Part 3

New York

It was nearly four months later and Penelope admitted that she had fallen in love with Aaron Hotchner. They'd had an enjoyable journey, even though it had taken weeks to reach their destination, much longer than Aaron had estimated actually, but then the roads were extremely rough and the carriages was weighed down with both their luggages. They also had to stop quite a bit to get her fed, because she was such a new vampire, which had also slowed them down considerably. Aaron had cautioned her that she should feed at least a little from every person they came across, because there weren't very many people on their route to New York. He told her that it was better for her to feel overfull then being so hungry that she actually killed someone without meaning to and Penelope had taken his advice to heart. She made sure she fed as frequently as she could, as they ran into somebody to feed from, unless of course, it was a child, as she absolutely refused to take any of their blood. Aaron understood that decision and agreed with it, as he never fed from children either and made sure that he was never desperate enough that he had to.

Penelope really appreciated the fact that they both shared the same opinion in this case and that was children were to be protected no matter what and not fed from.

Penelope looked around at the beautiful garden that was just coming into bloom and felt quite content. She did miss her family, she acknowledged, but she well knew that they had been near death anyway and there was nothing Aaron could have done to save them. Well, except turn them into vampires and he had already told her that he would have been willing to do so, but he would've had to have their consent, because none of them were his mate. She had to acknowledge the point, as it wouldn't've been right to make them go through the transformation without asking them first. With her however, he had turned into a vampire without her consent because she was his mate and he couldn't live without her, but she was the only one that he had ever done that to and would be the last.

Penelope admired the garden, mostly because she had planted every single flower bulb herself and it was just now coming into bloom, as they had gotten here at exactly the right time for her to do some planting. As for the house, she was in the middle of redecorating, and Aaron was helping her. The house had been rather masculine, but considering it had been bought by a male this was not surprising. Once she had settled in she had asked to be able to redecorate so the house fit both their tastes and been given permission to do so. She silently acknowledged that Aaron was being very accommodating. They were going to settle here for awhile, which was why she had asked permission to redecorate, as she wanted this to be a comfortable place to live for the both of them.

Aaron had told her that to the rest of the population of New York she was his wife, because it was inappropriate for a single female to live with a man unless they were related and he was sure she didn't want both their reputations tarnished particularly hers, because it was her reputation that would be a irreparably damaged not his, as that was the way the world. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair, but it was just the way it was.

She had agreed, as she had known this and if anybody asked they were man and wife. She even wore an engagement ring and wedding band in order to help with the illusion that they had picked up along the way and Penelope thought that they were absolutely stunning. Aaron certainly had good taste and was also spoiling her rotten, even though she had not yet agreed to complete the bond with him, but that day was getting closer.

"Penelope!" called a voice.

Penelope spun around from where she was standing staring at the house just thinking that it needed to be repainted, as it hadn't been done ever since Aaron bought it and probably not before and the paint was starting to crack and fade. It wasn't Aaron's voice that had called her name, but it was a voice that she instantly recognized.

"Daddy!" Penelope squealed. "But you're dead."

"Yes, my darling daughter, I am indeed dead," Simon Garcia acknowledged with amusement clear in his brown eyes the same color as her own. "I requested that I be allowed to come and see you just to say goodbye and to tell you not to feel guilty that you survived while your mother, siblings and I did not."

Just then Aaron came charging into the garden ready to defend his mate, as he had heard her yell and then another male voice when he stopped suddenly at the apparition before him.

"I mean you no harm, Aaron Hotchner," Simon told Aaron calmly. "In fact, I wanted to thank you for what you did for my daughter. At least now I know one of them will live on, even though I am gone. I know you will take good care of her, as you've already been doing an excellent job of it."

"Thank you, sir," Aaron said calming down once he realized there was no danger.

