Thank you FireStarter911 for making the distinction that the language I used is Drow. JRR Tolkin was a master with languages and that was just one of many he created. I didn't realize there were so many of you out there who like me.

Methos: oh who are you kidding, they're here for me.

Me: listen here, boxer boy :::prods Methos in chest with her index finger::: you wouldn't be here right now for them to drool over without me. so get over yourself and accept the fact that they are here for both of us!

Methos: ha! they only want me. In my boxers. In all my sexiness.

Me: nope thats all for me :::grins evilly:::

Ch. 3 Ulterior Motives

Methos hugged Arreyetti. His old friend had survived the fall of Atlantis and if his daughter was alive there was some small glimmer of hope that Darsus was alive too. However, last time he checked Arreyetti and her father were mortals, how was it possible that she was still alive after 3,500 years? It was also no coincidence that she had come ashore in Southport, North Carolina. For one thing, Methos didn't believe in coincidences, and it was just too convenient for him to have found her. There was something she was not saying, something important, like why she looked so damned good for someone who was over 3,500 years old and supposedly mortal? The city fell when she was seven, but Methos would have felt if she was playing the game, as they all would have. But, if by some small chance, she was, she would be frozen in time as a seven year old girl, not a tall, twenty-something with guys boxers for clothing. He was going to have to be patient if he wanted to find out why she was here. If Arreyetti wanted him to know, she would have told him already. He would have to be sneaky, cunning and persuasive, in other words, a regular Don Juan. It was a tactic he had employed many times over 5,000 years, and quite proudly he might he add, had become quite good at it too. He thought for a moment, how to carefully phrase his first question, but by the still confused look on Arreyetti's face, he could tell that he had some explaining to do.

Methos looked at Arreyetti, unsure of where to begin with his explanation, when he found his stride. He began to speak rapidly to her in her native tongue, telling her about how her father and he were old bosom buddies, and how the last time he saw her, she was only as tall as his knee. With each passing sentence, Arreyetti's expression grew more somber, as if in dark realization. 'So this is why....... Father knew'

"Ji lu'oh zhah bwael zhuanth Darsus? Uk z'klaen tlu ves al ke, ka dos ph' wun bwael afya." So how is good old Darsus? He must be very well indeed, if you are in good health.

Arreyetti just cast her gaze downward, looking at a particularly interesting stain on the car's upholstery. It was too soon to tell Methos why, why there had been a hurricane, why she was not with her father, and why, why she was running. He tried to get an answer but she just avoided his gaze. She would not tell him, not yet, he might find her sooner if she did. Methos would just have to wait if he wanted to know anything. He just threw his hands up in defeat as they headed toward Amanda's flat. The two room studio apartment had a great view of the city through three huge windows. So while Amanda rummaged through her closet for something more "appropriate" for Arreyetti to wear, the boys sat and people watched from the couch.

---------Three hours later--------

They had been running around Elizabethtown for over two hours already, driving from one place to another. And, quite frankly, both Duncan and Methos were growing a bit tired of the sit-and-wait-here routine. They had been through Cato clothing on West Broad, Farris Department Store on Ben, and were now sitting outside the dressing room of Leinwand's on East Broad. They were tired and bored to death of shopping; they didn't even know why they were there except to carry the bags. Methos had yet to see one outfit that Arreyetti had tried on and he just wanted to go home. Just as he was about to call out to her, Amanda came out with a bundle of clothes draped over her arm as she headed for the check out counter.

"Finally! Are we going home now?" Methos inquired. He was quite perturbed it had taken this long to find a suitable set of clothes for their new house guest.

"Yup. You're going home while I take Arreyetti to one last stop," Amanda said with satisfaction. She was going to blow Methos away with the remade Arreyetti, but they needed to be at home for the full effect.

"And if we go home, how will you get to your last stop, or for that matter, home?" Methos mused aloud.

"Oh, don't worry about us. My friend Amy gets off in ten minutes and she's vital to this one last stop," Amanda smirked. Amy was going to have a field day with Arreyetti's golden tresses and fair skin complexion. However, Methos did worry. He worried about the language barrier, the impact of the modern world to ancient eyes, and he worried most about leaving her alone, with Amanda. No telling what kind of trouble that girl would get into if left unsupervised. He may like the little vixen, but he wasn't so sure about leaving Arreyetti in her care. But it seemed there was no room for argument with Amanda, she would have her way or all hell would seem to break loose. Amanda handed him and Duncan all but one bag which she kept as she walked towards the employee's rec room. Arreyetti cast him a worried glance as she was lead away by the former theif. It was going to be a long while before he saw either woman again.

----------Two hours and five beers later---------

"God, women sure take a long time! You would think that after 5,000 years I'd be used to this sort of thing, waiting for them constantly. But noooooo, they always seem to take longer as the years progress." Methos complained, quite annoyed that they weren't back yet. What the hell could take two......

Both Duncan and Methos could sense Amanda coming before she even hit the landing. It all went in slow motion from there, like the cheesy cliché romance movie where two people see each other for the first time. Arreyetti walked in, shoulders hunched in slight embarrassment, and a rosy blush danced on her cheeks. 'Aphrodite be damned. She's gorgeous!' She was only wearing a simple coral colored dress that played about her knees in a jagged hem line, but it was the simplicity that drew out her true beauty. The makeup was subtle, but it brought out the stormy blue in her eyes. Amanda was welcome anytime to take her out on the town if she came home looking like that. Methos nearly fell off the sofa as he slowly stood up in awe. He tried to regain his quick wit and composer as he strolled over to the two women.

"So, what happened, did you finally max out your credit card?" he smirked at Amanda.

"No. I maxed out yours," Amanda quipped back as she took it out of her pocket and handed it over to the speechless Methos. 'Touché.' She just laughed as he scrambled for the right words. It was funny to see him struggle for once, as he just stared slack jawed at the now void card in his hands. Women, one mystery that probably will never be solved, no matter how long you live.

"This calls for a night on the town. We'll hit every bar and club until we can't see straight!" Yup. It was going to be a very long day indeed. One that would seemingly last way into the night.

(A/N): Gaaaah another short update! soo sorry! lots of work and soooo little time. school was supposed to be easy this year. sha riiiight. Senior year is the best of times, and the worst of times. But I will try as much as I can to keep updating.

Elle Knight: your right, you don't see too many fics out there having to do with Atlantis. for that reason alone i have gone out of my way to research the legend for this fic. (we'll delve deeper into that as the story progresses) also the places i describe you can find on the web. they're all real. i was going to make this a storie about an immortal trying to survive in a zombie infested world (ref: dawn of the dead) but that would go no where but straight under. (the first skit was a play of an inside joke about that plot line) and if anyone has questions feel free to ask, but don't forget to leave ur email addie so i can email u a reply.

Plz remember to review.