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Subject: Change Of Life (Romance, little explicit sex) [1/5]
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The following story has predecessors, some written by others, one written
by me.  These stories can be found at:

Change of Pace
http://205.240.15.4/nifty/transgender/by_authors/Caitlin_B./change-of-pace

Change of Direction (very long)
http://205.240.15.4/nifty/transgender/by_authors/Tigger/change-of-direction

And my own Change of Power:
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/transgender/by_authors/J_R_D/change-of-power

To be honest, I never intended to write a sequel to Change of Power, but in
my drive to find things which would break my writer's block on my Witch
Chronicles series, this story line came into my head.

If you like it, please let me know.

Now, onto the boring stuff

-------------------------

DISCLAIMERS

-------------------------

This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, and is
not intended for the perusal of minors.  Further if perusal of such
material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your religion or
personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story.

This story remains the property of the author.  Permission is granted to
download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action contains
these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from this story.

All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any
resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental.

This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic.  The
parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely at the
discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no apologies for any
rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or magic that may be broken
within the story.

-------------------------

Now onto the fun stuff

-------------------------

CHANGE OF LIFE

Joe, Bronwyn, Julie, and Joe's children were at the dinner table telling
stories into the night.  Julie could barely contain her joy.  Less than a
week ago, she had despaired of ever seeing her child again.  Then, three
days ago, her child came back to her on, of all days, what Julie thought
would be the last day of her life.  Then, after he saved her life (as well
as ten of the other members of the Sisterhood), the Goddess discussed
Julie's accepting her son for what he was (namely a man), and after Bronwyn
had a talk with him, Joe agreed to introduce Julie to three granddaughters
she didn't even know she had.

Julie thought that would be it, but after being introduced to her
granddaughters, Joe introduced her to the grandson he had originally
declared off limits.  Her grandson had decided to go the route of the
Sisterhood, a route his father had turned down after she had wrongly
inflicted it upon him.  Now that she could admit that (at the time, she
really thought it was for the best), their relationship was on the mend,
and they were catching up on the sixteen years of family history she had
missed.

Right in the middle of a story, Norma, Joe's youngest, yawned widely, and
she seemed to be fighting off the Sandman with every breath.  Joe said,
"Looks like it's time for someone to go beddy-bye."

Julie asked, "Joe, do you mind if I take care of it?  It's been so long
since I tucked someone in."

"Sure, mom.  Oh, Inya, you should be off to bed, too.  Torios will be by
tomorrow for more of your lessons."

Tasha groaned.  "Great.  Hey, grandma, want to introduce me, Norma, and
Steven to the malls tomorrow?"

Bronwyn asked, "Who is Torios and why does Tasha want to avoid him?"

"Torios is the girls' maternal grandfather.  Since their mother is
deceased, someone else needed to instruct Inya in her Bastet abilities."

"So why does Tasha want to avoid him?"

"The Bastet are very big on family, and VERY protective of their human
relatives, protective to the point of being over-protective, and the first
time he came to visit, Tasha was walking along the fence we had, a seven
foot tall fence with a heavy wooden beam securing the top that Tasha walked
like a balance beam.  She had been walking the fence for a couple years and
had never received more than a skinned knee for it, but when Torios saw her
doing it, he determined it was too risky.  He shifted to panther form,
leapt behind her, grabbed her by the back of the shirt, and carried her
into the house like she was a little kitten.  Needless to say she was less
than amused.  And ever since, whenever Torios instructs Inya, Tasha, rather
than curb her athletic life, finds somewhere else to be."

Tasha asked, "So what about it?  Mall cruising tomorrow?"

Joe said, "Only if your grandmother agrees and only if you go to bed right
now without troubles."

Julie smiled and said, "Sounds like fun."

"So let's get the youngsters into bed."

Steven carried Norma up to bed, while Julie led Tasha and Inya upstairs to
Joe's old room, still decorated effeminately from his time as Joanie.
Steven would be sleeping on the downstairs couch while Joe would be staying
with Bronwyn in an apartment Bronwyn used while visiting town.

After Julie, Bronwyn, and Steven got the girls tucked in, Bronwyn looked
for Joe, only to notice him missing.  "Steven, where's your father?"

Steven shrugged.  "Beats me."

Julie asked, "Does your father still stargaze?"

"Every chance he gets."

