THE ELIZABETH SERIES
CHAPTER TWENTY
A LONG WALK THROUGH HIGH WEEDS
by JoLayne
EnyaJo@aol.com

RATING: ADULT - if you're too young, please hit the back button now.
CHARACTERS: M DM A OFC Elizabeth, Claire, Brett Maxwell,
Cameron James
SUMMARY: With each passing day, Methos' dream of Elizabeth's death
haunts them.
DISCLAIMER: Still applies from Chapter One.

~~~~~

FRIDAY AUGUST 9, 2002
SEACOUVER

When they got back to the brownstone, they put their stuff in Methos'
apartment. Elizabeth went upstairs and unlocked her apartment door, it was
still bare. But then she noticed a blood stain on the living room carpet. Did
she have some Resolve? Would it come out? Why hadn't she cleaned it up?
Before she could do anything  Methos walked in so she diverted his
attention by taking Claire from his arms. "Let's go back to your place. I'll
have to get some furniture," she said while backing him out of the
apartment.

He didn't know if he wanted anything to do with that place, having only
been in it that one time when he'd attacked her so he was more than fine
with leaving. In his apartment, on the other hand, all Elizabeth could think
of when she saw the desk and chair in his living room was Pyrius spying on
them. "Maybe it's time we found our own place," she suggested.

"We'll let that one go," he said, motioning to the ceiling. "This is my
building and I like living here."

Elizabeth was stunned. "You're... the Cerulean Blue Properties that I've
been writing a rent check to every damn month?"

"Yeah."

"You watched me write out the checks and put them in the mail."

He was smiling. "Yeah."

"I could have saved on postage if I'd  just handed it to you, or better yet,
you could have told me so I didn't have to throw away good money for rent
on an apartment that my husband already owns, therefore, I already own."

"What's the fun in that?"
                                   
"You didn't by chance own any of the buildings I lived in in New York, did
you?"

"No, I sold all my properties in New York during the 80's to some chump
named Trump."

"The Donald?"

He nodded, "At a very nice price, I might add."

"You want the baby to sleep with us?"

"No."

"Then we need more space," she had definitely decided. "Claire needs her
own room. She has more stuff than we do. Tomorrow, we're going on the
great home hunting search."

"A house? We have a house."

"I thought we agreed that Casa Segura would be our vacation home."

"We could get Claire into a good school in New York, or London."

"What's wrong with living in Seacouver?"

"I only moved here after making friends with MacLeod. This isn't my
home."

"Why didn't you say that before?"

"I didn't know you wanted to live here permanently. I just wanted to get
away from Sintra for the time being. I live in Paris, mostly."

"Since when?"

"Since the turn of the century."

She remembered where his apartment was in Paris, having been there while
he was dealing with his past. She didn't want that karma hanging over them
anymore. If she was going to lose her head, she wanted it to be Methos who
took it, but not now. Not when her life was so good. Then, she wondered if
Methos' dream meant someone was going to take her head, would it, in
fact, be Methos who would take it? 

Methos could read her thoughts and pulled her to him, held her. She asked,
"Pyrius isn't actually you in your dream, is he?"

Methos flinched and pulled back, "What?!"

"Nothing. I don't want to move to Paris. I don't want to learn French. I
want Claire in an American school system."

"We have years to think about it."

"Yes, we do," she smiled, happy Methos had let the dream and her
impending doom go for the moment. "Except, from hearing Amy talk, we
should get her registered in school as soon as possible. And, maybe I can
get back to teaching."

"You have a daughter to raise."

"We have a daughter."

"But it was your idea."

"It was both of our decision, right?"

"Of course," he acknowledged, but quickly said, "And you have to continue
training. You can start at the dojo tomorrow. MacLeod's got a lot of ideas
on workouts and I want you to excel at all of them. You've been slacking
off. No more." 

Methos held her again and caressed her hair. Elizabeth could feel him
shutter when he said, "I will not lose you."

"Or Claire?"

"I will not lose you or Claire. To anyone."

They set up Claire's crib in the living room and put her in it. Elizabeth
wondered if he regretted taking Claire on. Regretted marrying her. If he
regretted having them in his life. If he would just rather go live in what she
imagined was a one bedroom apartment in Paris with no commitments, no
responsibilities. But then, Methos leaned heavily on the crib to check it's
stability. "I don't want her to fall out." At that moment, she knew she was
just being silly.

~~~~~

LATER

They forgot that Duncan had gone to Sintra for Warren and Brynn's
wedding that weekend. So rather than going out, they got to looking at their
daughter, each other, and ended up planted in the apartment for a while.
Elizabeth looked up at the ceiling as they were watching TV in the living
room. Saw what she thought was a dead insect in the light fixture. He knew
she was looking at it, that she was going to want to clean it, but he was too
comfortable stretched out on the couch with his head on her lap. "Do it
later."

She turned her attention back to the TV, but couldn't get it out of her mind.
She had to get rid of it. "I can't stand it."

"Why now? I'm comfortable."

"I didn't know it was there before. It's like a big flashing neon sign saying,
'Don't be a lazy ass, clean me'."

She climbed up on a chair and unscrewed the fixture. Picked up the
'insect'...  that turned out to be connected with wires. She pulled at it,
snapping the wires. The sound made Methos take his eyes off the TV to
ask, "What the hell kind of bug was that?"

"That's what I'd like to know," she said, examining it closely. She got
down from the chair and showed it to Methos. A bugging device. She asked
him, "Who put it there? Are there more?"

After only seconds of processing this turn of events, staring numbly at each
other, they tore through the apartment looking for more devices. Methos
took the bedroom, he found another one behind the headboard. Elizabeth
found one under the cupboard in the bathroom. Methos found none in the
kitchen, but Elizabeth found one under the dining room table.

There were four in Methos' apartment. Methos searched the foyer and
found another one positioned between the mailboxes and the wall.
Elizabeth, remembering Pyrius' visions, of them when they came back
from Hawaii, said, "It was Pyrius. I thought I heard  what we said because I
had been a part of it, but Pyrius knew too much about our conversations,
what we said to each other. It was him."
                                                  
"What are you talking about? Remember, it was you doing what you did."

"No, no... During the quickening... I not only saw us from across the street,
but heard us... making love on the chair in there..." she pointed at the door
to the apartment. "He saw us from afar, the sounds were like over the
phone."

Methos didn't like it at all, but joked, "How did I sound?"

"Like you were in a hole." He laughed, looking at her crotch. "You know
what I mean!" She had to laugh too. "Like you were yelling up from in a
hole... oh, never mind."

She barreled into the apartment and he laughed as he followed, then
sobered with the realization that the man just wouldn't go away. "That's
how he knew your name. That's how he knew what we were going to do
that night, go to Mac's."

She clutched the bugs in her hands. "How could we not have seen them
before?"

"We weren't looking for them. I haven't spent a lot of time here since."
Methos shrugged, "Let's hope it was Pyrius."

"It had to be."

They destroyed them all and tried to put it out of their minds. Pyrius was
dead. There was nothing he could do that would bring them any kind of
trouble again. But Elizabeth said, "I'm going apartment hunting first thing
in the morning."

"Good idea."

~~~~~

AUGUST 11, 2002

Elizabeth was adamant she would be the one to pick out their new place.
Methos only needed a modem connection and a place to lay his head at
night, so he didn't rush to offer to go with her, and Claire didn't need to be
dragged to every apartment, condo and townhouse listed on the market.
After putting on her lightweight long coat and grabbing the apartment
vacancy listings from the newspaper, Methos made sure Elizabeth had
decent running shoes on and that her sword was in her coat, "Promise me,
you will run if you feel anyone, don't stop to check who it is. There are
churches on almost every street corner in this city. Use them. Do you have
your cell phone? Is it charged?"

"Did you dream it again?"

Nodding gravely, he admitted that he had, once again, dreamt it the night
before. She was scared, he was having the dream too often. His captivity
dream had come true, this one could also. She stood in stony silence. He
put his hand to her cheek and she hugged him, desperately asking. "Where
is it going to happen?"

"It happened in Portugal in my dream."

"So, I'm safe anywhere else?"

"I don't know."

"Could it happen here? In this apartment? I can't just stay home until you
dream that I'll still be around in a couple of years."

"I don't know."

She shoved him away, "Then what good is your dream! Tell me about it
again. What happened!"

Methos sat her down and told her, "I was walking through the woods at
dawn. It was morning, early morning. I heard a child's cry, saw a white cat.
I held car keys, I saw a house. It seemed to be our house in Sintra, but it
changed colors. I walked through high weeds. I heard a fight. I fell over the
drop off on our property, then saw you in a fight with Pyrius. You turned
and looked at me, I yelled for you to duck but he took your head. Your head
flew through the air, landed in some weeds. A piece of paper floated in the
air. It was a Visa for Paris. That's where Amanda found Claire. Pyrius
laughed as I picked up your head and laid it by your neck. I kissed you, I
shut your eyes. I turned your body over and saw that you had been cut open.
Your guts were hanging out."

It was the same as he'd told her before, and she didn't want to hear
anymore. "That could mean anything, because, for one... Pyrius is dead and
there are no cats around."

"This time, I can't seem to zero in on what it all means."

She'd had thoughts of her death all her life, especially after turning
immortal. She wondered when it would happen, how, and mostly
importantly, by whom. What would happen to her body. But for Methos to
simply state the condition of her remains made her almost want to throw
up. "The dream may not even be about me. You were sliced open that way
by Pyrius, maybe that's why I was in your dream. Are you still going
through the remnants of Pyrius?" As if to calm her own mind, she said, "He
killed you." Methos only nodded, his agreeing with her only made her
uncomfortable because it was obviously a lackluster agreement, it wasn't at
all hopeful. 
                                         
"We found Pyrius' bugs in the apartment, could that be the reason for last
night's dream?" He only shrugged. She asked, "Do you know when it's
going to happen?"

"No."

"So, it may not be for years." When he only sadly looked at her, she said,
"Months? Weeks? Today?" He brought her head to his and leaning his
forehead against hers held her when she slowly broke down. "Damn it. Just
when my life is so good."

"I love you, Lizzie."

"But you can't stop it?"

"I don't know. You have to keep in shape."

"Look," she pulled away and straightened her coat. "This is silly. I'm not
going to be afraid. It's what we all live with. We will all eventually meet up
with somebody and be taken. It could happen at any time. It could happen
to you! I'll just be more careful, look at who's around me, not trust anyone.
I'll run if a strange immortal shows his face, or hers. I'm going to find us a
place, a safe place. A place I love. Damn it, I'm not going to die!" 

She started to pack up Claire's backpack for the afternoon's errand, but
Methos stopped her. "I'm keeping her, remember?"

"So she's not left to rot in a dark alley when I lose my head, or so she won't
get killed too?"

"So you'll be quicker to take off if you see anyone."

"You don't think I can take care of myself?" 

"You have to live your life but you also must protect it. Please... keep an
eye out."

She dropped Claire's backpack and went to the door, "You know, that
could be what it's about. Claire. The Paris Visa, the baby crying. She was
found in Paris. She's a premmie, maybe she turns before her time?" Methos
didn't think so, and shook his head so she wouldn't think that either, so that
she'd be focused on protecting her own head. "You keep a close eye on
her."

Methos nodded, "Come back, I need to see you again."

"I will." She left, slowly closing the door behind her. Methos knew she
couldn't be stapled to his hip until she bit the bullet.  She had to go out in
the world. Fend for herself. He couldn't get past the feeling that he may
have seen her for the last time. He had turned toward the window so he
could watch her walk away when Elizabeth walked back into the apartment.
She just had to hold her husband for what might be the last time. 

Elizabeth whispered into his neck, "I love you, too." She kissed her
daughter on the forehead as she slept, blissfully unaware of what 
immortals go through on a day to day basis. 

