Speak Softly
Crimes of Passion

1935: Ardeth Bay is resurrected from the dead. He awakens to a world vastly different, to familiar faces changing and to the knowledge that he is Egypt's final hope for freedom.

He also finds out just how far love and despair can take him.

~~~~~~~

The shadows hid him from her view as she walked alone down the warm hallways of this grand home. Seeing her again was like life being breathed back into his spirit. She looked beautiful, as regal as any queen that had ever walked. Grace lulled Imhotep back into sleep and grace had brought Evelyn into the hall just as he turned down it. Ardeth kept a good pace behind her, following silent and slow, stealthily in his way for mischief partly and also that he was content just to see her again. Friend or lover, he loved this woman very deeply and seeing her again made him feel hopeful for this world.

He looked at her soft, pretty dress and lingered on the thought of touching her again, of being with her again. Funny Evelyn, soft Evelyn, kind and stubborn like he firmly asserted he was not to his friends and family. No, there was no denying what his heart waited on, but he would step aside if she loved O'Connell. Ardeth resisted touching and followed, knowing his skill would keep her from ever knowing he were there if he so chose.

The Med-Jai drew the black hood back slightly and threw a glance over his shoulder to be sure they were truly alone. Satisfied they were, he turned back to Evy with a quieted soul. After all his pain and sadness, to meet such love and want in his own heart surprised him, but was welcome. He was strong in so many ways, but beginning with her he saw those places where he was not. She had always listened to him with understanding and without judgment. Her past comforts solidified his want of now.

He was in grave danger by doing this, he knew, following her around the most dangerous place on earth for him to be in. If Imhotep awakened he had no doubt that blessing or not, the priest would exact revenge. Yet he could not force himself to spirit her away just yet. He enjoyed his secret.

Evelyn stopped walking. Gathering up her delicate, silky skirt, she wrapped her hand around the handle of a large door and opened it. Quickly Ardeth moved behind her, so close…too close to maintain his secrecy, but she gave no notice of him at all. Fortune was on his side. She entered the dim room and before the door could shut he grabbed it, slipping in and to the shadows. It was a bathhouse, richly decorated with pillars of alabaster and a large pool in the back of the room, filtered and refilled by three waterfalls coming from the wall, and adorned by the petals of dark roses. The only light came from large, white candles scattered about, leaving many dark places in the rich room and the atmosphere gave him notions he knew he should not entertain at time so needful of haste. And there was O'Connell, too, that warned him away. For her love of himself he knew he would die and for her love of another he would fight that she gain what gave her joy. This was not betrayal, not if she loved Rick truly.

Ardeth took shelter behind one of the great pillars and watched as she made her way to a large mirror across the room. He could now see her face reflected back, radiant with the life that made his senses tingle. He could see it in others, but none affected him like this. She seemed so content, yet the sadness buried beneath those eyes could not escape his vision. Cascades of darkness fell down onto her shoulders as she unpinned her hair and brushed her fingers through it. Tender thoughts of doing that task for her came to mind and stirred his spirit.

She watched herself in the great mirror, making sure every strand of hair was in place, every inch of her pale skin flawless. He would have truthfully assured her it was, but for the calm enjoyment he took from merely watching. But things would escalate soon beyond what he felt comfortable viewing without his presense being known. Instantly he moved, feeling that to intrude upon her undressing would be to dishonor the friendship between them. Evy tucked her hair over her shoulder and reached behind her, unzipping her dress, then froze. Her lined eyes were no longer upon herself, but on him.

Whirling around, she backed away and hit a desk as he came from the shadows. "Who are you?" she demanded with wide, frightened eyes, holding her hands out as if it could prevent an attack.

"Have no fear, Evelyn," he told her softly, stepping from the shadows. When he threw down his hood Evy gasped with astonished eyes.

