Trixie Belden®TM is the registered trademark and copyright of Random House Publishing.
Highlander is owned by Panzer and Davies. The idea of Highlander and its characters belong to them. This story is unauthorized, not for profit and is not affiliated with Panzer and Davies.
This story was born out of a scene I imagined in my head a little over a year ago. This is a crossover of Trixie Belden and Highlander. I have attempted to make it so that even if the reader has never seen Highlander ("Wait, I thought that was an SUV!" they say to themselves) but has read Trixie Belden or vice a versa, then you should still be able to read this story with out being confused. However, I have included a small synopsis of both series so that you may familiarize yourself with the books/show. This story takes place about 10 years after the last book.
Trixie Belden is a series of children books that have been written over several decades. They star Trixie a 13-14 year old tomboy. She tends to get overly excited about things and can be very dramatic. Her best friend, Honey Wheeler, is the rich girl next door. Her father Matt (a red head) and her mother moved to Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson because their daughter was very fragile and ill. Spending time with Trixie helped Honey get over her "illness" and they get themselves involved in cases. They first find Jim Frayne (a redhead, and Trixie's first crush) a runaway orphan. The Wheelers adopt him. Together with another "poor little rich girl" Diana Lynch, Trixie, Honey, Jim, and Trixie's older brothers Brian and Mart create a group called the Bob Whites of the Glen. The BWG's always try to do good, even going so far as to hold fundraisers for various charities. In Book 8, Dan Mangan comes along, the Bad Boy Gone Good type character. His uncle is Regan (another handsome red head) who is the Wheeler's groom (You know, the guy that takes care of the horses). Trixie and Honey are forever getting involved in mysteries, including stopping thieves, smugglers, and bad men and women in general. Trixie also has a younger brother at home, Bobby, who in the books never ages past the age of 6, while the kids all get older. Hmm......;)
Now, if you don't know anything about Highlander, you may not want to read the next paragraph, as it will give a lot a way. The story I have written is from the point of view of Trixie as she is immersed in the Highlander world. You can either learn about them as Trixie does, or you can read the following paragraph.
Highlander started out as a movie in the 80's starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, a man that thought he was normal until the day he died and came back to life. He then found out that he was immortal, a being that could live forever unless another immortal cut off his head (Yeah a bit gruesome, I know). The movie spawned several sequels and also a television series starring Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod. It is in the series that we meet Richie, Adam a.k.a. Methos, Amanda, Joe Dawson, and a whole host of other immortals and mortals who live and die as the series progresses. No one knows where immortals come from. They are usually Foundlings, babies found without parents. It is only when they die the first time (it must be a violent death) that they find out that they are immortal. They then travel throughout history, protecting themselves from other immortals until they either die, or end up being the last immortal remaining. The last immortal wins the Prize. Though no one is exactly sure what the prize is. There was also another TV series: The Raven that focused on Amanda and Nick, a former cop.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you about the Watchers. Well let's just say that they do a lot of watching :D
Chapter 1
Saturday Evening
Blonde haired, blued-eyed Trixie Belden gazed anxiously out of the airplane window. Her hands lightly held her personal cd player as she listened to the Evanescence CD that her brother, Bobby, had given to her for Christmas. She reached up and pushed back the headphones to listen to the announcement from the pilot indicating that they would be landing soon. As the plane began its descent she started getting jittery. Despite the fact that she had been on many trips around the USA and the world, she had never been on a trip by herself before. This was different. Here she was, a graduate student, attending a university in France for a semester as a foreign student.
The plane landed without any problems. After passing through customs, she went to claim her baggage. As she looked around to find an exit, she felt a bump and found herself sprawled on the ground. "I am so sorry! Here let me help you up," a young man said to her as he lifted her off the ground. The first thing Trixie noticed about him was his red hair.
Trixie was barely listening to him as he apologized again for knocking her over. She was still trying to digest the fact that of all things, the first man she ran into in Paris had red hair. She sighed.
"I really am sorry..." He said again, this time in French. She started as she realized he had been talking to her. It was only then she realized he was an American and that he had thought she couldn't understand him before.
"No, that's ok, " she replied. "I speak English too. Although I have been learning to speak French, since I will be studying here for a semester." Trixie trailed off as she noticed the young man staring at her.
"Hey, I know this great little coffee shop around the corner from here. Howabout I treat you to a cup of coffee for having knocked you over?" he asked with a hopeful grin.
Trixie wasn't quite sure what to do. He seemed nice enough, he did have red hair, afterall, but he was a stranger. But he has red hair she repeated to herself. In the end, she realized she would be safe as long as she stayed in a public setting and didn't give him too many details about where she was staying and who she was.
She enjoyed talking with the young man. Over coffee, she learned that he was her age, even though he looked like he couldn't be any older than 19. Guys are so lucky that way, they don't age as fast as us women, she thought to herself.
After they parted ways, Trixie realized she had never learned his name.
Three weeks later, after classed have ended, on a Friday afternoon
Trixie had settled into a routine. Every weekday she had classes. Every weeknight she studied, and every Friday night she partied. Although Trixie's definition of partying wasn't exactly the typical college student's definition. She just liked to hang out with friends and have fun. She rarely ever drank, usually saving that only for special occassions. She was well liked among her classmates, and had managed to form several new, close friendships. Among them were her roommate, Brigette, and Etienne, Brigette's boyfriend. Ettiene's sister, Arianne and her boyfriend. All four were from France, and enjoyed showing Trixie around the Paris. There were two American girls that Trixie had also become close friends with, Carla and Jane.
