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Subject: {ASSM} Change of Life [5/5]
Date: Sat,  1 Dec 2001 12:10:08 -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.

Change of Life, pt 5

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, pt 5

Jacqui entered the realm known as Heaven.  She saw the "pearly gates" 
as described in so many stories.  The Dreamspeaker Master stepped up 
to the gates and said, "We seek-"

They all heard in their minds, {Forgive our interruption, but we know 
what you seek, and you must go quickly to accomplish your mission.} 
The gates opened silently and far faster than Jacqui would've 
expected for gates as large as they were.  {The Akashic Master is in 
the Elysian Fields.  You must move quickly.  He contemplates ending 
his own existence.}

The Dreamspeaker Master picked up Jacqui and Norma in his arms and 
took off in flight.  He flew straight east.  At least Jacqui felt it 
was east, they were flying into what appeared to be the rising sun. 
As if reading her mind, the Dreamspeaker Master said, "It's not a 
sunrise.  No one knows what it is.  Most seem to think that it's the 
one true Heaven.  But whatever it is, everyone who has ever flown 
into it has never returned."

"And that's where we're going?"

"No.  We're going to stop in the Elysian Fields, an island off the coast."

"Elysian Fields?  Isn't that..."

"Ancient Greek belief?  Yes, it is.  Unlike the various punishment 
realms for sinners, all "heavens" are linked, and one can be reached 
from the others.  I like to think it's because true goodness isn't 
exclusionary.  The Elysian Fields used to be the predominant presence 
here, but has since shrunk to nothing more than the size of a small 
island."

The three flew together until they passed over a small mountain range 
and out over an ocean.  Jacqui wondered where they were headed, until 
she saw a small, tropical island on the water.  They flew straight to 
it, and around to the far side.  They saw a single man standing on 
the beach staring off into the 'sunrise'.  Along the edge of the 
beach was a crowd of people dressed in tunics, togas, and even a few 
in bronze armor, all watching the man.

Thy landed between the crowd and the man, who turned out to be, as 
Jacqui suspected, Joe.  The Dreamspeaker Master spoke first, saying 
simply, "Akashic?"

Joe, who had clearly been crying, said, "I couldn't save her.  I 
couldn't even find her.  I have failed her again.  I can save the 
universe, but when it comes to saving my family I am a hopeless 
failure."

Jacqui said, "Joe, your family needs you."

"And what happens if I fail them when they need me most?  Better that 
they learn to do without then be hurt later on."

"But your children need a parent.  They need someone to raise them."

"Mom can do that.  It'll be tough on her, but she has you and Laurie 
and the rest of the Sisterhood."

Both Jacqui and the Dreamspeaker Master tried to think of something 
to say when a small, soft voice said, "Daddy, please."  They turned 
and saw that it was Norma, speaking, not mentally, but with the voice 
she had not used in 7 years.  Joe turned to face his daughter.  She 
stepped up to him.  In a voice barely louder than a whisper, she 
said, "Lani, Alia, and Tasha and Inya need you.  And... I need you 
most of all.  I have lost two mothers, daddy, please don't take you 
away from me."

Joe stared at her for a while before dropping to his knees beside 
her.  He wrapped his arms around her and began crying openly.  "I'm 
sorry, honey.  I'm so sorry."

Norma hugged her father and began crying with him.  They stayed like 
that for a while before settling down.  Joe picked Norma up in one 
arm, and said, "Let's go home."  Jacqui could tell he was still 
hurting, but at least he was willing to start the healing.

In less time than it took them to get there, they left through the 
gates they had entered into.  The Dreamspeaker Master used his magics 
to quickly return them to the apartment in the consensual reality 
with the space gate.  The Dreamspeaker Master then returned to the 
base, and Joe teleported home, to be greeted by hugs and well wishes 
from those who were there.

Finally, Julie asked, "Joe, are you okay?"

"No," he replied, "but better than I have been."  He then looked 
wistfully upstairs.  "I suppose there's no use putting this off any 
longer."

They all went upstairs to his bedroom.  Bronwyn's body was still 
lying in exactly the same place as it had been when Joe brought it 
home.  Joe stretched out his hand and the glow surrounding her body 
faded and disappeared.  When it was gone, he turned to Laurie and 
said, "Do what you have to."

