THE ELIZABETH SERIES
CHAPTER 65

IMPULSE RIPOSTES

by Jo
EnyaJo@aol.com

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS: Methos, Duncan, Amanda, Joe, Amy, Elizabeth, Claire, Guy

SUMMARY: The next day

NOTE: Thanks Erik for all the hard work and advice.

~~~~~

FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 8, 2013
PARIS

Elizabeth woke from having the sun in her eyes from the window at the head of Duncan's bed. It took a while for her eyes to adjust and her mind to clear for where she was and what she was doing there. It was when she felt a head near her right cheek and saw a mass of dark hair that she realized that Duncan was cuddled up on her shoulder. Her arm was numb under his neck, but she didn't want to move. The events of the previous day and night made her feel tingly, renewed as if she had just wakened from a long winter's nap. Kissing Duncan on the head and lightly brushing back his long wavy hair made him stir.

Duncan lifted his head and smiled at her, shaking his hair back over his shoulder. He raised his face to the sunshine of the window, and closed his eyes as if to savor the new day, and dare she hoped, their new relationship. "Hey, good morning," he purred and kissed her properly.

"No regrets?" she asked, hoping he would provide the answer she wanted.

"None, whatsoever," he replied correctly and rose himself up to cover her chest and play with her hair as he smiled down on her. His brown eyes danced as she watched his pupils slowly adjust to the somewhat harsh morning light.

The rush of feelings she felt for Duncan was so new, so foreign, as he had been considered friend and sometime protector for over a decade. Now, he was her magnificent lover. Her stomach flipped and her mouth tingled as he kissed her again. Then, reality set in for both of them as knocking back champagne, wine, and rich food hours before wasn't the a perfect recipe for sparkling morning breath.

"I'll be back," he said in perfectly awful Schwartzenese.

"Any plans for the day?" he asked as he got out of bed.

Seeing his perfectly toned, tanned body as he stood up and stretched with his back to her made her think that spending the day in bed wouldn't be a bad idea. But, she came to her senses and said, "I'd like to see Claire. Then... I have no plans. Do you?"

"Sure, I do." He sauntered to the bathroom as he said, "I'm going to see Claire with you."

Elizabeth pulled herself out of bed when she heard him brushing his teeth and was going to do the same. As she walked to her suitcase on the other side of the barge to get her toothbrush, there was a knock on the door. She spun around to see Duncan come out of the bathroom. They hadn't felt an immortal sensation which would narrow down the field the possibilities of who the visitor could be.

Elizabeth ran for her jersey and picked up her panties from the floor as Duncan put on the tuxedo pants that were closest at hand. She stopped him from answering the door. "Let me get my things out of the way first. I'll go in the bathroom."

"Why?" he asked incredulously.

"I..." She paused as she put on the jersey. "I don't know, I guess I want us to just be only us for a little while longer."

"It could just be a Jehovah's witness or something."

"Well, that could be. In which case, take their pamphlet, toss it in the garbage, and send them on their way." She walked past him, giving him a kiss and smile, then picked up her suitcase and walked to the bathroom. "Don't keep me waiting for long. I have plans for you."

"Yes, ma'am," he said chuckling as he waited by the door until she closed the bathroom door. He opened the door to see Joe Dawson standing there. "Hey! Long time no see."

Joe's smile easily faded as he entered. "Mac, we need to talk."

"Sure thing." Duncan went to the couch to pick up the bedding left there after folding it all together and shoved it in the closet. "Have a seat."

Joe looked riled, which was never a good sign. He spouted, "I leave you all alone for a little while, and the whole thing falls to crap! Immortals don't handle the holidays well, do they?"

"Hm?"

Joe explained, "Liz almost takes Methos' head at Thanksgiving; you, Amanda, and Liz have something happen I don't understand at Christmas... I hate to think what Easter could possibly bring." Joe cooled off long enough to shake his head and take a seat on a stool at the kitchen counter.

Duncan moved the packages from the Moulin Rouge over to the counter by the sink, as privacy had been important to Elizabeth and her name was on the package that had to hold her clothes from the previous evening. He started to make coffee as Joe said heavily, "Mac, I just heard about Methos and Amanda."

"Really."

"Yeah, about blew my mind. I found out yesterday, and would have been here sooner, but Benji's been shook up and he needed me yesterday."

Duncan shook his head, the last thing he wanted to talk about was his wife and her lover, so he continued on the other open topic. "What happened to Benji?"

"You didn't read the review of his first solo performance?"

"No, sorry. I've been a bit busy. Was it bad?" Duncan had met Benji, and felt sorry for the kid who had been looking forward to working up the courage to perform alone, as Joe had been encouraging him.

"That's putting it lightly."

"How is he now?"

"Better, after last night's performance. I'll tell him everyone didn't read it. He thought the whole world knew there was a black mark on his forehead over it or something."

"Bad reviews come with the good," Duncan said. "Sorry I didn't get a chance to be there for him, but... you know... things cropped up."

"Well, I can certainly understand if you weren't in the mood for a bar, music, or anything, really, after hearing the news."

Little did Joe know that Duncan was quite pleased to have spent the day and night as he had, enjoying just those very things with Elizabeth. "Drop it, Joe. There's not much to say about that."

Joe had been looking down, and stared at something. Duncan followed his eyes, to see Elizabeth's bra on the floor by the couch. "Oh, Jeez, Duncan. I didn't know. Did you and Amanda? That's great!"

Joe stood up and took a look at Duncan's bed, which was unmade and had two distinct lumps on the pillows. "That's just great, Mac. At least you came to your senses. Where is she? Is she still here? I didn't think I'd be interrupt... that's great!"

"No, Amanda isn't here." Just saying those words made anger for her deception and lies boil within him. "How could you think I could just look past all the lies?"

"Mac," Joe said.

Since Joe had brought up the sore subject, Duncan lit into him. "You just found out the other day? Come off it, Joe. You were a Watcher. Was it in their Chronicles? Did you know all along about them and avoided telling me, too? Liz! Come out of there and listen to how they've given Joe on their side!"

"LIZ?" Joe wailed. "She's here?!"

"Yes. Liz. Liz and me. That's the reality, Joe." Duncan walked to the bathroom and knocked lightly on the door. "Did you fall in? Come out here."

Elizabeth walked slowly out of the bathroom, glaring at Duncan, then meekly looked to Joe. His expression could very well have been deemed horrific shock. She leaned against the door frame and hiked her arms up under her breasts protectively maintaining a shell, not knowing what to say. She hadn't wanted the news to leak out. Why couldn't the Jehovah's witnesses come when you want them?

Joe considered the two of them staying side by side. He shook his head as if he was trying to accept the concept of the two of them together. It wasn't that outrageous, Elizabeth thought.

He asked flippantly, "Did you do this just because they did centuries ago?"

"Who did what exactly?" Duncan responded sarcastically as he put his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. "You mean Methos and Amanda? Gee, Joe. What do you think?"

Elizabeth felt closed in and walked away from Duncan, past Joe, to the kitchen where she could get some open space, not at all liking being used as a pawn in whatever game Duncan was playing with Joe.

