Disclaimer: The Mummy Movies do not belong to me.  I am merely borrowing the characters for just a bit so don’t sew me.

 

Author: Shelby

 

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. 

 

Rated NC-17

 

 

Married Life

 

 

Prologue

 

 

After all that had happened with the events at Hamunaptra, Rick and Evelyn had not gone away from that place empty handed.  They had found a deep rooted love for one another, a love that had brought them together in the unity of marriage.  It had been very surprising to Evelyn, when Rick had asked her the big question.  She had been working day in and day out at the museum, getting it ready for the new curator, and they had not had much time to see one another.  One night after dinner, during a walk, he had asked her to marry him, and she had cried, then said yes.  Things had happened fast after that.  A day after he had asked her to marry him, the British Museum had asked Evelyn to go there and be head over the Egyptian Section.  They had moved to London shortly after, including Jonathan, and two months later they had gotten married in the same church her parents had, with a few friends she had kept over the years present during the Ceremony.  Now they were on their honeymoon, and Evie had her reservations about what came next.

 

 

 

Chapter 1: A different Love

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day, a day Evelyn intended to hold in her heart for the rest of her life.  On this day, she had become Mrs. Evelyn O’Connell, and now she and her husband were finally alone on the steam ship heading for the Italian Riviara.  The ship had just left the port, and the two walked hand in hand on the upper deck.  A warm breeze blew, causing the long flowing, floral dress she wore to ruffle.  Rick had noticed how quiet his wife had been on the car ride to the port, and now as they walked he gave her hand a squeeze.  In response she jumped, and that made him frown.

 

“I’m sorry,”  she said as she let go of his hand and ran away from him.  In all of this time, preparing to get married, and moving to London, Rick hadn’t realized how nervous she was, and went after her.  A little later he found her in their cabin, laying on the couch facing away from the door.  For a moment he hesitated, not sure if he should go to her or leave her alone.  Then he made his decision, and walked over to the couch.

 

“I don’t know how you can love me. I just don’t think I can be a good wife,”  she said knowing he was there.  Rick sat down on the couch, and put a hand on her shoulder.

 

“What do you think makes a good wife?”  She sat up and faced him, tears streaming down her face.

 

“I know that you want more from me now, and I don’t know that I can do that,”  Evelyn replied, her voice shaky.  The first thing Rick did was to wipe the tears off of her face, then he took her into his arms, holding her close.  Being held by him helped ease her fears, and in a moment she was feeling better.

 

“How do I prepare for this Rick?”  she asked.  He rubbed his hand up and down her back.  Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had known that when this moment came it wouldn’t be easy, but he had half hoped he was wrong.  Now the moment was here, and both of them had to face her fears.

 

“I don’t think there is a way to prepare.  Do you love me?”  he asked.  At his question Evelyn pulled away from him, looking at him in stunned disbelief.

 

“I love you so much that at times, when your not with me, I think I might go mad,”  she said.

 

“I feel the same way.  All I can tell you about loving, about making love, is it’s something you just have to feel.  You stop thinking about everything you were taught as proper or not, and just go with how you feel,”  he said hoping that made sense.

 

“Noone has ever seen me without my cloths on,”  she said, feeling her cheeks redden.  Rick leaned in, and took her lips in a tender kiss, as they had done numerous times before, though this time he lingered there.  His kiss made her feel dizzy, and Evelyn placed her hands on his shoulders.  It was difficult now to only kiss her, and Rick didn’t want to scare her, but at the same time he wanted to show her how much he loved her.  He parted her lips with his tongue hearing her gasp, but she didn’t pull away, so he continued.  When she felt his hands move between them, rubbing over her stomach first, then higher to her breasts, Evelyn felt both fear and pleasure.  Her entire body began to tingle as he began to unbutton the top part of her dress, all while still kissing her.  When he moved away from her lips, he found she had her eyes closed, and that brought a smile to his face.  He looked from her face down, feeling  his pants get tighter.  For a moment he only looked, then reached out and rubbed his hand over her soft full breasts.  Evelyn shuttered, and her eyes opened.  Rick looked up, seeing fear there, and moved his hand away, pulling her against him once again.

 

“How did that feel?”  he asked as he kissed the top of her head.

 

“It, I shouldn’t like it,”  she said, not sure what to say to his question.

 

“Why?”  he asked.

 

“It’s naughty,”  came her soft reply.  Rick idly wondered how strict her parents had been on her, and knew he was going to have to work on teaching her that making love was a natural part of a married couples life.

 

“I love you Evelyn, and you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, do you believe me when I say that?”  he asked.  He felt her head nod, and considered that a good start.  A moment later, he eased her away from him and again he kissed her, moving his tongue in and out of her mouth rubbing it against the roof of her mouth, then around her teeth.  He felt her tongue push against his, and moaned softly.  This time he moved his hands to her arms moving them up, then pulled on the sleeves of her dress, until they moved off of her arms.  He felt her shutter and moan in response, and moved away from her lips. 

 

“Shhh,”  he whispered resting his head against her shoulder.  He moved his hands over her bare back, and again she shuttered.

 

“Your so beautiful,”  he whispered, kissing her ear.  He nuzzled his nose against her neck, and again she calmed down, getting used to his touch.  Evelyn knew that Rick would never hurt her, but all of what was happening was so overwhelming to her.

 

“May I see you, is that all right?”  she asked.  Rick eased away from her and unbuttoned his white shirt, then removed it.  Hesitant at first, Evelyn only looked, feeling her whole body warming, then she reached out and placed her hand against his chest.  Rick held perfectly still not wanting to frighten her anymore than she already was.  When she drew her hand away, Rick thought she was going to run, but then she surprised him as she leaned in, resting her cheek against his chest.  Rick reached out and pulled her closer to him, and gasped as she began to rub her cheek against him.

 

“Stand up,”  he said softly.  She lifted her head, then did as he told her, and in a moment he stood.  That motion had caused her dress to fall to the floor, leaving her only in her panties.  Rick reached out and pulled her against him and for the moment was content just to hold her.

 

“Is it all right for us to lay together?”  she asked.  Without speaking to her, Rick lifted her in his arms, and carried her into their room.  Their bed was a four post Canopy bed, with curtains which could be drawn around it for total privacy.  Now however, Rick just wanted to hold his wife, and after laying her down on the bed he removed his boots and pants, then slipped in bed beside her holding her close to him.  When he felt her shaking a little, he reached down and pulled a quilt over them, and in a few moments she lay still.

 

“Are you disappointed that we haven’t consummated our love?”  she asked.

 

“I have all I want right here in my arms, and when your ready we will do what your comfortable with,”  he assured.  The events of the day, really of the past few months had caught up with her, and that as well as being in her husbands arms put Evelyn to sleep.  For Rick, it was a funny turn of events.  Before this he would never have even thought about someone else’s feelings, and probably wouldn’t have stuck around.  Something about his love for Evelyn had changed him in ways he was only just now beginning to understand, and he would always be there for her through the good and through the bad.

