The Immortal's Child

AN: Teheee! You'll just have to wait and see! (Did I just say Tehee? Shoot me now please! Too bad Daniel doesn't have a zat gun.)

Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child *** Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child *** Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child

Immortal's Child

By: Vanidot

Chapter 14

Methos did not have to wait long for Joe and Duncan's plane to arrive but it was still later than he would have liked. He'd found out from the locals where the dig's location was and that it would a good two or three hours to get there. After meeting his two comrades in arms at the baggage claim they headed towards customs together. The three swords, Duncan's, the one he'd brought for Anna as well as his own, were packed away in a crate but luckily their credentials as antique dealers allowed them to pass through without too much trouble. They loaded everything into the Land Rover he had thought to reserve ahead of time before heading to the dig.

"You're sure this is her?" Joe asked looking at the article Methos had given him before they left the airport.

"Positive! I had her necklace fixed and gave it to her the day she left." He told them. Joe nodded his head and handed the article to Duncan who was riding in the back seat.

"Why here?" Duncan wanted to know reading the article for himself. Methos glanced back in the rearview mirror at the Highlander.

"Because Anna's turned her obsession towards finding the origin of the Methuselah Stone." He explained. Duncan shook his head and met his gaze in the mirror's reflection before Methos turned his attention back to the road.

"Why? What was her obsession before this?" Duncan asked.

"I can't explain why except to say that she had a vision or a dream about a cavern made of the crystal and she's determined to find out whether it's real or not. She was obsessed with Methos before she knew that the man she'd been trying to find the identity of was standing next to her nearly the whole time." Adam explained.

"She was obsessed with you and you knew it all along?" Duncan inquired.

"I knew she was obsessed yes but that she was in love with a myth, no. Anna's been searching for Methos ever since she found one of the diaries I lost ages ago in the back of the book shop. I just never knew it would make her fall in love with me." Methos said with a sad sigh.

"Methos wasn't her only obsession; Adam Pierson was the reason why she became a Watcher. She lived for every chance she got to spend with you." Joe offered making him feel slightly better.

"Thanks, Joe," Methos said softly wishing he had not wasted the chance to be with her eight years ago, but she had just been a child. Even if he had admitted to feelings for her back then would Joe have give his consent for him to marry her as graciously as he had now? "Am I doing the right thing, Joe? I've known her since she was sixteen." He voiced his fears aloud.

"As much as I don't want to admit it, Anna is a grown woman of twenty-eight now. She hasn't been a child in sometime and has been capable of making her own decision. What you do with that knowledge is up to you but if you hurt her in anyway I won't think twice in taking your head." Joe chuckled. Methos rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for that, Joe," Methos said sarcastically.

"Do you really think there could be more Methuselah Stones out there let alone a whole cave full?" Duncan asked as though he hadn't noticed the turn the conversation had taken.

"They had to come from somewhere didn't they? I'm pretty sure they didn't just fall out of the sky." He answered.

"I wouldn't have believed in that holy spring if I hadn't experienced it for myself. I don't doubt that such a chamber exists but do you think it will have the same miracle producing abilities as the one Connor had or not?" Duncan asked.

"I'm not sure but I've been wondering, the Methuselah Stone was only supposed to work with all of its pieces still intact. I'm pretty sure Amanda has the piece her mentor Rebecca gave her. Anna said the one her mother had looked whole until her piece broke off. She also said it was about the size of a large grapefruit which was larger than the one I tried to steal the night I got shot." He explained.

"You don't mean… there were two of them?" Duncan asked in disbelief.

"With what we know of the Methuselah Stone it has to be. How could it be in two places at once otherwise? The one Methos tried to steal was already in Watcher hands at the same time Maisie had the other one. She kept it in a wooden box I only saw it once or twice but I thought it was just a very large crystal cut to look like a diamond on top." Joe offered.

"We've seen the miracles the one Maisie had performed and know of the legend pertaining to the Methuselah Stone, even if we didn't know whether it worked or not. I can't imagine what a whole room filled with them is capable of doing." Duncan breathed in amazement.

"Just think how many humans and immortals alike would love to get their hands on a place like that. Anna told me she dreamed about being Joe brought back to life after he was fatally shot; supposedly there was a pool in the bottom of the cave." Methos told them.

"All of this was in Anna's dream?" Joe asked sadly.

"I'm afraid Anna's seen far too much sorrow in such a short amount of time." Methos commented.

