Immortal Legacy, for Silentflux
Title: Immortal Legacy
Author: The spoon
Written for: silentflux
Characters: Duncan, Methos, Amanda, Cory, Matthew, Ceirdwyn, Joe, Marcus Constantine, Gina and Robert de Valicourt, Kyra, Grace Chandel, Terrence of Coventry, Gregor Powers, and Rebecca (in spirit only)
Pairings (all implied): Duncan/Methos, Duncan/Methos/Amanda, Rebecca/Duncan/Amanda, Rebecca/Ceirdwyn/Amanda, Methos/Rebecca, Rebecca/Methos/Amanda, Rebecca/Cory/Amanda
Rating: PG
Word count: 4545
Warnings: Schmoop alert.
Summary: Rebecca has a legacy to leave her fellow Immortals after her mortal husband, John, dies.
“Are we there yet?” Methos asked plaintively from the back seat of the SUV.
Duncan snorted, shook his head, and reached out to turn up the music. Amanda grabbed his hand, stopped its motion with a shake of her head, and turned to Methos.
“Darling, I don’t know any more than you do about just where in the hell this demented man is taking us,” she said acerbically, tossing back her long, dark hair.
“What is the strangest color you’ve ever dyed your hair, Manda?” he asked curiously. “I’ve seen it platinum, light brown, dark brown, black, streaked with purple, blue, and green, red- ”
Duncan turned his head to look at her. “Streaked with purple, blue, and green?” he asked with eyebrows raised. Amanda slapped his shoulder lightly.
“You weren’t with Methos and me when we were making the celebrity scene in Los Angeles in the naughts,” Amanda said lightly. “You were too busy meditating and achieving nirvana or whatever esoteric monk-like experience you decided you needed to have.”
“Amanda,” Methos chided.
Duncan snorted again. “It’s all right, Methos,” he said. “She’s right. I’d had too much happen in too short a time. I disappeared. Went off by myself. Thought about it all.”
“And now, you’re back,” Amanda said with great satisfaction.
“Snatching us from our peaceful lives and taking us God knows where.”
“Somewhere out and about in the very French country side, now that we’ve finally escaped the madding crowds of the Paris suburbs,” Methos said. “I can remember when Paris didn’t have suburbs. I can remember- ”
“You can remember when dinosaurs roamed the earth,” Duncan interrupted. “Unless, you for once, have something interesting to tell us about what you remember- ”
“Duncan?” Amanda interrupted in turn. “Are we on the A-13? Are we going to Normandy?”
“Yes, Manda,” Duncan said. “And I have my reasons for taking both of you there.”
Amanda stared out the window out the brown fields on each side of the road. “You didn’t come to John’s funeral,” she said. “Methos came with me.”
Duncan sighed. “I was in a monastery in Japan, sweetheart. I didn’t know about it until after it was over.” He turned slightly in his seat to look at Methos. “Did you actually know John?”
“Watch the road, MacLeod,” Methos said. “Yes. I actually attended their wedding. If I remember correctly, you were one of the groomsmen, and Darius gave the bride away.”
The car swerved slightly as Duncan turned to stare at Methos.
“Thought I asked you to keep your eyes on the road,” Methos said laconically.
“Ye could nae ha’ been there,” Duncan said roughly, struggling to get in control of his startled response. He took a deep breath. “I would have sensed you.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, MacLeod,” Amanda said. “There were more Immortals at Rebecca’s wedding than mortals. And over a hundred people all together. There were plenty of us who agreed to always be on each side of Methos so his Immortal presence wouldn’t be noticed.”
“His?” Duncan asked incredulously. “His presence echoes like-“
“I can turn it up or down, as I so choose,” Methos said smugly as he did so, turning his usual rather loud buzz down to that of a new Immortal. “Don’t you fucking dare turn around to look at me. This damn road is dangerous.” Several vehicles whooshed past on the left, proving his point.
“How do you do that ?” Duncan asked.
Methos looked out the window at a row of hedges and said thoughtfully, “I don’t think one can do it until after you’re a thousand years old. Amanda?”
Amanda obligingly turned her quickening down to that of a new Immortal. Duncan’s eyes widened. “So I have over 500 years to wait until- ”
Methos grinned. “Well, considering that many of us think you might be developmentally delayed-NO, Mac, NO-you can’t hit me while you’re driving.”
“I can stop the car and turn around to smack you,” Duncan said.
Methos looked out at the road which had a very narrow shoulder and seemed to meander on for miles in front of them. “Can you?” he asked. “Where?”
“So,” Amanda said, ignoring both of them. “Why are we going to Rebecca’s abbey?”
Duncan shot a mock glare at Methos in the rear view mirror, where Methos met his eyes with a faint grin. Duncan glanced over at Amanda, and said simply, “Because she asked us to be there after John died.”
*********************
Amanda leaped out of the car as they pulled up in front of the abbey and rushed inside. There were obvious and loud happy greetings. The front door slammed shut.
“To keep in the heat,” Methos suggested as he climbed out of the back seat. Duncan shrugged, went to the back and started pulling out the luggage. He loaded himself up, approached the front door, reached for the knob, and almost jumped out of his skin as an electricity coursed through him, and he fell back almost five feet to the ground, twitching as he lost consciousness.
Methos drew both his Glock and his sword and stared at the door.
Cory Raines popped his head out, looked at Duncan, and crowed, “ Now we’re even.”
Methos shot him in the head, and Cory fell in the doorway. “Hrm,” he said. “I think maybe it’s not so good an idea to keep score.” He lifted Duncan over his shoulder and carried him into the house, stepping over Cory’s corpse.
Matthew McCormick came to the doorway and looked down at Cory’s remains. He shook his head. “I told him not to even try it,” he said evenly.
