Kiris came walking out of the bedroom doing three things all at once. Over her arm she had the tablecloth she'd been searching for and she was kicking the pile of discarded clothing Methos had left her, all the while trying to get her earrings to stay in place.

       "Whatever possessed me to get my ears pierced three times?" she mumbled to herself as the last earring found its place.

       "Huh?" her husband asked from his place at the stove. He was cooking something that smelled wonderful, but looked completely unappetizing. Lentils and chestnuts or something, Kiris was having a hard time remembering. Her stomach growled in response to all the delicious aromas filling the air. The turkey would be done in half and hour at which time the apple pie would go into the oven. Their guests were bringing the rest of the trimmings.

       "Quiet there," she chided her protesting abdomen in good humor.

       "Who are you talking to?" he asked, puzzled.

       "Me and my stomach," she replied cheerfully and planted a kiss on his cheek. "That smells incredible and I'm starving." She ducked under his arm and held him around the waist while sneaking a peek into the pot he was stirring. He pulled the spoon out of his creation and offered her a taste.

       "Yum," the oldest immortal gushed. Her husband looked smugly satisfied.

       "You, madam, look beautiful." He let himself be distracted momentarily by his tiny wife. She was wearing a sweater of blue-gray that matched her skirt and her eyes. Her floor-length hair was pulled partially up onto her head with an antique silver barrette while the rest, still cascading halfway down her back, hung in spiral curls. After a few warm moments Methos turned back to his cooking and started humming and Kiris went in search of candlesticks.

       "Music would be nice," Methos suggested. Taking the hint, Kiris moved to comply. Removing Queen, Springsteen, Styx, Foreigner and an assortment of other 80’s music, she replaced it with Mozart, Berlioz, Chopin and Bach. Her husband's taste in music just wouldn't cut it for a fancy dinner.

       "Boring," he called over his shoulder. She gave him her most winning smile and began smoothing the tablecloth. A few short minutes later the table was set with fine china, crystal goblets, champagne flutes and silver that had been polished to a glow.

       There was a knock at the door. Joe Dawson stood on the step sporting flowers in one hand and a covered casserole dish of mashed potatoes in the other. His cane was hung over his wrist. Kiris hugged him, let him by and took the flowers in one continuous motion.

       "Hey old man," Joe called to his friend at the stove then turned to Kiris and whispered loudly. "You’re not actually letting him cook are you? I had one of his creations once with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese and had heartburn for a week."

       "Don’t worry, I’m making the turkey and dressing," she replied with a sly grin.

       The buzz of multiple Immortals hit Kiris just seconds before Methos. Duncan and Amanda came waltzing in without knocking, bearing rolls, salad and cranberry sauce.

       "Sorry about the store-bought rolls," Amanda muttered grimly. "The ones I attempted from scratch turned out to be more useful as doorstops or hockey pucks."

       "Don’t get her started on the rolls," Duncan good-naturedly whispered to Kiris as he kissed her cheek. She grinned and winked him.

       "Now all we need is Richie and we’ll be ready to eat," Kiris stated and continued her flurry of activity.

       From the direction of the kitchen an indignant Methos could be heard bellowing, "Get your fingers out of there!"

       "Sorry, man," Joe laughed and backed away from the stove hands held high. "Just sampling the wares."

       "You’ll get your chance. You’ll all get your chance and then I expect humble apologies from the lot of you for your scornful remarks about my cooking." Every person in the room was having a hard time not bursting into laughter as the 5000-year-old continued his mock tirade. "Kiris tried it and she hasn’t keeled over yet. Look at her," gesturing to his wife, "she’s just fine, breathing in and out."

       "Yeah, but I’m not Immortal, buddy. Just remember that," the Watcher reminded his friend in good humor.

       Amanda and Kiris were in deep conversation about the gold candlesticks. The thief was simultaneously estimating their price and reminding herself that these belonged to her friends. Kiris’ eyes were twinkling with good humor as she realized what her friend must be thinking.

