Ian knew that he was dreaming.  He was well aware when he dreamed or not.  Judging by his attire, he also knew what kind it was.  The last time that he had worn his blacked ring mail armor with his bear skin cloak he had had a visitor.

            "Ian."

            Ian spun and sank to one knee before the figure behind him.  "Master."

            Richard smiled.  "Get up. son.  You never have to kneel before me.  Frankly, I always felt kind of silly."

            Ian stood up and smiled.  It had been years since Wilkins had visited him.  "This coming from the man who thought good dental hygiene was necessary for world domination."

            Wilkins laughed.  He had forgotten how much fun it was to be around his son.  "It's good to see you.  I've missed you."

            Ian dropped his eyes.  "I'm sorry I left, Master.  I should have been by your side."

            "No.  You didn't like my plan for Ascension and you stood by your decision.  I'm proud of you."  Richard grinned.  "Although I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn't sent you away."

            "We would have continued to argue and I would have killed anyone who got in your way."

            "That's my boy!"

            Ian had a look of pride.  It always pleased him when his Master visited him.  However, he knew this wasn't a social visit.

            "What do you require of me, Master?"

            "I never could hide anything from you.  I see you've made friends with Faith."

            "Yes."  Ian answered.  A look of confusion appeared on his face.  "Wait a minute.  How do you know Faith?"

            Richard smiled.  "As you became my son, Faith became my daughter."  See that Ian was still in the dark Richard elaborated.  "A few months after you left Faith joined my team.  At first she was just another employee.  I had her gather information, acquire certain necessary artifacts, the occasional killing.  Somehow, though, she wormed her way into my heart.  It was strangely similar to another one of my employees."  he smirked.

            Ian just raised one of his eyebrows at this.  "And you never had any intention of hooking us up?"

            "What can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic."

            "Right, Snake Boy."  Richard gave him a look.  "Sorry."

            "Ian, I've looked into both your and Faith's hearts.  You two are so in love that it's funny."

            "You don't need to be ashamed of anything with her, she'll understand.  She'll even understand Jeffrey's."  Ian looked shocked.  "How did you...."  "I know everything that's gone on with you.  I'm always watching you, even from hell.  As long as you don't abandon her she will always be at your side."

            "This is important.  For all her bravado Faith is very fragile.  Nearly everyone in her life has either betrayed her, used her, or turned away from her.  She has felt very little love in her life.  Your childhood was nothing compared with the horrors she had to endure before she was even twelve."  Richard was now shaking with barely repressed rage.  "The things those men did to her and people have the gall to call me a monster."

            Ian's eyes took on a red tint.  There were few things that truly enraged both Richard and Ian.  One was cruelty to animals, another was child abuse, above all physical and sexual.

            "It's over, Master.  They can't touch her now."

            "That's just it.  They still have a hold over her.  She still feels that she can't be loved without also feeling pain.  In all the time she was with me she always had the feeling that it was all temporary.  No  matter what I did."

            "She's safe now.  She has me to protect her."

            "Does she now?  She has been a very busy girl.  Three top organizations involved in the underworld are after her.  Will you be strong enough to stand up to them all?"

            "What organizations?"

            "Does it really matter?"

            "Not really.  Just curious."

            "Prominent ones.  Individually, they are formidable.  If they were to attack as one you would lose.'

            "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

            "Just trying to give you an idea of what your up against."

            A smirk appeared on Ian's lips.  "Your not going to tell me, are you?"

            Richard smiled.  "Where would the fun be in that."

            "Let them come.  We'll see who's standing at the end."

            "I was hoping that you'd say that.  Which is why I have a favor to ask of you."

            Ian fell to one knee.  "Ask and it shall be done."

            Richard placed his hand upon Ian's head.  "When I died I lost all claim of masterhood of you.  You have done well on your own but you lack focus.  I know you, Ian.  When you fight for something, you are unstoppable.  But if you continue to fight alone you will die.  You need a new master."

            Ian raised his head.  "I understand."

            "I thought you would.  Ian, my time here is drawing to a close.  I have just one more thing to say.  The three organizations are coming.  But you will not have to fight them alone.  Three people from her past are coming.  Welcome them.  I would pay particular attention to the normal one.  There was always something about him, something just under the surface."

