Author's Note: This story is based on a play that a friend of mine wrote about... 3 years ago. She later decided to turn the main idea into a series ofshort stories, and asked me to write some of these ficlets, so I wrote this 's number six intheseries.

All characters named are immortal, just to clear up that little tid bit of information.

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, and am making no money on the writing of this work of fiction. All similarities to any persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental (sp?) (except for Kathleen, who was based on me).

6: Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Seamus, an old friend from Ireland visits Kathleen whom he hasn’t seen since the Potato famine when she came over to America. They catch up on old times but their fun stops short when fellow countryman Daniel McWade gets in their way. One night after Kathleen and Seamus part for the night, Daniel makes an unexpected visit to Seamus at the local pub. The two take it outside and fight and Daniel kills Seamus. Kathleen vows to kill Daniel. Account told by Kathleen. (Written by: Rugsrat)

I was lying in bed trying to go back to sleep. It was hot and humid; I hate summer... So, as I was saying, I was lying in bed and it was almost four in the morning. Just as I felt tired enough to doze off, as will always happen (Thank you Murphy’s Law), the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“ ’ello! Is this Kathleen?”

“Yeah; A very tired Kathleen. Who is this?”

“Why, tis your ol’ potato eatin’ buddy Seamus calling to say ‘i.”

I was instantly awake. I hadn’t seen Sea since the Irish potato famine, and it was great to hear from him, but it was still early.

“Seamus, it’s four in the morning. Why are you calling so early?”

“Oh, sorry, I’m still in Ireland, five hours ahead you know. It’s nine over ‘ere. I really just wanted to talk to you. I missed you, it has been almost two ‘undred years after all.”

“I know it’s been that long. Who gave you this number anyway?”

“I think ‘is name is Christian.”

“Ah. Well, are you going to come to the US, or stay in Ireland?”

“Come to the US, but I need ‘elp.”

‘Typical Seamus. No money.’ I thought, but I couldn’t help but smile, he always could make me laugh, even when we were starving.

“How much help?” I asked apprehensively.

“Just a place to rest my ‘ead when I get there. I already ‘ave the ticket. I’ll see you in two days.”

“Okay Sea, see you then.”

I hung up the phone and got out of bed. I was too excited to sleep now. My best friend had found me after nearly two hundred years! The only issue would be where was he going to sleep. All I had in my tiny apartment that was acceptable was my full size bed and the sofa, which was rather lumpy.

‘Guess I get the couch. He had better thank me when he gets here.’ The smile I had on my face wouldn’t quit, even as I went to work. I’m a history teacher at the local High school. I find the job rather fitting for one who is Immortal.

Yes, I did use the word Immortal. I will live forever as long as my heart remains in one piece, should a blade or a bullet, or anything for that matter, pierce my heart, I will die. But for the last 700 years I have been lucky. In the living world there are about four thousand immortals, split evenly between good and evil. I am on the side of good, as is Seamus. Every so often there will be a conflict between the two sides, and I myself am something like a champion among my fellows. I have challenged the best of the other side and each time I have emerged victorious from the battlefield. Seamus, when we worked together, was the brute strength half of our team, I was the agility, but then I left for America, I couldn’t take the hunger. The fields we had worked on so hard on had died, just like everyone else’s. We were starving, and just because we are Immortal does not mean we don’t feel hunger. So I left. I tried to convince Seamus to come with me, but he has always been stubborn and so stayed behind. We lost track of one another, I didn’t think I would ever see him again. But to hear his voice… my heart leapt.

When I returned home from work later that day, my arms laden with exams that needed correcting, I noticed that the red message light on my phone was blinking. I dropped the papers on my coffee table and pressed the button. A low voice that I knew unfortunately well came out of the device.

BEEP “Kath, it’s Daniel. I’ve been watching you. And I know what you’re planning. I challenge you. Tonight at eight with swords—in the park. See you then.” BEEP June twelfth at twelve twenty seven P.M.