 

 

 

                           ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

It was feeling her back pressed up against Rick’s strong chest which woke Evelyn, and for several moments she lay still.  How she ever ended up with O’Connell was beyond her, but she was greatful for his love, and hoped that he would forgive her fears of consummating their relationship.  It was dark in their room, so she knew it was still night, but for some reason she couldn’t sleep.  Very carefully she slipped from his arms, and walked out of their room, into the elegant little sitting room.  There she went to a little stand and got out some matches lighting a few candles.  Her dress still lay crumpled on the floor by the small couch, and carefully she picked it up, and carried it over to the small closet, where she found some hangers, and hung it in there.  Since she was also unclothed down to her underclothes, Evelyn went over to her trunk and opened it, getting out one of her nightgowns, the very one she had worn the night the steamer ship headed for the Bedouin village had caught fire.  She smiled at that memory, how Rick had thrown her unceremoniously over the edge of the ship, into the cool waters of the Nile.  He had saved her life for the first time that night.  So caught up in her memories, Evelyn didn’t notice Rick walk out of their room, not until he was right in front of her.

 

“Oh,”  she said surprised, and a little embarrassed that she had let her mind wonder so. 

 

“I remember that,”  Rick said taking the gown from her hands.  That caused her to blush.  She had been so wet that anyone could have seen right through that gown, and she imagined everyone had.

 

“I thought I better put this on,”  she said.  He handed it back to her and watched her as she dressed, wishing she would stay undressed at least for a little bit longer, but they had the rest of their lives, and he was learning to be patient when it came to her.  Once she was finished, Rick held out his hand, and she took it and found herself wrapped in his arms.

 

“If your tired, we can go back to bed,”  she said.

 

“I’m fine right where I am,”  he said.  They stayed that way for quite some time, then Evelyn broke their embrace going to sit on the couch.

 

“Can you tell me what scares you about us being together?”  he asked hoping she would talk to him.

 

“I know we have had countless numbers of dates before we were married, but there is a difference now.  Rick we haven’t really talked about our future past getting married,”  she pointed out.  That was a true statement.  They had dated, and not once really talked about what they wanted after the marriage.  After realizing he had been standing there without responding to Evelyn, Rick walked over to the couch and settled beside her.

 

“I would think that would be fairly simple, I see you still working at the Museum,”  Rick said, trying to avoid the subject of what he would do.

 

“Do you mind that,”  she said afraid that he might.

 

“Are you kidding me, one of the reasons I love you is your determination to do what you want,”  he said.  That of coarse was the easy out.  He wanted time with her, but he also wanted her to stay herself, and part of Evelyn was the Museum.

 

“What about you?”  she asked.  As usual she had cut right to the chase, and now Rick really didn’t know what to tell her.

 

“I haven’t figured that one out yet,”  he said looking at her.

 

“What did you do before, well before we found you in Cairo Prison?”  Evie asked.

 

“I was in the Legion,”  Rick said looking away from her down at his hands. 

 

“Oh.  What about before that?”  she asked.  Now Rick was beginning to feel uncomfortable and kept Crossing and uncrossing his legs.

 

“I didn’t have much of a life before that.  I guess you could call me one of the best pick pockets around,”  he said looking up at her.  What he saw there was a mix of shock, and disbelief, and for the first time since meeting Evelyn he felt unsure of himself.

 

“Look I’m sorry okay.  I guess maybe we should have talked about this before you and I got married, but I’m not useless.  We can still go on digs,”  he said not knowing what else to tell her.  If she was afraid before, she was more afraid now.  A part of her, way in the back of her mind had known, or guessed that Rick was likely not the most well educated man in the world, but he was smart in other ways.  Her fears were on what friends would say, what her parents would think.  They were both gone, but she believed in part that they could see her, and wondered what they thought.

 

“I love you Rick, but what about everyone else,”  she said still stunned.  That hit a sour key with Rick, and he stood, pacing.

 

“How?” he asked as he turned to look at her seeing tears streaming down her face.  Having a disagreement on his honeymoon was not what Rick had envisioned, but here they were in the midst of one.

 

“You defy what society expects of a woman, and here you are worried about a stupid little thing like what I’m going to do,”  Rick blurted out.  He hadn’t meant to sound so hateful, and before he could say more Evelyn was off of the couch and in their room with the door shut.

 

“One hell of a way to start off your honeymoon,”  Rick said as he put his Head down on his hands.  For a few minutes he sat there not able to think of a word or words to smooth things over.  Then he knew they had to start talking, and went to the door.  He had expected it to be locked but when he tried the knob it turned and the door opened.  It was quiet, and dark, but Rick proceeded to go in, and walked to the bed.  Enough light spilled in from the sitting room, and Rick saw her form facing away from him.

 

“Evelyn,”  he called out softly.  When she didn’t respond he was half tempted to go out to one of the small bars on board the ship and have a drink, but he stayed where he was. 

 

“I’m sorry I got mad at you,”  He whispered as he got in bed behind her.  To his suprise she scooted against him, and carefully, he put his arms around her.

 

“I should not have said that,”  she said.  From the tone of her voice, Rick could tell she had been crying.

 

“Why don’t we try sleeping for now, and tomorrow we can talk about the future,”  Rick said.  She nodded her head, and after a few minutes both of them slept.

 

 

 

 

The sun shining in the two side windows of their cabin is what woke Evelyn, and when she opened her eyes, for a moment she thought she was home in Cairo.  Then she realized that she was in a cabin, and on her honeymoon.  Suddenly she realized that Rick was not in their bed, and she half feared he had left her after what had happened last night.  As she started to get up she heard foot fall, then Rick walked in carrying a tray.  Evie stayed in bed realizing he had intended for her to do so.  In a few moments he had served her breakfast, and settled in bed beside her.

 

“I thought after breakfast we could go to the deck and sit in the sun,”  Rick said.  Evie nodded picking at her food.  Breakfast was a quiet affair and once it was over, Rick left the room to set their tray out for the Servers to take. Once he was gone, Evie put on a dark blue silk dress, one that hung down to her ankles, and was loose fitting.  When Rick returned he stood at the entry of their room just looking at her, which made her blush.

 

“Sorry,”  he said as he walked in.  He had already dressed wearing a pair of light colored slacks and a short sleeved shirt, as well as his boots, and his gun holster.  Without hesitating, he drew Evelyn into his arms, and after a brief hug, he eased her away enough to kiss her.  As he had last night, his kiss made her dizzy, and she was glad for the strength of his arms around her, to help her stay standing.  Her own arms wrapped around his waist and she felt more light headed, but didn’t care.  All to soon his kiss ended, and when he eased away to look at her, Evelyn opened her eyes.

 

“We could try to...”  she hesitated.  A part of her wanted more, but she was still afraid of consummating their love.  Knowing what she wanted, and more than willing to show her that sort of love, Rick lifted her in his arms and carried her the short distance to the bed.  Her fear grew as he laid her on there, and Evelyn did her best not to let it show. 

 

“Can I see you?”  Rick asked, and she knew he meant all of her.  Closing her eyes, Evelyn nodded her head, then felt his lips against hers.  She opened them when he parted from her lips, and then helped him remove her dress. Again she closed her eyes as she saw his hands move toward her panties.  She felt his hand move between her legs, and her entire body shook.  Rick pressed his hand against her center, and felt her jerk up, feeling her body tense, and guessed it was more fear that pleasure which had caused that reaction.

 

“Shhh,”  he said as he moved to lay next to her, moving his hand away from her in the process.

 

“Just hold me, and I’ll be all right in a moment,”  she reassured.  Rick pulled her against him kissing her lips once again, and she did relax.  Still fully dressed, even his clothed state could not hide his arousal, and Evelyn felt that pressed against her inner thigh.  Wanting to please him, she moved her hand down between them, and rubbed against the bulge she felt on her thigh.  Rick groaned as she touched him there, and Evelyn wanted to do more but wasn’t sure what to do.

