Part 5

February 14th, 1800

"This is absolutely wonderful," Penelope sighed in contentment. "What a terrific way to spend Valentine's Day."

"I'm glad you like it," Aaron grinned.

"It's splendid," Penelope told him, as she leapt into his arms, knowing that her mate would be there to catch her, not that she would possibly hurt herself if he didn't. Still, she was very well aware that Aaron would never let her down as the trust between the two of them had grown in the last 80 years. Still, she was so happy that the ghost of her father had appeared and given the two of them his blessing and assured her that Aaron truly did love her, because at the time she hadn't understood why her feelings for Aaron Hotchner had popped up so fast. Her father had released her reservations about her relationship with the handsome vampire and she had been more than happy ever since. Aaron spoiled her rotten on a regular basis always doing things for her and giving her gifts. She had quite a lot of fine pieces of jewelry that were likely worth a fortune, but she didn't care about that, just that Aaron had given them to her and she wore them often. Still, today was Valentine's Day and they had arrived at this little picturesque inn several days ago, as Aaron had decided to treat her to a beautiful vacation, away from the children. They had a nanny of course, several of them actually, since they had so many kids, but it could be a madhouse. She loved every single one of her's and Aaron's children, but it was still nice to get away for a few days, so that it was just Aaron and her.

There wasn't really much privacy at their house because at the moment they had over 20 kids of varying ages, as there was no way to stop her from getting pregnant unfortunately. The only way to stop her from getting pregnant at all was for Aaron not to penetrate her at all, which they did that a lot of times. Luckily, there were other ways to make love that didn't involve the penetration of a man's penis into a woman's vagina, that would probably be considered heavy petting and nothing more. But since they still got their satisfaction out of it then that was more than enough for them. Aaron had penetrated her with his fingers more than once and hit the sweet spot that sent her into an extremely strong climax every time.

Still, she would never deny her mate penetrating her vagina, which was why they had over 20 kids, because it might not happen with the first spurt of Aaron's semen, but it could with the second or the third or the fourth spurt. Aaron might avoid penetrating her vulva a lot of times, but a man had needs and this was particularly true of vampire men who never became sexually inactive like humans did. Yes, their kids were of varying ages but a lot of them were really close together like within a few months of each other and others were much younger like over a year apart from their siblings, due at least partly to Aaron not spurting his seed into her, but onto the bedsheets or her stomach instead. She knew very well that a lot of women would be envious at the way Aaron couldn't seem to keep his hands off her for any length the time, particularly the younger ones. But some women would also be very derisive to her for actually participating in the sexual act and enjoying it, mostly the old biddies who had had unhappy marriages.

Still, what those women didn't know wouldn't hurt them or make them insanely jealous, Penelope figured and she would in fact participate in the sexual act because Aaron had been serious when he had told her that they will equals in all things. Besides, few mortal relationships were as close, as vampires were to each other so long as they were mates that is. A lot of humans really didn't know what love was, because they often treated each other so badly deriding their partner for their faults or even their perceived faults. Human beings just couldn't get along as a general rule, but then neither could vampires a lot of times so she's supposed it just came with being sentient, beings with emotions in other words. Oh, well, those people who just wanted to argue, hate and kill each other didn't matter as she and Aaron always got along splendidly. She wouldn't deny that they'd had their arguments, but they hadn't had one in at least 20 years now, because they knew each other so well.

"I don't know how you located such a picturesque little bed and breakfast, but it's certainly a great place to get away for a few days and the food is absolutely spectacular."

"Well good I'm glad you like my surprise," Aaron said.

"You can surprise me anytime," Penelope said, as she and Aaron began to kiss tenderly.

"I suppose we had better head downstairs for breakfast," Aaron said unenthusiastically.

"Well, if we weren't trying our best to act human I would say just stay up here and ignore them, but we don't want anybody to know that we are vampires, because you know how people react a lot of times."

