MA! Marriage - Chap. 2

A/N ~~ Okay, I know there wasn't ANY romance in the first chapter…but I promise you there will be some *mushy* stuff coming up. I've never really written love scenes, and I feel that anyone who can has a lot of talent. So, I'm gonna take some notes from some of the more prominent fanfic writers out there before I get into that.

Instead of writing a chapter and just putting it out; I spent more time checking for grammar mistakes, being more descriptive, trying to make this story enjoyable…etc. etc.

Oh and on a side note, I found out that the TV is not called the "magic box" (my bad!), but the "sacred box"! I fixed the terminology on the last chapter as well.

Disclaimer ~~ I am in now way affiliated with the cartoon series, "Mummies Alive!" or the DIC Corporation, and any of its affiliates. This fanfic is for entertainment purposes only. This fanfic and its author do not intend to infringe on any copyrights.

It took me several days and nights to get the story to the point were it was safe for public eyes!

The FDA, FBI, CIA, CNN, UPN, TLC, FOX, and um….MTV approved it so you should too! Peace out! ;)

On to the fanfic!

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Chapter 2: Alive Once Again

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Nefer-Tina smiled to herself as she got out of her sarcophagus. She stretched her arms into the air and yawned. She combed her slender fingers through her bleach white hair. Back in Ancient Egypt, she would always comb her luscious black locks with a finely crafted bush, made from the finest horsehair. She remembered that her mother had given her that brush for her 16th birthday. Nefer-Tina had no need for a brush these days, since she was a mummy. "At least I don't get any split ends or knots in my hair," she mused to herself.

"Hey guys! I had the weirdest dream last night," she said, tugging at a bandage that had gotten caught in her sarcophagus. When no reply came, she moved her attention away from the bandage and darted her eyes around the room. "Hm…that's weird. I thought they would've been awake by now," she said to the cold room.

Nefer-Tina walked around the Sphinx. She rarely got any time for herself. Going to the nightclubs didn't count, since there was always people dancing, drinking, and talking to each other. Nefer-Tina started to gaze off into the emptiness recalling all the fun times she has had going to the clubs…

"Hi, I'm Ryan. What's your name?" the gorgeous brown-eyed man asked Nefer-Tina.

Nefer-Tina would have blushed if she was still alive and replied, "I'm Nefer-Tina."

Ryan took Nefer-Tina's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. "Pleased to meet you, Nefer-Tina. Care to join me for a drink?" he asked, looking into her eyes and giving her a warm smile.

"I'd love too," she dreamily replied.

They shared a couple of drinks at the bar and then decided to dance. Nefer-Tina was having a blast. The drinks were good and the music was great. Plus, not only was she dancing to a *very* attractive guy, but he was also an excellent dancer. Everything was perfect, but then she remembered the time.

"Oh Ra!" she exclaimed. A frown formed on her small features.

"Did I tell you that you're funny!" he said laughing at the expression Nefer-Tina used. "What's the problem?"

"I…I have to go now!" Nefer-Tina cursed at herself. "Ja-Kal is going to kill me! I'm sorry but I have to go now. Good bye!" Nefer-Tina's mind was telling her to leave, but every part of her body wanted to stay.

"Wait! Can I at least have a phone number?" he called to Nefer-Tina, but she never heard him since she was out of the club by then.

Nefer-Tina let a sigh escape her lips. She had given up so much for Ja-Kal over the last couple years. Even in Egypt she had to put her personal feelings aside for Ja-Kal. She knew that if she told him how she really felt that she would have destroyed their friendship.

Other the last 3,000 years, her feelings for Ja-Kal subsided. Nefer-Tina couldn't tell if they were really gone, but at least they weren't troubling her mind all the time any more.

Nefer-Tina sat down on the table and rested her head on its cool surface. "I hope that all that marriage stuff was just a really weird dream," she mumbled under her breath.

"You wish," came a hiss from behind her. Nefer-Tina groaned. The gem of Ra was real, and she had to go through with the plan. It wasn't all a dream.

"Damn," she muttered and then turned her head to see who it was. He was hunched over her with an arrogant smirk on his face. "Really Rath, you should change those bandages every thousand years," Nefer-Tina teased, waving her hands in front of her nose.

"If all women were like you, I'd be surprised if the world didn't fall into chaos!" he growled.