 

“I need to take those off,”  he gritted out, referring to his pants.  He got up and within seconds was undressed down to his underpants.  After a moment he removed them, and to her credit Evelyn stayed where she was, even though she was scared.  He lay beside her, and again held her in his arms.

 

“Kiss me please,”  she said, needing to feel his lips against hers.  Rick ablidged without a second thought, and Evelyn let her fears, all of what she had been told about being proper, and what she felt was proper slip.  She rubbed her hands against his back as they kissed, and felt his hand slip down to cup against her breasts.  As she had the night before, Evelyn felt her whole body responding to his touch. His kiss ended and he began to work his way down to her neck.  This time when he put his hand over her soft curls, with her panties still on, Evelyn didn’t jerk.  She did tense, and Rick began to rub his hand over her there to get her used to his touch.  It didn’t take much for Evelyn to become very aroused, and after only a moment she was moaning constantly, her eyes shut tight.  Not wanting to rush her, but knowing that he was nearing all he could take, Rick took the next stop.  Carefully he took her panties off, then rubbed his hand over her bare flesh.  That caught Evelyn’s attention, and she gasped opening her eyes.  She found her husband looking right at her, and looked in his eyes seeing his love for her there.  Without her having to ask, Rick leaned in kissing her while he managed to get his underwear off.  When he moved over her she broke the kiss.

 

“I’m not sure,”  she said.

 

“I need to stop now then,”  Rick breathed staying where he was.

 

“Don’t,” she said raising her head for them to kiss again.  Knowing that this was Evie’s first time, Rick knew that he was going to cause her pain.  As he kissed her, he moved his finger against her delicate folds, rubbing her there.  Evelyn jerked, and Rick deepened the kiss, which helped her relax, as much as was possible.  His kiss was soft and searching, and Evelyn wrapped her arms around his head deepening it.  She gasped as she felt his fingers enter her and rubbed her fingers through his hair.

 

“How does that feel?”  Rick asked breaking the kiss, needing to know.

 

“I’ve never felt this way,”  she breathed.  Smiling, Rick nuzzled her neck with his nose, then nibbled her there, still stroking in and out of her Vagina with his finger, getting her used to that movement.  When she started to moan again, he moved his body back over her, moving his finger away.  He kissed her lips nibbling on the bottom one as he rubbed his engorged flesh against the entrance of her Vagina.  So caught up in his kiss, as well as the feeling all throughout her body, Evelyn didn’t notice what he was doing, until he pushed into her.  She cried out in pain, but Rick was still kissing her so it was a muffled cry.  Rick held her close not moving, letting her get used to his size.  When he felt a tear on his lip he moved away.

 

“It won’t hurt anymore,”  he said kissing her tears away.  Evelyn nodded feeling more complete than she ever had, despite the pain his entry had caused.  After a few minutes Rick began to move within her, and Evelyn held on to him trying to remember how to breath.  It didn’t take to long to bring her to completion, and she cried out as she felt her body spasming around him.  Rick’s movements quickened until his completion came, then he lay still on her, until he realized he was likely too heavy upon her.  He rolled them on their sides and she snuggled against him, needing the comfort of his arms around her.  When she didn’t move after a while, Rick realized she had gone to sleep.  He reached over her and pulled on the edge of the blanket they laid on pulling it up around them, then joined her in sleep.

 

 

 

                   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

When they woke up next, it was still light outside, but fading light, and both Rick and Evie realized they had slept most of the day.  After all that had taken place, Evelyn felt comfortable in her husbands arms, and had finally managed to sleep without feeling afraid.

 

“I’m sorry I made us wait,”  Evelyn said as she rolled over to look at him.  Rick kissed her lips, and looked into her Hazel eyes.

 

“I don’t care Sweetheart, I love you, and I would have waited for as long as you needed.  If I rushed you,”  he started to say.  Her kiss cut him off, and Rick held her closer.  When they parted again, he reached out placing his hand against her cheek.

 

“Are you hungry?”  he asked.

 

“A little but I don’t want to go anywhere just yet,”  she said.  That brought a smile to his face, and for a while the two were content to lay in bed just holding one another.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 2: Paradise

 

 

By the time the ship reached Italy, a week had passed, and Evelyn’s fears, most of them, had vanished.  From the port near Venice, they got on a train and went northwest, until they reached what was called the Italian Riviera.  The ocean there was blue, and clear.  There were white sandy beaches, and the area Rick had chosen was a private resort, reserved only for those with a great deal of money, which he and Evelyn so happened to have.  Their train arrived as the sun was beginning to set, and once they had everything settled in their room, with a great view of the ocean, they took a walk out on the white sandy beach.  Evelyn wore a white cotton dress, long flowing, with just straps on her shoulders to hold it up.  Rick wore slacks and a light blue shirt. 

 

“I think this is the first time you haven’t worn your weapons while we were out,”  Evelyn said taking notice of that.

 

“Well I think they get in the way of what we like to do the most,”  he replied.  He stopped their walking, and moved in front of her, and they shared a brief kiss before they continued to walk.  The beach was deserted, but neither really noticed, to caught up in one another.

 

“Do you think about having children?”  Evelyn asked suddenly.  Since that night he had made love to her for the first time, Rick had thought about a great many things, including taking more responsibility for both of them.

 

“I’ve never been around kids before,”  Rick replied.  In his youth, in the orphanage in Cairo, and the one before that, in America he had been around kids, and seen adults take advantage of them. 

 

“I used to baby-sit when I was younger,”  she said, breaking his train of thought.

 

“Did you like that?”  he asked. 

 

“Sometimes.  I took care of a young baby once, and it cried so much that I cried.  It frightens me to think of having children, there is so much responsibility, and I think I would mess things up,”  she said, her voice getting softer as she said that last part.  They were right on the waterfront, and Rick stopped their walk, sitting down, then helping her sit beside him.

 

“What makes you think you would mess things up?  Your a smart woman Evelyn, and you do the things you believe in.  I think you would make a good mother to our child,”  he admitted.  Evelyn had been watching the waves break in front of them, but turned when he said those words.

 

“My parents were wonderful parents, but once Jonathan and I got older, they were away a great deal of the time on digs, researching in Cairo, while we stayed with the Nanny.  Later when I was older, I was in Boarding School.   I learned from the sisters there, that the only reason a man and woman should ever sleep in the same bed was for creating life,”  she said.  Now he knew why she had been so afraid at first to make love to him, and he felt that much more love for her, for trusting him instead of those who had helped to raise her.

 

“What do you think of love now?”  he asked, needing to know.

 

“That I wasn’t told the truth.  When you and I are together that way, I feel like the only thing in the world that matters are you and I,”  she said.  Rick leaned in and kissed her again.

 

“If we have kids, we will know the right way to teach them about love,”  he said.  She nodded looking back over the waters.  It was a very warm day, and after a while of sitting in the setting sun, Rick stood.  Not realizing what he was doing Evelyn watched him as he took off his shirt, and before she could say anything, he picked her up and walked into the rising tide.

 

“I need to undress,”  she protested kicking, trying to get away.

 

“I think you look good in wet cloths,”  he replied referring to their last adventure in the water.  A substantial wave nearly knocked Rick off balance, but he held them still.  Now both wet, they laughed, then Rick lowered his head and they kissed.  The waves came in around them but neither noticed.  Once she was on her own feet, Evelyn didn’t protest as her husband lifted her dress away from her letting it float in the water, riding the tide to the shore.  When they were both undressed, they resumed kissing.  In such a short time Rick had learned what spots caused the most pleasure for his wife when he touched her, and it wasn’t long before she was calling out his name softly against his neck as he pulled her against him.  When he lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around his hips and buried her face against his neck as she felt him enter her.  Rick helped her move as he moved, kissing her cheek then when she lifted her head away from his neck, her lips.

