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"Lockhart!"
The booming voice startled Asher out of her daydream.
She stood up from her spot on the floor among the books. "Oui?" She looked over the stacks of books at her supervisor. "Monsieur? Is there a new assignment?"
He nodded. "There's been a request from research." He handed her a slip of paper. "Take them here and tell him he has two months."
"Oui, monsieur." She climbed the ladder to reach the upper shelves and pulled out the requested books. She slipped them into her courier bag and headed out to the Metro.
Asher crossed the bridge to the left bank and walked up the street to Shakespeare and Company. As she went into the small bookstore she felt another Immortal and moved cautiously into the store. "Bonjour? Monsieur Pierson?" She called.
A British accented voice answered her. "I'll be up in a minute." She heard him climbing the stairs from the basement and reached for her sword. "Yes, can I help you?"
"I'm the Courier." She said as he came into view. "Methos?"
His head was buried in a book, but she knew his relaxed demeanor was just a fa�ade and his own sword was very nearby. "Pierson. Adam- " He looked up then and trailed off. "Ash?" He set the book down and swept her up into a hug.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, surprise registering on her face.
They kissed passionately and he gently set her down. "I work here. Come downstairs." He led her down the stairs to the basement.
"You're Adam Pierson? The researcher who wanted the Chronicles?" She asked as she followed him down the narrow stairwell.
He looked down for a moment. "Yeah. You're a Watcher?" The dank, dimly lit room held crates of books. A chair and a small cot were set up by the crates and he had a small fridge and an electric kettle in one corner.
She shook her head. "Non. Oui, mais not in the field. I'm the Courier, an archivist." She explained. "I brought you the chronicles you requested. What are you working on?"
He smiled sardonically. "The Methos Chronicles."
"I should have figured." She pulled the books out of her bag. "Here." She handed him three journal sized leather books.
"So what are you going by now?" He turned the books over in his hand.
"Angelina Lockhart."
"Very pretty."
"Merci. I thought it was time to be French again."
"With a British name?"
She shrugged carelessly. "I liked the name."
He gestured to the chair. "Sit." He plugged the kettle in and pulled a beer out of the fridge. "So you're an archivist? Are you in school?"
"Non, Angelina is a prodigy and graduated from Le Sorbonne when she was 15."
"How old do they think you are?"
She shrugged. "20."
The kettle whistled at him and he poured cup of tea for her. Handing it to her, he settled onto the cot across from her.
"D�j� vu, n'est-ce pas?" She commented. They had often sat this way in the past, lounging close to each other, he with a beer, her, tea or wine.
"It's been a long time." He tried to kick her foot lightly but she pulled her legs under the chair.
"When was the last time we saw each other?" She wondered aloud, absently swiping at him with her free hand.
After a moment's thought, he offered, "Berlin, 1930."
"That cabaret?" She shook her head. "Non, after that, je pense. 1953, the states."
He smiled. "You're right. That one night in Boston. You were wearing a poodle skirt."
"I liked that skirt." She told him.
"I did too." He raised his eyebrows and smiled lecherously at her.
She reached out and slugged him lightly on the shoulder. "Cochon."
They fell back into a comfortable silence, each observing the other, noting differences and recognizing things that remained the same.
Methos watched as Asher sipped her tea. She was dressed in a light skirt that looked like a Monet painting and a vine green top. Her hair was plaited in a long, thick braid that hung past her waist. Her dark blue eyes sparkled even in the dim light. Suddenly, she seemed only 17 again.
"What are you thinking, cher?" She asked him.
He brought himself out of his thoughts. "How young you look."
She set her teacup down and stretched her legs out. "How old do I look?"
"The same as you did when I found you 2000 years ago." He reached out and brushed away a stray curl from her forehead. "It's good to see you."
"How long have you been with the Watchers?" she asked.
"Almost ten years. You?"
"Just four." She gazed at him. "You're one to talk about looking so young."
"What do you mean?"
She took in his chiseled face, green-gold eyes crinkled as he smiled. His dark hair was unruly, a lock falling over one eye. His slim frame was clothed in the pullovers and jeans favored by the students he pretended to be one of. "You look like a student. Young." She conceded at last.
The mask of Adam Pierson fell away and instantly his eyes looked ages older. His voice picked up a sarcastic edge. Taking her hand he pulled her into his lap. "That's what I'm going for." He leaned in to kiss her and she turned away, leaning into him.
"Methos, I can't."
"Ash, what's wrong?"
She sighed heavily. "I'm engaged."
Methos' jaw dropped. "You're engaged?"
She nodded. "We're getting married in March next year." She said proudly, showing him her engagement ring.
"Very nice. Wow, married." He hugged her. "I don't know if I've ever been to one of your weddings."
"There haven't been that many of them." She said exasperated. "Besides, where you're around, I don't usually feel the need to get married."
He stood and picked up her teacup. "Can I get you some more tea?"
She shook her head and also stood. "No. I should get going."
"Would you like to go to dinner tonight?" He walked her back upstairs.
"D'accord. Can I bring Ethan? He'd love to meet you."
He shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
"Bien, merci."
"What time?"
Asher thought for a moment. "Nine?"
"Kinda late."
"Not for Paris, mon ami." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "It is good to see you." She crossed the street and waved once before heading back across the river.
Methos stood in front of Shakespeare and Co. waiting for Asher. He felt an Immortal coming towards him and looked around before finally noticed her and her companion came down the street toward him. They made a nice looking couple as they walked her arm linked in his. In contrast to Asher's petite frame, he was tall and well built with broad shoulders. Curly blond hair was cropped short and his skin was tanned a golden bronze. As they got closer he could see the man's eyes were a warm chocolate brown.
