Chapter 7

"Dinner is ready," Shonda told Kainen and Tabitha as soon as she opened the door. "I know you have a late shuttle to catch and we wouldn't want you to miss it."

"If we did, we would just take the one first thing in the morning," Tabitha said. "You didn't have to rush dinner on our account."

"It was no trouble I promise, as I rarely get to cook for anyone other than Aaron, Dave, Jazz, and myself, unless we have children of course, so it was a nice change of pace. Really, we all eat out a lot, even if we do have some meals that we actually prepare," Shonda promised, smiling as she led them towards the dining room where everybody was already gathered.

"Well, it's nice you could join us for another meal before you head back to San Francisco," Jazz told Kainen smiling.

"You need to visit more often," Aaron added winking at his son.

"We never mind the company and it helps break up the monotony," Dave added.

"True that," Shonda agreed wholeheartedly with Dave's statement. "Eat up everyone as our guests need to leave and head to the shuttleport right afterwards.

"I hate that we're probably going to miss dessert," Kaine said regretfully.

"I've already packed you up some for the trip home, as I knew, you probably wouldn't have time to stay and eat it with us," Jazz told him and Kainen immediately cheered up at that.

"Thanks, Aunt Jazz. I really appreciate it," Kainen told her smiling at his aunt. "It's not even that I don't get a lot of desserts from the bakery in San Francisco on a regular basis I just that I hate to miss out on one of yours."

"Suck up," Shonda teased him.

"Simple truth, Mom," Kainen shot back smiling.

"Let's not argue about it," Dave said playing peacemaker. "We can all admit that Jazz's desserts are out of this world and leave it at that. Kain and Tabbi don't have much time before they catch their flight so we don't need this dinner to disintegrate into arguing even if it's playfully meant."

"They're barely have time to return their rental car and get through security at the shuttleport in order to catch their flight as it is," Aaron said to his mate kissing her cheek affectionately.

"You're absolutely right," Shonda admitted looking contrite.

"Let's just enjoy our food," Kainen suggested glad that his uncle had spoken up. "And yes, I told her about my ability to meld metal into any shape with my magic. I'm telling you now, because we don't have time for you to take me aside and ask me if I told her. We're on a tight schedule and we probably should've done lunch instead of dinner."

"Very good," Aaron said pleased. "And yes, we probably should've done lunch, as that way you wouldn't of had to rush out of here, but it's too late now so let's just eat."

The rest of dinner passed pleasantly, and soon Kainen and Tabitha were bidding the Rossis and the Hotchners goodbye.

"Promise to be here for Thanksgiving this year," Shonda admonished her son. "You have missed the last two Thanksgivings and three Christmases." "

"I'll be here," Kainen promised. "I don't intend to get involved in any big projects this year."

"You're invited as well Tabbi if you don't have to work on Thanksgiving," Shonda told Tabitha. "You'll always be welcome in our home with or without Kain."

"I should have Thanksgiving day off at least," Tabitha said, "so I can be here all that day, but as for the rest of Thanksgiving, I don't know if I'm working or not."

"Let us know when you do know if you're working," Shonda requested in Tabitha nodded.

"I will," Tabitha promised.