 

 

 

                  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

It was late when they returned to their room, after walking a long time on the beach, as well as discovering new ways to bring one another pleasure.  They had been asleep in their bed, when something woke Evelyn.  She sat up without waking her husband who was snoring a little, and got out of bed.  From one of the Canopy posts, she took a silk robe Rick had gotten for her and pulled that on, then went to the small desk close to the plate glass window that looked out onto the ocean.  The moon was out and cast a luminous light in their room, and Evie found herself needing time to think.    What amazed her more than anything else was that her love for Rick was growing day by day, hour by hour. 

All she had worried about their first night on the ship to Italy had paled.  What mattered more was her love for her new husband, and the life they would have over the years.  It was rolling over, and not finding his wife in bed which woke Rick.  He sat up and saw her sitting in front of the plate glass Window.  The light of the moon made Evelyn look all that more beautiful, and after a moment of watching her, Rick walked over to her chair.  He placed a hand on her shoulder, gently massaging her there before he kissed her cheek.

 

“I missed you,”  he whispered in her ear.

 

“I was just thinking about how much I love you,”  Evie said looking away from the ocean to his face.  Rick knelt down in front of her.

 

“I know what you mean.  Before you I thought all that mattered was me, and my need for adventure.  Thats still there, but now you and making you happy is what I want more than anything else,”  he admitted.  Evelyn reached out and Rick took her hand placing it at his lips.  He kissed  her there, then helped her stand up, needing to hold her.

 

“Why don’t we go for another walk on the beach,”  Rick said nuzzling her neck.

 

“Will you hold me in your arms in our bed?”  she asked.  Something in her created a need to be held by him, and when he picked her up, Evelyn placed her cheek against his chest.  Rick placed her in bed then settled in next to her, laying on his back.  Evelyn lay on hers stomach resting her head against his chest.

 

“I thought a month on a honeymoon was a long time, but it seems the time is moving so fast,”  she said.

 

“I know exactly what you mean.  What do you want to do the most?”  Rick asked.

 

“Just be with you,”  she said yawning.

 

“I like the way you think Mrs. O’Connell,”  Rick replied.  Before long both of them went back to sleep.

 

 

 

                 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

 

 

 

Rain from a storm out at sea kept them inside for the next few days, and one day, Rick decided he and Evelyn needed a change of pace.  Now seated at the small table in their room, with a deck of cards, Rick shuffled, ready for a game of poker done his way.

 

“I’m not sure how fair this is,”  Evelyn said as she looked at her hand.  She had played poker numerous times before with Jonathan, and never had she won a game. 

 

“Ahh you’ll do fine,”  Rick said as he got a good look at his hand.  He had delt himself a god awful hand, but he decided not to let Evie know that.

 

“So how did you do?”  he asked.

 

“If I told you that, you might win,”  she said as she placed one card down and drew out another.  It was quite some time before either of them were satisfied with their hands, and Rick was the first to lay his down.  He had Two of a Kind, and half hoped she hadn’t done better.  The smile on her face told him that she had, and in a moment he saw that his wife had a royal flush.

 

“Okay what do you want me to take off first?”  he asked.  When he asked her that, Evelyn blushed.

 

“Would it be easier if I picked?” he asked, taking pity on her.  She nodded, and he removed his socks.  The next few hands Rick won, and Evelyn had taken off her sandals then her dress, down to her panties.  Again Rick let her pull her robe around her so she wouldn’t feel so self conscious, and now as they lay down their hands, Rick found his wife had beat him with a Full house.  He removed his shirt exposing his strong chest to her gaze.  Her next hand was a Two of a Kind, and his hand was junk so he had to remove his shorts.  They were down to their underclothes, and Rick saw the quick smile on his wifes beautiful face, but he had a Royal flush, and knew unless she had one of those he had her beat.

 

“I think I won,”  she said laying down the royal flush she had drawn.

 

“Not so fast,”  Rick replied as he lay his hand down.

 

“Neither of us won,”  she said not sure of what to do in this case.

 

“Not nessarily.  We could undress one another the rest of the way,”  he suggested.  Evelyn had not initiated anything more than a kiss, and their first night together had done a little exploration of her own, but that was all.  Still new to making love, she wasn’t sure about the rest.

 

“What do I do to give you pleasure,”  she asked.

 

“Anything you want to do,”  he said as he moved over to their bed.  There he lay, and waited for her.  Evelyn went to him and sat next to him leaning in to kiss him.  When she did, he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to him, then realized he was supposed to let her explore.  He gently eased his grasp around her, and felt her hesitation.  Gently taking her hand, he placed it below them, against the bulge in his underpants.   Evie parted from his lips looking in his eyes, seeing only his love there.  She remembered how wonderful it had felt when he rubbed against her center, and began to rub against his penis.  Rick closed his eyes, his breathing becoming labored as she touched him.

 

“Do you mind if I touch you,”  he said as he opened his eyes once again.  She nodded her head, and he reached down and began to rub her, moving her panties to one side.  Evelyn shuttered from the shear pleasure his gently touch brought, and it wasn’t long before both of them wanted more.  Rick moved away from her momentarily removing his underpants, then lay on the bed on his back.  He waited for Evelyn to remove her panties, and once she did he guided her to strattle over his penis.  Both of them cried out as she slid down onto his bulging erection, then he held her, and helped her move, showing her what to do.  Being in that position was not easy, and it didn’t take long for her to tire.  Already able to read his wife’s expressions, Rick knew she was tired, and helped her lay against him, then he placed his hand firmly against her bottom, and rolled over so that she was the one against the mattress.  His loving this time was more rushed, causing a powerful release for both of them.  Once they were finished, they lay together quiet for a little bit.

 

“Did you have family at one time that you knew?”  Evelyn asked as Rick pulled her closer.  Before responding to her question, he kissed the top of her head.

 

“I can’t remember.  I know that I was in the Orphanage at Cairo, and that before that I was in America in a big city, but thats all I can remember.”  Evie sighed, and Rick smiled.

 

“Tell me what your thinking,”  he said.

 

“I just think you shouldn’t have had to endure such hardships,”  she said.

 

“Well if you consider that if I would have led a normal life, and stayed in the States, then you and I wouldn’t have met,”  he pointed out.

 

“I know, but no one should have to go with such uncertainty.”  She pulled away then to look at him, then he kissed her lips lingering there.

 

“Well I have you in my life, and I’m sure of our love, so maybe the hard times are behind us,”  Rick said.  Evie nodded and again they were silent, listening to the rain pounding against the windows, letting it lull them to sleep.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 3: Life in London

 

All too soon, the honeymoon was over, and once back in England life fell into a normal pace.  At the British Museum, Evelyn found she had a great deal of work to do with her job as head over the Egyptian section, and had great plans to redo some of the exhibits.  She had high hopes of attracting more visitors with the new look, and spent long days there.  While she worked, Jonathan felt determined to get Rick into life as a British Gentleman, and started taking him to some of his more prestigious clubs.  Now the two of them were on their way back from Jonathan’s hunt club.

 

“Well old chap what did you think?”  he asked, eager to hear what Rick had thought of their day spent riding horses through vast fields hunting fox’s.