"He's up on the roof.  From eight years old on, he's gotten up there to
stargaze."  Bronwyn smiled and started to prepare the spell that would
teleport her up there when Julie asked, "Bronwyn, let me go to him alone.
I'd like to talk to him a bit."

Bronwyn nodded.  Julie cast the spell to take her up to the roof.  She saw
Joe sitting in the same place he always had when he came up here.  Joe
looked over his shoulder at her and said, "You know, when you used to just
appear behind me, I was convinced you knew about some trapdoor in the roof
that I didn't.  It was following you around to find it that led me to
discover the Sisterhood."

"That was why I only teleported when I had to.  But I have long since lost
the ability to snake my way up here through the attic window.  Do you...
mind me being here?"

Joe instantly said, "No, mom, not at all.  Come on and sit."

Julie sat beside her son.  "Joe, I am sorry for the way I treated you.  I
realize I was wrong."

Joe nodded.  "You went a long way to proving that when you asked Steven to
wait before you transformed him."  Joe wrapped his arm around his mom.  "I
think I can honestly say 'I forgive you' now."

Julie leaned against her son.  After a little, she said, "Joe, I'm not sure
I want the answer to this, but I have to ask."

"Okay."

"After your first wife, the girls' mother, died, did you really have so
little trust or faith in me that you felt you couldn't come back to me; let
me help you through your grief?"

"No, that wasn't it.  In fact I almost came back after her death."

"But why didn't you?"

Joe thought about it for a second before saying, "You remember I told you
that the Bastet are very big on family?  Well, practically from the day we
were married, she was pressing me to introduce the two of you.  She wanted
to meet the woman who had given birth to me.  But, at the time, I wanted
none of that and refused outright.  But a couple years after Norma was born
I finally relented and said that after I got finished with the mission I
had, we'd go meet you.

"But Tarina was never a patient woman, so while I was away on my mission,
she flew out here to introduce herself to you."

"I don't recall-"

"She never made it.  Between the airport and here, she was attacked by some
thugs.  She made short work of them, but not without revealing her
regenerative capabilities, so they called for more effective warriors to
capture her.  They caught her, took her to their base, and tortured her
while keeping her alive in order to learn her secrets.  I felt her pain,
but by the time I found her, it was too late.

"I almost came back to you after that, because I knew it was what she
wanted, but too much of me just said, 'Why bother?  Tarina's dead and this
won't bring her back.'  It just hurt so much to remember she died trying to
reunite us."

Julie wrapped her arms around Joe, giving silent apology for the pain she
had inflicted on her son.  Joe rested his head on hers and she felt a wet
spot in her hair where his silent tears flowed.  Julie felt the wet spot
and her own tears began to flow.  They had a short cry together before
pulling themselves together.

Joe then asked, "Mom, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why did you transform me so early?  The average age for transformation in
the Sisterhood is 17-19.  Why did you transform me at 16?"

"It was because of your revelation.  Originally I planned to transform you
the day after your graduation, but after you came to me at 15 and shocked
the hell out of me, telling me you knew about the Sisterhood and the
transformation, and asked me not to transform you, I acquiesced because I
thought I could convince you later.  But then you started getting more and
more manly, and I figured if I didn't transform you soon, your ego would
keep you from ever accepting your femininity.  That's why I did all that I
did, because I was sure that I was just late.  It's just I was so much
happier as a woman, I didn't think anyone could be happier as a man."

"I know.  Shortly after I gained the skills to do so, I confronted the
Goddess in her spiritual realm, trying to find out why she inflicted the
birth rites on the Sisterhood.  That was when I found out the real story
behind the birth rites.  The Goddess also explained that if you had not
been a member of the Sisterhood, you probably would've become a mundane
transsexual.  You were always a woman in soul.  That's why grandma
transformed you when you were only fifteen, because the Goddess told her
to."

Julie took her son's hand.  "Do you really forgive me, Joe?"

"Yes, mom, I do."

>From behind them, they heard Bronwyn clear her throat.  "Excuse me, am I
interrupting?"

"No, I think we're finished."  Joe looked to his mom and she nodded.  Joe
reached out his arm, and Bronwyn sat beside him, snuggling into him under
his other arm.

Bronwyn looked around, saying, "Nice view."

Joe smiled.  "Nicer than you think if you know where to look."
Both Bronwyn and Julie looked at him suspiciously.  Bronwyn asked, "What
does that mean?"