Nefer-Tina was going to reply to his insulting remark, but then her stomach growled. "You're lucky, I'm hungry!" she said, and marched over to the white stone sarcophagus.

Nefer-Tina opened the door to the white stone sarcophagus and looked inside. It was empty. She growled in anger, slammed the door shut, and turned around with her arms crossed.

Rath chuckled nearby. "Looks like Armon had another snack at night."

"Armon!" Nefer-Tina shouted, "Armon, wake up!" Nefer-Tina went over to Armon's sarcophagus and knocked on the top.

"Just try and wake him. Armon sleeps like a rock," Rath informed Nefer-Tina.

"At least he's silent," Nefer-Tina grinned, "Unlike others who happen to snore!"

"Lies!"

"You could shake the great pyramids!" A half-smile tugged at her mouth.

"I will not listen to this!" Rath picked up a couple of his scrolls and walked off into another room in the Sphinx.

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Ja-Kal rose from his sarcophagus. Nefer-Tina and Rath's arguments had awaken him.

Armon had woken up earlier and was now planted in front of the sacred box. There was also a deep sadness in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Armon?" Ja-Kal asked, concerned about his friend. Ja-Kal sat down next to Armon on the couch.

"There is no more food left," Armon simply replied, looking back at the sacred box. "I wish I had some of mother's home cooking with me."

"Don't worry. We'll just ask the prince to give us the power of George Washington, so we can go got some more food."

Armon's face was brightened with a smile and dreams of Beefy Burgers filled his mind.

"Where's Nefer-Tina?" Ja-Kal asked, worried that she had seen the marriage competition commercial already.

"She took the Jetcycle out," Armon answered, flipping through the channels on the sacred box.

"Oh…" he said softly.

Ja-Kal got up and proceed to do his daily exercises. He would usually do 50 push-ups, 100 crunches, and 50 pull-ups. There was a bar in the Sphinx that was perfect for doing the pull-ups. Although, Ja-Kal did have to jump up in order to grip it due to its height. Thankfully, since he was dead, Ja-Kal didn't have the problem of sweating and having to take a shower.

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Several hours passed and Rath had finally finished preparing for the spell he had to cast on Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina. Presley had arrived with Nefer-Tina in tow. When Nefer-Tina was out riding the Jetcycle, she had spotted Presley and given him a ride to the Sphinx. He had several magazines with him. Ja-Kal managed to catch some of the titles of the magazines, as he helped Presley carry the pile. One was called "Women Today" and another "Fashion Elite". Ja-Kal assumed that they were for Nefer-Tina, since the young prince was not greatly experienced in female clothing.

"Rath we're ready," Ja-Kal said.

"Let me see that, Rath," Nefer-Tina said grabbing the scroll from Rath's hands.

"Careful with that!" Rath exclaimed, taking the scroll from her. "We don't want to break it before we even begin the spell!"

"Fine!" she said rudely.

"How exactly is this going to work?" asked Presley.

"We shall ask Osiris to grant Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina renewed life," Rath replied.

"But, isn't he the ruler of the dead?"

"Yes my prince, but through Horus, he is also regarded as the source of renewed life."

"So let's get the spell started already," Presley ordered.

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It had been 45 minutes, and Rath was still chanting the words on the scroll.

"We call upon you God Osiris, ruler of the realm of the dead in the mysterious region below the western horizon. We call upon you God Osiris, who is brother and husband to Goddess Isis. We ask that through your son, Horus, you grant these two renewed life."

The room was dark. Nobody spoke. The only light was two large torches on either side of the room. Everyone was getting antsy. Even Ja-Kal, who was accustomed to spending hours alone in the wilderness.

"When is this going to be over?" Presley asked Armon, who happened to be sitting next to him.

"I don't know, but I could sure use a snack break," he answered, rubbing his stomach as it growled.

"Yeah, me too…" Presley began to respond back, when a faint, yet noticeable mist crept it's way through the doorway and into the floor of the room.

Nefer-Tina who looked like she had be drifting off, patted Ja-Kal on the back, so he too could view the strange event.

Small light particles began to appear from the ceiling and went in sort of a pattern towards the center of the circle they had formed. A faint moan rang through the room. It grew louder with each passing second.

