Read, Review, enjoy please =) and no I don't own it.

Fi stood up from her desk, rubbing at her headache, and made her way to the window. She had managed to determine which symbols were which parts of speech, now she just needed to translate them. She just couldn't bring herself to work on it anymore tonight. She really didn't want to bring herself to work on anything else at all. She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself, a slight shiver running through her. She'd almost died today. This time hadn't been a test- a size up- like at the track. This had been real. She felt another shiver run through her. It was one thing when she almost died on an assignment but when someone was actively trying to kill, when they had gotten so close to success… It was different then. It didn't seem to matter how many times it happened, either, it always left her feeling shaken up. She owed Dorian her life, again. She had to find a way to clear him, because, right or wrong, she loved that man and she wasn't sure how much longer she could bury her heart. Fi felt a pair of strong hands settle on her shoulders.

"You're shaking."

"It's been a long day," she said, turning her head to look at him.

"Aye love, it has," he agreed, cupping her face with one of his hands, gently brushing aside a stray strand of hair.

"I'm tired of people trying to kill me Dorie, of trying to hurt the ones I love," she said, her voice cracking slightly.

Dorian nodded in understanding and gently turned her the rest of the way towards him, tucking her petite frame against his large one.

"I wish I could change it for you, sweetheart," he whispered against her hair. "I just thank God you're as strong as you are."

"I'm tired, Dorian. I'm just so tired, and it never ends," she told him, not caring that she was whining.

"I know, love," he said, wishing there was something more he could say to comfort her- it wasn't right, she deserved a break, she needed a break.

Fi sighed, and pulled back from Dorian's embrace, she couldn't fall apart.

"What didn't you say earlier?" she asked, as he walked over to the chair she had by the fireplace and picked up the throw blanket. "You said you didn't catch him but there was more to it than that."

"Do you really want to get into this tonight? Because I talked to Will and there are a couple things that don't add up, love," he said, wrapping the blanket around her, and rubbing her arms in hopes of easing her shivering.

"Putting it off won't change anything," she replied wearily. "What do you know?"

"I didn't catch him but I did recognize the shooter… It was Kyle Monahan," he finished with a frown.

"But… but he only takes orders from…" Fi trialed off and tried to steady her breathing, this was not good.

"I know, love. He would only have come after you if Charles Grey had ordered it," he agreed, wanting to pull her into his arms again- she seemed so fragile right now, and she was under so much strain, how much could she take before she broke?

Fi forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down. She was alright, she could handle this. She didn't have a choice but to handle it. She forced her emotionless Priestess mask into place and when she looked up there was no trace of the panic and betrayal she was feeling inside.

He hated it when she did that.

"You said there was more?"

"We've managed to trace back some of the funds used to target you, we still need to confirm a few things but, it would seem, they point back to Jonathon Price. And, well, after seeing Monahan, I think we'll find our guess about Price to be accurate."

"Because life wasn't complicated enough…" she sighed. "I'm assuming Will wants to play this close to the belt?"

"Yes," he said, nervous at how calmly she was taking things. "Fi?"

"How is Will taking it?"

"He's… furious, but managing… Fiona? Talk to me, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing," she sighed, tossing the blanket back onto the chair. "Nothing that can't wait, anyway. Especially since you should be getting back to the guys. I'll be fine."

"Fi," he said with forced patients, "you can't make yourself fine just by saying it over and over again."

"Yeah?" she said, heading towards the door. "Watch me."

Carey looked up as Fi and Dorian walked into the room and felt his breath catch. She was wearing a long black satin nightgown with a slit that went most of the way up her thigh. To make matters worse, it left most of her back uncovered and it clung in all the right ways. Fi disappeared into the kitchen with Dorian, and Carey felt somone kick his leg.

"You trying to kill the flies, Bro?" asked Clu with a smirk.

"Shutup," he hissed.

"I'm just saying, man-"

"You're not saying anything, until you've made a move on Annie," Carey countered, quirking an eyebrow.

"Not fair dude," he sighed.

"No, that's not fair," moaned Carey as Fi came back out, holding a cup of tea.

"Have a good time, guys. I'll see you tomorrow. Try not to be too hung over," she smirked. Then, giving Dorian a kiss on the cheek, "Night."

Dorian watched her saunter off, knowing she was unaware of the way her hips swayed when she moved. God, she was going to be the death of him if she didn't have a change of heart soon. The doorbell rang.

"That'll be Jack," said Ned, moving to get the door, oblivious to the two men lusting after Fi.

