Ev watched in surprise what had happened from the couch, wondering what this might mean. Rayden quietly held her, his face not revealing what he thought.

Catching his breath after a moment, Connor straightened up with an angry glint in his eyes, but the look of pure anguish on Katherine's face stopped him cold. Unable to come up with words that would take away her obvious pain, he did the next best thing. He reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Ev and Rayden held each other tight and smiled at their friends, hoping that it would be all right between them.

Katherine resisted Connor for a moment before relaxing in his embrace, and sobbed softly into his chest as he caressed her back and hair, crooning softly to her. They stood that way for several moments, seemingly unaware of the other couple in the room.

Ev gave Rayden an elbow in the side and whispered to him. He whispered back and she gave him the elbow again. He reluctantly zapped up a tray full of drinks, including Connor's favorite Scotch. There was even a glass of wine for Ev, which he frowned at while she sipped it while they waited for their guests to work out the emotions they were feeling after being reunited after so many years.

Then as quickly as the storm blew up, it was over and Katherine pushed herself away from Connor's tight embrace and smiled sadly up at him. Connor tenderly reached out and wiped the tears from her face. They seemed to be having a conversation between them, but not a word was spoken out loud, instead it was all in their eyes.

Rayden grinned at the two of them, happy that the worst seemed to be over. "Connor, I think you're the only person in town who didn't know she was here. How did you manage it?"

Ev giggled. "You know, Connor, you really do spend too much time brooding over in the big old lonely house of yours."

He flinched a little. "I guess so", he admitted with a shrug.

"I think the last time you spent an evening with someone was when my mother was here visiting." Rayden teased. Ev gave Rayden an elbow in the side again and giggled.

Katherine glanced up at Connor sharply as she caught a mental image from Connor of what he and Rayden's mother had done that night. Connor just shrugged, he had given up a long time ago trying to keep secrets from Katherine.

"Don't blame him, Katherine." Rayden grinned, picking up that Katherine had figured out what they were talking about. "My mother set her sights on him and she is really hard to say no to." His eyes gleamed with mischief. "I seem to know a lot of women like that lately." He kissed Ev's hand.

Katherine looked up at Connor again with a raised eyebrow. He ducked his head a little and grinned sheepishly. She studied him silently for a moment then with a startled glance turns her gaze to Ev. "You too???", she asked.

Ev giggled. "Ummmm....... a few times. Couldn't help myself. Things are different here than in the rest of the world. I don't know why, exactly. And Rayden and I aren't exclusive." She turned and looked at Rayden and saw the mischief still glinting in his eyes.

Connor started to make some type of excuse but Katherine silenced him with a quick glance before turning back to look at Ev and Rayden again. She smiled at Ev to let her know it is ok with her. She and Rayden then locked eyes for a moment.

Ev noticed that Rayden was flirting and grinned at him, then winked at Connor. "You look like you could use a drink." She smiled at him. "We have your favorite."

"Thanks Ev", he said as he took Katherine by the hand and lead her to a chair. She snagged her guitar in passing and sat down and started to play while Connor sipped his scotch.

Rayden remembered his host duties suddenly. "Just let me know when you'd like to eat. I have something planned that I hope you'll like." He emphasized that last phrase as he caught Katherine's eye again, making Ev giggle till she had to hold her belly.

Ev cuddled against Rayden and rested her head on his shoulder to listen as Katherine run through a few chords, testing the tune of the guitar. Rayden put his arms around her, letting his hands rest on her belly, the way they've become accustomed to sitting through Ev's whole pregnancy.

Katherine didn't quite trust her voice at first so she just played for awhile to get her thoughts together. Connor realized she needed that time so he sat quietly beside her listening, smiling at her with undisguised affection. Suddenly Katherine giggled to herself and looked up at Ev and Rayden. "Would you like to hear a little song I wrote a long time ago about himself?"

"I'd love that!" Ev grinned.

"Yes! Very much." Rayden cuddled Ev again.

Connor rolled his eyes and prepared for what he knew was coming next as she started playing a snappy, toe tapping tune on her guitar.

"A nobleman's fair daughter came walking down the lane, along came Captain Dixon, the Keeper of the Game. Says he to his serving man if it was not for the law I'd have that girl within my bed and she'd lie next to the wall"

Connor buried his face in his hands - he had obviously heard this song before . Ev couldn't completely suppress a giggle or two as she watch the expressions crossing his face.