Rath did not seemed phased by the strange occurrences and continued to read the scroll.

The mist grew heavier and the moans grew louder. The small light particles lost their pattern and began flying around the room at insane speeds. Presley covered his head, in fear, that one of the particles would hit him.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the room and a shriek, almost like a banshee, followed.

"What's going on!" Nefer-Tina yelled over the nose, clasping her hands to her ears.

"What?!" Presley yelled, holding his hands up to his ears as well.

Next to him, Armon was holding his left arm up to his left ear, and trying very hard to block out the noise that was going into his right ear.

"What's…" she began, but then a small earthquake that shook the room and its inhabitants, followed by a loud explosion in the center of the circle.

The bright light from the explosion nearly blinded everybody, and caused them to either look down or in the opposite direction from where the explosion came.

The room grew silent and the wind died down.

"Is everyone ok?" Ja-Kal asked, a look of concern and fear on his face.

"I think so," Nefer-Tina answered simply.

"Look!" yelled Presley.

In the middle of the circle, the floor was opening up. The floor shook once again, and from the hole rose a small box. The mist surrounding the room was sucked into the hole. With a large howl and burst of light, the floor closed and left the box upon the floor.

"It is finished," Rath simply said. He walked over to the floor and carefully grabbed the box.

"Thank Ra!" Nefer-Tina breathed a sign of relief.

"Ja-Kal, you're still…well dead," Presley stated.

"So it appears my prince."

"O Prince, they must drink from these vials," Rath said, and carefully brought two clear glass bottles towards the others. He handed Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina each a vial.

"Rath, Ra help you if this turns me into a cat," Nefer-Tina warned the scribe.

Ja-Kal turned to Nefer-Tina and said, "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

The two mummies drank the clear liquid in their vials.

"What happens next, Rath?" Presley asked.

"Watch," he replied, voice flat.

Nefer-Tina waited after she had finished drinking the vial, when she felt a pressure in her chest. She dropped the vial to the floor, from shock, and it shattered into a million pieces.

A tingling sensation continued through her entire body. From the tip of her toes, through her legs, up her body, and even through her hair. It was a warmth she had not felt in thousands of years. Involuntarily, she took in a breath of air and the beating of her heart started.

The others looked on in astonishment and shock. Instead of the usual cold gray skin and ghostly white hair, Nefer-Tina's skin was now a light tan color and her long locks were raven black.

Ja-Kal's pale complexion has also changed. His skin was a darker tan then Nefer-Tina's and his hair was dark brown.

"Wow! You guys are…are, alive!" exclaimed Presley.

"Yeah, but we're still wearing these dirty, old bandages," Nefer-Tina complained.

"Nefer-Tina, you look prettier alive," Armon noted, while the others agreed with a nod.

"Um…thanks, Armon," Nefer-Tina replied, not really wanting the extra attention. She already felt self-conscious enough.

"Thanks to O Prince. I have been supplied with the necessary knowledge to produce the clothing and other articles you will require on your mission." Rath hand Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina their respective bags.

"Oh and here, Nefer-Tina!" Presley hands her a pile of magazines. "It has a bunch of girl stuff in there you could probably use."

Nefer-Tina grabbed her bags and the magazines and called out, "I'll be back soon!"

Presley chuckled, knowing full well that women take hours trying to get ready.

"What's so funny?" Armon asked.

"You'll see."

"Now hurry up and go change, Ja-Kal," Rath said in a huff. "The prince and I must go make the power of George Washington."

Armon rubbed his hands together, "Time for a sandwich!"

Presley also rubbed his hands together, "Show me the money!"

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Ja-Kal had gotten changed in around 15 minutes. He was wearing a dark blue suit with dark shiny shoes.

"What is taking her so long!" Rath exclaimed impatiently, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Relax, Rath. I'm sure she's just having a hard time putting on these new clothes," Ja-Kal defended.

"Yeah, you should see how long it takes my mom to get ready," Presley added.

"Since, Nefer-Tina is obviously wasting time with frivolous things, I suggest that you, O Prince, start showing Ja-Kal the things of this time," Rath said.

Presley showed Ja-Kal the things of the future. He showed him that "the power of George Washington" was called money, and should be called that from here on. In addition, he showed Ja-Kal what a vending machine was , how to put money into it, and how to open the food or drink from it. Then, Presley told him about airplanes, airports, and hotels.

