Motherhood and Apple Pie
By Donna and Abs

(Rated NC17)

Lupe was down bright and early the next morning. Though Methos certainly did *not* keep those hours, he was curious about this new guy - whom he had not gotten to meet properly the night before - and he was feeling just a tiny bit guilty about sauntering over to the courthouse after noon every day. Not much, but a little. Montoya beat him every day, and it was only a matter of time till he found the gold, Methos was sure. So, when he heard Lupe get up and go down to make breakfast, he got up to follow.

She was alone, which meant she either did not sleep with the blond man she'd run off with the night before, or he was sleeping in. He was pretty sure it was the latter when, sneaking up on her, he did not get his head handed to him on a silver platter. In fact, she even gave him a *smile*!

Methos was staggered by this. "Tell me about him," he said.

She smiled again. "Don't be dense," she said, "that's personal, and I do not discuss anything personal with you." But it didn't have her usual bite. "I have breakfast to make."

"So, I should go back to bed where I belong?"

She laughed. "Do as pleases you. You always do."

Laughter? Lupe laughing?

Methos was trying to work this out. Just how long had it been since she knocked off a piece, anyway? Just as he thought this, Gideon came down, grinning from ear to ear and wishing them all a wonderful morning. Methos felt a little like he had been taking photographs of seven-year-old boys. Gideon couldn't read his thoughts - at least, he didn't think he could - but he was still ashamed of them. The man, though grown to adulthood, was very childlike. He made him feel perversely paternal.

"I'm going to the stables. Shorty hasn't been feeling well. But he is better now. Dr. Kirby told me to take him for walks around the town every few hours and in a few days he will be doing great." Gideon, as usual, had stepped up close to Methos when addressing him, but unlike some, the Immortal did not back away. 

Methos managed to keep the smirk from his face, and thought he deserved an Oscar for the effort. He knew damn well Kirby had gelded Shorty; with Lupe preoccupied late the previous evening, they had all thought it best for Gideon if his "friend" were made safe. And it wasn't like Gideon would notice it or anything. "You're very good to him," Methos said seriously.

"I was hoping you'd get the eggs for me," Lupe said, pouting just a bit. "I wanted to make everyone omelets today, and have to stop for some vegetables on my way back from the slaughterhouse."

"I can go get them for you, Miss Lupe. Where do I have to go?" Gideon asked. He enjoyed helping people whenever he could. "Then I can go walk around town with Shorty."

Lupe smiled again and it was like a ray of sunshine in the dingy hotel lobby. "They're outside, behind the stable. Just get every egg there, but don't scare them. I know you'll be gentle with them. I wouldn't trust anyone else; they're too barbaric." Well, thought Methos, at least the last part sounded like Lupe.

"I can do that," he said with a grin. Lupe handed him a basket, and Gideon went off in search of the henhouse. 

He hadn't been gone but a few minutes when another bright ray of sunshine 
entered the lobby. It was Katherine. Methos shook his head. Some things never
change. The petite woman had had the irritating habit of rising before the sun for as long as he had known her. "Methos! Lupe! Isn't it a grand day?" she said, disgustingly awake and lively as usual. 

Lupe turned to her and smiled. "Yes," she said, and the one word was full of so much more than just agreement. She was in love and it was as clear as the pert little nose on her face. "Excuse me, I need to get the things for my omelets. I hope everyone is hungry!" And she sailed out of the room, still smiling to herself, as if holding a secret within her.

Methos shrugged, grinning at Katherine. He did not have to explain what had gotten into her. "Sarah Jo introduced me to the new priest," Katherine said, shaking her head in disbelief. "IT'S NOT FAIR! Why does he have to look like Connor? I almost had a heart attack when I saw him!"

"So does Gideon," Methos said. "And he's even less like Connor than the Padre."

"Gideon?" she asked, and at that exact moment, the man in question walked in. 

"I got the eggs," he said happily. "The hens like me. They told me where they had hidden a few other nests." Katherine got a soft look on her face as she immediately took Gideon into her heart. 

Methos knew that look. "That's why Lupe sent you. Remember, she said she couldn't trust anyone else. The hens never would have talked to *me*," he said.

"Hello Gideon," Kat said with a smile as she took the egg basket. "I'm Katherine. I'm glad to meet you." He told her that he was glad to meet her too, and then excused himself, saying that he had to walk Shorty. When he left, Methos saw the mists starting to form in Kat's eyes. "This is not going 
to be easy," she whispered. "But I like them both." 