"How could you do that?" Joe stalked to the kitchen. "What in the hell are you thinking?"

Elizabeth turned to realize that he was talking to her. Joe berated, "He loves Amanda, she loves him. They belong together. You love... well, Liz. I don't know what to think. What the hell were you thinking? Still thinking? My daughter is crushed because of you! Have you lost your mind? You almost took Methos' head?"

She felt as if all air left her lungs and cowered back against the fridge. She was at a loss at his reaction. Duncan raged to the kitchen. "Now just wait, Joe! How dare you come in here-"

Joe wasn't about to back down. He edged closer to Elizabeth about ready to cry of how the great day and night with Duncan was now fodder for anger by the usually gentle man. "When I first met you, I had no idea what kind of woman you actually are! I liked you, hell, I even came to love you. What are you thinking? Treating my daughter like she doesn't have feelings, almost take Methos' head! His head, Liz! You're so jealous and crazy you had to sleep with Amanda's husband?! To get back at them? Why?"

"JOE!" Duncan roared. It looked like he was going to pick Joe up and throw him out the window. "Stop it! It wasn't all her. I love her!"

"Love? Pah... Now you're just talking crazy."

"It's not crazy!"

"Then what the hell happened? Explain it to me!"

"It's none of your business," Duncan replied now gaining a bit of control in his voice. He walked to the door, yanked it open, and stood patiently.

Elizabeth thought her world was inside out. For Joe to so mad at her, it didn't sit right at all. She didn't quite know what she did, most of her actions since moving into that God forsaken house had been reactive. For Joe to think she had some grant plan of revenge, it was the last thing she could think about as everything had happened. She had just been trying to make herself comfortable in her own skin. By the time Joe stalked angrily out of the barge, Elizabeth was getting pissed instead of guilty. How dare he make such assumptions about me! Who does he think he is? Poor Amy, yeah right.

Duncan slammed the door shut, then walked to the kitchen to her. She turned her anger on him as he was the most convenient target. "What the hell were you thinking? I asked you not to tell anyone. I just wanted us to be between us for a while!"

"Why?"

Ignoring his question, she continued on her tirade. "Then you had to tell the first person that walked in the door?"

"What's the problem with that?"

"With all the secrets floating around, is it so Goddamn hard for you to understand that I wanted to have this one to myself, just us? No! You had to tell Joe of all people! You know who he's going to run off to tell! "

She had been almost hyperventilating along with tears and rage so bad she started hiccuping. Her eyesight was blurred by tears and an overwhelming sense of rage. She felt the silver bracelet fall down to her hand and suddenly she was mad about him having given her that too. "Did you do everything on purpose? Was he right? Did you have sex with me just to get back at her?! Was yesterday one grand plan to get me into bed for revenge or something?!"

"Of course not! I love you!"

"God, you have a funny way to show it." She almost ran into the bathroom to pack her things as she wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. As she was slamming her clothes and things left on the counter into her suitcase, Duncan stood at the door.

"So what if they know?"

"They'll use it so I can't get her back when that's-"

"I know! Claire dictates how you think. Don't worry about it. Methos will let you see her."

"I don't want to just see her, you should know that! I want her with me! I miss her so much!"

"Yes, I know! I've been listening to you for the past month! I know that! I want that for you, too!" He stopped and took a deep breath, then softly said, "What's more telling to me is your non-reaction to my telling you I love you."

"Well, what do you expect?!" She paused to reflect on what was happening between them. Now angry at herself for immediately unfairly blaming the hell of her life on him, she cried out, "It's fantastic... but raises a lot of complications."

Elizabeth was scared to look at him for fear of what she had done to him, but when she worked up the courage to, he was standing calm with a hint of a grin on his face. She told him, "I need a solid, stable life to get Claire back. If Methos takes us wrong, he could make that difficult, pert near impossible. I may never see her again."

"Do you have regrets?"

"I have quite a few. Oh, you mean last night? Oh God! Duncan, are you serious? Yesterday and last night were beautiful."

He walked into the small bathroom and gathered her into his arms. "That's more like it."

Feeling his strength calmed her immediately as he held her. She admitted, "I've wanted you so many times over the years, but..."

"You love Methos."

"You love Amanda."

"I'm tired of her games."

She noticed that he didn't say he wasn't in love with her anymore. Not wanting to enter into the unending discussion of their spouses, she told him, "I have no regrets, and I love you, too. You've made me deliriously happy."

"You don't show it well."

She laughed and put her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer. She held him with her eyes closed, as he gently swayed them, bringing her peace. "The last thing we need," Duncan murmured, "is to fight."

"I'm sorry about that," she finally said when she felt the bad emotions drain away. "Joe surprised me, that's all. I don't take some surprises well."

"He doesn't either, apparently." Duncan chuckled. Everything he'd done since they arrived in Paris sat right with her. "Better now?"

"Yeah."

He lifted his head from hers, but she didn't want to stop holding him, being a part of him. He suggested, "Let's go see Claire then." Suddenly, he released his hug and pulled her out of the bathroom to the bed.

"I thought we were going to see Claire," she said, then sat on the bed, waiting for him to join her. A diversion would be quite nice about now.

He opened a drawer of the bureau against the wall and then presented her with a key he found in it. "Since you're going to be in Paris for a while, you are, aren't you?"

"It's where you and my daughter are."

Duncan took his knees and kissed her, beaming, and said, "Then you live here, and you may need this."

She felt so happy with him, and gratefully took the key as it symbolized being truly welcomed into his life. Just when she threw her arms around his neck, he stopped her. "Now, now, now. If you do that, you'll never get to see Claire today. Get dressed," he playfully ordered her. He was right about so many things over the years, but never so as just then. He continued as he got to his feet, "We have to see Claire."

"Oh God," she reacted. She wanted to see her daughter so badly, but the concept of bringing Duncan again... another scene was the last thing she wanted or needed that day. She felt flustered enough with the thought of entering Methos' domain again, she didn't need anxiety about how the men would react to each other.

"What?"

"Would you mind if I go alone?"

"You think I'm going to tell them about us? I can keep a secret."

She laughed. "Yes, I see how well you do that. I just want to see my girl. I don't want to fight with them. If you see Amanda there, you might..."

"Okay," he said, not needing her to continue explanations. "I'll be right here waiting. Come back soon with Claire, and we'll enjoy the rest of the day with her in this beautiful city."

"You have such good ideas." His kiss swept away all the bad feelings she felt with Joe's visit. So much so, that she was ready to forget about Claire and just take that man back to bed. "And you love me?" she asked almost giggling with joy.

"Remember that when you face them."

Duncan also had a way to bring her back to reality. She nodded that she would, knew she could face just about anything knowing Duncan was on her side.

