Mortal Time

Methos looked down at Alexa lying in the hospital bed in Switzerland and realized just how much he loved her. The only problem was here she was dying and he had all the time in the world. He was Immortal, she wasn't. He would do, had tried everything to save her because he loved her. But the more he realized how much he loved her, the more he realized he had to let her go.

"Adam?" Alexa said as she opened her eyes. Her voice was weak and tired.

"I'm here, don't try to talk."

"I want to leave here. We still have one more thing we have to do."

When Methos and Alexa started their trip around the world, they both knew there wasn't much time left, and there was so much for them to see and do. They had done almost all of it, but Alexa's health was the most important thing, and many times it had delayed or canceled certain things.

"You have to get better first." Methos said. He knew it wasn't possible. "Then we'll talk."

"We both know that won't happen. Adam please. Springtime in Paris. You promised."

"I'll see what I can do, but you rest now. Don't get to excited."

"You promised." Was the last thing she said before she fell asleep again.

A few days later, Adam had gotten permission to take Alexa from the hospital, but she would have to remain in a wheelchair. He wheeled her out of the hospital and into the car they had rented. He picked her up and helped her into the car. He was being careful with her. She was so fragile and sick, that he knew this would be their last trip together.

After he had gotten in the driver's side of the car, he looked over at her and helped her adjust the blanket. "Are you ok?"

"I'm with you aren't I? As long as I'm with you, I'm fine."

He started the car and headed towards Paris. It would be their last trip, and there was one more thing they had to do. One last thing they had to say to each other. "Are you sure about this? Are you feeling up to it? We don't have to go through with it."

"You promised you would help me do everything I wanted to do. I've always wanted to get married on the Eiffel Tower in Paris during the Spring. I know it was as a joke, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. I'll understand."

"Nothing would make me happier than to see you live long enough to have your wish list fulfilled. Joke or not, I promised you, and I want to."

Alexa had been to Paris only once before, and she spent that time in the hospital with Adam by her side, after Christmas. He promised her that if she got better, they would return in the Spring. She wasn't better, but he wasn't going to let anything spoil her final wish.

When the trip had first started, Adam told her anything she wanted to do or see he would let her. They had been all over the world to places like Egypt and Russia, and had done things such as watching the sun set and rise on beaches in places she only dreamed about. Now there was only one thing left she wanted to do, and that was to get married on the Eiffel Tower.

It had just been a joke when she said it. They had know each other only a few days, and she didn't necessarily mean she wanted to marry him. But as the months went by, her feelings of friendship for him had grown into more. There was something special about him, and she couldn't imagine anyone more perfect to spend her final days with.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked pulling the blanket tightly around her as she sat in the wheelchair. "It's a bit chilly out."

"I'm fine, stop worrying." She said as she smiled. "It's beautiful here."

"Not as beautiful as you are, and you haven't even seen the view yet."

"I can't wait." And she couldn't. She had dreamed of this day all of her life. Ever since she was a child and knew her time was short, she dreamed of getting married here.

"Well, let's go." He said as he wheeled her towards the elevator. He loved her so much, and even though they had never told each other how they felt, he knew the feeling was mutual. No, if it was the last thing she would do, she was going to get her final wish, and he was going to show her just how much he loved her.

When they got as far as the elevator would take them, they entered the observation deck, and Adam looked down at Alexa. She was speechless. "I love it up here. It's more beautiful than I ever imagined."

"There's something I think we need to discuss." He said.

"Adam, I told you, it was a joke. You don't have..."

He put his finger to her lips. "Yes I do." He kneeled down in front of her. "Ever since that first day I saw you at Joe's, I was in love with you. In the few months I've known you, I learned those feelings were not just because you were beautiful. I have fallen in love with you as a person as well as your looks, and I want to make you happy. This will make both of us happy."

"I love you to Adam, but..."

"But? You've dreamed of this day all of your life and when it finally happens you start with a but. But what?"

"I love you too, but I don't want you to feel like you have to do this. Are you doing this because I want you to, or because you want to?"

"Because I want to. I love you, and there is nothing more I want, except to be with you. Alexa will you marry me?"

"Yes." She said and for the first time since they had been together, he kissed her. It was warm and tender, and he felt that with someone like Adam, she could continue to live on.

The ceremony was brief. By luck, they had found a minister who was on a sight seeing group that would marry them. Their honeymoon was spent on what was left of Duncan's barge which had been moved so they had a view of the Eiffel Tower. But now, two days after she made him the happiest man alive, her time was quickly coming to an end.

There was just one thing he had left to tell her, and he wasn't sure how she was going to handle it. He had never told her he was Immortal, because he didn't think it was appropriate. What was he goign to say? "Here you are dying, and I'm going to live forever."? But he felt as if he had to tell her. His personal honor would never let him live with the fact she died not knowing he couldn't. She was sleeping peacfully for once, and according to the doctors, she wasn't going to make it through the night. He had to tell her.

"Adam?" she said weakly.

"Shhh, I'm here. How are you feeling?"

"Weak. I love you, and I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. When I die I want you to read a poem I wrote. It's in my bag."

"Alexa, don't talk like that. You're going to be fine."

"We both now that's not true, Adam. We have to face it that I'm not leaving this time."

"Then there is something I have to tell you."

"What is it?'

"I don't know how to say this."

"Just say it."

"I'm Immortal. I can't die. And the one thing I wanted more than anything is for you to be happy. I tried to help you in ways you can never imagine, but nothing helped. Are you upset I didn't tell you sooner?"

"Adam, did you actually think I worked all that time at Joe's and didn't know what he was? What you, Duncan, and Richie are?"

"You knew?" she nodded. "Why didn't you tell me you knew?"

"Because I love you." It was the last thing she said. She took his hand, held it, and closed her eyes.

"I love you too." He said as he started to cry. In the 5000 years he had been alive, he had never had anyone touch him the way Alexa had, and he knew he never would again.

A few days later after the funeral, he found the poem she had talked about. It was called A Struggle for Immortality.