: : Summary : : This is right after Rick and Evelyn get married. The Honeymoon and after. Yes I�ve done this before, but I wanted to do a more in depth story here, and this one all they have done is kissed, and their marriage happened 2 months after The Mummy.
Despite being nearly due to have her baby, Evelyn was still working at the museum day in, and day out. Her excitement was about the new exhibits from a find in Central America of the evidence of a lost city there, and while Egypt was her life, other finds were equally as exciting. As she was finishing putting things away, she looked up and found Rick at the door just watching her.
�What?� she asked, wondering what that look in his eyes meant.
�I just like too look at you,� he said as he crossed the room. He moved behind her and pulled her into his arms nibbling the side of her neck.
�Oh I believe you like to do more than look,� she replied as she reached around him rubbing her hand over his bottom. It didn�t take much for her to feel his arousal pressed up against the small of her back, and in the back of her mind, she knew that she should stop them, but lately the urge to be with her husband was a powerful one, and it was very difficult to resist it, or him. Suddenly she felt herself lifted into the air, and then deposited on the leather couch, and realized that her husband had every intention of taking her there.
�Rick this is my work,� she gasped, as he leaned in, sucking on her neck.
�Hmm but it�s not open, and Thomas has gone home, so it�s just us,� he said. Neither noticed they were being watched. Because her office was on the bottom level of the museum, it wasn�t hard for peeping eyes to look if they knew where to go.
�Give me a look,� Rolph said, pushing his partner out of the way. He looked in and through the small crack that the shutters left, watching them making love, his eyes fixed on the soft curves of the woman and her larger bump as well.
�Well which of us you think is that baby�s father?� Jack questioned.
�Aint mine, not yours neither, you got mumps, and you�s not suppoed to have kids, but we can use that to get her to give us what we want,� he said then let Jack have his look. By the time Jack got his turn the two of them were getting ready to leave.
�Hey you let me see next time,� Jack said punching Rolph in the mouth, then the two left going to get the supplies they needed for their grand plan.
~*~*~*~*~
Trying to get to sleep at night with a baby moving around in her belly, was not easy, and this night was no different than the previous nights. Somehow Evie had managed to keep Rick in the dark about her sleepless nights, and now while he slumbered on peacefully, she lay awake feeling like she was a punching bag. Finally, unable to take laying in bed, she slipped out, and would have made it out of the room without being noticed, accept she bumped into her bedside table and knocked off one of her books, which woke her husband.
�Evie?� he asked sitting straight up.
�Don�t worry, I just need a drink,� she said trying not to cry. Her sad tone didn�t go unnoticed, and before she could say more, he was up and she found herself in his arms crying uncontrollably. Not knowing what was wrong, Rick led her back to bed and sat down then held her on his lap
�Hey shh,� he whispered as he rubbed his hand against her back.
�This baby won�t stop kicking me Rick. I lay down to sleep, and it moves around and when it stops its almost morning,� she sobbed. Rick got her calmed down then had her lay on the bed putting a few pillows under her head.
�Now then, lets see if I can bore it to sleep,� Rick said as he plopped on the bed beside her. He cleared his throat, which caused Evie to giggle.
�Hey you,� Rick said poking at her belly. The baby was still moving around, quite a bit, but now that Rick was awake it didn�t seem all that bad. He placed his cheek against her belly, and quickly moved it away as he got punched.
�Thats it. When you get out of there your grounded,� Rick said in a mock serious tone. Then he smiled.
�Well lets see what should your old man tell you about life in the world. First of all don�t ever read out of books you shouldn�t,� he said, then yelped when Evie hit him over the head with a pillow.
�Hey I was just letting it know the facts,� he defended. Evelyn sighed and shook her head, and lay silently letting him continue. While he talked, Rick rubbed his hand over her belly, and told his child about his time in the orphanage.
�Oh this is the best part. One time the head mistress, I think her name was Liloulia Crane,� he said looking up at Evie. What he saw made him smile. She was asleep, and as he stilled his hand from rubbing against her belly, he found that the baby had stopped moving.
