Disclaimer: I do not own Highlander. Rated M for language and mature situations.
I want to thank my Beta reader R.J. Bingham. Please go and read R.J. Bingham's Fan-fictions, they are all well written and very enjoyable.
Chapter 16
Life is Not a Fairy Tale; Can True Love's Kiss Fix Everything?
Gwennie drove back to the Whangarel Subtropical Quarry Gardens, the place of her last challenge. It was closed but she found the same way in as she had before. It was sunset and the place took on a special beauty Gwen had not noticed last time she was here. She walked down the paths until she found a gazebo, and sat on one of the benches, and decide to meditate. Her soul was filled with conflict, perhaps if she communed with the quickening's she held inside herself Gwen could find some direction. Joe was a good man and didn't deserve, a whore, head hunter, who's only mission was to try to cleanse herself by killing as many evil immortals as she could; her soul was bathed in blood of a thousand quickening's. Blood her Goddess Ovesevea demanded in payment to cover her immorality and the abomination she had become. Still her Goddess Ovesevea demanded even more blood and Gwen realized no matter how many evil immortals she killed it would never be enough. Besides it was crazy to think she had the right to be happy. Gwen did love Joe so much it hurt just to think about him, but how any man could every love her knowing what she had been. Knowing how many lovers she took to her bed, not even caring for them just hoping they could help stop the pain and emptiness that filled her heart just for that night, but knowing as daylight came so would her emptiness return. Why did she have the desire to survive after her life in the brothel had stripped her of all dignity, nobility, and grace? Hadn't Methos just reminded Gwen she was still the same little whore he had found near the Aegean Sea. Quietly she entered the state of meditation, hoping to find some answers, or at lease to stop the pain for a few moments.
Elsewhere Joe finally reached Amy on the cell phone, when she had just left Mac's company. Joe explained the situation, and they both said they would look for Gwen. Amy finally met with the other watchers for dinner and told the other watchers that Gwen was missing telling them a white lie that she had been at Gwen's house all day. After receiving Joe's call Amy knew she had to get what information the watchers had and leave them as soon as possible. No one had seen her with Mac, which was good, his watcher was in bed all day with a bug, and the other watchers were following Connor on his sight-seeing trip. Amanda's watcher hadn't arrived yet and Luke's watcher had taken the day off for personal business. The motley crew of watchers didn't seem to have a clue what was really happening. Amy had a hunch ate a few bites of dinner with the group and made her excuses then left the watchers. Amy then drove to the Whangarel Subtropical Quarry Gardens, since this was the sight of Gwen's last Quickening, she might be there.
Amy drove up and found Gwen's car. She phoned her dad. "Joe, it's Amy, I found Gwen's car and I know where she is."
"I should have known you would, out of the entire group you have the best instincts, and so is she ok, where is she?" Joe asked with respect for his daughter abilities.
"Gwen is at the Whangarel Subtropical Quarry Gardens, I thought since this is where she took her last quickening Gwen might be here. I did go in and saw her sitting in the gazebo but then left without her knowing I was ever there. I think she is meditating, so I didn't want to disturbed her, I thought maybe you should be the first one to see her, since I think it's you she is having doubts about." Amy replied.
"I don't understand, I thought we were solid." Joe sadly responded.
"Dad I think you and Gwen are solid, but you know immortals can come with a lot of baggage from their past, and Gwen's past is a little more sordid that any other immortal that I have read up on. I wasn't at the house today but something must have shaken her up pretty badly, and I bet it was Methos." Amy said.
"Yea it was him alright, she and he got in to an argument and the last thing she said was I didn't need to marry a whore, head hunter, and ran out of the house." Joe said with deep remorse in his voice.
"Dad just come here now. You can fix this, I don't think she's going anywhere and I will make sure no one else gets to her first."
"I thought you were against this marriage Amy?"
"Hey a girls allowed to change her mind, isn't she?"