~~~~~~

It was Duncan's strength that had carried her to Methos' building, in the door, and down the hall so that she could feel his immortal presence. She knew he was home, or it was Amanda, or it was both of them. Damn buzzes! If they weren't going to be more specific, why the hell have them? She collected herself and focused that all she wanted was to see Claire. With the overpowering buzz, it was hard to detect Claire's hum. She checked her watch to see that it was too soon for her art class. She had plenty of time. If all goes well, she could collect Claire, pick up Duncan, take her to lunch, maybe watch her during art class, and then... Elizabeth smiled. Duncan probably had an itinerary all made up for them.

Thinking of Duncan again moved her to confidently knock on Methos' door, which opened as soon as she did. Methos was wearing a loose t-shirt and tight jeans, and a scowl on his face. "We're in the middle of geography."

The coldness of his greeting didn't unsettle her, as she supposed was his purpose. Elizabeth just said, "Oh, cool. That means she's home," as she swept into the apartment.

Claire smiled when Elizabeth walked in, and jumped up from her chair to run over to hug her. "Mom, where have you been?" Claire curled herself against Elizabeth, who was in absolute glory from the hug, then she lifted her head to ask, "Where were you yesterday? I was waiting and waiting for you."

"I'm sorry, honey. I got side-tracked. I'm here now. Do you want to go for lunch?"

"We're in the middle of geography," Methos stated and sat back at the table.

"That can wait."

"It can wait," Claire echoed.

"No, it can't. Education is important. Or have you forgotten that as well?" he asked Elizabeth as a dare.

"Where's Amanda?" She wanted to focus whatever challenge he was making back in his court.

"No idea," he replied flippantly. "Claire, sit." He motioned to her chair, and Claire soon sat down again like a good little robot.

Elizabeth looked around the apartment, into the hall, taking a peek in his bedroom and the bathroom for any trace of Duncan's wife. When she realized that she was, in fact, jealous of her and Methos having been together, she felt torn. She wondered what Amanda's reaction would be if she knew what happened last night, and this morning. Maybe Joe was telling her right now. She looked back at Claire and Methos as he called out a country and she had to point to it on a map. His reaction would probably be to yawn to the news.

~~~~~

Amanda was holding two paint samples in her hand, her arm extended toward the wall as she stood in the middle of her new living room as she decided if the butter cream or sage would be a more appropriate backdrop to the Louis XIV furniture she had purchased the afternoon before that would be delivered tomorrow. She had looked quickly for a new apartment, not wanting to be a nuisance to Methos and Claire for too long. Also, now that the secret of her relationship with Methos was out, Duncan wouldn't allow her back on the barge until she did some major groveling. Distance from Methos was her first step; she couldn't be comfortable in that hole in the wall Methos chose to live in anyway. She found the spacious three bedroom, two level, pricey apartment in the chic section of the city and immediately snapped it up. Even when Duncan would take her back, it would be nice to have two residences in Paris. It would afford them the opportunity to spend alternating nights in different surroundings. Newness never did hurt a relationship.

She fingered the white gauzy curtains that were hanging, and couldn't wait until she bought new ones after the painters would finish. Furnishing a new place was so exciting, she couldn't stop smiling, even though getting her husband back was her top priority.

She noticed, through her floor to ceiling windows, that Joe was ambling up the street to her place. He had just called her a half hour ago and looked like he followed her directions perfectly. She slid open a window on the other wall of her living room and called out, "Hey Joe!" with a wave. "Come look at my fabulous apartment!"

He waved and kept on his way to the entrance. She met him at the outside door and waited as he made the four steps up, excited to have her first visitor. "You found the place with no problems?"

"Your directions were the only thing that haven't been a problem this morning."

"I don't have anything to offer you. I went furniture shopping instead of picking up the essentials like coffee or wine, so I'll take you to lunch after you see my new home."

"Can't wait to see it," he said, but didn't sound in the least excited about it.

When she opened her door and waited for his reaction, she was a bit disappointed as he looked at her more than the place. "I know it's not much now. You'll have to visualize how I'll decorate it." When she still got no reaction more than a subtle approving nod, she asked, "Joe? What's wrong."

"I just went to see Mac."

"Oh, good. How is he?"

"He believes he's fine, Amanda."

"O-kay. Good." She showed him the paint samples. "Which would you choose for this room? This is the main room, the first room people will see, so I want to pop, make a statement."

"He was with Liz."

"Oh, I know they've been supportive of each other. How is she?"

"Working her magic."

"You know," she said as she went through more samples of paint color. "I think I need something bold. I've never been a blue person, per se, but how does this shade look to you?"

"Amanda," Joe said.

"I know, you're right. Blue is out." She flipped the card on the floor. "Red. That's more me."

"Mac and Liz are together."

Amanda looked at him hard to think that was news. She knew they had spent time together in New York City, New Years. She saw them at the house over Christmas. "I hope she talks some sense into him and comes home to me."

"She's telling him something, but I'm not sure you're going to like it."

"What are you talking about? They're together. I know that. They're good friends."

"They're more than that now."

Amanda paused. It never occurred to her to be jealous of their friendship. Mac always came back to her. Joe's expression wasn't comforting at this moment. "What are you trying to say?"

"They spent the night together. Together. In bed. Together. Get what I'm telling you without having to draw you a picture?"

Amanda stared at him trying to put the unbelievable pieces together. Joe couldn't be serious. Her husband didn't sleep around. Not with her. Not... Liz loves Methos, not Mac...

"I'm telling you because I think all of you are handling everything completely wrong. You're a woman, so you can talk to her. There's no talking to him. I tried to talk to Methos... well, you can't tell that guy anything. If you'd all just be honest with each other, my daughter wouldn't be separated from her family due to distance, and maybe Liz would shake off whatever's happened to her, and she and Amy could be friends again. That's what Amy wants. She just wants-"

Suddenly Amanda's world crashed in as she connected the pieces and cried out in a blood curdling scream. "NO!"

~~~~~

Elizabeth had been patient as Methos had finished the lesson with Claire, then as he spent fifteen minutes going over African History which Claire breezed through. Her patience ran out when Methos handed a thick Algebra textbook to Claire. Elizabeth groaned along with her daughter. "Come on, Daniel. I want to take Claire to lunch then she has art class at one."

Claire got up from her chair happily then Methos said, "Sit. We lost two days of classes as she was with you, or waiting for you. You can't just waltz in here and break the schedule."

How he mispronounced 'schedule' grated on her. Who was he trying to prove with that perfected British accent. If he wasn't lying, he had told her that he was born in the area occupied by Finland now.

Claire sat back down as Methos focused his glare at Elizabeth. "Just because you haven't taken on her education doesn't mean I'm going to let it slide by so she can have some fun with you. She needs structure."

"That's true. That's fine." Elizabeth wanted to just make peace, sorry she interrupted something that was so important. "How long will it be?"

"Depends on if she did the problems I asked her to yesterday." Methos looked at Claire. "Did you?"

"Um..." Claire's bright eyes averted her father's harsh stare.

Methos looked back to Elizabeth to say evenly, "It will take a little longer than usual."

"What time will she be available, massah?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically.

"You mean, 'when can Claire come out to play?' Later." Methos was riled and Elizabeth felt bad for provoking it. "If you're going to act like her friend, you can play with her when she's finished with her lesson."

"I'm her mother, and I want to spend some alone time with her."

"Act like it then."

"Okay. I will. Claire, get your coat. I'm starving, and we're going to get something to eat."

"Claire! Sit down!" Methos' voice boomed as she had again jumped out of her chair. "I don't appreciate you making me the bad guy here! I've never forgotten my duty to Claire's well-being like you have. Being a parent isn't all fun and games, flying in and out whenever you want to. I've been here with her. Where were you?"

