: : 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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'Well here it is�the big day�and ohh shit am I nervous�'
These were the thoughts of a man who fought corpses in a cursed tomb of a mummy who would kill all to become immortal�and survived. But now Rick was nervous beyond belief. For some reason, tying the knot was making his stomach twist in knots. Rick readjusted his tie for what seemed like the millionth time. His tuxedo was on; he looked snazzy and perfectly well groomed. He was clean, shaved, and his shoes were polished. In his mind, he was looking pretty darn good (AN - I couldn't resist using that line�)�but it's not what worried him.
'Am I going to make a good husband to Evie? She's so pure and wonderful�am I gonna be the best thing for her?' Rick wondered in his mind.
It was technically true. Rick knew he wasn't the most well brought up male. He had his share of flirts, teases, and touch and feel ups. Beni was right about one thing before he died in Hamunaptra�that Rick did have more balls than brains. He knew a lot about how to get women to like him, talk to him, and even get close to getting into bed with him. He was a smooth operator, and he had his ways with women. Rick admitted he only thought of them as lust objects, but this case was different. Here, with Evie, he found true love. Evie thought he was handsome and dashing, yes. But none of those other women who desired Rick's body saw his true feelings as a man who wanted to love and be loved in return.
'Let's just hope people who see Evie and I together think that way rather than see me as another man trying to get into her panties�' Rick thought with a scowl.
"Rick! You about ready in there, old boy?" Jonathan called inside.
"Yeah, just about, Jonathan." Rick replied, fixing himself one last time before stepping outside the room.
'Here we go�the knot is about to be tied�'
~*~
Evelyn felt like her heart was dancing on air. Today was the day she became Mrs. Rick O'Connell. It was apparent that Jonathan was excited about giving his baby sister away. He was so excited he actually remained sober for a week. Hopefully this would perhaps begin Jonathan's end of drinking�Evie thought for a moment.
"No�don't think that will ever happen�" Evie mused.
Evie slipped into her shoes just in time to hear one of her bridesmaid's knock on the door to let her know it was almost show time. She quickly adjusted herself for the final time before making her way to the door. Her hands were visibly trembling with nervousness. Evie stopped in front of the door sitting in the chair beside it. What if she weren't a suitable wife for Rick? Rick was an adventurous man who could have had his fair share of women. She remembered what the guard in the prison said. He had a very good time�Evie figured he was not a virgin. Evie on the other hand was untouched and unfamiliar with being touched in those ways. She was well brought up even after her parents died. Was this what Rick needed? To be married to a woman who was so upper crust that she could have been mistaken for a child of the queen? Evie sighed.
'Maybe it's vice versa�maybe Rick is the best thing for me�' she thought.
A few sharp knocks on the door brought her away from her thoughts and back to the task at hand. She couldn't back out now. Evie knew whom she loved, regardless of appearance or stature. And that was Rick O'Connell. Evie stood up, proudly held her head high, and opened the door wide. This was it. She was going to get married to the man she loved, and nothing could change her mind.
~*~
Rick stood in front of the church, balancing from one foot to the other out of nervousness and eagerness. Jonathan seemed to notice that and shook his head. That man's bouncing was making Jonathan nervous and edgy himself. He was giving away his baby sister today to a man he trusted�and stole from�and Jonathan was the only living member of their family to see it. He sighed and looked around at the cathedral's interior while waiting for the old mum to emerge from her room. The interior was lined with candles glowing brightly. Flowers decorated the altar and different parts of the apse. The bright sun outside shone through the stained glass windows and all the guests in the pews eagerly awaited the marriage of their friends. Jonathan looked behind him hearing soft giggles and smiled seeing Evie carrying her bouquet of lilies and roses and her dress flowing behind her.
"I say, old mum, you're looking gorgeous! Are you ready for me to give you away?" Jonathan asked. Evie smiled.
"Yes, my dear brother I am." She whispered, taking his arm. Jonathan grinned and took his position behind the bridesmaids.