"She'll see a lot more if she gets to live that long," Duncan piped in. The three of them fell into a dreary silence for the rest of the trip. Two hours flew by and they had just pulled into the small village when they were nearly run off the road by a smaller car. The car careened into the ditch as it swerved to avoid them. Methos stopped to help the man offering to get the car out of the ditch.

"No time must find doctor." The man exclaimed in broken English.

"Dr. Jackson?" Methos questioned curiously but the man frowned and shook his head frantically.

"No medical kind. A friend of Dr. Jackson is about to have baby. I must find doctor quick." The man explained.

"I'm a doctor and I've delivered plenty of babies take me to her." Methos offered in Romanian. The man smiled looking relieved and nodded his head. The man got into the backseat with Duncan and they continued on their journey.

"Turn left at the corner and follow the road out to my farm." The man directed and Methos nodded his head doing as he was told. He pushed his concerns for Anna from his mind for the time being. His medical training might not be up to par but he had delivered plenty of children both before and after he'd gotten a license to practice medicine. "That's my house there on right." The man said in his native tongue pointing to a three story stone house. Methos nodded and pulled along side; their passenger jumped out of the car before he had a chance to put it into park. They piled out and quickly followed him towards the house but they hadn't gotten more than a few feet when he felt the unmistakable presence of an immortal. He would have recognized Anna's quickening anywhere.

"She's here!" He exclaimed turning to look at the others with excitement forgetting that wasn't the only reason why he was there.

"She may not be the only one." Duncan warned. Methos nodded his head and the three of them headed inside.

"This is Elsa my wife. I am Michael, please come she's already started to have the baby." Their host proclaimed opening a door to the left of the stairs. Michael was quickly jerked inside the room vanishing from sight.

"Stay where you are. I have a sword and I know how to use it." A man's voice ordered from the other side, he spoke perfect English in fact he sounded like an American. Methos opened the door further than it was and entered the room slowly with his hands raised to show he wasn't a threat. Joe and MacLeod followed mimicking him. "I said stay back!" The man warned jumping out from behind the door keeping himself between them and Michael as well as his wife Elsa who rushed to her husband's side looking scared.

"Now hold on there, Son, we don't mean any harm. We came here to help." Joe soothed the frightened couple and the angry looking young man.

"He said he was doctor." Michael came to their defense.

"I've delivered plenty of babies in my time. We only came here because we accidentally ran this man off the road and he said you needed help. My friends and I are looking for someone very dear to us but a woman who is having a child is more important right now. Why don't you put down the sword and show me where the expectant mother is." Methos appealed taking a step closer to a door at the opposite end of the room where, by the sound of it, the woman in labor was. The young man took a swing at him with the sword and without thinking Methos grabbed his own weapon to defend himself with.

"Anna said you were deadly with a blade but I won't let you hurt her." The man spat in disgust refusing to believe a word anyone said.

"Anna's here?" He asked looking at the three strangers excitedly but the man just strengthened his attacks. Methos was tired of playing this stupid game and knocked the sword from the other man's grasp backing him into the wall of books. He held his sword to the man's throat and glared at him menacingly feeling every bit like killing someone if he didn't get any answers soon.

"Adam no!" He heard Anna's all too familiar voice from behind him and sighed in relief closing his eyes for a barest second.

"Anna, you're…" Joe gasped in surprise but he wasn't sure if he should release his quarry so easily.

"You're Adam Pierson?" The man he was holding exclaimed looking over his shoulder presumably at Anna.

"Adam, please, just turn around and look at me." Anna pleaded softly. He gave the young man who had attacked him with the sword a deadly glare before lowering his own weapon. He slowly turned to look at his beloved and received the shock of his life. Anna was the pregnant woman he was there to help.

"Anna," Methos breathed his forgotten sword slipping from his numb fingers as a menagerie of emotions flashed through his mind.

"You weren't supposed to find me, Adam. I told you not to come looking for me." She mourned. He could feel his former enemy skirt away from him but he didn't have time to wonder what he was about as Anna moaned and crumbled to the floor obviously in pain.

"Anna!" He exclaimed rushing to her side. He reached her at the same time the one who had challenged him and he cast the man another glare. He recognized a rival for Anna's affections when he saw one. Anna, who had grabbed one hand from each of them squeezed the life out of it until the contraction had passed.

"There's no time for a stupid rivalry now I'm having the baby." Anna made known. Methos looked down at the impossible woman in his arms getting ready to produce another impossibility.

"Help me get her to her feet." He gave the other man a command but the man who could have passed for an actor glared back.

"Daniel, please! I need to lay back down." She begged.