“Daniel! That bastard!” I shook my fist grudgingly at the phone. I didn’t really want to fight tonight. I was looking forward to a quiet evening of grading papers and Desperate Housewives. But a challenge was a challenge.

“Daniel, I really am not in the mood for this. Can we postpone?”

Daniel smirked slightly, his dark eyes flashing with malice and contempt.

“What, is Achilles afraid to face me? And to think I thought you were the best.”

I ignored the nickname and the insult and stuck to business, I was not going to be goaded into a fight I didn’t want.

“I’m not going to play this game. There is a time and a place for this fight, and here and now isn’t it. But if you want to fight, then I say no weapons. And that includes the knife you have in the small of your back.”

Okay, maybe a little goaded.

Daniel smirked again and dropped his sword with a small clatter and pulled the knife out from behind his back, dropping that as well. I did likewise with my own sword and the small buckler I had strapped around my hand. He fell into a perfect horse stance and beckoned me with a flicker of his fingers.

“You ready?”

“Yep.” I bowed slightly but didn’t adopt a particular stance. I find they give away too much of what one is planning.

With a roar he leapt into a kick aimed at my head. Before the blow could land though, I had grabbed his leg and had him on his back on the ground. I sighed out of boredom

“Daniel. That’s the fourth time you’ve tried that on me. It won’t work. Go home. Oh, and I want the knife too.”

“You’ll see. I’ll get you.”

“Daniel, I’ve got almost one hundred years on you. Go… HOME!” I let him up slowly, backing away so he could leave. On his way back to his car I could see him rubbing his sore head.

‘Silly boy. This is the third time this month. I wonder if he’ll learn.’ As I headed toward my little car to go home, I felt just a twinge of guilt, but I had absolutely no idea why. Daniel was evil. He had tried to kill more than once, and yet… I don’t know, I guess it was because he was more like a little brother than an enemy.

The next morning was a Saturday, so it was the perfect time for me to go the local supermarket and pick up the essentials, beer, potatoes, and meat… oh, and chips too. In the store were your normal people, the old people struggling to push the carts, your youngsters who were causing a ruckus, man but those kids get on my nerves.

So, after I got home, I pretty much set my Irish bum on the couch and watched movies the rest of the day, I would have called Seamus, but I didn’t know the number. I probably should have asked him what it was… crap. After a while I got incredibly bored so I called my fellow immortal and good friend, Marian.

“Hello?”

“Hey princess.” I said.

“Hello Caffeine.” I chuckled at that. Call it too much soda when it first came out.

“I have news.”

“Yeah, and?”

“And I’m really bored, so I picked up the phone.”

“No! I mean and what is the news?”

“Seamus is coming to the good ol’ US of A!”

“Who’s Seamus again?”

“I can’t believe you! Just because it’s been like two hundred years, you think it’s ok to forget one of our best friends!” I couldn’t help but hear Marian’s amused giggle during my tirade, but hey, I was pissed.

“Kath, calm down. Christian told me last night. I know your boy friend is coming to stay with you.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“You say that now.”

“Yup. How are you?”

“Just fine. And other than Seamus, what’s new with you?”

“Daniel challenged me… again.”

“Again? When is he gonna learn?”

“After I finally kill him.”

“Ok, another two hundred years then.”

“Shut up.”

“Good night Kath. I’ll see ya later, I have a date.”

“G’night.” I hung up the phone. ‘Boyfriend? No way, nuh uh. Not gonna happen.’ Just as I was gonna head to the local bar, the phone rang again. So I let the answering machine get it, because I wanted a drink.

“Uh… hangover hell.” I had to force myself out of bed that morning. The pain in my head felt just like I had been run over by a speeding train… twice. So I shut my eyes and stumbled my way to the kitchen to grab an aspirin from the cabinet. I was just about there when I heard a loud knock on my door.

“Ow. Why this early? I paid my rent.” I cracked my eye open and shoved my face in the little porthole on my door. I didn’t see anyone out there, but it could have been because my eyesight was still a little fuzzy.

“Who’s there?” All of a sudden, a huge face popped into view.

