CHAPTER 9

Where They Find Out

Disclaimer – I owe nothing. Only Stella!

~X~

There's a moment where everything went really, really quite. And it was that awkward moment of … what the hell should I be doing? Because Stella still had her lips firmly pressed against Ahk's extremely soft, somehow oddly lovely tasting for a dead guys lips. There was another moment where her brain had all together died when he suddenly started kissing her back.

It wasn't until noise from around them, made Stella come crashing back down to reality as she pulled her lips from his and the two of them stared at each other for what felt like forever. Licking her top lip, all Stella could utter was…

"Ah." And freeze in her spot on the ground. Everyone else around them not noticing their awkward situation, expect for a really keen eyed Nick who was trying to hold a smirk.

"Ah?" Ahk responded a frown settling on his brow. Oooh maybe that was the wrong thing to utter after kissing a 4000-year-old mummy. Though it was slightly better than saying sorry or … oops. Stella's mouth opened and closed like a fish until she felt someone grip the back of her dress and haul her upwards.

"Hey!" she exclaimed rather loudly as she turned to glare at her brother who had moved onto Ahk. Well she knew where his priorities lie.

Though she wasn't so sure about hers.

….fuck.

-x-

It wasn't long before they all decided that Jed and Oct would have to wait while the ever impending doom of the tablet running out of power seemed to loom over them. The group then followed Lancelot once more out of the Asian wing and into another seemingly long corridor; Stella though fell into step next to Sacajawea far away, from where Ahk took up place near Larry. A frown had settled onto the blonde's brow as her eyes were focused on the ground, watching her stocking clad feet step in front of each other. It wasn't until she felt a pair of fingers brush away the hair that had fallen in front of her face and place it behind her ear.

"What's wrong?" Sac asked in a soft voice, the Native American seemed worried that Stella had detached herself from the young Pharaoh's side.

"Nothing." Stella mumbled as she looked up at Sac, a small smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"There must be something," Sac stated, as she looked up from Stella and towards Larry and Ahk a couple of steps in front of them. Her voice lowered ever so slightly. "You have left his side. You never do that, even if it's for an emergency." Sac finished and the young Australian sighed as her eyes casted downwards again.

"I kissed him." Though it was slightly muffled Sacajawea almost beamed at the confession, but her smile never reached her lips when she noticed the younger girl's lack of enthusiasm.

"I thought you would have been proud of yourself, Stella?" Sac asked her, confusion laced her tone but in her mind, Sac knew exactly what she was thinking about. "You're worried that he might get too attached." Stella's bright blue eyes widened slightly as she looked up at the only other woman in their small group.

"How'd you know?" she mumbled. Sac smiled softly and wrapped an arm around the shorter girl's shoulders, bringing her closer to her side.

"Because I too am a girl in love, Stella, do not forget that. And even though I … cannot grow old, I sometimes worry what would ever happen if one day the tablet and Ahkmenrah moved museums. Would I ever see Teddy again?" Sac squeezed Stella's shoulders softly. "Just - stay in the moment, 'Ella. Because you may lose something very important in your life and there may never be a chance to relive today." Stella almost scowled. Sac was right. She then went on to mention that she had noticed the changes of Ahkmenrah when she was around, just subtle changes but Sac had said that they were the same as Teddy.

"Thanks Sacajawea." Stella replied and wrapped her own arm around the older woman's waist. The two hugged the rest of the walk to the Egyptian wing, the large entrance looming over them; a stone arch framed the dark passage beyond.

"This is it," Larry said as he turned around and gave Lancelot a wave. "Well, we're here. Lancelot, thanks for all the help. I think we're good." Stella rolled her blue eyes; someone wanted someone away from their son.

"Perhaps I should accompany you in." Lancelot pushed but Larry held up his hands.

"No thanks, we can take it from here. You have your own quest and everything. The holy grail isn't going to find itself." Lancelot then nodded reluctantly before stepping forward. He grasped Larry's arm.

"Larry keeper of the magic tablet, I shall never forget your bravery. Nor your jests." He held up a hand to the others. "Until we meet again, my friends." Larry just nodded.

"Goodbye." Lancelot turned to leave and Stella let out a sigh. Thank god. Though he turned and struck a dramatic pose. Oh for the love of God.

"I shall not say goodbye. For I know that someday our paths will cross once more. Like threads in the vast and glorious tapestry of life, our destinies are intertwined." Oh my god. It sounds like the beginning to Day's of Our Lives. Larry just stared at the knight for a moment, making sure he was finished.

"Okay, see ya." he turned and led the others through the entrance of the Egyptian wing. A snort left Stella's lips as she wandered up to walk with Larry.

"Wow someone's jealous." She mentioned to him casually as they wandered through the dimly lit gallery. Larry had to paused for a second, stare at her and then start walking again as he scoffed.

"I am not jealous." He mumbled. Stella snorted again.

"Someone totally is." She sung bounding forward ever so slightly. She could hear him curse her under his breath and she laughed louder than she intended. They all then moved deeper into the wing, Stella now in the front of the group, spotted bigger living statues moving about. A large sphinx loped by, a few men with the heads of jackals and cranes milled about. Though things then started to become creepy. Several sarcophagi lined the passage around them, the ornate coffins stood on end and their lids slowly opened. Ancient mummies shambled out of each of them, the bandaged corpses lumbered toward the group, making Stella suddenly spring backwards until her chest hit someone … looking up, she almost cringed.