She lifted a hand to her lips and said nothing for a long moment, and he wondered if she were feeling the same emotions that ran through him now. Fear that this was not real, uncertainty of what the other wanted, need for proximity. He watched those eyes moisten, saw tears trespass onto her cheeks. Ardeth stretched out his hand and it seemed to awaken her senses again. She clasped it with hers and with the other arm, drew him into her embrace. He wrapped himself in her warmth, allowing it to enter his tired soul again. Could this be what his long lost Heaven had felt like?

Enveloping her into his strong arms, Ardeth dropped his head to her shoulder and would have wept if he had the strength or will. This was like the tired soldier coming home, like a slave winning his freedom and more. After so much death and betrayal he realized just how powerful the love of a friend could be. Evelyn rubbed his back as she held him, her own head finding rest on his shoulder. The comfort drew forth a confession he had not even been prepared to make, but this was her way. During their friendship she had forged a knack for ferreting out his troubles, even in her silence without trying, and offering him consolation, whether he wanted her knowing him so well or not. And maybe that was why it was so easy to slip into deeper love after their moments together. It was a blessing, he saw now, not a shame to the supposedly impenetrable walls that guarded a warrior's heart. So he said it aloud and her hold tightened. "I failed."

The tone he used was honest, low and almost unbelieving. She wouldn't judge him, but he couldn't help but judge himself. He had failed her and the world by losing that Staff and trusting his heart rather than his head. He should never have walked into Necromancer's trap, should have killed him when he was freed of his bonds after his friend had cut him. He had failed to keep her from having to make such a terrible choice to marry Imhotep. But none of this mattered to her. "Shh," Evy soothed, petting and holding him. "Shh, Ardeth, don't you believe that for one moment." How could he not? Was he not supposed to save the world?

Ardeth would have stayed this way without ever leaving if time wasn't screaming at him from the other side of his mind. She knew it as well. "You can't stay," she whispered in a shaky voice that caused him to tighten his grasp. Her hands found his sides as she looked up into his face. "You can't stay."

Ardeth shook his head, sensing the slumbering king stir, but could not bring voice to the assurance that they had a few moments. His fingers traced her cheek. "I will not leave you or wait for O'Connell to rescue you. You are in danger and I cannot leave your life to chance." He could feel her life consuming him again and he wanted to lose himself in that, forgetting the world and allowing her to help him find balance again. "You don't deserve to give yourself away like this."

Evy responded to his soft words with wet, wide eyes, but remained firm. "I'm all right. Imhotep will protect me. Please just go. Be safe for me. He'll kill you."

"No," he told her firmly, caressing her arms and shoulders where he could, trying to fight himself to stop what she may not want of him. The emptiness was ever consuming and her life force sweet. Ardeth hugged her again and shook his head. "Not this time, Evy. I understand you may wish to continue with Rick now that you know he lives and I will take you to him myself, but I cannot leave you here with Imhotep. I may die trying to save this world, but I will not allow myself to leave it without knowing you're safe. Please understand. This is who I am."

"I know." Her arms pulled his waist to hers, close and personal, so welcoming. "But, Ardeth, it's not safe. If I'm here he won't hunt you. Don't you see I want to save you?"

He understood it well, yet he could not obey her wants in this. She had been through more than he could tolerate seeing any loved one endure. "Let him hunt me."

"I made my choice!" she shot back angrily, but her glare did not have the effect she intended.

Ardeth gazed through a set expression. "And I have made mine."

Evelyn stared silently at him with hurt eyes that softened as his caress found her arms again. "How can you do this to me?" she whispered, hiding her face from him as she hugged into him. "This world needs you to save it."

"And I need you to be all right." The Med-Jai stared over her shoulder, knowing it wasn't right to make such a choice. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was some small glimmer of hope somewhere, but for the life of him he could not see it. And he would throw it away to give her what she needed, to free her. Necromancer's message of her death rang through him and he knew if there was truth to that statement, it did not mean necessarily Necromancer would be the one to take it. He could not leave her to Imhotep's wrath if she incurred it so. "I will do my duty to this world, Evelyn, when the time comes. When I can. But I must first keep my promise to save you."

