Need your comments. Did you read A Fae’s Curse?
These Characters don't belong to me!

A Fae’s Blood

by

Ceniana Aka CourtneyHawk
(Ceniana@gmail.com)

"That isn’t the way you handle an animal, Clarie!" Kethry let out a long sigh. "You can’t depend on your powers all your life."

"Magi, my mother says the powers that the goddess has given us are gifts. Wouldn’t it be unwise not to use them?" Clarie bowed her head.

"Your mother might be Queen but you’re under my teaching, young lady." Kethry watched her student carefully. "You can’t expect to use your talents for everything?"

"Father does." Clarie snarled at her teacher.

"Tell her about the girl you’ve been speaking to." Karia whispered in her ear. "In the dream land."

"Princess … Listen to me… It’s not a wise thing. Your father and mother might be Lord and Lady over Avalon but one day … it is possible you might face a Christian. It’s rumored they think of us as devils. How are you going to face a soldier’s sword? My dear, you are the next Queen and, even with our immortally, we can die."

"Lady Magi! Is it true that some of us can travel in time?" Karia had wanted to ask this question since the tutor arrived.

"Yes Karia. It requires the right type of blood."

"What do you mean the right type of blood?" Karia grumbled. The teenager wanted answers now rather than later.

"Your mother has told you about joining with a man?" Kethry murmured.

"Yes, Yes … Lady Magi, we are not children." Clarie laughed, she was becoming interested in the conversation.

"Your mother and father have advised you both about using your talents in the bedroom?"

Both girls looked at one another. "You can do that?" They said at once.

"Don’t! It’s hard for even me to explain … how it works."

"Please! Please, Lady Magi!" They both sat at her feet, the lesson now forgotten.

"You both know how to push and pull emotions. Well, a child born of such a union can, not only pull and push emotion, but can push and pull time itself. There have only been five Faes in our history with such a talent. Frankly, with the coming of the Christians, it is a fear of your Father’s. We might be looked upon as the agents of the Dark One."

"Dark One?" The girls looked back.

"The Christians call him … Devil, I believe." Kethry sighed. "Enough of this! We have work to do! Now try to saddle the horse again!"

*********************************

"Do it again!" The girl whispered softly.

"I can’t."

"Awww come on." The boy’s voice was added to the mix.

The girl closed her eyes tightly as the teacher laughed in the middle of the math lesson. The woman blushed as the class all broke out in laughter.

"See! She did it to me yesterday too! I told you!" She looked at her twin smiling. "Now give me that girl’s note!"

The boy let out a long sigh and handed his sister the note.

The teacher’s eyes narrowed. "EVE SHEFFIELD!" The teacher roared coming towards the twins and their friend.

"Give me the note." The teacher held out her hand waiting for Eve to place the note in her hand.

Eve blinked. "I … I don’t have … It."

"Emily Butler. You better hand me that note." The teacher turned and Emily handed over the note she had taken from Eve.

The teacher smirked opening the note "Hey Jonah. Miss Noris … Is dumb!" Miss Noris looked down at Jonah Sheffield who blushed. "Jonah Sheffield, who wrote this?"

"I can’t tell." Jonah mumbled.

"I have had enough. You three have been nothing but trouble. I am calling your parents." Mrs. Noris turned and heard a mumble.

"What was that, Emily?"

"Nothing, Miss Noris. My mum and dad are taking my baby brother to the doctor today." Emily felt almost saved.

"You all live in the same household. I will place a call to Mrs. Sheffield. I’m sure she’ll inform your parents." Miss Noris returned to her lesson and Eve grumbled.

"Can’t you do something to get us out of this?" Eve sighed, knowing the answer.

"I can’t. " Emily sighed.

Fran Fine Sheffield walked up toward the school and sighed. The twins had been a pleasant surprise for her, but a handful. They had always tagged along with Emily which lead Niles, C.C., Fran, and Max to purchase a house that would house both families.

"Thank you for coming Mrs. Sheffield. I am thinking we should split the children up."

"What did they do now?" Fran sighed as Miss Noris handed over the letter. "What did this one do?" Fran nodded towards Emily.

"She and Eve tried to hide the note when I asked for it."

"Thank you Miss Noris. I’ll talk it over with Maxwell this evening. I will be sure to tell Niles and C.C."

"Thank you for coming Mrs. Sheffield." The teacher smiled but also grumbled. Emily shot the woman a look.

"Fran. You know Miss Noris thinks you’re--" Emily began as they all walked outside.

"That I’m what, sweetie? Low-class?" Fran smirked. "Most private school teachers think that. Heck, most of my family didn’t graduate high school. "Oy, your father is going to have kittens. Are you three going to tell me how this started?"

"Well, Emily was making Miss Noris laugh." Jonah smirked. "It was funny, ma!"

"Oy, Niles and C.C. are going to have a fit, Emily." Fran sighed.

"They use their power all the time." Emily grumbled.

"Gods. Half the house hears them use it." Fran grumbled.

"Now, now. Mrs. Sheffield sounds grumpy." Niles walked in carrying baby Jacob in his arms.

"Where’s C.C.?" Fran sat at the table with the twins and Emily.

"Okay, what did they do?" Niles sighed as Fran took the baby.

"Your daughter is having a field day with her powers. I’ll handle the other two." Fran waves the twins forward.

"Emily." Niles eyed his daughter.

"Yes Daddy?" Emily grinned, trying to put her best foot forward.

"Didn’t your mother have this talk with you last week?" Niles asked.

"Yes Daddy." Emily mumbled.

"Emily, you’re grounded and we’ll find out for how long once I have a talk with your mother." Niles muttered, taking his hand and running it through his graying hair. He felt the pull again. C.C. was near. "Alright go to your room and do your homework."

"Yes Daddy." Emily conceded. "Can I at least call Uncle John tonight?"

"We will talk about that after dinner." Niles called out as Emily went upstairs. "C.C., I swear if you keep doing that to me." Niles continued knowing that C.C. was behind him.

"Why, Lover? You didn’t complain last night." C.C. laughed. "Come on, it was wonderful."

"Stop teasing. Your daughter was using her powers today." Niles pulled her into his arms.

"I’m using mine now. " C.C.’s eyes twinkled as she pushed his desire harder.

"Damn woman, you’re not fighting fair." Niles kissed her neck softly. He looked around noticing the closet. "I should teach you a lesson now."

"Where is Jacob?" C.C. looked around as Niles undid one of C.C.’s buttons.

"He’s with Mrs. Sheffield." Niles grumbled "Don’t change the subject woman!"

"Oh, MY GOD!" Fran yelled out. "You two!"

"Jealous?" C.C. laughed as Niles backed away

"I’m sorry, Mrs. Sheffield." Niles began to blush.

"You two never stop." Fran laughed. "Maybe that’s Emily’s problem. You can’t control yourselves, why are you expecting your daughter to?"

"I did before." C.C. said, eating a cookie and redoing her shirt.

Eve skipped downstairs. "Yah! Emily says she talks to her all the time at night Jonah. Ermm Hi Ma. Uncle Niles. Aunt C.C."

"Emily talks to who?" C.C. blinked.

"Nobody!"

"She told Eve. She talks to some Princess." Jonah grumbled. C.C. spit up her water coughing.

"Uh, oh." Niles grumbled.

"Oy. This can’t be good. Are y’all in trouble?" Fran turned toward Niles and C.C.

"I’ll call Noel tonight." C.C. groaned. "You better call John."

C.C. Babcock could take on the world if need be. She was a woman that got everything she had ever asked for. What C.C. didn’t ask for. nor want, was Niles Butler until a twist of fate pushed them together. He was the blood of the ’failure.’ Niles the descent of the Fae general that failed to protect the Saxon King Harold from William the Conquer ,and the later conquest of England. The death of their last ally was the ruin of Avalon ,and for the Fae people. The families had been force to send children away to be fostered in foreign lands. It had spread the legends of Avalon and their greatest ally, King Arthur far and wide. C.C. looked at her daughter with renewed respect and a bit of fear.

"Emily, can you do this?" Noel performed a small act of the remaining magic in the world causing a penny to disappear.

Emily nodded, making a rock disappear. Noel blinked. "I did that for Jacob yesterday! He likes it." Emily started to bite her thumb again.

She has never gotten over sucking her thumb, C.C. thought looking into her daughter’s eyes.

John looked at his grand niece carefully then eyed C.C. and Niles. Looking back down at Emily, he said, "Emily, can you tell us about the girl?"

"She’s my friend! You know she lives in Avalon! She asked if I was a Christian" Emily giggled. "Why would she ask such a thing? Aren’t most people either Christian or Jewish?"

"Most, my dear, but not all. Have you told her anything about our time?"

"Nope! That would be bad … right?"

"Right!" Noel and John responded together.

"Okay then? Can I go play with the twins now?" Emily hated the looks her uncles gave her.

"Yes child but remember! No powers!" John smirked, his eyes focused on C.C. and Niles. "Tell me. What exactly is your sex life … like?" John didn’t have the same British reverse that Maxwell and Niles had.

"Uncle JOHN!" Niles turned five different shades of deep red.

"C.C., have you used … maybe a bit of Fae power … while … in bed?" Noel was also turning red having to ask his sister such questions.

"NOEL!" C.C. now blushed. "I think I would have preferred Father."

"We can still call him if you like." Noel laughed. "I don’t think he would like John here." Noel smirked, eyeing his stepfather.

"We have enough problems here Noel. We don’t need another repeat of your father’s actions towards me." John grumbled still rubbing the mark over his right eye.

"Answer the question dear sister." Noel grumbled. "Niles, answer for her. Dammit. We need to know."

"Maybe we should get B.B. in on this?" John teased.

"NO!" C.C. and Niles both roared.

"Alright. Maybe we have. Over the years. Used our powers. In the bedroom," C.C. blushed, looking at the older man and her big brother.

"Exactly how?" Noel said looking to John.

"I’m not telling you! Or anyone for that matter!" C.C. glared at the duo. "I’m sorry. I don’t care what people say or what elders have said. What goes on between a man and a woman is their business."

"Okay. That answers that." John said. "So we have a very powerful little girl on our hands."

"And, in the near future, a powerful little boy." Noel sighed.

"Hellooooo?" C.C. said, rolling her eyes at Niles. "Can I kill them both?"

"If you do that, my dear." Niles answered, "They’ll never learn."

C.C. walked up and grabbed Noel by his shoulder and quickly held one of his arms behind his back.

"C.C.! We’re not kids anymore!" Noel groaned in pain while John couldn’t help but laugh.

"You have five seconds, Noel, before I start in on you." C.C. snarled and Noel yelled out in pain, "What the hell is going on?"

"We don’t know yet!" Noel howled. "Dammit, Chastity, that hurts! Using her real name earned Noel another pull on his pinned arm.

"How do we get her under control?" John asked.

"YOU CAN’T" Noel howled. "Come on sis!" C.C. growled again, letting him go.

"I wasn’t talking about C.C." John laughed. "Anyway, can Maxwell do without you two for a while?" John eyed C.C. and Niles.

"We can see. Why?" Niles looked toward his uncle.

"Because we need to run a test. You’ll need a week off at least."

"Where’re we going?" C.C. blinked

"The ‘where’ is England. The when? That is the question." John smirked.

"Daddy, is England foggy this time of year?" Emily couldn’t believe she was riding on a plane.

"No, my pumpkin." Niles took C.C.’s hand and C.C. let out a groan.

"I hate planes."

"You’re on them often enough."

"Yeah, that was until my freaking doctor ordered I stay off the booze." C.C. countered.

