A/N: Hi, I'm SOOOO sorry it's taken so long for me to get this chapter up. My free time this past weekend was absolutely zero, and I'm staying up WAY later than I should tonight to get this done. I hope you all like it, please review and let me know what's up, if it's good, if you have questions, or even suggestions for later in the plot. Also, once the current problem is resolved, I'm not sure whether I want to continue this story or just make a sequel. I'll want your opinion on that eventually. Oh, by the way, To Where You Are is by Josh Groban, but The Awakening is actually by Joseph Martin, or at least the version I was thinking of. It's a really good song. Okay, I'll shut up now and just post this. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Where the Heart Is

Larry thought the night hours would never end. Each second seemed to tick by more slowly than the last. Eventually, though, the last visitor had exited and gone home, and the exhibits had the run of the museum. Dr. MacPhee was still in his office for the time being, but soon he, too, would leave.

Amelia let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Wow. That was…just…wow. So many people…and they all wanted to talk to me!"

"Yeah, you're a pretty popular person," Larry told her, amused at her reaction to the crowds. "I mean, you did some amazing things for women, so you're someone that girls and young women and look up to. Also, the mystery behind your disappearance attracted a lot of attention. I mean, they DID mount what as at the time the biggest ocean search ever conducted to try to find you, and they never did. People love a good mystery. Now, these people are being given the opportunity to have a conversation with THE Amelia Earhart and to shake her hand. For most of them, it won't matter that you're just an exhibit. It's still an amazing experience for them."

"…You're nuts," came the reply, after a few seconds of stunned silence. Larry just smiled, knowing that he was right, but also knowing that she would never admit it, or even believe it.

"If you say so," he told her agreeably. "Come on; let's go see how the others survived the night. I'm guessing there were no major incidents, seeing as no one came looking for me, but I think I'd better check it out, anyway, just in case. D'you want to come? Or are you still too shell-shocked to move?"

Amelia shook her head to clear it. "I'll come," she responded, "as long as SHE behaves."

When they entered the room, they immediately spotted Ahkmunrah, who was engaged in a rather animated conversation with Cleopatra. When he saw them, however, he broke off the conversation hurriedly and came to meet them. "How did everything go?" Larry asked, apprehensive.

"Very well, actually. Surprisingly so, in fact," the young Pharaoh replied, smiling. "There were w few communication issues, but I was able to act as translator, so that was smoothed over very quickly. They took my explanation fairly well, too. Elizabeth was a bit put out a first, but I thin she's gotten over it."

Amelia grimaced with distaste. "I bet she was…"

Larry chuckled at her response. "Hey, Ahk, can you translate again? I need to make a bit of a public service announcement." When the king nodded, Larry began his little speech, with each phrase being repeated several times in other languages for the benefit of hose who didn't understand English. "Okay, ladies, here are the rules. You have the run of the museum every night after the guests leave, but only if you can follow them. If you show me that you can't, I'm going to have to lock you up. I'm sorry, but that's the way it goes. We run on a three strike system.

"Rule number 1: No fighting with the other exhibits. Physical fighting, especially, but we all try to be friends here, so verbal violence is also a no-no.

"Rule number 2: Don't break anything. If you do, you fix it. There is no other option.

"Rule Number 3: If you make a mess, clean it up. I refuse to take responsibility for your actions. It will have to be cleaned up by sunrise.

"Rule Number 4: Be back in your position and in the proper exhibit by sunrise. I will get in trouble if you're not, and then I'll get fired, and then there will be no one to take care of you and keep this secret.

"Rule Number 5: Don't mess with any of the other exhibits and change them around so they freeze that way when the sun rises. This is for the same reason as the last rule.

"Rule Number 6: No going outside, at all, EVER, under ANY circumstances. This is particularly essential, because if you're caught outside at sunrise, that's it. You're dead, dust, and NOTHING we can do will bring you back. Yes, we DO know this from experience, so don't test it. There will be a few people that are exceptions to this rule, those that have proven to me that I can trust them to act responsibly and those that I have given permission to, but other than that, no one goes outside. I think that's about it. Any questions?"

No hands went up, and no one spoke, so Larry nodded. "All right, then, everyone, good luck, have fun, go talk to some of the other exhibits, and get to know them. Tomorrow we have a soccer game scheduled, but tonight's just to help all of you get acclimated, so enjoy yourselves, and have a good night!"

After a moment or two, the women all looked around and began filing out of the room. Finally, only Amelia, Larry, Cleopatra, and Ahkmunrah were left. "I'll talk to you to later, I've promised to take Cleopatra on a tour of the museum, and then I'm going to start teaching some of the others English," the young Pharaoh said, finding a tactful way to give The night guard and the pilot the alone time they wanted. The two Egyptians left the room.