~~~~~

MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2002
NORTON PLACE COMPLEX

It had been three months since Methos and Elizabeth moved back to
Seacouver. They had gotten used to their new place in a great upwardly
mobile neighborhood full of stockbrokers, young physicians, Internet
business owners, and a couple of old widows who hadn't sold their condos
to the families who were taking over. The only controversy brewing was
the hike in property taxes to pay for the new kindergarten to be built just
down the street.

Methos hadn't known if he'd fit in after she showed it to him the first time,
but he had become comfortable. An immortal scouting heads, wouldn't be
an everyday occurrence , not in this family neighborhood. Methos had
finally kissed his wife, in thanks for finding them the perfect hiding place. 

Another plus with the condo was it's close proximity to Duncan and
Amanda at the loft. Those two were still taking it slow, something they had
never done in their long, shared history. On a lazy afternoon while Amanda
and Elizabeth were painting the kitchen, she had even confided that she and
Duncan hadn't slept together since before James had kidnaped Elizabeth.
She couldn't believe it since they seemed to the be type that went at it like
rabbits. She also couldn't believe that Amanda had offered to help paint her
kitchen. For Amanda, the thought of wine and having Elizabeth owe her a
favor were good enough reasons to agree.

Methos and Duncan arrived and found them in the kitchen with a Mozart
CD on the stereo, "You're painting a wall on our anniversary?" Methos
tried to determine the color, and asked, "Brown?"

"Are you color-blind? It's burgundy," Elizabeth said, then pointed at some
supplies on the table. "I'm going to stencil flowers along the top and maybe
stain the cupboards a littler shade. Won't it look great?"

He only shrugged whatever, and kissed her. Duncan and Amanda shared a
smile of excitement about the secret plans they had made for their friends.
Claire cried out from her bedroom and Elizabeth immediately went to get
her. Duncan whispered to Amanda, "You didn't spill the beans, did you?"

Methos asked, "What beans?"

Duncan shook his head, the man had hearing that would make the CIA
jealous. Since Elizabeth wasn't there, he said, "We'll wait until Liz is done
with Claire."

Methos looked at Amanda, happy as a clam, putting the paint brush on a
palette, done for the day. "Spill it," he ordered.

"In a minute, Methos," Amanda said.

"Liz?" he yelled down the hall. "Come here, there's something going on."

Elizabeth, carrying Claire, came in, "What? What happened?"

Amanda reached into her bag simulating surprise. "I don't have it. Do you
have it?"

Duncan, exasperated, felt all his pockets, "No, I gave it to you."

"Did you?" Amanda said, going through her bag. "I don't think you gave it
to me."

"Amanda, I handed it to you this morning, just after you arrived as I was
leaving to pick up Methos."

"Guys," Methos said. "You don't have to get us anything. You're
babysitting tonight, that's good enough."

"They're babysitting?" Elizabeth hadn't been clued into that.

"Yes," Methos put his arm around her. "We have reservations at the
Seasons, then we're going to go dancing, then... whatever. They're taking
Claire tonight so we can be alone." He kissed her and said, "Happy
anniversary."

"No, you're not," Duncan said.

Methos pulled away from the kiss to stare at Duncan, "Hm?"

Duncan asked Amanda, "Do you have it?"

"Yes," she pulled a folded paper out of the side pocket and presented it to
Duncan. "I was just teasing."

"Have what?" Elizabeth leaned closer to Duncan to see what their gift was.
"Real Estate?" 

He playfully pushed her back and said, "Get outta here."

Methos had never cared for their pleasant demeanor with each other, and
for just a second, his mind thought back to the first prophetic dream he'd
had that included Elizabeth. He'd never gotten around to asking Duncan if
he had ever kissed Elizabeth, because he didn't want to know  the answer.
He didn't think jealousy was an emotion that he wore well, so he always
pushed the question aside. 

As Duncan unfolded the itinerary, Amanda excitedly said, "I've been
busting to tell you all day, but I didn't," she made sure Duncan heard that.
"Can I tell them?"

"Sure," Duncan said. "Since I canceled your reservations at the Seasons for
you."

"Why?"

"Because you're going to the Tree Top," Amanda said.

Methos didn't like how  this was turning out. Duncan had the audacity to
cancel a reservation of his? "What in the hell is the Tree Top?"

"It's a beautiful, quiet, obscenely expensive restaurant," Duncan said.
"They know you're coming and Amanda and I have instructed them to
make sure you have a wonderful dinner, then you can dance in their
ballroom."

"But where is it?"

"Puget Sound," Amanda said. "I'm surprised you haven't been there." She
took the paper from Duncan and handed it to Elizabeth, "You're getting a
week's stay at a five star hotel, the exquisite Regalia Inn. You will be
treated to massages, mud baths, anything you desire. That's your
reservation."

"It's all on us," Duncan said. "Champagne, caviar, whatever they offer,
whatever you want."

Methos smiled, looking at the parchment. "Thanks." It only took him a
moment to be mentally out the door. "We'll pack up Claire's things for
you."

"A week?" Elizabeth was overwhelmed by the gift and didn't want to be a
stick in the mud, but had to ask, "Do they take kids?"

Methos and the others looked at her. "That wouldn't make it very romantic,
would it?"

"I've never left Claire alone overnight and  I'm not certain that I can start to
right now."

Amanda said, "Hey, we can take care of her. Mac and I have 1600 years of
experience between us, she'll be fine. And it will be fun."

However, Elizabeth couldn't forget how happy Amanda had been  to get rid
of Claire after finding her and she wasn't at all prepared to just leave Claire
with them with no warning. Duncan said, "We didn't get you a wedding
present, so we wanted to do something really special for your anniversary."

Amanda said, "And what's greater than time alone together? I figured that
anything  I could buy wouldn't be personal enough and taking Claire off
your hands would be appreciated."

Methos nodded, indicating he thought it was a nice idea. At the same time,
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, thanks, but no. It wouldn't feel right."

"Does she sleep through the night?"

"Mostly."

"How much trouble can she be?"

"Trouble? She's no trouble, but I didn't ask for this. You don't have to take
her."

Methos said, "It would be nice to have a week,  just the two of us."

"Claire's in the way?"

He stepped back, not wanting to get into it. Amanda kissed Claire's head
and gently took her from Elizabeth. "She's going to be fine. I promise,"
Amanda said.

Methos said, "She'll be fine. They're not chumps and they know her. Let's
go."

"You guys could have prepared me for this. It's a great present, but," she
started to say.

"It's only Puget Sound," Duncan said. "If you miss Claire, you can always
be back home within an hour." He put his hand on her neck and gently
shook her, "But she'll be fine with us. She'll be safe. She won't starve.
We'll give her our undivided attention."

Just seeing Claire in Amanda's arms was enough for her to start missing
her. She thought that time alone with Methos would be great for a nice
dinner and dancing. Then she saw the look in his eye that had always given
her shivers, exciting her, and she wondered if she was a bad mother to take
them up on their offer. When she saw the amenities they offered at the
hotel, it seemed like a dream come true. "Okay, if I can come home when I
want to. But I don't know what I'll do with myself without her."