Methos grinned. “I think I would thank God or the Goddess or whomever in whom you believe that Cory is your trial to endure and not mine.” He reached out his right hand as he held Duncan over his shoulder with the left and said, “Good to see you, Matt. Where should I put the Highlander?”
Matt grinned, shook Methos’ hand, and gestured up the stairs, “I think Duncan gets the second bedroom upstairs on the right. You’re the next door down.”
Methos dragged Mac up the bedroom, went back out for the luggage, and dragged it in. He discovered that Duncan’s room and his shared a bath and started to take his bag and backpack through.
Duncan woke up, sat up, and groaned, holding his head. “Is Cory Raines really here?” he demanded.
Methos shrugged. “As long as he recovers from being shot in the head,” he said. Duncan started laughing and then held his head again.
“Oh, that hurts,” he said. “Did you really shoot him?”
Methos nodded, rummaged in his backpack, and gave Duncan three ibuprofen. “Here. They’ll help your head.”
***************************
There was a knock at the door. Methos answered, immediately gathering Ceirdwyn into his arms. “I am so glad you’re here.”
Ceirdwyn hugged him fiercely. “Where else would I be when we gather to achieve all of Rebecca’s wishes and make them so?”
“You could be dead,” Methos answered simply.
Ceirdwyn smiled. “It would take an mighty Immortal to bring me down.” She moved into the room and hugged Duncan as he rose from his bed.
“May the Goddess bless you and keep you, Ceirdwyn, ” Duncan said. “And would you, tell me, please, who else are we going to find at this house party?”
“Don’t want any more surprises?” Methos asked innocently as he flopped down in a armchair near the window.
Amanda opened a door between Duncan’s room and the one in front of it. “I’m right beside you, darling,” she announced. Behind her Cory was struggling to unload all of her luggage. He looked up and grinned cheekily at Duncan.
“Shall we call it even?” he suggested.
“You expect me to trust you?” Duncan countered.
Methos looked at the door leading to Amanda’s room, looked over at the door to the adjoining bathroom and smiled brightly. “I’m just through there,” he announced. “We could easily meet here in Duncan’s room and have a threesome. We haven’t had a threesome since. . .hmm- ”
“We, ” Duncan said firmly, “have never had a threesome- ”
“It might be interesting- ” Amanda began.
Methos spoke simultaneously, “And there’s always a first time- ”
“Not now,” Duncan said. “Though. . .I suppose. . .we could talk about it later.”
Methos’s eyes widened slightly, and Amanda winked at him as she sat down on the bed beside Duncan and put her head on his shoulder. “Positively looking forward to later,” she said softly.
Cory looked over Amanda’s shoulder. “A foursome,” he suggested hopefully, then glancing at Ceirdwyn. “A fivesome?”
Methos looked thoughtful for a moment. “He’s really not bad in bed,” he offered.
Amanda nodded. “Quite generous, actually.”
Duncan rolled his eyes. “Not my bed,” he announced. “And not my type.”
Ceirdwyn grinned as Cory pretended to look crestfallen. She crossed over into Amanda’s room, grabbed Cory by the ear gently and started to pull him out to the hallway. “Let’s go and discuss threesomes with Matthew,” she suggested.
“Not the ear, not the- ” Cory blanched as her words sank in. “Matthew! Have you lost your mind, woman?”
“He’s also not bad in bed, and very, very generous.” Ceirdwyn’s words floated back to them as all three laughed in delight.
“Is it later, yet?” Methos asked brightly.
“Exactly who have you and Amanda had a threesome with?” Duncan asked.
“With whom have Manda and I had a threesome?” Methos corrected, looking out the window. “Well not with anyone who’s been in this room so far.”
Amanda’s eyes sparkled. “I don’t think I could say that about anyone who’s been in this room thus far.” Duncan looked askance at her.
Methos grinned. “You and Rebecca did enjoy entertaining your guests. Is there anyone in this house you didn’t have a threesome with?”
“Why don’t we go and see who is here, and later you can take guesses and pay a forfeit for each one you get wrong,” Amanda said.
“Ooooh, forfeits.” Methos’s eyes sparkled.
Duncan laid back on the pillows and groaned. “She brought toys with her,” he informed the ceiling. “I know she brought toys.”
“I brought some myself,” Methos said smugly as he rose. He grabbed Duncan by his foot and pulled quickly. Duncan’s shoe came off in his hands, and Methos tottered backwards and fell on his ass.
“I did that on purpose,” Methos said with great dignity, clutching the shoe to his chest. “To provide comic relief.”
“Oh, aye,” Duncan said, grinning as Methos scrambled back to his feet and handed the shoe back. “We certainly needed some comic relief.”
**************************
Ceirdwyn met them at the bottom of the stairway, smiling and leading the way down a hall. “Are you ready to meet our fellow guests? Several are gathered in the salon where our bartender is earning his keep.” She opened a door and ushered them into the room that fairly vibrated with immortal presence. Methos took in the sight of the mortal who was tending the bar, and immediately started scanning the Immortals who were present.
“Joe?” Duncan said incredulously. Joe grinned and waved them over. Methos continued to scan the room as he moved across the floor.
Gina and Robert de Valicourt were seated in a group near one of the two fireplaces placed at each end of the large room. They were chatting merrily with Cory, a blonde woman who looked vaguely familiar and a brunette, whom he could only see from the rear. Matthew was standing near the french doors leading out to a terrace talking to Marcus Constantine. Methos’s eyes went a bit wide at the sight of the former Roman general.
At the opposite fireplace two men were sitting in front of the fire, backs turned, one with light brown curly hair and the other dark.
“Finished scoping out the potential hostiles in the environment?” Joe asked wryly. “And do you maybe want to tell me what you’re drinking and what name we should call you?”
Methos started, then turned to grin at Joe. “I think Adam will do for this crowd. The Macallan. And who invited you to this Immortal shindig?”
“Gina,” Joe said as he poured a double for Methos. “I think Rebecca asked her to make the arrangements.”
