Reviews:
Terreis: Heheheheh. . .I thought you would enjoy the inclusion of the paraphrase! And I'm glad you liked the 'explosive' scene between Ardeth and Celia. Honestly, your answer confirmed my own instincts. Especially given Ardeth's character, personality, and dedication. As someone once told me, too, 'steamy' is usually steamier when less description is provided, rather than more.
Sailor Elf: Yes, they kissed! And I'm sure you realize I really enjoyed writing that part. As I told Terreis, your comments confirm my own instincts about how far they should go. And you're not being rude, you're answering a question I posed to you (it's not like you took the attitude that being Rick's verbal punching bag is Ardeth's purpose in life, or denigrated one of my 'kids.'). As for Antoine. . .by all means! Far be it from me to tell you 'no,' dear one!
LilyLynn: Now, what have I said in the past? Signing in is not important, it's the reviewing that matters. No 'action' for Rick and Evy in this part, but I'm building up to that. I hope this is soon enough for you. . .I had a recent 'breakthrough,' and decided to write as much as I could while it lasted. Enjoy!
The Learning Curve
Part Fourteen
"So. . .is this serious?"
Ardeth looked at his brother in the early morning light. That was unusual. Rick usually didn't wake up for another few hours at least. But right now, Rick was awake and alert. Awake, alert, and asking questions without answers. Ardeth answered softly, "I wish I knew, ya ahi. All I know. . ." The young chieftain sighed, lying back against his pillows, then added, "I never felt anything like that before. When she kissed me."
"She. . .kissed. . .you. Well. That is unexpected, but I didn't exactly see you fighting her off," Rick answered tartly. Ardeth pushed himself back up onto his elbows, glaring at his older brother. Then it hit him. That note he heard in Rick's voice. It wasn't anger. It was jealousy. Just. . .jealousy. Ardeth was somewhat confused about the reason for it. He could think of no good reason why Rick would be jealous.
And so, naturally, he asked, "Why are you jealous, Rick?" The other man bolted upright in bed, and his expression reminded Ardeth of the old saying, 'glaring daggers.' If it was possible to glare daggers, then that was Rick was doing now.
"I am NOT jealous!" his brother retorted. Ardeth merely raised an eyebrow at Rick, not believing a word coming out of his mouth. Rick glared at him, repeating, "I'm not! Why would I be jealous! It's not like you have anything I want!" Ardeth ignored the twinge caused by that remark, and just stared steadily at the other man. In all the years they knew each other, they never lied to each other, and Ardeth wouldn't let his brother start now. And not even Rick's habit of lashing out would prevent Ardeth from making sure the truth was known.
"I did not say that you were jealous of me," Ardeth answered, "but it is possible. After all, Evelyn never finished her kiss. But I do not think that is why you are jealous. I think you're jealous of Celia." Now Rick bolted upright, staring at Ardeth a little wildly. . .and, Ardeth noted, there was some fear in his eyes as well. The chieftain continued, nodding slowly, "Yes. You *are* jealous of Celia. . .but why?"
"You're outta yer tree," Rick bluffed, but Ardeth wasn't dissuaded so easily. His mother often quoted 'Hamlet' when trying to win an argument with his father, and her favorite line was 'the lady doth protest too much.' After this conversation, Ardeth would never again question his mother's fondness for that line. Nor was he convinced when Rick continued, trying to laugh and failing miserably, "Why would I be jealous of her?"
"I do not know, but it is obvious to me that you are. Why, ya ahi? What does she have that you desire? Evelyn's trust and respect? Surely you realize that Evelyn is as attracted to you as you are to her," Ardeth reasoned out. What else could there be, but the obvious affection and friendship between the roommates? Rick was silent this time, staring straight ahead. Ardeth couldn't see his expression, and that troubled him.
"It isn't about Evelyn. You're not gonna let this go, are you? You really wanna know why I'm jealous of your girlfriend," Rick said flatly. Ardeth started to protest that Celia wasn't his girlfriend, but he stayed silent. He knew if he said such a thing, Rick would then ask him what Celia was, if she wasn't his girlfriend, and Ardeth didn't have the answer to that particular question. And the answer to his own question shocked him. Rick said quietly, "I'm jealous of the little roommate because of her affect on you."
Ardeth blinked, trying to comprehend that statement. What was *that* supposed to mean? Rick glared at him, adding, "Get your mind out of the gutter, Ardeth! It's just that. . .for such a long time, it's just been you and me. Well, there were Acacia and Aleta, Anatol, and the babies, too. Dad and Altair. But. . .we've been a team for so long, Ardeth, just you and I. And we're a good team, we're a *great* team."
