Ladies of the Board

Please enjoy some fruit while reading the story housed in this section.

You look at your watch impatiently, tapping your foot. Where is that man? You told him he had to be at the airport at 10:00pm to check in for the 11:00pm flight to Sydney. Where is he? You look around the terminal once more before boarding, hoping to see him running along the corridor. Nope. Guess you'll have to go without him. And not for the first time, you mutter under your breath as you hand your boarding pass to the flight attendant.

You take your seat in first class. You look towards the door. Several times. You are fuming!! You sense the buzz.

"Duncan?" you say, turning around in your seat.

"Sorry I'm late, sweetheart! It couldn't be helped," Duncan said as he sat down next to me.

"That's what you said last time," you said, angry and relieved at the same time.

"You know how it is. He wouldn't take ‘I'm late for a plane’ for an answer," he replied.

At that moment the flight attendant came over and asked us if we'd like a drink. You both answer 'Yes!' in unison. Duncan orders a vodka tonic, double, and you order a white wine.

"Who was it this time?"

"Nels Van Horn...remember him?"

"No, I don't. Where did he come from? And why you?"

"He's been hunting me for a hundred and fifty years...I thought I told you about him? Anyway, I won a horse from him in poker, he said I was a cheat, bla...bla...bla...I can't believe he would hold a grudge for so long!"

"Must have been some horse!"

You both laugh as the drinks are delivered.

As Duncan took a deep sip of his drink his gaze met mine and he said, "It wasn't so much the horse as the cheating thing. He really wasn't such a bad guy and I hate he would not listen to reason."

You reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. His eyes brightened and he said, "Okay, my love, you now have me on this plane at your command. What are you getting me into?"

You've been thinking about something for awhile but have been afraid to bring it up. The relationship you have with Duncan has been so good. Two years together and still going strong. You feel that he is your soul mate. You take a deep breath and say, "I've been thinking about something for a long time but I've been afraid to talk to you about it."

Duncan looks up at you hearing the seriousness in your voice. "What?" he asks quietly.

"I'd like for us to adopt a baby," you say quickly before you lose your nerve.

Duncan looks at you in amazement and says, "A BABY!! Are you serious?" he sputters, rather loudly.

You both look around the cabin...all eyes are on you. Things settle down and you resume your conversation.

"Yes, I'm serious. Do you think I would suggest this sort of thing on a whim?"

"Well, no, but....a baby?"

Duncan rolls his eyes and whistles.

"When I said I was at your command and asked what you had in store for me, I was thinking more on the lines of snorkeling. A baby."

Duncan loses himself in thought.

"You know how much I love children and I know you love them too," you say, sipping your wine and trying to act like this isn't the most important discussion you've ever had before.

"Yes, I love children, but with immortals coming after us all the time how are we going to raise a baby?" he asked.

"I don't know... the best we can," you say as you look in his beautiful brown eyes. "You would be such a good dad."

"We both know we cannot have children. We both love and respect children and there are so many children born without a loving home. I just feel we can make a difference in a child's life."

Duncan looked at me with a bewildered expression on his face. "Is this what this trip to Sydney is all about," he asked quietly.

"Well, I don't have an agency lined up yet, if that's what you mean. I just thought we could get away for a while, have a bit of fun, and think about how great it would be to have a child. I meant it when I said you would make a great dad."

Duncan smiles at the thought of having a 'wee little one' to take care of. Walks in the park, building sand castles at the shore...

"I wouldn't have to change diapers, would I?" he asks imploringly, looking at you with those big puppy dog eyes.

"You'd better believe it buddy!" you say, relieved that he seems to be receptive to the idea.

You both settle down for the long flight to Sydney. As dinner is served the movie starts. Unbelievable! ‘Nine Months’!

Duncan sees the movie title come up on the screen and starts to chuckle, saying "It's a conspiracy! So was this trip to Sydney just for fun and sun or what's the real reason we're heading there?" he asks.

Laughing, you reply, "I had nothing to do with the movie, honest!"

