AN: Sorry no Daniel's sister Ruthie isn't introduced in this story but if I remember correctly she is a minor character in the second one so now you have to read it when I get it finished.
Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child *** Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child *** Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child
Immortal's Child
By: Vanidot
Chapter 25
A week and a half after Daniel had been trapped in the Tholos, Anna got her heart's desire; she married Adam Pierson at the village church. It was a small wedding with just under twenty people present, not counting the bride and groom or little Maisie. Methos promised Anna a bigger wedding when he returned to the states but he wasn't about to let her get away without staking his claim on her permanently.
Upon the realization that digging the buried archeologist out would be more of a monumental under taking than first thought they all decided to pack up and leave the work to the professionals. Connor and Cassandra were the first to leave but they decided to drive to the coast before heading back to Malta. They promised to come and see her however when she got settled down in Seacouver. Duncan and Amanda were going to fly back to Paris in a day or two but drove back to the city, after the wedding, having had their fill of small town life.
Anna stood at the library window and watched them go until the car got too small to see roughly an hour ago but she hadn't brought herself to move from that spot. Methos and Joe had gone up to the dig to smooth things over with the local authorities as well as confer with the Watchers who arrived on schedule to help with the clean up. It was going to be a painfully slow process.
She was so lost in contemplation that she hadn't noticed Elsa enter the room until the older woman reached out to touch her shoulder. Anna looked up at the kind lady who had put up with so much from them over the past several weeks, not to count the months she'd stayed here before that. Elsa smiled warmly at her and Anna returned the smile with same fondness.
"I'm sure they find Dr. Jackson, Miss Anna, Don't you worry." Elsa told her in Romanian. Anna turned to look out the window once more.
"I know they will Elsa I just wish…" She began but didn't finish the thought.
"Are you an Angel, Miss Anna?" Elsa asked curiously coming to stand beside her. Anna frowned and looked at the woman who also looked out the window at the signs of another season coming to an end.
"No, Elsa I'm not an Angel. Why do you ask?" Anna wondered.
"Before you came to stay with us the Doctors told me I would never have any more children. Now they tell me I'm going to have little girl. They say it's a miracle but they can't tell me how it happen. I think it's you who is the miracle, Miss Anna." Elsa explained with tears in her eyes. Anna hugged the woman genuinely happy for her.
"It's you and Michael that must have done something right to deserve such a wonderful gift. I wish you both all the joy in the world, Elsa. May you both live long enough to see lots of grandchildren running around." Anna wished the woman well. She tried to hide her own astonishment but the news had brought last week's fears to life again.
"Thank you Miss Anna." Elsa told her softly before going back to make supper. Maisie woke up and cried letting her know she was hungry so Anna went to feed her. Doina had left earlier in the day with the money she was owed and the car Anna had purchased upon arrival. She wouldn't need it anymore and thought the family could use the extra help. Doina was of the age when she would be looking for work to help make ends meet and having a vehicle of her own would help her find a better job closer to the city which would pay more. Doina had been most appreciative of both but especially the car which would mean she wouldn't have to get up so early to catch the train or get home too late.
"You are so luckily, Maisie. What I wouldn't give to be so blissfully unaware of things again? You cry and your needs are met then fall asleep again content that Mommy will take care of everything." Anna whispered to her little girl as she suckled. "Only problem is, my love, Mommy doesn't know what she's doing. I wish I were in your shoes." She sighed watching her daughter eat greedily ignorant of everything but the sound of her mother's voice.
"I'm glad you're not Maisie, Anna." Methos said softly. She looked up to find him leaning against the door jam.
"When did you get back? I didn't feel you come in." She asked afraid of what that meant.
"Joe and I just got back. He headed upstairs to pack. Are you almost ready?" He wondered. She nodded to her suitcase by the door.
"All set," Anna told him avoiding looking up at him. She heard him approach the bed and felt his arms wrap around her. "I don't want to go Methos." She confessed not wanting the first good dream she'd ever had to end.
"It's just for a little while, Anna. I'll be back before you know it." He assured her.
"What about Daniel?" She asked sadly. He sighed sounding a bit sad himself.
I talked to the university and they've written him off as dead already even though I told them people have been known to surviving weeks in his situation. They won't consider extending the grant any further considering the Watchers have claimed jurisdiction. The Watchers will be looking for Daniel as well as retrieving the body I stuffed in with Zeda. Daniel was right, the whole mountain – half of it at least – caved in so it will take a while to move enough debris to even reach the inner chambers. They have to move slowly so they don't cause any injuries to themselves but we will find him." He guaranteed.
