Change of Life (Romance, little explicit sex) 

As soon as he was back in the consensual reality, he teleported home.
Bronwyn, Laurie, Jacqui, and a small collection of Sisters were in the
kitchen.  From the way they were laughing and chatting, Joe guessed they
were making wedding plans.  He stepped in and greeted everyone, sitting
beside Bronwyn.  "Hun," she said, "much as I love you being around, all
we're doing now is dealing with all those tiny details that I know you
hate, so I won't be offended if you decide to go spend time with your mom
or the kids."

"Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you about in regards to the
wedding."

"Oh?"

"Have you chosen a place for the wedding yet?"

"Not yet.  We're still pricing halls."

"Then I should inform you that the other members of the Realm council I
serve on have extended a request for me to hold the marriage in realm."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"There are some people in the realm who I'd like to be there who can't come
here, but I want it to be your decision."

"I don't know.  Jacqui, you're the one whose seen the most of this realm.
I admit I'm curious, but do you think it's a place to hold a wedding?"

Jacqui said, "It's a fantastic place.  I think it'd be great!  And you may
even be able to get the Goddess herself to attend."

Bronwyn turned to Joe.  "Do you think that'd be possible?  Would the
Goddess really attend the wedding?"

Almost noncommittally, Joe said, "We can always extend an invitation.
She'll come if she wants."

Bronwyn looked at Joe.  After a few seconds, she asked, "Could you ladies
leave me alone with my husband to be?  I'd like to talk with him."  After
the girls agreed and left, Bronwyn turned to Joe and asked, "Okay, what's
wrong?"

"Wrong?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about.  Every time the
Goddess comes up, you quickly change the subject.  Now I ask about inviting
her, and you give me a look that makes me feel like I've invited a child
molester."  Joe almost said something, but bit it back.  "That!  That
reaction is what I'm talking about."

Joe said nothing for a few seconds.  "Bronwyn, things have... passed
between the Goddess and I.  Things that I am hard-pressed to forgive."

"The birth rites?  But you know that wasn't her."

"No, not the birth rites.  It's... deeper than that."

"What?  What is it?"  Joe remained silent.  "Please, Joe, don't you know
how much it tears me apart to know of the problems between you.  Even if I
can't solve them, at least let me know what they are."

Joe stayed tight-lipped for a few seconds more before saying, "Ask the
Goddess."  Bronwyn was about to protest, but Joe said, "Bronwyn, please.
There's no way I could explain what went on between us without making it
seem like I'm asking you to choose.  And that's the last thing I want.  I
know the Goddess is important to you and I wouldn't want to change you for
anything.  Please don't ask me to explain."

Bronwyn just nodded and held her lover.  After a bit, she pulled to arm's
reach from him and asked, "Wait for me?"

"To the end of time."

She kissed him and went to her private meditation chamber.  She carefully
prepared the crystals, herbs, and candles that would focus her will and
allow her to touch the Goddess on a more personal level.  It was a ritual
that was given only to the high priestess of the order, and only the acting
high priestess could use it.

She knelt down and began the song that would complete the ritual and allow
her to touch the Goddess.  She felt the world fall away and her soul set
free.  She traveled to the hall of the Goddess,feeling her perceptions
adjust to Her spiritual realm.

She walked into the ante-chamber and knelt in the center of the room.  She
had read some of the journals of the previous high priestesses and knew
that each had seen this room slightly differently.  To her, the room was
soft and comforting, while, at the same time, representing a strength that
she rarely saw anywhere in the mortal world.

She felt the presence of the Goddess envelop her.  "My child, what brings
you to me?"

"I have a question.  About Joe, the Akashic Master."

"About why he despises me so?"

"Yes.  Please, Great Lady, what passed between you?  What happened?"

There was a shimmering in the air and the Goddess manifested in Bronwyn's
presence.  The high priestess was shocked.  Only in the most serious
matters would the Goddess manifest to any high priestess.  Usually She only
gave comfort and advice through Her spiritual presence.  Bronwyn had no
idea this was that serious.  What had passed between the two she loved the
most?  What reason did Joe have to hate Her?