"What's not easy about liking people?" Methos asked, taking the basket from her. "It's not liking people which makes things so difficult." He brought the basket in to Lupe's kitchen and left it where the Lycine could find it. When he came back out, he and Katherine heard someone coming down the stairs.

It was Chase. Wearing something similar to the outfit he'd worn the day before, he looked clean, pressed, and relaxed. He was smiling.

Introductions were made all around. It was easy to see that the new man was extremely pleased with himself. He had the same type of look on his face that Duncan had worn for a couple of days after his time with Katherine. "Where's Lupe?" he asked. When he was told, he said, "Good. I am starving. I understand she is an excellent cook." And then, smiling even more broadly, he asked them to share a table with him. Since Methos was curious - and also hungry - he glanced at Katherine to see if she was agreeable, and then accepted the offer.

Lupe came in a few minutes later. As she passed Chase's seat, she let her fingertips barely brush his back. Then, still with that same secret smile, but without a word, she went on into the kitchen.

Katherine also looked at her curiously, then she glanced at Methos and smiled. "So, what gets you up so early in the morning, old man? Can't be a guilty conscience. You told me a long time ago you axed yours."

"What have I to be guilty about? It's sheer curiosity." He turned to Chase. "I'm five thousand years old, Jonathan. I know when someone is smitten. Out with it. What got that panther purring like a kitty?"

Chase laughed. "Yes, well, let's just say we've been searching for each other for a very long time." To prove his point, he stood, bowed politely to Katherine, and then began breathing heavy. Methos and Kat exchanged amused looks. But then they looked on in awe as Jonathan Chase slowly turned into a sleek black panther. As soon as he did, he called to Lupe in "pantherese". There was a flash in the kitchen, and his mate trotted out. 

The two panthers met up just outside the kitchen. Although vicious animals normally, these two cats acted like besotted tabbys, licking each other, pawing the air, gently biting ears and tails.

"Wow," Kat said. "Now that was interesting! Perhaps, if they are going to go off and *play*, we should follow their example and renew our acquaintance?"

"There goes my omelet," Methos grinned.

One of the panthers came up to him, turned and lifted her tail. Katherine laughed. "Then let me fix your breakfast. Otherwise you will sulk all day," she said, pulling him to his feet. "Come and keep me company while I make it."

But there was a flash of light and Lupe, grinning, said, "No. Go. I will have your breakfast ready when you come back. He can't take more than a minute anyway." Her eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Lupe, honey," Kat chuckled. "When I have fun, I make sure it's not a wham bang." She winked at the other woman. Duncan had been up in her room over five hours before he had stumbled downstairs.

Lupe shrugged. "Can't see how you can get blood from a stone, but so be it. Want me to wait, or does he need all the help he can get?" She waggled an egg at Methos temptingly. Chase walked in, fully de-manimalized, and put his arms around Lupe's waist. 

"He will need his strength by the time I'm done with him," Katherine chuckled. Methos just rolled his eyes. But even so, it was good to see her like this. There had been a time in her life when being with a man had been the last thing she wanted.

"Don't mind her," Chase was saying lovingly as he hugged Lupe, "she's in season."

"Season? Does that mean . . ?" Methos paused. "Do you have kittens or pups?"

"She's not pregnant yet," said Chase. "But we're," he paused modestly, "working on it. And they will be Lycine."

There was a flash in her eyes, but then Lupe closed them, fighting off the pain of losing her other children. Once she had replacements for them she could go on. Hopeful now, she snuggled against Jonathan's cheek. "Go," she said. "I will have something special for you both when you return."

"Lead the way, old man" Kat said, slipping her hand in his.

Methos bowed politely, one eye on the shape shifters. The image of Lupe in heat almost put him off sex indefinitely. Almost. One look at Katherine cured the momentary lapse. "I'd rather we go together," he said meaningfully.

"Don't worry about that," she teased. "I've learned a few new tricks since the last time we were together."

"Is that why I heard MacLeod cry Uncle?"

"That was another trick all together. I'll show it to you if you like. It might be interesting to see if you can last longer than he did." They reached the door to the room that Methos had taken as his own. "Hmmm, not bad," Kat said as she looked around.

"You know damn well how long I can last," he grinned. "Lupe's jabs do not reach my male ego, especially with one I've already known, in the biblical sense."

"I know," she said softly. "Once upon a time, I used to hate that you seemed to go on forever. I just wanted it to be over. But you would keep at it, until you had me begging for more. I was pretty messed up in the head back then, wasn't I? But you never gave up on me."

