THE ELIZABETH SERIES

CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT

FOR CLAIRE'S BENEFIT

by JoLayne

RATING: PG

CHARACTERS: M, D, A, Amy, OC's Elizabeth, Claire, Joey, Guy, May Nash

SUMMARY: Methos and Duncan don't act their ages. Amanda, Guy, and Joe have something on their minds. Methos and Elizabeth decide to take Claire on a little trip. Adults have to go with the flow when Claire overhears something that touches on what she will become.

DISCLAIMER: All characters and concepts you recognize from Highlander: The Series are owned by Panzer/Davis, and maybe Greg Widen. Just using them for fun, no profit is expected or pursued.

~~~~~

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2013
NEW YORK

Elizabeth, Amy, and Amanda strolled into the Intercontinental Hotel reliving with relish every moment of Elizabeth's job interview. Elizabeth had not yet calmed her anxiety, disappointment, and surprise at her interviewer's drunkenness, but Amanda was, nevertheless, making her laugh with the retelling of the interview from her and Amy's perspective as it was seen from their table. Amanda told Elizabeth that her facial expression had drifted from nervousness to mild surprise to trying to manage tactfulness to pure astonishment as if she had eaten slugs all the while expecting lobster. That's just about how she had felt, and Amy's retelling of how Humphrey's toupee had come off so easily while calculating the damages caused to Tavern on the Green made them giggle like school girls.

Elizabeth and Amanda stopped short at the double doors leading to the swimming pool, and Amy, who had just kept strolling down the hall, had to backtrack to them. "A pre-immortal hum," Amanda said and pushed open the door. Elizabeth immediately saw Claire, dripping wet in her bathing suit, attacking a Coke machine.

"Mom, did you get the job?" Claire asked excitedly when she spotted her.

Elizabeth just shook her head no with a look of regret.

"You didn't get hired? What is he? Mental?" Claire asked hitting the machine with her fist.

"No, drunk," Amanda offered as she walked to the pool to greet Joey, who had just expertly dove into the water from the top diving board. "Nice form there, Joseph. My, but you're growing up nicely."

Claire kicked the machine with her bare foot and hollered, "This thing ate my money again!" She continued to kick with each word, "Second. Time. This. Week."

"All you need is a broken foot," Elizabeth said, pulling her daughter away from the offending machine.

Amy moved to the side of it and said, "The bottle is probably just stuck. It needs a little encouragement." She jerked her hip forcefully against the side of the machine, and the bottle of Mello Yello fell out, along with a few quarters in the coin return.

"Thanks, Aunt Amy," Claire declared as she twisted off the cap of the bottle and took a big swig.

To Elizabeth, Claire looked exhausted, and there were still two pins in her shoulder. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Sure."

"Arm hurt?"

"Nah, can hardly feel it anymore." Claire tried to twist one of the pins. "I can't wait until these come out."

"They will in due time. It hurt a bit when you forced the last one out. Just let them come out in their own time. Who's out here watching you two swim?" Elizabeth asked, not seeing or feeling Methos and/or Duncan in the area.

The pool area was incredibly large with an Olympic sized pool, two whirlpools, café tables peppering the area, and lots of trees and foliage to give it the air of an outdoor paradise. The wall of glass letting in bright sunshine warmed the area, along with the heat of the pools, so Elizabeth immediately started to sweat in her winter coat. At least, she hoped that was the reason for her sweating. Claire and Joey were alone in the hotel, which made Elizabeth nervous. Anyone, mortal or immortal, with a dastardly plan could snatch them up, or harm them, or worse, with no one the wiser.

Claire pointed at a young, incredibly buff, man clad in long swimming trunks coming out of a glassed in area on the other side of the pool room. He was carrying a large plastic, iced, bottle of water and immediately climbed up to the perch on his lifeguard seat.

The man could certainly take care of them while they were swimming, but Elizabeth would have to have a discussion with her husband about allowing them to go down to the pool alone. Amy had gone to the side of the pool and was talking to Joey, still treading water in the pool, while Amanda had obviously spotted the young, sandy haired, tanned hunk on the lifeguard perch.

The lifeguard blatantly smiled and winked at Amanda. Elizabeth and Amy couldn't see Amanda's response from where they were, but the lifeguard was really giving her the once over. Suddenly, Amanda called to Claire and Joey, "Have fun, kids," and walked back to Elizabeth and Amy, and whispered as she charged to the door, "That eye candy got me revved up... I gotta find my hubbie."

Elizabeth and Amy followed, even though Elizabeth wasn't sure she should leave the kids alone. Well, they weren't alone, Claire seemed to think the lifeguard was all they needed. There weren't many people in the pool area, just a few coming and going from the sauna, and soaking and laughing in the whirlpool. She thought that if Methos was fine with leaving them there, she could for the short time it would take to go grab a book from the suite, ream Methos out for leaving them alone, and then return to watch over the kids while they swam.

~~~~~

"How would you know, Highlander? You weren't there. I was," Methos groaned without patience. "Case closed."

"I'm not going to just take your word on it when it's a cruise to the Bahamas on the line."

"Oh, can't afford it?" Methos flashed his long eye lashes at Duncan. "Dojo hasn't been that profitable?"

"Not that anyone on earth could buy or sell you," Duncan tossed out easily, "but I'm not hurting for money. It's the principle of the thing."

When they felt immortal approaches, Methos looked at his watch. It had to be the women, so no need to stop this argument, especially since he was right. The women walked through the door just as Methos stated, "It's my word or the highway on this one, I'm afraid."

"My father told me every night the story of Malcolm."

"He couldn't find any new material?"

"Methos!"

"Sorry. Didn't mean to disparage your father's storytelling capabilities. Ease up. No harm meant." Methos got off the couch, leaving Duncan at his laptop on the coffee table, and sauntered toward his wife, gave her a peck on the cheek, and then went to the fridge. "Now, if you're talking about Malcolm the First, you are so totally wrong, I can't even begin to tell you how wrong you are."

"Not like you haven't tried." Duncan smiled at Amanda, who immediately sat on his lap.

Methos continued, "If you're talking Malcolm the Second or Third, I guess I could see how your father was mistaken."

"He told me that story every night while I was growing up because he wanted me to know what it was like to lose."

"Well, since history is marked with losers, he could have found a better example than that," Methos declared, then he muttered in addition, "One that actually happened..."

"I'll guess we'll never find out."

Methos looked at Duncan as if he just met him. "You're immortal. My Gods, man. You have all the time in the world to seek the answer. Search the far ends of the earth for the truth, and you will see that the truth is what I just told you."

"As if you're so generous with the truth." After a pause, Duncan acknowledged, "You're right, Methos."

"Thank you!" Methos couldn't believe the Highlander had actually acknowledged the fact that Methos was right without having to draw a sword or go on some fool's errand that dealt with all sorts of thorny, ethical issues.

"Yes. I am immortal," Duncan stated without a trace of pride or lightness. "But if the past few months have shown me anything, I've learned, once again, that I could buy it at any time. I have better things to do than look up the complete and entire history of a man who's dead."

"What's going on?" Amanda finally asked, as all of the women seemed bursting to do.

"I won a bet and Mac's fudging on his end of the deal."

"I am not fudging! We came to a standstill and can't find definitive proof one way or another."

"Right now, but I'll tell you one thing, Highlander," Methos said, taking a slurp from his newly opened beer. "You will find I'm right. One day. Mark my words."

"Consider them marked."

"Would you ladies care for a refreshment?" Methos asked Amy and Elizabeth, since Amanda seemed to be busy trying to lick Duncan completely. "By the way, you can pay the kid when you pick up the kids?"

Duncan sputtered, "Why do I have to get them? They aren't mine."

"Because you didn't disprove me. Go."

"I repeat, what is going on here?" Amanda testily asked, probably because she wasn't getting any sort of response from her husband. It was amazing how the Highlander could get something into his head and lose all sense of fun. It was odd, though, that he wasn't responding to his obviously lustful wife.

Just what happened to rev Amanda up wasn't important enough to change the subject, however. Methos told them, "Mac's going to pay the lifeguard another hundred bucks, to go with what I paid him already to guard our two kids with his life. Claire's always yammering about wanting to be treated like a grown up and not needing to be watched 24/7, so we came up so MacLeod couldn't prove he had a futile argument."

