Reviews:

Supernatural Chick – Thanks for the review. Glad you are enjoying the story. Please let me know what you think of the next chapter.

Genna12001- Thanks for the kind words. Here's the next instalment. Hope you enjoy.

SC- OK so I lied when I said just a few more chapters. But I'm getting around to it. Almost there now.

Jamie – I love Mac/Richie stuff too – guess that's why I write it. I can't promise you real Mac just yet but I hope you like the twist.

Neoinean – I'm thinking that the battle between good and evil has not yet been truly won. So we've had some centuries where evil has had sway and some when good prevailed. But this battle should be the decider, if Richie can make the right choice.

And now on with the story.

Richie slept most of the way back, a deep peaceful sleep, without nightmares. As the rain began to beat down steadily Duncan turned on the air vents and cranked the heating up another notch. He glanced over in fond satisfaction when Richie didn't stir. He'd slept all through the previous night too. Perhaps they were beginning to put the nightmares of his treatment at Ares' hands to rest. He only roused, to scrub at his eyes and blink fuzzily around him, when the Citroen came to a full stop on the Quay.

"Feel better?" Duncan smiled at him.

"Yeah," Richie thought about it. "Much. I had a great time. Thanks Dad."

Duncan felt his heart skip a beat. This time there could be no mistake. The lad knew exactly what he was saying. He clenched his jaw together and looked away through the rain-streaked window. He wanted it. So much. But it wasn't fair on the man who'd raised him. It wasn't right. Still he couldn't look him in the eye when he said it.

"Richie. I'm not your father."

"Yeah, you are. You always have been."

"I wish I was," He turned so the lad could see the full strength of that longing in his eyes. "You make me feel complete. Who knows? Maybe I can be that person for this younger you. But you already have a Da," he shrugged awkwardly. "Somewhere."

"Mac, you're not listening to me. Look, back in the seventies, just before you came to Paris, you had a relationship with an Immortal woman named Rebecca Horne. Right?"

"Dawson tell you that?"

"Chill Big Guy. Joe's a Watcher. Not a voyeur. Actually, you were the one who told me. You even gave me her photo. But that's beside the point. The thing is Rebecca is my Mom. She raised me until I was five but then Ares killed her. Not permanently, but enough that she had to get out of dodge and so she never had the chance to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Duncan asked carefully.

Richie gave him a shy awkward smile. "It's a boy?"

Duncan gripped the steering wheel hard as he thought about the implications of what Richie had said. It wasn't possible. Immortals couldn't have children. And yet pre-immortals had to come from somewhere. And Rebecca was an integral part of this prophecy. Could it be true? He needed to speak to Rebecca. Hadn't Methos said she was in Paris, right now?

Oh.

"Is that why you went to Dawson? To find Rebecca?"

"Joe didn't tell you?" Richie blinked. "Yeah. I hadn't seen her in a real long time."

Duncan's respect for the Watcher increased another notch. He'd told Duncan what was necessary to ensure he stayed safe. But in this matter of the lad looking for his mother he'd kept his own counsel.

"Me either," Duncan gave him a sideways look. "Not for about seventeen years as a matter of fact."

"Ah. About that," Richie shifted slightly awkwardly in his seat. "I kinda invited her for dinner."

Duncan found himself watching the lad as they made their way across the Quay. That hair could be Rebecca's. The line of his jaw was much like his own. That little tilt of his head so much like ..

"Duncan!"

His head came up sharply at Tessa's voice, his jaw dropping slightly open as she ran down the gang-plank and threw herself into his arms. Automatically, he moved to embrace her, savouring the feel of her in his arms and the soft scent of her hair, even after so short an absence. But he couldn't keep his reservations out of his kiss and Tessa felt them.

"It is alright," She smiled brightly in reassurance as she stroked his face. "Connor called and said it was safe to come home. Ares is no longer a danger to us."

"That's good," Even to his own ears the words, sounded hollow. He was confident enough that Connor would incapacitate Ares, for a time at least. But he hadn't expected to have to deal with Rebecca with Tessa looking on. He tried again. "That's great sweetheart." Her frown told him that she wasn't convinced. But she let the matter drop, for now.

"Welcome home, Tess." Richie leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Duncan glanced ironically away, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Apparently, Richie didn't see foresee the slightest problem in having both his 'mothers' around the same dinner table. He wasn't so sure.

"Don't I get a kiss?" Amanda pouted from the doorway.

"Of course." Richie responded with another peck on the cheek.

"Of course." Duncan muttered under his breath with a rueful nod. It stood to reason that if Tessa had returned Amanda would be close by, so three of his lovers would be sitting down to dinner with his possible son. Could his life get any more complicated?