Joe turned away as Laurie moved closer to Bronwyn's body.  But 
suddenly all of them froze in place as they felt the sudden, 
overwhelming presence of Bronwyn.  Joe turned to Bronwyn's body, and 
was as surprised as the rest of them when Bronwyn suddenly gasped for 
air.  They were all too stunned to move as Bronwyn lay there taking 
deep breaths.  Finally Joe said, "Bronwyn?"

She looked to him and asked, "Did I make it?"

Joe leapt forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her as 
tightly as he could.  Crying, he said, "You came back to me.  I 
haven't lost you after all."

She let him hold her that way as their family moved closer to her. 
When he let her loose enough to allow some light between them, she 
asked him to initiate a mental link so they could talk privately.  He 
was surprised, but quickly agreed.  In the link,they discussed 
certain changes that she wanted in their life, and Joe quickly agreed.

After they were finished, he asked, "How did you manage to return to me?"

"I almost didn't make it, but I had some help.  To be honest, I 
didn't think together we'd make it.  But I forgot that when you 
combine love it is greater than the sum of its parts, but combined 
pain is only as great as the sum of its parts."

"But who helped you?  Who brought you back to me?"

Suddenly they heard Norma's whispering voice say, "Mama?"

Everybody looked to her, thinking she was talking to Bronwyn.  But 
Norma was staring into the room, apparently at nothing.  Joe followed 
her eyes and stared into the corner of the room.  He tilted his head 
a bit, as if he could barely make out something none of the others 
could see.  Suddenly, he leapt off the bed and plunged his hand into 
nowhere.  Everybody in the room, even those with no magic senses at 
all, felt an out-pouring of magical energy, more than any had felt in 
their entire lifetimes.  The room fairly exploded as reality itself 
protested what was happening, but Joe ignored it.  And when the magic 
cleared, Joe was standing there holding a dark-skinned, naked woman.

She pulled her head up, and looked at him with wonder in her eyes. 
"I had no idea you were THIS powerful."

Tears in his eyes, he said, "I couldn't lose you again, Tarina."

Suddenly, Tasha, Inya, and Norma yelled, "MAMA!" leapt off the bed, 
and ran to Tarina.

Tarina knelt down, said, "Oh, my babies, I missed you," and swept 
them into her arms.

Joe stepped back, allowing them to be reunited, and Laurie was 
suddenly struck by the physical symbology of it all.  On one side of 
the room was Bronwyn, Shawna, and Ariel; on the other side was 
Tarina, and her children; and right in the middle of them was Joe and 
Stephanie (who had moved closer to her father).  And Laurie couldn't 
help but wonder how he was going to handle this.

Tarina looked up and saw Stephanie standing next to Joe.  Tarina 
walked up to her and asked, "Who are you and why do you look so 
familiar?"

Stef smiled.  "Try to guess."

Tarina looked her up and down, and it was clear from the look on her 
face that she wasn't figuring it out.  Then Tarina's body flowed into 
a half-woman, half-cat almost 7 feet tall.  She took a deep whiff and 
said, "Steven?"

Stephanie giggled.  "It's Stephanie now."

Tarina turned to Joe and said, "You know, whenever you told me that 
story of you having been a woman, I was never quite sure whether or 
not to believe you."

 From the entryway to the room they heard someone clear their throat. 
Everybody turned and saw the Verbena Mistress.  "Not to interrupt 
your family reunion, Akashic, but you did agree to destroy a Marauder 
for us."

With a guilty look, he turned to Bronwyn and said, "I did already 
agree to this."

She nodded and said, "I understand."

Joe and the Verbena Mistress suddenly disappeared.  There was an 
awkward silence before Bronwyn said, "I suppose I should go away and 
let you have Joe to yourself."  Laurie could tell that just saying 
that hurt Bronwyn more than she'd ever admit.

Tarina looked at her with a puzzled expression.  "Why?"

"Because... you were married to him first."

Tarina clearly didn't understand.  But finally a look of 
understanding came across her face.  "Oh, that silly monogamy thing 
you practice here in the states.  It's unnecessary, at least in my 
opinion.  I have no intent on chasing you out."

Bronwyn smiled.  Tasha grabbed her mother's hand, said, "Come on, 
mom.  We've got ice cream in the freezer," and dragged her out of the 
room.

Bronwyn tried to get up, but flinched in pain and fell back.  Laurie 
linked to her and checked her out.  "Can you fix whatever's wrong?"

Laurie said, "Can, but not going to."

"Why?"

