Disclaimer: I don't own them. The character Ellen and her family belong to me. But the rest belong to Universal. Also I would like to apologize for the delay, I was on vacation for two weeks and had no way of typing or staying on the Internet for more than 5 min. So for all of you have been angry with, me here is one new chapter of many. I wrote a lot while I was away so I will only have to type them. Again I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart. Please keep reviewing and tell me what you think I should do. Thanks again!
The honeymoon lasted a few more days, after which Rick and Evelyn set off for London. Evelyn had been recently accepted by the Bembridge Scholars and was needed in London to start her work in the Egyptian wing at the British Museum. Rick had to deal with the legal matters of their recent wealth and marriage.
Evelyn couldn't help but worry at what her friends would say when they found out that she was married. She knew that they would disapprove. Marriage to a man who had not courted you for at least a year was unheard of. Her friends would tell her that she had rushed into it and had made a huge mistake. But Evelyn knew they would be wrong. How could they be right? In time they would see the same, sweet, handsome, adventurous, adorable, and loving, man that she did.
When they arrived in London Rick and Evelyn headed towards the newly named O'Connell manor. The manor itself had been Evelyn's childhood home and had been inherited by both Evelyn and Jonathan. But now since she was married, the manors named changed to accommodate her new name.
The sprawling grounds of luscious green were well tended, as was the interior of the manor. Each room spotless and neat. Holding memories of both a happy and sad childhood. The manor, itself, was so large that many of the many of the rooms had been closed off. Guarded by large oak doors, which seemed to look like they were hiding a secret within their walls.
Once Evelyn had given Rick the grand tour and each had gotten themselves settled, they headed out on the town.
Evelyn was excited to be back home and in civilization. The English part of her blood quieting the gold Egyptian part of her that always thirsted for the desert and the sun. Right now she had her fill of the desert for awhile.
Evelyn and Rick walked up and down the streets of London hand in hand. Stealing quick kisses from each other occasionally. Anyone who saw the couple could not help but smile at their happiness and at their love. Even to complete strangers it was evident how great their love was.
Everything was going great until…
" Evy! Is that you? Oh my goodness it's been ages!" called an all too familiar voice, to Evelyn at least, from behind. She and Rick both turned around to find an ecstatic blonde about Evelyns age running up to them. The blonde quickly through her arms around Evelyn, making Rick step away from fear of being hit, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling away to look at Evelyn. " When did you get back?"
" We just got back today actually." Evelyn replied indicating Rick.
" Oh, hello." The blonde said for the first time noticing that Rick was there. She quickly looked him up and down. His clothes were expensive and in style now for men. But his features were not that of many of the English men that she knew. Even though he was wearing a casual suit, she could tell that he was muscular and his skin was a light tan- his hair had been lightened by the sun. His handsome features immediately made her like what she saw and though she would never admit it, a little jealous. It surprised her that Evelyn had found some one like that, or that some one like that was interested in Evelyn.
" Hello." replied Rick, noticing how the blonde looked him over- much like she was inspecting piece meat. He smiled inwardly at the thought that he was now a married man.
" Oh Rick how terribly stupid of me. This is my friend Ellen Knowlton. Ellen, this is Rick O'Connell." introduced Evelyn.
" Pleased to meet you Mr. O'Connell." Ellen smiled in a flirty manner.
" The same to you Ms. Knowlton." answered Rick trying to keep a straight face as he casually made his way back to his wife's side.
" How do you two know each other?" questioned Ellen for the first time noticing the closeness between the two.
" Well, um…uh…it's a long story. We a met in Cairo and um we…" rambled Evelyn nervously
" We're married." completed Rick, sliding an arm around Evelyn's waist and pulling her close. Ellen looked as if she was going to shit a brick. Her jaw involuntarily dropped and she quickly turned it into a fake happy smile. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Evelyn married? And to this man? It wasn't possible. But then her eyes caught the glint of gold of wedding bands on their fingers. And that's when she almost screamed.
" I can't believe it! Wow. It's just so… wow. Congratulations, Evy. Wow. I just really can not believe it."
" Neither can we." Evelyn said trying to hide the hurt that she felt inside. One of her best friends had not only flirted with her husband but had almost said how much she disapproved.
" I wanted to invite you to my family's party on Friday night." Ellen changed the subject a little to abruptly.
" That sounds great, will be there." smiled Evelyn. After Ellen had strode away out of sight. Evelyn collapsed against Rick. She had prepared herself for that kind of reaction. But not from one of her closer friends.