"You've been a mother too long." Methos kissed her, then smiled, "Let me
remind you what you can do."

~~~~~

REGALIA INN

 Three days later, Methos had finally gotten Elizabeth to cut the calls to
check on Claire down to only three times a day. They had taken advantage
of everything the hotel offered, although Elizabeth would have rather
visited the buffets a little more often than the well-stocked gym that was
Methos' preference. After Methos vetoed spending the afternoon skiing, as
she wouldn't be able to fight on skis if it came to that, and his dream was
always on his mind, they walked through the bird atrium, received
massages and were just getting back to their room after dinner. They knew
there were other guests at the hotel, but the layout of the restaurant
provided all customers a private nook. 

They walked into their room to see a chilled bottle of champagne, escargot,
a roaring fire, lit candles, soft music on the stereo and rose petals on the
turned down bed. "They want us to get it on yet again?"

Methos was proud, "They followed my instructions to the letter."

"So this was your idea?" She snuggled up to him. "You didn't have to work
that hard, I'm easy."

Methos opened the champagne, the cork hit the ceiling and he held the
bottle over their mouths to catch the foam. Elizabeth grabbed the glasses
for him to fill, when they felt the unmistakable buzz of another immortal.
They hoped it meant that Duncan and Amanda were making a surprise
visit, but that would be hoping for too much. "Stay here," Methos told her,
and she didn't need to be told twice. Elizabeth slowly stepped back, then
checked the lock on the window in case a quick exit was necessary.
                                                  
     
Methos looked out of the peephole, then slowly opened the door with his
Ivanhoe in his hand. He looked both ways down the hall and didn't see
anyone. When he stepped out, a female immortal sauntered into view  from
around the corner. She had long blond hair in a braid that laid over her right
shoulder. Her clothes were male, from the Wild, Wild West, from the top
of her cowboy hat, to the tip of her snake skin boots. She confidently stood
with her feet apart, her sword tip in the carpet between them. 

Since he didn't know her from a hole in the ground, and staring her down,
didn't even make her flinch, Methos went back into their room and
slammed the door behind him.  He leaned against the door and wondered if
Pyrius in his dream could have been a woman. When her buzz faded, he
checked the hall again, the whole floor. She was gone. As he made his way
back to the room, he figured she could have just been a guest in the hotel, it
could be a coincidence. 

Methos found Elizabeth in the locked bathroom, on the phone to Amanda,
wondering if Claire was all right, or if  they'd come across any immortals.
She knew she was being silly, but Methos' reaction to the buzz didn't do
anything but make Elizabeth less paranoid, thinking  the whole world was
against them. She told Amanda, "We're on our way home, have Claire
ready in a couple of hours, please?"

Methos didn't argue, and for that, she was glad. She asked him, "Who was
it?"

"I don't know. I've never seen her before."

"It was a her? Like Brynn?"

"No," Methos smiled liking that she still thought of Brynn a lot, jealousy
looked good on her. He chuckled, surprised that she was still clinging to it,
and realized that he liked it. Her worried face, on the other hand, he didn't
like, so he told her, "The woman was more along the line of Ellie May
Clampett. She's gone."

"I don't know how much time I have left," Elizabeth admitted, "but I don't
want to be away from Claire again."

Methos paused, realizing that  his dream was taking over control  of their
life, but they had to be careful. He nodded, and said, "Let's go home."

~~~~~

DECEMBER 31, 2002
NORTON PLACE COMPLEX

After painting the kitchen and doing the stenciling, Elizabeth  wanted to do
more. So she  had done some sort of remodeling in every room in the
condo. She told Methos it was for something to do, she needed to keep
busy, not that it was soothing her mind about the dangers out there.  She
could very possibly, very soon, loose her head. Elizabeth showed Amanda
her handiwork, and Amanda was impressed. "You painted clouds in
Claire's room?"

"Remember that movie, Kramer v. Kramer? I've always liked that kid's
room," Elizabeth said, standing back as Amanda ran her hand over the
white fluffy clouds painted on the wall.

"They're very realistic," she said. "You're good at this."

"Well, I want your opinion on something," Elizabeth told her, ushering her
into the living room.

"Liz," Amanda said on the way, "I'm not a decorator."

"No, but you are a shopper," she sat Amanda down in front of the coffee
table filled with open catalogs. For the rest of * New Year's Eve afternoon,
they went through the batch of catalogs looking for the perfect wardrobe
that Elizabeth thought she wanted and needed. She hadn't bought new
clothes in so long, and needed a change in every aspect of her life.  Sipping
tea they went through them as Claire slept in the play pen on the floor. The
day was relaxed and carefree, until Amanda made a flippant remark about
James. Elizabeth told her, "Please, Amanda. Please make a point not to tell
Methos anything about James and about my being kidnaped or anything
that will spoil his mood."

"Is he here right now?" Amanda wondered why a simple remark was taken
so seriously.

"No," Elizabeth admitted. "Sorry for assuming you'd forget yourself."

"What does Methos have to be worried about?"

Elizabeth didn't want to tell her about the dream, so instead she asked,
"What doesn't he worry about?"

Amanda smiled she had to agree, but then she leaned forward to make sure
she was being understood, "Look at what a little lack of communication did
to Mac and I."

"We communicate," Elizabeth quickly said. "And I'm not going after a
ruby behind his back. I just don't want a non-issue to be an issue. Methos
can worry more than an old woman with a bad HMO." She laughed along
with Amanda, but with an uneasiness that she shared with her husband.

Amanda said, "Well, it's your life."

"Have you heard from James since then?"

Amanda tossed out, "I thought I wasn't supposed to talk about him."

"I only mean that," Elizabeth started, she wanted to make sure he wasn't a
threat to her or her family's welfare.

Amanda said, "I was kidding. No, Liz. I'm never having anything to do
with him again. It's over. Promise. Why? Have you?"

"No," she said, almost choking on her tea. "Of course not. I learned my
lesson."

"Good," Amanda said, then stood after hearing Methos' antique cuckoo
clock on the wall ring out the hour of five. "I have to get ready. I'm taking
Mac to the Crystal Ballroom tonight. I have to look perfect. 

Elizabeth smiled, "And smell good... and maybe later... feel good?"

"Liz, tonight's the night. We've been going slow long enough. I've tried
every hint in the book and he hasn't taken a nibble. So, I'm going to throw
myself at him."

Methos walked in with some bags and commented, "You talking about me?
Hey, I can duck."

Amanda walked past him on the way to the door, said, "Happy New Year,
Methos."

"David," he had to remind her again.

"Whatever." 

"Good luck tonight," Elizabeth said as she stooped down to see to Claire,
who woke up from her nap with all the commotion.

Amanda's Mae West impression was perfect when she thrust out her hip,
saying, "Luck has nothing to do with it," and twirled around to walk out the
door. 

Methos closed it behind her, and faced his wife. "Good luck with what?"
Methos put the bags down as Claire cooed at Elizabeth who was playfully
poking her nose. "What is she up to now?"

"The seduction of Duncan MacLeod." Claire squealed and lifted herself up
using the coffee table, making Elizabeth yell, "Hey! She stood up. Is that
early or late or what? Is she normal?"

Methos picked up Elizabeth's camera on the table and took their picture.
"How am I supposed to know?"

"I thought you knew everything. Dr. Spock said every baby is different and
goes at their own pace. But this one," she smiled at Claire, hunched over
standing at  the table, with a big toothless grin, proud of herself, knowing
she did something great. "Is perfect."

Methos sat on the couch and continued to take pictures, making Elizabeth
scowl, "I look awful."

"You look great," he said and he refused to stop taking more.

"No makeup, my hair isn't combed, my shirt has spit up on it, thank God I
only saw Amanda today. She's seen me looking worse." The flash went off
again in her face and she said, "Stop it."

"No." Methos got on his knees and kept taking pictures as she tried to hide
her face. He laughed, "You don't like it when the shoe is on the other foot,
do you? You're always taking pictures of me even after I ask you to quit."

Elizabeth lifted Claire up to put her between her and the camera. Methos
took a couple of pictures of Claire looking  confused, drooling. "Here,"
Elizabeth said as she stood up. "Take her."

Methos put the camera on the floor and took Claire, laying her on his arm.
"What are you doing?"

"I'm curious to see what you bought," Elizabeth opened one of the bags on
the floor.

"Nothing you'd be interested in."

"I'm interested in everything you do and buy, Methos." She looked in
another bag. "CDs and a case of beer?"

"The important things in life..." Methos mused, playing who's got your
nose with Claire. He lifted her up above him. A ball of drool formed at the
side of her smiling mouth, and he hurriedly moved her over so it ended up
landing on his shoulder, not on his nose. He stood her up between his legs
when he sat down and he felt her strong leg muscles.

She asked, "These are just more recordable CDs. For your journal?" He
nodded as Elizabeth tossed him a spit rag, "I finished the 1600s. Why aren't
you transcribing them in order?"

"I'm translating what I have at the time. I really should organize all my
boxes."

"I thought your journals were all the truth and nothing but the truth."

"They are," Methos was offended. 

"Um... I don't think so," Elizabeth smirked.

"What?"

Elizabeth laughed, even he could go too far in the bragging department. "I
know you think highly of yourself, but am I supposed to believe that you
were the actual model for the sculpture 'David'?"

Methos set Claire down and jumped to his feet, immediately taking  the
stance of Bernini's sculpture, as if ready to cast a stone at the great Giant
Goliath. Elizabeth was confused, "What are you doing?"

"This is the pose."

"No, it's not," Elizabeth shook her head. "I've seen 'David' many times. I
knew you were stretching the truth a tad."

"What do you think the statue looks like?"                       
     

She put her hands down at her sides, shifted her weight to the left, then the
right and lifted her left arm to her collarbone, "I don't remember now," she
said, shifting her arms from the down to the top position. "Which arm is
raised? I guess I've always concentrated on his weenie."

