Disclaimer: I do not own the Kane Chronicles.

Author's Note: I apologize for not updating sooner, there's no really good reason for it. I've just been enjoying my summer, running trails and floating on an inner tube in a friend's lake. The water was perfect, too. I've heard predictions that the water won't get warm in the Big Lake until August, pity. Ms. Anon, thanks for your review and I'm glad someone finally brought up the points that you made (namely: Walt, Anubis's ability to go everywhere, and Shu) and I hope this chapter can adequately clear those up, but if you want more clarification by all means feel free to tell me. (I know I won't touch on the Marisol bit, but I'll get there later.)

Now for the way this chapter is written, I've decided to split it up into three updates because it's so long. Also I'm sure you've noticed I use italics when it's a flashback, and yes the whole chapter is in italics (until pt.3) because it's a huge flashback. Review if you want; I appreciate all feedback I get.

The afternoon was rather quiet at Brooklyn House. Summer was in her peak and many of the trainees had decided to temporally go home to visit their families while Carter had taken Zia out on a date to who knows where. Thus Sadie and Anubis had the living room, more importantly the flat-screen TV, to themselves. Sadie had leisurely stretched out on the couch, her legs comfortably resting atop Anubis's lap. He had indifferently agreed to watch this vampire movie because it was what Sadie wanted to do, but now he was bitterly regretting the decision.

From the start he was confused on why teenage girls were such huge fans of this ridiculous romance, and his mood only dropped as the movie sluggishly progressed. He didn't dismiss the idea of the existence of vampires, but he couldn't help but feel that it was unlikely that a vampire would limit themselves to the blood of wild animals and that their skin shines like diamonds. However, Sadie seemed to quite enjoy it and he didn't want to disappoint her. He was pretty sure that was it; though, it could have also been he didn't want to listen to her argue for the rest of the day (possibly week, maybe month) about how it was a perfectly excellent movie, and so when she asked for his opinion he gave her the kindest truthful response he could think of, "It was quite something." He just hoped his smile didn't look too fake.

Sadie sat up far enough that she was adequately able to lean over and softly pecked his left cheek. "I'm glad you liked it because there's a sequel," she exultantly related.

He nodded, coolly commenting, "Awesome," though, his insides were shrieking for gracious mercy. The optimistic side of him (that he hadn't known he possessed) reasoned the sequel had to be better, but since optimism wasn't really a normal thing for him it wasn't much of a surprise that it failed him. Anubis guessed that if he hadn't been born a jackal-headed god, or just a canine-headed god in general, it probably wouldn't had bothered him as much, but alas he was the jackal-headed god of funerals and so the sequel copiously offended him. You see it had werewolves. Werewolves that went around shirtless (with great abs, mind you) jumping off cliffs and imprinting on girls, some of who were just toddlers. Now sure he had great abs, but he wasn't about to go around shirtless, the ogling stares from the opposite gender he got whenever he took Sadie out on a date already freaked him out more than a little bit. He didn't even dare ponder what would happen if he'd taken his shirt off. As for the jumping off cliffs, not only was that reckless he had too much work in the Hall of Judgment to participate in such folly. As for girls, he had Sadie, and though he had immediately been drawn to her he wouldn't say it was love at first sight. It had taken him a few months of thoughts for him to figure out his exact feelings for her.

She had brought joy back to his life, and her admirable spunk and spirit made her all the more alluring. Sadie was pretty, but not the prettiest yet, though, she showed signs of becoming quite a beauty in just a few years. Sure, she was annoying a few times, okay, maybe more than a few times, but he didn't mind. He loved her. Sure, maybe love was a strong word for so early in their relationship, but the more he thought about it, the more he was sure of it. He loved Sadie Kane. What he had for Anput had come from the lust that accompanied youthfulness as well as the high resulting from rule breaking, he was sure of it. What he had for Sadie, was the true love kind, the one that lasted forever, even with all the inane overdrawn fights and tedious outings that were made alright just because you're together. That's why when Sadie cuddled up next to him and whispered, "I'm luckier than Bella, can you guess why?" he was content. It didn't matter how stupid the film had been, he had spent the afternoon with her, and so was the luckiest person in the world.

He good-naturedly shook his head, playing along. "Why?" he mirthfully murmured.

Sadie flashed a teasing smile before softly kissing his nose. "Because I have you, and you're Edward and Jacob rolled into one." He tried not to scowl. Being compared to a werewolf and a blood sucking vampire, gee, what a lovely compliment; though, outwardly he serenely smiled.