A few days earlier a few of the other American students had told Trixie, Carly, and Jane about a blues club that was run by an American. Even though Trixie was trying to immerse herself in the French culture, she couldn't resist going. She had always enjoyed listening to the blues.
Trixie and Brigette met the rest of the group in the main hall in the dorm. Upon arriving, Trixie noticed the club was rather popular, both by visiting Americans and locals. The group found an empty booth and scooted a table next to it so that they could all sit together. Trixie, Carla, and Jane sat at the table in order to allow the two couples to be able to sit next to their significant others in the booth seats. They had just settled into their seats as they heard scattered applause. Trixie turned and saw an older gentleman, in his fifties, with salt and pepper hair sit down. There was something odd about how he walked..... Her thoughts were interrupted as he began playing the guitar. The chatter in the room quickly lowered so that everyone could hear the band playing.
The talented band played for a few songs and then the guitar player thanked the audience and got up. Trixie finally figured out that he appeared to be wearing prosthetic legs.
She continued to watch him as he crossed the room, greeting and being greeted by his listeners. He eventually ended up by the bar area where he stopped to talk to the three men who were standing there. Trixie nearly dropped her glass of ice water when she realized that one of the men was "The Redhead."
Quickly she motioned to Carla, "Its him!"
Carla looked over at the bar. Nodding with approval, she turned to Trixie, "I think we need more drinks, don't you?"
Trixie winked back at her friend, "Why, I think I could use some more water." Trixie turned to the others, "We'll be right back."
Trixie was glad to have her friend accompany her. Her heart was fluttering a bit as they approached the small group. They nearly had to push some people out of the way to get to the bar. They nervously approached the area where the four men were talking.
As the two young women reached the bar, the older gentleman looked up at Trixie and Carla "Hey, what can I get for you ladies tonight?" Trixie was a bit confused for a moment until she realized that he was also one of the bartenders. The other three men turned to look at the ladies. Trixie glanced at the two dark haired men briefly before she met the eyes of the redhead. Her heart had stopped beating. Of that she was sure. She had thought that the redhead was cute, but, well compared to these other two, he might as well have been her brother, Mart.
Dang, She mentally scolded herself, I just realized....He does look like Mart! Eww! Gross!
"Hey there." The red head spoke. She looked back at him and saw that he was grinning. She looked over at Carla and realized that her friend was avoiding eye contact. Hmm, phew, I may have gotten out of that one after all! Trixie realized.
"Hi back at you." Trixie replied. "You know I would introduce you to my friend here, but I never did find out what your name was."
Trixie couldn't help but notice the look that the two dark haired men gave each other. She had a feeling that the redhead was known to be a player.
"Oh, my name?" He said, "It's Richie Ryan."
"Well, my name is Trixie Belden, and this is my friend Carla Bell" Trixie then turned to the older gentleman and said, "I really enjoyed listening to you play. You're incredible." Carla echoed Trixie's sentiments.
The older gentleman grinned at her, "Thanks, and by the way, my name is Joe Dawson, since the kid here forgot to introduce us, and that's Duncan," he said as he indicated towards the man with the long dark hair and then pointed to the one with short dark hair and angled features and said, "and that's Adam."
Trixie almost couldn't bear to tear her eyes away from Adam's. He's got the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. But she managed to turn back her gaze to Ritchie before embarrassing herself.
They chatted for a few minutes, before Trixie realized that Jane was still sitting at the table. She quickly glanced over to see how her friend was and relaxed when she saw her talking and laughing with a young man who had joined their table.
Turning back to the conversation, she looked in time to see that Adam had been watching her, almost studying her movements. Trixie wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
"What was that?" Trixie asked.
"I was just saying that this is the best blues bar in Europe," Adam repeated.
"That's because you have a tab that you never pay," Joe retorted.
Adam almost chocked on his beer, "I do to pay. Just not very often." He jokingly said back. "See, I'll even prove it. Ladies, what are you having?"
"Buying for others is not the same as paying your tab." Richie teased.
"Ah. Yes, but it is good manners, now isn't it?" He looked at the two ladies.
"Um, well, I think I'll just stick with water, you too Trix?"
"Sounds good to me."
"No alcohol?" Adam asked.
"Nah, wouldn't want to get drunk and lose my head," Trixie quipped. She caught the look of laughter on Duncan and Ritchie's faces and the look of consternation on Adam's. She could tell it was some sort of inside joke and decided not to press.
The time flew quickly. Trixie enjoyed Adam's company. He was cynical yet funny. Duncan could be downright silly when needling his friends, and Ritchie was mostly occupied with getting to know Carla. Joe would join the conversations when he was in between serving customers. It was nearing closing time when the rest of her friends approached them.
"Time to get going, eh?" Etienne asked the two.
"Yep, its getting late and I have to do some studying tomorrow," Trixie said. "Thanks Joe!" she cried over the other customers. She saw him wave back to her. "It was nice meeting you Adam and Duncan." She pulled at her friend's arm, "Say bye to Richie, we gotta leave."
"Bye Richie." Everyone, except Richie and Carla, rolled their eyes at the tone of her voice.
"Goodnight ladies," Richie replied, finally tearing his eyes from Carla and nodding a goodbye to Trixie.
As the group excited the bar, Trixie couldn't help but replay the night's events. Very little ever evaded Trixie's detective mind. She realized that while Richie and Joe were much more open about their lives, Duncan and Adam had said relatively very little about their own lives even while being quite talkative. Trixie was sure that they were hiding something.
It all seems rather mysterious, she thought to herself.