Two hours had almost passed when Presley asked Ja-Kal, "Did you know that there is going to be a ball at the competition?"

Before Ja-Kal could acknowledge, Nefer-Tina stepped into the room.

"Did I hear right? There's a ball!" she squealed.

"This is why she should have been tied up," Ja-Kal whispered to Armon. Then he said, turning to Nefer-Tina, "Yes, there is going…" Ja-Kal was at a loss for words.

Nefer-Tina was clad in a black skirt that was longer in the back and showed off her curves. The skirt had a small rhinestone decoration in the front. Her shirt was sleeveless and said "Princess" in small rhinestones. She wore black sandal pumps, which made her almost the height of Ja-Kal. Her black hair was simply bushed.

"You look great, Nefer-Tina," Presley commented.

"Thanks! So, we're going to the ball, right?!" she exclaimed.

Ja-Kal snapped back into reality. "No!" he said, crossing his arms.

"Ja-Kal!" she wailed.

"The ball is merely optional. There is no need to go. We just do the athletic competitions and questions," he stated.

"Suppose that you did in fact go to this ball," Rath informed. "There are a set of rules you must follow. It's all very formal."

"It would make a good impression and increase our chances of getting the gem of Ra!" Nefer-Tina intercepted, beginning to raise her voice.

"Nefer-Tina," Ja-Kal said, glancing at the clock, "we are running out of time. We shall discuss this later." And that was the end of that argument.

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Presley had some how managed to give Nefer-Tina the world's quickest lesson the 1990s. Rath, being a scribe, had forged the marriage documents they would need to give to the judges. In addition, using his expertise in magic, he created wedding rings for Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina. They had taken the newly fixed Hot-Ra to the airport. Nefer-Tina drove, much to Rath's distaste, but they got there on time to board the plane.

"Ok, here's the tickets and some money. Now don't forget anything I taught you two!" Presley advised. Then suddenly he remembered another thing, "Oh wait! Almost forgot! You have to sign in under the name Carnovan."

Ja-Kal nodded and said, "Good bye my prince." Then turning to Rath and Armon, he said, "I am entrusting the safety and well being of the prince in your hands."

"You have no need to worry. Just bring back the gem of Ra, Ja-Kal," Rath declared. Armon nodded in agreement.

Nefer-Tina hugged Presley, Armon, and even Rath, when she said her good bye. "Bye! I'm going to miss all of you!" she exclaimed and waved.

"Let's go, Nefer-Tina," Ja-Kal ordered and gently grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the check in.

Still in shock from the hug, Rath nudged Armon and whispered, "I don't think I should have made her alive again. Her female emotions are getting to her."

The three watched as Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina handed in their boarding passes and walked into the plane hand in hand, to keep up the lie of them being newly weds.

"You know," Presley chuckled, "they do make a good couple."

"Just don't let them hear you say that or they'll kill you," Rath said in a sarcastic tone.

"Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina would never do that to the prince, Rath!" Armon exclaimed.

Presley giggled, and Rath rolled his eyes and replied, "Let's just go get you some Beefy Burgers with out new found wealth."

At the sound of that, Presley's eyes lit up greedily staring at the wad of money Rath had in his hand. "Hey, can we stop by the mall on our way over?"

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When Nefer-Tina had first heard that they were going to be flying in the air, her heart had nearly jumped out of her throat. Presley and Ja-Kal managed to coax her fears and gotten her to board the plane.

Once on board, she had murmured, "I would rather have my feet on the ground then fly in this thing."

Ja-Kal once again had to convince her that the sacred box was not real, and that not every plane crashed.

Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina sat in the cabin. Silence thudded between them as the plane roared on towards San Diego. There the marriage competition would take place.

Nefer-Tina studied the new ring on her finger. It might have been a small diamond on the ring, but it was still beautiful. Next to her, Ja-Kal was also looking at his golden wedding band. Thoughts of his marriage to Tai filled his mind, but he gently pushed them aside, remembering his promise to the prince.

There were five minutes into their flight when the seat beat sign went off. Nefer-Tina decided to read some of the magazines during the flight, instead of talking to Ja-Kal, since she knew that they would eventually end up at the previous fight. Nose uplifted slightly, she flipped the magazine pages over rapidly, pausing only now and then.