Duncan was turning slowly and staring. “Kyra,” he called out gladly approaching the group with the de Valincourts. Methos blinked and realized that she was a woman whom he had known. . . quite a long time ago. The brunette stood and turned, holding out a welcoming hand to Duncan who ignored it, sweeping her into a hug.
Methos and Amanda followed Duncan, who let go of the laughing woman and held out his hand to Kyra. Duncan turned to Methos and Amanda, “Adam, Amanda, I’d like to introduce you to Kyra and- ”
“Grace Chandel,” Methos finished for him, taking Grace’s hand, bowing over it, and touching it to his lips. She flushed faintly.
“Adam?” she asked, hesitantly. “When we practiced medicine together, you were. . . ” She paused.
“I don’t remember the name I was using then, myself,” Methos said easily. “Possibly Benjamin Adams? But Adam will do for this group.”
Several minutes went by as introductions were performed and greetings exchanged. The other men in the room approached.
Methos blinked. “And yet another doctor,” he said. “Hello Gregor.” He smiled at the very young looking man and nodded at Constantine.
“Adam, is it?” Constantine said with a raised eyebrow. “How very. . .appropriate.”
“Adam,” Amanda interrupted. “Have you met Terrence of Coventry?” She presented the remaining individual.
Methos held out his hand. “I’ve heard of you, but we’ve never met.”
“Is Carolyn with you?” Amanda asked. “I’ve noticed her novels have changed rather dramatically since your marriage.”
Terrence grinned. “I’d certainly hope so. And no. She had a book tour that conflicted.”
The large group of Immortals broke up into several smaller ones, and the conversations were lively. Constantine looked at Methos and inclined his head toward the terrace. They both stepped outside into the chilly autumn weather. Constantine pulled two cigars from his pocket, offered one to Methos, and handed him a cigar lighter and cutter. Methos put his drink down, sat on the wicker chairs, and performed the cigar lighting ritual. Constantine sat on the other side of the table, took the instrument back when Methos was done, and cut, warmed, and lit his own.
“So,” Constantine said, “how many of these people know who you really are?”
Methos shrugged. “MacLeod, Amanda, Joe, Ceirdwyn, and Matthew. Kyra and Grace might suspect.”
Constantine narrowed his eyes. “MacLeod knows all about who you really are.”
Methos sighed. “Yes, Marcus. He knows all about who I really was. I’m not sure he’ll ever understand, but we’ve put it behind us.”
Constantine nodded. “I’m glad to know that.” He inhaled some smoke and savored the flavor, obviously ready to let the subject drop. “So. What are you doing these days?”
****************************
Several hours later, they were all seated in the dining room. Gina had hired staff to serve, clear, and clean. As soon as the desert plates were taken away, the staff dismissed to the kitchen, and refills for coffee, brandy, and cordials left out on the sideboard, Gina stood and cleared her throat, attracting everyone’s attention.
“I have a letter to read from Rebecca,” she said clearly. Gina nodded as everyone became silent. She unfolded some papers and began.
My dearest friends, if you are here it must because I am gone, and John has also left this mortal coil. I left him well provided for his lifetime, and now it is time for my estate to be passed on to those whom I most loved while I lived. If some of those I loved have also shuffled off-well-provisions have been made. I will say little to each of you in this my final letter. Each of you who remains will receive your own personal note.
Marcus, my dear old friend, thank you for all that you taught me and gave to me.
Kyra, thank you so much for teaching me how a woman could fight to counter the strengths of a man. I’m grateful for every bruise you gave me.
Ceirdwyn, thank you for continuing the lessons in fighting. I think of you every time I draw a bow and every time I see someone who has the courage to stand up for what she believes. I hope your future is kinder to you than your past has been.
Matthew, oh Matthew, thank you for your very dry wit and endless humor. Thank you also for loaning me Cory when he was very young and taking him off to Darius whenever he had brought me to the point of tearing out every hair on my head by its roots.
Cory, my dear, thank you for teaching me more patience than I had ever had to learn before you came in into my life. Not even Amanda came so close to making me threaten violence. But then, Matthew first brought you to me as a young pre-immortal who had enough mischief in his heart to power twenty normal boys.
Terrence, no one, not a soul has ever made me laugh as much as you did. I valued your wit, intelligence, and kindness more than I can ever say.
Sweet Gregor, I was so very glad to hear that you had gone back to medicine. You were one of the most talented and patient healers I’ve ever known, and I will never forget how tirelessly you treated the people of my village when the pox struck unexpectedly.
Grace, I don’t know you as well as many of the others who are gathered here, but we have met, and I so admire the work you have always done in helping the needy and disadvantaged.
Fitz, oh my Fitz, I think I shall have to confess that I lied to poor Terrence. You truly were the funniest, silliest, most kind hearted dilettante of every art and master of none except the fine art of being a good, loyal, and generous friend.
Gina, you have enchanted me for as long as I have known and there is no one else I would have trusted to pull together this motley crew and entertain them as I would want them to be entertained.
Robert, you are the most courtly gentleman I have ever known and I’m quite sure probably the nicest pirate one could hope to meet. I hope that you and Gina share many centuries to come together.
Sean, I thank you for all the times you helped to heal my wounds whenever I suffered a loss. I will always be grateful for your gentle wisdom and gracious heart.
Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, you are one of the finest, most noble, generous, caring, and honest men I’ve ever had to pleasure to know. I cannot begin to thank you enough for all you have done to protect, teach, and watch out for my most willful and most beloved student.
Benjamin, Benjamin-I think perhaps you go by Adam these days. Most of what I have to say to you is very privately said in the personal note you’ll receive, but I will say that if either one of us had ever considered the idea of marrying another Immortal, I likely would have draggged you to the altar even if you screamed every step of the way.
