Ev was a little tense. It was only an hour before Katherine was due to be there for dinner. Gus and Jeremy didn't fuss too much about being asked to have dinner somewhere else for the evening and were already gone. They knew it was important to Ev. Johnny, on the other hand was stalling for some reason. Ev sicced Rayden on him to try and convince him to go out with the other guys because it was too much for her to go up and down the stairs. She was feeling just too uncomfortable that evening, so she settled into the couch listening to Rayden’s telepathic updates on his lack of progress on getting Johnny out of the house. He thought it was funny.

~You know Johnny is hoping to see her tonight.~ Rayden somehow even conveyed that he was grinning about it.

~I know.~ Ev thought back and sighed. ~Really it’s kind of cute. I just wanted it to be a peaceful, quiet dinner.~

~He's pretending that he's in the shower and can't hear me knocking on his door.~ Rayden wasn't terribly concerned. Ev rolled her eyes and picked up a magazine she had been trying to read all day. There was no cleaning to do. Nothing to fuss with about dinner, that was all Rayden's department now. Just as she finished the article she'd bought the magazine for, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" She called out. It took some effort, but she managed to haul herself up from the soft, comfy couch. "Coming!" She hoped it wasn't Gus and Jeremy back for something. They had promised they would hang out at Joe's for the evening. She finally made it to the door. Katherine was at the door looking fresh scrubbed and happy, with her guitar over her shoulder and a small package in her hand. She stood on tiptoe to give Ev a hug.

"Katherine! Come on in!" Ev welcomed her with a heartfelt hug. "I'm so glad you're here! We have just about everyone out of the way, except Johnny." She giggled at Katherine’s questioning look "John Clayton. He lives here with us. We heard that you two met at the zoo the other day." Katherine nodded her head in understanding, blushing a little as she remembered that afternoon. Ev couldn’t help put think that there was more to that encounter than Johnny had told her.

"I’m so glad you brought your guitar! I can't wait to hear you play it. We kinda left in a hurry that evening. Your singing was wonderful that night!" Ev said as she led the way into the living room. Once there, Katherine handed her the little package wrapped in metallic paper. "Oh! A gift? You shouldn't have!" She smiled. Katherine looked a little shy as Ev ripped into the package like a kid at Christmas.

"Its not much, just some lullabies I recorded for the babies" she said quietly, looking up as Rayden finally came down from upstairs.

"Katherine! Glad to see you!" he said, smiling at the petite immortal sitting next to Ev on the couch. Katherine glanced at him and then ducked her head, for some reason not wanting to meet Rayden's eyes. Rayden laughed softly to himself as he caught a glimpse in his mind of what she had been up too the night before, but decided to say nothing.

"Rayden, look! She's recorded some lullabies for the babies." She turned to Katherine to hug her again. Katherine hugged her back.

Rayden smiled in delight. "They'll love these! So will we. We really enjoyed your singing at the audition." His eyes danced with merriment. " I imagine you knew we would."

"Thank you." She said, blushing a little. She knew that she helped start something between the two of them that night.

Ev's gaze shifted to the doorway again as Johnny appeared, looking very handsome and dressed up for a guy just going out to hang out at a bar for a while. "Johnny! You look nice tonight." Ev teased.

Katherine glanced up and saw Lord Greystoke walking across the room towards her and rose gracefully to her feet. She dropped a curtsey, "Evening, milord." Her face was positively glowing as he bowed and took her hand to kiss it very slowly, while looking up at her with *those* eyes.

Ev and Rayden each slid an arm around the other and got cozy, watching Johnny and Katherine as they smiled at each other. Rayden couldn't resist giving Ev a kiss on the cheek as she cuddled next to him on the couch. He whispered to her, "See how they all light up when she's around?" He had noticed the reaction of a lot of the men to Katherine’s presence and it amused him."

Ev whispered back, "I can't wait to see what happens later when she meets our other guest." Then, louder, she teased. "You have plans tonight besides hanging out at Joe's with the rest of the guys, Johnny?" Ev couldn't help grinning at him. Johnny pointedly ignored her.

"Good to see you again Lady Katherine." Lord Greystoke said, still holding Katherine’s hand in his. "Have you given any thought to my invitation?"

"I really would like to see what your wonderful zoo is like at night, milord." She said shyly, blushing prettily as he gazed intently into her eyes. John then suggested a date for later in the week and she accepted.

Ev giggled quietly into Rayden's shoulder. ~See the zoo at night. That's a new way of putting it.~ She thought to Rayden, who chuckled in response. Johnny kept ignoring them. Katherine had eyes only for him at the moment. Ev and Rayden cuddled together like a couple at a movie, watching the two talking. Lord Greystoke reluctantly took his leave after kissing Katherine’s hand again, glaring a little at Rayden and Ev as he left. Ev giggled aloud after the door shut.

"I'm sorry. I can't help myself." She gestured towards the empty space on the other side of her. "Come and make yourself comfortable." Katherine returned to the couch and fanned her blushing face trying to get her composure back as Rayden grinned at her.

"Johnny really does need to get out more. That will be good for him," he said to her. He let one hand trail to Ev's tummy as the babies moved again. "Thank you for the lullabies."

Katherine managed to get control of herself and asked how the little ones were today, as she reached out with her hand giving Ev a questioning look for her approval to touch.

Ev nodded and smiled. "They're very active today. I think they're playing kickball."

Rayden couldn't help cuddling against Ev and cradling her in his arms as he listened to them talk.

