Highlander

“Kith and Kin”

Summary: Richie’s introduction to Tessa’s family doesn’t go smoothly.

Author’s Note: Sequel to “Hearth and Home”. Richie is only fifteen; takes place in season one after “Family Tree”.

Warning: This story will contain spanking of a teenager. If this offends, PLEASE don’t read it.

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters, nor will I ever. I am simply writing this story purely for my personal enjoyment.

Chapter 7: The Party

Okay, so the party wasn’t half bad.

Sure, Richie hated wearing the monkey suit and all these people he didn’t really know kept coming up to him and speaking in French so rapidly he had absolutely NO idea what they were talking about, but he still kept a smile on his face and nodded anyway. Other than those two things, the food was great and there were several really cute girls his own age that kept checking him out.

“Don’t get any ideas, Tough Guy,” Duncan warned him, seriously. “No sneaking out of here tonight. If you’re Gramps and I have to suffer, you have to suffer. Got it?”

Richie rolled his eyes at his father. “I know, Da,” he said, trying to sound mature about it and failing. “It isn’t like you haven’t told me a million times, already.”

Duncan chuckled, slapping him up side the head playfully. “Mind your manners,” he told him, grinning, “or else.”

“Or else,” Richie repeated, smirking, “you’ll chop me into hamburger meat with your katana and feed me the dogs, right?”

Duncan rolled his eyes. “Well,” he said, “one part of you might feel like hamburger meat after I’m done, but I really don’t think the dogs’ eat it.”

“Ha, ha,” Richie said, taking a sip of his soda (the adults got to drink champaigne, by the way), “that was so funny I forgot to laugh.”

Duncan chuckled. “Away with you, Bratling,” he said, giving him a shove toward a gaggle of girls that was still staring at him, “go break a few hearts.”

Richie smiled brightly. “Like father, like son, eh?” he asked, waggling his eyes at his dad.

Duncand laughed. “You have no idea, youngling,” he told him, “now get.” He took a swing at the kid’s rear end but the boy moved out of range very quickly.

“That boy is a joy, Duncan,” Jean told him, smiling as he watched his grandson talk his way past the language barrier with no problem and managed to be in the center of the gaggle of girls within moments.

“Aye,” Duncan agreed, his heart swelling with paternal love for the boy, “that he is.”

Jean smiled at the Highlander. “You’ve got to be the proudest man in the room tonight,” he told him, clapping him on the shoulder, “you know that, yes?”

Duncan grinned at his father-on-law. “I thought honor went to you,” he said, smirking, “seeing as how you’re one of the two guests of honors?”

Jean snorted at that. “This is all for Jeanette,” he said, waving his hand at the party, “I’d much rather be down in the garage in my blue jeans, chugging a long neck right about now.”

Duncan chuckled. “Mind if I join you?” he asked, grinning.

The older looking man smiled. “Yes,” he said, “if you’d like to face the wrath of my daughter when this is all over. I’m sure I’d be able to make a nice cot for you out there.”

Duncan feigned horror. “Heaven forbid,” he said, chuckling, “anything but that.”

Jean laughed, clapping him on the back again. “Duncan,” he said, “I know I never told you this, but I’m glad you came into Tessa’s life. You’re good for her.”

Duncan felt a lump in his throat. “Thank you,” he said, “but if truth be told, she’s been the best thing that’s happened to me…before Richie, that is.”

Jean nodded, understanding. “It must have been hard all these years not being able to have children,” he commented, quietly.

Duncan looked at him in surprise. “How did you know?” he asked, curious. Neither he nor Tessa had ever mentioned the fact that he couldn’t have children to her parents.

Jean gave him a pointed look. “It’s been twelve years, Duncan,” he told him, “and I pretty sure you and my daughter never used protection…I know Jeanette and I never bothered with it…so it stood to reason that one of you couldn’t have them. Since I know it wasn’t Tessa—her doctor told us she was quite capable of bearing children when she turned fifteen—I put two and two together. I hope I haven’t offended you.”

“Of course not,” Duncan said, blushing a little bit. “I just got used to it over the years, but when Richie came into my life…well…” He shrugged, unable to find the words to describe it.

Jean nodded, understanding. “I know exactly what you mean,” he said, eyeing his wife and daughters across the room. “I know exactly what you mean.” He took a sip of his champagne.

Duncan smiled. Only to lose it a second later when he felt the unmistakable presence of another Immortal. Dread settled in his chest so fast he thought his heart had stopped for a moment.

Oh no, not here! Not now!

TBC…