Morganna and Fiona looked at each other, then at the men. "We can see that you need some time to process all of this information; we'll let you do that."

Before they could blink away, Jon put a gentle but restraining hand on Fiona's arm. "Wait, what if we need to see you; talk to you again? What if we have questions?"

Fiona smiled. "We're always watching you," she said. “We’ll know. And if it’s safe? We’ll talk to you.”

Richie paled. "Always watching?"

"Well," Fiona answered, "up to now, it was just me, so I could only watch one of you at a time, so technically not always, but now that Anna is helping me, we can be more vigilant."

Richie groaned.

"Don't worry child," Morganna said, "I have no interest in watching you perform your, uh, morning ablutions." She smiled. "Other things, however..." Richie groaned again and Morganna laughed at his expression.

The two fey linked arms and strode out into the sunlit afternoon. They stepped into the ring of flowers, and disappeared.

"What the hell do you make of all that?" Richie asked Jon.

"I don't know," Jon answered honestly. "I mean it all sounds like a good story, but you know me, I don't believe in this shit."

"Yeah, but you saw what Fiona did. I mean, she didn't even lay a hand on you, and she had you so you couldn't move."

Jon nodded. "I know. It was the strangest feeling." He smirked. "Remember back in the day, when we were so angry all the time, and Teek and D had to keep us from beating each other silly? That's sorta like what it felt like -- like Teek was pushing me up against the wall." He shook his head. "Damned disconcerting if you ask me. And you, asshole," he punched Richie's shoulder. "What was all that flirting you were doing with Morganna?"

"Aw, bro, you know me, I can't let an opportunity pass to flirt with a pretty girl."

"Man, she is anything but a girl." His tone wasn't complimentary.

Richie chuckled. "Yeah, I know," he said, "but she's still a knockout; Fiona, too."

Jon smiled wryly. "I know." He grabbed the coffee from the freezer to start a fresh pot of coffee, and nearly dropped the can on the floor, as something occurred to him. "Rich, they said something about powers. You and me having some sort of magical connection."

"Oh yeah, I had totally forgotten. Dude, though, that sounds totally gay. Don't say that in front of anyone."

"Fine, fine, but what do you suppose they meant?" Jon's mind was working furiously, trying to solve this particular riddle.

Richie just shrugged. "Can't say. I have no clue. Do you want to call them back and find out?"

"No," Jon said. "I want to find out more about their brother. I mean I go to church, I know about the devil and Armageddon and all of that... I just..."

"Want to know what you're getting into?"

"Yeah."

“Don’t you think it might be too late for that?” When Jon looked at him, Richie shrugged and continued. “I mean it seems like a done deal, right?”

“Right...”

The two men researched for hours in Jon's office, reading and printing and talking about hundreds of pages of information. Perched up on a high shelf, Morganna and Fiona were watching intently.

"Do you think I made a mistake in telling them so much?" Fiona worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

"I don't know, Sister," Morganna answered. "Richard seemed to take it all in stride at the time, but now he's just as nervous and worried as Jon. Maybe we should have made them forget the entire conversation. We still could, you know."

"Maybe..." Fiona answered, frowning; her thoughts clearly wandering.

Morganna looked over at her. She could tell her sister had something on her mind. "What's on your mind, Fiona?"

“I’m wondering if I haven’t made an error in judgment in having you help me.”

“What are you talking about?”

"Don’t think I didn’t notice what you and your new charge were doing. What were you thinking, making a wager like that? You can’t possibly have wanted to kiss him! Or did you?”

Morganna just laughed. “Oh come now, Sister, I knew you would not relent, and this saved me from having to steal something from him, should I need to cast a spell. That reminds me; you’ll need to get something personal of Jon’s for me.”

“You’re avoiding my question.”

Morganna sighed. “Sister, you and I will always be different in this respect. He has a pretty mouth and a beautiful face. His hands look gentle, and there was laughter in his eyes. I wouldn’t have minded kissing him.”

Fiona shook her head. “Even after everything you’ve been through. All the heartache and betrayal. You would STILL trust your heart to a male?”

“Not my heart,” Morganna said. “Not necessarily. You don’t understand.” Morganna stood on the shelf and paced back and forth, careful not to disturb anything. Below them, the two men were still reading and taking notes and talking quietly to each other. “Fiona, I am a romantic. I always believed, and still do believe, that there is a soul mate there for me. I feel sure that the Maker, in his infinite wisdom, does not want me to be alone for all eternity. How can I find my Other Half if I do not look? How can I find that which I do not try to seek?”

“But Anna, every time you think you’ve found your mate, something bad happens.”

Morganna shrugged. “So I made mistakes.”

Fiona wasn’t ready to let it go. “Your husband absolutely was a mistake. I still can’t believe our step-father promised you to Urien of Gore.”