Joe's smile expanded to a grin.  He pulled his arms from around the ladies
and brought his hands together.  He pulled them apart, conjuring a
telescope between them.  He handed it to Julie and pointed over the
rooftops.  "Look over there."

"What am I looking for?"

Joe guided the telescope, saying, "You'll see."

After a bit, Julie gasped and said, "Is that who I think it is?"

"Miss Davis, my third grade teacher, and the first crush I ever had."

Bronwyn said, "Let me see," and took the telescope, looking where Julie had
just pointed.  She quickly zeroed in on where they were watching and saw,
laying atop a bed, a nude woman.  Bronwyn guessed that she was in her
mid-40s, and she still had a fantastic body.

While she was looking, Joe said, "Originally I didn't come up here to
stargaze.  I picked up stargazing by coming up here to girl watch.  I found
out where Miss Davis lived and came up here to watch her shower and go to
bed every night."

Julie said, "I wish you'd've told me.  I'd've joined you."

Bronwyn lowered the telescope.  "Should I be jealous?"

Joe kissed her.  "Never.  Even at her prettiest, she couldn't hold a candle
to you."

Joe and Bronwyn started kissing, and Julie got up, saying, "I guess I
should go in now."

Joe said, "Wait a minute, mom."  He then held a brief conversation with
Bronwyn mentally and said, "Mom, would you like to join us in a three-way?
I know you never had sex with me as a male, but if you're interested..."

"You're still interested in me?  Even as old and dried up as I am?"

Bronwyn said, "Julie, you're only a few years older than I.  If you want,
I'd love for you to join us."

Julie thought about the times back when Joe was Joanie.  He (even as a she)
was always a fast learner, and, to this day, he was still one of the best
lovers she had ever had.  But she was also afraid.  All their previous
problems had been caused by her putting what she wanted above what was best
for her son, and she didn't want to intrude on a private moment between him
and his lover unless they really did want her.  "Only if you really want
me."

Joe lifted his hand to his mother.  "I want you, mom."

Julie took his hand and, suddenly, the three of them were in Julie's bed,
naked.  Julie sat down beside her son and Bronwyn.  Joe leaned over and
kissed her.  Julie almost cried.  He was still as good a kisser as she
remembered.

Joe placed his hand on her stomach and gently rubbed.  Julie felt the
pleasure surge through her body.  She felt Bronwyn's hand upon her and
reached out.  Although her eyes were closed, one of her hands deftly found
Joe's abs and the other found Bronwyn's thigh.  The three stroked each
other for a while before Joe gently laid his mother onto her back.  He gave
her a gentle kiss on her lips before slowly kissing his way down her neck
to her breasts.  He laid a spiral of kisses on her breast, starting at the
top of the base of her breast, and circling around till he got to her
nipple, gently sucking it into his mouth.

Bronwyn moved up and lay beside Julie.  Joe moved over slightly to give
Bronwyn more access to his mother.  Bronwyn kissed Julie as she brought her
hand to Julie's free breast.  Joe lightly sucked his mother's breast till
she was wriggling a bit.  He then released her nipple before kissing his
way down her body to her crotch.  Bronwyn moved her mouth down and sucked
Julie's other breast as she used her hand on the breast just vacated by Joe.

Joe kissed Julie's thighs before moving in and kissing her labia.  He
carefully avoided her clit, teasing her with his lips and tongue until she
was thrashing about in need.  When he did finally kiss her clit, she came
screaming with years of denied passion.  He held her clit in his mouth
until she relaxed and settled down from her orgasm.

When they settled down, Joe said, "Now I am glad I sound proofed the room
before we started."  He looked at his mom's face as he crawled up and lay
beside her.  "Mom, why are you crying?"

"I wasn't sure I'd ever experience an orgasm again."

"Why not?"

"When you walked out I swore an oath on the Goddess that I wouldn't ever
allow myself to experience physical pleasure again until my daughter was
returned to me.  When I finally admitted you weren't going to be coming
back to me as Joanie I thought my oath would prevent me from ever knowing
physical love again."

Bronwyn said, "Julie, for an oath on the Goddess to be binding, She must
first accept it, you know that.  The Goddess knew that Joe wasn't ever
going to be Joanie again, and never would've accepted your oath."

Julie turned to her son.  "Joe, I am sorry for transforming you."

"Don't be, mom.  It wasn't transforming me that was the mistake.  It was
not letting me go back.  Being Joanie was good for me, but she wasn't me."

