Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 12:49:49 EST Reply-To: Vi Moreau Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Vi Moreau Subject: ELENA IN PARIS, PART II ELENA IN PARIS Part II The flight to Orly and the taxi ride to the barge on the Seine was quiet and uneventful. Everything that needed to be said had been said back at the dojo. Their plan was simplicity itself--stick together, find Rios, kill him and as many Hunters as they could, and then...they both wondered whether the two of them had a future afterward. Certainly Duncan wanted to spend some time with Elena when she wasn't bent on killing everyone around her, and she had come to the point that she really wanted to stop killing and share some normal, quiet time with Duncan for a few hundred years. But they hadn't voiced these hopes. They were just determined to get through the next hard weeks or months, however long it took. In the meantime, Duncan thought, there was no reason not to enjoy Paris. It was, after all, the 'City of Lights.' But as they got out of the taxi and started pulling their suitcases out of the trunk, they all seemed to feel the buzz simultaneously. It came from the barge. Elena looked at Duncan. He motioned toward the taxi and whispered, "I'll take care of this." While Elena paid the driver, he headed toward the barge. As he started cautiously up the gangplank, a figure came rushing out. "Monsieur MacLeod? I am Francois Leroux. She was right, she knew you were here!" "Monsieur Leroux," nodded Duncan, shaking hands absently, his mind on the Immortal waiting for him, "who knew I was here? Who's in there?" "Why Mlle. Amanda, of course! She came by just yesterday afternoon, as I was getting your barge in order, per your instructions. She said she was an old friend, knew you name, your address, everything. She said she would wire you." He paused, obviously uncertain. "I have made a mistake, oui?" "No, not at all Monsieur! She is an old friend, and she likes to surprise me!" Duncan smiled, slightly worried, thinking furiously how to make the best of Amanda's presence. "She made herself at home, 'naturellement', since she is an old friend...I should have contacted you myself, I'm sorry." "It's alright, M. Leroux, please don't worry. Would you mind letting my friends know that Amanda is here? I'm sure they'll be quite...surprised also. And thank you for getting everything ready." "'Pas de quoi, Monsieur'. I will inform your friends. If there is anything else I can do?" "Thank you, no," answered Duncan. He steeled himself and went on below. Richie introduced himself to the Frenchman as Bill Wallace. Elena knew that Richie had 'died' in Paris two years ago in a very public motorcycle accident, and he and Duncan had discussed the dangers of his return to that city. Fortunately, the man who best knew Richie, a man by the name of Maurice, had moved to Bordeaux to help a cousin with his vineyard. In any case, they agreed that Richie would keep the lowest profile possible and stay away from motorcyles. The bottom line was that wild horses couldn't have kept Richie away from Paris at this point. He was too eager for the hunt. "Listen, Monsieur...Leroux, who's in the barge?" Leroux seemed slightly taken aback. "M. MacLeod asked me to tell you Mlle. Amanda is aboard. Apparently she decided to surprise him. It is alright, is it not, M. Wallace?" "Oh, yeah, Amanda loves to surprise Mac." He sighed. "Anyway, this is Elena Duran." "Mademoiselle." They shook hands. She and greeted him in very good French, then turned to Richie. "And just who is this Amanda, Richie?" Richie looked at Leroux. "Thank you very much, M. Leroux. We'll let you know if we need anything else." As the Frenchman walked off, Richie turned to Elena. "Amanda is a...friend of Duncan's." "And I take it she is like us." "She is an Immortal, yes." Richie seemed uncomfortable. "Tell me about her, Richie." Of course Duncan had other lovers--what woman wouldn't be attracted to him? And of course some had to be Immortals! She just hadn't expected to be meeting one so soon. "Amanda is very hard to describe. Look," he appealed to her, "I really don't want to get in the middle of this, OK?" "I'm not asking you to get in the middle of anything, Richie. I just want to know about her, that's all. Duncan didn't mention her to me." "Well, you know, you're not the only one..." "I realize that." "Look, if you're worried about it, Mac is not going to dump you for Amanda just like that." "He isn't?" "No! I mean, he wouldn't!" "I know that. We came to Paris for a reason, remember, Richie. I know Duncan won't just suddenly leave me for another woman. There's no question of that. The question is, will he WANT to leave me?" "You can't condemn a person for what he feels, alright? I