"You're Dr. Jackson?" Methos exclaimed as the other man complied with Anna's wishes and helped her to rise.

"I guess neither of us are what the other expected. I'm sorry about attacking you but Anna thought it was that man after her again." Daniel offered an apology though he didn't look too happy about it. He led the way into the other room behind a hidden door in the wall of books. It had been made into a bedroom but only time knew what it's original intent had been.

"You're pretty good with a sword." Methos accepted the man's apology as they helped Anna into bed.

"I took fencing in school." Daniel explained.

"I don't mean to be a drag but will you two shut up and help me." Anna snapped. Methos shook his head remembering why he hated delivering babies.

"Is that a typical reaction?" Daniel inquired.

"Yes but such anger is usually only reserved for the child's father." Methos enlightened him.

"Just be grateful my sword is in the other room." Anna barked. "Now are you going to help me have this baby or am I going to have to deliver your child myself?" Anna glared and him angrily. Methos looked down at her and shook his head unsure if he had heard her correctly.

"Mine?" He asked in shock. Immortals were not supposed to be able to have children. He was positive it wasn't the archeologist's child as the young man was a pre-immortal and just as sterile as the rest of them.

"Idiot," Anna said grasping his hand again in pain. "Who else do you think would be the father as I haven't slept with anyone but you?" She confirmed with a strained voice. Methos knelt beside the bed and pulled the ring he had brought with him out of a pocket and held it out to her.

"Marry me, Anna! Consent to be my wife before this child of ours comes into the world." He declared. The pain was easing up and she rolled over to face him. She smiled sadly up at Dr. Jackson.

"I'm sorry, Daniel." Anna said causing the other man to frown and leave the room. "I thought you'd never ask Methos." She whispered in his ear. He caressed her damp face brushing her sweat soaked hair out of her face.

"If I remember correctly I did shortly before you poisoned me and ran off alone." He reminded her at which she grimaced. She pulled him down into a kiss and smiled as he slipped the ring on her finger when they broke apart.

"I'm sorry I did that but you did give me permission if I remember correctly." She apologized.

"Why did you tell Dr. Jackson sorry before saying yes to me?" He wondered his jealousy surging to the surface.

"Daniel fancies he's in love with me but I told him that my heart was already spoken for." She replied. He bent down to kiss her again and when their lips met they enjoyed the sensation of their quickenings joining for the first time in nine months. Anna pulled away when another contraction gripped her. He held her hand until it eased and then checked to see how far along she was.

"Anna, how long have you been having contractions?" He asked curiously.

"Less than an hour I think but I didn't notice what time it was when the first one hit." She answered.

"You're far more dilated than you should be for your first delivery. Have you been feeling pain anywhere else?" He wondered.

"My back has been sore since I got up from my nap around noon but it wasn't anything like this." She admitted before being seized by another contraction barely five minutes after the last one.

"Elsa," Methos called in Romanian, "It's almost time, Anna." He told her but she gave him a glare that said 'you think!'. Michael's wife hurried into the room and he gave her a list of instructions that he wanted her to do. She nodded in understanding and went to fetch the things he had requested. He watched his hands with the basin of water and soap when she returned holding his hands out for her to pour water over them to rinse so he wouldn't get recontaminated. He went back to help Anna with the delivery while Elsa sanitized the scissors that were already on the nightstand as well as two pieces of twine she had acquired from the kitchen. "Anna the next time a contraction hits I want you to bare down and push really hard." He coaxed in a gentle tone. Anna nodded her head but didn't have to wait long. Elsa took over holding Anna's hand and brushed the sweat out of her face with a cool damp cloth. "That's good Anna I can see the head, one more really big push." He encouraged his tired and sore fiancé. With the next contraction he gently eased his child into the world and smiled when she slipped into his awaiting arms. "It's a girl!" He exclaimed as he set about getting her to take her first breath. The wailing infant was as beautiful as her mother was. He cut the umbilical cord after tying both strings to either end and dried her off handing her to Elsa while he dealt with the placenta. Anna wouldn't need stitches as her natural healing ability had already begun to set in. He cleaned up tying the filthy towels in the plastic Anna was lying on and went to wash up.

"Isn't she beautiful, Methos?" Anna asked as he returned to find Elsa had left to dispose of everything. He smiled and took his wife-to-be and their baby girl in his arms.

"She's perfect, Anna," He kissed his daughter's forehead and then Anna's.

"Can we… I mean I'd like to name her Margaret after my mother." She whispered with a hint of sadness to her voice. "I'd rather use the Scottish diminutive of Maisie in honor of Father's heritage instead of Maggy though." She added tiredly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, my love." He assured her. There was a knock at the door before Duncan and Joe stuck their heads in the room.