"Now my darling, Penny, just know that I will always love you and so will your mother and your two sisters, but your destiny lies in a different direction. Your mother and I will always watch over you, as you share a life with Aaron, as he is a good man. We are looking forward to seeing the two of you have lots of children and watching them grow. Penny, I know you love Aaron, but you have been denying your feelings, causing him unbearable pain and yet he hasn't forced you into anything. I know you miss us darling, but you and Aaron have a long happy life ahead of you and I want you to give into the feelings I know you already have for him. He does love you with all his heart and I know you love him in return. You are already living as husband and wife, even if it's in name only and I know that you haven't acknowledged the bond that is between you and Aaron yet, because you feel like you were betraying your family's memory, since we've only been dead a few months. Don't be sad sweetie, grieve for us, but know that we are happy. You will always remember us, but you need to live your life, your life with Aaron. Aaron will make you incredibly happy if only you will let him."

"Yes, dad," Penelope said.

"I always worried about you and your two sisters the most, as you were my three youngest and yet you were rebels at heart, because you didn't want to follow societies conventions. I never pushed the issue, because I didn't want you to be in an unhappy marriage and I know very well that most men wouldn't have appreciated your talents, or your intelligence. It's not right, but it's just the way it is. I know I was unusual for a man of my time, but I never wanted you or any of my daughters to have to hide how intelligent you were. Your sisters wanted to get married and have families and although I know you wanted a family of your own you, Anna and Belle didn't want to marry just to have one and it's a decision I respected. I know you had dreams that you believed would never come true, because it's not appropriate for a woman of our time, but things are changing and I know Aaron will help you achieve any dream that you have."

Simon looked at Aaron who had remained silent, as he listened to Penelope talk to her father.

"Yes, I plan on helping her to achieve any dream that she has," Aaron acknowledged when he knew Simon expected an answer. "You're right, things are changing rapidly as women struggle for equality, but I can already see that it's going to happen, even if it's not for hundreds of years. I would never try to subjugate your daughter, I love her too much and I just want her to be happy," Aaron told Simon who nodded.

"I know that already son and Penelope's mother and I give you our blessing. I've been watching how you two interact and I know you're good man Aaron Hotchner and I know that you'll treat my daughter with all the tenderness and love that anybody deserves."

"I will," Aaron swore.

"Penelope, I know you love us and you miss us, but we would have died decades before you did, even if the smallpox epidemic hadn't hit Connecticut, so don't grieve too long sweetie and know that your mother and I love you very much as do Belle and Anna."

"Yes, father, I'll try not to grieve for too long," Penelope said.

"I have to go honey, as I've said all I needed to and I'm being called back. I think it's time that you gave Aaron what he wants, even though I know you're not officially married, but that would be impossible to do without letting people know that you were never wed in the first place and you don't need your reputation in tatters. Unlike mortal relationships though, what you and Aaron have is much deeper and forever, as the two of you will never fall out of love trust me on that, Penny. All that Aaron has told you is true and he will never lie to you or cheat on you, remember that."

"Yes, father, I will," Penelope said.

"I really must go now sweetie, but remember your mother and I love you and we'll always love you. We are looking forward to watching, as you have a family of your own," Simon informed them with a smile.

"Once we move to someplace new we can get married if you want," Aaron told Penelope and Simon who was listening to this nodded in acknowledgement. "I know you don't like the thought of supposedly living in sin and I can respect that's how you were raised. Unfortunately, that won't work for New York, because we've already told a lot of people that we are husband and wife and there's no way for us to get married quietly without anybody finding out, as I'm afraid people love to gossip. However, once we move somewhere else we can pretend, to just be engaged and that you lost your family, which also happens to be true. Your father has blessed our union and I know that was worrying you, because you didn't have your father's blessing, even though you said nothing."

"I would like that," Penelope told him and Aaron smiled at her.

"Then that's the way it will be, even if we don't move on for a decade or two," Aaron promised.

"I give you both my blessing," Simon said before he started to fade away. "I love you, Penny, remember that and always carry that love around with you in your heart."

"Yes, papa, I love you too," Penelope said. "Tell mom and my sisters that I love them as well. I miss all of you so much, but now I understand that there was nothing that could have prevented it."

"They know that you love them honey and that you will always miss them," Simon said, as he continued to slowly fade. "Goodbye sweetie. Take care of her, Aaron," Simon added.

