed, even if you did kind of force him into that first date," Mira told her with a grin and a wink causing Deanne to laugh.
"I suppose I did, but it sure did turn out more than okay," Deanne said laughing softly, so as not to wake the twins.
"It sure did!" Griffen exclaimed, his voice gruff with his emotions looking up from where he had been gazing down at Tobin with a sappy expression. Griffen's expression said it all, as it was filled with love for his children, contentment, happiness, and it, pleased Deanne to see it and also Mira.
"So are you gonna have anymore after this?" Mira wanted to know her tone eager.
"Yes, definitely! In a few years, though Griffen and I need to find somewhere else to live in this area since this is where we work," Deanne confirmed. "This is only a three bedroom house and all three rooms are being taken up so that we don't even have a guestroom, which is why we need to find somewhere else with a few more bedrooms."
"We might need to have something built, but we're not sure yet," Griffen said. "If the twins had both been boys, then they could've shared a room, as the bedrooms are more then big enough for two people and we would've had a guestroom or another baby room depending. Unfortunately, it didn't work out like that."
"This was an awfully big house for one person to occupy," Mira mentioned, and Deanne nodded.
"I bought it mainly, because there was plenty of room for a large garden in the front and back and there already was a small one in the front. I wasn't exactly hurting for money as not only do I own my own business my parents set up a trust fund for each of their children so money wasn't an issue for me. I didn't find anything that had enough room for a large garden in both the front and back that was any smaller than this, not is this area anyway, so I snapped it up."
"I can see that," Mira said. "You like to garden, so you wanted somewhere other than an apartment or condo, so you could have one."
"I just don't like to garden, I love to garden," Deanne told Mira with a twinkle in her dark eyes. "Much like my mother it's my passion, except hers is baking. We all have something we're good at and for me that's planting and weeding and everything else that goes into keeping a garden looking nice."
"More often then not if someone comes for a visit, they'll find me in the garden before they'll find me inside," Deanne said.
"We all have to pursue whatever makes us happy as being miserable in whatever work you're doing only leads to unhappiness and future medical problems, because of stress," Griffen said, and both Mira and Deanne nodded in agreement.
"Still, here's to the future," Mira said. "At the moment though, I do believe Almeda needs to be changed."
Mira wrinkled her nose, as she caught a whiff of her niece's dirty diaper, and Deanne simply laughed, taking her daughter from her aunt in order to do just that.
"I'll go take care of that right away and you might want to consider learning how to do this for the day you get married and have children of your own," Deanne said.
"I'm not even dating anyone right now, so that day isn't anytime soon," Mira said, as Deanne left the room and headed upstairs in order to change her daughter's, dirty diaper.
"You are so lucky Griffen. Deanne is perfect for you. I'm so glad you met her," Mira told her brother once Deanne was out of earshot.
"Believe me, I am too, as I've never been as happy as I am since I met her," Griffen admitted softly, kissing his son on the forehead. "I know we'll have many happy years together and raise our family until they're old enough to get their own lives."
"That's a long time from now so you might as well enjoy them while they're still young," Mira said, moving closer to her brother to kiss her nephew on the forehead before Deanne came back down from upstairs and handed Mira her daughter again.
"There you go. I'm all clean and dry now Aunt Mira," Deanne said in a little girl's voice causing Griffen and Mira to both laugh at Deanne's antics.
It was a happy threesome that sat in the living room of Deanne's house and chatted to each other while Griffen and Mira held the twins in their arms.
Deanne felt contentment sweep over her as she chatted with her mate and his sister and thought everyone should always be this happy.
Griffen looked at Deanne, who conveyed her happiness with her expression, and Griffen nodded, sitting back content with a baby in his arms.
This was the start of their eternity together, and Griffen couldn't be happier and it didn't matter how unusual his new family was just that he and Deanne were very happy together and that was all that mattered.
This was the start of his and Deanne's eternity and he didn't even care that Deanne was technically, much older than him, even if she looked about 30.
Griffen gave a silent sigh of contentment and kissed his son on the forehead, even as Tobin slept contentedly in his father's arms.
Authors note: This will be the last story in this series, except I might do a side story about Abby looking for her real parents at some point.
Please feel free to to review often. Thank you, for being with me throughout this journey, but here we leave the Rossi and Hotchner families. While I could keep this series going, I have decided to end it with this last one and go on to other projects. Thank you for your interest and patience in my characters and stories. I declare the main series officially finished with possible side stories in the future to go with the main series.