Disclaimers:  can be found in part 1.
Rated:  NC-17 for explicit m/f sex and for graphic depiction of violence.

Quarrels of All Kinds, part 4

 * * * *

Methos walked in and asked, "So when are the movers getting here?  They said nine originally."

Connor shrugged.  "Did you ever really believe that?  I know they aren't that efficient in Paris."

"Of course not; I threw six hours on automatically, but it's after five now.  What's the latest version?"

Aidan snarled and began pacing, forcing herself to get used to movement again.  The last day and a half had been among the longest of her long life.  Immortals didn't have to get used to incapacity and even with the painkillers Joe had provided, the day had been endless.  The night had been worse; as nerves searched out the correct connections, the pain came and went at shorter intervals.

Methos had finally made her take four of the pills at once, washing them down with vodka.  She couldn't argue with the logic; muscle spasms from pain undid her healing far worse than being deeply unconscious would.  Gods, there were so few immortals she'd have trusted enough to go under like that....

"Now the moving company says they don't know where their truckers are; it may be tomorrow.  Something about the train was delayed, slowing up the delivery, and they apologize.  I think they just don't want to pay their drivers time-and-a-half for late night work.  May their Alabama cargoes end up in Alaska, and their Ohio loads migrate to Ontario and reappear under French manifests!"

Duncan stepped neatly into her path and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her hands to her sides.  "Aidan, if you're still getting phantom pain, fretting yourself is not going to help.  Forget it; tomorrow is tomorrow.  They have your cell phone number, right?"  When she reluctantly agreed, he continued, "Look, we can work until sunset and then go drive out to the coast.  You haven't been out there since you hit town.  We all have cabin fever."

Methos pointed out, "Besides, Murphy's law being what it is, if we leave early the trailer will turn up and they'll try to charge you for a second delivery."

Connor smiled cynically.  "Only once.  Rachel is auditing this bill; Nash Antiques took care of the move.  She'll explain the term 'service failure' to them and they'll owe us money before she's through."

Duncan casually commented, "Connor, didn't you say it was the most ghastly orange trailer you had ever seen?"

"Close enough.  What I said was that it looked like a batch of hunter orange paint had an incestuous relationship with some chartreuse liqueur.  Why?"

Duncan grinned.  "Because they're here."

Aidan spun in his arms to look out the window.  "Oh thank the Goddess.  By the way, Duncan, I'll tell you right now, I know what you're getting for your birthday."

"And what would that be?"

"Some music that post-dates the 1800s."  She laughed in his arms, acting more like her old self than she had in days.  Duncan dipped her, swatted her on the ass while she was off balance, and then pulled her upright.

"Shall we go let them in?"

Over the next few hours, all of them had their muscles strained and patience tested as they moved boxes, furniture, and oriental carpets.  After the movers finally left, leaving boxes scattered across the four floors of Aidan's house, she cleared off a chair and sat down, exhausted.  "Gentlemen.  I quit."

Connor laughed and handed her a glass.  "Here, drink this."

She sighed and asked, "What is it?"

"Oh, a recipe from an old friend."

"Which one?"

"Sunda Kastagir."

Aidan's eyes widened.  "I am not drinking 'boom-boom'.  Good Gods, Connor, are you trying to kill me again?"

Connor laughed again, waggling his eyebrows to make her smile.  "Grown woman like you scared of a little 'boom-boom'?  No, it's iced coffee with allspice and cardamom.  You know, the recipe he gave you that you got me hooked on?"

Aidan drank off half the glass immediately.  "Remind me.  Why didn't I marry you?"

"Because you don't sleep with immortals and I'm a sex fiend?"

She laughed at the lascivious expression he assumed.  "How did you find the coffee maker?"

"Woman, when are you going to learn to notice passes?  And Rachel came behind you and labeled it with florescent tape.  She knew we'd want it."

Methos stole her glass and finished the coffee.  "God, that is good.  And she never notices passes, though she's perceptive enough the rest of the time!"

Aidan commented, "Remind me to send Rachel a thank-you gift, then.  And Adam, if you're going to steal something, refill it.  Oh, Gods, did I say that?"

Connor smiled.  "When's the last time I stole a woman?"

Methos retorted, "Get in line, MacLeod."

Duncan scooped Aidan up and headed for the elevator while the other two were arguing.  If she hadn't been laughing so hard, as he told her later, they might have made it.

* * * *

Too many of Aidan's belongings lay scattered across the house for any of them to really want to leave the place untenanted just yet and, after sleeping late, no one was tired.  Aidan finally pulled Connor aside and requested, "Could you and Duncan make a food run?  And take your time?"

"We have some talking to do, yes.  Do you need time away from Duncan, or time to talk to Adam?"  Connor studied her with that almost impersonal look he gave problems, which made her thoroughly nervous.

"An apology to offer.  And I know this problem has played hell with you two catching up on family news.  Would you mind?"

"Problem?"  Connor gave Aidan an only mildly disbelieving look that meant he thought she was full of it, his eyes gold in the halogen lights.  "That might cover it.  Come over here and talk to me, sister."

Duncan glanced over from unpacking a box of CD's and decided to stay out of this one.  The way Connor had his hands in his pockets, his torso leaned slightly toward Aidan as she very casually settled herself against a counter, arms folded across her chest and chin lowered, not looking at Connor -- whatever they were discussing, it was extremely private.

Connor waited until he knew she wasn't going to say anything, then he sighed and began.  "Ignore the fact that I've made passes at you off and on for ten years.  Both of us know that after your first 'no' none of them were serious."

"I know," she said quietly. Well, they were and they weren't, brother.  You're too strong to bother with coercion of any kind.

"I never thought you were a coward.  I'm changing my mind."  Her head snapped up and Aidan finally met his eyes.  "Heh.  I thought that would get your attention.  How long have we known each other, Aidan?"

"A bit under ten years.  Why?"  Aidan kept her head up, and didn't try to mask her face.  Connor had decided they were going to talk and that he was going to see her reactions.  In this mood, he would make sure he did, one way or another.  The man had no compunctions about low blows.

"I've seen you go after lovers before and always mortal.  I've never asked how much older you are.  You're at least five hundred years old, so I know you've done this for a while.  Granted, you haven't gone on a serious date since Danielle, but all of us go through these cycles.

"Yesterday, with Adam.  I've seen that reaction out of him before, in Boston, and I know he wants you.  You want him.  Fine, you're both old enough, even by our standards.  But both of you work so hard at not being lovers....  Quit it.  Take him to bed, or I kill you both and lock you in a room until you sort this out."

She stared at him, then started laughing.  Aidan finally doubled over, chest on thighs, propped against the counter and guffawing until she started coughing for lack of air.  Connor waited patiently until she could hear him again.  "I mean it.  Find the boxes for the towels and the bed, because you don't have a ride back to Duncan's, either of you.  We'll be back with dinner for you two."

The immortal woman glanced up, tears still running down her face from the laughter, and choked out, "Gods, Duncan's couch isn't that bad that you need to throw us out of the bed!  And don't push so hard, brother."

Connor commented.  "Find the boxes, Aidan, or it'll be a long night."

Aidan met his eyes, laughter trailing off as she let her true feelings surface.  The uncertainty on her face nearly broke Connor's heart.  "Are you so sure he wants me?  I've said 'no' for so long...."

"Idiot.  Yes, he wants you.  I know that look.  You're being a fool, sister."

Finally she managed to straighten up and walked the necessary step forward to place her hands into his.  "Connor.  Give me a couple days.  I swear, I'll resolve it Friday night."

Connor tightened his hands over hers.  "Why then?"

"Midsummer's Eve is a time for love and valor."  She drew a deep breath, then said, "And this will take both."

"I'll have your oath on it, Aidan."  Connor held her by her hands, her eyes, and her honor.

"By my name, Connor, by my faith in my Lady, and by my breath, you have my word.  I will resolve this Midsummer's Eve.  Will you help me keep my word, brother?"

Connor pulled her into a crushing bearhug.  "Aye, sister, of course I will.  What do you need?"

"Distract Duncan that night?  And help me set this place up first?  Please?"  She tightened her arms until his ribs creaked and her muscles protested.

"Done.  But first we get some dinner.  Do I still need to take Duncan or do we get pizza?"

"Pizza, I think.  We'll get more done that way."