Fi jerked upright, panting for air. She closed her eyes against the spinning room and a moment later threw herself out of bed. She reached the toilet just in time to hurl. Finally, the nausea passed and she moved to brush her teeth, trying to gather her thoughts. What had she been dreaming about… Arrie had been there… Arrie had died… They were there… What did it mean? She'd dreamt about Arrie's death so many times before but something was different this time, something important too, but the more she tried to remember the quicker it faded. Sighing, she gave up and made her way back to the bedroom. It was four a.m. and there was no way she was going to get back to sleep. Sliding on her Robe, Fi decided to try and get some work done but stopped when she saw the t.v. was on and realized Jack was still on the couch, awake.

"Jack?"

"Fi?" he said, jumping in surprise, "what are you doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Have you been up all night?"

"Yeah," he sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

"Jack?" Fi said concerned, sitting on the couch with him and wrapping the blanket around her. "What wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, exactly," he said, politely muting the t.v.

"Then why are you sitting out here in the middle of the night- nervous?"

"No… Well, yeah, but it's a good nervous. Don't worry about me Fi, I'm fine," he told her.

"No you're not," she insisted, frowning. "Come on Jack, talk to me, what's going on?"

"I'm just thinking… or rather trying not to think," he shrugged.

Fi resisted the urge to shake him, couldn't he just give her a straight answer, "Thinking about what?"

"Everything's changing," he told her, worry lines creasing his forehead.

"That's what life is- constant change, everyday. That isn't always a bad thing," she pointed out.

"I know, Fi… Do you ever…" he sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind."

"Don't do that to me, Jack. Come on, do I ever what?"

"It's… weird."

"Hello. Have you forgotten who you're talking to?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but you're not into that stuff anymore," he smiled, relief clear in his tone. "How do you know?" she smiled mischievously.

"Fi?" he frowned.

"I'm kidding. But my point is, regardless of hobbies, past or present, I'm good with weird, so ask me."

"Do you ever wish you could do something over again? I don't mean to change it but just to relive it, simply for the joy of having that moment again?" he asked, feeling idiotic.

"All the time," she told him sadly.

"Mom's just about given up touring and soon she's going to be getting married; Carey's has his own music career now; Clue's almost always traveling nowadays; Annie's joining up with Carey for his next tour; you… you cut us all out of your life a long time ago, and I'm not saying that to be mean, I don't even think you're aware you did it but it is true; and tomorrow I'm getting married, then, in six months, we'll be moving to New York. I know it's supposed to happen and that it's good but it's a little sad too. It's never going to be the way it was and the reality of that is coming in hard and fast," he explained, relieved to talk about it.

"And it'd be kind of nice to have some of those old moments back?" she pressed.

"Exactly," he sighed, running his hands through his hair.

Instead of answering him, Fi leaned over and wrapped her arms around her brother.

"Fi?" he said confused, as he hugged her back.

"You're going to be a really good husband," she told him.

"Um, thanks," he said, awkwardly patting her back, she didn't let go.

"And, a really good dad. You're good man, Jack."

"Fi, are you alright?" he asked, feeling concerned.

"You're a good brother, too. I know I'm pain, Jack, and I give you a hard time but I'm really glad I had you growing up."

"I love you to, sis," he smiled.

It wasn't often his sister got sentimental, especially in the past few years. However, she was still the same Fi, which meant when she got sentimental and emotional and sweet, she went all out. Fi kissed his cheek and then pulled back.

"I am sorry if I made you guys feel like I was cutting you out of my life, it wasn't intentional," she told him starting to get up.

Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her back down, "Why didn't you tell us about Arrie?"

Jack watched his sister tense up as all traces of emotion vanished. It was like she had suddenly become a robot. He didn't like it. It certainly wasn't healthy.

"What do you know about Arrie?" she asked, her voice careful, controlled.

Jack explained what Will had told them and reminded her not to be too mad at Will. He had been up against Molly, Irene, Annie, and Gabe, the poor man didn't stand a chance. Fi nodded and went to get up, again. Again, he pulled her back down.

"Talk to me, Fiona. Don't shut me out," he implored.

"I don't want to talk about Arrie," she told him firmly, steadily.

"Why not?" he asked.

"I just don't," she told him, trying and failing to get up again.

"That's not a good enough reason, Fi. Why not?" he said, in his stubborn, big-brother, I'm-not-going-to-let-this-drop voice.

"Because I don't want to cry, alright?" she told him, her voice hard, her face looking like it was carved from stone.

"Tough."

"What?" she said, shock momentarily showing on her face- that was not the answer she had been expecting.

"I said, tough. That's not a good enough reason. What happened with her is a big deal, Fi, and you can't bottle it up and ignore it all," he tried, hoping she might open up- when she was younger, before she left, it would have worked.