Amy asked, "Where's Katie Rose?"

"In the bedroom," Methos said, still in good humor. "You know, she's a dream to babysit. She sleeps all the time."

"I know..." The crease on Amy's brow that indicated worry deepened. "I should bring her back in. Dr. Glazer said I should if her energy didn't pick up."

Methos looked to Elizabeth, who had taken a seat at the table and was looking at the floor. He was surprised that she hadn't bolted into the suite to announce she was a professor once again, a profession she loved and hadn't practiced since they met. She must not have gotten the job, and with all the people here, he didn't want her to be embarrassed, if she was. His spirits picked up even more, though, since it wasn't his idea for her to get a job. Employment only made one bound to one place and there wasn't anything calling to him in New York City enough to stay there.

Just as Methos was going to sit with his wife and ask if she wanted them to be alone so she could bemoan the fact that she didn't get the job, Guy walked into the suite. Amy immediately read him the riot act about being late, not reachable by cell, and "Why were you talking to Dad and didn't want to tell me what it was about?"

Guy laughed as Amy paused for breath and kissed her with gusto. "You know," Guy drawled as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're sexier than pocket aces but your pretty little head is sometimes full of rocks."

Methos knew that what he said wasn't the correct way to play a women and almost laughed when Amy choked, "Excuse me?"

Guy jerked and stared at Amy's beet red face. "I said sometimes... It's your birthday in a few," he said with a hint of exasperation. "'Nough said?"

"Oh, ok. Was just worried it was Watcher related."

"Nope. All systems are go there. By the way," Guy beamed. "Loved how you ripped that toupe off his head."

"You saw that?" Amy now seemed less proud of herself.

"I have to remind my devoted wife of my profession? I see most of what that lady does."

Methos, having lost interest in the Barstow domestic squabble, sat next to Elizabeth, took her hand. "Well, do you have a job?"

"Not yet," Elizabeth replied sourly. "And we'll have to wait until the current staff dies before walking into Tavern on the Green again."

Damn, in Methos' estimation, it was one of the best restaurants in New York, if you wanted to go to a well-known establishment. "What did you do?"

"It's what he did."

"He? The interviewer? He didn't hire you on the spot?"

"He was more interested in my figure than my resume."

"Well, you have an impressive figure, my dear." Methos smiled and kissed her hand, in order to lighten her mood. There wasn't any need for disappointment. To him, this was good news. They could go and do anything they wanted now.

"I have an impressive resume, too, I might add."

"That you made up."

Elizabeth suddenly glared at him. "Who's side are you on?"

"Yours, my love. Always on yours."

"That little prick," Elizabeth spat, and Methos could see a good old fashioned harangue coming on. It was fine with him, since it didn't have anything to do with anything he did or forgot to do. "My resume is false because I had to make up dates for actual experience I actually have at different universities at different times. I've taught at more places than Humphrey can even list. Or pronounce."

Elizabeth stood up and continued her rant to everyone, who'd better be on her side or she may pull out a sword she seemed to be so pent up. "To think, I had to pander to that neanderthal to get hired. That's the shits about being a hundred and fifty years older than your normal run-of-the-mill mortal. No one gives you respect. Not that I'd find it in this room." She looked at Amanda, Duncan, then Methos.

"I give you respect," Guy offered.

Amy added, "Me too."

"Suck ups," Methos said laughing. "She's on a roll here; let her get it out." He sat back on his chair and took another gulp of his beer.

"To think a solid institution like Columbia University would even hire that drunk to be the one in charge of finding faculty! I should call up the dean and give him a piece of my mind and get that jerk fired, that's what I should do."

When no one encouraged her to do so, she turned on Methos. "Why aren't you more mad?"

"I'm not a dog."

"Angry! Get angry! He insulted me."

"He did," Amy said. "Drunk as a Irishman on St Patty's Day."

"He grabbed my hand and wouldn't let it go," Elizabeth added forcefully. "If Amy hadn't ripped off his toupee, he-"

"One of your finer moments, Amy." Guy laughed and bear hugged his wife.

"Ripped it right off his head." Amy announced with renewed pride. "Just as Amanda accidently spilled his drink in his lap."

"There was no accident about it," Amanda winked.

"I'm a little disturbed that you aren't as affected by this as I thought you'd be," Elizabeth told Methos. "I thought you'd be... emotional... any emotion would be fine. That man took my wedding ring right off my finger and wouldn't give it back!"

That got Methos' attention. It wasn't a matter of her not getting the job and her interviewer liking her physique, but if he had man-handled her, and dared to touch the band Methos put on her finger, a couple of times, that was too much. He grabbed her left hand to see if her ring was still there and Elizabeth smiled. When it was there, just where he put it, he was fine again, but needled Elizabeth with, "So, you have my anger, feel better?" as he kissed her wedding finger.

"Somewhat," she admitted

The tinny rendition of the William Tell Overture made Duncan move to his jacket that was slung on the couch and answer his cell phone, "MacLeod... oh, hey... Douglas, yeah, of course I remember you," Duncan said as he moved to the bedroom. Obviously the man didn't care for a roomful of people watching him take a call.

Methos told Elizabeth, "You know, if you ever take this off... I'm just going to have to do something rash."

"Like what?"

"Buy you another one, I guess." He shrugged. "Just don't do it, so I don't have to decide how to punish you."

"I didn't take it off, he took it."

"Why did you give him your hand?"

"It was resting on the table and he grabbed it. He was drunk. Can you believe he drank when he was going to meet with a prospective professor at his damn university?! Pipsqueak! No one takes pride in their place of employment anymore."

A short cry from the bedroom where Katie was sleeping caught Amy's attention, and she was out of the room in no time to check her daughter. Guy hovered at the door, and Methos noticed that his attention was still on those in the living room. When the no-nonsense beep sounding on Guy's cell caused him to go into the hallway to talk, Methos tried to nonchalantly sidle over to the door to listen while Elizabeth and Amanda commiserated on the extent of Humphrey's intoxication.

~~~~~

Guy sighed when he saw who was calling him but answered cajoling, "Hey, Joe. Tell me you just missed hearing my voice and that's the only reason you're calling," although his voice was tight with dread.

"Wish that were the case, son," came Joe's drawl, which reflected his exhaustion. He had to be after the last few days he's had to endure.

"We have to plan something big for Amy's birthday. She's been asking questions about our calls and I had to tell her that was the reason."

"Fine. Fine," Joe spat over the phone.

"Hey, she's your daughter, don't bite my head off."

"It's not that!" Guy could hear Joe sigh and could about imagine what state he was in. Finally he moaned, "I didn't want this to be true. God, what's Mac going to do?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Guy told his father-in-law, hoping to get some sort of vision as how best to take care of this tenuous situation. "What should we do?"

"A quick bullet to the head would do it," Joe said quickly. "For a while... then what?"

"Keep pumping him full of lead?"

"I'm not going to interfere. By the book, Guy. Remember. Always. We need to go by the book."

"Which book is that?"

"Just don't tell Mac but... shit. It's bad."

Amy came out into the hallway with Katie wrapped in a blanket. "Oh, on the phone again. What a surprise. I hope you're going to use the caterer on 56^th. They're really good and not too expensive, if I remember correctly. I'm going to bring Katie in. Dr. Glazer wanted to run a couple of more tests. She's so tired all the time. All she does is smile, eat, and sleep. Easy baby to take care of, but considering how active Joey was, this isn't right."

Guy hurriedly hung up the phone and said, "I'll take us. What about Joey?"

"Liz said she'd look after him until we get back."

Just then, Elizabeth and Methos exited their suite. Guy immediately asked, "Where are you going?"

"You get the night off, Watcher," Methos told him. "We're just going to collect the kiddies and probably rent movies for the evening."

Elizabeth caressed Katie's head and asked, "Should I go with you?"

"Nah," Amy said. "I'm sure she's just come down with a bug or something. No use all three of us waiting in the hospital when it can be avoided."

"Okay," Elizabeth said reluctantly. "Well, let us know, and Joey's going to be fine. In fact, you can leave Katie with us tonight after the doctor and go out yourselves."

Guy jerked his head to Amy, that sounded like a dream. He and Amy hadn't really had a lot of time together without the kids lately, and a night alone could make them both relax. But then, she'd probably keep needling him about the calls and her party he and Joe had yet to plan.

When Amy told Elizabeth, "We'll take a rain check," Guy had mixed feelings about it.

Amy went to the elevator and said, "I'm sure it's nothing. Dr. Glazer said every kid is different, but I want to be sure she gets a clean bill of health."

Elizabeth tapped Methos on the arm. "Well, let's go get the kids, that is if they're still there in one piece."

"I paid the guy a ton of money to make sure, and was only gone a minute. Oh, hey," Methos stopped and looked back at the suite. "Mac was supposed to pay the rest."

"What rest?"

"What I promised Claire's watcher, he pays cause he lost the bet."

Guy didn't know what all that was about, but Elizabeth looked perturbed when she followed Methos back into the suite.

