Sand. That's the first thing Anzu smelled when her eyes fluttered open. It was a deep musk mixed with an earthy aroma and what could possibly pass as peppermint. Her eyes squinted slowly adjusting to the room around her. It was dark, with the glow of the moon coming from the large open terrace being her only source of light. She was confused.

The bed was awfully soft and felt huge as she noticed the pillows that seemed to surround her endlessly. For some reason finding herself in this unfamiliar room did not draw a panic from her. She felt oddly as ease here. It was then she noticed the sleeping figure that slept soundlessly beside her. She almost gasped out loud at the man sharing the enormous bed with her. She could never miss the outrageous hair dipped with purple, blonde bangs framing his sharp face. She wordlessly stared at him wondering what she was doing here. How she even got here in the first place. It was then his sleeping figure decided to open one fiery eye.

"Anzu why have you awakened?" he asked with a deep yawn. How was it possible his deep voice could sound even more bottomless at this hour? It caused a shiver to run down her spine. She had not heard that voice in a very long time.

"I-I'm not sure Pharaoh." She had called him Pharaoh and not Atem, his true name. It was just the first thing she could think of in this bizarre situation.

He chuckled at her words.

"You have not called me Pharaoh in quite some time." He stated with mischief clear in his voice.

Anzu was not sure what to say as she laid quiet. Her mind was reeling trying to figure out how she got here, what she was doing here.

"Come here." He finally stated breaking the lengthy silence.

Anzu felt the bed move beside her as she felt strong warm hands move her body closer to his.

He was so warm. She felt she could cry right then and there as he held her close in his robust arms. It had been so long, she had almost forgotten the joy he had brought her just being near him.

"What is wrong my love?" he asked her with concern.

My love? She knew right then and there this had to be a dream. For Anzu had never confessed her love for the man that held her. She had decided to keep it to herself that last night they had encountered each other. It wasn't just her fear of rejection but the hurt she might cause if he did somehow reciprocate those feelings. He had no body to call his own and she knew he deserved to be finally laid to rest. To go home to those that had loved him so long ago. He had been alone too long.

Anzu continued to lay quiet with Atem's heartbeat playing for her endlessly and rhythmically. It was what she had wished for the two of them for so long. But she knew she couldn't dwell on these fantasies any longer and that was when she had decided to bury him. She had forced herself to move on, if only for her sake. He was happy somewhere. That's what she told herself on the nights it was particularly hard to sleep alone in her bed. On the days the grief felt too much for her to handle. It was like an endless wave kept attacking her heart, never once wavering or hesitating, always striking in the same motion. It was her who would lay in the wreckage desperately holding onto dear life for any sort of reassurance. To think of the happy memories he had left her with. To pray those memories could somehow fill the hole that undoubtedly would never leave her heart.

But they never did and so she would cry until her eyes were left dry and red. But time heals all wounds and she eventually licked at her own. She could not deny the pain that was still there. It would always be there, always lingering waiting for her to break, but she hadn't allowed it to.

Not yet.

"Are you real?" she asked in almost a whisper. Atem had started to stroke her hair, mindlessly playing with the ends.

"If you believe I am than how could I not be." He replied with a chuckle.

He brought her closer to him, her body now almost completely on top of his. She noticed the sleeping garments that laid against her skin. It was so soft and almost water like. The fabric was a beautiful blue silk that reached her thighs. The top was embroidered with gold and created two thin straps laying on either side of her shoulders. It certainly felt too beautiful to just sleep in.

She nuzzled closer to him and slowly heard his heart start to beat slower. His breathing became quieter and Anzu knew he was finally asleep. It was then the lingering tears in her eyes began to fall. It had just been too long.