There was a moment of silence between them as they hugged in the candlelight, heedless to the dangers outside this room. Imhotep slept and Ardeth could not tear away this softness between them. Evy pulled back and touched his hair, her dark eyes traveling him over. "Look at you," she whispered. "How did you get in here, anyway? You can't stay."

That last was half-hearted. Her walls were crumbling, her resistance fading, and for that he nearly hated himself. If life were easier for her here he should have let his heart die out in the cold of London or back in stormy Egypt, but for the threat on her life and the life she had to endure in marriage to a man she did not love. He could not let her go on in pain if so little as his life could save her. Evelyn remained silent, watching him look her over as she trembled in the soft light, one sleeve falling down her shoulder. Absently, he reached to pull it back up, but instead found his fingers toying with the fabric, neither pulling it up nor down. Why do I wait? We must leave, he wondered, but did so even still. They deserved a moment of softness between them.

Evelyn stilled and turned her head, hiding from his gaze as she had before and he wondered what it was she wanted of him. He did not have O'Connell's blue eyes or taste of wit. He was a battle-weary warrior who had lost his place in the world. He was not supposed to be here. And now she knew what could await her outside these walls. "Do you want to be with Rick?" he breathed, needing to know the answer before he let himself show her things she might not want of him. "Have I damaged our friendship with inappropriate feelings? I expect nothing of you, but what you would give."

Her brow knit, giving him an expression that was stern, but gentle. His eyelids closed halfway as her lips found his, her voice chiding as she whispered against them, "How can you ask me that, Ardeth? You can't damage what I feel for you with love. I want you to leave because I don't want Imhotep to hurt you. I would never want you to leave me otherwise. Do you understand?" Evelyn kissed him again and he nodded.

Her heart whispered of the dangers she would be blatantly ignoring, but Imhotep had been mentally exhausted when she left him alone to have her bath. He would sleep and she could say good-bye to Ardeth, for that was her plan. She couldn't leave with him and endanger him to being hunted down no matter how much trouble he had gone through to get here or how much love drove him to do it. She would refuse to go and force him by his love for her to leave her behind. All she would ask of time was a few moments to love him again before giving herself up to the duty of making him save the world. He was sad, but not hopeless. He was brave and needed only a reminder of what he was supposed to be doing. And a farewell. So she took advantage of Imhotep's repose and drew the other side of her dress down to the middle of her arm, tempting Ardeth's eyes with the promise of what lay beneath.

"We have to leave," he told her gently, his midnight gaze upon the threshold of her collar and making a trail up to her eyes. "I would give to you my love without ending if I could, but we cannot risk this." His gaze was ever intense, as if he could view beyond her eyes into what lay inside, and she couldn't meet it for very long. It made her feel naked and she was suddenly afraid of what he would see.

And in those eyes of his she could see a willingness to show her all of him in return, and that more than anything made her want to hide. "Ardeth, I…" she began, pulling her sleeves back up and looking away. If he were so willing to allow her into every part of him, then he deserved the same consideration, no matter how much it might hurt her to speak it. But what should she say? What would he think? She didn't want to tell him this and even more so didn't want it to be true. Imhotep was seducing her and Evy willfully allowed it while loving him. He would be angry and hurt, he would think her no better than a common harlot. "I gave myself to him," she admitted softly. Hot tears raced down her cheeks as she held her dress to her and closed her eyes, waiting for him to turn away.

He didn't, of course. "I know," Ardeth said gently, pulling her back and wiping her tears with a warm hand. She wondered how he knew, if it were that plain or expected of her. His fingers found her chin and lifted, his eyes locking hers into a gaze that made her tears come faster. "It doesn't matter, Evelyn. I love you." Those welcoming arms pulled her into him and Evy rested against that warmth, so soft and strong. It felt like a dream after so long of giving herself to a man she didn't love. Ardeth pressed his forehead to hers and ran his thumb across her bottom lip, breathing, "That will never change, no matter what kind of love you would have of me."

