A trail of hastily discarded clothes led to a bed where the sweat damped form of two bodies rocked in unison. Sheets were tossed and the bed squeeked in ecstacy.

"Arianna!" A wild howl erupted then a quick tremble of flesh resonated through the union.
"Tristan!" The soft moan turned into fast shallow intakes of breath.
"Tristan!"

**DAMN! What am I doing?** Marian shoved Methos off her and he landed faced down on the floor.
"Not exactly the response I was hoping for."
"Oh Gosh, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"Confused but okay. Are YOU okay?" Methos stood up and sat on the bed nursing his forehead. "Good thing we Immortals don't bruise easily," he assured her.
**Oh Tristan.** Marian walked towards him and knelt in front of him. **God! I can't believe I'm actually gonna do this *It's not you, It's me* crap. What did I do to deserve this?** Fingers snapped in front of her.
"Marian, focus. I'm right here. Talk to me."
"It's ... not ... you, it's .."
"No."
"What?"
"No. You're not gonna give me that lame speech."
"Do you think I want to make this speech? No! I'm not good at speeches. I failed Speech 1. Yeah, and I .... What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing."
"This is no laughing matter, Tris ..." Suddenly, it dawned on her. She didn't know him anymore. Who is this guy in front of her, with his twinkling golden greens and crooked smile?

Methos was no longer laughing, his eyes grew serious and he eyed Marian's worried silvery blues.
"Marian ... Arianna ... Tristan... or Methos, who cares what we call each other? They're just names. We know who we are ... don't we?" He didn't expect the uncertainty that crept up to his tone.
"Yes, Shakespeare. I know, "What's in name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I'm starting to doubt ole William. But Methos, I still see you as Tristan. I want to make sure I'm making a commitment to YOU, *Methos*. I mean, there are a lot of stuff I wanna know about you."
**Why are you doing this, Marian? Listen to me, dammit woman. You're not just hurting yourself. Look at him!**

"Maybe you're right."
"Yes, maybe I'm .. NO! You weren't supposed to agree. I'm sorry, I know I'm not making sense." **Darned right, you're not.**
"Come here." Marian let her feet glide their way to Methos' open arms where she leaned on him and started giggling.
"We are so messed up, aren't we?"
"Oh, that is yet to be proven. We are simply ... out of sorts." He kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"Now what do we do?"
"For the moment, nothing."
"Okay."

Methos woke to the sound of thumps and rustling. The warm body beside him was gone and all was left was an imprint of her supple frame. He pried his eyes open and saw Marian hunched over an open suitcase. Dressed only in a light blue t-shirt that hung down to her thighs, she looked scrumptious. Her tousled long, jet black her was so much in contrast with her pinkish red lips. At that moment, she bit on it. All of his senses were awake and tingling now as he watched her tongue slide out and lick her lips again and again. Distracted by the sensual scene taking place before him, it was not until after a good five minutes have passed when he noticed the task she was performing. Delicate movements from her hands folded and tucked clothes into the suitcase. Then it hit him. "What are you doing?" He asked, knowing the reply would most likely be thrown at him like cast stone.

"You've got eyes, can't you see I'm packing?"

The blow was hard. His hand went up in a gesture of defense. "That hurt," he muttered. Silver blue eyes looked at him in resignation. They were swollen, an indication of what has transpired last night. He hoped it was all a dream but like every dream he had, they all tend to come true when he wakes up. She looked tired and hopeless. Two expressions he knew all too well. For a few minutes they stared at each other.

"I have to go." Her cracked voice sliced through the silence. Go where he wanted to ask but knew there would be no answer that would satisfy him. "That's it then. No explanation? No It's-not-you-it's-me speech?"

Marian almost smiled at his question. There's no easy explanation, she thought. At least none that would make him understand. **Try him.** Her brain urged. No, it's a waste of time. **You've got time on your side.** She sighed.

Methos recognized that sigh. He knew she was having one of her intra-arguments again. Sometimes he wished she'd talk to him, argue with him like she did with herself. It's been awhile since they've talked. He shood his head, an eternity it seems like it.

"It's for the best." She softly said.
"For who's best exactly?"
"Don't make it more painful as it is, Methos." Marian pleaded.
"Painful?" Methos rose in disbelief. He knew "painful" and this was beyond pain. "Painful was when you .. Arianna died and I was helpless. Painful was when I found you and thought I'd lose you again. Painful? This is downright torture. I have you but .. but I don't."

"Then you know how I feel."
"No, I don't. If I knew I won't be standing here confused." Another sigh escaped from Marian. More deepened, perhaps with sorrow.

"I have to go." Marian couldn't think of anything else to say but that. She needed to be somewhere else. The past week had been wonderful, a fairy tale if ever. But in this day and age, happy endings were only found in books and movies. Real life offers content but not bliss and bliss was where she was when she met him. She does not regret seeing him, knowing him, touching him, kissing him. Her eyes closed and she reminisced. She could see them together, close. His lips on hers, his tongue swirling inside her mouth, sliding in and out, slow dancing with hers.

"Then go." Marian shuddered at the command. Her head dropped to a nod before she opened her eyes. She couldn't bear to look at him and see her decision reflected on his golden greens. Deep inside of her, she had hoped it wouldn't be this easy. That he'd try and stop her, maybe even convince her that things would work out. She had hoped that the harder for him to let go, the easier it would be for her to relent. It was unfair of her to think like that but she couldn't help it. "Okay."

Okay? It was not okay. He expected a cry of disapproval like last nights. He was waiting for it. A shout, a harsh NO, anything that would indicate their shared need to be together. But he didn't voice out his thoughts, rather he left them were they were, in his aching heart.

"Okay," he finally echoed.

Marian tilted her head up and her eyes met his. God, I love you! "I ..," she began but was cut off before she could confess.

"I know. You have to go." Methos turned away from her.

No! You idiot! I LOVE you! She mentally screamed at him. Tears threatened to break free and she squeezed her eyes shut to hold them back. This was what she wanted, she reasoned. Or was it? But it was too late to change her mind. **It's never too late, Marian. You of all people should know that. Have you forgotten your past and how you overcame it? What is this problem compared to your life a decade ago? Haven't you learned from The Dagger?** No! I refuse to remember. **It is better to remember than make the same mistakes, Marian.** But it is too ... **What? Painful?**