Love Down-under Style

Joe and Gwen are getting married but when you add every immortal Joe knows wanting to come to the wedding trouble is sure to follow! This story takes place after the Highlander TV show ends in the winter of 2002 in an alternate time line. I do not acknowledge the deaths of Connor Macleod and Richie. In this story they are alive and well. Come read about Joe, Methos, Connor and Duncan Macleod, Cassandra, Richie, Amanda, Amy Joe daughter, Luke Denton, John Macleod, Gwen, an assorted cast of watcher and immortals. There is just about every one who has been in or mentioned the other two stories. Plus Methos will show up and throw a wrench (or spinner for you UK people) in to the mix! This story has sword fights, secrets revealed, flashbacks, plus a huge cast of all your favorite Immortals! You have to see the Clan Macleod wedding crashers in action! Plus what really happened to Cassandra after she left the horsemen's camp? And can Methos and Cassandra make peace in time for the wedding or still want to kill each other? Come join me for a story full of twist and turns, that will surely be great fun for every Highlander fan!

Chapter 1

Where the hell do you guys hide those swords?

It had been a long six years since Gwen left Seacouver. Gwen had no trouble blending into her new life as Gwendolyn McDermott Adams owner and operator of McDermott Down-under Travel and Tours a business in Whangarel New Zealand. No problem except for the fact she couldn't stop thinking of a certain watcher name Joe Dawson. Six long years later and Joe was having the same problem he could not stop thinking of a certain immortal women. Joe realized he wasn't getting any younger maybe it was time to retire from the watchers. He was in his mid-fifties now and Joe decided that if he waited any longer for the time to be right, he'd die of old age first.

During the last six years Joe and Gwen had kept their courtship going at a distance. First it was just a few letters as friends, and then they started sending emails. They emailed each other weekly then eventually the email went from weekly to daily to six or seven a day. The emails were not enough, so next they progressed to chats on Skype. Finally during the past several years they started to spend half the nights burning up the international phone lines. They took turns swapping time zones where Gwen lived was 19 hours ahead of Seacouver. Paris was a bit better it was just 10 hours behind Woolsey Bay. In Paris they could even find time to talk when the sun was shining in both their worlds. Joe even learned how to send text messages! In six years they never met face to face. Joe did not want their relationship to be known to the watchers until he was ready. Joe's had suffered from a broken heart more times than he could count. Until he knew where Methos stood in the mix he felt his relationship with Gwen was still ripe for disaster.

But in the end even Methos himself conceded defeat. Methos told Joe to go for it; Gwen still wanted nothing to do with him. Besides that Gwen hadn't even looked at another man besides Joe Dawson in the entire six years. Connor Macleod was the little birdie in Gwen's ear telling her to marry the Jazz Man extraordinaire. Connor even made a special trip to win Duncan and Richie over to his cause. There was little Joe could do with both members of the Clan Macleod plus one encouraging him to follow his heart. So finally six years later Joe sent in his request for retirement to the watchers. He sold both his Bar's in Seacouver and Paris. Then last but not least Joe sold his big old house in Seacouver that he had inherited from his parents. He said goodbye to all his watcher friends, and bought a custom made engagement ring. Only a few people knew where he was really going. Mac, Richie, Connor, Methos and Mike were all sworn to secrecy; Joe was still trying to stay under the watchers radar as long as possible. Joe Dawson never looked back as he boarded the plane for his flight to New Zealand knowing his life would never be the same.

Six years was a long time to carry on a long distance romance. But Methos had stayed supposedly out of the picture. Joe and he were still friends. What Joe did not know was Methos had visited Gwen, numerous times trying to repair his own relationship with her. Only Gwen had shut Methos down each and every time. Gwen had fallen in love with a mortal. She was in love with a certain grouchy bartender, Vietnam Vet, Watcher and Jazz Man extraordinaire, the man called Josephs Dawson.

Now Gwen and Joe were going to be together for real. Gwen couldn't contain her excitement, and had left early to drive down to Auckland International airport to pick-up Joe. It was over a 120 kilometer drive from her business but she felt Joe had spent enough time on planes. The international flight even travelling in first class was a long one. It would be a long ride back to her home at Woolleys Bay. Gwen and Joe could at least be together. Just the idea of being able to touch Joe sent shivers up her spine. On the plane Joe was nervous. He was a paraplegic over 55, and he worried how he was going to be able to keep a woman, who had known some of the greatest lovers in history, satisfied. Not that Joe doubted his own abilities to please women, but Gwen wasn't just any women. Joe tried to push it out of his mind, Connor said to him before he left, 'love conquers all' Joe thought he'd have to accept that as his new motto.

