Summary: Larry's nineteen year old cousin arrives in New York as requested by Nick, because he hasn't seen her in so long. She heads to work with him and Larry only to get the biggest shock of her life, and maybe finds a little romance. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own Night at the Museum or its characters. I only own Miranda Daley.

A/N: So, I was watching the movie the other day and I got inspired! Hopefully I get everyone in character and I really hope and pray you like this!

Please, please, please let me know what you think and please enjoy the story!

xxxxxxxxxx

Into the Night

-One-

"You excited, Nicky?" Larry asked, "Miranda's landing today."

"Awesome!" Nick replied, "Will she be here when I get back?"

Larry smiled and passed his son his school bag, grabbing his keys and cell phone before ruffling Nick's hair.

"Yeah. But she'll be tired, so she's not coming to the museum until tomorrow night, okay?" He said softly, Nick nodding in response, "Great, let's get you to school..."

Larry couldn't help but smile at his son's giddy talk and happiness as he took him to school, and if he was honest, he was excited to see his cousin too after all this time. They hadn't seen each other for a year, and Larry had missed her a lot. Miranda was a sweet person, great with Nick and she was like a sister to him. She was just starting her summer break from college and she had three months free, so she said she'd come down and spend it with them.

"Dad, can she come with you to pick me up from school?" Nick asked as he stood at the school gates with his dad.

"Sure, I'll ask her," Larry replied, "Now, go on...and we'll see you after school, okay?"

"Bye, Dad!" Nick called, practically galloping into school which made Larry chuckle.

He had two hours before he had to pick her up, so he went back to his apartment and made up the spare bed, unable to stop smiling as he thought about all the amazing times he'd had with his cousin. She was only nineteen, and he remembered the first time he ever held her when she was a two month old baby, how sweetly she'd smiled at up at him and how cute the noise was that she'd made as she squeaked in happiness. He found himself laughing at the memories before he checked the clock, heading out to go and pick her up.

"Larry!" Miranda cried, Larry beaming at her and opening his arms to her which she moved into without hesitation, "I've missed you so much! How've you been?"

"I've missed you too, Miranda," He replied, "I've been great, what about you?"

"I've been good, thanks," She said with a grin, "Hate college though. The kids are so stuck up!"

Miranda was a girl who stood at about five feet and nine inches tall, with hair like dark chocolate that was thick, and curled a little around the ends which rested neatly by her shoulders. Her eyes were a misty shade of green, lips beautifully shaped and nose small with a pointed tip. She had this smile that always made Larry smile back, and she had great tastes in clothes and music, which helped when she spent time with Nick.

"You have a good flight?" Larry asked as he and Miranda went to get her bags.

"Yeah, thanks." She replied, "I kinda shed a tear when we took off, but..."

"Oh...you still scared of flying?" He asked, earning a slightly sad nod.

"I'm not as bad, but I do get pretty scared."

"Well, it's just car travel from now on." Larry told her, a grateful smile spreading across Miranda's lips, "Nicky can't wait to see you."

"Awww, how is he?" She asked, Larry chuckling as the pair began to load Miranda's bags and leave the airport.

"He's great," Larry replied, "Just...he hasn't stopped talking about this since he knew you were coming."

"Bless him." Miranda said sweetly, "I was gonna ask, am I okay to come with you to get him after school?"

"You certainly are." Larry answered, "I was gonna ask you if you wanted to come along anyway, 'cause he asked if I'd bring you with me this afternoon."

"Cool." Miranda said with a soft laugh, pressing a kiss to her cousin's cheek as they headed out of the airport with her bags.

Three months with her cousins. She couldn't wait.

"MIRANDA!"

Miranda turned and beamed as Nick sped towards her, embracing her in a tight hug before high fiving her and high fiving his dad too.

"I missed you!"

"Hey, short-stuff." Miranda replied, ruffling Nick's hair and earning a playful scowl from him, "I've missed you too, sweetie."

"We're gonna go to the museum tonight! Are you coming with us?" Nick asked, Larry sighing and smiling a little at Miranda who bit her lip and looked at her cousin.

"Sorry, little man...I'm exhausted!" She replied, "But I swear I'll come tomorrow night, okay?"

"Okay." Nick replied, looking a little sad.

"Hey, I got some new tracks to listen to on my iPod...you wanna do that before you go with your dad?" She asked, Nick brightening up immediately.

"Awesome!"

When they got through the door, Miranda went straight to her room for the iPod dock and the magical piece of equipment itself, beginning to play some of the more old-school rock which Nick just happened to fall in love with. Larry smiled as he prepared their dinner, laughing occasionally at Miranda as she danced to the music in a silly way, sending Nick into a fit of laughter. She was so great with him and Larry knew how much they'd both miss her when she went back to college.

He couldn't wait to see her face at the museum the following night.

"Ah, Lawrence!" Teddy called, walking towards Larry and Nick as they came through the door, "Young Nick."

"Hey, Teddy." The father and son replied, taking in the former president's confused expression.

"Where is the young lady you've been talking about so much?" He asked, Larry smiling softly.

"She's tired, y'know...long flight." He told Teddy, "She'll be coming tomorrow night."

"And you haven't told her the truth?"

"Not yet."

"Told who the truth?" Ahkmenrah asked as he appeared from one of the halls with Dexter on his shoulder, Larry smiling at him while Nick ran over to hug the Pharoah.

"Oh, my cousin." Larry replied, "Miranda. She's come over on her summer break from college...three months."

"Oh..." Ahkmenrah replied, "Will we get to meet her?"

"She's coming tomorrow night," Nick said excitedly, "She's amazing, Ahk! You'll love her!"

Larry chuckled and shook his head, turning to see Rex waiting for him with his tail wagging. He took out the enormous tug-of-war rope he'd built and threw it for the dinosaur, the skeleton bounding off after it while Teddy climbed onto Tex, who walked slowly by Nick, Larry and Ahkmenrah.

"I hope the shock won't be too much for her, Lawrence." Teddy said with a sigh, "Things like this can affect people in odd ways, you know."

"Yeah, I know..." Larry replied, "I need to talk to everyone before sunrise about that. Can you help me round 'em all up?"

"Of course." Teddy said, heading off in one direction while Ahkmenrah nodded and went in another, Larry and Nicky heading for Octavius and Jededaiah's hall.

Neither Larry or Nick could wait to see the look on Miranda's face when she met everyone for the first time.

-TBC-

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading so far!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx