Katherine Dixon was bored and feeling extremely restless for some reason. She was prowling around the coffee shop looking for something to do, but she was all caught up on the cleaning and food preparation. The morning coffee drinker rush had come and gone, as well as the lunch crowd. It was now the middle of the afternoon and the place was empty of customers. Sighing, Katherine picked up the phone to call Ev to check on her.

"Ev! How’s it going?" she asked as Ev answered the phone. Her neighbor was still feeling very light on her feet after having the babies.

"Hi Katherine! I'm feeling great! Are you coming over again today? I think you might be having a visitor soon at the shop. " She giggled and wouldn't say who.

"Sure am! But no one is here and I'm bored stiff! Connor has only been gone since this morning and I feel so alone right now!" she then giggled into the phone. "Ok, what are you up to now? What visitor?"

"I promised not to tell." Ev giggled again. "Gee! I feel great today! Weightless! Will Connor be home tonight? I forget how long you said it would take for him to come back."

Katherine sighed deeply. "Not until tomorrow sometime. The weather isn’t cooperating from what I heard. Guess I will have to find someone else to keep me back warm tonight", she said with a slight chuckle to her voice. Just then the door chimes rang and Lilly entered with Nicky in a baby pack on her chest. "OHHH! Lilly is here. See you after work as usual Ev, hugs!"

"I have to go anyway. Somebody's hungry!" She giggled. "See you later!"

Katherine got off the phone and welcomed Lilly in. Lilly hugged her as tight as she could with the baby in the way and smiled. "Katherine, it's so good to see you again! Nicky and I were just out for a walk, and decided to stop by and take a rest and see his godmother at the same time. How are you doing?"

"Doing just fine now!" she said and she tickled little Nicky’s chin while Lilly took him out of the baby pack. "Guess I’m feeling a little out of sorts with Connor gone." Lilly then passed Nicky over to his second mom who snuggled up to him, making him smile and gurgle at her while she sang him a lovely little ditty.

Lilly smiled indulgently, then said "He loves you so much...it's like he knows how very special you are to him, and to me. I don't suppose you have some coffee with just a little bit of chocolate in it for his Momma?"

"Sure thing! Coming right up", she said gleefully as she headed over to fix it, Nick held securely onto her hip with one arm. Lilly couldn't help but notice how comfortable the little immortal was handling a baby. Obviously she had had lots of practice over the years.

While she was bringing the coffee over to where Lilly was sitting, the door chimes rang again and Toni entered, carrying several little photo albums in her hand.

"Hi Toni!!! Come on in and have a sit down! What can I get you?" Katherine asked with a big smile on her face.

"Oh, just some tea; Earl Grey, with honey. I'm a little lonely with Methos being gone, so I thought I'd drop by and deliver everyone's pictures from the workparty. They came out great, take a look!"

"Super!" Katherine said with a bright smile as she took the album from Toni and laid it on the table in front of Lilly. "Let me get your tea first though."

Lilly smiled too as she looks at all the smiling faces in the pictures. "That was such a wonderful party. Look how happy everyone is!" She turned a few pages in the album. "Oh, look at this one of Rayden! This is priceless! I never thought I'd see HIM scrubbing tables." Lilly giggles.

"Yes, that does seem to be one of the most requested photos to copy, so I made sure everyone's book had one in it. I'm kind of surprised Ev didn't ask for an enlargement to frame and hang on the wall" she smiled, laughing softly at the thought.

Katherine brought the hot tea over to Toni and then threw a tea towel over her shoulder and brought Nicky up to it, bouncing him happily. She giggled at the picture Lilly is looking at. "It was kinda mean of me to make him scrub tables the *hard* way, wasn't it?"

Lilly grinned at Katherine. "Maybe a little bit, but I think it was good for him. Look how he's smiling! I think he liked it before he was done, really. I bet Ev will want one of these and just hasn't remembered, with all the excitement with the babies. I hope I can go over and see them again soon. They are adorable!"

