And so, Ember breathed out a slow sigh.“I’m not going to force you to do anything, Ceaith,” he said, quietly. “But while we didn’t choose to...be married, we are. T-Through magic.” He gulped. “And that means trying to make this work.” He held out his hand. “Partners?”Ceaith opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Then, almost more angry now than she had been early: “How fucking dare you be ... fucking reasonable about this!”“What?” Ember asked, completely non-plussed.“I ... was getting a. More of who I already was. Reinforcing the things that defined me as me. I'm stronger today than I was yesterday, and our marriage has reached a milepost. Things will no longer be the same between us as they have been; both of us have changed as people. We are no longer the kids who said those vows to each other in front of their parents, are we?”“What does that mean? What... what do I say to them when we go downstairs?” She was totally lost, confused and looking to him for definition. She was. They always seem to have a hard time looking me in the eye. Once I thought a guy was going to start jerking off right there at the gas pump as he stared at me in one of my outfits! After leaving the gas station I headed towards a small shopping center near my home. As I rounded the corner I noticed a motorcycle cop sitting on his motorcycle with his helmet off right near the intersection. He appeared to be watching traffic. I drove around the corner slowly and as I did I noticed that this cop. I was mildly surprised when Wes came to see why I hadn't joined in the fun, even expressing concern for me. I was pretty sure I convinced him that I'd broken up with Gerri on good terms, but that I was naturally still a bit down. I'd been feeding him information about our problems while Gerri was doing the same with her sorority sisters, and he didn't appear suspicious as he offered his brief condolences.Then he reverted to form and asked if I thought Gerri was really serious about 'this Alan.