~~~~~

"So, I should go and take care of things," Elizabeth heard Duncan tell his wife, who was wrapped in his arms when she and Methos reentered their suite. Duncan kissed her and said, "You can stay here."

Amanda grunted. "Yeah, like that will happen. You're not leaving without me."

"Where are you going?" Methos asked, while making a motion with his fingers to pay up.

Duncan shook off the payola indication and said, "I have to go sell the dojo, finally. Doug's not waiting around much longer."

"Oh," Methos joked. "Then you'll have even more money with which to pay me."

"For what?"

"Losing the bet."

"I'm not getting into that, and I'm not paying anything. Geez, you act like you're on your last dollar when you're richer than half the countries of the world."

"Just because I have money doesn't mean I don't want what's coming to me."

Amanda sneered at them. "You two are worse than children. Enough with the machismo. It's getting thick in here."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Methos asked, seemingly really confused.

"This nonsense stems from the fact that you both have axes of some sort to grind, and it's petty and it has to stop. Now."

When silence reigned, Amanda asked Elizabeth, "Liz? Shall we collect the kids while those two, please!, call some sort of truce, and then we can order dinner of some kind? I'm hungry. We never did get to eat lunch."

"Sounds like a plan," Elizabeth said as she headed to the door.

Methos told her, "Give the lifeguard a hundred bucks, since Moneybags over there won't pay what he owes."

"Oh, God!" Amanda moaned. "You're buying supper, Methos."

"Why me?"

"Because you're bugging me, that's why."

On the trip down to the pool, Amanda kept looking at Elizabeth but not saying anything. It wasn't until they were in the elevator that Elizabeth couldn't stand it anymore. "What's going on? Did I miss something?"

"No. You know, I've known those men for a long, long time, and it's usually quite fun to be around them. At times. But sometimes, like now... I just can't take them together."

"Is this all stemming from what happened while Methos and I were separated?" Elizabeth was hesitant to ask, but had learned in therapy that it's dangerous to let things remain unsaid so she asked it.

"No, that's another matter, that's really not anything anymore as far as I'm concerned." Amanda took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall of the elevator. "And I really think I've grown to feel that way... I really feel that way. I know Mac loves me and you and Methos are in love. That front's fine. It's the way they have to get one over on each other all the time. Haven't you noticed it? Doesn't it just bug you? Good thing Mac and I are leaving."

"To Seacouver to clean out the loft and sell the dojo?"

"Yeah. I know Mac knows he has to do it, but it's going to hard for him. There's a lot of good memories there. Richie. Tessa." When Amanda mentioned the name of Duncan's love before Amanda and he got together again, she lowered her head and sighed. "It will probably be tougher for me. I've seen things of hers around the loft. Not out and in the open, but a scarf in a drawer, a picture in a box, a bottle of her perfume in the medicine cabinet."

"Why didn't you clean them out?"

"They're his memories. I can't decide when it's time to let them go. He has to."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"She's dead. He's with me. I know he loves me. There's just so much baggage we all carry, isn't there?"

"You got that right." Elizabeth immediately thought of a woman she had never met, but had seen in the visions produced by a quickening. Alexa. She remembered Methos' handwriting in the margins of the journal she had written and how it seemed that even though everything else seemed to have been written quickly, the name Alexa had been perfectly etched.

"Hey!" Amanda declared as the doors opened on the ground floor.

"What?" Elizabeth braced herself wondering if she was so deep in thought she hadn't felt an approaching immortal or something.

"Can I ask you a favor... I know it would be a really big one, since the events that transpired a bit ago, but can I?"

"Sure. What?"

Amanda escorted Elizabeth out of the elevator when two women entered and conspiratorially moved her to a far corner of the lobby. "I know I mentioned it off the cuff earlier to you and Amy, but it's something I've really been thinking about."

"What was that?" Elizabeth only paused where she was because she could feel Claire's hum through the wall that separated them from the pool area.

"I know," Amanda cleared her throat. "That it was because of me that Claire got injured."

"No it wasn't," Elizabeth was quick to assure her. "It could have happened while I was with her. Or even Methos. It was one of those things."

Amanda smiled and then asked, "Would it be all right if Duncan and I brought Claire with us to Seacouver?"

After a pause while Elizabeth was trying to digest what was asked, she had to find out, "Why?"

"I've been thinking that I really want to be a mother. Mac would be a great father. I just have to show him how great he'd be, and try it out myself. Claire would be a good candidate. She can eat and go to the bathroom herself, so I don't have to deal with that, but I could get a really good sense of how we'd be as parents."

Elizabeth chuckled and gaped at Amanda, wondering if Amanda had even thought of all the things that goes into being a parent. "Well, Claire is a good kid, because of how she was raised. Just because Claire would act one way wouldn't mean your child would, if and when you get one. How would you get one? Would you get a baby?"

"I don't know. I have to crack Mac's barrier before I get into the details. But it would be a really good way to take those first baby steps to parenthood if we could take Claire, for say, a week?"

"I just got Claire back," Elizabeth said regretfully. "I can't lose her so fast."

"You're not going to lose her. You think I'd hurt her again?"

"No. I wouldn't be with her. That's what I meant."

"Because if you're worried about that, Mac will be there. She wouldn't be in danger."

"I know, I know. It's not that, Amanda. I love her and I missed her for so long. I want to spend all my time with her."

"You can later. This short little trip came up out of the blue, and we'll bring her back in one piece, and granted, Claire and I will go shopping, and you'll have her back to spend all the time together you want in a few days."

Knowing that Methos would probably never allow it to happen, Elizabeth just smiled and said, "Fine by me. Run it past my husband." As she walked into the pool room Amanda was almost bursting with happiness.

~~~~~

Amanda had tried to convince Methos to allow them to take Claire to Seacouver, but as Elizabeth predicted, Methos was the bad guy in the situation. After the pizza arrived and Claire and Joey dug in, Amanda left in a huff to pack. Elizabeth dragged Methos into the bedroom and threw her arms around him and kissed him. "I like it when you're bad cop. Makes me good cop."

"Well, I was just having a bit of fun with her. There's times I can't resist."

"What are you talking about?"

Methos had the very look that made Elizabeth both thrilled and apprehensive about what was to come. He had something up his sleeve, she just knew it. She just hoped it was good. "I'm going to talk to Mac about it. I've been thinking I need to clean out the apartment in Paris, but I don't want Claire to see some of it. Now might be as good a time as any."

"I don't feel right leaving Claire and going off."

"Yeah, where we go, Claire goes," Methos stated positively, but he hedged when he added, "Though, I really don't want her to see what we're going to do."

"Oh? What are we going to do?"

"You'll see."

"When will I see?"

"As soon as I can make the arrangements."

"Well, Methos. Darling. Aren't you forgetting a few things?"

"Like what, my love?"

"May Nash is supposed to stop in and check on us."

"Well, Nosey Nash won't find us. We'll write a letter that we've moved, or just disappear, change our names. About time, really."

"Claire's not really at an age where we just say, 'Hey, Claire, from now on you're... Claire Smith and dad's new name is John. Okay?' and not get any questions."

"This is true." Methos paused, then said, "I hate playing by the book... I guess we have to stay until she makes her inspection. I just hope it's not when an immortal comes to challenge or something."

"Is one going to come and challenge?"

"I'm not expecting it, but that's usually when it happens."

"We'll make sure we're all wearing sensible shoes," Elizabeth stated, which was Methos' number one tip for parenting a pre-immortal.

Methos shrugged. "Well, I'll sign another lease in Paris and clean it out eventually." He tightened his hands on Elizabeth's waist and murmured, "We have forever to take care of things."

