Larry walked up the steps to the Museum of Natural History and stopped at the doors. He took his phone out and texted Nick, quickly. Within a few minutes, he saw his son walking over. He stood straight and the sight of him in the guard uniform put a giant smile on Larry's face. The door opened and Nick held it as he stepped inside.

"Sorry I'm a lil' late," he said. "Traffic sucks even at night."

"No, it's fine. I wanted to go lock up the Hall of African Mammals first anyway. The lions still make me a little nervous."

"Did you get a chance to check on Ahk?"

"I went over there, but by the time I did, the sarcophagus was already open. So, I guess the Tablet did its thing and he's walking around here somewhere."

Larry relaxed a bit. "Ready for your first night?"

"Heck yeah! I saw you do this all the time. I got this. Oh, and um, just so you know, I took the bus here. I put the bike on Craigslist. Someone's comin' by tomorrow and I think they're gonna buy it. I'll basically break even."

"Really? Hey, that's great. How did Alexa take it?"

"Oh." Nick's eyes went to the floor. "We kinda...broke up."

Larry's eyes widened and he regretted asking. "Wait, really? Wow, I'm sorry. Are you...okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I was the one who did it, actually. I called her earlier and said I got this job, and she said that it was 'bad for my image' and...yeah, I just kinda realized that she wanted a doormat, not a relationship. You know?"

"Well, still, I'm sorry it didn't work out. But hey, I'm sure you'll find someone else. You got my looks."

Feeling the need to lighten the mood, he reached into his back pocket. "I um, brought you something. I know McPhee probably gave you a new one, but..." He held out the old flashlight he'd kept after quitting the job years ago. "I figured it was time to pass the torch." He smiled. "Get it? 'Cause in like Britain, they call flashlights 'torches' so I'm literally passing the...okay, just take it."

Nick reached out slowly and took the flashlight, twirling it in his hands. "Wow. This is...wow. Thanks, Dad, this…" He looked up and met his eyes. "This means a lot."

"You earned it. Besides, you might need it. It's your best defense against angry Egyptians."

That got a laugh. "Yeah, speakin' of Kahmunrah, I haven't seen him yet."

"He's probably around here somewhere. You'll probably bump into him someti-"

"Nicky?"

Larry looked over and was relieved to see Ahkmenrah approaching with Teddy and Texas close behind. "You're the new guard?"

"Told you you'd be happy." Teddy smiled.

Larry stood back as the young Egyptian came over to hug his son. It was strange that Nick was basically Ahkmenrah's height now. Years ago, he was half that size. "Osiris, it's been ages!"

"Well you'll be seeing me a lot more now," Nick told him. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. It's like it never even happened. Ra, my room has been redone, Lancelot and my brother moved in, you're the night guard. Is there anything else I should know?"

"About Kahmunrah, has anyone seen him?" Teddy asked.

"Not yet," Nick told him. "I just went to lock up the Mammals and came here. When I see him, though, I'll let him know you're looking for him."

"Thank you," Ahk told him. "I'll see if I can find him. But we must catch up sometime tonight, Nicky!"

"Totally! I just gotta make my rounds around here."

"I'm sure everyone will be very glad that you've got this job."

"Oh, yeah! You should've seen Dexter. He climbed all over me and gave me a hug!"

"Really?" Ahk asked.

"Really?" Larry repeated. He had a feeling he knew what that meant.

"Yeah! I guess he missed me."

"Check your pockets."

"What?"

"Just check."

Nick's hands dug into his pants pockets. "There's nothing." Larry smirked. His son's eyes grew as big as sand dollars. "Crap!" He took off like a rocket down the hall. "Dexter, when I get my wallet back, I swear!"

Larry couldn't fight his laughter.

"Like father like son, hmm, Lawrence?" Teddy asked. The look in the man's eyes read, "I told you he'd turn out okay. I'm always right."