"I say we go and explore the town and perhaps, we'll find someplace to eat," suggested Aaron.

"And if we don't no one will know that we haven't," Penelope said in an approving tone.

"Thereby keeping up the illusion that we're human," Aaron smirked.

"Yeah, we've been here several days and we've mostly been keeping to our room," said Penelope not at all embarrassed or actually caring what other people thought of them.

"Don't worry about what other people think," Aaron said seeming to be able to read his mate's thoughts, but really it was just because he knew her extremely well. "Besides, I let it be known that we were newlyweds and this was our honeymoon when I went downstairs last time. I figured that way people wouldn't be curious why we were spending so much time in our room by ourselves."

"Now that was an excellent idea," Penelope said her tone approving. "We're not going to have to worry about the humans looking at us strangely, just because we're spending so much time by ourselves.

"Exactly. Besides, we still act like newlyweds, even though we've been mated for just over 80 years now, but then that's the way it is with all mated couples," Aaron said, as he took the love of his existence into his arms and held her tenderly. "Nobody has to know about the fact that we're vampires and we've been mated for over 80 years."

"Or that we have nearly 25 children," Penelope giggled.

"Yeah, I know I suppose that we really have too many," Aaron said with a small smile, as he thought about his and Penny's brood of children. "Not that I don't love every single one of our children I just wish there was a way to prevent you from having them. You were so young when you were turned into a vampire that you were still very fertile as you weren't even quite 30 yet. If we had only met a few years later like when you were 40 or something it's possible that you wouldn't have children so easily."

"That's just not the way it worked out," Penelope said, as she kissed her mate tenderly. "Sure it would be nice not to have so many children so close together, but I'm still hoping we find something that will prevent us from having them so consistently."

"Me too, because people look at us strangely since we're having so many kids," Aaron said.

"Who cares what others think, as we usually choose a residence that's outside of any town or city anyway," Penelope said. "Believe me, if there was a way to stop making pregnant every three or four months or so and sometimes more frequently I guarantee you I would be using it. We have at least three children a year sometimes four or five, which clues people into the fact that we are vampires, which I'd rather avoid."

"Which is why we now have 21," Aaron smirked. "Even if a few of those will soon be leaving home to explore the world or to go to college, so that the burden will be lessened for a little while."

"Yeah, I know we've already had to build on several times," Penelope said, as she snuggled into her mate's arms.

"Well, it gave me something to do," Aaron shrugged.

It had turned out that Aaron was an expert carpenter and architect as well as a doctor and several other things. Penelope at first had been amazed at how many skills her mate had, but then realized that he had been around for hundreds of years so he had just picked them up along the way. A vampire had to keep busy someway and at one time carpentry had really interested her mate. In any case, he had built the additions onto the house in just a few days, since vampires didn't need to sleep. Penelope was well aware what Aaron had built would last for centuries, as her husband was not going to do any shoddy work. Penelope knew that it was likely that the guy at the lumber yard had wondered what such a wealthy family wanted with so much lumber, but conventions of society had prevented him from asking and she will show that Aaron wouldn't have given him an answer anyway. In any case, the addition was beautiful and Aaron had had plenty of help from both his sons and daughters and he had taught them the ins and out of carpentry as they went along.

At first Penelope had protested that house building wasn't a woman's job, but then she had remembered that she was no longer human and her daughters had every right to learn from their father about how to build a house if they so desired. Who knew once females were more free to do whatever they wanted, maybe one would become a carpenter or an architect for a brief time, which could last for decades.

"I still think it's unfair, that there are really no universities for women. Seminaries sure, but that's more religious training and to make someone a proper wife. They don't really teach any academics, Just singing dancing literature that type of thing."

"They do over in Europe," Aaron said, "but not here in America, at least not yet."

"Still, if our daughters want to go to college they have to go over to Europe to get a proper academic education. You know none of them are interested in learning things like dancing or singing or being a proper wife to some man," Penelope snorted her derision clear.

