Disclaimer: I don't own Highlander, only the OC that I created. This is also going a little off Cannon.
Rating: Warning this chapter is K+
Beta Reader: FanLass (thank you). Typo's are all mine.
Reviewers: Fanlass
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read and starting following this story. Before anyone gets confused after reading this chapter, yes I changed the dates. I didn't want this chapter to be done on the 25 of December; I have plans for that date. So I went back and changed the dates on chapters 17, 18 and 20 so it all fit together again. There are not too many chapters to go now before the end. I hope you enjoy this one and those to come that will bring this story to an end.
Previously…
In their cottage, Methos and Caren lay sprawled on their bed, the twins lay between them.
Methos let his son grab his finger and smiled warmly. "Gaia wants us to do a retrieval."
"Oh, who?" Caren inquired as Zoe gummed her finger.
"Duncan MacLeod, of the Clan MacLeod," he said and then looked at his children. "You're going to meet your Uncle Duncan."
Caren giggled softly. "Amanda is going to be very happy."
"I expect we won't be seeing the two of them for days," Methos remarked and they quietly laughed together, much to the bewilderment of their children.
Chapter 21:
21st December 2616 - Sanctuary Complex…
"So let me get this straight," Joe stated, he like the other's sat around a large table in a conference room within the complex. "You're going to arrive moments after you left the first time with Amanda, replace Duncan MacLeod with a clone of himself and then return."
"That is the plan," Gaia clarified.
"Well it sounds easy enough, however what happens when he gets here?" the former Watcher inquired. "You're bringing one of the most well-known Immortals into a future that every person, from adult to kid knows like a celebrity."
"Dawson has a point, Luv," Connor declared. "My cousin was never the one to change his name or appearance to blend in. Well other than to be his own son or grandson."
"With the President brought down because of Genesis, who is involved with Immortals. Being Immortal and on the outside isn't a good thing," Joseph Fairchild pointed out.
"So we change history," Cassandra put forth. "We change it so the world doesn't find out about Immortals."
"The repercussions would be immense; we'd not only be taking Immortals out of the equation, but changing Genesis. Lives could be changed sufficiently." Gaia declared. "It is too risky."
"But what if it it had to happen this way?" Rebecca said softly, making them all look her way.
Caren, who had until then sat back and let the conversation go on without her input, spoke up. "A Destiny Trap or Destiny Paradox. It had to happen for us to change, but to everyone else it's happens the way we put it. It's almost like the two timelines will merged into one, where for us, we lived one timeline to a point and then merged into the new one."
Methos chuckled. "I hope someone understood that."
Caren elbowed her husband in the ribs, frowning at him. "Not funny."
"No, Caren is right, this is a Destiny Trap or more to the point a Destiny Circle, it has to occur, but we can change history to happen the way we need it too," Gaia announced and smiled. "I believe this can be accomplished."
"I guess watching all those time travel TV shows really paid off," Methos teased his wife.
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "It's all wibbly wobbly, timey wimey."
Everyone in the room laughed.
"Seriously though," Nick Wolfe interrupted. "Will this work. Can we save Duncan MacLeod and change history so no one knows about Immortals?"
"Well the Watchers still will, but let's hope they've learn something in 600 hundred years," Joe remarked sternly. "Because times have changed, Watchers and Immortals need to work together."
"And they will, Joe," Gaia assured.
"Then how do we do this?" He asked, knowing everyone was in agreement.
"Well I purpose two teams, Methos, Caren and Richie will do the retrieval and replace Duncan with his clone," the Goddess explained. "Connor and Amanda will set up a shield to cloak the Quickening. History tells us the Quickening lasted for four days; once it was over he floated back to Earth unconscious. I will collect the shield device after the Quickening has finished and alter the authorities that there is an unconscious man in a field."
"What if the clone Duncan mentions something in the hospital?" Richie asked, he'd been silent until that pointed.
"It is possible, but I believe he won't, it is more likely he'll fake not knowing what happened to himself then revealing the truth," the Goddess insisted.
"Can we somehow get a Watcher to him, to fill him in?" Joe purposed. "Someone he'd trust."
"Like Amy?" Methos suggested.