* * * *

Duncan woke and stretched, long and luxuriously.  He knew from the sunlight that it was well past noon.  They had all been unpacking for the last day and a half, staying up until two getting the last boxes unpacked and items arranged last night.  If Aidan and Rachel hadn't been so meticulous about the packing and labeling, they could never have done it.  But she was in and settled with only some last minute work still to be done, such as linens to be washed and those chimney columns she wasn't discussing yet.

"My God, he stirs."  Connor's sarcasm dripped off Duncan without obvious effect as the taller Scot stretched again and yawned.

Duncan propped himself up on one elbow, and ran a hand across his face, feeling stubble.  Both Methos and Aidan had obviously gotten up a good while earlier; the sheets were too cool.  "When did you get up?  Ten minutes ago?"

"No, the coffee woke me a good hour ago.  Aidan left it, along with a note that she was stealing my car and would we meet her at her place around seven?  Adam cursed a blue streak, but he seems to have gotten over it."

Duncan looked around and saw Methos working in the kitchen.  "Oh, God, Connor, don't tell me you're letting him cook."

Connor shrugged, a small smile on his face.  "Well, you weren't awake, and you always complain if I fix breakfast."

Methos glanced up from the skillet and replied, "If he always offers you oatmeal and black coffee, both burned, I can see why you learned to cook, Duncan."

Duncan laughed.  "That's it exactly.  Do I have time for a shower first?"

"No, the omelet's almost ready.  Connor, grab the orange juice."

All three of them piled into the food without a word, then sat back and sighed.  Methos finally remarked, "Do you know, I've almost forgotten how to fill a day without Aidan's list in front of me?  How lazy shall we be?"

Connor laughed.  "How about that drive to the coast you mentioned the other day, Duncan?"

"You mean there was nothing on the note about 'Would you please...?' " Duncan laughed, too.  "I love the woman dearly, but she's better at keeping me busy than Amanda is!"

Connor shrugged.  "Aidan may call later, but she had errands to run and some plans for tonight since it's Midsummer's Eve."

"Connor, do you ever wonder what it must be like to be old enough to consider Christianity a new religion?"

"I didn't know Aidan was that old, but I knew she didn't worship Christ.  Holy Ground is Holy Ground, and she's a good one.  Does the rest really matter, Duncan?"

"No.  It doesn't.  So, the coast sounds good to me.  My intern isn't expecting me to take back over until Monday; let's goof off today."

Connor casually offered, "Adam, you cooked, we'll clean up.  Leave some hot water, all right?"

Methos cheerfully responded, "So long as you don't rinse the dishes while I'm in there."

After he was in the bathroom and the sound of water could be heard in the kitchen, Connor informed Duncan, "We'll be dropping him at Aidan's place tonight and collecting my car.  She'll call tomorrow sometime when they're fit for company."

Duncan kept scouring the skillet as he thought about the way his cousin had phrased that.  "I take it Adam doesn't know this?"

Connor flashed a smile, gold-brown eyes lighting up.  "No, he doesn't."

"Does Aidan?"

"Of course.  She asked me to help.  She really is running errands in my car."

Duncan stacked the skillet to be rinsed and went to work on the plates.  "Did she finally decide to break that rule of hers, then?

"I think she's been considering it for a while; I twisted her arm to speed it up.  I want to see her happy again.  Danielle's death broke something in her, and it's long past time she healed."

"Danielle?"  Duncan twisted around to look at Connor.  "She never mentioned that name.  What happened?"

"Do you remember that Russian ballerina I fell in love with?"

"Of course I do, that was the worst break-up fight I've heard in four hundred years.  We went through half a case of whiskey over that one."

"Aidan and Dani made that look like a Veteran's Day parade, Duncan.  She hasn't dated since, that I know of."  Connor settled back in his chair, sipping at the orange juice.  "That tapestry I sent you for Christmas a few years ago was Dani's work.  If she hadn't died of AIDS, Dani would be a very successful artist -- and Aidan would still be in New York."

"D. St. Vir was a woman?  And Aidan's lover?"

Connor nodded.  "And I introduced them to each other at one of my Christmas parties.  Sometime, cousin, we need to get a large bottle of whiskey and worm the story out of Aidan.  She needs to tell it, and I never really finished mourning Dani myself."

"Maybe at your Christmas party this year, after the guests have gone home."

Connor laughed.  "If you aren't in Paris again."

"So, do we tell Adam what we're doing or just pack a bag for him?"

"Heh-heh.  Where's the fun if we tell him?  Come on, let's get the bag out before he comes out of the shower.  So where are we driving to?  Aidan's not expecting him before seven."

* * * *

They pulled up in front of Aidan's house and Duncan said, "Come on, Adam, you always say you like walking, walk up the stairs."

"MacLeod, I'm the one who woke up first this morning, and you've both tried to show me every bit of coastline.  Give me a better reason."

Connor shrugged.  "Because if you don't we'll let you explain to Aidan why you'd rather sit in the car than eat her cooking."

Methos sat up and got out of the car.  "Now that is a good reason.  Why didn't you mention dinner sooner, Connor?"

"Because you keep harassing me about those ten pounds that you weren't in Boston to be paid."

"Of course I do.  You never tried to get in touch with me to pay them."

In the elevator, Connor looked at Duncan.  "You forgot the bag."

"Me?  How was that my job?  You promised Aidan, not me."  Duncan spread his hands, disclaiming any responsibility.

Both of them looked at Methos.  "Go on up, we'll go get this and be there."

Methos raised an eyebrow.  "Far be it from me to keep you from fulfilling a promise to her.  See you upstairs."

Duncan got the bag out of the trunk and tossed it into the office on the first floor.  Locking the door behind them as they went back out to the car, Connor asked,  "Have you seen the new Jackie Chan movie yet?"

Methos turned to the window when he heard the T-bird start up.  "Either they left the bag at Duncan's or this is going to be an interesting meal."

Aidan glanced over, still shaking up the salad dressing.  "What is it?"

"Were you feeding the MacLeods?"

"No.  Just you.  Do you mind?"

Methos turned around and studied her for a second.  Even for a Midsummer's feast, he hadn't expected her to dress quite so well.  No wonder Duncan had given him the silk shirt today, claiming it was an 'un-birthday' present.

Aidan's hair spilled down her back in a long dark brown fall, restrained only with a deep green ribbon that matched the calf-length skirt and held most of the locks out of her eyes.  The sleeveless peach silk tunic top was belted in with silver links which matched her oak leaf.  When he noticed she was barefoot under the skirt, he couldn't help smiling.

"I never mind your company.  But why do I feel like I've been set up?"

Aidan laughed.  "Because you were.  I think Connor's up to something about the money he owes you and I wanted your company to myself tonight."

"A fate worse than death, hmm?"

"Behave, wretch, or I'll invite Joe over instead.  Kick your shoes off and get comfortable."  Aidan began to serve up the salad, and they both set dinner out on the table.

"Shall I put some music on?"

Methos had already turned to set up the stereo when she replied, "No, I already loaded the CDs.  Just hit play if you would.  Wine or beer?"

"Cook's choice, of course."  He moved to the stereo and followed her instructions.  For once, she hadn't left the cases out to indicate what was ready.  The opening notes of an Enigma song spilled out of the speakers in the corners of the room.

Both of them talked over dinner, discussing old friends and older places, deliberately keeping the conversation light.  Methos watched her throughout the meal, wondering what idea or decision had taken up residence in the complex mind across the table from him.  She seemed more at peace than he had seen her since he arrived in Seacouver, and it was more than being done with the stalker.

When they had finished eating and stacked the dishes into the dishwasher, Aidan asked, "Do you mind if we hold off on dessert?"

"Not at all.  What did you want to do tonight?"  Hazel eyes watched her, waiting for an answer.

"Come sit down.  I have a surprise for you."

He moved obediently to the couch and sat down in the middle.  Aidan laughed softly and asked, "Do you trust me?"

Methos smiled despite himself.  "Are we discussing your cooking or your sense of humor?"

"Will you close your eyes for a few minutes while I finish preparing your surprise, then?"

He cocked his head sideways, seeing that she was both serious and a bit nervous.  "Of course."