He reached out to touch a curl. "Don't spread that around. They think I'm a rapist. Not one who gets fair damsels through the trauma of rape."

"I couldn't say the words, but that last night we were together, I tried to thank you to the best of my ability," she said, her blue eyes shining as she looked at him. "Now I can say them. Thank you. You made it possible for me to keep on keeping on. Now, hang on to yer britches old man, we are going for one very wild ride if I have me wicked way with you." 

Methos grinned. The only sex he'd gotten - great as it was - had been with Phoenix. All these gorgeous women, and he was living the life of a monk! Well, not really. He did like to know the woman first. But he was still tempted daily, and trying to get to know as many as possible as *quickly* as possible. Katherine, like Faia, was an old friend. He could relax and take out his frustrations on her. "You mean I need not pussy foot around?" Again, he had chosen his words carefully.

"You better not," she said, then with a swift movement of her small foot, she kicked his legs out from underneath him and he landed flat on his back on the bed. She followed him down, her busy little hand already at work getting his pants undone.

"Aw, really?" he asked, pouting. "I like a good munch, and you know it."

"Hush," she ordered. "I'll let you know when it's your turn." His pants were tossed off to the side and she paused to peel off her dress over her head. "I'm not going to even bother telling you to say uncle when you have enough, 'cos I know you won't." With an almost evil looking grin, she then gave her full attention to the lower regions of his body. 

She was right, of course; there was nothing he couldn't withstand - pain or pleasure, bring it on! In fact, he reached down and held her there, encouraging her to go for more.

He was extremely pleased to find out that indeed, she had picked up a few tricks along the way. Some very good ones, in fact. Giving himself completely over to the sensations she was causing, he soon reached a climax so hard he was sure the building shook. "You like?" Katherine said smugly as she raised her head.

Methos growled. If there was one thing he was noted for - at least in the bedroom - it was a quick recovery. He sprang up and was pushing her back before she had time to squeal. "My turn!" he hissed. 

"Oh yes," she purred. "Are you ready for my other new trick?" He looked at her oddly and then nodded. When he had pulled off her undergarments, and started to pleasure her the same way she had pleasured him, Katherine unlocked a mental gate, and at that moment, Methos could feel everything she was. 

"Why didn't you share that before?" he asked, enjoying it.

"I've only learned to control this part of my abilities this last century. Connor told me I must be growing up or something." At the mention of her lost lover's name, Methos felt a stab of pain shoot through him, but she quickly closed that door. "Sorry about that," she said. "Carry on, it gets better." 

"If you could not control it before, why didn't I feel it then?" he asked, spreading her wide so he could stimulate her more directly.

"My empathy is a two way street," she said, squirming as he flicked his tongue over a particularly sensitive area. "I've learned to control the length and depth of a link. To me, it's just the matter of opening and closing a door, mentally. With Connor, it came naturally, even at the beginning. But after the time that idjut raped me before sticking his dirk through my heart, that door was sealed shut for many years." Methos knew that she was talking about her first death - the details of which she had never shared with him before. As he experimented, letting her feelings guide him in what pleasured her most, she soon was panting too much to be able to tell him any more. 

"Nod if you want me to finish this way, or inside you," he asked, removing his tongue just long enough to get the question out. He was more than ready to take her now, experience this climax, and take her to another.

She answered his question with a groan and by lifting her hips back up to his mouth. A moment later, her climax washed over him like the force of a quickening. If he hadn't been already hard, the experience would have made him instantly so.

He rode her out, tasting her passion as well as feeling it, until her body completely finished its spasms. Then, moving up to gently caress her face, he kissed her tenderly and began making love to her.

The experience of feeling the sensations of both her body and his own was a new thing. And after 5000 years of living, it wasn't very often he got to savor something new. So, he didn't rush it, wanting to have it last as long as he could, wondering if she knew just how much this gift she was giving him meant. Looking into her eyes, he knew that she did know. And unlocking yet another gate, she allowed them both to be joined completely, both in body and in mind. 

It seemed that climaxes on this world were extra intense. Certainly it had been with Phoenix; and the previous one with Katherine had been as well. This one promised to be just as earth shattering.

As promised, it hit them at the same instant. As they both screamed out in their release, he couldn't help but compare the feeling to that of taking another Immortal's head. Only this was not a one time only good thing. He could enjoy it with her, over and over again. 

As they recovered, he held her close and nuzzled her forehead. Just then he took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Apple pie," he sighed, and Katherine, smelling it too, just laughed. 

Life was good.