       "I promise to will them to you."

       "Great, so far you’ve made it 10,000 years. I’ll never get them." Amanda was smiling.

       "I wonder what’s keeping Richie," Duncan interjected.

       Almost an hour later the food was starting to get cold and Richie still hadn't put in an appearance. Knowing his young friend’s passion for food Duncan started to get twitchy. By the time Kiris had called his apartment twice with no luck, Mac was starting to jump out of his skin.

       "Duncan, it's okay." Kiris came to sit by her agitated friend and put her hand on his knee. "He's not dead. I can still feel him."

       With this the Highlander physically relaxed and took her hand in his. He knew Richie's ability to defend himself was considerable and had learned to trust Kiris’ strange ability to sense her loved ones.

       Less than a minute later she suddenly got a funny look on her face and turned to Duncan.

       "He’s here." The buzz hit the other Immortals a few seconds later just as Kiris opened the door.

       Richie stood on the doorstep looking disgusted. The front of his shirt was torn and stained with blood and the end of his tie hung precariously by only a few threads.

       "You know," he started with no prompting, "this whole 'there can be only one' crap is getting to be a real pain in the butt! I just bought this tie and now look at it. I should know not to buy anything nice because it will eventually end up like this."

       "What happened?" Kiris asked concerned.

       "I was on my way to the store to pick up some ice cream when this guy shows up. I tried to get him to put it off until later, but he wouldn’t listen and now just look at this! Totally ruined!" He was gesturing wildly to himself and beginning to sound just a little on the hysterical side.

       Kiris, recognizing the signs, leaned toward him, put her arms around his neck and squeezed with all her might.

       "It's okay, Rich, it’s okay," she told him in her most soothing voice, "we're just glad you're in one piece."

       "Amen to that." Mac came and squeezed his pal’s shoulder in relief. Everybody in the room was just a little misty.

       With his face still buried in Kiris' shoulder Richie proclaimed in a muffled voice, "Something smells really good!" Everyone laughed and the tension was broken. Kiris kissed her young friend's cheek and hugged him again. Richie held onto her for just a moment longer needing the comfort. The two had developed a special relationship over the last few months and she silently thanked God for saving her friend this day.

       "Sorry I didn’t get the ice cream. I couldn’t go into the store looking like this," Richie told them. He was starting to unwind.

       "Don’t worry, apple pie is good with or without. We’re covered."

       Methos took Richie into the bedroom to find a replacement shirt and a few minutes later the younger Immortal, wearing a Journey T-shirt, joined the rest of his friends around the table. Methos and Duncan took the ends of table, Amanda and Joe were on one side and Richie came to stand beside Kiris on the other. They all joined hands.

       Kiris began to sing a prayer in Latin, "Adoramus te Christe."

       Adoramus te Christe
       Et benedicimus ti bi
       Qui a per sanctum crucem tuam
       Redemisti mundum

       The guests closed their eyes and were swept away with the sound of her voice. At the end of the song she opened her eyes and let go of the hands she had been holding. After sighing deeply she looked around with watery eyes and simply stated, "I've seen too much to *not* believe in God." Duncan looked thoughtfully at her and finally understood where her serenity came from.

       "Amen!" Richie spouted enthusiastically. Laughter made it’s way around the table again and everyone took their seats. Dishes were passed from person to person and surprisingly Methos' dish of "road tar," as he called it, disappeared first.

       "Kiris, you have to come sing at my tavern." Joe was totally enamored of her voice.

       "For you? Anytime."

       When it came time for the toasts Richie was the first to lift his glass.

       "Here's to keeping our heads firmly attached to our shoulders!"

       "Here, here," Mac answered and glasses clinked all around.

       "To my new family," Kiris said in a voice filled with emotion. "It’s been a long time since I’ve had a family and I love you all."

       Methos’ toast was drunk last. "To good friends," he lifted his glass to Joe, Amanda, Richie and Duncan, "finding love," his eyes looked tenderly on Kiris, "and long, long, *long* life."