And finally, Amanda. You have been the closest I have ever had to a daughter, and I am more proud of you than I can ever begin to say. My love for you will never die, and I hope that you carry so much of it in your heart that it spills over to others as it always has.
My love for all of you will never die and did not die with me. Whatever I have given to you in this long lifetime with which I was blessed, please pass it on.
With great love and gratitude,
Rebecca
From almost the beginning of the reading, tears had been spilling down Gina’s face, and toward the end, her voice was starting to break. She was not the only one at the table who wept.
Gina motioned to Robert to continue and sat down as he stood. “There are envelopes addressed to each of you,” he said. “And instructions on to whom to give the two envelopes addressed to those who are not here.” He cleared his throat. “I imagine that many of you would like to read what she has written to you in private. I would suggest that we all refresh our drinks as needed, and if any of you are in the mood for company and conversation, Gina and I will be in the salon where drinks will continue to be on hand.” He gave half the envelopes to Gina, and each of them started moving down the table, passing them out.
Robert paused beside Duncan. “I don’t suppose it will surprise you that you are to receive the envelope for Fitz?” he said, handing two to Duncan.
The tears still welling in his eyes, Duncan nodded, cleared his throat and swallowed visibly. “Who gets the one for Sean?” he asked.
“Gregor,” Robert said. “I believe he studied under Sean for a while.”
Duncan nodded in agreement and took both envelopes.
Methos had sat utterly frozen with eyes wide from the moment the part of the letter addressed to him had been read. He stood up suddenly. “Robert, will you pass me mine, please. I really have to. . .have to. . .”
“Get some air,” Robert suggested kindly as he handed over the envelope addressed to Benjamin. Methos nodded and left the room.
*****************************
Methos paced out to the terrace and wasn’t really at all surprised to hear footsteps clattering after him. Nor was at all surprised to turn and confront Amanda. “Would it do any good at all to tell you that I want to be alone right now?” he asked wearily.
Amanda shook her head. “No,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “And you know Rebecca wouldn’t want either of us to be alone right now either.”
Methos sighed in resignation and went into the arms she held out. For awhile they stood quietly, each of them leaking tears. Methos pulled away after several long minutes, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to her. She wiped away tears. “Go on and blow your nose, Manda,” he said. “God knows we’ve shared plenty of bodily fluids in the past.” She did as she was told and passed the cloth back to him. He blew his nose in turn.
“Do you want to just go back up to our rooms?” Amanda asked shakily. Methos nodded.
There was no one yet in the salon except Joe who hadn’t been with them for dinner. Wordlessly he handed each of them a very stiff drink, shrugged, and gave Methos the entire bottle of the Macallan. Methos nodded his thanks, tucked the bottle under his arm, and led Amanda out of the room, down the hall, and up the stairs.
Methos knocked at Duncan’s door and opened it before he got a response. Duncan had not yet arrived. Methos fell flat on the bed and groaned. “Count on our Duncan to stay downstairs a bit and be hospitable,” he grumped.
Amanda sat on the edge of the bed beside him. “Was it always you?” she asked.
“The unknown Immortal whom Rebecca always kept secret from you?” Methos managed a grin. “Why would I want to give her secrets away now? No-no-no-do not tickle me-no! All right, all right. I cave. Yes, it was me. Now are you happy?”
Amanda nodded in satisfaction. “Would you have screamed every step of the way?”
Methos shook his head. “No.” His eyes lit up with mischief. “Just as I wouldn’t scream every step of the way if Duncan dragged me.”
The door opened halfway through his sentence, and Duncan stared at him, then grinned. “Be careful what you promise, old man.”
Methos stared up at the ceiling and groaned again. “Why, oh why, do I always get caught when I decide to actually speak truthfully?” He rolled off the bed, pulled the envelope out of his pocket, looked at it, and headed for his room. “I’m putting this away for later consumption. I’ve had about as much as I can handle for one evening.”
“You’re coming back, right?” Duncan called after him as he sat on the bed beside Amanda.
“Is the bottle of Macallan still on the bedside table?”
Duncan smiled at Amanda. “Are you going to save yours as well?” Amanda shook her head. “Thought not.”
Amanda stuck her tongue out at him, opened the envelope, skimmed through the contents, and gasped. “Duncan. After the bequests, she’s left everything to me-the Abbey, all of her holdings-everything.”
“I thought she might have,” Duncan said. “Though you should know that some of those bequests are sizable. She left endowments for Grace and Gregor-and Sean, which now goes to the other two to open clinics and fund research. She left another endowment to Marcus’s museum.” He paused for a moment and chuckled. “She left a trust fund for Fitz to be managed by Marcus, Matthew, and myself with the power to appoint other responsible managers. With Fitz gone, she’s directed us to find, fund, and teach other worthy, but penniless Immortals.”
Methos came back in to hear most of what Duncan had said and snorted. “Shall we look up Walter Graham and see if he’s still penniless?” He leaned against the wall near the bathroom door and took a swallow of his drink.
“No,” Duncan said firmly. “She specified worthy.”
“I don’t care if there’s nothing left after the other bequests,” Amanda said firmly. “I have money. What matters is-oh-my-God-she left me all her clothes and jewelry. Oh- ” She jumped up as if ready to ransack Rebecca’s jewelry boxes and wardrobe immediately. Duncan grabbed her hand, took her letter, and looked at the paragraph closely.
“Her jewelry is in a safe deposit box and her clothing is in storage,” he said.
“Oh.” Amanda sat down again. Duncan stood, pulled his envelope from his pocket, and put it in one of the drawers in which he had carefully and neatly unpacked his clothing.
Amanda pulled both of the pumps off and wiggled her toes happily.
Methos looked at each of them in turn and smiled lazily. “Is it later, yet?”
Duncan looked at him, looked at Amanda who smiled like a well fed cat, and grabbed Methos by the hand, pulling him toward the bed.
“I’d definitely say it’s later, now,” Duncan said.
end
The guessing post for this fic is here.
