Saxton woke up as the sun broke through the open curtains and shone into her eyes. She quickly turned over and cuddled back up to Adam as she noticed once again the new ring that graced her ring finger. The smile came back to her face as she memories came back of the night before and of the romantic dinner with Adam.
They were just finishing up the best chocolate cake she had ever had when Adam un-expletively got up from his seat and knelt down on one knee and reached into his pocket and pulling out a little black box. He opened it up and held it up for her to see what was in it and then looked her dead in the eyes and said. "Sax, I love you beyond believe and it would be a dream come true if you would agree to be my wife."
The tears of joy started to fall making Saxton relieved that she had used waterproof mascara as she tried to find the words that she so desperately wanted to say.
Swallowing the lump in her throat she nodded and managed to squeak out a yes. Relief was clearly showed itself on Adam's face as he removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her ring finger.
"Morning" the sleepy voice of Adam broke into her thoughts and she looked up to his face and was greeted by a smile that matched hers.
"Morning. So what have you got planned today then?"
"Well I was planning an extended stay in bed then a nice breakfast at a little café I know then this afternoon we'll go find Conner."
"Sounds like a plan, at least then we can enjoy our stay without worrying about the upcoming challenge."
"Umm, and what challenge would that be?" Adam murmured against Saxton's lips as his hands made there was up and down her naked form.
It was going on 1400 when Adam pulled the car over to and pointed out where Conner MacLeod had been hiding out for the past year after taking the head of his kinsmen. Saxton nodded and without word got out of the car knowing if she was unsuccessful and lost her head today Adam would avenge her no matter the cost.
It wasn't until she reached the door that she felt the presence of another immortal and she straightened up trying to gain more courage. Moments later the door opened and Conner MacLeod stood there, Katana in hand giving Saxton a puzzled look.
"I am Conner MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."
"I know who you are and I'm here for your head." Saxton pulled her sword out of her coat and saw the shock register on his face. The sword she had been using for the past year was the same sword that Duncan MacLeod owned.
"Where did you get that Katana?"
"Now where do you think I got it."
"Duncan" the sorrow clearly showed itself in his voice and she could see the tears starting to shine in his eyes.
"Got it in one and I'm her to claim you head to get Duncan to someone that dissevers him."
"Who are you?"
"Saxton Thomson"
"Never heard of you
"Don't suppose you would have, but I've certainly heard about you. I've come for you head Conner MacLeod and in turn gain Duncan MacLeod's quickening." Saxton said not waiting for any response as she attacked Conner, who easily blocked the move and attacked himself.
The fight continued for well into fifteen minutes with both of them not able to gain much leverage against the other. Saxton was starting to doubt she would be able to finish what she had started. Because of her distraction she never noticed Conner's sword slip under her defences and stabbed her in the gut until the lightening pain cut through her.
She fell to her knees, her eyes closed in pain as she remembered something Adam had taught her for exactly these kinds of situations. Conner not expecting Saxton to fight back much now that she was wounded breathed a sigh of relief and readied himself for the final strike thinking at the same time, 'I'm getting to old for this crap' when his feet disappeared from under him and he found himself lying on his back with a sword at his throat.
"Saxton, Stop!" The normality calm and serene voice that was Hestia was now showing fear at what Saxton was about to do.
Saxton's voice shock violently with emotion, as she responded, "No, Hestia you know I have to do this. I have to know that Duncan understands."
"And you will my child, but not this was. Duncan is as you once were. You will get your chance to tell him of Richie's forgiveness and that of your own. You don't have to condemn a man for something he was not responsible for. You more then anybody should understand what happened with Conner."
"You mean to tell me you've done what you did with me, to Duncan? That Duncan's soul lives in someone else?" Saxton asked doubtfully still refusing to take the blade away from Conner's neck.
"Yes Saxton. Now please don't harm Conner. He is needed for things to change for the side of good.
"I. Hestia, I." Saxton wavered still not sure what she was going to do, then just as quickly as the sword appeared at Conner's neck it was removed and Saxton's fist connected with his nose breaking it and causing blood to run down his face. "Fine I won't kill him but I will get some kind of revenge for what he did to Duncan."
"Who the fuck, are you people!" Conner asked holding his nose in pain.
"Isn't that obvious, where friends of Duncan's" Adam said as he rounded the corner and letting Saxton and Conner feel his presence.
"And what would your name be?" Conner asked sarcastically finally letting go of his nose as it had now fully healed only leaving a blood stained face as a reminder.
"I go by the name Adam Pierson at the moment!"
"Yeah Duncan's mention you before, but you" Conner pointed at Saxton. "What was your name again, Saxton Thomson I've never heard him mention you before."