The former Watcher nodded.
"It's a good idea, Joe; I'll see what can be accomplished." Gaia said sincerely.
"And we'll remember everything?" Richie clarified.
"Yes, as Caren said, it is a Destiney Trap, though I think Destiney Circle is more accurate," the Goddess confirmed. "The two timelines will merge into one for us, for everyone else the second timeline will be the only one they remember."
"When do we leave?" Caren asked her.
"Tomorrow morning after the twins have been feed, so it is easier for you." Gaia answered.
"Thank you."
"Then if there is nothing else, I believe this meeting is over," the Goddess declared and they all stood, beginning to leave. "Rebecca, Richie, could I have a word with you both?"
Both agreed and stayed behind as the other's left.
"What's going on?" Connor asked Caren.
She arched an eyebrow. "How would I know?"
"Because you do, sweetheart," he mused cheekily. "You seem to know what's going on around here before anyone else, well other than the Old man."
Caren shocked her head. "Gaia is telling Richie, Rebecca is his mother. He's been curious since Nick found out Matthew is his father."
"Aha, well I don't want to know, as far as I'm concerned the people who brought be me up are my parents," the senior Highlander stated.
"Don't you mean dragged you up," Methos said with a smirk on his lips.
"Watch it barbarian."
"Boys, enough," Caren chastised them both, coursing the others to laugh.
2020 - Outside of Paris, France…
Methos, Caren and Richie arrived seconds after the first retrieval team at left with Amanda. They stopped time at the exact moment they arrived; Duncan's sword hovered near the duplicate Amanda's head, confusion on his face.
For a moment Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod thought he was dreaming. Not only did he see two friends who were dead, but the mysterious archaeologist he'd met the night Dawson had died was walking towards him. That and Amanda and all around him was frozen. He carefully lowered his sword and headed to them, his eyes were wide and he had a dumbstruck expression on his face from shock.
"Methos, Richie?" he asked his voice thick with emotion.
"Hey Mac," Richie greeted with a welcoming smile. He knew how much Duncan had blamed himself for his death, for not being strong enough to stop it.
Duncan dropped his sword and embraced the younger Immortal. "How?" he asked breathless, still not believing they were there, living and breathing before him.
"Magic, MacLeod," Methos said lightly, "That and a little help from a Goddess."
"We can explain more later," Caren assured, getting them back on track. "We're from the future, 2616 to be exact. We'd like to take you back with us."
"How?" Duncan asked, having released Richie. "This is the end of the Gathering, the prize…"
"The Prize is nothing but insanity and voices of dead Immortals inside your head until you can't take it anymore and kill yourself," Methos stated, passion filling his voice.
"We're going to replace you with a clone, Mac," Richie explained. "He'll take your place and you'll come with us to the future. You see, we've lived or Methos and I are living in a future where Immortals are public knowledge and if found were experimented on."
"We want to change that, making it so Immortals aren't known and can live freely among the people of Earth once more." Caren concluded and gave him a warm smile. "There are Immortals there you know, some are your beloved friends. They're waiting for you to return with us, Duncan."
"And we have to hurry, we're on the clock here, Mac," Methos announced.
Caren went and picked up the Highlander's sword and gave it to him. "It's your choice, Duncan, but we're really like you to come with us, you have family there."
"You'll explain everything to me, how Methos is alive and who this Goddess is?" he asked her still bewildered.
"Trust us, Mac; you're going to love the future." Richie insisted.
He thought for a moment and then nodded. "If you're there Richie I'm sure that's true. Now explain again what do I have to do?"
"Firstly we need a DNA sample and then we scan you, making the clone." Caren informed as Methos got what he needed from the small pack he carried.
"Go ahead then." Duncan said, giving his permission.
It didn't take long for Methos to get what he needed and create the clone of his friend, which appeared before their eyes, including a double of his katana. Working together, Methos and Caren got the clone into position and then hurried out of the way.
"We have to go," Methos told them.
"How?" Duncan asked him.
"Like this," the older Immortal stated and together the four of them walked forward and disappeared in a flash of light and time restarted.