Duncan leans over and starts to playfully tickle you. You giggle and squirm.

"Nothing to do with it, huh?" Duncan says softly, and begins to laugh.

Soon you are both laughing and giggling. You stop and look deep into his eyes. He kisses you lightly and looks into your eyes. He kisses you again, longer… deeper...

The old lady across the aisle gives the two of you a stern look. She looks at your hand--no ring--and looks back at the two of you with disapproval. You smile at her and continue on with your kiss. You are enjoying each other's company so much. The talk about a baby has added a whole new dimension to your relationship. But first you have to take care of the business in Sydney.

"May I take your tray?"

You look up to find the flight attendant holding out her hand to take your empty trays.

"Yes, thank you," you say, as you adjust yourself in your seat. "And no, I don't have any motives for bringing you to Sydney, either. You're so..."

"Intuitive?"

"...cynical!"

The flight was long, but before you know it you are getting off the plane in Sydney. Waiting for the bags at the airport you take Duncan's hand and lean your head on his shoulder. He's so strong and you feel a sense of contentment--- a sense that your life is going in the right direction. But, all of a sudden, you both feel the "buzz" and the contentment drops away. Looking around in different directions you spot another immortal. It's Richie. He's in Sydney, hoping to be a sperm donor for a wealthy couple.

"Hello, Mac...I came down under to donate some sperm to the wonderful sperm bank here in Sydney. What are you here for?"

Duncan grins and replies, "Ahhhhh Richie, I'm not sure you quite get this immortal thing...we can't have children...we can't donate sperm...it's not going to happen buddy. Sorry to burst your bubble"

"Oh well Mac, I guess I'll just trek on over to the Opera House...I wonder what's playing? By the way, you never answered my question."

"What question Richie? You, sit through opera? Getting cultured Richie, in your old age...haha!"

"Why you're here? No, I'm not interested in the opera, just the women that go to these things."

"Why Richie, you haven't…"

"Fitzcairn! What are you doing in Australia!" exclaims Duncan.

"Running, laddie...running!"

Just then a squeaky voiced blonde wearing a tight, white and blue polka-dotted dress and red stiletto heels with a big red hat and a tiny yappy dog under her arm trots into view.

"Fitzie, oh Fitzie?! Where are you?"

"Gotta run, laddie," yells Fitz over his shoulder.

You, Duncan, and Richie burst out laughing. The luggage comes off the conveyor belt, and you head out to the taxi stand.

"Share a cab?" Richie asks.

"Sure, why not," replies Duncan. "And what women do you know that go to the Opera?"

"Well, I won't know that till I go and meet one, will I?" winks Richie. "Now tell me what the two of you are doing here?"

You and Duncan look at each other, as if to say 'should we tell him' and then look at Richie. He looks so young still.

"Maybe we should adopt him!" whispers Duncan.

You nudge Duncan in the ribs.

"Ouch!"

"What?" asks Richie.

"We're talking about adopting a baby," Duncan says, oblivious to the fact that you've been kicking him to make him shut up.

"A baby?" Richie busts out laughing. "Right! If you don't want to tell me you don't have to."

"No, it's for real!" Duncan continues earnestly.

Richie stops laughing and gives you a hug.

"I think it's a great idea. Can I be Uncle Richie--show the kid how to use a sword?"

"Well, Richie, don't you think that might be a bit dangerous for a toddler?"

"How about we discuss this later...we're heading off to the hotel for some rest."

"Rest, right, I gotcha," Richie says with a wink and a smile.

After you give Richie a look that tells him he's treading on thin ice Duncan and you take a taxi to the hotel. Your room is beautiful. A hot tub, balcony, everything anyone could ever want.

Duncan comes up behind you and puts his arms around you and nuzzles your neck. You reach around and run your fingers through his hair. Even though it is early in the morning in Sydney, you have been on a plane for 14 hours and need to relax.

"Last one in the hot tub..." you wink at Duncan.