And he was. Larry was confident that Nick would keep growing into a strong, intelligent man. There wasn't a doubt in his mind.

Once he and Octavius had climbed down to the floor, Jedediah couldn't believe his eyes. His small, remote control car was waiting for him with a green Post-It next to it. In swirly, neat handwriting, it read: Returned early for helping save Pharaoh Ahkmenrah and not dying in Egypt. Please try to be careful.

- Doctor McPhee

"Well, straighten my hair an' call me Clara," Jed marveled.

"That certainly was nice of him," Octavius said. "Where do you want to go? Shall we see if Nicky needs any help on his first night?"

Jed adjusted his hat and a smile came to his lips. "You ferget our deal, Octy?" He could tell by the Roman's confused face that, yes, he had. "We agreed that if you let us tag along ta Egypt, I'd show you how to drive."

The bright look on the man's face gave Jed a warm feeling. He climbed into the passenger side and waited for Octavius to remove his helmet and get situated. "A'right now just put her in drive and start pushin' the gas."

"Don't you need to go over basic safety?...Well, maybe you are the wrong person to ask about that."

"Very funny, now just ease on the gas." The car engine came to life and they started to move. "There ya go! Now just go at yer own pace, just feel it out." He put his arms behind his head and leaned back. They traveled down the hall and made their way out into the open.

Jed said almost nothing, just let Octavius get a feel for driving. He looked out the window but every so often he glanced at the speedometer. He bit his tongue. Finally, after what felt like forever, he couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, Octy? Yer doin' great, but um, ya know you can go a lil' quicker than," he looked at the speedometer again, "four miles an hour."

"I don't want to run into anything," he defended. "We just got this back, and I don't want to break something. Then Nicky would get in trouble on his first night!"

"Octavius, if you ran into something at this speed, ya wouldn't even bust a headlight. Ya can pick it up a-" Jed stopped as he saw who they were approaching. "Well, look who it is! Here, pull over fer a sec."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Octavius told him. They started to pass him up.

"Aw, c'mon, he lives here now. We gotta make peace 'er whatever."

The Roman sighed and stopped the car before backing up. "Why can't I ever say no to you?"

"Because you love me," the cowboy teased.

Jed rolled down his window and looked up at the Egyptian "Hey, Kahmunrah! Ya seen yer brother yet?"

The Egyptian lowered himself to the floor. "No, I have not. By the time I got to his room, he'd already run off somewhere."

"Well if we see 'em, we'll let ya know, a'right? Man, I still can't believe you live here. Guess we're neighbors now!"

"Excuse me while I jump with joy." Jed saw him roll his eyes and knew he should cut the small talk. "Well, we'll be seein' ya then. Hope ya find Ahk soon!"

Octavius hit the gas and Jed was tossed around in his seat as they hit a giant bump. The Roman had forgotten to put the car back in drive and they'd backed up over something. Jed paled as he saw that Kahmunrah was now standing on one foot, clutching his other one, which looked a little red. Aw, Hell.

"Tell me I didn't," Octavius said.

Jed forced a smile and looked back at the angered Egyptian. "Sorry ' bout that. Student drivers, ya know? See ya 'round, neighbor!" He turned his head so quickly, his neck cracked. "Drive like there's a fire behind us, go, go!"

Octavius fixed the gear shift and they raced away, not daring to look back.

Kahmunrah massaged his foot and glared as the small, black car rocketed away. For a moment, he thought about going after the miniatures, but decided against it. He sighed and started to walk back down the hallway. The museum was fairly quiet, apart from the music. He kept a wary eye out for the Huns, not wanting a repeat of the previous night. Traveling down the long halls, he encountered a few other exhibits, but no words were exchanged. He was very okay with that. It was nice to simply explore his surroundings without interruption. He could think clearly and sort out the events of the past few days.

"There you are!"