~~~~~

TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2013

Elizabeth ran her hand through Claire's long hair to give her comfort because her daughter was sitting quite rigid at the table with Methos. With a stopwatch ready to go, Elizabeth paced around the table, and asked, "Really?"

Claire peered over the Scrabble board and tiles and then at her father. Methos was sitting casually in a chair across from her and winked. "It's now or never, I guess."

"That's the spirit. Get it over with. It's only education."

"Da-ad," Claire whined. "It's bad enough as it is."

"You can do it. I know you can." Methos sat up straight and said, "No pressure. It's just your Geography grade at stake and how I think about you for the rest of your life."

Claire humped and asked, "Mom's going to grade it, right?"

"All the countries you can make on that board in one hour," Methos said, then looked to Elizabeth. "Are you going to say 'go' soon?"

When Claire smirked as her eyes flitted at the board and pile of Scrabble tiles, Methos said, "Okay. It was either this or that fifteen page essay examination I prepared the other day."

"Say 'go', Mom."

Elizabeth clicked the watch and said, "Go." She watched Claire take the nearest tiles and lay out ITALY on the board instantly and added, "And good luck, honey."

"Can I get the points for the bonus squares?"

"No, it's the countries that matter. But, if by chance you lay Azerbaijan on a triple word score, I'll give you a couple of extra points."

Immediately, Claire took the tiles from the pile and put that very country on the bottom row of the board and smiled. Methos shook his head and said, "Only if you spell it correctly."

Claire scowled at her rendering of "Azerbijin" and fixed it. "What if I run out of tiles?"

Methos pointed to a large paper bag near the couch. "Funny thing, I assumed that might happen and bought some more Scrabble games."

"Get them out, Dad. I'm on a roll." Claire linked Italy and Azerbaijan with Yugoslavia.

"No longer a country."

"I know, but it works. Your long list of rules indicated nothing about not using former names of current countries, Dad."

"All right... I'll make a note to change the rules next time."

"How do you know about Yugoslavia anyway? It changed to Bosnia-Herzegovina before you were born."

"I read, Mom. Not that I read everything I want to," Claire cast an eye at Methos, who smiled. "But I read. Actually, it was about the Olympics. They were in Sarajavo."

"Time's ticking, Claire," Methos reminded her. Twenty minutes later, the doorbell made Claire lose her concentration, but Methos told her, "Keep on. Time's ticking away," as Elizabeth went to answer it, not knowing who it could be as there wasn't a buzz. Amy said she was picking Joey up at school and Guy hadn't been seen since he had to go to Boston that morning.

It surprised Elizabeth to see the Manhattan County social worker, May Nash, standing at the door with her black leather briefcase in her hand. "Good afternoon, Ms. Gordon. Would you mind if I come in?"

"Sure, come on in," Elizabeth told her and stepped back. She went over to Claire and said, "We can finish this later." She clicked the stopwatch and saw that Claire had thirteen minutes left to go in her test.

"Oh, no. Please," May said, acting very much like she hadn't wanted to interfere with what they were doing. "Just pretend I'm not here."

"Keep going," Methos said as he scanned the social worker as she set her briefcase down on the sofa and took off her coat.

"What are you doing?" May asked with a smile as she looked over the table of Scrabble tiles and Methos in the process of opening yet another game to get more tiles.

"Claire's Geography test," Elizabeth whispered to May and nudged her back from where their voices could interfere with Claire's concentration.

"Ah," May nodded and kept silent as she looked around the suite.

Elizabeth wished she had picked up more that morning, but to get Claire dressed, fed, and prepped for her test that Methos decided to spring on her that morning took longer than Elizabeth had thought.

"How much more time, Mom?" Claire asked as she shuffled more tiles that Methos slid onto the table.

Elizabeth had forgotten to restart the timer, but said, "Fifteen minutes," as she did so.

May paced slowly around the room and Elizabeth nonchalantly kicked some of Claire's clothes that were on the floor behind the couch into the corner and took the used glasses from when they were watching movies the night before to the kitchenette's sink. "Would you like some coffee, Ms. Nash?"

"I'd actually love some if it isn't any trouble." May smiled politely as she joined Elizabeth at the counter.

"No trouble. If you don't mind some that's about an hour old."

"Just fine. With sugar, if you have some, please?"

Elizabeth was happy that Ms. Nash's ever-present clipboard wasn't visible, and wondered how the woman was taking in their situation. Unexpected check-in for sure. Elizabeth was seeing all sorts of things sitting around that shouldn't be. Elizabeth asked Methos, "Do you want another cup?"

He shook his head and pointed at one of Claire's words. "Where in the world did you come up with Czechoslovakia? It hasn't been called that since before you were born."

"Oh," Claire said as she wiped those tiles from the board. "I was on the internet last night and I guess I came across it. Did I spell it right? What is it now?"

When Methos remained mum with a smile, Claire grumbled and went back to looking over the tiles. "If you have such a question that's so easily researched, you can look it up yourself."

Elizabeth sat on the stool next to May and noticed a stain on Claire's shirt, hoping that May hadn't spotted it. She explained, "I'm sorry it's so messy. We told the maid service only to come to change bedding and make a thorough cleaning once a week. We're trying to get Claire to pick up after herself and not rely on servants, and we weren't expecting company."

"I'm not company, Elizabeth," May said, blowing on her coffee and taking a sip. "Ah, hazelnut. Very nice."

The watch beeped and Elizabeth said, "Time's up, hon."

"How did I do, Dad?" Claire immediately asked as she sat back on her chair with wide, expectant eyes completely forgetting she wanted her mom to mark it.

In Elizabeth's estimation, Claire did a hell of a lot better than she could have done. The board was almost filled with tiles, but she couldn't see exactly which countries had been spelled out. Methos peered over the board and took a count of the countries, taking two off. "Wrong spelling."

"Oh, come on," Claire moaned.

Methos shushed her, and beamed. "You did great, kiddo. I never expected you to get 32. That's an A in my estimation. How about you, Mom?"

Elizabeth went to hug Claire from behind and was quite amazed at some of the countries Claire had come up with. "Wonderful, babe." She kissed Claire's head and said, "Anywhere you want to go this evening. Amy and the kids are going to join us."

"My word," May declared as she walked to the table and looked at the Scrabble board. "How old are you, Claire?"

"Ten."

"Goodness," May laughed lightly. "When I was ten, I was focused on popping wheelies and keeping a Hula Hoop going for more than three minutes. Very impressive."

"She's a smart girl." Methos stood up and shook May's hand. "Nice to see you again, Ms. Nash. I'm sorry I was a bit distracted when you came in. Claire, could you pick all of this up while we talk?"

Claire looked from her dad to May Nash and didn't argue. Even Claire knew how important this meeting was. If May gave them a good report, they'd never have to see her again and they could get on with their lives.

Elizabeth was quite glad this was the time when May made her visit. The suite was a little unkempt, but they were doing something important to Claire's education, May had been able to see how advanced Claire was as a result of her parents' teachings, and they were all doing something together. It amazed Elizabeth when May didn't stay long. There were no needling questions about what their future plans were or how long they planned to stay in a hotel and home school Claire. She just made small talk as Methos stood alongside Elizabeth, his arms around her, which enabled Elizabeth to lose the nervousness caused by making conversation. Methos seemed as surprised as Elizabeth when May finished her coffee and said, "Well, I've seen enough. I see that the events of last month were just an unfortunate string of happenstance. I'll be filing my final report and this case is closed. Good luck to you in the future," she walked to Claire and shook her hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Claire. Are you feeling better?"

"I feel great. I got an A in Geography."

"I was talking about your arm, dear. You're going to be a very impressive adult."

Claire didn't know how to take that, and her eyes flitted to her parents. "Thanks."

When the phone rang, Methos said his short goodbye to May and went to answer it. Elizabeth showed May to the door and thanked her for making this trying experience so easy. "Is that really all there is to it all?"

"We've interfered with your lives enough, haven't we?" May asked as she put on her hat. "We like to make sure families are better off after we've begun the case, but in this case, just keeping the family in the same shape we found them is a success."

Elizabeth almost hugged her with gratitude before May left, but held back and jumped onto Methos' lap, who was sprawled on the couch. "We're the perfect parents," she said before kissing Methos.