Methos listened over and around the music as Aidan moved around the room.  He could hear the rustle of cloth, and the chime of glass against metal from the corner which held her bed, then a soft clatter of metal on metal.  A few minutes later he heard the sound of glass on wood, and the almost soundless rustle of moving silk from the opposite side of the house, near the shower and tub.

As she moved around, Methos could almost feel it when the lights went out one by one.  Maybe he had been watching the light through his eyelids, or feeling it across his skin, but he could sense it.  Closer by, he heard Aidan strike a match and smelled first sulfur, then sandalwood and jasmine.  After a moment, he heard her moving near the stereo and the music changed from Irish dulcimer to the opening track off Red Shoe Diaries.  At last she moved back to the couch, close enough he could smell the scent he always associated with her:  oranges and roses and rosemary.

It felt odd to be sitting there in the darkness of his eyelids, waiting for her to let him look around.  With anyone else, he would think this was seduction.  With her it could be almost anything, including ritual magic that she wanted him to see and feel, but there was an odd anticipation to this night, to the music she had programmed.  As the Red Shoe track finished, the songs jumped CDs to Annie Lennox's  gloriously distinctive voice.

The cushions sagged under him as she settled onto the couch, one leg on either side of him so that she was straddling him but he wasn't supporting any of her weight.  Very softly she said, "You can open your eyes now."

Candles lit the room, from votives on shelves and around the tub, from the wrought iron and glass rack suspended above and behind her bed.  Incense burned on the table to their right, far enough away to be pleasant rather than cloying.  Aidan watched him, grey eyes huge at such a short distance; her expression was solemn and slightly tense and a bit elated all at once.  Her arms rested on the back of the couch, just to either side of him.  Methos realized in surprise that she had discarded the skirt and wore only the tunic and her necklace that he could tell.

Not for the first time in dealing with women, Methos found himself speechless.  Never in two and a half millennia had Edana been a tease, which meant....

Finally he managed to say, "Are you sure about this?"

She never broke eye contact as she asked, "Do you want this?  I've put you off for so long, I couldn't blame you if you didn't--"

Methos lifted one hand and put a finger across her lips to stop that line of thought.  Under his hand, her lips curved into a smile and she tilted her head back slightly to get to the tip of his finger.  This time he knew that the delicate nips and darting, flickering licks were not a result of painkillers.  He closed his eyes again for a second, gathering his will.  "Love, are you sure?  I don't think I can ask again if you...."

Edana leaned forward and very lightly brushed his lips with her own.  Even through his silk shirt, Methos felt her hair swing across his chest and belly.  Without settling herself against him, she leaned further in, warm breath blowing over the sensitive skin of his earlobe, and whispered, "Yes, I'm sure.  Anything you want, Methos, as much as you want."

Instinctively he moved his head back to give her better access to his ear and throat.  At the same time, Methos wrapped his hands around her hips, feeling her shiver under his fingers, and pulled her down onto his lap, forward against his chest.  Finally he ran his hands up her back, over the silk of her tunic and into the silk of her hair.  "No, anything we want."

Methos pulled her mouth against his and licked along the outside, exploring and teasing simultaneously.  Edana's lips tasted of wine, and strawberries.  As he finally deepened the kiss, her hair coiled around his hands and arms; it smelled of oranges and rosemary.  Strong legs wrapped around his hips as she settled herself more comfortably and he could feel her body against him, separated only by the two layers of silk.  Both of them shivered at that contact and chuckled to feel the other's response.

She broke away from his mouth and began trailing kisses and nips along his jaw, then murmured, "I like the shirt, did I tell you that earlier?"  Deliberately, she rubbed her chest against him like a cat nuzzling just as she licked behind the jaw, under the ear.  Methos groaned at the combination and bit along her collarbone, hands stroking along her back, until she whimpered as well and arched back to give him better access.

"Edana, what are we doing on a narrow couch?"  His hands kept moving along her ribs up onto the shoulders and back down the inside of her arms, deliberately skirting some of the more erotic points.

"Enjoying ourselves?  Oh, Goddess, you are a dreadful...."  Her voice trailed off as he pulled her back against his mouth again, this time nibbling along her lips, then soothing the bites with his tongue.

"I do not tease.  Well, not forever, anyway," he muttered when they came back up from the kiss.

"Oh, Gods, I hope not.  And we're on the couch because if you were going to turn me down, I didn't want it to be on my bed."  She moved back just enough to run her nails up his ribs, making him gasp.

"Turn you down?  You talk too much.  Come to bed."

She caught her breath as his hands wrapped around her arms to push her off the couch.  At this moment, even that casual a touch was arousing.  Somehow, they made it to her bed and she smiled at the look on his face.  "Well, I thought you'd appreciate it."

"Who else would have put rose petals under the sheets for me?"  He almost purred as Aidan began unbuttoning his shirt, sliding one hand under the fabric to hold each new button up as she got to it, fingers pressing almost randomly against chest and belly muscles.  Somehow she managed to tease all the way down to the waistband, only to pull the shirt out and stop teasing him which was almost worse.  She tossed the silk over the blanket chest, only to find her hands trembling as she moved on to his waistband.

Methos cupped her chin with one large hand and kissed her again and again until she stopped shaking.  Somehow he got his pants unfastened without ever releasing her mouth, although he did end up needing both hands.  Edana reached out and pushed them down, and his boxers with them, and he stepped out of the clothes.  She found herself memorizing the way he looked.  Countless times over the centuries, she'd seen him in and out of clothes, enjoyed the sight of him naked and aroused almost as often -- but never for her, because of her.

Knowing that she'd had longer to work into a state of nerves than he had, Methos let her look her fill to give her a chance to gather her thoughts and some self-possession.  After a while he smiled and said, "You do realize you're overdressed?"

Edana gazed at him, all solemn mischief, and said, "Oh, all right, here."  Gravely she removed and handed him the hair ribbon and the oak leaf necklace.  Dropping them on the bedside table, Methos placed his hands on her thighs and slowly skimmed the tunic off over head.  The feel of his hands sliding silk over her waist and breasts pulled a shuddering sigh out of her and he dropped the tunic over his shirt.  No, she hadn't been wearing anything else.  Not her waist chain, not so much as a single hide-out dagger.  Unable to resist, he buried his hands in her hair, wrapping it around his wrists, and pulled her in for another kiss.

When she came up for air again, Methos had maneuvered her onto the bed and gave her that half-smile she knew so well as he pushed gently to lay her down on her stomach.  Edana raised one eyebrow at him, lips quirked with thoughts she wouldn't say, knowing he'd read them easily enough.  He just laughed and slapped her lightly on the ass, then promptly kissed the nape of her neck and laughed again as she shivered under his lips.

"I'll get to the other side soon enough.  Learn some patience, woman.  I've waited this long for you."  Scooping her hair out of the way, Methos teased her, playing across back and shoulders and neck.  Nip and then kiss, tracing lines with fingernails, then licking just next to them, he drove her half mad.  When Edana started to turn over, he pressed down on her shoulder with one hand.

"Shh.  Trust me."

"That's a cruel thing to do, Methos," Edana muttered, but she settled back against the bed, smelling rose petals, and a bit of incense, and his arousal.

"Hush and enjoy, just don't help yet.  I've wanted you for too long."  When she started to protest, he touched a finger to her mouth.  "Hush, just put  your hands... here."  He moved her hands next to her thighs, palms up, and bent to place a kiss in the center of each palm.  "Now stay put.  I'll be right back.  Move and I'll have to come up with something drastic to do."

Now Edana lay still, eyes closed in the flickering candlelight as he moved around, but it was a much shorter wait than Methos had had.  She heard him set a glass on the bedside table, then Methos settled himself on hands and knees over her body and began to arouse her in earnest, playing fingers and mouth across hot spots she hadn't known she had.  It had never occurred to her that the inside of her wrist was so sensitive, that a finger run along the hairs at the very nape of her neck could make her twist and whimper.  Deliberately, he pressed himself against her, legs intertwined with hers, his erection nestled between her buttocks, and bit at her neck and shoulder.

Methos raised an eyebrow at the response that got, and went to work in earnest, hearing her moan under him, her head arching back against his shoulder as she tried to turn under him.  Almost casually, he set his elbows on either side of her arms and moved to the other side of her throat.  Again and again he nipped sharply enough to bruise then soothed with lips and tongue, blowing warm air over the marks as she healed immediately.  When she continued to writhe, wanting her hands on him, her mouth, he chuckled and pressed her arms back against the bed.  With his full weight on her, he had all the advantages.  "Oh, no, you said whatever I want.  For now, lie still.  I'm not done yet."

