

# One Thousand Years to Forever

# The Making of a Queen

By Mary Moriarty

Copyright © 2013, Mary Moriarty

Smashwords Edition

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, emailing, blogging, recording, or by any digital information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

# * * * * * * *

I would like to take time to thank a few people...

First, to my husband Bob Stiehler, for being so supportive of my love of writing. I would like to thank my children and how they have been super supportive and for being some of my best advertising. I love you all, Megan, MaryKate, Patrick, Joseph, Ian, Daniel and Brendan.

For three of my best friends and readers: Karen, Diane and Monica. The encouragement and input has been invaluable to me.

To my beta reader and editor, Robin Hanks LaRosa. I appreciate all you have done and love you!!!

To my editor extraordinaire, Linda Robbs Gren. You are awesome and have helped me so much in this whole process. I love having you as my editor and love calling you my friend!!

For a dear friend, Tom Proctor, who put me in contact with Monica Hall and his sister, Linda. Through him, I now have a twin (Monica) who is as dear to me as any sister and my friend and his real sister who again is a dear friend and another sister from another mother and my editor. Thank you Tom!!

This book and any of the books to follow are in memory to my sweet dear friend and little Bro, Robert McClelland Smith. You were taken from us way too early and for me I have days that I want to share something with you but I know you are watching. You were such an inspiration to me, Rob, and you were always telling people about your 'sis' writing. I miss you beyond anything that can be put into words or I can express, BUT, I know you are up there somewhere smiling down with your Cheeky grin, and fishing. So, Rob, this book is for you, Mum and Jo: my 'Other' family. I love you!!!

To all my readers since the publication of my first book "The Kings of Angkor: Army of a Thousand Elephants" I write for you!

# * * * * * * *

With writing the prologue I tried to keep it as close to the facts and the time line as possible. Since I was not living in the United States, but in Cambodia and was asleep, I didn't even know till the next morning what had happened. It was the night of September 11th, in the USA, when I learned what had taken place. My current husband has been a Fire Fighter since he was 15, down in Long Island, and is also a 3rd generation Fire Fighter, lost boyhood friends that day. Being a Fire Fighter myself, I tried to treat that awful day with upmost respect for the fallen. I wrote that prologue in memory of the fallen brothers and sisters who died that day and for all the victims.

May we never forget.

# Prologue

"Sir, I think there is something you should see... "

Colum O'Heachthanna looked up to the sound of his butler's voice, he was looking out at the view that lay in front of him. As Colum stood, the door to his office crashed open and in walked his father. His steps, matched the size of his body: Long, large and strong.

Cormac O'Heachthanna barely looked at his son as he moved silently to the window next to their family butler.

Colum came to stand next to the two men, all three silent sentinels to the tragedy that was quickly unfolding. All three were quiet as each man was lost in his own thoughts. Then Colum spoke.

"Does anyone know what happened?"

The butler barely turned from the scene that was unfolding in front of them to the huge flat screen on the wall to their right, it blinked on.

As the three men watched the drama unfold the voice of the newscaster rose and fell with emotion and then, "Oh My God, A second plane...it's...it's hit, it's hit the South Tower... "

Colum started to pace. "I can't let this happen again... she's in the North Tower... "

His father looked over at him calmly. "Katherine?"

Colum stared at his father, incredulous. "Of course Katherine!" He passed his father then brought his hand slamming down on the nearest table, a priceless antique within his reach. The table looked like it would withstand the blow but then gave way.

Cormac looked at his son and then at the table. "Do what you need to do to get her out safely."

Colum threw on his leather coat and went for the door of the balcony. "Thank you, father. I don't think I could go through another lifetime waiting for her to grow up."

"Try to get as many out with her as you can." His words were swallowed by the wind that came into the penthouse suite of their office from the balcony.

Their butler, Travis, looked at Cormac. He had been with them for almost one thousand years and he knew both men like they were his own family. They were in fact his family, since it was Colum who had created him after he lay dying on the battlefield at Clontarf. He had been Mael Morda, enemy to King Brian Boru but also the King's brother-in-law. Cormac and Colum, father and son, had fought along with the High King but had respected Mael as a leader.

"If I know young Colum, he will do his upmost to get as many out as he is able to. Sir... "

Cormac turned tired eyes on Travis. "How many times do I have to remind you that you don't have to call me Sir? You are, in fact, my equal."

"Begging your pardon, S- Sir, but if you don't mind I will always be calling you Sir, as I am no longer in charge."

Cormac needed something to break. Not only was the world, his world, under attack but his son was going into harm's way. However, he had complete confidence that he would succeed. He had been on tougher missions and he was, after all, not human, though he appeared to be. He was, in fact, half Fallen Angel and half vampire.

"Don't worry, Sir, he will be fine. He is after all, destined to be your successor. And, if I may say so, I think he will make a very good King."

Cormac looked out at the scene in front of them, to the smoke that shot to the sky from both towers, along with fireballs and debris that fell from both the buildings. He, Cormac O'Heachthanna, had seen too much hate, war, and destruction in his time especially as King. It would be good to step down in favor of his son.

"Yes, he will make a very good King, actually, a great King but he needs his Queen."

* * * * * * *

John MacNamara knew he was in a dream. He felt like he was just floating along but he knew from the speed that he must be running. Smoke and debris fell as he ran. He looked around his beloved city and he knew something bigger than he had ever seen was happening. He tried to look up but he wasn't able to or allowed. He was moving with a purpose and as he looked down he saw he had his turnout gear on. In his hands he was holding a box flashlight and an ax. As he was moving forward, he saw others moving out of the building that he approached.

He knew from instinct what was expected of him. He knew the chances that he was going to get out were slim. It was a gut feeling, but it was his job to get as many out as possible or die trying. He entered the building as people pushed past him. He could almost smell the smoke as he started to climb stairs, heard his breathing as he ran up the flight of stairs in the stairwell. As he climbed, floor after floor, there was a reason for his coming in here. The people around him were not panicking but moving with a purpose, trying as they may to get down and out while he continued on and upward.

He reached the twelfth floor and there she stood. She was framed by dust and smoke that was filtering down and she looked wild. Her red hair was a mess and her green eyes framed by black from her makeup but she was beautiful and she sighed a sigh of relief as she saw his face. She knew him, knowing him in his gear. He knew she would be thinking that together they would get out now. He was right behind her, but he wouldn't be going with her not today, not ever. He had to get her out, but how to get his wife, his Irish witch, out of this hell that was soon going to descend upon them? Then he saw the man behind her, the biggest, tallest man he had ever seen but, where had he seen him before? Probably on the streets and he happened to be in _this_ building. Looking him in his eyes they communicated silently to each other. Somehow John knew this man was meant to be here. That this man was meant for Katherine, _his_ Katherine. He heard him say, _"I will take care of her and your children, don't worry. Your memory will be honored."_

He saw the look in his girl's face, knew she would fight. She was, after all, a fighter and hadn't they fought this morning over this very same thing? It had been a while since they had had such a fight but they had and now he knew he wouldn't be coming home to talk, to make up, to make love, like they always did. There would be no going out on his bike for a long ride and finding a spot for just the two of them. No, he wouldn't be going home now or ever. But this man would take Katherine out of here, out of harm's way.

He reached up and touched her face one last time. Saw the tears pool in her beautiful eyes and then start to spill down her cheeks. Saw people pass by, trying to escape the fate that would not meet them today, but would be his. Then he heard his voice. "Get her out!"

Heard her scream, heard all the screams as they vibrated off the walls as he walked past and felt her body one last time and then felt her body as it was lifted up and away. She screamed, kicked and tore at the man who now carried her down the stairs as he kept going forward and up the stairs. He felt the shudder of the building and knew something worse had happened. Heard the screams of those around him but he kept going.

But this was just a dream and he would wake up and his little witch, his Irish witch, would be nestled next to him and he would turn her over and kiss her and make love like they always did and he would go to work and everything would be fine, because this was just a dream, after all...

* * * * * * ****

Katherine MacNamara stood, as did others, in the elevator of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was late, as she always was. Due, in fact, because of her kids and the fight she'd had with her husband, John. He had left just before her to start his shift at the fire station but not before they had one of their knock down drag out fights. It happened about twice a year and when it did the whole neighborhood knew the MacNamara's were fighting. The Fighting Irish some called them in their neighborhood. Now, as she rode the elevator to the 106th floor she tried to think just what the fight was about. She looked at the people around her and saw everyone with their suits on, carrying brief cases. She noticed the floor marker read 60th floor, when all of a sudden the building shook with such force she thought _earthquake,_ as did a lot of the others who voiced it in the elevator. She saw the time on her watch was 8:45 am. The lights blinked twice and then they went out. They all stood there quietly and then someone got out a lighter, another asked, "Does anyone have a flashlight?"

Katherine, being the wife and daughter of fire fighters, said, "Yes."

All done calmly... a little too calmly, she would think later. After prying open the roof of the elevator hatch, they saw that they were still near the 60th floor, so one by one they started to climb up and out. What met their calm and quiet as they got out of the elevator shaft, was mass mayhem. Katherine stood there and then raised her voice. "We need to get to the nearest stairwell and start down." Seeing women in heels like herself she said, "Off with the heels. Carry or throw but get them off." She then pitched her briefcase because she knew it was going to take all of her strength, and maybe more, to get out of what had just happened. They were working their way down stairwell B when her phone went off. She saw it was her husband.

"Honey where are you?"

Katherine sighed as she, along with others, headed down the stairs as orderly as possible.

"I'm probably on the 59th floor, stairwell B... "

Another voice in the crowd yelled, "We are on the 58th floor... "

"58th floor and moving. What happened?"

John MacNamara was on one of the fire engines making its way to the World Trade Center. He was a Battalion Chief for the borough where they lived. "Honey, first listen, I'm sorry about this morning; second, I love you; third, keep moving. Don't let anyone tell you to stop. Keep all that are with you moving. We are getting there as quickly as possible. Help is on the way."

She listened to her husband and knew he wasn't telling her what she wanted to know just to keep her moving. She knew whatever had happened was bad, beyond words, and he knew it may freeze her. "You're not telling me what happened... "

She could hear someone yell. "My Mom just called me, we, New York is under attack. A plane hit us... "

Another said, "It must have been an accident... " They had no sooner said that when they felt the building shake again. Someone swore and Katherine yelled, "Keep moving, we have to keep moving." They kept going down the stairs, flight after flight. Moving faster, but still orderly.

They had reached the 34th floor when Katherine's phone rang again. "Kat, you've got to keep moving, we are here, I'm coming in and I'm coming up your stairwell. Keep moving... "

"Help's on the way, keep moving, we have to move... " They kept it as orderly as they could, until someone screamed, "The South Tower has been hit!" And then people started to run until someone from below screamed up, "Don't run! Keep going steady... " then "Kat! Kat, are you up there?"

Katherine yelled, "Yes!" and ran into the arms of her husband first, and then her father and father-in-law. All four hugged as people filed past.

John looked into the eyes of the woman he had known all his life. The girl he had teased in school who had turned far too many heads of the guys when they hit high school and who had finally said 'yes' to his invitation to their junior prom. From then on they had been together. He had a feeling that unless he was incredibly lucky he wasn't going to make it. He was in here, not just to rescue his wife, but to get as many out as possible... so he wasn't going down the stairs with her.

"Honey, you have to get out. I have to go on."

Katherine looked at her husband and knew he wasn't going to telling her anything.

"What happened?"

John tried to listen to the traffic on his radio from the NYPD. "The South Tower is... "

The transmission was lost in the noise that was hitting them. People stood still in stairwell B. All that could be seen was flashlights from rescue workers and from people on the stairwell. An occasional curse could be heard but it was amazingly quiet considering what was going on. People moved with calm and courtesy as if sensing that if these were their last moments on earth, they were going knowing that they didn't panic, didn't mow down their fellow neighbors on the stairs. Some were hurt and were being carried by others who were trying to get them out. The fire fighters who had come up with Katherine's husband directed and continued to move up the stairs with the grim determination that they were going to do their job.

John looked at his Kat. "I need to move, you need to move, get moving now. Dad, Da, go with her... "

Both father and father-in-law looked at John, knowing what he knew. "We will get her out."

For the first time, Katherine started to cry. As she was ripped from John's arms she started to scream. "No, I'm going with you. I'm a EMT, I can help!" Katherine searched for straws to grasp to stay with the man she loved more than life itself. Knowing what he knew... he would stay and she would go, but not without a fight.

John knew she would say this. "No, you can't. You don't have an air pack and I'm giving you an order. Go, now! Go or I will write you up when I get back to headquarters."

Katherine was screaming as she was pulled away from him and then all of a sudden she was lifted up off the floor and was being held by a stranger.

Colum looked down at John MacNamara and felt pain. Felt the pain that John felt, because he knew he was going to his death. "I promise to get her to safety... I promise to watch out for her and watch over her, from now on." Then silently, _"I will take care of her and your children, don't worry. Your memory will be honored."_

John looked up into the eyes of the man who held his wife, who for the moment was quiet. The man was a giant. Standing at least 6' 8". He looked like that guitarist, Peter Steele. Maybe that was who it was, with long black hair, high cheekbones. "Thank you, get her and as many as you can out... I have to go on."

These two men gazes locked one last time, and then Colum clasped John on the shoulder. The moment he moved, Katherine started to scream and kick again. "Put me down! Let me down! I have to go with him... "

Colum listened to her for the next thirty some odd floors as she screamed, kicked and hit him. As they made their way down the stairwell, they felt the South Tower come down. More people screamed and started to panic. Colum yelled out for them to keep moving, not to run. Katherine had stopped hitting him. She was just whimpering by the time they reached the bottom floor. He got everyone who was with him out and away from the building, along with her father and father-in-law. They got up to one of the rescue trucks when the ground started to shake. He was about to put her down when he thought the better of it and moved the small group he had guided, further away.

They watched as the North Tower start to pancake down, dust billowing up like a cloud. He yelled, "Run!" They turned and ran as far as they could. He could feel Katherine cry as he turned the corner. As the last of the building came slamming down Katherine let out a wail and beat on his back, dug and pounded on him with every bit of strength left in her. He let her down and held her against his body to protect her from the blast of debris that spread all over the area and them. They made a tight huddle covering one another as the dust and parts of the building rained down on them, then all was quiet. They all stood there, still, no one saying a word or moving and then one by one they all let go and looked around. What met their eyes was complete destruction like nothing anyone had ever seen. It looked like the city had been annihilated.

Colum gently let Katherine go. She looked up at him, her face a mess but beautiful to him. She looked the same as she had each of the lifetimes she had been with him, and taken from him. This time he had won. He had loved her, for a thousand years and more, and he was determined not to lose her this time.

Katherine didn't know what to think, what to say. She stood with destruction surrounding her beyond anything she had ever thought she would see in her lifetime. She looked up at the man, the giant who had carried her out of the North Tower like she was nothing. He now stood looking at her, covered in dust, all a greyish white. All that was visible were his eyes and mouth.

"Why?"

Colum looked down at Katherine. He knew what she was getting at but he wanted to hear her voice because he knew it would be a while before he would become part of her life again.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why did you save me? I wanted to be with my husband, I could have helped him... "

Colum wanted to pick her up and shake her. She was as stubborn as she had always been, she just didn't know this was her make-up down through the ages.

Colum watched as her father and father-in-law turned and touched her on the shoulder. They spoke in unison, "Had you stayed with him, your children would have ended up being without both parents." Both had tears spilling down their cheeks, making paths through the grayish white dust that covered all of them. Chief MacNamara leaned into the shoulder of Katherine's father. Katherine's father wrapped an arm around his daughter.

Colum watched as the range of emotions hit her. Others in the group just stood, trying to take in what had just happened. Some were trying to contact family members to tell them they were safe.

Colum saw Katherine go from mad to all of a sudden knowing what her family had said was true. She let out a wail and collapsed, beating the ground. Both her father and her father-in-law dropped to their knees, covering her with their sobbing bodies.

Chief MacNamara looked up at the man who had carried his daughter in law down those thirty-four flights like it had been nothing and saw anguish. "I want to thank you for saving her. I don't know what's in store for us, whether we will find my son, but at least their children still have a mother."

Colum looked down at Katherine who was fighting off her own father as she rose to her feet and started to run to the rubble. "John!" She screamed. "John!"

She was met by police officers who tried to pull her back but Colum and the men of her family were behind her and soon all were among the searchers, listening as the PASS Devises from the fallen firefighters air packs announced with the shrill scream the location of those closer to the top. Others could be heard but deeper beneath the depths of the rubble. They were soon digging through the rubble with bare hands, and anything they could lay their hands on, finding survivors and victims.

Hours later, someone found a part of some stairs and their beams, and then they found a cluster of bodies... all like they were just sleeping, all curled up. Katherine was on top of the searchers before anyone could pull her off. Colum heard her wail. He ran to her and caught her as she fell on top of the body of her husband. She looked up to the sky that was black with the night, but lit up with the brightness of the searchlights. She screamed to the heavens over and over, clutching on her husband's body, and then on Colum's as he held her tighter. Holding her as she cried and screamed in turn. If it had been possible he would have brought her husband back to life. He had no joy in the fact that he had saved her and that her husband had to die so that he could have her. He could have taken her husband up in his arms also, saved him too. He was more than capable of doing so much, but he had gone with the sole purpose of saving her. Saving her so she would be with him some day and possibly change her. That way he wouldn't have to go through eternity without his mate any more.

She looked up into his face and so softly said, "Why?" Great sobs raking through her body. "Why?"

Katherine let her fist beat on the chest of the man who had saved her. Then she let her head fall and rest on his chest as she whispered "Why?"

* * * * * * *

Colum stood off in the distance from the group of mourners as they lay John MacNamara to rest. It was raining that morning but as they clustered around the grave site, the sun came out and a rainbow seemed to be resting right on the group of mourners. Colum watched as Katherine looked over at him. Travis stood behind him. "She is still the same, Sir, still so beautiful."

"Yes, Travis, still beautiful. A bruised rose but still beautiful."

Katherine spoke to her brother and pointed to the man standing off to the side. "He's the one who carried me out of the building."

"I want to go thank him and ask him to come to our home."

Katherine looked over at the man, she had never found out his name. She told her brother that that would be fine. But when they looked again they were gone.

William O'Brien looked at his sister and then at where the men had been standing. "They were there weren't they?"

Katherine looked around. "Yes... "

As the service finished, the priest walked up to her, saying a few quiet words. Katherine tried to comprehend that it was truly over. When they left, her husband's coffin would be lowered down in the ground. But for the moment it was still there. As the bagpipes started their mournful cry, their sound reaching her ears and going up to the heavens as if to take her husband's soul away from her, Katherine shrugged off her brother and father's hands, and fell over the coffin crying. The tears came hard. They tore from her as she cried and then screamed. Then she beat on the coffin. She felt hands pulling at her. She didn't care. She would mourn as she wished. It was almost as if the Priest understood because she heard him speak, ever so softly to the men of her family, and they stopped bothering her.

William O'Brien, one arm in a sling and a cast on his leg, stood back from his sister like the Priest had told him to do. He looked around to see if he would see that giant again. Nothing. It was like that man and the one next to him had disappeared into thin air.

A scream rent the air. He was jolted back to the present. His sister continued to beat the coffin and scream.

"This can't be happening to me... you... us... come back to me, John! Come back!" She cried till she thought she would just float away on the tears. Maybe that would happen and she could go to be with him. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly but she didn't care any longer. She just wanted John. She didn't try to hide how she felt as the bagpipes kept playing.

She lay there on the coffin and then she felt another emotion. It wasn't just sadness it was fury. She wanted to find who was responsible, those who had killed her husband and all the others... thousands. So many others were mourning their loved ones. Not just her. She looked up and saw a cameraman standing discreetly in the distance. She got up and started to walk.

William, their Dad, and Katherine's father-in-law all saw Katherine and saw the look in her eyes and they knew someone was going to suffer if they didn't intercede.

"No, Kat... wait," they said in unison as they started to run after her.

Katherine walked with a purpose towards the small group of news people who now had a shocked look on their faces wondering what was going to happen. An angry woman was barreling towards them, with a group of men running after her, calling her name.

Katherine saw the man with the camera back up as she approached at a fast clip.

"I want to make a statement," she said, while her family members stood behind her.

"Katherine, you aren't thinking clearly, come home... "

Katherine ignored them. "What do I have to do to make a statement so it will be aired?"

The cameraman and a woman from the nightly news looked at each other then back at Katherine.

"What would you like to say Mrs. MacNamara?"

Katherine watched as the cameraman got her into focus. Then counted down three, two, one and pointed at her.

"My name is Katherine MacNamara. I am a widow, became a widow on September 11th. My husband, John MacNamara, is not coming home anymore. He left children without a father, a wife without her husband."

Waving his helmet that she had brought with her, "This is all I have left of him from his last day on earth. He died to save lives. I don't know why this horrific act was done but I do know he and those who were attacked in the two towers, the victims on the planes, the field in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon, they died heroes. My husband was a hero. I ask that whoever was responsible to come see me. Come. I want to ask you if you feel good about what you did. Then I want to put a gun to your fucking head... "

"Katherine!" Her father pulled her away. "No Katherine! You can't be saying that."

Katherine pulled away from her beloved father. "I can't say that?" She screamed "But they can take over planes, kill all of those innocent people on the planes and buildings? But I can't say what I want?" She turned to the camera. "I have a right to say what I want... after all, I just lost my best friend, the father of my children. I'm an American, and I was attacked. I want to have the chance to confront and kill, if at all possible, whomever was in on this cowardly act. I invite you, one on one... I may be a woman but you just pissed off the wrong woman. You have taken from me what was mine... My husband, my friend, my lover... "

She screamed and cried as her family led her away to the waiting limo.

That night on the nightly news the funeral of John MacNamara was aired. Also aired was Katherine's tirade against those who were responsible. Some said it never should have been aired. Others said it needed to be said. Calls from servicemen said they would do what they could for her. Emails arrived to the news station, supporting her. It was like a call to arms or Remember the Alamo...

There were others who viewed the newscast. They sat in a smoke filled room in a Middle Eastern Country. They talked amongst themselves. One in particular, his voice rose above the others.

"The infidel whore will regret saying what she said. Who is she to say such things? She will meet us when she forgets her pretty speech; when she is all alone. Then I, or one of us, will go and dispatch her to wherever her husband is. She will no longer mourn her mighty and brave husband. She will be with him."

All sat talking and smoking. Some broke off into small groups. Most agreed that they were far too busy to worry about that woman. One sat there playing the news over and over again. An evil smile spread on his face. "Yes, someday we will meet and then you will regret the pretty words you said," he whispered to himself.

# Chapter 1

# Nine years later...

Katherine MacNamara pulled her SUV up to the gate of her Grannie's old summer home.

"Mom, do you want me to open the gate?"

Katherine looked in the rear view mirror at her son John. "Yes, if you want to... since I don't want to walk all of our luggage through this down pour any more then I have to."

Katherine watched as her little John ran to the gate, opened it wide and ran on ahead. He would be soaked. She'd have to get him into dry clothes right away, that was for sure.

Of all days to move, it had to pour like this. Well, it was fitting for how she felt. Nine years ago her world, everyone's world, had been turned upside down when 9/11 happened. Every year on that day, it poured like the heavens were mourning with her. She was still mourning the loss of her husband, the loss of the man who had been part of her life from her earliest years.

With each year it became a little easier, but on the anniversary she felt her insides being ripped out again. The wound was very fresh on that day and for some time before and after.

When her Grannie passed away a few months ago, everyone in the family said that Katherine should move. Take herself and the kids and get out of the city. After all, she could write anywhere. They all said she needed to start over and maybe she would find someone...

But of late she had been too tired to really care. She always felt wasted, like she had no energy. Maybe her anemia was bothering her more. She would get back on her vitamins and iron and start running again, that always made her feel better.