It's an all out race to see who can get there first -- at least, it appears that way. Duncan deliberately holds back to let you win.

"Looks like you're the servant this time," you winked.

Something devilish gleamed in his eyes. "I guess so. I'll be back. Keep it hot in there for me..."

You lowered yourself into the bubbling water, moving your tired muscles closer to the jets. It felt great to have the water massage the kinks out. You closed my eyes and relaxed. You're not sure how long you soaked before you heard the door creak and Duncan came in wearing a towel and carrying a covered tray.

"OOOhhh. What ya got there?"

"Just a little surprise. Which one would you like first?"

Your gaze dropped to the towel. With the most mischievous smile you could muster, you said, "No fair asking me which I want first when I don't know what my choices are. Everything you are offering me is covered. How can I possibly decide under these circumstances? You know how I hate to make a bad decision my love. Can't you make my decision a little easier for me," you whispered.

He knew you were playing with him and his smile grew wider as he approached the tub.

"Well under this," he said as he pulled the napkin off the covered tray, "I have a delicious selection of ripe fruit for milady's pleasure," his eyes twinkled as he looked at you and he said, "and under this I have something I know you'll like."

"Fruit. I love fruit," you said with a smile.

Just then there was a knock at the door...

"Who the heck is knocking at the door this time? We just can't get any privacy these days..."

Duncan hiked his towel around himself and opened the door a crack. "What?"

A small voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you Duncan MacLeod?"

"Yes. Who are you -- and how did you get in my room?"

"My name is Benjamin. I'm five and Martha brought me here. She said you're gonna take me home with you. Are you nice? She said you are nice."

Duncan turned to me with a stern look on his face. "What's this all about?"

You sank a little lower in the tub. "Weeeelllll - I promised a friend I would help her out. Kind of like a trial run on having a kid."

"Are you gonna come out of there?" the little boy asked.

Duncan shook his head in disbelief and said, "Just a minute," as he shut the door and began dressing. "You are in so much trouble. Don't think that you can hide in that hot tub!" he growled.

"Well, ummm, they weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow," you replied weakly, stepping out of the tub and hurrying to get dressed.

"And when were you going to spring that little surprise on me?" he asked

"Later?" you answered meekly.

Duncan opens the door, and the cutest little dark-haired boy is standing in the hall. He is wearing jeans, a red stripped tee-shirt, and a baseball cap. He looks up at Duncan and smiles.

"Aawwwww, how can you resist that face?" you asked.

Duncan sighed, then smiled at the little boy. It was the most tender smile you'd ever seen on those enticing lips.

"So, Benjamin is it? What do you like to do for fun?"

"I like to go in the paddle boats at the lake. And there's a tunnel. It's dark and scary -- but my Mom sometimes lets me go in there with her. Can we go there?" Benjamin's voice raised with excitement at the prospect.

"Whoa, slow down there tyke. We'll have to discuss this with your mother first."

He looked at the woman standing near the door with a slightly sheepish expression on her face.

"I'm sorry to do this to you guys. I know we were supposed to come tomorrow, but an emergency came up. I have to fly out tonight. My friend works here. When you didn't answer, she let me in. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," you pitched in. You felt a little better seeing the quizzical expression on Duncan's face as he watched Benjamin explore the snack bar. "When will you be back?"

"The day after tomorrow. Benjamin, you be good, okay?" With that, my friend was gone and we were left in our room with a very energetic 5 year old.

We had a wonderful time in the paddle boats on the lake. Duncan and Benjamin shared a boat and you were in another one. You could tell that Duncan was entranced by the little boy and had begun to think about the possibility of being a father.

After a long full day at the lake, hot dogs, and ice cream, the three of us went back to the hotel to collapse. You smiled to yourself thinking that your plan was working. You felt a bit guilty for planning all this but you hoped it would help him make up his mind.

Things were going so well until the next morning when you woke to yelling.

Jerking up in bed, you see Duncan sitting up with a look of shock on his face, and a wet lap. Benjamin is standing next to the bed with an empty glass and wide, startled eyes. Feeling you sit up, Duncan slowly turns his face towards you. You look at him and give him a weak grin.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" you ask.