"Babcock." Niles flushed and looked towards his smirking uncle. "You know they can tell when you do that!"

"Do what?" C.C. smiled looking pure and innocence.

Niles felt his body react as if a woman had placed her hands along his most private areas. Niles let out a small groan. "C.C."

"I can’t help it Niles. I need something to relax me."

"Your son is in your mother’s arms." Niles teased.

C.C. looked toward B.B. and managed a smile. Her mother was turning into a normal human being. "I think I should leave that miracle in her arms." C.C. said looking back toward Niles. "I don’t remember one picture of my mother snuggling me or my siblings."

"I still don’t understand how my uncle married your mother." Niles remarked. "I’m more shocked by the way your father acted."

"Daddy just didn’t want anyone else to marry her." C.C. snickered.

"Grandpa said Uncle John spilled the blood!" Emily chimed in while looking outside.

"What was that, darling?" C.C. blinked

"He spilled the blood!" Emily turned to face her mother. "Grandpa said it the other day over at Grandma’s house."

"What did he say exactly, Em?" Niles leaned down, the three of them in a team huddle of whispers.

"Oh! I get to tell you a story!" Emily giggled, and began her tale.

****************************

March 1, 2005

"It’s the first time those two have had a night out." John smirked looking at B.B.

"Maybe we could get help for the night."

"My dear, Jacob’s a baby. Emily is a lovely little girl. We can handle them." John smirked then turned. "I think one child has her father’s talent!" John laughed noting that Emily was watching.

"Daddy says it’s important to remain quiet!" Emily giggled as John picked her up.

"Indeed." John began tickling her. "Why don’t you go to the kitchen and get ready to make cookies!"

"Cookies!" Emily hopped down excitedly. Emily stopped in her tracks around the door.

"You low-life scum!" Stuart Babcock came in dragging one servant that had been trying to stop him. "How dare you interfere with my plans."

"It’s okay. Will I think Mister Babcock has managed to come inside anyway." John sighed looking towards B.B. "My dear would you go see to Jacob?"

"You think I’m leaving you two alone? Not after the trouble you caused at the wedding!" B.B. snarled.

"You better my dear." John kissed her hand and smiled. "Stuart will not raise his hand against me."

B.B. sighed leaving the room. Emily hid herself in the corner.

"What do you want, Stuart?" John asked. "Shouldn’t you be off abusing your station somewhere, Babcock?"

"You had no right. We could have it all back you know." Stuart growled.

"I would do it again. Not only for what is. And what will be. But for B.B, Niles, C.C., Noel, D.D--your grandchildren? You remember them? Are you willing to risk their existence for this foolish desire?"

"Next time you use the blood. And I run into you, be prepared to answer my challenge, old man." Stuart yelled as he stormed out.

"Foolish man doesn’t know what he has." John let out a long breath as he left the room.

*******************************

Present day

"Mmm" Niles grumbled. "I’m not sure what that means." Niles, who was still a novice when it came to Fae powers, turned toward C.C.

"Don’t look at me. I’m in the dark as well. Daddy has been off on safari for the past few months. I’m not sure what is going on. Or what this could mean." C.C. sighed

*"We will be landing in London in a few minutes," The captain called out over the speaker.

"Let’s hope we aren’t making a huge mistake, C.C." Niles grumbled.

Niles, Noel, John, B.B., Emily, C.C. and baby Jacob all walked down the tarmac towards the waiting limo. Joseph Butler was waiting the party with a smile on his face.

"Grandddddddddddpa!" Emily ran up hugging Joseph.

"Hello my little fairy!" Joseph laughed hugging her tightly.

"Do you have it?" John walked over toward Joseph.

"Yes you know how odd it is carrying such a thing around town?" Joseph smirked as the rest of the party piled inside the limo.

"Marie is looking forward to see Jacob!" Joseph, who was driving, called over his shoulder. Joseph and Marie now worked for John’s old employer. A British Baron who had been treating them well.

"Marie will be caring for Jacob on our journey Niles… C.C. " John smiled.

"Where are we going?"

"Avalon of course." John laughed.

"Avalon’s gone. Long gone." C.C. grumbled. "How is this suppose to help my daughter and son? Why are we going?"

"How are we going to reach a place that no longer … exists?" Niles grumbled.

"Children…" John sighed. They had all reached John’s small home and B.B. grumbled. "I know Barbara what you are thinking but we will need a few items in the cellar."

"I can’t believe you kept this place."

"It’s been in the family since my adoptive father, Jacob Butler, acquired it. " John smirked and Niles stopped.

"Dad never told me you were … adopted?"

"He might have Niles my boy. You had a habit of not listening. What you call tall tales?" John led them all downward into the basement. "Here." He passed out some fine silks and other items. It would make them all look as they were heading to some midieval fair.

"Okay enough of this. John. What the hell are you planning and how are you going to get us to Avalon." C.C. grumbled. She was already missing Jacob who had been placed in the care of Marie and Joseph.

"Since you will not. Talk about … affairs of the bed. " John blushed, feeling Emily’s eyes on him." And how Emily came into being . "

"Mommy, what does Uncle John mean?"

"Nothing. He’s acting crazy again." C.C. explained.

"C.C. Did Stuart teach you nothing?" John eyed C.C. and Noel.

"What little he taught us was--"

"Dealing with how to use your powers to get ahead?" Niles finished smirking.

Noel and C.C. both coughed madly. John let out a long sigh. "Long ago, when Avalon was formed, the Fae people were given a gift by the goddess. The first gift was the city of Avalon protected by the magical lake. The second gift was given to the first four Magi. They were declared guardians of time because of their birth."

"Their birth? Guardians of time?" Niles laughed but C.C. shot him a look.

"Niles." C.C. began.

"Sorry." Niles answered.

"So," John continued "Blood was taken from each of the guardians and placed inside gems." John found a box and took out a ruby the size of C.C.’s fist.

"Mother of GOD!" Niles gasped and B.B. laughed

"I told you he was something more than just a servant." B.B. looked at her children who were smiling.

C.C. looked at the gem and noticed a drilled hole. "It’s empty ."

"Correct. I. Used. It’s power for something." John said while eyeing B.B.

"You used a guardian’s blood?" Noel’s jaw dropped "Aren’t they suppose to have been pure-blooded Faes?"

"For what I used it for. It was worth the price. Now little one. This is where my test comes in." John smiled at Emily. "I think you should go see what I have in the back rooms upstairs my dear."

"Uncle John. " Emily protested knowing that a grown-up discussion was coming.

"Emily." Niles eyed his daughter.

"Alright!" Emily walked up carrying her dress upstairs. "NO FUN!"

"I’m going to use a bit of your daughters blood." John looked at C.C. and Niles.

"Why…?" Niles and C.C. said in unison.

"Because sis. John thinks Dad used it to travel to Avalon." C.C. and Niles both started to laugh.

"I’m sorry this is all a little strange to me… Mother??" C.C. turned toward the normally quiet B.B.

"Trust him." B.B. said quietly.

"Mother? What’s wrong?" C.C. turned to face her mother. Even Noel looked over at his mother.

"Mom?"

"Alright, alright." Niles let out a long breath. "You had the guts to tell me the truth once before John even when I was laughing at you. Just don’t hurt her!"

"Emily!" John called out and Emily came running down stairs in her outfit. "Awww." she looked like a little princess

"Do I get a sword too?" Emily grinned.

"No." John laughed. "Your daddy, I and Noel will be handling the weapons." John leaned down and smiled. "I would suggest you all get dressed and ready while I talk with young Emily here."

C.C. and Niles looked at one another carefully. "I don’t like this Niles. You trust your uncle?"

"With my life" Niles smiled kissing C.C.’s hand "Shall I help you dress?" his hand went over her shoulder and C.C. giggled.

"Not now bell-boy" C.C. laughed and Niles left her to change. Everyone looked like figures from some legend. John opened up another chest pulling out three swords handing sword and belt to Noel and Niles.

"C.C. Barbara." He handed a dagger to C.C.

C.C. found herself remembering the words of her old Nanny. "Behind every legend there is a truth…and a lie. Okay…" C.C. hid the dagger on her upper leg causing Niles to purr madly.

"How is your Latin, Noel? Niles? C.C?" John looked at the group.

"Poor. Why?" Niles looked at the others.

"Because where we are going. Latin. Gaelic. Pictish. " John smiled. "Course you’ll find some that speak English but do not expect an easy time of it."

"If we make it there." C.C. snarled.

"Faith C.C." John leaned down and smiled at Emily. "You ready my brave one?"

"Yes." Emily held out her hand as John lightly cut the girl’s hand dripping the blood inside the hallow gem.

John and Emily both said words in Latin as the room filled with light… everyone held hands

***Stars and heavens show us the way. Read my heart and listen to my desire. Listen to my emotion guide me to dearest Avalon this day*** (Translation from Latin)

Next thing C.C. knew, she was sitting up in a grassy field. Like the one she had met Niles in her dreams. "Niles? Emily?" She found Emily picking her up carefully "Are you okay, darling?"

"Yes mama." Emily was holding her head. "You look really pretty" Emily giggled as C.C. found Noel.

"Sis?" Noel rubbed his head slowly.

"Halt!" Two painted man stepped out with the brightest blue eyes C.C. had ever seen. They spoke Gaelic.

"Noel, what are they saying?"

Noel raised his family’s crest ring similar to the one Niles had toward the men. They both nodded looking at the brother, sister and little girl. "A Fae lord!." They both bowed and Noel waved them off.

"What did they say?" C.C. was shivering. They were really REALLY in another time.

"Honest, sis, I have no idea."

"Niles!" C.C. called out. "John! Mother!"

"You look like a fairy" Niles laughed and C.C. rushed to hug him tightly "Gods I’m okay."

"Mother and John are nowhere to be found."

"Oy--this can’t be good." C.C. grumbled.

"This way!" Emily pointed toward a large lake.

"How do you know this?" Noel looked down at the little girl.

"Can’t you feel it Uncle Noel?" Emily grinned looking for her parents. "Mommy! Daddy come on!"

"You know it turns me on . Seeing you in that outfit. " Niles grumbled softly.

"Later, lover, later…" C.C. managed a weak giggle tickling his chin. The joking was to relieve both their worries. They had searched the area for both B.B. and John for at least a few hours … and found nothing.

"You really think you need those?" C.C. eyed her brother and husband.

As C.C. spoke, three men came forward with weapons drawn.

"Bandits." Noel growled.

"Wonderful! We would like all your coin now. And maybe a chance at your lady." The man, said in Gaelic, wearing some odd dogs pelt on his head pointed toward C.C.

"I’ll give you a choice. You can leave, or die now." A voice called out.

"Ah! We are seven men against two! Who dares challenge me." The man beat his chest like a wild creature while another two figures stepped from behind C.C. and Emily.

"Mother?" C.C.’s jaw dropped and B.B. smiled as a golden-armored figured walked past even Niles and Noel.

"Last chance! Leave or die." John smiled. Niles couldn’t believe what he was seeing his uncle dressed in fine golden Roman armor.

"You!" One of the bandits backed down running away while his friends followed.

"John?" B.B. came up beside him. He was standing tall as Niles, C.C. and Noel stood there in shock.

"Are they gone?" John asked weakly.

"Yes." B.B. answered, as he started to sink towards the ground.

"My God! John… Uncle John!" Niles looked towards B.B. "What’s wrong with him?"

"What’s wrong with him, Mother?" Noel looked at B.B.’s worried face.

"John. John" B.B. looked in his eyes. "Come on. You need to get up. It’s not much farther." B.B. seemed to be willing him up as John stood on his own two feet looking at B.B and then C.C.