She parked the car and her other two children got out along with her. She saw Sally and Pat run for the door. She could see John saying "No, wait for Mom." He knew what was best. He had grown up over night. It's like he had never had a childhood. He had been six on that day, Sally had just turned seven and Pat had just turned two. Now she had two teens and a tween standing watching her, waiting for her, waiting to start a new life. She ran up to her children and they opened the door together and with that started their new life.

* * * * * * *

# A few months later

Katherine sat and sipped her morning tea. She waited for the kids to come down and then she would start the morning rush to get them all to school. Fortunately, she had two in middle school and then Sally drove herself with the car the family had bought for her.

Katherine took a sip of her tea and looked out the window that faced the harbor. Leaden skies met her eyes. It was the second week in November. Pretty soon the holidays would be upon them. She was hosting the whole of the MacNamara and O'Brien clans. Where in the world was she going to fit everyone in this tiny house? She knew all the young cousins would camp out. That freed up three bedrooms. She could sleep on the couch...

She grabbed a pad of paper that she kept on the counter and started making a list.

"Morning, Mom!"

"Morning, John." She didn't look up from writing her list.

She wrote things she would need to do to get the house ready for a crowd and made a small side list. John had always joked about her lists. She smiled at that thought.

She felt arms go around her and felt her little Sally give her a hug. Though all of a sudden, she wasn't little any more but was blossoming into a young beauty. She turned and smiled at her daughter. _"God, I am so in trouble... "_ She gave her an extra hug and wrote something down on her list. Mentally banging her head.

"Mom. Can we go to the mall this weekend? I want to get some new jeans."

"How about Freeport." Katherine said without looking up.

Sally looked at her mom and saw dark circles under her eyes. "Maybe Olivia's Mom could take us. I still don't like driving that far with winter coming." She turned to grab a mug of coffee. "She said her mom may be going... You can stay home and rest."

Katherine looked up and saw Sally studying her. "Why? I'm fine. Can't we all go?"

Sally climbed up and sat down on a stool at the bar next to her Mom. "Yea, if you aren't too tired... " She glanced at her mother from under her lashes. She wasn't stupid. Her mom wasn't feeling great and had been pushing herself to get her book done.

"Well, Sally?"

Sally jumped down and went to the fridge. "I'm fine with whatever makes you happy, Mom. I'll see about Olivia and maybe her Mom will come with us."

Katherine put the pen down, and got up to go over to the stove.

"Good. You do that." She bent and kissed her daughter's head. "Do you want me to top off your coffee? It's a bit raw this morning."

Sally hugged her Mom. She loved her so much and hated seeing her so tired. "Yea, here is my mug. Can you make me some oatmeal too? I have a full morning."

Katherine grabbed a pan from the hooks. "Go get dressed and I will have it ready in a few minutes."

"Morning, Mom."

Katherine turned to the sound of her other son's voice. "Morning, Pat. Thought I was going to have to wake you. You have to stop staying up so late to play games, no more school nights."

"Yea, yea... " He came up and gave her a hug. "Cousin Kevin was on and we talked more then played."

"Well your Aunt Issy isn't going to be happy with him for staying up so late either. No more school nights. Besides you two can talk when the family comes up for Thanksgiving."

Pat turned off the teakettle. "I know, we talked about that. They're bringing his mountain bike up. We plan on going up to the Snow Bowl to ride the trails."

"Yea if there isn't snow, then you may be skiing."

"I'd rather snowboard."

Katherine looked at her son who, at this rate, would be taller than his older brother. John was like her, medium height and Pat was going to be a big boy at the rate he was growing.

"Do you want something to eat? I'm making oatmeal."

"Yea, if we have bananas."

"Gross," piped up Sally who came back into the room.

"Oh, shut up."

"You two stop it right now." Katherine said. She saw them smiling after making faces at one another.

* * * * * * *

Colum sat at his desk and finished the letter he had been putting off. A knock could be heard softly at his office door.

"Come in."

Travis opened up the door and stuck his head in. "Sir, she has just left her home for the usual morning run."

Colum looked at the clock. Ten o'clock. "Fine, thank you, Travis." Seeing the butler stay by the door. "That will be all."

Travis bowed. "Yes, Sir." He left quietly.

Colum stood and walked towards the door. He was going to go running and hoped he didn't scare her half to death.

* * * * * * *

On her run, Katherine came out of Bay View Street and headed back towards Rockport Village. She was just running by the first pasture of the belted Galloways when she saw up in the distance a man jogging. From what she could tell he looked big. Not just tall but like something out of the Viking days. The closer she got she started to realize she had seen this man before. They ran past each other. She smiling slightly and trying in vain to remember and then she stopped. She turned and saw he kept on running. Now she knew...

* * * * * * *

Colum kept running but knew she had stopped. Knew she was standing there at this very moment standing, staring at him, trying to figure out where she had seen him before. He felt her eyes on him like a caress. Then he heard her footsteps behind him.

"Wait up. I know you from somewhere and I think I know where... " Katherine could see him slowing and then he stopped and turned. Seeing his face closer again she knew she was correct. Here in front of her was the man who had carried her to safety. The same man who her brother William had wanted to invite after the funeral but after her wild display, all of that had been forgotten.

She stared up into eyes that at first glance looked as black as ebony. She just stood there very still, feeling she was in the presence of an animal, a large and very strong animal. Feral would be a better word because as she watched his face, different emotions crossed it. Then the strangest thing happened, his eyes that first appeared black were now a shade of green the likes of which she'd never seen before. But stranger still, they changed yet again and became a warm blue. His nostrils flared as if he was sniffing the air or her...

His hair was the color of the raven that flew behind him and now perched on a branch nearby. That too was strange because it was cocking its head at her as if it was studying her also.

Colum realized she that was becoming intimidated by his size, and also by Travis, who had the habit of following him, in one form or another.

" _Travis, beidh s'e sin ar fad... "_ He let his thoughts flow in the Irish to Travis.

Travis sat perched on the branch and cocked his head towards Colum.

"Whatever are you thinking in the Irish for when she can't hear us? I know that will be all. But your father told me to watch over you... "

Colum smiled but he knew it looked strained. "Yes, we have met before... excuse me for a moment... " He bent and picked up a rock and threw it with precision of a warrior who was used to hurling spears. It hit to the right of the raven, making it squawk. As it flew away, it squawked some more.

" _Ni g'a duit a bheith chomh rude... "_ Then off he flew, fading in the distance.

Colum let out a laugh. _"Rude?"_

He turned back to Katherine and saw her still standing, perfectly still, watching him and Travis with her mouth open.

"You will have to forgive me. Normally, I don't have animals following me around like Snow White," he chuckled. He saw that made Katherine smile. How long had it been since he had seen her smile? One hundred, two hundred years?

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Colum O'Heachthanna."

Katherine listened to the lilt in his voice. She decided she liked it. His voice was deep like thunder rolling off the hills but when he said his last name the thunder was more like music and comforting.

He saw her digesting his name. "You could say the modern version, Ahearn."

It was Katherine's turn to laugh. "Somehow it loses something in the modern translation."

They stood there for a moment on the side of the road with the gathering gloom about them when they felt the first rain drop, each turning their faces to the sky.

Katherine turned her face to her neighbor on the road. "Did you feel that?"

"Yes. Which way is home for you?"

Katherine pointed towards Rockport. "That away."

"Let's see if we can out run it."

They started running, the rain continued to fall until they reached where she needed to turn onto Mechanic Street off of Russell Avenue.

Colum knew where they were going but tried to act convincing enough. "Is this your home? When did you move here?"

Katherine stopped and started to unlock her gate. "Come on in. I will make you a cup of tea or coffee if you like." Moving through the archway. "I moved here September 11th, just after my Grannie passed away."

"Oh, Margret O'Brien... That would make sense. My parents will be saddened to know of her passing."

Katherine looked up at her guest. "You knew my Grannie?"

Colum followed her into the house and straight into the kitchen. He watched her as she lit the stove. "I didn't know her like my parents did. They knew her forever... it seems."

He had known Margret for almost as long as he had been alive. She was one of those rare creatures who could get along and crossed boundaries. She had been part of the high court of the Fae. During the Great Famine, she had come along with many of her kind to America. He looked around and saw little bits of her life from the old country. This place had suited her and had been a haven for many a creature who had sought neutral ground in the sometimes not-so-friendly other world.

"This place suits you. You remind me of your Grannie, what little I knew of her."

Katherine smiled as she got mugs down. "I hope you don't mind having tea from a mug. I haven't used her china yet and somehow on a day like today, a mug of tea sounds better."

Colum pulled a stool out and sat down. Wondering if it would hold him. He wasn't the smallest of persons, otherworldly or human.

Katherine stole a glance at the man who sat at her counter, the very man who had saved her.

Colum chuckled. "What are you thinking?"

Katherine bent her head like she was busy getting out spoons. "Busted, I know... I was-was just thinking and wondering what made you save me?"

Colum took his mug with his tea that was offered. "Let's just say there was a higher power at work there that day and I guess you could say I was destined to save you... though you didn't want saving at that moment."

Katherine remembered that morning all too well and how she had kicked and screamed and called him every name in the book. Her face turned crimson.

"Don't worry, I've been called worse names than that on the battlefield," he laughed a deep laugh, smiling at her.

Katherine looked up into those amazing eyes that had settled down to a deep blue, ultramarine she guessed right about now.

It was her turn to laugh. "Wow, that feels rusty... "

Colum watched her as she sat. "I can imagine. How have you been feeling?"

Katherine fiddled with her spoon. "Strange you should ask. I have been feeling very tired as of late. I push myself to get out there and run because for a while I feel wonderful but then I feel like I have lead on my shoulders and I can't move. All I want to do is sleep."

Colum had been picking up signals and her scent smelled burned. She was lacking iron, almost like her body was being robbed of her stores. He took a deep breath to create a mental picture for later and analyze it when he was alone.

"I'm sorry to bore you. Let me ask you again, since you never answered me on _that_ day. _Why_ did you save me and don't tell me about higher powers... "

Colum looked at her and those green eyes that, even as tired as they were, showed flashes of fire.

Colum took a chance and reached for her hand. "I am not being flippant when I say there were higher powers at work."

Katherine shrugged but let her hand stay in his for a moment longer before pulling away. "Fair enough. I guess I am glad you did. It would have been very hard for my children to lose both of us in one day, that way. It's been a very long, hard road. I think they are healing and being up here in Maine helps."

Colum patted her hand. "So you write?"

Katherine studied him. "How do you know?"

"Saw the post it notes on the fridge... call editor today, check on cover... that tells me you write. What kind of books?"

Katherine got up. "Hold on, I will show you."

She went into the dinning room and when she returned she had a book in her hand. She handed it over.

Colum held her book, a child's picture book about the life of a fairy. Looking up at her he saw tears.

"It's beautiful. Who did the illustrations?"

"I did the sketches and a friend of mine did the water colors, though I've been giving painting a try so maybe with my next book I can do everything and then it will be all mine. I found it so healing, writing that story. It was inside of me somehow. I used to have dreams of fairies and Granny told the most wonderful stories."

Colum put the book down. "The Irish are born story tellers. I am sure you have a great collection of them and memories of your Grannie."

He took the last sip of his tea and saw it had stopped raining. "The sky actually looks as if it will clear. I should be going. Thank you so much for the tea."

Katherine stood. "It was my pleasure. Are you sure you wouldn't want me to give you a ride home?"

Colum smiled. "Only if you will go out to dinner with me on Friday night."

Katherine looked at the man who had saved her life... _"I don't even know him... "_

"Yes."

"Then Friday at seven... "

Katherine could have sworn his eyes turned a violet color as he smiled.

* * * * * * **

Katherine woke up to the alarm going off at 5 am. She shut it off and lay on her back. Her arm hit a body. It was her Sally. Sally had woken sometime during the night and had come in and crawled into bed with her. It was less and less often, but her daughter still had nightmares and she felt better if she slept with her mama.

Sitting up, she saw Sally was sleeping on her stomach, no covers. The house was chilly first thing in the morning and since there was no heat upstairs she had lots of quilts from her Grannie and down comforters. She pulled a couple over onto her sleeping daughter and got up.

Moving through the sleeping house she walked to the stairs and down. Coming to the bottom of the stairs she could see the moon reflecting on the harbor below. It must have risen late in the night. _"Good, maybe it will be a nice day for a change. I could use some sunshine."_

As she was making her tea she thought about the day and night that lay ahead. Tonight she was going to dinner with Colum... her rescuer. _"God, why did I say yes?"_ She thought about the mere act of going to dinner and a date. _"Maybe I can fake being sick... God, I sound worse than the kids. Suck it up and go out this one time, and then you don't have to again."_

She made her mug of tea, then went and sat down on the couch that faced the water. Boats bobbed gently on the water below. There was that one red lobster boat that was always anchored right below her house.

She sat and thought about how her life had shifted to utterly simplistic. No more fighting traffic in the morning to go to her office space that she had rented so she could avoid working at home. She had found that early on in her writing career, writing at home just didn't work. Her mom had watched the younger ones before _tha_ t day happened. Then, she would get up and get to her office and put in a solid morning of writing. Now she worked at home. It was a perfect fit. Now...

Back then, when she lived in the city, she would go to work for the morning, just to get some solid work done. Then she would come home for the afternoon to be there for the family. It had all worked. Now, she had an office next to the living room, though really after the kids went to school her whole house was an office. She could sit anywhere in the house with her laptop and write. That was the perk of freelancing. She wrote her children's books on the side.

Today she had nothing pressing to do but figure out what she was going to wear on this dinner date.

* * * * * * *

Katherine walked into her closet as she listened to her mother and sister-in-law talking on the other end. _"Thank goodness for Blue Tooth... "_

"Yeah, I know this is a date... that's what I am afraid of."

She could hear her mother talking but muffled.

"Mom, I'm still here, talk to me, what are you whispering to Issy... God, you two are relentless... "

She listened to them giving her pointers. "Listen, I'm only doing this as a favor, nothing more. I don't think he has anything in mind past taking me out this one time. Besides, I am not wearing something to give him any reasons to think otherwise... "

She looked at her clothes. She really had a nice wardrobe but nothing really for dating. She hadn't even given dating a thought and really didn't think of this as a date either, but here were her mother and Issy, blowing it out of proportion and making it more of a big deal than it was.

Katherine about had a stroke when she heard the next bit from the two of them.

"Isobella, I'm not wearing something low cut... " _"Did she even have anything that was low cut?"_ She looked. She found that white poet's shirt that she'd always loved. Cleavage was midway. She found a nice pair of jeans and held them together. "I think I found something... if not, my turtleneck will do."

She had to laugh when she said that. Her mother was having a fit.

"Mom, I don't want to attract him. We ran together, had tea, that's it... yes, I know he's handsome. Yes, I know it's been nine years... maybe it will be another nine years before I go out again. Just because he asked me doesn't mean he likes me, or me him. He's nice, a gentleman, that's it and I don't even know anything about him...

"Mom, you did what? How in the world did you find out that?" She listened some more. "Uncle Pat did what? Oh my God, Mom, that's a bit much... even for you." She listened some more. "I know. I know you are just looking out for me. I know he could be a weirdo who just happened to save me."

She listened some more and was shocked by what she next heard. "He's what? He's from one of the richest families in Europe and has been richer than the Queen of England... A very old family, very quiet, but movers and shakers in everything... "

She was trying to digest all of this. "How the hell am I going to go out to dinner with him? I haven't got anything to wear and it's already late in the afternoon... " She threw down what she had picked out and sat on her bed. "No, I can't... I am going to call him and tell him I have pneumonia or something... "

She stood at the sound of the doorbell ringing. "Hold on you two, someone is at the door. Hang on a minute while I go see who it is."

She ran down stairs and looked out the window next to the door. A white van with flowers painted on it, with Hoboken Gardens written on the side, was parked in her driveway. She opened the door.

"Yes?"

A woman had a long white box in her arm. "Katherine MacNamara?"

Katherine just stood there. She could hear her mom saying, "Answer her." But Katherine could only stand there, staring at the white box, knowing it must contain flowers.

All of a sudden both her Mom and sister-in-law screamed, "Yes!" in her ear making her jump which made her say, "Yes."

The woman smiled and handed her the box. Katherine said, "Thank you." The woman turned and left, leaving Katherine standing for a moment longer while she listened to what sounded like magpies in her ear. "God, I am so going to hang up on you two... "

She walked back into the house and brought the box to the dinning room table. "Yes, just wait." She opened up the box and moved the tissue paper back and was met by a profusion of color. Crimson roses, a dozen of them, sat in the milky, white paper. "Oh my God... " She lifted one and smelled it and drank in the faint rose scent. "Yes, they are flowers and if you must know... roses... yes, it has a card... " She opened the card.

I wanted to send you something and to thank you again for going to dinner with me tonight. Dress casual, no worries. We will have a nice, relaxing evening.

_Colum_.

She repeated what was on the card to her mother and Issy. "Yes, I guess he took care of that... I will keep you posted... Love you too."

She just stood there and stared at the roses. Picking one up, she had a vision of a hot house that grew these beauties but it didn't look modern and then when she looked further into the vision she saw him a far off and a warm smile on his face as he walked towards her. It was Colum, but he was dressed like a man would have two hundred years ago. His hand reached for hers, she extending hers towards him and for the briefest of seconds she felt his touch...

* * * * * * *

John looked his mom over and smiled. "You look great, Mom."

Katherine studied her son and knew he was holding something back. "OK, what is it?"

"You just look tired, Mom. Are you feeling OK?"

Katherine brushed back the hair that always fell over his face. "Yes, I am tired and just burning the candle at both ends."

John gave his Mom a hug. "Well, just promise me you will relax tonight and enjoy yourself."

Katherine pulled away from John and studied him. "You really are so wise for your age. It's you who should be going out and having fun."

He blushed. "I do, basketball season is coming up and then I won't be home at all."

Katherine could hear the other two come flying down the stairs. "Mom, have you left yet?"

Katherine had to laugh as Pat and Sally came skidding to a stop. "No, you know I wouldn't leave without kissing you goodnight. Besides, I will be home early, a couple of hours max..."

A knock came to the door.

"I'll get it Mom, go sit down, don't look eager..."

"Oh my God, have you been talking to your grandmother... wait till I talk to her."

John laughed as he walked towards the door. "She said she would call later tonight."

Katherine shook her head and chuckled as her oldest son went to open the door. She heard him say hello and Colum's deep voice saying hello in return.

When they came back into the kitchen she was shocked at the size difference of her son next to this giant. Her son was staring up in awe at the man who had saved her and somehow also lived in the same town she now lived. She was going to have to ask him about that... "

"I see you got the roses I sent."

Katherine blushed at the thought of when they arrived. "Yes, they caused quite the furor when they arrived. I was on the phone, conference call with my mom and my brother's wife."

"Aunt Issy?" Sally chimed in.

"Yes... "

Colum walked up to the table where the vase that held the flowers sat and picked up a blossom. "I picked them out myself. I hope it wasn't too much of a problem with your family."

Katherine felt like a moth to the flame. Getting up she walked up and touched the blossom that Colum held out. A vision flashed in front of her eyes. She looked up and saw him but again, it was him but in another time. She shook her head and blinked her eyes and the vision was gone but Colum stood there watching her.

"Are you OK, Katherine? If you don't feel well... "

Katherine shook her head. "No, I'm fine, just something floating in front of my eye, that's all."

Colum smiled down at her. "I'm glad you are OK, I would be lonely at dinner at the restaurant by myself."

Katherine felt like there was just the two of them but she knew her children were watching and listening to everything that was being said. "Somehow, I don't know if you would ever be lonely."

"Mooomm... earth to Mom... are you going out or not? Olivia is coming to pick me up and I'm staying over there. Remember?"

Katherine smiled at Colum and then turned to her daughter. "Yes, I remember. Have fun, be respectful and help out."

"Oh Mom, you know I do."

Pat came up and gave his mom a hug. Whispering in her ear, "Have fun Mom, you deserve it."

Katherine hugged her son and when she pulled away she felt a tear sliding down her cheek.

"OK guys, behave, see you soon."

She let Colum help her with her leather jacket, then he held the door for her. She felt the kids watching her so she turned to wave to them, acting like going out on a date was a normal occurrence.

When they got to his Rover, he opened the door and held it till she got in. As she sat waiting for him, she watched him as he walked around the front. She saw him stand for a moment, almost as if he sniffed the air. He got in and smiled at her. She saw his teeth gleam in the lights of the car as he started it up. "Excuse me for a moment." He picked up his cell phone and typed out a quick text. Then he turned back to her as he hit send. "I hope you brought an appetite because I hate eating alone."

Katherine snuggled down into the seat that was warming up despite it being leather. "Yes, actually I am quite hungry. Normally, I just nibble, but tonight out of nowhere, I am ravenous."

As Colum drove out of Mechanic Street he turned and smiled. "That's good. You need a bit of meat on your bones. You look a bit smaller from the last time I saw you... "

"The last time?" Katherine looked up at him and then she knew what he meant. She had lost weight in the last few years. She had always been one hundred and thirty pounds, now she was lucky if she was at one hundred and fifteen.

As Colum drove by the end of her wall that surrounded her property he saw a car parked just a car's length from Katherine's gate. He detected a foreign tobacco being smoked. He smiled at Katherine but his whole body and senses were in a heightened state. That was why he had sent a quick text to Travis, who was now on his way to check out whomever was sitting at Katherine's at this very moment.

Colum touched Katherine's hand. "Promise me you will eat more then just a salad tonight."

Katherine smiled at him. "Don't worry, I'm starved... "

# Chapter 2

They sat in a back corner of the restaurant. A few other couples were sitting further away from them. After they had finished a bottle of wine. Colum ordered a steak, rare. Katherine took one look at that and her mouth started watering.

Colum could see her sizing it up like it was about to be devoured by _her_ not him. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist it if it sat in front of her, especially with her blood count and iron levels. He was taking in everything about her scent, and it was a wonder she was even walking.

"It's really too much for me to eat alone," Colum said as he watched her watch him. It was funny how she had always loved rare meat.

So she finished his steak and her scallops. Now they were on to dessert. "How about we do a dessert crawl after?"

"I don't know if I will be able to fit any more in."

Colum smiled. "You will... "

Katherine sat back and held her teacup. She studied the man who sat in front of her now. Who, when talking with him, was cultured, well-read, but also a battle hardened warrior. He had been the head of a Special Forces Units in quite a few places. She now remembered having heard his name when she worked for the _Times_.

"Now, tell me how you happened to come live in Rockport, Maine of all places?"

Colum stretched out his long frame. "A piece of property came up at the right time. I could show it to you tomorrow if you like."

Katherine had to pinch herself. Here was the man, one of the wealthiest men in Europe, who had rescued her, was now seated across from her, lived just down the road from her, and had come across her on her run. It also appeared he liked her company, too.

"I would love to, but it would have to be early in the morning. I promised Sally I would take her to Freeport and the Mall to shop."

"You've got it. How about breakfast at my place, say at seven? There isn't anything like seeing the water come alive with the sunrise."

"Yes, it's beautiful. I've become quiet spoiled living here after living my entire life in the city." She took another sip of her tea. "I'd love to have breakfast at your place."

She leaned in towards him. "So tell me, why Rockport? I know the property was available but from what my Mom told me, you and your family have homes and estates all over the world."

Colum picked up his coffee cup. Taking a sip he studied Katherine. Her hair, like polished copper, falling in waves, layers cascading off her shoulders. Her eyes, sending off sparks. Those emerald green eyes, that were so very common amongst her folk. Making him want her like he had always wanted her and loved her.

"Yes, I've been all over the world and once you find a spot that speaks to you, well, you never quite forget it. I came here many years ago... on a sailing trip... "

He remembered that time, it had been right after he had lost Katherine the last time. He had been beside himself, inconsolable. He had been looking for someone to kill, even tried self-destruction, but his father had caught him and had banished him to the new world. His father had always had his hands full with his heir every time after Colum lost her. That last time had been in 1710. He had come here and found peace but it had taken many, many years. He had become a soldier for hire in the years leading up to the Revolution. It had taken the Revolution to get him back on an even keel...