“’Ello!” Seamus yelled into the door.

“Yah!” I jumped and clutched my head. “Too loud. Too loud” As best I could I unlocked my door and stepped into the hall only to be met in a giant bear hug.

“Kathleen O’Shaughnessy! I’ve missed you somethin’ wretched! Let me look at you.” He held me at arms length to do so, and I’m sure that with my mouth hanging open in shock, and my clothes as disheveled as they were I was an interesting sight.

“S-Seamus? I thought you were gonna be here tomorrow.”

“I managed to get an earlier flight, one o’ the passengers backed out at the last moment. Didn’t you get my call?”

“Call?” I clutched my head. “Can we go inside? Its too bright out here.”

“O’ course!” He chuckled slightly and swept me off my feet, literally. He carried me through the door and set me down on the couch. Despite my raging headache I laughed at his antics.

“Oh no you don’t, you laugh like tha’ an’ you’ll ‘urt your ‘ead. I’m making you coffee, lots o’ coffee. Now, where do you keep it?”

“Ugh… I hate the stuff. There’s tea in the bottom cupboard.”

“Very well, Tea-man to the rescue!” Seamus rummaged around through the cabinets looking for the tea bags and as soon as they were located, in the cupboard as I had told him mind you, he held them up and called out various lines from the Rocky movies then slipped and fell flat on his back.

“Oof!” I just lay on the sofa trying to calm my still raging migraine; I suppose twelve beers in the span of two hours is a bad idea. After a while I could think straight and Seamus and I finally were able to catch up on times long past. I told him of my adventures, and he told me of his adventures in Scotland. He learned that the closest to a relationship I had been in had been with a group of gay bikers in the eighties. I learned that he had never had a serious relationship either. We talked for hours and hours. Finally when his jet lag caught up with him he just sort of collapsed on the couch, which I was still lying on. In that respect I suppose we slept together. I don’t think I’ve slept that well in years.

The next morning I woke to the smell of fresh bacon and eggs and the sound of Celtic music softly playing from my stereo. I got up slowly, a little sore from sleeping propped against the arm of the couch and made my way into the kitchen.

“’Oh! It’s the biggest mix up that you have ever seen. Me mother she was orange and me father he was green!’” Seamus was dancing slightly in front of the stove.

“Hey sexy.”

“’Ello my freshly awoken bed mate. You want breakfast?” His well-muscled shoulders rippled as he flipped some of the bacon. I slipped behind him and wrapped my arms around his stomach.

“I’d love some.”

Seamus stayed with me for several weeks. We spent every waking moment together, talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I was in heaven. I hadn’t realized just how badly I had missed him. I believe it was almost a month after Seamus arrived that I began to feel… complete. Like a hole in my heart I didn’t know I had was suddenly healed. I was in love with him; again.

Seamus and I started going out to dinner after a while. Usually it would just be a regular restaurant. But one night, Seamus took me to one of the most sophisticated places I had ever seen. I must say, being as good looking as he was; being in a tuxedo, youch, he looked good. Well, other than the décor, the night went pretty normally, we ordered, talked, mostly about our families. My mother died when I was young, and my father; well, he wasn’t my favorite person. Seamus had grown up in a fairly wealthy family and had loving parents, lucky him. But anyway… it was right before I was about to order dessert. Seamus plucked the menu from my hand, saying that he had it taken care of; but before I could say how rude he was being the waitress came out with a beautiful chocolate sculpture. I was shocked; it was in the shape of a dragon, my favorite animal, but what shocked me more was the gorgeous diamond ring that it was clutching in its claws.

I think I started hyperventilating when he took the ring from the statue and got down on one knee.

“Kath. When you left for America, I thought you had killed a part o’ me. I had wanted to do this then. But, when I found where you were, I knew I ‘ad to try again. I can’t believe I waited as long as I did. I love you and I’ve waited a long time to ask you this: ‘Kathleen O’Shaughnessy, will you marry me?”

Do I really need to tell you what I did? I did what any sensible woman would do; I started crying.

