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.
Into the Night
-Three-
Larry smiled at his cousin as she taught Nick a chord on his guitar. It was Saturday, and the young boy was so excited because the museum was holding a welcome party for Miranda and there would be dancing and food and maybe Attila would perform some magic, which he'd learned from Larry. But the thing that Nick wanted so badly was out of his reach.
He wanted Miranda to be with Ahkmenrah, for them to get married and even maybe give him a baby cousin to play with. He'd told his dad he thought they loved each other but Larry had just chuckled.
"You don't fall in love with people overnight, Nick." He'd said, "They're just friends, that's all."
Nick had nodded sadly and trudged to his room, Larry chuckling as the door closed and shaking his head. His little boy just wanted Miranda to be happy, bless him. Larry himself had noticed a little spark between his cousin and the Pharaoh, but Miranda sent sparks flying through everyone she met. It was common for people to just like her straight away and it wasn't as if they were eyeing each other up and snuggling and slow-dancing or anything like that.
But the nightguard looked at his cousin teaching his son, and as the conversation suddenly turned to Ahkmenrah, there was a small blush that swept across Miranda's cheeks. Maybe...maybe there was something there...
No. Surely not...right?
Ahkmenrah sighed, watching the doors with sad eyes as he waited for Miranda to arrive.
"Ahk?"
The Pharaoh turned to see Sacagawea who had placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, the young woman looking worried as she gazed at him.
"You're troubled..."
"I..."
Ahkmenrah stopped himself and turned away, Sacagawea standing in front of him and cupping his face to make him look at her.
"I take it you have been thinking of Miranda..." She began, "Or you would not look so sad..."
"She's been on my mind constantly since last night." Ahkmenrah replied, "Even when I've slept I've dreamt of her..."
He looked helplessly at Sacagawea who smiled a little.
"What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing, my lad." Teddy said, appearing behind Sacagawea and taking her hand, pressing a kiss to it and smiling, "You just...have feelings for the girl. It's hardly surprising, she took a shine to you too."
The Pharaoh sighed, shaking his head but looking up as Miranda arrived with Larry and Nick. He headed away from them down the corridors, the family not noticing he'd been there before he passed the Huns. Attila stopped him for a moment and hugged him, Ahkmenrah smiling at the gesture that Larry had taught the Hun not long ago.
But what Ahkmenrah didn't remember was that Miranda hadn't met the Huns yet, and as he walked towards his exhibit he heard the shouting and a scream, moving in the direction of the sounds only to come across a terrified Miranda, the poor girl nearly in tears as she raced down the corridor towards him.
"AHK!" She screamed, "HELP ME, PLEASE!"
The Huns grabbed her, another scream leaving her lips before the Pharaoh broke into a run. They had her stretched right now and he feared for a horrible moment he wouldn't reach her in time, but he called Attila, the Hun turning and looking at him before he instructed them to put Miranda down and that she was to be unharmed.
They just dropped her to the floor, Ahkmenrah unaware of what he felt for the girl at this moment. He knelt down by her now crying form and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, tilting her chin with his left hand so she was looking at him before trying to soothe her and wipe her tears away. He wasn't sure what else to do.
"Miranda, it's alright..." He said softly, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet, "Come on..."
"Ahk, I was so scared..." She breathed, suddenly pressing herself into the Pharaoh's arms.
Ahkmenrah rubbed her back soothingly before linking arms with her and heading towards Larry's panicked voice, Miranda breaking free of him and running to her cousin, hurling herself into his arms and crying against him.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry that happened to you..." Larry told her, "I told everybody who you were the night before you came and I should've introduced you to the Huns last night. I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay..." Miranda replied, wiping her eyes and smiling a little, "Where's this party?"
Miranda had the best time dancing with everyone in the museum that night, but she noticed that Ahkmenrah wasn't dancing...and according to Nick, he loved dancing. He looked really quite sad, and Miranda didn't understand why it pained her so much to see him like that, but then again, she hated seeing people upset. She left Nick and headed towards the Pharaoh, watching him turn and walk away.