"Colum, where are you? You seem so far away."

Colum straightened up. "Let's go to that little restaurant called Fresh and have another dessert."

Katherine laughed. "Do you really think I am going to be able to eat anymore? God, I am about to burst."

Colum signaled for the check. "We'll walk for a bit... "

They walked along the harbor on the boardwalk. Walking side by side, their arms just brushing each other, occasionally their hands. Katherine noticed that most of the boats were covered in shrink wrap. The windjammers looking like giant ghost floating on the water.

Colum looked down at Katherine and saw her shiver. Taking off his leather bomber jacket he placed it on her shoulders. It was the real deal from his World War II days.

Katherine looked up. "Thank you, I was getting a bit cold."

Colum took her hand and led her down Bay View Street and then down to Fresh. "We will have dessert then I will get you home."

He kept ahold of her hand as they walked into the restaurant. While they waited to be seated he rubbed her fingers. Looking closely at her. "Have you always had such cold hands?"

Katherine shook her head. "No, just the last year or so. I just can't seem to stay warm. You would think I was a vampire or something." She laughed lightly and smiled up at Colum as they walked to their seat.

As they sat Colum leaned in close. "Maybe I should be on my guard then... "

Katherine looked over at him, puzzled, then she laughed. "God, I was joking... "

Colum had to laugh at the look on her face. She was being so serious. "I know."

They each had tiramisu and another cup of tea. Katherine finally got to the last bite but couldn't finish it. Colum looked over at her and smiled. "See, you could eat a lot more than just a salad."

Katherine groaned. "But I am going to pay for it. I probably gained ten pounds with this supper and desserts."

Colum grabbed his leather bomber jacket and put it back on her shoulders as they walked out into the night. "You could stand to gain some weight."

They sat in his Range Rover and watched the lights twinkle on around the harbor. There were a few brave souls who were living on their boats. "I don't know how they do it... "

Colum looked over at Katherine. It was all he could do to be a gentleman. He wanted to gather her up in his arms, hold her all night, make love to her. If only she knew...

"Do what?"

"Live in those tiny boats even when it's cold. Me, I need warmth. I guess I never thought about it much before. Maybe it's only with me being cold all the time. It'd be one thing if I were used to it but right now I feel the cold."

Colum pushed a button. "You should start to feel the heat in your seat. I'll have you home in a few minutes and if you want I can build a fire in your fire place."

"That would be great but I haven't split any wood so I will just run up and climb in under all the covers. Get snug as a bug in a rug, as my Grannie would say. I'm sure I will fall asleep fast enough and the furnace will be on."

"I'll take care of it, nothing like heat coming from a fireplace."

Katherine looked over at her dinner date. "How?"

"I'll chop some wood." He glanced over quickly and smiled as he drove. She watched his face as he took the corners but kept his eyes on the road. Once they had to stop quickly as some deer came out of nowhere. They just stood in the road. Staring into the headlights.

As he started to drive by, Colum opened the window and breathed in deeply, taking in their scent. His mouth started to water.

Katherine saw him as he turned towards them, she saw his nostrils flare, and a low sound came from his throat. Then the strangest thing happened, a large huskie or some kind of large, wolf-like dog came out of the trees, and gave chase.

Katherine saw and watched the drama unfold, watched as Colum tightened his hold on the steering wheel, like he was trying to control himself.

"Colum, are you OK?"

Colum could hear Katherine off in the distance. He shook his head and came out of the red fog that had misted over his eyes. He hadn't realized till he saw the deer how hungry he really was. He would have to hunt later. He took a deep breath and smiled as he turned towards Katherine.

Katherine found her heart skipping a beat as she looked into the eyes of the man, this giant of a man, who sat next to her. She hardly knew him but she felt like she _knew_ him. How? She hadn't a clue but she felt like she had known him forever. It was one of those things that couldn't be explained away too easily like her Grannie used to say. She had been a woman of more than a lifetime of strange happenings and she told her granddaughter to always believe...

"Even if you are having a hard time believing... it may be in your life or a certain someone may come into your life for a reason. There may be no explanation of why something has just happened or who that person is, but don't discount it. It may be there for a reason or part of your life for a reason... "

They both studied one another.

Colum was the first to break the silence. "Let me get you home and warmed up."

They drove into her yard. He was over to her side of the Rover in a flash. She let him take her hand and walk her up to the door.

"You go in and get some tea water going and a hot water bottle. That will fix you up while I get some wood chopped."

Katherine was about to protest but felt her self being propelled in the house. "Go," was his gentle but firm command.

She went in and turned on the teakettle to heat up water. Then she ran up and changed into PJs and then ran back down. She puttered around the kitchen getting her tea mug ready. As she poured the tea water she heard the chop, chop, chop sounds of Colum cutting firewood for her. She filled her hot water bottle then made her tea. She turned out the light over the counter but left the stove light on and was about to head up the stairs when she heard her door open. Turning, she ran back to help Colum.

She stared in disbelief at the amount of wood he had. "How in the world?"

Colum heard Katherine but couldn't see her because of the wood in his arms. She was still so stubborn when she should be in bed.

"Get to bed." He shifted the weight of the wood and lightly slapped her ass.

She did a mock salute and ran up the stairs.

She got into bed, pulling the covers over herself, and tucking the hot water bottle in at her feet.

"Good to see you're listening... finally."

She smiled a very sleepy smile.

As Colum knelt down and built a fire in her fireplace, visions of Katherine, the deer, the wolf and a need to feed all crowded his thoughts.

"I'll get this fire going and you can just go to sleep unless you want to keep it going. I will get one going downstairs in the wood stove too so that will help get the house up to a nice temperature." Getting up after the fire started to blaze, he could see Katherine was already drifting off to sleep.

He walked over her and pulled her covers up. "Get some sleep. Don't worry about tomorrow morning, you need sleep more than breakfast with me."

Katherine's eyes popped open. "I'll be fine, I'm just so tired now."

Colum reached and brushed hair out of her eyes. Her eyes had closed again. He stayed there for a moment until he heard her breathing even out and knew she had fallen sound asleep.

"Sweet dreams, my dear Katherine."

* * * * * * *

Cormac came striding into his son's study. Seeing him stretched out in front of the fire he closed the door quietly.

"I'm not asleep, Sir."

Cormac came and sat down next to his son. "I didn't think you would be, not after that chase you gave the deer tonight. Have you had your fill?"

Colum stretched and turned so he looked at his father from upside down.

"No, but better than I was. I hadn't realized I was that hungry till I saw you chase those deer out in front of me."

Cormac stretched his long legs and enjoyed the warmth that the fire gave off. "Well, it's not too often we get a herd that size in this area. To have four young bucks... "

Colum smiled. "It was satisfying, though I can tell you, it was very hard not to jump out of the Rover as you drove them past me. Katherine was a bit shocked by my behavior and it was all I could do to control myself." He groaned. "I'll have to watch myself more closely and keep myself fed, especially with her being so needy. I could have easily dragged one back to her and in my frame of mind, with the red haze glazed over my eyes, I would have said 'drink' and not even known... "

Cormac pondered his son. "Yes, there is no sense taking chances. If you get to change her this time then she will understand. Until then you are to keep yourself fed."

Colum sat up. "Did Travis find out about that tobacco scent by Katherine's home?"

Cormac gave his son the read out. "We found the butt and analyzed it. It's a brand that is a mixture of Sumatra and Cuban blend. Not readily made. He probably rolled it himself about fifteen minutes before smoking. Trace amounts a saliva and the DNA was Middle Eastern."

Colum sat and looked at the readout then balled the paper up and threw it into the flames. "I want guards set up around the clock at her home and the children, when they are at school."

Cormac nodded. "I think her little speech from nine years ago has finally brought some rats out of the gutters. It will be our job to put them back."

"I'll need your help, father, as she isn't feeling well... "

"Yes, your mother told me what you said, and I was looking at her levels. Something is robbing her of her store of iron."

Colum stood and stretched. "I think it's from whatever she breathed in at the site on that day. There have been more and more cases of cancer and sickness from first responders and people who were trapped in the buildings who made it out."

"Maybe you should mention something to her, have her go to the doctor and then we can take it from there."

"I'll try. For now, I have that shadow to watch and keep away from her."

"Well, a team will be set up so don't worry about that. Also a Council meeting for my abdication is being set up. They want you there in two weeks time."

Colum threw another log onto the fire. "The High Council will just have to be patient, I may have my hands full."

"Son, the High Council is there to call upon, if you need help. Even as strong as we are, we can't do everything on our own. You must realize that."

Colum faced his father. "I will not lose her again and if the High Council doesn't like it, they can look for another King."

Cormac knew there would be no talking to Colum right now, not when he was in this frame of mind.

"Do what you have to do and I will take care of the Council, but they won't be put off forever. We will need our King."

"Father, you are our King until such time... "

"Till such time that I decide to step down from the throne. You are my heir and she is your Queen, whether she is changed or not."

"Well, let's find out who is watching her home and make sure the children are safe."

"I have that covered as we speak."

* * * * * * *

Four men sat at an airport in Europe.

"We have our orders, we are not to come back until she is taken care of."

The youngest of the group, a nephew of the cell leader, looked up from his iPod when his ear buds were ripped out of his ears.

"Why my sister thinks I need to show you the ropes... you are better suited to sit in a café all day long. You do nothing, your heart is not in our cause."

The young man grabbed his ear buds back and stowed his iPod in his backpack. "I was fine until you and mother pulled me out of school. What do I want to do with your cause? You and all of your cohorts fault that woman. The way I look at it, she had every right to speak her mind... after all if something happens to us or our family, we raise our voice, we protest... I, for one, am sick of the hate and violence..."

The older uncle caught himself before he let his hand hit his nephew. They were, after all, in an airport. He was amazed they weren't on a no-fly list. It was his 3rd cousin who had been one of the hijackers on that fateful day in September. He, more than anyone, knew the pain of losing someone. He felt it was a personal insult from that woman, that infidel woman. She and her outspokenness represented all of America and their ideals, their openness. If he succeeded with this job, their group would look upon him for larger jobs. He would make sure this woman was dispatched with speed. He had news from his uncle, who was there in that state of Maine. He was watching the woman's house at this very moment. All would be well. They would take care of her and get home, just in time for his daughter's wedding to the young man who sat next to him. Yes, all would work out just as planned...

* * * * * * *

The man sat in the rented car, just up from the driveway of the home he was watching. It was 5:30 on a Saturday morning. The sky was clear which made it easier to watch rather then trying to see through rain or snow.

He knew _she_ , the one he watched, was planning a shopping trip with her daughter. He had heard their phone calls to friends. Maybe he would be called upon to dispatch her today instead of sitting, watching, and waiting. He was always called to watch and wait, never to anything of importance.

He took one last drag of his cigarette. Then throwing it out the window, he sat back and waited. He would be eternally grateful when this job ended. He hated just sitting.

He jumped to the sound of someone tapping on his side window. Turning he saw an older man standing next to his car. He made motions like he wouldn't be able to understand but the man still tapped on his window and then in a feeble voice said "I need help... "

He groaned and rolled his eyes. _Why him?_ He rolled down his window to speak to the old man but before he could get the words out, the old man's hand shot through the opened window and hauled him out. He was lifted up and the old man had him like a sack over his shoulder.

All of it happened so fast. One minute he was in the rental and then next moment he was in the woods and the old man dropped him next to a tree.

"I don't know what you are doing or who you are... " he said in broken English. He didn't get the rest of the words out. He was hauled up once again and slammed against a tree. All he saw coming at him was a blur of vicious looking teeth into his neck, from the demon. The pain was so intense those first few seconds. He tried to fight but he felt his arm ripped away from the socket...just like a rag. His last thoughts as he started to try and scream was _"No one will know... "_

* * * * * * *

Katherine was up and having tea when Sally came down.

"Morning, Mom. Why are you dressed already?"

Katherine kissed her daughter's cheek when Sally hugged her. "I'm going to Colum's for breakfast."

Sally sat on the bar stool next to her Mom. "Cool. So are we still going to Freeport and the Mall?"

"Of course, honey. I told him that breakfast would have to be early." They both jumped to the sound of the buzzer from the front gate. Katherine got up and saw that it was Colum. She hit the open button and saw him drive through.

"You two seemed to have a good time last night. I saw him tucking you in."

Katherine opened the door and turned to her daughter. "I thought you were going to Olivia's."

"No, she slept over here. She is such a sleepy head though."

Colum walked up the path to the door and saw Katherine framed in the light from the house. Smiling at her and wanting to kiss her but refraining from that, he just gave her a quick hug.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

Katherine expected the quick hug and noticed a smell of wood smoke and a type of musk. The scent fit him.

"Checking me out?" He whispered in her ear.

"Busted... Yes, I slept well, like a log in fact."

Colum noticed Sally studying him. "Good morning, Sally, would you like to come with your mother for breakfast? My parents' butler just brought a new litter of kittens and puppies from their home. You may enjoy seeing them, maybe even picking out a new pet."

Sally squealed and jumped up and down before she remembered she was being a hostess.

"I can't. My friend Olivia is sleeping over... "

Colum laughed. "Well, wake her and bring her too, that way you all will have eaten before going off shopping for the day."

"Mom?"

Katherine arched her brow as she looked from Colum to her daughter. "Go head, it's fine with me."

Sally hugged her Mom, and smiled at Colum and ran up stairs.

Katherine turned to Colum. "You know what this means?"

Colum turned with an " _I don't know what you are talking about"_ look.

"You are just like all men. Don't give me that look, like you don't know what I am talking about... She is going to want not only a puppy but a kitten."

Colum threw back his head and laughed. "Busted... but seriously, kids need pets, it teaches them kindness and responsibility."

Katherine grabbed her tea. She could hear the excitement brewing upstairs and the squeals of delight as the girls got ready for a morning with kittens and puppies.

"I know, I know... I have been thinking about that very same thing since we moved up here and we have the room, but it's just a shock to wake up and know by the end of the day we will have both a kitten and a puppy."

Colum came up and started rubbing Katherine's shoulders. At first he felt her stiffen up to his touch then slowly he felt her relax and heard her sigh. He felt her actually lean into his hands.

"If it makes you feel any better, only the kittens are ready for a home today. The puppies have a few more weeks."

Katherine laughed and turned to face Colum. She really couldn't face him since he was so tall and big. More like running into his chest.

Craning her neck she smiled. "Well that's a relief to hear."

She studied his face and liked what she saw. Even if he hadn't been a giant, he still would have a solid presence that would give her a good feeling.

Colum brought his hands up to her shoulders again. He loved being able to touch her and he figured she would learn to like him, if he went slowly and not have the bull in the china shop mentality.

They both turned to throats being cleared.

"We're ready, Mom and Colum... "

"Good, let's go have breakfast so you girls can get going on your shopping spree."

Katherine chuckled. "Well, I don't know if it will be a shop till we drop but we'll have fun."

"Come on Mom... "

* * * * * * *

They sat in a warm, inviting room with a large wall of glass, looking out onto the bay and beyond. A fire was crackling in the huge fireplace that was opposite the panoramic view of the ocean. Tea and hot cocoa had been brought in and served. The girls sat on the floor with kittens crawling all over them. The puppies had been looked over but they were sleeping.

"Mom, I want this smoky grey one."

Olivia sat playing with a grey tabby that finally just gave up and curled up on her lap. She glanced up. "Do you think if my Mom were to say yes, I could have this one?"

Colum smiled down at the girls. "That would be fine. As long as your mother doesn't mind."

"We had a cat but it died of old age six months ago. My Mom would love a kitten but I'll call her."

"The phone is there if you want to use it."

"Sweet! Thank you."

She got up, holding the kitten still nestled in her arm, asleep.

"Do you think you two are still gonna want to go shopping if you have new kittens?" Katherine asked her daughter.

"Colum said we could keep the kittens here until we got home." Sally said.

She looked over at Colum and saw him smile. "See... "

Katherine had to laugh. It seemed the girls had everything covered. She heard Olivia squealing with delight.

"My Mom says a kitten is fine but no puppies... " She kissed the kitten's head.

Sally hugged her kitten. "It will be so nice having a kitten and then a puppy."

Katherine groaned. "Yes and who is going to take care of this kitten and then the puppy?"

"I am, Mom, I promise I will."

"Well, any help will be lovely."

She smiled up at Colum.

Colum laughed. "That smile has 'I am going to ring your neck' written all over it... "

"Maybe... "

Katherine turned to Colum as the girls got out of his Rover. "I'll be by first thing in the morning for the kittens. I think we'll be getting home too late to pick them up today."

Colum smiled at Katherine and took her hand. "That's fine." Rubbing her hands. "They feel a bit warmer today."

Katherine looked down at her hands and tried to still her rapidly beating heart. She felt like this was wrong to be attracted to him. John was still lurking in the corners and she felt she should go through her life with no other life partner. Then she felt the extra squeeze and looked up into eyes that were a deep dark violet. Looking quickly, you would think they were black but looking closer she could see the tinge of purple.

"Earth to Katherine... "

"I know, just thinking... "

"Do you want to share?"

Katherine blushed and shook her head. "No, too personal."

"Mooomm, are we going to go or not?"

Colum took her other hand. He brought them both up to his lips. Watching her as he kissed them ever so lightly. "I know it's hard. I have waited forever... since my wife passed away. I do know what you are going through."

Katherine dipped her face. Then felt her face being brought back up with his index finger. She locked her gaze with his. Those eyes. They were so magnetic. "How do you know when it's OK?" She whispered.

"When this feels right."

Katherine watched as Colum's face came in closer and his lips gently brushed hers. She felt the warmth and tasted honey and something more. Something wild. She let her hand reach up and touch his face and felt him smile. She smiled in return. "I'm thinking maybe it feels right. Please just be patient."

"I'm very patient," he said as he let his lips capture hers again, feeling the heat spread through her lips to his. He felt his body go tight with the feeling of need for her building.

Colum kissed her one last time, letting his lips take her, feeling not only the rush of the kiss, but the beauty of it as well, as she let her fingers slide up through his hair.

"I think we have answered that question but we have watchers... "

Katherine let go quickly and bent her head. "Oh my God, what are they going to think?"

Colum squeezed her hands. "It's OK, it will be fine. You get going to the mall and have a great time."

"Mom, the SUV won't start... "

Katherine looked out her window of Colum's Rover. "You can't be serious... I can't believe it. Of all days."

She got out and went to her Toyota and got in. Trying to turn it over she realized, like her daughter said, it wouldn't start. "Well, I don't understand it." She turned to Colum.

Colum got in the vehicle and pulled the latch to open the hood. He got out and went around and looked in the engine compartment. After what seemed forever he stood up. "I honestly can't see the problem but I have a mechanic who can look at it."

"Mom, how are we going to get to the mall?"

Katherine looked stricken. Colum could see that. "Listen, you can take the Rover and enjoy yourself. I will have my man come over and take care of this."

Katherine looked at Colum, her daughter and Olivia who looked like their world was coming to an end.

"OK. Gosh, I don't know what could be ailing the stupid car. I just had it in the garage for a oil change and a going over."

Colum closed the hood and went around and grabbed his cell phone out of the Rover. "It's all gassed up and ready to go. Don't worry about a thing. I will have yours taken care of and brought back."

"How are you going to get it out of here if it won't start?"

"Easy, tow truck... "

Katherine looked at the Rover and then at Colum. "I don't know how to thank you... "

"You don't have to worry about that. I'll be here when you get back, just give me a call when you get close to home, OK."

Katherine walked up to Colum and standing on her tiptoes she still didn't reach him. Her head barely came to his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her, kissing him lightly on his lips. "Thank you," she whispered. "This means a lot to the girls."

"I know." He pulled her in and kissed her back. Letting his hand go up her back, fingering her hair. "Drive carefully."

Katherine felt like a moth to a flame. She was drawn to this man, this gentle giant whom she hardly knew. "I'll drive carefully."

Colum pulled her in a bit tighter. "Don't worry about the Rover, I'm not, just thinking of you," he kissed her forehead and let her go.

He watched as Katherine got into his Rover and the girls jumped in behind her into the Rover. They were already bouncing in the back with their iPods on. They waved and smiled. Sally mouthing _thank you_ to him.

# Chapter 3

As soon as Katherine and the girls drove away from the house, Colum was under Katherine's SUV hood fixing the problem quickly. Getting out he went around climbed in and started it up. Standing up straight he pulled out his phone and hit speed dial to Travis.

Hearing his butler come in, he said, "Travis, bring up the surveillance screen up on my Rover."

"I have it already, Sir."

Colum rounded the corner off of Russell Avenue onto Bay View Street. "I'm almost home. I want her watched the entire time."

Colum pulled up to his gate, pushed the button that moved the rock aside and a screen appeared. He touched the screen to identify his fingerprint, then the screen did a scan of his eyes. The gate opened and in he drove in. Glancing in his rear view mirror he saw the gate closed fast.

Getting out, two men met him. "How fast can you be on the road and following my Rover?"

The men, who were almost as big as he was, both smiled, "Right now, Colum."

As he walked towards the house, they walked alongside him, all three, matching strides. "Follow Katherine, keep a distance but keep her safe. I don't want anything happening to her, or anyone getting near her."

The lighter colored of the two brothers, Thor, glanced over at Colum. "Do you think there will be others?"

"Probably, not today, but one never knows. Regardless, I don't want her alone. She is to be protected all of the time from now on. If I didn't have that Council meeting to go to I would protect her myself."

The other one, who matched Colum in size and girth, spoke. Odin normally was the quieter of the two brothers and spoke very little. "She will be protected like she is one of us."

Colum got up in his face. "She will be my wife again and someday your Queen, protect her as you would any of my family." The look he gave the men was not one they saw often, but they knew he would easily take out anyone who didn't listen to his orders.

Odin was the darker of the two brothers, and he knew Colum as well as he knew his own brother. Colum had always been a fair and brave commander. He asked for nothing that he wouldn't do himself. He felt no malice towards Colum for the threatening glance he gave both of them. On the contrary, Odin only respected him more.

Both men stood straighter. "We are on it. Sorry, Sir, bad choice of words."

They both turned and went into the garage door. A moment later a vehicle came out, a Humvee, one that looked beyond menacing, stopping next to Colum.

"I'll have the screen up and running at the meeting. You can communicate with me at any time," Colum told them.

"Yes, Sir," the brothers said in unison.

They drove up the drive and out of sight.

Colum turned and walked towards the house. The door opened and Travis stood at attention.

"Sir, coffee is to be served in your study for the meeting. Your father will be down in twenty minutes. The Council meeting is in less then one hour."

Both men walked through the door. Turning right, Colum walked the long hallway. On the wall that was dimly lit were priceless paintings. Colum stopped, turning he spoke to Travis, "Make sure we can keep a visual on her the entire time she is driving. Have the 360 degree camera going on in the Rover. I don't want anyone near her. If there seems to be anything of a threat, well, you know what to do."

"Yes, Sir." Travis went straight through a doorway, down to the cellar. Colum took a left down the few stairs to the living area and kitchen.

He paused for a moment at the kitchen counter, where he grabbed a mug. It had been Katherine's mug. Picking it up, he could still smell her from just her drinking her tea from it. She had been happy and slightly aroused. He was glad he wasn't pushing it. He wanted her to become attracted to him on her own, naturally. Though he found it extremely hard to hold back.

"Colum... "

Colum turned to the sound of his father's voice.

"We will be meeting in the Council chambers in thirty minutes, instead. There are many things to address today. I wanted to get an earlier start."

Colum found he was holding the mug so tight he could have broken it. "Has there been a positive ID on the man who was parked at Katherine's?"

"Yes... " Cormac dragged out his answer. "We know he was from a Tunisian cell. They are probably sending another since I am sure if he didn't report in they would have become suspicious."

"I have Travis's nephews following her today."

