Atem and Anu sat quietly all day, the stress and worry that consumed them both was to much to handle. Around noon, Tara arrived to try on her dress; Atem left the two girls alone, knowing things would go well.

"Are you ready?" Anu asked as she walked over to the large closet.

"Ready." Tara said with a laugh.

Anu gently pulled the white gown out of the closet and stepped in front of Tara.

"Okay." Tara opened her eyes and gasped.

"Oh, Anu it's beautiful." She said, reaching out to touch the fabric.

"Reminds me of something I'd wear to the ball we have at work." Tara said. Anu thought quickly, trying to come up with a response.

"Well, Atem told me about the dreams you were having about Egypt, so I just figured why not embrace it?" She said. Tara laughed and nodded.

"It's a great idea." She said, Anu was glad she had accepted her story.

"Well, go try it on." Anu said, handing her the dress. Tara stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, leaving Anu to wait anxiously.

It was a few minutes before she heard Tara's voice.

"You ready?" She asked.

"Let's see!" Anu said, standing up.

The door opened and Tara emerged, spinning around for a full effect.

Anu was silent, taking it in.

The dress was identical to the one she'd made for Tara before. White flowing fabric that just skimmed the foor. Two straps across her shoulders with fabric flowing from them and wrapping around her wrists. The neckline scooped down just enough and the fabric fit perfectly around her waist. To top the outfit off, a small gold band wrapped around her head and a vale of white fabric trailed down her back.

"You look lovely." Anu said.

"Well, let me see." Tara said with a laugh.

Anu pulled her over to stand in front of the mirror that hung inside the closet.

She was silent for a while, her eyes wide; taking in the dress as her hands gently ran across the fabric.

"Anu, this is beautiful." She said. Anu smiled but continued to watch her eyes closely, looking for any signs that she might be remembering. It took a few seconds but the blue of her eyes turned darker and she reached her hand out to grab a hold of Anu.

"Thank you." She said, and Anu could tell this was Tara talking to her.

"You're welcome." She said with a smile, holding tight to Tara's hand.

Eventually Tara changed out of the gown, placing it gently into her bag and promising Anu that she'd take good care of it.

The girls talked for a while, Anu kept to unimportant topics, worried that if she tried to make her remember anything she'd wear her out before tonight.

Atem arrived back at the apartment around four and Tara said goodbye to Anu who refused to let her go without a hug.

"Your acting like you'll never see me again." Tara said with a laugh. Anu's face fell into worried lines, but she laughed it off, determined not to upset Tara. The truth was, after tonight Anu didn't know if she would see Tara again.

"I'll see you later." Tara said, giving Anu a bright smile.

"Yeah, see you later." Anu said, giving a smile back.

Tara smiled at Atem as she left, telling him she'd see him later. Once she left Anu sat down on the bed, her head in her hands.

"How'd it go?" Atem asked, coming to sit next to her.

"Great." Anu said, though she wasn't happy.

"You're worried about her." Atem said, She nodded.

"If this works tonight, that was probably the last time I'll ever see her." Anu said, her voice breaking.

"I know how you feel Anu. I can tell you this though; I talked to Isis and asked if saving Tara here meant she'd be saved when we get back home. She said she wasn't sure, but maybe if we keep our hopes up, things will turn out okay." He said. Anu nodded and managed a small smile.

The two of them were very quiet in the hours leading up to Atem leaving. Anu sat cross-legged on the bed, weaving scraps of fabric together and taking them apart again. Atem sat across from her in a chair, gently spinning Tara's engagement ring between his fingers. Once it reached six o'clock Atem stood and took the outfit he'd come here in, from the dresser. He changed, wrapping the deep purple cloak around his shoulders and then sitting down next to Anu, taking her hand in his.

"Thank you for sticking with me these past few weeks." He said.

"I wasn't just going to leave you to fend for yourself." Anu told him.

"Besides Tara means a lot to me too." She added.

"I know." Atem pulled her in for a hug, then smiled.

"Good luck tonight." Anu said

"Thank you." She smiled and nodded.

"I guess if all goes well I'll see you when we get home." Atem said.

"See you then."

Traffic was pretty light and Atem made it to Tara's house a little before seven. He knocked lightly on the door and Tara opened it with a smile, a bright blue dress hanging loosely from her body.

"Dinner is ready." She said,

"Nice outfit." She said. Atem smiled.

"Anu said it would match the dress she made you."

"Well, you'll see it soon." She said with a wink.

They ate in the small kitchen, Tara had made a wonderful dinner complete with a few traditional Egyptian dishes that she said she'd learned from the chef's at the restaurant. They talked quietly through the meal, Atem mostly trying to keep his nerves in check. Once they finished eating and cleaning up Atem asked if she wanted to go up to the roof for a while.

"I'd love to, why don't you go up, I have something I have to take care of real quick and then I'll be right up." She said with a smile.

"Sounds good." He gave her a quick kiss and headed up to the roof.

