London, early 1851

"Ma'am?"
I looked up from my book. "Yes Gwen?"
"The man you requested is here."
I sat my book flat on my lap. "Show him in."
I had no sooner checked my reflection in my teaspoon, when I heard:
 "No need for that my dear... You're as lovely as ever."
My heart jumped as I sat my spoon down on the table. "Why Hugh.....
You've cut your hair!"
Fitzcairn walked through the parlor doors with a swagger only he would possess.
"Ah, you noticed... just a trim mind you... nothing serious."
He took his gloves off and sat them on the table as he took a seat beside me on the couch.
I smiled. "You sent me word earlier... what's this visit all about Fitz?"
"Too much to tell in one breath actually.... it's a long story."
I rubbed my wrists together anxiously. "I like long stories."
He looked at me with a face that said "Bundle of Nerves" all over it.
His hands shook as he took his pipe out from his coat pocket and lit a match.
"I've come to tell you that you're in a deal of danger."
I guffawed. "Oh come now... I may not be the best liked immortal here, but no one can hate me THAT much!"
I laughed, but the man beside me? Not a sound. It was then that I knew he wasn't kidding.
My eyes became dark. "What's going on here?"
Hugh took a few puffs of his pipe before looking up at me. "There's word that a watcher is here...
that he's been lopping off immortal women's heads... one by one... like a... a sick hobby."
I became quiet. "And let me guess... I'm next?"
Hugh shrugged. "You could say that."
I reached up and rubbed the base of my neck with my fingers. I than looked at Fitz.
"So why are you here? To tell me this and than LEAVE? Just like you did in Italy?
Leave to let me fight on my own?"
He turned his blue eyes to me... and they glowed with a compassionate light....
it captivated me for only a moment, before I blinked out of it.
Hugh leaned forward and propped his pipe inside one of the empty teacups on the table.
"I didn't intend on leaving lass."
He smiled. "Duncan sent me here ahead of him  to deal with the fop if he comes before tomorrow...
Duncan will be here to help me tomorrow after noon."
He sat back with a sigh. "Until than, I'm yours to deal with as you'd like.
"He paused and put up a hand. "And don't even try to get rid of me because I won't go."
I smiled. "Oh really?"
"Yes... well, madam, remember that I HAVE seen you in your bathing attire and believe me,
I will not rest until I have that body under my grasp. "
I laughed. "Good heavens Hugh! Swimming? When did YOU see me swimming?"
Fitz stood up. "1956... Amanda's pool during a dinner party if you recall."
He stood up and bowed, than turned to walk out, leaving me to ponder the event.
"And now my dear, I will go to my room that your butler has so graciously prepared for me....
if you need me, call."
I nodded. "I will do so... thank you."
As he turned I called out.
"Hugh?"
He looked back. "Yes?"
I stood up and smiled. "Thank you for coming.... and... you know... for everything."
He smiled quietly and bowed. "You are most welcome Rebekah."

