Lost Acquaintances United

After a long few hours of traveling, they had finally reached the fort.

" Well, I think its time for some well earned rest." Mariana said getting off her horse.

" You got that right." Rick said getting of his.

" Yes, and I think I have deserved a drink or two." Jonathan said.

" Care to join me Mariana?" Jonathan asked

" No thanks. I'm tired." Mariana answered.

" Ill join you." Malik said.

" Alright then, later chaps." Jonathan said as he and Malik walked away.

" If he gets into trouble, I was in a deep sleep and couldn't hear." Rick said to Evy, who laughed.

" Speaking of deep sleep…" Evy said walking over to Alex's horse.

Alex was sleeping sitting up.

" I'll go and put him to bed." Evy said getting him off the horse.

" Good night Mariana, Ardeth." she said as she walked past.

" See you in the morning." They replied.

" So…I guess you all will be leaving?" Ardeth asked. Mariana looked at Rick for an answer

" Whenever the next boat leaves…I really should think about retiring…" Rick said rubbing his back.

Ardeth and Mariana laughed.

" When the day comes, it will be well deserved my friend." Ardeth said.

" Well I think I'm going to get some sleep." Rick said. " You should too."

" We will." Ardeth said.

" See you all in the morning." Rick said and walked away.

" See ya." Mariana said.

She smiled as she watched Rick walk away. She had succeeded in finding what she had been looking for all along, what she had been looking for almost her whole life. But did she wondered…does he even know…does he even…suspect? She smiled. One thing was for sure, she knew Evelyn knew, and had figured it out way before she even realized it. She smiled.

" Are you coming?" Ardeth asked.

Mariana was pulled from her thoughts.

" Yes." she answered and they walked away.

" He is sleeping…he didn't even wake up." Evy said sitting down on the bed.

Rick sat down beside her, then fell on the bed. Evy sat and looked at him.

" I tell you…the day we die and hopefully, from old age, the world will be in trouble." Rick said.

" Yes, no one will have the courage to save the world like we've done." Evy said.

Rick looked at his wife.

" Of course, Alex will." Evy said smiling.

" Yeah, although, he will be more prepared than we ever were, because he has gone through this most of his life, we haven't." Rick said with a bit of a chuckle.

He sat back up.

" Poor kid." he said shaking his head.

" Rick…does…Mariana remind you of someone?" Evy asked

" Well… I don't know…why?" Rick asked.

" Well, its just… haven't you seen that kind of behavior before?" Evy asked

" See, these are the conversations, where I get lost." Rick said at the fact that Evy never fully makes things clear…at least clear enough for him.

" I mean…the…attitude…the stubbornness…the…trigger happiness…you don't see anything?" she asked.

" No…I mean…Mariana…she reminds me… of…well…I don't know…why all this all of a sudden?" Rick asked.

" OH…well, its…nothing…I was just wondering." she said getting into bed.

Rick looked at her suspiciously.

" What?" she asked innocently

" What are you hiding?" Rick asked.

" I'm not hiding anything…don't worry about it…I'm sure you will find out…eventually, when your brain catches up with your ego." she finished.

Rick raised his eyebrow.

" Alright…I'm too tired to think about it anyway." he said laying down against Evy.

" Were you serious about retiring?" Evy asked.

" No…although, I'm sure I was at one point." Rick answered.

Evy smiled as she caressed his forehead.

" I'm glad your ok Evy." he said.

" I'm glad you're ok…I was getting worried back there when you were flying about the room." Evy said… " Although, it was a bit funny." Evy said and began to laugh.

" Im too tired to get you for that, but just wait till the morning." Rick said and closed his eyes.

Being in Evy's arms relaxed him. Feeling her rub her hand across his forehead made him peaceful. From the day they married, he had always loved being in her arms. He never wanted to be without that feeling.

" Ardeth…think Kurai is gone?" Mariana asked as she leaned up against him.

" I think so…but then again…I thought Imhotep was too and then he showed up and kidnapped the O'Connell's son." Ardeth said with a smirk.

" Well, at least now, if he comes back, we know his weakness." Mariana said with a proud grin.

" Yes, thanks to you my young medji." Ardeth said, hugging her tightly.

" How many times, have Rick and Evy done this?" Mariana asked.

" Well, they killed Imhotep when they first met…then there were a bunch of digs in the middle, but as far as killing people who want to take over the world…this makes the 3rd time." Ardeth answered.

" Hopefully, this will be the last…your last as well." Ardeth added.

" I don't want it to be…its fun…besides, how often can we tell the commanders we saved the world?" Mariana said laughing.

" Not much." Ardeth replied.

" I'm glad you're ok master." Mariana said closing her eyes.

" I am glad you were there to help." Ardeth replied and kissed her on the forehead.

It felt good to hold her in his arms. He was glad she was alright. That his friends were alright. Better…that she was so brave, and had made her way back to him. He prayed she would be safe forever. For he loved is young apprentice.