"Your body has been held in stasis for the past few days.  From all 
that I can tell, your muscles are just stiff and tired.  And the best 
way to handle that is just to take it easy for a day or two."

Bronwyn turned to Jacqui.  "Can you?"

"Sorry, Bron.  Same thing applies to me.  Best way is the natural 
way.  So can but won't."

Bronwyn sighed.  Shawna grinned.  "You never did like convalescing, did you?"

"Never.  Can one of you at least get my laptop so I can do some 
writing while I lay in bed?"  Ariel looked to Laurie to see if it was 
okay, and when the healer nodded, she got Bronwyn's laptop.

Julie said, "Excuse me, but I'd like to get to know Tarina."

"Sure, Julie, go ahead."  After Julie left the room, Bronwyn said, 
"Look, there's no point in the rest of you sticking around while I 
just sit and write, and I'm sure you have things to do."

Shawna asked, "Are you sure, mom?"

"Go!  I'll be fine."

After everybody left, Bronwyn closed her eyes and started making some 
telepathic connections.  There was some things she had to handle 
before she could relax.

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

EPILOGUE...

That evening, Laurie knocked on the door to Bronwyn's room and stuck 
her head in.  "You wanted to talk to me?"

Bronwyn closed her computer.  "Yeah, come on in."

Laurie came in and flopped down in a chair.  "Goddess, I can't wait 
till you're back in the swing of things."

Bronwyn grinned.  "Finding being the high priestess a bit taxing?"

"I never imagined you had so much...  There's no nice way to put 
it... crap to deal with."

"There's just a lot of stuff since most of the Brotherhood who 
transformed is still in training.  Things should settle down over the 
next couple years."

"I'm just glad I won't have to deal with it."

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.  Laurie, I'm 
not going to be the high priestess anymore."

"What?!  Why not?!"

"Laurie, when I only had two children in the Sisterhood and one baby, 
I had no problem with being high priestess, but with my marriage to 
Joe, and Alia's birth, I now have a total of eight children, only two 
full adults and one in training for the Sisterhood.  I'm too busy 
with being a mother.  So Joe and I discussed it.  He's giving up his 
position as Akashic Master and I'm retiring as high priestess.  I've 
already told the others by telepathic contact, but I wanted to let 
you know in person."

"I guess I can understand that.  So I guess I'll be turning the job 
over to your appointee rather than your replacement.  Made a choice 
yet?"

"Actually, I decided that the woman they decided on as Interim 
replacement would do a fine job as the next high priestess."

"But they decided on me."  Laurie looked at Bronwyn's big smile and 
realized Bronwyn knew exactly who had been the Interim high 
priestess.  "Oh, no!  You can't be serious!"

"'Fraid so."

"But-  But the high priestess needs martial skills.  Tactics. 
Strategies.  That kind of stuff.  I'm a healer, not a fighter."

"That was when the Sisterhood and the Brotherhood were at war.  Now 
that the Brotherhood is taking on the martial aspects of the fight 
against evil, those skills are not quite as necessary.  Besides, 
tensions are still running high between our orders.  It seems that a 
healer would be the best choice for the next high priestess."

"But-  But I don't want to be high priestess."

Bronwyn shrugged.  "That's up to you.  You can always turn the 
position down.  But I'll let you in on a secret, I didn't want the 
job either.  But after I thought about it for a while, I realized I 
was the best person for the job.  And if you think about it, I bet 
you'll realize the same."

Laurie thought about it and crawled up on the bed beside Bronwyn. 
"You know, you can be a real bitch at times."

Bronwyn just smiled and kissed her.

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

Joe walked into the council room.  It had taken three days to hunt 
down the Marauder and kill him.  As he walked into the room, Master 
Nakayama started to rise, but Joe said, "Wait.  Ladies and gentlemen, 
I have finished my job, and now choose to announce my retirement.  I 
do hereby appoint Master Nakayama as my replacement, subject to the 
approval of this council and the approval of the Akashic faction 
within this realm."

The Hermetic Master said, "You can't be serious!  We do not accept 
your resignation."

"And this is relevant, why?"  The Hermetic Master sputtered a bit and 
Joe said, "Look, I have a family now that needs me, I can't go 
gallivanting off after every little threat you don't want to face on 
your own."

The Verbena Mistress said, "But, Joe, there have been threats we 
needed both you and the Soul Blade for.  I would be the last to deny 
you your right to a peaceful family life, but what happens if we need 
the two of you again?"