"Of course, we are."

"And who's the perfect daughter?" Claire asked with a throat clearing utterance.

Methos pulled away from Elizabeth to squint at his daughter and then around the room. "I'll let you know when we find her."

"Real funny, Dad," Claire chuckled. "Since I aced your unusual test, can we go do something now? The sun's out and I'm sick of my video games and DVD's."

Methos' eyes widen as he suddenly got an idea. "Hey, how about we pack up and high tail it to the airport?"

Elizabeth was always elated when Methos had such a plan, but asked, "Where to? Timbuktu?"

"No," Methos said getting up and heading to the bedroom. "Seacouver."

"What's in Seacouver, Dad?" Claire asked, a bit let down, there was a world of places to go to from the airport and Seacouver, WA, was about the last place she would have thought to go.

"Loads of my stuff, I assume." Methos leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom and folded his arms in front of him casually. "Mac's cleaning out his loft, and I just know there are at least three things he'll never return if I don't go fetch them. Now that Nosey Nash is out of our hair, we can leave."

"Maybe you want to return some of Duncan's things, as well," Elizabeth offered with a smile as she joined him in a hug.

"What do I have of his?"

"This shirt for one," Elizabeth grabbed hold of the collar. "Amanda and I sent our things down for washing at the same time and it came to us by mistake."

Methos looked down at the emerald green button up shirt that fit like a glove and scowled. "It's only a shirt. I'm talking a ming vase and a dagger from the seventeenth century. He can go to... Sears and get another one of these."

"What are you doing with a dagger from the seventeenth century, Dad?" Claire asked in a small voice from the far end of the room.

Elizabeth tightened. It was getting harder and harder to talk around her without spilling something that might make her think more deeply about her parents and their ages. Methos cleared his throat and told his daughter, "It's a beautiful knife. I found it at an estate sale about six years ago."

"What does Mac need it for?"

"He doesn't. I just remember buying it and forgetting it at his loft and he never gave it back."

"You like knives?"

"If they're made well."

"You're strange at times, Dad."

"Thank you very much. Go pack."

After Claire left for her room, Elizabeth asked, "An estate sale?"

Methos shrugged. "I'm sure they would have had a sale of his trinkets eventually..."

"A head you took?"

"He deemed it appropriate to try and trick me when sticking that dagger in my gut. Token of the challenge."

"Why does Duncan have it?"

"Oh, you know," he said then was quiet as if she would know. It must be a guy thing, and she was going to drop it, but Methos explained, "We were talking war wounds, so I showed it to him to prove he'd never come across a blade like that and still been able to retain his head, especially considering it was a surprise. It was an accessory, really, considering the size of his sword."

"You and Duncan when you get to drinking." Elizabeth shook her head.

"I still wonder how Armand was able to keep it hidden from me. He must have cut up his arse hiding it in the back of his pants."

"You didn't check?"

"Who do you think I am? Defile the dead? No. My motto: Take the head. Take the quickening. Move on. But it was a nice knife, and since I had to pull it out of me-and never did die from the wound, I might add-I took it with me."

"What happened to your theory of getting challenged and running?"

"Depends on the situation. He really was a bastard. Dumb git."

Claire came out of her bedroom. "Mom? How long are we going to be gone? How much should I pack?"

"Everything," Methos said. "We're blowing this pop stand."

"We're not coming back to New York?" Elizabeth asked, thinking that this was where Amy lived, with Joey enrolled in school and looking like they liked it there and they were looking for a house. Elizabeth wasn't going to be living far away from her sister again.

"If we do, there are other places to live, and maybe by the time we're done pillaging Duncan's collection we can find a place of our own."

"That would be wonderful," Elizabeth said gratefully, ignoring his use of the word pillaging. "I'm going to call Amy to tell her we're leaving."

"Guy will find out on his own."

"I want to talk to her."

As Elizabeth went to the bedroom, Methos laughed. "That's right. No quick email or call to say where we went when women are involved, this will be an hour long proposition."

Just as she was going to enter the bedroom to make her call in privacy, she turned to grimace at Methos. "Hey, as much as I love packing up and leaving at a moment's notice," she said, getting Methos' attention on his trip to the fridge for a beer. "And I've only come to acquire the taste for leaving at a moment's notice with fun attached since I've been with you," she commented with a smile.

Methos winked at his wife and opened the fridge. "I told you life with me would be unpredictable."

"That you did, and it certainly has been," Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "But, something predictable makes this quick trip sort of touchy."

"What's that?"

"I have an appointment to see Simon tomorrow and Claire has a checkup with Dr. Freelow on Thursday."

"Ah," Methos scowled as he leaned back against the counter and slugged back a gulp of beer. "That does make us somewhat Big Apple bound, doesn't it?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Well, I'll call Amy anyway. I haven't talked to her yet today and then I'll call Amanda to tell her we almost came. How about this weekend? That would still work, wouldn't it?"

"Might. Might not. Don't know how fast Mac is packing up the loft. He might be savoring every item, or he could be just tossing things in a box and calling a moving company. Though, Amanda said that he was taking his old sweet time, so-."

"Amanda told you that? When did you talk to her?"

"This morning. That's how I got the idea to pay a visit to retrieve all my things."

"Do you talk often?"

Methos suddenly got her drift. Elizabeth hated when bold-faced jealousy seeped through her controlled exterior but when it came to the long history the two immortals shared that she had no part of, there it was. She could almost feel her cheeks flush red with a spot of anger at the thought of Methos and Amanda doing something as innocent as talking long distance on the telephone.

Methos set down his beer and sauntered toward Elizabeth, stopping only to smile at her expression, which she assumed was guarded but wanting details. "Jealousy makes a relationship stronger in my mind," he said before taking her into his arms and giving her one of the best kisses he had ever laid on her.

Wanting more, she was a bit confused by his sudden straightening and wide grin. "She called to talk to you when you were out with Claire. Remember? Claire wanted to get some air and look over her notes while I got her test ready?"

"Oh yeah."

"So, my ex-lover called to talk to you, and I just asked how far Mac was in the moving process. Nothing more than that. The only time I talked to her before that was when she picked up the phone when I called Mac to see that they made it to Seacouver all right. The time before that..." His forehead crinkled as he seemed unable to remember.

Elizabeth laughed and said, "All right. I get the picture, and couldn't be happier. You called Mac just to see if they made it to Seacouver?"

"Yeah. I always do." Methos stated that plainly, as if there wasn't anything behind it, but Elizabeth could tell he was covering for something.

"No you don't. Half the time you don't seem to care where he is. Were you calling to make sure Amanda made it all right, and maybe ask when they'd... she'd be back in the city?"

Methos' laugh was a sharp and gleeful bark, which left Elizabeth not knowing how to react. "A little jealousy is good, not obsessive jealousy. I love you, my love, and no one else."

"All right," Elizabeth said, sinking against him to feel his arms around her and his strong body holding her up. Mere months ago, she didn't think this would ever be possible again, and she had to stop being an idiot.

"And what do you say in response to someone, your ever loving husband, telling you he loves you?"

"Usually I try to think of scenarios where I can tell you I love you as soon as possible, but just saying "ditto," or "me, too," or "I love you more," doesn't do the trick for me. You should know that by now. It means more when you're not expecting it."

"Too true. It was this 'you're talking to Amanda' silliness, I guess. I called Mac to see if he made it all right because... well, because maybe I'm a changed man now. There's still, or could be, or quite possibly Crusaders out there and we have to keep our guard up."

The very reminder of it wasn't what Elizabeth wanted to dwell on, but they did have to take better precautions about things from now on. She didn't mind Methos pointing some things out once in a while because she was apt, when she was happy, to forget there were others in the world outside their cocoon of three.

"Your appointment with Bradford tomorrow, and notice how I didn't say anything when you called him Simon? Do you need medication refills, or is this going to be an in-depth session where you talk about me?"

"I have two months of refills left, and we never talk about you in session."

"Then you don't have to go. Reschedule it for a couple of weeks."

"I can do that, but what about Claire's appointment on Thursday."

Methos yelled, "Claire?!" rocketing Elizabeth's head backward with the sudden noise.

Claire's voice could be heard from the closed bedroom, "What?"

"Come out here! I'm not shouting to talk to you!"