He smiled, "You like that word."

"And you like to have it hanging out," she fondly remembered their first
meeting in the woods, after surprising him in his sleep.

"That's Michelangelo's 'David'," he informed her. "I was Bernini's
'David', the one with action."

"Oh, you didn't mention that. Who's Bernini?"

Methos wondered aloud, "What kind of history professor were you?"

"I don't think Bernini ever fought in the Civil War. And there were two
sculptures of 'David'?"

"There were four. I was the last and best." She only stared at him,
scrutinized him, to which he asked. "What?"

"Was Bernini a man or a woman?"

"A man. Gian. I didn't mention him in my journal?"

"No."

Methos pondered, "Well, I really should mention him. I held him in great
regard. It's a good thing you're reading the journal, so I will know what I
should explain more."

"You thinking of getting it published?"

"No," he quickly said. "Just so I remember a thousand years from now."

"You're awfully sure of yourself."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Is that where you got the name David?"

He shrugged, "Maybe."

"I've never heard of this Bernini, and why would there be four sculpture of
the same thing?"

"You're challenging what I say?"

"Yes."

"You'll be proved wrong."

"Ah, huh."

He went to his library in the study and pulled out an art book, flipped a few
pages and showed her the statue of 'David' by Gian Bernini. "I was his
apprentice, and he decided to sculpt me."

"Was that all he decided to do?"

Methos was mum, stood proud as a peacock, as she looked at the picture,
then at Methos, back and forth, looking at their facial structure. "Either
you're lying or Bernini isn't the best sculptor in the world. I don't see the
resemblance."

"Bernini was gifted. That's me," he grudgingly said, "look at the nose."

"You're the only guy who's ever lived with a... very nice nose? That's
going too far, Methos."

"You wanna bet?"

"Sure."

He grabbed her hand. "If you lose... which you will... you have to... dance
naked in the Trivoli Fountain."

"I will not!"

Methos made a chicken noise.

"Dance naked, huh," she asked, smiling. "How long?"

Methos thought, "Three minutes. That will be long enough to get you
arrested."

"At what time of day?"

He picked a time, "3:30."

"I assume you mean 3:30 in the afternoon?"

"Of course." She only looked at him. He smiled, "You're not too confident
anymore, are you?"

"There's no way to verify it!"

"Then you've already lost."

She took his hand and stated, "When I have verifiable proof that you are
delusional..."

"I'm not dancing naked in a fountain."

"You have to ... " she thought...

He dismissed it with the wave of his hand, "Whatever. Doesn't matter.
You're losing anyway."

"Is there anyone who's alive, that was alive then? What immortals are over,
what? 400 and some years old? Duncan?"

"He was only a babe."

"Warren? Amanda!"

"No, I'm not trusting my dignity to Amanda!"

"She gets around, she lived in Italy around that time, if I remember right."
     
"But she wouldn't remember me with Gian."

"Amanda said that she hadn't even met you until Duncan introduced you,
but maybe she met this Bernini fellow."

"She has a lousy memory, don't count on it. And she isn't one to testify or
deny anything to do with me."

"Unless, of course, she sides with you."

"Ah, yeah," he nodded. " That'd be okay."

Claire fell in the living room and started crying, making Elizabeth bolt to
her. Methos hadn't come in, so she mused, "Renaissance painter's
apprentice..." She hollered to him, "You have quite the resume!"

She heard him yell back from the kitchen, "You don't know the half of it!"

They evening, they toasted in a new year, for the first time, together.
Elizabeth said, "Well, I made it to the end of the year."

The dream was never far from Methos' mind, but he hadn't verbalized it to
her because of the way she had reacted when they first moved back to
Seacouver. He had picked that dream apart in his mind and wondered if he
got anything wrong. They'd lived for months without anything happening
except the  strengthening of their family unit and he hadn't dreamt it again.
Methos held her head and pulled her in, kissed her. "Happy New Year. I
love you."

Those words were still music to her ears, even though he had taken great
pains to say them a lot over the last three months as if she could forget. 

~~~~~

FEBRUARY 17, 2003
NORTON PLACE COMPLEX

Methos made sure the candles were straight on the cake and set the present
from Claire to Elizabeth on the table. Claire was nine months old and
Methos realized she was getting heavier when he lifted her into the high
chair, careful not the crease the nice dress he'd put on her without Elizabeth
seeing. Claire was walking with trepidation and her hair was down to her
waist. Methos was proud, she was strong from standing up on his lap all her
life, she had to have strong legs. She was giggly, happy, showing
personality, and Methos saw Elizabeth's expressions in their little girl.

He made a last minute adjustment to the six place settings on the dining
table before calling to Elizabeth in the bedroom, "You can come out now."

Elizabeth emerged wearing the same green dress she'd worn the first time
he laid eyes on her in the 20th century, at Amy and Kevin's the week of
their wedding in New York. "I love birthdays," she told him, kissed him,
then Claire, and saw the wrapped gift. "A present! Thank you." The extra
place settings confused her, "Duncan and Amanda are out of town."

Methos kissed Elizabeth again, and said, "You look beautiful."

"What did you get me?"

"Well, Claire got you that," he pointed to the present on the table. 

"Can I open it?"

"I don't know, can you?"

"Okay, Mr. Grammar. I'm opening it. It's my birthday, I can talk with bad
grammar if I want to." She pulled off the pretty silver etched paper and
hurriedly opened the long narrow box. When it glittered back at her, she
had to sit down. It was the sapphire bracelet that Methos hadn't had the
chance to give her on their first Christmas, before she walked out on him.
When he went to Sintra to pay bills, he found it and decided to give it to
her, finally, before she was gone from him forever. 

"It's beautiful, Methos," as she put it on. He clasped it for her and kissed
her, didn't tell her that he'd had it for over two years. Then Elizabeth kissed
Claire, who liked the attention, and didn't want to stay in the highchair,
wanted to be held.

The doorbell rang and Methos said, "Ah, my present for you is here."

The squeals were loud as Amy and Kevin walked in with Joey walking
behind. "Amy! You didn't tell me on the phone last night you were coming.
Why!?"

"It was a surprise. David bought our tickets and told me not to tell you,
that's why I called last night, to wish you a happy birthday so you wouldn't
get suspicious."

Elizabeth was about ready to bawl, it was so great to see them, she didn't
want to let go of her 'sister'. She did ,only to hug Methos and whisper,
"Thank you, honey. It's the best present you could have given me." She
bent down to their little boy and softly said, "And Joey, how are you?
You're so big. Can I have a hug?"

He shook his head. Elizabeth said, "You don't remember me, do you?" He
shook his head. "That's okay. We'll get to know each other, would that be
fine with you?"

He nodded. Duncan and Amanda walked in with boxes. Amanda handed
hers to Methos and greeted Amy and Kevin, then kissed Elizabeth on the
cheek, "Happy Birthday, hon."

"My favorite people are all here" Elizabeth said as a tear slipped down her
cheek. "If only Joe and Caroline were too, it would be complete."

Amy took one look at Claire in the highchair and declared, "She is
absolutely gorgeous!" She went to her slowly and caressed Claire's cheek.
"She's so precious. Can I hold you?" Claire lifted her arms and Amy pulled
her out of the highchair.

After introducing Claire to Joey, she remarked, "There could be a match in
a couple decades or so."

Methos asked Kevin, "Hey, Kevin, how about a beer?"

"You're speaking my language."

Methos and Kevin started for the kitchen when Duncan came out. He said,
"We can eat in about 20 minutes," and headed off to join the men.

"What are we having?"

"Methos made us pick up something called Toki Loki. It smelled good,"
Duncan shrugged, "but I have no idea what it is."

Elizabeth smiled, remembered his bringing it home when he surprised her
with tickets to Hawaii. Amanda asked, "Is that your favorite?"

"Kind of."

"What is it?"

"Crow," Elizabeth smiled at Methos, that made them all wonder and stare
at the mysterious meat surrounded by vegetables on the plate in the middle
of the table.

Amanda, Amy and Elizabeth were doing dishes after dinner, talking about
how stuffed they were. Methos came in with a couple of wine glasses and
commented, "Well, you don't have to have seconds if you don't want to be
stuffed. And you should watch your weight."

Amy said, "What a thing to say!"

Elizabeth, used to it, commented to Methos, "You had seconds, too."

"But I'm not the one in training."

"Not now, please? Not now. It's my birthday for Gods' sake. Are you going
to tell me I can't have some of my own birthday cake?"

After Methos quietly left, Amy asked, "What's that all about?"

~~~~~

FEBRUARY 18, 2003
DOJO

Joe sat back on a chair with Claire, after he made his appearance known to
them at the dojo when he saw that Amy and her family were in town. Their
flight was so covert, she hadn't let him know. Amy and Kevin, with Joey
on his lap, huddled with Joe as they watched the immortals. A little remark
by Methos, about how Elizabeth had let herself go made her do exactly 
what he hoped. She picked up a stick and held it offensively in front of her.
"Okay, buster. Let's have a go."

They batted the sticks together and fought with the sticks whipping about.
Things got hairy as they each got their frustrations out. She didn't like him
thinking she'd lose a fight, and he hadn't seen her working out as much as
he'd hoped.

Duncan and Amanda stood back to watch. Duncan couldn't stay out of it
when he noticed a weakness in Elizabeth's thrusts. Methos had no problem
countering it, but wasn't following through like an immortal with a mission
would. He picked up a stick and demonstrated what she had done wrong,
then suggested a motion to offset Methos' attack . Then he asked him to
recreate the move. Elizabeth stood back with Amanda, leaning on her stick,
watching.

