Author's Note: Curious about what's happening in this story? To understand what is going on, you need to read the prequel to this, "Crossing the Bridge", first.
"Oh, come on, Mac. It's been weeks." Richie said, a slight whine evident in his voice. Not that he completely hated Duncan's doting, but there were acceptable limits and the man had gone past them.
Duncan, however, was not exactly swayed. "A week and a half, Richie. It's been a week and a half."
"Whatever." Richie replied with a roll of his eyes. "The point is I'm fine now."
"I know." Duncan told him flatly.
Earning him a suspicious look. "So I can go?"
"I told you already, Rich. You aren't going." The Immortal replied seriously.
This response thoroughly frustrated the teen. "Why?"
"You're too young." Duncan told him.
Once again, Richie rolled his eyes. It was a completely illogical argument in his mind. And one the Immortal had taken to using far too often. "Come on. It's not like I've never gone before."
"You were too young then, too." The man replied patiently.
Richie, however, far from reflected the Immortal's calm demeanor. "Geez, Mac. Lighten up. It's just a concert."
"In Detroit." Duncan responded.
Richie replied quickly. "I'll pay for everything myself."
"That's not the point and you know it." The Immortal's patience was slowly wearing away.
Richie's patience, on the other hand, was completely gone. "I've been to Michigan before, Mac. I promise not to get lost."
"Richie, just stop it." Duncan told him tiredly; he was in no mood to argue about it any further. It wasn't like there was a point, really. The teen wasn't going to change his mind. "You're not going out of town by yourself and you know it."
"I wouldn't be by myself." Richie began.
The uncharacteristic eye roll that Duncan gave him stopped the teen mid-argument.
"Whatever." The Immortal used one of Richie's favorite words. "You're not going out of town without responsible adult supervision. Happy?"
"No." The teen replied.
Duncan had set himself up for that response. How had he not seen that? "Richie, stop being ridiculous. You knew there was no way I was going to let you go even before you asked. If you want to go to a concert, you're just going to have to pick a band playing locally."
"What am I supposed to say to my friends?" Richie asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Duncan was not sympathetic to the plight. "How about, 'I'm 15, what kind of idiots are you, thinking I could go'?"
"Mac." Richie dragged out the man's name in a way that made it seem much longer than was natural.
Duncan tried again. "How about just going with the truth; 'my dad said no'?"
"Right." Richie replied sarcastically, glaring at the Immortal. When Duncan simply shrugged and turned his attention back to the day's receipts, Richie threw up his hands in frustration. "Fine, I'm going to go call them."
As he turned on his heels, the Immortal's voice stopped his exit. "Tessa's on the phone. Long distance."
Taking a deep breath, Richie turned back to him. "May I use the store phone?"
"Sure." Duncan replied, getting up from his desk to allow the teen the privacy he needed to complain about his how impossible the man was. "Be off in time for dinner."
As the teen flopped down in his chair, Duncan simply patted him on the back before walking out of the room. He fervently hoped the boy's pouting would be short-lived. He was really hoping for a pleasant dinner.
The smell of cigarette smoke was his first hint that his desire for a pleasant meal was unrealistic.
"Tessa?" He called into the room. When the woman emerged from the bedroom, phone in one hand and cigarette in the other, he knew immediately that she was not exactly bonding with her mother.
When Tessa disappeared back into the bedroom after providing only a frazzled look, Duncan decided to start dinner himself. Maybe he could brighten her mood.
"Wednesday? As in the day after tomorrow?" Duncan questioned.
Tessa was in no mood to be questioned. "Yes. The day after tomorrow."
"They couldn't have given you a bit more warning?" Duncan replied.
It brought up a very sore topic. "According to mother, she didn't want to tell me too early because I would have found an excuse to get out of it."
Despite knowing it was true, Duncan was still not impressed. "I cannot believe she expects you to fly to France on two days notice."
"Us." Tessa said, practically under her breath.
Taken aback would be a mild description of Duncan's response. "What?"
"I told you, it's a family event. A really affair. You're coming with me, Duncan MacLeod." Tessa told him.
"Tessa, you can't seriously expect me to..." Duncan began.
His argument was quickly interrupted. "I do. We've been together for 12 years, Duncan. You are going to have to face my family again at some point. It might as well be now."