"Go away young man and do not be perplexed, before I lie one night with you you'll answer questions six. Six questions you will answer and I will make them all, Before you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall."

Katherine grinned at Ev and Rayden as she sang, she appeared to be having a lot of fun teasing Connor with this particular song. Rayden grinned back at her and thought to Ev, ~ You didn't make me answer six questions! ~

"What is rounder than a ring, higher than a tree, what is worse than womankind, deeper than the sea? What tree blooms first, what birds sings best? From where do the dewdrops fall? Then its you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall"

A knowing glance passed between her and Connor as she sang. Rayden was grinning but had a puzzled look on his face at the same time as he tried to figure out the riddles.

"A globe is rounder than a ring, sky higher than a tree, a girl is worse than womankind, hell deeper than the sea. The yew bloom first, the thrush sings best, from heaven the dewdrops fall. Now it's you and I in the one bed lie and you lie next to the wall"

Katherine's voice rose joyously, a happy glow over her sweet face as she remembered her first time with Connor. Ev chuckled in appreciation, listening to the words of the song. She thought to Rayden, ~ Wish I'd have thought of that. ~

"You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew, find for me a mantle that ne'er a weft went through. A sparrows horn, a priest unshorn, a bird without a gall, then its you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall"

Connor licked his lips, his eyes glowing as he remembered that night too.

"My father has some winter fruit that in December grew, my mother wears a mantle that a weft ne'er went thru. A sparrow's horn's not hard to find. There's one in every claw. Melchizedec is a priest unshorn. And he rolled her to the wall!"

Ev and Rayden smiled contentedly enjoying the atmosphere set with the song as Connor actually blushed a little when Katherine sang the last line. Katherine smiled happily, quite pleased with herself as she put her guitar down. Ev kissed Rayden's cheek, thinking about some encounters they have had with walls, remembering them fondly. Rayden kissed her forehead and gave her a hug. Then he smiled across the room at Katherine, "I like that song. It seems Connor does, too." He hadn't missed that blush at the end of the song.

Connor laughed to himself as Katherine smiled at him.

Ev sighed wistfully. "It was wonderful. I wish I could do that."

Rayden kissed her again. "You have lots of talents, you know." He whispered into her ear.

Katherine shot a wicked look at Connor before turning to Ev and saying, "Why don't you ask himself here just exactly when that happy occasion occurred." She had a mischievous look on her face.

"Good question, Connor. When did that happen?" Ev grinned, taking the opportunity to give Connor a hard time. Rayden just looked on, not missing a thing.

Connor ducked his head and grinned sheepishly again, an *I can't win, can I* look all over his face. "It was after a birthday party that I had arranged for her."

Ev had a sudden question she *had* to ask. "Do you mind if I ask which birthday that was, Connor?"

He blushed again. "Sweet sixteen." He finally admits in a whisper as Katherine giggled behind her hand at him.

Ev raised her eyebrows in surprise and then gave in to the laugh that she couldn't suppress as Rayden chuckled and held her close while grinning directly at Katherine.

"What he's not saying is that he got an innocent girl snockered and then seduced her!" Katherine accused.

"Now wait a minute!" Connor hollered, tying to defend himself, already knowing that was a lost cause.

"Connor! You have a whole other side to you that we've never seen before!" Ev started a new round of giggles.

"It was her that snuck into my bed!" He shot back at her. Katherine just shrugged, not admitting or denying anything.

At that remark, Rayden started to laugh. "Really?" He grinned at her with his eyes sparkling. She met his gaze with a steady one of her own, and he caught a glimpse of how special that night was to her.

"Times were different then. Being unmarried at 16 was like being an old maid. People were starting to talk." Connor hesitated, wondering if maybe he shouldn't have said that. Katherine just shrugged, she was used to people talking about her. Then, desperate to change the subject, Connor suggested that maybe it was time to eat.

Ev also read some of what Katherine was remembering and smiled, thinking of some memories of her own.

Rayden rose gracefully from the couch and led the way to the dining room table. "I think that's a good idea, Connor." He gestured toward the table. "Dinner is served." There was a shimmering on the surface of the table and as it dissipated there were places set for four people, along with salad and dressing, a lovely delicious smelling roast, Yorkshire pudding, and barley broth.