Nefer-Tina glanced at Ja-Kal, then quickly moved her eyes back to the magazine. A loose strand of black hair drifted down along her cheek, and she tucked in back. When she glanced up again, he was looking at her. Her gaze snapped back to the magazine.

Ja-Kal shifted in his seat uneasily, and his knee bumped hers. She hardly seemed to notice, except her leg moved away from his. Coughing, he pulled out the airplane safety guide and studied the layout. Then he stuffed the guide back into its pouch, leaned back into the plane seat and closed his eyes. His fingers curled around the end of the armrests as he took a few deep breaths. It looked as if he were dozing.

Ja-Kal straightened up in his seat and reached into the pouch to pull out a packet of peanuts. When he found none he called Nefer-Tina.

"Hm-hm," she murmured.

"Did you get any peanuts?"

She answered by showing him not one, but two bags of peanuts. Ja-Kal's eyes widened at the sight.

"I would like my peanuts back," he said, trying to reach for a bag.

Nefer-Tina moved her hand holding the bags to the window, so they would be out of reach of Ja-Kal.

Ja-Kal used his lighting-quick reflexes to grab both Nefer-Tina's arms and push them up against the window. Nefer-Tina lost grip of the peanuts and Ja-Kal grabbed them before they hit the floor. He tossed her a bag, and proceeded to open up his newly recovered bag of honey roasted peanuts, grinning all the while.

"Ja…" she began to yell, but several passengers' heads swiveled, staring at her. She subsided back into her seat.

"Damn him," she said under her breath. In sheer frustration, she balled her hand into a fist and let it fall to the armrest, rattling her seat.

Later, the stewardess came by and asked if they wanted any drinks.

"Water," Ja-Kal said.

As the stewardess was handing him the ice cold water, a bit of turbulence shook the plane and the cold water fell on Ja-Kal. Ja-Kal yelled from the shock.

"Oh sorry, sir!" the stewardess exclaimed as she handed him a towel.

Bent double in her seat, Nefer-Tina was gasping for breath, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat in front of her.

"Nefer-Tina!" He reached his hand towards her. "Are you ok?"

She looked up, and a laugh burst from her. His look of concern melted into annoyance.

"Sorry," she squeaked, "I know it's not funny…" She doubled over again, shoulders shaking.

Nefer-Tina pounded her fist on the armrest, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ja-Kal." She sat up, took a deep, tremulous breath, looked at his face, and let out a hoot of laughter.

"For the sake of Ra!" Snatching another towel, he shoved past the cart and headed for the restroom.

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The rest of the trip was incident-free. They finally arrived at the airport in San Diego. It was total chaos. Luckily, a man held a sign that said, "Marriage Competition Participants" and they had followed him to a white car with their bags. Another couple, who seemed much in love, joined them.

"I'm sorry I laughed at you when the water fell on you, Ja-Kal," Nefer-Tina said, as they threw their bags into the back of the car and climbed in after.

"I guess it was sort of funny," he replied. "Just don't make a habit of it. Couples do not usually make fun of each other."

Nefer-Tina nodded as she put on her seat beat.

During the ride to the hotel they would be staying at, the other couple keep calling each other "Snuggles" and "Sweetie Pie".

Nefer-Tina whispered to Ja-Kal in total disgust, "Do we have to do that too?"

"No. Some married couples find that calling each other by pet names is more romantic."

"Is that so, Honey Bun?" she said, but her voice was teasing.

"Yes." His voice flat, rigid, closed. Seconds later he added, in a playful tone, "Sweetie."

Nefer-Tina looked at Ja-Kal and they both burst out laughing. The couple sitting in front of them turned and gave them a funny look. Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina started laughing even harder.

"We're here, ladies and gentlemen." The man driving got out of the chair and opened the trunk, taking out all the bags. "Just head on into the lobby and check in. Your bags will be waiting for you when your room is ready. Don't forget to hand in your marriage documents."

With that, Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina walked into the grand hotel. Inside the lobby was a small table with two elderly ladies signing in people.

"Name please."

"Carnovan," Ja-Kal said handing in the proof of marriage.

The old lady saw his first name and exclaimed, "Wow! That's a interesting name, if I've ever seen one." Then remembering where she was, "Thank you and have a nice day. Feel free to wander around." The elderly lady smiled and turned her attention to the next person in line.