The Goddess, knowing her thoughts, said, "I see in your thoughts that you
believe that the Akashic Master has simply misinterpreted some action of
mine.  That, unfortunately, is not the case.  I wronged him, Bronwyn.  I
must admit that."

"You?  Wronged him?  How is that possible?"

"I am not infallible, my child.  I am the living embodiment of womanhood,
which is not only all that is good, but also all that is bad.  I have the
experience of billions of women to draw upon, both living and dead, which
gives me less chance of making mistakes than others, but I can still make
mistakes."

"Please, Lady, what happened?"

"He was only nineteen years old when he came to me the first time.  He
forced his way into this realm, demanding to know the reasons for why I had
inflicted the birth rites on the Sisterhood.  That was when I explained to
him the real origin of the birth rites.

"After I convinced him of the facts, I tried to convince him to reunite
with his mother.  I tried to convince him to allow me to forge a connection
between him and his mother.  But he refused, saying he wasn't ready.  He
tried to leave, but I felt he couldn't leave.  If he left I would have no
ability to do anything unless he returned to me.  So I attempted to force a
connection.  I felt that if the Akashic Master knew the pain his mother was
suffering from his departure, he might try to heal that.

"But I misjudged Julie's reaction.  At the time, she was not ready to
accept the existence of her son, much less his presence in her mind.  As
soon as the link was forged, Julie used her power to close it off.  I
couldn't reopen it without hurting her, so I was forced to let it go.
Instead of healing the breech between them, I only made it worse."

"But you were only trying to help."

"Bronwyn, that's not an excuse.  After I let him go, he turned on me.  He
assaulted me mentally, inflicting on me the pain I had inflicted on him.
He gave me the same feelings I had given him.  The same helplessness, the
same sense of violation."

"He attacked you?"

"I deserved it."  When Bronwyn tried to protest, the Goddess said,
"Bronwyn, the impressions he gave me were almost exactly the same as those
of a woman who had been raped."  Bronwyn was shocked.  "Yes, Bronwyn, in my
arrogance to make what I thought was right a reality, I raped his mind!
And, as much as he hates me for it, I will hate myself that much and more."

"But how do I resolve this fight between you?"

"My child, it is good that you want to try, but this is something I have to
make up to the Akashic Master myself.  But I can tell you that your being
there for him is a big help."

"It is?"

"Yes.  Let me show you something."  The Goddess waved her hand and the hall
changed.  It took on a cold, impersonal nature that had a terrifying
presence to it.  In the center of the room was a raised dais with a cold,
sterile throne atop it.

"What is this?" Bronwyn asked.

"This is how the Akashic Master saw this realm when he first arrived.
Rather intimidating isn't it?"

"This is how he sees you?"  Bronwyn felt despair.  Despite the Goddess's
confession, she still loved Her.  How could she hope to have a long term
relationship after seeing this peek into his soul?

"Oh, child, no.  This is how he saw me when he thought the birth rites were
my doing.  It was based on faulty assumptions."  She waved her hand again
and the room took on a softer aspect, but at the same time, parts seemed to
fade in and out of existence.  "This is how he saw me after we had a chance
to talk.  He wasn't quite sure what to think of me.  I'll skip what he
thought of me after I erred."  She waved her hand again, and the room took
on a savage, primal, and, yes, even beautiful aspect.  "This is how he saw
me after meeting Tarina."  She waved her hand again, and the room returned
to its cold vision.  "And this is what it returned to after she died."  The
Lady waved her hand and the room changed again.  It was still cold, but it
had a beautiful, loving imagery that had not been present in any version
except the one where he was married to Tarina.  "And this is what he saw
the last time he came to me to ask for the removal of the birth rites.
This is what you gave to him, Bronwyn.  You gave him love, not only for me,
but for his own feminine side.  Even Tarina could not give him that."

"I gave him this?  But... how does he feel now?"

"I don't know.  I can only show what he sees when he enters the room.  But
I do know that his closeness to me has increased since he and you moved in
together.  And really grew when Alia, your child, was born."

"Thank you, Goddess, for giving me a peek into Joe's soul."

"Now you need to return to him.  He fears that you have judged him harshly."

"Thank you, Lady."

As Bronwyn left the room, a hooded figure stepped from nowhere.  "Will she
be good to him?"

