Disclaimer: I don't own Night at the Museum/Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian or its characters. I only own Jessica Alice Daley.

A/N: So, I had another review on this a few days ago, and I thought I'd never be able to continue this because I wouldn't be able to remember the plot. However, when I watched Fury last night, and I saw Jon Bernthal, I got a sudden spark of inspiration for this fic. I'd reply to each review that I have received, but there are a lot, and they'd take up most of the space on your screens, so instead, I'll give a massive thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited and followed this story. You are all angels! I'm hoping to get some more writing time in. I've been editing my novel, and doing all sorts over the past year and I'm currently dealing with my own personal struggles as well.

Hopefully, going into business with my boyfriend will mean I can work from home as soon as December, and I can get more writing done between designing t-shirts and updating our shop on ebay. Our shop is called Snarkitudeif you guys want to check it out.

Also, I've done another drawing of Blaire from my Supernatural sisterfic series, The Paths We Tread and I'm actually painting her. It's on my deviantart, and my deviant name is the same as my pen name on here.

Enjoy this new chapter! Happy reading!

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More Than a Woman

-Chapter Two: Oh, Her Eyes, Her Eyes... -

The night was beginning to draw in, the sun fading away behind the New York horizon and Larry, Jessica and Nick made their way into the museum. Jessica was carrying her bag which had a purple tank-top, black combats and her sneakers inside it, as well as food and drink for the night ahead. She practically galloped up the steps, rushing to get changed before sitting and waiting for the place to come to life.

After greeting most of the exhibits who made their way towards the entrance, she suddenly spotted a familiar face amongst the crowds of people, animals and statues. It was the face of the person who saved her the night before. She was very lucky that he'd been around actually, and she was so grateful that he helped her when she needed him to.

"Al!" She called, making her way over to the gangster.

"Hi, Jess." He replied, smiling and jumping a little as she threw herself onto him, hugging him tight and kissing his cheek.

"Thanks so much for last night." She said softly, "I feel like I can't thank you enough."

"It was nothing." Al replied, "No problem."

Jessica grinned and blushed a little, looking up at the handsome gangster shyly. She really had been terrified and Al had come to her rescue without a second thought. She wondered why someone who once wanted her uncle dead would do that. She wasn't about to ask, so instead she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet and looked around for a moment.

"Y'know, I'd love to have another tour of this place... But it seems Ahk's a little too busy tonight." She said, "It's a shame."

"I'll take you round." Al said, remembering his manners, "If you'd like."

"I'd really like that." Jessica replied with a bright smile, "Thank you."

Inwardly, Al sighed with relief and he held up his arm, Jessica taking it and letting him guide her through the halls to different exhibits. He told her about all of them. He'd taken enough tours to know what was what around there now. Jessica took in every single word, and kept looking up at the handsome gangster. She wondered what he looked like under that suit...

She blinked suddenly and stopped in her tracks. Where on earth had that come from?

"You alright?"

She looked up to see Al gazing at her with concern, and feeling her face heat up from pure embarrassment, she nodded and let out a small laugh. Al looked nothing but confused, but he led her on anyway, and within an hour, they'd finished the tour. They reached the entrance to the museum, where everyone seemed to be quite bored.

"Hey, guys!" Jessica called, frowning, "What's wrong?"

"Stereo broke." Nick muttered, huffing and holding up the guitar he'd brought with him, "And I don't wanna practise in front of everyone."

Jessica rolled her eyes and let go of Al's arm, hurrying over to her cousin. She hopped on to the main desk and took the guitar and strummed it to see if it was in tune. Wincing at one of the strings being out of tune, she quickly put it right and took the plectrum that Nick held out to her. She began to play a few chords, and then closed her eyes slowly before beginning to sing Diamonds by Rihanna.

As she sang about shooting stars and visions of ecstasy, she looked at Al, who almost fell down as her eyes met his. If he had a real heart it would've come out of his chest. He felt like one of those dopey cartoons that Dexter the monkey liked to watch where the character's eyes turned into hearts and they either turned into a huffing bull or fainted.

It almost hurt to look at her. She was just so beautiful. She continued to sing and strum the guitar, captivating each person around her. This was one of the most unique girls Al had ever met, and he was more than glad now that he had taken the decision to become a better man and leave Washington behind.

A hand on his shoulder startled the gangster, and he turned to see Larry looking at him with warm eyes. The night guard leaned towards him, and both of them turned their gazes back to Jessica as she continued to sing.

"Take care of her." Larry said knowingly, "She doesn't just tell everyone that they're a vision of ecstasy, you know."

Al looked back at the night guard who winked at him and patted his shoulder. That was Larry giving him permission to make a move. He'd never believed in love at first sight or instant attraction, but holy cow, this girl had gotten him good.

When her song finished, she got down from the desk and gave Nicky his guitar back.

"Go on, guys. Find something else to entertain you." She laughed, heading back over to Al, "So... What do you wanna do now? We still have a few hours."

Al looked at her and then grabbed her hand, going straight for the loading bay. It was probably the only place in the damn museum where they could have some privacy. Jessica didn't ask him where he was taking her. She just followed quietly, trying not to get too nervous as she saw the hard look on the gangster's face. It was cold outside, so Al carefully took off his long coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, and the two of them stood against the wall of the museum, looking up at the night's sky.