"If there's one thing I don't think Ev has any problems with, it's showing off her new little family additions; I'm waiting for her to ask me to put invitations in the paper, to come on up and see them.", Toni said and at this, everyone laughed in agreement with her.

Lilly turned the page and Katherine blushed deep crimson. She was pictured being tossed up in the air by the 18 jubilant CLims and several of their hands were caught by Toni's expertise with a camera in *compromising* positions. "Oh my!!" she gasped, and then giggled.

"Oops; don't let Nicky see that one, it's for adults only! I couldn't help it, Katherine, Connor came over and asked me specifically to get that one. He said he wanted it for his memory book." Toni recalled, putting a hand on Katherine's shoulder in support.

"I love it!! Now to figure out whose hand belongs to whom!" She grinned broadly as Lilly turned the page again. One on side was Connor holding Katherine close, a radiant smile on her face and a proud beaming look on his. The other page had a picture of Katherine strutting her stuff on the stage as she belted out one of the many toe-tapping songs she had sung for them that evening.

Lilly smiled, remembering the singing that night. "Your singing is wonderful! It was just perfect that night. You'll have crowds here every night waiting to hear you."

"I might open up a night or two a week. But between singing at Joe’s on Thursdays and band on Wednesday and Sat... " All of a sudden Katherine stood upright and a look of concentration came over her face as she tipped her head to one side and *listened*. She swung Nicky off of her shoulder and gave him back to Lilly. She could feel another immortal nearby and heading her way and there was something about the aura of this one that was making all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up straight. The door chimes rang once again and a dark, sinister man entered, an evil looking grin on his face.

Katherine quietly said to her friends, "Go into my office please, ladies, and don't come out unless I say it is ok! There is a door leading to outside from it for you to use if necessary."

The immortal watched the two ladies disappear into Katherine’s office, an irritating smirk on his face. He then turned his attention back to the proprietor of the place. "My dear Katherine", he smiled, leering as he looked her up and down, "We have some business to discuss, it would seem. You see, your friend Kimmer, who is my OIC, is the rightful owner of this shop; therefore, by rights, I should have a say in what happens in it. It's enough that I let you redecorate it the way you wanted, now it's time for me to take it over until her return", he said as his sharp gaze focused on her bosom. "By the way, my name is Kronos. But you, my lovely, can call me Sir or even Master." A dangerous look crossed the tiny immortal’s face as he said that and she maneuvered herself so that there is a table between her and him.

"Kimmer never mentioned anything about you!" she said, her chin set in a fierce, stubborn mode. No way was she going to let this perfect stranger just walk in and take over her place!

Lilly recognized the voice and the atmosphere of violence that went with it. "Kronos!" She whispered to Toni. "What's HE doing here?" She handed Nicky to Toni to keep safe and took up position by the door holding her flaming sword, ready to protect her friend if necessary..

As Toni watched Lilly take up her protective stance as she hugged Nicky to her. A thought came to her mind as to how to end this before anyone loses his or her head, even temporarily. She quietly punched in 911 on the office phone, praying silently "Please, Simon, please be there..."

Katherine was dancing around like an angry little wildcat, matching the other immortal’s every move and keeping something between her and him at all times. She was growling at him in Arabic, describing his personal appearance and habits in very uncomplimentary terms. To her surprise, Kronos threw back his head and laughed at her.

"Oh, my little kitten that thinks she is a tiger, you are going to have to do far better than that to get rid of me. For example, stand still and fight, like an immortal with some backbone; instead of being like my brother Methos, whose favorite way to win a fight is to run from it. I expected better from one of Kimmer's friends", he sneered, easily walking back and forth, matching her strides and taking a lazy, seemingly casual swing of his sword.

Katherine was not watching the sword, she was watching his eyes as Connor had taught her. Finally she had all she was willing to take from the gloating k’immie.