Amelia raised her hand. "I have a question, teacher."

"Yes, Miss Earhart?" Larry questioned with mock severity and strictness.

"Do I finally get you to myself?" she asked cheekily.

"Hmm, I don't know. I have a pretty full schedule for tonight and I should be on call in case anything comes up…" he began, and then he laughed at her crestfallen face. "Oh, Amelia, I'm only teasing you. Teddy can handle any problems that may come up tonight. I'm all yours."

She pursed her lips. "That wasn't very nice, mister. I think I deserve an apology."

Larry, knowing what she had in mind, grinned. "Well, all right, then, I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me that's the best you can do, Ace,"

"Oh, you want something else, too? Well, I suppose I can manage that." His eyes twinkled mischievously at the expectant look on her face. "I'm VERY sorry."

She was NOT amused. "Just kiss me already, ya boob."

"Oh, that's what you wanted? I had n—" He was abruptly cut off by her lips on his. Dazed, he simply slipped his arms around her waist and reveled in the feeling of holding the woman he loved.

After a few seconds, though, Larry was quite rudely yanked out of the pleasant haze he'd fallen into by the sound of someone wolf-whistling obnoxiously. He broke away from Amelia and looked around, irritated, prepared to tell off whoever it was, only to see that there was no one there. Puzzled, he turned to Amelia, who appeared just as confused as he felt.

"Down here, Gigantor! And…Gigantora!" a tiny voice shouted from their feet. The two glanced downward to see Jedediah Smith, grinning from ear to ear. His Roman counterpart stood at his side with a defeated look on his face. Apparently the miniature general had been attempting to stifle his companion's rude outburst.

"I apologize, my liege," he said to Larry, embarrassed. "I did not wish to disturb or humiliate you so, but apparently my friend has no such scruples. You see, he has yet to learn proper manners, and se he feels that he is at liberty to interrupt such an obviously private moment. I will endeavor to halt his impulses more quickly next time." The leader bowed to the night guard while Jedediah looked on disgustedly.

"Why yeh lily-livered, yellow-bellied, jelly-spined, skirt-wearin' turncoat of a woman!" the cowboy exclaimed, exasperated with his fellow leader. "I was jes' havin' a bit of fun, is all! I wasn't hurtin' 'em none. Can't ya take a joke?"

"Okay, Jed? Remember what I told you last time I was here?" Amelia interrupted the Westerner's tirade, questioning him with considerable self-control. Without waiting for an answer, she picked him up by the back of his shirt and carried him off, out of the room. The two men remained behind, but they could hear the small cowboy protesting as she took him away until the cried finally faded with distance.

"Hey, lady, put me down! I hate bein' manhandled! Where do you think yer takin' me? You have no right! I'll call up my men, they'll set yeh straight! What are you doin'? Where…no! No! Yeh can't! Yeh wouldn't dare! Put me down this instant, d'ya hear me? I said put…"

A few minutes later, the aviatrix came back, brushing off her hands and wearing a serene smile. "He can't say I didn't warn him, after all," she remarked rather casually. "Now maybe he'll learn I mean what I say."

"He most certainly deserved it, my lady, and I commend you for it," Octavius told her. "You would make a wise ruler, indeed. However, I suspect your interests lie elsewhere. You don't seem to be the type of woman who is content to stay in one place for very long, or settle down to anything for longer than it takes you to master it. You are truly as ever-changing as the skies in which you so often fly. Perhaps that is why you love them so. They reflect who you truly are."

Larry smile fondly at Amelia. "That's why I'm lucky she stuck with me for so long."

"Luck has nothing to do with it, love," Amelia replied, amused. "You're simply the exception to the rule. Besides, no matter how far I wander, I always love coming home the best. But home…you know that old saying; 'home will be where the heart is?' Well, my heart's with you, Ace. You're taken it completely and irrevocably. So never fear, Ace. No matter what, I'll always come home to you."

"I'll hold you to that," he promised, and as he took her in his arms once more, Octavius slipped unobtrusively out of the room, not wanting to disturb this moment. They deserved some time on their own…and some peace at last.

A/N: I hope you all liked this chapter. Please review and let me know your thoughts! I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the next chapter up, either, but I think I have some free time this weekend to finish writing it, and MAYBE even type it up, so it'll hopefully be up very soon. I love you all, my loyal readers, and I hope you're all having a wonderful day! Bye for now!