Joe unbuckled the Soul Blade.  "The Soul Blade has a will of his own 
and is dedicated to the fight against Marauders and Nephandi.  He 
will continue the fight."  Joe tossed the Soul Blade into the air and 
it disappeared.  "If you need help with something, search him out. 
If he needs help, he'll contact me.  Now if you want to see me in a 
social setting, please feel free to stop by.  But don't expect me to 
fight your battles anymore."

Joe then said, "Lara, Master Nakayama, David," the Virtual Adept 
Master, "Running Wolf," saying good-bye personally to those he cared 
for most.

He then turned and left the council room behind.

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

Bronwyn walked into Laurie's house.  Earlier that day Laurie had 
undergone the ritual signifying her new place as the high priestess 
and Bronwyn needed to talk to her.  Julie was there discussing some 
things with Laurie, and both greeted her with a hug.  Then Laurie 
noticed it.  "Okay, love, what's wrong?"

Bronwyn said, "It's Tarina.  Ever since she and I were reborn, she's 
been so cold to me.  She refuses to let me get close to her no matter 
how hard I try."

Stephanie wandered into the room and got a bottle of soda out of the 
fridge.  She then took a chair, turned it around and straddled the 
back.

Julie said, "That doesn't sound like Tarina.  She's only been the 
nicest person to me."

Bronwyn said, "You're the mother of her lover.  I'm the rival.  I 
think she wants me out so they can be alone."

Stephanie said, "That definitely doesn't sound like Tarina.  If she 
wanted you out, even if she weren't willing to chase you out, she'd 
say so.  She's a very direct woman."

"You know her best.  Any idea why she's treating me like this?"

Stephanie shrugged.  "I can ask her if you want."

"Thanks."

Laurie asked, "Haven't you asked the Goddess?"

"I tried.  But every time I ask her, my own biases interfere. 
Instead of getting an answer from the Goddess I always get the 
answer, 'Tackle her.'"

Stephanie said, "Now that makes sense."

Laurie gave her a look like she had just said something stupid. 
"Stephanie, the Goddess would never suggest violence."

"She would if she knew Tarina.  Besides we're not talking violence, 
we're talking knocking her to the ground and holding her there." 
When the three adult women gave her a look like she was crazy, 
Stephanie asked, "Didn't dad ever tell you how the two of them got 
married in the first place?"

Bronwyn shook her head.  "He never wanted to talk about it, and I 
didn't want to press."

"Ahh, that explains it.  Okay, sit back while I tell you the story. 
It's kind of weird, kind of romantic and really combative.  Now dad 
did tell you how they met, didn't he?"

"He fought some big, nasty... what do you call 'em... Marauder, in 
the heart of the Amazon, and nearly died, and she found him and 
nursed him back to health."

"Okay, that's a good place to start.  Now, dad, after fighting the 
Marauder, is lying on the jungle floor in a state of delirium.  He's 
questing out with his magics in an attempt to contact those he was 
fighting for, but, as you know, there was nothing.

"Now Tarina's tribe had confronted the Marauder earlier, at least 
some of their best warriors had, and the Marauder had killed them 
without a scratch on him.  Now Tarina was the best warrior they had, 
so she and another group had been sent to try to fight the Marauder, 
and she had seen the entire fight, and knowing that the Marauder had 
killed a group of warriors from the tribe, she was impressed that Joe 
had beaten him single handed.  So they take him back to their village.

"Now the trip makes his delirium worse, so they're forced to restrain 
him.  They try woven vines at first, but when he tears them apart, 
they're forced to use their Spirit magics.  But even those are far 
less effective than they expected, and over the next half year, 
they're forced to post an almost continuous person by his side in 
order to keep him from hurting himself.

"All this goes a long way towards impressing Tarina and when his 
delirium finally breaks, she takes it upon herself to help him 
recuperate.  Now dad knows that gradual healing is usually better 
than instantaneous healing, so he doesn't just fix himself, but he 
does use his Life magics to accelerate the healing process, further 
impressing Tarina.

"So one day he's fully recovered and practicing his martial arts. 
He's trying to figure out some kind of gift to give them for their 
help, when Tarina comes into the hut he's in and asks him to come 
with her.  He doesn't think anything of it, and follows her to a 
secluded grove.  As soon as he walks in, he can feel the mystic power 
of this place.  And she takes him into a building that was formed out 
of living trees, shaped with powerful magics.

