C4: Big noses and little ears

Ardeth and Rick filled Jonathan and Aida in on what they missed when they had gone into the house. It turns out that the Bracelet of Anubis was something that the men desired greatly to serve their leader: Imhotep.

And Alex, being ever curious and a little troublemaker had slipped it onto his wrist. Ardeth then confessed that he had accidentally frightened Alex by revealing that putting on the bracelet may very well bring upon the next apocalypse.

"God, I feel a headache coming on," Aida rubbed at her face and tried to focus on everything, resisting the urge to cuddle up with Alex on the backseat. She knew he wouldn't appreciate the show of affection.

"I'm sorry if I alarmed your son, but you must understand, now that the bracelet is on his wrist, we have only seven days before the Scorpion King awakens," Ardeth hurriedly explained to Rick but Aida had to interject.

"Scorpion King? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's bad," she looked down at Alex and he vigorously nodded his head.

"We? What we?" Rick refused to take his eyes off the road at first, but Ardeth persisted.

"If he is not killed, he will raise the Army of Anubis."

"I take it that's not a good thing?" Jonathan leaned forward and she could hear the hope in his voice.

"Oh, he'll wipe out the world," Rick stated matter-of-factly.

"Ah, the old 'wipe out the world' ploy."

"Don't they all try?" Aida placed two fingers against her temple and looked out at the rain hitting the window.

She was listening to the two converse and absorbed the words, but Ardeth's voice was mesmerizing to her. It was so good to hear him again after all this time. For so many years, she'd dreamed about him coming to find her. Ever since the moment she gave birth to their daughter, she'd longed for him to be near her.

Years ago…

Evy was only passing by the bedroom to get some fresh towels from the cupboard when she heard someone sobbing.

She stopped, looked in, and saw her friend sitting on her bed, clutching at her new-born daughter.

"Aida?!" Evy hurried to her and immediately sat down, "What's wrong, is it Amina?"

She looked down at the small baby, swaddled neatly in a blanket, and saw nothing amiss. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

"I-I just," Aida tried to fight back her tears and shook her head, "I don't know how to feel. Look at her!"

She glanced down at her daughter and smiled, despite her tears.

"She's perfect. She's…she's me and him. And I love her so much," her smile broke and her face scrunched up in pain as her tears continued to flow, "and I miss him."

Evy saw the conflict her friend suffered with and wrapped her arm around her.

"I-I miss him so much!" Aida let herself be held as she cuddled her daughter against her. Whilst she felt overwhelming love towards her child…she still felt missing. She felt that he should have been there to celebrate. To be a family.

A sudden pump jarred the car and pulled Aida out of her reminiscing. Which was fortunate, because she could feel herself getting teary and hurriedly blinked away the tears that had threatened to fall.

"Here it is," Jonathan pointed out of the front window and sure enough, in their sights was the British Museum. Aida hoped they could get this done as quickly as possible, but knowing her luck, she didn't get her hopes up TOO high.

When they pulled to a stop, Rick turned and looked at his son.

"Alex, I've got a really important job for you. You need to stay here and protect the car."

"I can do that," Jonathan helpfully volunteered himself and by the look of disbelief on Alex's face, she knew this may be a difficult argument.

"While you do that, shove over so I can get out," she pushed Jonathan back and scrambled out his side. He tried to 'help' her, but his clumsy hands slipped down her waist and she had to elbow him in the stomach on her way out.

"Sorry," he grunted and let her go and she managed to get both feet out of the car.

She left Rick to talk to both and made her way around the other side of the car, towards the boot where she'd quickly dumped the bag of guns she and Jonathan had fetched.

She was trying to ignore the rain and how it plastered her long hair against her skin when Ardeth came around the other side. Whilst he hadn't scared her, she did startle slightly.

"Aida…I am sorry," he took a step closer to her and she looked into his deep, serious eyes.

"For what?"

"Meeting again, like this."

'Meeting at all? Did he never think to come and see me again?'

She folded her arms and shrugged her shoulders, trying to appear casual.

"It's fine. Situations like this can't be helped. We need to save the world…again."

She dropped her arms and tore her gaze from his, hoping that would be the end of it. Looking at him made her feel funny. The way she had done so long ago when she would look at him and want to grab and kiss him-

"You've changed."

His simple statement got her attention again and he must have stepped closer to her because he was staring down at her and he was…VERY close.

"You look and act so different now."

Aida no longer noticed the rain. Her heart pounded and she struggled to breathe.

'Oh God…Oh God, he's going to kiss me!' Her mind raced and her heart hoped. She'd not been with another man since and she'd dreamt of this meeting many, MANY times.

All he had to do was pull her close and-

"Aida."

Rick's voice snapped her out of the spell and she quickly turned and looked at him, both glad and disappointed he had pulled her out of that headspace. They had to concentrate on the mission at hand, damn her hormones!

"Jonathan needs to talk to you," he tried not to look at Ardeth but gestured with his head to show the importance as he said, "it's about Amina."

There was a moment where she felt her stomach do a funny flutter and avoided looking at Ardeth also.

She excused herself and moved back around the car, letting herself look at Ardeth quickly to see if he suspected anything. He was focused on O'Connell as his friend pulled out his bag and she leaned in through the back window of the car.

"What's wrong?"

Jonathan, checking also that Ardeth wasn't paying attention, lowered his voice and asked inquisitively, "have you told him?"

"About?"

"Amina!" Both Jonathan and Alex said, and she put her hand up and waved at them to keep quiet.

"Shh, both of you!" She waited for a moment before keeping her own voice low, "No, I haven't…and Alex, you shouldn't be inquiring!"

Alex rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I know it's her dad, you always talk about him to her and she tells me EVERYTHING."

"Of course, she does," she sighed but should have really expected that little piece of information. The two of them were thick as thieves.

"It's just…well, it's a bit awkward, isn't it?" Jonathan thumbed over his shoulder and she shook her head in disbelief.

"I cannot believe you two. This is REALLY not the best time to tell him!" She tried to stop herself from snapped and tried to end the conversation, "I'm going in to help. Amina's at her friends, but-"

I know. I'll go and let her know if anything happens."

"Thank you," she reached out and rested her hand against Jonathan's cheek affectionately, "you'll make someone an exceptionally good husband someday."

"Why not now?" Alex asked with a hopeful smile and it was Aida's turn to roll her eyes.

'Strange children.'

Amina and Alex had recently been trying to push Jonathan and Aida together, continuously making little 'innocent' remarks and attempting to fix them up on dates by themselves. For obvious reason, the idea itself was ridiculous to Aida but she could see their individual reason.

Alex wanted Amina to be his cousin and Amina wanted a father figure. But she had always longed to meet her real father and Aida had told her all she could about him…except his name. It always stuck in her throat and for some reason, Amina never pushed her for it.

"Unfortunately, Jonathan here still has some growing up to do. Peter Pan syndrome," her hand moved and ruffled Jonathan's hair instead, "now you two stay put AND stay safe."

"Scouts honor!" Jonathan placed his hand over his heart, but Alex just flopped back against the seat and pouted.

"Yeah, yeah."

Seeing they were going to behave themselves (as much as they could in the car) she pulled her head out and moved around the back again.

Walking straight up to Rick, she held out her hand and smiled sweetly.

"My Enfield, please sir."

Rick chuckled and passed her the gun.

"You and that damned thing. I don't see why you don't like the Thompson."

Aida caught Ardeth looking at her out of the corner of her eye and unable to help herself, easily loaded and prepped her gun without needing to look at it.

"I like showing off," she flipped her long, wet hair back and looked at the tall, shadowy building in front of them, "now come on. Let's go get your wife."