Let the Games Begin! - Later Friday Evening

by Donna, Ev and Toni

Fitz was sitting down at a table with his new friend and fellow charge, Henry Jones Sr., enjoying a bite to eat and some conversation with him. "I say, Henry old chap," he said to him, "kind of quiet in here tonight. A lot of our potential customers have gone to the party at the castle....sounds like quite a bit of fun, if you ask me. Too bad we're not CLims, or one of the lady's charges like your son, or we'd have been invited

Henry smiled at him. "It would indeed be a wonderful occasion to attend. Junior has been as excited as a child with tickets to the circus ever since he got his invitation." Before Fitz could respond, the front door of his establishment opened and a stranger walked in. He was obviously a CLim, but very different from all the others. He was dressed all in black leather clothing and had very short hair that was so pale it was almost white in color. As he walked across the room, Fitz could not help but think the man moved like many of the warriors he had come to know over the course of his long life.

He decided to make his acquaintance, and got up and went over to the man, smiling, "Hello, sir. My name is Hugh Fitzcairn, and I am the proud owner and operator of this restaurant. Can I get you anything today?"

"I'm called Beowulf," the man said easily. "I just got into town and I was wondering if you could direct me to the residence of the current Director of CLim Affairs. It's been a long time since I've been here and I need to check in with her."

Henry leaned over and whispered to Fitz, "You know, my friend, this would be a most perfect opportunity for us to see a bit of the party ourselves. Is not the Lady Ev the current director?" His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

Fitz' eyes lit with an identical light, as he whispered back, "I do believe you are right, Henry! A wonderful idea." Then he turned again to the man, and smiled, "Well, unfortunately, the young lady you are looking for happens to be at a party right now, and will be there all weekend. If you'd like, we *could* take you to her there. Would that be all right?" He had on his best innocent expression as he looked at him.

"I would appreciate that greatly," the new CLim said as he picked up his traveling bag again. Fitz hastily closed up the restaurant and then the three men left the mall and headed towards the Valley View condo where Ev and Rayden lived. As they approached the residence they started to hear the sounds of Cajun music and some rather boisterous laughter coming the party in the back yard. When no one answered the front door, Fitz led them around the side of the condo to the gate at the side of the house.

He rang the bell that was hanging on the gate. Then when there was no answer, no doubt because of the noise level, he banged on it loudly. As he waited with the two other men, he smiled a reassuring smile at the CLim, shouting a little to make himself heard, "Someone should be along in a minute!" He didn't want the man saying he'd see her another time and leave, because their chance to get into the party would leave with him. As they waited, they could hear the sound of dogs barking joyously and the gate rattled as they jumped up on it.

Suddenly the gate opened and Rayden was standing on the other side with an Irish setter and Border Collie sitting proudly at his side. The two dogs were pleased with themselves at having alerted someone to the presence of people at the gate. "Greetings!" he said with a broad happy smile as he looked at who was standing there. "You must be Beowulf! Ev told me you were coming but we didn’t expect you till next week. All of you, come on it and join the party!" He stood aside and let the three newcomers enter in. They did as Rayden said, to Fitz's happiness as he saw all the wonderful food. The smile on his face at seeing that was made even bigger at the sight of the five beautiful women! He made a mental note to thank Henry once again for his idea as he smiled at them.

He was tackled almost immediately by a giggling Sarah Jo who dragged him over to the food tables so he could sample some Cajun cuisine. As Ev took care of checking Beowulf in, the Lady Katherine took Henry Sr by the arm and steered him out to the dancing area where a lovely waltz was now being played.

As Fitz took samples of things at Sarah Jo's recommendations, he smiled, "My lady, you look as beautiful as ever! I am even happier now than I was before that we were able to be here tonight." He held his plate in one hand and took hers in the other, raising it to his lips and kissing it.

Sarah Jo blushed prettily. The two of them sat down and he was greeted by Duende, Franck and many other of his friends. No one seemed unhappy to have three extra guests at the party. After awhile, Jathelle came up to him. "Would you and Henry like to stay? We have a room ready for you if you do. Ev has already gotten Beowulf settled into would will be his accommodations for the weekend. He gets to room with Sal!" the white haired goddess said with a giggle.

"That's very kind of you, dear lady! Thank you very much! I can't speak for my friend, but I would be delighted to take you up on your invitation," he smiled. This was getting better with every minute that passed!

After Henry had agreed whole heartedly himself, Jathelle took them inside. What looked like a condo on the outside was actually a huge castle once they entered it. Fitz couldn't help chuckling at Henry's amazed reactions to everything he saw. They were led down a hall to a room with both of their names on the door. On the comfortable looking beds inside, a pile of toiletries and clothing awaited them. "Since you didn't know you were staying, you didn't bring your overnight bags so Rayden took the liberty of preparing some things you might need for you," Jathelle explained. After showing the men where the bathroom and showers were and explaining about the larger rooms each one of the women had, she took them back outside to the party.

