As soon as all the doors were shut and the car had pulled away from O'Malley's parking lot Jack looked over at Adam who had not yet told anybody what had happened. "So you going tell us what happened back there?"
When Adam didn't respond Jack looked over at Janet who was seated in the back with him giving her a 'have you any idea what's going on?' look. Janet shook her head and turned back towards Adam while thinking back to the last time she saw him like this. If she was truly honest with herself she didn't think she had ever seen him this angry before.
Back in his Horsemen days, Adam was always in control of his emotions and never let anything show of his feelings at the time. There was always a cool calm aura that surrounded him as he went about his days planning everything down to the smallest of details. It was that control persona that made him so feared by so many. Yet she was finding it difficult to believe that he was still in control of thinking things out like he undeniably was even though it was obviously that he consumed by anger and that made him all the more frightening.
"Adam, please tell us what's happening!" Sam tried pleading with him. The sound of her soothing voice seemed to drag him out of his thought.
"They knew about Louise being immortal all along." He managed to say that without snapping at her.
"What's the matter with that? That shouldn't affect anything, they're still her parents." Sam was confused now, she couldn't understand that the fact Louise was immortal could be a bad thing.
"Yeah, parents who apparently were sickened when they found out. Parents who just happened to come see their immortal daughter while carrying a sword with them. Hell, you saw their reaction towards Richie. The fact that he's with Louise is enough to start world war three or maybe Richie being there was just an inconvenience."
"What do you mean inconvenience?" Now Jack was confused.
"Think about it. When immortals kill one another there's a Quickening. If Edward and Patty continue with their plan with Richie there, whoever they killed last would get the quickening of the one that died first, obviously alerting them to something going on. It would be easy enough to kill a sleeping immortal but hard to kill an awake immortal without knowing how to use a sword even after a quickening." Adam tried to explain as simply as possible.
"Ok then, how did Kenver find out that they knew?" Sam asked as worry started to seep under her skin.
"Kenver's very protective of Louise and he not only kept an eye out for her but he was also looked out for people she cared about included her parents. Anyway he found out Malcolm approached them informing them about Louise's immortality they've been appalled ever since. When he saw them at the airport he had a feeling something was up. He followed them and saw them collect a sword which confirmed it for him."
"So why, if they're so appalled, have they just suddenly turned up in town to visit their daughter?" Jack was putting things together in his head and he tried to hold back the anger what he was now feeling, finally understanding why Adam had been so angry earlier.
"Exactly!" Adam was glad they were seemed to be seeing things the way he was.
"You think they would kill her just because she's immortal?" Sam was still finding it a stretch that they would rather their daughter be dead then remain alive as an immortal.
"That's Kenver's opinion and I have to say I agree in part. I can see Edward doing that without a second thought. I've heard some stories of renegade watchers and this would be something they would do. Patty though is another matter I'm not sure she's entirely comfortable with this idea, maybe she'd going along with it because Edward persuaded it was for the best some way or other. Then finding out that she's seeing Richie it would have only increased Edwards revulsion and possibly Patty finally started seeing things from Edward's point of view, I can't be sure."
"That's why you had Kenver get them home as soon as you found out?" Sam asked rhetorically.
"Yeah!" Adam answered anyway. "And that's why we're heading there now to meet up with them. I'm not leaving Louise and Richie alone until I know for sure that Edward and Patty have left the country."
The car drifted once again into silence as the members of the SGC thought about the possibility of losing people they've come to care about in only a short amount of time and Adam continued to think of plans to stop Edward and Patty.
Jack shivered, chilled to the bone at the thought of losing another child this time before he even had the changed to really get to know her. Janet looked over at Jack when she felt him shudder; understanding what he must be thinking and couldn't help the deep sorrow she felt for him. Taking his hand in hers she squeezed it reassuringly then leaned into him trying to give him as much comfort as he needed.
The car had barely pulled up in front of the cottage before Louise jumped out and was heading inside and straight to the room she had allowed her parents to stay in. She could feel the tears welling up but she pushed them away refusing to let them win.
