AN: Oh my god... this is the last chapter!!!! It's like the end of an era for me. Well, I've had a wonderful time writing Desert Rose and I hope you have come to enjoy this story. Though the ending is not what some of you were expecting, I promise things will change in the sequel, which I'm planning to post in around 15 days. In the meantime, make sure to check my new stories, for I have a little surprise for you. Now, yes, I leave you with the ending of Desert Rose.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

It was a beautiful morning in Cairo as Ardeth Bay sat in the lounge of the Luxor Hotel. He did not bother to try to look inconspicuous as people stared at the tattoos on his face, most of them knowing they belonged to a Med-jai leader. Instead of being dressed in the traditional black robes, Ardeth looked like he had stepped out of the pages of GQ. The tattoos only accentuated his powerful masculine beauty. He wore a charcoal gray tee shirt with faded blue jeans. He was waiting for Jean; he felt she was part of his journey in this life and he was sad for the fact that they would be saying goodbye very soon and he would not see this woman he had gotten to know and to love for a long time. Tarek was sitting by his side, wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.

"At what time does her flight leave?" He asked, trying to make his brother snap out of his trance. He could literally feel the ominous vibes he emanated.

"At 12 PM," was all Ardeth replied.

"So, we have time."

"Yes."

"I will miss her," whispered Tarek, trying his best to make conversation.

Suddenly, his older brother sat up straight and turned to him. "Tarek, there is something I want to give her, but I need your authorization."

"What is it?"

"It was supposed to be for my wife or for my daughters, but I doubt I will ever have any of them…it is the Necklace of Isis."

The younger brother smiled and shrugged. "It's your call, Ardeth."

"You must understand that if I give it to her, I would be taking it away from your possible daughters as well," said Ardeth solemnly, but Tarek merely shrugged again.

"Don't worry, my brother, Jean has earnt it. You have my full approval."

"Thanks."

In that moment, Jean got out of the elevator and smiled before joining them, completely unaware of the fascination she awoke in the other men who were in the hotel lobby. She was wearing a knee length denim skirt, black sandals with 2-inch heels and a cyan tank top with rhinestones in the shape of a pyramid. It offered a striking contrast against her red hair.

"Hi, guys," she greeted.

"You are beginning to sound American," commented Tarek.

"And to look American. Where did you get those clothes?"

Ardeth's steady gaze was making her blush. " Oh, early this morning I visited one of the hotel's stores and found this. Anyway, I will always be a part of Egypt, look," she said, showing them her right arm, where the mark had refused to disappear and she knew that it would remain there for the rest of her life. "Besides, I may sound American, but you both look like you have lived all your lives in California."

"Well, we got tired of looking so Med-jai."

"You would have to do a lot more than changing clothes in order to disguise the fact that you are Med-jai, Tarek," answered Jean, fixing her eyes on the tattoos that both brothers wore.

Ardeth smiled and stood up. "Would you like to have breakfast, Jean?"

"Nope, I never have breakfast," she replied nonchalantly.

"But, Jean," protested Tarek, "you need some more flesh on your bones."

"My God, what's up with you two and my flesh?" She laughed. "I will not have breakfast, period. My trunks have been brought down here by the bellman, so I am going to check out now. You can have breakfast if you want."

She went to the front desk and the brothers ordered a quick breakfast. After finishing it, they paid and joined Jean who had finished her check-out.

"We better head to the airport," said Ardeth.

"Yup… let's go."

They went outside the hotel and the bellman called a cab for them and loaded Jean's luggage. She gave him a good tip and then got in the cab, where her two escorts were waiting for her.

"To Cairo International, please," asked Ardeth.

The driver nodded and begun driving to the airport. He would glance at his three passengers from time to time, knowing that the med were Med-jai and wondering what was that beautiful woman doing with them. He noticed they were very silent and that they seemed to be getting more and more gloomy as they approached the airport.

"Here it is," said Tarek to the driver as they arrived to the international terminal. The three of them got out of the car, as Ardeth started to pay the fare.

"I will not take your money, Med-jai," said the man and bowed his head.

"May Allah be with you always," replied Ardeth and then turned to walk with Jean and his brother into the chaos of people who were at the airport.

By the front of the terminal, Ardeth asked Jean for her ticket and handed it to the baggage handler who took the two trunks and marked them for New York City. He took control of everything after they entered the terminal. It surprised her, but she was thankful for it; she was in no shape for taking care of those matters. When they arrived at the gate he checked her in and then they sat together as they still had some free time left before Jean's flight departed. Tarek left them and went to buy some coffee and Jean looked anxiously over the large window they were sitting in front of.

