***
The evening was spent with Alex, Frank, and Amber each getting better acquainted with the other. After dining together, they moved the conversation out to the garden where it continued for a couple more hours.
Frank was surprised at the memories he had of Alex growing up and, somehow, those memories sparked a kinship with him, of sorts. He still had a great deal to learn about Alex, the man. Alex was approximately twenty-five years old when Ardeth died, so there were many years for Frank to discover more about the old gentleman.
Alex produced a photograph and handed it to Amber. "This was my wife."
"Simply beautiful," Amber gasped. "Egyptian?" She smiled up at Frank who was looking at the photograph from over her shoulder.
"Yes, she was half Egyptian; half British," Alex supplied.
"She looks oddly familiar," Frank said, taking the picture from Amber to study more closely.
"Yes, she does," Amber agreed.
Alex smiled. "Her name was Amber," he said quietly. "Amber Bay."
"Oh my God," Amber exclaimed. "How wonderful."
Again Alex smiled. "Yes, she was wonderful. I married quite late in life, I suppose. Amber was just nineteen. I was thirty-four."
"This is all just so amazing," Frank commented, not unkindly. "I hope you had a good life together."
Alex nodded. "We did, thank you. Sadly, we were not blessed with children, but that did not stop us from having a loving marriage."
"Of course," Amber agreed. "Love matters above all." Her eyes locked with Frank's and she watched as they turned to a deeper shade of brown. Anger or passion caused that phenomenon, she was aware. He was not angry, so she was not surprised when he suggested they retire for the evening.
"Thank you again, for your hospitality," Frank said, shaking Alex's hand firmly before urging Amber from her seat. "Goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight," he returned.
Amber smiled and kissed Alex's cheek. "Thank you."
"Anytime, my dear."
She returned to Frank's side. He slid his arm around her as they walked through the hallway. "Isn't it a bit early?"
"Not for what I have planned."
"You're incorrigible," she teased.
"I hope so." He grinned as he lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.
***
Alex had arranged an expedition by Jeep for the day after they arrived in Giza, and the man who had picked them up at the airport joined them. Dressed in the more traditional garb, it was easy to see David was of Arabic descent. He informed them that it was his pleasure to be escorting them to the Pyramids.
Once there, the group toured the ancient structure with David leading the way. All the while, Alex told stories of ancient times along with more personal experiences with his family.
As they walked down one passageway, Frank's recognition grew. It was the same corridor Ardeth took to find a missing Miranda. "There's a trap door at the end of the passage," Frank announced suddenly, startling everyone.
"Why, yes," Alex agreed. "There is, although it is not well known."
Amber blinked in astonishment. "Baby, how do you know this?"
Frank shrugged nonchalantly. "I had another one of those experiences," he admitted freely. He had nothing to fear from Alex and Amber, for he knew they believed his incredible tale. As for David, Frank had the inexplicable feeling that anyone associated with Alexander O'Connell would also believe.
"Oh, Frank! Really?" Amber questioned excitedly. "What happened?" She couldn't contain her eagerness. The stray thought of why Frank was reliving past life experiences and she was not entered her mind. If she were truly Miranda's soul reincarnate, would she not experience this as well? She shook off the thought and turned her attention back to Frank.
"Apparently after Rick and Ardeth fell through the floor of that chamber..." He paused when he noticed Amber and Alex nodding. He had told Amber about the face-slapping episode, but Alex was another matter. He assumed that Alex had experienced it first hand, although the memories he had experienced did not have Alex in them. "Anyway, Miranda ran off quite upset and somehow stumbled over the lever that opened the door and trapped herself inside. It was Ardeth who found her," he ended, stepping on the concealed trigger.
He stood back as the sound of the stone door opening echoed throughout the deserted structure. He watched as an awe-stricken Amber and David entered the chamber followed closely by Alex. No sooner had Frank entered the chamber than Amber turned and ran excitedly back to him.
"Do you feel it, Frank? Can you?" she asked, amazed at the depth of love she felt inside the room.