"Well, that can change right now. Don't get your coat, Claire. Pack a suitcase. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Oh, like you were so sorry I brought Claire to live at the school? What was it you said when you climbed out of your stupor to ask where she was? Hm?"

Elizabeth couldn't believe he was bringing up a time when she was possessed by a head she took to save his life! Bastard!

Methos didn't shut up in front of Claire, he seemed to relish saying, "'I'm glad you got rid of Claire.' That's what you told me after I brought her to the school dorm!"

Claire's face fell, and Elizabeth didn't know what to do or say. Not believing he had actually brought that up, she was stunned into silence.

"Did you say that, Mom?"

A buzzing in Elizabeth's head was acknowledged, and then grew in strength and volume. She slapped Methos and yelled, "I can't believe you! What all have you been telling her?!"

"Mom!" Claire started to cry.

Methos stood up and took hold of Elizabeth's hand as he moved her back from the table. "It's about time I've revealed the honest truth. She deserves to know what you think of her."

"That's not how I think. I love her, and you know it!"

"You don't know how to love! Look what you did to me, or what you almost did!"

"Don't fight!" Claire wailed. "Shut up! Shut up!"

Elizabeth's heart broke as she saw her daughter crying over what she knew she had actually said while in that damned house. She rushed to Claire's side and tried to hold her. Claire asked, "You don't want me?"

"Of course I did, I do, more than ever. I wasn't thinking straight then." Elizabeth brushed Claire's hair back with her fingers. "Remember, I told you that I wasn't myself?"

Claire pushed her hand away. "Why did you do that, Mom? Why did you try to kill Dad? You never wanted me!"

Claire pushed Elizabeth back and ran past her to her room. Elizabeth fell back on the floor and wanted to pull herself into a fetal position and figure out a way to rewind the whole damn year.

Methos stated, "I couldn't have said it better myself."

"You fucking bastard," she seethed as she pulled herself off the floor. "You love it. You're poisoning her mind against me! What else have you been telling her?"

"That was the first time I mentioned anything to her about what broke us up. I did now only because you pushed me into it with your above reproach attitude!"

"I was straight with her about you. You didn't have to tell her what I didn't mean! You know I never meant that!"

"Maybe so," he acknowledged. "I'll explain it to her."

Elizabeth slapped him again. "You'll do no such thing! She's coming with me!"

Methos got hold of Elizabeth and slammed her back against the door and kept hold of her hands against the hard wood. "Don't you ever touch me again. I'm not about to allow you to lie to her like you've lied to me, and probably everyone you ever met!"

"I told her I made a mistake! I haven't lied! I told her that I ... that I almost did a horrible thing... I told her!"

"But you didn't tell her why! She's confused. I didn't know what to tell her, so I change the subject when she asked why you were so mean. I'm supposed to tell her that her mother was possessed and so far gone in the head that she tried to off me? Is that what I should have done?" His face was screwed up with anger and bitterness, so much so that she had to turn away from him. He grabbed her face to make her look at him. "That's nonsense! You know it! Do you even know the reason why you did it? If you don't, there's nothing we can do. You have to figure it out in that thick head of yours!"

"I loved you."

"That's rich! If that's how you love..."

"I... I'm sorry. It was Py..."

Slamming his hand against the door make her jump, almost out of her skin. He spouted, "Doesn't cut it. Don't even start! That's the wrong track to take! Get out if you can't come up with the real reason why you did it. We don't need you! All you bring is poison! I'll take care of Claire. Don't worry, by the time I'm done, she won't hate you. She'll only feel sorry for you."

"Methos, look-"

"Don't call me that! Don't speak to me!"

Elizabeth slipped past Methos to the center of the living room, almost falling down as her legs were weak, her eyes were full of tears, and her throat felt like it was constricted. She had to get to Claire to explain she didn't mean those words. Someone had to tell her that she didn't mean to kill Methos; she knew Methos wouldn't. In her right mind, she never would have said such a despicable thing as what she had said the night Methos came home from bringing Claire to school full time. She hadn't even known that the two of them had left. Had Methos known that?! No, he was just in his own small world, as he is now.

She went to Claire's room where she heard her crying. As soon as she walked into Claire's room, her world fell completely apart. Claire threw the pillow she had been clutching as she cried on the bed at her and screamed, "I hate you!"

Methos rushed past her to hold Claire as she wept. "I hate her," she moaned as she wrapped her arms around Methos and hid her face against his chest. "She ruined it all."

Methos' eyes were so cold as he looked at Elizabeth, but didn't say anything. He had let her daughter speak volumes. There was no way Claire would listen to her, Methos would make sure of it. Not able to handle how she had been pushed out, Elizabeth turned and ran. Once again, she ran blindly down the sidewalk past residents, people with grocery bags from the store down the street, and a mime, who she almost knocked over.

She just kept running. Her body was sore from the exercise, and her mind was pounding as all the hateful words she had heard from people who were important to her echoed.

What in the hell are you thinking? Have you lost your mind?

Treating my daughter like she doesn't have feelings, almost take Methos' head!

Explain it to me!

I don't appreciate you making me the bad guy here.

I'm glad you got rid of Claire.

You don't want me? Did you say that, Mom?

Why did you try to kill Dad?

You never wanted me!

Don't you ever touch me again!

We don't need you!

I hate you!

She ruined it all.

Elizabeth stopped when she felt her legs buckled under her. She fell down on snowy grass, not knowing, or caring, where she was. The hateful words still pounded in her head.

Don't you ever touch me again!

We don't need you!

I hate you!