"Methos...."  Aidan knew she was begging, that her voice was pleading, and didn't care.  As well she didn't, because he had no intention of stopping.  He moved down her back, catching her at each of the chakra points, feeling her climb toward orgasm just from the teasing.  He lingered for a while at the base of her spine, just above the curve of her buttocks, enjoying smooth skin and the smell of aroused female.

He licked her just where the thigh ended and the ass began, so lightly that she almost didn't feel it, and began to rub out her feet.  Just as she started to relax slightly, sliding away from the edge of coming, he nipped just under the anklebone and Aidan shuddered.  Under the curve of her calf, behind the knee, just at the rise of her hamstring -- everywhere Methos heated her skin until she shivered at the touch of his fingers, at the barest breath across her skin.  Some of the Gaelic phrases she cried out were so old he couldn't remember what they meant, but her tone spoke of love, desire, and longing.

Not until Methos pulled gently on one hip did she turn over, though.  Aidan immediately reached for him and he caught her hands in one of his.  He leaned over and kissed her, feeding her wine from his mouth.  Under his urging, she pressed her hands back behind her head as Methos whispered, "Not yet.  Trust me."

"What do you mean not yet?"  Aidan let her frustration rise into her voice.

Methos cupped a hand between her legs, feeling the heat rising off her.  "You can't tell me you're not enjoying this.  Trust me a bit longer, love."

She moaned, hips arching to press against his fingers, and finally said, "Gods, you're a tease.  All right, I'll wait."

"Besides, if you try to help, I'll stop."  He smiled wickedly at the strangled moan that elicited from her.  What Methos would never admit was that he didn't want her helping because right now he didn't trust his own control against her hands and mouth.  Deliberately he went after the insides of her legs, not quite scratching, then kissing the sensitive skin just along the inside of the knee.

Kneeling between Edana's legs, he paused for a moment to enjoy the sight she made in the candlelight.  Long hair streamed across the pillows, one strand falling onto her shoulder and arm.  With her arms back, hands under the pillow, her breasts stood up, nipples tightened and waiting for him.  What he loved most was the expression on her face as she gave herself over to pleasure, head thrown back and throat exposed to him.  From another immortal, that bespoke an incredible amount of trust.

Automatically his hands kept stroking along her thighs, scratching lightly, occasionally applying pressure to arouse her further.  When Methos leaned forward, completely bypassing the center of her heat, Aidan whimpered again, a sound which turned to a gasp as he bit down just over her hipbone.  Strong, long-fingered hands held her in place as he devoured her belly and ribs with his mouth, chest pinning her legs down.

He continued to move up her body and Aidan nearly lifted him off the bed when Methos licked along the underside of first one breast then the other.  The scent of crushed roses mingled with the beeswax from the candles and the tang of sex, enveloping both of them as she wrapped her legs around him.  When he finally closed his mouth around her nipples, her words became incoherent except for his name.  The feel of his hardness pressed against her mons and belly drove Aidan even closer to the edge, and she arched her back, pressing up against him.  Deliberately Methos pulled away from her, then caught her mouth with his own as she cried out her protest.

Now he finally unleashed his own hunger, kissing her as if he expected the world to end any second and didn't want to miss any of her.  His hands wrapped over hers under the pillow as her hips arched off the bed, begging for him as her mouth couldn't.  Legs still twined around his, Aidan refused to let him go.  She pulled her hands free, running nails down his back, along his sides, whimpering into his mouth.  With one hand she went straight for that sensitive spot at the base of the spine; with the other she caught and teased one of his nipples.

Groaning against her mouth, Methos drew back and then began to slide into her.  He eased into her with the last of his control, drawing out the first penetration both to be sure she was ready and because he wanted to savor this.  Somehow, he managed to move into that welcoming heat little by little, all too aware that neither of them was going to last long.  Her silky warmth clenched around him, quivering as she tried to hold the orgasm off for just a moment longer.

As he pressed all the way home, Methos felt her pleasure explode around him.  Aidan surged up against him, hips bucking in a figure eight as she tightened around him, arms and legs twined around him.  He thrust forward once, twice, then his lover's ecstasy dragged him over the edge with her.  With his last breath he invoked her name as he came.

Methos recovered first, catching his breath and easing his weight onto his elbows.  Amused, he realized she had barely noticed.  From the unfocused eyes and the occasional twitch of internal muscles, she was still coming back down.  Moving carefully so as not to withdraw from her, he pulled Edana over so that they ended up on their sides, her head on his bottom arm.  Her free hand stroked idly across his ribs and back without any direction from her mind, making him smile and purr.

A measureless time later, while the candlelight still flickered across their tangled bodies, Aidan finally stirred.  She moved forward far enough to kiss Methos just under the collarbone, then tilted her head up and brushed her lips against his.  He pulled her in against his chest, arms tightening protectively around her as he whispered, "Thank you.  Are you still convinced I'm a tease?"

Aidan chuckled softly against him and replied, "Is this where I ask if I have to wait until morning to respect you, or can I admit to it now?  Remind me not to tell Duncan he was right, by the way."

"Oh, you can wait until morning.  What was Duncan right about?"  He kept the words light, but his hands stroked continuously and soothingly down her back.

"He told me I was out of my mind because I was denying myself lovers as skilled as I was.  Sweet Goddess, what an understatement.  I'm going to die a happy woman and come back for more."  Aidan snuggled in against him and yawned widely.  "Sorry about that.  It's not the company."

"What, did I manage to put you to sleep?"  Amusement tinged his voice, and drowsy pleasure.

Aidan yawned again, and murmured, "I think so, at least for a little while.  Shall I make it up to you later?"

"I haven't completely lost my  mind.  Feel free, pounce whenever you like.  I give myself over to your hands completely, and my Gods, what was that last thing you did with your hips?"

"Oh, something they trained into me that time in Rome."  Aidan used her toes and then a hand to pull the sheet up over them without dislodging him from inside her.  "Learning belly dancing refined it a bit more.  Hopefully you liked it?"

Methos kissed the top of her head.  "No, I loved it.  Sleep, Edana, we'll talk when we wake up."

"Methos?  Is anything wrong?"  Something in his phrasing caught her attention and Aidan tried to force herself to wake up.

Still kneading her back, Methos whispered, "Hush, love, nothing's wrong, I'm just curious about why you finally changed your mind.  It's all right, go to sleep."

"Oh.  Duncan tried logic, Joe used literature, and Connor threatened me.  Why have you put up with me being an idiot for two thousand years?"  She sounded plaintive and a bit more awake.

"Connor threatened you?"  Methos hovered between amused and irritated.  "With what?"

"He was going to kill both of us and lock us in a room with a bed.  If we're both awake, why are we talking?"  Lazily she tightened internal muscles, making him gasp.

"Because..." and he positioned fingers to tickle her, "...I want to know what happened.  Please.  I would love a second bout but I can't think straight when you do that."

"You do other things straight when I do that," she purred.  His hands moved and she hastily said, "I'll behave!  Gods, that's cruel!"

"I'll give you cruel.  Talk, or else."

"Or else what?"

"Do you really want to find out?"

Aidan sighed, exasperated, and gave in.  "Methos, so many of you have argued with me about this that I've wondered for a long time if I was right.  I'm stubborn enough that I kept thinking it was right for me, if no one else.  But I've been miserable these last three centuries, knowing Ramirez was dead and wondering if you were.  Then Duncan and Joe started seriously arguing it with me, trying to make me see their point of view."

Ruefully, she pointed out, "Sorry, mo cridhe, but you usually began with 'Are you out of your mind?' and ended up arguing about the odds of my getting to the Gathering.  Duncan and Joe went straight to the drawbacks for me."

"Oh?  Which ones?  And my arguments were a bit more elaborate than that."  Good, he hadn't taken offense.

"Duncan pointed out that lovers who don't understand you have a lot harder time being lovers; then he said, besides, there's a certain skill level that comes with practice.  Sweet Lady, did it ever!"  Aidan poked him in the ribs as he muffled his laughter.  "Yes, that's a compliment.  But he's right, it's so nice to be able to make sarcastic comments in 'lost' languages, or to walk with someone who doesn't ask why I have a dagger down my back or in my boots."