The next morning, after a well deserved sleep, everyone was standing at the port waiting for the O'Connell's boat to arrive.

Rick and Ardeth were in deep conversation, and Malik and Jonathan, obviously at the bar. Evy, then notice that Mariana was off by herself, and Evy walked over to her.

Evy tapped her on the shoulder.

" You know if your going to tell him you should do it now." Evy said.

" What are you talking about?" Mariana asked innocently.

" Fine, Ill go get Rick and get him over here." Evy said.

She walked over to Rick. The boat had now come into sight. Jonathan and Malik had joined them.

" Darling, I think you need to say good bye to you sister." Evy said with a smile.

Rick turned around and stared in shock.

" What are talking about?" Rick asked.

Evy looked towards Mariana.

" She's talking about me." Mariana answered.

Everyone looked blankly. Ardeth was looking at Mariana and grinned. Jonathan was looking nervous as he seemed to always look during conversations.

" What?" Rick asked.

Mariana took a deep breath and walked over to Rick.

" I guess you would like to know what she's talking about." Mariana asked.

" Yeah, cause I'm a little lost right about now." Rick said looking at Mariana.

" Well, you see, I'm, I am you half sister…are dads are the same, but our mother's are different." Mariana started to explain.

" I know what half sister means…but how." Rick asked. " I don't have any parents." Rick finished.

" Well, soon after you were born, you were given to the orphanage in Cairo, then your dad, married my mom and had me." Mariana explained.

Rick looked at her strongly.

" How do you know all this?" Rick asked.

Mariana took another deep breath.

" Um, dad use to brag about leaving you mum when she was pregnant with you." Mariana said.

Rick bit his tongue and looked at Evy, who went over to him and put her arm around him to comfort him.

" But I didn't like listening to it…so finally I had enough of it and I ran away." Mariana said.

" And I came to Egypt, because I knew you would have been at the orphanage here…I came to look for you." Mariana said.

There was a heavy silence. Jonathan was beginning to back up behind Malik, who gave him a nasty look and he backed off.

" So… you're telling me… that you know my father?" Rick asked.

" I knew him…he died some time ago." Mariana answered.

" So you're my sister huh?" Rick said.

Evy felt Rick's tension loosen.

" Yes.." Mariana said shyly.

" Well…I guess…something good came out of me being at an orphanage." Rick said with a smile.

Mariana looked at him, puzzled. Evy was smiling, she knew what Rick meant.

" Well, I guess I have another trouble maker in the family, which seems to be getting bigger." Rick said with a bigger smile.

Mariana looked at Rick.

" What me or the trouble?" Mariana asked.

" You." Rick answered and smiled.

Rick walked over to Mariana. He stopped and looked down at her.

Mariana got nervous…she didn't know whether he was getting close to talk privately or to hurt her…

" Well, guess that means we will be seeing more of you then huh? Rick said in his gentle voice.

Mariana smiled.

" Yes… I guess it does…brother Rick." she said teasingly.

Rick smiled. He hugged her. It seemed like it was a long time. Everyone smiled.

The boat rang it bell to get on. Rick let go of Mariana.

" Well, you will have to come visit and tell me about my dad." Rick said smiling.

" You bet." Mariana said back.

" Its time to go." Evy said.

" Right." Rick replied and picked up his bags.

" Good bye Ardeth, sis." Rick said yet again with a smile.

" Take care my friend." Ardeth answered.

" You're coming too?" Jonathan asked Malik

" Of course I am, London is the biggest jackpot there is, now get on the boat." Malik said pushing Jonathan.

Evy walked over to Mariana.

" Welcome to the family, Mariana.

" Thanks." Mariana said.

" Although, you probably will be tired of it…very quickly." Evy said.

" I doubt that." Mariana replied with a smile.

" I am sorry, the way I was with you when we first met." Evy said sincerely.

" Me too." Mariana said with a smile.

" But, when you come to visit…we can have a rematch…and we will truly see who the old one is." Evy said jokingly.

" I'd love that." Mariana answered. " Till then."

Evy hugged her again. Then walked over to Ardeth.

" Take care of her Ardeth…she's part of the family now." Evy said as she hugged him.

" Do not worry." Ardeth replied.

Evy got on the boat and joined Rick and Alex at the balcony. They waved as the boat started leaving the port.

And as Mariana watched her brothers boat float into the horizon, she asked Ardeth

" Do you think we will ever have another journey with them?" Mariana asked.

" I don't know my young medji, probably." Ardeth answered.

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With the ending to the Mummy: The Scroll Of Life, We would just like to say thank you for reading and helping us feel better about our story. But we would also like to say, we do not own the original characters from the mummy movies, but we do own Malik, and Mariana. Thanks for reading…and there will be a sequel very soon. Hope you have enjoyed our story.

Nefertirievy and Ann