Standard disclaimer still applies. I'm raising this to PG, just in case. I'd like to dedicate this portion to the memory of my own grandfather who did, indeed, make me a wooden block in his workshop so I could write with twelve crayons at once.

Joe and I stared at each other for another moment. "What are you doing here?" he asked again, slightly more calmly.

"I was invited. And anyway, what are you doing here?"

Duncan cleared his throat. "I guess this means you two know each other then."

Joe turned to him, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, Mac. Last time I saw her she was in New Jersey. I'm just surprised to see her on this side of the country."

"I'm going to school here. There's no rule against it, you know." I said pointedly.

Joe rubbed his hands across his eyes. "I suppose there isn't. Still...how did you find out?"

"I didn't find out anything," I was starting to feel kind of annoyed at Joe. I mean I wasn't a Watcher. I could go wherever I wanted. "I was looking for a school, I applied to Seacouver, got the scholarship and here I am." I lowered my voice. "I didn't know Duncan was here until I found out I had him as a history professor."

"You must have guessed I was here, too. Why didn't you try to find me?"

"Because..." I took a deep breath, "because I was afraid you'd tell me I would have to drop the class or something and I didn't want to. Grand pop was the one who suggested Seacouver. I figured he wanted me to...

"I knew I shouldn't have told him..."

"Told who what?" Duncan asked, looking from Joe to me in confusion. We both jumped. I think we both forgot he was in the room.

"Told her grandfather that you were teaching here again." Joe sighed. "I guess there's no point in hiding anything. Molly's grandfather was a Watcher. Specifically, he was your Watcher."

"He knows about Watchers?" I asked at the same time Duncan said, "She knows about Immortals?" We stared at each other a moment. I answered first.

"Yes, I know about Immortals. Sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Duncan asked, still sounding rather annoyed, which just made me mad.

"And I would bring it up exactly how? You're not supposed to know about Watchers." I turned to Joe again. "Why does he know about Watchers, anyway? Did my grandfather know he knew?" Joe shook his head, and that made me suddenly very sad. My grandfather would have liked nothing better than to be able to talk to Duncan Macleod, just once, before he died. It must have shown on my face, because I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Connor Macleod smiling at me.

"Well, I guess it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without an argument before dinner," He said, sounding rather amused. "And now that's out of the way, maybe we can eat?"

I couldn't help it. I laughed. Not because it was particularly funny, but because the whole situation was so surreal, I had to either laugh or run screaming from the room. Duncan joined in; and then Joe, and that broke the tension. Connor poured drinks for everyone, (except me, being a minor and all three men being ridiculously moral) and I was able to relax. I'd made it through the drama.

Or so I thought. Before Duncan led the way into the dining room he whispered in my ear, "We will have a long talk, later."

I wasn't sure if I should be excited or worried.

Despite that, dinner was really fun. I have to admit I rather enjoyed being the only woman present, especially with two men who were raised when chivalry was all the rage. I felt a bit like Scarlet at the barbecue, to tell you the truth. Duncan especially was being very flirty with me. I don't know if it was to bug Joe, or because he really liked my dress or what but towards the end of the evening, I was beginning to feel that kind of nervous apprehension you get when you're on your first date. That kind of tingly feeling when you don't know exactly how the evening is going to end, but you know if it ends the way you want it to end, the relationship with that person is going to change. That, coupled with the fact that it was Duncan I was having these feeling for, a man I'd pretty much had a crush on since I was old enough to understand what a crush was, well, let's just say I was really sorry they wouldn't let me have some wine.

I offered to do the dishes while the menfolk enjoyed their cigars because, well, it seemed like the right thing to do. I was rather hoping they would say 'oh no, you couldn't possibly' but the downside to that chivalry thing is they also still kind of cling to that 'woman's place' thing, even if they wouldn't admit it. At any rate, it gave me time to gather my thoughts a bit, and prepare for whatever lay ahead. I was almost done filling the dishwasher when I heard my name. Despite knowing full well I shouldn't, I turned the tap on, so they'd think I was at the sink, then crept closer to the door to hear what they were saying.

"I'm just saying it just might not be a good idea to let her get too close. She'll just wind up breaking her heart over you."

I hear Duncan's throaty laugh. "You make me sound like some romance novel villain or something. You should know me better than that."

"It's not you. Molly's grandfather idolized you, Mac, and he passed that along to her."

Connor said something I couldn't catch, then Joe said, "That may be true, but she's still young, and she's spent her life hearing romantic stories about Duncan's exploits. Her expectations are way too high."

Honestly. He was making me sound so pathetic. It was horrible. I raced back to the kitchen, turned off the tap, shoved the last few dishes in the dishwasher, filled it with soap, and rushed out to the living room as fast as I could before Joe did any more damage.