Methos interrupted Duncan in the midst of a expert move by batting his
stick away. "No, no, no. It looks pretty, but you're leaving your left side
wide open. I could have taken you, no problem." 

Duncan smiled, "I was hoping you would. Why didn't you go for it? I was
prepared."

Methos lectured Elizabeth, "Don't you ever do that. I've got a better way."
He told Duncan, "Just try that move again, if... you... dare..." Duncan
smiled and did. 

Amy and Kevin were in awe of them. When they'd look over at Joe for his
mortal reaction to immortal fighting, Joe could only look at his grandson. It
had been too long since he'd seen him. Between watching Methos, going to
where he had falsely reported that Methos was in his Chronicle so the
Watchers wouldn't be wise, and spending time with his wife when he was
in New York, it had been a hectic time for Joe. It had been too long since
he was able to spend quality time with Joey and Amy, and Caroline never
failed to complain that he was never home. 

Methos defended against Duncan's swings with no visible effort, used only 
two thrusts to disarm him. The stick flew out of Duncan's hand and up in
the air... Kevin had to hit the floor or it would have smacked him right in
the face clear on the other side of the gym. Methos laid his stick against
Duncan's neck and said, "See, economize your swings... it makes a faster
fight." He proudly looked over at Elizabeth to say, "Then you don't have to
expend so much energy." 

"But what if I like expending energy?" Elizabeth smiled, a little turned on
by the two immortals' display.

Duncan wanted to get off his knees, but Methos' stick was forcing him
down to the floor. He batted it away with his hand and looked up at
Methos. "Get that thing away."

Methos only smiled. 

"It's a nice change of scenery, isn't it?" Duncan smirked, "I've had my
sword to your neck at least twice that I remember off the top of my head."

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth was astonished.

Methos shrugged and lifted the stick. Duncan stood and looked* Methos in
the eye, nose to nose. "He offered his head to me at one point."

Elizabeth was dumbfounded. From all the talk of Methos needing to protect
his head, he almost lost it to Duncan, his friend? "Why?"

Methos shrugged, "I was in a dark place."

Elizabeth hated to think about what they could have meant, but asked again,
"Why?"

Duncan, not wanting anything to spoil the light day, grabbed the stick from
Methos and swatted him on the butt. Methos reached for another stick, the
immortals were immediately into another battle. Elizabeth and Amanda
looked at each other and laughed at the little boys playing one-upmanship 
with swift swings, elegant jumps, spins, and kicks. Elizabeth wondered
how and why Methos offered his head to Duncan MacLeod and what
stopped  Duncan from taking it. Methos' quickening would be amazing.
Not as overwhelming as his existence, but it would be amazing.

"Look at them," Amanda laughed at the one-upmanship going on in front
of them. "You'd think they were children."

Elizabeth walloped Methos on the butt when he came near her and he
smiled as he swung back at her. She was surprised, but expertly defended
herself. "Good," he pointed at her, smiled, then brought her into the fight.

Amid the flurry of swings and fancy steps, Kevin righted his chair and sat it
next to Amy asking, "They're just playing, aren't they?"

"I have no idea," Amy said, eyes never leaving the floor show.

Amanda joined in and before long, there was a four way fight. The
immortals would pair up and fight each other, then the pair would attack
the other two. They'd change partners, and start again. As soon as one
would take a breather, another would stop their fighting and pop the slacker
across the butt, making them start in again. The velocity of the thrusts
increased, *because it was fun, but most importantly because they were
only using sticks. Black and blue marks that would fade were the only
hazards they would have to deal with. The round robin went on until they
were all panting.

Claire, watching her parents doing something she couldn't, cried out with
her arms raised. Elizabeth picked her up, huffing and puffing. Methos told
her, "See? You're tired already." 

She whirled around, ticked. "You can't use that line anymore. I've lost
another five pounds."

"I didn't mention weight."

"I don't like that you bring it up all the time."

"It's your stamina you have to work on."

"No fight is going to last over three hours, David," she spit out, completely
tired. "I'm either going to win it or I'm going to lose it. I'll take your
approach."

"What's that?" Amy asked and handed her a bottle of water.

"Haul ass," Elizabeth gratefully took the bottle and drank. "Or take them as
soon as I can. You don't play around."

"The result is a head. I don't want it to be mine. Or yours. Exercise."

Amy and Kevin were uncomfortable that their son could hear the
discussion The little tike was having a good time watching them and using
his fists to mimic each movement the immortals made, but it wasn't a
'game' they were comfortable with him knowing. 

~~~~~

MARCH 3, 2003 
NORTON PLACE APARTMENT

Claire, at ten months old, was not only walking, but running. Elizabeth
caught her before she could bother Methos in his study. They found him
sitting back in his chair looking at the ceiling. "You look deep in thought,"
she commented.

"I am."

"On your textbook? There was another email from Martin this morning."

"It just finished it," he sat up, clapped his hands together and Claire
immediately walked over to him. 

"Well, that's great! Where is it so I can read it?"

"The last chapter is still in my head, I only have to type it out."

"So, why don't you? You're just sitting there."

"It's part of the process, Liz." 

He picked up Claire and set her on his lap, but when Elizabeth walked out
of the room, Claire cried out, "Mama!" She wiggled out of Methos' arms
and walked to the door, tripping over a Hemingway novel, and picking
herself up and moving to the door just as Elizabeth reappeared. Claire
giggled, surprised by her mama.

After Elizabeth picked her up, Claire ground her nose against her mom's
neck, and patted her on the shoulder. Methos commented, "She's definitely
your girl."

"Maybe that's because I spend more time with her." She realized after she
said it that it was a little unfair, she knew that she spoiled Claire, not
wanting to miss a minute with her in case Methos' dream came true.
Methos was a little jealous of the bond they had formed. He had begun to
like the idea of having a child to teach, and Claire was a smart little one.
She listened to his bedtimes stories with her full attention, and really
seemed to know what he was talking about. Elizabeth had commented that
she was only in love with his voice like she herself was, but Methos
thought that Claire was processing what he was saying. The mundane
everyday stuff that entailed parenting though, he left to Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth put Claire in the walker and was changing the bedding when she
remembered that it was March. It had been two years since she'd taken
Pyrius' head and dealt with all the problems that came with it. She didn't
have visions or anything about him, he wasn't vocal, but she knew he was
still there. At times, she'd have a sense of nostalgia or smell something or
feel something when she saw a religious icon and knew it had to be from
him. But she was thrilled that she hadn't even thought about Pyrius for a
very long time.

Hours later, she heard Methos yell, "Done!" from the study.

She entered the room as he saved the files to the CD Rom. He turned and
smiled, "The textbook is all done." He sat back and looked at the last words
of the last chapter of his tome on Ancient Greece on the monitor.

Elizabeth massaged his shoulders, "Are you going to tackle Rome next?"

Methos looked up at her, open to the suggestion, "I did know Julius pretty
well."

Elizabeth, overwhelmed, nodded, sat. "Have I slept with Julius Caesar by
extension, too?"

"No," Methos shook his head, "He was hung up on Cleopatra."

"Most men were by the sound of it. Were you?"

"I... ah... I looked at her twice."

"And?"

"Well, you don't like it when I talk about my conquests."

Elizabeth's eyes popped open wide, "Cleopatra?" Methos nodded. "She
was one of your conquests?" Methos nodded. Elizabeth lowered her head,
defeated, and asked, "What are you doing with me?"

Methos tapped her head and reminded her, "She's dead."

"Thank heaven for small favors."

He shrugged, "It wasn't that good."

"That's sweet to say, but I find that extremely hard to believe."

"Cleopatra was using me to make Caesar jealous. I was one of his soldiers."
He smiled as he turned the printer on and gave the okay to the computer to
print out the last chapter.

"Do I dare ask what that smile is about that you can't seem to wipe off your
face?"

He laughed. 

"Oh, God, I don't want to know." Elizabeth stood. Methos stopped her
before she left the study, and sat her back down.

"I was a soldier in her army. We were all sitting on the steps of the
Amphitheater in Alexandria, all us soldiers." Methos smiled at the
remembrance. Elizabeth couldn't imagine Methos as just another one of the
boys. "Cleopatra walked, very determinately, to the bottom of the steps and
looked at us. Each of us individually. She pointed at Marcus, one of my
best friends, to follow her. He was so nervous he fell down the steps, broke
his leg." Methos laughed again. "Then she pointed at me. I know how to
walk down a set of stairs."

Elizabeth couldn't help it, she was curious, although she really didn't want
the details, "She wanted a soldier to go to her bedchamber?"

His smile grew wider.

"Well? Go ahead, tell me."

"I'm a gentleman." He loaded more paper into the printer. "And you're my
wife, I don't want to talk about it and you don't want to hear it."

Elizabeth grunted. When he looked at her, she asked, "What was she like?"

"She was magnetic. A little insecure."

She cut him off. "Cleopatra was insecure? The Great Pharaoh was
insecure?"

Methos nodded. "I think I scared her."

"How?"

"You really want to know?"

"I'm not sure."

"Okay, then," he said, turned away.

"I want to know. Give it to me straight."

He made himself comfortable in the leather chair across from her, and
recounted, "I was only a few years from the horsemen. I wasn't nervous. I
wasn't concerned about Julius' wrath. I could take him if I needed to, and
that put her on edge." He looked at Elizabeth, and decided not to give the
blow by blow account, which he vividly remembered. "When we were
through," he started again, making Elizabeth happy he skipped the gory
details. "She asked me if I was ready to die, because that would be the
punishment for bedding her after Caesar found out. I told her I wouldn't tell
if she wouldn't. But, that was her agenda, to tell him as soon as possible."
He looked up at the ceiling and pondered, "I don't know if or when he
found out."

"Was that little tryst in either of your textbooks?"

"It's in my journal."

"You really should have translated that journal in order, Methos."

"As if you'd want to read about Cleopatra anyway."

"Sure I would."

"You want to read about my conquests?"

"It makes me feel good to know that you've had the best in history, and
now you're with me."

"Yes, I am," he leaned forward and kissed her. He liked that he could tell
her anything and it was accepted. It wasn't debated, or dismissed. Except
for his being the model for 'David', she hadn't questioned anything he had
to say.

"How long were you in Alexandria? Were you there during the earthquake
when the lighthouse fell?"

"No, I left soon after my night with Cleo. It was sad, really, that I had to
leave because I really enjoyed my time with them all. Marcus. Julius.
Antony. Others." He was lost in his past and only said, "Sex can sometimes
change your life."

"Sex with who?" 

Before he could answer, Claire cried out from her room. "Well, time for
lunch, I guess," Methos was happy for the intrusion. "I'll do it."

Elizabeth was needless to say, surprised. As he left the study, she yelled,
"Sex with who?" Methos laughed, loved that she was jealous of dead
people. Because he didn't answer her, she eavesdropped on them while
Methos got a snack for Claire, but heard nothing else, so  she decided to
unwind with a long, hot bath. 

Elizabeth slipped into the filled antique tub with claw feet and sunk down
under the water. Being under the water, you're left alone with your
thoughts. Only the light ping from a droplet of  water splashing on the
surface from the tap could be heard. Methos and Cleopatra. Methos and
Alexander the Great. Methos and that woman on the bed surrounded by
mosquito netting in Pyrius' visions. Methos and Alexa. Methos and
Hazimil. Methos and that actress in the back of that car. Methos and the
multitudes of men and women over the 5000 years he'd walked the planet.
Elizabeth's mind boggled, she didn't know if she really wanted to read
anymore of that journal after all. 

She lifted her head out of the water and took a deep breath. She felt
Methos' buzz in the apartment and smiled, was comforted. Even after all
his lovers, he was with her. After taking air into her lungs, she slipped
under the water again. 

The water was disturbed and Elizabeth opened her eyes to see Methos'
hand on her stomach. He tickled her. She laughed as she rose back out of
the water. He took her head in his hands and said, "You're wet again."

As they kissed, Elizabeth put her hand on Methos' shoulder. It was bare.
She moved her hand down his back, then his butt, he was naked. She
stopped the kiss to look at his body, as he knelt by the tub.  "You got
something in mind?"

He stood, she looked his body over, eyes focused on his crotch. Yes, he
certainly did have something planned. She sat up and Methos stepped into
the tub, sat in front of her and laid back against her. He rubbed her leg,
moved his back against her chest. "Gee," Elizabeth purred into his ear. "I
don't have a standing army at my service. I don't control an empire. I don't-
-."

"I never have either," Methos turned his head and nibbled on her ear. His
chest was so firm, so smooth, it had rubbed up against so many.

"Where's Claire?"

"She's occupied by something called Teletubbies. Television was a
wonderful invention."

Elizabeth croaked as Methos stretched to lick behind her ear, making her
totally speechless. She poured bath water over Methos' chest and down his
stomach. Her hand reached his shaft and Methos straightened his legs,
leaned back against her. He was already half erect before she laid her hand
behind it and rubbed it with her thumb. She took his balls in her hand and
lightly squeezed. The process acted as an air pump lifting his penis
straighter with each squeeze. 

Methos leaned his head back against her shoulder and closed his eyes. As
she massaged him, bringing him to a  full erection. The waves of
satisfaction flowed over his forehead, eyes, his mouth opened and closed.
She kissed his cheek and laid her head next to him as she watched her hand
take care of him. He was deep purple and solid as she stroked him. 

"Faster," Methos murmured. Elizabeth followed his instruction, never
taking her eyes off his face. Methos pushed at the end of the tub, making
water splash to the floor. The muscles on his stomach expanded and
contracted. Every reaction he was having was because of her touch and she
felt like laughing, he was so into it and she was so hot but didn't need more
from him than his enjoyment. This was what her beautiful husband looked
like when he was completely taken over. She could feel him stiffen and
knew he was ready to erupt. Methos' breaths shortened and got faster and
she didn't stop her momentum one bit. He growled as he ejaculated with a
great spurt.

Methos kissed Elizabeth and turned his body over, bending his legs, he was
much too long for the tub. He wrapped his arms under her body and laid on
her chest, head on her collarbone. Kissed her neck as she rubbed his back
and head. "Keep touching me," he whispered. She kissed his shoulder as
she rubbed his back and arms and down to his butt. Methos shut his eyes
and could have fallen asleep if Elizabeth didn't finally tell him she was
turning into a prune.