"You have my sworn word I will," Aaron promised and Simon nodded.

"Then it is time for me to depart, goodbye and I'm looking forward to all the adventures you have as you live your lives together," Simon said.

Simon then faded out completely and Aaron and Penelope, just stood there for a few minutes looking at the spot where Penelope's father had been.

"I love you," Penelope finally told Aaron, the first time she had said the words out loud, although she had known for weeks. "I'm sorry I never told you before, but I didn't understand how my feeling manifested so quickly."

"I knew you did and I was content to wait until you were ready to acknowledge your feelings for me," Aaron told her quietly taking her into his arms and Penelope just cuddled into his embrace making Aaron over the moon, as this was the first time she had allowed him to hold her like this. "I understood that you weren't entirely sure if you could trust me, despite the bond between us. I realized however, that you probably didn't know much about vampires in general, as it's not the sort of thing that most females are told about unless they overhear other people, usually men, talking about it. Females are seen as helpless and some men don't see them as very intelligent either, even if I at least know that's not true."

"Females are basically ignored, as unimportant and they can pick up a lot of information that way," Penelope acknowledged.

"Sad, but true at least in most cases," Aaron agreed.

"What my father said is true I've been in love with you for a long time, but I wasn't sure why my feelings had popped up so quickly, so I told myself I couldn't possibly have fallen in love with you, since we hadn't known each other, but a few months," Penelope said.

"I understood that you were grieving for your family that you had lost due to the smallpox epidemic and I was willing to wait as long as necessary," Aaron said. "I won't lie and say it wasn't hard for me to do so, but I said I would court you and so that is exactly what I've been doing."

"You've been nothing, but kind and considerate and I appreciate your patience," Penelope told Aaron sincerely. "I understand now that it's the bond that made me fall in love so quickly, as it was simply our vampire biology acknowledging that we are a perfect match. I wasn't sure I believed your explanation actually, but that was only because I knew next to nothing about vampires in general, as you said a few moments ago, but now I know that you've been telling me nothing but the truth and I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's fine," Aaron promised her tenderly. "I understood your caution, believe me, I did, as I did turn you into a vampire without asking your permission first. I understood that I would have to work to get you to trust me, since you were kind of just thrown into the vampire world without knowing what you were getting into. Yes, I saved your life and I know you're grateful to me for that, but still, it wasn't something you asked for and I understood that."

"Well, now that I know I have my father's blessing why don't we take care of that," Penelope suggested boldly, as she initiated their first kiss directly on the lips instead of the cheek.

Once they had broken apart Aaron swept his mate up into his arms and immediately carried her towards the house.

"You're sure you're ready? Once the bond is completed there is no turning back," Aaron warned her seriously, even as he carried up the stairs to the fourth floor where the master bedroom was.

"There's no turning back anyway because of the bond, even if it is not yet finalized," Penelope told Aaron who nodded in acknowledgment.

"True, but if you had wanted to leave me before the bond was finalized I wouldn't keep you prisoner, although I certainly would've tried to persuade you to stay with me, since I know very well I would be miserable without you," Aaron said.

"You've been nothing but patient and I appreciate it," Penelope told him, "but my father's blessing has released any reservations I had, as he was right when he said I felt guilty for even thinking about having sex with you without at least a wedding ceremony and also his blessing, so you are welcome to do what I know you've been wanting to."

"I hope you don't mind being pregnant, since as far as I know there's no way to prevent it," Aaron warned her. "The bond won't be complete without actual penetration."

"No, I've been wanting children for years, but I figured I'd never have a chance to have any, although I don't want to be constantly pregnant," Penelope said.

"There's not anyway to prevent it as I said at least as far as I know," Aaron said.

"Well, just have to take what comes then," Penelope said and Aaron nodded in agreement.

"We'll have a very large family then, even if the children are years apart," Aaron agreed, as he slowly and tenderly stripped Penelope out of her clothes, once they had reached the bedroom before getting undressed himself, in the matter of a few seconds.

Penelope would have blushed if it was possible, as she looked at her mate's naked body, because she had never seen the male nude form before.

