"So I'm reincarnated," Lynnette asked her date.
She and Dave sat in a restaurant in a private room. Dave had called about 10 o'clock the next morning and told her he was taking her someplace really fancy so to dress up for it. Lynnette hadn't brought any dress up clothes and so had to take a quick shopping trip. Luckily, she had plenty of money as she was a musician and was doing very well for herself. She played the guitar at clubs. She was becoming quite popular and would likely be discovered by a music agent at some point. Lynnette hadn't decided if she even wanted to become a music sensation or she was happy with her life the way it was.
Spencer was the one that had negotiated with each club owner to be sure she got a decent amount of money and to make sure she wasn't cheated. Spencer had warned the bosses of those clubs that their father was a well known lawyer and he wouldn't like to see his daughter cheated.
The fact that their father wouldn't care what happened to his children was one piece of information that neither of them had revealed. Most of the time letting some guy know you had a lawyer on tap, one that was also close family, was enough of a threat to make sure they treated you fairly. The fact that Spencer did know several lawyers from his father's firm, also made his threat much more real.
"Yes, you are," Dave said honestly. "I'm glad to see you accepted that, as I was afraid you wouldn't, as reincarnation is not exactly very scientific."
"I don't know what else it could possibly be," Lynnette said shaking her head. "And no, it's not very scientific, but I also realize that not everything can be explained through science. I'm not as scientifically minded as my brother is, but I think he became that way originally because of our father. I think he started hiding his emotions behind a mask, one that became all too real over time."
"Spencer has told me and Michelle some about that. I think he revealed far more than he really wanted too," Dave said.
"I wasn't around when that happened. In fact, I've never met William Reid. He doesn't even know I exist nor do I plan on telling him."
"You've never met your father?" Dave said blinking surprise.
"No, I was something of a surprise child," Lynnette explained. "My mother, Diana, didn't realize she was pregnant when her husband left. As you can see, she decided to go through the pregnancy and I was born seven months later."
"So I take it your mother didn't inform her ex-husband?" Dave asked rhetorically.
"No, because why should she really? He abandoned us. He never visited, he never took my siblings places and they haven't seen him in a very long time, not ever since he left. She might've had a moral obligation but not a legal one to inform him about the pregnancy. I, for one, am glad she didn't. I'm very happy with the members of my family I do have. With me being the baby I was doted on and spoiled rotten."
"Well, I'm glad you had a happy childhood at least," Dave said.
"Yeah, I did," Lynnette said with a grin. "I got away with a lot just because I was the youngest."
"So what kind of career do you have," Dave asked.
"I'm a musician," Lynnette explained. "I play at high end clubs. I'm becoming quite popular."
"Well, you must be really talented," Dave said impressed, "I'd love to hear you play sometime."
"Sure," Lynnette said blushing at Dave's admiration. "We can do that sometime soon. My guitar goes everywhere I do. It's my baby and I take good care of it. So I know there is something else that I can't remember right now," Lynnette told Dave finally watching his expressions.
"There is," Dave admitted. "How much strangeness are you prepared to accept?"
"Basically anything, since I never thought reincarnation was real before my brother came up with it as an explanation, even if I could tell he didn't believe his own words and then, I met you just a few weeks later. I wasn't entirely convinced on the idea of reincarnation until you invited me and Spencer over for dinner and I recognized you from my dreams. I think I'll know if you're lying."
"Probably," Dave said looking comfortable where he sat not at all nervous.
"So?" Lynnette asked.
Dave turned to face her from where he was sitting beside her and begin to explain. Lynnette watched his face closely during the entire thing and saw Dave expression change from happiness at discovering her, his mate, his joy at spending time with her. How her very presence completed him in ways he had never expected, his rage and sadness at her murder and finally, his agony that he hadn't known in time to prevent it or at least get her out of there. Finally, Dave finished with the explanation by saying, "If there's one thing we're vulnerable to it's fire. We can of course, be killed in other ways, but that ones the easiest and simplest really."
If he was making it all up he was an excellent actor Lynnette thought, because she could nearly feel every emotion he'd felt during that time. Somehow, however, she knew that he wasn't lying, but telling the truth about everything. When Dave had told her name was Lettice, it had felt right, familiar. It had seemed to be hers, even though she never heard such a baby name before. It simply seemed to fit her like a second skin. She had even known how it was spelled, even though she had never seen it or heard it before.