Author: The spoon
Written for: silentflux
Characters: Duncan, Methos, Amanda, Cory, Matthew, Ceirdwyn, Joe, Marcus Constantine, Gina and Robert de Valicourt, Kyra, Grace Chandel, Terrence of Coventry, Gregor Powers, and Rebecca (in spirit only)
Pairings (all implied): Duncan/Methos, Duncan/Methos/Amanda, Rebecca/Duncan/Amanda, Rebecca/Ceirdwyn/Amanda, Methos/Rebecca, Rebecca/Methos/Amanda, Rebecca/Cory/Amanda
Rating: PG
Word count: 4545
Warnings: Schmoop alert.
Summary: Rebecca has a legacy to leave her fellow Immortals after her mortal husband, John, dies.
“Are we there yet?” Methos asked plaintively from the back seat of the SUV.
Duncan snorted, shook his head, and reached out to turn up the music. Amanda grabbed his hand, stopped its motion with a shake of her head, and turned to Methos.
“Darling, I don’t know any more than you do about just where in the hell this demented man is taking us,” she said acerbically, tossing back her long, dark hair.
“What is the strangest color you’ve ever dyed your hair, Manda?” he asked curiously. “I’ve seen it platinum, light brown, dark brown, black, streaked with purple, blue, and green, red- ”
Duncan turned his head to look at her. “Streaked with purple, blue, and green?” he asked with eyebrows raised. Amanda slapped his shoulder lightly.
“You weren’t with Methos and me when we were making the celebrity scene in Los Angeles in the naughts,” Amanda said lightly. “You were too busy meditating and achieving nirvana or whatever esoteric monk-like experience you decided you needed to have.”
“Amanda,” Methos chided.
Duncan snorted again. “It’s all right, Methos,” he said. “She’s right. I’d had too much happen in too short a time. I disappeared. Went off by myself. Thought about it all.”
“And now, you’re back,” Amanda said with great satisfaction.
“Snatching us from our peaceful lives and taking us God knows where.”
“Somewhere out and about in the very French country side, now that we’ve finally escaped the madding crowds of the Paris suburbs,” Methos said. “I can remember when Paris didn’t have suburbs. I can remember- ”
“You can remember when dinosaurs roamed the earth,” Duncan interrupted. “Unless, you for once, have something interesting to tell us about what you remember- ”
“Duncan?” Amanda interrupted in turn. “Are we on the A-13? Are we going to Normandy?”
“Yes, Manda,” Duncan said. “And I have my reasons for taking both of you there.”
Amanda stared out the window out the brown fields on each side of the road. “You didn’t come to John’s funeral,” she said. “Methos came with me.”
Duncan sighed. “I was in a monastery in Japan, sweetheart. I didn’t know about it until after it was over.” He turned slightly in his seat to look at Methos. “Did you actually know John?”
“Watch the road, MacLeod,” Methos said. “Yes. I actually attended their wedding. If I remember correctly, you were one of the groomsmen, and Darius gave the bride away.”
The car swerved slightly as Duncan turned to stare at Methos.
“Thought I asked you to keep your eyes on the road,” Methos said laconically.
“Ye could nae ha’ been there,” Duncan said roughly, struggling to get in control of his startled response. He took a deep breath. “I would have sensed you.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, MacLeod,” Amanda said. “There were more Immortals at Rebecca’s wedding than mortals. And over a hundred people all together. There were plenty of us who agreed to always be on each side of Methos so his Immortal presence wouldn’t be noticed.”
“His?” Duncan asked incredulously. “His presence echoes like-“
“I can turn it up or down, as I so choose,” Methos said smugly as he did so, turning his usual rather loud buzz down to that of a new Immortal. “Don’t you fucking dare turn around to look at me. This damn road is dangerous.” Several vehicles whooshed past on the left, proving his point.
“How do you do that ?” Duncan asked.
Methos looked out the window at a row of hedges and said thoughtfully, “I don’t think one can do it until after you’re a thousand years old. Amanda?”
Amanda obligingly turned her quickening down to that of a new Immortal. Duncan’s eyes widened. “So I have over 500 years to wait until- ”
Methos grinned. “Well, considering that many of us think you might be developmentally delayed-NO, Mac, NO-you can’t hit me while you’re driving.”
“I can stop the car and turn around to smack you,” Duncan said.
Methos looked out at the road which had a very narrow shoulder and seemed to meander on for miles in front of them. “Can you?” he asked. “Where?”
“So,” Amanda said, ignoring both of them. “Why are we going to Rebecca’s abbey?”
Duncan shot a mock glare at Methos in the rear view mirror, where Methos met his eyes with a faint grin. Duncan glanced over at Amanda, and said simply, “Because she asked us to be there after John died.”
*********************
Amanda leaped out of the car as they pulled up in front of the abbey and rushed inside. There were obvious and loud happy greetings. The front door slammed shut.
“To keep in the heat,” Methos suggested as he climbed out of the back seat. Duncan shrugged, went to the back and started pulling out the luggage. He loaded himself up, approached the front door, reached for the knob, and almost jumped out of his skin as an electricity coursed through him, and he fell back almost five feet to the ground, twitching as he lost consciousness.
Methos drew both his Glock and his sword and stared at the door.
Cory Raines popped his head out, looked at Duncan, and crowed, “ Now we’re even.”
Methos shot him in the head, and Cory fell in the doorway. “Hrm,” he said. “I think maybe it’s not so good an idea to keep score.” He lifted Duncan over his shoulder and carried him into the house, stepping over Cory’s corpse.
Matthew McCormick came to the doorway and looked down at Cory’s remains. He shook his head. “I told him not to even try it,” he said evenly.
Methos grinned. “I think I would thank God or the Goddess or whomever in whom you believe that Cory is your trial to endure and not mine.” He reached out his right hand as he held Duncan over his shoulder with the left and said, “Good to see you, Matt. Where should I put the Highlander?”