�See, I told you I could bore you to sleep,� Rick whispered as he kissed her belly, then her lips. Very carefully he pulled the covers over her, then slipped in to bed, and at least for that night they got a peaceful night sleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Another late night at the museum, found Evelyn in the Egyptian section finishing up a display of treasures found at a recent excavation at the Pyramids. While she worked, Thomas had fallen asleep again at the door, and it was that way that the two intruders got in, brutally murdering him. Once they hid they body behind the small desk, the two men went in search of their prey, and it didn�t take them long to find her. Hearing the approaching footfall on the smooth marble floors, Evie guessed it was Thomas, and continued what she was doing.
�Pardon me, do you know how much we like seeing you at work?� Jack asked, then he grabbed her. His voice had sent her into instant panic and she screamed as loud as she could when she was dragged in to her office.
�Look lady, the screamen aint doing you good. The old man is gone to meet his maker,� Rolph said. She remembered the moves Rick had taught her and stomped as hard as she could on Jack�s foot.
�OUCH,� he yelled letting her go. She started for the door and heard the click of a gun which stopped her dead in her tracks.
�Now then pretty lady, its time you stopped trying to resist us,� Rolph said going over to her. He nuzzled her neck with her nose, and the memories of what they had done to her before came flooding back.
�Please. I have a child in me, please just take what you want and go,� she said.
�We want the key to Hamunaptra,� Jack said, cutting to the chase. More fear driven into her by his words.
�But we lost it. The city sank,� she said. Rolph turned her around and reached out running his hand over her breast.
�Please don�t do that,� she said.
�But you seemed to like it when your husband did it the other night,� Rolph replied. Evie thought of Rick, and of their child, and wanted to die. When she couldn�t give them what they wanted, they took her and left a note written in the guards blood for Rick.
~*~*~*~*~
It was only moments after they had gone, when Rick arrived at the museum. He had brought dinner for them, and as he got out of the car he was filled with excitement. Aside from dinner, when they got home, he was going to show her what he had done, which was to assemble the crib in the baby�s room, and put in the cradle in their room. It was when he got to the door that the smile, and warm thoughts left him. On the floor just inside was a trail of blood. He followed it behind the reception desk and found Thomas slumped against the wall. His head had a whole in it from a gun shot, and his eyes were open, lifeless.
�Evie,� Rick breathed. He forgot about the food, and drew both of his revolvers, and crept silently to the back of the museum. He was met with silence, and in her office he found more blood spilled, and a note written in blood.
�We had a good time watching the two of you the other night. Perhaps she will do that for us. Don�t worry when we are done with her we will let you have her back, though it might be bit by bit,� the note said. Rick got on the phone and called the authorities ready to go off on them for not doing their job in finding the two men who had done this to her the first time around. After calling them, he called Jonathan and told him to book them passage to Egypt. Anytime trouble struck it seemed to lead to Egypt, and these two men would never live to harm anyone else again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thankfully Evelyn had managed to convince them to leave her alone, by telling them that anything they did would bring about the birth of her child, and if they did that, the birth would likely kill her, and then they wouldn�t have a way to get to Hamunaptra. They were now on board a ship, hold up in the cargo bin, so that they would go undetected. Evelyn did her best to sleep, and rest, and ate what little food they offered her worried for the health of her baby.
�You got any money in Egypt?� Jack asked her one night.
�I have a home there, and I can get you money. Just take what you want. The map I drew for you will get you there,� She said.
�Not good enough, how do we know you aren�t trying to trick us?� Rolph asked.
�Because my child�s life depends on me,� she said wincing as the baby kicked her. Unfortunately that was not enough, and when they did arrive in Egypt, after the two men got the things she had put on the list for them to get, they headed out one night on camels.
~*~*~*~*~
A day behind his wife, and those who had her, Rick let his anger be his guide. Jonathan didn�t joke or really didn�t say much, other than to get what his brother-in-law asked for, and once they were ready they set out.