 

“I think I need to re-think riding a horse all day,”  Rick replied.  After spending most of his day on a saddled, high spirited horse, Rick’s bottom was sore as was his back.

 

“Ahh not to worry give yourself time, and you’ll get used to that,”  Jonathan said, knowing that from his own experiences.  Though Jonathan seemed to think Rick would join him again, Rick had his own ideas on that, and decided that he was not meant for the Hunt club.  When they arrived at the manor it was getting dark, and as both men had expected, Evelyn’s car was not there.

 

“Look’s like she’s abandoned you yet again,”  Jonathan said, then shut up when he saw the glare in Rick’s eyes.

 

“I think perhaps I need to visit Roses for a bit.”  He left, and Rick let himself into their home.  It was quiet, and he guessed Marie, who cooked for them, and cleaned, had already gone for the night.  In the kitchen, he found a note on the table, which told him dinner was in the oven, keeping warm.  Resigned to the fact that he was going to have to have dinner alone, Rick got out his plate, and sat at the table.  He managed to eat most of what Marie had left on his plate, then after clearing his mess, he went up to the room he and Evelyn shared, deciding to take a hot bath and ease his sore muscles.

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Her day at the Museum had been long, but Evelyn had accomplished what she wanted.  Now as she closed up for the day, she didn’t take notice of the two men approaching her, and it wasn’t until one of them grabbed her that she realized she was in trouble.

 

“Let go of me,”  she yelled.

 

“Oh look Jack, she’s a feisty one,”  One of them men said.  His breath smelled of bad liquor and Evelyn nearly gagged.

 

“Just take what you want and go,”  she said, trying not to show the men she was afraid.

 

“Ahh isn’t that nice,”  The bad breathed man said nuzzling her neck.  Evelyn elbowed him in the gut, then ran as fast as her high heals would let her, to her car.  Just before she got to the door, she was grabbed once again by the man called Jack.  He yanked her hair, pulling her head against him, causing her to cry out.

 

“Now why did you go and do that?”  he asked.

 

“Please I didn’t mean to.  I just want to get home,”  she said.

 

“Not before we have our way with you,”  the other man said.  Evie closed her eyes wishing this were all a dream, wishing that she would wake up and find Rick there to hold her, but what was happening now was very real, and she felt she was going to die.

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Once he had his bath, Rick dressed for bed and took a book from the bookshelf in their room.  It was entitled The Iliad, and a thick volume, but he figured reading wouldn’t hurt him.  Almost an hour later Rick was half asleep when he thought he heard Evie’s car pull up.  Their room faced the side of the house, close to where they parked their cars, and opposite of where Jonathan slept.  Deciding to be a good husband, Rick slipped on a robe, then walked downstairs, and as he stepped outside he noticed it was about to rain.  Quickly he walked around to the side of the house and found Evelyn still in her car, leaning her head against the steering wheel.  A frown creased his face, then he went to her door.  When he opened it, she screamed and jerked away from him, and with horror he realized she was badly beat up.

 

“Shhh, it’s me sweetheart.”  His voice soothed her, but she remained facing away from him, ashamed.

 

“Evie, it’s about to rain, will you let me help you?”  he asked.  After a moment she nodded and backed out of the car.  She tried to stand, but could not and almost fell before she felt her husband lift her into his arms.

 

“I wasn’t watching,”  she started to say, but he stopped her with a gently kiss to her swollen lips.

 

“Shhh, I’ll take good care of you,” he said as he walked to the front of the house.  Once he had her in their room he laid her in their bed.  He had seen people beat up before, had even been the one to beat someone up, but never a woman, and seeing his wife so injured created a rage in him greater than any he had ever known.  Not once since he had brought her in, had Evelyn muttered a word.  He tended to her cut lip, and wiped her face clean of the blood there before he noticed that her skirt was ripped, and that her shirt had only two buttons on it.

 

“Evie I want to get the rest of you clean. Do you think you can handle a bath?”  he asked, wanting to make sure she didn’t feel like he was a threat to her.

 

“They had their way with me,”  she said softly looking up into his eyes for the first time.  For a moment Rick didn’t know what she meant, then it dawned on him, and he felt sick, not for himself, but for her.

 

“That wasn’t your fault.  I think maybe I need to call your doctor,”  he said starting to leave.

 

“No don’t you leave me,”  she cried out.  Quickly Rick settled beside her and Evelyn began to cry.  Her cries filled their room, and all Rick could do was hold her until the storm passed, bringing sleep.  Once she was asleep, he made the call to her doctor, and to the Authorities who promise to go to the museum and have a look around.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Close to midnight, Jonathan arrived home puzzled to see the Doctors Carriage parked in front of the house.  He hurried in, and found Rick and Dr. Brown at the door.

 

“Have her take the sedative when she wakes up, and if her fever rises call me,”  he said.  He left, and Rick felt old and tired.

 

“What happened?”  Jonathan asked.

 

“It’s better if you sit down for this.”   They walked to the Parlor, and Jonathan sat down watching Rick pace for a little bit, then he finally spoke.

 

“Jonathan two men attacked Evelyn while she was closing the museum.  They beat her pretty badly, as well as took advantage of her.  She is running a fever, but the doctor said she will recover physically.”  There was anger first, then sadness and compassion for both Rick and Evie.

 

“I’ll hunt down who did this and kill them,”  Jonathan said fuming.

 

“Not before I do,”  Rick started to say, then heard Evelyn scream.  Both men shot up the stairs and were at her side instantly.

 

“You left me,”  Evelyn sobbed.

 

“Shhh, only to let Dr. Brown out, and lock up,”  Rick reassured as he settled beside her holding her close.  Jonathan wanted to hold her as well, but for now he knew they needed to be alone, so he left going to make sure all the doors were tightly shut and locked.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

 

Time healed the visual wounds, but weeks after the attack, Evelyn was still jumpy.  She had already started back to work, and if she needed to work late Rick went to the museum to stay with her.  Now with morning’s arrival, Evelyn found herself feeling sick again.  She had kept that from Rick, not wanting to worry him more than he already was, and after mentally preparing herself managed to get up. Once she was dressed, she headed downstairs smelling breakfast which made her feel more nauseated. Before she could reach the bottom of the steps she bent over, and retched all over the floor.  In the kitchen, Rick had just set breakfast on the table when he thought he heard Evelyn crying out.  Quickly he went into the Parlor and found her at the bottom of the stairs looking pale.

 

“Okay Sweetheart lets get you back to bed,”  he said.  Despite not wanting to be babied, Evelyn felt truly retched, and let him take her upstairs.  In their room, Rick helped her remove her cloths and helped her get to bed, then called the doctor, worried that she was having some sort of reaction to the attack on her the month before.  When he arrived Rick was told to wait outside the room, and now he paced the hall.  Fortunately the wait was not long, and once the doctor was out of the room, Rick was nearly ready to pounce him to find out what was wrong with his wife.

 

“She needs to stay in bed.  I took a blood sample, so I won’t know with certainty until I run the test, but I believe she is pregnant.”  His words shocked Rick to the core, not only because neither had really expected that, but because of the attack a month before.

 

“How soon can you tell, I mean after the kid is in there?”  Rick asked hoping that the Doctor would reassure him that the attack had nothing to do with her state.

