Wow. Good thing I split this up or that would have been a REALLY long chapter... so here you go and don't forget, it is a "T" story.

Chapter 6

House of Married

I am just going to believe Anubis has horrible timing, because any other explanation for why he picked that exact moment to enter our room was disturbing.

Like a deer in headlights, my whole body rooted to the floor when I realized Anubis was here and I had nothing on but a thin lace bra and none too flattering underwear. He too stood shocked, but he quickly tried to divert his eyes so I could jump into the bathroom with a pair of pajamas.

On the other side of the door I felt like throwing up again. Of all the things I'd been freaking out about this was the only thing that never crossed my mind.

Anubis and I were married.

Married people had se… relations.

Great, just great. I'm married and can't even say the word. That is how in over my head I am.

But that's what marriage was originally all about. Having kids. Is that what Anubis expected of me because I couldn't…

"Nina, are you dressed?" I hear Anubis ask with a soft knock. "Because I think we need to talk about this."

"I'll be out in a minute," I called back while I tried to calm my breathing. I didn't want Anubis to know the extreme anxiety that was swirling within me as I tried to figure out what to do next.

He said talk, Nina. I reminded myself. Not cover you with his body and make you bear his children. Just go outside and see what he has to say. Have a reasonable discussion like a married couple does. Sarah said it was all about communication and telling Anubis how I felt. I can do this.

With a vanishing sense of maturity and calm, I opened the door to face my husband, alone, for the first time ever.

Anubis sat up in bed a loose tee standing stark against his black hair (that was really starting to get long.) He too looked nervous, but when I casually slid into bed besides him I realized he was more covered than me in my shorts and tank top. (What? There is a reason they say it's hot in Hell.)

"I should have knocked before coming in," he finally admitted breaking the heavy layer of silence between us. "I didn't think, it was just a habit."

"It's your room and has been yours alone for a few thousand years. I completely understand," and I did, but that didn't mean I wasn't thoroughly embarrassed and flustered.

Once again the silence grew between us until Anubis turned on his side so he was looking right at me. "Are you a virgin, Nina?"

That was probably the most mortifying moment of my life (or death, whatever), but as my husband he does deserve an answer. (Maybe if I keep repeating husband it will sink in what exactly I just did in a scrappy white gown I found lying around.)

"Because I am," he confessed before chuckling. "And they make movies about the 40 year old virgin, never mind 4,000."

"So how come you never…" it probably was a stupid thing to ask, but to my modern mind it seemed crazed to be that old and never 'slip up'.

"It's different for us gods I guess," he decided with a shrug. "I mean you have married couples of course like Isis and Osiris, but sex out of wedlock being okay is a very modern idea. Before it just wasn't done, not for us gods especially. Besides," he finished with a light chuckle. "Who wants to do it with the dog headed kid?"

Dog head? I mean I knew Anubis was depicted like that often, but it was only because of his mask. I looked like a dog too wearing it. (Not really, but just as much as he did.) "You're kidding, right? You used to go on dates wearing your mask?"

Now it was Anubis' turn to compress his forehead in confusion, "Nina, do you not see a man's body and a dog's head when you look at me?"

I didn't think gods could get drunk, but maybe Anubis had been celebrating a bit too much. "No. I see you, black hair, light skin, black eyes, just you."

At this point I knew Anubis had to be drunk, because he started laughing hysterically. "You see me like a normal boy?"

"Of course I do! Now cut it out, it's not funny," I told him with a stern shake. I really did not appreciate being laughed at by my new husband.

"But it is funny Nina. Don't you see? Gods don't have real bodies, especially in the Du'at. I mean we do, but we don't. You see what you want to see… what you expect to see. The Egyptians thought we were the combination of man and nature, so we all got animal heads. You see an attractive boy your own age. It's hilarious."

"Whoever said you looked attractive," I teased despite him being right. The only person I'd ever met more gorgeous than Anubis, was Fabian.

When we settled down this time, the silence was no longer awkward, but the air grew heavy when I spoke, "Yes."

"Yes I'm gorgeous?" Anubis wrongly assumed with an elated voice.

"Yes, I'm still a virgin," I clarified while self consciously crossing my legs. "I mean Fabian and I talked about it once, but we were trying to be careful with the whole kid thing."

"You were worried about getting pregnant?" Anubis sounded surprised at first, but then he relented. "I guess that makes sense after what happened with Patricia and Eddie."

It wasn't lying if I didn't correct Anubis' false assumption, but it still wasn't something I could live with. "Not so much getting pregnant as…let's face it. KT and I are the only ones who have the bloodline of Amnertis and I have Asim's blood too. We didn't want our kid to have to deal with being the Chosen One or the Osirian, so we just agreed not to rush into things." I knew Anubis would feel bad, after all, he picked the Chosen One; he picked me as a Chosen One. The guy must feel a bit insulted that I hated my destiny. But I couldn't make myself fall in love with Anubis, so the least I could do was be honest with him. Fully and completely honest.

"I know you'd think I'd be mad, but I do understand that. I didn't get to pick my destiny either, and being a death god isn't the most glamorous position. I guess it's better than my dad who's the god of Evil, but it's still not fun." I'd never really thought much about it, but Anubis was Set's, the god of Evil and chaos, son. I couldn't imagine that had made him real popular on the playground, and then he was stuck here in the Du'at with dead people for thousands of years. It was enough to make anyone mad.

The stress of the day was finally starting to get to me, and I was close to sleep by the time Anubis spoke again. "I know you don't like to think about it and I know you're not comfortable with the idea of you and me. I just want you to know that it is your decision. I will go exactly as far as you want me to, but no farther because I respect that this is harder on you than on me. If you want to, some day, go there, we can. You could have kids with me and never have to worry about them because they'd be immortal. All I ask of you in return is that you give me a chance. Don't let your mind keep your heart from loving me if that's what it wants. Just do that and this can go at the exact speed you feel comfortable with."

Without even realizing it, what Anubis was alerting me to what had already begun to happen. I was so focused on getting back to Fabian, who I loved, that I'd convinced myself I could not love anyone else. Fabian would always be my first love, and my best friend, but it was impossible for us to be together now and I needed to accept that and let myself try to love Anubis, who would always be my husband

"If you want, we could start with you kissing me," I tentatively suggested to the surprise of a beaming god who did just that.

See, not hot and heavy at all, just a boat load of second hand embarrassment... Don't forget to vote on who you want Nina with-Fabian or Anubis... it probably won't change the plan, but you never know.