Andrea and Mel just sat there for a few minutes taking everything in.  For Andrea this was the reunion of the past.  The last time she was here was the time that Tessa came with them.  They hadn't really been back since and so the place still had covers on the furniture. 

            "Richie says that your father built this place all by himself."

            "Yeah he did after he went through a rough time.  This place is special and I love coming here. So what do you want to do?  We can check out the rooms and unpack or we could go for a walk."

            "I want to check this place out first."

            Meanwhile Richie and Duncan were back in town in the loft.  They were going through possible people that would be so sick and twisted to do this to them.  They came up with about two people who they knew were not that sick.  Mostly Richie couldn't stop thinking about the two women he'd left in the mountains alone.  Richie knew that Andrea could behave herself, but he worried what kind of things that Mel would be asking Andrea.  Not that he really had anything to hide from her, but what Andrea told her. 

            "This is incredible Andrea.  I can see why this is Richie's favorite spot on earth."

            "It means a lot to all of us. We've spent a lot of Christmas's up here," said Andrea walking over to the mantle.

            "Richie says that this might be a stalker that is after you?  Are you scared?"

            "Not like it hasn't happened before," said Andrea under her breath

            "Huh?"

            "Oh I'm not worried most likely it's a person that doesn't like my work."

            "So Richie is an immortal?  How long have you known?"

            "Not long actually.  Mac was the only one that really knew.  I've lived with immortals all my life and there are moments when I wish that I was not part of it and there are moments when I can imagine my life any other way.  Richie and Mac are all I have so leaving them is not an option for me."

            "Hasn't Mac ever given you the option?"

            "Sure he has, but I don't think that he'd be able to live without me."

            "I know that this might be a little strange of me to ask, but why aren't off with some amazing guy?"

            "The amazing guy hasn't shown up yet.  The life I lead isn't exactly an easy one and telling them about Richie usually scares them off."

            "Richie told me that they don't seem to have your best interest at heart."

            "He said that?"

            "Yeah he did."

            "Well he's probably right," said Andrea with a small smile at the thought Richie saying those words.

            Meanwhile Richie was talking to Mac who was busy trying to talk to the person on the phone about the ads in the paper.  Someone had to know something and he was getting angry at the lack of help he was getting.  Nobody seem to know the name of the person and the reporter was one of there reporters.  Mac finally gave up and turned to see Richie standing there.

            "Well no help there."

            "Mac, this doesn't make sense.  Why would an immortal go to all this trouble?  I don't know why they think that this is something that would make you mad."

            "Who says they are after me?"

            "You think that this is about me?"

            "They aren't after Andrea because this doesn't do anything to hurt her.  I'd say they don't want you and Mel together."

            "That's why we told Charlie to knock it off."

            "This isn't Charlie Richie have you met Mel's parents?'

            "Not really I've met her mother.her father?!"

            "Have you talked to Mel about meeting her parents?"

            "Yeah I told her that we should get together with you, Andrea and me to talk."

            "Andrea!  He's going to kill Andrea."

            "Mac what are you talking about?  Why would he kill Andrea?"

            "To get you Richie come on we need to get up there," said Duncan grabbing his coat

            Andrea was talking to Mel over dinner when the doorbell rang.  Mel goes to answer the door, but Andrea stops her and gets her sword from the closet.  Mel tells her to put it away that it was her parents.  Andrea a little surprised opens the door and sees Melissa's parents standing there.  They enter the room and Andrea greets them thinking that nothing is wrong, but surprised to know that they found the place.

            "This is nice Andrea."

            "Thanks."

            "Melissa says that you take after your father?"

            "Depends what you mean about take after."

            "Andrea. I'm interested to hear about your business and how you got started."

            Andrea take one look one at Melissa and her parents and she wished that she was with Richie right now instead of being alone with the interrogation party.  She'd never really thought that she would be intimidated by Richie's girlfriend family, but now she was.  The very thought of them knowing what their daughter was in scared her more.  Her father looked the same in body built as Duncan, but there was an eerie feel about him.  Melissa though took very much after her mother and the way they looked at each other brought a slight pull at Andrea thinking of how Tessa and her would sit and talk for hours. 

            "Andrea is there something wrong?" said Mel's father

            "No, um sorry. is there anything I can get you?"

            "A glass of water would be nice.  So Andrea you are a fashion consultant?"

            "I am more like the fashion expert.  I design for the most part though," she said in the kitchen.

            "Your father must be very proud.  He owns the Dojo?"

            "Yes, he bought it right after Tessa died."

            "Yes I heard about that I'm so sorry. So how is it that you and Richard got acquainted?"

            "That's a complicated issue and I'm not so sure that Richie would care for me to discuss that.  I will say that he sure made a great first impression."

            "He lived with you as a foster child?" asked her father staring intently at Andrea

            Andrea had never been more frustrated at being asked questions then she was at that moment.  She just wished that they would talk about something other then Richie's past.  If Mel hadn't told them by now then they shouldn't know and what was Melissa doing sitting there letting her hang out to dry?  Yes, it was very apparent that Melissa was not on her side.   How in the world did they manage to even get here was beyond her and she wondered when they planned on leaving? 

