AN: I don't own any of the characters except Chloe Anne Noel and Vincent Ashford. Thanks go to Southernchickie for helping
Come up with the storyline. I hope that everyone is excited to read this as I am to write it. Without farther ado I give you: Beginnings
Tessa Noel looked around her as people passed her and went about there everyday. The day had started out like any other Saturday. She'd woken up in her parent's house where she had been living for her entire life except for when she'd met her husband Vincent Ashford at the Sorbonne during her studies there. She'd fallen in love with him and they'd dated for about five years before they had married. Then about three years ago Vincent was killed in a car accident on the way home from the office. He left her and their beautiful one year old daughter, Chloe Anne Noel-Ashford, without a father or Tessa with out a husband.
Now suddenly that same feeling of helplessness and fear crept over Tessa as she franticly scanned the market for Chloe. She'd been looking at some vegetables and Chloe had been standing there right next to her. When she'd looked again Chloe was gone from her side and Tessa was now frantically calling her daughter's name hoping to find her. The last year alone had been enough to nearly kill Tessa. The thought of losing her daughter and never seeing her again scared Tessa to death. She must be there somewhere.
"Chloe, Chloe Anne! Where are you?" called Tessa in French as she went up and down every aisle.
Meanwhile Duncan MacLeod happened to be in the same market shopping him self for something to make for dinner. He was walking around when he suddenly ran into something or rather someone. He looked down and saw a small girl staring at him.
"Hello there, are you lost?" said Duncan stooping down to the girl's level
"Mama?" said the little girl softly
"I bet your mother is very scared right now. Why don't we go look for her?" said Duncan taking her hand
Duncan walked around the market asking about every young looking woman about the small girl and turning up empty handed. Then right when he thought that he'd never find the mother he saw her, the only women with the look of terror in her eyes calling her child's name. Duncan picked the little girl up and walked over to the lady. When Tessa saw Chloe she immediately grabbed her and held her crying.
"Sir thank you so much for finding my baby." said Tessa finally looking up into the strangers brown eyes.
"You welcome she's a very beautiful girl." said Duncan who couldn't help but stand there staring at Tessa
"How can I ever repay you?"
"Well, how about you let me walk you home?" said Duncan taking her bags along with his
"Thank you." said Tessa carrying Chloe.
"I'm Duncan MacLeod."
"I'm Tessa Noel and this is Chloe'" said Tessa
"Nice to meet you, Chloe and Tessa." he said walking along side her
When they reached the front door of Tessa's parents house Duncan helped carry the bags inside. Tessa thanked him, but before he left he asked her if she'd care to ever have lunch with him. Tessa hadn't dated in almost a year and wasn't too sure what to say. Duncan, though, proposed that she bring Chloe along if she wanted. Tessa finally agreed to lunch, a little hesitant of just meeting this man, but feeling a sense of warm and honesty about him.
"Well then I will pick you two ladies up tomorrow around 11?" said Duncan smiling at Tessa
"Yes, 11 is fine. Thanks again for finding my daughter," said Tessa trying to hide the fact she saw something in him
The next day at 11 sharp Duncan MacLeod rang the doorbell at the Noel home and was greeted by her parents. They were very grateful for him finding their granddaughter. Tessa's mother told her daughter before she left with Duncan that she thought that she saw something in him.. Tessa just dismissed it as her mother seemed to say that about every man. Tessa wasn't about to give her mother the satisfaction of knowing that she was right.
"Wow you look great," said Duncan to Tessa even though she simply had on some jeans and sweater
"Thanks," said Tessa letting him help her with her coat
"Isn't Chloe coming?" said Duncan
"I thought that I'd let her grandparents spoil her," said Tessa giving Chloe and kiss
"I promise to have her back soon." said Duncan to Chloe who just looked at him with a grin on her face.
Duncan took Tessa to his favorite restaurant. Tessa couldn't believe how easy Duncan was to open up to. She found her-self talking about everything. Duncan was very understanding and it seemed to Tessa that he could read her mind. At the end of the meal Duncan took Tessa for a walk to talk some more.
"What exactly is it that you do?" asked Tessa
"Well I dabble in things mostly the antique business."
"Interesting, and do you also go around finding lost children to return them to their mothers for dinner?"
"No actually you are the only person that I've done that for. You are very lucky to have Chloe in you life."
"Have you ever been married?"
"Close, along time ago."
"Any children?"
"No, so your husband must be a very understanding man to let you go to lunch with a stranger?"
"Actually my husband died about two years ago."
"I'm sorry."
"He was on his way home from work and some crazy driver hit him. He died instantly."
"I'm sorry. I must say, though, that you are doing an incredible job raising Chloe."
"Thanks, my parents have been a great help when I'm working late. They adore her so much."
"I can see why. She looks like her mother," said Duncan making Tessa blush
They walked along and soon found themselves back at Tessa's front door. Tessa thanked him and right before she went in he leaned over and kissed her. Tessa was a little taken back, but didn't say anything.