Katherine was startled momentarily, but quickly recovered and glanced over at Ev and smiled. "I can see where he would come in handy to have around!"

"Yes. Very. I've let him take over everything. He loves to pamper me." She kissed Rayden's cheek.

Connor took Katherine by the hand and lead her to the table and pulled out a chair for her giving her a playful swat on the rear as she lowered it to the chair. Katherine just grinned at him and settled gracefully into the chair.

Rayden helped Ev sit. She had a hard time doing it gently anymore. Then he kissed her cheek before he took his own seat. "Rayden, you forgot something!" Ev grinned.

"So I did." He chuckled at Connor and Katherine and from another shimmer of electricity emerged a plate of haggis. Katherine rolled her eyes and snickered into her hand.

"Is it supposed to look like that?" Ev wrinkled her nose.

"Unfortunately yes." Katherine said dryly. Obviously haggis was not one of her favorite dishes.

"That's the way it was made on that show." Rayden looked at it. "What do you think, Connor? Is that right?"

Connor shrugged. "Looks good to me!"

Ev nibbled at her salad and looked doubtfully at the haggis. "I'm glad its on *that* side of the table." She giggled.

Connor looked around at all the others grinning at him and grumbled something about it must be *pick on Connor night*. Ev nearly choked on her salad.

"You know us. Earlier it was *pick on Johnny night.*" She paused and smirked at her white-haired god. "And right after that it was *pick on Rayden night*." Katherine just reached over and ruffled Connor's hair and grinned wickedly at him. Ev and Katherine exchanged glances across the table and were reduced to helpless laughter. Ev held her belly while she laughed and just couldn't seem to quit. Finally, the babies started kicking again and that made her laugh harder. "Ohh. I woke them up!" Katherine smiled at her softly as she and Connor held hands under the table.

Rayden got up from his seat and got down on his knees to talk to the babies. He gently stroked her belly and spoke softly to them, kissing her belly and resting his hands where Katherine had shown him to look for his son's head. Whatever he said seemed to calm them, and Ev as well. Before getting up, he took her into his arms and gave her a long, gentle kiss.

Katherine watched him with interest during this and when Rayden returned to his seat Connor pulled her to him and whispered something into her ear, a wicked grin on his face. She pushed him away and mouthed the word "later".

Ev smiled at Rayden as he sat back down again. She couldn't resist turning to Katherine and saying, "Isn't he the most wonderful father already?"

"Tis!" Katherine answered brightly, giggling a little as Connor's hand tickled her as it started to work its way up her leg underneath the table "Lets eat! I'm starved!"

"Yes, let's!" Ev grinned. She had a pretty good idea what was going on between the two of them. Katherine was having a hard time keeping a straight face as one hand caressed the inner part of her thigh as Connor attacked his food with the other.

Rayden grinned at them and thought to Ev, "We'll have to have them both over more often. I enjoy this. But I don't think they're really going to eat much tonight."

Ev giggled a little and thought back. "Not much food, anyway." She dug into a lovely slice of the roast.

Katherine finally gave up and pushed Connor back., scolding him gently, "Would you be behaving yourself!"

Connor grinned back at her and said, "Not on your life, little girl!"

Rayden chuckled and thought to Ev, ~ My kind of people. ~

Ev grinned back and answers him with, "I'll never be able to eat, if you keep me giggling all night."

Connor reached over and pulled Katherine onto his lap and into his arms and kissed her deeply for a moment, then released her and turned his attention back to the food, just then realizing that at some point during that kiss his fork had dropped unnoticed from his hand. He glanced, embarrassed, at Rayden who rolled his eyes and replaced it for him, chuckling.

Ev smiled at them. "You know, its been a long time since we had somebody besides just the guys over for dinner. I like this."

"I better eat while I can." Connor grinned at Ev and Rayden as he reached around the girl on his lap. "I'll need all the strength I can get if I'm to keep up with this little wildcat here!"

Katherine just giggled and said, "You had better be believing that!" while she nuzzled his ear.

Rayden studied Katherine and his eyes sparkled with interest. There was definitely more to the normal quiet and reserved Lady Katherine than anyone had yet to realize.