"Hey, where you been all day, last time I saw you Mac was giving you the grand tour."
"Just get yourself down here dad, we talk about that some other time, bye." Amy hung up the cell phone. Then she called Duncan, "Hey I found Gwen, and called dad to come and talk some sense into her, where are you?"
"Where are you Amy? I want you to know I had a really good time today, A lot more fun than I had in a long time, I know you're a watcher, but I still want to see you again, do you think that could be possible?" Mac said in his sweetest voice.
"I'm at the Whangarel Subtropical Quarry Gardens; I might need your help keeping the other crazy immortals away from Gwen until Joe gets here. This is not a date Duncan I just do not trust Methos or Connor or Cassandra and did you know Amanda is here too?" Amy sniggered. "Any way you can't see me, you already have two immortal lovers here who want your attention, and I am just a friend." Amy stated.
"Don't worry about Cassandra and Amanda; I am sharing a hotel room with Methos in town tonight. Amy remember that I told you I had stopped looking years ago for a mortal women to share my life with, well maybe I was wrong, maybe you're someone very special." Mac said softly.
"Special, yes Duncan maybe, but there are two problems Duncan, first I am a watcher, and second I am Joe, your best friend's daughter. I'm not denying I don't feel anything for you but this is a situation filled with landmines and we're going to have to think twice before starting something that is going to complicate both our lives. Now do you want to help me or not? I need you to help me come down here and handle immortal crowd control, but let's keep it professional between us at least around my father. OK?" Amy asked with a deep breath. Yes something was happening between Duncan and herself and she wanted to put it on hold, if she could, which Amy wasn't sure she would be able to.
"No problem Amy I will be right there as soon as I can."And Mac hung up the phone. He too felt emotions stirring in his gut that he had declared long dead. Mac had given up hope to find other mortal women who excited him as much as Amy did, and as much as he didn't want to admit it he was falling in love with Joe Dawson's Daughter, and Mac knew that wasn't the smartest thing he had ever done, but Amy was a remarkable women and who can resist true love.
Luke had the same idea as Amy and called Connor and soon they saw Amy's and Gwen's car. Luke jumped out of his car. "Amy is Gwen here?" Luke asked with great concern.
"Yes, but we are waiting for Joe, I think he the only one who should be down there, besides they are the ones who need to work things out so Luke and Connor stay up here with me. Please." Amy asked.
"I am not sure that's a good idea, I have known Gwen for 80 years, I can help." Connor said as he was getting out of his car.
"No, Duncan's coming to keep everyone but Joe from bothering her."
"Since when did a watcher start running the show?" Connor complained.
"I am running the show because I am Joe Dawson's daughter, and we are waiting for my Dad. Now cool your jets Highlander, Luke help me here?" Amy pleaded.
Just then, Duncan's rental car drove up, and he popped out. "Let's all wait for Joe, now."
Amanda, Richie, and Methos were the next to drive up, followed by Cassandra. Amy remarked. "Is this a convention, Duncan Help me out here, we have to wait for my father."
Methos spoke up saying "Amy this is not a fairy tale, love's true kiss will not break the magic spell. I admit it's really my fault I shouldn't have egged her on like that. Gwen has changed, and she seems to have dropped a lot of her armor she always carried in the past to protect herself. Gwen is more like she was when I first met her, kind sweet and vulnerable. But I still know her better than anyone else here so please let me go down there, I can talk to her, I promise this time I will not make any trouble"
Amy interrupted Methos "Yeh I know you know her better than anyone else here but you missed your chance to be with her, you threw it away like yesterday's trash, but buck up old man my father will not live forever and maybe if you are real lucky Gwen will give you another try, but not this century. It's their time to be together; right now she needs him, not you. More importantly Joe needs Gwen, I don't truly understand why they love each other but they do, so Methos get out of the Damn way, and don't cause any more problems, or I will take your head myself, and you will never feel me coming."