Rick, meanwhile, took in a deep breath as he heard the organ began to play softly from the balcony above them. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and looked down the aisle to the doorway. And there it began�his bachelorhood was going�going�and upon seeing Jonathan holding Evie's arm and the gown clad woman smiling brightly, his bachelorhood slowly made it's way to the open window and fluttered towards the skies. Goodbye flirtatious actions�hello married life. Rick suddenly felt a hand touch his own, and realized Evie was already standing beside him and smiling at him. He smiled back, a faint blush visible on his cheeks.
'Jesus, since when do I blush?' Rick thought.
In all his life, never did Rick blush at all. He'd seen his fair share of women's body parts and touched them as well. He'd seen gorgeous women and the gorgeous body parts also. But none of that ever made him blush, not even seeing it the very first time. But this�this case was different somehow. Seeing Evelyn in white wasn't new to him. She was wearing a white nightgown the night he threw her into the Nile when the steamer had caught on fire. And boy, was she even better looking in it when she was soaking wet�however she wasn't wet here. She was in her beautiful wedding dress. Her lips were drawn in a soft smile, the ruby red of her makeup giving them all the more a flourish. Evie needed no rouge or other blush to make her cheeks look rosy. They were naturally tinted red now. Time passed by so quickly the next thing Rick knew they were exchanging vows and saying their I does.
"Rick, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part, so long as you both shall live?"
Rick took in a deep breath. "I do."
"And do you, Evelyn, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Evie whispered.
Then Rick and Evie each slipped their respected rings on each other's fingers. Rick stared deeply into Evie's eyes as he had done the night in Cairo when Imhotep had taken her away. He knew at that moment that he had loved her�Rick knew that he needed to protect Evie more than he had before Imhotep had taken her to sacrifice her. And presently, in the cathedral surrounded by all, Rick knew once again that he loved Evie and would protect her for all eternity. He was so engrossed in her shining eyes he only heard bits and pieces of the priest's final words.
"�Power vested in me�husband and wife�kiss the bride�"
Hearing the word kiss, Rick immediately removed the veil from his line of fire and lunged for Evie's luscious lips. With a giggle Evie immediately received, wrapping her arms around her neck. She automatically chucked the bouquet away, finding it useless to her in her hold on Rick, resulting in Jonathan being smacked in the face by a batch of lilies and roses. But he still smiled and held the bouquet against his chest.
"I get to be the blushing bride next!" he chided.
To the chorus of happy onlookers, Rick and Evie happily ran down the aisle to their awaiting car. As handful after handful of rice fell upon them, a smiling face watched from the corner of the cathedral.
"And destiny puts its hand forth and touched them both." An Arabic voice murmured to himself.
"Ardeth!"
Ardeth Bay looked over towards Jonathan after hearing his name being called. The Med-Jai smiled at the best man before turning his head back towards the stairway of the cathedral where Evie and Rick were just entering their car. Jonathan arched a brow at Ardeth.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Egypt?" Jonathan wondered.
"Ohh, I've been here for many days, my friend. I came to watch the joining of these two. Rick knew of this already." Ardeth replied.
"Rick knew you were here? Why didn't he say anything?"
"I asked him not to. After all, the Med-Jai bodyguards are meant to protect. I was here to make sure they were safe in the name of Allah. Besides, would your wedding guests understand what a man in desert clothing was doing here?" Ardeth mused.
"Very true�are you staying for the reception? Perhaps you can catch garter!" Jonathan joked.
"No, I must return to my people. But tell them I gave my best wishes on behalf of my people and Allah." Ardeth replied, already leaving the cathedral.
Jonathan nodded, watching Ardeth go. Today was an eventful day indeed. Though Jonathan couldn't help but wonder why Ardeth came to observe the wedding. He said it was meant to protect Rick and Evie and to keep them safe. But safe from what? As Jonathan pondered over this, Ardeth himself pondered over many thoughts swimming in his head.
'If I am correct, then the two shall bear a fruit in the future�and if that's correct as well�then the fruit of their labors may be taken away�'