Chapter Three; Don't

Rebecca made her rounds throughout the museum checking to make sure that everybody had filed out of the front doors for the evening. Most nights she was able to get everybody out before sunset, on other occasions though there had been some awkward moments when Larry and Teddy would be wandering around, doing their own rounds when they would run into her and a family. Every since the fourth or third night almost ten years ago, Rebecca realised that something was a little odd when the museum closed for the night. 'Testing the new special effects.' Would always be Larry's excuse and it seemed to always work. Sighing as Rebecca shook her head, she let a small smirk cross her features, before letting it drop when she heard the faint sound of … a guitar? Rebecca looked back behind her and tilted her head to the side, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from.

'For a couple weeks I

Only wanna see him

We drink away the days with a take-away pizza

Before a text message was the only way to reach him

Now he's staying at my place and I love the way he treats me

Singing out Aretha

All over the track like a feature.'

Rounding the corner that lead into the Egyptian exhibit, Rebecca spotted Stella sitting on top of the sarcophagus, holding the guitar against her lap, her blonde hair falling down and into her eyes as her voice flooded throughout the whole room. Not wanting to be seen, or wanting Stella to stop, Rebecca leaned against the wall making sure that she could peek around the corner.

'And never wants to sleep, I guess that I don't want to either

But me and him we make money the same way

Four cities, two planes the same day

And those shows have never been what it's about

But maybe we'll go together and just figure it out

I'd rather put on a film with you and sit on the couch

But we should get on a plane

Or we'll be missing it now

Wish I'd have written it down

The way that things played out

When he was kissing her

How? I was confused about

He should figure it out while I'm sat here singing

Ah lahmlahlah.'

Rebecca was all but certain she had heard that song on the radio, but it had been changed … her head tilted to the side as Stella kept going, but what she didn't notice was that Larry walking up behind her, all but calling her name. Rebecca was too focused on her young friend that she didn't realise that Larry was all but directly behind her. Placing a hand against Rebecca's shoulder, Larry was about to say hello until the scream left Rebecca's lips. Said scream pulled Stella out of her small trance and her fingers stopped their strumming on the guitar.

"Woah hey, hey, Rebecca. Rebecca it's me!" Larry hurriedly tried to explain as the other woman looked back at him; a small glare was sent his way as she placed a hand over her chest.

"Lawrence." She scolded. Larry held up his hands trying desperately to pull the smirk that was crawling its way onto his face, off before she had the idea to smack him. Much like Stella would do if he ever scared her.

"Rebecca," he replied a slightly smug tone to his voice. The two were too busy looking at each other that they didn't notice, Stella, who had jumped down from Ahk's coffin, patting the top of the object that held her 4000-year-old boy…best friend, leaning her guitar against the far wall, making her way over to her brother and 'Becca and just decided to watch them.

"You know not to sneak up on me!" she exclaimed and Larry shook his head slowly, his hands dropping back to his side.

"Sorry. You actually weren't answering me," he replied. Rebecca's cheeks flushed while Stella almost snorted. Oh, they were both so bad at flirting. "What are you doing here so late anyway?" he questioned, normally Rebecca had gone by this time of night. Larry checked his watched, sighed a little when he noticed that he had about ten minutes before sundown.

"I just had a bit of paper work to do before I left you know, having to do with the event that's coming up," Stella frowned leaning back against the wall, letting her sight cut off. What event? There was an event coming up? Why wasn't Stella told? She loves events! "…so I'm gonna go now," Rebecca said suddenly making the blonde wince slightly. Oh, she felt sorry for Larry, he sucked at dating. I wonder if this was the event that Ahkmenrah and the gang were talking about while I … wasn't eavesdropping on their conversation. About them having centre stage for once and actually interacting with the public instead of just … being there. A grin spread across Stella's face as she bit on her thumbnail. Now all she had to do was think about what she would wear.

"Helllo Stella? Earth to Stella! Come in Stella?" snapping back to the present, Stella reacted and slapped Larry's hand that was waving in front of her away from her face.

"What! What I'm here. I am on Earth," she replied and he gave her a look.

"What are you doing here so early?" he questioned as she raised a brow. Pushing off the wall and started to make her way to where she left her guitar.

"What do you mean?" she retorted bending down and lifting it up by its neck, throwing the strap around her neck, letting it hang on the back of her body.

"You're never here this early," his eyes narrowed as he fiddled with his torch. Larry's eyes wandered over towards her backpack that was at the end of the sarcophagus, before they flew back to his sister's and he raised a brow. "Have you been here all day?" he questioned before he saw Stella roll her eyes making her way to pick up her backpack.

"No … I just got here a couple of hours ago. This is usually when Ahk and I talk about … secret things," she mumbled a little as she started down the hallway towards the offices. Larry had to jog to catch up to the small Australian.

"Talk about what?" he asked now she had piqued his interest. They used to talk about everything when they were little, but then Larry moved out and Stella started to really rebel against their parents and they had just drifted apart when she was a teenager. "…also you mean that you talk and Ahk has no other choice but to listen because he's technically not able to reply?" he jabbed as the short walk ended and they arrived in front of the small kitchenette near the far end of the museum. Larry ended up holding open the door for her as she pushed past him, giving him a look before she chucked her backpack onto the table and placing her guitar on the chair.

