Memories out of Ashes: Part 3:
Paris 1997 a few days later

"Mother Superior, may I speak with you?" came a soft voice from outside the Mother Superiors' office.

"Yes my child, come in." She said as she gestured for the nun to sit. "What is it you would like to speak to me about."

"My time here I feel has come to an end. I would like to leave the convent and start my life over again."

"I felt this day would come. Are you sure this is what you want?"

The nun nodded. "Yes Mother. I have been here a long time and have decided it is time to leave."

"You have been in God's work for a long time. You remind me of another like you?"

"Like me?"

"Brother Darius, God bless his soul." The Mother said as they both crossed their chest. "Am I correct in saying you have an Immortal spirit as he did?"

"We all have an Immoral spirit in us."

The Mother stood up and walked around to the nun. "You know what I mean."

"Yes Mother, I can not lie to you. I am Immortal as was Brother Darius. And for many centuries I have devoted my life to God and his work, but I feel now, that it's time I leave."

"Then may God bless your soul for as long as you walk this Earth." The Mother Superior said as the nun stood and they hugged.

****
Glenfinnan that day

Methos' reception by Rachel was not what MacLeod had expected. She joked about coming to take something else from the clan archives, but then realized he was serious. She led him to the gift shop where Joe had bought Alexa's earrings and smiled when he walked in. He never thought to bring her to Scotland, and she was too ill the last time he had been there. She would have loved the gift shop. It was as warm and cheery as she was, and it had the sort of nick nacks she loved collecting.

"May I help ye?" a woman Scottish to the core asked as he was eyeing the jewelry counter.

"Yes, I was wondering about your jewelry collection. Is it made here in Scotland?"

"Aye, some 'tis. Anything ye like to see closer?"

"I was wondering if you may be able to help me. A friend purchased these here over a year ago." He said as he pulled out Alexa's earrings. "I was wondering if you could tell me if these were made here."

"They are beautiful, but I dunnae think any Scot could make such detail."

"Is it possible you could tell me where they were made? It's very important I find out."

"I dunnae know for sure, but I might be able to find out. Tis would take some time though."

"How long? I need to know as soon as possible."

"If ye leave them 'ere I could research it and let ye know tomorrow maybe."

Methos looked at the earrings debating about whether to part with the one thing from his and Alexa's past that he could actually hold. "Will I get them back?"

"Aye."

"All right then." He said as he handed her the earrings. "This is the number where I am staying. Please call me as soon as you know anything."

Methos left the gift shop and headed back to Rachel's pub. When he got there he sat at a table in the corner and sighed.

"Pint of ale?" Rachel said as she walked over. Methos nodded. "Any luck finding what you were looking for?"

"Not yet. The lady said she would let me know as soon as she could find anything out."

"That must be Debra. She can find out anything about anything sold in that store. She keeps the records as well as I seen any American. Why tis so important you find out where those earrings are from? I see they are not yers."

"She was a friend of mine. And the pattern was similar to another piece of jewelry she had lost. I was looking to replace it." He lied. Methos knew Rachel and MacLeod had been involved, but it was brief and he wasn't sure exactly what Rachel knew.

"She must mean a lot to you."

"She does." Methos said. In his mind he was thinking of Alexa but in his heart he was thinking of Elista. "And I would do anything to find the answers I'm looking for."

The next day Methos got the call from Debra that he's been waiting for. He ran to the shop with high hopes only to be told the best they could find out was it had come from Paris.

"That's all. You can't tell me if it was made in Paris?"

"I tried to locate the artist, but was told there was no one by that name."

"Can you tell me the name?"

"Lisa Toussi."

"Thank you!" Methos said as he took the earrings and ran out the door.

"I fixed da backing on that one for you."

****
Paris a week later

Duncan stood on the deck of the barge going through the kata. It had been almost a week since Methos had gone to Glenfinnan and Duncan decided it was time to go to Paris. After working out, he cooled off in the shower which was cut short by the buzz. Pulling on his robe, he went to answer the door, noting the katana by the walkway. Expecting either Methos or Amanda, he was surprised at who he found.

"Lisa?"

"MacLeod. It's been a long time. How are you doing?"

"Come in." He said as he hugged her. "Fine. My God look at you. You look marvelous. What are you doing here?"

"Would you believe I was in the neighborhood?" Duncan shook his head. "I left the convent a few days ago, and I thought I'd drop by to see if you were in town."

"I'm glad you did. Let me get changed and I'll take you out to eat."

Lisa nodded. She and Duncan had first met during WW2 when she was a nun at the same hospital where Shawn Burns worked at, then again at Darius' funeral. They had become instant friends and there had always been an underlying attraction between the two, but he either had Amanda or Tessa and she had God.

"How's Tessa? Is she here with you?"

"Tessa was killed a few months after Darius." He called through the bathroom. There was a few moments of silence before he walked out wearing his fishnet shirt and tight black jeans.

Lisa stood up and hugged him. "I'm sorry. I know how much you loved her. She was so special."

Duncan nodded. He looked at Lisa and realized just how beautiful she was. She was only an inch or two shorter than he was, with black hair and amethyst eyes that were the same color as the crystal she had always worn around her neck. Her lips were full and inviting and he kissed them softly.

She pulled back and smiled. "Let's go get that dinner now."

The next day, both Lisa and Duncan were awaken by a buzz. "That's Adam, the friend I was telling you about last night."

Lisa smiled up at him wickedly. "I don't remember you telling me much about anything last night."

Duncan laughed, stood up to put his jeans on, but before he could reach the door, Methos walked in.

"Mac, Joe told me I could find you here, I..." he stopped and stared at Duncans guest.

Mac noticed the two starring at each other as Methos crossed to the bed and sat down. "Elista?"

"Manduz?" she said as they hugged.