~~~~~

MARCH 17, 2003

All was quiet in the middle of the night, Claire and Methos were soundly
sleeping, but Elizabeth had the nightmare again, and couldn't shake the
feeling that her death was close at hand. After checking on Claire, kissing
her forehead, tucking her in, wrapping one of the  ringlets of her naturally
curly hair around her finger, she watched her baby sleep as the moonlight
cast it's glow through the window. With the painted clouds on the wall, at
eye level with the mattress of her crib, it looked like Claire was floating.
Claire turned over in her sleep and Elizabeth didn't want to wake her, so
she ducked down until she was sure Claire was back in a REM sleep.

She tiptoed back into the bedroom and saw Methos on his side, clutching
his pillow, a slight smile on his face.  Elizabeth thought, , but she couldn't let it go.
Methos lifted an eyelid and saw her leaning against the doorframe, arms
crossed under her breasts, just watching him, lost in thought. "What? Come
back to bed, it's chilly."

Elizabeth slipped under the sheet Methos held up and they intertwined
themselves. He was ready to fall back to sleep when he heard her sniffle.
"What's the matter?"

She tilted her head to face him, caressed his cheek, tried to smile. She really
wanted to tell him about the dream she herself had been having lately, that
she had been preparing herself for what seemed to be the inevitable. "If I
die," she began, but he grunted, tilted his head away from her. "Listen to
me. If I die tomorrow it wouldn't be tragic."

"What in the hell are you talking about?"

"I love you and was loved by you," she told him. "I found you and you're in
my life. We've had some bumps but, I've never felt more happy or loved in
my entire life. Whatever more time I have with you and Claire is a bonus."

"Stop it," he flinched and looked straight at her, demanding silence.

"Before I went to Paris to find you, I told Duncan that--."

He interrupted to spout, "You mean when I almost took your head. For the
second time," it wounded him to even say it.

"Duncan warned me that you weren't acting normally. We had a argument
about my going because he was concerned about what you would do. What
I told him, and what I still want with all my heart is, that if I lose my head, I
want to lose it to you."

Methos didn't want to hear it, she wasn't making sense, it was the middle
of the night. Since she had started telling him, she lifted up and made sure
he heard her. "I know that I'd be safe with you. That I'd want you to have
whatever my essence is, because it is what it is right now because of you."

"That's ridiculous."

"My quickening is ridiculous?"

"I'd never take your head."

"Let me tell you about my dream," she said. "I was challenged. You were
standing off to the side, watching it."

"What did he look like?" He was excited that they may have a clue.

"I don't know," she shrugged. That wasn't the important part. "I never saw
his face. It could have been a woman. But, I felt myself losing the fight. I
was cut and bleeding, and I felt myself getting weaker. I knew I would lose.
I screamed at you to take my head before he could."

Methos winced, that she would even think such a thing. She told him, "You
wouldn't do it. I was so pissed. But then I understood why, because I could
never take yours."

"At least in dreams you're talking sense."

"Methos, if I die tomorrow--."

"Don't say that. Don't even think it."

"When I die eventually... is that better? It will happen one day whether you
dream about it or not. When I die, I would like to have you promise me
something. Two things actually." A tear slipped from his eye and she wiped
it off. "Promise?"

"What is it first?"

She smiled, as that reply was so like him. "One, you'll take care of Claire.
That you'll raise her into a magnificent mirror of yourself. I know you
weren't too excited about having her with us and you mostly agreed
because I wanted her."

"If I didn't want her to be part of our family," Methos firmly stated, "she
wouldn't have stayed one night in our house."

"Okay," she smiled. "Good. Then why don't you have anything to do with
her unless I force her on you?"

"I'll let you do the mundane day to day taking care of her. When she
understand words and thoughts, and will listen to me, I'll take over."

"Well, until she reaches the age of 30," she laughed, "Will you promise you
won't hand her off to someone else?"

"Yes." He was fine with number one. Pulled her hair back and just wanted
to go back to sleep. She seemed to be taking care of business before she
would die, and he didn't like it.

"Remember the night I walked out on you in Sintra? Do you remember
what you said?"

He didn't like to remember the bad times, but remembered it vividly, "We
said a lot of things."

"You told me I was lucky to be with you."

"Then you punched me," he lightly reminded her.

She shrugged and said, "That's not exactly the flow of events, but that's
beside the point. You were right. I am lucky to be with you and I thank you.
That's why I can die a happy woman, Methos." He flinched again. She
didn't want the discussion to be maudlin, she just wanted to get some
things off her chest. "I've lived. I've been preparing myself and I've made
peace. I'm ready to die if it were to happen."

"Stop it! If you get into a fight, you fight to win, you don't fold."