"Yes, you are." Elizabeth giggled as she pulled back from him, her eardrums ringing.

Claire opened her bedroom door with three books in her arms. "What?!"

"How do you feel?"

"Huh?" She asked, almost to the point of exasperation.

"You have a doctor appointment on Thursday. Do you feel sick?"

"No."

"Are your pins ready to fall out at a moment's notice?"

"No, but if I work on them..." she said, dropping her books to take hold of one of them.

"No, you don't!" Elizabeth said, bolting to her. "Dr. Freelow said they'll come out when they come out and you shouldn't force them."

"But it'll be so excellent when they're gone," Claire whined. "I hate 'em."

"So, the appointment with Freelow isn't going to change things," Methos said. "He just wants more money. She's fine. You're fine. Let's go. Claire, go pack."

Claire groaned. "That's what I was doing when I was rudely interrupted." She picked up two of the fallen books, and kicked the other one back into her room and shut the door.

"So, now it's rude to call for her," Elizabeth observed.

Methos nodded with a scowl. "And she shuts her door. Makes it nicer to talk about touchy things, but what's she doing in there?"

When he moved to her door, Elizabeth stopped him. "Probably packing."

"But why does she need the door shut? She's not even a teenager yet. What's she doing in there?"

"If we barge in on her, that would really be rude. Get used to it, honey. It's going to happen, and loads of other stuff I don't even want to think about yet."

Methos seemed crestfallen. "But, I want a child I can teach or an adult I can talk to and rely on. I don't want a teenager. I thought I'd made it so she wouldn't be a brat."

"The best of intentions," Elizabeth mused. "Maybe this is something I could ask Dr. Bradford about: How to handle teens."

"She's only ten."

"She's advanced. She's also herself and I trust her. She's not killing kittens or having sex in there. Let's leave her alone."

When Elizabeth went to call Amy, she noticed Methos pick up his beer and stare at Claire's door.

~~~~~

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013
SEACOUVER

It was twelve years to the day that Elizabeth, Duncan, and Warren had gone to Delphi to rescue Methos from Pyrius, and Elizabeth had an eerie feeling as she walked up the steps to the dojo in front of Methos and Claire. It was dark, with no lights, and there were no sounds except their footsteps. It was very much like the night they had gone innocently enough to the dojo to dinner at Duncan's when she was greeted with a bullet from Pyrius' gun. She didn't believe Pyrius could still harm them, but Elizabeth held back and let Methos go first down the hall to the bank of windows and door of the dojo. When he found the door locked, he said, "Come on, back stairs to the loft."

As she followed him up the stairs it sort of amazed her that he didn't seem to have any trepidation as he walked to the door. It was like that other night never entered into his head anymore. She had to admit she didn't think of it often, and she had been to the dojo and loft many times since, but this particular night when it seemed so familiar gave her pause. Why didn't it affect him? It was the night that Pyrius took him and had his way with him for three whole days.

With Claire at her heels, tugging her heavy backpack up the stairs, Elizabeth forced that night and the events that followed out of her mind and kept on walking.

"You doing all right there, Claire?" Elizabeth asked. "Why did you have to bring all that with you? We're not staying here. We'll go to the hotel after we surprise Duncan and Amanda."

"I gotta do something. All you guys do is talk when you get together."

Methos turned his head to look back at his child at that comment, and smiled to Elizabeth, and said, "Yeah, us old fogeys," then kept on walking up the stairs, coming to a halt at the landing.

Elizabeth tried to take the backpack from Claire to help her, but Claire snipped, "I got it. How much further?"

"We're here," Methos said as Elizabeth felt the immortals and Methos rapped on the door.

The wooden door opened and she heard Duncan's voice call out, "What the hell are you doing here?" but laced with gaiety. "Scared me."

As Duncan's smiling face appeared and he slapped Methos on the back, Methos said, "Well, I try."

Elizabeth hugged Duncan as Claire blasted past her into the loft. She turned to see Amanda and Methos exchange nods and then Amanda came to hug Elizabeth. "What a great surprise," Amanda said, taking Elizabeth into her arms. "What's the reason?"

"Hope we didn't barge in on you," Elizabeth told her, dropping her purse on the black leather couch next to where Claire had slouched.

"Not really," Amanda said with a bit of hesitation.

"Oh? We interrupted you?" Methos asked innocently as he made his way past some boxes on the floor to the fridge. "One of my favorite activities."

"No interruption," Duncan said. "As a matter of fact, we were having a discussion I'd just as soon not have."

Amanda squawked, "I thought you were going to think it over. Now you sound like it's a terrible idea and I should never have brought it up."

"It's somewhere in the middle, Amanda," Duncan sighed as he sat on the couch with Claire.

"Sounds like we did interrupt something," Elizabeth said and grimaced as Methos made himself at home by getting two wine glasses and pouring from the already opened bottle at the elegantly set dining table where a meal lay, half eaten.

"We can talk about it later," Duncan told Amanda. "I'll think about it."

"You promise?" Amanda looked at him her face indicating that his response meant the safety or destruction of her entire existence.

"Of course. It's not totally out of the question."

As Methos handed Elizabeth a glass of wine and put his arm around her waist facing their friends, Elizabeth said, "Thanks for the wine, Duncan," then set the glass on the table because she was on medication.

"Hope you enjoy it. Cost me 500 bucks," Amanda pouted.

Methos took a sip and commented, "Rothschild 1823. What did you do now, Amanda?"

Duncan squinted at Methos. "Since when did you become a wine connoisseur?"

"I haven't become one, but I can read a label while I pour."

"Why are you here?" Amanda said, a bit more crabby than when they arrived.

Claire grumbled to Duncan, "You have dad's knife. Why he wants this particular knife is anyone's guess, but you have it and he wants it, so I had to leave Joey and Katie and New York City to come here where there's no one to play with and nothing to do." She crossed her arms roughly in front of her and scowled at them all.

Elizabeth sighed. "She's been grumpy ever since we got on the plane."

Duncan asked, as if challenging, "What knife?"

"You know precisely which knife." Methos cast his eyes over the mounds of packed boxes and shelves and walls. "Don't worry. I'll find it."

Claire reached into her backpack for a book and folded her feet under her to read it, all the while acting put upon. Methos pointed to the elevator and said, "I'm going to check downstairs. You mind?"

Duncan shrugged. "Knock yourself out."

Amanda put her arms around Duncan from behind the couch and suggested, "Why don't you go with him. Chances are, he might take something of mine. And take Claire with you."

"Why?" Duncan asked as he looked up at her.

"Why can't I stay here?" Claire said. "I'm comfortable. I'm not hurting anything."

"Of course you're not, sweetie," Amanda said soothingly as she brushed her hand against Claire's hair. "I'd just like to talk to your mom for a bit. Alone," she added, staring at Duncan.

Methos, in the elevator, hand on the grate above his head, called out, "Train's leaving. If you're coming with me, come on."

Duncan stood up and strolled to the elevator. "I think it would be prudent to keep an eye on him. Come on, Claire. Let's keep him honest."

"Bring the wine," Methos said, pointing at it in the silver, frosty wine bucket.

Claire groused as she jerked off the couch and muttered to the elevator, "Why don't you just find a closet for me or something?"

Methos, watching her demeanor as she walked into the elevator, said, "Don't give me any ideas." The look he flashed at her made Elizabeth smile. One glare from him to indicate she was going too far always made Claire snap out of it. She wondered how long they'd be able to do that, though she had never quite mastered that look. She'd have to question Methos on just how he was able to produce it.

When they were alone, Amanda sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. "Well, I asked him. I came right out and asked him."

Elizabeth took the spot next to Amanda and guessed, "About wanting a baby?"

Amanda nodded slightly and stared at the Capt'n Crunch cereal case box that was on the floor next to her. All the boxes looked like they had rifled through a grocery store for them, except a few boughten ones and some Rubbermaid tubs. Since she didn't say anything, Elizabeth asked, "And what did he say?"

"You heard him. He'll think about it."

"That's what he said now. What did he say then?"

"He sat like the perfect statue. I was shocked some bird didn't come along and shit on his head."

"Well, did you ever give him any indication that it's been on your mind?"

"He might have gotten a clue when I bought a mobile for a crib the other day."

"Ah."

"He asked if I was going to send it to Claire."

Elizabeth gaped at her. Amanda continued, "I know. He thinks a girl of Claire's age would enjoy having a crib mobile. He doesn't know the first thing about kids. He may not have even known what it was."

"He's never been a father?"

"I don't think so. At least, that what he says."

"Why would he lie?"

"I don't want to get into that," Amanda stated evenly.

"Have you ever been a mother?"

"I told you. Besides Claire for that week, once. I was kind of a mother figure to a little monster immortal who almost killed Mac."

Elizabeth resisted the urge to laugh at the way Amanda had with words, but said, "That might be a reason why he's hesitant."

"I didn't know Kenny was lying to me about his age. How could I know? He looked like a cherub. Blond, cute as a button. But," she said, tearing her mind from remembering this Kenny immortal that Elizabeth vaguely remembered her talking about when Methos and Elizabeth moved to Norton Place, their condominium in Seacouver when Claire was a baby. "I want a baby. Start from scratch like you and Methos did. I wouldn't raise a killer."

"Of course not. But there's a lot to motherhood. We didn't go looking for a child, you dropped her on us, and we're grateful. If you hadn't, we still might not even have a child at all."

"You're welcome," Amanda muttered, lost in thought.

"You got a pulse on where to get a kid?"

"No!" Amanda stood up. "Why? Has he told you anything?"

"Who?" Elizabeth asked, a bit scared at Amanda's forcefulness.

"He accused me of that, I forgot about that. He didn't just sit there, he asked me if I had one 'lined up,' then we felt you guys." Amanda started pacing, never a good sign. She was working herself up into a state from which Elizabeth didn't know if she could talk her down. "He thinks I have it all arranged and am just telling him now so that when the kid arrives tomorrow or something I'll not have lied that I asked him first! I just bet that's what he's thinking! How could he think that?!"

"Amanda! I don't think that's what he meant. It's not what I meant. All I meant, and I'm sure that's what he meant too, is that finding a baby, especially a pre-immortal, which you told me you'd like to have, isn't easy to find," Elizabeth said, she almost had to chase after Amanda's pacing.

Amanda suddenly stopped and said, "Oh. Yeah. I... I think I did say I'd like a premmie." As if deciding, she chuckled, "Yeah, I did. He asked if I meant born prematurely or pre-immortal."

Elizabeth rubbed her shoulders. "See? No one's accusing you of anything. Calm down. We all love you."

"It's just so hard... you know? We have this whole history where..." Amanda slapped her hands against her legs and said in the usual way she did when she had to quickly explain something before Duncan hit the roof, "Ok. I have fudged the truth before. I admit it. But now it's different. I don't want to mess up what we have. Does he believe me?"

"Have you asked him?"

"Yeah. He says he does."

"Then go with that. You can read him better than anyone else. Do you believe him?"

"I want to."

"Until you find out otherwise, believe him and continue being honest."

Amanda nodded, her eyes not focused on anything. "Yeah. That's a good plan. I'll go with that. Can't hurt."

"Amanda. What the hell is wrong with you? You're not... yourself."

Amanda started laughing. "Well, maybe I want a baby so bad that I'm... it's like I'm pregnant. Pregnancy changes you, right?"

"That's what I hear," Elizabeth said, not knowing from personal experience.