"What about his sister Ruth? What happens to her now that Daniel's officially dead?" She cried for the girl she considered a friend even though they had only spoken over the phone a few times.
"There is some compensation coming to Daniel and I've arranged for his sister to be the recipient of it." Methos explained but she frowned up at him.
"What compensation? Daniel wasn't getting paid for…" Anna started stopped when she realized what he meant. Knowing that Ruth probably wouldn't accept charity, Methos had arranged it so the money she got didn't seem like a gift. "Oh Methos!" She exclaimed with tears in her eyes.
"Adam Pierson might be barely living on a Watcher's salary but I haven't lived for over five thousand years without putting a little something aside for a rainy day." He told her.
"Have I told you lately how much I love you?" She asked kissing his cheek.
"Not since this morning," He said huskily. She blushed at the memory of what they were doing at the time she'd said it. Methos chuckled as he took their daughter from her arms and burped Maisie before changing the diaper. "There's something I want to do before you leave, Anna." He said softly making her blush again thinking she knew what he had in mind but he went to the door of the other room after setting their daughter in the car seat and snapping her in. Anna followed him and watched as he began clearing a spot in the center of the room. When he was finished he turned and bowed to her before holding out his hand. "Will you dance with me, Fair Lady?" He asked. She laughed and shook her head.
"I can't, I don't know how!" She exclaimed.
"You said that about playing the piano too." He reminded her. She went to him and took his hand in hers. "Close your eyes." He told her. She frowned but did as she was told. He touched her cheek and suddenly she could see a ballroom filled with people waltzing. She smiled up at him and he took her in his arms before dancing her around the room. "See you're a natural." He smiled down at her.
"I had a good teacher." She returned his smile. "I've always wanted to learn how they did it in the 1800's. The way they do it now seems too contrived. Thank you for this Methos!" She said with tears of happiness glistening in her eyes.
"I've never enjoyed a dance partner more than I do you, Anna." He whispered in her ear as they danced to the music in their heart. Anna didn't want that moment to end but as all songs do the dance came to a halt when they were both startled by the sound of clapping.
"I didn't know you could dance, Anna." Joe stated joining them in the room. She smiled up at him and shook her head.
"I don't Uncle Joe or rather didn't until just now." She informed him.
"Like playing the piano?" He inquired as she glanced up at Methos and shook her head.
"Methos taught me," She replied.
"You're not just gifted Anna you're a gift to everyone around you. Michael just told me about the baby." Joe smiled down at her.
"What baby?" Methos wanted to know.
"Elsa is having a baby girl." Anna explained making Methos sigh in relief.
"It's just a little too soon for you to be having another one is all even if you are an immortal. You had me worried." He confessed when she frowned up at him in confusion.
"Do you think that's even possible?" Joe asked curiously
"I hope so, Uncle Joe; I don't want Maisie to be an only child like I was." Anna whispered softly. Methos took her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
"It can't hurt to try, right Joe?" Methos asked making Anna blush again. "Come on if we don't leave for the airport now you'll miss your flight." He told them going to the bedroom to get her suitcase and the baby carrier.
"It's okay if you want to stay here with Methos, Anna." Joe said but she smiled sadly and shook her head.
"No, Uncle Joe, Methos is right. I've stolen too much time away from you as it is. It's time to go home." She assured him. Joe nodded his head too overcome for words. Methos returned and they piled into the vehicle heading for the city one last time. They would say their final good-byes only when they had to.
Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child
The Dig
Four months later
Mike Dalton was new to the Watchers and that wasn't exactly how he expected to spend his time. Digging up a stupid immortal who had gone and got himself buried at an archeologist site wasn't his idea of a good time.
"Bloody Hell!" He muttered to himself rubbing his freezing hands together to warm them. The reports said it was going to be the coldest winter on record and he was freezing his bum off for a stupid American who got trapped beneath a pile of rubble. At least he was getting paid for picking up rocks. The heavy equipment had cleared a path but couldn't fit inside the tunnel they had uncovered so it was up to him to move rocks by hand.
He moved a few rocks out of the way before trying to move one of the larger ones. It took a while but he finally got it to budge only it wasn't the only stone to move. The whole wall shifted and he backed away grateful they had thought to secure the passage behind him from further deterioration. The pile of rocks shifted before finally settling. He was appreciative of the fact that there was little work left for him to do. He waited several seconds to make sure the rocks had settled completely.
"Roger get you're bum in here." He called back the way he'd come. He didn't wait for his friend to appear before clamoring through the opening to the other side.