Cormac went to the stove and turned on the water in the kettle. He liked doing little things like this rather than always waiting for a servant to do things for him. "Cup of tea?"

Colum brought Katherine's mug and placed it on the counter. "Yes, I will pour out the tea for us. I hope you don't mind mugs. The day begs for a mug rather then dainty china."

Cormac laughed his deep rumbly laugh. "It's hard for warriors such as we to use anything dainty. Though don't suggest anything like this to your mother, she would have your head if you were to make such a suggestion."

Colum smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. Mother is, well mother, and she will have her tea proper like, though if you were to give that spiel around her about _warriors such as we_ , she will have your head. She is as battle hardened as any of us."

"Yes and that's why she deserves a rest. Considering how old she is."

"Yes, and still so beautiful... "

"Well, I am glad you think so... "

Both men turned to see Elsabet standing there in her flowing, deep blue velvet dressing gown on.

"Darling, Mother," both said in unison.

She gave her cheek to both men and smiled.

"Remember Cormac, I am your senior... I may be older but I know I could best you in any area still... "

Colum enjoyed seeing his parents play like this. He heard a growl come from his father's throat.

"Woman, you could surely slay me and another hundred but you conquered my heart three millennium ago my dear. No need for battles, though I will show you something later in the privacy of our home that will surely surprise you."

Elsabet let her head go back and a laugh the sound of tinkling bells. "What am I to do with you?"

Cormac came up to his wife. He wrapped his arm around her and nuzzled her face, not caring that his son was there with them. Elsabet looked like she could easily be fifty rather than almost four thousand years old. Her hair fell in a wavy mass of silver lengths to her waist. He laced his fingers in her hair and twisted the mane. Giving it a playful tug as he kissed her and then taking her throat he felt her satin skin under his lips. Gently nipping her neck brought a throaty purr.

"You shouldn't start something you can't finish my King... "

Cormac laughed. "Truer words were spoken many a time just before a battle, my Queen. I will have my dessert later, but early."

Colum cleared his throat.

Cormac and Elsabet turned, both, holding the other, smiling.

"We have a meeting to go to and I have security to take care of for Katherine."

"She is still as beautiful as always. I think the quicker you can change her, the better for you. That way you can take the throne and not have to worry about her."

Colum nodded as he added water to his mug. "Yes, Mother I have thought of that but she will also be a hungry soul after and will need constant watching. I can't take that chance at the moment unless it's an emergency and _needs_ to be done." Seeing the look on his mother's face. "I know Mother, she will be turned but in her and my own good time. She doesn't even know me, yet."

Elsabet came up and hugged her son. "I just don't want to see you hurt again like the last time. That would give me enough cause to turn her myself, if I knew something of that magnitude were to happen again."

"Don't worry mother, it will all work out."

"I know, I know... I am just a mother when it comes to things like this and I feel for you, my son."

"Thank you Mother. I am glad you are on my side."

* * * * * * *

"Mom...?"

Katherine was in Victoria's Secret, looking at bras, when her daughter tugged at her jacket.

"Mooomm," Sally said in exasperation.

Katherine focused on her daughter's face. "Yes, honey what is it?"

"While you've been looking at bras we've been followed by those guys..."

Katherine whipped her head around and tried to see what her daughter saw. "Where?"

"Come on Mom, but don't look obvious. They're out there pretending to read, but one of the dopes has his magazine upside down... "

Olivia came up. "They aren't speaking English either."

Katherine could tell both men were obviously not the typical mall goers. They were standing outside Victoria's Secret. With a quick look around the store she could only see older women, so she knew they weren't waiting for anyone. The man who had the magazine upside down was another giveaway.

"Let's go for a walk girls... "

* * * * * * *

Colum was sitting at the meeting when his alert button on his cell phone went off. Looking around the room. "Excuse me for a moment."

He got up and walked swiftly to the next room in their bunker like setup.

"Yes, what have you got?"

"Colum... we have two men who have been following Katherine and the girls for the last forty minutes or so. Now, the girls have told their Mom and Katherine is leading them on a merry chase," Thor said.

Colum had to smile in spite of the situation and who they were obviously dealing with.

"Keep a close eye on them, both sets. Do whatever it takes to keep Katherine and the girls safe. Use your judgment. Remember who she is and what she is to not only me but to our kind... "

"We've got it, Sir. We will take care of it."

* * * * * * *

Travis's nephews watched Katherine go from one shop to another. Then they watched as she turned, talked to her girls and sent them away. The girls were running in the direction of a cop who happened to be in the mall.

"I think we better take care of this."

Both moved in as Katherine did.

Katherine had been going from store to store and the men had followed. It reminded her of the book _The gang that couldn't shoot straight._ She didn't know why that thought came to her but these guys were not the best at whatever it was they were supposed to be.

She walked up and pulled the magazine down from one of the guys. Shock met her eyes as she hauled off and punched him in the nose. A stream of some kind of curses met her ears.

"That's for scaring my girls." Then she quickly got in close and kneed the one she had just punched. The man holding his nose doubled over, then dropped to the floor. The second one tried to leave but a hand caught a hold of him and pulled him off the floor. Then the girls, along with a policeman and a crowd swarmed in on them.

One of the bystanders was more vocal then others, "They have been following you for sometime lady... "

"What's going on here?" asked the policeman.

"Mom, are you OK?"

Katherine was looking over at the man who held the other jerk that had been following them. He looked a lot like Colum. Big, strong and menacing, given the situation.

She watched as another came and pulled the policeman aside. The policeman looked at the ID he was given and then nodded.

The two men grabbed the two perps and hauled them away.

Katherine stood there with her mouth hanging open. Then she felt her phone vibrate.

She turned to her daughter and held up her hand. The policeman smiled and started taking names.

"Hello?"

She listened to Colum's smooth voice over the phone.

"Listen, something strange just happened... I am not sure I even know what just happened but some men that looked like they could work for you, if that's even possible, were here too... "

She listened and her eyes grew large. "You can't be serious? This could have something to do with what I said nine years ago? I had every right to say what I did and I can't believe they are hunting me down now... of all the nerve! They attack my country, kill my husband and expect me to just lie down and take it... well they have the wrong woman. Are those men yours, Colum?" She listened to him talk. "They are?"

She listened some more. The more she heard, the madder she got. "You could have told me you felt I was being threatened... " She listened some more. She wanted to punch Colum, too.

"So maybe my car breaking down was all because of this? Maybe they did that to my car?" She was angrier than she had been in a long time. Usually, she and John would have a few fights a year. It had been over nine years since she had had a chance to get this upset, and it was all bottled up.

"Well, I want to talk to those men, and don't tell me that's impossible. You call your men and tell them I want to see those jerks, who have obviously been trailing me all day. I want to not only punch the other one, but I want to ask them a few questions... "

She had heard smooth talking, but this was taking the cake. "No Colum, I am not letting you take care of it... entirely. Let me speak to those men or whatever you and I have started will be over!"

That got the answer she wanted. "Thank you."

* * * * * * *

Cormac saw his son coming back in, a smile playing on his lips. "What happened?"

Colum sat down, feeling the eyes of the Council on him. He took a deep breath. "It would appear we have some terrorists among us. Two were actually following Katherine and the two girls around the mall. They are about to get a taste of a mother's wrath."

One older gentleman leaned forward. "What do you mean?" A gleam shone in his eyes.

"Well, let me explain... "

# Chapter 4

Katherine punched the same man again. Now he had a bloodied nose, and a swollen right eye. "I may not know torture tactics like you, but I am sure I could figure out some and be quite imaginative."

The man just sat there. He could feel her hatred. To them, she was just another job, an assignment... but in her eyes, they represented the men who had killed her husband. This man wasn't stupid. If it had been him, he would be doing the same thing, especially if it involved his family. He hoped he could see his family again, but somehow he doubted it.

"Why were you following us? You scared my girls, you've traumatized them... you bastards!" Katherine could see she was getting through to one of them, but the other, she could feel his hatred. The animosity was seeping from his pores. She felt it in waves. That made her all the more mad. She hauled off and kicked the second one, square in the balls. His head went down and she kicked him in the face. She kept kicking and punching until one of Colum's men pulled her off.

She was crying, swearing and beyond reason. She was hitting the smaller of Travis's nephews as he tried to hold her. He knew he could be in trouble for holding her back. The other one got on the phone.

* * * * * * *

Colum answered his phone. About to excuse himself, he saw his father put his hand up, telling him to stay and take the call there.

"Yes?"

"Sir, I don't think she will be in any shape to drive back. She wants to kill these men and I'm afraid that in her condition, she may go off the road."

Colum knew from the past that Katherine had a temper. At one time she had been a warrior also. "Can you keep her separated from those men till I can get there?"

"Yes, Sir, but the only way we can contain her, for even a little time, is if you take the copter."

"My plan already. We will be leaving within ten minutes. My ETA is forty minutes."

Colum hung up and looked at the group. "Our future Queen is wanting to take care of things herself."

"What happened?" His father asked.

Colum started to walk towards the door. "Let's just put it this way, once Katherine got going she was ready to kill the both of those men with her bare hands. Had our men not been there she would have and she's giving them a hard time now... I know only too well."

One man laughed. "If she is anything like she was at Clontarf she is going to be a mighty Queen, but you need to change her so we don't loose her again."

"I know... I have been told that twice already today."

* * * * * * *

Katherine sat with a cup of Starbucks coffee in her hand. She was slowly calming down, no longer shaking with the anger that had consumed her, filling her with blind rage. She now sat waiting for Colum to arrive. His two henchmen had the two spies in the Humvee. She had talked to the men who worked for Colum and they had said, "Don't go anywhere, as Colum will not be happy with us if something happens to you."

So she sat. But then her blood started to boil again. She thought about how convenient it had been that her car had broken down. Now, why would it happen then of all times? Well, he had a lot of explaining to do, if he thought she was a push over or a lady in distress... he had another thing coming. She had never been one to back away from a challenge or danger. Working with EMS in the city, she had gone to her fair share of scary calls. And hadn't she been right there searching and digging along with the men of her husband's crew to locate her husband and others who were trapped that fateful day? Colum was going to find out just whom he had boxed into the corner... because that's just how she felt and she wasn't going to be boxed or coddled.

She craned her neck out the Rover's window to get a glimpse of the helicopter that she could hear coming. Sure enough, there was a black copter, with green marking, coming in for a landing. She got out.

"Stay," she said to the girls.

She stood and waited while the blades of the helicopter slowed and then stopped spinning. The doors opened up and out climbed Colum from the pilot's seat. Travis his butler, climbed out of the passenger's side. He then turned and grabbed a bag from the back seat. It looked like a doctor's bag from forty years ago. She turned her attention back to Colum who had turned and was now walking towards her.

She felt his eyes on her. She couldn't detect their color yet. She knew that told a lot about how he was feeling, what his temperament was like. She knew that from just the short time she'd spent with him: whether he was relaxed, excited or aroused. She knew at least once he had been aroused when he had kissed her and his eyes had turned a deep violet. As he got closer his eyes at first looked brown, but then she saw they actually were going from reddish brown back to a dark purple. She didn't understand that, but right now was not the time to figure that out.

She would wait for him to speak first.

"Katherine how... "

Katherine couldn't hold it in any longer. She needed to vent and here was her chance.

She hit his chest with first her fist then started pointing into his hard, sculptured chest with her finger. She continued to pound on him. With either her fist or her finger. She was going to make sure her point got across one way or another.

"How dare you... who do you think you are? I know it's you or someone who works for you that made my car break down but for the life of me I can't figure out why. And do you think I am a meek little woman who... " She kept hitting his chest for emphasis. She could feel the rage starting to ebb, which was probably good because she was starting to feel stupid for taking it out on him. She knew he was just trying to protect her.

Colum just stood there while Katherine hit his chest. She kept it up for a few minutes. Saying half sentences and then she finally collapsed into his arms. He let his arms wrap around her and hold her as he rubbed the small of her back.

"You have every right to be mad at me. I can explain everything... But after, if then you feel you don't want to see me... I will honor that wish, but please, hear me out."

He felt her go still, trying to calm her sobs and finally after a sniffle she looked up at him. Her eyes were red and swollen, tears still coursed down her cheek but she was a bit calmer. "I will listen and I know whatever was done was done to protect me and my kids, but please, in the future can you please just let me in on your plans?"

Colum caught a tear from the tip of her nose with his index finger. After catching it, he saw Katherine watch him intently as he licked it off the tip of his finger. He saw Katherine watch him, intent on his tongue. "Keep that thought... but for now how about Travis drives the girls back in the Rover?"

Katherine shook her head. "Normally I would think that is fine but Olivia is pretty shaken up."

Colum smiled. "I have a way out of that." They watched as Travis approached the girls. He was talking to the girls and then the girls came up excitedly as if nothing had happened.

"Mom isn't this great, Travis here is going to drive us back so you can take the copter with Colum... Shopping was so cool today, Mom... " She looked up in the sky. "Oh Mom, Colum, look snowflakes!" She and Olivia danced around trying to catch them on their tongues.

Katherine looked at the girls and then at Colum. "What just happened? Sally acts like she never saw what happened, I don't understand this, unless she is fooling around?" She called her daughter. "Hey Sally, how do you feel? Do you remember what just happened?"

Sally came up, pulling her friend behind her. "Of course Mom, we got the best deals because Colum came and told us where to get all the deals on jeans... " She jumped up and hugged Colum. "Thanks again Colum, you're great." Then she whispered in his ear. "And I know my mom likes you, too."

That brought a smile to his face. Katherine just stood there with her mouth hanging open.

The girls went to get into the Rover. The other men made sure their two wayward terror suspects were secure. Colum wrapped an arm around Katherine.

"I'll explain when we are up in the air."

Katherine shook her head. She let herself be led to the helicopter. She buckled up and then was handed a headset.

Colum climbed in put on his headset. He glanced over at Katherine. "Can you hear me OK?"

Katherine shook her head. She watched as Colum got ahold of the cord attached to her headset and plugged it in. He smiled at her.

"Can you hear me now?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. I take it that it will be noisy?"

"Just a little bit. But we aren't going to be up long enough for it to matter."

He set the controls and cleared for take off from the Jet Port.

"How long will it take, Colum?"

Colum quickly glanced over to Katherine. "Twenty-five, maybe thirty minutes. We have a wind picking up and with the snow starting it will slow us a bit. If we don't get going now we will be grounded soon."

Katherine watched as they hovered. She waved to the girls who were hanging out the Rover's windows, smiling like nothing had just happened and this was just any other day. She had the good sense to wait till they were flying steady and then she turned to Colum.

"So tell me what just happened? Not only what Travis did to the girls to make them forget or act like they had never seen what just happened but who are those men and why were your men there?"

Colum reached over and took one of her hands. He gently rubbed her knuckles, making circles with his thumb.

Katherine glanced down at her hand, Colum's fingers and his massaging her hand, sending sparks all through her body. It felt like a pinball was ricocheting throughout her body. She felt a heat starting to spread and move into areas that hadn't heated up in years. She shifted in her seat and started to squirm. Then she thought of what happened and she could feel herself getting angry again. She was a mess. First, she was aroused, then she was angry.

"Those men are the result of your funeral tirade. They are not the first though... and I am sure they won't be the last. It appears that whomever you pissed off, now wants to eliminate you. Once you get on a list of theirs, only death takes you off. I am going to make sure that they get no where near you."

"Death! But who are they? Are they really terrorists? And how... Oh, what about the girls? Also, why did they act so odd after Travis talked to them?"

Colum tried not to smile too much. "Travis used an age old practice that you can see in Star Wars. In the movie the Jedi use it to change someone's thoughts. It's a form of hypnosis and is harmless and really it was the best thing to do in this situation with your daughter and her friend. Your car, yes, while we were having breakfast, I had one of my men make sure it wouldn't start. My Rover is like a tank, just like all my vehicles. I saw another man the other evening and he was dispatched."

Katherine couldn't believe what she was hearing. She felt like she was in the middle of a spy movie. "Dispatched? How?"

Colum brought her hand to his lips and smelled her frustration. "Let's just say he won't be a threat any more... " He kissed her hand one more time, letting his lips brush the top of her knuckles. He smelled the rise of her attraction and arousal but anger still simmered.

Katherine couldn't believe this. She was mad and aroused all that the same time. "I wanted this to be my fight... even though I thought it would never come... " She shook her head as Colum let go of her hand to get on the radio. She now noticed the changing weather outside; it was getting worse. The helicopter was starting to act like a small toy.

Colum started talking to the tower at Owls Head.

Turning slightly to Katherine. "We are going to have to put down in Wiscasset. The wind has picked up too much. We can put down behind the public safety building."

Katherine felt the wind buffet the helicopter. She tried not to be scared but she was not the best passenger on normal airline flight but this was beyond hairy. "Are we going to be OK?"

Colum took her hand. Kissing it, he then put it on the other side of the control. "Hold on and know that if you're with me, everything will always be fine. You're always safe with me."

She tried to believe that. After all he had saved her once before. They were flying low over an open area. She could see a brick building that looked like a large place to house fire trucks.

Colum could feel the wind changing even as they attempted to land. He felt the copter being buffeted by the strong wind gusts. Bringing the bird down, he glanced over at Katherine and saw that her hands had gone to white-knuckled and she had closed her eyes tightly.

Taking his hand he touched her lightly and felt her jump. "It's OK, we're down."

Katherine opened her eyes and looked around quickly. She felt her breath come out in a quick rush of air as she exhaled.

Colum brought her hands up to his lips and kissed them. Then letting his hand go around her neck he brought her in for a kiss. Feeling her hand come up behind his head and hold onto it, he was aware of all the sensations as her lips opened up to his, his tongue finding hers, and enjoying the little taste of her. If only she knew how she hadn't changed much over the years. "Like honey... "

Katherine opened her eyes as Colum kissed her. She let her hand touch his face. "Funny I haven't had any honey since this morning... at your house."

Colum let his lips trail kisses on her face. "I'm having some now." He let his lips slide down her neck and found her pulse, which made him that much more aroused. He felt her blood and heard it sing to him. She was calling to him and she didn't even know it.

Katherine felt so drawn to him. She never thought that would happen again after John but she felt like even with all the strangeness, maybe they could be more then friends.

She caught something out of peripheral vision. "Company coming."

They straightened up and saw some men coming out of the building and a police cruiser pulling up.

Colum handed his flight jacket to her. " Here put this on, you are going to need it."

He opened his door and climbed out. Slamming the door shut sent a flurry of snowflakes towards Katherine. Katherine put Colum's B-3 flight jacket on over her leather coat. It was all shearling inside and she pulled the sleeves over her hands. She opened her door and was met by the snowstorm. The wind gust hit her full in the face and she felt the snow sting her face. She instantly wanted to be snuggled by a warm fire with a cup of tea or glass of wine. "God, this weather wasn't supposed to start until tonight." She kicked herself a few times as she walked up to the men.

# Chapter 5

Colum turned to Katherine. Wrapping his arm around her he brought her into the group. "Let me introduce you to the everyone here, if I can remember their names."

Katherine saw four fire fighters, one town police officer and a Sheriff's Deputy.

"Katherine this is Deputy Smith, Officer Palmer and here is the crew for the Wisscasset Fire Department." Turning to the men he said, "You'll have to remind me of your names. This is Katherine MacNamara formally of NYC, now of Rockport."

Katherine could see it took about a New York second and the light of recognition lit in the guys' eyes. "Wow, Katherine MacNamara... it's an honor to meet you. Come on, let's get out of this weather."

She felt Colum's arm wrap protectively around her as they ran for the building. They all ran in and the door slammed, bringing snow in with them.

One younger man came up and took her hand. "Mrs. MacNamara, you are a hero and so was your husband. The Chief will be upset he wasn't here to meet you. God, what can we do for you?"

Katherine looked up at Colum. "Well, we were going back to Rockport when the storm hit us. We have family on the road, if we could just wait for them, that is if you don't mind."

One of the guys spoke up, "Who does the helicopter belong to?"

"The helicopter is Colum's, Katherine said.

The rest of the guys looked up at Colum. The same young man turned and shook Colum's hand. "You were the one who saved Mrs. MacNamara weren't you? I read about it, that is, we all read about it in the newspapers and Firehouse Magazine had an article about you and your husband. There wasn't one of us left untouched by what happened and what you went through. What you said, you spoke for many of us on that day. I am sure many were touched by what you said at your husband's funeral."

Colum squeezed Katherine's shoulders. "She's a fighter that's for sure. Though it wasn't easy, even for me being the size I am and her as little as she is, to rescue her that day."

All the men laughed. "The fighting Irish," someone said.

"We just need to stay here till my men come and can pick us up. Then I or someone from my family will be back to pick up the copter, as soon as the weather clears." He looked down into Katherine's eyes. Saw her smile and felt her take his hand. Looking up, "If you will excuse me, I am going to make sure the copter is secure and then could someone take us into town? I want to get Katherine something to eat. I thought maybe Sarah's Café."

All the men nodded and a few volunteered to help Colum.

"We'll give you a ride down to Sarah's after you finish."

"Great, I'll phone the men to let them know where to pick us up, since they will be driving by here and see the copter and wonder where we have gone."

"It's great having cell phones," someone said.

Katherine talked with one young man while Colum and the other three were out securing the copter. She found out the young man's name was Bryan. He had been a fire fighter since he was fifteen, as were his father and grandfather.

"Wow, it's great to see families like that. My father was second generation. I was in EMS. My brother is a firefighter too."

The door opened and in came Colum with the men behind him along with more snow. "Let's go to Sarah's... "

They all piled into a couple booths, talking as if they'd known each other forever. Colum, easily being the largest man in the group, fit right in though. The guys enjoyed hearing his war stories. Bryan turned to him. "What was it like in the North Tower? Were you ever scared?"

Colum took Katherine's hand from under the table and squeezed it. "I didn't give that a thought. I just knew I had to get her and as many people out as fast as I could. Something kicked into overdrive and any fear that might have been there, was gone."

Katherine was enjoying the interaction of the firefighters. It had been a long time since she had been around any and she realized she missed it. It had been part of her life since she'd been born. She had grown up around her borough's station. It had been like a small town fire department even though it was part of the greater FDNY.

They talked, ate chowder and homemade bread. Once in a while Katherine glanced out the window and saw the snow piling up. The building's windows would shake a bit as the big plows drove by. A few hardy customers came in. People greeted the men as they came and went. Colum wrapped his arm around Katherine.

Bryan, who seemed to be comfortable around Katherine, cleared his throat, "So are you two dating?"

"No," said Katherine

"Yes," said Colum. "Well, at least I hope we are." He smiled down at her.

"We will talk about it." She felt herself being hugged. "Yes." She smiled up at him and all the guys cheered.

An older firefighter in the group seemed to sum it up for all of them as he looked over at Colum.

"You embodied our spirit on that day, Colum. You did what each of us is trained to do. Each and every time we go out, we don't know if that will be the day we will be called upon to rescue someone from a burning building or one of our own. You headed for danger while others were trying to get out and your sole purpose of heading into that building was to rescue. You are one of us. I have seen the little blurbs from brothers down in the city. If they knew who you were, they would have been telling you the same thing. You did a very brave thing on that day. Thank you!"

Then Bryan spoke again, "He seems like a good man, gosh he saved your life and he ends up living in the same town as you did... "

All of a sudden the room got quiet and Katherine could see everyone's attention was focused behind her. She turned and there stood Travis, her daughter, Olivia and the two men who had followed her to keep her safe. Those two were almost as big as Colum, so she knew the men from the fire department and the police officer along with the Sheriff's Deputy must be wondering if a ship of Vikings had arrived.

"Sir, the road conditions are worsening, we should get going." Travis said.

Colum stood. "Let me take care of this lunch and we will get going." The guys all protested saying they would pick up the tab but Colum was gone faster than they could catch him.

"Miss Katherine..."

Katherine turned her attention to Travis. "Yes, Travis?"

"Colum told us to pick up a ski jacket and boots for you, so we stopped at LL Bean and I picked up things for you and the girls."