"Either order something or get out!" Katherine said firmly, backing her voice up with a fierce mental blast made him stagger briefly in surprise. He stopped, shook his head to clear it and to regain his mental and physical balance. Then, lowering his sword, he smiled condescendingly, once again laughing at her, and smiled. "So my little tiger kitty has some teeth after all. All right, little kitten; I will. I will have coffee, black, the strongest type you have. I think I like the idea of it being served to me by such a beautiful woman as you, it reminds me of my Horsemen days with my slaves", he drawled, casually going over to a table and sitting down; with his leering smile still on his face as his eyes obviously undressed her.

Katherine went behind the counter and poured the requested beverage into a large mug, never taking her eyes off of him or the sword he had propped up against the chair beside him. Then as warily as she could, she approached him and sat the coffee down on the table in front of him, not trusting him for a minute. Suddenly his hand snaked out and grabbed her around her tiny waist and he pulled her up to him hard so that she was pressed tightly up against his body. As he leaned close, his face practically in hers, he smiled suggestively. "Perhaps we can come to some sort of arrangement after all, little kitten. I would be willing to settle our dispute in return for a little, shall we say, special consideration. What do you say to that?" he said as he started to bring his other hand up her rib cage towards her breast.

There was a sudden flash, as a column of controlled lightning appeared in the room. As the light dissipated, Rayden was standing there, staring intently at Kronos, his eyes blazing with controlled anger as he saw Katherine being held against her will. "Kronos. Let her go", he said in a low voice of absolute authority. The air crackled with static electricity as his eyes glittered at Kronos.

And of course, since Kronos didn't know when to be afraid and back off, he simply looked at the god, and said, in a haughty tone, "We are having a business discussion; it is none of your concern.", and turned back to Katherine, this time actually fondling her softness, as he continued to leer at her.

Katherine could see her friend getting ready to act. As much as she appreciated his willingness to come to her rescue, she was not ready to admit she had lost the battle. "Let me handle this, Rayden!" she said firmly, backing up with a silent ~ please? ~ directed mentally at the poised god of thunder and lightning. When Rayden nodded his head at her ever so slightly, she then looked down at the smirking immortal whose hand was now squeezing her breast painfully hard. Pushing her anger and indignation back, she forced a soft expression on her face as she raised her right hand to stroke his face, broadcasting as much sensuality as she could muster. It had the effect she wanted, and while he was enjoying her soft caress he failed to notice her left hand reaching out and snagging the cup of coffee. The next thing Kronos felt was the scalding hot liquid being thrown into his face.

He jumped up and roared in rage, lifting up his hand to strike her, but she pushed up hard against him, hooking her leg in his and sending him down in a heap unto the floor. Katherine then began to thoroughly curse him out in about 20 different languages, starting with her native Gaelic and ending in Arabic. About half way through the tirade the angry look faded from his face and Kronos started to look just a little impressed. How he loved feisty little women! It made him even more determined to get her into his bed. He licked his lips as he anticipated the struggle that would end in him conquering her totally.

Then looking around, Kronos took in the sight of the angry god standing on one side of Katherine and Lilly with her flaming sword on the other. Toni, still holding baby Nicky was cheering Katherine on from the safety of the office door. In the far distance he could hear the sounds of sirens, and he realized the police were on their way.

Figuring that this little episode was about to take a turn he didn't particularly want, like him spending time in a jail cell, Kronos picked himself up off the floor, dusted himself off, slowly walked over to Katherine, and, with a superior look, took a $50 bill out of his wallet, and stuck it carefully into her cleavage, saying softly "Thank you for the coffee, little kitten. It was a very...entertaining time", and then, still casually, took up his sword and sauntered out the door, just as the police were visible a couple of blocks away.