"I know it's not really fair, but change takes time, but I guarantee you it's coming," Aaron said understanding his wife's derision

"Yeah, I know, as things have already changed, so much from when I was first turned into a vampire and I'm sure they'll keep changing for sometime," Penelope agreed. "At least women travel alone more often nowadays than they did back when I was born, even if it is still pretty unusual."

"Yeah, women have more rights nowadays, which will continue to increase until they have as many rights as any man," Aaron said. "Still, let's get dressed, head downstairs, explore the town."

"Sounds good," Penelope said. "You know we'll likely be sneered at just because we hold hands in public, because that's just not how it's done whether you're married or not."

"I don't really care what other people think," Aaron shrugged. "Besides, it will only be humans that think that not vampires if there are any nearby."

Penelope had really expected no other response and so she gave Aaron one final kiss before heading into the bathroom to get dressed.

"At least fashions are much simpler nowadays," Penelope said from the bathroom in her normal speaking voice knowing that Aaron would be able to hear her.

"Yeah, that's true and I know you were glad to see that happen," Aaron agreed also at his normal volume.

"That's the understatement of the century," Penelope said carrying on a conversation easily, as she continued to get dressed. "I was so glad when fashions changed."

Penelope came out of the bathroom a few minutes later ready, to go as she didn't need any makeup on her already beautiful face.

"Ready to go, sweetheart?" Aaron asked, as he offered his mate his arm.

"Absolutely, let's go explore the town and once it starts to get dark I probably need to hunt, so we might as well get to know the town, so we know where we'll be able to get us a meal without being seen," Penelope said.

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Aaron agreed. "I probably need to feed to. It's never good to let ourselves truly get thirsty and hunting once a week or so stops that."

"This has really been the break that we both needed and I wouldn't be surprised at all if I'm pregnant again."

"No, I wouldn't be either," Aaron smirked at that possibility.

"We've really got to find some way to stop having so many children," Penelope sighed.

"Yeah I know what you mean," Aaron said.

This was definitely a subject that he was in complete agreement with his wife on. "Mates aren't going to stop having sex for more than a few days at a time and it is kind of annoying for the females anyway to be constantly pregnant. The only thing that really makes it okay is that mates don't meet very often, because if they did the world would be overrun by vampires."

"Yeah, your right vampire's would soon be more numerous than humans, so I suppose it's just as well that mates don't meet very often. Of course, some women might not be as fertile as I am which would also help."

"There is that," Aaron said being his usual courteous self and opening the door for his mate.

The two stopped talking once they left their room, as they didn't want anybody to overhear their conversation and simply walked downstairs, Aaron with an arm around his mate's waist.

The two of them strolled to the front desk and Aaron asked the woman behind it politely if she knew of anywhere to eat in town.

"Getting tired of our food already?" the woman said in a teasing tone.

The woman in question was young, no more than in her early 20s and unmarried. She was the owners Mrs. Richards daughter and sometimes helped her mother in the business of running the inn. The young woman had had stars in her eyes ever since she had been introduced to Aaron when he and Penelope had first arrived several days ago. The way she was flirting with a married man would be considered very improper at the very least and she never did it when her mother was anywhere nearby as she wasn't stupid after all. If her mother caught her flirting with the handsome Aaron Hotchner she knew that she would be in serious trouble. She knew she was lucky that neither Mr. or Mrs. Hotchner had reported her for her improper behavior, but she couldn't seem to help herself, as Aaron Hotchner was such a gorgeous specimen of a man, certainly more handsome then the boys in town.

"No not really, we just want to try somewhere different that's all," Penelope said politely, managing not to roll her eyes at the way the woman looked Aaron up and down not being very subtle about it.

Most people were more subtle when they locked her husband up-and-down, but this woman was anything but. She knew very well that vampires were made to be more than extremely attractive so they could lure there play easier, but it didn't mean it wasn't annoying for both her and Aaron when somebody was so obvious about their interest.