I hate you!

~~~~~

Amanda stalked up the plank to Duncan's barge with unbridled anger. She felt an immortal sensation and just hoped to hell that she would catch them in the act. That little two-timing bastard and that two-faced bitch! How rich it would be if the pious Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod was caught committing adultery! She tried the doorknob, and it turned with little effort.

Bursting into the barge, she was ready for an all out fight. If Elizabeth thought she'd take this lying down, she had another think coming. Duncan came out of the bathroom dressed in a silk shirt and black pants she had given him as a gift just because it was a Tuesday. Well, there won't be any gifts just because she walked past a store and thought it would be perfect for Duncan (which the clothes certainly were) anytime soon! There were going to be plenty of gifts coming her way, however, to smooth over this bump in the road of their marriage.

Amanda demanded, "Where is she?"

"Who?" he asked oh so innocently.

"Where is she so I can rip her eyes out!"

"Amanda, get out," he had the gall to say to her.

"No! This is my home!"

"It's my barge! You weren't invited. I can't believe it. Joe actually blabbed to you. I didn't think he would."

"He's not a two-faced friend, of course he told me. This is wrong! Oh, so very wrong, Duncan. Where is she?"

Amanda breezed past Duncan to take in every square inch of that barge for her. She was going to stoop down to look under the bed, which was where Amanda assumed Elizabeth had to be hiding, when Duncan pulled at her arm. "What gives you the right to come in here and demand anything?"

"You're my husband! That's what!"

"You lost your standing as my wife... from the beginning, Amanda! You never said a word about him or that you knew him before-"

"Don't you dare bring Methos into this. This is between you and me!"

Duncan growled as he does when he's completely at a loss for words, which usually she found attractive, but now she figured it out. "You're jealous. That's all this is. Jealousy. Well, Mac. I'm flattered, but... Liz. Just go have a one night stand to make me jealous. Why sleep with my friend? Oh wait... you found out about Methos and I so you both wanted revenge. You did this because of-"

"Don't flatter yourself. You know I've had feelings for Elizabeth since day one. I've told you that. This can't be that much of a surprise, if you were listening to me at all."

Amanda stewed on that a while. She had always known that Duncan and Elizabeth had a close bond, but both of them had always said it was purely friendship. He loved her, Elizabeth loved Methos. This is so ridiculous! Hell, if they didn't sleep together after Methos left Elizabeth and Duncan was so mean to Amanda with the James situation, she didn't think they ever would. Or maybe they had... "How many times have you been with her? How long has this been going on?"

Duncan stared at her as if he was shocked, then he pounded his hand against his head as if he was trying to loosen rocks or something. "Did I hear you right? I couldn't have. Did you actually ask me that question?"

Stomping her foot, she ordered him, "Stop it. I'm serious!"

"I've never been more serious, either, Amanda! Listen to me, and listen well. I love Elizabeth; you and I are history!"

"No way! No! You can't!"

"In fact, there's never been an us!"

Rattled, Amanda paced. "Now you're just being silly. Don't say things you don't mean."

"I mean every word. I've never lied to you. Nothing of the sort can be said about you."

"So, you're just getting back at me. With her. Nice try. It worked."

"No."

"Duncan..." She clutched her heart and tried to breathe, at least, not cry.

"I'm in love with someone else. Live with it. And please leave. She's coming back with her daughter, and I'm not going to allow you to make a scene in front of Claire."

~~~~~

After seeing Elizabeth run out of Methos' building, Amy wondered what in the world happened now. She hadn't been there long, as Katie wasn't feeling well that morning, and she didn't want Amy to leave when the babysitter came. Amy hadn't even known that Elizabeth had arrived at Methos'. Instead of going after her this time, she went into Methos' building and edged down the hall. All she heard was Claire cry. She thought she heard, "No! I hate her!" and Methos talking softly to her. She was going to walk in, but didn't want to interfere with their discussion.

She walked back outside and took her place around the side of the building across the street when her phone vibrated. She answered it, and was surprised to once again hear from her father, for the second time that morning. She had told Joe last night when she and Guy went to see him and the band that her and Elizabeth would work out their differences eventually and not worry. But then again, maybe it wasn't about her, it could be about Katie Rose. "Hi, Dad. What is it?"

All she heard was Joe sigh on the line. "Dad?"

"I might have made a mistake."

"What did you do?"

"I found out something that I haven't told you and went to Amanda with it. She didn't take it as calmly as I hoped, and now I probably made things worse."

"Does it have something to do with Claire?"

"Claire? No. Well, Christ, I don't know. What are you talking about?"

"Claire's not having a good morning, but I'm not sure why. Elizabeth was just there and ran out again."

"Is Amanda there? Did Amanda confront her?"

"About what?"

"I was too hard on Liz earlier. It was just surprise."

"Dad? What's going on?"

"Meet me at the Bistro down the road from Daniel's. I'll fill you in."

"I'll be there in five minutes."

She hung up with her mind swimming of what could possibly have made at least three people upset. As she stuck her phone back on the clip on her belt, she wondered if she wanted to know, and how much of it would be entered into the Methos Chronicle.

~~~~~

Guy had ran after Elizabeth after seeing the by now familiar look on her face that she was running blindly. To solidify his assumption, she had ran right past him without even seeing him. He had been standing outside Methos' building for a while before he noticed that Amy finally had taken her place on the other side of the street. When he had to catch up with Elizabeth, he was just going to call Amy to see how Katie was.

Elizabeth had ended up in a park, fell down and was bawling like a baby, when Guy caught up to her. He had a gnawing thought was that she was going to turn tail and leave the country again, making his own family separate once more. Maybe it was time for Amy to find other work as it didn't look like Elizabeth and Methos could even hold a conversation, let alone get back together. Talking to an disturbed woman wasn't one of Guy's fortes, so he had just lingered in the trees to wait for her to settle down to see if he needed to start packing.

When she sat up and quieted down, finally noticing people gawking at her, Guy thought it was time to have a talk to see what was going on. He should prep his wife and kids that he'll more than likely be going back to the states, where he knew Elizabeth was more comfortable.

He walked to her, and stood behind her, not wanting to startle her. She looked into her purse when she noticed him. "Hey," he lightly said when she glared at him.

She continued looking through her bag until she took out her passport. "Great! I have it."

"Hold on, toots. Where you going?"

"What's it to you?"

"It's everything to me. Where you go, I follow."

"Get bent. I'm not going to do anything. I don't need watching."

"Okay. I'll tell that to the boss," Guy said good-naturedly. "I wonder how he'll take the news."

"What do I care."

Elizabeth got up and brushed off her pants and collected herself. "I'm surprised you're even talking to me. I'm the monster, remember?"

"Pretty good lookin' monster," he teased. When she didn't even crack a smile, just walked away, he took hold of her arm. "Hey. Amy understands."

"I have to go."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know."

Guy sighed. She took that reaction as a personal slight or something as she spouted, "Look, sorry you have the job you have. I can't worry about you. Quit the damn job if it's so bad. I can't deal with you and Amy and everything else. I just can't do it!"

When she started crying again, he knew she was a nervous and mental wreck. He soothed her, "Liz, it's okay. You're right, it comes with the territory. Don't worry about it."

"I won't," she forcefully replied, her voice cracking.

"Okay, leave, just-."

"Because that's what I'm good at, right? You think that, too?" She had become a force to be reckoned with right before his eyes and stepped back. "Well, I'm usually not! That's not true! I'd stay if there was a chance she'd ever talk to me again! I would, but as she said, 'I ruined it!'"

Not knowing what she was talking about, he asked, "Amy?" even though he couldn't believe Amy would have ever told her that.

"Claire! What about Amy?"

"I don't know. I'm at a loss here."

She spun around, and he asked, "At least tell me where you're going so I can make plans?"

"Right," she spun around to say. "So you can tell Amy, and she can tell Duncan, who will tell the Goddamned world!? Not on your life. I just want to be alone! I'm not taking any heads, so there's nothing to report." She heard her phone ring, and took it out of her pocket to shut it off. "Just leave me alone."

She was visibly shaking, and Guy felt bad for her. He had been as privy as a watcher can be to how she spent her day yesterday. When he had gotten glimpses of her, she seemed to have been having the time of her life with Duncan at the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Moulin Rouge. He had left his post after the lights had gone out at Duncan MacLeod's barge. He hadn't mentioned to Amy that Elizabeth had spent the night at the barge; after all, Elizabeth and MacLeod had spent the better part of a month together, it wasn't news.

When Guy thought she was going to walk away, she asked so softly he had to ask her to repeat it, "Have you ever had your child mad at you?"

"Sure, when Katie doesn't want to go to bed, when Joey wants to stay out past eight on a school night, when-"

"Then you haven't." She stuck her hands in the large pockets of her overcoat and looked off in the distance as her hair floated back from the wind and the slow, occasional fall of snowflakes. "You're lucky," she said after contemplation. "No, you and Amy aren't lucky. You're good parents. Your kids feel safe and loved."

"Liz, what's going on?"

She shook her head and said, "I don't want any of this in my Chronicle, Watcher."

As Elizabeth walked away, seemingly carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, Guy began to think that there wasn't just friendship between the two immortals anymore. Putting the pieces together even more, he figured that she had told Methos, who flew into a jealous rage, hence making her run out of his apartment for the second time in two days. Just like a woman. Throw an affair into the husband's face, then get all bent out of shape when he doesn't accept the news well. Claire must not have taken the news well, either. Kids never did take well to new people in their parents' lives.

He pulled out his cell as he followed Elizabeth, but hung back far enough so he wasn't spotted by her. The barge was in the other direction, so she wasn't running back to the warmth of her new lover. "Amy," he said after she answered his call. "I think I'm off to the races again, babe."