"She will be good to and for him," the Goddess replied, to which the hooded
figure just nodded.

Bronwyn quickly left the psychic realm and returned to her body.  She ran
downstairs to Joe.  When she entered the room, she felt the fear flowing
from her lover.  He turned to her, tears in his eyes.  "Well?  Do you hate
me?"

"No."  She came over and sat on his lap, straddling his legs.  "In fact, I
love you more than ever."  The two kissed.  Joe started to rub Bronwyn
lovingly when Alia started to cry.

The two stopped.  Pressing their foreheads together, they smiled.  Joe
said, "That kid has got to work on her sense of timing."  Joe teleported
them up to the nursery.  Bronwyn picked Alia up.  "Is she okay?" he asked.

"Sure.  Just hungry."

"Well that's not something I can help with."

Bronwyn smiled as she undid her blouse.  "Bet you could if you wanted to."

"If I had to, I suppose I could."

Lani, from her crib, said, "Pa-pa, I hungry."

Joe said, "Saved by the tummy.  I'll take her downstairs and feed her."

Bronwyn smiled as Joe took Lani from her crib.  Bronwyn blew him a kiss as
he took Lani downstairs.  Joe never shirked in his fatherly duties, and
Bronwyn loved him for it.

Domestic bliss was beautiful.

************

She felt like her guts were being wrenched into knots.  Then, as soon as it
was started it was over.  "You can open your eyes now," Joe told her.

Bronwyn opened one eye and then the other.  "That was horrible."

Joe smiled and tried to keep from laughing.  "I did warn you and ask you to
let me block your senses."

Bronwyn quickly checked the pouch she had Alia in.  Their youngest child
was snoozing contentedly, apparently unaffected by the gut wrenching
affects of the cross-dimensional travel.  Joe brought Lani around from her
place on his back.  Lani, too, had been unaffected, and, in fact, was
giggling happily.  "For some reason, children are unaffected by transition
effects."

Bronwyn finally got a look around.  She was in a nondescript room.  There
was a desk with a computer on one side, and an arch filled with an
oscillating light show within it.  Behind the desk, a man sat waiting.
"Not exactly what I expected," she said.

"What did you expect?"

"I'm not sure, but something a little less... normal."

Joe laughed.  "I know what you mean.  Not what you'd expect in a man-made
universe built by the magic of some of the most powerful wizards in
creation, is it?"  Bronwyn shook her head.

The archway shimmered and Jacqui and Laurie stepped through into the room.
Laurie staggered a bit, saying, "That was rougher than I remember it."

Jacqui explained, "The Akashic Master was shielding you last time, and did
a better job than I."

"Which brings up a point," Joe said, "remember that here my identity is a
secret, so refer to me by title only."

The doorway shimmered again and Tasha, Inya, Norma, and Julie stepped
through.  Julie staggered and almost fell into Joe's arms.  "THAT is not an
experience I relish repeating."

"I told you that you should wait for me to come back for you."

"The girls seemed so anxious, and I didn't want to disappoint."

"Mom, you indulge the girls far too much."

"So I'm a grandmother, so sue me."

Joe gave a short laugh.  "I'm going to head back and get Shawna and Ariel."
He handed Lani to Julie.  "Jacqui, why don't you show everybody the
garden?"  Joe stepped back through the gate.

Once he was gone, Julie looked around for the girls only to find them
missing.  "Where are the girls?"

Jacqui explained, "The girls spent part of their childhood here.  They've
probably run off to visit with friends.  They'll be fine, Julie."

"Uhm, okay."

Jacqui escorted the women through the halls and outside.  She brought them
to the lush park referred to amongst the magi of the realm as "The Garden".
After walking around in the garden for a while, Julie took a leaf of a
plant in hand and asked, "Is this what I think it is?"

Bronwyn looked at the leaf and said, "I think so."

Jacqui asked, "What is it?"  She and Laurie walked over and looked at the
leaf.  "Looks just like any other leaf."

Bronwyn asked, "Are you kidding?  Don't you know what this is?"  Both
Jacqui and Laurie shook their heads.  "Let me guess, neither of you ever
went through a phase where you were utterly fascinated with dinosaurs and
things prehistoric?"