Methos commented very softly, "Yes, I know.  A lover who doesn't ask why you're wearing a long coat in summer or why you don't like turtlenecks, one who never asks you why you have a sword under the bed or when are you going to modernize up to waterbeds?"

Aidan snorted derisively.  "Oh, Gods, what a sword fight would do to a waterbed mattress -- or a quickening!"

Both of them sighed as Methos finally slid out of her.  Aidan murmured, "I always hate that."

"Why?  Not that I'm arguing."  Methos rearranged them both slightly so that she wound up sprawled half over him, her cheek on his shoulder.

"After being one creature....  It's not orgasm that's the petit mort of sex, it's that separation."  She snuggled in against him, taking comfort from the familiar body which had surprised her so gloriously earlier.  "And Joe and Connor both said I was being a coward, and I had trouble arguing."

That startled Methos.  "You came to a logical conclusion and stuck to it even when it hurt you, which seemed to be most of the time.  How is that cowardice?"

"Because I was using future pain as a premise for the logic, and badly at that.  Hells, even before tonight, I loved you too much to fight you in the Gathering.  I'd have given you my head first.  I never looked at the implications of that."

"Edana... you were....  I knew you loved me; I was never sure you were in love with me."  The softness of his voice disarmed Aidan completely.  She raised up on one elbow to look at him.

"I've been in love with you very nearly my entire life, Methos.  I never told you because--" Somehow, despite the position she shrugged.  Her normally expressive face twisted as she was torn between her habitual concealment and a desire to let him read her feelings.  "First you were my teacher, and neither of us would abuse that bond.  Then neither you nor Ramirez would ever discuss what would happen if it came down to two of us at the Gathering, and I knew what kind of pain it would be to have to kill one of you.  I wanted you, but I couldn't be sure how much I was willing to give, and I have always loathed being a tease."

Methos reached up and placed one hand on her cheek.  "Edana, your honesty has been one of the few constants I've had.  I missed you these last centuries, very badly.  But... you'd give me your head?"

Aidan closed her eyes; Methos saw love and regret cross her face.  "If it came to that?  Yes.  I will not kill you.  I will not be the death of those I love, unless it's for mercy.  With immortals, short of a Dark Quickening, it isn't.  Which means you and Duncan, Connor and some of my students, have nothing to fear from me outside a salle.  Oh, I might kill one of you, if driven to it, but I'd simply vanish before you came back to life.  Do we have to talk about this?"

"No, it can all wait.  How long since you've had a well-trained bath attendant?  Shall I scrub your back and the rest of you?"

That got a smile out of her.  "Oh, it's been ages since I've had an offer so good.  Yes, please, I'd like that."

Methos watched her, wondering why her eyes were still closed.  Unless the only way she can let me see what she's thinking is not to watch my reactions....  Well, the advantage to being immortal was that not all of this had to be discussed tonight.  Or even this year, for that matter.  Reaching up, he pulled her in for one more kiss.

While Methos ran the bath for them and set out towels, Aidan moved around the room, snuffing candles that weren't over the bed or by the tub and loading the stereo with Dead Can Dance albums.  To her pleased surprise, he had been quite serious.  In the shower, not an inch of her body was she allowed to do for herself, although he did let her scrub his back finally.  When they crawled into the tub to soak, Methos handed her in ceremoniously, then retrieved his wine before getting in himself.

"I could get thrown out of the union for letting you help with that shower, you realize," he commented as he settled back against the side of the tub.

"Oh, hush, or I'll think you're getting senile.  Union indeed!  By the way, I have a question for you."  Aidan snuggled contentedly into his lap in the water and fed him a sip of the wine.

"Am I going to hate it as much as you hated mine?"  He nuzzled her hair, almost purring from the pleasure of the hot water and the feel of her body on his.

"Possibly.  I hope not.  However,"  and she deliberately rolled her hips against him while nipping delicately at one earlobe, "what are you going to do about Duncan."

Methos had arched back to let her get to his ear and throat.  That question brought him back down to earth very quickly.  "What do you mean?  Do what about him?"

"Ah, ah, you don't fool me.  I know you're in love with him, I was just wondering if you were going to drag him into bed one of these years."

"Are you?"

Aidan smiled mischievously.  "Which?  In love with him, or hoping to get him in bed some day?"

Methos tilted his head to one side, eyebrow raised and mockingly replied, "Yes."

"Almost and yes, Gods help me, and before you ask, no, that isn't why I went to bed with you."

"Gods, no, Edana, I know you better than that.  Well, then, I have hopes but haven't noticed a way to pull it off yet.  Why?"

Aidan shrugged, and went back to nuzzling his throat, then murmured against an ear, "Because he loves you and from the body language I'd say he's been thinking about it himself.  The story about Arslan and my other husbands aroused him, certainly.  If you think he isn't interested, you've gone blind again."

Almost casually, he wrapped his hands around her upper arms and pushed her back so that he could see her face.  "He wants me or he wants to share you?  There's a slight difference, love."

"Both, Methos.  He wants me, yes, but he wants you, too." She gave him a wry smile.  "I've seen the way he's been curled around you in the mornings this last week and how casual he's gotten about touching you, or rubbing you down.  How many mornings have you woken up with a nice proud bit of flesh pressed against you?  His body knows what it wants and his mind is slowly catching up.  Promise to think about it, hmm?  Later, that is."  Aidan ran one hand lightly down his chest, sliding into the water to stroke down his belly and wrap around his cock.  When Methos gasped from pleasure and surprise, she moved over him and slowly slid down.

Pinning his hands against the side of the tub, she proceeded to tease him with delicate nips, subtle hip movements, and rippling contractions of internal muscles.  Holding off her own pleasure to watch his, Aidan brought Methos to the edge and eased off again twice before she finally rocked them both over the brink.  It was all they could do to dry off and make it from the tub to the bed again.

Curled against each other, the two immortals fell soundly asleep under the candlelight, relaxed and content.  They woke twice more in the night to give and share pleasure, sleeping again after the first time.  The second time both of them laughed to hear stomachs growling and went looking through the kitchen for a snack.

"By the way, Edana, what has been bothering you lately?"

Aidan passed him the ice cream and a bowl.  "What?  When?  I assume you don't mean Stengel."

"Hardly.  What's been keeping you up at night?"

"You have."

Methos smiled and commented, "Not tonight, love, the last several weeks."

Aidan spooned up a bite of the ice cream, stealing from his bowl rather than eat out of the carton.  "That's what I said.  You have."

Both of them ate in companionable silence while he thought about that and she declined to amplify on it.  "When did Joe discuss books with you?"

"The night you hit town."  She put the ice cream back in the freezer, shook her head and said, "It's indecently late or early, but are you still hungry?"

"Actually, no.  Would you rather I drop the subject?"

Aidan walked over and settled herself onto his lap.  "No.  If you want to know, then yes, I'll answer.  As best I can, anyway.  You were keeping me awake, mo cridhe, or more accurately, my own indecision did.  Do you know what Joe's first opinion of us was?"

"No."  Gold-green eyes studied her curiously, noting that she had closed her eyes again, and relaxed her guard on her expressions.  "What did he have to say that got this kind of result?"

"He said, and I quote, 'From the body language, I'd have to say you're in love with Methos.  But you two don't act like lovers.  Are you going to be all right sharing a bed with him and not doing anything?'  He's an appallingly good friend.  I wish Darius had known him."  She sighed and settled more comfortably against Methos' chest.

 "So do Duncan and I.  They'd have gotten along splendidly.  Aidan, why didn't you tell me it was sleeping with me that was keeping you awake?"

"What could I say, Methos?  'I want you, but I'm too scared.'  'You feel too good, I don't trust myself.'  'Will you respect me in the morning?'  I didn't know what I felt, what I wanted -- what you felt, what you wanted.  There was nothing but confusion and fear, and that damn premonition riding my shoulders...."  Aidan tucked her head in under his chin, shaking, unable to get words out around the tightness in her throat.

"What were you frightened of?  That I wouldn't love you, or that I would?"  Methos felt her flinch at that question, but this needed to be ironed out now.  From long experience he knew fears like this could strangle a relationship.  A few months as Aidan's lover, no matter how pleasant or how long desired, did not match another several centuries of her friendship.  Sex he could get; immortals he loved and trusted were few and far between.