~~~~~

Duncan went out the to deck of the barge wearing his coat already having called the Moliere café for reservations at noon. He checked his watch and thought Elizabeth would be back with Claire by now. She had plenty of time to get Claire, exchange small talk with Methos, and return. Small talk with Methos... the thought made him chuckle. He hoped it all went well for her. Not being able to take the waiting any longer, he called her on the cell.

Small talk with Methos, he thought again. He wondered if after he had forced Amanda out she had gone straight over there, and Elizabeth got caught in the middle. Duncan knew he should have gone with her, but didn't want to impose himself on her, still excited but nervous about loving her and also having told her. He hadn't planned on letting his feelings so out in the open with her, but he couldn't help it. He had loved her in more ways than one over the years; the morning after making love to her probably wasn't the best timing.

She wasn't answering her phone. If he were to go over to Methos', he could miss Elizabeth on her way back. After going back and forth about what to do and trying her again on the phone, Duncan decided to drive over and use the most reasonable route for her to take so he wouldn't miss her.

~~~~~

Amanda walked into Methos' apartment about ready to fall apart. She still couldn't believe they did it! Immediately, she heard Claire and Methos in Claire's bedroom. She walked slowly across the living room to hear what they were talking about.

Suddenly Methos bounded out of the bedroom spouting, "Back for more? You didn't-." Almost having knocked Amanda over, he grunted. "Oh, it's you."

"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Amanda threw back at him.

"Sorry, I thought you were her."

"No, I'm not her! She's taken my place, and it's all because of you!" Amanda's hand flew against Methos' face, making him slap back by reaction.

Holding her cheek, he told her, "Exactly when the hell did I become a punching bag?!" He glowered at Amanda, and she was immediately sorry. He looked at Claire standing in her doorway and said softly, "Get your things. I'll get you something to eat and then art class." When she didn't move, he said gently with a smile, "It's okay. Go ahead."

Claire sniffed and her eyes darted from her father to Amanda. "Hi, aunt Amanda."

"Good morning, sweetie," Amanda said, controlling her blind rage.

Claire disappeared into her room, and Amanda paced the room quietly, working off the shakes and anger she had felt since Joe visited her apartment. She whispered in what turned out to be a loud voice, "Why haven't you talked to that wife of yours? She's... Oh! I can't even say it, it's so horrible..."

"I'm no longer in the business of caring about what she does. If you're going to throw a tantrum, go do it somewhere else. Claire's had a rotten morning, and she doesn't need more drama."

The girl didn't know the half of it. Imagine her reaction when she finds out her mother is a whore! Amanda still felt like screaming from the rooftops and cast a glance at Methos. He was so calm and collected, she wondered if he even knew that their spouses weren't just friends. "Do you know what they did?" she asked with as much control as she could muster.

Claire walked into the living room with her backpack slung over her shoulder, and Methos smiled at her and put a protective hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Who did what?" Claire asked.

"Ah, nothing, honey," Amanda said for Claire's benefit. She could drop the subject for now and then plot with Methos later on how to make their spouses come to their senses, break them up, and hopefully Methos would have a really good idea about how to make them suffer for what they did. Just a little. Methos was a great plotter, and she felt a little better knowing that he was on her side. "Where are you going?"

Claire just shrugged and walked to the door. "We're going to get something to eat," Methos told Amanda. "Please, with the mood you're in, don't invite yourself."

"Dad, that wasn't nice."

"I'm past nice today."

Amanda asked brightly, "What will you be doing while Claire's at art class, Daniel?"

"Picking up a few things."

"Why don't you came back here, and we can talk?"

Before he could answer, she felt the calling card of an approaching immortal. Thinking it could be Elizabeth coming to gloat, Amanda prepared herself for looking into the face of her two-faced friend. Who she saw instead was Duncan walking to, then stopping at the open door of Methos' apartment. "Where's your doxy?" she flippantly asked.

Methos jerked his head, probably from perturbness. How dare he glare at me!

Duncan sucked in his breath, inflating that magnificent chest of his, and Claire asked, "What's that?"

Methos said, "Claire, go check the mail. I'll be right there." When Claire only looked up at Duncan, and he smiled hello to her, Methos said, as he nudged her shoulder, "Go."

After she was gone, Amanda said confrontationally, "She's not here, if that's what you're here for."

Duncan reacted with his cool MacLeod decorum, "But you are. Isn't that predictable?" He cast a glance at Methos. "How long ago did she leave?"

"This is Elizabeth you're talking about?" Methos asked. "Doxy?"

"Amanda always had a rare choice of words, and I'll ignore that for now."

Duncan hadn't taken his hands from his coat pocket or moved from his stance in the doorway since his arrival, and soon Methos was laughing. "I have a feeling I'm out of the loop here."

"You hit the nail on the head," Amanda spouted. She wanted to scratch Duncan's eyes out and hold him at the same time. Damn, how he tortured her!

"What's so funny?" Duncan asked calmly. He had obviously came over with a mission in mind, and he wouldn't be swayed by anything that he came across. Centuries of roaming amongst immortals had honed that skill in him.

"Have you by chance tasted the riches of my beloved?" Methos asked mockingly.

Amanda liked that he broached the subject, and wanted back up in convincing Duncan that he shouldn't have looked elsewhere for love, but Methos' laugh jarred her. "It's not funny!" she told him.

"Yes, it is." Methos put his coat on, forcing his arms into the sleeves, a hidden movement that revealed he wasn't as jovial about the news as his laugh would indicate. "She was cool as a cucumber this morning. This news makes the memory of her visit even more brilliant."

Duncan, keeping an even demeanor, asked, "How long ago did she leave?"

"I don't set my watch by her, Highlander."

Methos looked about to just walk past Duncan and leave, imagine! Amanda said, "Say something about it for God's sake! Men!" They never reacted as they should.

"If she's not here, I'll be doing," Duncan said.

Methos needled, "Look at him. She's already got him on a leash. So cute. How juvenile. I expected more from the both of you. Once again, you've disappointed me."

"Juvenile?"

Amanda was glad that for the first time, Duncan's cool demeanor seemed to be breaking.

"Yes." Methos stood tall in front of his opponent, staring straight at him. "You find out about a meaningless one night stand between Amanda and I, and you two fall into bed? Perfect. Well, you got us. Fine. Happy now?"

It was hard for Amanda to just wait things out while she was so emotional about this whole mess, but she was thrilled that things were now out in the open, was confused about Methos' composed attitude, but relieved that the cool facades were breaking when Duncan took his hands out of his pockets. Wait a minute... meaningless one night stand? Granted, you're not the love of my life buddy, but a night with me is never meaningless! Amanda thought, and was so glad she hadn't verbalized her thought with Duncan in the vicinity.

Methos' snicker made Duncan's hands clench. As Methos' face froze in seriousness as he stared down Duncan, Amanda could tell he was more affected by it than he was letting on. He quietly stated, "And she told me she loves me today. Guess you're not all you think you are."

Amanda thought Duncan was, and more, but was deliriously happy by how Methos was now reacting to the news. She would be ready to comfort Duncan when he came to his senses of how he had been used by both Elizabeth and now Methos.

Amanda wondered if Methos was looking for a fight as he continued his needling, not altering his glare from Duncan, "She's not here, or with you. Welcome to the world of being used by Liz."

It was at that moment that Duncan snapped. He pulled a punch at Methos, but Methos obviously had been expecting it. He ducked and quickly took hold of Duncan's arm, twisting it, then flipping Duncan over his hunched over body. Methos laughed hard as he stared down at Duncan, who might actually have been expecting Methos to counter his punch. Duncan didn't hear, or care, that his cell phone rang when he took hold of Methos' leg and pulled it out from under him. Good thing Methos hadn't yet put his sword in his coat, or he might have been seriously injured when he slammed down on his butt.

Amanda enjoyed the show as the men started fighting, and sat down on the couch. It was only when they rolled to her feet, each man's hands clenched around the others' neck that she lifted her feet to the couch and said, "Now, boys. Come on."

Duncan's katana jutted out of his coat, and his cell phone continued to ring. She asked sweetly, "Should I get that, hun?"

Methos had gotten the upper hand in the fight and was on top of Duncan, pushing his head up from his palm against his neck. Duncan lifted his body and tossed Methos off him. All this time, Duncan hadn't said a word. He reached into his pocket as he got to his knees, keeping an eye on Methos, just laying on his living room floor gasping for breath. He was almost growling as he took gulps of air, staring at the ceiling. Amanda knew that Methos was thinking things over.