"I did … it for … you." John managed to C.C. "The Blood for you." John stumbled forward as C.C. looked towards Niles. What the hell was John talking about? C.C. looked towards Niles as thoughts raced in her mind.

John walked toward the lake in a haze while leaning on B.B.

"What did he mean, Noel?" C.C. and Niles looked toward Noel Babcock.

"You remember Mom’s wedding right? Remember Dad came rushing in and gave John that scar below his eyes?"

"Yes?" both Niles and C.C. looked towards Noel. Was he holding something back? Noel had always been closer to mother than me… did he know something?

"Remember how he looked? He looked like a man that had never seen himself hurt before." Noel grumbled wondering about what was going on. "I have a feeling we are going to Avalon for more than just Emily."

Niles and C.C. exchanged looks of worry and fear. They all walked toward the lake stopping at three boats. "Is finding Avalon that easy?" Niles looked toward his Uncle and he shook his head.

"Emily … come here." John took the little girl’s and whispered something to her. The girl reacted and the boats had a light glow around them.

"John, are you going to be alright?" B.B. whispered.

"Each to his or her fate my dear." John said taking off his helmet. "I’m fine for now." John smiled as C.C. and Niles wondered about this mystery.

"I thought you knew everything about the Fae?" Niles whispered.

"Everything that my Nanny taught me. Niles, I have no idea what’s going on but I’m fearful." C.C. held onto him tightly.

The boat rocked up and down softly on the waves heading outward on the lake.

*************************************

"John. John." Kethry sighed. The Fae guards had taken them to face the High Magi.

"Cousin!" John hugged the woman tightly and smiled then Kethry turned to face B.B. with a smile.

Kethry hugged B.B. tightly and smiled. C.C. remembered something. She had seen Kethry at John and B.B.’s wedding.

C.C. looked at Noel. It was dawning on him as well. Niles still was unsure. "Your both guardians." C.C. said quietly.

Kethry waved her hand and her servants walked out of the room. Kethry smiled looking towards the group. "How are you feeling, John?"

"Awful." John groaned as B.B. helped him down.

"Why in the hell didn’t you tell anyone?" Noel eyed his step-father carefully "Mother, how long did you know about this?"

"Before C.C. and Niles’s wedding." B.B. blushed as they all looked at her.

"What’s a guardian?" Emily looked up.

"It’s a special type of Fae. Time travelers … Their immortality were not tied to Avalon." C.C. looked in John’s face in awe

"Expect he’s not immortal anymore." Kethry looked into John’s eyes. "You crazy man." Kethry smirked.

"No choice in coming here. Is Stuart still here, Keth?" John asked.

"Yes still trying to alter the time line too. He’s the one that have the girls talking back and forth." Kethry smiled at Emily. "You’re a smart girl."

"Thank you." Emily smiled.

"You didn’t answer any Clarie questions. Good girl!" Kethry went over toward John. "He’s here John too. I have done what you asked."

"Good." John said quietly.

"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" C.C. demanded while Niles was still shocked.

"I was the youngest of six guardians. My other family were normal members of the Fae court. I was special given the gift of time travel. I was sixteen and already knew the joy of love and the loss. So the other guardians all told me not to travel. I did so anyway out of grief. Next thing I know I wind up in the Butler backyard unable to move."

"Or travel because of the blood ties." Niles looked at his uncle.

"I stayed. Kethry did come to offer a way out…"

"Foolish man said no. " Kethry smiled. "He seemed to find a happiness here. And was rather foolish."

"We will go into that later." John sighed.

"So. Years later when I found out he was going to marry Barbara. I came seeking him yet again…. John. Stuart has told the other Magi about the crime, John."

"This is about what you did for me?" B.B. said quietly.

"What did he do?" Noel looked toward his mother.

"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answers to." John smiled at Noel. "Your Father has good reason to hate me. Normal Faes used to use Guardian blood to travel in time. " John rubbed his scar above his eye.

"He got me before I lost my immortally. "John rubbed his shoulder.

"Mother. Your doctor’s appointment before the wedding?" Noel blinked things starting to dawn on him.

"Mind telling all of us, Noel?"

Noel walked around thinking and looked back toward his mother and John. "The cups? You gave at the wedding…One to C.C., Mother, D.D., you gave one to each of the girls…Emily,Diane and Catherine… Mother. ?" Noel looked at his mother. B.B. was oddly quiet. "What happened?"

Kethry shifted watching the group. "John. John. Lost for words. Too bad the others are not here. Is this the same guardian that turned to a group of Fae warriors telling the all about the chain of command?"

"What’s the chain Uncle John?" Emily giggled.

"It’s the chain they beat you with." John and Kethry both said at the same time.

"Tell them everything." Kethry looked at the pair.

B.B. sighed she was the original ice queen that never showed weakness to any of her children was now being force into it. "I had cancer. I had breast cancer."

"Mother." C.C. said softly as Niles took her hand.

"Every time I let my heart go. Something happens." B.B. looked off. "I was dying of the cancer when they found it had spread to my lungs. "

"You were so weak at the wedding. You led people to believe you had just a cold or it was nerves." Noel stood. "Blood magic." He looked directly in John’s eyes.

"I did what I had to do. To save. People I love." John smiled softly at Noel.

"For every magic spell … a price must be paid. " C.C. said quietly.

"I changed fate. Your father was the only Fae that could tell at the wedding what was being done. He would feel the push and pulling of my blood magic spell. My immortally draining away…my blood being used . He acted before the last of it drained."

"You spilled the blood." C.C. mumbled her father’s worlds. "What price did you pay John? Don’t tell me it was just your immortally. "

"The price is my business C.C." John got up and smiled. "Keth. Do you think you can help Emily."

"You’re only giving me a week."

"Aweek should be enough time. For that and to stop Babcock." John once again tired to get up and fell back down.

"Dammit. For once tell me what is going on." C.C. growled.

"Later. Later." John was helped up by B.B. "Where Kethry?"

"Back room. Mark!" Kethry called out. "Show John and B.B. to …"

"I understand." Markus smiled helping John up

"Emily why don’t you go with them…" Emily looked toward Kethry and then at C.C. who nodded.

Kethry looked toward C.C., Noel and Niles. "Sit…" She waved toward the pillows.

"What did he give up?" C.C. demanded.

"How old did you think your uncle is?" Kethry looked toward Niles.

"Nearly seventy." Niles said softly.

"For a guardian. Life goes by. You live. Trying to find happiness while keeping other Faes from stealing your blood. Keeping them from ruining the timeline. It is a lonely life. Not much of a life. You are taken from your parents and siblings as soon as you find the gift. Your cousins become other guardians. There were six of us, each from noble families. Now, I am all that is left. When a guardian gives up his immortality, time catches up to them. Add the blood spell on top… He…He has this… Cancer. "

Niles, C.C. and Noel all looked at one another.

"We have to get home now." Niles got up.

"Niles…don’t." Kethry said softly.

"He needs to be home. He needs to be in a hospital"

"You have to allow him to follow his own path." Kethry protested.

"Why in the hell did we come here?" C.C. growled upset.

"So our path doesn’t have to be your children’s " Kethry looked toward Niles and C.C. . "Stay. Enjoy the city." Kethry smiled. "Be careful what you say to anyone. For now you are travelers. If anyone asks you are of my household. Do not wear your family rings in town."

Kethry got up. "Kethry…I’m sorry we don’t mean to be rude." Noel spoke softly.

"I understand. My servants will show you to your rooms. We will talk in the morning."

C.C. looked deeply into Niles’s eyes. "What’s wrong?" They snuggled together in a feather bed.

"There…is. No happily ever after is there?" C.C. wanted to fight the tears. Her mother had started to open up… even showed signs of becoming a caring woman. She had even learned something about why her mother turned into the bitch from hell.

"C.C… C.C. I know there is. " Niles kissed her tenderly.

"How do you know?" C.C. tasted her tears on his soft lips.

"We find it every time we make love." Niles growled softly working his way down her neck." Let me show you." Niles didn’t wait for an answer before pulling the white silk gown from her body, feeling the curves of her bare back.

"Noel….Noel. Said . We should. Be careful . Here…" C.C. groaned with desire.

"When have we followed the rules." His smile was devilish and his hand already roaming.

Niles pulled C.C. toward him. She deepened the embrace, nibbling passionately at his flesh. As they nibbled and tasted each other’s lips, C.C.’s arms wrapped around Niles’s neck. Niles slid his hands downward as he started to feel the sparks of lust C.C. was forcing into his mind were driving him crazy.

"Woman!" Niles growled as he grabbed her tightly rolling C.C. on her back as he hovered over her. "You still haven’t showed me how you do that!" Niles felt another spark forced into him as he grabbed her legs wrapping them around his waist. "I’m going to make you pay for that!"

"Alright!" C.C. giggled as Niles licked at her nipple.

John sighed softly looking out on the city. It had once been a city of wood back when the giant rings were built. The city was at it’s height of power and it was hard to imagine that in less than five hundred years it would all be gone.

"John?" B.B. hugged him tightly.

"I need you to do this for me Barbara." John looked toward his wife. "Please."

"I’m a cold woman, John." She said sadly.

"You say that, but you’re not. Please." John kissed her hands. "Everything is in order back home. "

"I didn’t do well with my own."

"We all earn another chance." John touched her cheek. "Tell them …Barbara. Tell them all of it. "

"Even Stuart?" B.B. smirked.

"Yes."

****************************

"Niles!" C.C. called out watching him in the bath house. They had been given free reign of Kethry’s home. "This is cold!"

Niles watch C.C. walked down into the water. Her creamy skin shined. "Damn woman, is it me or are you looking younger?" Niles purred dragging his wife against his lean body.

"We can’t stay here long." C.C. wiggled as Nile nibbled on her neck.

"I want a whole day in your arms" Niles groaned. " I want everything. Something about this place makes me feel so alive."

"It affects your blood." C.C. nibbled his lower lip.

"C.C." He breathed her name like a prayer against her lips as he kissed her.

"I don’t want to go to this. Meeting."

"We must. Kethry said it’s important." C.C. giggled as Niles pulled at her breast.

"I want nothing more than to bed my wife--over and over." Niles laughed. "I feel like a wild stallion."

"You acted like one last night." C.C. laughed.

"Later." Niles growled getting up out of the big pool.

"I want to know what is going on…" C.C. sighed looking at Niles. "John shouldn’t be here if he’s sick."

"He said nothing to Dad about it." Niles wrapped C.C. in the silken sheet.

"We have got to make them talk. I don’t really know my mother, Niles. My father, if he’s here, is … is…doing what? John and my mother know more than they are saying." C.C. said, leaning on Niles’s shoulder.

Niles and C.C. walked out of the room "I have set aside some of the best garments I could find" Kethry smiled she looked to be in her late 30s and was dressed in her magi robes.

"I was wondering you called John cousin yesterday?" C.C. smiled at the woman.

"In the old days. Before Rome. Before any great Kingdoms, we where striped of our parents. The guardians became our only family. The mother of this family is someone you are going to meet today." Kethry smiled softly

"Who is that?" Niles picked up an apple and smiled.

"I think you call her the Lady of the Lake?" Kethry looked over as Niles coughed madly.

"She’s real?" Niles went all white.

"Silly boy, where do you think that Fae blood comes from?" Kethry laughed. "Greetings Noel." Noel blushed at Kethry who laughed. "You look fine." She went up and straighten his belt and he blushed.

C.C. couldn’t help but laugh at her older brother. "What?" Noel looked at C.C. as Kethry left the room.

"You know that woman is like way too old for you?" C.C. teased.