Kahmunrah cringed as Lancelot joined him at his side. The silence was clearly over with. I thought I'd ditched him once we got out of that basement. "I was wondering where you went. I thought we could find Ahkmenrah and make sure he's okay. Maybe he could even show us around the museum, if he feels alright. I mean, I've been here before, but I'm sure some things must have changed since then."

That may be the most accurate thing you've ever said, Kahmunrah thought. "Well, I'm not sure where Ahkmenrah is. Perhaps you should go look for him."

"We'll have an even better shot with two people looking for him," the knight said, cheerfully. "I'm sure he's going to want to speak with you after what you said to him yesterd-"

Kahmunrah covered the man's mouth as quickly as a viper. "What did I tell you? We are not going to mention what I said. Ever. It's like it never even happened."

His armor-covered hand removed Kahmunrah's. "But it did happen."

"Yes, but no one else needs to know that. Alright?"

"Goodness, it's like you don't want people to know that you can actually be a decent person. You're so secretive!" They began to walk down the hall once more. "I mean, we live together now, and I barely know anything about you. What's your favorite color?"

"Whichever one will end this conversation."

Lancelot changed the topic instead. "This museum isn't as big as the one in Britain. I certainly hope Trixie doesn't break anything when she arrives."

The color drained from the Egyptian's face. "The other dinosaur is coming?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll protect you from her." The knight laughed and Kahmunrah wished he was invisible. "She's sweet once she gets used to you. You might even like her!"

"Oh, I doubt that very much," Kahmunrah said sourly.

"You're really not big on animals, are you?"

You really can't tell when someone wants to be left alone, can you?

The conversation was cut short as the sound of quick, small footsteps approached. Before he could turn around, small, furry hands grabbed onto his tunic and started to climb allowing him nothing more than a grimace. Dexter was suddenly sitting on his shoulder, looking proud.

"I stand corrected." Lancelot smiled. "You're already making friends!"

Kahmunrah glared at the grinning animal. "What did I tell you? Just because Ahkmenrah lets you do this, doesn't mean I will! What, am I just the default until you find him?" He paused for a moment as he noted the small object Dexter was clutching. "What do you have?" He took the strange item and started to study it. It was a small, leather bound square. What is this for? Why is the modern world so confusing?

"Dexter!"

He turned around and saw a young man rounding the corner who he recalled as Larry Daley's son. What was his name again? The boy skidded to a stop before him. "...Kahmunrah."

"...Smaller Daley."

"...I mean, most people just say 'Nick', but...okay. Hey, Lance."

"Hello, Nick," the knight greeted.

Kahmunrah looked at the small leather object in his hand and held it out. "I have a feeling this belongs to you. Your capuchin seems to be quite the kleptomaniac."

Nick took a cautious step towards him, as if he thought Kahmunrah might bite him. He smirked at the reaction as the young man took the foreign thing back.

"Um, thanks. Yeah, he's got that habit." He shifted a bit and cleared his throat. To Kahmunrah's surprise, the boy looked at him again and confidently said in perfect Arabic, "The garlic people ate my sister."

...What? The Egyptian arched a brow and wondered if maybe he'd misheard. "I'm...sorry to hear that?"

"Huh?" Now Nick seemed just as lost.

"Where did you pick that...particular phrase up from?"

"Ahk taught me that."

Ahkmenrah? This was getting even more confusing the more it went on. "And did he tell you what it meant?"

"It's how you say, 'How is your night?'...isn't it?"

It all clicked in his head. "I promise you that's not what you just said."

"What did he tell you?" the knight interjected.

"He's just told me that his sister has just fallen victim to an attack by some 'garlic people'."

"What? Those don't even exist." Lancelot laughed.

"Wait, what?" Nick asked. "You're kidding."

"For once, actually, I believe I'm being more truthful than my brother. I think you've fallen for one of Ahkmenrah's little jokes, Smaller Daley."

He watched the boy's eyes widen with realization. "I swear to God, Ahk. He would totally do that, too!"

"You are in your father's uniform," Lancelot noticed.