Methos's eye got wide as an expression of surprise fell over his face. "Well if that's how you feel about it Amy, it's not a problem for me, Joe is my friend, if he wants the little slut I will happily let him have her."
Amy slapped Methos face hard, as Duncan ran to her side, "Methos I think you had better leave." Mac fired at him angrily.
"Yea, Mac that sounds like a good idea, well group it's been nice to see you all again, and Amanda do give me a call, I have a feeling Mac will be otherwise entertained for the next 10 or 20 years, and there is so much we could talk about." Methos said looking into Amanda's eyes, then he continued his little farewell speech, "Cassandra, Connor, I will do my best to stay out of your way and Luke you know how to find me." Then he turned to Duncan and said "Mac I left Joe a wedding present at the hotel, if I don't see you there later, would you see that he get it please?"
"Sure Methos, but I will see you later." Mac answered back as he watched Methos get in to Amanda's car and speed off as if he was at the races.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish." Connor said as he watched Methos drive off.
"Connor don't be so hard on him, he loves Gwen too." Mac said.
"Funny way of showing it, by trying to destroy the women." Connor spat his words out angrily. "I have loved her for 90 years, but because of the way that bastard treated her she never let me into her heart. I have a right to be angry."
"But you are married to Mary, and Gwen really does love Joe so it's all water under the bridge now. Like Methos said you can have another shot at a relationship with Gwen after Mary and Joe are cold in their graves. Besides if you do it would keep Methos from screwing with her head for a couple more hundred years." Mac looked up to see a Green Range Rover pulling into the parking lot. "Good I see Joe's finally here."
Joe's car pulled up and he got out. "What is going on here? For God's sake Methos almost ran me off the road back there! And don't you people have some better place to be besides interfering in my life? I spent 30 years trying not to interfere in your lives and I'm retired only less than a week and every immortal I know can't stay out of my business." Joe spat out at the group of immortals who stood in front of him.
Amanda and Cassandra ignored what Joe said and gave him a hug and words of encouragement. Then the two women took a good look at Duncan standing next to Amy, and whispered something to each other that no one else heard, and gave each other a look like they conceded defeat. Suddenly they were best girlfriends. They put the Highlander out of their minds as if he wasn't even there. Then Cassandra and Connor started to conspire on just how they might be able take Methos's head. Richie just stood there still giving Luke a wide birth, but went with the two women back to Joe's place. Duncan told Amanda to take his car, because Methos had driven off with Amanda's rental car and he would drive Joe's car to Gwen's house tomorrow, because he was staying with Methos at his hotel tonight. With a bit of encouragement everyone left except for Duncan and Amy, who said they would wait until Joe could mend things with Gwen. Amy showed Joe how to get in past the locked gate, and set him on the right trail to the gazebo.
As soon as her father disappeared into the park Amy returned and leaned exhaustedly in to Duncan's arms. Had their feeling for each just be ignited this morning? Somehow it didn't feel like that, it felt like they had known each other for years. They looked into each other's eyes and they both started asking the same question, how was this possible? Amy smiled and laughed, and told the tall dark Highlander a secret. "Duncan."
"Yes Amy." he responded.
"My father used to tell me stories about you, I couldn't help but fall a little in love with you through the stories, but they did not prepare me for meeting the man in person. I don't understand what has happened; I am not a silly girl who falls in love easily. I am a strong, sensible, and logical woman. I never have just fallen in love with anyone, especially someone I know is totally wrong for me. I am someone who is always in control and you Duncan make me feel completely out of control. I don't think we are a good idea." Amy said with tears in her eyes.
"Amy, don't cry, just kiss me and let's see if this is so wrong, because I don't think falling in love is ever wrong as long as the person loves you back." Duncan swept Amy up into his arms and kissed her deeply and held her in his embrace as she returned the kisses.