don't know exactly how he feels about her, but he's crazy about you. All I know is you have to trust him to do the right thing. I mean, if you don't, what's the point?" "You're right, Richie." She looked at the barge and sighed. Richie was right. There was nothing she could do but just wait and trust Duncan. And she couldn't tell him what to do, any more than he could tell her. But she knew that in one week she couldn't compete with a love affair that may have spanned two or three centuries, and that she was probably doomed. The worst thing was how much she had come to love him in that short time, how heartbroken she would be if he left her. And she couldn't do a damn thing about it. Duncan stepped into the barge to find Amanda on the far side, lying luxuriously on the bed in a flimsy negligee. He swallowed hard. This was not going to be easy. "Amanda!" he smiled. "What are you doing in Paris?" "You know Paris is one of my favorite cities. Especially since you're here so often. Come," she patted the bed beside her, "let me welcome you properly." He moved toward her but kept his distance. "What do you want?" "Well...I want you. What else matters? Come on, MacLeod, come over here. Don't make me come to you." "I can't. Amanda, I brought someone with me to Paris." "I thought there was another Immortal still outside. You mean Richie? You don't mean Richie? What do you mean, you brought someone with you to Paris?" She got up and walked towards him, obviously alarmed. Duncan took a deep breath. "Her name is Elena Duran, and she's with me." Amanda wrapped her arms around his neck, "You can't really mean...", but he pulled them off. "Yes, I really mean it, Amanda." "But how could this happen? We were just together recently! You told me you loved me!" "It wasn't that recently, and I do love you, but Elena is...it's a long story. But we're together, now, Amanda, for a while, I hope. You're going to have to go. I'm sorry." "This is impossible! I didn't mind Tessa so much, or that doctor, Anne whats-her-name. I mean, they were mortal. All I had to do is wait them out. But this Elena is immortal, isn't she?" Duncan nodded. "Duncan. You can't do this to me. We have something together. You can't just tell me to go." "I'm sorry, Amanda, but you'd better get dressed." He was truly sorry, but he wasn't about to give up on Elena, especially not considering what the two of them had gone through and were still facing. "Who is this girl, anyway? Is she Spanish?" "She was born in Argentina about the same time I was. Look, Amanda..." "Duncan, she doesn't need you, and I do. I'm kind of in trouble..." "I knew it. Look, Amanda, just get dressed and you can tell us all about it. I'm going to get the others." He turned to go, then turned back to Amanda, a horrible thought in his mind. "You will get dressed, won't you?" "Of course. I wouldn't want your girlfriend to see me like this! But are you sure you want to give this up?" She came close to him again--her perfume was familiar and intoxicating. Duncan backed away. "I'm sure. Please put some clothes on." Now he had to go outside and talk to Elena! This might be even harder than Amanda, and he knew Amanda well enough to know she wouldn't just give up and go. The problem was that Elena was always willing to fight, and this could be tragic, especially for Amanda. When he got outside, the group of three were being very quiet. He walked up to Elena and kissed her on the cheek. "Let's take a walk." Elena's heart sank, but she said, "Of course," and fell into step with him. "I didn't tell you about Amanda because I truly didn't expect to see her. She just pops up occasionally. Look, Elena," he stopped and took her hands in his, "the truth between us, always, right?" She nodded, and he continued. "Amanda and I have been lovers on and off for over two hundred years. But right now," he looked straight at her, "it's off. You and I are together for as long as you want me. Especially considering the task before us." "Duncan, I don't want you to stay with me just because of this Hunter business." "No, Elena, it isn't just the Hunters. I love you and I want you. I can't make it any clearer than that." "And Amanda?" She had to be sure. "Amanda is a wonderful person, but she usually shows up when she needs something from me. She said she's in some sort of trouble, and I can't ignore it if it's true. We'll talk to her and see what's going on." "If it's true? You mean you don't trust her?" "I trust she won't go after my head, at least...no, she wouldn't. But she has lied to me in the past. I just want the two of you to get along. No fighting, alright?" "I will not pick a fight with her, Duncan. But I fight when I'm challenged. You know that." "Yes, I know, just..." he sighed. First he had