"Who is too old for him?" B.B. walked in looking refreshed.

"Nothing, Mother." Noel grumbled eyeing C.C.

"Noel’s got a crush on Kethry." C.C. couldn’t help but tease him in a way it made her feel like she was in a normal family.

B.B. laughed "Yeah good luck with that one." B.B. jumped as John came in grabbing her.

"Good luck with who?" John and B.B. rarely did public forms of affection but this time he kissed his wife’s neck and B.B. smiled back softly.

Noel and C.C. exchanged looks with Niles. an unspoken agreement past between them. This was the time to figure out what had been going on between John, Stuart, and B.B. "Mother… Talk to us." C.C. said softly.

"About?" B.B. looked at her daughter it had been rare for anyone to challenge the original ice queen. John watched the attempt with mild interest. C.C. knew he had broken down B.B.’s defenses once or she would have never married the ex-servant.

"What is going on between you and dad." Noel came over to stand next to his mother.

"Your father and I always fight. It’s a game that has never gotten old." B.B. put up the cold thick ice walls around her heart.

"Won’t work, Mother. There is something more going on here." C.C. continued. "No matter what has happened in the past, you’re still our mother, dammit. We had a right to know you were sick!"

"She almost didn’t tell me." John said softly and B.B. shot him a look.

"They didn’t need to know that, John!"

"Course they did!" John groaned madly. "I love you more than life itself, Barbara, but I swear if you will not let down your guard… The great lady will show them everything." John sighed.

B.B. sighed softly. "Your father. Hates the fact I told John things I could never tell him."

"About what?" Noel and C.C. asked before another delay.

B.B. remained quiet and John looked at the pair. "What do you know about B.B.’s parents?" John said softly.

Noel and C.C. both blinked as Niles watched the event with renewed interest.

"John, we don’t really need to talk about this now." B.B. grumbled.

"For once. Let them understand." John was pushing her buttons. C.C. and Noel both watched. Their parents would normal had been screaming at one another, but John couldn’t be chased off.

B.B. took a deep breath…

********************************8

December 12, 1942

"Barbara I told you…" Lauren felt the chill of the night air rack her body. "You and Thomas need to be in bed."

"Mommy it’s cold in the apartment. " Barbara whined. "Don’t you and daddy need to rest too?"

"Mommy and Daddy need to work." She smiled looking down at her daughter. Lauren’s skin was deathly white.

"The doctor told you not to work anymore, Mommy." Barbara pouted.

"Sometimes we do what we must, child." Lauren smiled sadly looking down at Barbara. "You see that little girl?" Lauren pointed to the well dressed girl holding a woman’s hand on the sidewalk. "She doesn’t want for anything because her parents worked hard and that is what we are doing."

"Her mommy isn’t sick either." Barbara pouted again.

"I’m not going into this again with you, B.B." Her mother glared. She often used her nickname when she was mildly upset with her children.

"Mommy! Both Thomas and Daddy are coughing a lot! You are sick! Everyone should rest!"

"We will work on getting you a proper coat for Christmas." She reached down to straighten the child’s clothes as she was racked by another fit of coughing.

"Mommy?" Barbara turned as Lauren fell to the cold earth.

**************************

Avalon.

"Damn you, John." B.B. growled toward her husband as Noel, C.C. and Niles looked on with disbelief.

"Mother?" C.C. blinked unable to get her mind around the fact her socialite mother had been poor. "You never told us. " C.C. looked at B.B.’s face and could guess that her father and brother didn’t live much longer after her mother’s death.

B.B. left the room in a hurry as Noel rose up to run after his mother. "No Noel. Give her some time." John sighed.

"How in the hell did you find this out?" C.C. growled.

"John understands what it means to lose a family… if not once. But twice. " Kethry walked in the room smiling. "Going after her cousin?" John smirked walking out of the room.

"What happened to them?" Noel said softly.

"Why ask questions you already know the answer to, Noel?" Kethry sighed. "We will be leaving in a moment."

"She kept everyone at a distance all her life." Niles said to himself, remembering how much B.B. hated him.

"This doesn’t explain why Daddy hates John so much." C.C. glared at Kethry.

"My dear, it does." Kethry poured each of them a drink. "How long did it take Niles to wear down your defenses?"

"What’s your point?" Niles smirked.

"Children." Kethry smiled sadly." John told me it took him a week. How long was your father married to Barbara?"

"A lifetime." Noel said, recalling his parent’s heated fights.

"You have two men that love one woman. One of them spent years trying to break down her defenses. And another comes along and is able to do so within a few weeks?" Kethry sat down and smiled. "Males are funny creatures. They have fragile egos."

Both Niles and Noel choked on the wine. "So that wouldn’t explain why Daddy’s here… what is he doing exactly?" C.C. laughed watching her husband and brother try to recover.

Kethry shifted a.bit. "Sticking it to John."

"Oh brother." C.C. rolled her eyes. Three finely dressed guards walked in the room bowing toward Kethry.

"Magi Kethry, the great Lady is ready for them now." One of the guards spoke softly and Kethry nodded.

"Go ahead and take Niles, C.C.,--EMILY!" Kethry called out and the little girl came running. "and Noel" She smiled making Noel blush again. "I’ll be along with John and Barbara in abit."

"My Lady said all." The guard shifted nervously.

"I’ll take the heat for you, guardsman. She’s already upset with me anyway." Kethry got up and smiled.

"I wanted to stay and play!" Emily pouted.

"You’ll get to play when we get back my dear." Kethry took the little girl’s hand and smiled.

They walked down a staircase that seemed to head downward toward Hades. "How far under the city does this go?" Niles looked around.

"Far." Kethry smiled. "I grew up in these caves … John, Merlin, and Me. The others had more of a free reign of the city."

"Did you say Merlin!" Emily giggled. "Is he around?"

"No, my dear." Kethry let out a long sigh. "No one is sure what happened to him."

C.C. saw the loneliness on Kethry’s face. "We six . With all the power in the world. Have always wanted a family to love."

"Why don’t you leave. Keth?" Noel said softly and Kethry smiled back.

"Sometimes you have to stand your ground. At least for the time being." Kethry walked forward as everyone noticed the underground lake and altar before it. "You can go. " She said to the guards softly.

The guards all walked away bowing, leaving one torch to light up the place.

Kethry fell to one need signaling for the others to follow suite as a light came ashore. The Lady of the Lake was the only full-blooded Fae alive. The water started to form into a blue-skinned woman. Her eyes deep blue, her hair white as crystal, she smiled at the group. "I take it John is running late?" her voice sounded like musical notes that hung in the air.

"Yes great lady." Kethry keep her eyes downcast.

"I will see them separately then." The Lady hovered over C.C. Slowly she lifted C.C.’s face to stare into her eyes. "Ahh, the one with all the passion in her soul." She smiled at C.C. "I see it, child, no reason you have to hide it from me."

C.C. felt the woman’s deep blue eyes on her looking at her soul and shivered. "Yes, my lady." C.C. felt shy next to this powerful woman.

"Do you know what makes a guardian a special type of Fae?" The lady leaned down to look at Emily. "Born of pure love. Heightens the power. It boils the blood…Magic is created from every emotion we feel. Do you know that, young one?"

"Yes my lady." Emily’s voice was soft.

"You could see things. That you would only dream of." she whispered inside Emily’s ear.

"She could lose it all in the process." John was walking down the stairs in a hurry. "I want you to step away from her NOW." John growled.

"My dear John, such harsh words." The woman looked at her student.

"Harsh? Great lady you have no idea how harsh I can be." John growled. "She stays with her family you understand?"

"My dear, I understand." The woman acted hurt. "They could refill the guardian ranks. You know this…"

"They are not … cattle . Damn it Minar. You can’t use them like that. She will be trained, but she will stay put. "

"The guardian ranks are thin, John. And with you … in your state. " The lady came up touching his chin. "I could take it all away. You know this?"

"I have cancer in my left kidney/ Hell, I’m an old lion. I can handle anything." John grumbled. "This was my choice you can’t pull people I love anymore away from me."

The lady looked down at C.C. and sighed. "He hasn’t explained it to you so I will…. John and Merlin always had a habit of telling half truths. He gave up his immortality, true enough. As his body ages and he feels the pains of old age. Do you remember the first time you cut yourself?" She looked toward the group and paced around John like a hunter stalking prey. "This man had stood before Rome herself fighting for me."

"Funny thought I was fighting for Avalon." John smirked. "Minar . Don’t play games with my family here. Not anymore."

"Are you still bitter John? Have you told this little treasure." She went up to raise B.B.’s chin. "Ahhhh I see it child. The pain. Much like John’s eyes. You could have had it all John. Instead you choose … Not only one human over me. But two…. You know my children what is in the heart of our blood…passion nothing a human could understand…Passion that is from the core of your soul."

"Please…" B.B. got up off her knee. "Let’s get to the freaking point." B.B. Babcock hated waiting for the other shoe to drop. "You owe John. He needs your help. He isn’t asking for much. You owe him this. Help us stop Stuart. Heal John. "

"Well, well. The kitten has claws. " The lady laughed. "Well, well a human with bite."

"Help us or let us go. Otherwise, stay the hell out of our way. " B.B. snarled looking her nose down at the immortal.

"Wow." Kethry looked on in awe.

"I like you." The Fae smiled. "Alright, Stuart Babcock is the masked advisor for the queen. There is little doubt once he knows you are here. I will do what I can for John." The lady smirked at B.B.

"Thank you." B.B. said softly.

"C.C. and Niles stay here… Don’t worry I will not hurt them. Much." The lady smiled towards John and B.B. when Emily skipped toward her grandmother.

"You two are a handful. Stand up." She said as Niles and C.C. exchanged looks. "I know what you been doing, C.C. You like to call yourself?" She eyed C.C. "Each Fae has a talent. You use yours to push his buttons."

C.C. couldn’t help but smile. "Yes."

"You push all your desires inside his body. All the longing. Passion. Lust. " She smiled at C.C. "For a creature that kept her feelings hidden behind verbal combat for so long I’m wondering how you kept it all bottled up…and you!" She walked over to Niles.

"Yes ?" Niles tilted his head with a boyish smile.

"Such a handsome creature. Same desires. Same passion" The lady laughed. "You know there is an old legend that spoke of how men and women became separated . And how they search for their other half… Only the feel of our other half could make one whole. Do you know how rare it is to find one’s true soul mate?"

C.C. and Niles both blushed.

"Every child you have will be special…Remember that. I know what you are thinking. I’m too old to have yet another child." The lady once again stopped in front of C.C. "In your forties now. It matters not." She smirked at C.C. "Drink with me."

She passed the wine to C.C. and Niles. "A gift." They looked to one another and sipped the wine. "Enjoy your evening." The Lady in the Lake smiled towards them as C.C. felt the room grow oddly warm.

Niles felt flushed. Walking back up the stairs he felt every pour every nerve…"C.C." Niles groaned grabbing her, dragging her toward a crack in the wall. C.C. was powerless to fight back feeling the effects as well. It was if they both existed in a dream world. Lovemaking to them was always a drug. Hell, it had been more than a drug since Niles had taken her on top of Maxwell’s desk. It was the only time she felt, she was home… safe…

Niles paid homage to her body, worshiping every inch of her until C.C. was lost in him. As they moved toward one another, C.C. pushed aside all her fears. Nothing and no one existed beyond the tight circle of paradise they found together. The rest of the word be damned. For now there was only the two of them, a man and a woman, clinging to each other in passion and desperation. Niles ripped at her silks, both of them unable to climb the stairs. Unable to make it even out of the Lady of the Lake’s lair. C.C. then felt it. Something of the blood boiling in her skin. Is this how Faes felt? Ruled by passion. Ruled by the lusting in one’s heart. "Niles. We--" C.C. could barely talk. His tunic was now ripped as she licked madly at his chest. This was more erotic than the dreaming they encountered early in the relationship. Niles forced the dress upward enjoying the fact she wore no underwear in this age. C.C. let out a giggle knowing his kilt had no tiresome underwear either. C.C. felt him forcefully thrust into her like a madman on a drug. Niles needed to feel her. Needed C.C. around him so badly right now. The merging of souls meant everything. C.C. shivered as she felt his release.