"What? Oh, yeah, um, I'm like...the nightguard now."

Oh, wonderful, Kahmunrah thought. At least this Daley is gullible.

"Really?" The knight smiled. "Well, this should be fun, then. Hey, maybe Kahmunrah could teach you how to speak his language." Oh, Ra, don't drag me into this. "I mean, since you've got an interest and - Ahkmenrah!"

Without warning, Lancelot ran passed Nick. Dexter jumped off Kahmunrah's shoulder and followed, quickly, chattering happily. Kahmunrah watched as Lancelot wrapped his arms around his brother and lifted him up. "Thank Ram you are okay!" he shouted.

"It's Ra, you -" Kahmunrah held back the insult and approached them. Teddy was behind them with a horse, watching happily.

"I was wondering where you two were!" Ahkmenrah laughed, having been released from the knight's grasp. "I've been looking for you! Didn't Nicky tell you?"

"Oh, crap." Nick turned to Kahmunrah. "Ahk's looking for you."

The older Egyptian took a deep breath. "...Thank you."

"Oh, by the way," Nick glared at the younger Egyptian. "'The garlic people ate my sister'?!"

Ahkmenrah looked confused before bursting with laughter. "Who told you?"

"That would be me," Kahmunrah admitted. "I was very concerned for his sister."

"What does that even mean?" Nick asked.

"It was just a joke!" Ahkmenrah explained, still recovering from laughing so hard. "When you said you wanted to learn some Arabic, I thought it would be funny. There was no harm in it, I mean, who else would you say that to? I was going to tell you, really, I was. Oh, but it was so funny, how you always came up to me and said it. I figured once it stopped being so hysterical, I would tell you...it just never stopped!" he defended.

Nick opened his mouth, but Lancelot beat him to it. "Ahkmenrah?" he asked. "Did Zalaam...steal your sandals?"

"What?" Kahmunrah looked to the floor and saw that his brother was, in fact, barefoot. You've got to be kidding me. Will he never outgrow this? "Ahkmenrah," he began. "Where are your shoes?"

The younger Egyptian looked at the floor and started to rub the back of his neck. "I must have left them in, um...Egypt. After the temple incident."

Kahmunrah's face blanked. "...Egypt." He repeated. "You left your sandals...in another continent."

"It would seem so."

He took a moment to process this. Kahmunrah looked away for a moment and placed a hand over his mouth. For years, Ahkmenrah's constantly lost sandals had driven him mad, and yet for some reason, he could not fight the smile on his face. It was too ridiculous to be mad over.

"Actually," Teddy began, "I think I saw Lawrence slip them into his backpack before we left the Nile. Sir Lancelot, Nicholas, why don't we go see if we can find out what he did with them?"

"What?" the knight asked. "Shouldn't Ahkmenrah come with us?"

"That's not necessary. We can bring them to him."

"But...oooh. Right. Come along, Nick, let's go find Ahkmenrah's sandals."

"Right behind you."

Kahmunrah watched in surprise as the three of them left the room without another word. It was very clear what they were doing. He looked over to his brother, unsure of just what to do. Dexter looked him in the eyes and then back at Ahkmenrah before also taking off down the hall. The one time I wish you would stick around, he thought.

Now they were alone. Everything was silent, save for the music that still played downstairs.

Well, he thought, this is awkward. His mind was telling him to say something, and yet, he couldn't figure out what. Kahmunrah wasn't exactly good with small talk, and that was under normal circumstances. This was...foreign. It was as if he was back in the crumbling temple in Egypt: trying to take a step forward, but unsure if the floor might fall out from under him if he did.

"So," Ahkmenrah started. Kahmunrah was thankful that silence had finally ended. "I fall asleep for a while and you move in?"

"Well, it was this or rotting in those archives," Kahmunrah told him. "This sounded like the better option."

"We'll have to get you and Lance out of that basement, though. It's not very pleasant."