"Now, we really must be going before we miss our flight," Kainen said, kissing his mother's cheek and led Tabitha to the rental car.

~~~Kainen and Tabitha~~~

"So according to what your mother said, you missed Thanksgiving two years in a row and Christmas three years," Tabitha said. "I mean, why would you miss the holidays when your family is obviously so accepting and loving?"

"I was busy with various projects that needed to be completed around then," Kainen explained. "I have basically forever to spend the holidays with those I love, so missing a few Thanksgiving or Christmas it really isn't even a blip in my life or any immortal's life. I'm surprised they noticed my absence at all, as the house is always crowded on both those holidays with various family members."

"It sounds great," Tabitha said enthusiastically.

"See if you say that when you hear people talking over others and so much noise that the cops have actually been called on a few occasions by the neighbors. My family doesn't know how to be quiet, especially when so many gather together."

"The people who called the cops are probably basically Scrooge and don't celebrate the holidays, even though it's only once a year for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Well, I suppose that's twice a year technically," Tabitha corrected herself.

"And also the fact that we celebrate all through the month of December for Christmas because with so many people dropping in it's necessary. A lot can't come until a week or so before so they get left out if they don't do it for the entire month," Kainen said.

"And for Thanksgiving?" Tabitha asked.

"We celebrate that one for a week before Thanksgiving itself and then Christmases right on top of it. Still, it's only two times a year and if some people don't like it then why don't they go on vacation or spend time with some of their own family?" Kainen said.

"So has it happened since they moved here to Bar Harbor?" Tabitha asked.

"No, not here, but elsewhere when they were living in New York and also Chicago several generations apart," said Kainen. "All I'm saying is it can happen not that it will. I heard of both instances after the fact, as I wasn't there when they occurred."

"I understand," Tabitha said.

They arrived at the airport a few minutes later and the silence between them was comfortable.

"We need to hurry up and return the rental car and then catch our flight. Oh, by the way anytime you're ready for me to start turning you immortal, let me know," Kainen said so quietly that only Tabitha could have heard him, as he took out his and his mate's overnight bags, since they had only been here about four days.

"You mention that now, instead of before we went to dinner?" Tabitha asked with the raised eyebrow.

"I meant to, but then we had to hurry to dinner, so I never got the chance," explained Kainen simply. "I'm not about to mention it with a lot of people around, even if I talk very quietly somebody might overhear, because they have better hearing than is average. It's too risky. I really meant to mention it in the car on the way to dinner, but then I didn't, so I'm telling you now before we enter the car rental place in order to return our vehicle."

"I never thought I would fall in love with you. I just thought you'd be a nice distraction," Tabitha admitted. "I admit I took a chance that you wouldn't be vindictive and get me fired, even if you promised you wouldn't that often don't mean much. While immortality is still a very strange concept, I'm ready now."

"I'm glad to hear that. We'll take care of that as soon as we get home, though it's a several months process unless you want to do it the fast way by me injecting some of my blood into a major vein. If we do it that way you'll be immortal by morning, but if we do it the original way, with me spurting my seed into you it will take a few months," Kainen said, smiling.

"At least if we do it through sex, it'll be very pleasant, even if doing it with your blood is much faster," Tabitha blushed. "Save the blood method for the females of your family who meet their mates, as I'm assuming that's the way they turn those mates immortal, since the first method won't work."

"You are correct, that is the way it is done for all the females in my family do it, though it can be used for the males too if they want to do it that way," Kainen said smiling briefly before he hurried into the car rental agency with Tabitha right behind him.

The two of them hurried to return their rental car and then headed for the shuttleport that wasn't far away.

~~~Kainen and Tabitha~~~

"So I've been curious about something," Tabitha told Kainen.

"What?" Kainen asked curiously. "I'll answer if I can."

"About that comment, your aunt made about how she could've ended up marrying Jorge. The way she shuddered in horror after she said it, let me know that she'd rather have committed suicide then be married to such a man and I was curious what the story was."

"Yeah, Aunt Jazz did say that," Kainen agreed.

"So what's the story? I've been dying of curiosity for well over a week, but we always seem to be busy so I haven't had an opportunity to ask you," Tabitha wanted to know.

"I only know the basics," Kainen warned her.

"Still, I want to know what you know unless it's some kind of secret your aunt doesn't want revealed," Tabitha told him.

"No, it's not a secret, just a rather unpleasant part of my aunt's past," Kainen said. "The story goes that when my uncle met my aunt she had a stalker by the name of Jorge Mason. Jorge and my aunt had gone to school together and they were the same age. My aunt had rescued Jorge from some bullies when they were barely teenagers, and Jorge took her doing so as a vow of never dying love, and that the two of them would marry someday. That wasn't it at of all of course, it was just that Aunt Jazz is a nice person and didn't want to see someone beaten up just because they were different.

"From what my Aunt Jazz has said Jorge was just this weird kid that was constantly bullied and so she defended him and tried to be his friend, but had no romantic interest in him. My aunt rejected him on multiple occasions before she left for college when he asked her for a date and that made him very angry.

"Especially so, after she returned from college several years after she graduated and he asked her out again. My aunt of course, denied him again, even if she was nice and gentle about it, but Jorge didn't take it that way. He was obsessed with her, even if he didn't see it that way. You must understand that, even if she had been interested in Jorge in a romantic way, which wasn't the case, she never would have married him unless he was her mate because of a bad experience from what I understand in college. She was badly burned, because of that experience when she was away from home and she wasn't about to get involved with anyone unless she knew that they wouldn't betray her and also treat her well and not like her feelings didn't matter. Aunt Jazz would never have married someone that treated her like an object with no feelings and that's basically what Jorge would've done if they had gotten married.

"Also, that situation, could've been dangerous for her, as from the rumors I have heard, Jorge had started to stalk her, and she if hadn't had magic to back her up she could very likely have ended up in one of those situations where she ended up dead.