"Pfft…no," she retorted pushing some of her blonde hair out of her face, turning back to face her brother. "…he doesn't mind …" silence. "Yes yes I…yes he doesn't get to but in every few seconds with questions," she sighed in defeat as Larry laughed.

"I knew it,"

-x-

With the last seconds of the evening, the few rays of sun that filled the lobby disappeared. This was Stella's favourite part, having moved from the small kitchenette after Larry made his way to finish doing his rounds of the museum. Stella had moved upstairs so that she could look down at everyone as they woke up. It was usually and was Teddy who woke first, hopping off his horse and heading straight towards Sacagawea's exhibit, Stella couldn't help the grin that spread across her face at the thought of the two of them. They were cute together.

Teddy caught Stella's eye and gave her a small salute to which she replied with her one of her own, before leaning her arms against the banister. Then all at once, the rest of them woke up. It took them a little while to remember where they were before their voices and the noises from the animals filled the museum. Stella's eyes closed in contentment as her smile reappeared on her face; it felt like forever since she had last been here. Her thoughts were broken when Dexter managed to come and visit this time, placing a small hand against the side of her cheek. She couldn't help the small giggle that left her lips as the capuchin placed a kiss against it, before he turned and ran off, probably to pester Larry. Or maybe Jedediah or Octavius although it seemed as if those three had some adventures of their own over the past couple of years Stella had been away.

Speaking of the miniature men. Jedediah and Octavius, plus their men were surrounding the computer that sat at the reception. That was probably one of the worst and possibly the best thing that she had shown them.

Youtube. Was also high on that list as well. After Vine of course. She was brought out of her thoughts when she felt someone watching her. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Ahkmenrah.

"Was that a new song?" Stella was grateful that his voice didn't startle her this time around, it was amazing at how fast Ahkmenrah could awaken now, considering it use to take him years just to make it to the lobby a while ago. He came to stand next to Stella, leaning his elbows against the banister copying her position. It was difficult not to notice him considering he was covered in gold.

He would make a terrible spy.

"-uh no," she replied not shifting her gaze from below. Her eyes just managing to make out her two tiny friends as they were almost killing themselves watching as many cat videos as they could manage in one night.

"Stella -"

"Ahk," she copied as she turned slightly to look up at him, she saw his jaw tighten just a tad. Even for a dead guy he had an amazing jaw line … no wait…Stella sighed at herself and at the fact that he had suddenly gone quiet … and almost king like again. She then shifted her gaze from the side of his face down to look at her hands. "It's okay. I'm over it," her voice was barely a whisper, but the King knew her better than that.

"It didn't sound like it," his own voice was so smooth that Stella almost forgot that what they were talking about was something that could reduce her to tears in three seconds. She huffed a little before she nudged his side, looking up at him.

"Oh come on. You of all people know me better," she started leaning her head against his shoulder look up at him through her eyelashes. "…you even know me better than I know myself." She finished. She felt him sigh as well before he looked down at her his blue eyes seemly making her freeze in her spot.

"Of course I do. You never stop talking," he teased this time nudging her with his elbow. Her grin reappeared on her face as she stood up straighter bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. She couldn't help but appreciate that she could manage to bring him out of a sour mood just by making him laugh.

"Yay! Now…you have to tell me about this event that apparently…" although Stella never got to finish as Ahk groan a little and let his head hang. "What … what is it? Ahk?" Stella was worried now, was something wrong?

Was he okay?

Was it her?

Her fretting stopped when she noticed the smirk that played across his lips; all of her worry seemed to flood from her. "Oh - not funny," she mumbled.

"Larry didn't want you to find out," Ahkmenrah spoke as he lifted his head and met her gaze. "…considering what happened the last time," one delicate eyebrow rose on his head and her eyes widened as she leaned her back against the banister, her face contorted in what looked like a grimace.

"Oh come on - it was one time…" she tried to defend herself.

"It was maple syrup, Stella. That … liquid is hard to get out," Ahk retorted as his smirk grew into a grin. She gave him a small glare.

"Oh har har. I wasn't even aiming for you," sooo McPhee may have said some things … not nice things about Stella back when she had first arrived in Washington, considering that she almost … almost broke everything in the aquarium and it cost the museum over a thousand dollars in damage repair. Therefore, like any other teenager, she decided a prank was needed to pull that stick from up his … "But Ahk…" she whined. "I wanna seeee this one! Just tell me when and where and I promise. I swear on Ra that I will be good!" she was trying to convince him to tell her what time the event was because knowing Larry he will leave the apartment about three hours earlier to avoid telling her what was going on. Ahkmenrah's other brow rose before he sighed and placed both of his hands on Stella's shoulders, to stop her from bouncing.

"Fine … Fine. I'll tell you. But promise me, Stella. That you will be good?" he added the two of them held each others gaze for longer than intended and she could feel that blush rising to her cheeks again.

"I promise!" she squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. This was going to be great!

Oh Ra, he was going to regret this.

-x-

*laughs*

Oh god … I praise that everyone of you seem to be enjoying this.

Next chapter we get to the movie! YAY because lol I suck at writing my own material, like seriously I feel really bad that all the canon characters are ooc an g. Anyway I hoped you liked this chapter! I love you all!

~JFM~