"I'm hungry," Nefer-Tina said, rubbing her stomach.

"But you just ate on the airplane. Don't tell me I married Armon," Ja-Kal grinned.

Nefer-Tina put her hands on her hips and replied, "I wouldn't call that food!"

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When Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina walked into the café to have a bite to eat, they were each grabbed by a group of their own gender.

"Nefer-Tina, meet me in the lobby in two hours!" Ja-Kal yelled as he was dragged off into the bar.

The bar smelled of hard liquor and smoke. All the windows were closed, and the few lights in there were dimmed down, giving the room a gloomy appearance.

"Don't worry son!" came a cheerful call, "We do this to all the first-timers."

Ja-Kal straightened his suit and sat down at a large table. He looked in the direction the call came and saw an old man.

"By the way, I'm Bill Rogers!" The old man was going bald, by it didn't seem to phase him. He was dressed in a suit and was a little overweight.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Ja-Kal Carnovan."

"Whoa…interesting name."

"So I've heard," Ja-Kal replied.

"So where are you from, Ja-Kal?" asked another man at the table.

"Egypt."

"Really. You know, for someone from Egypt you sure got a good American accent."

"Well, my parents were from Egypt, and when I was a baby they brought me here," he said, trying to cover his earlier mistake.

The men ordered some drinks from the bartender.

"You gonna have some, Ja-Kal?" asked Bill.

"No thanks," he simply answered. Ja-Kal wanted to have a clear head though this entire competition.

The men continued to talk and have drinks as the time went on. Ja-Kal just sat there half listening to their conversations, half thinking about the days in store. Almost as if Bill could read his mind, he told Ja-Kal, "Here, this is a list of all the topics your wife and you will be required to answer."

Ja-Kal was grateful for such a gift. "Thank you."

"Your welcome. I was once a new comer such as yourself," Bill said, shifting in his chair.

Bill went on to talk about his past experiences in the competition and Ja-Kal hung on to every word like a bee to honey.

Glancing at the clock, Ja-Kal saw that it had been a couple hours already. "Well I must be going now. I told Nefer-Tina I'd meet her at the lobby."

"Oh you mean you're the lucky man with that gorgeous wife!" Bill exclaimed, calling the attention of the other men.

Ja-Kal nodded, unsure of how he had heard about Nefer-Tina.

"You lucky dog! She sure is candy to the eye," said the same man that asked him where he was from. He was around six feet tall, muscular, light skin and had blue eyes. "She's gotta be great in bed with a body like that. I wonder what it's like to be with her." He grinned at the others, making some rude gestures with his hands.

He heard a few other men whistling. Ja-Kal's fists grew hard and his face red. He did not find it amusing that this man found Nefer-Tina attractive and was slandering her good name.

"Dan, listen to yourself. You're a married man," Bill informed. "Don't worry, Ja-Kal. I think the beer's getting to him."

"Well I must be going now," Ja-Kal said, a little calmer.

As he was walking out the door, Dan yelled, "Hey, when you're finished with her. Let me give her a try!"

"Dan!" Bill called out.

No one saw the hole Ja-Kal left with his fist in the doorway as he walked out.

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"He is sweet on you, I think. And a good thing too, I've never seen a more handsome man."

Nefer-Tina blushed at Mrs. Woo's comment. "Thank you," she said, politely.

Mrs. Elaine Woo was three inches shorter then Nefer-Tina, but was three years her senior. It was the Woo's fourth time participating in the competition.

Nefer-Tina and three other ladies were outside in a pavilion. There were a great variety of flowers surrounding them.

"You have quite an unusual name, Nefer-Tina," commented the lady in the flowered dress sitting across from Nefer-Tina.

Nefer-Tina's face went hard, "I don't think that my name is of any concern to you."

The lady in the flowered dress rose from her seat. She opened her mouth to counter, but Mrs. Woo put her hand up. "Now, now ladies. Save some of that energy for the competition tomorrow," she said and winked at Nefer-Tina. "Loraine, I would think that someone of your class would not go as low as to insult people."

Mrs. Loraine Faire only responded by uplifting her nose, and turning back to a magazine she was reading.

"So, Nefer-Tina, how has your first few weeks being married been?" asked the blonde on her left.