"He wouldn't have because he only met me the day before you killed him. I have known him for a while though when I was going by Richie Ryan then."
"Richie Ryan is this some kind of a joke? I met Richie Ryan and you look nothing like HIM. Emphasis on the him." Conner had finally managed to get to his feet and was facing both immortals and Hestia.
"I know I'm not him, but I do have his soul and his memories. I didn't understand what was happening to me until I met Mac. He thought I couldn't forgive him for what he did to Richie. I was just about to tell him when you came alone and took away my chance. He died thinking that Richie never forgave him when that isn't true and it's all your fault." Saxton sneered at Conner as she moved to stand near Adam.
"I'm sorry" was the only words Conner could find in response to Saxton's confession.
"Well sorry is not going to bring back Mac, nor will it help him understand that Richie forgave him and that I'm sorry for not telling him sooner." The words almost caught in her throat as the emotions of this encounter almost overwhelmed her. "Hestia, the I want the truth why did you stop me?"
"Is that what you truly wanted? To kill Duncan's teacher when he was in fact used in the same way that Duncan was used by evil and you yourself was used by evil!"
"The only person I can remember using and manipulating me was you." Saxton spat at Hestia although she knew deep down it was not true.
"I do not believe that is how you truly feel"
"Oh and now you know how I feel as well as what I should or should not do!"
"I know what you feel deep down yes. All things are connected in one form or another so it is possible for all to understand how others feel they just chose not to use that ability. I have never made you do anything you have not wanted to do. I have suggested things that you knew deep inside your heart but there was other things blocking those feelings from surfacing. Like just now with Conner, you knew deep down tat you should not kill him, that it would not bring Duncan back or make him understand that you and Richie forgave him but your guilt and anger towards Conner for what he did won out and fuelled your revenge."
"No Conner deserves to die for what he did to Duncan."
"If that is so, why did you stop when I asked you too?"
Saxton went to open her mouth for a reply but found she did not have one. Hestia was right, she did know deep down that Conner did not deserve what was going to happen to him. The guilt he must be feeling himself for what he had done was punishment enough.
"I see you are learning."
"Adam let go!" Saxton turned and started walking away only to stop when she knew Adam was not following her. "Adam?"
"Where is he?"
"Adam what are you talking about?" Saxton asked puzzled by Adam's question towards Hestia.
"I want to know where Duncan is. She said that Duncan is as you once were, which I think means there is someone out there with Duncan's soul and memories just like you. You Saxton had a hard enough time trying to deal with what Mac did to you. Can you imagine what whomever got Duncan's memories has to deal with when the time comes? Not only the fact of what he did to Richie, but also the fact that he still believes that Saxton never forgave him, then add on to that knowing what it feels like to be betrayed by one of the people he trusted with his life." Adam directed his reply to both Hestia and Saxton while Conner stood silently in the background listening to every word spoken.
"I can not tell you that. All I can say is that when his time comes to rejoin he friends he will and you all will be there to help him through what is to come."
"That's not enough. You either tell me where he is and what name he's going by at the moment or I'll do something that you will regret at a later date, I'll destroy all hope for good to win this little war you have going." Adam said flatly looking Hestia dead in her eyes.
"I do not believe that you would truly do anything that would permanently destroy all hope for good."
"Wouldn't I? You know what I've done it in the past and you know what I'm capable of doing. Do you really believe that I wouldn't do as I say?"
"The only reason you once did the things that you did was because it was your way of surviving. Deep down in your soul you didn't want to kill like that."
"Is that true? Would you like to have a deeper look into my soul?" An evil smile crossed Adam's face, which made Saxton shiver with fear.
Hestia was shocked by what she saw, how is it possible for someone with a soul so black to be one of the main fighters on the side of good?
"Fine. Duncan is now going by the name of David Richards. He is at this moment in time in an orphanage in New York. That is all I will tell you, if you truly want to find him then the rest you will have to find out by yourself."
"Now we can go Sax!" Adam was the one to turn around and head back towards the car this time.
"I'm coming" both Saxton and Adam were shocked by Conner's announcement but refused to turn and acknowledge him.
When they reached the car Adam opened the drivers door while Saxton opened the passenger side door. Conner stopped his heart almost stopping, he hoped with all his heart they would allow him to go with them.
"Why should we let you go with us?" Adam almost hissed at Conner.
"Because I need to help. I need to let him know that it wasn't me that. That killed him."
Adam looked at Saxton waiting for her decision and when she solemnly nodded her head letting him know it was ok for Conner to come along they all silently got into the car. Adam watched Conner continuously through the rear view mirror for any signs of deception but saw none. All that was left of Conner was a broken man. Reaching into his coat his pulled out a rag and tossed it into the back seat for Conner to clean up the dried blood that still covered the lower half of his face.