Ardeth was stunned by his brother's outburst. He also found it strange that he didn't call Celia by her name, but instead called her, 'the little roommate' or 'your girlfriend.' All right, perhaps 'strange' was not the best term under the circumstances. It was the best term he had at his disposal right now. The younger brother was silent for several moments, trying to work this out in his head, then finally asked, "And why do you. . .I do not understand, Rick. We are still a team. Celia's presence in my life does not change that. . .certainly, my feelings for her complicate things, but. . ."
"She's gonna ruin everything!" Rick blurted out. Ardeth stared at his brother in shock. Rick was afraid that Celia would ruin things? What things? Where was this coming from? His brother shook his head, continuing, "I know the way relationships work, little brother. Girls, once they get their hooks in you. . .she'll change you, Ardeth. She'll change you, and that'll change everything. And then on top of everything else, she's friends with that little loser, Beni, and someone like that can't be trusted!"
Ardeth froze, caught between his desire to knock his brother into the next decade and the equally powerful desire to reassure Rick that no such thing would happen. Instead, he did neither. He said, "But, Rick. . .things always change. Nothing can stay as it was, regardless of the people in our lives. You know this. It was one such change that brought you and Nathaniel into our lives. That was a change for the better. Why are you so sure that any changes in me caused by my time with Celia will be bad changes?"
Rick slumped back against the pillows, answering softly, "That's the worst part. The part that makes me so angry. I already see changes in you, little brother, changes because of her. And they're good changes. She makes you smile, she makes you laugh. And when you two were kissing, you were so far gone, you didn't even realize I was talking to you at first. She can make you happy, Ardeth, and I gotta wonder where it's gonna leave me."
Both brothers were silent for a long time, then very gently, Ardeth said, "Rick. Did it never cross your mind that I have been afraid of something similar ever since you first started becoming involved with women? I did not put it in those terms, but the fear was there, nonetheless. Especially after I saw what a bad woman could do. . .a woman like Sanure, or her mother Tamar. They married good men, and they ruined them."
"That's the bitch of it," Rick sighed, "It would be so much easier if Celia was like Sanure or Tamar. But she isn't. She's the exact opposite of those two bitches, and it freaking well pisses me off!" Ardeth thought briefly about questioning the logic in that, but decided it wasn't worth it. Rick had his own way of looking at the world, and where the female gender was concerned, it was often in a totally different time zone than Ardeth's mindset.
This was borne out a moment later when Rick continued, "Do you have any idea how much I want to hate her? How much it pisses me off that I feel threatened by a girl who can make you happy? I thought, after Evy told me that she comes from money, that I could hate her. A snobby little rich girl who thinks she's better than everyone else. But nooooo. . .she had to be the total and complete opposite!"
There was such raw emotion in his brother's voice, Ardeth was uncertain how to proceed. His feelings for Celia were still so new and so. . .fierce, he wanted to defend her. And yet, he wasn't entirely sure what he would be defending her from. Rick continued after a moment, "And then there's the other bit. How you feel about her. I know I gotta be careful, 'cause if I'm not, you might just knock me into the next century."
"Next decade, possibly. . .next century, doubtful. It. . .I am surprised that your resentment of her is so strong," Ardeth finally said. All right, 'surprised' was something of an understatement. Why could Rick not see her the way he did? Her loyalty, her compassion, her determination to protect that which was hers. Even when she was amused by Evelyn's drunken behavior, there was no malice in her amusement. The only thing Ardeth found questionable was her lack of protest when Anck began videotaping the entire scene. . .on the other hand, he was forced to admit, he didn't think it likely that anyone could have stopped Anck in that situation. And, Anck admitted she did something similar to Celia. . .when she was in the shower.
Rick sighed, then answered, "I. . .you may not believe this, Ardeth. But it's not really personal, not against her. I think I'd react this way to any girl you fell for. I'll be the first to admit I can be a real ass. I make your life difficult, and I usually don't apologize for it until it's almost too late. But. . .I've found out, I really *like* being an older brother. And being an older brother, it means that I protect my younger siblings. This is the first time you've reacted to a girl like this. Yeah, I'm gonna be a little. . .suspicious of her."
"And the fact that she considers Beni to be a friend. . .makes it even more difficult for you," Ardeth guessed. His brother didn't deny it, and Ardeth thought about how he should proceed. What should he say next? Would he make things even worse if he did say something more? He didn't know. This was a new situation for him all around, and it was starting to give him a headache. . .he almost wished that he could go back to sleep.