Bronwyn kissed Julie on the cheek and said, "Enough talk."  She slithered
her way down Julie's body.  "Let's get back to the fun."

They continued to have sex for a few more hours before contentedly falling
asleep together.

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

Bronwyn sat across from Jacqui, who was nursing her baby.  Bronwyn, now
eight months pregnant (having gotten that way on that night with Julie and
Joe), was organizing her notes on the changes to the Sisterhood that had
occurred since the Brotherhood and Sisterhood had been reunited when the
baby kicked inside her.  Jacqui briefly looked up, but returned her
attention to Cheryl once she was sure Bronwyn was okay.

Then there was a ripple in space and Joe was there.  "You okay, love?"

Bronwyn looked at him curiously.  "Of course.  The baby just kicked.  You
know what that feels like.  You didn't have to come."

Joe sat beside her.  "Yeah, but the council was dealing with some stupid,
niggling details that were boring the crap out of me.  Your little bit of
pain gave me the excuse I needed to get out of there."  He put his arm
around her.  "So what are you doing?"

Bronwyn said, "Going over stupid, niggling details that will probably bore
the crap out of you."  She then gave him a grin that bordered on being a
smirk.

Joe just stared at her for a few seconds without changing his expression,
before turning to Jacqui, and saying, "I walked right into that, didn't I?"
Jacqui smiled and nodded slightly.  Turning back to Bronwyn, he said, "As
long as I'm with you, I think I can stand it."

Just then, Laurie and Jeremy came back into the room, arguing loudly.
Laurie said, "You are such a pain in the ass!"

To which Jeremy blithely responded, "I put that under the category of pot
calling the kettle black."

Laurie started clearing the dishes from the table.  "How can you be so damn
stubborn?!"

Jeremy tried to help her, but she snatched the dishes from his hand.  "I'm
not being stubborn.  I'm right.  If you let the dishes soak for fifteen to
twenty minutes in hot, soapy water before you clean them, it cuts your
scrubbing time in half."

"Just like a man!  Leave all the work till later.  Put it off as long as
you can."

The two went back into the kitchen, arguing all the way.  Bronwyn sighed.
"Now it's about dishes.  Those two have been arguing almost non-stop since
the re-unification.  It doesn't matter about what.  They always find some
reason to be at each other's throats."

Joe stared after them into the kitchen.  "Yeah.  I wonder if they've got
any clue why."

Jacqui asked, "What's that mean?"

Bronwyn said, "Do you know?"

"I've got a pretty good idea.  And so could Jacqui if she looked in the
right way."

"What do you mean?"

"Combine your Prime, Life, Mind and Spirit senses and look at the two of them."

Jacqui concentrated on her senses, summoning forth the magics she
controlled, and waited for her mom and Jeremy to return to the room.  When
they did they were so wrapped up in their argument that they missed Jacqui
clapping her hand over her mouth in order to keep either from seeing her
sudden smile.

But Bronwyn noticed it and, as soon as the two were out of the room, asked,
"Okay, what am I missing?"

Joe smiled and opened a telepathic link with the high priestess.  He then
shielded the link so it would be impossible to tap.  Into Bronwyn's mind,
he said, {Laurie and Jeremy are linked.  Mind, body, soul, and even magical
power are hopelessly intertwined.  I suspect they're fighting so much
because neither one wants to admit it.}

{You're kidding.}

Joe grinned.  {Nope.}

Bronwyn thought about it.  Now that it was pointed out to her, the
connection seemed obvious.  When the two returned, Bronwyn decided to have
a little fun.  "Enough, you two, finish your love spat later."  Both
sputtered in protest, but Bronwyn said, "We have business to finish,
Jeremy."

Jeremy clammed up and said, "Of course."  Jeremy sat down.  Laurie sat down
on the opposite side of the table, glaring at him.

"Now, as I was saying, the final tallies are in, and we need to compare
relative statistics and comparable power levels of both groups.  After the
Goddess and the Dark One revealed that the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood
would be re-united, approximately three percent of the Sisterhood refused
and stepped away from the order.  They have since lost their connection to
the Goddess and their magical power."

Jeremy said, "About three percent of our order also decided they were
unwilling to work with you and stepped away.  They also lost their magic
power."

"We also lost the fifteen percent that the Goddess predicted we'd lose when
the birth rites were lifted."

"And two-thirds of those have decided to give membership in the Brotherhood
a try.  But countering that gain, about twenty percent of our order have
decided to give the Sisterhood a try."  Then Jeremy whispered something.