Throwing open the bedroom door she went straight to the corner where all their luggage was piled up. Pushing a suitcase full of clothes out of the way with far more force than she realised; her eyes landed on a long thin case, which had been hidden behind the others.
With shaking hands she reached for the case and lifted it onto the bed shivering at the feel of the leather under her skin. Richie was just entering the room as she released the latches and lifted the lid off the case revealing a beautiful Celtic sword lying on a soft pillow of red silk. The handle was crafted in the design of a man, done in a bronze coloured metal that glinted slightly gold when the light caught it the right way. The blade was shining like it had been well looked after for years, she also knew that if she felt the edge she would find it razor sharp.
"They were truly going to kill me, weren't they?" Louise asked Richie without turning around to face him. She felt the warmth of a few tears starting to well in her eyes and then felt them start their slow descent down her face.
"We don't know that for sure!" Richie tried to comfort her although deep down he knew what she said was true and the thought made him shiver all the way to his soul.
"But it's very likely. I knew my Dad was a Watcher and everything, but I also knew he despised them. 'Us'. I can just imagine what he must have thought when he found out his own daughter was one. He'd want me to know that I'd never be welcome in their little family again, that's why I never told them. No matter how I disagreed with him he was still my father and I didn't want to be rejected."
"Louise, if that's how you knew he'd feel why are you so shocked about the way he's reacted?"
"I'm not shocked about the way Dad reacted. Well, I am a bit; I thought he would disown me, not try to kill me! I'm more shocked about the way Mum's reacted. I always thought she'd understand when she finally found out. That she would be the voice of reason. It never even crossed my mind that she'd feel the same way as Dad. She seemed so understanding of how immortals felt and lived. The battles they had to go through and I'm not just talking about sword fighting, I'm talking about having to up and leave there friends before been discovered that they weren't ageing, how they had to give everything up and start anew where nobody knew them. I know it's funny but that's one thing that reassured me when I became immortal. I know she was going to be there to understand what I was going through when I finally told them about my immortality. I even hoped that she would be able to persuade Dad when the truth came out but I guess I was wrong."
Richie moved further into the room and knelt down beside her and pulled her into his arms while her tears overwhelmed her and her body shook from the sobs.
Richie looked up as he felt the presence of another immortal. He heard a sound coming from the doorway and found a concerned looking Adam watching them. He nodded towards the sword that was still laying in the open sword case on the bed hoping he'd understand and give them a few minutes.
Adam nodded and left the room closing the door behind him and walked back down the corridor returning to where the others had congregated in the living room.
"How are they?" Sam asked concerned seeing the pained look in Adam's eyes.
"Louise found the sword and she's devastated. Richie looks like he's holding it together for her, but there's anger bubbling under the surface. I can see it as plain as day in his eyes."
"I'm not surprised! I just can't believe they would do this to their own daughter even if they dislike immortals. Surely they know their own daughter enough to know she's no danger to them." Sam shook her head and put a hand on her bump knowing deep down she would never be able to do any harm to the baby no matter what. She would rather die herself.
"I know, Sam." Adam said coming up to her and pulling her into a hug feeling relief flood him when the baby kicked. He was thankful that Kenver had spotted Edward and Patty at the airport and had managed to stop them before they could do any harm. "I've no idea how they could do this to her!"
Finally they took seats on the sofa's and waited in long silence before finally hearing the squeak of the bedroom door been opened. Louise and Richie came into the living room, Louise now clutching the sword in a strong grip that was making her hand turn white from the pressure she was applying.
"Louise, are you alright?" Sam said getting up from where she'd been seated next to Adam to rush over to her side.
"I'm fine, Sam. It's just…well, I've decided I can't do anything about the way they reacted so from now on I've only got one set of parents and it's not them. It's you and Jack. If you will have me?" Louise stated in a tone that said she was one hundred percent sure about that.
"There's no need to ask that Louise. Sam and I will always be here for you no matter what." Jack said as he tried to hold back the lump that was making it's way to his throat.