“More like Urien the Bore,” Morganna snorted. “But he wasn’t my choice, wasn't my mistake. I knew that he wasn’t my soul mate, but how could I defy Pendragon? He would have surely killed mother. I had to do my duty.”

“And you bore him a son, and what did he do?”

“Sister, I know full well what he did. I still keep the scars lest I start to forget. Had I not been studying magic for some time at that convent before the betrothal, I would not have been able to keep it from being worse.”

“You should let Merlin smooth them.”

“No,” Morganna said. “They serve to remind me to be more careful, and not so confident in my magic that I act foolishly.”

“Then if you’re being more careful, trying not to act the fool, why act on some frivolous connection to the mortal?”

“I don’t quite know,” Morganna admitted. “There’s just something about him my soul is drawn to. It’s different than with the others. It’s almost like...”

“Like what you felt with HIM.”

“Ah yes, HIM,” Morganna agreed, smiling beatifically at the memory. “Accolon.”

“But you remember everything he did, yes? Not just the good.”

Morganna’s smile faltered. “Aye, Sister, not just the good.”

Morganna looked from her sister to the angry singer pressed against the wall. With a wicked little grin, she said thoughtfully, "You know, with just a snap of her fingers, she could make every hair fall out of your head."

Jon’s eyes widened, then he saw the little evil grin flirting with the corners of Fiona’s full lips. "You wouldn’t!"

Fiona gave a rich, deep chuckle, and Richie said, "She’s just trying to get you to give in, Kidd.”

“Oooh,” Morganna added, “or she could make you shorter!”

“Don’t listen to her!” Richie insisted. He turned to Morganna, smiling. “That wasn’t fair.”

Morganna just winked at Richie and turned her attention back to her sister. Jon’s glare turned even more icy, telling Richie he was close to giving in. "Fine, I won’t call you Fairy anymore." His chin was tilted at a mutinous angle.

Richie knew Jon better than anyone else, or so he thought. "That’s the closest thing to an apology you’re gonna get."

"You think I don’t know that?" Fiona asked. "I’ve known him longer than you. I was in the room when he made his borning cry. I understand him as much, if not better, than you."

"Then let me down," Jon demanded.

Fiona frowned at him, then quickly dropped her hands. So, instead of a nice slow decent, Jon crashed to the floor with a very loud thump. He jumped to his feet while Richie and Morganna’s laughter filled the room.

"That’s not my idea of letting me down," he glared at Fiona.

"Yeah, well," she shrugged negligently, "that wasn’t my idea of an apology."

Morganna crossed her arms under her breasts, making them plump into the deep vee of her dress. Richie’s eyes widened a fraction before he forced his shoulders to slump. “Guess this means no kiss? And I think I owe you a shiny present.”

Richie reached up to his left ear and removed the discreet gold hoop he wore there. He held it out to Morganna, who took it gently from his outstretched hand. The grazing of her fingertips on his palm sent little shocks up his arm. He watched as she examined the ring and put a finger to her own left ear. A small hole appeared, and she threaded the post through it, closing the clasp. She pushed her hair back from her ear.

“What do you think?” she asked, tilting her head at Richie.

He reached out and touched the small gold ring, caressing the shell of her ear in the process. “It looks better on you, darlin’, than it did me.” Reluctantly, Richie dropped his hand.

They both turned their attention to Jon and Fiona, who were still squared off against one other. The two combatants stood glaring at each other until Richie took a step forward. "Kidd, I thought you wanted an explanation. As best I can tell, we’re only halfway there."

"Oh, I know that one too," Morganna gave a happy squeal, then began to sing again in Jon’s deep voice, "Whoooa, we’re halfway there, whooooa, living on a prayer."

Fiona giggled at her sister’s antics. "That’s enough, Sister."

"But, I know the rest of it," Morganna pouted.

"I’m sure you do," Fiona laughed.

"Why exactly are you guarding us?" Jon demanded, ignoring Morganna’s trick.

"To protect you from our brother, until you are needed." Fiona looked at him like he was an idiot for not knowing that information.

"Needed for what?" both men asked at the same time.

"The final battle," Fiona answered, exasperated.

"What my sister is trying to say is, that if the final battle comes in your lifetime then you will be needed. Until then your protection is her first and only priority," Morganna clarified.

“Final battle?” Richie asked.

“Certainly you have read The Bible,” Morganna said, indicating the gold crucifix that shone against Richie’s tanned skin. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“The end of days,” Richie said softly, and sat down.

"Jesus. And what if something happens to you?" Jon asked, his gaze moving from his friend back to Fiona.

"A new guardian will be sent," she answered, "but I can only die if silver pierces my heart. So, chances are I will be there to hear you take your last gasping breath as well."

