Chapter Sixteen
Paris:

At the Hotel Royale, Duncan waited nervously in the bar for Kate and Alistair to arrive. He glanced about the room, wondering if a Watcher was present, but saw no one he recognized. It couldn't be helped if someone was here, one of their Watcher's… but he'd make certain that they said nothing in the bar that would end up in a chronicle somewhere. It simply was neither the time nor the place for sensitive information like this to get out. He stood politely as Kate entered with Alistair just behind her.

Coming to a halt in front of Duncan she smiled bitterly. "Well?"

Duncan shook his head with a chuckle. "Nice to see you again too Kate." He gestured toward the chairs.

Kate leaned forward. "What's necessary?"

"Not here," Duncan warned quietly and then smiled at the waiter and gestured for Kate and her companion to order. They made small talk until the drinks were brought and then Kate stared at him with widened eyes. "It's possible," he said quietly.

"I know that," she snapped. "Tell me how. What do I have to do?"

Duncan glanced around covertly. "We really can't discuss specifics here." Again he wondered how she knew… what made her so certain. He'd definitely have to get to the bottom of that as well. Perhaps after she had what she wanted.

Alistair laughed. "Then where shall we discuss them… in a dark alley somewhere?"

"No," Duncan replied with a head-shake, "But we do need privacy. Perhaps a walk in the Luxembourg Gardens later. Someplace public… but where there's less of a chance of being overheard."

"Oh that's convenient," Kate said sitting back and downing her drink. "Haven't you dueled there on any number of occasions? I'll bet you have someone to keep me busy while you two have it out."

"Not for… " Duncan glanced around, "… years." He arched his eyebrows. "You pick a place, then. It was just a suggestion."

Alistair laughed. "You act like someone is following you… or will kill you for telling her anything."

"It's not me I'm worried about," Duncan said darkly.

Alistair sipped his cocktail as he met Duncan's glare with a smirk of superiority. "Oh very well. Let's finish up and leave. We can decide where to go once we've left the hotel."

Duncan nodded his agreement. Kate's eyes shone brightly. She smiled. He so seldom had seen her smile since the early days. She mouthed her silent thanks. Duncan finished his drink with a curt nod. He was doing this for her… and if it was Alistair she wanted… she could have him. He just hoped she knew what she was doing.

Shortly later they were strolling around the base of the Eiffel Tower. Duncan smiled to himself as he recalled a certain tango on the higher levels. Again he looked about carefully as they rose in the cage to see the view of Paris from the top.

"What are you thinking of?" Kate asked quizzically. "You're smiling warmly."

"Just a tango," he said.

She snorted. "You and dancing."

"As I recall… you liked to dance once. You even said I was the best dance partner you'd ever had."

"I was young and naive," Kate replied. "I was in love."

Duncan smiled slightly with a soft chuckle. "So was I," he said ruefully. "So was I." But it was the tango he was thinking of… and the sudden realization at the end of it that he cared more about Amanda that he'd ever wanted to admit… especially to himself.

The cage door opened and they stepped out onto the crowded platform. Duncan led them to one wall and kept an eye on the others who'd come up with them… two families with young children and a couple obviously in love. Quietly he spoke his piece. "There's a way… a dangerous way. It drains the immortality from the parents and requires an enormous sacrifice on their part. It can easily kill the mother."

"But it can be done… and safely?" queried Kate.

Alistair shifted. "How much and for how long?"

Duncan waved a hand slightly. "I'm not certain. After the child is born the mother is usually safe, but the father's responsibilities increase." He paused. "As do the other's." He remained silent while his words took effect and sank in.

"Others? As in more than the parents?" breathed Kate.

"Other… as in a third party," he replied flatly.

Kate stared at him without comprehension. Then slowly the meaning of his words began to dawn on her. "Oh…" she mouthed and looked around, "… as in ménage e trois?"

Alistair grabbed Duncan's arm. "If you think there is any way I'm gonna allow you to touch her…" he began sharply.