"No."

"Ladies, these plants are extinct on Earth.  Flora like this hasn't even
been seen for millions of years."

>From behind them, they heard a voice saying, "Some of the plants in the
Garden haven't been seen for billions of years."  The ladies turned and saw
the Verbena Mistress walk up.  "Ladies."

Lara stepped up and said, "De-evolution of plant and animal life is a basic
rote, a manipulation of the Magic, of the Verbena.  Jacqui has the ability
to do the same thing if she were so inclined."

Bronwyn looked around, noticing that many of the plants were prehistoric
and could only be seen in history books.  "Amazing.  Do you have... real
dinosaurs, too?"

Lara smiled.  "In the menagerie.  Unfortunately it's off limits to all but
Masters.  In order to maintain as natural an ecosystem as possible, the
dinosaurs are allowed to run free.  It's not a safe place to visit.  But
there are places where you could be allowed to view the dinosaurs, as well
as almost any other era in our planet's existence."

"Wow."

Joe, with Shawna and Ariel, stepped up.  "Glad you like it."

Bronwyn slipped her arm around his waist and kissed him.  "This is...
Words cannot describe it.  Do you think we could see the dinosaurs soon?"

"Sure, we can go to the observation platform on the way to meet an old friend."

"Great."

Julie asked, "Joe, can I come along?  I'd love to meet any friend of yours."

"Sure.  I was planning on inviting you along anyways, mom."

Lara asked, "Going to introduce them to Jarred?"  Joe nodded.  "I'd love to
see that, but I've got an appointment in a little while.  See you later,
Akashic."

After Lara left, Bronwyn asked, "What did she mean by that?  'I'd love to
see that.'"

"Jarred is a little unusual.  Come on."  He turned to Shawna, Ariel, Laurie
and Jacqui.  "You want to come along?"

Jacqui said, "I've got some other things I want to show mom."

"Shawna, Ariel?"

Shawna declined, but Ariel quickly accepted.  "Okay.  Catch the rest of you
on the flip side."

Joe escorted the three women to a spot in the park.  "Now what?" Bronwyn asked.

"I've never had cause to ask this, but are any of you afraid of heights?"
The ladies shook their heads in the negative.  "Good.  Secure the babies."
He waited until Bronwyn and Julie had placed the babies into pouches on
their backs to carry them, then held out his hands to them.  "Now link
hands and enjoy the ride."

Julie and Bronwyn each took a hand and Ariel took her mom's hand and
suddenly they lifted off the ground.  Once they got over the initial shock,
the experience of flying was exhilarating.  They quickly left the ground
far behind and flew to a miles wide, floating, rock cylinder.  He flew them
above it to another platform about 30 yards across.  Spaced at equal points
around the platform were items that looked for all the world like simple
telescopes.  Joe landed them on the platform.  "Use the telescopes to look
into the bowl.  You'll find a small lever on the side.  Move it up or down
to move the sight closer or farther to what's in the bowl."

Each woman looked through a telescope into the "Dinosaur Menagerie", the
contained ecosystem that held the dinosaurs of the Jurassic period.  Each
woman quickly moved around, looking through multiple telescopes.  After a
while, Bronwyn came over to Joe and wrapped her arms around him.  "You make
me feel like a little girl."

Joe kissed her, then said to everyone, "Not to be a party pooper, but my
friend is waiting.  You can always come back later."

There was a little bit of disappointment, but the women returned to Joe.
They linked hands and returned to the ground below, flying to a mountain
range in the distance.  Joe landed on a ledge next to a cave.  "Okay,
before we go in, I want you to know that no matter what it looks like, I'm
in no danger in here.  There is no need to defend me.  Okay?"

All of the women gave him a strange look but gave their agreement.  When
they went inside, Joe moved the ladies to one side of the cave, then put
his fingers into his mouth and gave a loud three-toned whistle.  Almost
immediately the ground started shaking like they were caught in an
earthquake.  Then, before any of the women could react, a giant oriental
dragon charged into the opening, head butted Joe and threw him into the
air.  Despite his previous warning, all the women marshaled their magic
energy, preparing to defend Joe against the dragon.  But before they could
launch their attack, they felt their power squelched in the building.