I took my seat at the dinner table that evening and spread my napkin on my lap.
"Gwen?" My maid came near. "Yes Ma'am?"
"Is Sir Hugh coming?"
"Yes he is and he is most sorry that he is late."
I looked up to see Fitz walking in to take his seat.
"Gwen? You can tell Martin to serve now."
"Yes ma'am."
Hugh spread his napkin and smiled. "What's for dinner?"
"If Nancy and Martin remembered that is IS Friday, we should be having Ham and some
Sweet rolls with Liver and Fruit.... and wine if you like."
When I said "Wine" His blue eyes sparked.
After the meal was laid out before us, we said a solace blessing and began to eat.
"Hugh..." I paused to cut my meat with a knife. "Please tell me more about this watcher... do we know his name?"
Fitz kept his eyes on his plate. "No... we don't know his name..."
"And Duncan?"
Hugh took a drink of his wine.
"For once he knows no more than I... and it isn't much."
I put down my fork and sighed. "Fitz... did it ever occur to you that
I'm not as stupid as I might have been 50 years ago? I would like to
know at least what he looks like... surely you must know that."
Hugh nodded. "I know, I know."
He took a quick bite of his roll before leaning back in his chair, his hands folded on his stomach.
"So far all we know is what Amanda and a few others have told us... Methos knows his name."
"Which is?"
"Legion"
My soul shuddered at the name, but Hugh continued.
"He is close to your age outwardly.... Brown hair... Green eyes."
I nodded. I was nervous before, but now I felt it was turning to
fear. This must have been a serious matter if Hugh came to seek me out....
I was glad of course that he found me.
"My lady?"
I looked up. "Yes?"
Martin handed me a small parcel and than left the room.
The wrapped box looked only big enough to hold a few sugar cubes.
I was taken. "My... how quaint."
I opened it and found a small wooden box.
"My that is a neat little gift isn't it?" Fitz said as he popped a grape into his mouth.
"From a suitor no doubt."
He said the last part of that so flatly... I thought to myself. I wonder why?
I pulled the latch on top of the box and than opened the lid.
When I saw what was inside, my head felt light.
I shakingly set the box in front of me on the table and than pushed
back my chair. I than stood up and ran upstairs as fast as I could.
"Rebekah! What is it?" I heard Fitz's voice echoed through the house,
But all I could thin about was what was inside that box.
It wasn't anything gross mind you... just a note. A note which read: You're Next.
I threw myself on my bed and cried. I was so stressed from the past weeks that this did it...
This whole immortal business had built up and built up... and it had been ages since I had  a good cry anyway.
I must have been tired from the day because soon I had cried myself to a hazy sleep.
I awoke later, to someone's touch upon my cheek. I slowly opened my eyes and sighed.
Fitz was kneeled beside my bed, his fingers stroking my cheek.
I didn't smile, but my brow furrowed. "Why are you in here?"
His blue eyes seemed to question, but than he understood. He smiled.
"I go where I'm needed Love....... and something told me that this was one of those times."
My own brown eyes studied his face... his strong arms....
Those arms that I so wanted to be sheltered in.
There was a time long ago that I would have run to them and taken his embrace willingly....
but I questioned that now.
I relented. "Yes... you're right."
He nodded and than leaned foreword to kiss my forehead.
He than touched his forehead against mine and smiled.
His lips, less than an inch from my own, caused me to tremble slightly.
"I know about the note love.... and I'm sorry."
Fitz stood straight as I spoke.
"You won't let anything happen to me will you?" I than thought to myself...
What kind of a stupid question is THAT??
Fitz stood up than. "No... not tonight, nor tomorrow.... not ever."
He walked over to shut the door. "Hugh... what are you doing?"
Fitz hung his sword on the chair by the bed. "I'm going to stay right here until the morning."
"But where on earth will you sleep?"
He turned as he took off his silken undershirt to reveal a back of rippling muscles.
He turned around to face me, shaking his hair out of his face.
His chest and stomach were sculpted to perfection.
He looked at me over his eyebrows. "Well.. I can accompany my lady in her bed."
He paused, a smile on his lips. "That is.... if she so wishes."
I slowly slid off the bed and walked over to my vanity mirror which hung over my dresser.
I reached up and pulled the pins out of my hair which held it in a soft upright bun.
It fell down to my shoulders and stopped right above my waist.
I looked at my reflection skeptically. "If I so wish?" I repeated.
Fitz walked over to me and stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders.
He leaned foreword and whispered into my ear.
"I have been a gentleman long enough as you know my lady.....
Your enticing skin and shape has taken it's toll."
His warm breath on my face and silky tone, made me shiver.
I closed my eyes and sighed. And than..... I opened them.... opened them for real!
My room was empty! It was a dream.... I laid my head back on the pillow as tears welled in my eyes.....
why had it been a dream? Why?
Suddenly, I heard a noise out on my balcony.... I sat up to listen harder.... they were footsteps!
I held my breath.... They were too heavy for a women.... I wanted to scream Fitz's name,
but the breath was caught in my throat.
Suddenly the two balcony doors flew open, causing the falling rain outside to shower in a bit.
I shrieked and scrambled to stand up. There was a figure that silhouetted the doorway.
I finally found my voice and stood firm. "Who are you Sir and what are you doing in my room?"