"Yes. . .well, yes and no, at the same time. On the one hand, I kinda admire her. I mean, she's a little bit of a thing. Tiny, really. And she stood up to me, she stood up to me, defending someone she considers a friend. That took guts, Ardeth. . .it took a lot of guts. And she's stood up for both of us. I sure as hell can't deny that she's a brave kid. But. . .Beni? Is she naive? Something else? Is she seeing something in him that I can't?" Rick asked.
"It is possible, Rick," Ardeth admitted, laying back down. It was seven am, and they didn't have to be up for another hour. There was nothing that required his attention at this very moment. Nothing but his brother. Ardeth continued, uncomfortably aware of just how good it felt to simply curl up under the covers, "You see Beni as he was when you were fifteen, when he left you outside that dormitory? Barracks? Whatever it was called. She sees him in a different way. And perhaps you are both right."
"Can't be," Rick automatically denied, "we can't both be right. One of us has to be right, and one of us has to be wrong." Ardeth thought about correcting him, then decided against it. He would have to be very careful with the way he worded his sentence. Rick added after a moment, almost hesitantly, "Isn't that true? One of us has to be right, and one of us has to be wrong? Isn't that the way it goes?"
Ah, the opening Ardeth needed! He replied, "Not necessarily. It is possible, brother, that he is the way she sees him. . .when he is around her. Different people bring out different traits in all of us, Rick. I am not the same person to one of the warriors that I am to you. I cannot be. So it is true of Beni Gabor. Does that mean you should trust him? Not at all. He betrayed you once. It is possible that he will betray us again, and that he will betray Celia and her roommates. Continue to be suspicious of him, because that may save our lives."
There was a long silence from his brother, then Rick practically growled, "I *hate* it when you do that." Ardeth, in spite of himself, laughed outright at that. Rick continued, "Really, I do. You make it real hard on a guy to be the big brother, when you come up with stuff like that. Hell, do you realize that half the village thinks you're actually older than I am?" Ardeth just smiled to himself, clasping his hands behind his head. This was not the first time they had this argument, actually, but it was no less amusing for all that.
"I have had more years of practice at sounding so," Ardeth answered. There was another growl, then annoyed footsteps marching across the floor. Rick glowered down at him, the mischievous light in his blue eyes alerting Ardeth to what was coming. The chieftain watched his brother warily, then grabbed Rick's wrists as his brother reached out to tickle him. Such attacks always led to wrestling matches. . .which were fun, but Ardeth had no desire to wake up anyone else in the house.
"Behave yourself, brother," Ardeth warned in a low voice, "there are others still asleep. And do you really want Evelyn to awaken in such a manner, especially when she will likely have a hangover?" Rick scowled at him, but desisted. Ardeth watched him warily, knowing his brother entirely too well. Knowing Rick, he was quite capable of launching a sneak attack, and Ardeth would keep his guard up until his brother was safely returned to his own bed.
Reluctantly, the sandy-haired brother walked over to his own bed, muttering, "Damn you, Ardeth, you've already figured out to play the Evy card. And what's worse, I can't use the Celia card on you, because you think of things ahead of time." Ardeth relaxed, and Rick added, "Yeah, I said her name. Celia. And if you really must know. . . I'm also jealous of her because of the bond she has with Evelyn."
"The fact that Evelyn feels comfortable with her. . .trusts her? Perhaps even loves her?" Ardeth questioned. He received his answer in a most unexpected way. Rick threw a pillow across the room at him. Ardeth shook his head, murmuring, "I'll take that as a 'yes,' then. I wish there were some words to help you, ya ahi. I am not comfortable, knowing of this tension between my brother and. . ."
Ardeth stopped. What was she to him? As if hearing his thoughts, Rick asked gently, "What was it like, when she kissed you? When you kissed?" Ardeth sighed deeply, not sure if what he was about to say would draw merciless teasing from his older brother or not. He was nervous. Very nervous. And he had so little experience with such things. Rick could be quite unpredictable when he so chose.
"I. . .it felt. . .there were so many sensations. It felt like my blood was burning. You know pictures of volcanos, and the lava? That's how my blood felt. Hot, burning. And my legs, they felt like angelhair pasta after Acacia overcooks it again," Ardeth answered, struggling to explain in terms Rick would understand. He ignored the snicker from his brother, and continued, "Nothing mattered in that moment, except for Celia. I. . .there were little explosions all over my body. I was almost afraid I was dying."