"What are you yelling about Mike?" his co-worker demanded answers.
"Take a look at this, will ya?" Mike called back.
"Pierson was right." Roger Davis breathed in amazement from the top of the pile.
"Get a load of this, looks like solid gold!" Mike exclaimed holding up one of the artifacts left behind.
"Yeah, I see it but the dead man's treasure isn't what we were assigned to uncover." Roger reminded him. "We're here for the live one though the poor sop probably doesn't even know what he is. Pierson said he'd be in a room beyond the main chamber." His friend said looking around for the hidden entrance. Mike reluctantly set the item back down and went to aid in the search.
"What are we doing here, Roger? We could be in Hawaii keeping an eye on some hot immortal chick not freezing our arses' off in the middle of no where. If this archeologist was idiotic enough to get trapped inside his own dig I say leave him here. I say we get the treasure back to headquarters and get out of here." He suggested. Roger shook his head.
"Pierson said…" Roger began.
"Who cares what Pierson said? He went back to his wife and kid in the states two days ago. I need a drink man!" Mike replied standing near the entrance. "Besides we've checked every where in here and there ain't a dead body to be had." Mike said. "Except those two in there and we all know they're not going anywhere." He added pointed at the coffin in the middle of the room.
"Cole said if we didn't find him before the first snow fall to call it quits until it thaws out again." Roger offered.
"Now you're talking," Mike said slapping his friend on the back. The two men gathered the things from the stash of antiques and didn't notice the flicker of blue light that hid the entrance to the other room from view. Maisie watched them from where she hid Daniel from them. She caressed his hair and rocked his lifeless corpse in her arms.
"Not just yet my love, when the time is right I will find you myself. All you have to do is sleep until I come for you." She whispered to him softly even though she knew he was beyond hearing.
Highlander: *** The Series *** Immortal's *** Child
Seacouver
Same Time
Anna watched her sleeping daughter in amazement and stroked the soft hair that covered her head.
"Do you ever wonder what babies dream about, Joe?" Anna wondered looking up at him as he cleaned glasses behind the bar.
"What do you think they dream about, Anna?" Joe asked by way of an answer. Anna shook her head and looked down at her daughter again.
"Vision's of what their life will be like when they're older," she guessed. "Do you think Maisie is dreaming of the man she's going to marry?" Anna asked.
"She's hardly four months old Anna and you have her married off already?" Joe chuckled.
"I was only eight when I dreamed of a dark haired lad with striking blue eyes, Joe and look at the man I married." He replied.
"You can't tell me you had dreams of Methos when he was a boy. He's five thousand years old." Joe exclaimed. Anna smiled up at him.
"Yeah well you can't tell me that love doesn't transcend the bounds of space and time." She shot back leaving her sleeping infant in the old pram she'd found by the chair she just vacated. She found herself drawn to the piano and sat down to play the duet she heard in her head.
"Giving into those flights of fancy again?" He asked with a smile admiring the pretty piece that flowed from who knows where.
"I don't know if I dreamed of Methos when he was a kid or not but I know what I saw. Call it flight of fancy if you want, Uncle Joe, I call it romantic." She replied.
"Whose flight of fancy are we talking about?" Duncan Macleod asked entering the bar with Amanda on his arm. Anna looked up at them in surprise.
"Duncan, Amanda I'm glad to see you but I didn't feel you come in." She exclaimed leaving the piano to greet them with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"You didn't feel anything?" Duncan asked in surprise. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Anna, would you please fetch another bottle of Scotch from the back room?" Joe asked and she nodded her head. "What brings you two back to Seacouver so soon? I thought you'd be in Paris for the season." She heard Joe pose an inquiry.
Anna couldn't hear Duncan's response as the place where Joe kept the scotch was out of hearing range. She did notice the duet she heard in her head had ceased playing. She shrugged it away and grabbed a few bottles before returning to join the others but the moment she stepped foot in the other room she become aware of the fact that the duet started up again. The strange coincidence intrigued her so much that she forgot to hand Joe the bottles in her hand. She realized that the duet that only she could hear was a harmony of two entirely different songs, ones she had heard before though she couldn't remember when. She had to test her theory and went to Duncan's side putting her ear closer to him as if she could hear one part of the song coming from his chest.
"Anna?" Joe questioned her actions and she gave a start like coming out of a trance. She smiled apologetically at the three of them and set the bottles on the bar in front of Duncan.
"Sorry, I just…" She began but stopped unsure of what they would think of her latest discovery. "Apparently I did sense you two after all I just didn't know it until now. It wasn't a headache like it usually is; I heard music." She explained.