"Dear God, what did she give us?" Niles panted, letting C.C. go.

"Whatever it was. It felt wonderful." C.C. couldn’t help but laugh. "Seems like we’ve been down here a while. We’d better get going."

Kethry was standing next to Noel who was blushing again. "Why are you doing that?" Kethry smirked brushing her hand against his cheek.

"It’s…odd I have never had a beautiful lady talk about the joys of sodapops and sex the way you do." Noel turned a deeper shade of red, while Kethry laughed.

"A good soda. Is better than sex. " Kethry sipped at the hot coke smiling.

"You must not be doing it with the right person." John smirked walking in the room "Where the hell are they?"

"I’m sure they will be back soon John, relax old man." Kethry smirked as Emily ran inside the room followed by another little boy.

"Emily, what are you doing?" John blinked "William?" He looked at the children.

"Hide. and seek. " The small boy had John’s bright blue eyes but dark hair.

"Well, be careful." John smiled softly." What did she do to you?" John noticed C.C. sneaking back inside.

"Nothing, Uncle. Pardon us." Niles laughed. dragging C.C. away.

John sighed. "I worry about those two."

"C.C. and Niles seem like nice people. John. They will be alright." Kethry smiled sadly.

"Yeah. I hope so. They have no idea how deeply tied they are to one another." John grumbled.

"Life bound?" Kethry lifted her head a bit.

"Yeah. you see it, too. The blood boils in every Fae for that kind of partnership." John smirked.

"You have that with Barbara, you know." Kethry smiled looking back to a quiet Noel. "What?"

"I am wondering what are we going to do about dad? Is he here? When can we see him?" Noel sighed loudly.

"Stuart will be placing me under arrest. I think you call it. Tomorrow." John grabbed an apple leaving the room and Noel’s jaw dropped.

"Why?" Noel looked at Kethry.

"In this land. There is no divorcing. So, in a real way. Stuart came here. To—"

"He’s spoiling for a fight?" Noel blinked

"Yeah, As they say in your century . Hold on to your seats, it’s going to be a rough night." Kethry smirked.

Noel couldn’t help but release a worried laugh.

C.C. looked out on the city. Avalon was a mixture of something eastern and modern. "Avalon. The jewel of the three islands." John walked up beside C.C. "Your eyes have that look. Like your mother’s."

"How did you …reach my mother?" C.C. turned to face her step-father.

John sighed, putting his hands behind his back. "When I was no more than a boy of fifteen I was in love… The girl was Pictish and a foe. I had already been torn from my parents… Guardians lead a quiet life rarely seeing one’s true family. I saw my parents and my other siblings only once. Kat was everything. This girl had the courage of a thousand Roman legionaries. " John sighed looking across the room.

"What happened?" C.C. gave him a sad smile.

"I was…so in love. Until the great Lady pushed her away, and married her off to a lord." John sighed. "You must understand this is a different age C.C… After she was married I had to give up on the dream. I ran…. "

"Ran into the future." C.C. looked at his sad eyes.

"Once a guardian had entered a time they can’t go back. I could not go back to her. Once I ended up in the Butler’s garden. I was trapped." John smiled. "I found my siblings once more in Joseph." John smiled. "No, no. Joseph is not my real brother, but he replaced the two I had been forced to leave."

"You understand my mother. How did this gain her trust when my father failed?"

"Pain knows pain. Your father allowed her to push him away. I did not. And she did try, C.C."

"Are you going to hurt my father?" C.C. was still loyal to the only parent that had shown her kindness.

"No. My only hope is that one day you might forgive her." John frowned.

"You know what you’re asking?"

"Yes. It will come in time C.C. there is still hope as long as we are alive." John smiled looking to the doorway. "Yes, Kethry?"

"Stuart Babcock is around. He wants to see you and B.B. and, interesting enough, he has no idea C.C. and Niles are here." Kethry smirked. "He’s standing in the meeting chamber."

"Barbara knows and--" Kethry blinked hearing Stuart yell. "You better hurry."

John smirked "It’s best you show Niles and C.C. the peep holes." John moved past Kethry.

"You have no right woman, coming here. You should take your husband and leave." Stuart bellowed. He was wearing his fox furs along with a fox mask he was carrying.

"I have every right to be here." Barbara contested.

"Yes b--"

"I would mind your tongue, sir." John walked in the door.

"John, I can speak anyway I want to my WIFE."

"Oddly enough, I think the lady can speak for herself." John snickered sitting down.

"Stuart, come home. Leave this place behind." B.B. looked at him. "Stuart, you don’t understand what harm you can, and are, doing! You sent the Fae Princess to talk with our granddaughter." B.B. circled around him. "Are you trying to undo everything? Our children, Stuart?" B.B. looked at him worried.

"It wasn’t up to him to save them." Stuart grumbled at John. "It’s my family"

"I wasn’t taking your place Stuart." John said softly.

"You had no right!" Stuart eyed him with a hate. "You should have damn well told me about the cancer you foresaw and not acted."

Niles looked to C.C. and it dawned on him while watching John, B.B. and Stuart. He saw C.C. and his daughter getting the cancer that threaten to take B.B.’s life.

"C.C., you remember that check up you had after Jacob was born?" Niles whispered and C.C. nodded. The doctor had commented how good C.C.’s health was. That of a twenty-year-old. Or so the doctor said.

"I don’t know, Niles." C.C. answered.

"I will see you brought before the queen and answer the charges of taking another Fae’s wife." Stuart wanted revenge that was clear.

"Stuart!" B.B.’s cry was sharp.

"I hope you are feeling up to a fight, old man" Stuart warned, leaving the room.

John sighed, looked to his wife and held her tight. "So, things will start to get interesting."

"What did you do to me? Did you make us immortal?" C.C. came in the room.

John laughed. "No, my dear. But I promise you’ll never suffer from ill health yet you can die of old age. Like any of us."

"What is going to happen now, Uncle John?" Niles looked over at his uncle worried.

"Now, Stuart will have me arrested, and we will see."

***************************

"Sit down, Barbara." Kethry sighed.

"I can’t." B.B. looked outside. "So they are going to come here?"

"Yes. Since you are the… mmm…. woman in question, they will ask you did you marry Stuart." Kethry frowned. "You must remember you’re dealing with a different era than modern times."

"John looked so pale when they took him last night." B.B. picked up little William and C.C. blinked.

"I think that is the first time I have ever seen you pick up a child." C.C. smiled.

"Really?" B.B. blinked and William giggled in her arms.

"Dadieo!" William kissed B.B. and hopped down leaving B.B. to blush and Emily giggled.

"That’s not true, Momma! Grandma has held me before." Emily took William’s hand and ran out.

"Most likely it will be an honor fight. If I know John it will be hand-to-hand." Kethry paced a bit.

"My punch to my Uncle’s bad kidney and he’ll be down." Niles frowned and sighed. "If John wins, Stuart will have to give in to one of his wishes?"

"That’s correct." Kethry smiled noticing Noel walking in the door.

"Niles." C.C. eyed her husband.

"And anyone can stand in John’s place who is blood related?" Niles mumbled remembering the rules Kethry had gone over …and over….and over.

"Niles….dust bucket. Get that idea out of your head." C.C. snarled still remembering his heart attack.

"Listen Caca….mm…er, " Niles looked into C.C.’s worried eyes and, for the first time in a long time, words failed him. "Yes dear." Niles sighed letting go of his idea.

"NOW PRESENTING! The queen’s justice! Lord Karan!" The silver-armored guard tapped his metal.

The man had long blond hair and deep eyes. He looked over at Kethry and smiled. "Lady Magi!" He leaned over to kiss Kethry’s hand. "Or should I say Lady Guardian?"

"Lady Kethry will do." Kethry shifted uneasily as Noel let out a soft growl. "Karan, you hold my cousin in the tower why should I even allow you to keep him there?"

"I think it’s because of your oath. This John might not have kept his Guardian oath but you have." Karan looked at Kethry.

"Barbara, pick your words carefully." Kethry whispered to B.B. Kethry’s eyes went to Niles, who nodded.

"Ahhh, Lady Barbara! Oooo a human I see." Karan walked over kissing her hand. "Are you Roman? You have that look."

"What of it?" B.B. eyed the man.

"You are truly a rare beauty, but I must ask you this. Are you married to Lord Stuart?"

"Do you see me by his side now?" B.B. said softy.

"No" Karan smirked looking at the woman. "For a human, you are hard to read." He waved a hand at her. "Alright Kethry, you have either taught her well or--"

"She’s telling you the truth?" Kethry smirked.

Karan frowned. "Honor fight then… bloody mess the last one if you remember." Karan sighed looking at the group.

"We all have our jobs to do. It will be hand-to-hand knowing John." Kethry waved her hand leading him out.

"Don’t you even think about it." C.C. looked at Niles again.

"Well love, it would be one way to make sure either one of them got hurt." Niles took C.C.’s hand and smiled.

"Niles …NILES." C.C. followed Niles out into the bedroom they had been using.

"Yes?"

"Oy, at least Fran isn’t here." C.C. sighed having a sick feeling that Fran would be on Niles’s side.

Niles kissed her softly and smiled. "It will be alright love, I promise." Niles kissed her again dragging her body toward his. C.C. was blinded once again by passion something about the air in Avalon that could heighten the response of her own body. Niles’s hand ran down reaching under her dress to feel the soft skin. "I have always wondered how many times I could make you scream my name in one day." Niles teased picking her up.

C.C. felt her body shiver at his words. In the back of her mind she knew Niles was distracting her from the fight issue. His hands now removing her gown showing off her freed breasts. "Nilesss…" C.C. was panting, trying to focus.

"Just give into it, C.C." Niles groaned fighting a battle of wills.

"Promise me. No one will get hurt. " C.C. begged, now pulling at his tunic.

"Woman, do you have to fight about everything?" Niles ran his lips down toward her breasts. "No more fighting. At least not right now." The look at her curvy naked body was his undoing. Niles grabbed C.C. roughly, and C.C. let out a playful snarl.

"Bring it on, bell boy!" C.C. purred. She grabbed a handful of his tunic pulling it off over this head. C.C. felt like she was tasting wine every time she kissed Niles’s lips.

"I wonder what is under a man’s kilt" C.C. laughed as Niles pulled her onto his lap she rubbed up against his groin. Niles wrapped the gray blanket around C.C. and smiled.

"Daddy!" Emily came in the doorway and C.C. quietly groaned.

"I’ll be with you in a moment, Em." Niles smiled and laughed at C.C.

"You have a natural talent to know when she’s going to come in." C.C. smirked looking at Niles. "You are not off the hook" She narrowed her eyes looking at Niles.

"I know. I know."

*******************************

Niles grumbled looking at his uncle. "All it will take is one kidney punch and Stuart will have you on the ground, John."

"Niles, this is my problem." John said, dressing up in the hawk mask.

"You and Stuart are in this pissing contest because you helped his family. I am apart of your damned family" Niles grumbled.