Duncan shook his head. "Not exactly," he said to Kate. He stared into Alistair's face. "It's not like that. But…" he hesitated and then went on when Kate touched his arm pleadingly. "It does mean that the three of us would need to be… involved in raising this child. Unless you understand and commit to that… this conversation is at an end." They already knew too much… but without the full explanation that he was withholding… if they decided against this… he'd leave and there'd be no harm done.

Kate shook her head as she mumbled. "Three of us… that makes sense. The doctors say I have everything. They say they can find no reason why I can't bear a child." She looked at Duncan pleadingly. "Anything… I'll do whatever it takes."

Alistair shifted uncomfortably, until she turned to him. "It'll be fine. We can do this." Curtly he nodded.

Duncan let out a long breath. "I haven't done this… you understand… only been told about it. I offer no guarantees that it will work."

"How does Amanda fit into this equation," Kate inquired.

"She doesn't."

Kate stared at him and then nodded. Evidently she understood on some level that Amanda was gone… that she'd left so that Duncan would be free to help them.

"So what do we do now?" Kate's voice was rising slightly and Duncan noted a face getting off the elevator that he'd seen at the hotel.

"Later. We need to leave… now. Not another word!" He took Kate's arm brusquely and led her aboard the elevator. He whistled slightly as the cage door slammed just before the familiar face could get back on, and the three of them descended to the ground.

"Where now?" Alistair replied.

"Holy Ground," Duncan said quietly.

"Why Holy Ground?" the English immortal said.

"For safety and to ask the blessings of the gods on the union," Duncan replied with exasperation. He didn't know if Holy Ground was essential… but two of the three children born to Eleanor had been conceived on Holy Ground… so it couldn't hurt.

"Safety?" Kate asked as he ushered her to the curb and flagged a cab. He motioned the two of them in. "Call me when you decide. I'll find a place."

"He's afraid I'd kill him if he hurt you," Alistair said with a smirk.

As the cab drove off, Duncan nodded. "You're not wrong in that," he said softly, recalling that Methos had told him how he'd threatened Derrick as if the boy would stand in his way or interfere once Eleanor was fertile. "I wanted to kill him," the ancient had said. "If he hadn't left… if he hadn't been so frightened by what had happened… I might have. Then I might have lost her as well," he added sadly. "And I wouldn't have made the connection between Darius and Alisaunne… and us."

Another time, Phillip had mentioned feelings of jealousy even on Niebos when he'd helped them conceive Marianna. "Understand… Highlander. I didn't want her… and yet I did. Holy Ground is the best place for this. I was able to walk away… and they were safe until it no longer mattered."

The cab vanished into traffic. Duncan flagged another vehicle to return to Joe's. He needed to do some research to find the perfect place for this… or one of them would likely end up dead. But it might not get that far. He could sense a real reluctance on Alistair's part. On the hand he chuckled, Kate could be very persuasive.

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Chateau de Valicourt:

The manor house rose before her like a square block. Amanda had never thought of it as an especially charming house… but it was huge. She alit gracefully from the taxi and stood waiting while the driver removed her bag from the trunk of the cab and set it on the ground beside her. She murmured her thanks as she tipped him a little extra on top of the fare and smiled coyly into his beaming face. He tipped his hat and left whistling. Amanda sighed. It took so little to make some men happy. All a pretty girl had to do was smile at them.

Glancing up at the open door she beamed as Robert de Valicourt emerged… his arms spread wide and his face filled with welcome. "Amanda! I wondered who'd pulled up. Gina will be so happy to see you." He gave her a warm hug and then suddenly pulled back… his eyes wide as if startled.

"Is something wrong Robert?" Amanda asked.

"No… nothing," he shrugged as he ran one hand through his dark hair. He leaned to pick up her bag. "Where's Duncan?"

"Involved in a little project. I thought I'd drop by for a visit. I was in Paris and thought I'd travel north to visit a day or so if that's all right."

"You are always welcome," he said with a smile and lifted her hand to his lips. Again he got a wild look in his eye and dropped her hand.

