"No, none of us kill unless absolutely necessary and the situation can't be solved any other way," Marla told Derek when he asked. "I wondered what you were thinking about over the last few days but knew you would tell me eventually."

"So how do you solve any serious problems that crop up as I'm sure there have been at least some over the centuries," Derek said relieve at what Marla revealed.

"We might not like to make waves, but we know people Derek," Marla explained. "A word in the right ear to say a reporter's ultimate boss could get that person in a whole lot of trouble if they didn't leave off trying to find out something about us, something dangerous. They might see something for instance that they think is unusual and so start investigating us because of curiosity."

"Has that ever happened?" Derek asked pleased to know that the family he was marrying into didn't kill unnecessarily.

"Not to me, but my parents and godparents yes, it has happened a few times," Marla said. "It's happened three times that I know off where mom and my aunt had to work together to take someone's memory of what they had seen. Neither mom or my godmother like to do that because if it's not done right that person could have memory problems for the rest of their lives."

"Is that what would've happened to me if I had an accepted your explanation?" Derek as that thought suddenly occurred to him. He went a little white at that thought.

"Yes," Marla answered honestly. "We didn't want to have to do that, because I would be miserable without you, but we also can't let our secret get out to the wrong type of people. Luckily, that's not necessary and I am very glad."

"I'm glad to because I would hate to have my memory messed with," Derek said.

"I seriously can't blame you for that. While none of my family likes to do that, keeping our secret is very important and it's a way for us to not have to kill that person that sticks their nose into things that they have no right to, which would be worse."

"That's true," Derek say relaxing. "I'm certainly glad that your mother and godmother didn't have to do that to me."

"They are to trust me on that," Marla said. "They don't like having to do it at all, even out of necessity."

The two of them had already begun making love as it was no way that Marla could turn Derek immortal since she was female and so there had been no harm in letting him make love to her.

Marla had already had Derek extract some of her blood and then she had injected it into him while he had borne the needles stoically. Unlike some people he didn't fear needles or faint at the sight of blood, but then he was a cop and Marla was sure he saw blood at least on a regular basis.

"You're gonna have to be really careful that none of your fellow officers see you heal faster then should be possible normally," Marla told him. "I know you usually work alone, which in a way, is good, as you're already known as a lone wolf. I'm actually surprised that your captain doesn't insist you work with a partner, but that's good."

"I work better alone," Derek said. "My captain knows that. He knows about what happened to my father and that I don't want to put anybody else into a possible situation that is very similar."

"I hope you at least call for back up whenever you get into one of those situations," Marla said.

"I do, as the captain made it clear I'm not to walk into a possible dangerous situation without backup even if I prefer to work mostly by myself," Derek said.

"Well, that's something anyway let's hope you never get into a situation where you're shot and the wound heals where somebody sees it. People do use illegal guns, especially criminals, even if they're not used much anymore. At least police stunners can't kill you unless set on high with the business end pressed against your pulse point," Marla said.

Stunners were the standard weapons now and had been for couple of centuries, but that didn't mean that guns still didn't exist and weren't used in crimes occasionally.

Derek might never come upon such a situation, but Marla also knew that police work could be very dangerous and criminals would use anything at their disposal to kill off a cop or anybody that they thought of as an enemy. Most criminals didn't care about the innocent that got hurt and killed in the process as they had no consciences and so didn't give a damn about those that got in the way of them achieving their goals.

"If it does happen we'll just have to deal with the situation as best we can, even if that means your mother and godmother having to take that criminals memory," Derek said.

"Let's hope that's never necessary, because they'll probably be living in a different state and it will take them at least a couple of hours to get to wherever we are," Marla said. "I can do the same thing just so you know, but I've never had to and I would hate to a experiment on someone, even if they are a criminal. I could mess up that person's brain to where they have memory problems for the rest of their lives."

"I don't have a problem with that so long as they are a criminal of course," Derek said smirking. "Might make them easier to catch that person for some kind of crime in the future for instance."

"All right, so they're criminals, but other things can go wrong you know," Marla told him seriously.

Marla told Derek of the things that could go wrong when messing with such magic and Derek begin to see that having magic came with a responsibility to use it correctly. Most gifts did though, so he could see Marla's point.

"I won't do that type of magic unless I absolutely have too," Marla said. "I hope we never encounter a situation where I have to take someone's memories, even if that's only the most recent ones. So looking forward to getting married in a few days?"

Derek knew this was Marla's way to change the subject and so he obliged her. His mother was coming into town tomorrow and would be staying at a hotel. While he would've loved to have his mother staying with him he didn't have an extra room, though he supposed he could sleep on the couch and give her his bed.

Derek knew however, that his mother would never agree to take his bed while he slept on the couch, which is one reason he had never mentioned it to her.

"Yeah, I am very much," Derek said kissing Marla quite seriously.

"It'll be nice to see your family again, as I like all of them," Marla said.