"I know you're a virgin, so I'll try my best to be as gentle as I can be," Aaron promised her lovingly, as he gently held her nude body in his arms and reveled at the feel of her bare skin against his own. Having her nude in his arms up against his chest felt absolutely wonderful and it was an act he was hoping to get her to repeat as often as possible, so long as they were alone in their own home. "Also I want you to participate and not just lay there, as I make love to you, as I promise I won't think of you as a whore. I know my views are pretty unusual, but you must realize by now that I'm not most men who don't care if the female gets any satisfaction. Women should get just as much enjoyment out of the sexual act as men do, because if a man fails to satisfy his wife, the marriage often tends to be unhappy and that often leads to the wife cheating on her husband, which is a punishable crime. At the very least, she is shunned by others who know of her actions."

"We'll have to learn together, because I wasn't raised that way you know, but I'm willing to learn," Penelope promised.

"It's going to take time to be shed of how you were raised at least in certain ways," said Aaron in acknowledgement. "I understand that. I hope that in 10 to 20 years you will know that I meant it when I told you we were equal in all ways and that of course, includes our sex life."

"I'll work on it," Penelope promised. "Mother did explain to me theoretically what I was to expect, especially for the first time, but I know there's a major difference in theory and actual practice."

"Since you are a virgin I'm going to have to do something that's going to hurt you, but I want you know it's necessary," Aaron said, "and that it will hurt me every bit, as much emotionally at least, just as it will you physically."

"What are you going to have to do?" Penelope asked nervously.

"Well, since your hymen has never been broken, I'm not only going to have to break it causing you pain, but I'm also going to have to use my tongue coated with venom all around where it was to make sure that it doesn't grow back," Aaron explained. "If it grows back I'll just have to break it every time we make love, which we'll be doing a lot, so doing this will save you quite a bit of pain in the future, as it will leave scarring in that area so that it can't come back. If you were still human and your hymen was broken, it would stay broken and not grow back, but thanks to the fact that you were a virgin when you were turned into a vampire your body will grow it back as it was an original part of you as a human. Since it was part of you when you were changed, well, that unfortunately, means that it will grow back and vampires heal really fast, so long as they get enough blood if they've been injured."

"So you're saying if I hadn't been a virgin when you changed me we wouldn't have this problem," Penelope said and Aaron nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. It has been found that using a vampire's venom is the only way to prevent it from growing back, but at least there is a solution, as I wouldn't want to hurt you every time we made love," Aaron told her sincerely.

"Alright then, I trust you," Penelope told him and Aaron nodded solemnly in acknowledgment happy to know that Penelope now trusted him completely. Apparently, the talk with her father had made his mate trust him and he was happy with that, as he knew that it would have taken much longer for that trust develop if not for Simon Garcia's appearance. Just because Penelope was female did not mean that she trusted some strange man automatically, although he knew that a lot of women would, because they had been sheltered. A lot of females didn't realize the evil in the world and what a man could do with their innocence. Penelope had been sheltered to, but not as much as she had tried to keep up with current events and her father had indulged her habit, even if he had likely toned it down for his daughter's ears, as he wouldn't have wanted to give her nightmares.

Aaron suspected that Simon was grateful to have someone to discuss current events with, as his other daughters and his wife likely hadn't shown much interest in that area and he hadn't had any sons, except for the one that had died as a child. Penelope's brother had died from one of the deadly diseases that were so prevalent and had no cure among the humans. Aaron was only grateful that Penelope's father had indulged his daughter as it had nurtured her intelligence, so that she wasn't as gullible as most females were, although she would have eventually lost that the longer she had been a vampire. Still, right now she had an innocence about her, but Aaron suspected that she wouldn't be taken advantage of very easily and if she was she would learn from the experience.

"I'm going to make this the best experience of your life, so that you'll agree to repeat it as often as possible," Aaron told her with a little smile gracing his face, his eyes sparkling in anticipation and happiness.

He laid Penelope gently on the bed and started to make slow and gentle love to her, causing her to coo and sigh, as the feelings inside her were so intensely pleasurable, and she certainly appreciated the fact that Aaron was being very gentle with her at least for her first time.

