: : Summary : : Evelyn's day is growing lousier and lousier by the second. After everything that happens in her terrible day, what could possible make it better? How about some tender loving care from everyone's favorite gun-toting American? Read to see what happens! ^-^ This takes place after the first movie but before the second. It's about right after the first movie past the part where they ride off into the desert sun.
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A soft aroma filled the air, penetrating Rick's senses to the core. He inhaled deeply, stepping further towards the campsite and grinned upon seeing Evie in front of the fire, cooking tonight's meal. Recently, Rick, Evelyn and Jonathan had agreed to go back to the desert for an archaeological dig to bring to a museum in England. They had been there for about 3 days and so far were coming up short with treasures (this left Jonathan frustrated every day at not finding a thing). Rick and Evie, however, were simply content to just browsing about. They were in no rush to find yet another cursed mummy like they had before. Jonathan was just eager for some gold to get his mitts on. He was still disappointed about losing the treasures that were in Hamunaptra, even though there was some in the camel's pouch that Beni had stolen.
"Evie, what'cha cookin'?" Rick wondered as he stepped into camp and sat beside his love.
"Bit of soup I mixed from the rations I brought. You'd be surprised how good I can make it with just vegetables and spices. Should be done soon." Evie replied, giving Rick a soft peck on the cheek.
Rick smiled and watched as she stirred the large pot over the fire carefully. He looked at her left hand, which held no diamond ring on it. He sighed; knowing that Evie hadn't found the ring as he had hoped. After her ankle had healed, she had put the flowers in some water�with the ring still attached. When Evie wasn't looking, Rick had to snatch the flowers, slip the ring off and attempt to delicately replace the flowers without Evie noticing. Luckily, he somehow managed to without smashing the vase. However, here it was over a week since he gave her the flowers and he had no chance to propose. And unfortunately for him, the day they were offered the chance to go on the dig was the day Rick had to fish the ring out of the vase. This meant that Evie would be engrossed with the dig and finding relics for her home country's museum. He just needed the right opportunity�
"Rick, sweetheart, want to go get Jonathan so we can eat?" Evie asked softly.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure�" Rick replied, having not really been paying attention until now.
Rick stood up from his seat and wandered over to the dig site, where Jonathan most likely would still be lingering. Suddenly, a quick blur rushed past him. Blinking, Rick looked behind him to see a skinny male rushing back to camp, clutching something greedily to his chest. Rick made a face, realizing that the skinny male was Jonathan. Sighing, he made his way back to camp. Jonathan skidded to a stop behind Evie just as Rick arrived to camp.
"Evie! Evie! Look what I found!" Jonathan yelled happily.
Hearing he found something that seemed important, Evie herself got excited. "What is it, Jonathan? A relic? A scarab stone? What?"
"Even better than all that! Look!" Jonathan said as he held up a bottle. Evie blinked and read the bottle's label.
"Kensington Schnapps, 1894. Oh, Jonathan!! Don't ever get my hopes up like that again! I was hoping it was something important!" Evie said with a huff.
"Evie! This IS important! This is quality Schnapps! Besides, 1894 is my lucky year." Jonathan replied, maintaining his pride in his quality possession.
Rick shook his head, wondering how a girl like Evie and a guy like Jonathan could ever have possibly been related. Evie had her love for relics and for ancient Egypt, while�Jonathan�well, he had his pilfering, his quest for ultimate riches, and best of all, his passion for quality booze. Rick chuckled to himself suddenly at the memory of getting Evelyn drunk at Hamunaptra. What an amusing evening that had been�
"What are you chuckling about?" Evie wondered.
"Nothing, but I'd better keep that Schnapps away from your delicate hands. Goodness knows what the hell you'd do if you managed to get it away from your brother" Rick replied. Evie scowled, causing Rick to laugh aloud.
"Very amusing, Mr O'Connell, however be warned, I AM the one who cooks for you, I can always poison your dinner" Evie replied.
"Aww, I know you wouldn't do that, Evie. You love me far too much." Rick said with a smile, giving her ear a gentle nibble.
"Ohh, blast you." Evie said with a slight smirk. "You know bloody well I can do it."
Smirking himself, Rick wrapped his arms around Evie's waist from behind. She smiled and allowed him to kiss her neck lightly as she stirred the soup. Resting his head on her shoulder, Rick gently ran his hands up and down the lengths of her arms. Maybe now would be an appropriate time to pop the question�
"Evie?" Rick whispered softly.
"Yes?"
"I�I-I have a question I'd like to ask you�" he murmured.
"Ohh? What is it?"
"Well�I want to know if-"
"Hey Evelyn, c'mere a minute!" A worker from the dig suddenly called.
"Coming! Rick, can it wait?" Evie asked, giving Rick a sympathetic smile.
"Uhh�s-sure�sure, Evie, I can ask later..." Rick replied.
"Good! Just take the soup off the fire in five minutes and I'll try to hurry back!" Evie said, giving him a quick kiss and rushed off to the dig.
Rick watched her dash off to the dig sight with a forlorn expression. Another moment lost, another day he'd probably have to wait until he could attempt asking her again. Sighing, he lifted the large pot off from above the fire and set it down on the area beside the fire to keep it warm. Plopping down on a pile of blankets that would represent his makeshift bed, Rick looked up at the sky. Each star that twinkled reminded him of Evie's eyes. Letting another sigh escape his breath, he closed his eyes and thought to himself.
'I wish I could have just one moment with Evie to myself�one where we can be alone together and I can ask her�' Rick thought