Katherine stood frozen in furious indignation until Kronos had left the shop and disappeared down the street. She then reached in and pulled the fifty out her bodice and tossed it into the garbage. As the others watched in amazement she then turned and pounded her hands on the counter so hard the condiments shook. She then leaned forward and buried her face in her hands and let out a deep sob as her small shoulders shook. After a moment she stood up straight and said a sharp, very unladylike explicit. Walking back over to the trashcan, she grabbed the fifty out of the trashcan and stuffed it into her *pay Connor back* tip jar. Then wiping the tears of anger and frustration from her face, she grabbed a towel and got down on her hands and knees and started to mop up the mess.

Rayden knelt down next to Katherine and gently drew her up into his arms. "Let me help my way just this once." He smiled and, with a glance, the spilled coffee and the cup were gone. He bent down to kiss her forehead and hold her, patting her shoulder like a child. "Its all right now." He whispered.

Katherine stiffened at first then relaxed in his embrace, burying her face into his chest as her body shook as the adrenaline rush left her. She clung to him tightly and sobbed his name as he held her. Lilly and Toni both knelt beside her as well, trying to comfort her.

Rayden held her close and reached out to her, first with his mind, radiating comfort and reassurance. As he felt her acceptance, he brought his face to hers, their lips met, and he gently kissed her for the first time, letting it deepen as she continued to accept it.

The moment was interrupted when one of Sims City's finest came rushing in to see if everyone was all right. Mullard was not exactly expecting to see this! "I see you are all right, chere." His grin nearly glowed. Katherine looked up and then leaned her head up against Rayden's shoulder and chuckled. "I am now!" she said with a grin.

"Officer Mullard," Toni pointed as she looked out the window, "The man who caused all this, Kronos, is getting away - shouldn't you be going after him?"

"Don't worry, chere. Most of the police force is out chasing him. I don't think he'll be back soon." He looked around. "There doesn't seem to be any damage, but Rayden could have fixed it by now. Do you want us to arrest him, chere? What did he do?" Mullard could see she was still upset.

Katherine got to her feet with the assistance of Rayden. "I'm ok. No one was hurt. I just don't want him coming back again", she said firmly. "He mostly just shot his mouth off. He tried to extract *payment* from me because his OIC Kimmer owns this place. I just don't want him to bother me again. Please!" there was just a touch of desperation in her voice, despite her tough act, the incident had frightened her thoroughly.

Rayden put one hand on her shoulder, gently stroking it, sending all the supportive thoughts and feelings he could muster. "I won't let anything happen to you. Would you like to stay with us tonight, since Connor isn't here?" He hugged her again, "Don't worry. You're safe here."

Katherine grinned up at him, "Thanks Rayden, I'll be ok. Giles needs help with one of the twins. I will be over there for awhile, maybe all night." Her eyes sparkled as she considered that aspect. "Otherwise, maybe John can keep me company after I get back", she said with a smile.

He grinned down at her. "I'm sure he can." Then he remembered something. "I almost forgot why I came. I have something for you." There was a flicker of electricity and a beautifully wrapped package and card appeared in his hands. "I wanted to apologize again for what I did."

Katherine's delicate face lit up like a child's at Christmas time. "Oh! Thank you!!!" She took the package and carefully opened up the package. As she pulled out the shimmering sky blue silk blouse she broke into another huge smile and hugged his neck. Both Lilly and Toni added their opinions of the exquisite looking blouse, ohhing and ahhing over it.

"I am ashamed of myself. Whatever you want, just ask and it's yours. I'll do whatever you ask to make it up to you. Have you thought about my idea yet?" Rayden asked, a contrite expression on his face.

Katherine reached up and patted him on the cheek tenderly. "It's ok. I understand why it happened. I really do. Looks like we both could learn a little more control."

Then looking at Toni and Lilly, she asked if they would mind watching the place while she and Rayden stepped out and had a private talk. Her two friends readily agreed to her request but exchanged puzzled glances between each other as Rayden and her turned away from them.