A moment passed before she kissed him in reply. When he let go of her mouth, Evelyn darted glances around the softly lit room. Though no one would dare disturb her in here and her king was asleep, Evelyn felt vulnerable in the open with him. Their time would be short, but how could she not at least say good-bye? Perhaps they could keep their love a secret and he could hide here somewhere in this massive castle, or maybe this would allow him to let go. Or maybe Imhotep would kill them. She didn't know, but at least for a time they would be safe here. Evy clasped his hand into hers, drawing him around the warm pool in the center of the room, back into the shadows where they wouldn't be seen.

Knowing her intent, Ardeth again tried to stop the tide of what she would not let him escape. "Evelyn, we must go now. We cannot allow ourselves to do this now."

"We'll be fine," her whisper assured him, as she reached to touch his hair. His hand caught her wrist and stopped her from enticing him, but she was resolved. She allowed her other sleeve to fall back down her arm, bearing a milky shoulder for his eyes, and despite himself, he looked with a want he could not stop. "He's asleep, Ardeth. No one would dare enter this room but him. We might never…"

But he too was resolved. "No, Evelyn. It's not safe. Our time is short and our chances already narrow. If someone by chance saw me…"

"They would have already arrested you," she finished.

Ardeth shook his head and let her wrist go. "It doesn't matter. I will not risk…"

Evy crossed her arms, looking up into his eyes with an unguarded expression. "Just how far do you think we'll get in the freezing cold," she asked him and knew he would understand what she was truly getting at. So she waited for it to dawn in his lovely eyes and without fail it did. Her eyes grew moist at the uncertainty written on his face, the doubt she was causing him to feel. "We have a chance to say good-bye, Ardeth. You know what you have to do and I know what I have to do. I want you to save me, but I know what will happen if you do."

Still his answer was the same. "I'm not leaving you here. If I do, you may die."

"And if you don't leave me you'll die," she retorted in a shaking voice as she tried to draw strength from somewhere. The resolution in his stance made her turn her back on him in frustration. And here it was. Hope playing another game with her heart. Imhotep had been calm, caring and gentle. Not someone she could fall in love with certainly, but someone she could survive with. Now life gave her this most dangerous choice to make and with all of her she wanted to run away with Ardeth, but two years had taught her what happened when she took the attractive road. Imhotep was patient, but not that patient. Her eyes watched water falling down into the pool with certainty of where to go. "If I go missing he'll hunt us in the cold. There's nowhere to go in England, Ardeth. It's all dead."

Evy felt a hand touch her back, smoothing the curve of her spine up, then back down. His fingers toyed with the fastener near the small of her back before drawing her zipper softly up. "We will make it, Evelyn. I was given a plan before leaving Egypt. You must trust me."

Before the zipper reached halfway up her back Evy pulled away from him. "I trust you," she told him, turning with her chin raised in defiance. "Now if you won't give me a proper good-bye then I'll thank you to get out of my bathroom."

Ardeth's expression remained fixed with grave determination that he would not leave this room without her. "I will get out, Evy, have patience. And you will come with me. Your spoiled denial will not change my mind in this instance."

"Spoiled?" she said indignantly. The Med-Jai stepped closer and she saw a certain glint in his dark eyes that warned her the time for argument was over. It became a question of who would move first then. She took the initiative. Evy turned and bolted to the edge of the pool, knowing if she jumped he could not follow her and remain dry. He was faster and stronger, but the water too near for him to stop her from diving in. When she hit the surface of the petal-covered bathwater Evy fought to gain footing, smoothed her now soaked hair out of her face and swam to the back wall where there was no floor for him to reach for her from. She looked up into his calculating face. "If you leave with wet clothes you'll freeze."

He gave her a small, unexpected smile and rubbed his chin with a little pacing. "Yes. You are right, my friend. It appears you have won, does it not? Because I cannot enter that pool fully clothed." Something about his easy manner wasn't quite right and Evy watched him warily, unconsciously backing further into the wall as he walked to the stairs leading into the water. His hand reached for the clasp to his robe. "But I meant what I said. I will not leave you here."