"No, Niles that is final, this is my problem." John turned his back and suddenly the world went dark.

The Fae had a small field outside of Avalon they used to settle disagreements. It was thought too much negative emotion would ruin the city’s magical barrier. The field looked like a modern-day sporting arena. Since they had been the guests of Kethry her party had to wear masks. Guardians often kept their identity secret, but now Kethry’s hand been forced.

Kethry rolled her eyes at some people bowing." Odd… I’m going to have to leave this time soon." Kethry sighed and Noel smiled.

"Why not come back with us?" Noel smiled taking her soft hand.

"You’re married Noel, if I recall." Kethry smirked.

"He’s not." C.C. smirked walking up behind him. "He hasn’t been able to take that ring off." Kethry looked down to notice the ring was tightly around Noel’s finger.

"It is on tight." Kethry teased pulling at his wedding ring. Noel blushed looking at Kethry’s soft green eyes. "To answer your coming question …No I have never been married." Kethry smirked as Noel’s jaw hit the floor.

C.C. blinked looking around. "Have any of you seen Niles?"

"He went to talk with John." Noel looked around for his mother and mumbled.

"She’ll be okay." Kethry smiled and C.C. let out a laugh.

"What?" Noel blinked, looking at his sister.

C.C. leaned over and whispered softly in his ear. "Big brother has a crush."

Noel looked behind him and growled. C.C. couldn’t help but laugh. She was happy that Emily had stayed behind. "I have a bad feeling."

"You always worried too much, sister." Noel smirked.

"Yeah, but would you like to bet that this is going to go poorly? Or there will be a twist?" C.C. smiled at her brother.

"Let see, I already have your horse… how about that townhouse in France you never use." Noel wiggled his eyebrows toward his sister.

"If I win I want my damn horse back!" C.C. snarled at her brother.

"Deal!" Noel smiled, taking his sister’s hand.

"Here comes your father." Kethry pointed out the man dressed as a fox. C.C. reached up to adjust her butterfly mask and looked to Noel.

"It will be alright." Noel placed a soft hand on C.C.’s shoulder and smiled.

The crowd started to cheer on Stuart when he gave flowers to the young princesses. "He’s playing up the crowd… Your father is good." Kethry sighed walking down to the man covered in a hawk mask. Kethry went down C.C. noticed Kethry’s look of fear.

"Noel." C.C. touched Noel’s hand and he looked up.

"OATHBREAKER!" Stuart pointed over to the hawk-masked man. The Queen’s justice came out on the field standing between the men.

"Both have been tested. Both have the blood! The first Fae to fall on his back. Will be judged by the goddess to have the truer claim."

"Oathbreaker, I name thee. You and your kin." Stuart raised his fists to the man swinging.

"Niles." C.C. mumbled blinking…It has to be Niles! C.C. pulled off her mask looking out in the field.

"Sis?" Noel looked at his sister’s white face. Stuart managed to land a few blows to the kidneys and was shocked when the man didn’t fall down. The punches came fast and faster as Stuart couldn’t believe his foe had that much energy left. The blows pushed the hawk man’s body while he moved around like a modern-day boxer.

"Niles." C.C. felt her eyes start to water. You crazy, stupid, noble… bell boy. What about your health. C.C. was still holding on to the fear that Niles’s heart problems could resurface.

"Dear mother." Kethry watched …"How in the hell is Niles able to take that kind of punishment without fighting back."

C.C. heard Niles in the back of her mind. Years of practice. C.C. almost laughed thinking about his retort. Fear overcame her as she saw Stuart’s fist smash a part of the hawk mask. Stuart had a stunned look on his face noticing the man he had been beating up was indeed his son-in-law. Niles quickly acted and with one quick punch knocked him on his back.

"The matter is over!" Karan called out lifting Niles’s hand to the sky. "He is yours … you will have one day to ask a wish of him." Karan then let go of Niles’s hand and bowed.

Niles already felt his body swell up. Niles stumbled to C.C. and Kethry raced to him as Noel collected his father. "To my house…now." Kethry moved quickly opening up a gate that ported them directly inside her home.

"My God…. Why are you here?" Stuart eyed Noel who had taken off his mask.

"I could ask you that same question, Dad." Noel smirked looking at his father taking the bandages to clean his father’s face.

"My God." B.B. walked in looking at Niles’s beat-up body. "I should kill you." She growled.

"Mother, not now." C.C. growled looking at the bruises across his chest. "You stupid foolish…. Pain in the--"

"Neck butler." Niles laughed finishing her sentence. "B.B., is John alright?"

"You gave him a blow to the head, Niles." B.B. snickered. "He is laying down now. I…I….Thank you. " B.B. grumbled and Niles laughed.

"You’re welcome, Auntie!" Niles knew she hated when he did that. This time B.B. let the Butler’s comment pass.

Niles looked at C.C.’s eyes. "You’re going to pay for this. I hope you understand." C.C. pushed playfully on one of his blue marks and Niles grumbled.

"Yes, Yes, Caca." Niles smirked feeling his right eye now swelling enough to lose feeling.

"Noel, help me get him to his room." C.C. looked to her brother and he nodded. "Another thing! I get my damn horse back."

"Wait, Stuart." Niles looked over at the man lying on the floor pillows. "You’re coming home with us." Niles smirked as Noel walked him out.

"Thanks bro." C.C. smiled as Noel walked to the door.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be keeping an eye on him. Tonight." Noel winked walking out the doorway.

"Hurting all over." Niles groaned.

"Can I kiss it and make it better?" C.C. grinned, teasing him.

"Here." Niles pointed to his lips as C.C. kissed him tenderly. Niles smiledm he was enjoying the pain of her leaning on his body.

C.C. kept up her tender kisses as Niles moved his hands to pull her fully on top of him. "Careful, those marks look painful." C.C. purred as Niles forced her legs apart. C.C. couldn’t help but giggle.

"Woman, don’t tease me again!" Niles grinned.

"Bell boy, you always did talk too much." C.C. smirked as Niles removed her gown with a smile. He used his mouth to shut hers. Niles groaned softly as he felt the bruises on his chest ache. C.C.’s skin felt so soft and smooth. Better than any ice pack could have helped. C.C. moved slowly releasing him from his clothes with care.

"C.C." he whispered softly running his hands in her hair as she finally removed his kilt.

"Make love to me." C.C. purred as Niles moved his hips to join with her. Both of them shivered madly, the feel of their joining was maddening. At that moment Niles no longer felt this aching body but the heat of her lips on his. C.C. forced Niles to slow down his movement wanting to enjoy the moment. She didn’t want to risk any more bruising. Niles buried his lips along her neck as they both gave into the soft rocking motion. The tenderness was heartbreaking. C.C. had often liked forceful lovemaking. They both had, over the years, taking the verbal banter into the bedroom but this went beyond that. C.C. felt her body shiver as Niles sucked lightly on her nipple. The release was so tender, it nearly made C.C. cry…. Nearly…

"Babs. You are truly evil." Niles smiled at her looking at his wife’s deep blue eyes.

"Takes one to know one." C.C. laughed as Niles slowly wrapped her in his arms.

*********************************

"Pain in the ass." John growled at Niles who smirked. Niles couldn’t see out of one eye since it was swollen shut. John’s head was wrapped in silken bandages. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"You’re welcome." Niles couldn’t help but smirk. "So you know." Niles lifted his tunic shirt showing off the black and blue marks along his lower chest. "He was aiming for the kidneys."

John sighed. "If Minar would keep her promise that wouldn’t be a problem."

Niles handed his uncle an apple and smiled. They both noticed a giggling Kethry followed by a panting Noel. "Hello?" Kethry smiled.

"Hey, that’s not fair! I want an answer!" Noel walked up noticing Niles and John watching them.

"Yeah, Keth, we want an answer, too." John smirked looking at his friend.

Kethry made a face and grumbled. "The answer is …maybe." Kethry ran off leaving a grumbling Noel.

"Damnit. She’s just like you, John. She will not give me a clear answer." Noel sighed pulling up a pillow next to a smiling Niles.

"So you do have a crush!" Niles smirked remembering the pillow talk he had with C.C. last night.

"Uh Oh." John smirked. "Well…if the question is will she come with us. She can no longer stay here."

"Why?" Noel and Niles both did a double take.

"Because… Guardians are seen as gods. And we are not." John smirked. "Merlin was driven away because of his failure with Arthur. I was pushed away, because of the love I had for a foe. Faes, no matter how strong the blood is, are human." John smirked.

"Except the Lady of the Lake." Noel laughed.

"I’ll give you a hint, Noel, she does have drops of human blood in her soul. Minar makes mistakes like the rest of the Fae people. Years from now she’ll be driven to sleep… until World War One." John shifted trying to get comfortable.

"Two more days." B.B. walked in carrying William in her arms. The two-year-old boy was asleep. B.B. passed the young boy over to a smiling John. "You look awful." B.B. smirked at Niles.

"Thanks" Niles answered, shifting a bit. "Noel, have you seen C.C. this morning?"

"She was out in the garden picking flowers with Em."

Niles got up slowly with a moan. "Remind me next time…." Niles looked at John. "To let you handle your own messes."

"I told you, boy!" John laughed, then held his own aching head.

C.C. was laughing while leaning down listening to Emily’s silly jokes. "Now my dear you’ll have to tell Jacob that when we get back."

"And the twins!" Emily giggled.

"Tell them what?" Niles felt the pain of the bright sun on his sore face.

"Daddy! You look bad, Daddy!" Emily ran up then carefully hugged her father’s leg.

"Thank you, my dear!" Niles laughed leaning down hugging his child.

"Are you okay?" C.C. said softly.

"I’ll be fine!"

"Liar!" C.C. growled.

"Well … maybe." Niles smirked. "You miss Jacob."

"Yes I do." C.C. sighed as Emily hugged her mother’s leg.

"It’s okay, Mommy! We only got two more days here. We’ll be home soon."

"I think this journey has been educational." Niles laughed as C.C. smirked. "We got the chance to see Avalon in it’s full glory."

"I got the chance to see my father act insane." C.C. grumbled softly.

"I’m sorry, Kitten." Stuart Babcock walked in the sunlight slowly.

"Niles… I thought…" Stuart had a look of shame on his face.

"I know. Do not worry about it." Niles smiled taking Emily’s hand. "Come on my dear let’s go looking for Kethry… and give your grandfather and mother a chance to talk."

"Okay!" Emily smiled leading her father onward.

C.C. looked up into her father’s eyes. "Why? Don’t give me the reasons…I heard your argument with mother and John… Daddy I want to know why."

Stuart sat down next to his daughter. "I remember the little girl…who used to come to me when she broke a nail. You always turned to me more than D.D. or Noel." Stuart took C.C.’s hand. "I found out B.B. was sick when she passed out in my arms." Stuart’s eyes grew dim. "She would never let me past the barrier to her heart. I so wanted to know more, but…" Stuart looked downward.

"She shut you out. Like she did all of us."

"Then… I think John was able to see a time when all my girls would be stricken with cancer. So before I was able to act. He did. "

"Daddy, you didn’t fail me." C.C. smiled lifting his chin up. "I love you. I think even mother wants you to be happy."

"I wanted to get it all back… the glory. I took something from John I shouldn’t have…I was wrong. "

"Then give it back to him." C.C. took her father’s hand. "I’m your daughter, Daddy, no matter what."

"Remember, Kitten, you’re Barbara’s child, too." Stuart smiled and both shared a laugh.

********************************

That night had been uneasy with John, B.B. and Stuart all in the same room. C.C. shifted around noticing Niles was in a great deal of pain.