Katherine looked down at her soaked sneakers. "Wow, thank you, Travis." She saw the girls looking all happy.

"I got them lunch too, so they are all set."

Katherine took off her sneakers and put them in the box that her boots came from. She put the boots on with a fresh pair of socks and then took off her leather jacket, which had offered no warmth at all, and put on the ski jacket.

"Here Miss, some mittens and a hat."

Katherine was all bundled up by the time Colum returned from paying the tab. She felt his gaze as she zipped up her jacket to the top. Looking up, she was met by very warm violet eyes.

Colum walked up to her and loosened the zipper. "Just in case I want to kiss that neck on the ride home," he whispered in her ear.

As Katherine turned her cheek, her lips caught his.

All the guys from the fire department walked to the restaurant door to say good-bye as they got ready to walk out. Bryan walked up to Katherine.

"I just want you to know I felt honored to have lunch with you and Colum."

Katherine hugged the young man and gave him a kiss on the cheek. When she pulled away she could see him turning a few shades of red.

"Come up to Rockport any time. The door is always open."

"Thank you." Bryan said.

Going out the door of the restaurant they were met by the snowstorm.

The girls ran ahead to the Rover, got in the back. Travis went to the Humvee and Katherine went to the passenger's side of the Rover, with Colum getting in the driver's seat.

They got underway and Katherine could see that the normal forty-five minute drive to home was going to be a lot longer.

Colum turned to Katherine for a minute as they waited for traffic to turn. "The girls don't seem to mind the storm."

Katherine laughed, looked in the back and then smiled at Colum. She wasn't fond of storms herself unless she was tucked in the house. "I think it's all an adventure to them." She could hear Olivia talking with her mother on the phone and then whispering something to Sally.

"It's just a matter of time... "

Colum smiled knowing the girls would be asking for a pajama party. That worked for him.

"Mom, can I sleep over at Olivia's? Her Mom can come pick us up."

"Um... "

Colum patted Katherine's hand. "Hey girls, how about a ride in the Rover. We will stop at your house first Sally, get your gear and then we will take you over."

Katherine was met by, "Thanks, oh, that's sweet... " from Olivia.

"Mom? Is it OK?"

Katherine could see Colum's eyes and something was drawing her in. That feeling of she hardly knew him, but felt like she had known him forever, crept in. "Yes... "

"Oh, thanks Mom!"

They pulled into her driveway an hour and fifteen minutes later. "Sally, you get a change of clothes and ski wear because I think you girls will be going to the Snow Bowl to ski tomorrow."

"I know Mom... " Sally ran on ahead as they all went into the house. There was a note on the fridge from John and Pat saying they were spending the night with a mutual friend.

Colum looked at the note over Katherine's shoulder. "Hmmm looks like you are going to need company tonight... "

Katherine turned to him and smiled. "I can make you dinner... "

Colum smiled back and let his hand rub the lower part of her back. "How about you come to my home and we will cook together. I will let my cook off for tonight but I know he has lamb broth so we can make a traditional Italian wedding soup. Soup is perfect for a night like this."

Katherine could almost smell the broth, knowing the smell of a lamb broth, being from an Irish family. "Sounds wonderful."

* * * * * * *

They rode in silence to Colum's home. The snow was still coming down and was supposed to continue all through the night.

Colum glanced over at Katherine as he came to his gate. One hand was out the window pushing the button and then scanning his finger as he spoke to her. "You OK?"

Katherine exhaled. "Yea, no... I don't know."

"Hold that thought... " Colum looked into the screen and then the gate opened. He closed his window and they drove down the winding drive.

"Relax, we'll have supper, we can sit by the fire, or watch a movie. I can even bring you up to my parents' home on the hill, if you would rather not be alone with me tonight."

Katherine watched as the garage door opened in front of them. Travis stood in the shadows but was lit by their headlights. When she saw him he seemed familiar, too. Yes, she knew who he was, but something in the recesses of her memory bank told her she knew him somehow. She couldn't place it but she felt like she had known him forever also...

Travis went to Katherine's door and opened it for her. "Miss Katherine, if you will follow me I will show you to your room. There is a robe you can put on, along with pajamas."

She looked over to Colum.

"It's OK, if you don't want to stay you can wear them at my parents' but I don't want you alone tonight, one way or another. Also don't worry about the children, as we talk, they are being watched over, quite well."

Katherine smiled at Colum. "Thank you."

* * * * * * **

She followed the butler through a hallway that was dimly lit until they arrived at the main part of the house.

"This way, Miss Katherine... "

She followed him up the stairs and down a hall that was carpeted by some fine Persian rugs. She could tell by the feel of it that it would be heavenly to walk barefoot on. Travis stopped at a door and opened it wide to let her go in.

She peeked in and was awed by the beautiful room that met her eyes. It was all feminine and just the color she loved, a soft rose.

"Oh!" escaped her lips before she knew what she had said.

"Yes, Miss Katherine, it's a very comfortable room."

"Comfortable... that's not the word I was thinking. Cozy, inviting, romantic... " She blushed at the last word.

"It's OK Miss... " Travis smiled.

"And a Gone with the Wind lamp... " she walked up to the lamp, studying and touching it. "It's absolutely beautiful."

Travis nodded. "I've built a fire in the fire place for you. I will make sure it is going nicely, if you choose to stay the night, Colum will let me know."

Katherine forgot her unease and felt so relaxed... like she had come home. She walked around the room, touching things. She could almost smell the roses. She felt lost in another time. She forgot for a second that Travis was there until she heard him clear his throat.

Turning, "Do you ever feel like you have seen things before Travis, like you can't explain it but you know this may have been part of your life, in another life of course? I don't know, it's confusing but as soon as I saw all of these pieces of furniture, I felt like I was home, or part way anyway... "

Travis tried not to smile but couldn't help it. "Yes, I think I understand."

Katherine didn't want him to leave. "Do you think there would be a pair of sweats I could put on and another pair of socks? I don't want to cook in PJs."

Travis brought her to the closet. "Here, Miss Katherine, is an assortment for you to choose from."

Katherine looked and found a pair of sweats. Quickly looking, she saw there was indeed an assortment of clothes.

"Travis?"

"Yes?"

"Why does he have a room that is obviously a woman's, and all these clothes?"

"His sister's spare clothes. This is a guest bedroom."

Katherine stood for a moment. Looked down at the sweats. "Oh... "

"Will that be all, Miss Katherine?"

"Yes, Travis. I will be fine. I'll find my way down to the kitchen just fine. You go ahead."

"Thank you, Miss Katherine."

Travis walked out of her room and closed the door quietly. As he reached the staircase he saw Colum coming up.

"You are going to hell for that fib Travis... "

"Sir, we both will sooner or later... "

"Yes, that's a perk of this life and job."

Colum walked past his butler. "In the meantime we, you, all of us, have got to make sure nothing happens to Katherine."

Travis nodded his head. "Yes Sir, we will do our duty and keep her and the children safe. Will there be anything else for this evening?"

Colum shook his head. "No, you can have the rest of the evening off."

"Goodnight, Sir. See you in the morning."

"Yes, goodnight."

# Chapter 6

Colum walked past the door that was Katherine's and walked into his own room. He went to his closet and pulled out some clothes.

Changing into a white tee and another pair of jeans, he left his feet bare. He was tempted to knock on the connecting door. But knew just from his acute hearing that Katherine was almost finished dressing.

He walked out and timed his steps just as Katherine was exiting her room.

"Oh, Colum, I didn't hear anyone upstairs... "

Colum could smell her fear but there was that hint of arousal, which she was trying to hold at bay. She was fighting it.

Taking her hand, he said, "Come on, let's go make dinner."

They walked down the stairs and Katherine saw the kitchen of her dreams. Hers was nice but this was something out of a magazine. It was white, lots of counters and the windows just in the kitchen. She knew during the day the view would be fabulous. Tonight, all she could see was snow flying past. Lights were on to show quite a bit of the lawn that led down to the ocean.

"Colum?"

He turned from the counter where he had the ground lamb sitting. "Yes?"

"Are we, I mean, are the children safe?"

Colum came up to Katherine and wrapped his arms around her. "As we speak, men are posted outside Olivia's home and also outside where the boys are. These men are trained in this type of work and wait for just this chance. Don't worry, nothing gets by them."

Katherine had to know more. "Why though, why all the interest in plain old me? I mean, I thought maybe it wasn't a big deal and they would get tired of this and just go home."

Colum was seriously having a hard time controlling himself. Katherine was sending off waves of fear, which only further aroused the beast in him, and then her own arousal was drawing him in like a bee to a flower. The fact that she was his, and had been for over a thousand years, made it just that much harder. He would be so happy when they came together, then she would really be his, and at some point, when the time was right, he would change her. But for now she was here, close and he needed to remember she was human, not a vampire, not a fallen one. She had the blood of the Fae, which was the reason why they had been together in the first place.

It had been a union of the two people and two very strong families to strengthen bloodlines. Then she had been killed by an evil son of Mil's; the first time. It had always been that way in the early, dark years of Ireland. He had waited for her again and she had been born the next year Eriu, one of the three Queens; then, as daughter to High King Brian Boru.

Down through the ages she had been his, but never forever...

Colum touched her face.

Katherine responded to his touch. She arched and stretched up, feeling a flow of heat course through her body that was begging to be released. "Sometimes, I feel like you leave earth for a few minutes and then you come back. Saw it just then... "

Colum tilted her chin. "Did you see what I saw?"

"No, but I almost felt it. Felt your sadness and struggle." She gazed into his eyes that were now a deep violet. There were tinges of red, like flecks of colored flame.

"Colum... " She felt the need to take charge for this moment. She hadn't felt like this in a very long time. She stood on tiptoe, her lips sought his, felt his skim hers, heard a purr come from his throat. She let her fingers reach up and grab at his tee, holding him, anchoring herself.

She felt him taste her with his tongue.

"What do you taste?" She asked.

"Honesty here?"

Katherine kissed his chin. "Yes..."

Colum let his tongue dip in, felt her respond, tasted the blend of her fear and arousal. He felt her small hands seeking a place to secure herself.

"I taste a woman, who has fears, but also who needs to be loved." Kissing her deeply, he felt her press in closer. Felt all of her respond.

"I'm afraid, Colum. I don't know if it's right... yet"

Colum held her, letting his hand span her back, gently rubbing, to calm her.

"I'll not force myself on you but you said yourself earlier today that it felt right."

Katherine let her forehead rest on his chest. She flattened herself to lay her face on his hard chest. She listened for a heartbeat, and moving her head, she looked up at his face and saw need. She put her head back on his chest and heard, nothing.

"Colum?"

"Yes?"

"I don't hear a heart beat... "

"It's there, beating strong."

Katherine laid her head on his chest again, standing on tiptoe trying in vane to hear his heart. She felt him breathe, felt his warmth, felt his hands gently massaging her back. Heard his throaty purr and felt his kisses on her head, her ear, then trailing down her neck. She forgot the lack of his beating heart and reached up again. "I don't care... "

He felt her surrender for the moment and he caught up her lips to kiss them again. He could kiss her all night and this would be enough... if only he knew that she would be his forever.

"Katherine, let's make dinner then we can relax and talk. I'll build a fire in your room and we can sit there."

"Travis has already built one."

"Yes, but I dismissed him for the evening. It's just you and I. Sometimes I don't want people under foot."

Katherine felt herself being held for a moment longer. She pressed into his body. She felt safe and sheltered. Almost like wings were wrapped around her. She sniffed his tee, kissed his chest. She felt his lips on her head again.

"When the time is right... "

Her hand dropped into his. "Yes... "

* * * * * * *

Katherine and Colum worked in quiet efficiency. She poured in the acini de pepe and then went and set two place settings at the kitchen table.

"Did I tell you my mother wants to have tea with you this week, and my parents would like to meet you and your children? They were sorry they didn't get down this morning as planned."

Katherine looked up from setting the napkins. "They do? But why?"

"Because you are very important to me."

Katherine warmed at that thought. She felt better about being with Colum. "I know my parents would love to have you down, but wait, they are coming up for the holidays. Then for New Years' we are going down to Boston for a birthday celebration. My brother's birthday is on New Year's Day and we have cousin's in Boston. My mother was excited I was going on a date with you. She told me, "it's about time you went out on a date... ""

She walked back into the kitchen while Colum was tasting the soup's broth. He brought the spoon up to her lips. She could smell the lamb and the seasonings, the acini de pepe were like tiny pearls in her mouth. The texture of the broth was like liquid velvet. She felt some dribble down her chin and watched as Colum came in close and licked it off. He caught her chin and kissed her lips. "You are a fetching kitchen witch."

Katherine laughed. "God, my mom has a kitchen witch magnet on her fridge, I hope I am sight better looking then that."

Colum laughed.

They sat at the farm table in the kitchen eating their soup. Quiet prevailed except for the sleet hitting the windows. "God, I'm glad to be inside." Katherine said.

"You and me both. I don't like being out in weather like this... unless there is an urgent need."

Katherine took another spoonful of her soup. "I've never had this soup this way. It was wonderful and the lamb chops were perfect."

Colum smiled. "I'm glad. It's not often that I cook, so this made for a quick meal, we can eat then relax."

Katherine didn't feel like she could really relax. There was tension in the air. It crackled like the fire in a fireplace. She felt like she would combust soon. She wasn't sure she wanted it to happen but on the other hand she did. She was jolted gently out of her daydreaming.

"Katherine, I think it's been a long day for you. Let's clean up here and we can go talk in front of the fire until you fall asleep."

Katherine felt like that was a dash of cold water in the face. Maybe he didn't want to after all. Maybe she had been imagining everything. Figures. Here it had been years and she was kinda getting her hopes up... She tried not to show how she felt. She got up from the table feeling very foolish but putting on her best face.

"I'll clear the table, you put the soup away."

"OK, I've got it." He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose, then brought the pot of soup into the kitchen.

"You don't normally eat this informal, do you?"

"Not usually. Normally, all the men eat with me but at the dining room table, up at my parents' we eat formally all the time. You will see, there is an army of servants up there."

Katherine could see that. She knew just from what she had seen in this house, that eating informally wasn't their thing. Not if they were as rich, if not richer than England and Europe's royalty.

After getting things cleared up, he held her hand as he walked her upstairs.

Leading her down the hall and then up the first flight of stairs she felt herself getting a bit lightheaded. They reached the dimly lit hallway and started walking down until they got to her door.

"Remember we are just going to relax, no pressure."

Her tiredness rolled off her like waves on a beach.

"No pressure?" Came her voice just above a whisper.

Colum saw how she felt. Pulling her in, he held her. She had been strong for so long. "No pressure... I promise."

They lay on the carpet in front of the fire, enjoying the quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the fire's crackle and the wind that howled. Some wood popped and then hissed. Colum heard a sigh come from Katherine. "Come here... " he said as he pulled her in and kissed her forehead. "Now lie down on your stomach and I will rub your back. I want you to relax and fall asleep."

Katherine was feeling the effects of a long, exciting day. "Mmm, that feels so good."

He could tell she was relaxing. Massaging her shoulders, he felt the tense feeling muscles relax. "You know you have shouldered the responsibility too long. Give me some of it."

Katherine shook her head. "No... it's not your battle, ultimately it's mine. I spoke at a very bad time in my life, now I have to pay the piper." She closed her eyes and could feel the overwhelming realization that she was in over her head. She had been beside herself in grief and some idiot or idiots were taking her statement seriously and now it put her family and herself in harm's way.

Colum saw her tears. It was too much for him. He leaned in and kissed her face and heard her moan.

Lying down next to her he felt her shift and look at him. Gathering her close he felt her move in so she fit just right.

"I don't think I know what else to do... "

Bringing her chin up. "About what, dear Katherine?"

Katherine ducked her head. "God... I don't know, I guess about you, about the terrorist, about life in general. I mean how do I please a man wh-who is like you?"

Colum chuckled. "Like how, dear Katherine? I'm like any other mor-man..."

Katherine reached up and touched his lip. "I don't think so... I think you are not like any man I have ever seen or touched, much less wanted to have touch me... When I am near you I feel like I have known you for a whole lot longer than I have known you. I feel like we have made love before, but that's ludicrous."

"Would you believe it if I told you that we, well, you are a reincarnation to my wife... that we knew each other a very long time ago."

Katherine shrugged and rolled over on her back. "I'd believe almost anything right now. Here things seem enchanted."

Colum stretched out next to her and studied her face. If only she knew all the times they had been just like this, talking, making love. He let his fingers trace her face as he watched her in the glow of the firelight.

"Come here... " He pulled her in to cuddle her in the crook of his arm again and held her. He heard her faintly say in a sleepy voice "No pressure... "

They stayed like that for a long time. The fire started to dim, and Colum could tell Katherine was sound asleep. She made small sounds, and made little movements, but cuddled closer, draping a leg over his.

# Chapter 7

Katherine woke and knew something was different. She was lying down so she was turned towards Colum. They were no longer on the floor but up on her bed. She was still clothed but she was cuddled in so tight.

Looking up at Colum, she that saw his eyes were closed, and his other arm was across his chest. He was so still. She put her hand on his chest and not a movement came from him. He was perfectly still. Just like he was dead.

"Colum!" She pushed at his chest gently at first, then harder. Panic started to seize her. At first nothing and then he took a deep breath, and his eyes opened. She heard his throaty growl. Turning towards her, at first he looked so different, like he was an animal, his eyes just slits. He appeared to be on guard. Then he took another breath, closing his eyes again. As he opened them back up he looked like Colum, the Colum she knew.

Katherine had seen the swift change that had come over him. She had felt his hand start to dig into her as he woke up. She watched as he sniffed the air, stretched and then he turned with an almost smile. Nothing made any sense when she was with him. Her life had taken a strange turn. She felt like she was in some enchanted land, but somehow she felt incredibly safe. She knew he was a warrior, well, at least anyone with half a brain wouldn't dare get near her.

"You scared me... I thought for a split second that you were dead... "

Colum kissed her forehead. "No, just dead tired. I tend to do that, nothing to be scared of."

Katherine could see it was a little after midnight. She leaned in and kissed his chest. She let her fingers trace his chest as he watched her. His moan went straight to her soul. She got up on her knees and crawled on top of him. Seeing the look he gave her made her smile. No words, just a smile.

The fire hissed and crackled as she explored Colum's upper body. There was enough upper body to keep her busy for some time. She could feel his hands gently touching her. Massaging, kneading, trailing fingers over spots that felt like they were pieces of wood that were about to ignite. She felt so fragile at the moment.

She sat up straight while lifting his t-shirt up. She had never seen a man except maybe a male model, look as fine as him. His chest was well sculptured. He looked like a god. A god sent to live with humans. She looked up through her lashes to see that his eyes studying her. They smoldered. Kissing his chest and then his stomach. She felt him tense, felt his hands dig into her ass.

She leaned in and kissed him again, really kissed him, letting her fingers go through his hair. His hair, the shade of a raven. As she let her tongue dip in his mouth, she felt him play with her. She knew he was letting her take the lead.

"Colum, please make love to me... " It slipped out so fast. She heard another moan. If she thought the first one went to her soul this one finished her off. She became putty in his hands as he gripped her. She was over on her back with him up on top quicker than she ever thought could be possible for a man his size.

Colum dipped his face towards hers. "You're going to remember a lot more of our past lives, tonight. I will be gentle, but all I ask is that you make love to me in return, don't hold back. I've been waiting for a very long time for this night." He touched her face and felt her hands reach up and cradle his face as she kissed him.

He was slow and methodical but very gentle with her. His hands, never leaving her body, skimming along her waist, pushing her top up, exposing her breast, hearing her sigh and moan in turn. She moved with him as he explored her body in the firelight. Her skin was like new cream with a touch of gold from the flames that warmed the room from the fireplace.

They kissed as she reached for him, holding him as his hand cupped her breast. He watched her eyes as they closed. Taking his thumb he gently rolled her nipple between his fingers. That made her come off the bed and her fingernails sank into his shoulder. A wordless gasp left her lips, as he leaned over her and took that aroused nipple in his mouth. Gently licking and tugging. His other hand had found its way down to her sweats and with one fluid movement he had them off. There was nothing separating them on her end. She was very naked and all natural.

"You're beautiful, my Kat... I hope you don't mind me calling you that... "

Katherine tried to focus in on his voice but all she could focus on was what he was doing to her. His slow deliberate path of torture. "I don't care what you call me as long as you don't stop, I need to let go... "

Colum smiled and kissed her belly, letting his tongue trace circles. He looked up, seeing her buck and moan.

He was on his knees, looking down at her, moving ever so slowly toward the place that would bring them both pleasure and release. He moved her legs apart and heard her gasp. Playing with the dark red curls on her mound brought a deeper moan and sigh that told him she wouldn't be long. Kissing her thigh he separated her legs again. He felt her grab at his hair reining him in tighter and tighter.

Burying his face into her, he could tell she was holding on to that last bit of sanity.

"It's not going to take much Colum... " she said through clenched teeth as she strained for the littlest touch to let herself go over the edge.

"We have all night," he said with deliberate slowness as he slowly explored, touched, and kissed not holding anything back, sensing her nearness to climaxing. Her scent was just what he remembered. That sweet earthiness that would call him home each time. He had her. Feeling her move and making small noises, she was so close. He nipped at her sending a bit of his venom into her, which would make her orgasm that more intense. He sensed it and looked up just at the last moment. Seeing her arch her back as she screamed out his name while she exploded. He stayed with her until she slowed and then he was up shedding his own jeans moving on top of her. The site of her was something he had ingrained in his memory from all the times they had made love down through the ages. Each time though, was just like the first time. She was his, so beautiful, with her hair, catching the light from the fire. He came down and kissed her as her smiling eyes opened.

"I don't know what you did to me, that little nibble sent me over the edge... don't forget that, I could use an orgasm like that each and every time."

Colum kissed her lips. "It's always going to be like that, or better."

Colum felt her hands come up and guide him to her. She looked down at him and let one hand capture him sending his head back. His body was tense, ready to explode, all his muscles like a taut cable. He moaned as she wrapped her fingers around him, gently but firmly stroking him again and again until he could stand no more.

"I'm sorry Kat, but I can't wait any longer or my real self may come out... "

He saw her come back into focus while letting go of him. She took a hold of his butt cheeks and brought him down to her as she welcomed him into her, wrapping her legs around him. He never let his eyes stray from her as he entered her slowly, taking his time knowing she was small.

"I'm not going to break Colum... " She pulled him in harder, moving herself up so as to accommodate all of him. Hearing her sigh of satisfaction and knew he was home. He laid his head on her breast, hearing her heart, feeling her breath. He moved ever so slightly, causing her to moan.

"Move, do something to end this torture Colum."

She kissed him as they started to move in unison. They were one. He felt their bodies as they became one again, after all these long years. He kissed her back and murmured things for only her ears to hear. He saw the tears and the smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him harder. He watched her as they moved faster and harder. She let her head go back stretching her neck. Instinct took over, even if she didn't know what she was doing.

To make them mates again he would give and he would take. He needed to taste her blood so she was truly his. He watched her pulse beat in her neck to the rhythm of their lovemaking. Dipping his lips down to her neck he left kisses trail down her neck towards her collarbone. Kissing a small area he let his tongue trace the spot and as he sensed from her movements and sounds that she was getting close again. Now was the time, he gently bit into her neck. She arched her neck more and that drove him over the edge as she let go and clawed at his back.

* * * * * * *

He pulled her into the crook of his arm and felt her leg go over his hip. They lay there in perfect stillness in the afterglow of their lovemaking. He felt her stretch and sigh, felt her small hands run along his hip. He took one of her hands and brought it to his lips. Kissing it first, then nipping each finger, making her squeal. But he didn't stop there. He took each finger and started to suck them in turn. She started to move and moan as he made love to her fingers.

Katherine thought there would be no way she could feel aroused again after the lovemaking they had just had, but here she was, so ready for him again. Wanting him so. She also felt like she had to take charge, take him like she was claiming him. Little did she know this had happened each and every first time they had made love.