Evy's eyes widened when the robe hit the floor and he began unbuttoning a shirt underneath. Covering her lips and caught between watching him disrobe and being a proper lady, she turned away, but gave him a sidelong glance. "Honestly, Ardeth!" His shirt fluttered down beside his cloak, leaving his bronze muscle exposed for her vision. The Med-Jai then sat down on the floor and began working to bare his feet. He was going to strip down and come after her. "For Heaven's sake, keep your clothes on! Have you taken leave of your senses?"

He tossed one boot aside with that interesting smile still gracing his handsome features. "A moment ago you seemed rather eager for me to disrobe. Has this changed?" Ardeth started unlacing his remaining shoe and left it on the floor, standing up to reach for the buckle of his belt. "The longer this takes, the more likely it is that someone will find us. Imhotep sleeps, but it will not last all night. Now before I am completely unclothed, I will give you one last chance to make this easy on both of us. Will you come to me?"

Evelyn gave him a decidedly dirty look and he unclasped his belt. "Fine!" she snapped, drawing her heavy skirts into her hands and trudging through the pool. "Bloody impossible! Taking your clothes off! Where are your manners?" He laughed at her mutterings and slipped his boots back on while she approached. Evy reached the steps and splashed water up at him with a glare. "Laugh now, Mr. Bay. You just wait."

She reached the floor, squeezed her wet hair out and watched him button his shirt. It occurred to her then that he couldn't hold her and put his clothing back on at the same time. If she could just escape him… He eyed her and picked up on her mental processing, visibly not quite sure what she was thinking about. Then Evy made the mistake of looking at a door to the left-rear of the room before actually running, tipping him off that she wasn't quite as ready to give in as she had appeared. He tensed and she bolted, but couldn't get the door open in time to escape. Ardeth caught up too quickly this time and slammed it shut, caging her against the metallic surface within an unrelenting hold.

Evy turned into a very intense expression and knew there was no way he would walk out of this castle alone. "You're hopeless, Ardeth," she breathed into lips so near hers as a strong hand found her slick shoulder. "I only want to save you."

He offered her a kiss that caused her to tremble as he whispered, "I know. And I…"

But whatever he had been about to say was stopped short by the main entrance creaking open. Ardeth grabbed her wrists as guards with sidearms entered, and opened the door behind them. She might have asked what he thought he was doing as he jerked her back against his chest, but for the hand suddenly covering her mouth. Her dress slipped down her shoulders slightly as he pulled a dagger from his belt and held it to her throat. His deep voice became filled with bitter sarcasm. "Tell your king that it was a good trick, seducing her against me, but I have grown beyond caring if she wants it or not. She is mine and I am taking her." Evy closed her eyes as his blade smoothed down her neck, thinking, No. No, he can't do this. I won't let him die alone.

The head guard, a large man she identified as 'Rafe', approached with a dark grin written across his lips. Her heart sank. This was one of Celestine's loyal followers. Whatever this man believed or saw, it was going to be twisted by the time it reached Imhotep. "Don't be a fool," he said, clearly hoping Ardeth would, in fact, oblige. "Let the queen go and I'm sure our illustrious king will grant you a quick death. Kidnap her and I guarantee he'll make it nice and slow."

"I believe I will take my chances with kidnapping. Thank you for the warning," Ardeth replied, pulling her into the threshold of the door and holding the blade closer into her skin. "Tell me, what do you think your king would do to you for allowing his prize to be killed? Make no mistake, if she will not be mine she will belong to no one."

The bloodthirsty guard edged closer with his Colt pointed directly at Ardeth's head. Evy could feel the gravity of the moment in his tense stance, his wary, tight hold and the unease of his breathing. How this could go any way but badly was beyond her reasoning. And Celestine would only see that it was made worse in the mind of her husband. Imhotep had taken a disliking to this woman's pushy behavior but against this that would not matter. He would see only the betrayal, only that they had wronged him and needed to pay. She would not let Ardeth bear this alone. Whatever was his to be punished with she would share in.

