Chapter 10: Forever Won't Be Long Enough

3 weeks later, first morning back in London, England, O'Connell Manor

She rolled over in bed, moaning as she did so. Her dark curly hair was flung over her face and some was in her mouth. Spitting it out she noticed the sun was extremely bright. As if suddenly seeming to realize where she was she sat bolt upright with this new recognition, and practically jumped off the mattress. She ran out of the room, pounding down the flight of stairs and was welcomed by a colossal bear hug. Once unraveled from the embrace, she started jumping up and down, contented, like a child. The smell of fresh waffles wafted to her senses and the beautiful blue eyes, which stared down upon her, filled her being with ecstasy.

"Oh Evelyn dear..." He didn't even have time to finish his sentence before he was kissed soundly upon the lips. "My, aren't we in a mood this morning!"

"Ooooh! You don't understand darling!" That little sound of frustration always had a tendency to drive him nuts.

"That's why I love you, Evie. You're a like a sweet, beautiful, scrumptious nincompoop!"

"Is that all I am to you, a stupid, unenlightened, ignorant librarian? You think you can walk all over me O'Connell, well, you are wrong." With that she turned on her heel, flounced away and stood ready to flee up the stairs at a moment's notice with her arms folded angrily across her chest.

"Now look what you did dad. You got her all upset." Alex commented, his crutches resting lightly under his arms.

"G' morning squirt!" Rick mentioned delightedly to his half-awake, sleepy-eyed son, as he picked him up engulfing him with his bulk. He knew Evelyn was only joking, but he decided to be a gentleman anyway. What she had said only moments before brought back memories from when they had first met. Mixed feelings told him to apologize. He walked over to where she stood, calmly startling her by molding his hands around her waist. "I am sorry, Evelyn. Forgive me, I did not even think of what I was implying by calling you a stupid, unenlightened, ignorant, librarian." He paused, chuckling. "However can I repay you?" His pause was audible and he grinned maliciously. "You are lucky I didn't call you an ugly mummy."

His smile was sickeningly contagious, and soon she found herself laughing despite her hurt feelings. "Apology accepted dear. Now, what do you say about some waffles with your gorgeous pig swallow face!" She squeezed his cheek lightly and ran into the kitchen, shutting the door and locking it before he could seize her. Rick could hear her madly giggling through the wall.

Just then Jonathan came down the stairs. His hair was ruffled all about his head like a badly donned Christmas wreath and his eyes were barely open. "Say, is that pancakes I smell? I do love pancakes!"

"No, Jonathan, they're waffles. And, no one is going to get any unless you get your sister out of the kitchen for me."

"Me? I just woke up! I am in no state to wrestle Evie out of the kitchen! No, I refuse." Jonathan's squeaky whine droned out Evelyn's continuing laughter.

"Fine. No waffles!"

"Well, if you put it that way." Jonathan made his way over to the door, and began trying to persuade his sister to bring out the waffles so they could all sit about the table eating breakfast like a nice civilized English family.

It was just then that Ardeth showed up and it was he who finally coaxed Evelyn out of the kitchen. He was glad to see her in high spirits, and was amazed that she had recovered from her ordeal as fast and as well as she seemed to have. They all sat down and ate a breakfast of waffles, content to be in each other's company. Ardeth told them of his adventures in the desert, while Alex entertained them all with various stories.

"And then, just as the curator was about to open up the box with the sarcophagus the lid blew off and-"

"Oh my goodness, I almost forgot..." With this exclamation Evelyn jumped up from the table and ran into the Mudroom.

"Hey! Mum! That's not fair, I was right in the middle of my story!"

"You can still finish it Alex," came her distant reply, "I am just getting something, it won't take long."

When she returned she had in hand a beautiful cage, and perched majestically inside was a falcon. Its feathers were gold and were flecked with black and its eyes were like orbs and seemed to swirl around about themselves. She placed the great creature in front of Ardeth and said "I know this bird can never replace Horus but you need a companion Ardeth, and I wanted to thank you for saving me. I am forever in your debt." With this she placed a kiss on his cheek and tears broke her eyes.

Ardeth was rendered speechless. He sat in his chair, half-chewed waffle still in his mouth, baffled. "Uh...Thank you." He finally said breaking the silence as if suddenly remembering his manners.

"His name is Fakhir, Ardeth. It means proud." Ardeth reached out his fingers tentatively, and unlocked the cage, Fakhir calmly stepped out and Ardeth took the glove from the top of the cage, placed it on his hand and beckoned the magnificent creature onto his arm. He then began to stroke the feathers and with this the family and friends finished breakfast like a civilized English family, not knowing what new adventure was around the corner. England's morning air was filled with the laughter of five very happy people. The rays of sun pierced down into their very kitchen as if the entire world was happy and at peace for just that moment of time and their hearts became amorous with love. Over the hum of the birds and insects in the trees a very loud falcon screech was heard and then the silence was split by the joyous laughter of one eight-year old child.

THE END...

~Shew! Well I did it, and now it's almost 1 am in the morning.!:) I am proud of myself right now... The first mummy fan fiction story I have ever finished! Maybe I should be named 'Fakhir' as well! :) thanks all of you for supporting me...GOODNIGHT!