"Did they even ask if I was coming with you?" The man questioned, darkening over the sore topic that was Tessa's family.
"That isn't the point. They don't really know you. They need the chance to spend time with you. They'll learn to love you." Tessa replied.
Duncan sighed. "Tess, I really don't."
"Please, Duncan." Tessa softly interrupted. "I'm tired of always going alone. I shouldn't have to return as if I have no one in my life. I want my family to see that you and Richie are a part of me now. You are my family. I shouldn't have to return to my roots as if I am alone."
It was an argument that immediately melted the man's resolve.
"I'll call the airport." Duncan replied simply, giving her a reassuring kiss as he passed by.
As the couple sat quietly at the table, Richie strolled in to join them. "Hey, guys, what's up?"
Duncan couldn't help but smirk at the irony. It was only an hour earlier that he had fervently hoped the boy's mood would be pleasant. He had gotten his wish.
"Tomorrow?" Richie asked in amazement. "You're going to France tomorrow?"
"WE are. Tessa replied, giving the Immortal a pointed look. "Well, late tomorrow night. Wednesday morning, really."
"Issue here?" Richie asked curiously, noting the undertone of tension.
The couple exchanged a brief look. It was Tessa who addressed the question. "There is some tension between my family and Duncan."
"That's putting it mildly." The Immortal said under his breath.
The mumbling earned him a warning look from the Frenchwoman. "So we are a bit nervous about him coming with me."
"Oh." Richie replied softly, as the realization that both Duncan and Tessa were leaving fully sunk in. He tried his best to maintain his composure. "So how long's the trip?"
"Just a couple of weeks." Duncan replied. "You don't mind terribly do you?"
"No." Richie replied quickly, desperately attempting to keep his tone casual. He couldn't believe they were leaving him. After all the promises the Immoral had made, the first time he was a little defiant and there was a better offer, the man was taking off. "Why should I mind?"
"You wanted to get away for awhile." Duncan tried to make the trip seem more inviting. Just because he wasn't exactly thrilled about going to France didn't mean the teen shouldn't be. "This is the prefect opportunity to experience new things."
New things; Richie almost laughed at the reference. Like being ditched was a new experience. He couldn't help but hold out some hope, though. From the way Duncan was talking, it sounded like he was planning to come back for him. "Yeah. I guess I'll get to go out of town after all, huh?"
"Right." Duncan agreed, trying to shake off the concern he felt about Richie's attitude. Something didn't seem quite right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "After dinner, why don't you go get some things together? I'll come in later to make sure you're picking appropriate things, okay?"
"Sure." Richie replied casually, disgusted at the idea that the Immortal wanted to check what he took with him. He probably wanted to make sure the teen hadn't packed any of his precious antiques. That disgust wasn't enough to make him not want to come back, though. He tried to keep his next question as casual as possible. "I only need to pack enough for a couple of weeks?"
"Yeah." Duncan looked at him, slightly confused. He could have sworn they just said they were only going for a few weeks.
The teen sighed quietly. He tried to convince himself that he shouldn't feel anything but gratitude that the couple was going to come back for him. If they just needed a break, he could handle that. And he wouldn't be such a pain when they got back. He had gotten lax around them; whiny. The time on his own would remind him to keep himself in check. This time on his own would be good. Somehow, the teen couldn't quite believe his own argument.
Suddenly, his dinner didn't look nearly as appetizing as it had when he first sat down. "I'm going down to the park."
"What for?" Duncan asked.
Richie thought quickly. He really had no desire to tell the couple how he was going to make arrangements, but he did need to take care of it. "There's a game. I thought I'd watch."
"Basketball?" Duncan pressed.
Richie nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"You haven't eaten much." Tessa told him.
Richie looked up at her and then at Duncan. He was having a difficult time understanding how they could be so mellow about taking off; not that he wouldn't play along. "I'm not that hungry."
"All right." Duncan said slowly, beginning to equate Richie's odd mood to nerves over traveling. After all, the idea of meeting Tessa's family had to be somewhat disconcerting for the teen. "Back by 8."
"Sure." As he got up from the table, the teen couldn't believe the gall of the Immortal; telling him when to be in. The whole situation was ludicrous but he was desperate. If the couple wanted to act like nothing had changed, he could handle it. He truly wanted to be allowed to come back even though he knew nothing could really stay the same after this.