Amanda turned around and smiled. "I wasn't expecting everyone," she said getting up from the table. "I understand congratulations are in order," she said, to everyone's surprise, directly to Tessa. "You're the first; he must love you very much." Her words were genuine; there was no trace of any emotion other than pride and excitement.

Tessa smiled back, all resentment of the immortal woman's presence gone. "Thank you." They hugged sweetly, while Duncan frowned in confusion. At least they weren't fighting.

"Let's sit," Connor suggested as the host waited patiently.

Richie nodded and slid quickly into the seat next to where Amanda had been sitting. Connor sat on her other side, while Duncan and Tessa took up the last two seats. They placed their orders and made small talk until the hors d'ouvers arrived.

"Don't you want some?" Amanda asked Richie, as she served herself from the plate of escargot.

"No, I don't eat worms," he answered, tearing off a hunk of bread.

Amanda laughed. "They're not worms, they're snails."

"Snails, slugs, worms, they're all the same. I don't eat invertebrates."

"Have you even had one?" she asked, taking the meat out of the shell and moving to feed it to Richie. "They're quite good."

"Amanda," Duncan warned.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"Don't give him any ideas; he gets enough of them on his own."

Richie blushed and looked down at his plate, after casting Duncan an embarrassed glance.

"Duncan, honestly, I was just teasing him. There's no harm in that," Amanda defended.

"Yeah, Mac," Richie found his voice. "Knock it off, would ya?"

"Aren't we brave with someone by our side?" Connor teased him softly.

"I get smacked down if I try to do it myself," he defended.

"That's just how you have to deal with a bully. If you stand up, they back down," Amanda agreed.

"Are you calling me a bully?" Duncan asked with a chuckle. He should have known better than to let Richie cohort with Connor and Amanda at the same time.

"Maybe sometimes…" Tessa hedged.

"Oh, not you, too," Duncan groaned.

"You can't always be the one in charge, lad," Connor told him.

"Yeah, Mac," Richie chimed in.

"Who signs your paychecks again?" Duncan retorted. Richie quieted down.

"See, Duncan, a bully," Tessa pointed out.

"That was just blatant, MacLeod, honestly," Amanda laughed.

Connor smiled. "They're right, you know."

"I move for a change of subject," Duncan said. "And stop ganging up on me."

Duncan was saved by the arrival of dinner. Richie, however, was not. He was doomed by his choice of seating arrangements. Amanda kept brushing her foot up against his leg and making him blush and loose track of what he was doing.

"Richie… Rich..." Duncan tried for Richie's attention. "You alright?"

"Huh?" Richie looked up.

"You've been staring at the bread basket for quite a while."

"Oh… I, uh," he cleared his throat as the stocking-covered foot toyed with the cuff of his pants. "I'm fine."

"You look flushed," Tessa commented.

The foot found its way under his pant leg. "I'm just a little tired," he assured her in a tight voice. "You know, traveling, moving… keeping up," his voice squeaked. He cleared his throat again. "Keeping up with, uh… with Connor." He reached for his glass and snorted water out his nose when Amanda's hand found a place to sit on his thigh.

"Richie!" Tessa gasped and everyone moved to hand him their napkins as he dabbed at the water on his shirt.

His face was bright pink and turned even redder when Duncan suggested he go to the bathroom to clean up.

"I'm okay," he insisted.

"You're a mess."

"It's just water," he said, his face taking on a red shade.

"You can use the hand blower…"

Amanda giggled and Richie groaned. "Mac, please, stop."

"Rich, just go dry off real quick before your food gets cold."

"I… can't," he answered through clenched teeth.

"What is the matter with you?" Duncan whispered.

Richie glanced briefly at Amanda, and Tessa jumped in before he could answer. "It's not his fault," she whispered quietly in Duncan's ear. "At his age, he can't control it."

"Just sitting next to her?" he whispered back.

"I'm sure he had some help..."

Duncan's eyes widened. "Amanda!" he hissed sharply, trying not to attract too much attention. "I thought I told you to leave him alone."

"Well… now that everybody knows," Richie griped looking down at his plate.

"Don't worry, lad" Connor told him. "He's just jealous."

Richie moaned in embarrassment and concentrated on his food.

"The kilts will be arriving any day now," Connor changed the subject. "Connal phoned today saying he sent them."

"Kilts?" Amanda repeated. "You are a lucky woman," she told Tessa. "He won't do that for just anyone these days."

"I plan on getting him to do a lot more for me, too," Tessa smiled back.

"And what will the blushing bride be wearing?" she asked.

"I can't tell you," Tessa answered with a grin. "Not while he's here." She put her hand on Duncan's arm. "I'll tell you later."

"You two are not getting together later," Duncan interrupted.

"I think Mac's in trouble," Richie sing-songed happily into his potato.

"We have to, MacLeod," Amanda insisted. "I have a present for the bride that I'd like to give to her before the ceremony."

"Amanda, you didn't have to get me anything," Tessa told her.

"We can talk about it later," she assured her.

"So, have you two figured out who the best man is?" Duncan asked as the three men settled in Connor and Richie's suite.

"I still think Connor should do it," Richie said.

"He gave you the job," Connor answered.

"I'm sure Mac wants you to do it."

"He gave you the job."

Richie sighed and leaned back into the couch. "I don't see why you guys are fighting me on this."

"Did it ever occur to you that I might want you to be the best man?" Duncan asked.

"Did it ever occur to you, you're too much of a boy scout to be a decent liar?"

Connor laughed. "He's got you there."

"Mac, why don't you just decide," Richie whined. "I'll do it if you want me to, but if you want Connor, I get it."

"I suppose it's a bit of a piece offering," Amanda admitted holding the velvet box. "I just know how uneasy you were with me around last year and I just wanted you to know that I am a lady and I know when to bow out gracefully."

"You're making me feel bad," Tessa blushed.

"Don't. I want you to know that I've never seen Duncan so in love in all the time I've known him. You're very special to him."

"Thank you."

"So, I brought you this. I've had it for quite some time and never had to occasion to wear it. I think it will match perfectly."

Tessa took the offered box and opened it. Inside, on cream satin, was a silver necklace with three large tear drop sapphires hanging at even intervals, each trimmed in diamonds and matching sapphire earrings. "Oh, Amanda," Tessa gasped. "Oh, I couldn't!"

"Please?"

"This must be so expensive…" She tried to hand the box back.

"Please, Tessa, I want you to have it," Amanda insisted, pushing the box towards her. "It can be your something blue."

"Amanda, it's so beautiful."

"So you'll take it?"

"If you're sure…"

"I am, believe me. When I heard about the wedding, I just knew this would be perfect for you."

"I take back anything I ever said about you," Tessa laughed taking the weighty necklace off its cushioning.

Amanda smiled. "And despite anything MacLeod may tell you, this is in no way ill gotten. Every step this necklace took to get where it is today was perfectly on the up and up."

Tessa laughed. "I believe you. This will go perfectly with the gown. I didn't have any jewelry to wear yet."

"Well, now you do. Oh, and it can be your something old, too. I had it for quite awhile."

"Now all I need is something borrowed."

"What about new?"

"My gown, of course."

"Well, I suppose if you get in a clinch, you could always give the earrings back after the ceremony…" Amanda hinted with a grin.

"Not a chance. A gift is a gift," Tessa replied with authority and a bright smile.

"Just if you need to."

"I won't."