Perry Hotchner was running in the park when he heard a scream. Perry didn't think he just ran towards the sound and soon came up on the mugger that was attacking this dark-haired woman. It was early evening but still light out so Perry could easily see that the woman was trying to defend herself and protect her purse. She also had a briefcase that she had dropped on the grass in order to defend herself better.

"Hey!" Perry exclaimed outraged, as he came up on the confrontation.

"Just give me the purse lady," the mugger demanded.

The lady refused to the relinquish her purse and Perry finally reached where the confrontation was taking place. Perry grabbed the mugger from behind by the collar and got him off the lady who was on the ground with the mugger on top of her.

The mugger tried to attack Perry so he would let him go, so he could escape, but Perry wasn't cooperating and simply shook the mugger until he stopped trying to get loose.

"Call 911 ma'am," Perry told the woman, as he switched to an armlock. Perry kept the mugger's arms trapped behind him quite easily as he was a big guy. He took after his father in the width of his shoulders and his slim waist. He also had muscles in his arms while the mugger was skinny and his arms looked very flabby at least compared to Perry's. The mugger was skinny, nearly emaciated, with pale skin. He looked like he could use more than a few good meals.

The woman got to her feet and took out her link making the call without saying a word.

"They should be here in a few minutes," the woman said. "I'm Dr. Alex Blake, you are?"

"Perry Hotchner," Perry answered finally looking directly at Alex for the first time.

Alex noticed that Perry Hotchner's eyes widened slightly, as if in shock and she wondered the reason for it, but didn't ask, as it wasn't her place. Perry was a stranger to her.

"Thank you for the rescue," Alex told the handsome man who had saved her from having worse than bruises. She tried not to drool, especially in front of Perry.

"You're welcome ma'am," Perry said seeming to come back to himself.

"Let me go!" the mugger yelled wiggling trying to get loose. Perry didn't reply simply shook him again so he would be silent. "Why couldn't you just given me your damn purse," the mugger grumbled glaring at Alex balefully.

"I don't think you're going anywhere," Alex said now amused. "It looks like this is my lucky day. You chose the wrong woman to try to mug, as my father and both my brothers are on the police force and they taught me how to defend myself from people like you."

"If only I had known that," the mugger grumbled, even as he slumped down as much as he could with Perry's arm around his body.

"You wouldn't be in the situation if you had gotten an honest job," Perry told the mugger unsympathetically. "Apparently your parents didn't raise you right. I mean attacking a woman just for the contents of her purse really? I mean many most people don't carry more than 40 or 50 bucks on them if that much."

"He's right, most people don't carry a lot of cash on them," Alex told the mugger. "I don't believe I have more than 20 bucks on me as most people pay by credit, so you sure wouldn't have gotten much."

"He could've used your credit cards until you cancelled them," Perry suggested glaring at the mugger.

"I would've done that as soon as I was done with the police, so he wouldn't have gotten much use out of them. It would've been a pain to deal with for me to get my money back, since I'm not the one that would have incurred the charges, but it could've been done."

The mugger opened his mouth probably to demand Perry let him go again when the sound of police sirens split the air. They sounded close.

"They're coming for you," Perry told the mugger. "I'm sure this fellow has a long sheet, so he'll probably be going to prison."

"Probably true," Alex said, as she studied the mugger calmly now that he was no longer on top of her.

A police car pulled up just then and two cops got out. "Sir, ma'am," the cops asked.

"That was pretty good timing," Alex told them. "I'm Dr. Alex Blake. I work at a private school. This man attacked me, as I was walking in the park. Perry, here, heard me scream and came to my rescue."

"Sir," the lead cop said bringing out his handcuffs. Perry released the mugger into the hands of the cops flexing his fingers. "Thank you for your help Mr..."

"Perry Hotchner," Perry supplied.

"Mr. Hotchner," the cop said. "You went above and beyond and the department thanks you."

"It was nothing," Perry said. "I'm not one to stand by while woman is being attacked. I was running in the park already heading in this direction when I heard Dr. Blake scream. I saw what was happening when I was close enough."

"If only more citizens felt the same," the other officer said as he put the mugger in the back of the police car.

"Well, now, that the mugger is in police custody how about a date, Dr. Blake unless you already have a boyfriend," Perry asked immediately.

Perry had noticed that Dr. Blake wasn't wearing a wedding ring not that that necessarily meant anything, as some people didn't wear wedding rings nowadays especially the men.

"No, no boyfriend at present," Dr. Blake said blushing at Perry who was a very handsome man. She'd immediately noticed Perry's handsomeness now that the mugger had been taken away by the police. Perry Hotchner seemed like a nice guy as he had come to her rescue after all. He just could have called the police and not done anything else. She was aware though that not everybody was who they seemed to be. "Thank you for rescuing me and I'll be happy to go out on a date with you," Alex said.