Frank nodded, knowing exactly to what she referred. He felt it, too. The essence of the overpowering love that Ardeth and Miranda had discovered for each other permeated the atmosphere. He felt it; he knew it. The love that Ardeth revealed he held for Miranda and vice-versa clung to the hidden chamber greedily.
Frank recognized that intense love because it was the same as he felt for Amber. It was connected somehow, just as their souls were. They were bound by a timeless awareness and eternal love, soul mates throughout time and space. It made him wonder if, when their lives were over and done, they would once again find each other. The thought was mind-boggling.
Upon exiting the pyramid, Frank had the overwhelming urge to travel a few miles further into the desert. He conferred with Alex and David, stating he and Amber would be back shortly, but there was something he wanted to show to Amber alone. He almost questioned the knowing smile he received from Alex, but let it go. He was sure Alex knew exactly where he was headed.
Amber climbed into the Jeep and immediately questioned Frank as to where they were headed. Although curious, she rode beside him in silence when all he would say was, "Wait and see".
Several moments later, Frank pointed off to the horizon. "It's just beyond the rise of that sand dune."
Amber frowned. "Frank, there's nothing out there but sand."
Frank smiled slyly. "You would think. But I promise you a special surprise."
Amber shrugged and sat back in her seat. As they reached the crest of the dune she released a startled gasp. "Oh, Frank! It's beautiful!"
"Isn't it?" he agreed. Just before them lay a small, flourishing oasis. He parked the Jeep and helped Amber from her seat. At the same time, he grabbed a small blanket from the back of the vehicle.
They walked to the water's edge and took in the vast beauty and color of the vegetation and flowers that grew along the shore. Moments later, Frank spread the blanket out underneath a date tree. He lowered himself down onto the blanket, bringing Amber with him. She leaned back against him, sighing contentedly as his arms encircled her and her hands covered his.
He wasn't sure how long they had sat there, entranced by the serene beauty of the oasis, before he finally spoke. "This was the setting of my first experience of Ardeth and Miranda's lives," he informed her quietly, recalling Miranda's nude form exiting the water. He felt Amber shift restlessly within his arms and wondered what could be bothering her. "Something wrong, baby?"
Amber closed her eyes in reflex to the sound of his honey-coated whisper. She could listen to him speak for hours, drifting deeper into the soft comfort of his masculine tones. "No, no," she finally answered. "Nothing is wrong exactly. I just wonder why it is that I am not experiencing these past life visions."
He smiled just the slightest as he kissed her temple softly. "And this upsets you?"
She shrugged; turning toward him, she snuggled closer to his firm chest. "I suppose it does. Why is it only you that is allowed to see the happiness that Ardeth and Miranda experienced? Or even to feel the depth and wealth of their love?"
Frank rested his chin atop her head as he pondered her question. Why, indeed? He could think of only one reason. He gently moved her away from his body so that he could see her face clearly. "Did you ever think, that because your belief was so strong, the fates had nothing to prove to you?" He pressed a tiny kiss to her furrowed brow. "The skeptic in me never would have bought into any of this without being shown the way, so to speak."
Amber leaned into his touch when he placed his hand to her cheek. "You are just the sweetest man, Frank Donovan," she proclaimed lovingly. "Maybe you're right, maybe there was no need to show me what I knew to be true." She smiled happily as she pulled herself to her knees. "There is one thing no one will ever need to show me..." She leaned forward, her lips just a breath from his. "And that is just how much I love you."
Frank groaned passionately as their lips met and he crushed her body to his. He lowered her slowly down to the blanket, and as Ardeth had shown Miranda the physical extent of his love under that same tree all those many years ago, Frank Donovan took great pleasure in showing Amber that same kind of love.
~*~
Two days later, Frank found himself standing alone at the stern of the private launch Alex had hired to allow him and Amber to see Egypt from the waters of the Nile. David piloted the craft for his two passengers. Staring off into the beautiful evening horizon, Frank soon found himself transported to another time; another place.
