He was angry as he paced the confined space of his lamp, "Arrogant, self righteous," he grumbled. He then flopped onto his chaise and sighed thinking of why he was truly angry. Was it because she was absolutely right? He was afraid? Afraid because he was being hunted. He knew it as sure as he was genie. He felt the darkness that was following him. He was terrified, that kind of black only came with great evil. 4 wishes to the wrong person and he could end the world. He tried telling his father and he said he was just feeling his oats. The other thing was the dreams. Since he met this woman, he had such hot and passionate dreams. An utter impossibility, his life was predetermined for him. A genie he was born to be. But ohhh did she have passion and spirit and it was, wonderful. He just shook his head. It had been almost 2 lifetimes since he felt those stirrings, insufferable woman. He looked up at the exit to his bottle and just scowled at it.

"Information or the unemployment line which is it today?" Ms. Mercer spoke to her P.A.

He sighed heavily. "In Cairo, one of the greatest, wealthiest men has recently passed, leaving the museum all of his collectibles: a rare painting, books, all things, amongst them was a lamp described as the Emerald Archer. It was a lamp like no other. It was green and black with some arrow like pattern on the glass. It was dated or attempted to be but the glass was nothing that was made by man. It was stolen, or disappeared actually out of the inventory. The trackers I had searching for it thought it might have been seen in a bazaar. It appeared that some American woman may have picked it up. They can't be certain."

"Could they identify her?"

He flipped through his extensive research, his hands shaking from the 12 Cappuccinos he had to drink 9 of them being triple shots. "Umm… It looks like one Lois Lane, travel reporter for the Metropolis Travel Magazine."

Ms. Mercer smiled,"Excellent, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" She smiled sweetly. "You may go, find out everything about this woman. I want a full report,." he smiled and left.

"Well, well, well, so an American had it, hmm?" she stood and went to the back of her office and slid her bookshelf aside. There was a hidden room and through the glass there was a bald man lying with his back to her asleep on the cot. "Very soon Lex, you will back on the top of the world. I can stop wasting my time with your building, if the rumor of this power is true than you won't need it. The world will be your playground." she put her palm on the glass and sighed, thinking about what her future may bring.

--

Chloe had managed to leave the lamp alone all day Sunday and went back to work on Monday. She was a very cranky reporter. She hadn't slept well and the dreams were just getting hotter and hotter. She had 2 folders full of information on her personal search that she needed to go over and a few major stories that required her full attention.

--

He was sprawled out on his back on his bed in the lamp, fast asleep. He was awoken by hands on his legs and the sensation of her crawling up his body. He tried to sit up but she pushed him back down. He opened his eyes to see the greenest eyes ever looking up at him.

"How, how did you get in here?" he asked his voice hoarse. She removed a hand from his chest and put a finger over her lips to silence him. She then grinned a wicked grin and leaned over his belly and ran her tongue from naval to neck. He groaned in pleasure his hips lurching in response. He wanted to kiss her but she was devilishly kissing everywhere but his mouth. His hands reached for her and grabbed her hips. The feel of her skin was better than the most expensive silks he ever granted. He swallowed hard and she began to play with his Adams apple.

"You say you serve my pleasure?" she moved to whisper in his ear, then licked the rim of his lobe, "It's my .turn." she smiled as a hand reached down and …..

He sat bolt upright, sweating, and was in desperate need of a cold shower. He sighed then left his bottle to take a swim in the nearest ocean. When he returned he tried to go back to sleep and had spent most of Sunday sleeping, haunted by dreams of his new Master; her lush curves, the softness of her, and her scent, like lavender with a touch of vanilla. He then dreamt of a little girl with blond ringlets asleep on his chest as he lounged on a hammock. That dream had him awake again from a dead sleep.

He left his bottle to travel to his homeland to see his father, who wasn't home. He had a growing sense of foreboding all day, made worse by the fact that he and his current Master weren't talking. He went back into his bottle and sulked. He was how old? God only knew, and he was sulking as if a child. His mother would be so proud.

