"Yes, Mace?"

He growls, smiling. "I hate that name."

"What did you want to talk to me about, Mace?"

"Well, today is our anniversary so.."

"Want to go out?" I offer.

He was going to say it.

"Kids!" Mason announces.

The kids, who stay with us every week, once a month (we plan it like this, so we can have anniversary celebrations and things), appear.

"Yes mom?" Jake innocently asks, hands behind his back.

Yeah no, he did something.

"Okay. Fess up, and you won't get in trouble. I'll get Chase to tell me, and then you will be punished."

"You'll find out soon enough mom. Right Chase?"

"Yeah!"

"Anyways, what were you saying?"

"We are going out for the night, if ANYTHING happens, you call us immediately. Got it?"

"Yes mom."

"Let's go." Mason says.

We walk out the doors, "Italy?" I ask.

"La Bella e La Bestia."

"Sounds good. Lasagna is good there."

"Italian food is good." He says, giving me the 'are you even saying this?' Look.

"You bet."

Mason pulls the door open, holding it out for me. "My lady, go in first."

"You know, you don't have to act like a gentleman. You aren't one when it's not our anniversary."

"I feel obligated to every day this happens."

"Reservations for Mrs. Roth and Mr. Roth?" The waiter asks.

This place caters to immortals. Only immortals can see it.

"Yes!"

"Good, you will be seated across from miss and Mr. Ross."

Natalie and Liam. Or Evelyn and Asher. Their love story, it was beautiful. They lost each other like three times.

"Hey!" Natalie calls out, waving to us.

"Hey! How you been?"

"Great grandkids." She rolls her eyes. She's 200 years older than me.

"They aren't that bad." Liam says. Liam is 2002 years older.

"They don't listen. Braiden really needs to control his kids. Katelyns kids are the best."

Braiden is their grandson, Asher and Elaine's oldest child. Then they have fraternal twins, Katelyn and Calvin.

"Oh really?" Mason asks.

"Yeah. How have you guys been?"

"Busy as ever." I give a chuckle.

"Your kids found anyone yet?" Liam asks, taking a sip of water.

"Out oldest, Daniel, but Carter should be meeting his mate soon."

"That's good. He isn't your biological son, right?"

"No, but it's complicated."

"My name is Nadine, and I will be your waitress today. What's your beverage?" A short woman five three, probably, close cropped hair, with a tattoo lacing up her neck.

"Water." I announce, as Mason announces "Champaign."

"That be all for now?" She asks, in clipped English.

"Yes, thank you."

After dinner, we walk out, hand in hand, just looking at the hills. "You promise me something?" Mason asks.

"What?"

"Never, ever, ever tell anyone this."

Now he's got my interest.

"What?"

He leans close into my ear, his breath tickling my neck. "I love you."

"I must say something too."

"Tell me."

I lean close into his ear. "I love you more, today, tomorrow, and for time and all eternity."

He looks at me, dead in the eye. "For time and all eternity?"

"Yes."

"For time and all eternity. That's a promise." He says.

"And I keep my promises."

"Yes you do."

We aren't perfect, no, but we do our best.

And I will keep this promise.

****

AND THAT'S A WRAP.

Okay, but go check the shorts out. It's called 'Shorts'. Literally just shorts.

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