"I won't. Of course not. Whoever that ass is, he's going to try to take me
away from you and Claire, so I'll fight tooth and nail. But you wouldn't
have dreamt that dream if I was going to win. So, I want you to know that if
it happens, don't feel sad about it. I want you to know you were loved by
me, and that I'd like you to remember me. And raise Claire. And the second
thing I want you to promise is, whoever takes my head, you take his. I want
Hotohke and my soul to end up with you. When you have my quickening,
however you get it, I'll be happy. I know that's not what Christians believe.
I should be warmed just knowing that I'll be with God, that Hotohke is with
the Great Spirits, as he believed. But, I've seen quickenings, and what they
contain. I want to be in you. Promise?"

"Elizabeth, I will gladly kill anyone who takes you from me."

That was the most romantic thing one immortal could say to another. They
settled into a more comfortable position and he noticed she was smiling.
After their conversation, she shouldn't be. "What now?"

"I remember laying in my bed in Gettysburg when I was a young girl. My
friends and I would wonder who we were going to marry. What our
husbands would look like... I went through six of them to find my ideal.
You're exactly who I always wanted, Methos, and so much, much more. I
have no rose colored glasses on, I know you've loved before, more than you
love me now. Thank you for making my life complete."

~~~~~

APRIL 13, 2003
NORTON PLACE COMPLEX

Elizabeth had turned her body into a fighting machine. Methos' dream,
along with her own in which she wouldn't win the fight made her exercise
all the time, and watch every morsel of food that went into her body in the
last month. If Methos or Duncan weren't available, she practiced with
Wally, the best fencer in the place during the day and made Methos fight
her with sticks in their living room at night with Claire sitting and clapping,
watching the show. Their sessions usually turned into a wrestling match
which usually turned into a love making session.

Elizabeth felt she was ready, and was a little disappointed that a fight
hadn't come. She hoped that this  last year his dream hadn't made them
miss the joy in life with such a cloud hanging over their heads. One thing
they did enjoy was Claire, watching her grow more each day, become more
of a little person, with a very strong will. Methos was even spending more
time with her, just the two of them alone. He'd say he was going to pick up
some things from the store or go to the library, or visit Duncan, or wherever
he went during the days he wouldn't tell her about, he started to take Claire
with him.

She saw him park the Forester at the curb from the living room window and
pull Claire out of her seat in the back. He kissed her head as he walked to
the condo, and Elizabeth saw the future, just for an instant. Methos and
Claire without her. And they were doing just fine. 

When they got into the house, Methos set Claire down and she hurriedly
waddled over to Elizabeth to tell her about where they'd been, although she
was enthusiastic, Claire's words were a myriad of syllables that Elizabeth
couldn't figure out. Methos looked around the house, then came back in the
living room, "Okay, fess up. Where's my present? I'm tired of waiting."

"What present?"

He thrust his hands on his hips and said, "It's the 13th of April, Missy. You
picked today to be my birthday, and I want my present."

"Are you taking care of last year's present?"

"I spoke to Warren last week, and Black is being ridden and enjoyed. I
would like to see him again, but can't."

She asked, "We can't even go for a visit?"

"Sure," he shrugged that it wouldn't be a problem. Things had settled down
in recent months, and a trip to Sintra to see Antonio and Sofia would be
nice. To see Brynn again would be interesting, he did so enjoy Elizabeth's
jealousy.

"How about your car? Your baby? How's that doing?"

"The Bizzarrini is locked up tight. Warren said he'd like the keys to drive it
once in a while, to make sure it runs, but no way. Enough!" he playfully
said. "I demand my present."

"It's in the parking lot."

Methos thought about that, and remembered mentioning to Elizabeth at one
point that there was a neat little silver 1972 Mustang convertible in one of
their two allotted spots, next to her fastback. She had told him that she was
letting a neighbor park it there as a favor. "The silver one in the spot where
I should be parking my vehicle?"

"Well, it is your vehicle, now."

He laughed, "I've looked it over, and it's in great shape. It's a great car! It's
mine? Why did you lie? It's been sitting there for almost a month."

"You still don't get birthdays, Methos. You only get gifts on your
birthday."

He thrust his hand in front of her face and said, "Gimme the keys." Claire
grabbed his hands, and he picked her up and repeated, "Gimme the keys."

"It's got a...," she tried to remember, it had been so long since she bought it
and cars weren't that important to her. "380 engine, leather bucket seats, I
had a CD player installed--."

"Sounds great," he said. "Gimme the keys!"

In the parking lot, Methos ran to the rag top car and looked it over more
thoroughly, now that he was the owner. He softly ran his hand over the
silver finish, and inserted the key into the door lock. He opened the door
and squatted down to look inside. "Very nice, Lizzie," he said. "Very nice.
Come on, let's go for a ride."

"There's no car seat for Claire. We'll wait here for you."

He swept them both into his arms and kissed her in gratitude for the gift,
but wouldn't think of taking the inaugural ride alone. He hurriedly got the
car seat out of her fastback and put it in the back of his new convertible.

When they peeled out and drove down the road, they didn't see a young,
bald man smoking a cigarette on the corner. Gage got on his cell phone to
finally make the call James had been waiting for. "I finally found her, sir.
How do you want us to handle it?"

~~~~~

APRIL 15, 2003
NORTON PLACE COMPLEX

After a heavy workout session with Methos at the dojo, Elizabeth couldn't
wait to take a long, hot shower. Duncan and Amanda had come with them
and they had planned to all go out for dinner. When Elizabeth went into the
bathroom, the major topic of discussion was about income taxes. The three
well heeled immortals were comparing their accounting procedures to keep
all their holdings legit. They only wanted it to be legit enough to keep
auditors away. Amanda's procedure for that was to use banks in countries
where paperwork was a luxury, not a requirement.

When Elizabeth came out in a robe and a towel wrapped around her hair,
she heard Claire whining, and no one could calm her. "She's teething,"
Elizabeth said, rubbing her finger across the inflamed gum. 

Amanda said, "We're going out for dinner, get dressed."

"I'm not hungry, and my husband doesn't like it when I eat."

"I never said that. I only gave you hell about eating a bag of Doritoes in one
sitting."

Elizabeth said, "Claire's crabby today."

Duncan said, "We'll get a babysitter."

"No," Elizabeth said. "There's a movie I want to watch on cable."

Methos said, "I'll stay home. We'll get take in." 

She said, "I can't concentrate on a movie with you around. Just don't go out
drinking, don't have a good time, and bring me the leftovers.

"What left overs?"

"Amanda always leaves leftovers. I'll have what she refuses to finish."

"Now, Amanda...," he smiled. "She's in shape."

Duncan and Amanda laughed in the foyer at the two of them. Elizabeth
scowled, "I hope you two are very happy together," shutting the door in his
face.

He waited, and didn't hear the lock, so he told her through the door, "Lock
it." The lock turned. Smiled as he walked away.

~~~~~

10:15 PM

Elizabeth rocked Claire to sleep as she was having a tough time with the
pain of teething and there wasn't anything more she could think to do.
She'd surfed the Internet for home remedies and tried freezing her teething
ring, getting teething medication from the store. She wondered if she
should take her to a doctor she wasn't used to diagnosing anything but
gunshot wounds and land mine wounds, not teeth coming in. Claire finally
feel asleep and she looked at her watch. They'd been gone for three hours.
"Great," she said aloud. "Just have a good time without me."

After putting her in the crib, Elizabeth checked to see if there was anything
on TV, but nothing held her interest for long. She didn't want any noise to
wake up Claire since she'd finally gotten her to sleep for the night. As she
walked out of the living room, a pickgun was inserted into the lock of the
door. She went into the dining room and set her laptop on the table and
poured a glass of wine. She turned the radio on low and reread what she
had on her nurse's chronicle that she'd started a long time before, but had
only started looking at again recently.

Not a sound from the intruder was heard, but she noticed a shadow move
across the screen of the laptop. When she turned to investigate, she got
walloped across the face. She flew off the chair, hitting her head against the
wall. Blood smeared as her head slipped to the floor. Two men are in the
dining room. Gage lifted Elizabeth's arm and injected a yellow fluid into
her vein. He lifted her up onto his shoulder. They walked toward the back
door and saw the crib in one of the bedrooms. Louis said, "Gage, look at
this." 

Gage walked into the room with Elizabeth slung over his shoulder. The
baby was sleeping. Louis said, "Look at that hair. How old could it be?" He
reached in to pick her up.

Gage said, "Leave it. We weren't paid to take that, too."

Louis placed the memento in the crib, where he knew it would be found,
and followed Gage and Elizabeth out of the nursery. He took note of the
phone number written on the dining room phone and lightly closed the door
after following Gage out, as he carried Elizabeth like a sack of potatoes.

~~~~~

JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Laughing, Duncan brought the T-bird to a halt in front of the complex.
Methos stumbled out of the back seat and swayed on the sidewalk. Amanda
told Duncan, "Let's go up and run interference with Liz. We shouldn't have
forgotten the time like that."

Duncan turned off the T-Bird and followed Amanda up the stairs. Methos
was standing on the stoop, taking in the fresh air. "What's wrong?" Duncan
asked.

"She's going to be pissed," he sighed.

Amanda listened, then said, "Is that Claire crying?"

Methos nodded, then shook his head, "Oh, she is really going to be pissed.
Her teeth must still be bothering her. I should have stayed home."

They trudged into the complex and Methos immediately spotted their front
door  ajar. There was no buzz, and he heard sounds from the living room.
When he nudged the door open, with his hand on his hilt of Ivanhoe, he
saw it was his next door neighbor. 

"What are doing in here?" Methos yelled. 

The neighbor jumped when he saw the three enter. "I came to find out what
was wrong with the baby. She's been crying for almost an hour. I have to
work in the morning. The door was left open."

