The older children were running through those who were dancing, and did they ever have dancing!  Of course the leprechaun women did their dances, and the Indians also danced to celebrate the day's happy event.  Rabbi Belinski then showed everyone his style of dancing, and finally Ray Giovanni convinced Sal (which was a bit of a surprise) to start up a tarantella.  Crystal was too far along to join in, but she laughed like crazy when Methos was pulled in! Toni, who was also pregnant, joined in the laughter, telling Crystal that Sal was an excellent dancer. 

"We have to show them how the Italians celebrate, after all," Crystal laughed.  "We don't wanna be left out!"  

While everyone was resting after the tarantella, the Scottish and Irish fae pulled the residents of Glenerin onto the dance floor to do some reels. 

Niamh was happy to be back in Edan, especially since Father Rudden had decided to come along. And since she didn’t bother staying invisible when other people were around, the people from the village where he now pastured were very curious who the pretty little red head was that was dancing with the good Father. He was obviously enjoying her company very much! There were other happy reunions as well. The Bounty had returned, and Grace MacDonald was with her sisters again. There were rumors going around that Captain Bourke and Grace might also be getting married before the Bounty returned to Newport. 

The Bounty had lived up to her name by bringing not only Grace and her beau, but all of the Newport fae as well!  And that included Merlyn and his daughters.  And, as a surprise, he had two new daughters there for Edan!  Their names were Ariel and Laverne. 

"Ain't all these gals something else?" one of the cowboys said with a huge grin on his face. The western men with their rugged good looks and for the most part, good manners around the female gender, were very popular with the unattached women. But Nathan Jackson only had eyes for one girl. Imogene was at the food tables, helping serve, and he thought she was the prettiest thing in the whole wide world. 

Since the wedding was for one of the fae, the other women were trying to do most of the work, so the sisters of the bride could enjoy the evening.  Those of the serving class did more than their share, and Imogene was working very hard! It wasn’t something she had been ordered to do, but something that she enjoyed. 

Nathan left his friends and wandered over to the food tables. When he stepped in front of her with a plate, Imogene looked up to ask what he would like, and stopped mid-sentence as the handsome young black man smiled brightly at her.  So brightly, that Imogene couldn't help but smile back! 

"You are working very hard," he said with the smile in place.  "I bet the food is delicious!" 

"It is," she giggled. "I’ve been snacking on it all day! My name is Imogene, by the way. I'm Senorita Dolores' servant." She pointed at a beautiful Spanish girl who was out on the dance floor with Duende Duncan. 

Nathan looked where Imogene pointed.  How well he understood being someone's servant.  How well he understood slavery!   At least she had used the word "servant" and not slave.  "I wish we could dance like that," he said. 

Imogene shook her head. "I would love to, but we are short handed at the moment," she said. She still remembered the time at Camelot that Senor Ramirez had not only danced with her, but had treated her as if she had been born a lady, just like her employer! 

"Maybe later?" he asked, and she agreed to try.  Almost at that minute, another man, almost an exact duplicate of Dr. Bill Stewart, entered the town and saw the party going on.  He in fact had been ready to crash a party, but a much different one!  He was Sam Shapiro, a union organizer, who had been crashing a Hollywood bash full of famous people, with a view to embarrassing the men giving the party into unionizing their cleaning staff.  But this was NOT a high-rise office building in LA! 

Looking around, he saw what looked to be a costume party! There were people in western clothes, oriental robes and even what looked to be very authentic Scottish kilts! 

He came through the crowd, a large, brightly wrapped box in his hand, and someone tried to take it from him.  He realized that there was a table, piled high with presents, and he let go of the box with a stunned smile. "Okay," he said, "but they're not gonna like it."  Then he grabbed the present grabber, and asked where he was! 

"Edan, of course," the fae said with a smile. "You must be new!" 

"I guess I'm new, then." He offered his hand.  "Sam Shapiro." 

She introduced herself, and then pointed out Methos to him. "He's the one that is kinda in charge of the town here. He can answer any questions you have." 