Returning his smile Sadie eagerly leaned in to kiss him. Anubis held her to him and several minutes passed in this way, neither noticing the ticking of the passing time. When the kiss broke and their noses remained only a centimeter apart, Sadie dared to make an inquiry: "So, I was wondering if you would be willing to meet a couple of my friends?"

With that adorable cuteness of his Anubis tilted his head sideways as he matter-of-factly stated, "I've met your friends."

Softly chuckling, she smartly remarked, "Yeah, Liz and Emma when we were being chased by a crazy vulture goddess and her rabid baboon god companion. Thanks for the load of help you gave, by the way."

"Hey, I gave you several tips, called your ride for you, and even managed to give you a couple of birthday presents. That blade and..." he mischievously smiled. "It was all I could do," Anubis sorrowfully remembered. Truly, it was all he had been able to do. If he could've helped, Nekbet and Babi would never dare to near Sadie ever again in fear of his wrath.

Sadie's eyes inquisitively studied him. "I've also been wondering how it is that you can come see me now, considering Walt…died and is no longer your host." He heard the sorrow in her voice. Walt had been a good guy and his death was still fresh in everyone's minds. It seemed being his host hadn't been enough to keep the curse from claiming him. "I mean you said that you could only appear in places of eath, and later it was decided that since I'm a mortal and you're a god that we couldn't be together. So, what's changed?"

"Umm…I think it would be better if I tell you when you're older," Anubis shyly answered doing his best to dodge her question as a red blush began a slow conquest of his cheeks.

Evasion only made her curious; he ought to have known that by now. Sadie raised her brow and vivaciously ordered, "Tell me."

He shrugged. How he hated to deny her, so he told her. "Osiris gave permission that I'm no longer restricted to just places of death."

"Why?"

He paused, that was the rather embarrassing part. It had been painful enough to admit it to Sadie's father but to tell her… the agony. "I told him that if he let me court you that I'd, with your consent of course, would one day make you my wife as well as a goddess." Taking a deep breath to calm his taut nerves, he softly added, "That's also why Shu hasn't been a problem. He's been dismissed from his duty of watching me." His eyes were only too happy to study the lines and scars upon his palms as he waited for her response.

Sadie looked to be at a loss for words, though; her giddy smile spoke loud enough to reassure him. Anubis's gentle fingertips delicately caressed her cheek and enamored he tenderly stated, "I love you, Sadie Kane. If you want me to meet your friends, I will. Whatever pleases you pleases me."

"Uh-uh…oh, Anubis," she sighed. "That's," her ability to speak was still somewhat impaired, "so sweet."

"So, this friend thing…" Anubis began, hoping she would be able to give a further description.

Thankfully she was. "Yeah, I want for you to meet two other friends of mine, not Liz and Emma, but my friends Lacy and Marisol, instead."

"Wait," Anubis interjected, "isn't Marisol that girl you can't stand?"

Sadie nodded. "Uh-huh, we're friends now."

"Since when? And might I ask how that came to be?"

"It's a bit of a story."

"We have all of eternity," Anubis earnestly replied.

"You remember Drew?" He nodded. "Good, well anyway Marisol only pretended to hate me to get into Drew's favor so as to leak her secrets to that anonymous gossip column that apparently both Lacy and Marisol run."

Anubis frowned, "Lacy and Marisol?"

"They've been best friends since diapers, I hear." Really, well he could see that. It actually explained a few things, like how Lacy was so knowledgeable of the goings on in Drew's clique or who she was always texting when she thought no one was looking.

"Okay. So Marisol's not our enemy anymore?" he stated, just to make sure he wasn't losing his mind.

"Exactly. Now that we've got that cleared up. Lacy, Marisol, and I made plans to meet at the movie theater tomorrow and I was thinking you could tag along and meet them there," Sadie declared, shifting back to her main topic.

He nodded, just depended on his work schedule. Osiris/Julius had given consent with the one condition that he didn't fall behind in his duties. "What time?" Anubis asked.

"Seven, about. Lacy's curfew is ten, so she has to be leave at nine thirty, no exceptions," Sadie incontestably stated.

"Sounds like a plan. I'm off by then," Anubis confirmed. It would mean a reduced lunch break and Ammit would get a shorter walk. Ammit wouldn't be too pleased with that development; she loved her walks.

"Well, now that we've got that figured out, why don't we continue what we were doing?" Sadie sportively suggested. Anubis groaned inside. There seriously couldn't be a third movie, could there? Gladly he didn't find out because it turned out that wasn't what she was talking about as he realized the moment her lips enthusiastically returned to his.