�Do you know how to get there?� Jonathan asked as they road away from Cairo.
�I dreamed about it for weeks after we got back, yes I remember. Do you remember how to use that revolver?� Rick asked. On their trip Rick had taught Jonathan some moves, wanting him to be able to help out, having a bad feeling that their baby wasn�t going to be born in the best of places.
�Maybe we should let the authorities deal with them,� Jonathan said and yelped when Rick pointed the gun at him.
�Maybe I�ll just shut up now,� he said, and the two of them road on in the scorching heat of the sun. As Rick had half hoped, about a half a day�s Journey into the desert, they were met by Ardeth Bey and three of his men.
�Why have you come back?� came the leaders harsh words.
�Not by want. Two men have taken Evelyn, and I have a feeling they have her for the reason of finding Hamunaptra,� came Rick�s reply. Before more could be said they heard the shriek of a Falcon, then one landed on Ardeth�s out stretched arm. The leader took a scroll from the birds ankle and then said something in Arabic. His men road off.
�Follow me. My men have two men in their camp not far from the city,� Ardeth said. It was a long ride, a day and another day, and when they arrived Rick got off his horse and ran to the tents. One tent held two men he guessed were the abductors, and before he could go further a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
�They were found riding alone my friend,� Ardeth said. It was both anger and fear that welled up within Rick, and he yelled running to the tent. He grabbed one of the men and threw him out of the tent, and then began to kick him.
�What did you do with my wife?� he yelled.
�Had a good time,� he spat. Jonathan and Ardeth had to pull Rick off of the man, and by the time they did, he was dead. They had to tie Rick up, to keep the other man alive, and by evening Rick had cooled down, though no one let him out of their site. Now he sat in a tent by himself wondering where she was. Somehow he knew that both men were lying, that his beautiful Evie was still alive. The problem was the one man who was alive refused to tell them what happened. It was late at night when Rick came up with a plan, and only Jonathan was awake.
�How are you doing?� Rick asked handing Jonathan a bottle of Brandy.
�I feel numb, she can�t be gone,� Jonathan said, as he took a drink.
�I know. She is alive, and somehow we will find her,� Rick said taking a swig from the same bottle. Jonathan took another swig, and for an hour they shared the drink until Jonathan passed out. Once he was good and gone, Rick got the gun he had and went to the tent where their prisoner was. The man was tied up and gagged, and Rick grinned.
�You and me are going to have some fun,� Rick said as he cut his bond, then grabbed his wrists and pushed him out of the tent. Ten minutes later they were on horses, one led by Rick.
�Now then, we are going to play a game. See I know how you think, all you really want is money, and a great deal of money so that you can live without worry, so you can party, or so you can go blow up something. I don�t care what you use it for. What I want is my wife,� he said as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a gem stone. Jack�s eyes got big.
�Bloody hell thats big,� he said.
�Yeah it is. And in the treasure chamber there is Billions of these babies. You tell me where my wife is, and I will get rid of those men, and we can all go find that chamber. See I only married her because she knows things, and I had intended on bringing her back here one day to get my hands on it. So what do you say,� he asked.
�You got yourself a deal.� Rick let him lead the way, and by morning they stopped in the middle of the desert.
�Hope she still breathing,� the man said as he got a shovel. Rick felt his stomach learch at his words.
�We both had our fun with her again, and then we put her in the ground, but we made it so she wouldn�t die for a while,� he said. Rick let him do all the work, and almost an hour later the man put his shovel down.
�I found her,� he said laughing. When he turned he faced a gun, and that was the last thing he saw. Rick dug with his hands and felt something, and minutes later he pulled Evelyn out of the sand. She was wrapped in burlap sacks, and had a wooden box over her head, and he heard her muffled screams.
�It�s me,� Rick said trying to figure out how to get the box off of her. When she heard his voice she calmed down, and though it took him a few more minutes, Rick got that off of her. Her face was bruised and her lips split.