The figure didn't answer and so quickly I reached under my nearby pillow on the bed
and pulled out my sword. I held it out in front of me.
"You don't answer me sir? Have you no voice, or shall I thrust my sword down your throat and find out?"
No answer and so I raised my voice. "My soul tells me you're immortal sir."
The figure walked towards me, but I quickly thrust my sword towards him.
"Stop RIGHT there and tell me WHO you are!"
Just than my door opened and Fitz rushed in.
"I heard shouting and I-"
"It's all right Hugh." A voice boomed from the man in front of us.
I and Fitz watched as the man reached up and lowered the hood of his cape.
I breathed a sigh of relief and lowered my sword. Hugh laughed.
"She would've skewered you like a kabob MacLeod."
Duncan walked up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and Hugh, a hug.
"Yes, don't I know it?"
I laid my weapon on the bed and smiled. "Go downstairs and have something to eat Duncan...
I'm sure Martian would like to see you." (Duncan had known Martian for years and he was like a father to MacLeod.)
"Sure... See you downstairs."
He patted Fitz's back on the way out. Hugh than turned to me when he was gone. "Spirited tonight aren't we?"
I blushed. "Well without you here, I had to be a bit paranoid."
I started to pass Fitz, but he blocked my path with his arm. I looked up.
"What now?"
Hugh leaned down and whispered into my ear. "I require payment for passage this night m'lady."
I stared straight ahead. "Do you take this liberation because I am immortal like you?"
I turned my head to look into his eyes. "Or are you just headed for another score?"
Hughes eyes became solemn. He looked down and slowly lowered his arm for me to pass.
I began to walk foreword, but he grabbed my hand.
"I take this liberation because I love you."
My gaze softened and I slowly leaned foreword. My lips were just about touching his and as I spoke,
I let them flutter over his own. "Maybe you should have told me this 2 years ago, before you slept with Rachel."
I pulled my hand free and walked down the hallway to the stairs.
I than heard: "I never did! I never did ANY of that!"
"Leave it be Fitz."
"NO!!!"
I got halfway down the stairway before I looked up at Hugh, who had stomped down the hallway to the foot of the stairs.
He pointed at me, a pleading look on his face.
"YOU want to leave it be! YOU won't LISTEN to me.... just like MacLeod!
You've NEVER listened!!"
I laughed sarcastically. "No one listens to you anymore Hugh because you're such an incredible liar, that it's disgusting!"
Hugh's chin quivered slightly as he spoke.
"I'm telling you the truth m'lady... I didn't set one foot in Miss Walker's home, because I loved YOU! I still do!"
I shook my head. "You used that same excuse when Duncan found you rolling around with Napoleon's Niece!
How DARE you say that you love me when all you can think about is how many bases you're going to cover this
week!"
I turned and continued down the stairs. Hugh rushed down after me and grabbed my arm.
"Wait... you must-"
"Let go of me Fitzcairn... NOW!"
"Please Rebekah I-"
He was interrupted by my flying fist. I had reached back with my free arm and punched him square in the jaw.
(Because we are close to the same height, his weight is of no matter)
He stumbled backwards and landed flat on his rear.
"Now... if you don't mind SIR... I have a guest awaiting me."
Fitz stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Please... don't let me keep you."