 

“Usually six to eight weeks, sometimes as early as four,”  Doc said without realizing what Rick was implying.  Once he saw the doctor out, Rick sat in the parlor for quite some time deep in thought.  He had seen Evelyn around kids when they had gone to parties held by her closest friends, and despite what she said about not being good with him, he thought the opposite.  His wife was very good with children.  He worried about whose child she had in her.  Likely it was his, but there was that small chance that perhaps it was not, and that was not easy to face.

 

“He told you,”  came her soft voice.  Rick looked up as Evelyn approached him, and reached out his hand, but she avoided his touch.

 

“I feel violated Rick.  I’m so afraid that this child is not our child.  It’s mine, but if it’s not with you, then I don’t want to have anything to do with it.  Tell me what to do,”  she said, the last word ending on a sob.  Rick stood up and went to her, easing her in his arms.

 

“I keep thinking about that night.  I was mad because you were not home, and I thought about all the mean things I wanted to say to you.  I should have just come down there.”  Evelyn hadn’t realized until now how much this had effected him.  Rick was the strongest man she had ever met, but it was clear in the way he held her and spoke to her, that he was feeling just as much pain as she was.

 

“I’m sorry for spending so much time there,”  she replied.  Rick eased away and kissed her gently on the lips.

 

“Don’t be sorry, that is part of your life, and I want you to be happy.  I’m more than okay with what you do,”  he said, and meant every word.  He felt her trembling, and without a word lifted her into his arms and carried her up to their room.  There he laid her on their bed then sat beside her reaching out to move the hair out of her face.

 

“I want to be with you,”  she said.  Since the attack they had refrained from any love making, and right now Evelyn needed the touch only her husband could give.  Trusting her to know what she needed, Rick did not hesitate.  He went to the door and shut it, locking it, then returned to their bed.  After removing his cloths, Rick sat down beside her and leaned in kissing her gently before pulling away.

 

“If anything I do makes you feel uncomfortable, then let me know,”  he said, wanting to make sure he didn’t hurt her.  Evie nodded and when he kissed her again, she reached out and pulled his head down to deepen the kiss.  Rick moved over her despite her clothed state, and reached down pulling her nightgown up over her legs.  He felt her shutter, and eased away from her lips, already swollen from his kisses.

 

“Are you sure?”  he asked rubbing his nose against hers.  She nodded, though the fear was evident in her eyes, and Rick suddenly wasn’t sure.

 

“Let me hold you instead,”  he said.

 

“I want us together.  I know you won’t hurt me, but why am I afraid?”  she asked as tears began to fall.

 

“Because someone took from you something they had no right to take.  I don’t even have that right unless its something you want.  Why don’t you start,”  Rick said laying on his back.  For a moment she hesitated, then she removed her nightgown, and strattled him.  She still shook as she leaned in to kiss, him, and Rick reached up and rubbed his hand up and down her back, wanting her to feel comfort.  She broke the kiss and rested her head against his shoulder.

 

“When they grabbed me I tried to get away.  I think they would have just taken what they wanted and left if I wouldn’t have tried to fight them,”  she said.  Before now she hadn’t told him what had happened, and now Rick wanted to know.

 

“One of them held me still, while the other did what they wanted with me.  I screamed, but they had something over my mouth,”  she said becoming more upset.  She lifted her head away to look at him.

 

“While they did..while they took from me, I kept thinking about how you would ever look at me the same again.  How can you love me Rick?”  she asked.

 

“I can’t tell you how, but I do love you, and I don’t care if its in the morning, or at night, or now. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,”  he said.  His words brought her to tears, and for a long time they lay together in their bed.  When her tears subsided, Rick eased her away from him, and once she was on her back he lay on his side.  After kissing her on the lips, he kissed his way down to her neck suckling there.  Evie reached down between them, and began to rub over his penis, wanting him to have just as much pleasure as he was giving to her.  When she began to stroke his sensitive flesh, Rick stopped kissing her for a moment, almost forgetting how to breath. Her touch was intoxicating, and Rick had to fight not to take more from her.

 

“Please love me,”  she finally said.  She moved beside him, and when he moved over her, she was still frightened, but she was also determined.  She needed his touch, and wanted his touch to wash away the memories of what had happened the previous month with the attack.  Rick kissed her gently on the lips then lifted his head to watch her for any signs of hesitation or fear.  When he rubbed his hand over her belly, she closed her eyes.

 

“Shhh,”  he whispered kissing her lips again.  As he kissed her, Evelyn began to relax, and even when he began to rub his hand over her stomach she stayed relaxed trusting his touch.  His fingers rubbing against the folds of her Vagina caused her moan, and shutter.  There was both fear and pleasure with his touch, and she wanted more despite her fear.  Knowing that she was afraid, Rick took his time.  When he began to stroke into her soft wet flesh, Evelyn cried out in pleasure, and when he pressed into her, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist.  Rick pushed his arms under her shoulders and upper back and held her, staying still to let her relax before he started to move.  He broke his kiss and looked at her.

 

“How do you feel?”  he asked.

 

“Afraid, but don’t leave me,”  she said.

 

“I’m not going anywhere,”  he said as he kissed her forehead.

 

“What if this baby isn’t yours?”  she asked.

 

“Sweetheart, the doctor was fairly confident that you are at least two months along, which would make that mine,”  he said. 

 

“Make me forget Rick,”  she said.  He kissed her once more, then began to move within her, slow movements stroking in and out, bringing both of them pleasure beyond words.  As he moved within her, he kissed her taking his time to love her, to wash away the bad she had been through.  As she began to tighten around him, Rick slowed his movements even more, wanting this loving to last.

 

“I missed you,”  she whispered as he lay his head against her shoulder. 

 

“I missed us,”  Rick admitted.  As much as he wanted to make love to her for as long as he could, the need for completion was greater, and it wasn’t long before they lay in one anothers arms lost in a world only their love could create.  Once their bodies calmed, Rick felt his wife stir, and pulled her closer against him.

 

“What if we mess this baby up?”  Evelyn asked, ever the one to worry.

 

“We will be fine, get some sleep,”  Rick said.  She nodded her head and drifted into sleep, while her husband watched over her, keeping her safe.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 4: Lessons in Egyptian

 

Note: I credit this one to ScullyMilagro

 

 

Outside the large Manor House, the rain pounded down, as it had for the past few days.  Inside, in the back of the house, Evelyn sat in what used to be her fathers study cleaning books.  Eventually she intended to make his study her work area for projects she brought home from the museum, and when the baby was born, she would work from there.  Her pregnancy thus far had been easy, and now in what they thought was her fifth month, she was finally beginning to show.  As she worked she sang a soft lullaby in Egyptian, one her mother sang to her when she woke up from bad dreams.  It was there that Rick found her, and for a little bit he just watched her, wondering what she was singing.

 

“So this is where your dad did all of his planning?”  he asked, as he walked into the small room.  Startled, Evelyn jumped, then looked up from the book she had been dusting.

 

“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that,”  Rick said as he sat beside her.  Evie leaned into him, and he lifted her up settling her in front of him, then wrapped his arms around her resting his chin on top of her head.

 

“What were you singing?” he asked.  Evelyn had not realized that Rick was there and was a little embarrassed.

 

“Just a song my mum sang to me when I would awaken from a nightmare,”  she said leaning against him.

 

“What does it mean?”  he asked curious.  Not having had a formal education, or for that matter any education at all, Rick only knew one language well, English, and a little Egyptian from living there half his life, but that was all.

 

“I think the words speak of the night, and the stars,”  she said, then got an idea.