�The baby,� she screamed. Rick looked down and saw blood on her legs, and felt lost. They were in the middle of the desert, and he didn�t have anything for bringing a kid into the world. Rick tried to lay her down but she held on sobbing.
�They took me again,� she cried.
�They won�t ever do it again honey,� he said kissing her head.
�Are you up for a ride. Ardeth and his men have camp a half a day away, and I think it might be better for us to try and let you have the baby there. She didn�t respond, and Rick realized she had passed out. He stood up and managed to get them both on his horse, then headed back to camp.
~*~*~*~*~*~
That morning when Ardeth stepped out of his tent he found Jonathan passed out, and ran to the tent Rick had been in. When he found him as well as Jack gone, he sent his men to find them. Now he and Jonathan waited.
�I know him. He had a plan, and thats why he took the man,� Jonathan said drinking the strong brew of coffee he had made.
�I hope you are right. That man needs to be alive if we are to find your sister,� he said, and would have said more when they heard hoof fall. Rick road right in to camp holding Evelyn in his arms. At the site of her Jonathan nearly lost his breakfast and lunch.
�She said something about the baby,� Rick said still holding her.
�My village is not far from here, we have woman who will help her,� Ardeth replied. Rick agreed and they left for the Med-jai Village.
~*~*~*~*~
The village wasn�t anything fancy, stone buildings, pins with horses, and children playing. Rick would have found all of that interesting had it not been for Evelyn. She had come too as soon as they had left Hamunaptra, and when they arrived some of the women took her away. Rick protested that, but Ardeth assured him that they would let him see her once she was clean and ready to have the baby. Now in the small home belonging to the Med-jai leader, the two men sat at a small wooden table silent. Jonathan was asleep in his room, still hung over from the previous night.
�Do not worry my friend, they will take good care of her,� he said.
�I�m not sure I can..if I lose her then I don�t want to live myself,� he admitted.
�Your life was meant to be with her, and Allah brings trials such as this to strengthen your love for her, and hers for you,� he said. Rick only half heard him, then looked up when a small girl ran in, speaking in a language that Rick didn�t understand.
�She says it is time,� he informed standing. It wasn�t a long walk to where his wife was, in one of the larger stone buildings. When he got to her she was in a soft cotton gown laying on a bed out of breath. A dark headed woman sat by her side but when Rick arrived she moved and let him sit there.
�I�m so afraid,� she cried.
�I�ll be right here,� he said kissing her hand. Evelyn screamed and pushed, as the woman who had left her side instructed. It only took four pushes, then Evelyn fell back against the pillow sweat beading on her forehead. Rick wiped it with his cloth, so focused on Evie that he didn�t realize the room was silent.
�Where is my baby?� Evie asked suddenly afraid, when she realized she hadn�t heard a cry. She tried to sit up but the trauma she had been through had weakend her. Not far from their bed, Eshe Bey held the lifeless baby over her arm so that his chest rested against the length, tilting him down then gave his bottom three smacks. They had cleaned out his mouth and nose, and it wasn�t long before he was crying loud healthy cries. Once she was sure he was safe, she wrapped him in a blanket then carried him back to his parents and placed him against his mothers chest.
�Thank you,� Evie said. She smiled then left them, and outside the room went into he husbands arms.
�He will be strong,� she informed looking up at him.
�Like his parents,� Ardeth said leaning in to kiss her. She nodded, and for a while they stayed as they were, both knowing Allah had watched over their friends. In the room, everything was quiet. Once in his mothers arms the baby had quieted and gone to sleep. Evelyn had not taken her eyes off of him, and had found a tiny hand which she now held in one of hers. For Rick having both of them alive was enough for him to be thankful a life time or two.
�So do you think we should give him a name?� Rick asked finally breaking the silence.
�My favorite time in history was around the time of Alexander the Great, perhaps Alexander, and we could use Alex,� she said softly, closing her eyes. When she didn�t say any more Rick realized she was asleep, and was uncertain about what to do with they baby. Then the woman who had helped him come into the world returned, Ardeth behind her.