"It's not bottled up, I didn't ignore it. It's simply the past Jack, over and done with and I see no reason to hash open old wounds. Let it go," she said stiffly, her tight control on her emotions slipping.

"If it is 'over and done with' then you should be able to open up to your family about it, no problem. Come on Fi, talk to me," he pleaded.

"It hurts to talk, Jack," she snapped, anger and hurt working themselves into her voice. "Do you get that? It hurts to talk about her, it hurts to think about her, most days it still just hurts to breathe because I know she never will again. And just how much it hurts, changes all the time. We could talk and in and hour I'd be fine or I could have a total melt down, I just don't know. Please, Jack, I can't do this right now."

Jack looked at his sister, concern and sympathy in his face, and, reaching out, wiped the pad of his thumb across her face. Fi turned away, and tried to prevent anymore tears from falling.

"Not now then," he said in understanding. "You know, I think cartoons are on."

"Really?" said Fi, grateful for the escape he was offering her. "Find a good one?"

Fi curled up next to her brother on the couch as they watched reruns of the Road Runner, both knowing that in a few hours their families' lives would be very different.

"I've been ordered to make you take a break," smiled Dorian, wrapping an arm around Fi's waist and pulling her toward the dance floor.

"But… I need to go see to the cake," said Fi, pulling against his hold to no avail.

"Annie's taking care of it, love. Come on," he said, pulling her along. "You've been ensuring every little detail is perfect since the start of the wedding. It's time for a breather so you can actually enjoy the wedding. Besides, it's Gabe's orders and everyone knows you don't argue with the bride."

"Well, when you put it like that," she caved, letting him pull her onto the dance floor and lead them in a waltz.

"You look lovely, Fiona. I can't remember if I've told you or not."

"You may have mentioned it, once or twice or ten times- not that I'm counting. However, I promise, it's not something I get tired of hearing," she smiled.

"Well then, you look lovely," he smirked, twirling her.

"You cleaned up pretty well too," she teased. "…Will and mom will be next. Irene's trying to talk her into a big wedding."

"I bet your mother just loves that idea," he said sarcastically. "I pegged her as a backyard ceremony type with just family and close friends."

"You pegged correctly," she smiled, leaning into him as the song changed.

Ned's booming laugh echoed throughout the reception hall, and Fi tried to push the concerns from her mind.

"What's the matter, love?"

"I'm fine," she lied, trying to make her body relax.

"Wrong. Try again, love."

"I think my… you know, may have been a bit strong," she said, nervously chewing her lip.

"How do mean?" he frowned.

"After… what happened the other day, the guys were so tense, they needed to calm down. So, I gave them a little extra help… only, I think I may have helped a little too much. I'm not even sure they remember it."

"That would be convenient," he said.

"Dorie!"

"Well it would," he defended. "However, I understand why that would make you feel uncomfortable. Still, Fi, you were doing them a favor."

"I know…"

"But you still feel bad?" he surmised.

She nodded into his chest as he directed them to the corner of the dance floor.

"I know how to make you feel better," he said mischievously.

"Oh? How?" He pulled back. "Dorian?"

Then, he kissed her.

Dorian used restraint, forcing himself to keep the kiss slow and gentle. One hand on her waist, he brought the other up and trailed a finger along her jaw line. Fi opened her mouth as she entwined her arms around his neck; delicately, he let his tongue slide forward. He tickled her lip, and teasingly slowed the kiss even more. It worked and Fi pressed herself against him. He obliged her- deepening it, his tongue meeting hers, he let his hand grip the side of her neck while his other slid lower and around to rest on her derriere.

"I suppose that's just another of their old habits?" snapped Carey, raising an eyebrow at his brother.

"No, that, bro, is the official 'you snooze you loose' memo," said Clue, not feeling too bad since his brother had had ample time to do something. "And I think I'm gonna learn from your mistake. Sorry man."

Frowning, Carey watched his younger brother make his way over to Annie.

Dorian finally pulled back so they could go catch their breath, but left his forehead resting against hers. Fi closed her eyes, trying to regain control of her thoughts and her palpitating heart. It didn't help that one of his hands still had a hold of her rear end while the other had slipped to rest over her beating heart.

"I… I should go… go check on the, um, the cake," she managed to force out.

"Or we could go check on the coat closet," he smirked.

She groaned, but forced herself to pull away.

"Fi-"

"Cake. Checking cake," she insisted, her voice strained and, without another word, walked towards the kitchen.

Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair as he watched her walk off for a moment. That woman's going to be the death of me… Sobering thoughts, think sobering thoughts… Queen mother in a bikini, queen mother in a bikini, queen mother in a bikini…

Keeping his distance, they both needed the space, he trailed after Fi, keeping an ever watchful eye on her and the guests.