"What about tomorrow, Dr. Blake," Perry suggested eager to begin getting to know his mate, as that's exactly who Alex was.

"I should be done with my classes by three or so," Alex said. "The school I teach at is for those who are more advanced than more normal children."

"How about five then?" Perry suggested.

"That sounds good," Alex said. "I'll just have time to go home and get ready. It doesn't need to be fancy Mr. Hotchner, as casual is just fine, especially for a first date."

"You can call me Perry," Perry offered with a smile.

"I'm Alex," Alex offered blushing again, as Perry smile did something pleasant to her insides. Combine that with his gorgeous green eyes and his slightly long black hair Perry Hotchner was a very handsome man, something she had already thought several times over the last few minutes she knew but she couldn't seem to help herself. "I'm surprised a handsome guy like you doesn't at least have a serious girlfriend."

"Not lately," Perry said honestly. "My last serious girlfriend was several years ago and was a disaster. I haven't dated since."

"Must've been really bad to throw you off dating for several years," Alex said.

"It was," Perry agreed not bothering to explain how bad his last girlfriend had been.

What Perry didn't tell Alex was that his last girlfriend Connie had been a psychopath and had stabbed him leaving him for dead. If he hadn't been immortal he would've been dead.

"I'll see you tomorrow at five," Alex said.

"Tomorrow," Perry agreed smiling as Alex turned and walked away.

~~~Perry and Alex~~~

Perry immediately headed for his car, which was parked down the block, cutting the rest of his run short, as he now had arrangements to make.

Before he made those arrangements though he headed to his parents house to tell them the good news after going home to take a shower and change clothes.

It just so happened that his parents Aaron and Shonda Hotchner also lived close to New York in one of the little towns that dotted the landscape. It was at least a half hour drive to the little town of Bronxville. The little town was only about 5000 people and that was just fine for his parents and also his parents good friends the Rossis. Perry called them when he was already on his way and they said they would be glad to see him not asking why he was coming by.

They might already suspect the reason for this surprise visit, but maybe not, Perry thought as he drove. Considering that Shawnda Rossi now Reid had met her mate and so had his oldest brother Michael as well as several others in their large family, Perry shouldn't be surprised that he was next.

He pulled into his parents driveway and noticed that the porch light had been left on for him, since he had informed them that he was coming.

"Welcome Perry," Shonda greeted him with a motherly hug and peck on the cheek.

"So why visit us so late as it's a long drive down from New York," Aaron asked, also giving his son a hug.

"Especially since it was nearly sundown when you called to tell us you were coming," Shonda added.

"So what made you drive all the way out here to Bronxville that you couldn't tell us over a link call," Aaron said.

"I just felt I had to tell you in person and not over the link," Perry said, as his parents led him to the very comfortably appointed den. "I've met my mate."

"You have?" Shonda exclaimed excited for her son.

"I have," Perry confirmed.

"So what's her name?" Aaron asked, even as he sat next to Shonda look very happy for his son.

"Dr. Alex Blake," Perry said with with rather goofy smile.

"It's good that you met your mate," Shonda told her son very happy for him. "And we can always use a doctor in the family especially when one of the females is pregnant."

"She's not that kind of doctor mom," Perry said. "She's a teacher at a private school and no, I'm not sure what she teaches yet, as our first date is tomorrow."

"So you just met her?" Aaron asked and Perry nodded.

"I did just tonight. I was running in the park and I heard a scream," Perry explained. "I instinctively ran towards the sound of the scream and found this woman being mugged."

"Poor woman," Shonda said shaking her head feeling sympathy for this Dr. Alex Blake.

"She was putting up quite the fight and it turned out that her father and brothers are on the police force somewhere so taught her how to defend herself. The mugger had her on the ground though, so she wasn't being very successful and fighting him off. I believe I got there just in time, as all she ended up with was some bruises, as it could've been much worse."

"Your godparents will be very happy for you Perry," Aaron said.

"Make sure you inform them before you head home," Shonda added.

"We're looking forward to meeting this Dr. Blake, but know that getting to know someone is a delicate process," Aaron added.

"Make sure you keep us informed," Shonda said.

"I will," Perry said.

"And she's teaching at a private school she must be really intelligent," Shonda said.

"Why do you say that mom?" Perry asked.

"Because private schools tend to have a higher standard of education then public school," Shonda explained.

"They also tend to be paid a higher salary for a teacher at public school and even at a university," Aaron added. "Much like college the parents must pay for their children to attend. School fees tend to be up there depending on what private school you're talking about."

"Private schools better prepare you for college though, because there is a higher standard of education," Shonda said.

"True that," Aaron agreed.

"Well, you learn something new every day," Perry said. "I never thought about looking into private schools. I mean I know you sent me and my siblings to a private school, but I didn't realize it was because there's a higher standard for education. I just thought it was because we were so intelligent."

"Of course not, you don't have any children yet," Shonda told him with a smile. "And yes, we sent you to a private school partly because you were so intelligent but also for that other reason we were discussing.

"That might be changing in the near future though," Aaron said smiling.

"I'll let you know how it goes," Perry promised before he bid his parents goodbye and headed to his car so he could head home.

"Aaron and I wish you success and we're very happy you met your mate," Shonda told her son.

"We hope it goes well," Aaron added.