            Richie and Mac were on their way up to the cabin hoping that Mel's parents weren't there, but knowing and feeling something was wrong.  Duncan sped his way to the dock and they got into the canoe and paddled as fast as they could.   Duncan had his sword ready to protect Andrea at any cost when they got there.  They got there and Richie went running to the front door, but Duncan stopped him and pulled him back. 

            "Mac what are you doing he is in there with them!"

            "Richie we need to make sure that he's hurting her before we go barging in there."

            "Mac, he an immortal he'll feel us."

            "Not if we wait it out. Do you have your cell phone with you?"

            "Yes."

            "Here call and talk to Andrea. See if she says anything just don't ask her directly."

            Richie called the cabin number and sure enough Andrea answered the phone, but she wasn't in danger she was angry.  She had been with Mel's parents and was about to kick them out and send them all home.  When she started in on Mel he started to yell at her and Mac grabbed the phone.  He told Andrea what the situation was.  He wanted to know if Mel's parents, her father to be exact had made any moves to her and when she said no he told her to be careful and the second that she did to get out of there that they were down by the water.  Andrea thought her father was nuts to think Mel's parents were immortals that wanted to kill her, but she knew her father was usually not wrong about these things.  She agreed and hung up.

            "Andrea I'm going to go show my mother around."

            "Alright that's fine," said Andrea knowing that she would be alone with her father. 

            "I want you to know that Melissa adores Richie to death and she's really glad that she is going to marry him."

            "Yea I'm really happy that they found each other.  Richie needs someone in his life to keep him in line." 

            Mel's father got up and started to walk around. Andrea made sure to keep an eye out for Mel and her mother to come back.  Andrea started to get a nervous feeling in her stomach that something was wrong.  She did her best not to seem to notice, but she couldn't help it.  The more time that passed the more Andrea wished that she could run out the door. 

            "I love Melissa very much and I know that you and Richie were more then friends.  I just don't think that this is going to work.  I can't have someone trying to take away something from my little girl."

            "I assure you that Richie has all the best intentions for Mel."

            "That's not quite what I meant.  See when my daughter feels threatened I take that very seriously and I will do anything I have to in order for her to feel safe."

            "I understand that sir, but Richie loves Mel and would never do anything to hurt her."

            "I know because he proposed to her, but he's not the threat.  I'm afraid that you are and being that you seem to stand in the way of my daughter I must make sure that you are taken care of." Mel's father turned around and looked at her grabbing her by the arm.  Andrea struggled to get loose and she did her best to fight off the man, but he just hit her over the head and took her out to the water by the back door and dumped her off the dock into the water.

            "Mac, check it out.  Mel and her mother just walked out the back door."

            "That means that he knows we are here.  Come on we have to get in there."

            Richie and Duncan ran to the door feeling the immortal inside.  Duncan got inside to find Mel father alone in the middle of the room. 

            "Welcome home Duncan."

            "Calvin where is my daughter?"

            "She's where she belongs MacLeod don't' worry though you'll be joining her very soon."

            "Where is she?"

            "She's right where she should be at the bottom of the food chain."

            "You."

            Richie was already on his way down to the water leaving Duncan to fight off Calvin.  Richie jumped in the cold water head first to find Andrea only to come up empty handed.  He kept diving and finally after the third time he found her and brought her up to the surface.  He got her onto shore and started to give her CPR.  While Richie was saving Andrea Duncan was taking Calvin's head and after the quickening was over he ran outside to find Andrea in Richie's arms just barely breathing.  He picked her up and put her into the canoe they needed to get her home.   About two hours later Andrea was still out and sleeping in her bed with Richie and Duncan sitting by her side. 

            "Richie I'm sorry."

            "Mac, don't worry about it.  I had a feeling that Mel wasn't really going to marry me."

            "Someday you'll get married."  

            "Yea I know," he said just as Andrea woke up coughing and screamed.  Duncan took the two strides to the side of the bed and Andrea fell into her father's arms crying. 

            "Dad!" she gasped

            "It's alright Andrea your safe."

            "Richie!"

            "I'm right here." he said walking over to her and letting her hug him.

            "How are you feeling?"

            "I hurt all over."

            "Well you were under for sometime."

            "I'm so glad to see you," said Andrea to her father

            "I'm glad to see you too."

            "What happened to Mel?"

            "She took off with her mother and took the ring with her."

            "Richie I'm sorry," said Andrea hoarsely

            "Why don't you get some rest," said Duncan letting her lay back down and walking out of the room.  Riche began to follow, but Andrea stopped him and asked him to stay. 

            "Sure I'll stay as long as you need me."

            "I love you Richie."

            "I love you, too Andrea," he said brushing the hair away from her eyes.

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    AN: One more chapter!