Owen stood over the stove as the eggs fried in the pan. His mind was barely concentrating on the task, but he wasn't worrying about anything important at the moment. No he was just happy in general. Well maybe not in general, the person still sleeping in the bedroom was a major reason why he was in such a good mood. There was a reason why he always looked foreword to being in the same town she was in. Everything just seemed to go away for a few months. It was a weird relationship but he wasn't complaining one bit. Of course if anybody told him about all of this a hundred and sixty eight years ago Owen would said they were crazy. He wasn't sure about Natalya but he was damn happy he was a light sleeper.

He heard Natalya stir in the next room and start to get out of bed. After a few minutes she appeared in the doorway wearing a shirt of his that just went past her hips. Somehow that shirt never looked so good. Then again he could never figure out how she could look so beautiful first thing in the morning either. He had known some woman that took forever to look like that after they got up. As she walked into the room he said, "You're up early."

"I smelled food," she answered as she leaned on the other side of the kitchen counter. "And I always loved your cooking. World War Three couldn't keep me away."

"Then where were you during WW1 and WW2?", he teased.

"You know what I mean." She took a moment to study what he was doing, "Eggs, sausages and I'm guessing… pancakes?"

"Right in one," Owen said as he plated the eggs. "I'm even taking a stab at some blueberry muffins. I already got them in the oven." He looked back and saw the look in her eyes, blueberry muffins were her favorite.

"My," she said with some surprise, "somebody has some extra energy this morning. I think I might have done something wrong last night."

"Trust me you did nothing wrong last night. You did some thing that I'm sure are illegal in most states and probably a couple of countries, but nothing wrong. As somebody keeps telling me it all in how you look at it."

"This sounds like a very smart person," she said with a knowing smile.

"Oh very wise beyond her years," He said smiling back. Walking over to the counter he leaned over a bit to look her in the eyes, "One of the few bright spots in a very lonely existence."

"Oh poor baby," she said as she stroked his cheek. "How ever do ever you manage without this person?"

"I keep looking foreword to our next encounter." He leaned in and kissed her passionately. They stopped when they felt the buzz. Both of them looked at the door as it opened. "Why did I give him a key?"

"Hey Owen sorry to come without call…ing…", he sort of stopped as he saw them standing there.

"Hey Keith," Owen said. "This is Natalya. I told you about her, right?" She wiggled her fingers at him. Keith hand barely twitched as he kept on staring at her.

"He's cute," she told Owen.

Studying Keith's expression, and realizing where he was staring, Owen looked down a bit before saying, "I know this will be one of the dumbest things I have ever said. But please tell me you're wearing underwear."

"Do I ever?" she answered with a wicked grin. Owen grabbed her shoulders and tried to turn her a bit so she wouldn't be flashing his student anymore. She pouted a little but complied. Keith still looked locked in place. His only reaction was one of protest after a pencil flew through the air and smacked him in the forehead.

"Breath boyo," Owen told him.

Natalya had a surprised look on her face, "I haven't heard you call anybody 'boyo' since World War 2."

"Things change," was his only explanation. "Besides he felt like a boyo. Of course I expected him to have better manners than just stare," he said a bit sternly, quickly falling into the teacher role.

"Sorry," Keith said a bit red faced, actually if his face was any reader he'd look like a beet. "I didn't know you had company."

"This looks like a teacher-student moment," Natalya said straightening up. "I better get going."

Owen quickly told her, "You don't have to leave. I'm sure Keith not going to stay that long." But she was already in the bedroom and closing the door behind her. He shot a nasty look at Keith, "Thanks a lot."

"I didn't know," he repeated. "If I knew you had your girlfriend over…"

"She not my girlfriend," Owen told him. It was true after all they weren't officially a couple. They were just two ships that went bump in the night. Repeatedly.

"So what are you then?", Keith asked. A small look of triumph passed over his face as he realized he tripped the older immortal up.