to keep Elena from killing Dawson because she was killing every Watcher/Hunter she met. Then he had to keep her from killing Richie, who was protecting Dawson. Now Amanda. Life with Elena Conchita Duran y Agramonte was not simple. She had already turned and was on her way back to the barge, eager to meet Amanda. Inside the barge she saw a tall, black-haired, willowy woman with a boy's haircut stepping back from kissing Richie. He was actually flushing! There was no question that Amanda, dressed in a skimpy black outfit, was beautiful, and she had an intelligent face. Elena felt Duncan come up behind her as Amanda came up to her. "Well, you must be Elena Duran. Funny Duncan's never mentioned you." "We haven't been together for too long." "Oh? I've known him for over two hundred years." "I know." Elena was determined to stay cool, even though she hadn't been so jealous of anyone in years. Of course she was beautiful! Duncan MacLeod could have his choice of any woman he wanted! "Well, Duncan," Amanda turned to him breezily. "I guess I should pack up and leave, right?" "Uh, yes, I guess that would be best." "Won't be a minute." She started flitting about the barge, picking up different items, humming an indistinct tune. Elena wanted to look around the barge; instead, she found herself watching Amanda closely. "Amanda," said Duncan. "Yes, Duncan?" She was all innocence. "You mentioned you were in some trouble? Do you want to talk about it? We can go for a walk..." "No, it can wait. I wouldn't want to intrude." "Amanda..." said Duncan, exasperated. Elena sighed, opened her suitcase, and started to unpack. She couldn't wait for Amanda to leave--it was so awkward! There was a long silence, and finally Amanda finished getting her things together. She put on her coat and fit her broadsword underneath it. "I guess I'm ready." Duncan walked her to the door. "Let me know if you need anything, alright?" He couldn't believe that she would just leave, and he was right. "Sure I will." She started to leave, then apparently changed her mind and slipped past Duncan to where Elena was putting clothes in a wardrobe. Duncan tensed up immediately. "You know, Duncan and I have been friends forever." "You said that already." "Just so you know, I've been around a long time before you were even born, and I think I'll be around a long time after you're gone." She smiled and turned to go, but Elena took her arm. "If that's just your opinion, you're entitled to it. If it's a threat, be careful. And if it's a challenge," Elena's smile was not a pleasant one, "you name the place and time, and I'll be there." She didn't release Amanda's arm. Duncan stepped forward, "Elena, don't!" Amanda looked at her in what appeared to be genuine surprise. "You're one of those who really likes swordfighting, aren't you?" Now this was a subject that warmed Elena's heart. "Yes, I am. Think of it, Amanda. You practice daily for years, decades. You hone your skills to perfection. In the meantime you live a life that could really be boring. There's no challenge. So you get hit by a truck--big deal! Then the moment comes that you've been preparing for. You meet an opponent--someone who can really kill you, permanently. Your blood pounds in your veins! It all depends on your skill, talent, preparation, 'cojones!' In less than ten minutes everything is decided! Only for those few minutes are you really, truly alive! You don't find this exciting, intoxicating?" Her grey eyes were shining, and once again Duncan found himself fascinated by her intensity. She was the most alive person he had ever met. "There are other things that excite me, but I know what you mean about the thrill of danger. We'll have to get together and talk about it sometime. Maybe lunch." Amanda seemed slightly cautious. She hadn't missed the indirect threat in Elena's speech. But Elena had let go of Amanda by now and smiled a genuine smile. "I'd like that. Maybe we can..." she shrugged, "compare notes." 'Maybe this Amanda wouldn't be so bad after all,' she thought. Amanda chuckled, glancing at Duncan. "I think we have some things in common. And no, I'm not challenging you..for the moment. Unless you..." "No, Amanda. I think we have better things to do than kill each other." Amanda leaned conspirationally close to Elena. "We'll talk." "I look forward to it." "Bye, Duncan, Richie, Elena," she waved behind her airily and was gone. Even Richie breathed a sigh of relief. End of ELENA IN PARIS, Part II Translations: 'mon ami' - my friend 'naturellement' - naturally 'pas de quoi' - it's nothing, not at all 'bien' - good 'enchante' - charmed 'n'est-ce pas?' - isn't this so? 'cojones' - balls copyright by Vivian Moreau, 1995 =========================================================================