"I believe you," Lynnette said. "I could practically feel the emotions you felt at that time. However, I would like a demonstration, just for my peace of mind."
"Of course," Dave agreed easily making Lynnette relax. "I was expecting have to prove it. That you haven't run screaming from me is a great relief to me."
"I would never do that to you," Lynnette promised Dave. "I might not remember a lot, but I know you played a prominent role in my life for those few weeks."
"Yeah, we saw each other for at least a few minutes every day," Dave said. "We had gotten quite close over the last month or so when it happened. I was devastated that I wasn't able to prevent it."
"I doubt very much it was your fault," Lynnette said. "It was those three men I told you about."
"You don't remember their names?" Dave asked and Lynnette shook her head.
"I'm afraid not," Lynnette said. "I know my other self knew them, if only slightly. I can't tell you anymore than that I'm afraid. Do you think I'll ever start to remember?" Lynnette asked.
"It's possible," Dave said. "I don't really know if you will or not. I hope you do, because then you'll remember our previous, brief relationship."
"Well, if I don't we can just start again," Lynnette said. "I know the two of us are supposed to be together but I'm hardly immortal."
"But you can become one," Dave told her.
"How is that possible?" Lynnette asked looking at Dave her expression unreadable.
"It's done by me giving you some blood," Dave explained, "Or through me sharing my semen with you."
Lynnette absorbed the explanation and nodded as it made sense. That was two ways to exchange a lot of DNA and it stood to reason that Dave's DNA could be absorbed into her body, probably over time."
"So Michelle, is she biologically yours?" Lynnette asked.
"No, just as James and Tristan aren't," Dave said calmly. "All three of them are adopted, but I can't love them them anymore than if they were my own."
"So are they...?" Lynnette asked.
"Yes, they are immortal. Michelle was born that way, when I found her in her mother's burning cottage. I didn't know it at the time though because the mother begged me to take her daughter out of there, too keep her safe. I didn't know until later that her father was immortal, he had to be or there was no way Michelle's scrapes and bruises when she was young would've healed within minutes. I adopted James and Tristan later and offered them immortality when they were old enough. They knew all about me by that time.
"So Michelle is the oldest," Lynnette said.
"Technically, even if I know she doesn't look it but then neither do I," Dave shrugged.
"So whose the next oldest?" Lynnette asked.
"James, at least technically," Dave said.
"Technically?" Lynnette questioned.
"It's just that James looks older than Michelle, because he was turned immortal at 35, while Michelle will always look 30. It's just easier to put James first as the oldest, because he does look at least a few years older then Michelle and Tristan. It prevents people from asking questions," Dave explained, even as he put his hand on top of Lynnette's that was laying flat on the table.
Lynnette blushed at Dave's gentle touch.
"So you mentioned you were going to tell my brother about immortality and he and your daughter are dating?"
Lynnette's sentence was a question.
"Yes, the two of them are mates and Michelle knew it immediately," Dave said, with an amused glint in his dark eyes. Dave knew exactly what Lynnette was asking. "She's been putting off telling Spencer, because of the way he's likely to react."
"Spencer probably isn't going to react well," Lynnette said. "Then again, he surprised me when he asked me about what we talked about that night before we left. He said he might have if he didn't know you were a good person. Of course, he also said that I was stubborn enough to do exactly what I wanted anyway."
"You sounded exactly like Letty right then," Dave said with a chuckle. "She was one of the most stubborn people I had ever met back then."
"Well, if I am her reincarnation, that makes sense, don't you think?" Lynnette asked with a grin.
"Yes, I suppose it does," Dave chuckled seeing the logic. He was enjoying himself immensely. That she hadn't told him to get lost was very good in his book. Of course, the dreams she had been having for the last few months, helped.
The two of them talked getting to know each other better and Lynnette had to admit that so far David Rossi was perfect for her. He was kind, courteous, compassionate and affectionate. He obviously gave to what he felt were worthy causes, which showed he cared about others that had far less then he and his family did. He was definitely not that kind of man. The fact, he was older didn't bother her a bit and wouldn't have even if he was completely mortal. Some people might be bothered by the age gap, but she certainly wasn't.
"Thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent to my brother's apartment," Lynnette said finally during a pause in the conversation. "I think Spencer was shocked when they arrived, though why he was is beyond me. After all, he should've expected you to send me flowers or at least some gift before our first date."
"Not necessarily," Dave said quietly. "Not every boyfriend or even husband sends his women flowers or any other gift and of course, the reverse is also true. I don't believe that your brother has ever been special enough to anyone to have flowers or anything else sent to him. Probably not even a candy gram. By the way, you're quite welcome. You've already changed my life so much already and we've barely known each other about 24 hours."
This was true for her as well so Lynnette simply smiled in agreement.
~~~Spencer and Michelle~~~
"So how was your date," Spencer asked his sister as soon as she entered the apartment.
"It went great," Lynnette said grinning goofily. "We had a great time."
"I don't need any details," Spencer said hastily.
"It was only dinner, Spence," Lynnette said, even as she watched her brother blush. "It was very nice and romantic, but all we did was talk. I mean it was only a first date after all."
"So when are you going to have another?"
"Tomorrow," Lynnette said.
"Well, Dave sure moves fast," Spencer said amused.
"He has no idea how long I'm going to be in town for one thing," Lynnette said.
"You didn't tell him that you were taking time away from your music career?" Spencer asked with a smile.
"I'll tell him so he won't worry about me just leaving. He'll understand that I couldn't keep playing when I was so tired all the time because of the nightmares. So I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical," Lynnette shrugged.
"So have your nightmares improved any?" Spencer asked. "You haven't seemed as tired lately."
"They've improved a lot," Lynnette said. "Who knows maybe concentrating on my new relationship will make them go away completely."
"That would be nice," Spencer said.
"So when are you going to propose to Michelle?" Lynnette asked her brother.
"What? We've only been dating a few months," Spencer said startled at the question.
Lynnette rolled her eyes at her brothers obtuseness. "Really, Spence! It's clear you two adore each other. Why don't you just admit you love her and propose before she thinks that you don't love her the way she does you. A woman has feelings you know and you are going to hurt them if you aren't careful."
"I don't think we're ready for that step," Spencer said and Lynnette glared at him.
"Stop being deliberately dense," Lynnette scolded him. "You are ready to make a lifetime commitment, but the voice of our father in your head, probably telling you you aren't worthy of her. I have no doubt that is what is holding you back. I, for one, am glad I never met the bastard. I don't think he cared about any of his children. He certainly didn't care that you would likely remember all his untrue comments because of your eidetic memory."
"But courtship take longer than just a few months, Lynnette," Spencer said being logical. "I've done my research."
"The length of the relationship doesn't really matter. Some people get married after they've only been dating a few months," Lynnette told him. "You can't find everything in a book brother mine and the length of a relationship is one of those things."
"I'm afraid," Spencer finally admitted his voice soft.
"Afraid of her turning you down," Lynnette inquired and Spencer nodded.
Lynnette cursed under her breath and Spencer blushed at some of his sister's words for their father.
"That is biologically impossible you know," Spencer told his sister when she fell silent
Lynnette didn't even blush, but simply said, "Not if I rip the limb off and shove it where the sun don't shine," Was Lynnette's tart reply.
"Well, as much as you might like to do that let's avoid legal trouble, shall we?" Spencer suggested with just a hint of a smile.
"If you insist," Lynnette said still rather upset. "Are you going to let that bastard control your life? Or are you going to take charge? You love Mellie and she loves you, she's not going to turn you down. The two of you are totally besotted with each other. Now do you need help choosing a ring?"
"You just want to make sure I actually go and pick something out," Spencer told his sister in an accusing tone.
"Hey, if it wasn't really what you wanted then you know I would never force you. I told you that before, but you've got to stop doubting yourself on your feelings for Mellie. I've been around you two enough to know that you are totally in love with each other."
"Alright, fine, you are correct," Spencer finally admitted. "I should stop listening to my inner voice that tells me I'm not worthy of being loved. That I'm just an oddball."
"Yes, you should. Besides, if you have more confidence in yourself and do what you want instead of what your inner voice telling it will probably go away. That voice is your doubts and fears, Spencer and you should never listen to it if it's telling you something negative."