Of course, both men knew all the women there, and mingled very happily indeed. At one point, Fitz came over to Katherine, and smiled, "Lady Katherine. You look very lovely-your condition definitely agrees with you. How are you feeling, and how is the little one?"

"I'm feeling wonderful!" she said happily as she rested her small hand on the soft roundness of her tummy. "And the little one is doing grand. Come on over and sit down now, we are fixing to start the party games." The look on her face was one of pure mischief.

As they were told to gather around, the men pulled up the lawn chairs that were scattered over the yard. Ev, Carol, Jathelle, Sarah Jo and Katherine got everyone situated and then went up to the front and surveyed the crowd before them.

There were thirty men in all now. Twenty four of them were CLims and the other six seemed to add a nice variety to the mix. The five ladies exchanged glances and conspirator’s smiles as they waited for the noise level to lower. "They are up to something," Connor announced to those sitting around him as he saw the sparkle in Katherine's eyes and the look of pure glee in Ev's.

Fitz had heard Connor's comment, and hoped with all his heart that whatever it was they *were* up to, included him. As he glanced at Henry, he could see an equally hopeful look on his face, and grinned.

A lot of good natured banter and teasing was flying back and forth between the seated men and the women standing up front. But as each of the women wrote their names in big bold letters across the top of a white board in different color markers, a hush began to fall over the crowd. Ev turned to them all after adding her own name to the list. "We would all like to thank you for coming. Carol, Sarah Jo and I all agree that this is indeed a wonderful way to celebrate our birthdays. After we get this little bit of business done, the house is open to all of you. There are rooms set up for poker, pool, chess, and many other games. There will be snacks available in the dining room all night for any of you who still have a bit of room left after eating the absolutely marvelous food that John Prudhomme and Katherine prepared for us all." That last remark caused everyone to applaud and to shout their own appreciation of the good cooking.

As the noise level lowered again, Katherine walked amongst the men passing out pens and slips of paper to all of them. "I want you all to write your full names on these slips of paper. We will be drawing for some special door prizes in a moment," she said as she gave each man one of the papers. As she handed Fitz his slip she flashed a beautiful smile at him.

He swallowed, adjusting his position in what he hoped was a discreet way on the chair, and wrote his name on the paper. God, that woman was lovely! Connor was indeed a lucky man to have both her and their child, he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Henry appeared to be taken with Jathelle, watching her movements unnoticed (or so he hoped) while keeping his head still bowed to his task of writing out his name.

Katherine finished passing out the paper and made her way back up to the other ladies. As she passed Connor, he reached out and grabbed her hand. "Hey Kat, did you forget me?" She giggled and gave him a quick sizzling kiss that looked hotter then some of the food they had just eaten. "Oh no, my dear, we have very special plans for you," she said is a voice that promised all kinds of things. The men around Connor whistled and shouted cat calls as the pounded him on the back. The Highlander just looked at the retreating figure of his handfasted wife and shrugged, wondering what in the world the five women were up to now.

In a few moments, the papers had been collected, and Fitz and Henry both watched as the small basket was put on a table, still curious as to what would be going on. They were still just as hopeful that they would do well in it.

Everyone of the guys waited in anticipation. Even Rayden was looking at Ev with a curious look on his face. Like Connor, he knew the five of them were up to something but he wasn't sure what it was just yet.

Ev cleared her throat and got control over her giggles. "We wanted to give all of you a special thank you for coming to this party. The five of us will be drawing names out of this basket and who ever draws your name will be in charge of making sure you have a *very* good time at least once during this weekend." A low murmur spread through the assembled men as they tried to figure out just what kind of special time Ev was talking about.

Fitz could only hope it was what he was thinking of, and he saw Henry in the row ahead of him look at him with much the same hope in his eyes. They both nodded slightly to each other, as if wishing each other good luck.

Carol was apparently going to be the first to draw a name. Smiling seductively at the men in front of her, she ran her tongue over her full lips to moisten them slightly as she closed her eyes and reached into the basket. All the men seemed to be holding their breath as she brought out a slip and all the ladies gathered in close to look at who she had gotten. "Rayden!" Carol cried out gleefully as she turned and wrote his name on the board. Rayden's eyes glowed as he watched her and a big smile covered his face. He was having no difficulty reading what she had in mind for him and it was a very pleasurable prospect, indeed.