The moment came sooner than they both expected. Gwen met Joe at the gate and gave him the biggest hug; Joe reciprocated holding her tightly as if he had never held her before. That followed by Gwen opening her lips to his and their tongues almost swallowing each other up in the deepest most passionate kiss either could remember. Ok Joe felt the magic was still there. He never wanted the kiss to end. Feeling aroused, it felt like they never had been apart. All Joe knew is he wanted to get this woman to bed and show her how much he loved her. His days of saying no to Gwen's advances had ended, and he was sure everything he felt that first night they were together was kismet. There was no doubt left in Joe's mind that every minute of the long six years he had waited were worth it because she was now and forever only his.

"How was the flight? I know it's a long way that's why I drove down to Auckland, so you could avoid more time on another airplane. Joe by the Goddess Ovesevea you are a sight for sore eyes." Gwen smiled as she couldn't keep her hands off him.

"The flight was great; First class is something I could get used to. God it good to actually touch you, it's been so long, what can I say you look the same, beautiful." Joe replied.

"You look great too and I love the white hair, it fits you, so you just brought your guitar and laptop as a carry on? We better get the rest of your luggage, do you want some dinner now or stop along the way?"

"We can stop along the way, are you sure I don't look like your father?" Joe haphazardly said.

"NO" and Gwen gave him a big kiss throwing her arms around him, right in front of all the other passengers that were going through customs, and it was not a daughterly kiss either, he laughed and kissed her back. Several of the other passengers he had met on the flight whistled and yelled in support of the kiss.

"You're a devil Gwen and we are going to get in trouble."

"Oh I do hope so." Gwen smiled.

"OK Gwen, I do believe you, see I am here, and it's just you and me babe, no watchers, no immortals no nothing. Just us, I came because I want to give us a real shot. It's a couple of hours to your home I guess?"

"You mean our home." Gwen said as she looked up at Joe, she almost felt like pinching herself, it was so hard to believe this day had finally arrived. "Yea sorry Joe it's a long trip, its over 120 kilometers just to the city outskirts and the house is about an hour beyond that. Unless you want to get a room here for the night, truthfully Luke and John will be thrilled to have the place to themselves."

"Honestly Gwen I have been on a plane so long it would be great just to lay down a while. Could we just get a room here, I mean it wouldn't be messing up your plans if we did, would it?" Joe sounded relieved all he wanted was to get Gwen to the nearest hotel room and show her just how much he had missed her.

"Sure I can make a couple of calls, I should check out some of the places I have sent my own guest to stay when they came to visit down here. Hey this is cool I can tell the office I was doing research. Joe do you want me to meet you at the baggage check out or do you want to wait here for me?"

"I'll wait here, I like the view of watching you work." Joe smiled. "Is John MacLeod still at the house? I know Luke Denton is your student. Why is John there?"

"He just graduated with his PHD in History and wanted to take a year off before starting to teach. Frankly I can use the help at work and he and Luke are great friends. Joe I should tell you a secret now that your part of the family." Gwen leaned into him and cuddled up next to his warm body.

"He is going to be an immortal right? Joe guessed.

"How you figured that out Joe, you're a smart guy."

"Well I started to think after you told me Luke was going to become an immortal, so he kept my ass safe and jumped in front of the bullets back six years ago. I started checking the records of immortals that took in children or looked after them. Connor adopted John back when he was still single; it seemed like a red light. Then John has been spending a lot of vacations with you. Well it seems two plus two still equals four. Connor wants you to train John when the time comes, doesn't he?" Joe wasn't 100% sure about his scenario, so he was waiting for Gwen to confirm it.

"Yes, Connor wants me to train John, he thought that the fact John knows me so well and loved being here it will make the transition easier for him. The only problem is Luke constantly complains I am too harsh of a teacher." Yes Joe was right and Gwen had confirmed to him the truth, but what good was the knowledge now? Joe wasn't a watcher any longer.