"We'll go tomorrow," Spencer promised. "Right now, it's late."
"Yeah, I suppose I better go get some sleep, so I'm ready for my lunch date with Dave," Lynnette said with a wide smile, her dark eyes all dreamy.
Lynnette sashayed out of the room, Spencer watching her go smiling. Lynnette was well on her way to getting rid of whatever kind of dreams she'd been having and returning to her normal self and that pleased Spencer immensely. Perhaps, this relationship with his boss was good for her.
~~~Spencer and Michelle~~~
"It's past time we told Spencer about you know what," Michelle suggested to Dave and Lynnette, who was sitting on Dave's lap. Personally, Michelle thought the pair were cute and adorable. Dave was sitting with his arms around Lynnette slender form and as for Lynnette she was curled up in Dave's lap looking perfectly comfortable and like a contented cat.
The joy simply radiated off her dad and that made Michelle very happy to see. Of course, the fact that Lynnette looked as contented as a kitten with a bowl of milk and another of cream made her happy as well.
"I know we discussed about making sure he can't get out of this house until he accepts it," Dave said.
"You actually discussed that option?" Lynnette snorted from where she was curled up in Dave's lap as much as she could be anyway because she was so tall.
"We were just discussing ways to get your brother to accept the fact that something like immortality exist," Dave explained quietly and Lynnette nodded. "You out of all of us know him best, but I'm sure you realize that he's very logical. Even a demonstration might not convince him."
"That's a very good point," Lynnette said with a thoughtful expression. "I accepted it much easier, but only because of those dreams. I've never mentioned the fact that you two were immortal to my brother, because I figured he'd never accept it and possibly think that you were a bad influence on me. I didn't want to strain our relationship if he demanded I quit seeing you. I figured that it'd be easier if we all explained together. I also didn't want him to dump you Michelle, just because he can't accept something like immortality."
"He could try, but it would never work," Michelle snorted.
"Yes, but both of you would have strained your relationship to the breaking point by the time all was said and done and only because Spencer uses his brain instead of his emotions to make any decisions. I know he knows that's a bad idea, but he can't seem to help himself."
"Do you know why?" Michelle asked. "It just that I'm so frustrated."
"I don't blame you, as my brother can be frustrating at times," Lynnette said sympathetically. "I wasn't a witness to when it started, because I was born after father left, but I've heard the stories from Roxie mostly, as she's the oldest after Spencer. Even though she's three years younger Roxie witnessed how William Reid treated Spencer in particular. She believes that he wanted his oldest son to at least be very much like him if not an exact carbon copy. Whether she is right or not I have no clue, but in a way, it does make sense. Roxie said she was four or so when Spencer started hiding his emotions, which meant he was seven. Apparently, he tried to pleased his father for the longest time, but finally gave up after being rejected and scolded one too many times for things he could not control. Roxie doesn't remember when Spencer gave up trying to make his dad happy."
"She was probably too young," Dave suggested quietly. "There is a three year age difference and while that isn't much once you reach adulthood, as a kid it's a lot."
"Yeah, that's a point, as I'm about six years younger than Spencer and three years younger than Roxie."
"And Rocco?" Michelle asked.
"Rocky and I are the closest in age, because as you know I was an accident, as we are less then two years apart. They were only planning on having three," Lynnette said. "And like me he doesn't remember father at all because he was way too young when he abandoned us.
"I'm certainly glad you were born," Dave murmured softly in her ear and then kissed her cheek, as Lynnette grinned at him.
"I bet you are," Lynnette teased him, even as the two of them kissed, on the lips this time.
Michelle said nothing, but she nearly had tears in her eyes at the sweetness between her father and her soon-to-be new mother-in-law. Her father wasn't one to mess around when he really wanted something and she was sure that the wedding would probably be in just three or four months if he had his way.
"So back to my stubborn brother," Lynnette said finally.
The three of them discussed options for awhile, but finally decided to take Lynnette's suggestion, which was to tell Spencer in this house and do a demonstration. Lynnette was the first to admit that she wasn't entirely sure if that would be enough.