By the time he entered her she was more than ready for him to and told him so, in a voice that sounded very strange to her ears and Aaron simply smiled down at her gently, kissing her quite thoroughly his tongue pushing past her lips to explore her mouth, while at the same time he thrust into her vagina and broke her hymen.

Penelope was so lost in pleasure she hardly noticed the pain that caused, which had been Aaron's intent in the first place. Finally, he could hold himself back no longer for he had been wanting her from the second she finished her transformation and really from the second he had laid eyes on her. However, he would never force her, as he had understood her reservations. No young lady gently reared had sex with a man on first meeting. No, he courted her for at least a year before he proposed, but there was no way he could've held out for year, as it had been hard enough to hang on just for the four months they had known each other. If he had managed to not have sex with her for 12 months it would've caused him even more agony, so he was certainly glad that the ghost of Penelope's father had shown up and assured his daughter that his intentions were honorable.

Finally Aaron spurted his seed into his mate for the first time, after he had turned her into a puddle of goo and given her several climaxes and had several of his own. He felt the connection that had been nothing more than enormous potential until that moment snap into place instantly and so strongly that it nearly knocked him for a loop. Well, if what he had learned was correct then he and Penelope were more then compatible, because there were different strengths to vampire mating bonds and that was bound to be one of the strongest, although he couldn't say for sure of course, since there was only one mate for every vampire, but he certainly couldn't imagine a bond any stronger, since it had nearly knocked him out, as if it had been a nearly physical force.

"This is a part that's really going to hurt and I'm sorry about that," Aaron apologized.

"I know it has to be done," Penelope told him with just a touch of practicality. "It will prevent future pain, so let's just get it over with."

"As you wish, my lady," Aaron said smiling, as Penelope was being very brave and he appreciated that she wasn't making a big deal out of the pain that was inevitable.

Aaron stuck his tongue into his mate's vagina, after making sure he coated it with venom from his teeth and moved it over the area where he knew her hymen had been making sure he coated it thoroughly, so that it had no chance of growing back.

Penelope hissed in pain and Aaron was deeply sorry that he had hurt his mate, but knew it had to be done, so he honed his determination and didn't withdraw his tongue from her vagina until he was sure that he had coated the area, as thickly as he could.

"There it's done and I'll never have to do it again," Aaron promised his mate tenderly, taking her into his arms to hold her close.

"You were right it's hurting like crazy," Penelope said. "It's more of a burning/stinging sensation then any other kind of pain."

They were both silent, as Penelope kept grimacing in pain from time to time, but finally she relaxed and Aaron took that to mean that his venom had finally finished its work.

"Well, that wasn't exactly pleasant," Penelope said grimacing and remembered pain. "I didn't expect it to be after you warned me, but I also didn't expect it to be quite so bad."

"Well, now it's over with and soon you'll forget about the pain entirely," Aaron said. "I knew it was going hurt, but I didn't know it was going to be so bad, as I've never had to do it before."

"Is this what's going to happen with our daughters, once they grow up and find mate's of their own?"

"Well, actually our daughters might never find their mates and they're not going to be virgins for very long, so we will teach them how to be discreet," Aaron said. "I know it's not what you want to hear," Aaron added hastily, "but vampires have different priorities I'm afraid. Very few of us ever find our mates and they can't stay virgins forever because we're very sensual and sexual creatures and that of course, includes the females. We live basically forever after all and you can't expect vampire women to remain virgins, unless they want to for all that time, which I won't say is impossible, but it is extremely unlikely."

"I was going to until we met," Penelope pointed out.

"You were also mortal and would've died in another 20 or 30 years," Aaron gently reminded her. "A human's biology slows down the older they get, a vampire's never does, once they are grown. In other words, we remain sexually charged for all our lives and this is, especially true for young vampires like yourself. I'm six centuries old, so even though I'm still a sexual being, I can control myself better, because I'm no longer as young as I once was and the same will be true for any daughters we have."

"But what if they get pregnant?" Penelope asked genuinely worried.