Frank stood, leaning against the railing of the large riverboat as it made its way down the scenic Nile. He knew instantly who he was, where he was. Something plagued Ardeth's thoughts and the subject almost made Frank laugh. He wondered briefly if he was destined to relive a piece of Ardeth's life for every crossroad he would face on his own.
"You look as though you're contemplating the fate of the world, Ardeth."
Frank turned toward the direction the voice came from. His – Ardeth's – dear friend, Rick. "Not the fate of the world, my friend." He smiled wryly and shook his head. "Just my little portion of it." He sighed heavily and turned back to watch as the sun set in the horizon.
"Ask her and be done with it," Rick suggested knowingly. "It's been weighing on your mind for weeks."
Frank shook his head. "No, it is much too soon and I..." He turned sharply, his eyes boring into Rick's. "Just what do you mean by that?"
Rick laughed. "Hell, man. It's written all over your face. You love her and you want her to remain here with you." He held up his hand when Ardeth began to protest. "Don't bother to deny it. You better admit it to yourself soon, before it's too late and she's gone. You're running out of time, buddy."
Frank nodded. There was no use hiding it any longer. He loved her; he truly did. He never could have imagined falling for her so hard; not when his heart had been so full of his love for Amber. A tiny smile touched his lips as he thought of his cosmic love. No, it was so very different with Miranda. When he contemplated going back to his people without her, it tore a hole in his heart so large he felt as though his life would surely slip away. Living without her was not an option.
"You've fought demons, gods, and nasty bug infested undead creatures, and you're afraid to ask one little slip of a woman one little question."
Frank chuckled. "Make fun if you wish, O'Connell. I recall you did not have so easy a time of it yourself."
"Ahhhh...and now he tries to change the subject," Rick accused, smirking.
"No, just pointing out that you were not so sure of yourself at the time, my friend."
"Very true. But think of it like this – if you don't ask, you'll never know."
Frank nodded and returned to his position at the railing. "I will ask...and I will know."
He blinked rapidly as the scenery changed and he was once again back on the private launch. Light footfalls sounded behind him announcing Amber's arrival. He took a deep breath and turned slowly. As his arms encircled her in a loving embrace, he pressed his mouth gently against the shell of her ear. "If we had met and never known anything of the past, would you still love me?"
"I can't imagine life without you, nor do I wish to," she whispered, pulling back to gaze into his deep brown eyes. "If we had met before I had known about Ardeth, I wouldn't have let you in. I was closed off to the world and he opened my heart and mind to so many things. Can you accept that I love you because you are you?" She stood on tiptoes and brushed her lips lightly against his. "Frank Donovan -- sometimes cold and stoic, but more often times kind and loving. When I look at you, I see only you. And I love you."
"I love you, too, Amber." He crushed her to him, his lips seeking hers in a demanding passion. When he broke the kiss, he gazed into her eyes for the longest time, mustering his courage. Hearing her declaration had made him sure of their place together in the world, and yet, he was still just that slightest bit afraid of putting himself and his heart on the line. With one word, she could crush him in a way no other person was capable of doing, but it was now or never. "Will you marry me?"
~*~
Alex smiled happily; reliving old memories as he listened to the couple take their wedding vows. Old souls united in a timeless ceremony; he felt as though two worlds were colliding. Having been the only person to witness both couples' joining, he was more than a little proud. He had loved Ardeth dearly, and although both Frank and Amber were relative strangers, he felt the same familial bond with them.
"You may kiss the bride," the reverend announced happily.
Frank wasted no time in doing just that. "I love you, Mrs. Donovan," he whispered softly.
"And I love you, Mr. Donovan," Amber returned happily.
Alex watched on as the photographer snapped picture after picture. It would be several weeks later when all parties received copies of the photographs that they would realize Frank and Amber stood in the exact spot where Ardeth and Miranda's photograph was taken. Coincidence? "I think not."
~finis~
A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to spend time reading this. I truly appreciate it. Special thanks to those who left me feedback either through ffnet, FLMB, WOD, or email. And, as always, I owe a great many thanks to my GOTB. Thankya, M'lady! -- Shel