I stomped into the dining room and MacLeod froze over his dinner plate.
"Ok... what happened to YOU?"
I sat down. "I may be wearing a skirt, but sometimes I wish I'd been born a man so I could whoop his butt sometimes!"
Duncan laughed. "What'd he do THIS time?"
"Told me he loved me."
Duncan's face became silent but before he could reply, Nancy came running in.
"My lady!"
I stood up. "Nancy.. calm down... what's wrong?"
My cook began to cry and all she could do to keep herself from collapsing was grab my arm and drag me with her as she walked to the kitchen. Duncan followed.
She led me back to the maids closet in the back.
When I saw my employee, I almost fainted. Gwen had been beheaded.
Clean and sure.
There was a note on her dress and MacLeod picked it up before helping me back to the dining room.
"Get Martin to take care of the body Nancy." Duncan called behind us.
He helped me sit down at the table and took a seat beside me.
"HUGH!!! GET DOWN HERE!"
Soon Fitz appeared in the doorway. "You called?" He asked curtly.
MacLeod looked up from the note in his hands and nodded. "Um hmm."
Fitz sat down next to Duncan, a nervous eye on me. "What?"
MacLeod sighed and handed me the letter. "Well, it looks as if our hobbyist has added another item to his collection."
Hugh looked pale. "Oh yuck!"
As the two blabbed about the matter, I read the note in my hands:

 My lady,

I knew you had Fitzcairn there at your manor, but MacLeod as well? My my, you DO get around don't you?"
I came to speak with you, but I had to take up a little practice round with your maid instead.... So you see? This is what happens when people prevent me from doing what I want. And because MacLeod is there, I will give you until tomorrow before I add you to my sorority.

PS: Don't try and leave your house my lady, I have it surrounded quite nicely... oh, by the way... How ARE you MacLeod... terrible about Richie eh?

SO sorry.

I lowered the paper and frowned. "But why kill Gwen? She was mortal."
Duncan stood up and walked over to the window. "It's just a threat...
He knows you can be threatened sometimes.... he's trying to frighten you into submission."
Fitz took the note and began to read it.
"Surrounded? The house?" Hugh looked up. "I think NOT!"
"I think so." MacLeod answered. "And he's dome a wonderful job at that!"
I stood up along with Fitz and glanced out the window. The darkness that surrounded the trees
that formed the woods around my house, was lit up by several torches.
The rain had subsided to a light mist, so the light burned bright.
Hugh gritted his teeth. "Why... if I wasn't so short I'd-"
"You'd what?" I turned. "Bite their shins until they bled to death?"
MacLeod chuckled. "Not likely, but we'd better be careful."
"We can see what happens when Martin and Walter (My groom) take the body out... they shouldn't bother them."
"And if they do?"
Duncan sighed. "Than... we'd better sharpen our swords."

Hugh's mouth tuned to a smirk. "What IS your name sir?"
"Imperial My lord.... Shall we begin?"
Hugh didn't wait to answer. He lunged foreword and jousted at him with his sword.
The fiend in front of him was quick and blocked every move.
Hugh faked a left and almost cut his foes arm, but missed.
Imperial jumped to the side.
"You're slow for someone so little."
Hugh laughed. "Yes, well, I'd hate to think of YOU as anything BUT slow any way!"
That did it! Imperial let out an angry cry and leaped foreword.
Hugh tripped in his efforts to move clear and fell.
As he did, his sword slipped from his grasp and slid across the slick floor.
Imperial laughed and held Fitz at his sword point. his blade was inches from Hugh's throat.
"I hate winning so easily..... almost makes me think I could kill Legion and take over myself.'
He raised his blade to strike and as he did, Hugh did something he had never done before.
He began to plead... and that my friends is NOT something Fitz does everyday.
"Please... I beg you... before you kill me... spare my beloved....please."
Imperial was taken aback. "And who is this?"
Hugh's blue eyes sparked. "Rebekah... The lady of this manor.'
Imperial laughed. "Oh.. so that was her? You mean the lady with the golden knife in her back?
Oh yes... we met in the lobby already."
Hugh felt his face burn. "You hurt her?"
"Why not? She was in the way and I disposed of her temporarily."
Hugh was just about to jump up and teach this idiot a lesson when a voice came to the air.
"Say that again?"
Hugh breathed a sigh of relief and jumped up to get his sword.
Imperial turned to see Duncan standing right behind him.
MacLeod smiled smugly and than struck his sword against his foes, making Imperial drop it.
Hugh picked it up and tossed it on his bed. "Let me have this one MacLeod... I do so like that satisfaction."
Duncan stepped back, his sword still in a guarded stance. "Be my guest."

