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From: J R D <jrdss@pobox.alaska.net>
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Subject: {ASSM} Change of Life [1/5]
Date: Sat,  1 Dec 2001 11:10:04 -0500
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Had to get a new email, so I'm reposting my old works under the new 
addy to get it out.

The following story has predecessors, some written by others, one 
written by me.  These stories can be found at:

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

Change of Direction (very long)
http://www.nifty.org/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.
-- 
"This is reality, not T.V.  Can't you tell the difference?"
"Sure.  I just like T.V. better."

J R D
jrdss@pobox.alaska.net

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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