~~~~~

An hour later when the women went downstairs in search of the men, they found them in the office laughing. Methos and Duncan were sharing the last of the bottle of wine and going over the good olds days, Elizabeth assumed since Duncan was holding some plaque in his hand.

Amanda slunk to Duncan's side and asked, "What's that, honey?

You wouldn't believe the lanes of memory we've traveled going through all the stuff in this place."

"Joe got it for me. Remember?" Duncan said, handing the plaque to her. "Or, were you with me then?"

Amanda read the plaque and said, "I've never seen this. When did he give it to you?"

When Elizabeth joined the party, Methos handed her the wine bottle, she saw that the plaque read, "To the wettest hero in the world," with an etching of a drenched man in an overcoat on the bronze plate, screwed onto a dark wooden shield.

Duncan's eyes flitted to Methos and he said, "I'll explain it later."

"No need to cover, MacLeod," Methos whispered. He whispered to Amanda, "Right after my brothers came back." Methos' eyes traveled to Elizabeth, and she knew exactly what he was talking about.

Over the years, he had told her about the return of Kronos, Silas, and Caspian, and giving Duncan that clue about the poison in the fountain, a ruse set up by Kronos. He had told her all about how he felt, why he did what he did, and his desperation during the entire ordeal. At that moment, she felt so proud of Methos and felt the warmth of love he had to have for her, sharing all that when he didn't have to. She wrapped her arms around Methos and was almost delirious with lust when his hand snaked down her back and into the top of her jeans.

"Oh, the fountain," Amanda said finally, getting it. "Yeah, Mac told me. That Joe. He seems like a good guy, but he has a biting sense of humor."

"I miss him." Duncan said with finality.

"He's not dead, MacLeod," Methos pointed out.

Duncan shrugged. "But we never see him anymore. It was great having him just down the street at the bar and we could pop in anytime." He smiled to Methos. "Some more often than others."

"He carried my favorite brands, which I can't say about some friends." Methos glared at Duncan.

"So, sue me. I didn't know you were coming."

"You would have stocked the fridge if I'd told you."

"That's what friends are for."

Methos' face showed his surprise and he continued looking at Duncan with the long-lost beam of friendship the two men had forged over the course of twenty years.

"So, Daniel," Amanda said, as she was wrapped in Duncan's arms. "What do you think about us adopting a baby?"

There was a long pause. With how much Amanda wanted this, Elizabeth hoped Methos wouldn't give a flippant, off-the-cuff response that would send her through the roof again. She could see that Duncan wasn't pleased about the topic of conversation as Methos said, "Wear proper shoes at all times."

"Is that a crack about my getting Claire hurt?" Amanda was offended and Elizabeth reached for her to start softening the blow.

"Not at all," Methos said openly. "It's rule number one for parenthood when you're like us. You can figure out all the ins and outs of raising a kid, but always remember, that something could happen and you have to be prepared for it."

Amanda gaped at him for a long while as Elizabeth held her hand and smiled, glad she hadn't been touchy. "You mean... you think we should be parents?" Amanda asked hopefully.

"If you both want it," Methos shrugged. "I can't deny Claire's been a joy and light of my life. You should be so happy," he declared as he held Elizabeth.

"That's so great!" Amanda squealed as she reached over the desk and kissed Methos. "Isn't that great, Mac? See? They both think we should have a baby!" Then she grabbed Duncan and planted one on him.

"Yeah, it's a good idea, Amanda," Duncan said when he came up for air. "But it's a lot to think about and since I know you're not, I have to. Just give me time. I said I'll think about it."

"Okay." Amanda was delighted and beamed. "I will. Not another peep from me, as long as I know you're thinking about it."

As if she hadn't just uttered that last sentence, Amanda launched into questions for Methos and Elizabeth about raising a child and what was needed. Elizabeth laughed knowing that if there was shopping to do, Amanda was a master, having brought everything Claire needed when she showed up in Sintra with her. Duncan also laughed and moved out of the office.

"Where are you going, darling?" Amanda asked him.

"Get some more wine. I feel a need to get plastered when you're talking shopping."

"And about Claire," Amanda said, happily. "When are you going to teach her how to use a sword?"

"What?" was heard from the dojo. Elizabeth stiffened and felt Methos do the same.

Thinking Amanda would change the subject, Elizabeth didn't say anything, but Amanda continued, "You know. She has to learn sometime," obviously so lost in her delirium that she didn't realize that Claire was listening. Elizabeth admitted to herself that she's forgotten that Claire was around to hear, as she was usually in her room with the door shut.

"Why?"

Suddenly Amanda swung around and Elizabeth could see Claire sitting on the bench press not far from the office with her book. Everything they had discussed ran through Elizabeth's mind to see if they had accidently spilled something about immortality.

Methos moved around Elizabeth to the door, probably to start a quick fix in case anything was said, but Duncan beat him to it. He stood before Claire and said, "Claire. There's something we have to tell you."

"No there isn't!" Methos called out and rushed out of the office around Amanda, standing numbly.

Duncan told Claire with a bit of a sparkle in his eyes that Elizabeth didn't understand, "You're parents, Amanda, and I have a secret and it's about time you found out about it."