            A tear rolled down both men's cheeks.  "Goodbye son.  Know that I will always be watching."

            Ian woke slowly.  He still lay on the couch, Ersus laying on the floor next to him.  He reached down to scratch him behind the ear.  The dream did explain a lot.  It made him smile that Richard considered Faith his daughter.  SO, the old dog wanted to play matchmaker.  Ian's face scrunched with mild disgust.  He could do without the thought of Richard's 'son' becoming intimate with his 'daughter'.  Ian's face broke into a leer.  On second thought, ....

            He was drawn from his Jerry Springer thoughts by his cell phone ringing.  Checking the ID screen he groaned.  These people refused to give up.  Pressing the speak button, the first words out of his mouth were "No.  I'm not interested.  I'm retired." before hanging up.  He knew they would just hit redial but it made Ian grin evilly that he had all the control.  Like he expected, they called back.

            As Faith came down the stairs she heard Ian talking.  Curious, she found him in the library on his cell phone.  SHe grinned slightly.  Whoever he was talking to wasn't making him happy.

            "What part of no don't you people understand.  Listen to me very carefully.  I am retired.  That means that I don't kill for money.  Now I only kill people who irritate me by calling me at six in the morning.  Are you catching what I'm saying?  Even if I was still in the game I wouldn't work for you bunch.  Why?  Because I don't like you.  How's that for a reason?"  Seeing Faith curled up on the floor, stroking Ersus's side, Ian mimed shooting himself in the head, getting a laugh.  Returning his attention to his caller he sighed.  "Your not going to give up, are you?  Alright, I'll tell you what.  Send the necessary information to my email address and if I'm interested I'll contact you.  But I warn you: if you call me again I'll make what I did last time look like recess."  Ian hung up.

            "Having fun with your friend?"

            Ian glared at her.  "I don't think this is a difficult concept to understand.  I am no longer in the game.  Unfortunately they can't take a hint."

            "Who are they?"

            "Just a group from the west.  They've been sending me contracts for the last five years, usually the same one.  Some Master Vampire that pissed them off and his human minions."

            "Why don't you?  One less Master."

            Ian sat behind Faith on the couch and started massaging her shoulders.  Faith's head lolled to the side and something much like a purr emanated from her chest.  Ian grinned like a dope.  He thought Faith's comfort vocalizations were adorable.  "Two reasons.  One, I really dislike these people.  You see Faith, whenever I consider my clients I do my homework.  In fact, I'm waiting for someone to offer me a contract on them.  THAT would bring me out of retirement.  Second, I'm an assassin, not a mercenary.  The vampire's harmless.  Now, forget about them.  There's something I want to talk to you about."

            Faith stiffened.  She knew what he wanted to talk about.  Before she could say a word Ian had begun again.

            "I should ask why you fainted last night, but you see I already know."  At Faith's look he continued.  "I had a visitor last night.  He was very informative.  And rather unsnake like.  He told me of a young girl who came under his employ and became one of three members of his family.  Did you know that Richard is a rather selfish individual.  Anyone else says that and I'll tear their throats out.  You see, he would let nothing and no one get in his way.  So for you to enter his heart means a great deal.  It also means that I have something else to love you for."

            Faith leaped to her feet and jumped on Ian, mouth on mouth.  Faith pulled away.  "Do you mean it?  Do you really love me?"  She knew he did, had for awhile.  But he had never straight out said it.

            "Faith, I love you.  I love your body.  I love your soul.  I love the fact that you keep stealing my cloths.  I love that you think my cereal obsession is cute.  I love that you purr.  I love that you are terrified of Richard Simmons.  I love the fact that you can love a killer like me.  I love the fact that you haven't let your shitty child hood prevent you from becoming an incredible woman."  AT Faith's look, "Richard clued me in a bit.  Not a lot, but a bit.  Faith, there isn't a single thing about you that I don't find enthralling."  Thinking, Ian added "Except your love of tootie fruitie.  That I just can't love, I'm sorry."

            Tears were in Faith's eyes.  "But everything else?"

            "I love you, Faith.  Nothing else matters to me."