Rick, seeming to read her thoughts, just held her and hailed a taxi. When they arrived back at the manor he carried her up to their room. Once he had laid her on the bed and had made sure that she was comfortable, he lay down next to her. Evelyn immediately snuggled close to him, needing to feel him. Rick wrapped his arms around her and in a few moments they fell asleep.
When they awoke, it was pitch black outside and a light drizzle was falling.
"You feeling better?" Rick looked down at Evelyn, whose head was resting on his chest.
" A little. I just can't believe that she acted that way. I mean, I can… it's just that I didn't expect Ellen to. She's one of my best friends. If she reacted that way, how is everyone else going to react?"
" Why do you care?"
" Because I have a reputation here."
" So your saying that marrying me is bad for your reputation?"
Evelyn lifted her head off of Rick's chest to look him in the eyes. " That's not what I said."
" But that's what you meant." said Rick a bit more coldly then he had intended.
" No Rick, what I meant was that the people here can be judgmental.
" So you're saying I'm not good enough to be in your circle."
" Rick, stop putting into my mouth!"
" Then stop saying things that mean something else."
Both were raising their voices and moving off of the bed. Standing to face each other in a defiant manner.
" Rick, all I am trying to say is that they don't know you as well as I do. They don't know the kind of man that you are."
" And so what? My exterior shows that I am a former French Legionnaire, orphaned since I was a baby, done some things in the past that I regret, and grew up in a rough life? Instead of being raised a stiff spoiled English brat who goes to work for daddy and never has had a taste or choice in life."
Evelyn just stood there dumbfounded.
" And another thing, Evelyn. If your friends are such stiff bitches, why are you friends with them in the first place?"
Now Evelyn found her voice. " First of all, Richard. Don't ever speak to me using those words again. Secondly, you don't know what they are really like."
" But you just told me Evelyn. They are stiff upper class judgmental pieces of shit, who don't give a damn about anything but themselves and their name."
" I am not going to stand here and listen to you speak of them in that way!"
" Then don't tell me that they will be talking about me in that way!"
Rick and Evelyn just stared at each other not really sure what to say. Each was angry with the other person for reasons that were both stupid and ridiculous. Rick was the first one to break the silence.
" I'm going to get some fresh air." And with that he walked out of their bedroom, down the stairs and headed outside.
Evelyn heavily dropped into a nearby-overstuffed chair and pulled her knees up to her chest. She needed to think. Why was Rick acting this way? He had never really cared what people thought of him and though he still didn't, it seemed that in a way he did.
Evelyn rested her chin on her knees and in a moment realized that it really shouldn't matter what her friends thought of Rick. She knew the real him and that's all that mattered. Also Evelyn knew that her friends would be somewhat jealous. There was no man in England who was as good-looking and adventurous as Rick. Her friends would all marry pale little rich boys who fainted at the sight of a spider. Her Rick had fought the undead and had one. " Screw' em." she muttered to herself and quickly got up and headed out of their room to find Rick.
Rick walked across the grounds of the Manor. The cool night air and light drizzle calming his temper and clearing his mind. He didn't really blame Evelyn for caring what her friends thought; it's just that it hurt. For a few fearful moments he thought that she would have told him that getting married was a bad idea and that she regretted it. Rick didn't know if he could have handled that. Evelyn was everything to him; she made him complete. Rick knew that he couldn't live without the best half of him. He mentally kicked himself in the head for being so stupid and then began to run back in the direction towards the Manor.
While he was running, a sound behind him caught his attention. Without breaking stride, he turned to find the source. But instead of seeing something, he ran into something. Causing himself to fall on top of the most precious thing in his life.
" Evy, oh my god. Baby I'm sorry." Rick apologized for both the fight and running into her.
" It's ok, I'm sorry to." Evy raised her head off of the ground to meet her husband's lips. A few moments later Rick deepened the kiss in a way that stated plain and simply that he wanted more. Evelyn broke the kiss gasping. " Shouldn't we go back up to the house?" meaning shouldn't they return to the house so that they could finish making up.
Rick looked towards the Manor; it was only a little less than a mile away. " I can't wait that long." And then began to resume the passion that he had started.
Evelyn giggled as he left a trail of kisses down her neck and chest. The chilled wet ground helped to cool their bodies from the passion and the activities that were taking place.
When Rick and Evelyn returned to the Manor, an hour later, they headed straight for their bedroom. Both changed quickly and into their pajamas and then climbed into bed. Exhausted from both the fight and the lovemaking. As Evelyn fell asleep in her husband's arms, she couldn't help but smile at the fact that they had just made love on the grounds of their home. And that was something, she was sure, her friends would never do.