 

“I was thinking that on our next trip to Egypt I could teach you some of the ancient language,”  Evelyn said.  Suddenly she felt him move away from her, then he knelt down in front of her, realizing that she intended for them to go back there.

 

“No,”  he said shaking his head.

 

“No what?”  she asked trying to play innocent.  The Museum had interest in her going to Egypt to find the lost treasure of Ramseys, and she had accepted their offer without really thinking to ask Rick what he thought.

 

“I know you, I know that look in your eye,”  Rick said waiting for her to come forth with what she was up to. Evie stood up and took the book she had dusted, placing it back on the shelf with all the other first addition books her father had collected.

 

“Honestly Rick, It’s just a small trip to Egypt.  The Museum wants us to try and find the lost treasure of Ramseys,”  she said, acting as if everything was perfectly normal.  Now he was angry.

 

“SO you decided to wait and tell me, until there was no way you could back out of it.  Well guess what, as long as your pregnant with my child I’m putting my foot down.”  Evelyn had started to hum to herself ignoring her husbands little fit.

 

“I’m going to get some tea, would you like anything?”  she asked as she walked toward the door.

 

“Well then you can go on your own,”  Rick said, and pushed past her.  He strode through the hall leading to the parlor, then down another hall which led to the front entry.  As he was putting his jacket on, Evelyn walked in.

 

“Where are you going?” she asked, surprised by his sudden burst of anger.

 

“Out,”  he replied, and without another word he walked out the door.  Shaking her head in disbelief, Evelyn sighed, then walked back to the Parlor where Marie had just set down her tea.

 

“Is there anything else you need?”  she asked.  Evie shook her head settling on the couch, and picked up the china cup sipping its warm contents.  Being married had many good aspects too it, like not having to be alone, but the one thing both of them seemed to be having difficulties with is communication on important things such as trips to Egypt.  Knowing that after a drive, Rick would calm down, Evelyn didn’t let herself worry, and once finished with her tea, she returned to the study to finish up her task.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was a few hours later when Rick returned, and with the sun going down he half hoped Evie was in bed.  He was still angry that she had agreed to take a trip without asking him how he felt, and at this moment didn’t really want to talk to her.  After hanging his coat on the Hall tree, Rick walked to the parlor finding it empty.  He sighed and plopped down in one of the chairs and shut his eyes, wishing that marriage could be all bliss.  Having heard his car pull up in the driveway, Evelyn walked down stairs dressed for bed.  Once she had finished in the study, she had felt bad for not telling him, and being pregnant had made her an emotional wreck, so she had spent the time he had been gone in their room crying.  When she reached the bottom of the steps, she hesitated, then went to where he was seated.

 

“Rick I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.  If you don’t want us to go, then I will cancel it,”  she said.  The hurt in her voice got his attention, and when he looked up at her, Rick realized she had been crying.  He reached out and took her hand then pulled her, indicating for her to sit on his lap which she willingly did.

 

“We need to talk more don’t we?”  he asked kissing the top of her head.  Evelyn nodded, she had been thinking that since he left, and would do her best to talk things over with him, for now she was glad to be in his arms.

 

“When I have an opportunity to go to Egypt, I get so wrapped up in my excitement, that I forget there are two of us to consider,”  she said.  At that, Rick grinned and put his hand over her now slightly rounded belly.

 

“I think you forgot someone,”  he said.  Looking down where he had placed his hand, Evelyn also smiled, and placed her hand over his.

 

“I supposed I did,”  she said.  Both of them were still adjusting to the fact that in less than five months they would be responsible for another life, and to both that was still very unsettling.  After a while of just sitting in silence, Rick spoke up.

 

“Look if you really want to go to Egypt I will come with you.  I’m sorry a blew my top like that,”  he said.

 

She turned to look at him.

 

“Are you sure?”  When he nodded his head, she leaned in and kissed him.

 

“I love you,”  she said.

 

“Care to show me how much?”  he asked, needing to feel their bodies joined together in love.  Since their wedding, and the first time he had made love to her, there was always that need, and the desire to be a part of her, and he guessed it would always remain that way.  When she got off of his lap, she turned and held out her hand, and gently he wrapped his large strong hand around her soft small hand.  Their journey up to their room was made in silence, and once the door was shut, Rick quickly removed all of his cloths while Evelyn disappeared in the bathroom.  When he turned, and she came out his jaw dropped.  She had removed the dress she had been wearing, and had on the Red silk nightgown he had gotten for her, the very one she said she would never wear.  When he just stood there, Evelyn felt her cheeks get very warm, and looked down.  Her blush made her all that more beautiful, and Rick didn’t wait long to go to her.  Gently he tilted her head up to look at him, then took her lips in a gently kiss.  This kiss was slow and searching, and Evelyn moaned as she felt his tongue enter her mouth.  As he kissed her, Rick moved his hands down her sides, and pushed the nightgown up over her hips, letting his hands rub over the soft skin on her hips and thighs.  When the kiss ended abruptly, Evelyn’s eyes opened, and she saw a look in his eyes, a mischievous look right before he began to nibbled the creamy skin on her neck.

 

“I think,” she started to say, then moaned loud as his lips and tongue traveled down her neck to the lining of the gown she wore.  His touches were driving her mad, and she felt her knees going week.  To keep herself standing, Evelyn wrapped her arms around him, and cried out when she felt his mouth cover here breast through the silky fabric of her gown. 

 

“I need to lie down,”  she managed.  Gently Rick backed her up, and when she felt the edge of the bed touching her legs, Evelyn sat down, as Rick sank down on his knees.

 

“God I never get enough of you,”  Rick said as he pulled away from her breasts.  The silky fabric was wet, and the coolness of the air in the room mixed with the wetness caused her nipples to harden, something that did not go unnoticed by her husband.  He reached out and cupped both breasts, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples.  Deep within, Evelyn felt a tightening, and shook her head gasping out at the tingling sensation she felt both in her breast, and her center.  Lingering a little longer at her breasts, both with his mouth and his hands, Rick’s own body began to respond to her.  Needing more, he moved away from her, and helped her remove the gown, then pulled her to her feet and into his arms taking her lips in a hard kiss. Their teeth scraped together, and Rick bent down rubbing his swollen, sensitive Penis against the soft thatch of curls at her center.

 

“Oh Rick,”  she cried, tossing her head back, exposing her neck to his mouth.  Rick nibbled his way to her ear, and drew her lobe in his mouth sucking on it, then gave her a love bite before he moved away.  Gently he turned her so that she faced away from him, and kissed the back of her neck.

 

“Lay down,”  he whispered.  Not sure what he had planned, but trusting him fully, Evelyn lay on her stomach, then felt his hands lifting her hips.  For a few moments things were awkward, then she found herself on her hands and knees, and felt him move behind her, and let out a high pitched squeal of delight when she felt his fingers rubbing over her curls.  His lips moved over the small of her back, and that in combination with the movement of his fingers within her, drove the breath out of Evelyn.  Rick felt her tighten around his fingers, and eased them out.

 

“Rick don’t leave me,”  she sobbed.

 

“I’m not,”  he said, then with one quick thrust he was inside of her.  For a couple of moments he remained still, letting her body adjust to his swollen hard flesh, then he began a steady rhythm of entering and leaving her body. To help support her, Rick wrapped one arm around Evelyn’s stomach, and placed the other arm and hand close to hers.