"Anyway, when my Uncle Dave met my aunt at her bakery, they got close quickly, flirting in public and that angered Jorge who came into the bakery for coffee every morning. Jorge had built up a rich fantasy life of him and Aunt Jazz marrying, ever since she rescued him from those bullies.

"Jorge started making snide little comments in public places after my Aunt Jazz was accused of murdering a tourist several years before she met my Uncle Dave. Jorge didn't do a proper job investigating, because of his hurt feelings and tried to force my aunt to confess to a crime she hadn't committed. From what I know, Jorge actually came into her place of business several times and made loud announcements about how he knew she was guilty and that she should confess."

"That must've angered Jazz a lot, but why would he be investigating in the first place?" Tabitha asked.

"Because he was a cop, though he never rose very high within the ranks and was only an officer, not a detective. There was some evidence that my aunt could've murdered that tourist, as one of her bakery boxes did show up at the crime scene and the cupcake within it was poisoned, but what Jorge failed to consider was that dozens of people went through my aunt's bakery every day, as Aunt Jazz's business was just as busy back in Moonlight Gorge as the ones she has started since and that the cupcake could've been poisoned after it had left the bakery's premises."

"So this, Jorge Mason didn't investigate properly, because of his hurt feelings at your aunt's rejections," Tabitha summarized and Kainen nodded.

"Yes, remember, my Aunt Jazz had rejected him multiple times, even before my uncle came into the picture, so when my aunt got involved with Uncle Dave and they flaunted their relationship openly that sent Jorge's resentment and anger through the roof to where he basically started stalking them," Kainen explained.

"Aunt Jazz didn't appreciate the harassment and held onto her temper by the slenderest of threads. It was over four years of harassment, even before my uncle appeared on the scene and it just all came to a head when my uncle stopped into my aunt's bakery for a coffee and a snack that first time when he was just passing through Moonlight Gorge."

"OK question," Tabitha said, and when Kainen nodded Tabitha asked, "Why would your aunt hang onto her temper, because it sounds to me like that this Jorge needed a good scolding and also slapping."

"You have to remember he was an officer of the law and he could have arrested her for assault if she had slapped him deserved or not," said Kainen. "While Jorge's police captain was good friends with Jazz and her family and would have tried to convince his officer to drop the charges by pointing out that he had more then deserved to be slapped, my aunt and uncle believe that the only way Jorge would have done, so was if my Aunt Jazz had agreed to date him, perhaps marry him and to break up with my uncle."

"I don't see that happening," Tabitha snorted. "I mean, if your uncle feels even half of what I feel for you, even though I'm not immortal yet then Aunt Jazz breaking up with your Uncle Dave was nothing but a pipe dream."

"Now that's the absolute truth," Kainen chuckled in agreement. "My uncle's feelings for my aunt are more than what you feel for me, as they were much more intense, even back then and yours will be too once you're fully immortal."

"I'm having trouble imagining that considering my feelings now," Tabitha said, shaking her head in wonder and disbelief.

"You'll see," Kainen assured her with a blinding smile.

"You certainly know more about what happened to your aunt and uncle then you let on when you told me you only knew the basics," Tabitha told him.

"Not really, as there's a lot about what happened that I don't know and I've never been curious enough to actually ask and a lot of what I told you is nothing more than rumors that have swirled within the family for centuries," Kainen said. "That story I told you was all I know, but it's also incomplete. You'll have to ask my aunt and uncle for anymore details."

"Well, I'm still a little curious, but at least my curiosity has mostly been assuaged now, though I would love to know what happened to Jorge," Tabitha said.

"Sorry, my aunt and uncle have never said. Uncle Dave has never spoken about it for obvious reasons, as it brings up unpleasant memories for my aunt in particular and also my mother," Kainen shrugged. "If you're really that curious, you'll have to ask them. I suspect that Jorge either ended up dead or in prison as those really are the only two possibilities. Since I know, my aunt and uncle wouldn't have wanted him dead unless my aunt came to serious harm at Jorge's hand, he probably ended up in prison, but that's just a guess not a fact."

"I just might do that sometime," Tabitha said, "but for now at least my curiosity has been mostly satisfied."

"Good, if you're curious about something else let me know and if I know anything, I'll tell you," Kainen promised.

"Not right now, but I'll let you know," Tabitha promised before the two of them stopped talking and started kissing passionately.

~~~Kainen and Tabitha~~~