"You know. We're just friend," Owen blurted out. "Just with some… you know… benefits… and stuff…"

"What Owen is trying to say is," Natalya came out of the bedroom wearing some tight dress pants and a loose blouse, putting an arm around him she finished, "we're fuck buddies." Before Owen could say anything she kissed him. Owen stopped protesting after a second then pulled her close. Keith was starting to feel uncomfortable and wished he was elsewhere at the moment. Finally breaking away she said, "See you later 'buddy'."

"You better believe it," he told her and gave her a quick swat before she got out of range. She wagged a finger at him then gave him one more quick kiss then waved bye to Keith as she left. Keith just started at Owen after she was gone. "What she said."

Keith looked deep in thought for a moment, "Uh Owen?"

He poured himself a cup of coffee, "Yeah Keith."

Slowly he started, "Since you're not officially a couple, would you have any problem if I asked her… out?", he faltered a bit as he looked at his mentor.

Owen just stared at Keith over the rim of his coffee cup. Finally looking away he said, "Boyo, she'd break you in half."

Well the day didn't start like he thought it would, but it could have been worse. He gave the Father a key to his place too in case of emergencies and they would have no warning what so ever. And wouldn't that have been fun to explain. Of course now that his day had some free time in it he might as well get some errands done he'd been putting off. That was the one thing about immortality, you think you have all the time in the world to get things done and yet you find more ways to put things off.

Owen was never one to believe in signs, but maybe he should have taken Keith walking in on them as one. Almost all day he was getting the buzz. But whoever it was would quickly get out of range before he could locate who it was. He was being followed, no doubt about it. The only question was by whom. He was pretty sure it wasn't Natalya, this type of hide and seek wasn't her style. Taking a deep breath as he felt it come and go again he decided to be patient. Whoever it was would make themselves known before too long. It was getting dark by the time he felt it again. This time he saw a flash of somebody in an alley. "I am officially tired of whatever game this is," he muttered before entering. Incase he was wrong about the source he didn't draw his sword as he entered. Owen didn't get far before he saw a blond hair youth sitting cross legged on top of a garbage can, a mischievous twinkle in his grey eyes.

The youth hopped off the can and bowed, "Scott Harris, a true pleasure to meet you."

"Owen McAllister," he replied studying him. Harris put his hands behind his head and started walking around him. Turning to follow him Owen was on guard for any tricks.

"I know who you are," he said not even looking at him as he walked. "I've been following you all day you know. And I must say you are nothing like your uncle."

"I don't have an uncle," Owen told him.

"Maybe you do, maybe you don't," Harris commented. "Only your grandparents know for sure I suppose. Them and myself that is."

"If this is a challenge then this is the weirdest one I've ever seen."

"Who said this was a challenge?", Harris asked innocently finally stopping right in front of him. "No sword is in my hand, no malice is in my intent. But," he held up a finger and started walking again, "I am interested in you. I'm wonder how good you actually are now that I'm getting a good look at you. This could be a problem."

"And what problem is that?", Owen asked getting a bad feeling all of the sudden.

"Your uncle brought in an outsider," Harris said. "I shouldn't have been surprised I suppose, he's not the most confrontational person in the Game. Maybe that's where I get it," he said looking thoughtful, then shrugged it off. "You and your uncle, now that would have been interesting, but you and this outsider I don't know."

"If this supposed 'uncle' of mine that I have never heard of sent somebody after me why are you telling me this? And how do I know you're not this outsider just to throw me off guard?"

"Well you don't," Harris said answering the second question. "That what makes this interesting. But I'm the one who told your uncle about you and he changed the rules. Truly bad form I have to say."

"What are you talking about?", Owen demanded.

Harris smirked, "I just want things to stay interesting that's all. That's not going to happen if you go down early. But Big Evil…"

"Who?", Owen asked but Harris kept on talking.

"… well he can end this before it even gets going and we can't have that, now can we?"

"You take this guy on then," he told him.

"I just get the pieces together, what happens after that is up to the pieces." Harris looked thoughtful again, "Hmm, I do take after him don't I? Don't know why I never realized it before now."

"Are you done? I got things to do."