"I had just found you again....  I think I was frightened that one way or another asking would destroy our friendship."  Somewhere, she had opened her eyes again, but Aidan saw only candlelight and the shadows of her own worries.  "And mortals are safer to love, in some ways.  You know going into it that the relationship will be finite.  Connor was right.  I am a coward."

Methos shook her so hard her teeth rattled.  "Do I have your attention, idiot woman?"  Thoroughly startled, Aidan turned her head to meet his gaze as he continued, "That is entirely enough of that.  Let's take this in order, shall we?"

He caught her jaw in one hand, making her look at him.  The grip was just firm enough that she couldn't escape, although not bruising unless she tried to fight it.  "One.  I do not abandon friendships just because someone made a polite pass.

"Two.  If you look at me in the morning and say this was solely to celebrate the Solstice, we are still going to be friends and I'm going to have a glorious set of memories.  But I am not going to hate you for it, or desert you, or resent the fact that you've decided not to share your body with me.

"Three.  Just for the record, if you and Duncan become lovers, I may be slightly jealous that you managed to get him in bed, but I will not be jealous that you went to bed with him.  I think you understand the distinction.

"Four.  Loving mortals, knowing they are going to die and leave you alone again, is not the act of a coward.  That takes more strength than most of us can muster.  It's easy the first time when you haven't felt that pain before.  Knowing what you're going into and doing it anyway for your love and theirs is courage, Edana, not cowardice.

"Now, if you're worried about whether you'll still consider me a friend, whether or not we're lovers, or that you'll get jealous of me taking other lovers -- that you'll have to deal with.  But you've never been one for jealousy, I can't see you starting now.  Gods, woman, you've gotten along better with some of my wives than I did!  And you've never been one for unwilling lovers.  Have you changed in the last three centuries?"

"No, I--"  Aidan still shivered in his arms, feeling almost battered by his arguments, the fierceness in his voice.

"Fine.  Then get over the idea that you would destroy our friendship if I decided I didn't want to be your lover.  I know you; you'll take on pain yourself before you'll give it to a friend.  You and Duncan are too much alike in that, both of you raised to take on responsibility for those you considered your clan and still doing it.  You're more prone to guide, he to guard, but you both do it regardless of the cost to yourselves.  I have been taking care of myself for a very long time, why don't you let me keep doing it and worry about yourself for once?"

With a long sigh, Aidan relaxed muscles she hadn't realized were tense, letting go of worries and fears and other phantasms.  "Gods but I have missed you direly, teacher mine, lover mine.  No one else argues sense into me like this."

"Give Joe another year or so and he will.  The man reads people all too well, and he'll soon know exactly how that convoluted mind of yours works.  He hits buttons better on instinct than most psychiatrists do on years of training.  Shall we move this to the couch, love?"

"Gods, yes, I'm sorry, mo cridhe, I hadn't...."  Aidan untangled herself from him, suddenly realizing just how uncomfortable he must have been in a chair with no arms to help support her weight.  Methos just laughed and caught at her hand to keep her from moving too far away.

"It's all right, you know.  It's not like we'll die of it," and hazel eyes encouraged her to smile.  "Besides, I like the way you say that, love, always have."

"What, calling you my own?  I'll remember that, although there are other names I doubt you'd object to."  Aidan sank onto the couch and held out her arms to him.  They adjusted themselves until they fit comfortably against each other and the couch.  "Why did you wait so long to ask?"

Methos shrugged.  "You're a grown woman, I thought I'd give you time to solve it yourself.  You still call me teacher, but that's affection, not our relationship.  By the time I realized you were fighting something you couldn't or wouldn't defeat, we had Stengel to worry about.  This became a problem for another time.  What do they say these days?  I 'deprioritized' it.  The things business books do to the language of Shakespeare should be illegal."

"M'chara, isn't he the one who said 'First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers?' "  Aidan smiled, amused and sleepy again.

" 'Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.'  Emerson, I think."

"Ah.  Smart ass."  Her hands began to stroke against his back and neck, soothing and relaxing instead of arousing.

"Yes, but you seem to like my ass."  Methos settled in more comfortably against her and asked,  "Am I too heavy?"

"No, not at all.  It's nice having someone there to make sure I don't fall off the planet."  Aidan squirmed slightly to give him more room, then chuckled softly.  "You know, there's a bed over there."

"Yes, but you seem more comfortable talking here.  Besides, we'd have to get up.  Was I wrong to let you work on it yourself?"

He sounded curious, not concerned.  Aidan shrugged, knowing he'd feel it even if he couldn't see it.  "No, I don't think so.  I needed to do my own thinking on it."

"And Connor's threat?"  Amusement and irony laced Methos' voice.

"Do you really think I couldn't have found a way out if I had wanted to?"

"What did you do?  I notice neither of us took a blade through the heart."

"Promised him I'd resolve this with you tonight, last night, whatever.  Oh, you have clean clothes down on the first floor; I'll get them for you in the morning."

"Edana?  It is morning."

"The sun hasn't come up yet, therefore it isn't morning.  Don't be technical or I'll quit rubbing your shoulders."

"Ah.  It's night, definitely.  How did you pull off the change of clothes?"

"I promised to try to drag you into bed and Connor promised to help me with details.  Little things:  having someplace to seduce you, loaning me a car to buy candles and roses, packing a bag for you...."  She chuckled softly.  "That man has done this sort of thing too often.  He was telling me what I had forgotten."

Methos laughed soundlessly against her.  "I believe it.  I'm glad you decided the way you did, Edana.  Still going to respect me in the morning?"

"Oh, I'll manage something.  Shall I sing you to sleep again?"  Her hands paused on his back, waiting for his answer.

"The sun hasn't risen yet.  Are you really going to sing me to sleep on Midsummer's Eve, my lady druid?"  Mischief tinted his voice as he breathed the words just under her ear, right over what he now knew to be a very sensitive spot.

Aidan gasped against him, and then muttered, "This couch is not wide enough for this.  It really isn't."

"Have you tried?"  Methos caught his breath in a sharp intake of air as she ran nails up the inside of his thighs.

"Yes.  Come to bed, oh, insatiable one.  I may have to..."  She whimpered, losing her train of thought in what that too-talented mouth was doing, then managed to force out, "... warn Duncan about you.  Oh, Gods, the floor's close."

"Yes."  Methos rolled them both onto the floor, then made it up to her and she to him.  They fell asleep there, next to the couch.

* * * *

Duncan picked up the phone, still half-asleep from staying out too late with Connor, and mildly hung-over to boot.  Anyone except an immortal would have had a blinding hangover; as it was, his head hurt and his mouth tasted foul.  "MacLeod."

"You're growling, dearheart.  Did Connor give you some of Sunda's boom-boom again?"  Aidan sounded entirely too cheerful for Duncan.

"Aidan, it's... 9:30.  I crawled into bed five hours ago.  Could you keep it down?" Duncan grumbled.

"Ah.  All right, Dhonnchaidh, do three things for me and I promise you'll feel better.  Listen, then do them in this order.  Put the phone on the counter and tell Connor to come talk to me.  Then get a beer and use it to wash down a few of the aspirin you keep around for Anne and Joe.  Last, go stand under as hot a shower as you can stand for about fifteen minutes, and drop it to cold for a full minute before you get out.  Got it?"

"Does it really work?" Duncan asked her as he reached into the refrigerator for a beer.  The tone of voice could have come from a small child asking for protection against the monster under the bed.

Aidan chuckled softly and promised, "Yes, Dhonnchaidh, it works.  You lived in Russia for awhile, have you just forgotten?  Go get a shower and tell Connor to get out of bed and talk to me about the rest of the hair of the dog."

She heard him put the phone down, then listened with great amusement as Connor threatened both Duncan and her in Gaelic.  At last Connor picked up the phone and said, "This had better be good."

"After he gets out of the shower, you get in, then come over and I'll feed you breakfast.  Best offer you're likely to get today."  She kept her tone cheerful and quiet.

"Heh-heh.  Lunch, too.  Deal?"

"Tell you what, by the time you two get over here it'll really be brunch, but I'll feed you that and dinner both.  You're being bribed with strawberries in cider, cinnamon waffles with maple syrup, country ham, and anything else I think of between then and now.  Deal?"