"What was that?"

"Uhm,...  Well, you're gonna find out anyways.  Don't expect a lot of
compliance from most of those."

"Why not?"

Joe said, "Because the Dark One ordered their transformations.  Remember,
the original reason for the transformation was for male aggression to
enhance the martial capabilities of the Sisterhood and female compassion
would moderate the Brotherhood's brutality."

Jeremy continued, "So after the Dark One reunited us, he ordered a segment
of our group to undergo the apprenticeship of the Sisterhood.  About
two-thirds of those you got from us are the most brutal, macho, asinine
Brothers we've got."

Sarcastically, Bronwyn said, "Great.  What about the rest?"

"Some are curious, a few felt that they should've undergone the process
anyways since that was what the Goddess and the Dark One originally
intended, a few wouldn't give reasons, and, by the Dark One's orders, I
can't pry."

"Okay, I've had fair warning.  You should also be aware that we've received
an increase from an unexpected source.  Of those who were at one point
women, but decided to change back, about half have come back to the
Sisterhood and asked to be re-transformed into women.  It seems they
resented their transformations so much, they transformed back despite their
being more female then male.  When the birth rites were exposed and
removed, they were able to admit it and return."

Joe asked, "Why is that unexpected?"

"Because it was felt that only those who were truly male would transform back."

Joe shook his head.  "Remember, Bron, the birth rites were still attempting
to compel these persons to accept being women.  On some level, they knew
they were being manipulated, but not who or what was doing the
manipulation, so they rebelled against what would be right for themselves."

"Regardless of the reasons, getting rid of the birth rites put the repairs
on a lot of relationships.  Even a lot of men who aren't coming back have
gotten back with their mothers and started getting to know each other
again."

Jeremy asked, "I thought those who transformed back couldn't receive their
power if they became women again?"

Bronwyn replied, "So did we.  But from the first re-transformation, it was
clear that the Goddess was blessing them again."

They heard the door open, and Tasha, Inya, and Norma ran in.  Joe asked
them as they ran upstairs, "Where's your grandmother?"  After Joe and Julie
had repaired their relationship, the issue had been keeping in contact.
Bronwyn had pretty much set up the center of the Sisterhood as San
Bernardino, and although it would not have been impossible for her to
change, it was far easier for both Joe and Julie (who wasn't about to risk
losing her family again) to move than the other way around.

Norma mentally yelled, {She's outside with Stephanie!} as she ran past the
kitchen door.

Joe excused himself, kissed Bronwyn, and went outside.  Julie was still
sitting on her bike.  Stephanie, the once Steven, was beside her, offering
her a water bottle.  Joe noticed she was panting heavily and asked, "Are
you okay, mom?"

"Yes...  Just... out of breath."  Julie took the water bottle and had a
long swallow.  "After our picnic at the park, we were about to go home when
Tasha suddenly yells, 'Race you home!' and takes off with Norma and Inya
close behind.  It was all I could do to keep them in sight."

"I'll talk to them about that."

"No, don't.  I enjoy their energy.  I just haven't had this much exercise
since you were a child."

Joe smiled.  "So who won?"

"Norma."  Norma, despite being the youngest, had inherited her height from
Joe, where the twins had inherited their height from their mother (who only
stood slightly over 5 feet), and, after a growth spurt last summer, was
already as tall as the twins, so in their little physical competitions,
Norma could easily keep pace with either of the older girls.

"So you going to be okay?"

"Yeah.  I just needed to catch my breath."  Joe touched her shoulder and
flowed healing energy into her, allowing her to catch her breath.  "That
wasn't necessary."

"No, but it was my pleasure.  Besides, didn't you promise Inya an
embroidery lesson?"

"Good point."

Inya, always the softest and most feminine of Joe's children, always felt
slightly out of place in a family of warriors, and didn't understand where
her differences came from until she had met her grandmother.  From the
first day, Inya and Julie had become fast friends, with Julie taking the
time to instruct her granddaughter in things she was interested in that
neither Joe nor Tarina knew about.

Julie got off her bike and went inside.  Joe turned to his eldest child.
Since his transformation five months ago, Steven had really become a
beautiful, young woman.  His Germanic heritage had come to the fore, and
now she was a rather well endowed, raven-haired teenager.