Matt grinned, shook Methos’ hand, and gestured up the stairs, “I think Duncan gets the second bedroom upstairs on the right. You’re the next door down.”
Methos dragged Mac up the bedroom, went back out for the luggage, and dragged it in. He discovered that Duncan’s room and his shared a bath and started to take his bag and backpack through.
Duncan woke up, sat up, and groaned, holding his head. “Is Cory Raines really here?” he demanded.
Methos shrugged. “As long as he recovers from being shot in the head,” he said. Duncan started laughing and then held his head again.
“Oh, that hurts,” he said. “Did you really shoot him?”
Methos nodded, rummaged in his backpack, and gave Duncan three ibuprofen. “Here. They’ll help your head.”
***************************
There was a knock at the door. Methos answered, immediately gathering Ceirdwyn into his arms. “I am so glad you’re here.”
Ceirdwyn hugged him fiercely. “Where else would I be when we gather to achieve all of Rebecca’s wishes and make them so?”
“You could be dead,” Methos answered simply.
Ceirdwyn smiled. “It would take an mighty Immortal to bring me down.” She moved into the room and hugged Duncan as he rose from his bed.
“May the Goddess bless you and keep you, Ceirdwyn, ” Duncan said. “And would you, tell me, please, who else are we going to find at this house party?”
“Don’t want any more surprises?” Methos asked innocently as he flopped down in a armchair near the window.
Amanda opened a door between Duncan’s room and the one in front of it. “I’m right beside you, darling,” she announced. Behind her Cory was struggling to unload all of her luggage. He looked up and grinned cheekily at Duncan.
“Shall we call it even?” he suggested.
“You expect me to trust you?” Duncan countered.
Methos looked at the door leading to Amanda’s room, looked over at the door to the adjoining bathroom and smiled brightly. “I’m just through there,” he announced. “We could easily meet here in Duncan’s room and have a threesome. We haven’t had a threesome since. . .hmm- ”
“We, ” Duncan said firmly, “have never had a threesome- ”
“It might be interesting- ” Amanda began.
Methos spoke simultaneously, “And there’s always a first time- ”
“Not now,” Duncan said. “Though. . .I suppose. . .we could talk about it later.”
Methos’s eyes widened slightly, and Amanda winked at him as she sat down on the bed beside Duncan and put her head on his shoulder. “Positively looking forward to later,” she said softly.
Cory looked over Amanda’s shoulder. “A foursome,” he suggested hopefully, then glancing at Ceirdwyn. “A fivesome?”
Methos looked thoughtful for a moment. “He’s really not bad in bed,” he offered.
Amanda nodded. “Quite generous, actually.”
Duncan rolled his eyes. “Not my bed,” he announced. “And not my type.”
Ceirdwyn grinned as Cory pretended to look crestfallen. She crossed over into Amanda’s room, grabbed Cory by the ear gently and started to pull him out to the hallway. “Let’s go and discuss threesomes with Matthew,” she suggested.
“Not the ear, not the- ” Cory blanched as her words sank in. “Matthew! Have you lost your mind, woman?”
“He’s also not bad in bed, and very, very generous.” Ceirdwyn’s words floated back to them as all three laughed in delight.
“Is it later, yet?” Methos asked brightly.
“Exactly who have you and Amanda had a threesome with?” Duncan asked.
“With whom have Manda and I had a threesome?” Methos corrected, looking out the window. “Well not with anyone who’s been in this room so far.”
Amanda’s eyes sparkled. “I don’t think I could say that about anyone who’s been in this room thus far.” Duncan looked askance at her.
Methos grinned. “You and Rebecca did enjoy entertaining your guests. Is there anyone in this house you didn’t have a threesome with?”
“Why don’t we go and see who is here, and later you can take guesses and pay a forfeit for each one you get wrong,” Amanda said.
“Ooooh, forfeits.” Methos’s eyes sparkled.
Duncan laid back on the pillows and groaned. “She brought toys with her,” he informed the ceiling. “I know she brought toys.”
“I brought some myself,” Methos said smugly as he rose. He grabbed Duncan by his foot and pulled quickly. Duncan’s shoe came off in his hands, and Methos tottered backwards and fell on his ass.
“I did that on purpose,” Methos said with great dignity, clutching the shoe to his chest. “To provide comic relief.”
“Oh, aye,” Duncan said, grinning as Methos scrambled back to his feet and handed the shoe back. “We certainly needed some comic relief.”
**************************
Ceirdwyn met them at the bottom of the stairway, smiling and leading the way down a hall. “Are you ready to meet our fellow guests? Several are gathered in the salon where our bartender is earning his keep.” She opened a door and ushered them into the room that fairly vibrated with immortal presence. Methos took in the sight of the mortal who was tending the bar, and immediately started scanning the Immortals who were present.
“Joe?” Duncan said incredulously. Joe grinned and waved them over. Methos continued to scan the room as he moved across the floor.
Gina and Robert de Valicourt were seated in a group near one of the two fireplaces placed at each end of the large room. They were chatting merrily with Cory, a blonde woman who looked vaguely familiar and a brunette, whom he could only see from the rear. Matthew was standing near the french doors leading out to a terrace talking to Marcus Constantine. Methos’s eyes went a bit wide at the sight of the former Roman general.
At the opposite fireplace two men were sitting in front of the fire, backs turned, one with light brown curly hair and the other dark.
“Finished scoping out the potential hostiles in the environment?” Joe asked wryly. “And do you maybe want to tell me what you’re drinking and what name we should call you?”
Methos started, then turned to grin at Joe. “I think Adam will do for this crowd. The Macallan. And who invited you to this Immortal shindig?”
“Gina,” Joe said as he poured a double for Methos. “I think Rebecca asked her to make the arrangements.”
