Connor Macleod was brooding again. He was wandering through Rayden’s meditation gardens, restless and unable to sit down and relax anywhere. For some reason the memories were crowding in on him and he just wanted to be alone. Lost in thought he almost missed seeing Ev sitting all alone and forlorn by one of the fountains. Thinking that something might be bothering her, Connor walked quietly up to her and wrapped his strong arms around her.

"You look like you need a hug. Anything wrong Ev?" he asked gently.

Ev looked up smiled at him, wiping a bit of moisture from her eyes as she did so. "Oh hi Connor! How did you find me out here?" She sighed and leaned against him as he held her. "I guess I’m just nervous. It won’t be much longer until the babies are born and …. Well …. It’s kind of scary."

Connor pulled her even closer to him, trying to comfort her. "I wish there was something I could do to help. But I don’t exactly have that much experience with mothers-to-be", he said wryly. Then one of the memories that had been haunting him that evening came to mind again and he considered it carefully before continuing. "At least not like an old friend of mine."

Ev looked curiously at him. "An old friend?" She cautiously reached out with her mind, asking permission to *read* him deeper. What she found was an image of a young girl in his mind, someone he was obviously very fond of. She withdrew from his mind, not wanting to intrude. "Tell me about her."

Connor sighed deeply, a wistful expression on his face as bittersweet memories ran through his mind. "Her name is Katherine. I met her not long after Heather died. We became friends, *close* friends. She brought joy back into my life again. I knew there was something special about her the first time I met her, but didn’t recognize what it was. Then she was *killed* and became an immortal like me." His eyes closed for a moment as he relived those times in his mind. Shrugging and getting control of himself again, he continued. "Anyway, she has been a midwife for a good part of the last 400 years. A very good one. But then again, she is good at a lot of other things." His eyes shone as he talked about this old friend, and Ev knew that she must have been very special to him.

Ev smiled at him and slipped her arms around him to give him a quick hug. "Do you think she would like to come here?" she asked hopefully, " It looks a though you wouldn’t mind seeing her again. And I sure could use a midwife and a friend. Since you think so highly of her I’m sure we’d get along pretty well."

Connor grinned happily at the thought of having his old friend around again. " I really would like to see her again Ev! And I know you will like her, she is a very likable person. Only one minor little problem though."

"What would that be, Connor?" Ev asked, wondering if the girl was involved with another man or something.

To her surprise, Connor ducked his head and looked a little embarrassed. "Last I heard she was teaching at a private school somewhere up in the Pacific Northwest. A Catholic school….", he hesitated for a moment before continuing, avoiding looking at Ev. Then he sighed deeply again. "She’s a nun, Ev. And she usually avoids me like the plague when she is under her vows. She says that I make it extremely difficult for her to remember that she has sworn off certain *things* for the duration."

Ev looked at Connor in amazement and couldn’t suppress a giggle. She had *read* enough of his memories to know a little of their past relationship. The giggle grew and turned into a belly laugh that caused Ev to have to support the babies as her tummy shook It took a few minutes for her to get herself back under control again.

"Oh Connor! This is priceless!" An errant giggle escaped her again. "Do you thing she might like to come here anyway? There will be children to teach here, too!"

Connor could not help but chuckle along with her as he considered this. "Hmmmmm. She has been one for quite a while now. It seems like every 30-40 years she takes a break and goes out into the secular side of the house to do other things. I think she would be willing to come if we ask her. Especially if children and babies are mentioned. She loves them."

Ev giggled again, poking him gently in the ribs. "And I’m sure that when she is not busy being a midwife or with the children, you might have a few ideas to keep her busy, hmmm?"

Connor rolled his eyes back and laughed that wicked little laugh of his. "Woman, that’s a given!"

Ev adjusted her bulk in his arms and snuggled up with him again. "Tell you want then, Connor. I’ll talk to Lilly and the Chancellor and we’ll make arrangements to bring her here. She can stay with us for the time being until she is ready for a place of her own. How does that sound?

"Wonderful, Ev!! It really sounds wonderful!" He gave her a big hug, the happy glow on his face at the thought of having Katherine Dixon around with him here on VIsland causing Ev to know that it would be a very good thing for him too..