This is my first fanfic, so please read and review. I can't make any promises on the quality, but I'll do my best. Anyway, here we go.

Disclaimer: The O'Connell's, Izzy, Jonathan, and Ardeth do not belong to me (sniff-sniff). They are the property of Universal. Any characters not mentioned in the movie are of my own creation (of course).

Spoiler: If you haven't seen The Mummy Returns then, first of all, shame on you. Get in your car and drive to the video rental store immediately. Second of all, don't bother to go any farther. This story will make absolutely no sense.

WARNING: Contains slight angst on the part of Ardeth, although our hero in black will eventually be happy. Rated PG for physical attraction between husband and wife (how shocking) and possible violence
She looked deep into the blue eyes she loved so well. Their depths were filled with wonder and love and she allowed herself to become lost in them.

" I thought I'd lost you for a moment," he said softly.

"For a moment there you did," she replied. "Would you like to know what heaven looks like?"

"Later," came the answer. His lips pressed down on hers, gentle but insistent. As was always the case when her husband kissed her, the world around Evelyn O'Connell melted away. She vaguely heard Alex mutter something about 'not again' and vaguely realized that Jonathan and Izzy were arguing. She wanted to forget the events of the last week and, in Rick's arms, was able to do just that.

But the spell couldn't last forever. The couple reluctantly broke apart and, while Rick went to settle the dispute between Jonathan and Izzy, Evelyn went to talk to her son. This child of hers was so remarkable. A nine year old boy who had survived a week with a resurrected mummy and raised his own mother from the dead. Evie owed her life to her son and, as yet, she hadn't thanked him.

He hugged her tightly when she reached him. They hadn't had time for a greeting at Ahm Shere, what with Anck-su-namun beating on Jonathan and Rick fighting Imhotep, then the Scorpion King. Trying to get out of a temple that was imploding had also tended to cut any 'family time' short. Now, though, they were finally safe. Evie whispered in her son's ear as she held him.

"Thank you, Alex. I can never thank you enough for what you've done, darling. I'm so proud of you and your father is, too. You were so brave and you acted with such intelligence. You're an amazing boy, Alex."

There didn't seem to be a way to respond to this. Mother and son simply held one another in silence. Rick joined them later, having struck a tentative deal with Jonathan and Izzy. They remained mostly silent during the journey back to Izzy's, content in the knowledge that they were all together and safe once again.

It wasn't until late that night, while lying in the tent Izzy had provided, that Evie allowed her thoughts to stray beyond her husband, son, and brother. As she listened to Rick's soft breathing, her mind began to race. Alex had brought her back to life with the Book of the Dead. But-

Instinctively, Evie's hand fluttered to her stomach. She hadn't been sure until they had reached Egypt. In fact, she had refused to believe it. Doctors had told her and Rick four years ago, after she had miscarried for the second time since Alex's birth, that any more children would be impossible.

Evie had been inconsolable after her two miscarriages. The first one, when Alex was two, had been a boy they named Alan. Evie had fallen down the stairs at their home in London when she was six months along. She had blamed herself for that and Rick and Jonathan had been beside themselves with worry as she grew thinner and had begun to waste away.

It had been the presence of Alex that had pulled Evie through that time. Gradually, she had become more like herself. And, soon after Alex's fifth birthday, had been overjoyed to find that she was expecting again. But it was not to be, it seemed. When Evie was four months pregnant, Rick, who had never been sick during their marriage, came down with a violent case of pneumonia. Evie was not allowed near him and Jonathan had tended to his brother-in-law's needs, but, despite precautions, Evie herself had contracted the illness. Her life had hung in the balance for several days, but she pulled through. Sadly, the baby had been affected too seriously and they had buried their daughter, Laura, next to her brother.

Evie had become convinced that Alex would be their only child. Doctors confirmed her thoughts. Rick refused to believe it, but had never pressed the issue with his wife. The doctors had said that the two miscarriages had poisoned her system, making more children impossible. Evie, who had wanted a large family, resigned herself to one child and Alex had become her joy. She had been happy with the family God had given her, though her heart ached to hold the two children stolen from her. Their life in London and on the road, although unusual, had been full of laughter and the family was much closer than most. When they had discovered the bracelet of Anubis, Evie had just decided that her symptoms were too familiar and that she would see a doctor as soon as they returned to London. Of course, certain events had made that impossible.

After arriving in Egypt from London, Evie had confided in Ardeth. She felt she should tell someone and knew she could trust her old friend. Ardeth had taken her to a healer, who had confirmed Evie's suspicions and been positive about his diagnosis. Evie had sworn Ardeth to silence, her main concern focused on finding her son. Had Rick known, she would've been forced to remain behind, guessing the fate of her family and dear friend. Of course, she hadn't planned on being stabbed through the stomach and killed.

Suddenly unable to bear the closed in feeling of the tent, Evie stood up and went outside. Jonathan and Alex's tent was dark, but Evie could hear soft voices and laughter coming from it. In spite of her pensive mood, Evie smiled at the relationship her brother and son had. Not wishing to be detected, she slipped off quietly to the top of a nearby dune and stretched out on the sand, unaware she was being watched.