~~~~~

Elizabeth walked up the plank of Duncan's barge, and didn't feel his buzz, which scared her. He had said he would wait for her. She could just about imagine what chain of events might have happened to turn him away from her so that he wasn't just standing by waiting for her return with her daughter. He was a take charge guy who probably talked to Methos and found out the horrible thing she had said, and felt, and now feels the same as her daughter.

The guilt, the stupidity of how she had been so taken over by Pyrius, the hopelessness of her life, probably having had Duncan turned against her all converged to scare Elizabeth to her bones. Selfishly, she had wanted his arms around her again. She needed someone to tell her she wasn't a bad person, and be able to show someone love that she knew she did have in her heart. She had overpowering love for her daughter, but couldn't think of how to possibly get Claire to listen to her as she explained what had made her say such a terrible statement while under the influence of a ghost. Even if Claire had listened to her, she didn't know if she could explain it without having to explain too much. Fear of doing something completely stupid as to explain immortality and quickenings to Claire made her not go back to Methos' apartment to try again. She had learned her lesson by telling Chuck Montgomery and wouldn't ever do that to her daughter.

Now, she had probably lost Duncan as he wasn't answering his cell. She ended the call as she deduced that he had seen the call was from her phone and refused to answer. She took the key that Duncan had given her that morning to unlock the barge. Not wanting to have another confrontation with someone she loved, she hurriedly packed her suitcase. When she saw the dress, shoes, pearls, and bracelet that Duncan had gifted her the previous day, she didn't feel worthy to keep them. She left them on the couch and zipped up her suitcase, got her still packaged sword, and dropped her copy of the barge key on his table. She fingered the lace dress, the pearls, and then picked up the silver filigreed, etched bracelet he gave her. Reading the inscription, she knew that she couldn't let that go. She slipped it over her hand and twisted it until the center of the filigreed pattern was placed right, then she walked out for what all she knew could be the last time.

~~~~~

Duncan barked into his cell phone, "Hello!" then clicked it off when there was obviously no answer. He studied the display, then put it back in his pocket. Glaring at Methos, he got to his feet. Methos was still laying on the floor as if he was counting the panels of the ceiling. Amanda wanted the fight to continue. Right now she was mad at both of them.

"Amanda," Methos finally said.

Duncan moved to the door as Methos asked Amanda, "Could you bring Claire to lunch for me? I think we need to talk alone."

Duncan turned around to regard Methos, who slowly sat up. "I'm really getting too old for this." Methos looked to Amanda. "Please?"

"I have a few things to say, too."

"Claire is waiting, and I'd rather she didn't come back here to see what was keeping me and hear anything."

Duncan said, "If you hurry, there's a reservation at the Moliere Café under my name."

Amanda set her feet on the floor and slapped her hands on her legs. "Fine. You two work it out." She walked past Duncan to the door.

Methos told her, "Tell Claire I'll pick her up at two at the gallery."

Going from the frenzy of the fight to the softness of both of their words were just plain weird, but knew that Claire shouldn't be in the loop of how her mother had screwed up two marriages. "Okay. But I will have things to say later."

"I'm sure of it," Methos said. "Thanks, Amanda."

"No swords will be bared?" she asked to make sure. Not that a little bloodletting wouldn't be bad, but she certainly didn't want either man to lose their head... literally.

"Not unless he tries anything," Methos said with a hint of humor.

That was completely the wrong way for him to say anything. She liked that they were mad as hell at each other and wanted the fighting to continue. She wanted blood to be shed. If those two made amends and she was the odd man out, Elizabeth would rue the day she was born for horning in on Amanda's marriage that Amanda knew in her heart could still be saved.

~~~~~

Methos shut the door and said, "So, it finally happened." Methos didn't want to behave in such a stereotypical, macho manner. He felt like he had sprain his knee in the scuffle with MacLeod, but didn't masked the pain from him as he went to the window to check to see that Amanda was taking Claire out of hearing range. Not that he wanted to continue yelling. It usually accomplished nothing.

He had three prophetic dreams since meeting Elizabeth, and in each of them, Elizabeth and Duncan kissing was the highlight. Even after Elizabeth was thought dead and confessing that they had an affair, even kissed, Duncan hadn't said they had left platonic affection behind. With how angry he was at how Elizabeth hadn't accepted her guilt in almost taking his head, the flames of jealousy was burning within him.

What made matters hard to control, Duncan was stoic. "You have nothing to say, Highlander?"

"You were the one who wanted to talk, not me."

He watched Claire and Amanda walk down the street, out of view, and took a deep breath and wondered what the hell it was he wanted to say to Duncan, that seemed so important, just a few minutes ago. He had said, and thought, many things about Elizabeth since leaving her behind in Kent, but news that she was forging a new life without making amends on her old one didn't sit well with him.