Tara went to her room and gently removed Anu's dress from the bag and changed. She glanced at herself in the mirror and spun around. Anu had done an amazing job, the dress was beautiful. She looked at herself in the mirror again and did a double take, the feeling of déjà vu washing over her, she could feel herself getting faint, something about this was familiar, the dress, she'd worn it before. The same warm feeling she got when she blacked out started creeping along her body. She pushed it away, turning from the mirror and taking deep breaths, she didn't want this night ruined. Once she calmed down she started making her way up to the roof to meet Atem.

It was quiet when she finally reached the roof. Atem was standing near the edge watching the sky. She stood still, watching as he turned to see her. He smiled and her brain flashed to a scene of them both standing in a garden of roses. She closed her eyes and shook it away, walking up to Atem and letting him wrap her in his arms.

"You look beautiful." He said, gazing down at her.

He'd seen her in this dress once before of course but she still took his breath away.

"You should thank Anu, it's her creation." She said with a smile.

"I will."
"So, you wanted to ask me something?" She said, smiling up at him.

"Yes, I, here sit down." He said, gesturing to a bench.

She sat and Atem joined her, her hand never leaving his.

"Tara, things have been amazing since I met you, and I know you've been having a tough time with these memories you've been having and I am glad to have been there for you through all of it." He stopped to gather his thoughts and give Tara a smile because she looked utterly confused.

"I'll get to the point; I don't want to confuse you." He said. He reached into the pocket of his cape and pulled out the small silver ring.

"Tara." He said, sliding off the bench to kneel in front of her.

"I want to ask, if you'll marry me."

Her eyes grew wide with shock and he saw them cloud over. He reached out, taking her hand in his to reassure her that he was there. She was quiet for a few seconds and then she looked into his eyes, her's still clouded over.

"Yes, yes my love." This was the true Tara. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.

"Thank you love, you need to let your other take over thought, you're to weak." He said gently, she shook her head.

"Please, take me home love." She said.
"I will, but you have to let your other remember, you have to connect, and then you can go home okay?" He said. She closed her eyes and nodded. Atem was quiet and watched as Tara's stronger half took over. She opened her eyes and took in the ring she was presenting her with.

"You want me to marry you?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Of course I will." She said with a smile. He took a deep breath of relief and slipped the ring on her finger, kissing her hand gently. She closed her eyes and watched flashes of memories play out before her.

Standing with Atem in the rose garden, walking alone the Nile, dancing and laughing with Anu. The war and the people taken, how she disguised herself and followed Atem into battle. Her last moments in his arms, promising him that she would be okay and him saying he'd love her.

"Forever." She whispered. He smiled knowing it must have worked. Tara had let her stronger half back in, she'd remembered. Her eyes opened and he saw that they were clear.

"Atem?" He nodded squeezing her hand.

"It's real, all of it?" He nodded again.

She stood up quickly but her body was getting weak and she instantly reached out for Atem, resting against him.

"Come on, let's get you downstairs."

He helped her down to her apartment and she insisted on lying down, not worrying about changing. He lay down next to her and pulled her close.

She watched the ring on her finger glitter in the moonlight.

"I don't think I understand." She said quietly.
"I remember everything that happened, and who I am, and you and Anu, but, how am I here?" She asked.

"I am not sure, that's the one thing we never understood." He told her. She was quiet for a while.

"Atem?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Yes?"
"I died." She said. He was quiet but she already knew the answer.

"Yes, you did."

"Then what happens now?" She asked.

"Isis said Anu and I's job was to help you remember because you were to weak to survive here, we had to get your soul back to Egypt." He told her, she nodded.

"So you're going back, what about me?"
Atem tightened his hold on her, pulling her close and that was answer enough. She looked up into his eyes and found them full of tears.
"I am not going back am I, at least not in human form?" He wouldn't answer her but she understood. She leaned up to kiss him and could feel the tears sliding down his cheeks.

"I won't let you go Tara." He said, his voice breaking.

"I know you won't love." She brushed the tears away and smiled at him. He pulled her in for another kiss and she let herself relax, feeling the full strain this time period had on her body. Atem was right, she was to weak to live here, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and sleep.

"Atem." She said, her voice weak.

"Yes." There were still tears in his eyes.

"I need to sleep." She said. His eyes grew desperate and he shook his head.

"No, not yet." He pleaded.

"Yes love." She brought her hand up to his face, brushing away more tears.

"If you wake up and I am not there, just know I'll always love you." She said. He shook his head and pulled her close.

"I am not ready to let you go yet." He said.
"I'll be okay, and so will you." She said.

"But you have to let me go now." She added, her eyes closing.

"I love you Tara." He said, pulling her in for another kiss.

"And I love you Atem, forever." He watched her fall asleep and hours later he drifted off himself.

Sorry for the delay on this one, I am trying to get them up as soon as I can but work get's in the way...blah.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, there's still a bit more to come so keep sending in those reviews. Thanks for reading!