Joe flew into the air, came down, and landed astride the dragon's nose.
Bronwyn wondered what to do when the dragon growled, "My friend, it has
been far too long since your last visit!"

Joe laughed.  "Sorry, but I've been a little busy."

"I have heard.  On top of your normal duties, you manage to repair the
breech between the Brotherhood and Sisterhood.  I am impressed."

"Thank you.  Speaking of which, there are some ladies I'd like you to
meet."  The dragon lowered his head and Joe slid to the ground.  Joe waved
the ladies over.  Bronwyn was the first to approach.  "Jarred, this is
Bronwyn Llewellyn, soon to be Bronwyn Llewellyn-Braumann."

"A mate?  Congratulations."  Jarred nuzzled Bronwyn a bit, taking a deep
breath.  Bronwyn blushed crimson when he said, "I can definitely smell your
scent upon her."

Joe grinned.  "And that's our child on her back."

"Congratulations."

Joe then waved the other two over.  He put his hands on Ariel's shoulders.
"This is Bronwyn's daughter, Ariel."

"An older sister for the girls?  So have you found them to be as much of a
handful as I do?"

>From behind the dragon, they heard, "Oh, we're not that bad."  The women
looked around Jarred's body and saw Tasha, Inya, and Norma come from the
rear of the cave.

Jarred snorted.  "You're not the babysitter who had to chase three
rambunctious girls around this cave."  Julie giggled, thinking of Jarred
having to chase the girls like she had over the past year.  "And who is our
last pretty woman?"

Joe walked over and put his hands on Julie's shoulders.  "Jarred, this is
my mother, Julie."

"The estranged mother?  Good to see you have reconciled.  And I am glad to
meet the woman who brought this man to the world."

Julie curtsied.  "Good to meet you, too."

Joe said, "And the child on her back is another daughter of Bronwyn's.  And
soon to be mine officially."

"Your life seems much better than the last time we talked."

"It is."

"Come.  All of you.  We can talk more comfortably in the spring in back."

Jarred turned and went back to the back of the cave.  As the twins and
Norma followed him, Julie asked, "How did the girls get here?"

"Space gate.  Instant teleportation between the base and here for those who
have Jarred's permission."

"Why didn't we use it?"

"Because you wanted to see the dinos.  The best place to do that is from
the lookout, and there's no space gate to there.  We don't want someone who
can't fly going up there and falling off."

Ariel came over.  "Shawna is going to be pissed she missed this."

Joe asked, "Why's that?"

Bronwyn explained, "Shawna has always had a thing for dragons.  Stories,
knickknacks, art.  She collects anything to do with dragons.  Now she's
missing out on a chance to meet a live dragon."
"She can meet him at the wedding.  I plan on asking him to be my best man."

"This'll be a wedding for the history books."

"Too bad it'll be so fantastic that no one who doesn't attend will ever
believe you."  Bronwyn had to laughingly agree.

They all went in back to a chamber larger than a football stadium,
spectator seating included.  Off to one side was a huge lake, and from the
feeling of the breeze coming from it, they could tell that the lake was
heated.  Joe transformed all their clothes to bathing suits, and they spent
some time splashing around and getting to know one another.  At one point
Bronwyn and Julie were alone with Jarred as everyone else was swimming in
the lake.  Bronwyn asked, "Jarred, did you ever meet Tarina?"  Julie,
always desirous of learning more of the lost years of her son's life,
perked up and listened in.

"Joe's first wife?  No.  He and the masters here were not on good terms
during the years when they were married, and he was either unwilling or
unable to come here to visit.  It's too bad, from what I hear, she was a
woman I'd've liked."

"What've you heard?"

"That she was a warrior spirit, very straightforward and direct."

"Jarred?" Julie asked

"Yes?"

"Could you give me some advice about Joe?"

"If I can."

"Do you know... what I did to Joe?"

"You transformed him to Joanie, but tried to keep him from changing back."

Julie looked down, ashamed at the reminder of what she had done.  "Yes,
well, that's the problem.  I... I really did think I was doing the right
thing at the time."

"And now?"