He passed the rest of the time, trying to imagine what Chloe's first wish would be. He kept himself entertained with that thought. Everything from new décor to….well…he would just leave THAT one alone. He fell again into a restless sleep and then dreamt of a little blond haired boy with the mischievous grin to match his mothers. Would his son want to know of his heritage? Would he be repulsed by his father? He again sat bolt up right. He closed his eyes and conjured the target practice arena he created whenever he got totally frustrated. His compound bow appeared in his hands and a full quiver of arrows at his feet. He smiled 'if his dad only knew'. He thought this was a foolish endeavor. He kept telling him that it kept his mind sharp for accuracy in wish granting. He shot off his first arrow, bull's-eye. He thought about his first year as a genie and the mayhem that he caused because of his inexperience. He let go of the memories to focus on clearing his mind of that aggravating and yet inexplicably intoxicating woman….

--

Chloe had touched base with Lois before she went to lunch and agreed to catch up in a week.. She had gotten ahead on her stories when the city appeared to go to hell. She headed to her car at the end of the day feeling like her heart had been squeezed to the point of pain. She couldn't shake the sights or the sounds from the bleakness of the day; innocent victims with loved ones that were lost, and events that held no rhyme or reason but were unfathomable tragedies. It left a heaviness on her soul. She loved being a reporter. She thrived on bringing light to the darkness of world in hopes of making it a better place. There were days however that the blackness was way too much for her to handle. She headed home from work with a heavy heart. To top it all off she broke a heel and got a run in her stockings. She wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a good night's sleep. When she entered her condo she had never felt more defeated in her life and the tears were falling as she glanced at the lamp. She dropped her stuff at the door in a heap and went to her big comfy chair. She curled up in a ball and began to sob silently.

Something was wrong, he could feel it. He knew she was home but it felt different. He let himself out of the bottle and saw the pile of her things by the door. He turned to scan the room for her and the site of her in her chair was just about his undoing. He walked to her and knelt in front of her.

"Chloe?" he spoke softly. She looked at him then launched herself at him and clung to him while she cried. He was at a loss at first then scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the couch. He sat down with her in his lap.

"I'm sorry." She hiccupped.

He only chuckled softly. "There is nothing to be sorry for."

She sighed and hiccupped, "I…I…didn't mean…."

"Chloe…don't worry about me. My shoulders are broad, I can take the abuse; besides sometimes the truth hurts, even for genies." He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and smiled. "So now, tell me what it is that has you so upset?" She sighed and looked away. "Don't hide from me." He spoke softly. "Bad day?"

"The worst," She then unloaded the weight of her day and her job. He only listened quietly… "I mean sometimes…I wish…." She started almost forgetting who and what he is. She immediately covered her mouth with her hands.

"You tease me Chloe…If you have a wish, just let it out. Let it come to be."

"Isn't it selfish though? To ask for something for me when there are those that don't have anything"

"No. You aren't selfish. You just cried for people you don't know, for the tragedies of their lives. A selfish person couldn't be capable of that. Who takes care of you Chloe? Who heals your hurts? Give yourself a break. Make your wish, I promise that it won't hurt a bit." He smiled. "You may actually enjoy your self."

She sniffed and snuggled into his arms. "For once? I would love to be pampered. Just for a day you know. Someone taking care of me and my needs." he smiled. This was the wish he had thought she would have asked for but not until much later.

"Chloe, My Master, is that an Official wish?" he whispered, kissing the top of her head again. Neither felt odd about the gesture, it felt like the most natural thing for him to do.

"Genie," she spoke looking up into his face. "I wish for once to be pampered, just for a day to have someone take care of me."

"As you wish." He closed his eyes and let the magic wash over him. He opened his eyes and smiled. She thought she would be nervous but she was more excited to found out how he would make her wish come true. His smile was wicked to say the least, he kissed her cheek , winked at her, and disappeared.