"Niles are you okay?" Stuart looked at his son-in-law with a great deal of guilt.

"You didn’t have to hit me so hard" Niles smirked.

"You wouldn’t stop moving!" Stuart snickered, joking back.

"You should see him in bed." C.C. teased and the group started to laugh.

"SIS! I didn’t need to hear that." Noel coughed up some roast pig he was eating.

"You know…Brother. If you worked a little harder. I think that ring would indeed come off." C.C. whispered and Noel blushed.

"Are you okay?" Kethry looked at C.C.

"I’ll be alright when we get home." C.C. smiled and a large bell ran out across the city.

Kethry and John both jumped up.

"What was that?" B.B. looked at her husband.

"Kethry. Remind me again what year this is?" John mumbled, looking at the woman.

"565 A.D. I think. Kethry went pale realizing something. "By the goddess… I totally forgot John!" Kethry looked at Stuart who was grumbling.

"Saxons! Saxons! Saxons outside the city!" someone called outside the household. Stuart pressed something into John’s hand and he smiled.

"Thank you." John shook Stuart’s hand.

"I was wrong." Stuart’s voice was barely a whisper.

"No… You did what you thought was right. I would do no less." John kissed B.B.’s hand.

"What’s wrong???" Noel whispered into Kethry’s ear.

"Trouble." Kethry pulled at John who whispered something into B.B.’s ear.

"I’m going with you!" Niles and Noel both tried to follow and were stopped.

John stopped as Noel followed Kethry . "Niles." He smiled, looking into his eyes. "I see the boy, I once knew in the man that stands before me. No nephew, there are some places you can’t follow." John smiled walking downward.

"What are you going to do?" Noel pulled on Kethry’s arm.

"My duty!"

"Please don’t risk your life." Noel frowned.

"What do you want from me?" Kethry asked, looking into his eyes.

"I want you to love and to be loved and, most of all I want you to be happy." Noel pulled her into a heated kiss both came up for air. "Please…Please come back in one piece."

John let out a light cough. Noel blushed and moved back towards the living room of Kethry’s house. John gave Kethry a fatherly look. "Is it time for the birds and the bees talk young lady?" John purred as he followed Kethry into her armory room.

"Stuff it." She snarled. "We have a job to do. And yes I still have it, old man."

"Are they going to be alright?" C.C. turned to her father.

"I don’t know. The Saxon’s will later become allies to the Fae. Only after. "

"They face powerful troops……John and Kethry??" Noel said walking into the room. "Dear God, what kind of power do they have, Mother?"

Everyone’s eyes focused on B.B. "John talked about a power of transformation." B.B.’s eyes looked around the room.

"We can go see the fight from Kethry’s tower." Noel added as C.C. jumped up. C.C. wondered exactly how Noel knew of this tower as everyone went slowly up the long stair case. Niles and B.B. had both stayed behind to watch after the children. At first C.C. wondered if it was a good idea, but relented when Niles swore he would be on his best behavior.

"I think I know why John wanted to know the date." Stuart whispered to C.C.

"Why?" C.C. turned to face her father so Noel wouldn’t hear.

"It’s a poem about the guardian’s in court…." Stuart sighed.

"Six once stood by the lady’s side.

One disappeared due to human king’s fate.

One fell into darkness’s side.

One fell for a human’s bait.

One held the oath to be true.

One saw a lover’s doom.

One gave up all to give the queen her due.

Three shall come in the end.

Avalon will be safe but the guardians power will be at an end."

C.C. blinked. "Are they going to die?" C.C. couldn’t help it she said that aloud and Noel looked around.

"What?" Niles who had decided to join them climbed up to stand next to Stuart. The battle had already started as the Saxons horn sounded in the valley. The armies were on the shore of the lake. C.C. grabbed for Niles’s hand and he held it tightly. "So we can’t help them."

"Like hell." Noel grumbled leaving the tower.

"Noel …! Son don’t!" Stuart walked downward trying to grab him. Niles who was still suffering for the beating Stuart gave him managed to catch up with Noel.

"Don’t try to stop me, Niles."

"Stop you? Hell, I’m going with you. " Niles smirked looking at his face.

"C.C. will kill you."

"Yes. But the making up with her will be worth it." Niles smiled as Noel blushed again.

"I wish you and my sister were not so open about your sex life." Noel grumbled leaving the home.

"Now Noel…It’s fun to tease you." Niles laughed placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kethry seems like a good woman. I’m sure she’ll be okay."

"Let’s hope so."

Niles felt the flash of anger that C.C. was directing his way and sighed.

"Niles’s, I’ll be fine on my own." Noel had put on a breast plate as other’s around them started to arm up.

"I’m not letting you go alone." Niles smirked putting on the helmet. "If I die . You’ll have to answer to your sister. " Noel managed a weak laugh.

"Idiots!" Stuart Babcock was behind them growling. "Like hell you’re leaving me here alone."

"Dad!" Noel turned to hug his father.

"You’re insane! Kethry is a pain in the ass, do you know that?" Stuart grabbed the nearest sword and smiled.

"Yes. But I’m in love with her…." Noel blinked at his words.

Niles felt the city shake under his feet. "Well Babcock… lets go do something stupid." Niles smirked.

"All the stupid! Bull-headed!" C.C. was pacing as her mother watched.

"My dear. Sit down."

"Mother I don’t understand how you can be so …so…"

"Cold?" B.B. smirked looking into C.C.’s eyes.

"I wasn’t going to say that!" C.C. growled as Emily and William watched the two women.

"C.C… I know your view on me. " B.B. sighed looking at her youngest daughter.

"Mother. How in the heck can you know? You didn’t take much of an interest until after you married John!" C.C. sighed.

"I’m sorry." B.B. said so softly that C.C. did a double-take.

"Pardon me?" C.C. blinked. One of the most important Babcock rules was never apologize for anything.

"I’m sorry. For everything my dear." B.B. looked up into her daughter’s face with such tenderness it took C.C. back.

"Mother, I didn’t mean. " C.C. looked at her mother’s wounded eyes.

"Yes, you did. I closed my heart off to everyone. I pushed you. Your siblings and your father. I am sorry my dear Chastity." B.B. took her hand and started to softly weep.

"Mother." C.C. held her mother tightly. "He’s going to be alright."

"When Niles, Stuart and Noel come back… we must go to Minar. And leave." B.B. hugged C.C. tightly.

"John and Kethry?"

"They will have to make it out of here on their own. They said as much to me before they left."

.

Niles had felt lucky that he had taken the fencing classes at Oxford. It seemed silly to him at the time to take the activity but Maxwell had pushed him into it. Niles made a mental note to thank his employer and friend… if he managed to make it back home in one piece. Niles, Noel and Stuart all road out on horseback to join in on the battle.

It was of mess of Fae warriors in blue, and Saxon warriors with red trim. "Remember… they are out to kill you." Stuart turned to them both. "Attack. Show no mercy, because if these men get the chance they will take off an arm… a leg. Or your life."

Niles couldn’t help but gulp. Fighting Stuart Babcock was one thing but this was an act of madness on his part. In the back of his mind he felt C.C. push a feeling of I told you so. "Woman…" Niles growled to himself. "This is not the time." Niles turned to see one Saxon running towards him before the man got to his side two arrows cut him down dropping him to his feet. Then Niles heard it. The Fae warriors started to shout in Latin and English.

"Guardian! Guardian! Guardian!"

Niles and Noel but turned to see purest of white colors on a huge horse. "Is that a horn?" Noel blinked. "Unicorn!"

"That’s no unicorn." Stuart said while trying to keep a warrior off- balance.

"Kethry?" Noel blinked as Niles rushed to keep a Saxon from taking off his head.

"Damnit Noel, you have to keep your head in his or you’ll lose it." Niles growled.

The sword fight was a dance. The smashing on sword on sword gave the battle a clicking sound. In the distance one could hear a horse’s cry and a roaring. Niles felt his end. He heard the two behind him. There was little he could do… then it happened.

"My God." Noel blinked as the golden lion pounced on the two warriors about to end Niles’s life.

The beast roared. Then it’s great eyes fell upon Niles, Noel and Stuart. "To Minar! Now… no place for you here! Stuart! Please!"

"John?" Niles blinked and the creature moved to the battle line again.

Before any of them could do anything, Noel was stuck down. "SON!" Stuart turned and took off the head of the warrior that had cut Noel’s neck.

In the distance a cry of pain was heard. Niles and Stuart managed to get Noel back inside the city. Noel’s face turned ghostly white. "He’s not going to make it." Stuart shivered fighting back tears. .

"Seems. Like. You will answer to C.C." Noel’s voice was so weak blood was coming out of his mouth and his neck wound

The sound of horse’s hooves rang out in the street. "Kethry!" Niles shouted and a cloud of smoke fell around the unicorn and Kethry replaced it.

"Noel." Kethry leaned down to touch the man’s head.

"Sorry. Couldn’t help but to play hero." Noel’s eyes rolled back in his head.

Kethry pulled out a knife, and started to speak in Latin. "Hear me spirits of my blood. I once chosen of Minar give up my rights so others might live. I give of my blood to you Noel Babcock. Heart of my heart. Do not leave this world behind" Kethry cut her hand then touched Noel’s neck, "live. "

Niles blinked, watching the color come back into Noel’s face. "Son." Stuart smiled taking his hand.

"Stuart, Niles. You both of you. Take Noel and leave! Head to Minar. She will be expecting you now." Kethry had a pleading look in her eyes.

"What about you and John?" Niles placed his hand on the woman’s shoulder.

"Have faith, Niles…" Kethry smile was so bittersweet it broke his heart watching her lean down to kiss Noel tenderly. The smoke appeared and Kethry was gone. The unicorn. The thing of great beauty remained before them. Niles felt the worry rise up before him. C.C. was worried. She must have felt his fear and dread over Noel.

"Stuart help me." Niles picked up Noel carefully.

"We can’t leave her." Noel’s whisper was a plea.

"Noel, for now we must." Niles grumbled running in the streets while the sounds of battle kept going

"Niles!" C.C. ran up hugging her husband tightly "Don’t you ever leave me again!" She growled forcing him to feel every painful fear she had over the past three hours.

"Never again… I promise. " Niles held her tightly to his chest. This time he would keep that promise.

The group walked down the long stairway towards the underground lake. Niles held one side of Noel while Stuart held the other. "Barbara…" Stuart’s voice cracked. "This is my fault. I’m sorry." C.C. looked at her father’s pained face and smiled.

"No, it wasn’t, Stuart. Do not blame yourself." B.B. held onto William so tightly the little boy groaned.

"Barbara." Stuart’s voice was so full of worry.

"Stuart. They’ll be alright." B.B. smiled and William nodded to Stuart.

"We have to keep moving." Niles felt the earth shake once again.

"Niles is right Mother… Dad. " C.C. frowned looking at her parents how both nodded. The blue lake that seemed so clear now was brighter than normal. Stuart looked around and Emily stepped forward.

"How do we call her?" Stuart grumbled.

"I’ll do it, Granddad!" Emily walked up to the altar placing her hand on the smooth top. "Minar! We’s need you!" Emily couldn’t help but giggle as the water woman formed in front of her eyes.

"Hello, little one." The Lady of the Lake smiled taking the girl’s hand. William whimpered in B.B.’s arms.

"The boy is still upset over what happened to his mother." Minar sighed looking at the fear in the young man’s eyes.

"Minar…John said you would send us home." B.B. shivered madly looking at woman’s face.

"Yes of course…" Minar frowned.

"Great lady . What is going to happen to them?" C.C. had to ask worried.