Joe watched Stephanie take a long drink from the water bottle and felt a
pang of jealousy.  Although incestuous relationships in the Sisterhood were
commonplace between mothers and daughters (or grandmothers and
granddaughters), relationships between fathers and daughters were almost
nonexistent.  This was mostly because the presence of fathers was mostly
nonexistent in the Sisterhood.  But, regardless of the reasons, there were
no rules for father-daughter love.

Joe and Julie had discussed it, and both felt that Joe should refrain from
a sexual relationship with his new daughter, at least until they were sure
Stephanie could control her emotional state to keep from accidentally
getting pregnant by her father.

Stephanie noticed her father looking, and briefly struck a sensuous pose.
Always honest, Joe said, "You're being a tease again."

She just shrugged and smiled.  "I try."

Joe shook his head and laughed.  "You're going to make one hell of a woman,
Stef."

She got a serious look on her face.  "Which brings me to something I wanted
to discuss."

"Oh?"

"Dad, originally I thought I'd become a girl until getting whatever I
needed out of it then I'd go back.  But recently I've been thinking more
and more that maybe I might want to stay a woman, and I was wondering how
you felt about that."

"Stef, I want you happy.  Just because I didn't want to stay a girl doesn't
mean I'd want to deny you that if it's what's best for you."

The two hugged.  Joe asked, "Did you get what I asked?"

Stephanie smiled and said, "Yeah, but I have a devil of a time explaining
where I disappeared to when grandma asked."  Stephanie passed a small box
to Joe as a car pulled up.  A couple of women stepped out and Joe waved to
them.  The younger one waved enthusiastically, and the other smiled and
waved, but there was a certain non-committal attitude to her wave.

The two women were Bronwyn's children by other men.  Both knew Joe (no one
in the Sisterhood didn't), but only Ariel, the younger of the two, had
accepted his relationship with their mother.  Shawna, Bronwyn's first born,
still wasn't sure about the strong fighter who had reunited the Sisterhood
with the Brotherhood.  And she really wasn't sure about her mother dating
this man, particularly when this man was only seven years older than she
was.  Not that she'd ever complain to her mother.  Bronwyn was more than
capable of handling herself, and Bronwyn did seem happier when she was with
Joe.  But that hadn't stopped her from taking Joe aside and telling him she
didn't trust him, and that she'd be watching him.

At the time, Joe had simply smiled and said, "Good, it'll keep me on my
toes."  Now, Shawna was more willing to admit that Joe was good for her
mother, but was still holding back full approval for their relationship.

The two women came up and Ariel asked, "So, what's up, Warrior Man?" using
her little pet name for him.

"It's a surprise."

Joe brought them inside, where Bronwyn and Jacqui were sitting at the
table.  From the kitchen, sounds of Laurie and Jeremy arguing were easily
heard.  When she saw her children, Bronwyn asked, "Girls, what are you
doing here?"

Shawna replied, "Don't ask us.  Joe asked us to come."

Bronwyn gave her lover a curious look.  He said, "I wanted them here
because I thought they should be here for you to discuss the answer with
them to a question I was going to ask."

"Sisterhood stuff?"

"Not exactly.  Jacqui, could you go get your mother?  Bronwyn, might want
her here, too."

Jacqui gave Joe a suspicious look, but got up and went to the kitchen.
Bronwyn said, "Okay, what's going on?"

"Patience, love."

After a few seconds the arguing from the kitchen quieted down, and Jacqui
returned with Laurie and Jeremy following behind.  Laurie asked, "What's
going on?"

"Just need a few more people and the collection will be complete."

Joe sent a quick mental message and a few seconds later, Julie, and Joe's
three youngest came downstairs.  Tasha, always the boldest, asked what
almost everyone (even those already present) wanted to know, "What's going
on, pops?"

Norma giggled and thought, {I know.  I saw it in Stef's head earlier.}

"Hush," Joe said with a smile on his face.  "Don't blow my surprise."

Bronwyn started to stand, but Joe said, "Don't get up."  He then went to
one knee before her and took out the box Stephanie had brought him earlier.
"Bron, including our time together as Nita and Jack, we have been together
for a little less than a year, and you have brought a light and joy into my
life I thought I'd never know again.  And, although it's only as necessary
as you want it to be, I would love to make it official.  So, Bronwyn
Llewellyn," Joe opened the box, revealing a diamond engagement ring, "will
you marry me?"