"Whoa," Rick said. Ardeth smiled in spite of himself. Yes. 'Whoa' summed up his feelings especially well. His smile widened when Rick continued, "Well, if it's any consolation, buddy, I've never felt that way when I've kissed a girl, either. And I've been with lots of girls. But we won't discuss that. . .I might end up embarrassing you, and then we'd have to explain it to the girls. But, you know. . .I could see the chemistry between the two of you in the food court. I knew it was just a matter of time before things finally exploded between you two. I just figured it would take a lot longer."
"If I were truly wise," Ardeth observed with a faint sigh of annoyance with himself, "I would have waited. It. . .it just felt like the right time, it felt right. It frightens me, Rick. It would be so easy to fall in love with her. And that would be a disaster for both of us. I do not even know the next step, I do not know how to protect her from a distance. If Lock-nah ever realized how I feel about her. . ."
Rick was silent, then he said, "I know. But Ardeth. . .she's in danger already. Just by being friends with Anck. You know that. It'll be easier to protect her if she's nearby. And, Lock-nah may think twice about messing with her, if he realizes she's important to you. If Lock-nah doesn't, then our old buddy Imhotep *will.* You know I hate that guy, but I know he's instructed his allies in the past to focus on the target, not the innocents around them."
"Aywa," Ardeth acknowledged. It was a facet of his opponent that he appreciated. That was why it made no sense for him to hire Lock-nah. On the other hand, he was only chieftain for five years. . .there was still much he had to learn about strategy, and defeating one's opponents. That would not be so bad, but he was just now learning that he still had much to learn as a man, and not just as a warrior or chieftain.
. . .
She expected to have wonderful dreams that night. She kissed a handsome, wonderful, amazing man. A man who desired her. Beautiful dreams were in order, once she drifted off to sleep. But they didn't happen. Instead, nightmares woke her and led her to the bathroom as Anck took care of Evelyn. Celia didn't tell them. She was half-afraid that the old superstition was true. If you told someone about your dream before breakfast, it would come true.
She tried to tell herself that it was silly. After all, Ardeth was more than a match for Neil Grady. He could hold his own in a fight, and what he might lack in weight, he made up for in skill and in speed. And she knew since Neil was the last man she had feelings for, before meeting Ardeth, this was to be expected. Even so, Celia found it difficult to shake off the nightmare as the day started. Fortunately, she was first in the shower, so she could at least warm up while she was doing so. To re- focus her mind, she thought about other aspects of the previous night. Like. . .like Evy getting drunk!
Celia smiled affectionately at the memory. It would be a long time before she or Anck allowed Evy to live *that* down. And she had to wonder how Jonathan would react when he saw the videotape. He might be shocked, but Celia was willing to bet that deep down, he was proud of his baby sister. Celia knew she was. Getting drunk. . .okay, that was going too far. But Evy was brave enough to try something. Something Celia wouldn't do. Couldn't do.
People in her grandmother's family had a history of being allergic to alcohol. It could literally kill them. Celia had no such allergy, but she was afraid of losing control. She was afraid of losing control of her mouth, of her body, of her soul. But most of all, she was afraid of losing control of her life. She could be amused at Evy getting drunk, because it was in a semi-controlled setting, and Evy did nothing to hurt anyone. But getting drunk *could* cause harm.
Ardeth represented another threat to her control, but Celia wasn't afraid of this threat. As she returned to her room, where Anck still slept, she thought back to the previous night, and Ardeth's insistence on holding back, on stalling, on making sure she wasn't being pressured. He wanted to give her every opportunity to change her mind. Ardeth held back, and so, Celia didn't have to. She could put all of herself in that kiss. . .Ardeth was her safety net.
Unfortunately, thinking about the breathtaking kiss of the previous night brought her mind right back to Neil Grady and her dream. She told her two roommates about the fork truck driver, because she feared that he might come to the college and cause trouble for them. Until the previous night, it never occurred to her that Ardeth might be at risk by knowing her. And until the previous night, it never occurred to her that Grady might go after him.
She had to protect Ardeth from Grady. How, she didn't know, but she would find a way. The best way to protect him was simply keep her distance from Grady, as she had during the last few weeks. However, that wasn't one hundred percent accurate, either. In Grady's eyes, she humiliated him in front of the entire warehouse, and she turned his friends against him. He wouldn't let that go so easily.
Which left her with very few options. She could tell Ardeth. Knowledge was power, and if Ardeth knew about Grady, he could protect himself. She hoped. She also hoped that when she told him about her former co-worker, Ardeth wouldn't hate her. She never expected Grady to turn on her the way he did. Ardeth wasn't like Grady, but after the events of this summer, trusting any man would be difficult. Even Ardeth. Unfair? Absolutely. But. . .it was true.