Duncan was turning slowly and staring. “Kyra,” he called out gladly approaching the group with the de Valincourts. Methos blinked and realized that she was a woman whom he had known. . . quite a long time ago. The brunette stood and turned, holding out a welcoming hand to Duncan who ignored it, sweeping her into a hug.
Methos and Amanda followed Duncan, who let go of the laughing woman and held out his hand to Kyra. Duncan turned to Methos and Amanda, “Adam, Amanda, I’d like to introduce you to Kyra and- ”
“Grace Chandel,” Methos finished for him, taking Grace’s hand, bowing over it, and touching it to his lips. She flushed faintly.
“Adam?” she asked, hesitantly. “When we practiced medicine together, you were. . . ” She paused.
“I don’t remember the name I was using then, myself,” Methos said easily. “Possibly Benjamin Adams? But Adam will do for this group.”
Several minutes went by as introductions were performed and greetings exchanged. The other men in the room approached.
Methos blinked. “And yet another doctor,” he said. “Hello Gregor.” He smiled at the very young looking man and nodded at Constantine.
“Adam, is it?” Constantine said with a raised eyebrow. “How very. . .appropriate.”
“Adam,” Amanda interrupted. “Have you met Terrence of Coventry?” She presented the remaining individual.
Methos held out his hand. “I’ve heard of you, but we’ve never met.”
“Is Carolyn with you?” Amanda asked. “I’ve noticed her novels have changed rather dramatically since your marriage.”
Terrence grinned. “I’d certainly hope so. And no. She had a book tour that conflicted.”
The large group of Immortals broke up into several smaller ones, and the conversations were lively. Constantine looked at Methos and inclined his head toward the terrace. They both stepped outside into the chilly autumn weather. Constantine pulled two cigars from his pocket, offered one to Methos, and handed him a cigar lighter and cutter. Methos put his drink down, sat on the wicker chairs, and performed the cigar lighting ritual. Constantine sat on the other side of the table, took the instrument back when Methos was done, and cut, warmed, and lit his own.
“So,” Constantine said, “how many of these people know who you really are?”
Methos shrugged. “MacLeod, Amanda, Joe, Ceirdwyn, and Matthew. Kyra and Grace might suspect.”
Constantine narrowed his eyes. “MacLeod knows all about who you really are.”
Methos sighed. “Yes, Marcus. He knows all about who I really was. I’m not sure he’ll ever understand, but we’ve put it behind us.”
Constantine nodded. “I’m glad to know that.” He inhaled some smoke and savored the flavor, obviously ready to let the subject drop. “So. What are you doing these days?”
****************************
Several hours later, they were all seated in the dining room. Gina had hired staff to serve, clear, and clean. As soon as the desert plates were taken away, the staff dismissed to the kitchen, and refills for coffee, brandy, and cordials left out on the sideboard, Gina stood and cleared her throat, attracting everyone’s attention.
“I have a letter to read from Rebecca,” she said clearly. Gina nodded as everyone became silent. She unfolded some papers and began.
My dearest friends, if you are here it must because I am gone, and John has also left this mortal coil. I left him well provided for his lifetime, and now it is time for my estate to be passed on to those whom I most loved while I lived. If some of those I loved have also shuffled off-well-provisions have been made. I will say little to each of you in this my final letter. Each of you who remains will receive your own personal note.
Marcus, my dear old friend, thank you for all that you taught me and gave to me.
Kyra, thank you so much for teaching me how a woman could fight to counter the strengths of a man. I’m grateful for every bruise you gave me.
Ceirdwyn, thank you for continuing the lessons in fighting. I think of you every time I draw a bow and every time I see someone who has the courage to stand up for what she believes. I hope your future is kinder to you than your past has been.
Matthew, oh Matthew, thank you for your very dry wit and endless humor. Thank you also for loaning me Cory when he was very young and taking him off to Darius whenever he had brought me to the point of tearing out every hair on my head by its roots.
Cory, my dear, thank you for teaching me more patience than I had ever had to learn before you came in into my life. Not even Amanda came so close to making me threaten violence. But then, Matthew first brought you to me as a young pre-immortal who had enough mischief in his heart to power twenty normal boys.
Terrence, no one, not a soul has ever made me laugh as much as you did. I valued your wit, intelligence, and kindness more than I can ever say.
Sweet Gregor, I was so very glad to hear that you had gone back to medicine. You were one of the most talented and patient healers I’ve ever known, and I will never forget how tirelessly you treated the people of my village when the pox struck unexpectedly.
Grace, I don’t know you as well as many of the others who are gathered here, but we have met, and I so admire the work you have always done in helping the needy and disadvantaged.
Fitz, oh my Fitz, I think I shall have to confess that I lied to poor Terrence. You truly were the funniest, silliest, most kind hearted dilettante of every art and master of none except the fine art of being a good, loyal, and generous friend.
Gina, you have enchanted me for as long as I have known and there is no one else I would have trusted to pull together this motley crew and entertain them as I would want them to be entertained.
Robert, you are the most courtly gentleman I have ever known and I’m quite sure probably the nicest pirate one could hope to meet. I hope that you and Gina share many centuries to come together.
Sean, I thank you for all the times you helped to heal my wounds whenever I suffered a loss. I will always be grateful for your gentle wisdom and gracious heart.
Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, you are one of the finest, most noble, generous, caring, and honest men I’ve ever had to pleasure to know. I cannot begin to thank you enough for all you have done to protect, teach, and watch out for my most willful and most beloved student.
Benjamin, Benjamin-I think perhaps you go by Adam these days. Most of what I have to say to you is very privately said in the personal note you’ll receive, but I will say that if either one of us had ever considered the idea of marrying another Immortal, I likely would have draggged you to the altar even if you screamed every step of the way.
And finally, Amanda. You have been the closest I have ever had to a daughter, and I am more proud of you than I can ever begin to say. My love for you will never die, and I hope that you carry so much of it in your heart that it spills over to others as it always has.