Claire was suddenly very interested, and Elizabeth felt her heart constrict. He couldn't possibly intend to tell her they were all immortal and she would be one soon! He just couldn't be! She followed Methos and almost fell onto Claire's lap when she tripped over a barbell on the floor.

"Since you haven't told her our deep, dark secret yet, I'll tell her," Duncan said smoothly. That smile on his face didn't sit well with Elizabeth, because all she could think was that Claire couldn't know. Not yet. Amanda had opened the door of their secret so wide, something had to be said, but they couldn't tell her!

"MacLeod," Methos bellowed. "You'll tell her nothing."

"Tell me what?" Claire asked with wide, excited eyes and an expectant smile.

Duncan pushed Methos back and told her, "The four of us... are..."

"Adults," Methos chimed in. "And what we do and what we are aren't really any of your business... at times," thinking, Elizabeth assumed, that he was helping the matter. They hadn't really talked about how Claire would find out about immortality, but this wasn't at all what she had envisioned. Something like when Claire was thirty and she was strong and agile and open-minded, happy in her life, and in love with some man who was good for her... not at age ten sitting cross-legged on a bench press because Amanda asked when she would learn how to use a sword at the same time as when a child would normally walk and talk and date.

Duncan demanded, "Let me handle this, Daniel. I know what I'm doing. I've been waiting for this moment. Let me do it. Trust me."

"Do what?" Claire eagerly asked, getting to her feet.

Methos gave him a look that indicated if he said one wrong word, he was a headless immortal, but Methos also let him speak. Elizabeth assumed it was because Methos was as emotional and stupefied as to what to say as she was.

Duncan told Claire, "Claire. See this place?" He stretched his arms to indicate the dojo as a whole, with its mats, exercise equipment, and swords and bokkens. "It's hard for me to sell it because it's become a part of me, but it's time I did. Why do I love it so? Not because it's my home or makes money. It's because we spent a lot of time here practicing."

"MacLeod," Methos threatened.

Claire nudged closer to Duncan to ask, "Practicing what?"

"Fencing. We're all master fencers," Duncan replied happily.

Claire's expectant face fell. "Is that all?"

"We know it's kind of odd," Duncan said. "And its not one of the cool sports for kids your age, but we're the best. Isn't that right, Daniel?"

Methos stared at Duncan and then said, "Some better than others."

Amanda smiled. "Yeah. I could take your butt any day."

"That sounds like a challenge to me," Methos replied.

Elizabeth chimed in, feeling a bit better now that Claire seemed to believe that's all Duncan was going to reveal and was a bit let down, "No way on earth you can beat the two of us."

Duncan gaped exaggeratedly and looked to Amanda. "That, my love, was a definite challenge, if I am not mistaken."

"Duly noted and accepted," Amanda croaked, looking as if she was holding back a roar of laughter.

Duncan moved to the wall to retrieve two bokken sticks and threw one to Amanda and held the other threateningly at Methos. Elizabeth skirted past Amanda's swing in her direction to the wall and grabbed one for herself. Soon, all four adults were lightheartedly whipping their bokkens at each other, spouses be damned; everyone was a target and everyone was having fun. Claire hung around the perimeter of the dojo looking at her parents and their best friends as if they had totally lost their minds, but soon she was getting into the groove of what they were doing and cheering on Amanda and Elizabeth to "get 'em!"

After their workout, Elizabeth felt at least six bruises on her body that would soon heal and was dripping with sweat from keeping up with the three of them. She limped over to where Claire had perched herself on the wooden stairs and sat herself down as Methos said, "Out of energy already? I'm just getting started," just as Duncan's bokken whipped against his back, bringing him straight down on his chest from surprise.

Both Claire and Elizabeth grimaced and breathed, "Ooo..." When Methos looked up, Elizabeth pointed at him and instructed, "Never turn your back on your opponent."

"Yeah, Dad," Claire piped up. "That was kind of stupid. You're not hurt, are you?"

Methos pompously put on a brave face, but Elizabeth knew he had to have been hit hard and feeling it in his kidneys, and sniped, "In his dreams could he hurt me," then his face tightened with a wave of pain.

Because Duncan and Amanda had gone on to practicing on each other, Methos was able to get his breath back while still on the floor. Elizabeth walked over and offered her hand to help him up. He started to lift up, but Methos croaked, "I'm comfortable right here, thanks," and each word was clipped as if taking great pain to say anything.

Claire walked over to Methos and Elizabeth and looked down at her father with fear. "Should I call 911, Papa?"

Elizabeth held Claire's hand and felt her shake. "Dad's all right, Claire. He just had the wind knocked out of him." She looked at Methos. "Right?"

He nodded, trying to put a smile on his face and almost accomplishing it. Duncan sauntered over, completely winded. "You all right there, buddy?"

"Don't know, Highlander. No idea." Methos' voice was coming back to him now.

Elizabeth knew that he was healed, but Duncan wouldn't know that. Duncan looked worried and his confused glance drifted from Methos on the floor to Claire almost crying at his side.

Duncan leaned down and put his hand on Methos' stomach. "Dan. Sorry. I didn't mean to... well, you know, maybe I did..."

"Well..." Methos made a show of being hurt. "You didn't have to hit me so hard. What did I ever do to you?"

Duncan chuckled, and Elizabeth looked at his face, now clued into Methos' faking. "Let me see... the list would be too damn long," Duncan said as he pulled Methos up fast.

Claire gasped and cried out, "Papa!"

Elizabeth grabbed Claire out of the way as Methos took on Duncan full-tilt. Amanda sauntered over to Elizabeth and Claire to watch the men as they went at it fast and furious, one on one, bokken sticks swinging so fast they were sometimes imperceptible. Elizabeth was astonished that they had recovered their breathing so fast, as she still felt like she had climbed a mountain, and by the looks of Amanda, she was in about the same condition.

Amanda whispered to Elizabeth, "Geez. I hope he doesn't tired himself out completely."

"You got plans later?" Elizabeth laughed, knowing Amanda was having the same thought that had filled her own head while watching the sweaty men with long sticks.

"It's his own fault," Amanda mused. "MacLeod can't very well behave like that and get all sweaty and sexy and not make me want to take total advantage of him."

"Damn men... you think that's why they're doing it?"

"Why else?"

Claire asked, "What are they doing, Mom, and why are they doing it? Dad's hurt."

"You think your father's feeling any pain?" Elizabeth asked as she pointed at him, which was tough to do as he was moving around very fast, either out of the way of Duncan's lashes or creating some of his own. "He was just pretending, honey. They're playing."

"I don't know if I like the game."

There was complete and utter fear in Claire's eyes, and Elizabeth yelled for Methos, "Daniel! Hey! Guys!"

Finally, the men stopped, taking great gulps of air, slowly turning away from each other to look at Elizabeth.

She asked sweetly, "Why don't you give Claire a few pointers. If she's now aware of our deep, dark secret, maybe she wants to try it."

"NO WAY!" Claire recoiled, but didn't shrink when Methos and Daniel came to her with their bokken sticks.

"I'll handle this, MacLeod." Methos smirked. "You just sit over there like a nice boy and catch your breath."

"You wish," Duncan replied, holding his hand out to Claire.

She just stared at his large, sweaty hand, so Duncan wiped it on his pant leg and offered it to her again. "Come on, Claire. It's fun. We'll start very slowly."

"Um," Amanda interjected. "I could think of a whole host of things I'd rather you be doing than teaching Claire the finer points of fencing."

"Go take care of business, MacLeod," Methos said, taking Claire's hand. "We'll lock up."

After looking at his hot and bothered wife, it didn't take a whole lot of discussion for Duncan to lose one train of thought from Claire's first practice session to another. He grabbed Amanda and pulled her into his arms, swept her around, bending her as if it was the last note of a tango, and kissed her dramatically. When she came up for air, she hollered, "Woo! Hoo! Come on, big guy," and pulled him by the collar to the elevator.

Methos took a fresh bokken from the wall and handed it gingerly out to Claire, who hesitantly took it and held it in both hands, getting a feel of the length and weight of it while he whispered to Elizabeth, "I'll take care of you later," and bussed her on the cheek.

"You'd better," Elizabeth warned, feeling as revved up as Amanda had.

CONTINUED