"She tells him that it was the Caern of their village.  Dad felt 
honored.  Even when the changing breeds are nice to magi, they almost 
never invite magi to their Caerns."

"What is a Caern?  And why is it so special?"

"In certain places mystic power pools into areas where it can be 
tapped and utilized.  These places are called Nodes.  A Caern is 
where a Node, or perhaps even a small group of close Nodes, are taken 
and dedicated to Gaia, their spiritual totem being.  A Caern to one 
of the changing breed, were-creatures, is basically like a church."

"Why don't they want magi in them?"

"You may have noticed that some magi are very arrogant people.  They 
seem to think that any source of magical energy is theirs to be used 
as they wish.  And the changing breeds consider power from a Caern to 
be a blessing and object to the way a magi exploit it.  Think of the 
reaction a Catholic might have to someone who comes into the church 
and takes a big drink of the holy water just because he's a little 
thirsty.

"Anyways, dad's now inside this Caern and Tarina uses her spirit 
magics to close and seal the entryway.  Dad's a little curious now. 
With all the magic energy, he couldn't teleport if his life depended 
on it, and with the door sealed, the only way he could leave would be 
to blast his way out.  And Tarina comes over to him and stares right 
into his eyes... and hauls off and hits him."

"You're kidding."

"Nope.  Dad's shocked as hell and wonders what's going on, then he 
feels it.  The magic of the Caern turns on him and dad realizes that 
if he loses this fight, he'll be bound to Tarina and the Caern for 
the rest of his life, something he can't allow to happen.  So he's 
forced to fight Tarina.

"Now Tarina's good, but against a Master of the Do, she never stood a 
chance, so he puts her on her butt without hurting her.  But then she 
shifts to her half-panther, half-human form and attacks him again. 
But he still defeats her.  Then she starts using her spirit magics. 
Dad has a much tougher time with this, but he still manages to defeat 
her.

"Then from the ground, Tarina dissolves into tears.  Dad goes to the 
ground beside her and asks her to explain.  What she says, and this 
is where you need to pay attention, is that she was trying to invoke 
the marriage ritual.  You see, in her tribe, a warrior has a very 
important role as the defender of the lives of the tribe, and anybody 
who wishes to mate with them must prove that their own spirit will 
not weaken the children they produce.  So they have to confront and 
fight the warrior to prove their worth, and if they can defeat the 
warrior, that warrior is forced to accept a mating.  And if the fight 
is performed in the Caern, the mating is for life.  But when dad 
defeated her, she lost the hope that she and he would be life mated.

"So dad confesses that although he would love to be mated to her, he 
had other responsibilities that dictated that he not be bound to any 
single place.  That's when he feels a magical change and realizes 
that Tarina has just become bonded to him.  He realizes that having 
defeated her and confessing his desire to marry was all that it took. 
And, ta da, dad and Tarina were married.  Just with her being 
defeated, she was expected to join his tribe."

Bronwyn thought about it, and said, "You're right.  That was both 
weird and combative.  But if Tarina wants to mate with me, why hasn't 
she decked me?"

"Because you're not a warrior.  You're a fighter.  But in Tarina's 
tribe, everyone's a fighter.  If a warrior wants to mate with a 
non-warrior, then they can suggest the non-warrior attack them, but 
that's all they can do."

"Then why..."

"Hasn't she suggested it?  Because if she suggests it and you turn 
her down, say, because you don't know why she's asking for it, she 
can't ever propose it again, nor can she accept any challenges from 
you in the future.  My guess is she's waiting for dad to get home to 
tell you what to do."

"I'm not sure about this."

"Don't worry.  Like I said, the objective isn't violence, it's to put 
the other person on their butt and hold them there.  But, Bronwyn, if 
you do this, you can't hold back.  The fight's for real.  One 
advantage that you've got is that, as the challenger, you get to 
determine the intensity of the the fight.  You only use physical 
attacks, she can only use physical attacks.  But if you use 
shape-shifting or magic, she gets to do the same, and you are not 
prepared for what she can dish out."

Laurie asked, "Are you saying her magics are more powerful than the Goddess's?"

"I'm saying that her magics are geared towards combat.  You've seen 
her shape-shifted combat form, 7 foot tall, big claws, big teeth. 
Her combat magics are no less impressive.  My suggestion?  Go home, 
send the kids to the movies, then pick your time and knock her down 
and try to hold her there."

Bronwyn said, "Okay, I'll do that.  Thanks, Stef."