"Stop thinking. I can smell the wood burning all the way over here," Anck grumbled as Celia padded to her duffel bag. The younger girl looked at her roommate, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly. Unfortunately, it was lost, for Anck was still buried under her quilt and blanket. Her roommate added, her voice muffled, "Please tell me that you're thinking about Ardeth. If you're thinking this early in the morning, querida, at least make it pleasant thoughts."
"Yes and no. Yes, I was thinking about Ardeth. I'm worrying again," Celia replied. Anck groaned, and the younger roommate threw a pillow at Anck. It bounced off Anck's head, and prompted the other girl to glare at her. Celia glared back, adding, "I think I have the right to worry. Especially now that I have another person whom Neil Grady might choose to harm."
The glare died, and Anck reached out. Celia took her roommate's hand, sitting down on the bed with a pair of sweats. Anck said softly as Celia pulled the sweatshirt over her head, "Listen to me, querida. I know Grady did a number on you, and you have every right to be skittish. But Ardeth is more of a man than this pieza de mierda could ever hope to be."
"I know," Celia admitted, "I know. It's just. . .if I think about that earthworm, I get scared. If I just think about the kiss last night, then I'm on cloud nine. For so many years, Anck, I thought of myself as undesirable and unappealing. Do you have any idea what it feels like to believe that. . .and then meet someone like Ardeth Bey? Someone who is compassionate and brilliant and beautiful and mysterious? Someone who does find me desirable?"
Anck didn't answer at first, and Celia didn't really expect an answer. After a moment, however, her roommate asked softly, "What was he like, querida? Neil Grady. In terms of physical appearance, I mean." Celia took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Her eyes found Anck's alarm clock. They didn't need to be up for another half hour, but that was okay. This gave them much needed talk time. . .time they wouldn't get later.
"He was tall, around the same height as Ardeth. Maybe an inch or two shorter. And he had short hair. I remember, there was this other girl who was a college student. She's a history major, and she told me once that his haircut reminded her of a Roundhead. I told her not to let him hear her say that. . .he's Irish, after all, and Cromwell was no friend to the Irish. He had brown hair. Not black, not light brown. . . just, brown," Celia replied.
As she spoke, a mental image of her co-worker appeared in her mind. The girl shuddered, for once hating her vivid imagination. Celia continued, "I keep saying 'had.' I think of him in the past tense. But he's still alive. His eyes are blue. And he was a big man. Not in the way that Ardeth and Mr O'Connell are. . .he's more husky. Like he was a football player when he was in high school, but hasn't played in some time."
"In other words," Anck said, "he's gotten flabby." Celia shrugged, uncomfortable with the term. Why that was, she wasn't sure, but she didn't always understand her reactions to things. Anck continued more gently, "Well, after hearing about Mr Bullyboy, it doesn't sound like he's much like Ardeth in the least. In fact, he sounds like Ardeth's exact opposite."
"I think that might be the case," Celia answered, nodding slowly, "And maybe the fact that I'm getting a college education. . .I dunno. But my grandfather sometimes told me that money means less to people who have it. I'm wondering if education is the same way. I should say, a formal education. Grady always felt that I should think more of myself, because I have more formal education than he did."
"There are different kinds of education, querida, and obviously, he doesn't understand that. Just as obviously, it simply isn't important to Ardeth. True things matter to Ardeth. Not your level of education, but your loyalty, honesty, sense of humor, and compassion," Anck replied. Celia blushed. Sheesh, Anck made her sound like somebody. . .well. . .special! As if hearing her thoughts, Anck glared at her, adding, "And don't even think you aren't special!"
"I know that, I do, but Anck. . .he could get those same qualities from some other woman, and in a prettier package," Celia replied. It was shallow. But her mother was beautiful and her father was very handsome. Her two brothers were both extremely good-looking. Then there was Celia. She remembered an incident when she was about ten years old.
The entire family went to a party, a function given by one of her father's business associates. It was Celia's job to keep five year old Jason in line, since Galen was being 'shown off.' At that moment, however, Galen was taking Jason to the restroom, and Celia was searching for refreshments. On her return, the little girl overheard a society matron joke about Celia being adopted, since she didn't resemble her parents. How did she put that? Oh yes. Celia didn't inherit her looks from either side of the family.
She wasn't beautiful. She knew that. Accepted it, and accepted that she would never *be* beautiful. Not as pretty as Anck or Evy. But she was smart, and she would hone her mind. Anck squeezed her hand, drawing Celia's attention back. Her friend's brown eyes were both fierce and gentle at the same time as she said softly, "Pero, querida, no comprendes.* He does not believe there is a prettier package. He sees the real Celia, the beautiful, brave, loving girl."