Not far from the site, Connor and Amanda had the shield set up like Gaia had showed them and waited. Being hidden from where the final fight took place, as soon as the clone Duncan took the duplicate Amanda's head, they activated the shield.
"Let's get out of here, we have someone to welcome home." Connor declared.
Amanda nodded; she was excited Duncan was being brought to the future and nervous about seeing him again. He was the love of her life, the one Immortal she would happily marry and settle down with. "Let's go."
Together they activated their wrist devices and disappeared in a flash of light. The next step was Gaia's and the Goddess wasn't going to fail her children.
22nd December 2616 - Gaia's Sanctuary…
The first person Duncan MacLeod saw when they arrived was Joe Dawson. The beauty and wonder of where he was, was forgotten for a moment as the two men embraced.
"Welcome home, Mac," Joe greeted his voice filled with emotion.
"Joe, I can't believe it, you're alive," Duncan said, his Scottish accent becoming thick with what he was feeling.
"I am, thanks to that lovely lady standing behind you. She saved me and brought me here." Joe told him as he stepped back. "And with medical science as advanced as it is, I'm better than I was before."
"Better? How?" Duncan asked in disbelief.
Joe tapped his thigh with his hand. "I have legs again."
"But how?"
"That's a long story and one for another time, Duncan MacLeod," Gaia announced as she joined them. "Welcome to my Sanctuary, I am Gaia."
"Gaia, the Goddess Gaia?" he asked still shocked, though it was evident only he was embarrassed by the half-naked goddess before him.
"Yes." Gaia answered.
Methos playfully slapped Duncan on the back. "Don't worry you get used to it. Mom not such a bad person."
"Mom?" Duncan looked at him, nearly giving himself whiplash doing so.
Shrugging nonchalant, Methos slipped his arm around Caren, drawing her closer. "There's a lot to know Mac, but there's someone here who's been waiting for you, well more than one person actually."
Duncan followed Methos' gaze, seeing his cousin and on and off lover. He passed his sword to the old man and ran over to Amanda; taking her in his arms he lifted her off her feet, before setting her down again and kissing her passionately.
Connor shocked his head. "I never get a welcome like that," he grumbled.
"Well don't look at me, I'm not kissing you," Methos taunted.
Gaia giggled softly. "Be careful my son, he could end up being your father."
Caren saw her husband pale and laughed, as did Richie and Joe, the three of them finding that humorous.
Duncan cupped Amanda's face; he wiped happy tears away with his thumb. "You know I love you?"
"I always have," she told him. "I always will. We can have fresh start." She brushed her lips against his. "There's so much to tell you."
"There's so much I want to know." He released her, taking her hand as they walked over to their friends, their family. He felt drained, but has so many questions.
Connor could see his cousin was exhausted, time travel tended to do that. "I know you have a lot of questions, but you need to visit the medical centre and then rest. We'll talk later."
"When did you get so responsible?" Duncan asked him.
Connor gave him a familiar grin. "Hey it's me, I can be responsible."
"Now that's the Connor I know," his cousin mused.
"Connor is right thought, Duncan," Gaia intervened. "You do need to rest, Amanda will escort you to the medical centre and then to quarters where you can rest. We can talk later."
Reluctantly he agreed, he wanted to know about this world he'd arrived in, but he was tired. Letting Amanda guided him away from the others.
Connor looked to Gaia. "So did it work, are we safe?"
She nodded. "It worked. The timeline has been changed for everyone on the surface."
"What about the President and Genesis?" Caren asked her.
"The present hasn't been changed drastically. The President was still removed from office due to his dealings with Genesis, who were found to be doing illegal experiments to prolong life," Gaia revealed. "Immortals are now nothing more than stories passed down through time by descendants of the Watchers."
"Perhaps it's best if Immortals remain that way," Joe stated. "Stories passed from descendant to descendant until they're forgotten."
Caren was a little surprised by that. "Are you sure, Grandpa Joe? A lot of History could be lost."
"Sometimes it's best."
"If Watchers are trained to interact with Immortals and not hid from them, things could be better." Methos pointed out. "This is a chance to do things right."
"We have time, my children to make such decisions. For now, let's enjoy life." Gaia said. "We have all deserved it."
To be continued…
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