Amy smiled at him and said "Let's go wait in my car, I think Joe might be a while, and there is a chill in the air." and Duncan held Amy's hand as they climbed into her car's back seat and heated up the windows so no one could see them tenderly kissing inside.
On the other hand Joe had to walk out to the gazebo and saw Gwen deep in meditation. He took a seat across from her and waited, knowing it was difficult to break her out of this state of concentration. It had been a while and nothing was happening so Joe got a small stone and tossed it at Gwen hoping to break her meditation, it hit her in the head and opened a gash on her forehead, "Ouch, by the Goddess who is pelting me with stones?" she cried out her meditation broken.
"Just me, its Joe honey, sorry I didn't think I hit you so hard" he said as he gently took out his handkerchief and touched the bloody spot on her forehead. "I've been watching you for close to an hour and I just wanted to break your meditation, I am so sorry I hurt you."
"It's ok Joe, you didn't hurt me, I'll live," then she gently paused and looked into Joe's eyes and asked him. "Why are you here?"
"Well that's a stupid question, it's because I love you Gwen, don't say anything, and just let me talk." Joe spoke as he held her hands and returned her gaze. "I know all about your past, and DAMN IT I don't care. I didn't invest seven years of my life in this relationship to give up on it now. Yes I know you are an immortal and I have a life with an expiration date on it. Gwen I don't care about that. I have been in love with you since that rainy day I met you in Seacouver. I have fought very hard to talk myself out of being in love with you. But I can't. I tried everything I could to stop loving you but nothing worked! I know all about you, I asked Methos to tell me the entire record of unspeakable things he knew about you, and for the most part because Methos didn't want us to be together he did. But still no matter what he said it never changed a thing I still was in love with you Gwen. All of you, all the good things you've been and the bad things you done, I accept you as a total package deal. I know your immortal, and I am not. There is one thing I know from studying the chronicles is the feelings we have for each other are not the usual run of the mill type. I doubt I have seen any immortal and mortal lovers who care for each other more than we do. We are solid; I accept you and you might never again find a mortal man who can accept you like I do. So Gwen forget all this crap you have running in your head like a broken record, and just marry me. Let's just live our life together and let providence see were it takes us. I am done now, the balls in your court." Joe looked at her and squeezed her hands hoping for the response he wanted so desperately to hear.
Gwen looked at him and smiled. "Are you really sure Joe, because I don't think Methos really even knew just how many bad things I have really done, or how I have lived my live in the past or the darkness that is in my soul?"
"I don't give a damn about the past, and I don't see any darkness in your soul, Gwen you don't know how good things can get either until you give it a try." Joe looked at her and smiled as Gwen threw herself into Joe's arms, and they kissed. "There is no turning back now; we can get the Justice of the peace tomorrow."
"No let's get one tonight." Gwen smiled.
"No tomorrow I just want to take you home tonight and hold you in my arms, is that ok. Oh Methos has left, I know he will always be a part of your life, and when I stop being angry at him I know he'll be my friend again, but right now, he has just caused too much trouble." Joe said as he began walking Gwen out of the Whangarel Subtropical Quarry Gardens. They came up to the entrance and called out for Amy and Mac, who suddenly appeared, looking a little disheveled, but greeted Joe and Gwen, to be honest Joe didn't notice because he was in such a hurry to get home. Although Gwen noticed Mac and Amy's disheveled appearance she just made a mental note of it and locked it away in her heart for there were far greater things of importance to attend to this night. Joe and Gwen drove in her car asking Mac to drive Joe's. So everyone all drove off to their respected homes and hotels, except the Highlander followed Amy to her Apartment.
While Joe and Gwen went back home, falling into bed with deep kisses and tender touches and erotic moments afterwards there passion having been spent they cuddled up together all night. Gwen had many questions that were never going to be answered during her 4500 years of immortality but as to the question of, if Joe Dawson truly loved her, that answer was simply, yes!
End chapter 16
Chapter 17
Methos the Control Freak