Anck smiled and released Celia's hand to cup her face, adding, "And that girl is good enough for him, good for any member of any royal family. Now c'mon. I think the chiquitos are stirring, and I want to get my shower first. Can I convince you to make me some coffee?" Celia rolled her eyes, but nodded and rose to her feet. Anck followed, adding with a grin, "Gracias. . .you take *such* good care of me!"
"And don't you forget it!" Celia retorted with a grin. Anck blew her a kiss as she turned to her own duffel bag, looking for her clothes for the day. It was Sunday, and tonight, they would head back to the campus. Today was the picnic, and riding. . .and seeing Mr O'Connell in the clown costume. Celia grinned as she headed downstairs to start Anck's coffee. Now that would be amusing. . .perhaps even more amusing than seeing Evy drunk!
. . .
The only thing that dragged Evy Carnahan out of bed was Livvy Chase. . .well, her insistent little roommate and Livvy's reminder that today was 'clown day.' It might actually be worth getting out of bed. . .seeing Rick O'Connell make a fool out of himself. Why should she be the only one in that category? The thought of Rick O'Connell dressed in a clown costume, resplendent in accompanying makeup, was enough to make Evy grin around her yawns.
The shower was going, and Evy could smell coffee. A quick peek inside the room shared by Celia and Anck told her that both roommates were up and alert. . .it was just a question of who was where. Livvy's squealed, "Celia!" from downstairs told her the location of at least one roommate. It shouldn't have surprised her. . .when they were away from the dormitory, Celia often fixed coffee in the mornings for Anck. Yet another reason why Anck often said that Celia took good care of them both.
With a yawn, Evy traipsed downstairs, narrowly tripping on a toy. She nearly sprained her ankle, avoiding the toy. . .which, on further inspection, was revealed to be one of Alex's. Evy muttered a curse under her breath as she picked up her nephew's toy, then continued downstairs. She found Livvy in the kitchen with Celia, the little girl rattling on happily about what they would be doing that day.
First, they would go riding, then Mr Rick would dress up like a clown for them, then they would have a picnic. And tonight. . .tonight, they would go home. Evy didn't miss the sadness in Livvy's voice, and remembered the little girl's situation. Her father arrested, her brother dying, and her mother trying desperately to hold the family together. Celia listened quietly as she carefully removed the coffee pot from its stand and poured the steaming liquid into a coffee mug designated on its first use as Anck's.
Livvy didn't see Evy standing in the doorway, for she said when she finally stopped to draw breath, "Celia? Are you gonna miss Ardeth when we leave?" Evy almost choked at this. Was her roommate's attraction to Ardeth Bey so obvious that even a small girl like Livvy could see it? Livvy continued without waiting for Celia's response, "I can tell you really like him. My babysitter, Gilly, looks at her boyfriend the way you look at Ardeth. . .and the way he looks at you."
"Is that right? Well. . .the truth is, honey, Ardeth works at the same place I go to school. So I'll get to see him sometimes. Livvy. . .do you know if any of the other children notice the way Ardeth and I look at each other?" Celia asked, her voice stumbling over the words a little bit. Evy moved and her roommate looked up, acknowledging her entrance with a nod. But her attention was on the coffee pot and the little girl in front of her.
"Alex does. He sees the way Ardeth looks at you, and rolls his eyes, and says 'oh, puh-leaze, get a room.' Celia, what does he mean by that?" Livvy questioned incidently. Evy raised her eyebrows. Oh, she knew exactly what her nephew meant by that, and she could tell from Celia's suddenly red face that her roommate knew as well. What Evy wanted to know was where Alex learned that particular phrase.
"Just that some people don't like to watch other people kiss or otherwise get mushy. I guess Alex is one of those people. Does it bother you, Livvy?" Celia inquired as she placed the coffee pot carefully back on its stand and the coffee cup beside the sink. She went to the refrigerator next and Evy took a seat beside Livvy. She was very interested in hearing what the little girl had to say.
"Uh-uh. Mommy and Daddy got mushy all the time 'fore my brother got sick," Livvy confided, sounding sad. Evy put her hand on the little girl's shoulder, wishing she could comfort the child. She didn't know what she would do if she ever lost Jonathan. For all that they drove each other crazy and sniped at each other, she loved her big brother desperately, and would do anything for him. Losing her parents was bad enough. . .losing her brother would be too much. And she wondered, a bit uneasily, what he would say, what he would do, when he found out that she got drunk the previous night.