Katherine placed her hand on Ev's swollen belly and smiled happily, "Such grand little bairns!" she said as she felt around lightly. "The wee lass is head down already, Ev." She shifted her hand. "And the laddie is lying almost sideways." She reach up and moved Rayden's hand to a spot under Ev's ribs. "His head is here, Rayden. Can you feel it?"

Rayden's face positively beamed. "Yes. This is wonderful!" Katherine's hand tingled strangely as Rayden's was under hers.

"I knew they had shifted, but it's hard for me to tell what they're doing. I just feel like I'm about to explode all the time." Ev sighed.

"They are both grand, Ev and under no stress at the moment. But they are not quite ready to come out into this world yet." Katherine reassured her.

Ev patted her belly. "I can't help but feel a little impatient at this point. But its good to know everything is fine. I've had a couple of checkups, but with being a whatever I am now, my health is not a problem."

"I suppose you will be having them at that fancy hospital yonder," Katherine commented, tilting her chin in the direction of it, a wistful look on her face.

"Oh no! We couldn't go to the hospital. If Rayden gets too stressed he would short out all their fancy equipment. "She patted Rayden's hand and kissed his cheek.

Katherine looked up curiously at him and his eyes did that glow thing for a brief moment, startling her. Intrigued she raised an eyebrow and said, "I can see where that might be a problem".

"We aren't really sure how we're going to handle this. Rayden's mother will be here, but she doesn't know anything about humans having babies. When she had my lovely god here, she wasn't in human form." Ev kissed his hand this time.

Katherine was still looking intently at him and he was returning her gaze. "If you could use my help I would be more than happy to be your midwife for you." She looked point blank at Rayden and frowned. "You aren't going to get in the way are you?"

"You could help us?" Ev paused and 'read' Katherine. "I didn’t realize you were a midwife!" She grinned at Rayden. "I promise he'll behave if you'll be here with me. His mother will be here, too and help keep him in line. I don't think he has a clue what's about to happen."

"I've had a wee bit of experience. About 400 years worth of delivering babies and dealing with expectant fathers." She shot Rayden a look that plainly said, "You had better behave!"

Rayden looked puzzled. "I haven't even done anything. Why do I feel like I'm being accused of something?"

Ev stroked his hand. "Dear, you don't understand what's going to happen. I've tried to explain to you, but I guess you'll have to see for yourself. Frankly, the closer it gets the more nervous I am." She turned to Katherine. "You have no idea how happy I am to find someone to confide in about that."

Katherine smiled at her and broadcasted a feeling of encouragement and support for Ev. She then returned her gaze to Rayden. "You had better not get in the way! Or god or no god, you'll be out of the room so fast your head will be spinning!"

Ev giggled and reached out to squeeze Katherine's hand in friendship. "Thank you. I feel so much better now."

Rayden, still puzzled, grinned and cuddled Ev again, glad she had more support, but still not sure what it was that he'd just been reprimanded about.

"If you like I'll come and check on you every week until you get closer - then it should be every day." Katherine said to her.

"I'd really like that. I can't help being a little scared. And I can't convince him that this isn't going to be just a picnic. My silly god has this idea that its going to be something calm and poetic or....... I'm not sure what exactly. Nothing like reality."

Katherine patted her on the shoulder reassuringly." There are breathing techniques to help you keep calm and relaxed. And himself there could help by massaging your back or doing other things."

Ev smiled and leaned back against her lovely god. "He does wonderful massages."

Rayden started massaging her shoulders gently. "You know I'll do whatever will help you. I only want to make you comfortable and happy."

Katherine looked at him hard again and he could feel her attempting to read him. She then turned back to Ev. "You're right. He really doesn't have a clue!" They giggled together.

Ev kissed his cheek again. "My dear, remember you told me that the closer we are, the stronger the telepathic connection between us is? You might wish we didn't have that for a while during the birth. You're in for a real education."

Rayden studied both their faces and returned a puzzled frown. "What do you mean?"

"You had better listen to your teacher!" Katherine teased him. "You have a lot to learn!"

Ev giggled into his shoulder again. "He's not used to being the student." Suddenly the doorbell rang again. Ev couldn't help grinning.

"I'll get it." Rayden unwrapped himself from Ev and crossed the room to the door. The two ladies giggled and smiled at each other some more as they heard him say, "Glad you could make it! Come on in! They're ganging up on me."

"I knew you two had something in mind." Connor's voice came from the doorway. Ev was watching her guest closely.

Katherine was sitting with her back was to the door so she couldn’t see who was entering the room but she jumped as if shot when she heard his familiar voice and felt his buzz. She sat bolt upright, an astonished look on her face.

Ev could feel her hand tremble in hers. Ev gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "When we heard that you two used to be *friends*, we knew we had to bring you together again. I hope we did the right thing."

Katherine swallowed hard and slowly rose to her feet, her eyes glistening with tears as she turned to face him.

Connor come to a sudden stop and stared open-mouthed in surprise as he saw who the other guest was.

Katherine crossed the room to him, still not quite believing it was really him. Rayden returned to Ev and wrapped himself around her again as they watched and 'listened.' as Katherine reached up with a shaky hand to touch his face to reassure herself that it was indeed him after all these years.

"Katherine?" Connor’s voice wavered with emotion as he reached down to caress his old friends face.

Ev's eyes brimmed with tears of happiness for them as she cuddled against Rayden, thinking that this was going well.

One hundred years of loneliness and feeling rejected suddenly surged up within Katherine and she angrily slugged him hard in the belly causing him to double over and gasp for air.

"Damn your eyes, Connor MacLeod!!! Where the hell have you been!!!"