For a moment Amanda ignored him as he stood there, uncertain how to greet her. Her eyes widening as she took in Richie's excited expression. "You found her, didn't you?" At his eager nod she embraced him. "Oh Richard, that's wonderful! Where is she? How is she? Oh it has been so long. You did tell her didn't you about Luther? We can't lose her like that. Not again."

"What is this?" Tessa asked.

Richie's explanation was simple and did a lot to spare Tessa's feelings, Duncan thought.

"I found my foster mother from when I was real small. The one who died? Except she's Immortal and you were right she doesn't blame me for anything. She's just sad she missed out on so much of my life. I was kinda hoping that if she could only see how great you guys are, then she wouldn't feel so bad."

"I would be honoured to meet her." Tessa assured him.

"You'll like her," Duncan blinked as Amanda patted Tessa's arm conspiratorially. "Rebecca is a wonderful person. She taught me everything I know."

To his astonishment Tessa laughed. "Then I am sure meeting her will be quite the education."

"Um," He looked from one to the other. "What's going on?"

"They found out they had a lot in common," Richie was grinning broadly. "Isn't that great?"

Duncan wasn't at all sure about that. And the twin looks of expectation on their faces as Amanda stepped forward for a kiss did nothing to ease his concerns. He aimed for her cheek, but Amanda turned her head at the last moment, so that the kiss landed squarely on her lips. But at least he managed to keep his mouth closed and his tongue firmly in his cheek.

Even so, Tessa was frowning when he stepped back, crossing her arms and tapping her foot in a show of displeasure.

His heart sank.

"Really Duncan. I should think you could manage something a little better than that when greeting your wife."

His jaw dropped.

Duncan was loath to burden Tessa any further. She had been so accepting of his apparent future relationship with Amanda. It seemed selfish to impose even more upon her goodwill. And it wasn't as if he had known her at the time. They wouldn't even meet in Paris until his relationship with Rebecca was well and truly over. Everything had been entirely above board, one of the many liaisons that he had had in the centuries before they were together.

So, why did he feel like he was hiding an infidelity?

Maybe because Rebecca had it seemed managed to give him the one thing he truly longed for and for which he knew Tessa's heart ached. A child of their love, his and hers bound together in the quirk of smile, the laughing of a rosebud mouth, a nose like his father's and his mother's eyes. So, in the end he did the only thing he could. He took her up on deck and told her everything.

"Do you think it can be true?" Tessa asked when he had finished. "Could he truly be your biological son?"

He wished he could see her face. But stood as she was, cradled against his chest, both of them looking out over the water, with his arms wrapped around her to ward off the afternoon chill, he had only her voice to guide him and it was expressionless.

"The timing fits. The dates fit. He does bear a certain resemblance. Beyond that I just don't know, sweetheart. I'm not even sure if paternity tests would work for Immortals."

"But in your heart you think he is your son." Tessa surmised.

"I want him to be," Duncan hedged. But she deserved the whole truth. "And yes, if I'm honest, I do feel a kind of connection to him. At first I just thought it was because he'd been raised as a Macleod, but now? He's so like I was at that age Tess its uncanny."

"So it is only mortals with whom you cannot have children."

"I'm so sorry, my love."

"You must not be," Tessa turned to face him. Her expression determined. "You must never be sorry that you brought such a wonderful young man into this world. Not even to save my feelings. Besides, if we had had children of our own, perhaps we would not have had room for him in our hearts. How can I value that which cannot be over the joy and love I see in his eyes each time he looks at me?"

"Thank you, sweetheart." Duncan buried his face in her hair, holding her close, and wondered yet again what he had ever done to deserve such a wonderful, warm, person in his life.

"Perhaps we should go and help with dinner," Tessa suggested. "Richie wants to make crème brulee and I do not wish him to burn down the barge."

Methos returned just in time to avoid most of the dinner preparations, bearing a box of beer, which he immediately broke up and began to stow in the fridge, before popping the top off the last remaining cold one and sprawling on the couch.

"Make yourself at home." Duncan said dryly, knocking his feet off the coffee table.

"I thought I said. It was my home once," Methos said reflectively. "For a couple of days. You gave it to me."

"The barge?" Duncan raised a sceptical brow.

"I needed a home and you needed my help. It was a mutually satisfactory arrangement."

"In other words you manipulated me."

"I just wanted to see if you were really serious about what you were getting yourself into," Methos eyed him thoughtfully over the top of his beer bottle. "He told you then."

It wasn't a question. Duncan wasn't sure he liked the idea of being so easy to read. But then he supposed it wasn't everyday that an Immortal found out he could be a father. He something was bound to show.

"Is it true?"

"Yes."

The simple word almost undid him. He sank down onto the couch, as waves of emotion, shock at the news, pleasure at the thought, anger that he had not known for all this time and fear. Was he truly equal to the task? He almost laughed. He wondered if all new fathers felt this way. But at least most of them had nine months to prepare.

