Adam stood outside her door, debating whether or not he wanted to knock, or just bust his way inside. He and Jade had gotten into a fight earlier in the day. Basically, Jade thought he wasn't happy with her unless they were having sex. Let's just say they fight alot when they aren't. Of course, he didn't want to get too attached to her. "An immortal man should never fall in love with a mortal." Atleast, that is what his mentor had taught him. "It only brings heartache over and over again."

He knocked on the door. "Jade? It's me. Will you please open the door, so we can talk?" She opened the door as far as the chain lock would allow. "Talk." "Are you going to let me in?" "Are you willing to beg?" He growled at her. Jade gave him a wicked grin. "We can play doggy after you apologize for being a cold and insensitive man." Silence filled the air. "Well, I'm waiting." "And you shall wait until my dieing day." "Fine. Just remember where you left your sword when Conner comes for you again." Adam's eyes went wide, and his jaw hit the floor. "You wouldn't leave me out here to die." "I would." "Jade, I have a hole in my shirt and blood from where he got me earlier." "Apologize."

He got on his knees, and said:

Jade closed the door, and unlocked it. She opened it wide, and said, "now that wasn't so hard, was it?" He growled as he crawled into the room. "Why haven't I killed you?" "Because I'm the only one who will put up with you." "You are such a bitch sometimes." She grabbed his sword from behind the door, and held it to his neck. "You know, I could end your life as easily as Conner could." "I doubt that. I wouldn't let you." He reached behind him, grabbed the blade, and pulled it from her grip. He rolled onto his back, and pointed his toe knife at her heart. She looked down at it, and said, "touche', Edge. You win."

He set his foot on the floor, and stared up at her. He remembered why he had chosen her, then. She was beautiful, with a morbid sense of humor, and someone he could trust with his secret. But, she could be a vengeful wench, and wanted some sort of affection, besides their love making.

Jade reached down to him, and helped him get to his feet. "Now, can you say those three words I wanted to hear earlier?" Adam's hazel eyes gazed into her blue ones. He smiled at her. "I love you, Jade." She smiled back at him. "That's four words, but... I love you, too, Adam." He kissed her, and the kiss was followed by a round of love making.

Once they were spent, they had both fallen fast asleep. Just the opportunity Conner was looking for. He snuck in through the window, and crawled along the floor to her side of the bed. Adam's senses must have been thrown off because of his exhaustion, because he didn't wake up. Conner raised the knife over her heart, and plunged it into her chest. She screamed in pain. Conner got to his feet, and ran to the door. Before he stepped out, he turned to Adam. "She's your's eternally, my brother." He smiled, and left.

"YOU BASTARD!" He turned his attention to Jade. "Oh, God... Baby, shhh... Calm down. I know it hurts, but the pain won't last long." He was right, for not long after, she died. A tear slid down his cheek. "Baby, please wake up." He knew she wasn't asleep, because her eyes were open. "Baby, I'll beg, just don't die." He said:

She still did not draw in a breath.

He laid there with her in his arms for an hour, before she drew another breath. She screamed out. "ADAM! What the hell did he do to me!?" "Shh... He made you like us. We've known for awhile that you could be like us. I wanted you to be normal; have children, get married, grow old. He wanted you to be my eternal bride." "Why the hell did he stab me?" "You had to meet a violent end to become immortal." "You're not going to..." Adam smiled at her, and laid his hand along her jaw. "Take your head? Never." He softly kissed her.

As he walked the McCleod land, he thought back to his and Adam's mother's final days. She had been burned at the stake, because the town's people thought she was a witch. Conner and Adam had died in battle, surrounded by the clan McCleod. There were only three to return, and the other one had witnessed their deaths. How had the last survived? He didn't. He was immortal as well. But that is a story for a later date.

Conner stood over his first bride's grave. It was thinking of her that made him take Jade's life. He wished that his bride were still with him. He missed her long corn silk hair, her shapely body, the way she would wake him in the mornings, the way she would make love to him whenever and wherever the mood struck...

His thoughts were interrupted by the sensation of another immortal. "Why is it that everytime I am in trouble, you find me, Spaniard?" "Trouble seeks trouble, McCleod. What have you done this time?" "I killed my brother's girlfriend, and made another immortal." "And you came back here to hide from him?" "Until he realizes it was for the best. I don't wish for Adam to be alone, as I am." "But in doing so, you put his girlfriend's life in danger. I don't think Adam will forgive you easily." "Maybe not, but they can be happy together as long as they keep their heads," he laughed. "Must you always medle in your little brother's life?" "What else should I do to pass the time?" "Find a hobby, find a woman of your own to pass the time..."

They stood watching as he walked off into the hills. Once he was a good distance away, Jade turned to him, and said, "why didn't you tell me?" "You would have thought I was crazy." "You don't know that. Adam told me his secret. A woman tends to ask questions when her man constantly has a sword by his side." "Speaking of Adam, where is he?" "He's in town, getting us a room for the night. Now, why did you stab me?" "I don't want my brother to have a lonely life. I've seen how you make him happy. I was that happy once. As you see, she was not an immortal," he said as he gestured toward her headstone.

She lowered her head. She felt sorry for him. A beautiful song by Queen filled her head. "Just one year of love, is better than a lifetime alone." "I thought that once myself. After 500 years, you become lonely again." "I'm sure Adam has been with other women, besides me, in the past 500 years. You could have found someone else in that time." "Therein lies the problem. This time, my brother and I wanted the same one."

Conner wrapped his arms around Jade, and kissed her. She struggled at first, but soon gave in to his soft lips. Fifty yards away, Adam stood watching the whole ordeal.