~~~Perry and Alex~~~

"This is really nice, Perry," Alex told him as the two of them sat across from each other in a casual restaurant.

"Thank you," Perry said smiling. "You said casual and I took you at your word."

"So I did," Alex agreed, as she ate her salad.

"So why don't you tell me about yourself Perry?" Alex suggested.

"Well, I discovered when I was a teenager that I like working with my hands, so I'm something of a carpenter and sell my pieces at various places."

"So does that mean you do furniture?" Alex asked.

"Yes amongst other things," Perry agreed. "I've also done figurines and statues made out of wood. Anything that can be made out of wood I can probably do."

"That sounds like a really interesting hobby, but what do you do for actual work unless you're a carpenter professionally," Alex asked.

"I don't have a 9-to-5 job if that's what you mean," Perry said. "I make enough money from my carpentry that I live very well and I even do commissions. Also, my parents set me and all my siblings up with trust funds and taught us how to invest, so I don't necessarily need to enter the work force just to have money to live. I make enough money off my carpentry that I rarely have to dip into my trust fund so in that way I suppose you could consider that's what I do for work, even if I don't actually consider it so."
"Well, if you can make money on something you enjoy doing than that's what you should do," Alex said. "I would love to see some of your work sometime."

"You're welcome to come view everything I'm working on or the things I've finished. If it hasn't already been bought and you want it I'll give you a good price," Perry offered. "I'm always working on something new."

"That's very nice of you Perry," Alex said, "I'll definitely have to come by and look at what you have."

"I do my woodworking in my garage," Perry said, "and I have quite the collection of finished pieces some of which have already been sold and they just need to be picked up."

"So you don't ship them then?" Alex asked.

"I do sometimes if the client requests I do and I, of course, charge extra for the service."

"So do you ship to other countries or just within the city?" Alex asked.

"Mostly I am local," Perry said, "but if it's a gift for someone who doesn't live here I can ship it or they can. Of course, I won't say I don't get interested people sometimes, even though I work out of my garage I get recommendations from previous satisfied customers and I'm always willing to take a commission."

"Sounds like you're doing quite well for yourself," Alex said.

"So what about you?" Perry asked changing the subject. "You teach in a private school right?"

"That's right," Alex agreed. "Saar's Academy. It was named after the founder of the school Jedediah Saar. Mostly I enjoy teaching very much and the school pays me very well, which is a nice benefit."

"I guess some of the students give you trouble sometimes," Perry said. "If it's a private school that likely means parents can afford to send their children there, which means at least some of them act like princesses and princes. Arrogant, rude, condensing and full of themselves and so forth. I still remember some children like that in the private school that me and my siblings were sent to instead of going to a public one, so where you teach probably the same sort of thing goes on."

"There are some like that, but most of them a good kids and it shows that their parents are raising them with love and discipline when necessary and they aren't just allowed to run wild," Alex said.

"They're always troublemakers no matter where you go," Perry suggested knowing this from experience.

"Very true," Alex said appreciating Perry's intelligence.

"So any siblings?" Perry asked Alex, as he ate his pork chop. "Though come to think of it you did mention two brothers back in the park."

"Daniel and Scott are my brothers names," Alex answered. "What about you? You did mention you had siblings."

"So I did," Perry agreed. "I have two brothers as well, but I also have two sisters.

"So your parents had five children," Alex said. "That's a lot, especially nowadays."

"True," Perry said not bothering to tell Alex that he had way more than the four siblings he had mentioned since his parents were immortal and would never get to old to have them. The same went for his aunt and uncle Dave and Jazz Rossi. "They love children though, so I can understand their motivation to have so many."

"I'd love to have children someday," Alex said wistfully.

"So no marriage prospects?" Perry asked, as casually as possible.

"No, I've never even come close to getting married," Alex said. "Men can be such a pain in the keister that I just haven't found the right guy yet. That might be changing in the near future though," Alex said gazing at Perry making it obvious what she meant.

"Women can be a pain to, just in a different way," Perry agreed.

"True," Alex agreed wholeheartedly.

The two continued to chat and laugh, as they ate their dinner getting to know each other better.

~~~Perry and Alex~~~