Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 14:30:42 -0500 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Susan Coveney Subject: And the Memories Live Forever 5 of 5 And the Memories Live Forever By Susan Coveney PART V "And we can have forever, And we can love forever, Forever is our today..." - Queen Duncan returned to the cafe every night Gwen did not show up again. He thought maybe he had imagined her. Perhaps she was just a conjuring of his imagination which when touched by reality, disappeared, like the fairies of old earth legends that would not last to see the light of reality. He had needed someone these past few weeks, and Gwen had been there. In a way no one had ever been for him. In many ways they were equals, commiserating together over a loss. He still wondered about her husband. Was he an immortal. It shouldn't seem strange to him that there might be other immortals out there just plugging away at living as normal an existence as possible. Yet, it did. In his 400 years, he had met many immortals, but few of them preferred to live quiet lives. Many were too afraid to live quiet lives, where they could become settled. They were afraid to become attached to people, to places. Gregory must have been quite a man to settle for so long in one place without even a confidant in his wife of his real nature. He wondered the answers to his questions, but he knew he would have to wait. He returned there night after night, hoping she would show up. On the tenth night, as the evening was ending, he noticed a familiar silhouette in the hallway. He ran out, and grabbed Gwen's arm before she could leave. "How many nights have you been watching me?" Duncan demanded. Gwen looked sheepish. "The past four. I haven't had the nerve to come in yet, after what happened the last time." She lowered her head. Duncan nodded. "Come in now. It's quiet in there, and we can talk." He still had to usher her in, for she was not sure whether she should enter the main room. The table they had shared for many nights remained open, Duncan's half finished drink still sitting there. "Please sit." Duncan said gently. "I'm sorry if I was too foreword the other night. The signals you gave me..." She quieted his words with a touch of her fingers to his lips. "The signals I gave, were what I thought I wanted. At first, when you kissed me, it flattered me, to think that someone like you, at your age, would be attracted to someone like me. It made me feel powerful, that I could go on with my life. But then, I realized that I wasn't ready for what you were offering. I realized, I want to be your friend, Duncan, I want us to remember all of the time we shared here, I want to remember how you've helped me through my husband's death. We keep coming together because I want to remember Gregory and you want to remember Tessa. That is no way to start a relationship. I'm not ready to fall in love again. We would not be loving each other for who we were but for who we lost, and that would not be good. I think I need some time by myself before I do that. So, Duncan, can we be friends?" "Of course," Duncan said. "I am sorry I pushed you. Sometimes it is easier to get on with your life, when their is something to look foreword to..." "We have these nights...." "Yes, we do." Duncan stood up. "Would you care to dance?" They had never even considered the idea before now, because both were too wrapped up in their own private grief. But, tonight, in the wee morning hours, as the club readied to close, Duncan and Gwen danced a slow, soft, mellow dance, and when they finished, Duncan gave Gwen a small kiss on the cheek. "Friends." he whispered in her ear. She hugged him tight. "Friends." she whispered back. They left the club, together this night, for the first time, hand in hand. They had both made their peace with their own individual worlds. Each had touched the other in some small profound way, and had come to peace with their memories. There were still many questions to be answered, but there seemed time for everything now. He heard the sound of a siren and, from force of habit, turned toward it for a moment. He felt her hand slip out of his, and when he turned back, Gwen was gone. Somehow, he knew he would probably never see her again, yet that was all right. What they had was one brief moment, and memories would live forever. "Who waits forever anyway?" -- Queen Hope you liked it. Please mail any comments to COVENEY@HELIX.MGH.HARVARD.EDU Thanks. Susan =========================================================================