"Why'd you bring me out here?" Jessica asked, shocking Al out of his thoughts.

"Oh... For some peace and quiet." He answered, sniffing and then muttering as he looked to the floor, "Loved that song, by the way. You write that?"

"No. It's sung by a woman called Rihanna. I'll bring my iPod tomorrow and let you listen to that song properly." Jessica replied, "And thanks... I'm glad you liked it."

"You sing it for me?" Al asked, still not looking at her.

Jessica let out a breath and looked to the floor. She'd known him a day and he'd figured her out already. That was why he'd brought her out here. He knew that she liked him, and he wanted to confront her about it. What a great start to her visits at the museum. She felt so stupid. She was supposed to have grown out of all this silly crush stuff by now. Her body shook a little as she nodded and hummed, stepping away from the wall and away from Al.

Al, meanwhile was feeling thrilled. He'd made a very bold move by asking her if that had been meant for him. That could have, and could still completely backfire on him, but as of yet it hadn't. And damn it, if this wasn't the perfect time to make this girl his, no time was. He reached to her and took hold of her hand, pulling her close to him.

"I'm so stupid." She muttered, "Sorry."

She still couldn't look him in the face. Al didn't speak to her, because he was terrified that any sudden movement would scare her off. He was Al fucking Capone. He didn't get scared like this. He didn't freak out like he was at that moment. What was she doing to him?

Gently, he touched her chin with a gloved hand, clasping it and raising it so her now watery eyes met his. She couldn't breathe. What was it about this man that made him so irresistible? It was worse that all he actually was initially was a cardboard cut out, and now he had been 'upgraded' to a waxwork. A waxwork that probably didn't have the body she had imagined under that suit.

"Al..."

"Shhh..."

God, his voice sounded so gentle. Her legs almost gave way as his hand then moved to her face. He was being so tender that it almost made the tears in her eyes break away and fall down her cheeks. And she managed to keep them captive until he pressed his lips to hers, and then they fell thick and fast.

It was wrong. They'd only known one another for one night and barely knew anything about each other. Al Capone was a devious gangster, but this Al was just a waxwork with a soul all of his own, and Jessica hadn't even begun to tap into the great mystery that was this man. This beautiful, tender man.

If Al could hear her thoughts (not that he could even hear his own as he kissed her lips), he would've probably been pretty moved. If he knew she thought him beautiful, it would've broken him. He knew that he wasn't beautiful. He was the recreation of a monster. This girl didn't deserve a monster. What was he thinking? She wouldn't want to be with someone like him. He felt like an idiot, and almost couldn't wait to get away from her just so that he didn't have to see or hear her reject him.

He went to pull away, but as she felt his hands slipping away from the warmth of his coat, which pretty much dwarfed her small frame even more, she gripped the lapels of his jacket and held on to him, pressing her lips back against his. Around them, drops of rain had begun to steadily fall from the sky, and Al hurriedly broke away, pulling her back inside the loading bay and looking into her eyes for any sign of reaction.

Jessica reached for him again, cupping the back of his head and then removing his hat before bringing him back for another kiss. It was wrong, but she sure as hell couldn't stop herself. Breaking apart again, their foreheads touched, and as Jessica tried to regain her breath, Al stared at her, reaching down to take her hand.

"Sunrise is gonna be here soon." He said quietly as she moved back to look at him, "We don't have much time."

"You're talking as if this is the only night we'll have." She answered, gazing into his eyes, "Al... I don't know what's happening to me, but I'm not fighting it. This connection... It's something I've never had with another person. I want this every night with you... Every damn night..."

"I ain't a person, am I?" Al replied, lowering his gaze, "I'm a fucking waxwork, Jess. I can't give you anything that..."

Jessica quickly realised what he was talking about when he suddenly went quiet, and she blushed. She put his hat back on his head and kissed him again, cupping his face. He felt so real to touch. His skin was rough yet his lips soft.

"I don't care about that." She whispered, "Just... You can't just do this to me..."

Al looked back up at her.

"You can't just come into my life, make me feel like this and then turn your back on me." She told him sternly, "I'm not fighting this. Please don't make this out to be a mistake. You kissed me. I didn't make the move here."

Al's expression hardened. He took her hand and then began to lead her back inside. Jessica suddenly felt incredibly nervous. Brushing a lock of dark hair behind her ear, she looked to the ground and felt more tears burning up in her eyes.

The feeling of lips against her hand brought her gaze shooting back up towards Al, and he looked back at her, stopping in his tracks to quickly kiss her forehead. In an instant, she felt at ease. That was his way of reassuring her that he wasn't going to turn his back on her, and that he was going to give this a try.

Her angry response to his words had kicked him up the ass, and he knew that he needed to give this a chance. She was a little firecracker. No. She was his little firecracker, and as those words resonated in his head, he smiled. A small laugh escaped his lips as they continued to walk, and Jessica laughed with him, keeping a tight hold of his hand.

When dawn came, Al kissed Jessica once more on the forehead, and then he kissed her hand, before heading back to his exhibit. Jessica stood still and watched him go, trying to quell the aching in her chest with the knowledge that she would be seeing him again very soon.

-TBC-


Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading so far!

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