Ev was next. She reached into the basket and lapsed into helpless giggles again as she read the name she had drawn. "Beowulf! I get to welcome you personally to the city," she cried out, waving the slip of paper on it with his name written on it. The new CLim nodded his head in response, a slightly predatory look on his face. As Ev wrote his name down, Jathelle stepped up the basket.

Watching her reach into the basket, Fitz looked over at the friend who he'd noticed noticing her earlier, and said a small prayer to whichever gods were listening to let him have the lady he was so taken with at least for a little while. The tall, willowy goddess with the long white hair smiled at all the men and reached into the basket. Pulling out a slip, she unfolded it and said in a smooth sexy voice that caused a lot of the guy's hearts to flutter. "Henry Jones, Sr," she said with a smile as she looked at the flustered professor. She blew him a kiss and then turned to write his name down. Those near Henry congratulated him enthusiastically, including Theron who grinned at him. "Way to go, Dad!" Indiana called out, giving his father a thumbs up from across the patio.

Henry was speechless, a silly smile on his face at his good fortune. But when Fitz leaned over and said softly, "Well done, Henry. I was pulling for you with the deities on that one." he managed to put his hand on top of the one Fitz had laid on his shoulder in congratulations, and smile, "Thank you, my friend. I shall do the same for you when the Lady Katherine chooses hers." Apparently, Fitz' hopes had been noticed too! Fitz smiled his thanks with a grin of his own.

The Lady Katherine was up next. Humming a song to herself, she reached into the basket. Sighing, she looked apologetically at Paul. "Sorry, I have to put your name back. The ones on our list are supposed to be men we have never been friendly with before." The CLim looked disappointed but managed to smile shyly back at her. Her delicate hand reached into the basket again and drew out another slip. "Michele," Katherine announced, her eyes shining in affection at her friend who had come such a long way since the day he had almost committed suicide a second time. Michele was sitting between Fitz and John Clayton and both of them congratulated him.

Henry looked a bit disappointed for his friend, but Fitz smiled, "It's alright, Henry, don't be discouraged. After all, the weekend is still young yet! Perhaps she will see fit to grace me with her company sometime during it." He himself was a bit disappointed, but he just hoped his words would come true and paid attention as the next name was drawn by the next lady.

Sarah Jo was next up at bat. Blushing furiously, she reached into the basket. "Farmer Grey!" she cried out with joy. The rest of her charges all reached over and pounded him on the back as he sat there with a flabbergasted look on his face.

The first round over, Carol started the next. She drew Lou's name and he couldn't resist giving a whoop of triumph. Ev then drew Jack LeRolland

and Jathelle picked Dani’s name. Duende teased him royally about being on the list of a goddess. Katherine stepped up next to draw her second slip. Once again, Fitz' hopes rose, but he hoped that no one but Henry could see the look on his face, as he watched her.

But they all quieted down as they saw Kat reach into a small basket and draw out a piece of paper. Unfolding it, she looked at it, and smiled happily, "Hugh Fitzcairn!" Fitz felt as though he'd just been named the winner of a leprechaun's pot of gold, as he looked at Kat, grinning so hard he thought his face would split! He did manage to acknowledge the congratulations of those around him from his little cloud, most especially Henry's, who winked and smiled at him.

Sarah Jo stepped up again, and this time she drew the name of Gus out of the basket. Ev whooped with delight at the blush that spread on his face as she wrote his name under Farmer Grey's.

By the end of the drawing, there were six names under every ladies name but Sarah Jo's. Carol had the names of Rayden, Lou, Franck, Lemiuex, Fred and Indiana. Ev had drawn Beowulf, Jack, Paul, Duende, Peter and John Brennick. Under Jathelle’s name she also added Monroe, Jeremy, Jimi and John Clayton after the first two. Katherine had written the names of Theron, Sal, Mullard and Prudhomme to the bottom of her list. After Sarah Jo wrote Jeremie’s name under that of Hudson and Vincent’s she was the only one with five guys instead of six. And the only man present whose name was not in the basket had been Connor's. Katherine grinned at him and started to make her way through the seated men with a rolled up piece of parchment in her hand. No one noticed Sarah Jo easing herself to the edge of the crowd and out onto the lawn.

He stood up and bowed slightly to his Lady and formally accepted the parchment from her hand. "What is this?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.

Katherine chuckled, "This, my dear, is a hunting license written in my own hand giving you permission to have a little bit of fun with the only one of us ladies present that you have not had the pleasure of sleeping with. But you had better act fast, your prey just took off for the hills."

Connor chuckled his wicked laugh and glanced up in time to see Sarah Jo taking off at a dead run towards the cabin. Trying his best to look dignified amongst the hoots and hollers of the men around him, he made his way to the edge of the patio before taking off after her, the sound of his woman’s laughter accompanying him as he disappeared on the trail leading to Sarah Jo's cabin.