Weeks later Tara smiled as she glanced over her shoulder at the coffee shop. Her hand tightly clutched a small scrap of napkin with Claire's number written on it. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she thought about the 'date' they had later. Of course Tara knew that it wasn't really a date, date but that didn't stop her from being excited about spending time with Claire outside of work. She knew it was just a walk in the park but it still had her feeling goose bumps.

Her smile turned into a frown as she glanced down at her watch and noticed that she was running late. She chuckled lightly as she broke into a jog. 'I never would have thought I would be running for anything other than a demon attack. I guess I'll have to thank Duncan for forcing me to take up jogging. On second thought, that might just encourage him more."

Amanda glanced over at Duncan. "So have you been enjoying your new student? Joe says she is rather cute."

He sputtered, "Amanda, behave it's not like that. I'm just trying to make sure she has a fighting chance in the game." His face twisted into an expression of anger. "I'm just worried that there is an immortal out there that is cheating at the game."

Amanda glanced over at Duncan's dark look, "You still haven't gotten over Adam's death have you? You think by training your new student, you can make up for what? Adam was one of the best survivors around, and despite being out of practice; he was still a better swordsman than both of us. As for immortals cheating, we both know it happens, but honestly sometimes shit happens. He could have just lost, it's been known to happen. You've lost friends before, but rarely do you take it this bad for this many months, spill."

Duncan sighed, "I'm just not sure what the point is anymore. If one of the oldest can be gone in the snap of an eye what chance does Tara have, hell what chance do any of us have."

Amanda shook her head in disgust, "Same chance you've had for four hundred years. There have been guns for a long time. There have been immortals that hired people to 'kill' the other immortal first. There is always the chance that we could be poisoned and while we are healing from that, someone could cut off our head. People have been cheating a very long time. You know this, get over it. Stop chasing after Akakios; he is out of your league. Honestly, Duncan he has had a couple of thousand years of practice more than you have. Besides I don't want to lose you as well."

His retort was cut off as they felt the presence of another immortal. He relaxed slightly as Tara's voice called out from the entryway. "I'm sorry I'm a bit late."

Amanda smiled as Tara walked into the living room. "Ah, it is a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

Tara glanced at Duncan, "Should I be worried?"

He shrugged, "Only if you play any game of chance or bet against her."

Amanda smacked him upside the head, "Hey no ruining my fun."

Tara was pleased to notice a glimmer of a smile on his face for the first time since that fateful call. "In that case I'll take your advice. Though, perhaps you could tell me why Duncan is nervous about playing cards with you."

Amanda smiled even as Duncan groaned, "Take a seat it's a very interesting story."

Tara took a seat on the couch and listened to a great number of humorous and embarrassing stories about Amanda's life. If a few stories happened to embarrass the highlander out of his depression, so much the better thought Tara. She wondered how immortals dealt with hangovers as the bottles piled up in front of Amanda and Duncan as the night wore on.