"God, I hate planes," she murmured.

Ardeth smiled at her. "Really? Then how come you came here alone?" He asked.

"I must have been crazy."

"No, habibi, you had a mission. I have been on many planes before, you know, for business matters, and frankly, flying at ten thousand meters of altitude is not very appealing to me either. But I would do it in the blink of an eye to go visit you," Ardeth declared.

Jean smiled. "You are welcome to try anytime."

Tarek went back with the coffee and then the warriors went on telling Jean about Egyptian mythology. They lost track of time until a voice in the speakers interrupted them.

{Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our first call for boarding EgyptAir's flight 2808 with non-stop service to New York City. Please, have your boarding passes handy in front of gate 25 E.}

Jean froze in her seat and her hands begun trembling. "I guess that's for me."

"Yes…" Ardeth whispered, sounding devastated.

Around them, people were hurrying towards the gate, wanting to board first and get comfortable on the plane where they would spend the next eighteen hours. Tarek knew he had to be strong for his brother and for Jean, so he smiled and stood up. "You have everything ready?"

"Yes, I do." She felt numb, but obliged herself to stand up and walk to the gate. She then turned and looked at the two brothers who were unable to walk. Ardeth looked like he would faint in any moment and Tarek was forcing a smile. She opened her arms at them and they both embraced her with a strength that almost choked her.

The two men retreated and Tarek gave her a quick kiss. "May Allah smile upon you always Jean," he said to her.

"Thanks," she responded touching his face very lightly.

He then walked away from her in order to conceal the tears that were about to escape from his eyes. Besides, he knew his brother would like to have a minute alone with Jean to say their goodbyes.

Ardeth watched his brother leave and turned to Jean. "I have something for you," he said revealing a necklace of gold, silver and lapis with the sacred symbol of Isis, "it has belonged to my tribe for decades. It's called the Necklace of Isis."

Jean's eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh, God. Ardeth, I can't accept it."     

"You are a Med-jai now, I couldn't think of a safer person to protect this heritage."

He looked at it, then back to her and with no more words spoken he put it around Jean's neck. She watched the necklace and smiled at the feeling of the cold gold against her skin. She then looked at Ardeth with tears in her eyes.

"This is one of the most valuable things I have ever been given," she whispered.

"And right now, right here, I give you my love," said Ardeth with fierce passion.

"I will cherish them both. I will never forget you." Her voice had gone raspy and she knew she would start crying any minute now.

"Jean, know this: you will always be in my heart, for you are inside of me every waking moment of my day. There will not be one day that goes by that will not think of you."

"And you must know that wherever I go and whatever I do, my heart and all my love will stay here with you and with the Med-jai."

He could no longer control himself and Ardeth fell to his knees before her, burying his face into her stomach, his arms wrapped tight around her waist. Just a few people looked at them, for those scenes were nothing out of the ordinary at any airport. Jean buried her fingers into his hair, bending over him, cradling his head to her.

"Ardeth…" she whispered on a soft sob. He stood up and surprised Jean with a light caress to her face.

"Your man needs you. Go to him and tell him that Allah has blessed him. Make sure he realizes what gifts he has."

{Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our last call for boarding EgyptAir's flight 2808 on gate 25 E. The door will be closing anytime soon.}

Jean sighed. "I love you Ardeth, remember that."

She softly kissed his cheek and stared into his deep brown eyes. She then broke their eye contact and went to the airline desk, where she handed the boarding pass to a man who was very interested in watching her and Ardeth, lost in his own thoughts. 'By Allah! What a beautiful woman. No wonder the dark one is taken with her!'

Smiling he took her boarding pass and cut its end, returning the main part to her. "Have a pleasant flight, Miss."

"Thank you." Jean turned to Ardeth and saw something in his eyes that made her run to him, throw her arms around his neck and kiss him passionately.

Ardeth was lost in the moment; he didn't care about any other thing but the fact that Jean was in his arms, kissing him. He tasted her sweetness hungrily and his heart and soul were on fire at the warm, velvety caress of her full lips on his. Abruptly, she pulled away with such force it brought both of them back to reality.

"Goodbye, Ardeth." There were tears running down both's cheeks. Ardeth was in intense agony, but somehow her kiss had renewed his life.

"I will be waiting for you, al hayati." And then he added to himself as Jean disappeared. "All my life."

***

Before Jean had the time or the will to think, the plane was on the air.

As the city of Cairo grew smaller and smaller, her inner strength grew with the resolution that someday, she would make her way back across the ocean to this city that was so different from her own. Someday, she would return.

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Love you all, Jeanne.