Of course, it had to be him.

Ahkmenrah handed the tablet off to Larry, before gripping Stella's shoulders, as he moved from behind her towards the mummies. Oh he didn't know them did he?

"Friends! Long time!" oh god he does. "Imhotep, how are you?" he then hugged the other. "Ramses!" it wasn't until he stopped at a sarcophagus that was decorated with a painting of a beautiful woman. "It can't be! Is that?" he asked himself, as the lid swung open and a female mummy slowly stepped out.

Stella couldn't help it. Her whole body straightened slightly. The female mummy's bandages weren't as tattered as the rest and they clung tightly to her slender form. Stella made a face to herself.

Of course! Because that is how all bandages should go. They just cover your areas of you that you'd like to have remained covered.

Once out of the sarcophagus, she slinked over towards Ahkmenrah, her arms running up one arm and then down the other. Stella could feel her jaw twitch slightly at the scene playing out before her, but it seemed like it was over in three seconds as the mummy moved to Larry.

"Larry meet Cleopatra," Ahkmenrah introduced, clearing his throat before a noise was heard behind him, somewhat caught between a laugh and a snort. He turned his head slightly to look over Larry's shoulder, to see Stella, with a hand pressed lightly over her mouth, looking anywhere but him. Ahk seemed to shake his head slightly before turning back to Larry. "Luminous beauty of the Fertile Crescent."

"Wow. Cleopatra." Larry stumbled slightly. "Hi," while she started to unwrap the bandages from her head, Stella stepped forward.

"Careful Larry. You're drooling." He shot her a look to which she shrugged her shoulders innocently. With the bandages gone it was unfortunate that the wrappings had been hiding the usual cracked and withered face of someone who has been dead for thousands of years. Larry tried not to recoil in horror as she leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. Stella had to place a hand over her mouth again to stop herself from laughing.

"Nice…to meet you," Larry muttered as her dry lips planted a kiss on one cheek and then moved to the other side of his face. "Okay. Two cheeks. European style. Okay…we have to get going…thanks." Larry all but sprinted away from the mummified Cleopatra and the group followed saying their goodbyes. Stella lingered behind while Ahk said goodbye to his friends before turning and joining the shorter girl. They stepped in time to each other just a little behind the group.

"What was that all about?" the question seemed so sudden that Stella nearly tripped over her own feet. Well the ground was rather shiny.

"What was what?" she replied with a question of her own, not bothering to look up at him.

"With Cleopatra?" he nudged the question forward. Stella finally turned her head to look at him, a mock look of realisation apparent on her features.

"Oooh with one of the most beautiful woman in the whole of history?" she pushed watching as Ahk frowned at her sudden tone.

"Yes." He then paused holding his arm in front of Stella, which she happened to walk right into. A huff escaped her lips as she walked against it, coming to a stop. Letting her glare turn to look up at him. "Wait …" oh hoe don't do it. "You're jealous?" oh my god.

A laugh then escaped her lips before she sobered up. "I'm not…I'm … wasn't jealous." She denied crossing her arms over her chest. Ahkmenrah raised a brow and she did the same. "I'm not."

"Stella there is nothing to be jealous of." Was what Ahk tried to say but Stella jumped over the top of him.

"Not like I have anything to be jealous of, considering we aren't even going out. Why shouldn't I be when she practically threw herself over you as soon as she stepped out of that coffin. Not even taking into account that she had hardly stepped a foot out of it when she basically stared you down as if you were the gods sex symbol. No - I shouldn't be jealous at all. So no I was not -…."

Ahkmenrah decided to cut her off.

By taking the three steps that were in between them, placing his hands on either side of her neck and kissed her. This time it was shorter, sweeter than the one back in the Asian wing. Ahkmenrah pulled back, the smirk that seemed to play on his lips all the time returned as her eyes slowly opened again.

"Uh…" she managed to make at least one sound.

"Is that all you can say?" Stella made no other sound. All she did was uncross her arms, grip onto the top of his neckpiece, and pull him down again, this time kissing him deeper than she had down before. A sudden moan escaped one of them. Stella couldn't really figure out who, as her hands moved from the neckpiece, up to wrap themselves around his neck. If possible deepening the kiss again. She felt his arms wounding their way around her waist, pulling her forwards and off the ground slightly as he stood up to his full height.

However, the magic broke when there was a loud whistle from Larry again, though thankfully around the corner.

"Ahk! You better come see this!" Larry yelled and Stella groaned as her head dipped, her body slowly sliding down Ahk's chest, until her feet lightly touched the ground. She felt him place a kiss against her forehead and grabbed onto her hand.

"We better hurry, before I have your brother to worry about." Stella snorted.

"An overprotective Lawrence is worse than a fading tablet." She mumbled as the two of them rushed to find the rest of the group.

Well - that went better than I thought it would.

But…I just broke my own rules.

Don't get attached.

Don't fall in love.

Well - shit.

-x-

A/N: *loud cackling*

I was going to make you guys wait longer
but I thought you had waited enough …
sorry about that by the way. So UH the two
of them kissed.
More than once in this chapter
hehe - sorry we haven't gotten to his parents yet
but I promise that is
next chapter!

P.S a girl x her muses
my tumblr for Stella and many other muses
she would love to hear from you guys.

P.P.S
I'm pretty sure the book I am going off
includes most of the deleted scenes soooo
that's why some scenes are unfamiliar!

Love you all xx

~JFM~