But what Livvy said next blew all thoughts of her behavior the night before right out of Evy's mind. The little girl asked curiously, "Celia? Have you and Ardeth ever kissed?" Evy bit down hard on her lower lip, having a vague recollection of hearing about the kiss that took place the previous night. Celia, for her own part, almost dropped the orange juice container. She managed to avoid disaster, but there was no mistaking her stunned expression.
And she was saved from making an answer, for Anck entered the room, her dark hair wet. Well, that explained who was in the shower. Without Anck ever saying a word, Celia reached over to the coffee mug sitting beside the sink and handed it to the newcomer. Anck accepted it with a half-smile. Of course. She was always somewhat grumpy in the morning, at least until she had her coffee.
She wasn't alone. . .trailing along behind her were Ardeth Bey and Rick O'Connell. Livvy squealed, "Ardeth!" and practically flung herself out of her chair, into the young man's arms. Ardeth managed to catch her before she broke anything, but Evy could tell from his expression that it was a near thing. Livvy, blissfully unaware of her narrow escape, smiled and said, "Ardeth, you're awake! I just asked Celia, and she didn't answer me, but maybe you will. Have you ever kissed Celia?"
Oh dear. Evy didn't even need to look behind her to know that Celia was blushing. She didn't need to look around, because her roommate's blushing could have served as an airfield beacon in the middle of the night. In fact, Evy wouldn't have been surprised if they couldn't see that blush clear across the country in Los Angeles. And Ardeth wasn't answering. . .he was too stunned by the little girl's question.
It was Anck who came to the rescue, saying, "It is too early in the morning to answer such serious questions, chiquita. Ardeth hasn't had coffee, juice, or even breakfast yet. Ven aqui, por favor.**" She put down her coffee cup, and walked over to the still stunned teaching assistant. Much to Evy's surprise, Olivia understood Spanish, for she once more lunged, this time into Anck's arms. Evy's roommate instructed Ardeth, "Sit. Eat. You'll need all the energy you can get this morning."
Evy pulled out the chair vacated by Livvy and nodded to Ardeth. He sat down, ducking his head in obvious embarrassment. Evy could almost guess his thoughts. Did everyone in the world know that he and Celia kissed the previous night? She smiled at him sympathetically, and tried not to laugh when he started muttering under his breath in ancient Egyptian. She didn't quite catch all of it. . .just enough to realize that he was cursing the curious nature of little girls.
"Did you sleep well, Ardeth?" she inquired, doing her level best to ignore the man's brother. He remained where he stopped when he and Ardeth entered the room a few minutes earlier. Ardeth raised his head and nodded, still looking terribly embarrassed. By now hoping to redirect everyone's attention, Evy continued, "Anck is quite right. You must eat. You're entirely too thin, and I have to wonder. . ."
"Good morning, everyone! I slept like a log!" Evy smiled. Trust Jonathan.
He entered the room, Galen Ferguson right behind him, and Jonathan repeated, "Good morning! I hope everyone slept well, because I had the most amazing dream. . ." Rick O'Connell coughed, but Evy instantly recognized it as a poorly-disguised laugh. Ooooh, that man! Jonathan looked at the American, then continued, "As I was saying, I had the most amazing dream last night. I dreamed that my little sister got roaring drunk!"
Oh. . .dear. O'Connell moved to take a seat on the other side of Evy, replying, "Hate to be the one to tell you this, Jonathan. . .but it wasn't a dream. In fact, if memory serves, Anck-su-namun has footage of everything." Hate? Oh, Evelyn didn't believe that for a moment. O'Connell turned and gave her a very pleasant smile, saying, "Good morning, Evelyn. I see you're no worse for wear." Oh dear. . .it would seem that the moment of truth had arrived. Now she had to face Rick O'Connell.
. . .
"Good morning, Evelyn. I see you're no worse for wear."
Okay. As opening lines went, he had to admit. . .it sucked. So did the feeling he got when Evelyn turned in her seat, barely able to meet his eyes. She was. . .it went far beyond embarrassed. And Rick felt like a shit of the first order. He didn't want her to look like that. Not Evelyn, who didn't back down from anyone or anything. He also didn't like this protective feeling he got in his gut when she did look at him like that.
So he did something equally shitty to redirect attention away from the girl. He said, "Speaking of that camcorder, Anck, did you happen to catch my brother and your roommate kissing?" Ardeth froze on the other side of the girl Rick was protecting. He wasn't seated anywhere near his brother, and Rick felt the sudden chill in the air. He didn't see Ardeth's face to realize that he just went too far. Nor did he need to.