"What do you mean?" Nefer-Tina asked, confused.

"You know!" the blonde said, lowering her voice, "How has he been in bed?"

"Oh!" Nefer-Tina stuttered. "Well…um…"

"Was he that bad?!" she exclaimed, saying it fairly loud.

Nefer-Tina was turning as red as a tomato from the embarrassment. Nefer-Tina was seconds from punching the blonde, when the person she least expected came to her rescue.

"Cindy dear! Leave her alone. If she doesn't want to say, then don't pressure her," Loraine said to the blonde.

Nefer-Tina sighed inwardly. Finally, the blonde would leave her alone.

"Besides, I'm sure she hasn't even consummated her marriage with him yet," she whispered to Cindy, and the two giggled.

Mrs. Woo shook her head at the two giggling ladies. "Don't worry about those two, Nefer-Tina. Tomorrow there will be more class in this hotel."

Nefer-Tina didn't hear the last sentence Mrs. Woo said. She was looking off into the distance and saw Ja-Kal coming towards her with a hard face.

Ja-Kal came to the pavilion and nodded, "Good afternoon ladies." Then he turned to Nefer-Tina and said, voice flat, with a hard note, "Nefer-Tina, our room is ready."

"Excuse me ladies," she said, politely, putting on a fake smile.

Ja-Kal put out his arm for Nefer-Tina and they walked towards the hotel lobby.

"Ja-Kal, why are you so tense?" Did something happen?" she whispered, concerned.

"No. Do not worry. It was nothing." He said, and they continued on towards the lobby.

When they were a safe distance away from the pavilion, Ja-Kal asked, "You were supposed to meet me in the lobby thirty minutes ago."

"Sorry, but they kept asking questions."

"Like?"

"Girl talk, you know," she replied simply.

"Is that why your face is red."

Nefer-Tina's face went cold. "How did you know?"

"Nefer-Tina, I was not the Pharaoh's royal lead hunter for many years for slacking on the job," Ja-Kal informed her, "I went around the bushes to check up on you and heard."

"You spied on me!" she whispered in anger, as a stranger passed them.

"You were not in the lobby. I thought Scarab had attacked you," he said defensively.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, looking at the ground as she walked. She was ashamed that she had reacted badly, when he was just trying to keep her safe.

Ja-Kal stopped them and brought Nefer-Tina's face up, "It's alright. I know how much you value your privacy."

Nefer-Tina's face brightened up and her rosy mouth curved into a mischievous smile. "You could make it up to me, by taking me to the ball."

Ja-Kal opened his mouth to answer, when a man came up to them.

"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Carnovan," the man said, clearing his throat, "Here is your room key card. Your room is on the fourth floor, number 454."

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Ja-Kal took the room card and slid it into the slot on the door. The door unlocked and the two stepped into their quarters for the rest of the competition.

"Oh wow!" Nefer-Tina cried in joy. "I could live here forever!" Ja-Kal opted to just nod.

It was a spacious room that was finely decorated. At the far end of the room, there was a balcony with glass doors. There was a TV with remote control, a white couch, and a white love seat to the right of the room. Near the balcony was a small round oak table with four chairs. To their left was the phone and card with the numbers to the lobby, gift shop, room service, and a number to dial for outside calls on a small glass table outlined by oak framing next to the wall. On top of the small table to the side of the latter was a glass vase filled with fresh roses. As they left their bags at the door and enter deep into the room, they saw the wall at the entrance blocked the view of the king size bed. On each side of the bed was a small nightstand with a lamp on top. The nightstand was also crafted of oak and had two drawers. The bathroom was at the end of a corridor facing the bed perpendicularly.

Nefer-Tina went to look at the bathroom and as she walked into the small corridor. To her sides were two closets and ahead lay the bathroom. She opened the door and gasped. It was the largest tub she had ever seen. A smile grew on her lips as she imagined the wonderful time she would have soaking in such a spacious tub.

"Nefer-Tina, we are on a mission to retrieve the gem of Ra," he reminded her. Ja-Kal began to unpack the clothing and other articles that were in the bags into their respective places in the room.

"Yeah, I know," she sighed and walked over to help Ja-Kal. "If only you would stop being so uptight," she said under her breath.

