Teana fluttered her eyes open as sunlight streamed through the window in her and Atem's new chambers. Teana decided to stay in her current position as her eyes gently opened and roamed around the room. Atem wasn't on the bed at her side, so she assumed he gotten up early to bathe. 'Smart choice.' She thought. If they both were in bed the time they woke up, it would make it even more uncomfortable for them. She shrugged the thought off as she observed her surroundings. The room was very spacious and large. The bed she had been sleeping on itself was huge! Teana had to admit she found the room to her liking, although it was a bit flashier than she would have liked. It was a grand room, decorated beautifully with paint and hieroglyphics as well as ornate designs encircling the top of the room, most of it in gold. Gold was the main color scheme for the room. Lavish furnishings filled the room.

There was a connected bathroom as well, as another smaller room that was specifically for her and getting ready. It was more of a large dressing room. Although the chamber she shared with Atem had a stocked vanity, there was another one in her personal dressing room. In the dressing room, her handmaidens would help her get ready every morning. Today of course, they would not be coming, which reminded Teana of last night's activities. It made her blush.

It was of course, awkward, but it had not entirely bad. It was unlike anything Teana had ever experienced before. Teana was glad to say that the pain did not last that long. After that it had been quite pleasurable. Teana sighed and slowly pulled away the covers from her body. After last night's events, Teana had slipped on a pink robe to sleep. Teana stood up and slightly stumbled, but steadied herself.

She stood still for a couple moments taking in it all in.

"Teana?"

Teana turned around. "Oh! Atem. Good morning." She smiled uneasily.

Atem returned her uneasy smile, with one of his own. "Ah, yes. Good morning to you as well. I...uh...hope you slept well?"

Teana looked at Atem nervously biting her lip. He was wearing his bottom garment, but went without an upper garment. His chest was bare. Teana felt heat rising to her cheeks as she tried to think of answer. "Ah, yes. Quite well, and you?"

"I... slept well." He answered.

"Oh good."

"Yes." Atem paused. This was awkward. Extremely awkward, just as it had been when he had intruded Teana finishing up getting dressed for her wedding dress fitting. Atem looked at Teana who was wearing the pink robe she had slipped on last night. Atem couldn't help but notice the outline of her figure that was slightly visible. It made him think of what happened last night and he too felt himself blush. "Well," he said, "I suppose we should um, get ready then."

Teana quickly nodded and walked towards the bathroom. Teana freshened up quickly and returned to their chamber. She walked over to the left side of the room, where all her belongings would be. The room had been arranged so that the left side was suited more to the female. It was also the side in which the connected dressing room was. She quickly found a dress to wear from her closet. It was red and indeed very beautiful with ornate embroidery. As a newlywed bride, she had to remain quite decorated. She felt nervous about getting dressed in front of Atem. She quickly took a peek at Atem whom was engrossed in putting on his own royal gold jewelry, he had finished dressing while she was in the bathroom. 'Lucky him!'

Teana nervously opened her robe and let the robe drop as she kept it in place, around her waist. She tried to dress quickly, but she had trouble keeping the robe there as she tried to put on her undergarments and dress. She managed to put her undergarments on by some strange miracle. She reattempted to put the dress on over her head, but it was quite difficult. Frustrated she gave up and swiftly put the dress on as the robe fell to the floor. She took a breath of relief once she stood fully dressed and proceeded to put her own makeup and a large amount of jewelry on.

She stood up, once finished and straightened her dress as she looked to Atem who finished putting on his earring. Atem noticing her gaze, and that she was ready, proceeded to walk up to her. "Ready?" He asked. She nodded and very shyly slipped her arm through his. Teana felt even more nervous than the first time she was alone with Atem, when she had just arrived to Egypt. She tried not to show her nervousness, but it was not working. Atem himself was as nervous as her, giving uneasy smiles on their walk to breakfast. It was so unlike him! After spending so long together to get rid of the awkwardness, it had come back stronger!

"I am so proud of you my dear." Teana's mother said. "But you already knew that did you not?" Teana smiled and nodded her head. Her mother continued. "I want to ask, Atem is good to you?"