"It is a bit of a step down from an Egyptian palace."

"A step up from Egyptian Underworld, though."

"...I suppose you have a point there."

Ahkmenrah laughed at that. It had been a while since he'd witnessed his brother do that. "I think you'll find that you like it here. Though, you may want to stay out of Atilla's way for a while," he cautioned. "If you want, I could teach you Mongolian. That way you won't have any, umm...miscommunications."

Now it was his turn to laugh, though his was much less sincere. "You think I'd let you teach me a language after the 'garlic people'? I don't think so."

Ahkmenrah smirked. "Oh, come on, I wouldn't do that to you."

"So, you're saying you wouldn't enjoy watching me walk up to the leader of the Huns and saying, oh, I don't know, 'My head is made of cheese'?"

"Well, now you are just giving me ideas." More of Ahkmenrah's laughter.

Then the silence befell them again. He saw Ahkmenrah start to shuffle his bare foot slightly. Kahmunrah noticed the song in the background had turned into something with a fast beat to it. Music had changed a lot since he'd been alive. Many things had changed since then.

"Did I...that is..." Ahkmenrah's voice was quieter now. Kahmunrah noticed he was now looking at the floor. "I could hear what Zalaam was doing while I was...not in control, did I...did I hurt anyo-"

"No," Kahmunrah said, firmly, causing Ahkmenrah to look up again. "You didn't do anything."

"I heard people screaming."

"But you didn't do it. You just said it yourself, you were not the one in control, that madman was. You were the one who stopped him, remember?"

Ahkmenrah's eyes met his again and he slowly nodded in agreement. After a moment, he asked, "What happened to the Mirror?"

"Mr. Daley didn't tell you? It's being sent to the archives where it can gather dust."

Ahkmenrah took that information in. Kahmunrah quickly tried to think of a way to change the subject. "Oh, by the way," he began. Ahkmenrah focused on him again. "Before Mother and Father had to leave, Mother said that...how did she phrase it? Something about since the Tablet works through...Ra, what was the word? 'Telephones?'" The odd word felt strange on his tongue. "She said you and I should call them once in a while. I'm assuming you know what that means?"

Ahkmenrah's smile returned and he snickered. "Brother, technology today will both astound and confuse you."

"Then I shall do my best to avoid it."

The laughter was back. His brother seemed to have brightened again. "Care to explore the museum with me?"

"Lead the way," he answered, "as long as those two miniatures don't try to break my toes again."

"Oh, Jedediah is reckless with that thing."

"He wasn't the one operating it. The Roman was."

"Oh? That's new."

They began to walk down the hall, the sandals long forgotten. "It's insane how much has changed in just a few days," Ahkmenrah said.

"Yes", Kahmunrah said, more to himself, "it is."

Ahkemnrah grinned as he started explaining some of the exhibits to him. Kahmunrah did his best to focus on what he was saying, but struggled to do so. Ahkmenrah hadn't been exaggerating. So many things were different now. Less than a week ago, he'd been trapped in the Underworld and was now walking with his brother at his side. It was strange.

And yet, as he watched Ahkmenrah's eyes light up as he spoke, he found that it was not exactly unpleasant. Granted, he wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of living with two enormous dinosaurs or having to watch Larry Daley's son parade about with a flashlight. But as they walked down the halls together, his mind traveled back to the banks of the Nile, and something occurred to him: Perhaps his brother had been right.

Perhaps change could be good.

A/N: ...wow...that's the end.

A little over a year of posting this fanfiction.

I love this story so much. It was so much fun to do and I think it's one of the best things I've written thus far. I'm so glad you all enjoyed it so much, and thank you again for all of the support throughout this story, you have no idea how happy it made me.

Oh. And no. This will not be the only time I write Night at the Museum. Not if I have anything to say about it. (But it will be a bit before I post another story about it. My next work, when it's done, is a fandom that rhymes with Shlabyrinth.)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!