Authors Note: I do not own nor do I claim any affiliation to any plot, characters, merchandise, or ideas from the film The Mummy which is owned by Stephan Sommers and the nice folks down at Universal Studios. No infringement intended, so please don't sue. Any other characters, original or otherwise, belong to me. Steal them and die.

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Dreaming he told himself I'm dreaming. There was some assurance in that thought, some comfort. At first, his nightmares had scared him senseless; he would go for days without sleep to avoid them until he passed out accidentally and had to face them anyway. Whatever he would see from here on out, it would be a dream and noting more. It wasn't as bad anymore. Normal people don't dream about themselves in third person.

He was ready when he saw the man, Xanthos. He was prepared to see his own face, his own body, among the time warped surroundings of ancient Egypt. Usually he saw the man die, or saw him being tortured or something equally awful. He was ready to be appalled, shocked, and upset, to wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night panting and gasping for breath, clutching his throat as though it were the one being cut off. That was usual. But tonight was different.

Xanthos was there, but looking much more healthy than usual. Not bleeding, bruised, and obviously heart broken. In fact he looked, happy…expectant even. Ardeth followed him down the hallway of where ever he was (he'd learned quickly that you had to stay with the person in order to see). The man paused, looked both ways down the empty hallway checking for any onlookers, eyes skimming right over Ardeth, before ducking into a wooden doorway. Ardeth quickly followed.

What he saw inside was a definite surprise.

Xanthos appeared to be in the tight embrace of a young woman. And he wasn't trying to get out. Their arms were wrapped tightly around each other, each lost in the throws of passion, as though they had been parted for too long. It was so intimate, so perfectly beautiful, that Ardeth felt like an intruder for butting in on their special moment. At long last they parted, reluctantly, cursing the necessity that was breathing.

"My darling." Xanthos murmured. "My beautiful love. Too long has it been since I have seen your face." He touched her cheek, drawing her closer, as if afraid that she might disappear if he were to let her go.

"Do not speak of our separation now, tomorrow will bring enough of that." She whispered. "Tonight let me have my love with no regret, no worries for the future. Tonight I would not think on what the future brings for all the riches of the world. Let me have tonight and I shall suffer the length and width of our parting with joy, if only for its memory." Xanthos smiled tenderly, kissing her again. Where have I heard that voice?

"You shall have your night. Not a word of tomorrow shall pass my lips; save to promise you that it is yours alone. Come my love." Xanthos stepped aside to guide her over to the guilt bed, allowing Ardeth a view of the girls face. He gasped in shock. It can't be! But it was. Ardeth closed his eyes, refusing to see more.

"Let me see no more of this!" he pleaded to no one. "Let me awake!" Xanthos was speaking again now, sickeningly tender, each word saturated with deep felt love. There could be no denying it, how in love he was. But what did that mean for Ardeth? Oh Allah I can't! I can't!

"Come to bed, my precious Rhodopis."

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Viktor sat at his desk, angry, upset, and frustrated. There'd been no progress at the dig sight, again, and he'd gotten no response from the note that he'd sent Eve at the hotel. It had been, by all accounts a bad day, and to treat himself he was indulging in a glass of port by the fire side with nothing to distract him from his woes. There was a knock on the door, and the elderly butler poked his head in.

"Visitor for you sir." Viktor nodded and waved his hand, signaling for the person to be allowed admittance. A young woman with stylishly curled blonde hair dressed in a black pinstriped dress suit entered the room. She was strikingly beautiful, in a mildly sinister way that didn't really bother Viktor. She walked forward.

"Hello Mr. Odlethorpe. My name is Adele Bryton, and I have some information that might be of use to you." She began. "You see, I'm a bit of a historian myself, and quite recently I came upon something very unique. Something I think you're quite likely to be…interested in."

"Is that so?" Viktor kept his voice casual, though he felt excitement boiling in his veins. He was not one to pass up an opportunity, o matter who or what it was, and he certainly wasn't going to start then. Whatever this was, it looked promising.

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Eve's eyes itched as she tired to keep them open. Yawning she looked over at Rick, who had fallen asleep face first in the book he'd been reading. Jonathan was sprawled out over the hotel rug, snoring loudly. Only Corin and she remained awake. Glancing at the clock, she wasn't surprised. 3:30am.

Ardeth's man had brought them the list of Pharaohs the Medjai scholars had compiled, and ever eager, she had wanted to make use of the Museums library while they could. So they'd raided the shelves and gone back to the hotel to begin looking. The list wasn't very long, but there was a lot of Egyptian history to wade through and so far they'd had no luck.

They would be leaving Egypt that afternoon. The thought saddened her. Even if it was for the best, it would be hard to bid farewell to her home so soon after arriving. And such a shame, Corin had barley gotten to see anything. Resolutely, Eve promised herself she would bring Corin back someday and show her the true Egypt. The Egypt she loved.

Sighing, she gently shook Rick awake. "Come to bed no darling." He nodded groggily, Corin closed her book, and the three of them went to their beds utterly worn out. They left Jonathan on the rug, snoring contently.