"If it happens, it happens," Aaron shrugged. "We'll love any child that any of our own children produce whether or not they were born due to a legitimate marriage. There will be no arranged marriages for our children and they will either marry or they won't, but I suspect that none of them will get married at all, unless of course, they meet their mates, which is possible of course."

"If we try to arrange a marriage for any of them it would have to be with a human, as no vampire would agree to such a thing unless of course, they were mates and they would outlive them, simply because they will be basically immortal, just like their parents, so what's the point?" added Aaron rhetorically.

"No, I agree with you on that point, as I don't believe in arranged marriages either, as I want my children marry for love just as my parents did. Arranging a marriage for your female offspring and sometimes your sons just makes the people involved miserable more often then not. I don't think I've ever met someone in an arranged marriage that was actually happy with their spouse," said Penelope.

"Good, I'm glad we agree on that point, no arranged marriages for any of our offspring, as we'll just let them go their own way. Some vampire females travel as a man sometime, as it's just easier, particularly if they're traveling alone. Maybe someday that won't be necessary but right now..." Aaron's voice trailed off.

"It's safer for them," Penelope said.

"Well, no that's not what I meant," Aaron corrected, "as no mere bandit or any other human is going to get the upper hand with a vampire, female or not, because they'll be at least 30 or 40 times as strong as even the strongest human. No, what I meant is that a lot of places won't serve a female alone whether that's hotels, restaurants or any other type of public establishment, except places like markets and clothing shops."

"I hadn't thought of that," Penelope admitted thoughtfully.

"Females don't travel alone, except for vampire ones for the most part, because it's just so dangerous out in the world," Aaron said. "Of course, occasionally they do, but it doesn't happen very often. You can't blame yourself for not thinking of it after all you were pretty sheltered, although not as much as most females."

"I realize that I was quite privileged to have a father like mine," Penelope assured him. "I had some girlfriends and they were always talking about their home life and I know that their fathers basically ignored them as inconsequential, except for using in an advantageous arranged marriage that would basically increase their father's wealth substantially. They'd basically been raised to be useless, merely ornamental and even if they hadn't been they wouldn't have been listened to."

"Yes, the lower classes have it luckier actually, because the females might get married much sooner and have numerous children, but at least they aren't spoiled into uselessness by well-meaning fathers and sometimes not so well-meaning," Aaron said. "Also they more often then not marry for love and it is almost never arranged like those in high society like to do."

"If we have a son I want to name him after my father," Penelope requested a little nervously.

"That's fine," Aaron promised her kissing the side of her neck that was exposed to his sight. "Don't ever be nervous about mentioning your concerns, worries or ideas to me, as I'll certainly listen and take whatever you have to say into consideration. I told you we would make decisions together and I intend to keep that promise. As for naming our firstborn son Simon that's just fine, as it's a well respected name and quite common."

"Alright then," Penelope said relaxing.

"We can also name our oldest daughter Margaret if you want. There's nothing wrong with using family names and you might want to name our second son after your brother that died as a child," Aaron said.

"So did you intend to use any family names from your side?" Penelope asked.

"No, because my childhood was nothing like yours," Aaron told her. "I was an only child and I wouldn't saddle any child of mine with my parents names, as there are too many bad memories associated with them. There are plenty of beautiful names in the world, so I'm sure we'll think of two for each child we do have."

Penelope dropped the subject then, as she didn't want to bring up bad memories for her mate.

"So ready for another round?" Aaron asked hopefully, giving her his best puppy dog expression.

Penelope giggled at that, because he was so adorable when he did that and he certainly had a fine body which didn't hurt.

"I'm surprised you're actually asking, since most men would just order they're wives to do whatever they wanted. Believe me, I've seen it happen before and out in public to."

"I've seen it happen to, but I've never been like that and are not going to start now and you'll soon learn this for yourself," Aaron promised her. "Right now, our relationship is still so new that we're still learning about each other and will be for sometime to come. By the time we've been together a hundred years we'll know each other so well, much better than any mortal couple, that we'll be able to anticipate each others needs much better then most other couples. Well, unless they are vampires that have been together for a long time. What that basically means is I'll to be asking you things and you'll probably wonder why I am, but I'm going to do so until we know each other so well that we will know what the other needs before we do themselves."

