Chapter One ; A Rude Awakening.

A/N: Oh boy. I told myself I wasn't going to write one … that while watching the movie I wasn't going to get emotionally attacted to Ahk again … and that I need to finish my other stories before I start to think about writing new ones. And lol nope here I am with a NATM one. HA … shoot me now.

Stella Daley – Emilie De Ravin

A light chill covered all of Washington D.C in a thin layer of frost. It was almost too natural for the regular inhabitants of America's capital, but not for the one lone blonde Australian who had just come from temperatures soring in the mid to high 30's. ( that was Celsius by the way. ) Stella Daley quickly hurried through the quiet streets, only with a couple of early birds on a jog or those who had a store to run. Hand bag tightly gripped over one shoulder and her other hand holding onto the blue suitcase trailing after her, muttering under her breath at how ridiculous the weather was being, considering that it was America and no longer Australia that she was going to be … living in. Hurrying up to the apartment that she knew her brother lived in, Stella gave an almost annoyed groan as she noticed that the lift had a 'out of order' sign present on the doors, grounding her teeth together Stella turned to the stairway door and blew out a puff of air. Well here goes the exercise that I need she thought to herself as she pushed open the doors, picking up her suitcase in one hand while trying to see over the top of her overly large coat. One step, two steps, three steps … oh god.

Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty.

"Oh thank Jesus," Stella puffed out as she fell against the wall near the third floor entrance. That was the last time she was going to be doing any sort of stair aerobics. Stepping out into the hallway it was just visible enough to not want to flail around looking for the light switch. Looking down at her watch, the glow in the dark green numbers told her it had just reached 6:30 am. Oh good Larry would be back from the museum and with any luck would be having a shower, she knew just how fussy he was before he ever touched his bed. He had to be practically dry, no sweat, no water … he was always like that. Wandering down the hallway Stella paused when she came to stand in front of her brother's front door. Stella threw three hard knocks against the solid grey slab of wood that stood between her and a nice warm cozy apartment… Well technically, he wasn't her real brother; he was her … adoptive brother. When Stella was about six years old, her family died in a strange house fire that left her in the system in Australia moving from home to home until she was thirteen. When finally nice enough people had noticed how long she had been in the system and adopted her without a second thought. About a year later, once Stella had settled in to the new family life, they all went on a massive trip to America to make her feel like part of the family. Yet … it didn't end in rainbows and sunshine for the small Australian Fa - Stella's train of thought was interrupted by the door flying open to reveal a half asleep Lawrence wearing a scowl upon his brow. So not in the shower then.

"Look what ever you're selling, couldn't you have at least waited until some normal time of the day …"

"Law?" Stella frowned herself but of course, he didn't hear her, nor notice that it was actually his younger sister standing in front of him.

"Besides who comes selling things door by door nowadays, thought it was all over the phone when half you guys aren't even really in the country … "

"Larry!" her voice rose slightly … accent starting to shine through, but still Larry did not intend to listen to her.

"I mean … why can't you give the selling of 'stupid and impractical things' to America's. I mean god forbid us American's have any jobs at all … " he would have kept ranting had it not been for the fact that Stella stepped closer to him and whacked him across the face with an open palm.

"For god sake Lawrence it's me!" accent so very prominent now. Larry stood still hand against his cheek as he finally noticed who was in front of him. Instead of forgetting what she had just done, he looked up at her through his lashes.

"OW!" he complained. Rolling her eyes, she pushed her way past him and into the living room. "Stella!" he complained.

"Oh please you get worse than that from the monkey," she retorted as she placed her suitcase down on the floor and her handbag on the couch. Before pulling off her massive coat, her jacket and then her jumper. "My god like what happened to the country it's freezing all of a sudden,"

"You can't go on slapping people out of the blue!" of course Stella knew about the museum and what happens when the sun goes down, she may have stumbled across it one night when she had been out partying too hard. To say that she had fallen at a kings feet was not a lie. She had … and then proceeded to throw up right after. Not her finer moment in life, she still couldn't really look Akhmenrah in the eye without blushing, feeling as if she could start a bush fire just by placing her cheek against something wooden. Then it seemed to dawn on Larry that his sister was here … standing in front of him. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked. Stella's face all but dropped into a glare as she raised her hands in the air, then through her blonde hair before she huffed and turned on the balls of her feet to face the window.

"Wow … yes nice to see you too Lawrence, I've been great thanks for asking," mumbling that's all Larry could hear. Sighing himself, Larry did the same, though the two weren't genetically related they had spent so much time together as teenagers that they picked up some queues from one another. Larry then turned back first.

"Yes Stella it is always lovely to see you. How have you been? You keeping up with your rent? How long has it been since the last time you've been in jail?" … ouch.

"Okay first of all it was just a bloody holding cell for two nights and secondly yes … obviously I have been keeping with my bloody rent and my job. Other wise how the hell do you think I managed to het here?" yeah … Stella has always been attached to Larry by the hip, that meant emotionally, physically (for one unexplained experience during senior year) but also money wise. Although he barley had enough money for him and Nicky after the divorce, that was one of the many points that always led to an argument with Erica. Stella. He had always managed to spare some change for her. "Look … I just came by for the holidays and to see my nephew. If you want I can get on a plane and go home," she mumbled. Larry gave her a look before he sighed.

"Oh Stel, you know that is not what I am saying. Just let me know when you're coming next time? So that I can actually be prepared and not want to chase you out of the building," that was when Stella couldn't help the smirk that crossed her face.

"Oh was that what you were doing? Chasing me out of the building?"

"Yes … as a matter of fact it was," he defended standing up taller than her small 5'2 height.

"What with!? Ranting?" Stella couldn't help the massive giggle that escaped her lips as Larry gave her another look before grabbing hold of her around her shoulders, pulling her against him.

"I have missed you though, Stella,"

"I know. I've missed you too," her voice muffled by the fabric of Larry's t-shirt, gripping it in a small fist, she leaned her face into the crook of his neck. It felt like years since they last saw each other and somehow it really was.

"So has everyone at the museum," a small moan. "Yeah … especially Akhmenrah," Larry teased before Stella pushed away from him.

"No … please for the love of god," she muttered turning around and picking up her things.

"You know he still remembers how you two first met,"

"Lawrence!" Larry chuckled as Stella moved her things into one of the spare bedrooms that was actually hers if he thought about it. Oh, this was just what he needed, and before the massive showcase. Larry shook his head before he followed Stella. Maybe she could help? Her accent and personality seemed to automatically calm anyone that was in her presences. Maybe McPhee wouldn't mind having her back? Ooor maybe not, considering what happened the last time she had helped with one of the many museum events. One involving Rexy and Attila. This ended in most of the invited guests to be pinned in one of the many exhibit areas for over an hour. Plus there was that one time Stella and Jedediah wanted to redecorate the main hall. He still has no idea how someone that small and someone who was just about as short as the mini figurine, could do that much damage. Yeah - best not tell his boss who was back in town.

Well there you go.

Chapter one.
Well maybe more like the prologue.

But I hope you like it?
Because this is something that I have been wanting to do forever.
And I just … felt the need to tonight so here is the chapter!

So please leave a review, no flames, and constructive criticism.

And I'll see if you guys deserve the next part ;)

~ JFM ~