After Bronwyn left, Laurie said, "That was very nice, Stephanie."

"Thanks.  I want to see them get along."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Sure."

"The way that you're sitting, straddling the chair like that, isn't 
very ladylike."

"Yeah," Stephanie said, twisting the top of the soda off, "but I'm a 
teenager," she took a big drink, "I get to break the rules."

Laurie just shook her head, saying, "You are unlike any initiate we 
have ever had before, Stephanie."

Julie said, "I've been thinking about that, Laurie, and I think you 
ought to expect more like Stef in the future."

"Why?"

"Before, when we were tricking our children and transforming them 
without them knowing what was happening, they were stunned and just 
kind of went with what was expected.  Stephanie has known since she 
was a little boy of what he could expect and, as a result, is having 
a lot more fun just being a girl."

"And since the birth rites are gone, and we're telling our kids what 
they can expect, you think more will be turning out like Stef?"

"That's my theory."

Laurie sighed.  "I'm really starting to hate this job."

Stephanie and Julie leaned over and hugged their new high priestess.

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

The Goddess stared at the breach in the very fabric of Her realm. 
Although She had more than enough power to repair it, She was bound 
by Her word.  What human will has done human will must undo. 
Besides, eventually the realm would repair itself.

She felt a man enter Her realm, and even before She knew who it was, 
She saw the damage being repaired.  Only two men could do that 
without having seen the damage.  The Akashic Master, who had done the 
damage, or the Dreamspeaker Master, who had seen the damage earlier. 
It took Her less than a second to say who it was.

As he entered the main chamber of her realm, She said, "Good day, 
Akashic, what can I do for you?"  She noticed that the realm seemed 
to shift around a bit.  Joe wasn't sure of what to expect in his 
visit.

"First, I wanted to apologize and repair the damage I had done.  I 
was out of control."

"I understand.  Your grief was driving you to irrational actions. 
All is forgiven."

"I also wanted to talk to you about Tarina."

"Yes?"

"I've dealt with some wraiths before.  From the moment a soul decides 
not to go on to their final reward they enter a fight with oblivion 
itself.  Tarina's been dead for seven years, yet when I took hold of 
her soul she had only slightly more of the Void upon her than Bronwyn 
did.  The only way that would be possible is if she had been under 
the protection of one of the Major Incarna."

"Yes."

"Was it you?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because, in order to get Tarina's consent for my protection, I had 
to promise her to never reveal her presence here.  She felt that if 
you had known, you would've spent too much time focusing on her 
rather than your duties in the consensual reality.  I tried many 
times to convince her to let me let you know, but your wife can be a 
bit stubborn at times."

Joe grinned.  "That she can."  The realm shifted and took on a far 
more beautiful aspect.  It had a soft beauty that the Goddess was 
sure came from Bronwyn, but also had the primal beauty that Joe saw 
in Tarina.  "Thank you, Goddess."

"You're welcome, Akashic."

Joe stood there for a few seconds and said, "Goddess, I release you 
from your vow never to use my name."

"Thank you, Joe."

The two embraced and Joe left the Goddess's realm.  Normally, the 
Goddess's realm would shift back to pure spirit matter when visitors 
left, but She decided to hold it for a little while.  Joe's image of 
Her was truly beautiful.

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

Bronwyn washed the dishes for dinner (she had a dishwasher, but 
sometimes she preferred to do it by hand).  Tarina, without saying 
anything, had grabbed a dish towel and helped dry.  The entire event 
had been done in silence, and as soon as they were finished, Tarina 
had tossed the towel on the table.

As she left the kitchen, Bronwyn said, "Tarina?"  Tarina turned to 
face her, only to have Bronwyn tackle her, driving her into the 
living room.  As they fell to the floor, Tarina shifted her weight 
and rolled Bronwyn onto her back, but Bronwyn had been training under 
Joe for a while and was able to perform the same trick, with her 
winding up on top of Tarina, pinning the warrior's shoulders to the 
ground.

 From underneath her Tarina smiled.  "So someone finally told you what 
I wanted?"

"Stephanie explained it.  So how do we finish this?"

"Simple.  One of us has just got to hold the other in such a way that 
the one being held admits she can't get up or win."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"You don't seem able to get up."

Tarina smiled a savage grin.  "A suggestion.  Keep your elbows a 
little closer to your side, it'll keep me from doing this."  Bronwyn 
felt Tarina's legs snake under her armpits, then Tarina used her 
powerful legs to throw Bronwyn back and off of her.  Before Bronwyn 
could recover Tarina was on her and had her pinned to the ground. 
Bronwyn struggled a bit as Tarina said, "Do you surrender and accept 
joining my family as mother and partner?"

Bronwyn tried once more to get up before saying, "I do."

Tarina let loose of Bronwyn and said, "Turn over."  Bronwyn did as 
ordered, Tarina still above her.  Tarina reached up and unclipped a 
feather she had clipped there.  "One last custom to adhere to in 
order to make this official.  This is a feather from a Darkett.  A 
rare bird found deep in the Amazon, my first kill."  She clipped the 
feather into Bronwyn's hair.  "Custom says you don't remove that 
except in my presence and with my permission."

"Anything else?"

"By my culture, no.  By yours, yes."

Bronwyn tried to think about what it could be, but had to ask, "What?"

Tarina leaned forward and said, "I believe you call it 'consummating 
the union'," and kissed Bronwyn.  Bronwyn wrapped her arms around 
Tarina's neck and kissed back, feeling Tarina slide her hands under 
her blouse and gently massage her breasts.

"Mmmm, want to take this upstairs?"

"Actually, there's something you should know about me."  Tarina 
yanked her arms apart, ripping Bronwyn's blouse open.  She held up 
her finger and shifted just it into cat-woman form.  She said, "I'm 
not a patient woman," as she clawed the fabric between Bronwyn's bra 
cups, splitting it wide open.  Tarina pulled her t-shirt off (like 
Tasha, she preferred athletic loose fitting clothes), then leaned 
over and kissed Bronwyn again, rubbing their breasts together.

Tarina kissed her way down Bronwyn's neck and down her breast, taking 
her nipple and suckling it like a baby.  Bronwyn took Tarina's 
breasts in hand and rubbed them as Tarina sucked on her nipples. 
Although Bronwyn supposed she should've expected it, she was 
surprised when Tarina actually started to purr.  Tarina moved her way 
down Bronwyn's body, lifted her skirt, and pulled her panties down. 
She started licking Bronwyn's cunt and Bronwyn threw her head back in 
physical joy.

Bronwyn sat back and enjoyed Tarina's tongue, when the sensations 
became more intense.  Bronwyn looked up and saw that Tarina had 
shifted into her cat woman form, and was using her now feline tongue 
on Bronwyn's cunt.  Tarina reached up and started rubbing Bronwyn's 
breasts with her furred hands.  Bronwyn came almost immediately from 
the velvety touch on her nipples.

Tarina shifted back and lay beside her "wife".  The two women kissed. 
"You're incredible," Bronwyn said.

"Thanks."

Bronwyn shoved Tarina on her back.  "My turn."  Bronwyn reached down 
and undid her lover's pants.  She pulled them off, and asked, "Do you 
ever wear any lingerie?"

"If I have to, but usually not."

Bronwyn just smiled and pulled Tarina's pants off.  She went between 
Tarina's legs and started licking the smaller woman's cunt.  Tarina 
moaned and took her own breasts in hand and started playing with her 
nipples.  The two moved together until Tarina came into Bronwyn's 
mouth.

After they finished, Bronwyn said, "I want to check the babies first, 
but let's take this to the bedroom.  I've got some toys I want to 
play with."

Tarina stood up, helped Bronwyn to her feet, and took her hand as 
they went upstairs.  They entered the nursery and saw Joe sitting on 
a chair with Alia in his arms, feeding her with a bottle.  "Hello, 
ladies.  Saw you playing together downstairs and didn't want to 
disturb you.  Glad to see you two got together on your own."

Bronwyn said, "It almost didn't happen.  Bum, you should've explained 
about Tarina's marriage ceremony."

Joe set the bottle down then proceeded to burp Alia.  "You're right. 
I'm sorry."

After Alia let loose her little burp, Bronwyn made a quick mental 
conversation with Tarina and said, "Sorry isn't good enough."

Joe had known a mental conversation had gone on, but had not tapped 
into it.  So he gave them a suspicious look and, as he put Alia back 
to bed, said, "Oh?  And what did you have in mind?"

Each of the women took one of his arms and dragged him back to the 
bedroom.  They quickly stripped him and threw him onto the bed. 
Shedding the last of their clothes, they jumped up and joined him.

As they started playing Joe said, "This is going to be fun.  Taxing, but fun."
-- 
"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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