"Can we see?" Joe inquired and Methos nodded his head.

"Do you want to hold your granddaughter, Uncle Joe?" Anna asked smiling up at them. Joe's breath caught in his throat and Methos could see the tears that welled up in the aging man's eyes. Joe sat in a chair nearby and Methos took little Maisie from her mother's arms and placed her into the arms of the man Anna loved as a father.

"Where's Daniel?" Anna requested of the others. Duncan looked at Methos before answering.

"He said he would sleep at the dig tonight." Duncan informed her. She sighed and closed her eyes leaning back against the pillows.

"Ask Michael to take him some extra blankets. It's been getting really cold at night lately." She breathed as she fell asleep. Duncan looked to him again as if to ask for permission and Methos nodded.

"It's all right, Duncan." He assured the Highlander who left to fulfill her request. Methos sat down on the bed and Anna subconsciously reached for him. He smiled and took her hand in his squeezing it gently to assure her he wasn't going anywhere, she sighed contentedly.

"I've seen many things that were unexplainable as my time among the Watchers, Methos, but this… two such miracles in one lifetime; a guy couldn't ask for much more than that." Joe softly spoke looking down at the sleeping babe in his arms. Methos smiled and nodded his head.

"I know what you mean, Joe." He answered his friend as he stared down at the woman he loved more than life itself.

"Scuse, doctor sir." Elsa said in broken English returning to the room. "Husband and I not have children except for one and he die not long after he came to us. I still have baby things and would like Miss Anna to have them for baby girl." Elsa bravely offered to give up precious mementos. Methos smiled at her and nodded his head. He remembered another infant he'd helped to deliver, who had been offered more valuable gifts that were not as costly a treasure as this farmer's wife had given. The Carpenter would be proud of the woman.

"We would be honored to have them Elsa thank you." Methos told her. She disappeared returning a few minutes later with a small wooden crib much like the kind that were widely used in the 17th and 18th centuries. "Did Michael make this?" He inquired getting up to take the ornately engraved object. Elsa nodded affirmation and went back for the other things their daughter would need. There were cloth diapers and everything that Anna had apparently forgotten to account for. Joe reluctantly handed his granddaughter to Elsa who put a diaper on Maisie before putting the now sleeping infant in the crib. "Thank you Elsa." Methos thanked the woman again.

"I make rooms ready for you and friend." Elsa told Joe before leaving the room. Joe stood up to follow and Elsa turned back to look at Methos. "You stay with Miss Anna?" She questioned him and he nodded then she led Joe from the room.

"Methos," Ann called out to him groggily.

"I thought you were asleep." He mentioned returning to her side and stretching out beside her. She rolled back to face him.

"I can't sleep," She replied.

"Funny you don't look awake to me." He chuckled peering down at her closed eyes. She blinked them open and looked up at him and he saw that she had tears in her eyes. "Why can't you sleep? I think you've earned it." He brushed a wayward curl from her forehead.

"I can't sleep until you say you forgive me." She explained.

"There's isn't anything to forgive, my sweet." He assured her.

"I murdered you!" She cried fully with her confession. He smiled and leaned over to kiss her face.

"It can't hold up in a court of law unless the person actually stays dead, Anna." He laughed. She looked up at him again and sighed.

"You shouldn't have come, Methos, but I'm glad you're here." She told him sleepily her eyes staying closed after she blinked. He took both of her hands in his and kissed each of them.

"I will forgive you, Anna," He began and she opened her eyes to look at him again. "On one condition." He added. She frowned and looked down at her hands.

"What is the condition?" She asked sadly and he knew she feared the worst.

"That you promise to never leave me or forsake me again. If you can promise me that then I can forgive you for taking me up on my stupid offer." He smiled at her when she looked up at him in astonishment.

"I think that's an acceptable arrangement." She agreed snuggling closer to him to taste his mouth. Methos closed his eyes savoring the taste and feel of her once again in his arms where she belonged. He pulled back and looked down at her in awe.

"I am five thousand years old, Anna, and in all my years I never met anyone as special as you. Now there is another special person in the world, one that you and I created together. Is this the prize everyone has been fighting to win?" He asked knowing that she had already fallen asleep once more. He rolled onto his back and she snuggled closer to him wrapping an arm around his chest. "I'm sorry for you as well Daniel, I know how you feel. Anna is the kind of woman you just can't help but fall in love with." He sighed as he fell asleep himself.