Chapter Six

Off the Market

Jennifer and Lunette stepped out of Dagda's central chimney, quickly putting themselves in order. The summer heat was tamed by the tarps and a cool breeze wafted through, making it comfortable despite the crowd.

"I can carry one of your shopping bags, Jennifer," Lunette offered when she pulled them out of her cloak.

"Oh, thank you, that'd be lovely! Then you can help me pick out some things you want Bres to try! Oh look, there are cherries and currents of all kinds…perhaps a nice fruit salad to start. Oh, and don't let me walk out here without pumpkin juice," Jennifer said.

"I'm not letting you walk out of here until we visit every single booth… you know how rare these Wizard Markets are in New York, and I don't even recognize half of what's offered in the Otherworld markets," Lunette admitted with a chuckle.

"Oh yes, I know. I had a Danaan priestess helping me when I went. Some things are the same, of course, but I am astounded how much of it is different," Jennifer replied. She paused and smiled as several people tipped their hats as they passed and offered Lunette congratulations on her recent marriage.

"I take it that the Daily Prophet is out," Lunette said with amusement.

"It does sound that way," Jennifer chuckled. "It was terribly nice of you to give that interview to Roy, Lunette. I know you normally don't do interviews."

"When I was a working counselor, no, but now that I'm retired, I don't have anyone to protect," Lunette said with amusement. "Besides, I couldn't help myself after overhearing Ron coming down on him for being late. I'm hard wired to step in when someone is in a desperate need of a rescue."

"And because of that, everyone knows you've married a Svartalfar, who according to textbooks are vicious and evil," Jennifer noted.

"I can hardly hide it, can I? I certainly wasn't planning on trying, so I'd rather it be out in the open from the start," Lunette informed her, despite Jennifer's serious expression. "I understand why our books say what they do about them, because we've only judged them by their warriors… from the point of view of their enemies. There's no easy fix for that. All I can do is show my love and support for Bres and hope that the majority of people are willing to accept it."

"At the very least, he is making some friends already," Jennifer said. "Sirius and Zack especially like him, and at home, Darcy, Mercy, and Seren took to him straight away," Jennifer noted. "Not to mention Albus and Minerva, Alexandria, Severus… even my Father stepped in to help him out. I also noticed that Bres has been taking quite a lot of initiative educating himself in every way he can. It's just like you were saying earlier… he's quite independent, and definitely your type."

"You're reinstating that fact as if you're trying to lead to something," Lunette observed.

"Well, I'm rather wondering when you were planning to go back to New York and tell Liberty and your other grandchildren about getting married. I know that they're not up yet considering the time difference, but you might want to go before they find out the hard way, especially now that it's out in the paper," Jennifer warned.

"I had planned to send them an international post. There's no real rush," Lunette said. "It's not like the Daily Prophet is on the Wiznet or anything."

"Well no, but I am a bit worried about what they might be saying on the WBC," Jennifer admitted.

"WBC?" Lunette repeated.

"Yes, we have Wizard Television now," Jennifer explained.

"Really? I thought you would never get it here as much friction as the council had about it," Lunette said with surprise.

"There aren't many channels, but there are some. We have WAND1, Wizard America 2, WIS3, Classic America 4, and Quid Sports," Jennifer ticked off. "WAND1 is run by the same traditionalist company as the radio station by the same name. As such, I would say it's the channel most likely to pull out every historical reference they can find about Svartalfars so they can question the Ministry's political views about it." Lunette groaned. "I think it might be wise if you head back to New York and check in just to be safe. It isn't as if you haven't been thinking about when you should go back already, Lunette, but there is no reason to worry. You can go when you like and stay as long as you need to. Bres is perfectly capable of looking after himself and making his own decisions… even if he is in a different culture than he's used to. Have faith in him, Lunette, and faith in your friends and family to jump in with any support he needs… just like you supported me, Lunette, when I went to Whitebridge on my own."

"That was different," Lunette protested.

"Are you sure?" Jennifer asked as if she was still debating it. "Do you like sausages and mash?"

But Lunette was lost in thought.

Was she holding on too tight? If so, it wasn't because she didn't think Bres couldn't take care of himself, Lunette decided. It was more that she was afraid he'd take something the wrong way… that she could give a reasonable explanation for whatever societal flaw he may stumble across. Lunette grimaced. That wasn't like her. Typically, she wanted people to make up their own minds about things. Why did she care so much? Was it because she was afraid he would think less of her because she came from such a flawed society? Or was she overthinking it and she simply wasn't ready to leave him just yet?