There was the desire to kiss him but when he arched that wonderfully massive, solid body, he exposed his neck, her mouth watered and she wanted to bite it. She was up and on him, first claiming his lips for just a moment before she took his neck. At first she thought she was just going to kiss it but then she heard him.

"Bite me my Kat, take me, it's OK, I won't break... "

She glanced up quickly saw a rakish grin playing on his lips as he moved his hips to move inside of her again. He grabbed her ass to remind her. The bolt of heat that shot through her made her eyes come unfocused as she leaned in.

At first she kissed and let her tongue play with the skin. Then she heard his growl, "Take a bite out of me... "

She bit down and at first she felt like pulling away. Like the time she had bit little John to teach him never bite again after he had bit her in a temper. He hadn't after that.

She felt Colum's hand come up and gently press but massage her head, holding her. Moving her in tighter, stoking the fire that was about to blaze over.

"It's OK, Kat."

She felt his neck given to her as an offering. She didn't understand the need that was building, but he stretched himself and not only did she feel him deep inside her as he moved but her mouth was watering so. She wanted blood, his blood.

She sank her teeth into his neck. She tasted blood and heard his growl of triumph

"That's it baby, lick it, it doesn't hurt. Taste me. Know me."

As she licked her lips she felt him move slow and steady in her. She wanted more and more.

She felt herself taste more until her body became a tight rubber band again and she let her head go back as she screamed his name.

Colum watched as Katherine slept. She was on her belly, and the gentle rise and fall of her back told him she was out. He got up and covered her. Going to the fireplace, he put more wood on the dying fire. Sparks rose up and then the fire hissed and popped. He turned to the sound of her movement.

Katherine saw the flame shoot up from the shadow. She knew Colum was feeding the fire.

Turning she sat up and watched as he came to her.

"Colum?"

He climbed on the bed and lay down on his side looking up at her. "What my, dear Kat?"

"What just happened? I felt like I was under the influence and I just bit you... I wanted to. I wanted to sink my teeth into you, deeply. Like some primeval urge was taking over... "

Colum pulled her to him. "Look at me, at my neck. It's a just a tiny bite." He let her fingers trace the bite. She kissed the spot and looked at him, shy all of a sudden.

"I want you to sleep. If you are going to be stronger and remember us, and our past together, our connection you need to sleep. With sleep, the dreams will come. Dreams will show you your past lives. My blood will strengthen you."

Katherine let herself be cuddled. She loved the feeling of being loved and kissed again. He rubbed her back and scalp. Murmuring to her, telling her things, sharing until she could feel herself falling into a slumber filled with places and faces she knew she had never seen before. Well, at least not in this lifetime. Times that were from the past. She stretched and fell into a deep sleep. Then the dreams came.

* * * * * * *

Cormac put his book down and looked over at his wife Elsabet.

"He will not leave her now, you know."

Elsabet had been waiting for her husband to say that.

"Is that a question, dearest of hearts, or a statement?"

Cormac growled and leveled his wife on the bed. "For being as old as you are, you are still as fetching as you were in your youth."

She flipped him over easily. He was now on his back with her on top. She playfully nipped his ear.

"It must be the storm that has stirred things up. He is not the only one who will be claiming tonight," Cormac said with a throaty laugh.

He flipped his wife and mate to her back with a growl of triumph.

Kissing his wife, he savored the herbs he tasted on her lips. "We must be on our guard and warn Travis, his nephews, and the men. They will not be getting anywhere near her for a while or we will be having fights aplenty."

He turned his attention back to his wife's lips. Kissing her slowly he then gently nipped at her lips. "Are you sure you aren't a witch my wife. You always smell of herbs."

Elsabet smiled up at her husband the King. "If I were, you would still love me... "

He laughed as he shut the lights off with a snap of his fingers. "Is that a question or statement?"

# Chapter 8

Katherine felt herself floating through faces and places and she had no idea who and what they were. There was one constant presence, and that was Colum. She would see him sometimes close up, other times like in battles, he would give her fleeting looks before leaving. The times that they were close, their lovemaking was like last night, full of passion.

Then the dreams turned dark, more nightmarish in quality. She saw another side of him as he prepared for other battles and that's when she cowed from him. But he always came, arms outstretched, beckoning her to him and she went, wrapped in his love and felt no fear. One time, she felt like his arms had been wings. Looking down she saw them, a dove grey, wings wrapped securely around her as he lifted her up from harm's way. Then she saw his anguish as she lay with a knife in her chest. She saw him covering her body with his own as men surrounded the both of them, as she floated above. She felt his sobs, felt his tears, felt him pummel the earth with his hands. Saw another time when she lay dying and he was nowhere to be seen. She passed away, was all laid out and he came rushing in, a gallant solider in his uniform.

She always heard the question by those close to him "Why did you not change her? Now, you must wait... "

She wondered at that. Wondered why she always looked the same. A couple of times she saw her Grannie. Now she understood why she knew so much about the Fae, the wee people. She was one of them.

She felt herself being called back to the present. She was being awoken.

She slowly came awake, felt a body next to her. Felt and knew his presence before she opened her eyes. Knew the love that had followed her down through the ages. She knew one thing... she was ready.

* * * * * * *

Colum felt her stir, knew she was waking out of her slumber.

She had been out for eight hours straight, and had slept like the dead. Well, he was sure they would have a lot to talk about and questions for him to answer.

Katherine opened her eyes and realized it was no longer night, but sometime in the day. She stretched and felt lips skim her temple. She stretched more and looked up. There was Colum looking down at her. His eyes were smiling in a deep shade of violet. She turned and caught his lips, felt her body being pulled into his and molded to his, just like they were made for one another. She started to remember the dreams as she felt his kisses deepen. She let her fingers weave through his hair.

"Colum," she said in between kisses.

Colum let his kisses trail off to her cheek. "Yes, dearest?"

"Why do your eyes change color? Most of the time... " She let her finger touch his eyelid, and watched as he playfully took her hand and nipped at her finger. It was the first time she really looked at his teeth. His canines looked a bit elongated but nothing out of the ordinary; nothing more than her slightly pointed ears. She had always taken the stories her Grannie had told her for granted, because, on her end, it had always been a joke. Now, she suspected it wasn't. She truly was descended from the Fae... Faeries, the very people she wrote her children's books about.

"My eyes change with my moods... "

"We aren't normal are we?"

Colum laughed and held her close. "It depends on what you call normal. There are all kinds of races... we just happen to be from a very special, gifted, powerful race. One that has been chosen to protect mankind from annihilation." He kissed her nose and sat up, pulling her with him. "Let's go get tea down in the kitchen and come back up and I will try to answer as many questions as possible."

They walked hand in hand down to the kitchen. Katherine glanced at the mantle clock that sat over the fireplace. She saw it was ten in the morning. "I slept like the dead."

Colum pulled her into the kitchen. "You needed it. You will sleep some more today, too. You need to get your strength back. Something has been robbing you of your iron."

Katherine looked at him. "How would, you know... I mean I haven't said anything to you, to anyone."

Colum smiled and turned on the stove. "Remember who I am my dear. I can detect scents, things that even dogs don't catch. I can trace, track, catch and, if need be, kill. I knew something was wrong when I first saw you running. You smelled... for lack of a better words, burned out."

Katherine looked outside and saw the sun and how it reflected off the snow. "How am I going to sleep when I need to get the kids, they are going to want to go tubing or snow boarding."

Colum saw the stubborn set of her jaw, and knew that unless he tied her up, she was going to want to take care of things.

As he got a tray down he knew what they could do. "OK, let's do this. If you promise to get to bed early tonight then we can take the kids to the Snow Bowl. It's been a while since even I have skied... Do you ski?"

Katherine smiled as she set the sugar and cream on the tray. "No, never learned. You are talking to a girl who pretty much was in the city all her life. The only time I went anywhere was during the summer when I visited my Grannie. The kids, they had more chances... "

She watched as Colum started pouring the water in the teapot then she heard footsteps. Colum was at her side and a growl escaped his lips.

"Colum!" She said shocked. "It's only Travis... "

Travis made a wide circuit of them. "It's OK, Miss Katherine. He is going to be very protective of you for some time... it's normal within our race."

Katherine felt Colum's fingers dig into her arm. Glancing down, she gently removed his hand. Turning, she looked up into his eyes, she saw that they were red. She touched his face as he eyed Travis like he was an enemy. "It's OK, Colum... he isn't going to hurt me. You should know that."

Colum felt Katherine's hand on his back. He tried to clear his thoughts but it was hard.

"It's OK. I don't think he is going to come after me," Travis said. He moved a bit further back though, as he spoke. In reality nothing would stop Colum should he indeed attack.

Colum tried to clear his vision but it was difficult. He knew that she spoke the truth, but also knew this was going to be his reality for a while. He took a deep breath. "I will try but be patient. I am sorry, Travis. I think it's probably best if you stayed home for a few days... or at least when Katherine is here in residence."

Travis bowed. "Yes, Sir. As you wish. If you like, I can take the meat out of the freezer for dinner and you can prepare."

Colum felt Katherine's small hands on his back, rubbing like he had done to her in the past. "No, I think we will get take-out tonight. No need to worry. Maybe we will stay at her home."

Travis moved towards the door to the common tunnel that branched out to Colum's parents' compound and that of Travis's home. The younger men lived either with Travis or with Colum's parents. Most were family.

"Send me a message when the air is clear... "

Colum took a deep breath, looking into Katherine's eyes he saw sparks. "I will."

Katherine waited for Travis to disappear. Then she turned towards Colum. "What is going on? How could you treat him like that? He is your butler, after all."

Colum knew it would take some time for her to get used to their protective ways; protective and possessive went hand in hand. "Let's just say we are a bit protective when we mate. It lasts for some time."

"Protective... I would say you were a little more then that." She turned and started to make her way through the hall and then up the wide staircase. Sun filtered through the rooms and the doors that were opened to the hallway. She was almost to her room when she felt a light touch on her shoulder. "Katherine, please, you must understand before you judge. It's for everyone's good."

Katherine stopped and turned slightly. Seeing the small smile, she felt herself melt. "How am I to be mad at someone who looks like you? You are built like Goliath, smile like an angel, make love like the devil himself and are braver and more valiant then anyone I've known... well, except John."

Colum wrapped his arm around her and held the tray with his other. Letting kisses touch the top of her head, he felt her surrender. "I promise to try... it's not easy. Travis is a male and you give off a certain scent being not only of warm blood, but for mating."

Katherine laughed and pulled him into the bedroom. "Well, I haven't had a baby in twelve years. I don't think that is an issue. Besides who said I wanted another baby?"

Colum put the tray down and gathered up his Kat. He kissed her nose and looked into her eyes. "Let me explain. We may never have our own children. I will adopt yours, though they will always keep their father's name. When I say for mating I mean until our scents have been firmly in place for a time, you are fair game. Now, I know our men and Travis would never come and try to claim you... normally. But because of the scent your body is sending it out in waves, they respond without even realizing it. I have claimed you and you are mine by right. We have loved one another for centuries. I hope that this will be the time I can truly claim you."

Katherine reached up and touched his face. Seeing the turmoil. "Why not now? Why not when we made love?"

"Never, it's only in death... "

"But what if I live to be one hundred, then what?"

Colum let his face dip to hers. "Then I wait. But knowing who you are and how it's been each and every time, I don't think it will be that long."

Katherine felt a chill. She tried to laugh it off. "So, you think I am going to die soon?"

Colum gathered her up in his arms. "If you do, I will be right there, I promise. There is going to be no slipping through my fingers or fangs again." With that he gave her a gentle nip.

# Chapter 9

Katherine stood at the bottom of the tubing hill. She could see Colum and her children climbing the hill one last time. When they had left his family compound she could see that the whole area had been transformed into a winter wonderland. This storm would go down in the record books for it's early arrival, and the amount of snow it dumped on the region. Thank goodness it had been light and fluffy snow, or there would have been a lot power outages.

She saw them finally at the top of the hill; Colum on one side, with little John and then Pat, Olivia and Sally on the other tubing slope. They started at the same time. Colum building up speed since he was a great deal larger. She could hear the squeals of delight coming from her kids as they came flying down. Colum came flying past her in a woosh and then he hit the snow drift fence. All the kids came flying past her with, "Hi Mom!" They banged right into Colum and all she could hear was giggles. She ran to her troupe and held out her hands as each child took hers. All of them exclaiming at the same time how they wished they could do it again.

"Go see how much time, if any, you guys have left. Maybe you can get one more time down the hill before we go." She sent them off and then turned her attention to Colum. He sat on the tube with a rakish grin.

"Come for a ride with me." He said in an exaggerated southern voice that sounded a great deal like Rhett Butler.

She laughed and tried to do her best to sound like Scarlett O'Hara. "Well, I do declare... I don't know if my maidenhood will be intact, or my reputation, with a scoundrel the likes of you, Sir."

She gave him her hand for a hand up but was pulled down instead. He caught her lips as she fell into his lap on the tube. Kissing her deeply, reminding her of what had happened and what would happen later. They kissed but were interrupted by John who said they could have one more run with the tubes. They were a tangle of bodies, everyone laughing as they tried to get up as quickly as possible.

Sally was the first up. "Last one up the hill is a rotten egg!" was her battle cry as she ran. She started running after giving her brothers a push to keep them down.

Everyone scrambled, including Katherine and Colum who were up and running up the mountain. The kids made a mad dash back up the trail trying to outrun the grownups.

They all stood in stunned silence when they arrived at the top, standing, watching the sunset behind the mountain. The world had a brief moment of a warm glow. Then the wind picked up, sending a gust of snow in the air swirling around them.

Sally true to form was the first one to break the silence. "Last one down does dishes tonight... " She jumped on her tube and headed down, followed by her brothers.

Colum took Katherine's hand "Come on, dearest, I will give you a head start."

"No, I want to hold hands as we go down."

They sat and watched as the kids cleared out of the way. Katherine looked over at Colum and was in awe for a second as she thought about the man or beast who sat next to her and was part of her life now, how her life had changed so quickly.

"Are you ready, Kat?"

She smiled at him. "As long as you are with me."

They took off and flew down the hill.

Katherine felt the snow fly into her face as she went flying down the slope. Even at her speed she slipped behind Colum, his size carrying him much faster than her. The kids were cheering her on as she came to a screeching halt. Colum had hit the snow wall and had come sliding back to be parallel with her.

Her cheeks were numb from the cold but she felt her being warmed from the outpouring of love she felt for this man who now stood in front of her and her children. She hadn't spoken the words yet but she felt them. It was a longing, a lost and buried feeling that despite the snow and cold was blooming like the flowers of spring.

"Here, let me pull you up."

Katherine could see the kids throwing snowballs next to her. She was getting hit by some of the snow. She let him help her up and went flying into Colum's arms. She felt the strength of his arms, like bands of steel but warming to her soul as he held her.

Colum had been feeling the ice melt away from her heart. Slowly, but surely, she was becoming the Kat he had known and loved all of these years, these past centuries.

Katherine stood up on tiptoe and caught Colum's lips for a quick kiss. She felt them graze her cheek. Looking up into his eyes she saw the love she felt. She was still a little shy to voice how she felt, but she knew it was there and that he felt it also.

"Come on you two." And "Eww, get a room!" Could be heard from the kids.

Katherine heard that. Then a snowball came whizzing towards her and Colum, though it hit just his arm. She felt her head pushed to Colum's chest.

"Don't start something you can't finish!" was Colum's battle cry. A quick snowball fight ensued, with squeals from Sally and "No fair!" and "I'm gonna white wash you!" Then Pat was running after Colum, who was having the time of his life. The boys were throwing as many hastily made snowballs as they could before Colum could retaliate. Sally was helping Katherine make more and then it was a battle royale. Katherine was pelting Colum and the boys. It was the boys against the girls.

Finally Colum stopped. "Cease fire soldiers!" He held up his hand. Grabbing his phone he answered.

He looked at Katherine as he listened. "You're sure it's them?" he smiled at Katherine and gathered her and Sally close. "We will be back at the compound in ten minutes... " Seeing Sally point to her friend. "Make that twenty minutes..."

He clicked the call off. Looked at Katherine and the kids. "Let's drop off Olivia, then we need to talk." Colum moved them all towards the Rover. They all climbed in and buckled up as he left the ski area. He listened to directions to Olivia's home as he drove. As they sat in front of Olivia's house, Sally reassured her that they would drop off the kitten tomorrow after school.

Katherine stole a glance over at Colum; his cheek muscle was twitching. She knew it wasn't the time to ask questions. Something had happened and she had a feeling she knew what it was.

John knew something was up. Colum had been quiet the whole ride into town. He had a feeling it had to do with whomever was after his mother and was because of her speech at his father's funeral.

"Colum, can I speak to you in private when we get home?"

Colum looked in his rear view mirror. "Sure, son. But we won't be going to your house, it's not secure enough. So, you guys make up a list of what you want, and I will have my men go get it. No one will be foolish enough to bother them."

Katherine let her hand rest on Colum's arm as he drove them back to his home. They came up to his gate and she watched the kids, as they watched with opened mouthed awe, the process he did to get them through the gate. This time when they approached the garage, they went to the right. A larger garage door opened and they drove into the blackness.

Katherine heard, "Wow, this is sweet, just like a movie... " from Pat. Sally was leaning forward. Just as lights came on, they drove further down and then to the right. The Rover stopped and a door opened in front of them. Out walked Travis.

"Colum, I am fine, you know that."

Colum quickly looked over at his Kat. "I know, just be patient with me. Now, listen up everyone... We are staying at my place. This is the underground portion of my home. It would appear the people responsible for stalking your home, and your and the girls' visit to the mall, well, somehow they have found your connection to me. So, in order to insure your safety until we can completely eliminate this problem, you will be staying here. Now, make up a list as large as you wish. We can also make future trips. Once we get you settled in, I will have the mother cat and her kittens brought to your room, Sally. You can be the keeper of them for the time being." Colum looked up in the mirror and saw the anguish in John's eyes.

"Son, we will talk as soon as we get everyone settled. You have much to say, I am sure, and I have things that you need to know."

Colum met Katherine's eyes. "I will tell him."

"Can I be there?"

Colum brought Katherine's hand to his lips. "No, he is a man, he wants to be treated as one." Colum saw Sally jumping up and down.

"Yes, Sally?"

"What's this about the mall, Colum, other then the fact that we had a blast... "

Colum looked over to Katherine and smiled. Looking back in the rear view mirror. "Oh just that... "

Colum grabbed his phone and saw that it was Travis. "Excuse me for just a moment, Sally."

"Yes?"

Travis knew what was taking place and figured he should better help. "Let me handle Sally."

Colum clicked off the cell phone and watched as Travis approached on his side. Knowing full well not to approach the Rover on Katherine's side.

"Sally?"

Sally opened her door. "Yes, Travis?"

"If you would be so kind as to help me in the kitchen. My nephews really have a sweet tooth and I thought it might be nice to make some cookies."

Sally smiled and got out. "Ah, Colum, can we talk later, Travis needs me... "

Colum smiled "Of course, Sally." He smiled at Katherine and chuckled at the comments from her brothers.

"Her in the kitchen? That's a laugh... "

The rest of them exited the Rover at the same time. Katherine saw Travis standing perfectly still with Sally by his side. Katherine made sure she didn't go anywhere near him. She didn't want to be the cause of his demise.

"Sir... "

Colum walked right up to Travis. He could feel his blood still boiling, his body was tight like a rubber band that was ready to snap, but knew he could handle himself. For Katherine and the children's sake, especially theirs, since at the moment they knew nothing of what he really was.

"Yes, Travis?"

"Sir, the rooms have been made ready. Your parents are expecting you all for dinner, promptly at seven."

Colum tried to curb his temper. "Are they now? Tell my parents we will be up at their compound at five minutes past the hour."

Travis tried to not smile. "Yes, Sir. I will take care of that. My nephews are ready to go to Miss Katherine's home to gather her and the children's belongings."

Colum turned to look at Katherine who had a smile on her face.

"We will have a list in fifteen minutes."

Travis bowed. "Very good, Sir. Will that be all?"

Colum clasped Travis on the shoulder. "Yes, Travis, for now. I will see you soon. We are to have a war council within the hour."

* * * * * * *

John sat in the room that looked like it had been designed for him in mind. He looked around, touching things, like photos of his favorite teams and the quilt on the bed. It looked like something his mom had. All of their beds at home were covered with antique quilts, nothing new. He had always been surrounded by older things; antiques. It was funny that this room was the same. As if it had come from his old home, or great Grannie's

He heard a tap on his door, which he had left partially open. "Come in."

Colum pushed John's door open and saw the boy standing, touching the quilt that lay on his bed.

Walking in he paused. "I hope this room is comfortable. I am only putting you all down in this part of my home for security's sake."

John let his gaze fall on Colum's face. Not one to be sidetracked, he asked, "What's happening, and who are you?"

* * * * * * *

Colum walked to the chair that sat in the corner. "Do you mind if I sit?"

John shrugged his shoulders. "Go ahead... it's your house."

Colum sat. "As I said this will only be temporary. Then you will be either able to go back to your home or at least up to my main home."

John sat down on the bed. "That doesn't answer my most important question. Who or what are you?"

Colum knew it wasn't going to be easy for John to accept but maybe being young he would be OK. " Have you heard of Fallen Angels?"

John looked at the giant of a man who sat in front of him. The man who had rescued his mother and who now was a major part of not only his mother's life, but all of theirs. "Yea, a long time ago when I was a kid. Why?"

Colum wasn't sure how to broach this. "Are you open to the other world, things that can't be explained?"

John stared at Colum, sighing he asked, "Are you telling me you are a Fallen Angel?"

Colum for the first time in a very long time... hundreds of years in fact, he felt nervous. Here was a young man who he knew would do his upmost to protect his mother.

"Yes, in fact I have known your mother for a very long time. Do you remember anything special or particular about your Great Grannie, the one who owned the house where you now live?"

John chuckled. "Yea, she told us great stories... "

"They weren't just bedtime stories, but were about people in your family or about people or creatures of times past. Your Great Grannie was one of the Queens of the Fae, or in plain English, a Faery Queen. It was her plan to get your mother here, eventually. She finally went to the other side on purpose because she felt the time was now."

John stood up and went to the photo on the wall. "One time she brought us to a Red Sox game even though we didn't like that team. She must have been in her late seventies... A fly ball came up and if she hadn't caught it I would have been dead. I remember seeing how fast the ball was coming towards me, and how fast, for her age, her whole body shot out. I always thought it was strange but never said anything. There were other times when I was around my Great Grannie... that I had the feeling she wasn't like us."

He turned back towards Colum. "So you are a Fallen Angel, my Mom, we are from Fairies? What else is there?"

Colum took a deep breath. "You'd better sit for this."

John sat, folded his hands and waited.

Colum swallowed. For someone who had been in battles down through the ages he was finding this a great deal more difficult. "I'm asking you, since you are the oldest son and the man of Katherine's family, permission to have her hand in marriage."

"That's not it though? Is it?" His gaze never left Colum's face. "If anything, it is more important."

"Yes it is more important... I am a keeper of mankind. That was my penance for following Lucifer. I was to watch over mankind for the rest of my days. I was also given another mark so to speak. I-I thirst for blood..."

John wasn't sure he was hearing Colum correctly. "Did you just say you thirst for blood?"

"Yes, it's the only time I wish that curse wasn't upon me. But it's also given me a very long life."

John wasn't sure if he dared to speak. Here in front of him was a vampire? "You're saying that you're a vampire? How old are you anyway?"

Colum felt relief starting to flood his soul. "Yes, and about three thousand years. I am the son of one of the original Fallen Angels... "

John jumped up. "Sweet!"

Colum sat there and stared in wonder at the boy who was his Kat's oldest son. He was the one who Colum had to address properly, since he was the oldest male in the family.

"So, you are OK with this? I mean, with me wanting to marry your mother?"