In an instant the moment changed from uncertain silence to rapid movement. With a split second decision Ardeth yanked her through the door and into the sitting room beside it, pushed her away from him and set to the task of moving a desk to block the entrance. Evy felt panic spread through her as she pulled her dress back up and tried to squeeze water from her skirt. "The door! They'll come through the other door, Ardeth!"

The desk halfway moved, Bay abandoned it and inhaled deeply with a concerned expression. His dark eyes flit over her, to the hallway exit and back again before he took action. "Come on," he pressed, grabbing her hand. They took desperate flight into the hallway. Guards could be heard already on their way around the corner to head them off. Ardeth yanked her right towards a nearby flight of stairs and said, "You must fight me, Evy, when they see us. If we get caught they will believe you remain loyal to Imhotep."

Evelyn inhaled a quiet breath as they nearly stumbled down the stairs in grave need to escape. A dozen thoughts ran through her mind, from the biting cold outside, to rooms they could hide within and frightening most of all to Imhotep and how he was going to feel and what he could do. All of it swirled around in her viciously, but one thing remained clear. "No," she told him as they hit another floor. Ardeth gave the hallway a quick glance and led her left. Voices swarmed after them like doom.

He hissed, "Yes," in reply and pulled her around another corner, then stopped for a moment to pant and fix a firm expression on her. Those dark eyes of his glittered in concern and the panic of the moment hit her. They could very well die tonight and the reality stayed all emotion but cold fear and longing, as though she would never see him again. His voice washed over her softly and urgently. "Evelyn, if you ever heed my wisdom in anything, do so in this."

Time to respond was not given as he again took her hand to resume the escape, the relentless shouts of the hunting guards ever closing in on them. It was on her lips to refuse him once more and to keep doing it, but argument right now was pointless. She simply would not give this to him. She couldn't, not after all she had brought him to. If she took place in a lie like that, for her own sake while he suffered, it would stay in her mind forever and that was something she was not prepared to live with. "Where can we hide? You will need something to cover you from the snow," he asked as they ran.

Her private chambers, so near the lion's den, she was about to answer, but was cut off suddenly. As they approached a new hallway three guards ran out in front of them, but ever-prepared as a warrior should be Ardeth didn't miss a beat as he took stride in front of her, drew his dagger and kicked the first of them in the side. The tall blue-eyed sentry groaned and fell away, quickly replaced by another, younger man with startling green eyes. He pulled a gun, aimed and attempted to end this once and for all, but Bay was too quick. Evy watched as he grabbed at the guard's wrist and wrestled him for his weapon, her adrenaline rushing as she searched for ways she could help him.

The third guard ignored Ardeth and came for her hesitantly, as if trying to discern whether she was a traitor or if she truly was the victim in this. Ardeth's wishes for her swept through her mind—his want that she survive this, but the choice could not be changed within. She sealed her fate with tentative kick. There would be no going back now. Surprised and unprepared, the guard's unprotected groin received the blow, causing him to double over with a cry. When he hit the floor in pain Evy couldn't stifle a satisfied little smirk.

Ardeth's groan as he slammed against the wall pulled her out of it quickly enough, however, and when she turned she saw the tall sentry approaching him fast with a drawn sword. Her stomach muscles tightened and her throat dried suddenly with a gasp as he swung right for Ardeth's head. She hadn't even realized her eyes had closed until the blade clanged against the wall with a sharp metallic echo. Evy forced herself to look and saw with relief that her strong warrior-friend had ducked in time to escape losing his head, then thrust himself into the attacker, sending both to the floor. Weapon dropped, the guard leveled a punch right for Ardeth's jaw and Evy took the opportunity to step past the little skirmish to claim his fallen sword.

The second guard, fair-skinned, young and unkempt, dove for it just as she reached, and Evy found herself face to face with a little fight of her own. Her fingers curled around the hilt and dirty fingers clasped around her own roughly, causing her to grit her teeth against the pain. Evy knit her brow at the man, yanked and let out a frustrated hiss when he failed to release her. The green-eyed guard snickered at her try, then unexpectedly moved his attention elsewhere. Following his eyes, she saw that her unzipped dress had come down enough to allow him a view within and with an indignant, "I beg your pardon!" she balled her fist and sent it into his face without regard or aim. Men, she discovered, did not plan for these things to come from her. He growled and raced his free hand to his now tender eye, the other glaring her down for her audacity. She cried out when he squeezed her fingers cruelly.