"They are certainly looking forward to seeing you," Derek said smiling.

~~~Derek and Marla~~~

Epilogue

"Today is the day you marry my son," Fran told Marla, as the older woman helped her get ready. "I'm looking forward to having you for daughter-in-law.

"Thank you," Marla said turning around enough to kiss Fran on the cheek. "I'm looking forward to having you for mother-in-law. I've come to love you just as much as I love my own mother."

"That's quite the compliment," Fran said pleased. "Your parents are wonderful and I'm glad you and Derek managed to introduce me. It's clear they love you very much."

"Yes they do," Marla agreed smiling as Fran helped her dress. "They are very happy to have your son joining the family.

The wedding planning had gone relatively quickly considering how many females there were in Marla family alone that were willing to help plan it.

Marla really hadn't had to do much at all just approve whatever plans that her helpers came up with. That Fran knew her son helped with the wedding planning immensely, as she knew what he would like and dislike.

"There you go, you look perfect," Fran finally said once she had made a few adjustments to Marla's dress. Marla already had her makeup and her hair done. "Derek is going to be so flabbergasted at your beauty he may be speechless," Fran said smiling.

"That would definitely be a sight to remember for many years because he's never speechless," Marla said chuckling at that image.

"No, he's not," Fran confirmed also smiling.

"My father should be here soon to walk me down the aisle," Marla said.

"I'll look forward to getting to know your family better," Fran said. "And if I get grandchildren in a few years I will be very happy."

"So will my parents and the rest of my family," Marla chuckled good-naturedly.

"Children are such a blessing," Fran said.

"They are for those that truly love children," Marla agreed. "Like my parents for example or my godparents. I'm sure you'll get your wish in a year or two, as both Derek and I do want children just not right away."

"Children, come in their own time," Fran said serenely. "However, I am also not getting any younger.

"That was a very unsubtle hint that you want us to have children right away," Marla told her smiling.

"I would never stoop so low, as to hint that I want grandchildren," Fran told her.

Marla said nothing, just went back to looking at her image in the full length mirror.

"I look spectacular," Marla said finally. "I'm more used to seeing myself in a messy ponytail with a apron on, one with flour all over it."

"You certainly cleanup well," Fran told her.

"I'm just not used to dressing so fancy," Marla said, she looked at her wedding dress, which was white with short puffed sleeves. The back was showing quite a bit of flesh. "I'm more of a casual kind of girl."

"So is Derek," Fran said. "He's not one for dressing fancy."

"That's one reason we match so well personalitywise," Marla said.

Fran agreed, but didn't have a chance to say anything else as there was a knock on the door.

Fran went and opened the door just enough to peek out and see who it was. She saw it was David Rossi and so opened it wider so he could enter.

"Ready to go sweetheart," Dave asked his daughter. "Derek is waiting for you."

"Of course, dad," Marla said looking eager.

"I'll see you in the front row," Dave told Fran who nodded smiling. "I'm looking forward to us being related, even if that's only through marriage."

"So am I," Fran agreed, even as she slipped out of the room to go find her seat on the front row beside her two daughters.

"This is a happy day for your mother and I," Dave told Marla, as the two walked towards where the wedding was taking place.

The A'BULAE was a very popular venue for weddings and other events even in this century. It was more than large enough for the guests that had been invited.

"I know it is," Marla said quietly. "Believe me, I've been looking forward to this ever since I met Derek."

"I'm glad your mother and your aunt didn't have to do what they suggested when they found out Derek was a cop," Dave said.

"You know I am to," Marla said. "When Derek found out what we would've had to do, if he had tried to expose us he went white and he's not the type that does that."

"No one likes to imagine that someone's going to be messing with their memory," Dave said.

"True," Marla agreed. "Let's just forget about it. It didn't happen and I, for one, am very glad."

"All of us are not just you," Dave said. "I only hope if we get another law enforcement officer in the family that they'll be just as reasonable as your Derek turned out to be."

"That's a worry for another day," Marla said smiling, as they approached the double doors where she would go outside and meet Derek Morgan at the end of the short aisle. "Let's go and get me married," Marla told her father kissing his bearded cheek.

"Happy too," Dave said opening one door so that he and Marla could go through. "Don't rush on those grandchildren. Whenever you and Derek are ready is fine."

"Fran said the same," Marla said smiling, as her father escorted her her up the aisle where Derek was waiting. "Love you daddy."

"Love you too sweetheart," Dave said his expression full of love. Dave kissed her cheek before he went to find his seat.

Once Marla reached Derek, he took her hand and they turned to face the minister together.

"Dearly beloved," the minister began.

Both Marla and Derek gave their responses clearly, but finally, the minister said, "I now pronounce you man and wife."

Wedding ceremonies had not changed at all since they had been made legal many centuries ago. Wedding ceremonies had been around since the BC era, but had changed drastically after World War II back in the early 20th century. You had a really study history to know that though and most people didn't really care, except perhaps historians.

Finally, the minister pronounced, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Marla and Derek were happy to do so and when they broke apart the wedding guests cheered.

Marla's parents, godparents and Derek's family sat in the front row all smiling at the happy couple.

"This day has been a long time in coming," Marla told Derek softly smiling gently.

"I know, I haven't been around as long as you have, but I never imagined I'd find a woman I could settle down with. It was my lucky day when we met, even if I've been teased continuously by some of the cops I work with. It doesn't mean they're not happy for me though," Derek told her just as softly, as the two held hands as they walked to where the reception was being held.

At the moment life was just perfect for the newlywed couple and they kissed briefly after they had exited building where the wedding had been held.