Hugh gripped his sword in both hands and swung around once, his blade making a clean cut.
As The body fell limply to the floor, a rumble of thunder shook the air.
I woke to a throbbing pain in my back and lights flashing from upstairs.
I stood up slowly, when suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder.
I turned to look into a  pair of green eyes.
"I'll just take that back... IF you don't mind."
I cried out in pain as Legion yanked the knife from my back.
I took in a few shaky breaths before talking. "Where are my two servants?"
"Dead." Was the cold reply. I felt a pain in my stomach.
The grief of losing two of my very dear friends was too much. I clenched my fists.
"You'll pay for this you bastard."
"Ooh, such a big word for such a little lady."
I turned and walked over to my sword which was hanging on a peg by the lobby doorway.
I unsheathed it and turned, my arm outstretched at him.
"I may be little, but I'd rather lose my head with valor, than on my knees like some idiot, begging for mercy.'
Legion unsheathed his sword which had a blade shaped like a crooked lighting bolt.
I walked foreword. "Let the games begin..."
I dove at him and when our swords collided, sparks flew.
Fitz and MacLeod had been watching us all this time.
"I have to go down there Duncan."
MacLeod smiled. "No disrespect brother... but I think your beloved can take this one down herself."
I was doing fairly well, beings that I was fighting in a dress and not the suede pants that I always had practiced in.
I faked a right and ducked as he swung out at me.
I thrust my sword at him and he blocked me and before I knew what hit me, he sliced my forearm,
almost cutting halfway through.
I fell to my knees, my hand covering the wound.
Fitz began to move foreword, but MacLeod stopped him.
"She's tougher than she looks mate... give her a little more time."
Legion swung at me, but I jumped up and struck his sword sideways.
I stood facing him at a pause and than, I began swirling my blade around his.
Swinging it around and around. Faster and faster until sparks flew from the blades.
I than let out a scream and turned my blade.
As I did, I gashed his fingers..... and he dropped the sword!
Duncan held his breath. I kicked his sword out of reach.
I pointed my blade at him. "You were right Legion."
He smirked, despite his defeat. "About what?"
I smiled. "Heads WILL roll."
With that I swung my sword blade at him and beheaded him clean across the base of his neck.
As his body fell, I felt a surge of energy, and than pain. Bright light shone all around, as lightening covered my body.
When the lights stopped, I fell limply to the floor onto my knees.
Fitz came running down the stairs and kneeled in front of me.
I held onto his arms for support.
"Are you alright?"
I looked at my forearm and shrugged. "Yeah... no matter... I'm fine."
I looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry about all I said tonight
Fitz.... I was wrong. Forgive me."
Hugh smiled and rubbed his forehead against mine. "It's alright Love."
"I love you." I whispered.
Hugh closed his eyes and sighed. "Oh... sweet words... like a melody to my ears and wine to my heart."
I combed a few fingers through his curly locks. "Oh my love, how I doubted you... I'll never do it again... I promise."
"You better stop her mouth with your own Fitzcairn."
I and Hugh looked up to see Duncan walking down the stairs. "Or she'll be apologizing till one of us is headless."
Hugh looked back at me and smiled. "Perhaps I should."
I reached up and put a hand gently behind his head to draw him close.
"Yes..." I whispered. "Perhaps you should."
His lips covered mine with a honey drenched embrace that left me breathless.
I opened my eyes when it ended and stood up with the help of Duncan and Fitz.
I than put my arms around both their shoulders and walked with them to the window overlooking the meadow.
The dawn was covering the grass with a orange light.
"Come... let us drink a toast to our friends who could not be here this day, for this glorious victory."
Fitz and Duncan nodded. "And so we shall."
As we turned to walk to the dining room, I murmured to myself:
"And it is going to be a wonderful day indeed."