Amanda watched him curiously as he showed her inside. But once inside she saw Gina descending the wide staircase. "Amanda!" the Italian beauty cried and grabbed her shoulders to kiss each cheek. "Robert and I are happy to see you. So what is this project of Duncan's?" She took Amanda's arm and propelled her into the parlor.

"Oh? Did Duncan call you? Well he must have if you know. It was just something he wanted to look into and I was bored. I thought I'd stop by before heading home to Florence. It's no trouble is it?"

"Trouble? You are never trouble." Gina eyed Robert still in the foyer. "Robert is sometimes trouble."

"Oh?" Amanda glanced between them. "If this is a bad time… I can go on."

"Nonsense! You must stay for the weekend. Maybe Duncan will finish early and drop by."

"Maybe," Amanda said. Maybe he'd reconsidered and had figured out where she was going. Obviously Gina had spoken with him, even if Robert hadn't. Glancing once more into the foyer, she watched Robert carry her bag up the stairs.

"Don't mind Robert. He's been a little naughty lately. He has rather lusty thoughts about our Watcher sometimes so I'm giving him a cold shoulder these days."

"Robert? And a Watcher?" Amanda settled onto a settee. "Details Gina… I want details."

"Oh… it's nothing really. She's very young and he thinks she's very attractive. He wouldn't mind sticking it to her as he puts it." She poured a brandy and handed it to Amanda.

"Well… interesting that he tells you these things," Amanda replied in confusion.

"Yes… Isn't it," Gina said thoughtfully as she poured a second drink. She downed it quickly before turning to Amanda with a smile. "At any rate… your being here will help him keep it in his pants." There was an edge to her voice that Amanda wasn't too certain about. She'd thought the long-married couple had worked through most of their problems right before their three hundredth anniversary. That one had nearly ended in a divorce. But it sounded as if Gina and Robert were heading for trouble once more. Gina smiled and settled beside her. "But enough about Robert. Tell me about Duncan." There was a softness to the way she said Duncan that put Amanda on edge… as if Gina were actually contemplating an assignation with her old suitor.

"He's fine," Amanda said as she sipped her brandy. "He's just busy. You know… busy… busy… busy. I just thought he could use some time to himself for this little project."

Gina rested her chin on one hand. "What project?"

"Oh… nothing… just something to do with…" she paused thinking wildly as to what she could say. "… That computer game. Right… the game. He had a new idea about it and wanted time to work on it."

"That's wonderful," Gina said. "I wonder if he could use a fresh pair of eyes looking over the data. I used to so enjoy puzzles."

Amanda sipped again. At least he hadn't mentioned his plans to Gina. Amanda felt uncomfortable talking to another immortal about letting her man go off to help another couple conceive a child… especially as it was his ex-wife he was helping. And besides, Gina was an old girlfriend. It might give her ideas too. "I think he wanted some alone time… you know… to walk the battlefield again," she deferred.

"Well… he does too much. I know he feels responsible for all of us and eager to find a way to end the game without all of us dying… but he takes too much on."

Amanda nodded with another sip. "I think so too," she said as she thought about what he was taking on now. If Methos hadn't been off seeking Derrick, Amanda would have called him to intervene in this. But it was likely too late now. She'd say nothing and let the events play out, as they must. Perhaps Kate would change her mind. Amanda didn't know Alistair Craille well, but she did know he was ne'er-do-well English fop who had always looked for the easy way out. Never much interested in the game, he'd been more interested in an easy life… and marrying for money. He was also a bit of a gambler.

Amanda recalled beating him rather badly in a poker game in Boston in 1885. He'd gambled more than he could afford and she'd taken it all. He hadn't been happy… but he'd been resigned. "At least," he'd told her. "You don't want my head." And she hadn't… not his head at any rate.

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Joe glanced up from reading when he saw MacLeod return to the bungalow. He subbed his chin over his beard and sighed. Something was up. Amanda had left early this morning… and Mac a few hours later. Now Mac was back alone. Joe waited a few moments before wheeling out to the bungalow to tap at the open door.