Morganna stepped forward. “She will not fail in her sworn duty to protect you,” she said fiercely to Jon. “And I will not fail in my duty to protect her.”

Fiona whirled around. “Anna?”

“Why do you think I’ve been working so closely with Merlin? He knows these two are THE two. The others were just decoys. He also knows that Lucie will soon figure that out, if he hasn’t already.”

“Lucie?” Jon asked.

“That’s our nickname for our brother.” Morganna smiled wickedly. “He doesn’t much like that name.”

Jon thought about what Morganna had said to Richie about the final battle. Dread blossomed out from the pit of his stomach, threatening to make him sick. “What’s your brother’s real name?” Jon asked Fiona.

Morganna and Fiona looked at each other, then at Jon, but didn’t say anything. They saw the realization in Jon’s face.

“No,” Jon said, eyes wide. The sisters simply nodded solemnly.

“What?” Richie asked.

Jon looked at him. “Their brother is the devil.”

“The WHAT-IL? No, nuh-uh. That is just too much.” He looked at Morganna, who locked eyes with him. In that moment of eye contact, Richie saw they were telling the truth. “Shit,” Richie said.

"You really aren’t supposed to know about me," Fiona began. "But if you insist, then you should probably join your friend and take a seat."

"Because neither I nor my sister want to have to pick you up off the floor," Morganna said with a grin at Jon.

"I’ll gladly take a seat if that’s what it takes to get an explanation," Jon announced, as if it was his idea in the first place, then joined Richie at the breakfast bar.

Fiona looked at her sister imploringly, but Morganna just shook her head and waved her hand in the two men’s direction. Fiona shrugged. "I guess it’s all on me, then." She began to pace the confines of the kitchen as she gave them the basic facts about the Fey, how they came to be, their purpose, and their opportunity for redemption. Then she explained her and Morganna’s brother, and about her five charges.

"When Jimi and Elvis died, then John was shot, I began to worry about the two of you," she said, nodding in their direction.

"Whoa, whoa, WHOA!" Jon yelled, holding up one hand and jumping off his bar stool. "Elvis? Presley?"

Fiona nodded.

Richie’s eyes were wide. "Jimi, as in Hendrix?"

Again, Fiona nodded.

"I don’t believe you," Jon announced to the room.

"John? Lennon?" Richie asked, not caring that no one was paying attention to him any more. "No fucking way."

"Fine, don’t believe me," Fiona said, shrugging and glaring at Jon. “We don’t have to explain anything to you; we just have to keep you safe.” She turned to her sister. "I guess we can go now."

Morganna knew exactly what her sister was doing and nodded in response. She made a big show of raising her hands above her head, although that wasn’t needed for them to blink out. "As you wish, sister dear."

"Oh, no you don’t!" Jon ordered, honestly thinking his demand would be enough to keep them there.

"Asshole, do you really think you can order these two around like you do me and the guys?" Richie let out a low chuckle. "I'll bet they won’t listen any more than we do."

"Kiss my ass, Fuckwad," Jon ordered, bestowing an icy glare on Richie.

Quickly, Richie leaned over and kissed Jon’s cheek, then promptly burst into laughter.

Jon rubbed at his cheek angrily. "Damn it, Rich! Quit that shit!"

The women giggled, bringing Jon’s gaze back to them. "Are you going to listen? Or do we just go on our merry way?"

It was Morganna who had asked that question. Jon was sure that she at least would gladly leave him clueless. Grudgingly, Jon muttered, "I’ll listen."

"What was that?" Morganna asked arrogantly, cupping her hand to her ear. "I don’t think my sister quite heard you."

"I heard him just fine, Morganna." Fiona looked at Jon and waited for his curt nod. Then, she began again. "I was desperate to keep my last two charges safe. So, I arranged for them to both be in the same little bar. One playing on stage, the other in the audience. I thought that if the two of them met and became friends, that it would be easier for me to keep an eye on the two of them."

Jon looked at Richie, then back at Fiona. "Are you saying that you ‘arranged’ our friendship?"

"No," she shook her head, "I arranged for the two of you to meet. The friendship was entirely on you. But, I did know that because of your powers, the two of you would be magically drawn to each other. You would sense a kindred spirit in the other."

"And thus the ‘Brotherhood’ was born," Richie said laughing. Then he sobered. Powers? What the hell?

"About the Brotherhood," Fiona said, a conspiratorial little grin on her face, "all those secrets that you’ll ‘take to the grave’, um yeah. I know all of those."

"You do?" Jon asked, his voice only slightly indicating fear.

"Yeah, who in the hell do you think pulled your asses out of the fire every single time?"

"All of them? Seriously?" Jon’s voice had risen slightly in concern.

