Growing Up Fast

By Donna and Abs

With Faia gone out exploring, Methos had Thoth to himself.  Lupe was actually mothering him, but she liked Crystal, and saw no reason why they could not start their family early. 

One day, when Methos had some time off, he wanted to go visit Katherine and the other child who might or might not be his.  So he packed up his fiancée and his son, and they started out of town.  As they went, they saw Endora and her twins coming from the direction of the Secret Garden.  The girls, barely two weeks old, were toddling on either side of her, holding each of her hands but doing quite well walking on their own. 

"That was fast," said Crystal. 

"They are fae children," Methos noted. 

"Yeah but you saw Honey.  She can fly but she can't walk!  Giles said she is maturing two months to one.  That is a year's growth in a few weeks!" 

Methos shook his head at the sight as he helped Crystal and Thoth up into the buggy. As amazing as the accelerated growth of the fae children where, he was glad that his children would grow at a normal rate! Climbing up beside Crystal, he clucked at the horse, sending him at a brisk trot down the road toward Katherine's place.  

He was looking forward to seeing the little girl.  So was Crystal.  She had no problem looking after Thoth, and in fact only handed him off to Lupe when he needed nursing.  But she was sure she'd be less able to take care of her own baby, now that she knew it was a girl. 

There was a brisk feel to the air which increased the further they got out of town. Off in the distance, the mountains already had snowcaps on them. The delegation from Camelot had told Methos that they already had a good amount of snow around the castle.  

As they came to the lane leading off the main road to Katherine's farm, Methos slowed his horse and turned down it.  "Did you ever want to move out of town?" he asked Crystal.  "When the baby comes, I mean."

She shook her head.  "I'm a city girl.  Though I do like coming out here to see all the horses!"  By then, they were pulling up outside Katherine's house. 

"Greetings!" came Katherine's pleasant voice from the porch. "John is in the barn. He'll help you with the buggy. Crystal, come on inside! We have a surprise for you!"  

"For me?" She couldn't help but feel excited, she loved surprises.  But she took her time getting out of the buggy, careful not to jar Thoth, who was chewing on his fist.

"Oh, look at him!" Katherine said as Crystal climbed the porch steps to join her. "He’s adorable! My little one should be waking up anytime."  As they entered the house, Crystal sniffed the air appreciatively.  

Katherine chuckled at the look on her face. "I made some homemade lasagna noodles. The sauce is from all the tomatoes I put up this summer."  

"I can do the sauce just fine," Crystal said, “but you're going to have to show me how to do the pasta.  I always used Ronzoni!" 

"I'll do that," Kat assured her. "It's not hard to do. I have a basket with a bunch of noodles for you to take home with you." As they walked into the living room, Crystal saw several people already there. Gideon, the sweet man that helped out at the livery, was sitting with a young child on his lap! 

The boy was at least four, if not five, and Crystal was surprised.  "I don’t remember any children coming to Edan," she said.  "Just babies being born!" 

"He is my baby," Gideon said happily. "Shannon told me he was." 

He indicated a pretty red haired woman.  Methos came in just at that time, and said, "I suppose the mother is a fae?" 

Nodding, Shannon said, "Hiawatha is almost all fae, so he ages more quickly.  He'll be mature in 7 lunar cycles." 

"Then by next summer, he will be a grown man?" Katherine asked. 

Shannon nodded.  "He will mature to what you will consider 21 of your years.  This will happen around the month you call May.  In time for our High Day the following month." 

"Will Endora's twins mature that fast too?" Katherine added as she cocked her head as if listening. "Right on time!" she said as she rose to go get her baby. 

"Yes, but females mature in 6 months.  Since they are a month younger, they will all mature the same time," Shannon told everyone as Kat got her daughter. 

A few minutes later, Katherine came in with little Doireann. It seemed strange to see a baby who was actually a week older than Shannon’s child still look so tiny. "She has learned to laugh since you saw her last, Methos," Kat said as she settled down in the rocking chair to nurse her. 

Methos was pleased to hear this - though he knew he'd have to wait to hear the actual laugh.  He watched with mild amusement as the baby nursed. 

"Her hair is getting longer too," Kat said as she kissed Doireann's fingers. The baby was waving her free hand around, reaching out to touch her mother's face. "It is still hard to tell if it will be black like Duncan's or dark brown like yours. Or something else all together!" 

Methos smiled.  There was no question what he'd want it to be!  But then he looked at Crystal, still holding Thoth on her lap, and he knew he'd have his own daughter soon enough.