�My wife and I invite you to stay with us until she and your child have had time to rest and heal,� Ardeth said. Rick only nodded feeling tired himself.
�There is a bathing pool in the next room my friend, and clean robes for you until your own cloths are washed,� Ardeth offered.
�Do not worry, Eshe has brought many lives into this world, your son is safe with her,� he reassured. Rick nodded and left going to the pool. While he was gone Eshe gave the baby a bath, and his loud cries woke Evelyn. Aine, a younger girl went to her.
�He is safe,� she said. Despite her words of assurance, Evelyn didn�t like hearing her baby cry, and when Aine left, Evelyn managed to get out of bed. When she stood, she felt intense pain and cried out, falling to the floor just as Rick walked in. Eshe called out something in Arabic, and put the baby in a basket bed despite his loud protests. With Rick�s help, she got Evelyn back in bed, and found she was bleeding, vaginally.
�You must go,� she kept saying when their medicine man arrived.
�I will not go,� he said standing his ground. Again Ardeth had to help get him away, and now Rick waited in another room for word on what was happening. He looked up when Ardeth came in carrying a tiny bundle, and when he held his son for the first time, he felt more love and protection in him than he ever had before. Alex started to cry, and Aine came with a skin of some sort.
�Feed baby,� she said. Not knowing how, Rick let her show him, then tried himself, and after a few failed attempts his son accepted the milk from him.
�You know when someone asks about your birth, you will have quite a story to tell,� Rick said leaning in, placing a kiss on his tiny bald head. Once his stomach was full, Alex went to sleep, and by then Aine came back and showed him how to burp his son. That went better than giving him milk from the skin, and once Alex had burped, the two of them drifted to sleep. Not knowing how much time had passed, when Rick woke up it was to someone taking Alex from him.
�Rest easy my friend. Evelyn is resting now, and Eshe is taking him to her so she can feed him,� Ardeth informed. Rick stretched.
�What happened to her?� he asked.
�To much tearing from the baby�s birth, and from what was done to her, caused damage. Our Medicine man thinks it wise if she doesn�t have any more children,� he said.
�May I see her?� Willingly, Ardeth led him to her room, and called out to Eshe who let him in. Evie was propped up on pillows, with the baby at her breast singing to him.
�You come get me if need to,� Eshe said, using what little English she knew. When she left Rick sat down beside his wife and son. He leaned in giving both of them a kiss.
�How do you feel?� he asked.
�Terrified that I�m going to mess him up,� Evelyn said looking at her husband.
�It looks like your doing a pretty good job,� he said.
�He was so upset a moment ago, I almost cried with him. Eshe says it takes time for a baby to learn to feed, and for a new mother to be comfortable with this. I almost let both of us die,� she said as his tiny mouth slipped from her breast. To her amazement Rick took the baby in his arms, holding him against his shoulder getting two good burps. Then when he was in his basket bed, Rick was at her side, then she was in his arms.
�I�m not sure what kind of parents we will make Evie, but Alex has us to love him, and Jonathan, as well as these people. When I was a kid I never had any of the above, and I saw enough hate to last this life and the next. We may need to just stay away from things for a while, let all that happened with Hamunaptra, and with Ramseys treasure die down. When you get better I�m going to teach you how to use a gun, and how to fight,� he said. Evelyn nodded, about to add something when Jonathan peeped in.
�I heard I�m an Uncle,� Jonathan said. Rick got up and lifted Alex from his cradle letting him hold his son, and smiled. He walked over to Evelyn and whispered something in her ear. About the same time she nodded, Jonathan asked what the name of his nephew was.
�Alexander Jonathan O�Connell,� Rick said beaming. Jonathan grinned down at his new nephew.
�Well then I will have to teach you all the tricks of the trade,� he said, then felt something wet and warm against his arm.
�Your son just peed,� Jonathan informed. Rick laughed, softly, then Eshe came back and helped the new father learn about diaper changes.