Aaron got the names of several restaurants that were in town and thanked the woman politely, before escorting his mate towards the front door.

Once they were outside Penelope sighed in relief.

"Yes, I know it is rather annoying in that woman showed so much interest in me when she knows very well that we're supposedly newlyweds," Aaron agreed without Penelope having to explain why she had sighed.

Penelope was so glad that Aaron understood her so deeply and completely, even if it had taken him a couple of decades to get to that point, but it had been well worth it.

"At least it doesn't happen too often, Penelope said.

"Most people a more subtle that's all," Aaron said.

"Believe me, I am aware," Penelope said, as she took Aaron's hand.

The two strolled out of the front yard of the and they had been staying in, and started to walk, towards Main Street, which was only a few blocks away.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"These are lovely, Aaron," Penelope said more than pleased, when her husband handed her a dozen roses. Penelope then noticed a gorgeous ring wrapped around the stems or really the stems of the roses had been pushed through the ring.

"What a lovely ring," Penelope murmured, as she freed the flowers. "You always find some unique gift. The ring is stunning."

Penelope studied the ring which was emeralds and sapphire and worth a fortunate she knew. Penelope guessed that her mate had bought the ring before they had left the city they had been living in for the last few years and then kept it concealed until Valentine's Day, because the two of them hadn't been apart long enough for him to buy her anything while they had been here at the seashore of a small town that only had a few hundred residents.

"Anything for you, gorgeous and hey, it's Valentine's Day," Aaron said grinning at the love of his life. "The day for romance, though in my opinion every day I'm with you is romantic as far as I am concerned and it doesn't really matter what we're doing either."

"That's so sweet," Penelope said, as she kissed her mate tenderly.

"But true," Aaron said once the kiss had broken.

"Expect to be rewarded later for being so generous," Penelope told Aaron with a saucy wink. "As you just reminded me it is Valentine's day, a day for love and romance."

"I'm looking forward to it," Aaron said grinning at the thought.

"I've really enjoyed today, exploring the little town, buying a few souvenirs," Penelope said, as she cuddled into Aaron's arms. She and Aaron had walked the streets getting a feel for the town, meeting some of the people. It had been a wonderful day, as they held hands, shared their ice cream with each other and fed off a couple of tourists.

This was not the first time her husband had gotten her flowers or a gift of jewelry nor would it be the last Penelope knew. Still, it was very thoughtful of him, but then that was just her mate. "I'm going to have to ask Mrs. Richards if she has a vase I can put these in, as we wouldn't want them to start to wilt."

"I'll go ask her for you," Aaron offered.

"Thanks," Penelope said giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You always find some unique way to celebrate the day."

"How can I not? The second I met you is the second that my life truly began. I was kind of just drifting through my life before the two of us met, particularly in the last 200 years," Aaron told her sincerely. "I was over 600 years old and I felt like I had done everything that there was to do that was even remotely interesting, which isn't true of course, but that's just how I felt at the time. The second I met you however, is the second my life changed for the better. Now that I have met you every day is an adventure and I can't help but show you how life feel and not just on special occasions."

"That's been obvious ever since we completed the bond," Penelope laughed delightedly, as she brought the roses to her nose and smelled them which were much stronger to a vampire's nose. "Really, even before that, but I didn't want to admit it back then, because I didn't understand how my feelings had developed so quickly. I suppose I should've just accepted it, because my father certainly fell in love with my mother from the moment he first laid eyes on her, which meant I also likely had that ability."

"I understood that you were changed against your will, as I never had a chance to actually court you like your father did your mother," Aaron told his mate gently holding her form in his arms. He could now show her the affection he felt for her now that they were alone in their room again.

The two of them had had a wonderful day, exploring the town, buying things at several of the shops and just walking hand in hand. They had even bought ice cream at one point and also fed on two different tourists one for him and one for her, before releasing their targets alive, unaware that they had just been meals for vampires.