All air left Methos' lungs, he choked, "Where's Liz?"

"I don't know. That child was alone when I got here. She's making too
much noise." The neighbor walked out, pissed. "I hope you'll quiet her
down soon."

Methos picked up Claire. Bounced her, shushed her, felt her diaper. "It's
okay, Claire. I'm here. Liz has never left Claire alone, where is she?"

Duncan said, "I'll look around," and went back out the door.

Methos set Claire on the changing table in the nursery and a flash of metal
caught his eye from Claire's crib. Amanda made a very quick run through*
the apartment, calling Elizabeth's name, but not feeling her buzz. When she
walked back into the nursery, Methos was looking at something in his hand. 

He said, "It's a cufflink." That got Amanda's attention. She looked at it in
Methos' hand, and about fainted. Methos stated, "It's not mine."

"It's..."

Duncan came back and found them in the nursery, "I didn't see anything."
Then he saw the cufflink in Methos' fingers. "Amanda? Is that what I think
it is?"

Methos asked, "What is it?"

Amanda shook her head, "It can't be. No, it isn't." She took it from Methos
to inspect it. She shook when she realized it was the perfect mate to the
other cufflink left behind.

Duncan looked at it closer. "It is."

Methos demanded, "What?! You've been keeping something from me?"

"Methos," Duncan said. "Liz has been kidnaped."

The words didn't register. In his darkest fears, he would see her decapitated
body, not her disappearance. Methos moaned, "By whom?"

"Tell him, Amanda."

She said, "Cameron James."

Methos exploded, "Cameron James?! Why?"

Amanda cried, "He did it before. He couldn't have done it again!"

"Amanda!" Duncan yelled, "Tell us the truth! What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything! I swear to God I didn't do anything!"

Methos yelled, "Then how do you know it's James?"

"That's what he left the last time he took her."

"Last time who took who?!"

"She asked me not to tell you, so I didn't," Amanda explained, keeping
Duncan between her and Methos. "It's not my fault you didn't know, let me
make that perfectly clear."

"What?!" Methos yelled, making Claire cry harder.

After they explained to Methos what happened the last time, Duncan asked,
"She didn't tell you?"

"NO!" Methos seethed, not taking his eyes off Amanda, ready to take her
head himself and deliver it to James personally. Duncan wasn't too pleased,
either. 

She pleaded, "This wasn't my fault! I haven't had a thing to do with James
since that night we got Lizzie back, I swear! Maybe Liz did something to
him. Maybe she..."

Methos said, "Excuse me?! My wife hasn't set foot out of my presence
since..."

Duncan asked her, "Does this have anything to do with the coins?"

"Nothing," she said.

Methos suddenly remembered the coins. The coins! In his dream, Methos
ran for her head. He had grabbed it and lifted it up. Pyrius' maniacal
laughter had reverberated in his brain. As he turned toward the laughter, a
smattering of bloody coins fell from Elizabeth's mouth. The laughter
stopped, as if cut off in mid stream... Coins fell out of Elizabeth's mouth!
That was the sign. It came true. Methos moaned, "I forgot about the coins!"
He kicked out in frustration, connecting with the crib. Claire screamed. "It
was right there in front of me and I didn't see it."

The phone rang, Methos ran for it in the kitchen, screamed into it, "Bring
her back or you're dead!"

Cameron James laughed. "Come get her. Tomorrow at midnight. Freeman
Park. The swing sets. We'll be waiting."

On the other side of the city of Seacouver, James hung up, looked at
Elizabeth, strapped to the metal bed in the middle of an empty room. She
was drugged and stared up at the ceiling. Headphones blared James' words
into her brain. He rubbed her hair as Louis walked in. James said to him,
"She's starting to focus her eyes. Give her another shot. I was assured that
this potion would work on an immortal. It better or that jack ass scientist is
dead, too."

"Yes, sir."

"Are the preparations ready?"

"Yes, sir."

"Yes," James said, rubbing the back of his hand against Elizabeth's cheek.
"She will do nicely. I was hoping for Miss Amanda, she always had been a
pain in the rear end, but this one is the gullible type. Just perfect."

After Gage gave Elizabeth another injection of the yellow fluid, her eyes
clouded over. She could only concentrate on James' voice filtering into her
head from the headphones.

~~~~~

APRIL 16, 2003
A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT
FREEMAN PARK

Methos, Duncan and Amanda stood by the swing sets like they had been
told to do in a note that arrived at the dojo that afternoon. Methos really had
to control the anger he directed toward Amanda, and at Elizabeth for not
making the coin connection herself. Then he wondered if he had ever
mentioned that aspect of the dream, since it hadn't meant anything to him at
the time. Amanda was adamant when she said, "I didn't have anything to
do with this. I still can't believe it's Cameron. He's never kidnaped before."

"Yes, he did," Methos reminded her, not at all gently. "It's taking a lot of
control not to kick you until you're dead, so you'd better get out of my
presence!"

"Hey! We can't fight each other," Duncan said. "James is the one who's at
fault here."

Amanda was encouraged by his sticking up for her, but realized that
Duncan said it just to calm Methos, when he jerked his arm away from her
touch. She said, "You know what I mean. That was the first and only time."

Methos screamed, "No it wasn't! Or where's my wife?! Clam up!"

She cowered. Duncan said, "We didn't have to bring anything. No
instructions, but to be here. That makes me nervous."

Methos said, "I'm nervous just because of the circumstances."  Methos
wondered if Elizabeth's head was already taken and they were in the path
of an ambush. No, he had to believe she was still alive, that he would have
to see her head be taken, like in his dream. He would just make damn sure
that didn't happen.

Suddenly, six mortal men emerged from the trees. Each men took an arm of
the three and restrained them, head-butted them and confiscated their
swords. A man with a large gun moved into their line of vision. Then they
felt a buzz. Cameron James walked into view, but stayed back from them.
He held a woman at her waist by his arm, her head laid on it's side on
James' shoulder. Long auburn hair covered half her face. Methos cringed at
the sight, it was just like when Elizabeth was in Pyrius' lap. He tried to
fight off the two men holding each arm and screamed, "Let her go!"

She was out of it, but stood on her own, moved only when spoken to by
James. She only looked at the treetops and dark sky, but her eyes couldn't
focus on anything. She didn't react to Methos' voice or to his buzz, or their
friends'. The distant light posts only cast a soft glow on them, so she
probably didn't even know they were there. 

Methos looked at her. She was in clothes, not her robe, not her hockey
jersey, why did she get dressed just to be kidnaped? It didn't make sense,
none of that day made any sense at all. He had left her to go out to dinner.
Why did he do that? He was the one who was adamant she wasn't safe
alone! They'd become too lax. He kept looking at her, yanking his arms
even though the two holding him were making that a difficult proposition.
She was at least wearing her wedding ring, Methos focused on that. Her
hair hanging over her face and that ring were the only signs that convinced
him it was his Elizabeth. "Lizzie," he shouted out, but she wouldn't look at
him.

Duncan yelled, "What is it this time, James? What do we have to do?"

Methos yanked free, but James said, "David!" Put a gun barrel in her
mouth. That stopped him, even though he wanted to pull Cameron James
limb from limb. James mumbled to his goon, "Is everything ready?"
Another soldier, Jason, a young, well built man, nodded. James whispered,
"I'm putting a lot of trust in you. Do not disappoint me."

The goons got a hold of Methos again, held him back. Jason kept his
automatic trained on the three. James told them, "Miss Amanda is next if
she ever fucks with me again. This is what will happen to her. Watch
closely."

James released his grip on her and she dropped to her knees, head falling
forward, her hair hung down. James pulled a sword out of his coat. Methos
yelled, "NOOOO!" He got himself free and ran straight to James, who
swung before Methos could reach him. Her head fell to the ground, and her
body fell flat on top of it. A sickening howl escaped from Methos as his
hands clenched around James neck to squeeze the life out of him.

All gasped as her quickening pulverize into Cameron James, electrifying
Methos, who's grip never eased. They rolled around as James was in pain
from the quickening and couldn't get Methos off him. Jason yelled as he
stuck his gun into the lightening, between his boss and Sommers, burning
his hand and getting the shock of his life. His mission for the evening was
to protect his employer. In the past, James had died during a quickening
from Jason's gun and he never heard the end of it. Methos, still enraged,
manically squeezed James' neck.

Gage and Louis let Duncan and Amanda go and ran to their employer.
Amanda screamed, "Lizzie!" and ran to her body, saw the auburn hair of
her head sticking out from under her corpse. Amanda collapsed and
touched her back. She picked up a clump of hair that had been severed
during the beheading and picked it up, held it close to her as she looked
down at her body again. Her left hand... her wedding ring. Amanda felt it,
twirled it, pulled it off, then saw the inscription ME inside and cried over
her body. 

James was close to death. If he didn't get the entire quickening, Jason knew
he'd lose some bonus pay, so he wrapped the tail of his coat around the
machine gun handle and inserted the gun between the two and fired. As the
bullets came out of the gun, he pulled it up and they went right into Methos.
Only then did his death grip on James loosen, and he fell off. At the same
time, Louis shot Duncan in the chest and he fell back. Amanda looked from
the ring to Jason, who trained his weapon on her, "No," she whispered.
"Why?" He fired and she fell back.

When James recovered from the quickening, he said, "Let's get out of here
before they come to. I thought you'd never kill them."

"Didn't want to hit you, boss." Jason said.

"Yes, I do so hate when that happens," he said, patting his shoulder.

CONTINUED in Chapter Twenty-One - Soliloquy

    Source: geocities.com/enyajo/elizabeth

               ( geocities.com/enyajo)