Chapter 11

Ten Minutes late with Starbucks

A/N: oh my god. I am so so so sorry for being late with this chapter. Just so much happened over the past five, six? Weeks that I got distracted and then I just fell in love with Doctor Who again and natm took a back seat.

-x-

It had been exactly tweleve minutes since the groups had split up and Stella already felt like placing herself in a corner and bashing her head against the wall. They were no closer to finding Lancelot than they had been to finding that one strange exhibit at the far back corner of the museum, Stella had the unsettaling feeling in her stomach that they had some how missed him, she started to chew on her bottom lip, eyes darting around each exhibit they went to, just in case she'd catch him. It wasn't long until Ahk noticed her worry and he squeazed her hand, that he hadn't let go of.

"You know if we don't find, Lanceldouch, soon I am inclinded to just calling it a night and going to the nearest coffee shop and just start to harrass the night staff." That sentence got an odd look from Teddy, to which he asked.

"Stella, you musten continue your harrassing. Remember what Larry said?" well no. But yeah Teddy did have a point, the last time she was sleep depreived and wanting coffee she had to be bailed out of jail. Granted it was just being locked in the supply closest at the museum but it was still excrutiating to go an hour without any sort of caffine. So finally everyone called it quits and started to head back to the main entrance towards the massive steps that gave the museum that all mighty feeling.

Stella slowed down slightly and pulled her hand out of Ahk's, who slowed as well and turned to give Stella a worried look.

"Stella?" he questioned and she gave him a reasuring smile, pulling out her phone. Checking the time. Giving a sligtly sigh of relief, Stella showed Ahk the phone.

"It's only 9:30pm." She gave him a smile. "We have time." She mumbled afterwards, shoving her phone back into her pocket.

"But I am not sure how long the tablet will last." Ahk commented, which resulted in Stella giving him a side long glance as they stepped out into the freezing cold, London wheather.

"My god its cold." She chattered, arms wrapping around her shoulders as she tried to bounce up and down for warmth. Only to end up with her feet almost freezing stiff, she glared down at her bare feet. "Should have warn sneakers." She mumbled to herself as everyone else started to converse. Her mind starting to wonder as she looked up again and out onto the road ahead. That was until she felt pressure against her side, snapping her gaze up to Ahk, noticing his face starting to turn grayer and lines appearing on his skin. She turned towards him and placed a hand against his cheek. "I guess we're losing time quicker than I thought." Stella sighed her heart pulled in her chest a little, as she felt the pressure behind her eyes.

"Lawrence, I can't move my arms." Teddy stated distracting Stella from Ahk. "I fear we are becoming less useful by the minute." Stella watched as Larry looked over his friends, Sacajawea was almost expresionless, while Attila swayed slightly on his feet and then dropped to his knees. Larry quickly rushed over to his friend and help him stand up straighter.

"Come on, big guy." Once the Hun was upright, Stella could spot out that one of his eyes had turned back to glass. Stella cringed slightly, leaning back onto Ahk for her own support. "Wow, you're looking all crazy-eyed there, man." Stella scoffed slightly at her brothers comment. "Like, way more than normal." Attila then poke his bottom lip out in pout. Oh great going Larry. Make the Hun cry. Stella thought to herself as Larry tried to amned what he had said. She could feel Ahk's arms suddenly wrap around her waist, causing her to slightly blush. Slightly. He was leaning on her for support, his chin placed upon her head. It took her a while to figure out how to breath again before she tuned back into the conversation.

"Dad, there's like eight million people in this city." Nick commented. "The guy could be anywhere."

"We'll find him." Larry answered, his tone held the determination of someone from a movie. "We have to."

"Always the optimist, Lenaord." Stella had to blink at Teddy while Larry corrected his friend. "Right." Stella could feel the pressure push against her eyes. Oh my god. This is no time for a cry baby. She snapped to herself as she shuffled on her feet. They aren't dead yet. They all then decided to just walk until they found something. Stella in the end couldn't really feel her feet, she was going to Ahk for a piggy back ride, but then she remember that he was probably feeling the affects of the tablet dying the most. She didn't want to add the pressure of her body weight on top of him.

"Larry. I need to buy new shoes." Stella spoke up from behind Ahk, it was starting to worry her that she couldn't feel her feet. Larry paused and turned to look at his sister.

"Really? Now?" he questioned his tone hard, her blue eyes caught his brown, with just a couple of seconds he remembered. "Oh. Right yeah. Don't want your feet to freeze off." He laughed but it died down when no one else laughed with him. Stella rolled her eyes as she walked towards him and pulled out his wallet from his jacket.

"You guys keep going. I'll be like five seconds." She commented as she turned, only to be stopped by Ahk.

"I will come with you." Ahkmenrah stated, his tone wavered slightly with the affect of the tablet. Stella opened her mouth to argue but the look in Ahk's eyes had her mouth snap shut. The two of them ended up rushing down the path towards one of the few open stores. Convinatly it was a shoe store, Stella almost ripped open the door to the store and gave the loudest sigh of her life as the two of them piled in.

"Oh my god." She sighed eyes snapping shut as the warm air hit her like a tone of bricks. "I don't think I have ever wanted to kiss an airconditioner before." Without her knowledge the few who were in the store, for that late night shopping people still do, were looking towards the odd couple with a look of concern, annoyance, and slight hesitation. Ahk tried his best to give them a nice smile, but it made them stare harder.

"Stella. I don't want to rush you," he started placing his hand against the small of her back, pushing her towards the wall display of ballet flats. He knew those were the kind of shoes she loved. "But I really need to rush you." He finished making Stella's eyes snap open and a hint of red rushed across her face.