"Worried, my dear?" Minar walked up touching her cheek. "Good you should be." "I will place you moments before you left." Minar smirked then looked over towards Noel. "Ahh, interesting!. So my little kitten has lost her heart." Minar smirked.

"Minar. Please. We want to go back. Home." B.B.’s voice sounded desperate

"Alright." Minar smiled as the group felt the Fae lady‘s power pushed them forward into time.

********************************

Niles blinked feeling his face. It wasn‘t a dream. His body ached his eye was still sore. He was laying on John‘s basement floor. "Em?" Niles blinked seeing Emily crawl towards him.

"Hi Daddy!" Emily smiled resting her head softly on her father’s chest.

"C.C.?" Niles blinked as she heard her moan.

"I’m okay." C.C. grumbled and looked into William’s eyes. "Hello kiddo." C.C. sighed noting William was pointing over to Noel. He was pale and grumbling.

"We shouldn’t have left them." Noel whimpered as B.B. went to her son’s side.

"Mother…please tell me she’ll be alright." Noel sounded like a small boy full of grief. "Please mother."

"I believe John and Kethry will find their way home." B.B. started to sob holding onto her child.

"I have never felt so tired." C.C. ran her hands in the young boy’s hair.

"Niles, help me get Noel to a room." Stuart managed to stand and carefully lifted B.B. up smiling softly at his ex-wife. Then pulling her into a hug.

"Mama!" William smiled looking at B.B. who blinked then laughed. She picked up John’s grandson and smiled hugging the boy tightly.

"Grandma! I’m going to show John the backyard!" Emily giggled taking William’s hand.

"Sure." B.B. felt the pain in her bones. Niles helped Stuart with Noel while C.C. looked to her mother.

"Are they coming back?"

"I hope so." B.B. sighed. "I really do."

C.C. walked into a bedroom to find Niles. "Hey stranger." C.C. smiled at her husband. "How are you feeling?"

"Remind me why we went to Avalon again?" Niles smirked pulling C.C. onto the bed.

"Well it wasn’t to relax that is for damn sure." C.C. laughed as Niles tickled her sides. "Now, butler boy! You better mind your manners!"

"Why? " Niles smirked. "I love teasing a married woman."

"Her husband might kill you. I hear he’s handy with a sword." C.C. leaned over Niles brushing her lips with his.

"I’ll take my chances after all…I’ve been in a battle." Niles forced C.C. to roll onto her back. "I hoped you locked the door. I would hate for the husband to walk in." Niles smirked pulling off the ruined dress. Niles leaned down sucking at her neck while his hand’s ripped the rest of C.C.’s outfit off her body. C.C. feeling just as reckless tore his tunic in half. Niles grabbed her hands forcing them down to her side. "I don’t want to miss another moment with you. I don’t care what kind of blood you have in you woman." Niles smirked and C.C. couldn’t help but laugh.

"Mind you. I have the blood of queens." C.C. licked at Niles’s lips and Niles let out a playful laugh.

"Shhh don’t tell anyone you’re sleeping with a servant!" Niles smirked letting go of her hands.

"Don’t worry. No one will ever know." C.C. moved to pull him into a fevered kiss. The passion of having been in war drove Niles crazy. Yet, Niles stopped his assault on her body.

C.C. growled looking up into Niles’s devilish grin. "My God, you're irritating sometimes."

"But I'm very lovable, too."

She snorted and he held her tighter.

"C.C, are you saying you don't love me?" His voice was deep and soft. He licked at her ear playfully. "Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

"What would you do if I said 'yes'?" C.C. smirked enjoying the game.

"I’ll never do this again." Niles pushed inside her as C.C. let out a cry of delight. His thrusts became forceful as he kissed her mouth.

"Do you love me, C.C.?" Niles smiled kissing her ear then running his lips down her neck.

She heard the husky whisper in her ear, followed by a low chuckle, as her only response was a low moan. Niles pushed further inside her causing her to moan even louder.

"I could stop." Niles growled.

"No! " C.C. grumbled. "Don’t stop. I love you, Niles. You silly servant!" C.C. moaned as Niles moved quicker inside her body…

B.B. sighed watching Emily teach William what a swing was. "So Kethry. Gave of herself. To save Noel?"

Stuart nodded handing her a cup of coffee. "He’s alive because of it."

"He’s tied to her in a way. " B.B. looked at her ex-husband’s eyes.

"This is nice." Stuart smiled.

"What is?"

"Us. Talking!" Stuart laughed. "Something good has come out of all of this."

"Perhaps one day. We might learn to be friends again." B.B. smiled and Stuart nodded.

Joseph frowned listening to Niles’s story. "John has yet to return?" Joseph got up looking at B.B.’s worried face.

"Not yet dad, but this is John! You told me he has faced worse." Niles took B.B.’s hand in his and smiled.

"True enough, son." Joseph bounced Baby Jacob on his knee and the boy laughed. "So that young man is John’s grandson?" Joseph smiled watching Emily show Will a board game.

"Yes." B.B. smiled and William looked up at her.

"He’ll be back!" Emily said again.

"How is Noel?" Marie walked in the room.

"He hasn’t said much in the past few days." C.C. sighed. "I’m worried about him."

"We have to leave for New York tomorrow. William has a passport thanks to John’s planning." B.B. shook her head. "It was like he knew."

"What Barbara?" Stuart and B.B. had formed an uneasy alliance over the past few days. They both had spent large amounts of time by Noel’s side.

"Nothing." B.B. sipped her tea quietly and Marie came over to hug her.

"Did you lat least learn anything, Emily?" Joseph smiled at his granddaughter.

"I learned that Mommy and Daddy can make funny noises at night!" Emily giggled as Niles blushed.

"Emily!" C.C. laughed. "I told you what that was for."

"No, you didn’t!" Emily laughed wiggling her noise at C.C.

"Never mind. Yes. Emily seems to have things under control now." C.C. smiled and groaned softly.

"What’s wrong?" Niles blinked looking at his wife.

"Nothing… It’s nothing." C.C. smirked looking at Niles. "Just a little sore from someone."

"Gods! We know way to much about your." Noel walked in. He eyed the children and groaned. "Play time, sis!"

"So? Noel. We have to leave tomorrow." C.C. sighed getting up to hug her brother. She blinked noticing something. "Your wedding ring?"

"I think Kethry lifted it when she healed me." Noel sighed and laughed. "She was always pointing that ring out. Wondering why I still had a sign of loyalty to a woman that wasn’t faithful to me." Noel frowned.

"She’ll be back!" Emily said softly finishing her game.

"When Em?" Noel smiled he was looking for any signs of hope.

"Merlin told me!" Emily smiled walking up and hugging her uncle’s leg. "Faith Uncle Noel! He’ll be back!"

"John said Merlin was gone…" Niles frowned.

"Gone. But he didn’t forget!" Emily grinned. "Grandma said have faith, Daddy!"

"Who would have thought, Auntie, and I would be on the same page!" Niles smiled at B.B. who rolled her eyes.

"Niles." C.C. eyed her husband carefully.

"Well she is my aunt!" Niles felt the chair’s pillow hit his face with the force of a speeding train. "Oy!"

"You’ll have to forgive him, Barbara. Niles can be a pill sometimes." Marie eyed her son.

"So my dear boy, how on earth are you going to handle three children?" Joseph smiled looking towards C.C.

"I think Mrs. Babcock is going to take care of William." Niles smirked.

"I wasn’t talking about young Will here." Joseph laughed and C.C. spit out her tea.

"That’s impossible!" C.C. coughed. "I’m--"

"44?" Noel smiled at his sister. "Still old enough to have a few more children. It didn’t keep you from having little Jacob did it?"

"How in the hell would …" C.C. eyed Joseph. "Never mind. You seem to have a habit of knowing things."

"It’s our family talent my dear!" he laughed at her playfully. "Surely you know our blood is more…"

"I’m so sick about hearing about Fae blood does this. Fae blood does that!" Niles grumbled. "Sometimes I think having a Fae’s blood is a curse."

"No, my dear boy. We were under a curse if you recall." Joseph smiled at his son.

"I think our family was too." C.C. smiled at her parents. Oddly enough this journey had given her parents peace. And she in turn had made her peace with them. "I feel like a weight has been lifted from all of us. The only thing that remains is for John to come home. And for Kethry to follow."

"Why not look at great-granddad’s journal!" Emily smiled looking up at Joseph.

"Ahh! Good idea, my pet!" He got up rushing to the other room.

"What was the year again?" Joseph flipped in the ancient looking book as the family gathered around.

"Around 565 A.D. we think." Noel dreaded what this book might contain. "What is this thing?"

"Well my grandfather wrote stories he learned from his grandfather and so on."

"Remember! Merlin told me them coming home!" Emily nodded again looking at her grandmother and Noel.

Joseph looked at the pages carefully. "WELL?" Everyone shouted in the small room.

"Joseph?" Marie took his hand then the journal away from him.

Marie looked at the book and started to read. "The roar of the great guardian filled the air as hundreds of arrows hit his body….

"And the wails from the Fae warriors spar a fire from the unicorn who broke the Saxon line!" The male voice filled the room as B.B. rose to her feet.

"JOHN!" B.B. ran up to hug her husband weeping.

"Thank God!" Joseph smiled. "You never told me about you being a Fae guardian!" he smiled playfully punching his brother’s shoulder.

"Why didn’t the unicorn get more of a mention?" Kethry stepped in behind John.

Noel smiled hugging her. "You lifted my ring. You brat!" Noel laughed.

"I had to have something to remember you by. You know, in case. " Kethry smiled looking into his eyes.

"So are we ready to go home?" John smiled looking at everyone.

"God, yes! The sooner the better." Niles smiled hugging Jacob.

Niles shifted in his first class seat as Emily giggled. "Mommy’s got another baby in her belly doesn’t she? Grandpa Joseph was right!"

"You think it’s funny, young lady?" Niles laughed at his daughter.

"Mommy thinks she’s too old." Emily frowned. "What do you think, Daddy?"

"You are as young as you feel. And with you around, kiddo, I feel pretty young!" Niles tickled his daughter’s ear. "So blocking out your dreams "

"Only the ones where I hear little girls talk to me." Emily giggled. "Daddy, do you think Uncle Noel and Kethry will have a baby?" Emily pointed toward Noel who was holding Kethry fairly tightly.

"Serves him right if they do!" Niles smiled. "Remember Emily, everyone earns a happy ending!"

"Did we Daddy?"

"’Course sweetheart, but don’t tell your mother." Niles winked. "You know how I love to give her a hard time!"

"So--Fae blood saved us all!" Emily smiled.

"In more ways than one, child. In more ways than one." Niles hugged her tightly eyeing his baby boy being held by John. His sleeping wife was resting on his shoulder… with another one growing inside her. Yes Fae blood did save them all.

"Shhh, Merlin!" Emily smiled at the old man. "Daddy will find out you are teaching me this!" Emily laughed as William watched the older man perform the act of magic.

"Now, now. There is nothing wrong with you knowing a few time-travel spells. Both of you. I know. You’ll never be guardians but you both have the gift! This sort of thing might come in handy … traveling in time to get information on a college book report!"

"Will everything be okay, Merlin? Will Daddy and Mommy live happily ever after? Will Grandma and Uncle John have happiness! Will Kethry and Noel go all kissy-face on one another?"

"So many questions! Little one, what does your heart tell you?" Merlin smiled looking at her while curling his long white hair around his fingers.

"That everything will work out!"

"Remember child. Your greatest power is in your own heart. I’ll make sure everything will turn out alright. I promise." Merlin winked and Emily swore she saw a twinkle in the old man’s eye.

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