"We'll be there about 10:30 then.  Did it go well, sister?"

Connor sounded more awake by the moment, but he had always handled alcohol well even for an immortal.  "Come over and find out for yourself, brother.  See you in a while.  Connor."

"Aidan."  Connor hung up and chuckled despite his headache.  So, that had worked.  Time enough today and tomorrow morning to catch up on news with all three of them, then head back to New York tomorrow night.  Rachel would be pleased by this.  Maybe this year he could even get Aidan to the Christmas party.

Aidan walked over to the tub and leaned over to kiss Methos.  "You getting out anytime soon?"

He raised an eyebrow.  "Do you have a good reason I should get out of a hot bath?  You're a better cook than I am."

"That's a matter of opinion, but I'll give you another kiss if you'll come help."  She stepped back just in time to avoid being pulled into the tub.

"Woman, come here."  Methos stretched over the side of the tub.  "Payment in advance, if you please, especially since it's your fault we woke up stiff this morning."

Aidan laughed out loud.  "Who rolled us off the couch?"

"Who suggested the floor and then pinned me down on it?"  He propped himself on the edge on his forearms.

"One kiss, then you help cook."  Aidan eyed him warily and continued, "And they'll be here in forty-five minutes.  You are not dragging me in that tub."

"Of course not."

The innocent look didn't inspire Aidan to trust him but she leaned in for the kiss quite happily.  Somehow it didn't surprise her to end up on the edge of the tub, her clothes soaked, pinned and shivering under Methos' hands as he cheerfully inquired, "All right, shall we go to work?"

"Other than heating the cook, you mean?"  But she smiled and kissed him again quickly.  "Now I have to go change into dry clothes or drip all over the floors.  I'll give credit where it's due.  You didn't drag me into the tub."

* * * *

Duncan cursed as Connor moved his bishop into exactly the spot on the chessboard Duncan had had plans for and looked around for some kind of diversion.  "Where did Aidan go?"

Methos looked up from browsing the CD racks and replied, "Downstairs.  Something she needed to do on the computer today.  Why?  Losing that badly?"

Connor smiled, eyes lighting up.  "He hates it when I figure out his strategies before they're in full swing.  Makes chess much more fun."

Duncan looked at Connor and said, "I'll give you fun.  Adam, see if you can salvage this mess, will you?  It's your move.  I'm going to go find Aidan and see if she wants to go swimming today."

"That badly, hmm?  Well, let's see--"

"Now wait a second, Duncan, you're not supposed to--"

Duncan swung up from his chair and Methos sat down, already plotting against Connor's queen.  Downstairs Aidan was humming softly to herself as she worked and Duncan walked over to see what she was doing.  To his surprise, she was working on something in German that said it was....  "Aidan!  That's a bank, what are you doing?"

She glanced up, then returned her attention to the screen.  "Half a second, Duncan, this is a bit delicate."  Aidan sang one of the arias from the Ring cycle softly as she worked.  Duncan watched, intrigued, as she quickly worked through screen after screen, hands flying, occasionally breaking off in mid-word to bite her lip and then curse.

At last she nodded and muttered, "Right, now to...."  Swiftly she worked out of the system then began to shut down the connection.  It took much longer than Duncan had expected, but finally she turned in her chair and smiled.  "What's up?"

"What were you doing?"

"Oh, that's simple.  To the victor goes the spoils.  I'm robbing Gustav's accounts blind, by way of several satellite and net relays so that I don't get caught.  Before I'm done, all of his money will be scattered to various places and a couple will even be my accounts.  But the World AIDS Fund got a good chunk, and UNICEF received a generous anonymous contribution, both of which I'm sure are annoying him greatly in the afterworld."

"How...."  Duncan stopped, took a deep breath and tried again.  "Aidan, why?"

She looked at him and her expressive face went still.  "Ah.  Am I correct that you disapprove?"

"You're grave-robbing, basically.  Or did I miss something?"  The tone of voice came out carefully level, trying very hard to be less accusatory than the words.  To his credit, he succeeded.

Aidan tilted her head and studied his face, the set of his shoulders, the way he held his hands.  "Pull up a chair, Duncan, and let's discuss this, shall we?"  She waited until he had and then, characteristically, sliced in at her target from an unexpected angle.

"Are you angry that I'm stealing money from a man who tried to hunt me like a deer on opening day, or are you angry that I bedded Methos and not you?"

Duncan immediately held up both hands.  "Stop.  I am not upset about that.  If anything I'm pleased for both of you.  I knew he needed someone and Connor said you did.  You're both happy, and that's enough for me.  So drop that, all right?"

Aidan continued to watch him with that same intent stillness, then she smiled.  "I believe you.  I saw it when you and Connor walked in.  And thank you.  It's hard to find friends who believe in tromping on jealousy before it gets a chance to grow.

"So.  If it isn't that, why do you object to my acquiring his money?"

"What if he had a family, heirs?  Have you just bankrupted his wife?"  Duncan looked exasperated more than anything else.  "I mean, why should you get his money?"

"Duncan, I checked.  No wife, no heirs, not even a recent will.  He bragged to me before he died that he never took students; they were a waste of energy, I believe he said.  And before you ask, he left his home computer on to be accessed.  I have just enough left of his memories that with them and his wallet and papers, I managed to access his computer and steal bank account information, his exchanges with his stock brokers, lists of assets.  I'm going to process as many over as I can, through intermediaries mostly.

"However, let's get back to the question.  You're asking by what right do I do these things.  Is that the crux of the matter?"

He thought about it, dark brown eyes shuttered.  "Yes, I guess it is.  He deserved to lose his head.  Actually, he deserved a slower death than that.  I wonder how many other immortals he's hunted that way?"

Aidan muttered, "Several, from the feel of that quickening."

"But why should you take his money?  His house, his jewelry -- for all I know his car.  Why?"

"Because, Duncan, it's only fair.  The Game is a bastard way to live but the fact remains that what we put up for stakes in any challenge, any combat, is what Jefferson wrote in that lovely incendiary document of his.  We wager our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.  Some of us play at sanity as well.  Stengel hunted me, Duncan, planning to take my most valuable possession:  my life.  He tried to drive me half-mad first, to ensure he get my quickening.  He lost.  Why shouldn't I reallocate what he valued most?  It's mine by right of combat."

She studied him, still serious.  "You know as well as I do that students aren't cheap to maintain and train.  We can't hold normal jobs, because we often have to up and move at short notice and for long periods of time.  Granted, we're very good at long-term investments, many of us, but they're just that:  long-term.  If you lose them in the interim, destroyed antiques, stolen art, burnt rare edition books, government bonds for countries that no longer exist....

"Throw in on top of that that our lives tend to be very hard on belongings, between swordplay and quickenings.  Our enemies make short shrift of what possessions and moneys we do have, if we don't conceal them well enough, in enough places and several different names.  Should I let the Canadian government tie up his estate for years for an heir that never comes?  Is it just that you see it as stealing?"

Duncan sat back and thought about that, about the reasoning and the explanations.  "Do you normally do this when you defeat another immortal?"

"Honestly?  Yes, when I can.  It's not often that I get the chance to be so complete.  I wish I did know where he left his car and not only because that will trigger the hunt for him."

"Do you ever lie to me?"

Aidan sighed, then commented, "If you have to ask the question, will you believe the answer?"

"I can't even really apologize for asking.  I know I make judgments, but--"

"But you were brought up to be clan chieftain and part of the job is rendering judgment.  I know.  However, I was raised to be a druid for the clans.  I'm supposed to secure resources, guide opinions, and see to raising the young properly.  Do you really want me to grow away from that?"

He shook his head.  "No, I don't.  And I don't know why I asked that."

"Yes, you do.  Because I asked if you wanted an honest answer, which implies I may not always have given you honesty.  No, Duncan, I don't lie to any of the people currently in my house.  I may dodge your questions, refuse to answer, or switch the topics without your noticing, but I don't lie to you -- or Connor, or Methos, for that matter."  She slid from her chair down onto her knees in front of him and held her hands out.  "Do you want oath on that?  I'll give it if you like."

"No.  And get off your knees, Aidan, you'll have Methos after my head."  Duncan snapped it at her, upset at the subservient body positioning she had used.  Then she looked up at him.  The amused strength in those clear grey eyes stopped him cold and left him wondering which of them dominated at this particular point.