John faced Colum squarely, like a man. "Do you love my mother?"

"Yes."

"Will you harm her?"

"Never"

"Will you protect her, lay down your life for hers?"

"Always, forever."

"It's fine by me then... "

Colum thought that if he'd been standing he might have passed out. He hadn't breathed the entire time he waited for a positive message. "Thank God."

# Chapter 10

Katherine let her eyes fall on the woman and man who stood in front of her. They were Colum's natural parents. She had a feeling as she saw the smile that played on both his parents' lips. This would be an interesting dinner.

Cormac came and took Katherine's hand and placed a light kiss on it. Katherine stood perfectly still. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. His lips were cool as they skimmed her hand, a gentle purr could be heard coming from his throat. He looked up as his son growled a warning. "Son, you will rein in that growl if you want to eat in my presence tonight. If not, you will be banished to the kitchen, since this is my home. Your mother and I will dine with Katherine and her children, without you."

Katherine could feel Colum squeezing her waist. She reached for his hand and tried to calm him. "Colum will be fine. Won't you, Colum?" She looked up into eyes the color of Burmese Rubies. She felt his breath coming out in angry puffs on her neck." He doesn't want me, Colum... "

"Oh, you are mistaken, my dear. Your scent is calling vampires from all over. If it wasn't for the fact that Colum was my son and heir to my throne, you would be fair game. Any of us would want to mate with you, claim you for our own."

Katherine pressed herself back into Colum who wrapped his arms securely around her like a vise.

"I'm warning you father... " Colum pushed Katherine behind him, holding her hand still in a vise like grip. He faced his father, who matched him in height and girth. Both growled at each other.

Elsabet stepped forward. "Enough of this war between you two. You fight for a common goal and good. Katherine is here for a reason. She is to be Colum's wife, Queen when the time comes, and his mate. No one is to touch her. She is not to be touched. Colum has put his mark on her and if I have to I will put you both in the kitchen to fight it out." She saw Katherine shrinking further and further into Colum's back if that was possible. "Don't worry, my dear, your scent will blend with Colum's soon and then the growling and claiming will stop. Until then we must put up with these Neanderthals. Now, if you will come with me, I will show you around my home." She turned to her husband and son. "Go, have your meeting but don't keep dinner waiting. The children must get to bed if they are going to school tomorrow." She dismissed both men with a flick of her wrist and started to lead Katherine away. Stopping and turning, she said, "Bring the children here when you return for dinner. Hopefully you two will behave better by then."

Colum watched his mother lead his Kat away. He knew she would be safe. He also knew she was safe with his father, the King but, his blood boiled to have any male near his future wife and Queen, never mind his mate. She was his, not anyone else's to touch.

Glancing over at his father he saw that smile that made him want to punch his father and hug him all in one motion.

"How do you manage it father?"

Cormac smiled at his son and walked away. "I don't know what you are talking about... "

* * * * * * *

Colum sat at the table with his father and the others. Here sat the leaders of the various covens from all over the world. They all came to Cormac for guidance, instruction, and protection. Cormac was the King. Something Colum knew he couldn't wait to give to him. It was his right by birth, since he was the one and only son of Cormac and Elsabet. He had been the miracle birth. Having offspring was a rare occurrence with the Fallen Ones and then to be vampires, well, the chances of them producing a child of their own, it was something that only happened every few thousand years. Most children in vampire families were created.

"So Cormac, Katherine is bringing the terrorists our way. We no longer have to go to the Middle East to fight these..."

He was cut off by, "It's about time. Let's take care of them here, send them all to paradise if that's what they want."

"Men, let's have order. Elsabet has given me orders to be at dinner at eight. I shudder at what she would do if her son and I are late."

Colum stood. "We need to bring our forces together. What I am hearing from the intel is that there are activities among East Coast Cells becoming quietly busy. Those we thought were still located in the Middle East are now here. A lot of them are not the best-trained or smartest, but they are still willing to die for their cause. So we take care of what we think is it and more come."

"Just like cockroaches... "

"Reminds me of the crusades... when they just kept climbing over the wall of the city like a wave... that was when I died... if it hadn't been for Cormac here. I would be no longer... " he stood. An older fellow who looked to be about in his late sixties when, in fact, he was well over a thousand years old. "Whatever you need us to do, we will follow."

Colum smiled. Spreading out a map of the area of the two towns. "We are going to need an army, if we are to keep our future Queen safe. There are men in town right now trying to find her, but with her children this makes things tricky. Her son John, the oldest boy, knows of what I am but the two other children don't, yet. In order for them to continue to have as much of a normal life as possible we must become invisible. No one is to know that we exist. Our movements are to be covert. At this moment we are at a level red. All suspicious activity is to be reported and checked. The security here on the compound is on the highest level it has ever been in the States. That's why Katherine and the children are in the bunker till we are sure the danger passes or ends. The activity in this area not only affects Katherine and her family but it poses a threat to all that live in this sleepy community. We are here to protect all. Your orders and that of your men will be posted within the hour. Be ready to report to your stations and areas of concern."

Travis stood. "Sir, may I speak?"

Colum bowed to him. "You are my equal here, Travis."

"Sir, I wish to be attached to the children. My nephews and myself... "

"Travis, I have your assignment already. I anticipated your request."

Travis bowed low. "Thank you, Sir. I owe you both my life. My nephews feel the same way. They count it an honor to protect your family." He looked from father to son.

"You have paid that back, time and time again, with faithful service to our family. You don't have to pay or prove anything any longer."

Cormac was up and walking over to Travis who stood still. He took a sword off the mantle and told Travis to kneel. All sat or stood in awed silence as Cormac knighted Travis. "You are now a Knight as you once were. May you go in peace and know you may stay or serve but never are you to call me or my son "Sir" again."

Travis with his head bowed looked up. One red tear was on his cheek. "Thank you S- Sire. I will do my upmost to protect your family as I have all these years."

* * * * * * *

Katherine walked around the home of Colum's parents, as Elsabet showed her each room. The mansion was large with many levels like that of Colum's. Just like a museum with priceless treasures, she was sure that some their things were hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. Aubusson carpets covered the floors, she was sure that's what they were, even though she had never seen any, well, at least in this lifetime. "Can I ask you something Elsabet?"

Elsabet turned. "Anything, my dear."

"These... " Katherine let her hand circle the room. "These things all seem strangely familiar."

Elsabet came up to her. "They should my dear. Many of these things were yours, in your home that you shared with Colum. He couldn't look at them on a daily basis and so I took them. When you two are married you can take back what you wish."

"Oh no, I couldn't do that... "

Elsabet came to stand next to Katherine. "Then they will be a present from Cormac and myself. We will decorate while you two are away on your honeymoon..."

"Honeymoon? But we haven't spoken about getting married."

"It's just a matter of time. Colum will not waste time."

Katherine studied the older woman who stood in front of her. She smelled of jasmine and looked like she was only fifty, at most. Her skin was milky white, like cream; so soft, and cool to the touch, and her eyes, a vibrant blue, clear and strong. When Elsabet looked into her eyes she felt like she could see through her soul.

"May I ask another question?"

Elsabet nodded a yes.

"What's it like to be as old as you?"

"I've seen a lot, sometimes too much. I'm glad for such a good husband and great King. He is tired and we want a quieter life. It is Colum's turn, he should have taken the throne a long time ago but wouldn't till he had you."

# Chapter 11

Katherine found her days starting to get organized despite the fact that she and the children lived at Colum's. After the initial night in the bunker house they moved back up to his regular home. The whole compound was like a fortified army base. Cameras scanned every inch of the home and grounds. Men, but Katherine knew they were really vampires, silently patrolled at night. Men, who Katherine guessed were humans, covered the day shift. It wasn't like Colum's men couldn't be outside. They just covered their eyes. Colum explained the differences between vampires like themselves and Hollywood versions. They could be outside, they just needed to wear contacts to protect their eyes.

Katherine sat at the desk that Colum had brought up to their room that now faced the ocean. She couldn't ask for a better workstation. He was designing a room next to the dining room just for her. She could hear carpenters hammering away. Walls were being ripped out and an addition was being put onto his home so they would have her new office and a game room for the kids.

Katherine picked up a charcoal stick and started sketching. She got visions like this and as soon as she did, she would draw. A woman with flowing gowns took shape. A man in the distance was on horseback. She worked with the clouds and didn't even hear Colum come up behind her.

"You are drawing us." He laid a light kiss on her collarbone, taking in her unique scent. He could tell she was concentrating but that something was bothering her. He kissed her cheek then sat on the stool next to her. She continued to sketch, not looking at him.

"What's the matter, Kat?"

Katherine tried not to let a smile escape her lips but it was hard to do when she was in his presence. "What makes you think something is wrong?" She kept drawing.

Colum took the charcoal pencil from her and turned her chair. He had her facing him. Tilting her chin up he smiled. "Because I can smell it. You are working on something, something is worrying you or bothering you."

Katherine shrugged her shoulders. "Not really." She tried to get up but was held firm.

"You aren't going anywhere until you tell me. Remember, I am older than you and have lots of practice and patience."

Katherine felt her worries and problems were miniscule compared to the whole wide picture of things. She felt justified one minute and then a complete baby.

"OK, I'm having a hard time getting used to all this security. Just to go to the store, which I don't have to do any more because Travis shops, or taking the kids to school or them not getting on the bus or, what the hell am I going to do with Thanksgiving coming up next week, and I don't know how you and the guys are going to manage being around a bunch of humans without wanting to make a meal out of them... "

Colum could see she was very serious so he didn't laugh, though he wanted to. "Is that all?" He took her hands and felt her tremble.

"Kat your family, any of your family, is my family, they are welcome here anytime and you never have to worry about us being so hungry that we would want to make a meal out of them. Maybe we can go over security a bit, but at this point your safety is my highest priority." He pulled her into his arms. He felt her relax." The world wouldn't be a safe place if something happened to you again." He kissed her upturned lips. He savored her lips, tasting her fear, anger, arousal.

He swept her up and made his way to the staircase. When he arrived at their room's threshold he let his eyes sweep over his Kat. "I need to make love to you... " He felt her arms encircle his neck as she brought his face down towards hers.

She let her lips take his. In between kisses she whispered. "Is making love your solution to every problem?"

Colum let out one of his thunderous laughs, "As the bumper stickers used to say in the 70s, "Make love, Not war"."

He brought her in and closed the door.

* * * * * * *

Later, Katherine sat at the kitchen bar going over a list of food that they would need to buy for the following week for Thanksgiving.

"Miss Katherine, I would be very honored to have you work in the kitchen with me on this holiday. I feel this is something very important to you... "

Katherine laughed and felt her face go red. "Did Colum say anything to you?" She glanced at Travis, hoping to see if she could tell.

"On my honor, Miss Katherine, he hasn't talked to me, but I know enough of these human holidays to know that it's important, as important as the meal itself."

Katherine added a few more items and then got up to start looking through the cupboards. She made a mental note that even though this was a household of vampires, they had everything she would need to cook and bake with. She felt Travis studying her.

"How is it that everything I would need is here?"

Travis found his eyes locking with Katherine. "How do you mean?"

Katherine straightened up. "Did Colum go shopping just before we met? Did he stalk me and then go shopping in hopes... "

Colum stood off in the shadows and smiled at Katherine's questions. She was the same Katherine, full of questions and fairness that must play into running everything, that knowing how to disarm the strongest of warriors. Travis and all the men were going to be putty in her hands. He'd already found Travis's twin nephews starting to fight over who would watch Sally. She had only just turned sixteen but her beauty, like her mother's, was fast emerging. She would be a stunner. Sally had a sweet innocence about her still, which was refreshing. But she ran around his home like she owned it already. All she had to do is mention she wanted something and it appeared.

He came out this morning after she had been brought to school and saw Thor and Odin erecting the frame of a small barn at their uncle's home. When he questioned them they just shrugged their shoulders and said it was for a horse that they had purchased for Sally as an early Christmas gift.

He smiled. Once Sally got to a certain age, the friendship between the two brothers would turn deadly when they started competing for her hand. He was glad he had a few years before he had to worry about that.

Law and the code of honor within vampire circles of their kind was that warm bloods were off limits. They were to be protected. That's why his kind was here in the first place, as protectors of mankind. There had been unions in days and years past of the different races such as vampires, the Fallen Ones and the Fae. Fairies had come to his father for extra protection during the times of the invasion of Mil. That was when he had first laid eyes on Katherine.

The brothers, Odin and Thor, now followed Sally around like big goofy puppies. But puppies they were not, they would defend and protect her and her brothers to the very end.

He had explained to Kat about their kind and how mates were chosen. The warriors may fall hard for one female, whether it was of their own kind, or from the warm bloods, but it had to be the females choosing or it never happened. Those two brothers would stand by and protect Sally and wait for her to signal who she had decided on. Until then, she had the best bodyguards. Better then Secret Service Agents by far.

He smiled as he listened to Travis and Katherine pull baking pans out of cupboards. He would go spend time with his parents to give Katherine this chance to become more comfortable.

* * * * * * *

Colum was sitting with his parents when one of their servants came in with a message.

Cormac looked at it and handed it to Colum.

Colum read it and smiled a grim smile. "I don't think this is going to make any difference with them. They don't care. They will keep finding martyrs for this jihad they have declared on Katherine. Once she was put on the list, only death will take her off."

Cormac looked at his son. "We have that one who doesn't care if he goes back. He just asked that we get his family out somehow."

Colum got up and pushed the chair away from the table. He walked to the fireplace. "He is a smart man. Also a nice touch in the film is making the leader of that cell think we killed him also. We can use him in our ranks. It will give us that edge to know what they are thinking."

"Well, let's hope that after they see the video, more of them will have second thoughts."

* * * * * * *

# Some where in the North Africa

"What is this?" The leader took the DVD that was offered to him. He walked to the TV and DVD player and inserted it, then waited for the recording to come on.

The other man stood nervously, wanting to be anywhere but where he was at this moment. His stomach still felt the effects of losing his whole supper earlier after viewing the DVD. He had seen it, not knowing what awaited him. He hadn't had the sense to turn away. Still, despite the graphic nature he wasn't sure what he had seen, but if this was what they were up against, then he didn't want anything to do with it. It was one thing working against flesh and blood but these were jinn, demons he was sure. They looked like humans but the fed on human blood. He had only heard of whisperings of creatures like this, had only seen it in the movies and shows that came from America.

That was where all this evil spawned from, but the man who spoke didn't sound American. He sounded like he was from somewhere near England. Same difference. They were all godless. It certainly showed that, if they were harboring creatures such as these. He heard the rise and fall of the first voice and then he heard the creature stop talking. Then their comrade in arms came on. He couldn't look, he didn't need to. It was burned in his memory. He covered his ears.

The leader saw the other man cover his ears. What could make a battle hardened man act like such a woman? He watched as first one man talked, and then the camera moved to the second. This man, his third cousin looked like he had been beaten. The other man had no visible marks on his face. Both sounded scared.

His cousin looked straight into the camera. "You have never seen anything like this. They are... "

Then the giant came back onto the screen. He was taller than any one he had ever seen before, with long black hair. His body looking like it was carved out of a rock. Both men cowered. "Speak English, I know you can... "

"I have seen the Devil himself and those who work with him... "

The leader of the terrorist cell lit a cigarette, sitting and waiting on a chair in front of the TV. It couldn't be all that bad. He watched the TV screen. He saw his other cousin's reaction.

"They are not like anything we have ever seen. I don't know if they are jinn or aliens from space. All I know is they are not normal. I don't think I will ever see my family again but please tell them, my parents and wife, that I died a martyr's death, if I do die."

The screen shot back to the first man. He was tied, hands above his head like the other. The leader watched as his eyes got big and then the screen was turned back to the other, his cousin. Then it turned to the giant.

A voice like thunder came out of this man. "Let me warn you, you have attracted the attention of Katherine's family. She is to be my wife and with that comes protection. Should you be so determined to continue on the path you are on, each one of you will suffer the same fate that is to happen, right here and right now. No one will get near my beloved without suffering."

The screen shot back to the leader's cousin.

What happened, indeed it happened so quickly, he wasn't sure it did. He heard the scream from the other, and then from his cousin as the giant moved in a flash. Then he saw his cousin's body thrash back and forth and blood spraying everywhere. The other man was still screaming but nothing came from his cousin, not a sound as the giant was poised over his neck. Finally the giant moved away from the still hanging body of his cousin and the leader saw his legs still twitching. The giant turned. He saw his eyes blood red, blood dripped from his mouth and teeth, like a lion or feral dog, the monster smiled at him.

The giant spoke after wiping his mouth. "Let it be known the same thing will happen to anyone who comes and gets near my family. Katherine and her children, everyone from her family, are under my protection. You will be dispatched the same way... no mercy... "

The other man still screamed. It showed him struggling to free himself as he swung widely back and forth. As the giant went towards that man, the leader heard that man's screams before the film was stopped.

The leader sat still. His cigarette still in his hand but his hand violently shook. He heard his other cousin vomiting. He couldn't move as he heard the door open and close. He was still sitting there an hour later where his father found him. Then the nightmare started all over again when the DVD was turned back on.

# Chapter 12

Katherine pulled out the pastry shells from the oven. Travis watched her as she put four more in the oven.

"We will fill them as soon as they cool," she said.

Travis nodded. "Thank you, Katherine, for allowing me to be part of your planning. I know this must not be easy for you but I think we can work together fine. I am open to learning all the modern ways of cookery."

Katherine took a sip of her tea, smiling ruefully. "It's not easy being waited on hand and foot and the constantly having someone watching over me and following me. I know some day I will not mind or may even get used to it." She put her mug down and turned the timer on.

"It's just I've been so independent all my life, that it's hard to stop now."

Travis moved to the wine rack. He needed a glass of wine. Uncorking the bottle he looked at the year and saw it was one of those rare vintages that Colum had just brought up from the cellar. He knew it was from Colum and Katherine's home when she was alive the last time. Both he and Katherine turned to the sound of footsteps and laughter.

Katherine smiled as Sally came running in, rosy cheeked, behind her were her shadows, Odin and Thor. She hadn't thought that was their real names until Travis confirmed it was so. They had changed their names after they were created. They too had fallen at the Battle of Clontarf. He had watched them fall just before himself. He was glad to have real family with him now, though. Now, he watched as his two nephews doted on Katherine's daughter, Sally. It was going to be so hard when she came of age. He saw them now, it was friendly competition but they both would fight the other for her to be his mate.

Sally came up, let her backpack fall at her feet and she plopped down on the stool.

"Mom, today was such a good day. I got an A+ in Spanish, my portfolio was taken to the state capital to be exhibited, Thor and Odin said we could go on Saturday to see it and my horse arrived at noon. How cool is that?" Sally jumped up and opened up the cookie jar. She fished out a cookie and then grabbed two more. Handing one to each of the young men, she didn't see the utter devotion they both displayed. Their eyes never leaving her as she flitted from one place to the other.

Katherine reached for a cookie herself. "Why aren't you out with your horse?"

Sally rolled her eyes but still smiled. "Because _they_ ," motioning towards the brothers, "told me to get a snack first. They are so bossy... "

Sally's kitten came into the kitchen meowing. Sally scooped it up. "Thor said he has made a box in the barn for the mama cat that we found on the road. She is about to have kittens. We will have a nice barn cat Mom."

Katherine smiled as she pulled the light brown pastry shells out of the oven. She was glad Sally was adjusting. She saw the attachment that had formed between the brothers and her daughter. Colum said he had spoken to them and had made it clear they were not to touch her. Colum had told Katherine how wounded they had both looked.

Katherine heard a slight noise then felt arms go around her. Then she felt herself being pulled in. "Hello to you too, darling... "

Travis bowed and left the room Sally came up and hugged her mom and Colum before running off with the brothers in tow.

Katherine turned so she faced Colum. "How are things going?"

Colum kissed Katherine's forehead, then her nose and caught her lips. "What things my dearest? If you mean preparations for guests arriving tomorrow, everything is fine and on schedule. If you mean the other situation... well, we will see."

Katherine felt herself pulled being in closer, Colum's hand capturing her ass, holding her tight. "Your scent mixes perfect with the scents of baking... maybe we could... "

Katherine laughed against Colum's lips. "Not here, someone will see."

Colum smiled and nipped her lips. "No one will see, that will all be taken care of... "

He flipped open his phone and hit one number. Then he had Katherine scooped up and on the counter quick. "I'm going to show you real cooking, my dearest."

* * * * * * *

Travis watched the security camera posted on the road at the gate. He had to hand it to these men who were now after Katherine, they didn't give up. Nor did there seem to be a shortage of them. He watched the car go down the road and then turn around. Cormac came in and scanned the screen. He hit a button to zoom the camera lens.

Travis scanned the make and model. "They must be leasing at the airport. What would you like to do, Sir?" He saw Cormac's look, and he smiled.

Cormac watched as the car pulled over and parked. They watched as the man lit up a cigarette, then sat.

Cormac stood and took a deep breath. "What are your nephews doing right now?"

Travis typed into the computer and brought up the surveillance screen for the new barn area. The King and Travis watched as the brothers and Sally worked with the new horse. The horse was a Morgan mare that the brothers had bought as an early Christmas gift for Sally. Travis turned on the sound and the two men listened for a minute. Cormac tuned to the phone that lay on the desk. "I'll send out some of the other men. We don't want Sally unattended, either. Where are Katherine's sons?"

Travis looked at his watch. "Playing basketball with friends... two men are with them also."

Cormac got on the phone and called two men down from his house. "We have an uninvited guest near the gate to Colum's... get rid of him."

* * * * * * *

The man sat, earphones in his ears, smoking, wishing he was anywhere but here. He didn't like being here. He had heard the rumors of the last two, though he hadn't seen the footage. He really would like to disappear but with his family at home, they needed the money. He had ignored the warnings of his wife and mother, and had taken the job. Now as he sat, he felt not so safe or brave. Why was he here anyway but to watch and wait and hope that woman came out on her own, and he could get her. But then what? He had been told, _"If you can get her, get away as far as you can and then we will tell you what to do and you will be richly rewarded."_

He doubted any such thing. He figured he would either just go back after his week here or get killed. Either way his family would benefit, but if he could catch her... that would be his ticket out.

He saw the gate open and a woman in a jogging suit came running out. She had sunglasses on, a winter hat and gloves. The man moved further down in his seat and crunched out his cigarette in the ashtray. He watched as the gate closed and she stood there. He wondered what she was waiting for. She seemed to match the description, tall with reddish hair. Maybe a bit taller than he had originally thought but he figured here was his big chance.

The woman took off at a slow jog, headed toward the town. He waited till she was out of sight then turned the ignition on. He put the car in drive and slowly followed. He got to an area where there were no houses on the right... here was his chance. He was getting ready to pull up along side her when he saw her fall. This was going to be so easy...

He pulled up along side and put the car in park. Getting out he tried to sound as American as he could so as to not alert her.

"Are you OK? Can I help you?"

He heard her whimper and saw her holding her ankle. Heard her say, " I think it's broken."

He came up alongside the woman. He couldn't see her face but heard the muffled cry as she tried to stand. "Please help me."

He came up and thought this was going to be too easy.

"Yes, let me lift you and we will get you in my car..."

He bent over and was about to lift the woman, when he was caught up and thrown against a tree. He felt and heard bones snap as he slid to the ground. He tried to move as the woman advanced on him from the top of the hill. How did this happen? She had been hurt. How did she lift him and throw him?

The man tried in vain to move but couldn't feel his legs. His brain didn't feel like it was working either. He tried to talk but nothing came out. Then, as the woman got down the hill through the leaves and snow, he saw something that knew sealed his fate. The woman took off her sunglasses and hat which was attached a wig. The woman with red hair wasn't a woman... she was a man. And a big man at that.

He knew he was a goner. He started to pray as his body was lifted like a ragdoll and braced against the tree he had fallen against. The last thing he saw was a smile, red eyes and teeth that seemed to grow.

