The three had finally had a chance to calm down from the shock and excitement, the revelations of the past four weeks.

Tony took his favorite chair, by the window, and sipped the excellent cognac Jeannie had blinked in. Things felt different. And he wasn't sure in what way. Is it because she's no longer my genie? He had got so used to their living arrangement, that it had not sunk in yet that she would now be residing at Roger's house, not his own. Hmmm, he thought. Roger's house.

Jeannie and Roger had taken to the love seat.

Tony looked at them both. They were talking quietly, sipping their own cognac, Jeannie occasionally laughing at Roger's subtle humor.

The love seat.

And then it struck him. Oh my God, Tony thought. They're sitting there, talking and laughing, like they're IN LOVE! A wave of jealousy struck him.

"Hey." he said simply.

They turned and looked at him. He was scowling.

"Tone? What's wrong?"

"What are you two doing?"

Roger looked at Jeannie, confused about what Tony was asking. "Looks like we're talking, doesn't it?"

Tony looked at Jeannie. "Jeannie, I thought you and I had...well, had something. Didn't we? Don't we?"

Oh, no, this was it, Jeannie thought. She'd developed feelings for Anthony, yes, but she felt something for Roger in the same way. How was this possible? Was she destined to be in love with every man who was her Master? Was this something the Blue Djinn had added to her curse of being a genie, the torment of falling in love with every Master, for all time?

She looked between Roger and Tony. Please, do not make me choose!

"Anthony, I...I...do not know, to be honest with you." She looked at Roger as well. "Roger has been the one with me through all this, comforting me, visiting me when he could. He...you...it was you he was comforting me over, though, but somewhere along the way I...I just do not know."

As she spoke, the tears began to roll down her cheeks.

It made for a bizarre scene. Tony and Roger had the bond of soul-friends, they both in turn loved Jeannie and she in turn loved them both.

None of the trio knew how this was going to resolve.

Roger took her hand and kissed it. "Take your time, Jeannie. Think about what you are feeling for either or both of us."

She smiled gratefully at Roger, for his understanding how very confused she was. "Roger, I do not know. Since you became my Master, it is like something has been lost with Anthony, and gained with you. I am beginning to think it is part of the Blue Djinn's curse, that I love whichever man is my Master."

She sniffled and continued, "It sounds like something he would do, considering why he turned me into a genie in the first place."

She turned apologetically to Tony. "Anthony, I do not mean I do not CARE for you, but I am not sure now what my feelings are, my true inner feelings, for either you OR Roger!"

Tony was quiet through all this, still staring intensely at them both. The Master-genie connection. He was starting to think that was it. He'd felt it too, or rather, did NOT feel it any longer. It was so subtle over the years that he wasn't aware of it. And hadn't he said to himself several times that he wished she'd never come into his life?

Then he thought about Roger's and Jeannie's relationship over the years. Roger had met Jeannie before he'd known of her secret, and had been smitten with her. They had become friends without this bond that they now shared. Tony realized that was the key. A friendship, and more on Roger's part he knew, that did not involve hocus-pocus and the supernatural.

He knew how this should end. It saddened him in some ways, but gave him a sense of freedom too, that he could pursue another woman again without Jeannie's jealous antics. He realized, now, that a lot of that was due to him being her "Master."

He finally spoke. "Okay, let me ask you both something. Ready?"

He had their attention.

"You two have known each other for how long, four years?"

They nodded assent.

"And over that time, you've become friends, even if sometimes Roger didn't seem like it, playing his games to steal you away," and he smiled at Roger to take the sting out.

They both laughed. Yes, that was true.

"Here's the crux of it: before Roger became your Master, Jeannie, how did you feel about him? During all this time when I was gone, did things change between you two?"

She realized where he was going with his line of questioning. YES! Things HAD changed! She thought back over the weeks. Every day she would anticipate Roger's arrival, feeling giddy inside; not from loneliness, but from warmth and love, knowing he'd be there for her. She had even started thinking of him as Roger, not Major Healey.