Then with a quick kiss she was off to a booth, and talking to other travel agents as to some of the best places to stay in the city. After a short time she returned with hotel reservation and off they went to baggage claim. Just as Joe found his last bag Gwen Started to look around with a strange expression on her face, Joe could only guess what it meant; but then a tall dark stranger appeared dressed in a trench coat standing about fifteen feet from the couple. He walked closer to them and Gwen couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Good Afternoon I am Dean Morris, and you are Miss?" said the tall stranger.

"Gwendolyn McDermott Adams, I am just visiting here and picking up my friend from America, I am not looking for any trouble and plan on leaving in the morning." Gwen replied.

"Yes, I am a local; I commute between here and Sidney. I just like to know who's in the area and why they're here, and you don't look like you'll be any trouble at all Miss Adams."

"Well it was nice to meet you then Mr. Morris, I have to get going, but you do have a lovely city here, maybe another time then, when I don't have a friend with me." Gwen didn't like being intimidated.

Joe Smiled and said. "Gwen dear, we really should be off." He extended his hand to shake the mysterious Mr. Morris's hand, which Joe found had a very firm grip and said his name as if the immortal cared. "Nice to meet you." Joe now regretted not going and getting his bags on his own while Gwen was getting the hotel reservations, he blamed himself about the timing and Gwen running into another immortal.

"Where are you staying Miss Adams maybe we could meet later for drinks and get to know each other better?" Morris asked.

"Oh I am sorry I didn't make it clear to you when you first came up but I am with Mr. Dawson here," Gwen said very frankly and with a touch of anger in her voice. Joe stood in the back drop, as a watcher he had seen dramas such as this play out many times but it felt very different, now he was part of one.

"Yes I understand and would really prefer that we met for that drink alone, now, you're in my town and I have the right to challenge you to test my metal against yours."

Joe looked at Gwen and said quietly. "Why don't we just drive to your home tonight, and avoid all this."

"Joe, I am a big girl and you know how these things work, he already issued a challenge towards me, so I am going to put you in a cab and send you to the hotel and I will go have a drink with Mr. Morris. Hopefully we can work out this without too many problems so don't worry; everything is going to be OK. I love you Joe and I am so glad you're here." Gwen gave him a quick kiss and walked to the entrance where the cabs were lined up and found one. Then she had Joe's luggage put in the cab and gave him instruction on which hotel they were staying at.

"So this is what it's like, I watched it hundreds of times but it feels a lot different from this perceptive. That man is twice your size and doesn't look like a gentleman. Do you even have your sword with you? Where the hell do you guys keep those swords? I don't want you to do this, he's annoying but that wasn't much of a challenge in my book. Please don't fight this guy we don't know anything about him." Joe begged Gwen.

"Joe, It's just if I don't have that drink with him he'll come back, and be twice as annoying and maybe look for an advantage he can lord over me like you. Right now he hasn't got a clue who I am or what I can do. All this guy has done is sized me up as a small young women, the helpless type and an easy kill. Mr. Morris has no idea how old I really am or of what I am capable of. All I have to do is just take his head and be done with it. It's simple anyway I doubt he is over 200. Joe I am not scared, and so don't you be either." Gwen gave Joe a hug and brushed their lips against each other drawing their mouths in to a long passionate kiss. Breathlessly they parted.

"Let me at least look him up in the data base" Joe pleaded

"There's no time, I've been planning this reunion for months, and this will not spoil it. I am sorry I thought as a watcher you would be prepared for this side of my life. Well get with it Joe you of all people should have known what you were signing up for, when you fall in love with an immortal. Don't worry, just tell me you love me, that is all I need to hear." Gwen and Joe shared another deep kiss their tongues tasting each other hanging on, not wanting to ever let go of each other. But Joe knew Gwen's mind was made up. Slowly he pulled his mouth away from hers.

Joe looked at her and said "I love you Gwen, and I will see you soon. I'm Ok don't worry about me. I am sorry to give you a hard time it's just I wasn't prepared for this happening so soon. I just got off the damn plane! Given him hell honey, and try not to let the watcher see your face. I'll be waiting for you at the hotel," Joe sweetly and softly kissed her forehead and he got in the cab and drove off.

End of chapter one

Chapter 2 - Finally in the Arms of the Women he Loves.

Or

Quickening are nightmares.