My love for all of you will never die and did not die with me. Whatever I have given to you in this long lifetime with which I was blessed, please pass it on.
With great love and gratitude,
Rebecca
From almost the beginning of the reading, tears had been spilling down Gina’s face, and toward the end, her voice was starting to break. She was not the only one at the table who wept.
Gina motioned to Robert to continue and sat down as he stood. “There are envelopes addressed to each of you,” he said. “And instructions on to whom to give the two envelopes addressed to those who are not here.” He cleared his throat. “I imagine that many of you would like to read what she has written to you in private. I would suggest that we all refresh our drinks as needed, and if any of you are in the mood for company and conversation, Gina and I will be in the salon where drinks will continue to be on hand.” He gave half the envelopes to Gina, and each of them started moving down the table, passing them out.
Robert paused beside Duncan. “I don’t suppose it will surprise you that you are to receive the envelope for Fitz?” he said, handing two to Duncan.
The tears still welling in his eyes, Duncan nodded, cleared his throat and swallowed visibly. “Who gets the one for Sean?” he asked.
“Gregor,” Robert said. “I believe he studied under Sean for a while.”
Duncan nodded in agreement and took both envelopes.
Methos had sat utterly frozen with eyes wide from the moment the part of the letter addressed to him had been read. He stood up suddenly. “Robert, will you pass me mine, please. I really have to. . .have to. . .”
“Get some air,” Robert suggested kindly as he handed over the envelope addressed to Benjamin. Methos nodded and left the room.
*****************************
Methos paced out to the terrace and wasn’t really at all surprised to hear footsteps clattering after him. Nor was at all surprised to turn and confront Amanda. “Would it do any good at all to tell you that I want to be alone right now?” he asked wearily.
Amanda shook her head. “No,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “And you know Rebecca wouldn’t want either of us to be alone right now either.”
Methos sighed in resignation and went into the arms she held out. For awhile they stood quietly, each of them leaking tears. Methos pulled away after several long minutes, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to her. She wiped away tears. “Go on and blow your nose, Manda,” he said. “God knows we’ve shared plenty of bodily fluids in the past.” She did as she was told and passed the cloth back to him. He blew his nose in turn.
“Do you want to just go back up to our rooms?” Amanda asked shakily. Methos nodded.
There was no one yet in the salon except Joe who hadn’t been with them for dinner. Wordlessly he handed each of them a very stiff drink, shrugged, and gave Methos the entire bottle of the Macallan. Methos nodded his thanks, tucked the bottle under his arm, and led Amanda out of the room, down the hall, and up the stairs.
Methos knocked at Duncan’s door and opened it before he got a response. Duncan had not yet arrived. Methos fell flat on the bed and groaned. “Count on our Duncan to stay downstairs a bit and be hospitable,” he grumped.
Amanda sat on the edge of the bed beside him. “Was it always you?” she asked.
“The unknown Immortal whom Rebecca always kept secret from you?” Methos managed a grin. “Why would I want to give her secrets away now? No-no-no-do not tickle me-no! All right, all right. I cave. Yes, it was me. Now are you happy?”
Amanda nodded in satisfaction. “Would you have screamed every step of the way?”
Methos shook his head. “No.” His eyes lit up with mischief. “Just as I wouldn’t scream every step of the way if Duncan dragged me.”
The door opened halfway through his sentence, and Duncan stared at him, then grinned. “Be careful what you promise, old man.”
Methos stared up at the ceiling and groaned again. “Why, oh why, do I always get caught when I decide to actually speak truthfully?” He rolled off the bed, pulled the envelope out of his pocket, looked at it, and headed for his room. “I’m putting this away for later consumption. I’ve had about as much as I can handle for one evening.”
“You’re coming back, right?” Duncan called after him as he sat on the bed beside Amanda.
“Is the bottle of Macallan still on the bedside table?”
Duncan smiled at Amanda. “Are you going to save yours as well?” Amanda shook her head. “Thought not.”
Amanda stuck her tongue out at him, opened the envelope, skimmed through the contents, and gasped. “Duncan. After the bequests, she’s left everything to me-the Abbey, all of her holdings-everything.”
“I thought she might have,” Duncan said. “Though you should know that some of those bequests are sizable. She left endowments for Grace and Gregor-and Sean, which now goes to the other two to open clinics and fund research. She left another endowment to Marcus’s museum.” He paused for a moment and chuckled. “She left a trust fund for Fitz to be managed by Marcus, Matthew, and myself with the power to appoint other responsible managers. With Fitz gone, she’s directed us to find, fund, and teach other worthy, but penniless Immortals.”
Methos came back in to hear most of what Duncan had said and snorted. “Shall we look up Walter Graham and see if he’s still penniless?” He leaned against the wall near the bathroom door and took a swallow of his drink.
“No,” Duncan said firmly. “She specified worthy.”
“I don’t care if there’s nothing left after the other bequests,” Amanda said firmly. “I have money. What matters is-oh-my-God-she left me all her clothes and jewelry. Oh- ” She jumped up as if ready to ransack Rebecca’s jewelry boxes and wardrobe immediately. Duncan grabbed her hand, took her letter, and looked at the paragraph closely.
“Her jewelry is in a safe deposit box and her clothing is in storage,” he said.
“Oh.” Amanda sat down again. Duncan stood, pulled his envelope from his pocket, and put it in one of the drawers in which he had carefully and neatly unpacked his clothing.
Amanda pulled both of the pumps off and wiggled her toes happily.
Methos looked at each of them in turn and smiled lazily. “Is it later, yet?”
Duncan looked at him, looked at Amanda who smiled like a well fed cat, and grabbed Methos by the hand, pulling him toward the bed.
“I’d definitely say it’s later, now,” Duncan said.
end
The guessing post for this fic is here.