“Kath? You ok?” I nodded.

“Of course I’ll marry you!” I kissed him like I have never kissed before. The whole restaurant started applauding and cheering, not that I really cared, I was far too euphoric to notice anything other than Seamus. “God Seamus, but I love you!” I whispered in his ear. I backed up a little and looked at him. His green eyes glittered in the candlelight of the restaurant and his brown hair was rather ruffled thanks to me, but he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, and soon, I would be his wife.

Needless to say, that night we slept together… and not like on the couch.

Several days later we were in a bar having a few, and I was determined to not get a hangover this time. So, on my third when I started feeling slightly inebriated I decided that I should go home, but Seamus decided to stay and finish his game of billiards. So I bid him good night and walked the short distance to my apartment, it was just down the street.

“Well gents, looks like I lost that one, well done, but I ‘ave to go now, my fiancée is waiting.” Seamus said as he replaced the cue stick back on the wall.

“’Night.” Said the bartender as Seamus paid his tab. He whistled a wedding march as he strolled to the door, only to be halted by a slightly shorter man with dark eyes.

“’ey man, what’s wrong?” with out a word the man slugged Seamus right in the face.

“Bad move bloke. ‘oo the ‘ell do you think you are?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know me after all these years?”

“Daniel?”

“Bingo.” An enraged Seamus flexed his fists and cracked his neck.

“Let’s take this outside.”

The two walked out and the fight began in earnest. Punches flew thick through the air as both men tried to knock out the other. After Seamus hit Daniel with a powerful left hook, the smaller man took out a wicked looking bowie knife that had been strapped to his thigh, unnoticed in the darkness until now. Immediately Seamus backed off, hands raised in surrender.

“Now man, no need for that. Just put that away, and we’ll both go home, sleep it off. No need to do anything dumb.” Daniel backed the man against a building.

“You’re the only dumb one here. What does Kathleen see in you? I’ll just have to ask her when I’m done with you.”

“Leave her out of this, please.” Daniel smirked slightly and stabbed viciously; slicing Seamus’ heart in two as he did.

“No.”

Seamus slumped against the wall behind him and slid down, his eyes frozen open on horror. A scream rang out from across the street, as sirens approached. Daniel laughed and ran down an alley into the darkness he had emerged from.

I was walking back to the bar because I had left my keys there. I never in a million years expected to see Daniel standing over a dying person in front of my destination.

“Please no.” I whispered to myself. I looked harder and saw him. I couldn’t help it I screamed at the top of my lungs. I screamed until lights came on in windows. I screamed until the police came and tried to keep me away. I screamed until the tears came. I couldn’t think strait.

I still don’t know exactly what I did. I know I was at his side as he took his last breath. I also know that for whatever reason, he was smiling at me.

“Hey sexy.” He said quietly just before he coughed up his own blood.

“Seamus, be quiet. You need to conserve energy. You’ll pull through. I know you will, you just need to keep quiet.” He shook his head and weakly took my hand.

“Kath, it doesn’t hurt. I know I’m done. I love you.” He shuddered and exhaled for the last time.

“Oh. GOD!”

“Ma’am, we’re gonna have to ask you to, um, step away.” I stood up slowly and turned around. The officer escorted me over to a car and had me give him my information. I’m still amazed I was able to remember all of it. I padded back home, with keys that one of the patrons of the bar had handed to me as I left. On autopilot, I walked the two flights of stairs and entered my home. Sitting at the kitchen table, I finally broke down completely. I sobbed. And in between gasping breaths and anguished wails, I vowed something to myself.

I vowed that if it should be the last thing I do, I am going to make that slimeball pay. I am going to make him wish he had never been born. I’m going to make him wish that he could die from what I’m going to do to him. And then when all is said and done, I’m going to kill Daniel. My Achilles Heel has been murdered; Seamus will be avenged, and I intend to go from being the Achilles in our group to Daniel’s Reaper.

I love you Seamus. Rest in peace; please, just rest.

Accounted by Kathleen O’Shaughnessy- O’Connel