"Well, I can see this is going to be a rather exciting and interesting journey," Penelope said smiling.

"That it is, as you've already made my life so much happier, then it was," Aaron promised her tenderly. "My life had gotten very...boring, as you can only do variations of the same thing so many times before you're just ready to end your life, because you're bored out of your mind. It didn't matter if it was traveling or trying to find something interesting to do, which is pretty hard when you're alone and you believe you've seen and done everything. Of course, now that you're part of my life things are very different and I'll enjoy doing things with you."

"I think you've more than proved that," Penelope giggled happily. "I'm so glad we can still eat regular mortal food, and I enjoyed that restaurant you took me to last month."

"Anything for you, my lady," Aaron told her sincerely kissing her on the tip of her nose.

"Not to mention the several pieces of gorgeous jewelry you've given me over the last few months," Penelope added.

"That is absolutely nothing my lady as the jewelry stores in Europe are much better, trust me on that. We will be going to Europe, perhaps, England at first, once I'm sure that you can take a long sea journey without killing anyone," Aaron promised her. "The Europeans have been doing jewelry for centuries and America was only discovered in 1492 so they're far behind in that area, in most areas actually, although they'll catch up it's just going to take time."

"I can't wait to see some of Europe," Penelope exclaimed excitedly, causing Aaron to grin, as anything that made his mate happy, made him happy.

"We'll slowly see the world together, as it is huge and they're are no doubt a lot of places or natural wonders that have yet to be discovered. Unfortunately, traveling takes a great deal of time."

"That's fine, as I still want to see Europe," Penelope said.

"You will," Aaron promised. "I'll see to it. It's not going to be a few decades though, as it's a long sea journey, depending on the weather, so it'll take at least several months. We would have to feed numerous times off one crew member or another or perhaps, a passenger and then use our hypnotic powers to make sure they don't remember that we did. Most ships won't take a vampire onboard if the captain is aware of what they are, so it's just better to conceal that we aren't entirely human. Luckily, we can eat, so we can act the part if we need to."

"But don't people know that vampires can eat normal food?" Penelope asked.

"Some do, but it's not exactly well known either," Aaron admitted. "It's a good way of blend in with the normal population. Of course, if you're pregnant you'll give birth in just two months, because vampire children grow incredibly fast and that will clue people into the fact that we're not exactly human if anyone's paying attention, but it can't really be helped, so we'll deal with any consequences if there are any."

Penelope was afraid to ask exactly what Aaron meant by that, but she suspected that whoever made an issue of them being vampires or made any threats would simply disappear. She knew that Aaron was a good man, but she suspected he would take any threats to his family very seriously and some humans knew that fire was the only way to permanently kill one of their kind. She knew that Aaron wouldn't want to put them in any type of situation to possibly be burned out of their home, so he would take action. She suspected that it would happen at least once in their centuries together and probably more than that, as she was not unaware that humans could do incredibly stupid things a lot of times some that had serious consequences.

"So you said something about another round?" Penelope suggested tired of talking, as what Aaron had done to her she wanted to have repeated as often as possible and she never believed she would say that in her lifetime.

"I'll be happy to oblige you," Aaron said with a wide grin that could only be termed a shit-eating. He was immediately on top of her making slow and gentle love to the woman he loved with every particle that made up his body and his soul.

She had never imagined that making love could be such a pleasant experience, as she had heard a lot of females talk about how they only had sex for the sake of having children and how they never felt sexually satisfied, but either Aaron was much better at it due to his centuries of experience or it was more likely that those ladies were, just not in a happy relationship like she was. She suspected that when the relationship was one of love that whenever a husband and wife had sex the man went out of his way to satisfy both of them and not just himself, but unfortunately, that didn't happen to often, particularly arranged marriages she suspected.

Oh, well, it didn't matter to her, because she suspected that she would always be sexually satisfied whenever she and Aaron made love and that was more than enough.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~