"That piece you were playing just now." Amanda guessed.
"Yes, it was a combination of you both I think. Like the marks inside the Star of David each of you has a different song." She admitted glad they were taking it so well.
"They play well together," Duncan said looking at Amanda. Never the shy one, Amanda returned his look with one of her own.
"After three hundred years of an on and off again relationship you'd think the two of you would be married by now." Anna said laughing at them and returned to her daughter.
"Pest!" Amanda shot back though there was laughter in her tone as well. "It's not nice having an immortal know everything about you." Amanda peered over her shoulder at Maisie. Anna got caught up in the familiarity and kissed Amanda's cheek, as she would an old friend. Amanda returned the favor with a tweak in the ribs making her giggle. The moment was saddened only by the fact that it was how she and Alexa used to act with each other.
"So what have you done with my house, young lady?" Duncan joined them at the table dispelling the sadness.
"It's my house now, MacLeod. Remember you sold it to me fair and square." She corrected sitting down beside her daughter's pram. Duncan held the chair for her doing the same for Amanda before going to help Joe carry the tray to the table. "I'm having it tested for asbestos before I start work. You did much of it but there are still a few things that need doing since it sat empty for so long. I don't want to take any chances with Maisie in the house. I don't want anything to…" Anna began but couldn't bring herself to finish the thought. Amanda put her hand on Anna's as did Joe as they sat on either side of her.
"No one wants anything to happen to her Anna, we understand your concern." Duncan assured her.
"It's only that no one knew I was… if she were to… now… I don't know what I'd do. What kind of life would that be?" She cried.
"It wouldn't be any kind of life at all Anna but all of us will do what we can to make sure that never happens. Try not to think about it." Duncan said.
"But how do I protect her without suffocating her?" Anna wanted to know.
"Anna you're the first of us to ever face this problem. All you can do is try your best and trust your heart." Amanda told her.
"Uncle Joe, would you…?" Anna asked unsure of how to ask what was in her heart. "You did a wonderful job raising me. Can you…?" She asked softly.
"I'd be happy to help, Anna." Joe replied with tears in his own eyes. Anna smiled and jumped up to give him a hug. Her heart was so full of love at the moment she almost didn't notice when a different song, one that had been playing softly in the back of her mind all day, suddenly grew louder. Anna bit her lip and looked towards the door gripping Joe's sleeve in excitement. After a delayed reaction Duncan and Amanda sensed the presence of the same immortal, though probably not in the same way. "Do you know who it is, Anna?" Joe asked.
"Only one man can make my heart sing like that." She answered.
"You can tell its Methos?" Duncan asked in amazement.
"Just like I knew it was you and Amanda, yes." She told them unable to contain her excitement any longer. Methos burst in the door and Anna didn't give him a chance to even set his bags down before throwing herself into his arms and kissing him passionately. He answered her back until they were both breathless.
"Do you greet all immortals like this?" Methos asked holding her tightly after dropping his luggage.
"Only the ones I'm married to." She teased.
"Just how many are you married to?" He asked feigning jealousy
"Including you?" She wondered. He frowned and kissed her passionately again. "One and only one, my love." She grinned.
"Oh please get a room!" Amanda called out grinning at them when they looked at her. He let her go and they joined the others at the table. Methos looked down at his daughter who he hadn't seen in months and shook his head.
"She's grown!" He exclaimed sitting down in the chair Anna had recently vacated. Anna went to fetch him a beer out of the fridge behind the bar before returning to the table. "You read my mind, Anna." He looked up at her when she handed it to him.
"Probably," She grinned at him and sat in the chair that Amanda vacated to let her sit close to her husband. Amanda pulled another chair up to the table to sit close to Duncan.
"Anna seems to have discovered a new talent while you were away, Methos." Duncan brought up. Methos raised an eyebrow at her as he took a drink from his beer.
"She plans the piano when an immortal is present." Amanda offered. Anna shook her head.
"Ever since the Tholos I've been hearing music in my head instead of having those annoying headaches I usually get. I have to say it's a lot more pleasant." She clarified.
"The same song?" Methos asked.
"A different one for each of us it seems." Amanda replied.
"I didn't realize it before but I matched each of you to the symbols on the floor to the song each of you create in my head." Anna explained to the best of her ability.
"But how? That would mean…" Amanda began.
"I wasn't the only one born with a destiny." Anna finished steeling a glance at her daughter who was still dreaming peacefully. At least she wasn't plagued by the nightmares of Anna's youth and she prayed Maisie never would be.