A sudden shout ended all disputes. "There! Take them!" Rafe snapped and a chill spread through Evy following the footsteps closing in on them. This was it, they were caught and despite his recent calm Evy feared Imhotep's wrath would come with no mercy. The young guard pulled her close to him with a wicked, triumphant smile.

At once a swarm of guards overtook the fight and Evelyn felt herself wrenched from his loathsome hold. Rafe yanked her away from the circle of men that surrounded Ardeth and began to subdue him. Of course subdue to one of Celestine's men went far beyond disarming and calming. She watched in horror as he continued the fight and struggled against the beating that quickly began. Seeing her pained expression, from beside her the captain of the guard snorted in contempt. "What's the matter, Highness? That ruffian hurt you?" His eyes traveled her wet body and she drew her dress closer around herself.

Yet she was not about to go without her own and she almost welcomed it when it happened, as guilt and pain swelled over her. "See that?" he said, pointing at the circle of pain as Ardeth yelled out. "That's 'cause he dared come here and on top of that, tried to pull one over on us. And this?" She stood rigid, fully expecting the blow with downcast eyes. Suddenly Evelyn's head snapped back and her body fell against the stone floor. "That's for betrayal of the king, traitor."

But she didn't hear that last part.

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Nashean, Sajul/Necromancer, Arya, Layla, Sania, Reyhanen, Celestine and Jorin (and a few less significant originals) belong to me.

A/N: Hmm…I hope this turned out all right. Up until tonight Ardeth and Evy were supposed to have a special little visit. ;-) But I thought given the need for speed, it would be more likely he would insist they run. So I changed it real quick…hopefully for the more realistic.

To Reviewers:

Lula – Hehehe! Yes, I know if Ardeth were a male prostitute in my town I'd be working my butt off. ;-D That wasn't out loud, was it? Hehehe..funny scene you mention! God knows it would be fun to try and pull those pants down. ;-) And even more fun when they came off! :-D Anyway, thanks for the review, my friend! Glad you liked! Now you know Evy's reaction…I hope it was acceptable given the circumstances. :-O

Dead-Girls-Watch – Thanks! :-) Thanks for sticking with the story, too…it means a bunch!

Marcher – Hehehe…I thought Ardeth the Gigolo was fitting, given Oded's previous role. ;-D I'm sure he'd make a bundle, too. ;-) As for Immy, I'm glad I'm getting the effect I've gone for…poor monster! He'd make a bundle at gigoloing too. ;-) Anyway, my Hitler/Hess/Meela thing came all by fortune…I was reading about him the other day for background info and a reason to tie him into Celestine and low and behold this secretary of his was born in Alexandria, so I was like, "Whoa! Gotta take advantage of that!" Thanks a bunch, my friend! Hope Captain's going well…looking forward to seeing Furby's butt killed… :-D

Marxbros – Thanks, friend! Hehehe…yes, Hitler wouldn't be on my list of possible lovers either. ;-) But apparently some women did find him attractive, as insane as he was. Thanks for citing things that you thought were in character…Evy's one of my ones I tend to think I do rather generically as well as Immy. So it's definitely nice to hear! :-D And er…Ardeth safe?? :-O *screams like SpongeBob*

Zarah – Heeey! How was that for some Ardeth/Evy action? Not as much as I had planned for, but more realistic, I think. :-O :-\ Maybe I'll post the little sexish scene into my snippets or something. Anyway, thanks a bunch for the review!! :-D

Deana – Lol…hmm, looks like she succeeded in getting them arrested. Yikes! Like I said, I can't not get him into trouble! :-D Woohoo! Speaking of trouble, where are you girl!? You were supposed to show me more Ardeth in trouble tonight. ;-) Well, maybe not officially, but you can't blame a girl for being curious and hopeful!