"Well, I'll be going now," Duncan said and moved to the door.

"How long has it been going on?"

Methos didn't take it well that Duncan laughed by his serious question that he didn't even know he wanted to know the answer to until he actually asked it. When he had learned that Duncan had slept with Elizabeth, it seemed very funny. It was just their way of getting back and him and Amanda. Juvenile, as he pointed out. Remembering all the dreams he had with that scenario, he came to realize that he had been jealous of the two of them, even when he had no reason to be. Duncan had confessed that he had loved Elizabeth after they thought she had been taken by James. Methos knew he had given them plenty of opportunity to start an affair over the years when he and Elizabeth were apart for one reason or another. Now he really wanted to know if Duncan had just been lying to ease his lose of Elizabeth when he asked him if they had ever been lovers.

"Yeah, I know. It's hysterical," Methos said evenly to Duncan's chuckle. "I still want to know."

"You mean, when you've been sleeping with my wife, have I been sleeping with yours?"

"It was only one night, MacLeod."

"It was many nights, Methos. Many night before me, during me, and I'm sure after me. I don't care anymore."

"You say that so convincingly." Methos faced Duncan to say, "I think Amanda's hit on something. I don't think you're over her."

Duncan didn't reply, he just moved again to the door. "You didn't answer my question," Methos said quickly before he would leave. Now that the question had been out there, Methos wanted the answer. Why? He hadn't yet known why, except for the fact that all information came in handy.

"It was one night, Methos."

Methos gave him a touche nod, and thought that would be the end of it. He was wrong. Duncan said, "But there will be more. At least I'm honest enough to say so."

Methos pulled up his sleeves to clap. "Bravo." Then he became quite put out as he said, "Get off your pedestal. So we didn't tell you, what's the big deal?"

"That you didn't tell me, that's the big deal."

"So we could have played out yesterday's scenario twenty years ago? Fine, I admit it. When you introduced us, I should have said, 'Yeah, I know her already.' I give you that. I own up to my mistakes."

"We wouldn't have had that scene yesterday if you had. You weren't truly my friend then. I hadn't kissed Amanda, held Amanda, trusted Amanda, trusted you, then, as much as I do now. Or, did, a couple of days ago."

"Point taken."

"Is that what you want to talk about?"

"How is Liz? Really?"

"Why?"

"She's Claire's mother. I need to know about her sanity. Before this morning, Claire's been asking to live with Elizabeth for a while. I was thinking of allowing it, until today."

"What happened today?" Duncan became riled again when he demanded, "What did you do to her?"

"It was what she did, MacLeod. Ask her, I'm sure you'll be seeing her. It will be interesting to hear how she explains it."

The forceful reaction he gave made him pause as he realized that it was him that brought up Elizabeth's statement that had been tickling the back of his brain and had promised himself not to ever repeat to Claire. Regardless of what it would do to Elizabeth, Methos knew those words would be worse on Claire, and it was.

He went to the kitchen after his knee had worked itself out and brought out a beer. "You want one?"

"No, if Claire wants to live with Elizabeth, and she wants Claire, what did you do to make that not happen?"

"Well, it's not going to happen now."

"Don't be a fool!" Duncan demanded and slammed his hands on the counter between them. "If they want to be together, don't stand in their way."

"She almost took my head, MacLeod. If I were you, I'd watch yours."

"That's not...!" Duncan lowered his head and shook it. It was amusing to watch him try to figure out what to say. That only meant that he agreed that Elizabeth was capable of doing anything.

"She's not dangerous. Liz isn't sleeping. She's having nightmares. It's not good for her for you to act like you do. She wouldn't have darkened this door if it wasn't for the fact that her daughter lives here. She was scared to death of coming here. Her love for Claire was the only reason she keeps coming back. She just wants to see Claire. Oh, there's another thing she wants. She wants to settle things between you two. She knows the marriage is over. She just wants to work things out so you two don't fight."

"Every time I see her, all I can see is her sword over my head," Methos confessed, but kept the thought of now seeing her and Duncan in bed would be something else he would have to deal with if/when he met up with Elizabeth again.

"That's what she wants, needs, to talk about."

"Shout about it, you mean. She just doesn't get it."

"Neither do you."

"I don't believe in ghosts, MacLeod." All three of them had right off the bat mentioned ghosts as the reason for everything that happened while he was away from his house. He wasn't going to hear about it. Everything that happened in that house was all Elizabeth's fault; he saw that fact as clear as day and will go to his dying day knowing he's right. Ghosts. Life is never that simple.

"I saw them. I was there." Duncan paced behind Methos as he walked back into the living room. "And knock that off. I know you believe in the spiritual, demons, the dark world. I know you know I'm not crazy. I saw them. I saw him. The same guy who kidnaped you, tortured Warren and I, whose head Elizabeth took. I saw him as clearly as I'm talking to you right now."

"That might very well be!" Methos allowed. "She just... I can't forgive her for what she did."

"She isn't asking for forgiveness. All she wants to call a truce so she can be a part of her daughter's life."

"That's up to her."

"Really? What did she do wrong today? Liz came to take her daughter to lunch and bring her to art class. That was her only agenda. Why didn't that happen?"

Methos replayed Elizabeth's visit in his mind, and had to admit, the only sin she committed was challenging his control over Claire. A new feeling, which wasn't disappointment over finding out his wife had slept with his friend, or the hurt he felt as Claire did about what Elizabeth had said at Bethany Stone manor, rumbled in the pit of his stomach. It was actually guilt. He had been the one to remind Elizabeth of it, jealous that Claire would indeed want to go with Elizabeth and not have the structure that he had so carefully devise for his daughter. Structure had been a way for him to know what was coming each day so there would be no surprises. Methos never liked surprises, and Elizabeth had provided plenty of them during their years together.

"Methos? What happened?"

~~~~~

While nursing her third whiskey-coke, Elizabeth sat in the first available airline seat on its way to New York. All she wanted was sleep, but since that didn't come to her, she started drinking. When she had closed her eyes wondering if sleep would ever come to her, all she saw was Claire's horrified face and heard her voice, "You don't want me!" cutting her to the quick.

How she was ever going to make things right with Claire again was a puzzle, and wondered if it was a Mount Everest in terms of conquering. She sipped her drink as she looked out the window. She had no idea what she was going to do in New York, or her life. Leaving all the bad feelings, harsh words, mistakes, and dashed dreams behind made her feel as empty as the black, blank sky outside the window. She knew she wouldn't be able to face Claire until she made some headway in getting her head on straight. She wanted to tell her so much, but couldn't stand the thought of facing a daughter who hated her.

She thought of writing her a letter. That way, Claire would read it or not. Elizabeth could get all her thoughts down, edit it so it was perfect, or at least not have anything in there that she would regret. The old fashioned practice of written communication through snail mail was a dying art. Everyone emailed, paged, called, or IM'd; in each case, what you say or type off the cuff was out there forever. With a letter, she could really figure out what (if there was anything), she could say to ease her daughter's hatred.

Only then could Elizabeth possibly get some peace from her subconscious telling her she had royally screwed up everything and everyone she had ever touched.

Continued