"Not just yet, I don't think.  I seem to have your full attention now.  Do you need the oath?"  Clear, bell-tone amusement resonated through her voice.

"No, I don't.  Did they name you flame for the way your moods shift, Aidan?"  There was no way out of the chair and back upstairs until she moved; she was practically kneeling between his legs, her arms and hands resting on his thighs.

She laughed at the idea, folding her arms to rest across his legs.  "I've never known, Duncan.  However, to reassure you -- no, I did not take offense.  And he won't go after your head over me; I'd kill you both and then argue sense into you when you revived.  Do we agree to disagree on this?  Or do you want to come to Toronto with me to clear out the bastard's house next week?"

"Let's agree to disagree, but I promise to think about it, all right?"

Aidan shifted up to her feet, still entirely too close for Duncan's comfort, then leaned in and kissed him.  While it wasn't a lover's kiss, it was still longer and more affectionate than he had expected.  "Good enough.  Let me know if you want to borrow some of my books on brehon law and honor price violations."

"I will.  I have a few of my own, I just hadn't thought of it in that light."  Duncan shook his head.  "Anyway, originally I came down to see if you wanted to do something like throw together a picnic and go swim or wander around one of the parks tonight?  If we go to the beach, Joe will probably come along.  Sound good?"

"It sounds wonderful.  If you'll call Joe, I'll get them to help put dinner together.  And Duncan?"

"Yes?"

"I love you, too.  Even if we are very different."

Duncan hugged her tightly to him.  "I'll try, Aidan.  I'll try not to drive you two off.  I don't think I can stand that again."

"Shh, easy.  You won't.  I won't let you and I'm more stubborn than you are, remember?"

Both of them smiled at that, walking upstairs arm in arm to drag the others off to a Midsummer's dinner.  Aidan laughed at the sight of Connor's shattered chess forces, Methos' amused look, Duncan's pleased rumbling chuckle at the outcome of the game.  What better companions for a feast in honor of love and valor?  Sweet Lady, All Father, hold them safe, please.  The Gathering is not yet.  Give us a while yet.

* * * *

All three of them sat in the airport, lounged back in the chairs as they waited for Methos' flight to be called.  Aidan played idly with one of the tiny braids she had woven her hair into the night before,  face set in her usual mask of mild amusement, only to feel a warm hand tilt her chin up.  Duncan gave his friends a few seconds on the kiss before he decided that they might be pushing the local decency laws a bit too hard.

"If you two could finish giving the lady at the counter a free show?"

Aidan pulled her mouth free long enough to mutter, "Hush, Duncan, he'll get to you in a minute," and went back to kissing Methos as if she could slow the clock ticking toward takeoff were she only thorough enough.

Duncan's eyes widened and he flushed at the idea; then he smiled slowly, realizing that his hesitation was what Aidan wanted.  So why not turn the tables on her just once?  He tapped Methos on the shoulder and when the oldest immortal turned to see what it was this time Mac shrugged, smiling, and said, "My turn."

Gold-green eyes, already sleepy with desire from Aidan's send off, widened at the comment, but Methos made no attempt to push Duncan away when he leaned in for a kiss of his own.  The Scot deliberately moved slowly to give his friend a chance to push him off if he didn't want to go along with this mischief meant to lighten the mood.  To his surprise, Methos winked at him and then kissed him, though not nearly so passionately.  Aidan's startled, choking laughter broke them off before it could get too serious and left Duncan surprised at just how much he had enjoyed kissing the other man.

"Flight 803 for New York is now boarding first class."

"Damn, that's you, love."  Aidan sighed and stood up.  "Try not to get into too much trouble tonight, but I think Connor said he'd gotten tickets for something at Madison Square Gardens."

Methos smiled and stood up himself, holding his carryall loosely in one hand.  "He's only been back there a week and I'll only be there overnight.  I think I can manage to get out of any trouble he's found, Edana."  He kissed her gently on the forehead.  "Take care of yourself, love, and I'll see you later this fall.  You will come to Paris for a while after you finish this book, won't you?'

"Yes, somewhere around early or mid-October, I think.  Definitely by Samhain, anyway.  I haven't been to Paris in ages, I'm looking forward to imposing on one of you for hospitality.  Duncan, when are you headed back over?"

"Oh, sometime later this summer, it'll depend on whether I teach at the university this fall."  Duncan hugged Methos hard, then let go.  "Go on, they're just about ready to start boarding the coach seats.  Watch your head, Adam."

Methos leaned in and brushed his lips against Duncan's again.  "I'll be careful, Highlander.  Remember, I'm the anonymous one, not you.  Call when you can, or when you need me, either of you."  He turned and headed for the boarding line and stepped onto the plane, sighing to himself as he moved out of their presence.  Soon enough, I'll see them again.  All three of us in one place is dangerous, we're too big a target.  On the other hand, it would take a lot to take all three of us at once.  That's worth considering too.

In the concourse, Aidan and Duncan glanced at each other.  "In any hurry to get back into rush hour traffic, Duncan?"

They exchanged understanding looks, then sat back down to watch the plane off.  "I have aikido classes to teach this evening, but don't we need to go shopping for a new car for you sometime soon?  Like this morning?"

"Hmm, for that matter, if you'll cook dinner, I'll come over and install that new accounting software for the dojo and start converting files tonight.  Deal?"  She settled against his arm to watch the plane off.

Duncan wrapped the arm around her shoulders, feeling the empty shoulder harness under her shirt, wishing the coming Gathering didn't make it necessary for the three of them to split and rejoin like this.  "Deal.  So what did you send Rachel as a thank-you present?"

"I found an amber necklace on a tri-gold chain that I think will go very well with her coloring.  Adam promised to deliver it.  So what do they think they might want you to teach at the college?  And what time do you want to go run tomorrow?"

* * * *

Joe sat on the stool in his bar, taking advantage of a quiet Monday morning to practice his guitar work before settling down to update Mac's chronicle -- and lie a bit more.  The truth would stay in his private journals this time.

Mike walked in, nodded to Joe, and pulled himself a mug of coffee.  "Mikhail got off at the airport, no problem.  He's still pissed that he couldn't find a decent sightline to watch that fight.  I think he wanted to see Gustav finally lose his head."

"Yeah, well, from some of what he said at the poker game last week, can't blame him a bit.  Hell of an assignment, you have to admit.  Not as bad as, say, Felicia Martens or the Kurgan, but still."

Mike doctored his coffee and sipped it judiciously.  "Well, whoever offed Karl Gustav von Stengel did a good service toward the Gathering."

Joe never glanced up from the intricate arpeggio he was practicing, but he thought about that.  "Picking sides, Mike?"

"We're neutral observers, right, Joe?  Of course I'm not picking sides.  Just like MacLeod killed Gustav.  If I ever need to know something, like which side we're not really coming down on, I'm sure you won't tell me."  Mike gave Joe his best 'but honestly, sir' look, but his eyes were full of mischief.

"Something I need to tell you?"

"Of course not.  So, Aidan will be in like usual tomorrow?  She well and truly recovered from that bout of the flu?"

Joe thought about the way the conversation had gone.  "Yeah, she'll be in.  Have you been over to see her place now that she's through with it for a while?"

"Not yet. She invited me over for dinner tomorrow night.  You don't suppose that a classical scholar like that would have a gladius or something on the wall do you?"

Joe shrugged, and worked his way down through the arpeggios again, getting them perfect this run.  "Yeah, actually she does.  Mac offered her a good price for them, but since they're family heirlooms....  You know how it is.  Every now and then someone appreciates tradition."  He looked up at his assistant Watcher and barkeeper.  "Perfectly understandable for a classics student, I'd say, wouldn't you?"

Mike raised his coffee cup.  "Oh, yeah.  Perfectly.  Here's to family traditions and long lives."

Joe reached down and saluted with his water glass.  "To long life.  And good friends."
 
 

~ ~ ~ finis  8/1997 ~ ~ ~

Comments, Commentary, and Miscellanea:

 Ignore this if you dislike trivia.

20 Brehon law is the old Celtic rules of blood and honor price, arbitrated by druid-trained brehons.  They seem to have been something between arbiters, lawyers, and judges.

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