"Am I disturbing you?"

"Of course not Joe, come on in," Mac was shoving clothing into a bag.

"Going somewhere?"

Mac paused. "I may leave for a few days to visit some friends."

"Anyone I know?"

Mac seemed to stew over something and then faced Joe. "The Watcher tell you where I was and who I met?"

Joe shook his head. "I haven't heard anything. You know I don't have anyone on you directly."

Mac returned to packing. "I know that Joe… he was likely hers."

"Hers?" Joe wheeled closer. "Hey… my housekeeper mentioned that Amanda left early this morning. Did you two have a fight?"

Mac shook his head. "No… not a fight… not exactly."

"Then what?"

Mac sat on the side of the bed. "Let's just say we decided to pursue other interests for a while. We've been together almost twelve years, Joe. For us that was a record. I think we just decided to be apart for a while."

Joe shifted in his chair, clearly concerned. "Is this kinda sudden?"

Mac shook his head. "It's been building a while. It's not permanent, Joe. Methos and Eleanor both told us that this would happen… it's inevitable."

"So who is this she?" Joe said slipping into Watcher mode.

Mac shot him a sharp glance and then shook his head with a laugh. "Kate," he said.

"As in Kate MacLeod… your wife?"

"That marriage was annulled after one night Joe."

"Yeah… but you two tried a reconcilement about twenty years ago after Kell died."

"Which didn't work."

"So?"

Mac sighed. "We met at dinner last night. She was with Alistair Craille."

"Yeah… they've been a real item for the past six months."

Mac nodded as he leaned back with a gesture of explanation. "Anyway… she wanted to talk so I met with them today at their hotel… and then we took in the Eiffel Tower. That's where I spotted a Watcher and we left… suddenly."

"What'd she want," Joe pushed.

Mac shrugged. "This and that… mostly that." He laughed and hit Joe's arm. "We're fine Joe. It was just small talk."

"Musta been some small talk if Amanda took off without an argument."

Mac shrugged. "Like I said. It's been building. I guess we both thought we'd better split before tempers erupted. Tempers between immortals can get deadly, you know."

"Yeah. But you two seemed fine the other night."

Mac smiled. "Yeah… well… appearances can be deceiving. You of all people should know that."

Joe narrowed his eyes. "I know you well enough to know when you're not telling me something. Mac… level with me. I'm your friend."

Duncan slapped his hands together and pumped them up and down while he seemed to consider his next words. Finally he looked up. "It's nothing, Joe. Amanda and I are fine. This is just a diversion of our path together. Methos and Eleanor said they hit some doozies over their thousand-year history. Let's just say we need a breather. Kate and I are most definitely not getting back together."

His phonecard beeped. He looked at it for a moment and then at Joe who made no move to leave. Mac tapped the card and held it up. "Yeah?"

A woman's voice sounded. "Duncan. We've talked about it. We want to know more."

"I'll call you later." He tapped the card off and looked levelly at Joe. "It's nothing."

"Nothing? What does that bitch want to know?"

"Joe…" Mac said… the plea for understanding in his tone. Joe snorted unrepentantly. "I promised to help Kate and Alistair with a project."

"No wonder Amanda split," Joe said as he turned the chair to leave. "And I don't blame her. Trust me MacLeod… getting involved with that woman on any level is gonna get you killed." He left turned and left abruptly… hitting high speed as he wheeled along the paved path crossing the Amy's walled garden.

Duncan stared sadly after his friend. "That's what I'm afraid of," he finally said as he rose to finish packing. Or if not him… he had a feeling someone would die. Or if not die… he wondered if he'd be the same. What he would lose? But the chance of this was enticing.

Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he looked about the place and then left, climbing into the car he'd left parked in Joe's driveway earlier. He hadn't wanted to use it when meeting with Kate and Alistair earlier… but now… he needed to find a place where they could make this work.

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