"Ahk!" She called, Ahkmenrah stopping in his tracks, "Hey...what's the matter, huh? Nicky tells me you really enjoy dancing and you just look like you're having the worst time."
"I'm sorry..." He said softly, "I don't wish to spoil the party...I just..."
"What?" Miranda asked, the concern so genuine in her eyes it almost hurt the Pharaoh to look at her, "What's wrong, sweetie?"
She rubbed his arm gently, trying desperately to understand why he was upset.
"I..." The Pharaoh began, becoming flustered and going a little red in the face before he looked into Miranda's gorgeous green eyes, leaning down and suddenly pressing his lips to hers.
The nineteen year old was shocked to say the least and when the Pharaoh broke the kiss, the pair were so embarrassed, they didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry..." He said, raising his hands in surrender, "I'm truly sorry...I...I should just..."
He turned and left, Miranda just breaking into tears were she stood and sitting on a bench, hearing a familiar voice beside her.
"My lady?"
It was Octavius, bless his heart and she felt a gentle sensation on her hand as he sat on it, patting it with his tiny hand gently.
"Why are you crying?"
Miranda couldn't answer and she closed her eyes, sobbing and resting her head in her hands, Octavius hurrying to the remote controlled car before speeding away, returning moments later with Sacagawea who rushed to the young girl's side.
"Miranda...what's the matter?" She asked softly, "What's happened? Why are you crying?"
"I...Ahk and I...he...he kissed me..." Miranda sobbed, "I...I don't understand what's happening, I just wanna go home..."
The Pharaoh peered around the corner of the hall, sighing and closing his eyes as he heard the cries of the girl he'd just lost control over. How would they be able to face each other the following night? He didn't want to have to look that poor girl in the face after that.
"Come along, Miranda..." Sacagawea said gently, "Come on...let's find your cousins..."
When Nick saw his upset cousin, he was suspicious that it had something to do with Ahkmenrah and anger boiled in his system for a moment. He saw his best friend watching from the balcony and he glared, the Pharaoh turning and walking away.
Larry, who had been trying to calm a distressed Miranda, called Nick over and left Teddy in charge, taking the family home. Miranda apologised prefusely all the way home for ruining the party. When they got back into the apartment, she collapsed straight into bed with Nick by her side, crawling into bed beside his distraught cousin and cuddling close to her, pressing kisses to her cheek and forehead...anything to stop her crying.
Back at the museum, Teddy approached Ahkmenrah who sat with his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry, m'boy." Teddy said quietly, "But I'm sure that Miranda will return tomorrow and will have forgotten all about it."
"I don't know what came over me." The Pharaoh replied, "I've never had an impulse like that in my life..."
"Sometimes feelings are very overpowering...like love being the most powerful force on earth..." The former president explained, "Sometimes we cannot control what we feel and do and this was just one of those occasions."
"I lost control." Ahkmenrah sighed, "I upset her in such a way that she..."
He trailed off, Teddy placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezing.
"The only thing you can do is see how she is tomorrow night...if she joins her cousin..." Teddy began, "And if the circumstances are right, apologise for what happened and I'm sure that she will forgive you."
Ahkmenrah nodded, scrubbing a hand over his face and standing along with Teddy.
"It's almost sunrise, my lad." The former president said softly, "Have a good sleep on it, eh?"
"Thank you, Teddy." The Pharaoh replied, walking towards his exhibition and climbing into the sarcophagus, Teddy closing up the glass case before heading for the lobby.
He did feel for the poor boy, and the poor girl who had suffered a horrible experience tonight. He hoped that for their sakes, it didn't cause a rift in their friendship.
They were an adorable match, but the question was, did they feel love for each other or not?
-TBC-
Awww, poor kids!
Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks for reading so far!
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