Julie gasped and Bronwyn stared in shock.  She almost turned him down.  She
had received more than a few wedding proposals in her life, a few she
might've even accepted, except most men objected to their male children
becoming girls, and turning down proposals had almost become a habit.

But then she remembered her current standing.  Joe knew about the
transformations, and had removed the birth rites that made it impossible
for her to have female children.  In fact, since the birth rites were still
holding upon him, all their children would start female.  She realized she
had no reason to turn him down.

She briefly turned to her children and saw their faces.  Ariel was
obviously pleased, and although Shawna wasn't thrilled, Bronwyn could tell
she wanted her mother to be happy.  She turned back to Joe and whispered,
"Yes."

Making sure he heard her right, Joe asked, "Yes?"  Bronwyn nodded.  Joe
removed the ring from the box and placed it on her finger.  The two
embraced and kissed under a round of applause.

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

Joe walked into the council room, angry as hell.  Bronwyn had just given
birth a week ago, and, while by her bedside, he had received a message from
the council telling him to come to an emergency council meeting.  His Time
senses had not warned him of any danger, so he knew this meeting wasn't
necessary, at least from a safety of the world standpoint.

He took his seat at the council table, where the other eight members were
already waiting.  "So what is this all about?"

Lara, the Verbena Mistress, stood up.  "Joe, we have heard of your upcoming
nuptials to the high priestess of the Sisterhood."

"And?"

Lara choked back a sob.  Before the council had betrayed him thirteen years
ago, and abandoned him to die after a fight they had ordered, he and Lara
had been lovers, and Lara had carried a torch for him ever since his
return.  It tore her up when he had been with his first wife, Tarina, and
she knew it wasn't her.  She had almost been happy when Tarina had died,
and, after a suitable period of mourning, had tried to restore their
previous relationship.  But Joe had not forgiven her for her betrayal and
refused to even consider a sexual relationship, barely tolerating her
presence when he had to.

He looked at her, knowing that this was tearing her apart.  He felt a brief
pang of regret, wondering if he should let his anger go and forgive her.

Lara said, "We'd like you to consider holding your wedding ceremony here,
in realm."

Joe looked at them all suspiciously.  "Why?"

The Hermetic Master said, "Is it not enough that we do?  As your fellow
council members we expect to be invited to your wedding, and since five of
us are unable to return to the consensual reality, we simply expect, nay
demand this.  You owe it to us."

Joe stared at the Hermetic Master, stony faced.  None of the other Masters
said a thing until Joe said, "Owe you?  Are you so tired of life that you
would make these demands upon me?"  The Hermetic Master seemed shocked, but
before he could say anything, Joe said, "I will NOT be ordered around by
those who betrayed me!  With the exception of the Akashic Master before me
and the Virtual Adept Master, you all stood in this room and voted to
abandon me after I had nearly died fighting your battles for you!"

The Dreamspeaker said, "And that is the real reason why we wish to host
your wedding, Joe.  We were wrong.  We know that now.  And despite your not
caring whether or not we attend your ceremony, there are others in this
realm that would also like to attend the ceremony who cannot survive in the
consensual reality.  By having the ceremony here, they can attend."

Joe thought about it.  "I still don't see it happening.  Many of the
Sisterhood will want to attend, and I won't have Bronwyn deny them because
you won't let her have enough guests."

The Hermetic Master said, "I suppose we could have a small group-"

"No.  I will not deny Bronwyn even one person.  You want this here, then I
hand you a guest list and you accept it without exception.  That's the
deal, and it's not subject to negotiation."

They glanced around at each other, then Lara said, "Alright, we accept your
terms."

"Then I'll propose it to Bronwyn.  She gets final approval."

The meeting broke up, and everyone left the room.  As Joe walked towards
the exit portal, he heard Lara say, "Joe?"

He turned to her.  "Yes?"

"You must've seen the records of that vote by now.  You must know I didn't
vote for it."

"But you didn't vote against it either.  You abstained, and ultimately that
wound up being the same thing."

Tears came to her eyes.  "Please, Joe.  I realize what I did was wrong,
can't you ever forgive me?"  Joe remained silent until she dropped her head
and turned away.

He called out, "Lara."

"Yes?"

He paused for a bit.  "Too much has passed between us for us to go back to
what once was, but... yes, I forgive you."

Lara smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.  "Thank you."

Joe walked to the exit portal, feeling a little bit lighter for having
resolved his problems with Lara.


----------

All comments, suggestions, etc. may be sent to me at jrdss@micronet.net



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