"Yes you do," Harris said stopping again with his back turned toward him. Owen didn't fail top notice he was blocking the only way out of the alley. His hand inched toward the handle of his long sword, this was smelling more and more like a trap by the second. "But I do have to make sure you're up to this new challenge first." He spun around with a cutlass now in his hand. Owen drew his long sword and took up a defensive position. Harris stood sideways with the cutlass raised about shoulder high, "En guard."

Harris came at him using a style Owen had only seen pirate movies. The problem was it was working for him. Of course Harris was looking like he was actually enjoying this. Owen held his ground blocking each strike, looking for a hole to exploit. Actually there was something about the way he was fighting that looked familiar but Owen couldn't place it. "You ever been to Japan?" Owen asked after getting some space between them.

Harris stopped and rested the blade on his shoulder, "Yes I have as a matter of fact. This temple on this little island off the main island. Have you been?" Owen only nodded. "Well now, that does make this interesting than doesn't it?" Harris attacked him again but Owen quickly got him on the defense. "You have a bit of your uncle in you, you know that?"

"I won't take that as a compliment," Owen told him. Sparks started to fly off their blades as the deadly dance went on. Harris was still smiling all the way. Owen swung the Long sword right at Harris's neck. He back flipped out of the way, the blade just missing him. Owen ducked a retaliatory swing then popped back up just to punch him.

Harris stepped back holding his mouth, "Bad form, seriously bad form." He came at him again. The blade of the cutlass was swinging so fast it was almost a blur. Owen was able to lock hilt and force the point of both swords to the ground. Harris let go and spun around with a kick. Picking the cutlass back up he told Owen, "You're good, but you might have to be better. Big Evil is serious business."

"Do you think I care?" Owen thought he had him just about figured out. But he couldn't afford to get overconfident about it now. Harris dropped the smile looking serious for the first time. Clashing swords one more time neither of the backed up. Harris kicked him the gut than ran for a wall. Getting frustrated Owen followed. Harris jumped on top of a garbage bin then flipped off. Owen ducked a bit to avoid getting hit. Harris landed on his feet and swung with all he had as Owen turned around with a killing strike. Their arms blocked each other as they stood there.

Harris's eyes glanced from Owen to the blade at his neck a few times, feeling a trickle of blood go down his skin after he twitched a bit. Gingerly placing a finger at the edge of the blade he pushed it away saying, "Alright let's call it a draw."

Owen was in no shape to answer. The blade of the cutlass was embedded in his neck since he swung a second too late. The edge of the blade was touching spinal cord as little arcs of lightning were trying to escape the wound. Going pale it took Owen a few tries to grab the blade and rip it out of his neck. Dropping the long sword he grabbed at the hole in his neck while he went to a knee loosing a lot of blood. A few moments later he was on the ground and lost consciousness and soon he wasn't even breathing as the blood pooled around his head.

Harris paid no attention to him as he died. He was resting the sword against his shoulder and pacing back and forth, "Not good, not good, not good." Stopping to look at Owen laying there he continued pacing, "Not good, not good, not good at all. How is this supposed to last and be interesting against Big Evil if you can't even beat me? I held on to this information for decades just giving you chance to get ready and you do this to me." Putting the sword away he kneeled down and started searching Owen's body, "I can't leave you out here like this. Somebody could finish the job I started and that just won't do. Don't worry I make sure nobody touches you before help arrives." Finding a cell phone on him he looked through the list. "Hmm, who going to know what you are and not take advantage of it. Natalya, sounds like she could be fun in other ways." He hit call and waited.

It wasn't long before he got an answer, "Geez Owen already, you usually need a day to recuperate."

"He's going to need longer than I day I think," Harris told her.

"Who the hell is this?"

"Your friend in an alley by 35th and 8th street and almost lost his head."

"What the hell did you do to Owen?!"

"If you want him in one piece I suggest you hurry and get him. Nobody is going to be as nice as I am after all." He ended the call before she could respond. "You better hope she gets here fast. Who knows when Big Evil is going to show up. And he wouldn't pass this up if you paid him."