Rayden held her hand as they stepped out onto the terrace. "I don't think I've ever really felt pain before the connection with Ev. Before the babies were born, there was never anything like that. I never dreamed what it would be like. I thought I could handle anything", he sighed.

Her hand felt incredibly tiny in his hand. She looked so fragile and delicate, like the beautiful porcelain doll he had seen once on an antique show. She sighed too, "Sometimes that is the hardest thing we have to learn to face about ourselves, Rayden. That there are just some things that we can't do by ourselves. That’s a lesson I've had to learn too."

He paused, his eyes focused off in the distance for a moment. "Maybe that's a lesson I should have learned a long time ago. I thought for a long time that I knew myself so well and I learned that I don't, really." He smiled thoughtfully and studied her face. "One of the things I like best about humans and Immortals is that there is always something new. More to learn."

"I hope I never stop finding new things, Rayden. They make life worth the living. Repeating the same things over and over would get old real quick" she said with a grin.

He chuckled. "Tell me about it." He absentmindedly took her hand and stroked it as he searched for the words he wanted to say. "I really hope that you will let me do this thing for you. Every time I see you with children, I can feel how much you would like your own."

Katherine ducked her head for a moment, carefully considering what she wanted to say. "Rayden, it was a truly wonderful offer. It really was. But I could not bear the thought of taking a baby away from its own mother."

Rayden got that faraway look in his eyes again, then a slow smile spread across his face. "There is another way. Jathelle suggested it. You would be able to have your own child. But would you be willing to be mortal for the time it takes for that? Close to a year."

Katherine staggered as her world flipped around her and she turned ghostly white. "Mortal? Is it really possible?" she asked in a voice so quiet he could hardly hear it.

Rayden led her to a bench and got her to sit down. He smiled and gently took her hand again, kissing it. "Yes, Katherine. It is possible. Jathelle can do it. She made Ev a goddess. It wouldn't be any more difficult to make you mortal, if you really want to do this."

He could feel her run through about every emotion in the book in just a short space of time from fear and uncertainty, disbelief and astonishment, to where finally a tiny glimmer of hope started to burn in her heart.

"But what about Connor? Is there any way the baby could be his?" she asked in a quavering voice as she clung to his hands.

Rayden answered carefully, hoping to say everything just right. "You would have to discuss this with him, of course. If he would be willing to be mortal just a day, that would be long enough for the baby to be his. In this place, as long as you both want it, you can be pregnant." Then he paused. "You know, you would have to adjust your life probably more than you realize. Mortals are more fragile than Immortals, in ways you may not fully realize." He smiled at her. "But of course, you will have a lot of people around you to help you." He kissed her hand again.

Katherine was speechless as all the ramifications hit her at once. She struggled to get the words out and finally stammered "What about my empathic abilities? and my quickening?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Your empathic abilities are not tied to your Immortality. You will still have them. By your quickening, do you mean your healing ability? If you meant that, then no. You will be as slow to heal as any mortal for that time. And if you were to die, you would not come back."

"Your right Rayden. I am going to have to talk to Connor about this. I can't make a decision this important without his input into this." She thought for a second before adding. "Is this a one time only good thing? What if I lost the baby or something?"

He smiled, feeling the hope in her heart. "It can be more than once, if you wish. If you still want to do it after the first time. You might have some surprises, you know. I still have them and I've been around a LOT longer." He gave her a gentle hug.

Katherine clung to him, shaking with emotion in his arms for awhile before looking up and smiling at him. "Thank you Rayden, thank you with all my heart."

Rayden bent down and brought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, wrapping his arms around her and reveling in her hope and excitement. He hoped it would all work out the way she wanted.

Katherine totally abandoned herself to his kiss. She was daring to hope for the first time in over 400 years that she would be able to have a child of her own. It was almost to wonderful to even consider, much less believe that it was possible. But one little practical portion of her could not help but wonder how Connor would react to this little bit of news. Without his support she did not think she could go through with it.