Upon hearing that, Duncan growls a response of, "I slept great. Waking up was bloody uncomfortable, though. Remind me again, who's idea was this?"

Just as I was going to try to calm Duncan down, Benjamin started to cry.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It was an accident," he wailed.

"Now look what you've done," you said to Duncan. "It's only water."

"It's OK Ben, can I call you Ben?" Duncan asked.

"OK," the little boy whimpered.

"OK, what's on the schedule for today?" Duncan asked, looking at me quizzically.

"The zoo?" you replied hesitantly.

"The zoo it is," Duncan winked.

Benjamin smiled and giggled. You get him dressed, and the three of you go down to breakfast.

"Ben, have you ever seen a Koala?" Duncan asks.

Benjamin smiles and shakes his head no.

"Well, then, off we go!!"

Duncan takes one hand and you take the other. Your arms swing as you make your way to the taxi.

"G'day, mates! Where to?"

"The zoo!!" squeals Benjamin with excitement. "I'm gonna see a koala!"

After seeing the koala, giraffes, elephants, lions, and assorted monkeys the three of you are exhausted. On your way out of the zoo you stop by the koala habitat one more time. All of a sudden you and Duncan feel the ‘buzz’ of another immortal.

Looking around, you see that it's one of the nastier immortals that you've managed to elude for a few hundred years. He challenges you and you look worriedly at Ben, hoping that Duncan can get him far enough away to keep him safe.

Duncan takes Ben's hand and says, "Hey there, little buddy. How about you and me going and getting some ice cream, huh?"

"Who's that man?" Ben asks.

"Ah, him? He's just someone we know. Let's you and me get that ice cream now."

Duncan leaves with Ben, and you face 'Pretty Boy' Nick Mancuso.

"Long time, Nick."

"I didn't come here to talk," he growls.

What a Neanderthal, you think. The two of you head out of the zoo, to a culvert off the parking lot. The sound of steel against steel rings through the air. It is a grueling battle, but you finally best him.

"Sorry to have to take your pretty head, Nick, but you know the score..."

Nick was an older immortal, and the quickening was long. Barely able to stand, you make your way back to Ben and Duncan. Duncan is waiting, with that look on his face...

"Glad you could make it", he says to you as he checks you out to see if you're OK.

"I'm all right. I'm just a little tired. Why don't we go back and rest," you say, sitting down on the bench next to him and Ben for a minute.

Later, when Ben is in bed and the two of you are sharing a bottle of wine, you bring up what the two of you have been thinking all evening.

"It's not going to work is it?"

"What?" he says, acting like he doesn't know while his heart is breaking.

"You know. We can't always be there to protect a child. One or both of us could be gone in the blink of an eye, and then what?" you say sadly.

"We both knew in our hearts it wouldn't be in the best interest of a child. Still..." Duncan's voice trails off.

You both sit, saddened, watching little Ben sleep. You reach out and put your hand over Duncan's.

Looking into his eyes, you whisper, "You were a great Dad, you know."

"Yeah. You were a great Mom."

You lean over and kiss him. The emptiness inside you both bring you together in a way that you have never been before. You wrap yourselves around each other as if for life, your tears mingling on your faces as you kiss. You know tomorrow will come full of promise, but tonight there is only sorrow.

The next morning, when Ben's mom came to pick him up, she had exciting news to share.

"Ben's going to have a brother or a sister in about 7 1/2 months!" she said proudly, hugging Ben.

You smile bravely, wishing that you had that kind of news to share. Duncan congratulates her and puts his arm around you silently comforting you.

"We hope you'll be the new baby's godparents," she added.

You are thrilled and realize that even if the two of you can't be parents you can still make a difference in a child's life.

"We'd be honored," Duncan says smiling.

You give Ben's mom a big hug and tell her goodbye.

It's off to the airport for the trip home.

The End (sniff, sniff)