"I realize I was pushing my beliefs on my son.  But that leads to my
current problem.  Now I'm so afraid that what I'm doing is just pushing my
own beliefs on him again that I feel like I'm walking on eggshells.  I'm
afraid to even ask him to include me in on any portion of his life for fear
of imposing.  I love my son, but I'm so afraid of hurting him again."

"And you're wondering what I could suggest?"

"Yes."

Jarred thought about it.  "The only thing I could suggest is to discuss it
with him.  As long as I have known him, Joe has always been a
straightforward man.  I believe he would rather you disagree with him and
be open about it then hide what you feel about a situation."

"I don't know."

>From the direction of the lake, Joe said, "He's right, mom."  Joe stepped
up and took his mother's hands.  "I don't want you to be afraid of me, mom.
I guess, in a way, it's good you're worried about this, because it shows
you're serious about reconciliation.  But you're also my mom and my
children's grandmother.  You have a right to voice any opinions and make
any comments you want to, just remember that the only people I will
tolerate telling me no once I've made a decision about me or my children's
lives is the children themselves or Bronwyn."

"So what if I were to tell you that I think Tasha would look great in
dresses, and that she should wear them more often?"

"I'd say you were right.  She does look great in dresses.  She just hates
wearing them.  On top of which, she usually destroys them with her rather
physical lifestyle.  But she has agreed to wear a dress for the wedding."

"Thank you, Joe."

"So are you going to try to get her into dresses more often?"

"No, I like her like she is.  I just wanted to know how you'd react.  And
if I ever push too hard, just tell me and I'll back off."

"And if you think I'm doing something wrong, please tell me.  I love you, mom."

Julie hugged her son.  "I love you, too, Joe."

************

Bronwyn was in her white dress, waiting for the ceremony to start.  She
felt a little guilty wearing white (she had lost her virginity almost three
decades ago) but everyone told her she looked great.  Shawna, her maid of
honor, was helping her get ready.  At a lull in the conversation, Shawna
asked, "Mom, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course I want to do this.  I love Joe."

"But is that going to be enough?"

"Okay, Shawna, what's wrong?  I know you and Joe have never gotten along,
but I thought you were happy for me for having found him."

"I am.  And I know he's a great man, and will be great for you.  It's just..."

"What?"

"You remember Chris?"

"The cop you dated?"  Shawna nodded.  "What about him?"

"Mom, I loved him.  Brian is his."

"So are you jealous because you had to break up with him so he wouldn't
find out about the Sisterhood?"

Shawna was silent for a bit before saying, "Mom, I didn't break up with him
because of the Sisterhood.  In fact, I almost told him about us."

"So why?"

"After we moved in together... things started going downhill.  Every time
he was late coming home, every time he was called in for an emergency, I
began to worry about him.  I worried that he wasn't going to come back.
And if the phone ever rang at those times, I was afraid it was going to be
another officer saying, 'Miss Llewellyn, I'm sorry to say that Chris has
been shot.'  It just got to be too much."

"And you're worried that I'll be going through the same thing with Joe?"

Shawna nodded.  "Mom, I've been talking to some of the Brotherhood.  They
have been fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity during the schism.
And Joe is fighting the worst amongst these."

"I know."

"But I'm not sure you do."

"Shawna, you weren't there when he fought the doctor who was corrupting the
Brotherhood.  I saw what he fights up close and personal.  And Joe
confessed that he was only high side of average.  And, yes, every time he
goes out to fight these monsters I wonder if he'll never be back.  And,
yes, it tears me up inside.  But it tears me up more to think of life
without him."

"But-"

"Shawna.  I understand how you feel and that you only want to protect me.
But after I knew who he was the Goddess reminded me of the time when he was
Joanie.

"I only met him a couple times before he was transformed, but even then
there was something about him.  I just... felt a sympathetic vibe with him.
And after he was transformed, I couldn't have been happier.  I couldn't
wait to make Joanie an official member of the Sisterhood.  When Julie told
me that Joanie was pregnant...  I almost cried.  After he gave birth, I
started making plans for the official induction, but then Julie told me he
had decided to transform back and leave her.  I cried that day, Shawna.