"From what I can tell he's changed a lot and that's mostly thanks to you I believe Mellie," Lynnette said thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, Spence, is one of those people that's hard to read at the best of times. I'd like to believe that he'll accept our explanation without too much bother, but on the other hand, he's had over 35 years to transform into the man he is today. While mom tried her best to encourage all her children, Spencer didn't really have a strong male influence when he was younger. We all know that he had a mostly negative example in the form of the man Spencer and I are unfortunate enough to share DNA with. We have to consider due to that fact that he turned out pretty well, mostly thanks to mom."
"I think he would have been mostly the same even without his father's negative influence," Michelle said.
"You're probably right, except someone that didn't hide behind a façade to conceal his emotions. At the very least, I think he would likely be more open-minded, though I can't see him wearing his heart on his sleeve like he tells me I do, as that just isn't in his nature. I prefer to believe that he wouldn't be hiding from the world and would be happier as a result. Of course, I was born after William Reid had left the family and as far as any of us know he doesn't even know I exist, as mom wasn't showing when he left for the last time.
"So where is Spencer right now?" Michelle asked Lynnette.
"I really don't know," Lynnette said honestly. "If he's not in his apartment then I don't know where he could be. I would guess that maybe he's in a bookstore somewhere, as you know how much he likes to read. He could spend hours or even all day in one."
"I'll call him and tell him that I want to see him," Dave said finally, as he reluctantly let Lynnette slide off his lap
Lynnette kissed him tenderly before he went to make that call and Dave left with a rather goofy smile on his lips.
"You've made my father so happy," Michelle told Lynnette once Dave was out of earshot. "I've never seen him this happy or this full energy, so much so he practically vibrates with it."
"It goes both ways you know," Lynnette told Michelle quietly. "I don't have anything against marriage like Spencer seems to, but I figured I had plenty of time you know? So I was just concentrating on my music career and then of course, David Rossi practically fell into my lap."
Lynnette smiled softly, as she thought about her feelings for Dave. They had developed really quickly, but then, she knew they had known each other in the past, so she guessed that had something to do with it. "Now if we can just get Spencer to accept idea of immortality, everything will be perfect. However, I have a feeling he's going to kick up a fuss."
"You're probably right, though I hope not," Michelle said making a face. "He's got to be one of the most stubborn man I've ever known."
"Yeah, he is," Lynnette agreed with a laugh. "You have my brother pegged perfectly.
"Don't get me wrong I love him just like you love dad. I just wish that he wasn't so logical and scientific," Michelle said in an exasperated tone
"I know you love him," Lynnette said quietly. "But just because you do, doesn't mean that he can't be difficult. I'm sure that your father has his own faults other than the enormous age difference, but that won't stop me from loving him with everything that I am. Love isn't logical, it just is. The feeling of love defies any scientific explanation, because there is no such explanation for a feeling whether negative or positive. Feelings aren't solid, you can't touch them or smell them or hear them, but that doesn't mean they aren't real, just that they're nebulous," Lynnette said passionately.
Michelle stared at Lynnette in awe. She had never heard of emotions described like that, but Lynnette was also absolutely right.
"Of course, in our case, we have a bond with our mates but what I said is still true," said Lynnette.
"How could you be so wise so young?" Michelle finally said.
"I think it's because I'm a passionate person, I'm creative, as musicians must be if they want to be even a moderate success. You have to put your passion and your emotion into what you sing, but while they might enjoy the music, they won't feel the need to play it again and again, to sing along, to dance to it. Passion is what keeps people coming back for more. They can hear that passion, that emotion in your voice and it makes them want to respond," Lynnette explained. "Passion is music and music is passionate. The truly great artists know how to catch their audiences emotions and take them on an emotional ride, to make them exited, happy or joyous. Of course, the opposite of those positive emotions is to make them cry, or to feel sadness and anger, even fury."
"That makes sense," Michelle said after a few minutes of thinking about it. "You can only be truly good at something if you love what you're doing, if you're passionate about it."
"But thanks to me being such a passionate person I think I'm more open to things like immortality," Lynnette said. "Though of course, the dreams helped."
"Are you still having them?"
"Not the same ones," Lynnette admitted. "Most of these are more pleasant. I believe they're memories of my past life before I met Dave, which is probably why I'm not so tired anymore."
"Yeah, I had noticed that the dark bags under your eyes were pretty much gone," Michelle commented making Lynnette nod.
~~~Spencer and Michelle~~~