"Yes mother, wonderful...but..." Teana shook her head as she slightly traced circles on the wooden bench she sat on. "Never mind."

"But what?" He mother raised her eyebrows sending a look to Teana that Teana was all, but too familiar with.

"We no longer know how to act with one another." She frowned.

"Oh, is that all?" Her mother asked softly tilting her head.

"You say it like it is a matter of no means, mother." Teana glared, sadly looking away.

Her mother put her hand to Teana's chin turning Teana's face to her as she shook her own head. "Because it is not. You will get used to one another again, soon enough. It is nothing to worry about. Your father and I were the same. This is expected in arranged marriages and even in some love marriages." Teana nodded her head, sighing and averting her eyes to the side. Her mother tried to change the conversation. "Remember my dear, to visit home. Now that my daughter is also a princess of Egypt, I am sure I will visit here much more often! I hope you shall return the favor?"

"Of course mother! Be a Princess of Egypt now, but always a Princess of Nubia I shall remain." She said lifting her head up in a dignified manner.

"Words spoken like a true and wise ruler." Her mother nodded, smiling brightly and sadly thinking to herself how much she would miss her only daughter.

A Nubian male servant approached and looked at his Queen and bowed. The Queen nodded and acknowledged his presence as he walked away. Teana's mother looked back at Teana. "It is time my dear."

Teana nodded as tears quickly sprung from her eyes and she embraced her mother, one last time before she left. "Goodbye mother." She cried.

"Goodbye, my very sweet Teana. Do not fret, I am sure Atem shall take good care of you." She laughed. " If he does not, than I am sure you can teach him a few things about Nubian style combat." She winked. As she retreated from Teana's embrace she clasped her daughter's hands.

Teana laughed, although tears still shone in her eyes. "Of course mother." Teana's mother stood up, hands still clenched to her daughters. Her mother slowly let go of one hand as she slowly walked backwards and then let go of the other. "Take care Teana." With that she turned around to leave with tears springing in her own eyes.

Teana recalled that day her mother left. Since that day she became homesick. Atem and her slowly learned to live as a couple and actually became quite loving of each other slowly. He helped ease her pain and homesickness. Teana became more involved in the state's affair and Atem began stepping up his duties as Prince.

Teana became closer to Jono and Hondo, who were a sense of amusement for her. Even though Mana was usually absent, due to her training, Teana also became well acquainted with her. Maibe and Shukura seemed to have gotten closer to the boys, with Jono now courting Maibe and Hondo trying his best to find a way to ask Jono permission to court Shukura.

Atem and Teana rekindled their affection towards each other and resumed spending time with each other just as her mother promised. They were much more open with each than before, but then Atem stopped spending time with her. Atem began taking up more work. He became more engrossed in his duties as Prince and as the future Pharaoh. This meant less time with his wife. The only time of enjoyment for Teana was with her newfound friends.

This saddened Teana as Atem did not put aside time for her anymore. She tried to voice her concern once, but Atem just shrugged it off saying he had duties to attend to. Teana had become hurt and angered, mad at Atem for forgetting his duties to his own wife. Teana became more and more homesick once more.

Teana tried to fool herself into thinking Atem would have more time for her as soon as the foreign dignitary business was done with. Apparently a foreign king of sorts was willing to form an alliance with Egypt. Atem and Teana grew further apart, they showed more display of respect than love due to their distance. Teana only hoped that their relationship would heal in due time. What happened to the closeness they once shared?

Yay! New chapter! Thanks for being patient. I actually posted this chapter a lot earlier than I expected to have it done! :) This month (and next month) I have a lot of stuff going on, I'll be very busy! Thanks for your continued support! So this chapter was basically showing Atem and Teana's awkwardness around each other and basically gave the setting. Realistically, in their situation, I find it hard not to be! Fast forwarded, Atem and Teana have been married for a little while now and after a while they're close again, only to have their distance increase again. Ooh, what will happen now? Stay tuned! :P The story is about to take a small, turn-point! :)

*Thanks to Akai22878 for betaing this for me :D
*P.S I will be posting a new Revolutionshipping/Vanishshipping one-shot that takes place during the ending of the series, shortly! Be sure to check that out when I post it :)

*PLEASE Review!

~Startistica