"Oh, Louise!" Sam moved forward taking Louise into her arms; comforting her as much as she could. She couldn't help but feel like her insides wanted to swell with pride but at the same time the sadness she felt for Louise almost tore her apart. "Don't ever worry about that. Like Jack said there will always be someone here for you, no matter what."
"Janet? Could you take Sam home with you tonight? I don't want her to be alone and I know she'll be safe with you." Adam asked as he took the sword from Louise just in case she slipped with it while hugging Sam however unlikely that was to happen.
"Yeah, sure, Adam that's no problem." Janet replied without hesitation understanding what Adam was thinking.
"Good. Here's the key to the car. I'll get Richie to give me a lift in the morning if nothing happens tonight so I can collect some stuff from home. No doubt Kenver will be staying as well."
"That's correct. I don't plan on letting Louise out of my sight until I know those two have left for home!" Kenver confirmed from where he was still seated.
"Ok then. That's all agreed."
They all said their good nights then Jack, Janet and Sam walked out to the car under the watchful eyes of Adam, Kenver, Louise and Richie.
Once the car had pulled out of the drive and was on its way down the road they all went back inside and Adam and Kenver went around the cottage checking to make sure all the doors and windows were secured.
Once they we're finished they joined Richie and Louise back into the front room. "How are you two holding up? With all you've been put though in the past few days' I'm surprised you're holding up as well as you seem to be." Adam asked.
"We're okay, really Adam. I think I've managed to work my way through most of it in my head." Richie said still holding tightly to Louise.
Adam nodded then noticed how tired both of them were starting to look. "Why don't you two go have an early night? It looks like you could use it!"
"Yeah, I think you could be right there." Louise said as she got to her feet and pulled Richie up having to almost have to drag him off to bed shouting night before the door closed behind them.
Louise lay curled up to Richie thinking about all the things they'd been through and all the things they'd been told over the past few days. Richie's voice caught her off guard when he spoke and it almost made her jump.
"Louise what do you think about what Thor suggested?"
"I'm not sure Richie." She replied grateful that he was thinking about something other then her parents. "What's your opinion?"
"Being completely honest with you, I like the idea. I remember this one time an ex girlfriend told me her kid was mine and I let myself believe for a time even after Mac told me it wasn't possible. I liked the idea of being a father. I liked the idea of having someone who'd look up to me, someone I'd be able to do the father son things with."
"I can only imagine how that felt. If I was to guess, I'd say I'd feel the same. Hell, when I found out I was immortal and couldn't have children, I was devastated. It's one thing that I've always wanted but I'm still not sure, after everything that's happened today with 'them' I have to admit that our lived are really dangerous. I don't know if I would be able to raise a kid in such a dangerous environment."
"Louise can I tell you something?"
Louise lifted her head off Richie's chest looking him in the eye; she just had a feeling that whatever he was about to say was something she'd want to look into his eyes while he said it.
"You know you can tell me anything, Richie."
"Louise, I've never felt like this before. Yeah, I've felt like I was in love before but never have the feelings been this intense. Every time I see you upset, I feel like my insides are being ripped out, when I see you happy it makes me happy as well no matter what I was feeling before. I don't know if I could be able to live without you."
"You…?" Louise couldn't finish the sentence as tears of hope and happiness started to escape her eyes.
"Yes, Louise. I love you and I've never felt this way before."
"Oh God! Richie I love you too." Louise said just before taking his mouth with hers and giving him a deep and passionate kiss.
Pulling away and looking deeply into his eyes she asked "So you really want to have a child with me?"
"God, I just want to be with you, but this. This is a chance we both thought we'd never get and yes, I want to have a child and I want you to be a part of that. I'm willing to put my life on the line for you and the kid."
Smiling back at him she once again leaned down and gave him a passionate kiss and pulled away once again. "Then I think we better go to the SGC in the morning so Hammond can contact Thor." She grinned not believing that she could ever feel this happy before.
"God, I can't believe this is actually happening!"
The mood was crushed as there was a sound of breaking glass and a crash coming from the front room making both of them jump out of bed grabbing their swords in one swift movement before rushing to see what the disturbance was.