"I told myself it was because we had lost so powerful a Sister, but now I
realize it was because I had lost her.  I won't lose him if I can prevent
it.  And if some day I do lose him to the monsters he fights, at least I'll
have had all the time I can possibly squeeze out of the universe with him."

Shawna just stared at her mother for a bit before embracing her.  "And I
hope you have as long as you want together."

After they finished, Bronwyn said, "So I assume you haven't met Joe's best
man yet?"

"No, but why assume that?"

Bronwyn grinned.  "Oh, no reason."  They heard the wedding music start and
Bronwyn said, "Damn!  We lost track of time!  Quick, get my veil!"

Shawna grabbed the veil and quickly pinned it to her mother's head.  She
lifted the hem of her dress and ran outside.  She expected some man to be
waiting for her, but saw no one.  She looked around, then heard from above
her, "Up here."

She looked over at what she thought was some kind of golden tree, and
followed it up to a giant oriental dragon's head.  "Holy..."

The dragon smiled, an intimidating sight.  "My name is Jarred.  I am Joe's
best man and your escort."  The tree (really a giant claw) moved closer to
her.  "I think it would be best if you just rode my claw.  Step up."
Shawna moved closer and stepped up onto Jarred's claw.  She felt magic wrap
around her, holding her in place as Jarred took to the air.  They flew over
the crowd and landed near the podium.  She stepped off and took her place
near the other bridesmaids.

She quickly looked around.  Laurie, acting as the official representative
for the Goddess, was officiating.  Joe looked fantastic in a tuxedo, and it
seemed like the entire base had turned out for the ceremony.

Bronwyn stepped out, and walked regally down the aisle.  She took her place
by Joe and Laurie started the ceremony.  "Dearly beloved..."

************

Bronwyn and Joe were preparing to go out that evening for dinner and a show
with Jacqui, Laurie, and Jeremy.  It was their first anniversary, and
Jacqui and Laurie had volunteered to treat the couple to a night on the
town.  At the last minute, Jacqui had invited Jeremy along.  When Laurie
had asked why (she and Jeremy were still sniping at one another
constantly), she had said that she didn't want Joe to feel alone since
Marcus was out of town on a mission for the people who had trained them.
Laurie had grimaced a bit, but not protested.

Joe walked into the room where Bronwyn was putting on the last touches of
her make-up.  He said, "You look ravishing, lover."

Bronwyn smiled at him.  "You keep telling me that.  Better be careful or
you'll give your wife a swelled head."  Joe gave her a strange look.  "What
are you thinking about?"

Joe gave her a huge grin.  "Just wondering what you'd look like with a head
twice as large as it is.  A swelled head, literally."

"Don't you dare!"  She threw the wadded up Kleenex she had used to blot her
lipstick at him.  It only went a couple feet, and was absolutely silly,
even as a fake-petulant move.

Joe laughed and stepped closer to her.  "Never.  You're perfect as is."  He
took her hands and pulled her to her feet.  She wrapped her arms around him
and they kissed.

In the middle of the kiss, Joe stiffened.  They separated a bit and Joe
stared into space with that look Bronwyn had identified as him talking to
someone in the other realm.  She grew angry and slightly depressed.  "Can't
they leave us alone on our anniversary?" she thought.

He looked back to her.  "Sorry, it looks like I'm needed."

She looked down.  "I understand."

"If you want, I'll call back and tell them no."

"No, you've got your duties and I've got mine.  Go ahead."

"Okay.  Promise me you'll go out with Laurie tonight."

"I'm not really feeling up to it, now."

"Okay, that's it.  Not only do I want a promise you'll go out, I want a
promise if I'm not back, you'll spend the night with Laurie.  Mom's got the
kids till the morning, and I don't want you alone."

Bronwyn was about to protest, but Joe insisted.  Finally, she agreed.  He
quickly kissed her, stepped back and disappeared.  Bronwyn collapsed back
into the chair.  She sat there almost crying.  She loved him so much, but
Shawna had been right.  Every time he had to go, she wanted to beg him not
to.

{So next time ask him not to go,} an unfamiliar voice said in her head.

"What?  Who's there?"  Bronwyn saw the Soul Blade float out from under the
bed.  "What are you doing here?  Why didn't Joe take you with him?"