"Right. Sorry." She gave a sheepish smile to the rest in the store. It wasn't long before she found a pair of comfortable black flats. With out even asking for assisstance, Stella pulled out the correct money, slamming it against the front desk, along with the box the shoes came in before she grabbed Ahk's hands and the two of them rushed out of the store. Not even hearing the complaints from the store owner. Screw the owner, I have my museum to save Stella thought loudly as they ran back the way they came and then furthur a little more. Until they came to Trafalga Square, making Stella freeze as she heard the loud roar.

"Holy crap!" she yelled out loud as she let go of Ahkmenrah's hands and ended up next to Larry. "Uh Larry. Those are lions." She pointed out, eyes glued on the three massive lion statues that had come to life and were stalking towards them. So she missed the sudden eye roll of her brother.

"Yeah. I got that bit, thanks." He retorted, making Stella roll her own eyes.

"Use your flashlight, Gigantor." Jed yelled from his place in Nick's vest. Stella looked up at Larry and slapped him on the chest.

"Ow." He complained, grumbling as he pulled his flashlight off of his belt. Switching it own he aimed the beam at the ground in front of one of the lions that was closest to them.

It was about half a second before it's ears fell forward and its whole head turned to the ground, trying to catch it with its big paws. If it hadn't been trying to kill them earlier, Stella would have found it an oddly cute scene in front of her. Conversation was happening around her but her eyes were trained on the multiple buses that were driving around the massive roundabout. Stella's arm yet again came up and tugged on Larry's sleeve, who frowned slightly, opening his mouth to say something until she pointed towards the bus.

"Oh. Of course!" he exclaimed. On the side of the bus was a massive banner adverstising the stage performace of Camelot.

"Wow - I kinda feel bad for him." She muttered to Larry as they all started to head towards the bus stop. It was about five minutes of waiting for a bus to arrive at the station that Stella could feel her insides starting to freeze along with other parts of her body. Her eyes scanned the area before they settled on a coffee shop not too far from where they were standing. "Oh." She muttered and Nick looked over at her.

"What?" his question then grabbed the attention of the others. Stella looked back at them, a smirk crossed her face. Before she leaned behind Nick, towards Larry's jacket were she could easily grab ahold of his wallet again.

"Stella what… Hey! No!" Larry exclaimed, her eyes caught Ahk's and she gave him a small wink, telling him he should stay there this time. She wouldn't be gone long.

"Hey Nick." She started.

"Yeah?" he answered his face starting to share her own smirk. Out the corner of her eye she spotted Teddy shaking his head, with a small smile on his own face. She looked back down at her nephew.

"You owe your dad twenty dollars." And she was rushing across the street before any of them could stop her.

-x-

So really it wasn't exactly three seconds later, more like five minutes. She noticed the bus that they needed to take was at the station and she swore underneath her breath as she run up to it, her breath leaving a cloud of mist in the air. The bus driver looked slightly pissed at having to wait however long she had been gone.

"Is this the lady?" he called down to her group, that sat at the very back of the bus. Stella had to slap her free hand over her mouth to stop a snort from leaving her lips.

"Yeah." Came Larry's weak reply as he almost face palmed. His glare followed her until she ended up seated in front of them. "You had to show up ten minutes late with starbucks didn't you?" Larry questioned Stella, who gave him a look of innocence.

"Actually I was five minutes late, and this coffee isn't branded." She smirked jerking slightly as the bus turned out onto the road and off they went. Taking a massive gulp from her styrophone cup she had to stop the moan escaping her lips as the warm liquid fell down her throat. Yeah that was what she needed, her attention only being brought back to the present when felt someone's finger tips pushing back a strand of her blonde hair.

Ahkmenrah.

She gave him a soft smile leaning slightly into his touch.

"Why don't you take a picture. It'll last longer!" Jedediah's voice had Stella snapping her head over towards him. Then her gaze followed his and rested on two kids who had their bodies pressed against the back of their seat. Only to watch the girl pull out her phone and take an actual picture. That was before Stella leaned over and snatched the phone from the kid.

"Hey!" the little girl exclaimed. Stella looked up and gave a fake smile before she almost pitched the phone towards the front of the bus. Though that was before she felt a hand grab onto her arm. Her head turned, which ended up having her face be only inches away from Ahk's. His eyebrow raised as he pried the young girls phone out of the Australian's hand.

"Stella. We do not steal things." He spoke, like he was talking to the ten year old across from her. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she huffed, watching Ahk hand the phone back to the kid giving her a charming smile. Making the little girl giggle, falling into her brothers shoulder. The bus came to a halt, almost causing Stella to spill her drink. Everyone got to their feet and started to head towards the front of the bus. "Come Stella. Now." Ahk's voice commanded and she froze. What?

"What?" she let out catching Ahk's eyes, oh he was going faster than she realised. Stella stood up quickly, pushing against Ahk's back towards the front of the bus before they stepped out into the fresh air once again. They had stopped right in front of the Palladium Theatre, it wasn't long until everyone else had left the two of them to enter the building. Ahk turned to face Stella, he opened his mouth to speak but she covered it with her gloved hand. "Don't apologise. Do it later, when I know that you will survive this." Ahk's eyes conveyed most of the conversation anyway, but he nodded and she pulled her hand back. He leaned forward and placed a kiss against her forehead.

"I am sorry." He whispered into her ear as he grabbed onto her hand and pulled her to the entrance. She slowly shook her head, her heart tugged again. She prayed that they got to Lancelot fast.

-x-

A/N: Ayyy we are nearing the end of the moooovie! Haha I am so not ready.

So! How was it? I apologise for any grammar, spelling or tense mistakes.

Uuuuhhh Stella is really bored over on her tumblr. Come and send her questions! agirlxhermuses!

I also promise to update quicker than last time.

Love you all xx

~ JFM ~