"I had a great time maybe next time; Chloe will be able to join us?" said Duncan
"Yes I'll have to ask her," said Tessa smiling
"Well, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Soon, Tessa found herself spending a lot of time with Duncan. Duncan took to Chloe right away and Tessa never thought that she'd be able to be this happy again. Of course, her parents warned her to be careful and to make sure that she thought of what was best for Chloe. Tessa though by the third year was convinced that Duncan was the one for her. They continued to date each other for few more years and pretty soon Duncan had proposed. Chloe was the flower girl in the wedding and Tessa's family was all there and Connor had come to congratulate Duncan and to meet his niece. Duncan told Tessa of his immortality and at first it frightened Tessa, but she knew that she loved him and that he was right for Chloe. They agreed to not tell Chloe until she was much older and Duncan made sure to be careful to hide his swords from her.
When Chloe was 6 they moved from Paris to the states to start their lives as a family. Duncan knew that the gathering was at hand and he'd have to be careful, but figured he'd be able to give Chloe a better childhood and he would be able to adopt Chloe. They moved to Seacouver, Washington where they opened a shop to sell Antiques while Tessa could do her art and Chloe would be able to go to school. Duncan loved every minute he spent with Chloe. Tessa saw the look he had on his face every time he looked at her and it made her so happy to know that Chloe had Duncan to look up to. The first time that Chloe called him dad was one of the greatest moments in all 400 years of his life.
They managed to settle in well and Chloe was great in school. They found that she took after Tessa and her artistic talents. The refrigerator was covered in drawings that Chloe brought home. Duncan worried, though, what he would teach her and what she'd pick up from him. His worst fear was that she'd be interested in swords. Though Tessa and Duncan had told her how dangerous they were and that she was never to touch them, Duncan couldn't help but think that Chloe looked up to him that way. He made sure to never have his out with her around. He once, though, found her with an open case in the shop even though she was told never to be in there alone. Duncan thought he'd just about died at the sight of Chloe reaching her small hands for the sharp sword.
"Chloe Anne no you know better then to be in here without me or Mom." said Duncan grabbing her and giving her a swat on the bottom.
"I just want to hold it," said Chloe whining.
"Chloe Anne, how many times have I told you those aren't toys? You could get hurt," said Duncan firmly.
"Daddy, I'm sorry," said Chloe with tears welding up in he eyes. It broke Duncan's hear to have to yell at her, but he had to make sure that she understood that this was serious.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry I yelled, but you cannot touch them," said Duncan holding her.
"I love you Daddy," said Chloe sweetly.
"I love you, too princess. Come on let's find something that isn't so dangerous," said Duncan picking her up.
When Chloe was sick it was Duncan who was by her side until she got better. He made her soup and he made sure that she was comfortable. Tessa smiled at the sight of him with her. She didn't know what she'd do without him. Over the years Duncan, Tessa, and Chloe grew as a family. They had their routine so that one of them was there for her after school. They made sure that she knew she could talk to them about anything.
Chloe did everything she was told for the most part. She had friends spend the night and went to parties. Tessa often had to go on trips for her work leaving Duncan alone with her, but that only made the father daughter bond stronger and as the saying goes, "The mice will play when the cat is away." Duncan and Chloe took full advantage of that opportunity. They stayed up late except the nights when she had school, and they had so much fun. Not to say that Duncan forgot completely that he was the adult. He made sure that she followed the rules. He'd gotten so good that he knew when she wanted something and when she was plotting something. When he said no he meant it and she knew that he did.
"Hey princess what's going on?" said Duncan from his chair behind his desk one afternoon while Tessa was at a conference in New York
Chloe plopped down in a chair not saying anything. Duncan was confused by her sudden change from after school to now. He figured that she wanted something, but he couldn't tell. She'd been having trouble sleeping lately right before Tessa had left, but if he told Tessa she'd have insisted in staying home. He figured that he could handle a couple of bad dreams.
"Nothing just bored," said Chloe playing with a piece of her hair
"You want to watch a movie tonight?"
"No." said Chloe
"Are you alright? Are you feeling sick?"
"I don't know." she yawned
"Why don't you go lay down for awhile before dinner," said Duncan walking over to her and feeling her forehead. No fever, but with Chloe it usually started out that way.
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"When can we go to the cabin?"
Duncan knew that he'd promised her to take her there soon, but lately there was just too much to do with the store. He wanted to take her there badly since they'd never been up there. He knew that Tessa would want to go, but he also thought that just the two of them at the cabin would be nice. He wanted to take a break from the city life just as much as Chloe wanted to and he knew that she wanted a day away from school. Tessa wouldn't be back for another week, so maybe, he could write her a note and take her there for the weekend?
"Oh, how about, this coming weekend?" he said
"Really?" she said almost jumping in his arms
"Yeah, I will call school on Friday and I can get you out and well drive up there," said Duncan.
"Yeah, no school."
"Well, you have to make sure that you bring your homework so you can have it done when you get back."
"Can we have pizza for dinner?"
"Pizza, again, Chloe that's almost three nights in a row. I think I should make something nice for us just because mom is gone doesn't mean we have to eat like we can't cook," said Duncan looking at her as she hung upside down over the chair. He reached down to where her belly hung out of her shirt and tickled her. Chloe feel to the floor laughing.
"Can we have burgers?" said Chloe
"Yeah I can do burgers." he said continuing to tickle her til she was out of breathe