Jeannie knew Roger Healey inside and out because they had a bond of friendship, one in which they did not have to play coy little games as lovers often do. He was always honest with her, and vice versa. She knew he was a sneak at times, she knew his faults and foibles. She also knew that when it came down to it, he was still a true friend to both herself and Anthony. He had chosen not to free her in order to keep from harming his friendship with both of them.

In the end it was friendship, not greed and avarice, that drove Roger Healey. And she loved him for it.

Anthony was right. Until this evening, she had always had the Master-genie bond with him, so she did not know what feelings she had for him were based on that as a side-effect of the curse, or what was honestly her own feelings. She had been free to form a real friendship with Roger.

Tony stood and went to them, standing before them. He had accepted this. It still pained him, but he was not going to let anything or anyone ultimately interfere with his relationship with Roger. He took Jeannie's hand and put it into Roger's.

"I concede, Roj. You two work it out, okay?"

Roger's reply was interrupted by the slam of a car door. Their eyes went wide in surprise. Someone here? At eleven at NIGHT?

Roger said, "You two, stay here, neither of you are supposed to BE here!"

He ran to the window by the door. Holy crap! "It's BELLOWS! Jeannie, quick, give Tony what he needs and pop him back, and you go too, to the guest room or something!"

Without thinking, she yelled, "Yes, Master!" and did his bidding.

Without a second to spare.

Roger opened the door, and there was Dr. Bellows.

"Dr. Bellows, sir, what brings you by? I was watching Tony's house while he's gone, so people don't think it's been abandoned."

The Colonel walked in, looked around. "I see. I was driving by and saw the light on and became concerned."

Roger followed the doctor into the living room. "Any news yet about Major Nelson?"

Dr. Bellows replied, "No, I am sad to say." His keen eye looked around, suspicious as always. Three brandy snifters.

He pointed. "Am I interrupting something, Major?"

Roger blushed. How could he have forgotten the evidence? "Uh, well, no sir, you see, I...I'd met a couple of lady friends at a club tonight, and well..." he stammered.

Bellows understood. He took one more look around, to be sure Major Nelson's home was being well cared for, and wandered back to the door. "Really, Major Healey, on a work night? Nevertheless, I am glad Major Nelson's got someone to tend to his house. I'm confident we will locate him soon, the effort is just as strong today as it was a month ago, you know."

Roger smiled as he saw the Colonel to the door. "Yes, sir, I know. I'm confident he'll be located soon too, I can't think otherwise."

The doctor told him good night and went to his car. Roger waited at the door until he saw the tail lights disappear into the night.

Jeannie popped in next to him.

Roger jumped. After all these years, he still jumped.

He hugged Jeannie to him, and asked, "Did you get Tony settled in? Gave him everything he'll need?"

"Yes, Mas-I mean, Roger. Sorry. He said he will wait until dawn his time and use the radio he 'put' together to contact someone."

"Excellent." He looked around at Tony's home. He'd be back again soon, officially. They could publicly welcome him then, the returning hero, without hiding or subterfuge.

"Jeannie, if you could, can you blink this place straight again, so it's ready for his 'official' homecoming?"

She smiled. "Certainly!" A blink and all was in order.

He turned to her and kissed her as before, causing her to melt against him. He looked her in the eyes, suddenly quite serious. "Jeannie, there is going to be at least one change, now, from Tony to me."

"What is that, Roger?"

"I am not going to hide you. I don't want you blinking ocean liners into Colonel Bellows' living room, mind you," he said, making her laugh. "IF it's something you agree with, I want people to know you and I are together. Boyfriend, girlfriend."

She laughed, seeing that sparkle in his green eyes, as always. "Roger, that suits me just fine!"

He kissed her one more time, and said, "Fine. Let's go home!"

Jeannie, Roger and her bottle all disappeared, into their new life together.

Fin.

Not the usual IDOJ fare, let me know what you thought. This was my first Drama/Angst effort for ANY fandom.