 

“Tell me if you are tired,”  Rick said, kissing the back of her neck as he stroked lazily in and out of her.  Her soft moans told him that she was enjoying the way in which they made love just as much as he was.  A few moments more, he felt her arms trembling, and reached in front of them getting their pillows.

 

“Lean in,”  he said.  She did gasping as he sunk deeper into her.  It wasn’t long before he felt her tighten around him, making his movements difficult, and also bringing him closer to completion.

 

“Evie Evie,”  he moaned as she began to spasm around him.  She pushed back, crying out in pleasure with each thrust.  Rick stroked into her four more times then pushed in deep, spilling his seed within her, resting his head against her back, still holding her up.  Moments later he eased her on her side, then lay next to her holding her against his chest.

 

“I’ve never felt that way,”  she managed after a long while of catching her breath.

 

“How did you feel?”  he asked nuzzling the back of her neck with his nose. She sighed.

 

“My whole body felt alive,”  she said, trying to think of a way to put what she had felt in words.  Before she had become his wife, Evelyn had never had trouble with words, but when she tried to describe her emotions, she found that difficult.

 

“Maybe we should do this more often,”  he replied, for he had also felt very alive making love to her in that way.  The rest was silence as both drifted into a peaceful sleep.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A couple of days later, Evelyn and Rick boarded the ship to Egypt, which took a weeks time to get them there.  They arrived early in the morning, which gave them time to get situated at the fort.  Now while her husband had gone out to the market place for supplies, Evelyn looked over the maps she had of Thebes. Ramseys had hidden his treasure somewhere in that vacinity, and though they had a great deal of ground to cover, Evelyn was looking forward to doing what she was best at, being an Egyptologist.  Hearing the door knob turn drew her out of her plans, and she hurried over, opening it for her husband.

 

“I think I have all we need,”  he said as he settled the five satchels full of supplies on the bed.

 

“I would say so,”  she replied.

 

“Did you make the arrangements with getting our camels?”  she asked. 

 

“All read to go,”  he replied as he sat on the bed, then pulled her to sit on his lap.

 

“I was thinking while we were there, and if you wanted, I could help you translate the ancient launguage,”  she said.

 

“I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it, but we can give it a go,”  he replied as he kissed the top of her head.  After a bit of cuddling, Evelyn returned to looking over the maps of Thebes, and Rick got to packing their things in the Rucksacks.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Before this, trips on the backs of camels, had never bothered Evelyn, now in her fifth month of pregnancy, every movement of the camel made her blatter feel full.  With frequent stops for her to relieve herself, the trip took three days, instead of the standard two.  It was mid-day when they arrived, and while Rick set up camp, Evie got a fire going, and made lunch, which was rice and beans.  Just as she was finishing, he walked over and she handed him the small pot of his lunch.

 

“So what is the game plan?”  Rick asked as he took a few bites of the rice and beans.

 

“I want to start out by going into the Temple.  Most of the time, the priests transcribed information about the state of the kingdom there, and we might find what we need without having to search blindly,”  she replied as she took a sip of tea from the thermos.  With lunch quickly over, the two of them got the Rucksack of supplies, like dust brushes, and what they needed to get into things, then headed for the temple.  It was dark as they entered it, but after lighting a few of the wall torches, the darkness quickly slipped away.  Having studied this particular structure from books of earlier Egyptologists, Evelyn knew where to find the transcriptions, and in an antient case she found papyrus rolls with early writings.

 

“Anything?”  Rick asked as his wife spilled over the writing.

 

“Just about a battle which destroyed Thebes,”  she said disappointed that they hadn’t found anything in writing.  When she was finished she put the scrolls back in their place then started to look at the writings on the wall.

 

“So what is that your reading?”  Rick asked looking at the Hieroglyphs  Evelyn smiled and became the teacher for a bit.

 

“Well first you read from right to left.  This says there was a final battle of Anubis warriors,”  she said pointing to the picture of one.

 

“The city was destroyed, and no one ever rebuilt it,”  she said dusting off a little more of the wall.  They spent the next few hours reading the history of Thebes, and Rick was beginning to understand what the symbols stood for.

 

“I can see why they went to letters,”  Rick said after a while.

 

“It was less time consuming,”  Evie replied as they finished their tour of the Temple.  Once back at camp Evelyn got out the maps she had brought with them and plotted out where they would start searching in the morning, while Rick made them dinner.  As she sat, she felt a fluttering in her stomach and smiled.  The baby was more active at night, and she hoped that maybe this time Rick would be able to feel the movements.  With little effort she stood, and went over to him.

 

“Here,”  she said placing his hand on the slight swell of her belly.  For a moment as the times before Rick felt nothing, then he felt a flutter against the tip of his fingers.

 

“Oh my god,”  he said utterly amazed.  The movement of the baby made everything real, and all at once Rick felt joy and fear.  The expression on his face caught Evies attention.

 

“I know,”  she said settling beside him.

 

“I still can’t imagine what it’s going to be like with a baby all our own.  Sometimes I still worry that it’s not...,”  she looked away, and Rick moved the pot of stew he was cooking away from the fire then eased her against him.

 

“Evie I feel a part of this child, I think doc is right, that it is mine, and the likelihood that it’s one of those men is just not feasible,”  he said.  After they had dinner, they put out the fire then fell asleep ready for the next day of searching.

 

~*~*~*~

 

It took almost two weeks, but their long hard work paid off, and when they returned to England it was not empty handed.  Evelyn and Rick made headlines again with the local post, and with the Bembridge Sholars for the discovery of Ramseys treasures, something which did not go unnoticed by two men of Evelyn’s past.

 

~*~*~

 

Chapter 5: Revisited

 

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 her 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. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Epilogue

 

For as long as he could remember, over the head board of his bed was a frame, and inside of it was the feathers of a bird, some sand, and a tiny leather bracelet.  Now as five year old Alex sat in bed waiting for his bed time story, he had decided to ask his mum what all that was about.  When she came in, and when she was settled in bed, Alex yawned, then asked his question.

 

“Mum what is all of that in that picture?”  he asked.  Evelyn smiled, and sat up.  Carefully she took the frame down, and more carefully opened it up.

 

“Before you were born, Mummy and Daddy had an adventure in Egypt.  I was lost there you see, and daddy had the help of some very special friends.  These feathers are from the Falcon who brought the message of my where abouts,”  Evelyn said.  Though that part was not entirely true, she would tell Alex the full story of his birth when he was old enough to understand.

 

“Why is there sand?”  he asked.

 

“The sand represents Egypt.  You were born in the Med-jai village.  A few days after you were born, the leader of the Med-jai gave you this bracelet in a special ceremony where we gave you your name.

 

“Uncle John said they attacked you one time when you were at Homnatra,”  Alex said sleepily. 

 

“That was before they knew us,”  she replied as she put the frame back together, then put the picture back in its place.  Not pleased that Jonathan was telling Alex about that time in their lives, she made it a point to see him once her baby was asleep.

 

“Did I get an Egyptian name?”  Alex asked.  Evie smiled.

 

“Yes, Issa, which means god saves.  When you were born you were not breathing like you should be, and our friends believe like us that god saved you, spared you and brought you back to us,”  Evelyn said holding him closer.

 

“Were you sad?”  he asked.

 

“Yes but you are here now, and thats all that matters,”  she said. Just as he drifted to sleep, Rick walked in, and once Evie had gotten out of his bed, both of them tucked him in, then stood watching him.  Both of them knew that more than once that they had been looked after, and both were thankful that they had their love, and a wonderful little boy who made their lives complete.

 

 

 

THE END