Sam nodded and went over to the boss man.  Seeing the newcomer, the ancient Immortal grinned.  "We're getting a rash of you guys, aren't we?" he grinned.  Of course, Sam did not understand, until Methos took him aside (the music was starting to drown him out) and explained it.  Then he pointed to Ray, Wladek, Richie, Chris and Danny Hemmerling. Dr Bill was missing, but Methos had an idea where he'd gone, and what he was probably doing! 

Sam was a smart guy, and he only needed time to process what had happened to him.  "Just do me a favor, all right?" he asked Methos.  "Get the gift I brought back, K?  Cos they might not get it." 

Methos laughed.  "I'll try.  You, go get some food.  You guys are all too thin." 

Sam wandered over to the food tables where a pretty black woman was dishing things out. She had a bright smile for everyone that came up to her. 

The labor organizer in him bristled at the woman doing work while others were dancing and celebrating, and he leaned over to speak to her.  "Hi," he said.  "My name is Sam.  I just got here."  He offered her his hand. 

"Welcome to Edan then, Senor Sam. My name is Imogene," she said as she first wiped her hand on her apron before shaking the offered hand. "I'm Senorita Dolores Mendoza's serving girl." 

"Serving girl?"  He looked around.  "You don't mean her servant, do you?" 

"Si," she said. "That and more. Her father, the Don, hired me to be her companion during her travels from Madrid to California. But we never got there. We ended up here instead." 

It was clear that this outraged the young man, but as he turned around in frustration, his hands in the air, someone grabbed his forearm and pulled.  "Imogene," said a familiar, velvet coated voice, "Nathan wants to dance with you.  Go ahead." 

Imogene's smile got even bigger as she tore off her apron and tossed it onto a chair. "Thank you Senor Methos!" she said as she did a quick curtsey before she dashed off to where Nathan was waiting for her. Grabbing her hand, Nathan led her out to join the other dancers on the floor. 

"There are people here from all times," Methos explained to Sam slowly.  "Do not judge them by the morals of the twentieth century.  If you do, you will not be happy here."  He started to walk off.  Then, smiling, he put his hand up, and a pretty fae came to Sam's side.  "Dance.  Dance and be happy," he ordered, and he walked away. 

"But I can't dance," Sam objected as he was pulled away. 

As he resisted, she let go, and he bumped into a tall, stubble-faced man with a dog sitting at his side. "Hey man, take it easy," he said. 

"It's not me, man," apologized Sam.  "She's doing all the pulling."  And he was then swallowed up by the crowd. 

"Where have you been all this time?" asked a familiar voice, and Monroe looked up to see Connor MacLeod, his arm around Katherine's expanding waist, standing three feet away. 

Monroe grinned. "Camped out on a beach for the most part. One day I just headed down river till I came back to the seashore and then followed it till I found a nice cove where I took up residence. It’s good to see you again, Captain MacLeod," he said as he reached out to shake his rescuer’s hand. Looking the petite woman at the Highlander's side up and down, he made that strange laugh that all the men that shared his face did. "This must be the woman you were hunting for. I’m glad you found her!" 

Connor chuckled as well. "Aye, so am I! Monroe, meet Katherine. Katherine, this is Monroe. Rock singer gone beach bum, I believe." 

"A damned good beach bum, if I might add," Monroe said. "But I'm tired of living alone. Know of anyone that needs a has been rock and roller?" 

"There's a lot of your kind in my village," said a voice at Monroe's elbow.  He looked down to see a handsome man standing there.  "But there is a club where they play live music." 

"Maybe I'll go there then," Monroe said. "What is your village called?" 

"Newport," said the man.  "It is a seaport at the end of the river.  And, if you double as a beach bum, you might enjoy it.  My name is Merlyn," he added, but unlike Sam, he did not offer a hand to shake. 

"Sounds like a wonderful place to me," Monroe said with a pleasant smile. 

"Then you come back with us, after the wedding.  The boat that takes us back is called the Bounty.  Can you find it?" 

"Sure," Monroe said. "Passed it on my way in. I'll just go grab some food and then head back to it now." 

"Are you crazy?" asked a fae under his elbow.  "It's a party!  No one leaves until tomorrow.  Eat, yes, and then dance!" 

Merlyn actually smiled.  "And you can also play for us, if you want."  And as the fae pulled Monroe to the table to get food, Merlyn melted into the crowd once more.