"I need a cup of coffee… or tea… or whatever this market has…" Lunette blurted out, then saw how carefully Jennifer was studying her. "Sorry, you must have seen a glimpse of that mess. I don't remember the last time I felt so conflicted."

"Not at all, Lunette, your reaction is normal," Jennifer reassured her. Lunette stared at her. "After all, you've not been with your Cosmic Match for very long. Trying to get used to the strength of that magnet takes time. That strong force pulling you towards him seems practically inescapable at first… and it can get so strong that you wonder if the two magnets are stuck. It can cause a panic that pushes you back so far and so fast that a lot of feelings can get hurt. Soon it turns into a feeling of push and pull like a rubber band… but it's alright. If you're careful enough and gentle enough, you can stretch that rubber band out and find a balance that works for both of you. You must expect a lot of growing pains… and also some dramatic compensation anytime the two of you have been apart for awhile," Jennifer added under her breath. "The good news is that having extended lives also gives more time to put in all of the hard work it takes to maintain those relationships. Of course there is a downside to that if the thought of being in a relationship for that long gets to be overwhelming; my advice is to clear up arguments and break-ups as warmly as possible to avoid lasting regrets. We've had some fights so bad that it had a dampening effect on our relationship for a very long time… sometimes even years,"

Lunette frowned, attempting to take those points in. Jennifer suddenly smiled triumphantly.

"There! What do you make of that? I finally have something that I can mentor you in for a change!" Jennifer realized, pleased with herself.

"Well yes, fine, when it comes to the whole Fate thing and how to navigate that, but I do not need relationship advice," Lunette protested. "I've had over half a dozen death-til-you-part relationships and kept track of several generations of each family, as you well know. I have tons more experience in relationships than you do, Ms. One-and-done," she informed Jennifer emphatically. Jennifer simply kept walking through the market. "Our husbands may have some similar notes when it comes to certain personality traits, but they're by no means the same. Severus has a hot temper and an emotionally driven side when he is stressed or surprised and so do you, which led to most of your clashes. I have been a lawyer for hundreds of years and I know how to diffuse an argument, and Bres has been taught by his culture how to funnel his emotions so as not to get in the way of his critical thinking. We have not had a single disagreement that wasn't quickly solved since we've been married, and I doubt it'll ever become an issue."

Jennifer stopped right in her tracks in sudden realization.

"Oh, dear! The two of you are still in the early dating stage, and you're already married!" Jennifer exclaimed with open concern. "This isn't newlywed behavior, this is fresh love behavior! Lunette, I know how you may feel, but I'm certain you have relationship trials ahead of you. It's likely because of the abrupt nature of it, since you did marry for the alliance… and both of you probably could tell the moment you saw one another that what your grandfather and his father was telling you was true and that you belonged together. But even if you made a well-thought out conscious decision to marry before agreeing to it, it still doesn't negate the speed of it all, or the impulsive nature of it. It's very easy to get swept up in one's own Fate if it's something you desire, and I have no doubt that Fate's magnet began pulling at the two of you from the very moment you met. I really don't think either of you have actually hit the pavement yet."

"Hit the pavement," Lunette repeated in confusion.

"You're infatuated with each other. You're not in love," Jennifer spelled out. "Fated or not, you really need to slow this train down a bit, because otherwise it's going to be nothing short of a big mess. I know you're critical of my point of view because despite being married for decades, I've only been with one wizard, and that's true… but I have also endured watching my children navigating both the pain and the reward that comes from finding one's Cosmic Match, and it is not an easy path. It is not something that is completely practical, and it is not something you can be complacent with. Happily Ever After takes lots of hard work… hard work at a level I doubt you've had to go through with your hand-picked human husbands. And since your husband now is as long lived as you are, it isn't something you can wait out if things aren't the way you want, is it? You can no longer simply wait until your husband's human lifespan takes his course before finding someone that didn't have a particular character flaw."

Lunette drew herself back as if she had been slapped, then pulled her chin up defiantly.

"I don't want to talk about it. Is there a pub around here?" Lunette replied angrily.

"Oh. I see now," Jennifer thoughtfully, easily picking up the thoughts that Lunette was attempting to shy away from. "As desperately as you were afraid of getting into another relationship with a human you'd outlive again, the idea of maintaining a relationship with no foreseeable end is even more terrifying, isn't it?"

"You know what? I need a break from you. I'm going to New York to see my granddaughter to tell her I got married and to check on the Law firm. Here," Lunette snapped, handing over the basket before striding as quickly as she could to the nearest Portkey Station. Sighing softly as she watched her go, Jennifer focused on her shopping, knowing she would have to make some arrangements if she wanted to seek advice from Severus that evening.