* * * * * * *

Sally and her horse stood perfectly still. Had she heard a scream? She looked at Odin and Thor. "What was that?"

Odin let his hand reach out to calm the horse but he really wanted to calm Sally. He had been warned however, never to touch her, until the time when she said who it was she wanted. That would be years yet, but he was good at waiting. He'd had many years of practice, and he knew she was his. Now to just get his stubborn brother a mate so they didn't have to fight. He loved his brother. But he loved Sally more.

"Don't worry, it's probably just an eagle or osprey... "

Sally looked at Odin. "It sounded human. Don't lie to me, Odin. I'm not stupid. Men are looking for Mom, maybe it was one of them."

Odin looked at his brother who, for some reason, had moved away like he was allowing him the chance. He turned his attention to Sally. She was a miniature of her mother. At just sixteen she was still a girl but fast approaching womanhood. In four to six years she could say who she wanted.

"Maybe it was... I just didn't want you to be scared."

Sally smiled up at Odin. "Silly, like I would be scared with you two around. The only time you two aren't with me is when I'm in the house and asleep." She was shocked by the brothers' laughter and by what they said next.

"You are wrong... we sit outside your door at night. We are always near," Thor said with a smile.

Sally couldn't believe it. "Really?"

The brothers nodded in unison.

"Sweet... "

* * * * * * *

Colum watched as Katherine checked each of the rooms one last time.

"Everything will be fine."

Katherine came out of the third guest room, ready to run downstairs to the big game room to have the boys bring in firewood. "I know everything is done, that we have servants galore to do anything I ask, but I like to make sure." She heard Sally.

"Mom, Thor said the cars are at the gate. They're here!"

Katherine ran to the security screen. Sure enough she could see her mother's smiling face, and she was waving. Her Mom knew full well she was being watched. Katherine hit a talk button. "Hi Mom, come on in." She hit another button and the gate could be seen opening up.

She turned to Colum who stood beside her. He pulled her in close. "You know I think you look beautiful... "

Katherine laid her head on his chest. "Are you ready for the invasion?"

Colum smiled as he kissed the top of her head. Then hooking his finger under her chin he brought her face in view. "Yes, dearest... I'm going to talk to your father tonight after dinner."

Katherine laid her ear next to his heart. "I mean, are you ready?"

Colum pulled her in closer. "Yes, everything is fine. Everyone is well fed, we have a herd of cattle that is at our disposal if need be."

Katherine looked up into Colum's face. "Are you pulling my leg?"

Colum softly chuckled. "I would never pull your leg. That's what we normally feed off of. We can snack frequently, so as not to hurt the beasts and that way we have a constant source. It's only when I forget to feed that I get ravenous and need to feed until I am full. In that case, we go hunting and there is a lot of meat in the freezer for a worse case scenario," he hugged her close. "Don't worry."

Katherine heard the family talking as Sally had left the front door open. Katherine gave one last look at Colum, quickly caught his lips in a quick kiss, then pulling him with her, she went to greet her family.

# Chapter 13

Katherine sat next to Colum on the comfy overstuffed couch in the family room. Colum had this room added and finished in record time. It wasn't like there weren't enough rooms, but Colum had said he wanted something new for their future family. She had looked at him funny when he had said that, but now as she looked at all the family members who sat around the cozy room she could understand what he had been talking about. He hadn't meant so much he and her and future babies which she knew was slim to null in happening, but her children that Colum said would be raised just like his own and all her extended family.

She felt his arm go around her and give her a squeeze as she nestled back into his arms. He turned his attention to her father who had asked Colum about his military service. Katherine knew her father would be happy talking for hours about anything military.

Colum gave Katherine an extra squeeze. "If you will excuse me for a while darling, I want to show your father my library." He turned to her brother. "William, would you like to join us?"

Katherine saw her brother smile. "Sure." Turning to his wife he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and got up.

Issy and Katherine's mother stood. "Katherine, give us a tour of your new home... "

Katherine smiled and stood. "Sure, Mom."

Issy turned to her kids, "You kids stay out of trouble."

The three of them looked at their Mom and rolled their eyes. "Mom, we're old enough to know better."

Issy wouldn't be deterred. "I know you all too well... stay out of trouble."

Katherine gave her sister-in-law a hug. "Issy, they can't get into too much trouble with Thor and Odin around."

Sally stood and went and hugged her Aunt. "Yea Auntie, Thor and Odin are my own personal body guards. They even sit outside my door every night... "

Issy looked from her niece to Katherine. "You can't be serious? How bad is it that... "

Katherine interrupted, pulling her along. "Come on, I will explain. Sally, take the kids down to the barn to show off your new horse." All the cousins were happy with that prospect.

"Sweet... " could be heard as Katherine left the family room with the female members of her family.

Issy and her mother-in-law were perched on the bar stools as Katherine poured tea water. Travis was working quietly in the background, fixing appetizers.

As Katherine put out teacups, she looked at the women in her family. "It seems I have gained a following of would be terrorists or, as I think of them, _The gang that couldn't shoot straight_. They don't seem to have it together. The only thing that drives them is the apparent personal offence they have taken with the rant I gave a John's funeral. Apparently, I should not have been allowed to voice myself."

Issy took her tea and added cream. "Well, you did kinda challenge them. I mean, I wouldn't care, but I guess they have a sick sense of duty and even though they would have said the same thing. But because it came from a corrupt American, like yourself, who knows what else they have called you."

Katherine sat at a stool that Travis had placed for her across from her family, then he left the room.

Katherine's mother leaned in towards her daughter. "Do they hover like that all the time?"

Katherine smiled. "Yes. It's taking some getting used to. I am not sure how long it will feel like this? Sort of a claustrophobic feeling, but Travis is really trying to let me do more alone. It's like being a head of state. Wherever I go, I must have security go with me. The kids are followed to school and like Sally said, she has the brothers..."

Issy laughed. "Their names aren't really Thor and Odin?" She saw Katherine's look. "You can't be serious, who names their sons that?"

"It's a long, long story." Katherine said with a smile.

* * * * * * *

Later that evening the family, including Colum's parents, sat in the large, cozy family room. The kids were sprawled out on the floor in front of the fireplace playing with the kittens and the puppy that belonged to Sally. Katherine's mother watched the scene and smiled. She was happy for her daughter. Even with all of the money that was evident in Colum's family, if her daughter wasn't happy, she wouldn't want the relationship. She saw how Colum obviously loved her daughter. It was like they had known each other forever. Just their little movements, and the looks that passed between the two of them. Just like a couple who had been married forever.

She also saw Thor and Odin's adoration for Sally. She had voiced her concern to Colum and he had said, "Not to worry, everything is under control and that they would never dream of touching Sally."

So she sat and relaxed, watching as the cousins talked and joked quietly, and she enjoyed the scene in front of her. She watched as Travis came in and gave a message to Cormac. She watched as Cormac read the paper and then turned and whispered something to Colum who quickly squeezed Katherine's hand and got up.

"If you will excuse me for a few moments." He turned to Thor and Odin. "Come with me."

The men walked at a brisk pace, a sense of urgency matching their steps, as they turned the corner and went down to the lower levels of the home. Lights came on, but dimly, as the men walked down to the lowest level. Colum hit some buttons on a keypad that were on the wall and a door slid open.

They walked into a command center, where men sat at screens and voices could be heard coming from speakers. Colum passed by two monitors and came up to the screens that showed the property. All gathered around to watch as a man struggled with the confines of the wire that had shot out when he had gone across the invisible barrier.

Colum zoomed in the camera and they could see the face clearly. "This is getting tiresome."

Cormac hit a button and the man screamed after receiving a jolt of electricity. Turning towards his son and heir, he said, "I doubt they will ever stop. They want Katherine and hope to capture her."

"Never!" Colum's fist came down on the counter. "I won't lose her again. That's why we mustn't let her out of our sights. Should I lose her, I will start a holy war the likes of which they have never seen."

Cormac brought an arm up around his son's shoulders. "I would gladly step down now so you have the authority to launch such an attack on them."

Colum smiled a rueful smile. "It's not what I want, but it would take care of two problems, though I would still be without my Kat. No, I will not allow them to get to her. I need her as she needs air to breath."

Cormac let his arm fall. "Then change her now."

Colum turned to his father. "I can't, it's too risky."

"Life and death and rebirth are always a risk. If you love her enough, take that risk, before it's too late. You can't keep her cocooned forever. She is taking it well for right now, but for how long? She is not the kind of woman to be coddled for long. She is and was a warrior in her own right. She won't last long before she breaks free, would you want her any other way?"

Colum shook his head. "No, Sir."

"Well don't think about it long because they seem to have endless supply of men to go through, to sacrifice..."

Colum turned to the brothers "Take our uninvited guest and dispose of him properly. But first take a photo of him and send to the group so they know they have lost two today... "

"Yes, Sir." They said in unison.

# Chapter 14

Thanksgiving morning dawned bright and clear. Katherine could feel Colum watching her. She felt his mood. Turning, she saw concern written on his face. Capturing his face, she kissed his lips. "What's the matter, darling?"

Colum pulled her in. "Nothing that a lifetime of forever won't cure, dearest of my heart."

Katherine let her lips taste him. She tasted the honey that he was fond of tasting. He had been up and in the kitchen early.

"That doesn't answer what's bothering you. Tell me."

Colum let his lips skim over hers, tasting her, letting his tongue explore her mouth as he felt her moan in his kiss. He felt her body awaken and mold to him. She moved under the covers, her hands finding him, touching him. As he pulled her in she offered up her neck.

"It could be so simple... "

Colum kissed her smooth, ivory skin. Gently nipping it. "No my Kat, it's not that simple and we can't take the chance, not while your family is here. Only in life and death circumstances would I take the chance of changing you."

Katherine pulled away a bit. "Then don't worry... you are borrowing trouble Colum. If you won't change me then don't worry. Enjoy me, love me but don't worry over me. You are doing everything in your power to keep me safe. Nothing gets in or at least survives trying," She saw his look. "I know more then you think. Travis told me of our prowler... but I forced it out of him, so don't be mad."

Colum could feel the laughter bubbling up from her. Pulling her in, he said, "You are a marvel, you know that don't you? You and my mother will be running the show, joint Queens and us men will have nothing to do but watch along the sidelines. You have made the men putty in your hands." He pulled her in and kissed her soundly as he let his hands explore her body. "I think I need a pre-Thanksgiving snack... " he said as he moved down her body.

* * * * * * *

Colum's mother watched Katherine as she and the women of her family moved around the kitchen finishing up the grand meal they had been working on all morning. "You know, my dear, your color is so much better than it was a few weeks ago."

Katherine looked up and pushed a stray wisp of hair out of her face with her arm. She smiled. "Must be my new diet."

Issy looked up from the pie crust she was working on. "Oh, and what's that?"

Katherine looked at Elsabet with a wink. "Lots of um, liver for my iron deficiency."

Issy finished up and wiped her hands on her apron. "Oh, I didn't know you were having a problem."

Katherine got up and went to the stove to turn off the burner for the homemade cranberry sauce. She loved the swirl of color as she stirred it. "Yes, I was feeling like a washed out rag. Colum's been checking on other first responders and people who survived, and the numbers of people who are coming down with maladies, is alarming. It appears mine is just a simple deficiency. Colum had me go to the family doctor who, umm, is an expert in blood disorders, you might say."

Katherine looked over at her future mother-in-law, the Queen, who smiled at her. " _Phew,_ _if only they knew... "_

* * * * * * *

Colum walked with Katherine's father and brother down the path to the new horse barn. He knew that all of the younger kids, along with Thor and Odin, were down at the beach. Being such a calm day, they had opted to go down and see what they could find after the early season storm.

Colum showed the men the new horse, which had come running right over. Colum had watched as her ears had gone back and she had sniffed the air as he approached.

"It's OK, Princess... you needn't fear me or any of us. You belong to Sally and are quite safe."

Katherine's father watched the horse danced around the paddock. "I don't think you came down here to show us the horse, entirely. Is there something you would like to speak to us about?"

Colum thought speaking to young John was bad enough but he felt worse having to ask her father and brother. _"Well, might as well get it over with."_

He stood facing both men, cleared his throat. "Sir, William, I wanted to have a few moments with you down here to ask you if I may have Katherine's hand in marriage?"

* * * * * * *

Katherine had seen the men head down to the new barn. She turned and bumped into the mug sending it crashing over, tea spilling everywhere. "Crap... "

Elsabet had seen the men also but in her mind's eye so she knew what was bothering Katherine, though she knew the outcome. She need not fear. Katherine's father and brother would say yes. She also saw, but couldn't see clearly, that Katherine wasn't going to be in her human form for much longer. With any change came pain and sadness, but it would be for the best, especially for their kind and Colum. She smiled at Katherine who looked at her, ruefully.

* * * * * * *

All sat smiling, some rubbing their stomachs. Katherine's father groaning, "I won't be having any dessert for a couple of hours. Let's see what games are on the TV."

Sally jumped up. "I'm going riding."

Issy watched as Thor and Odin jumped up also. Two brothers, both tall and built like tanks. Odin was the dark one and Thor was the lighter, with silver blond hair. For guys that much older than Sally, it seemed strange to her that they were so utterly devoted to a sixteen year old.

Katherine watched her sister-in-law watch the brothers who walked out with Sally and some of the younger cousins. _"Issy had always been a hard one to convince. She couldn't even begin to think how she could tell Issy who Colum and his family were. Yes, she knew they were richer than most royals of England or Europe, but the whole vampire, Fallen Angel thing would not go well with Issy. Even the mere fact that their Grannie had been a Fairy Queen... "_

Katherine smiled at her sister-in-law and felt Colum's eyes on her. She took his hand and squeezed it. _"It would take something extraordinary to convince Issy and her family about Colum and his real identity..."_

# Chapter 15

Katherine woke up and saw that Colum wasn't in their bed. She climbed out and walked down to the kitchen. No one was around; everyone was still asleep. She looked up at the clock and saw that it was just 6:45 in the morning. She went to the fridge and saw that they were low on milk. She wanted to make some pancakes but not knowing where anyone was she decided she would go to the store herself. No one would miss her and she would be back before anyone realized.

She put on her sweat shirt, grabbed the Rover keys off the hook and went to the garage,

* * * * * * *

Colum walked up the staircase with a stack of papers to read in bed while he waited for Katherine and the others to wake up. Opening the door he had a clear view of the bed. He saw that Kat wasn't in bed as he closed the door. "Kat?" No sound. He went to their bathroom saw that she wasn't in there. It was then that his phone buzzed.

"Yes?"

"Sir, this is Travis, the alarm for the gate just went off. It appears Katherine has taken the Rover... "

Colum was already running down the stairs yelling as he went. "Travis, get a fix on the Rover, get the men and follow me... "

Thor and Odin were in the barn with Sally when the alarm went off. They looked at one another. "Sally, get to the house quick, go to the bottom level and don't move till we come back."

Sally had never heard the alarm, didn't know what it could mean. "But... "

Odin came up to her quickly, picking her up but holding her at arm's length. "You must, little bird, we don't have time to explain but something has happened and we can't be with you. Do you trust us?"

Sally had never been touched by either of them. Ever. It felt strange to be held up like she was a fragile piece of art or something that was being examined.

"Do you trust us?" He repeated.

"Yes," she said in a whisper.

Odin put her down and gave her a gentle push. "Then run to the house, get the others, and go to the bunker. The King and Queen will be there when you arrive."

Sally ran, but not before giving one last look as the two brothers took off running in the direction of the garage.

Katherine's parents woke to an alarm. Jumping up, they looked at each other, baffled by the sound. A knock came to the door. "Come in."

Issy was with little John and Pat. "We were told to go to the basement or bunker... something has happened."

Katherine's father stood quickly along with his wife. "Where's Katherine?"

For the first time, John felt like crying. "We don't know... "

* * * * * * *

Katherine was in and out of the store and she hoped that no one would be the wiser. She would get back, maybe get scolded by Colum and Travis, but nothing more. She was about to turn the vehicle over when her door flew open and a hand grabbed her. Turning she saw the face of some man, most likely Middle Eastern from the looks of him, his face only inches from her own.

Katherine was shoved roughly and the man, pointing a gun at her head, slid in.

"Do anything and I will shoot you here. It doesn't matter to me... "

Katherine tried to think as they sped out of the parking lot. Did she dare jump? She looked around wildly but no cars were around so she would be at the mercy of this man either way. She tried to think. There was her phone and saw it light up. She went to grab for it without thinking. She hit the talk button.

"Don't do anything I said!"

Katherine screamed "Colum!" She was hit on the side of the mouth, which made her head go slamming into the side window.

Colum heard Katherine's scream. "Travis, where are they?"

"Sir, they are heading south on Route One." As Travis watched the screen, he felt his nephews and the other two men who had climbed into their Humvee, trying to look over his shoulder. "They've just taken a right on to Main Street."

Colum shot down the other side of Main Street and he saw the tail end of the Rover disappear.

Travis looked over at Colum. He knew the time had come and he knew this would be the hardest thing Colum would even have to do.

Colum was trying to think clearly. His Kat could be dead before he had a chance to get to her in time. He was coming up to the stop sign as the Rover shot across the road.

"Sir, there is an abandon quarry just up on the right." They watched and sure enough the Rover was pulling off.

Colum looked at Travis. "Travis, this is going to be my kill, I need you to take care of Katherine. You know what to do."

"Sir, if you will, shouldn't you be the one who changes her?"

Colum pulled off to the side just before the quarry. He heard the men checking their weapons. He shoved a knife into his boot and had his gun out and ready. "Thor, get a video of this. We will send it to the bastards after, so they think that Katherine was killed. That will end this. Then, later we will launch a strike at their headquarters."

"Sir?" Travis said as they got out of the Humvee.

Colum looked over at Travis as they crept up toward the quarry. "Travis, as soon as he kills Katherine you are to take care of her, don't waste a second. I can't lose her again."

Travis knew that this would more than repay his creation of almost a thousand years ago. "It will be an honor... you can count on me."

* * * * * * *

The man pushed Katherine to the edge of the quarry. He had found this place the other day on a drive after he had arrived. He had been careful. No taking chances in being caught and killed. He had seen the videos. These were not humans, the group he was dealing with. Well, he would dispatch this unholy woman, send her to her hero husband that she had so soon forgotten, and then he would kill the men who he knew followed him. He had two 9 mm guns strapped to him, and a third in his hand. More than enough fire power to take these monsters down.

He brought the red headed whore to the edge. "For so tough a woman who gave such a pretty speech you have nothing to say now?"

Katherine turned her face to her captor. Why had she been so stupid and impulsive? "You aren't going to get away with this. I can hear them following us."

The man brought his face up to hers. Katherine tried moving her face away, but felt her hair being yanked so that she had to look him in the eyes. "See me whore? You aren't in charge any longer. They can't save you or themselves. They will die after I get done with you and they will watch."

Katherine's head whipped around to Colum's voice. "Katherine, I'm here, we're all here."

Katherine saw Colum and felt a flood of relief. Maybe she would make it out of this alive. She felt the gun go back and forth from her head to her heart. "Colum, I'm sorry I didn't listen... " She said in a very small voice.

Colum saw the fear in her eyes. "It's OK, we will take care of you, and it's all right. Do you understand?"

The captor turned his face towards Colum and his men. "Stop talking, don't _you understand_ , she's going to die and you can't do anything about it. Then I will dispatch all of you to whatever hell you came from. After that, I will dispose of all your bodies in this quarry."

Colum felt his eyes haze over. He holstered his gun. There would be no need for it. This would be quick, once the man killed Katherine.

"Katherine, listen, I love you, I always have... do you trust me?"

Katherine's head was yanked back as the gun grazed her temple. She nodded her head. "I love you, Colum," tears streaming down her cheeks.

Colum locked eyes with Travis. _"You know what to do."_

Travis looked at Colum, his future King. _"Yes, Sir. You can trust me."_

"Katherine, trust me it won't last for long."

"Enough!" The man screamed. His hand shook but he leveled the gun to Katherine's heart. "You go to your dead husband, who you were so proud of."

Katherine took a deep breath, saw Colum, saw that his eyes that had turned to a blood red, and felt his love. She saw Travis standing next to Colum one moment, and the last thing she saw before she heard the gunshot, was Travis flying though the air. She heard the boom, felt the heat and then the pain shoot through her. Everything slowed down as she started to fall. She thought the man would push her into the water of the quarry. As her world became dim she felt her body being lifted up and away. The last thing she heard was a scream rending the air. Then all went black.

The man shot her in the heart, and Colum watched the last seconds of his beloved Kat's life. He saw Travis land behind her, the man didn't even know. Colum was on the man, sinking his teeth in then ripping his neck wide open. The man fought for a few seconds and then his body went still. Colum dropped the body of Katherine's assassin on the ground. He wiped his mouth and knelt down by Katherine's still body. Blood had poured from her wound but had now stopped as Travis sat back on his haunches. Colum could see a neat bite mark on her slender neck. He bent and kissed that spot. It disappeared.

Leaning into her chest he heard nothing.

"Sir, it may take a few minutes. I am sure it's worked or the wound my fangs created wouldn't have disappeared with your kiss."

The woods were hushed. The other four men stood quieter than anyone their size would be capable of standing quiet.

Colum watched Katherine's body. No movement. Nothing. He scooped her up and his scream broke the morning's silence.

* * * * * * *

Katherine felt herself going faster than she ever thought possible. It was like a race to see how fast she could travel in this brightly lit tunnel. There, in the distance, she saw John waiting. She reached him and took his hands.

"Katherine, you can't stay. You were never meant to be with me forever."

Katherine could hear someone yelling her name, She saw John standing there, but no sound came from his lips, only thoughts were coming into her head.

"He's calling you... you were always his... go to him."

Katherine turned towards the sound of the _voice_. She knew that _voice_. It was that love who had followed her down through the ages.

She turned and saw John but he was a great distance away. She saw him raise his hand in good-bye and then he was gone.

She was moving back towards the _voice_ and pain. Pain was seeping into her body as she came to the end of the tunnel. She heard other voices.

She opened her eyes and heard Travis say, "See, Sir, she lives... "

# Epilogue

Sally sat on the chair next to her mother's bed. She had just gotten home from school. Thor and Odin said they would be by in an hour to take her to Olivia's house. Odin had just given her a Christmas gift. It was small box wrapped in gold paper. She held it now in her hand. Tomorrow was Christmas, so she would be spending just a couple hours with her friend, then be coming home. She looked up to the sound of the door opening, in walked her grandparents.

"Sally, you go to your friend's, if anything changes we will let you know."

Sally got up but placed a kiss on her mother's ivory cheeks. Her mother's coloring had changed in the last week. It had become flawless, just like porcelain. This morning she had noticed a beautiful rose color on her cheeks, like she had been outside in the cold.

She walked out and closed the door quietly.

* * * * * * *

Colum was almost home from Portland. He had gone to the family vault to get Katherine's jewels. The ring that had been hers before in her last life, he'd had reworked into a new setting, similar to the one that had been on the Titanic and had recently been found in the wreck. It had three blue diamonds in the shape of teardrops. They were each 3 carats. A necklace to match was in a blue velvet case.

His phone buzzed. "Yes?" He listened and a smile spread on his face. "I'll be right there."

He turned onto Bay View Road. His Jaguar XK purred like the animal it was named after, sending gravel spraying as he took the curves in the road fast. He came up to his gate and hit the rock. The screen opened. He touched it and the gate flew open. The car spit gravel out from under its tires as he sped down the drive.

* * * * * * *

Katherine opened her eyes again and blinked. All around her faces stared and smiled down at her. Her mother, she could see, was crying tears of joy. Then she saw Travis and her boys, with her father squeezed inbetween Thor and Odin. She saw Sally and Issy sitting next to her on the bed. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask where the most important person was when she heard steps approaching and the bedroom door crashed opened.

Katherine saw Colum fill the doorframe and for the first time knew that this very second, started forever.

# The End

#