Ja-Kal looked at Nefer-Tina with a frown then shook his head, as Nefer-Tina put on a fake smile.

It took them thirty minutes to finish unpacking. After the long day, both of them were exhausted. Nefer-Tina went outside to go get them some soda and snacks, since the restaurant was closed at this hour, and they had never gotten to eat their dinner. Ja-Kal sat down on the table and studied the sheet that Bill had given him earlier. It was a list of all the topics that the couples would be asked.

As Ja-Kal looked at the sheet in front of him, images of Dan and what he had said flooded his mind. Why did it upset me so much to hear them talk about Nefer-Tina like that? he thought to himself. The only time he had ever acted like that was when he had heard some servants bad mouthing his wife, Tia. Ja-Kal just shook it off as jet lag. He was probably so tried that anything would have set him off.

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Nefer-Tina arrived back shortly and they finished the soda and sandwiches she had purchased. Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina decided to go down the list of things they would have to discuss. They would take turns creating responses to each question.

"Ok, next one is…first kiss!" Suddenly, Nefer-Tina's eyes dropped. "Um, well I think you can make this one up Ja-Kal," she quickly said, recovering face.

"Nefer-Tina, you have been avoiding all the questions. I think you should do your part in this."

"Why? You're the one that's been married before. I think you are more qualified to do this then me," she pouted and got up from the table. Nefer-Tina walked over to the balcony doors, holding her arms as if she was wounded. She looked at her soft reflection in the clear glass doors and wiped a tear from her cheek.

Ja-Kal followed Nefer-Tina and his hand reached out towards her. "Nefer…what's wrong? Was it something I did or said?" It touched his heart to see Nefer-Tina like this.

Nefer-Tina avoided his touch and simply replied, "No."

"Then please tell me what it is," he pleaded.

"It's that name, "Nefer"," she said, voice caught at the back of her throat. When she said the name "Nefer" there was a bitter twist to her voice. She turned around and faced Ja-Kal. The tears stung at her cheeks as they fell like a soft spring rain. "When I was "Nefer" the only thing I could enjoy were chariots and the friendship of you and the others. I paid my price for having that. I lost the right to be loved by a man and to have children. You know what would have happened to me if I was discovered. Death." She held back the tears and continued on, "When I started to drive chariots, I had to leave my family. I had to leave "Nefer-Tina" behind. She died the second I left the door."

Finally, Nefer-Tina broke down and let all of her frustration pour out.

"Nefer-Tina…" Ja-Kal began.

She left up her hand in protest, "Wait, let me finish." He nodded and walked her over to the couch.

She raised her head. Then she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and let out a breath. She wiped the tears off her face and said, "I've never been really kissed. In fact, my mother was always afraid to talk to me about sex. I heard all I know from my friends. When I was finally old enough to be courted, I had become "Nefer."

Ja-Kal face had the blank shocked look of someone who had the wind knocked out of them. He should have seen it. How blind could he have been! The reluctance to participate when she heard that it would involve talking about romantic relations, when she'd never had any. The embarrassment when she was interrogated by the other wives about their sexual interludes. She had no real knowledge or experience in the matters of love. It also explained why she was dodging all the questions.

"I'm sorry I'm telling you this last minute, but you all seemed to depend on me to do this. I couldn't let you down." Nefer-Tina looked up a Ja-Kal with timid eyes. Nefer-Tina's normal self-assurance was gone. She had brought down her shields and revealed her secret to Ja-Kal, even more trusted then her hidden gender during Ancient Egypt.

"Ja-Kal, I'm so--" Nefer-Tina began.

A million thoughts ran through his head. Ja-Kal put his finger to her lips to silence her. "So you don't know how to kiss."

She nodded, the innocence gleaming through her eyes. Seconds passed before she finally spoke again. "Ja-Kal, I…"

Leaning slightly closer to her, he said softly, "Let me teach you."

He drew her to him with his eyes, she raised her face to his, and she laid her sweet, tender lips on his warm, inviting ones…

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TO BE CONTINUED…

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A/N ~~ Nice cliffhanger, ¿si?

Will Nefer-Tina pull back from the kiss?! What happened to "I have never been unfaithful to my wife, Tia"?!

What's going through Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina's mind. New emotions surface and old ones do an encore…on the next chapter of The Gem of Ra!