"Would it help," Methos asked. "If I told you that Darius was my son?"

"He is?" Duncan blinked. "Does he know?"

"Ever since he was born," Methos nodded. "I was lucky."

"I think," Duncan glanced in the direction of the galley, where Richie could be heard bantering with Tessa and Amanda as they prepared dinner. "I'm pretty lucky myself."

"Hey Mac," Richie came bounding down the stairs, a fistful of silverware in hand. "Is Connor gonna be back for dinner? I mean, I can see his stuff," He nodded at the pile of parcels that had been offloaded onto the floor. "But does anyone know where he went?"

"He had some business to take care of," Duncan managed. He wasn't worried. Connor could take care of himself and besides, not even Ares could be a threat when he was dead. "I wouldn't wait dinner."

"Right."

Richie set about setting the table, checking that the cutlery glassware and chins were all exactly just so. Stepping back to admire his handy work he was surprised by a tap on his shoulder.

"What? Did I miss something?" He asked anxiously.

"No, I did," Duncan told him gruffly, as he turned him into a hard close hug. "About 105 years of my son's life to be exact."

"Maybe I should have asked Rebecca to bring some of my baby photos." Richie joked as he returned the hug.

"Don't worry," Methos called from behind them. "I already did."

Richie was nervous, Duncan realised. Not that there was anything in his outward behaviour to suggest it. Years of schooling his behaviour meant he was sprawled on the couch, the very picture of relaxation. But his eyes were bright and anxious, darting this way and that at every little sound.

"It'll be alright," Duncan patted his leg. "There's none here but those that love you."

"I'm being dumb, huh?" Richie gave him a sheepish smile.

"Naw, just human. I'm a little nervous myself. It's been a few years since I've seen her."

"Well, at least you don't gotta worry about having gone bald or gotten wrinkles." Richie grinned.

"True." Duncan laughed.

"She's here!" Amanda announced joyfully opening the door to reveal Rebecca, wrapped against the cold in a soft, black wool coat. To her great disgust Amanda felt her expression falter as the emotion over whelmed her and she felt the tears well up in her eyes and close her throat.

"Dearest Amanda." Rebecca simply opened her arms and gathered her in, letting her sniff disconsolately against her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Amanda hiccupped. "Its just .. I'm so happy to see you."

"And I you," Rebecca gently pulled back, to wipe away Amanda's tears and kiss her gently on the forehead. "I'm sorry my love. Your path was always going to be a hard one but you were never supposed to forge it all alone."

"None of us were," Methos put in, taking Rebecca's coat from her shoulders. "Some wine my Lady?"

"There's some Merlot," Richie put in. "You like that, right?"

"Its my favourite," Rebecca assured him as she crossed the room to plant a light kiss on his cheek. "My baby boy.."

"Aw man," Richie grinned as if he was loving every minute of this. "Do parents have to be embarrassing? Is it in the manual or something?"

"There's a manual?" Duncan tousled his hair. "Why didn't anyone tell me this?"

"In case it gave you ideas." Richie laughed, as headed off towards the kitchen for the wine.

"You seem to have done well enough without it," Rebecca smiled. "Our son is a very fine young man."

"Yes, he is. Although, it wasn't exactly my doing."

"You're angry with me, of course," Rebecca sighed. "I'm sorry Duncan. You were always supposed to know about him."

Duncan's words of recrimination died in his throat at the deep loss in Rebecca's eyes. As hard as it was for him not to have known of Richie's existence or how he was suffering, how much more difficult must it have been for Rebecca to give up her son to the Prophecy knowing the pain that it would cause them both.

"You did what you thought was best." He allowed.

"It must have been very hard for you." Tessa put in softly.

"Sorry," Duncan apologised and slipped his arm around her shoulders as he drew the Frenchwoman forward to be introduced. "Rebecca, this is Tessa. Tess, this is Rebecca Horne."

"I'm so pleased to meet you. I wanted to .." Rebecca trailed to a halt as all the Immortals present felt the familiar thrum of another of their kind.

"Its probably just Connor." Richie said as he bounded down the stairs, offered Rebecca her wine with a little bow and peered out of the porthole for a closer look. And all the colour drained from his face.

"Richie?" Methos moved to stand behind him, looking in his turn through the pothole. "Oh bugger."

"Is it Ares?" Duncan asked, his anxiety rising.

"No its Darius," Methos said slowly. "And he's brought a friend."

They all watched as Darius opened the door and encouraged his companion to enter. After a moment the smaller figure followed reluctantly, his eyes darting left and right, like a cornered animal, his hands thrust defensively in his pockets, one of which was curled defensively around something thin and flat, like a flick knife. He was shorter than Duncan had expected, thinner too, all skin and bone where muscle should be, but the bright blue eyes and the shock of curls were unmistakable.

"Richie." He breathed.