"Sure. You want proof?" she didn’t wait for confirmation before she continued, "Okay. Let’s see. There was the golf cart incident in Florida, where you..."

Jon quickly interrupted her, glancing worriedly at Morganna. "I’ll take your word for it." Then he grumbled under his breath, "Besides, the golf cart was Teek's idea."

"Yeah, but you were driving," she nodded toward Jon, a grin splitting her face. "So, you don’t want me to tell about the twins in Toledo?"

It was Richie that jumped in that time. "Absolutely not!" His eyes went quickly to Morganna. "We definitely remember the Toledo Twins. We don’t need you to remind us."

"Was that the time where the girls were under age?" Morganna questioned with a grin.

"Yeah, that would be the one," Fiona laughed.

"You told her?" Jon cried, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Of course I did, she’s my sister. We share secrets, that’s what we do."

Jon pointed one long finger at Morganna. "For the record, those two teenie-boppers left our dressing room as innocent as they were when they entered it."

Nodding in agreement, Richie added, "Although, I doubt either of them was as innocent as their daddy, the sheriff, liked to think they were."

"Probably not," Jon agreed.

"They weren’t," Fiona confirmed.

“Oh wait,” Morganna said, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Was he the naked-in-Jamaica one?” She tilted her head to the side. “Hard to tell without all that hair.” She approached Jon and pulled the neck of his t-shirt down. “Yep, far less hair.”

“Hey!” Jon said, pulling away from Morganna.

“Yes, that was him,” Fiona said, smiling.

“Naughty, naughty,” Morganna purred.

"But that’s beside the point,” Fiona said, raising her voice over her sister’s. “Just who in the world do you think got you outta these messes?"

The two men answered in unison. "Doc."

Fiona scoffed. "He had nothing to do with it, actually he was the one that got you into all those scrapes. And, I’ve never been happier than I was when I finally got him out of your lives."

Richie grabbed Jon’s shoulder to keep him from blurting out something that he might regret. "Really? Why is that?"

The fairy looked at the guitarist. "Because my brother sent him."

"Your brother?" Jon asked. "The one you called the Betrayer?"

"Exactly. He hoped to lead you to him, to turn you evil like him."

"Seriously? Doc?" Jon questioned.

"Somehow, I don’t find that hard to believe," Richie interjected.

Jon cast a look at Richie that clearly said ‘you wouldn’t’, then looked back at Fiona. "So, you’re saying that you’re our guardian fairy?"

Her nose wrinkled in distaste at the term. "I am a guardian, your guardian. But, I will tell you only one more time, we prefer the term ‘Fey’."

Knowing what was coming, Richie rolled his eyes as Jon stood up. "Oh yeah? What are ya gonna do to me," Jon paused before finishing the question, "Fairy?"

Morganna gasped at his effrontery. She knew her sister’s temper well. "He is your charge." She barely had time to remind her sister of that before Fiona acted.

She raised her hands, palms out. Suddenly, Jon was flung backward against the wall. Slowly, she moved her hands upward, and he slid up the wall until his feet were at least a foot off the floor.

With his chin on the floor, Richie sat staring at first his friend then the small woman across the room. Eventually, his mind kicked back into gear and he jumped up from the bar stool, prepared to defend his friend even if he didn’t know how.

That’s when Morganna took a step forward. "She won’t hurt him," her voice was just a little condescending. "You have my word on that."

Now, Richie understood how hard it had been for her to trust him earlier, now that it was his brother in danger and not her sister.

“Take it back,” Fiona demanded as Jon’s face went red with anger.

“No,” he said. “Put me down.”

“Not until you take it back,” Fiona stubbornly insisted.

“You may as well do it, child,” Morganna said to Jon. “She’s very obstinate, and used to getting her own way.”

Richie burst into laughter. “Woman, Jon is exactly the same way. No way he gives in.”

“Really...” Morganna said, narrowing her eyes. “Care to make a wager on that?”

“Absolutely,” Richie said. He thought for a minute, then his eyes sparkled mischievously. “If Fiona caves, you have to give me a kiss. I’ve never kissed an almost-sorceress before.”

Morganna laughed. “As you wish. When Jon relents, and he will, you must give me a gift. Something of yours that’s shiny and sparkly. I adore pretty things.” It would also help her if she had to cast a spell to save him, though he didn’t have to know that.

Richie nodded. “I can do that.” They settled in to watch the battle of wills going on across the room. Neither combatant was wiling to give an inch.

“You know,” Morganna called over to Jon. “She is much stronger than you are, you should just give up now.”

“No, bro,” Richie said, “don’t give in. You can take her. She’s just a little bit of a woman.”

Morganna looked at Richie; at the smirk on his face. Helping her sister may not be all that bad. In fact, this could be quite fun.