Disclaimer: Highlander and its characters do not belong to me and I'm not making any money off of this, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Methos handed Eleonore a drink before he sat down on the chair across from her. The room that was dark just an hour earlier was now lit with the warm radiance of the morning sun. He scanned Eleonore's face for any sign of how she was feeling. The combination of spending last night with him and then seeing him decapitate another man wasn't something any woman would deal with easily.

"Eleonore, I'm sure you have quite a few questions and I'll be happy to answer them. But first, let me tell you what I should have a long time ago."

Her head rose and their eyes met. Methos recognized the same confusion and sadness that had come over the faces of his previous loves when he told them who…what he was. He hoped that she would choose to stay rather than abandon him like many other women had.

She smiled wanly. "Tell me."

He started at the beginning. When he was born, his real name and how he became immortal. He told her of his many lives; as Death, a recluse, someone just wanting to find a normal life. How he'd loved many women before but despite the time, he remembered them all. Eventually he told her of finding this monastery and making it his home. He recounted how each member of the household came to find him and join his family. There were few times in his long life where he felt at peace. Living in this place with these people managed to calm his heart.

"Last night I wanted to tell you all this before…well, before you seduced me, quite honestly."

Another smile played across her lips.

Methos absentmindedly rubbed his chin. "Then, when I woke this morning, I felt the sensation of another immortal. The man who came here intended to take you back to your uncle and kill me in the process. So I took his head and when I did, his power and knowledge passed to me."

Her silence began to unnerve him. He moved from his chair to the floor in front of her. His hands cupped her face gently. "Whatever you decide, I'll understand. I don't expect you to love me after you've seen me behead another man and know that I might have to do it again."

She put her drink on the side table and took his hands into her own. "I'll admit that watching you this morning scared me. I don't think I ever want to see that look in your eyes again. I told you last night that no matter what you were going to tell me, I wouldn't stop loving you. If that means I have to watch myself get older as you stay the beautiful man you are now, then I'm willing to accept that. My heart just breaks for you that I'll be gone and you'll be alone…again."

Her face brightened. "But I can leave you with children. At least, then, when I'm gone, they'll be with you."

"Eleonore, I can't…"

She interrupted him before he could finish telling her that he would never give her children. He would love her but know that once she was gone, he would be alone again.

"I know…they'll leave you too. But at least you'll have a part of us with you for a little longer."

Methos didn't want to give her any more pain than he already had. He would tell her another time.

Taking his place next to her on the settee, he enveloped her into his arms. "As long as I can be with you now, I'll be happy."

Henry, Lord Arthur's steward, entered the aristocrat's office carrying a box. "My lord, this arrived for you just now."

The large man returned the papers he'd been reading into a satchel on his desk. He squinted and motioned for Henry to set the box down in front of him.

"Who is it from?"

"There was no note, sir."

"Probably some cheap gift from one of those fools in Parliament. Always trying to buy me with…." His voice trailed off as he saw what was in the open box.

Henry saw the man's face turn ashen grey. "My lord what is it?"

"Dispose of it."

Huntington left the office quickly. Henry moved slowly to the box and peered inside. A man's severed head looked up at him. He gasped. Noticing a note pinned to the inside, he took the liberty of reading it.

Lord Arthur Huntington ~

This is what will happen to you if you make the mistake of interfering in Eleonore's life again. I warned you once that should you ever come near her again, I would take great pleasure in torturing you before I kill you. Make no mistake that I will give you no other chances to make such an error again.

WC

Henry put the note in his pocket and picked up the box. He smiled as he carried it out the door.

Methos' nightmares continued but at least having Eleonore with him helped take the edge off his anxiety. He was ready to have some more peace in his life at least for as long as she was with him.

It had been two weeks since he'd told her everything about his life. At first, she was withdrawn; overwhelmed with the knowledge of his life and his immortality. After many questions and conversations, she began to settle back in to her life with him, just as he'd hoped.

Methos put down the axe he was using to chop down a dead tree in the west garden. Wiping his brow, he saw Eleonore approaching and smiled.

"Are you finally coming to help me get rid of this bloody tree?"

"Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you? I do all the work and you lay about eating Anna's pastries!"

"Now, that is a brilliant idea, my lady."

Her arms wrapped around his neck and Methos kissed her deeply. "Any more of that and I don't think I'll be able to finish my job."

"Well, don't expect me to help you. A woman in my condition can't be expected to swing an axe, you know."

He stepped back, confused. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"You know I've been feeling tired and a bit sick."

He nodded.

"We're going to have a child, Methos."