Now full they knew there was no way they could eat dinner, so told Mrs. Richards that the two of them, were not hungry and so dinner would proceed without them.

Mrs. Richards had understood that they had likely overindulged in town, so had told them she would make sure that they were not disturbed.

Aaron exited the room to go find Mrs. Richards to see if she had a vase that his wife could put her roses in.

"Can I help you?" The younger Miss Richards asked coquettishly.

"I just need a vase for the roses I bought my wife," Aaron said emphasizing the last two words. "We wouldn't want them to wilt after all."

The young woman got the message, because although the sentence was very politely worded Aaron Hotchner had just made it clear that he wasn't interested in anybody except his wife. It was very rare when a man didn't respond to her flirting, whether or not they were married, but apparently this Aaron Hotchner was genuinely in love with his wife. She could keep trying she knew, but it would be like flirting with a brick wall, as he'd never responded at all to her unsubtle hints.

She knew she had better give up before she was reported to her mother and she knew she'd be in deep trouble if that happened and it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that either Mrs. and Mrs. Hotchner would do so if they were annoyed enough.

Luckily, she knew when to give up and this was one of those times.

"I'll get it for you," The young woman said.

"Thank you," Aaron said politely not moving from where he was leaning casually against the front desk, as the young woman came out from behind it and headed to where the vases for flowers were stored.

"Here you go," Miss Richards said, handing Aaron a vase a few minutes later.

"Thank you," Aaron told her. "I should get back upstairs and give this to my wife. Sorry for disturbing you ma'am."

"It was no problem," Miss Richard said, as she watched the handsome man walk away, sighing a little in regret once he was out of sight.

"Well, that didn't take long," Penelope said cheerfully once Aaron had reentered their room with the vase in hand.

"No it really didn't," Aaron said smiling, already deciding not to mention that it had been the younger Miss Richards that had helped him, as he didn't need his mate annoyed at her very unsubtle hints. It wasn't that Penelope distrusted him because she didn't, just that most ladies didn't come on to him so strongly, as they had better manners, but young people nowadays often didn't go by what they had been taught and just threw themselves at of man or at least flirted with him openly, even ones who were married. He was loathe to report her to her mother, but he would do so if she continued flirting with him, but hopefully he had convinced her to give up. However, he would see.

One of the reasons he didn't want to report was he was well aware that vampires were made to be very attractive to humans, as it made it easy to attract them so they could feed off them. Miss Richards was still young and so her hormones were still likely in overdrive, as she couldn't be more than 20 to 23. She would outgrow it if she didn't get married before she did, because technically, she was an old maid now.

"So why don't you put those flower in the vase after you fill it with water and then I'm going to take you to bed, as it is Valentine's Day after all," Aaron said smiling at his mate with love in his eyes.

"Yes, it is Valentine's Day after all and it is a day for lovers," Penelope said smiling in return.

Penelope went into the bathroom and filled up the vase with water, then putting the roses in it artfully arranged, before coming back into the bedroom and setting them on the mantle of the fireplace.

"Now about that promise you just made me," Penelope said, as she slowly stripped out of her clothes, with her mate watching the entire time, with lust in his expression and his dark brown eyes, desire in every line of his body.

Aaron of course, had already gotten fully undressed and turned down the bed that had had the sheets changed while they had been in town. He had done all this while Penelope had been in the bathroom, even though she had only been gone for less than a minute.

"It is a promise I fully intended to fulfill, gorgeous," Aaron told her, picking Penelope up and walking the short distance to the bed.

"I expect nothing less," Penelope giggled, as she kissed Aaron on the chin, causing Aaron to growl lustfully.

Aaron laid his mate gently on the king sized bed and was on top of her second later.

Penelope for her part welcomed the weight of her mate, as Aaron began to make love to her slowly, which was how they spent the rest of the day and most of the night, since vampires couldn't get tired or need to use the facilities, well other than to shower.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~