Asher smiled when she saw him and waved. "Adam!" She called to him. He laughed as she pulled her friend across the street to the bookstore. "Adam, I'd like you to meet Ethan Lyons, my fianc�. Ethan this is Adam Pierson, my best friend."
"Congratulations." He held out his hand to Ethan.
He clasped Methos' hand. "Thanks." His voice was deep and had a British accent similar to Methos' own. "She talks about you all the time."
Asher's smiled brightened. "Bon! Let's go to dinner."
The trio took the metro to a small caf� near Asher's flat. Walking from the metro station to the caf�, Asher laughed as both men good-naturedly vied for her attention.
Ethan held out her chair at the table before sitting himself. After they ordered, he turned to Methos. "So how long have you known Angel?"
He raised his eyebrow at the nickname. "Seems like forever, doesn't it Lina?"
It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "It certainly does. Adam was a friend of my family when I was young."
"We sort of grew up together." Methos added. "Where did you meet A, uh, Lina?"
Ethan didn't notice his slip. He smiled at Asher and squeezed her hand. "We met at work."
"Are you in Research too?" He wondered aloud.
Ethan looked back at Methos and shook his head. "No, I'm more of-"
Asher cut him off. "He's a field agent." Ethan looked at her in horror. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion before her eyes widened. "Mon Dieu, Ethan. I forgot to tell you. Adam, he is in the Research Division aussi." Looking to Methos, she gestured. "Adam, show him." Methos sighed and rolled up his sleeve, revealing the purple tattoo. "I didn't realize you were in the organization as well."
"Nor I you. So, you're in research? Which project?" Ethan inquired.
"The Methos Chronicles."
He made a face. "Blech. Too much history involved around someone who's a myth as far as I'm concerned."
Methos smiled deviously. Asher recognized the smile and shook her head.
"You don't believe in Methos?" Methos asked innocently.
Ethan scoffed. "The world's oldest living Immortal? Hardly. How could he possibly have survived all these years without someone discovering him?"
Methos shrugged and turned to Asher. "What about you Lina? Do you believe in Methos?"
She tried valiantly to hide her smile. "Je ne sais pas. Ethan does make a good point."
He shook his head and stuck his tongue out at her. "You're supposed to be on my side. I am your best friend."
"Yeah but he's my fianc�."
After dinner, they walked to Asher's building. She punched in the code to her building and ushered them inside and up the stairs to her flat. "This is where I live, Adam."
Methos poked his head into the nearby doorways. "Nice. How'd you find this?"
"Watcher's headquarters. Monsieur Lake's secretary helped me find it." Asher went into the kitchen and dug around in the fridge. "Beer?"
"Please." Both men answered in unison and laughed. Asher smiled as she reappeared with three bottles, handing one to each of them.
"Where are you living, Adam?" Asher settled onto the couch next to Ethan. Methos wandered around the room, looking at the items on Asher's shelves.
"A place near the bookstore." Finally settling into a chair next to the couch, he asked, "How long have you been engaged?"
Ethan smiled down at Asher before replying. "Almost a year."
He shook his head and took a long pull from his beer. "Wow. I still can't believe Lina's getting married. Where are you from originally?"
"I was born in Cardiff but we moved just outside Liverpool when I was little. My parents live in London now. What about you?"
Asher raised an eyebrow at Methos, waiting to hear what he would say. He looked at her before replaying. "Born in Devonshire. We moved to France when I was 9."
"That's where you too met?"
Asher nodded. "Oui, he lived on my road."
Methos stood. "I should get going. I have to open the store tomorrow."
"I'll walk you out." Asher told him and slipped her sandals back on.
Ethan stood up and shook Methos' hand. "It was nice to meet you. I'm sure I'll see you around."
"Same here. We should have a drink together. I'll tell you all her secrets." Methos winked at Asher and she shook her head. They went out and she closed the door behind her.
"I'll be right back." She called to Ethan.
At the door, Methos turned to her. "Be careful Ash."
"What do you mean?"
"I know you care for him but you need to tell him about you."
"I know. I'm going to."
"I just don't want to see my Pixie get hurt."
She laughed. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine. You'll see. I'm going to have a beautiful wedding and you'll be there. Everything will be perfect."
"Ever the optimist." He kissed her forehead.
"Always the cynic." She responded as he headed down the street to the metro stop.
"It's not cynicism. It's pragmatism." He called back to her.
Two weeks had passed since their reunion. Asher was getting ready for a dinner date with Ethan when Methos called.
"Allo?" She cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder.
"What are you wearing?"
Asher recognized Methos' voice on the other end. "You're lucky Ethan didn't answer."
"I wouldn't have asked if he answered. I can tell the difference between your voices. You didn't answer my question."
"And I probably won't. What are you doing?"
"Nothing. What are you doing tonight?" Methos sprawled on the couch, a beer in one hand, the television remote in another and his cordless phone tucked between his ear and shoulder.
"Ethan's taking me out to dinner." Asher sounded breathless.
"What are you doing? Running a marathon?"
There was a pause. "Non. I'm getting dressed."
"So?"
"You ever try putting a bra on while you're on the phone?"
He dropped the remote and sat up at the memory of Asher naked. "Pixie, you're killing me."
She laughed. "It's what I live for in life. Ecoute, he'll be here soon."
"Alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"D'accord. Bon nuit, cher ami."
"Night, Ash." He hung up the phone and shook his head to clear the image before picking up the remote and resuming his channel surfing.
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