Seems he was already done however. I hadn't been in the room too minutes when he stood up and said he was ready to go home. "Molly, why don't I drive you back to the dorm?"

However Duncan told him he would drive me home. I guess he wanted to have that conversation sooner, rather than later. I wasn't sure how glad I was about that. Joe started to argue but at a look from Duncan, he gave in. He did give me his business card and said "Come by soon. We really should catch up on things." I wanted to stay angry with him, but, well, he was my grandfather's friend. He came to see him when he was in the hospital, and came to the funeral, and I suppose he meant well. I told him I would, and gave him a hug goodbye.

Connor left after that, saying he had an early morning appointment. He gave me a wink before leaving, and told me "don't let Duncan intimidate you, lass." Which served to make me feel even less certain I was going to enjoy my impending confrontation with Duncan.

I stood awkwardly in the living room as Duncan saw Connor to the door. When he came back he just stood there, looking at me with this kind of raised eyebrow expression. I continued to stand there stupidly, biting my lower lip, wondering what he was going to say and feeling more than a bit like a child called to the principal's office.

"So," he said at last, "tell me about your grandfather."

I stared at him. That wasn't exactly what I expected. "He, um, He was your Watcher, obviously, although we didn't know that's what he did at the time. He came and lived with my mom and me when he retired. I thought he was the greatest guy in the world, just the perfect Grand pop. He always made me feel like I was special. He was there when I was sick or if I was having trouble in school. He would make little wood-shop things in our basement, and once he made me this little block things with holes drilled in it so I could color with twelve crayons at once. He..." I stopped. "That's probably not what you wanted to hear."

Duncan smiled, looking a little less severe. "No exactly, but it's nice to know. Sit down." He indicated the couch. "We may as well get comfortable." I did as I was told, and Duncan sat in the chair opposite me. "Tell me about the stories your Grandfather told."

"They were...well, they were stories about your life. Bedtime stories about a man who spoke for those who couldn't speak for themselves, fought for people who needed a champion, who always tried to do the right thing. That's how he always started the stories." I smiled a little at the memory. "I didn't even know you were really real until I was older." I told him about getting in trouble, and being taken to that restaurant in the city. "Grand pop just wanted me to know that, well, that you were real, and that everything he tried to teach me was really possible, that if someone like you existed, then I could, I don't know, achieve the same things, or something."

"So you came to Seacouver to find me?"

"No." I almost shouted. "I swear I wasn't stalking you or anything. It was just...fate or something. Well, not exactly fate. It was my grandfather."

Duncan nodded. "Joe told him I was here, and he told you."

"No. He didn't tell me. He died in the beginning of my senior year in high school, but that summer, he helped me pick out schools to apply to. He was so excited that I was going on to college." My voice broke, and I had to stop. I refused to cry in front of Duncan, especially now. He might think it was a sympathy ploy or something. I composed myself a bit then continued, "he did get me the information on Seacouver, and suggested I come here. I know now that was probably because he knew you were here. But I swear to you I didn't know."

Duncan sighed, running his fingers through his hair in an exhausted gesture. " Joe is worried you have too grandiose an opinion of me. He's afraid that you are in love with me, and that I'll hurt you somehow."

Oh dear. I didn't quite know how to respond to that. "You have not half the power to hurt me as I have to be hurt," I quoted, feeling rather proud I remembered that line from Othello. It pays to listen in English class sometimes.

"Nonetheless," Duncan said quietly, "I think maybe it's a good idea if you don't come around to the Dojo anymore."

I felt like he'd punched me in the stomach. I quite literally couldn't breathe for a moment. "Please don't do that. I know it's weird. I've known you my whole life, practically. You were the ideal that was held to me try to be the best person I could possibly be. But I look on meeting you as…as a gift from my Grandfather. He admired you so much, Duncan. I think he just wanted me to have the chance to learn from you, as he had. Don't…don't send me away." Despite my best efforts I felt the tears coming, and I looked down at my lap, hoping he didn't notice.

Duncan left his chair and sat next to me, gently raising my chin so I had to look into his eyes. "Molly, forget your Grandfather for a moment. What are your feelings?"

What were my feelings? He was asking me what my feelings were when his face was inches from my own, his deep brown eyes staring at me with what could only be described as tenderness? Go on, guess what my feelings were.

"I never in a million years thought I would have the chance to get to know you," I said at last, "but even if I hadn't I would feel the same way about you."

"And how do you feel?" he asked softly.

I took a shaky breath. "I don't expect you to love me, I don't expect you to give me forever, especially since you, well, can. All I want is, well, just one day, you know? Just to be with you now. In this moment, because, because…" this was really hard. "I do love you. Sorry."

Duncan's thumb was stroking my cheek gently, almost as if it were an unconscious gesture. The seconds stretched like minutes as we stared into each other's eyes, and the air around us felt charged with electricity.

And then he kissed me.