"Of course not. I was with you, Senor, when you carried Evelyn back up to the house," came Anck's icy reply. She added something in Spanish which he didn't know, and didn't particularly want a translation of. And if Anck's expression was icy, then Celia's was downright fiery. Uh-oh. This couldn't be a good thing. Anck added, "Drink your juice, Ardeth, I will make some toast for you. Celia, sit down. . .let me take care of everyone for once."
Celia did as she was asked, her eyes never leaving Rick's face. He didn't think about the fact that he called her by name in his mind, instead of referring to her as 'the little roommate.' In fact, the only thing he was now thinking about was how glad he was that she was reacting this way. It meant she would protect Ardeth, as she protected Beni.
But it wasn't Celia who spoke a moment later. Rather, it was Galen Ferguson who said gently, "Well now. I'm glad the two of you stopped dancing around the subject, and went for it. I don't think I need to warn either of you to be careful, do I?" Both Celia and Ardeth shook their heads, and Galen patted Ardeth on the shoulder, adding, "Didn't think so. I'll trust my sister's heart to you, Ardeth. Come out to the stables when you're ready."
He left the kitchen without another word, and Jonathan said into the silence which followed, "Excuse me, but did I miss something? I mean, first we were talking about my little sister getting roaring drunk, then we were talking about Ardeth and Celia kissing?" Anck leveled that icy glare at Jonathan, who quailed and added, "Right then. If you'll give me a cup of that excellent java, I'll take it down to Galen."
"My brother doesn't drink coffee in the morning, Jonathan. Give me a minute and I'll pour him a glass of orange juice," Celia said quietly. She slipped from her perch and went to the cabinet, withdrawing a large glass. . .well, a large plastic cup, would be much more accurate. Anck went to the refrigerator at the same time, removing the orange juice container once more. Together, they got the beverage ready for Celia's brother. Jonathan accepted it, then skittered from the house, muttering under his breath.
"We should start waking the children. It's gonna be a busy day today," Celia announced to no one in particular. She finished the last of her toast, adding, "I've already had my shower this morning. I'll wake up Alex. Livvy, honey, why don't you go down to the stables with Ardeth? I think he could use the company." And again, she leveled that glare at Rick, who curbed his desire to duck his head.
"I'm almost done. . .I can help. No, Ardeth, finish your breakfast. Like I said, you're entirely too thin," Evy said, and Rick almost smiled. She sounded like she had her equilibrium back. This was verified a moment later when she looked at him straight in the eye. . .and there was a fire there. Good. He would rather have her angry with him than unable to look at him. Besides. She was damn pretty when she was angry.
"I have had enough to eat, Evelyn, more than I usually do in the morning. Come, Olivia. The ladies will need the kitchen to themselves, so they may start our picnic lunch," Ardeth replied. Well, that was true enough. Ardeth didn't usually eat until later in the morning. Rick kept a stash of energy bars on hand, and that was what his brother usually ate at this time of the morning. Unfortunately, Ardeth never even looked at him as he helped Olivia down from her chair, and they headed outside.
Rick closed his eyes. Damn. That was not one of his smarter moves. He wanted to direct attention away from Evy, and he accomplished that. But betraying his brother wasn't part of the bargain. And his crack about kissing Celia *was* a betrayal. A small betrayal, but a betrayal nonetheless. Maybe Celia had a point about defending Beni, after all, as much as he hated to admit it. He knew that Ardeth was a private person. . .he told no one else of the kiss, because it wasn't anyone else's concern. And Rick took that choice out of his hands. Took the choice and the timing out of his hands.
He didn't doubt that Celia told her two roommates. In fact, he was willing to bet that she did. But that wasn't a betrayal. They were her sisters, just as Rick was Ardeth's brother. And likely, she turned to them for guidance, just as Ardeth turned to Rick for guidance. But unlike Rick, they both understood she would tell her brother when she was damn good and ready. They understood that they were entrusted with a precious secret.
He would make it up to Ardeth later. Maybe during his clown performance, by making even more of a fool of himself than he wanted. For now, he had to finish getting ready for the riding lesson, and he had to get away from the silent condemnation of the three women in the kitchen with him. Well, two. Just as she promised, once she finished with her breakfast, Celia quietly left the room, heading upstairs to wake Alex Carnahan.
Anck Cortez deliberately turned her back on him, and Rick understood immediately. There were various forms of nonverbal communication. Some people used hand gestures. . .usually the middle finger. This was Anck's way of flipping him the bird. Evy said softly, "I appreciate you trying to direct attention away from me, but. . ."
"I know. I just couldn't stand the idea of you. . .not being able to meet my eyes. I'll talk to Ardeth later. Make things right with him," Rick answered. He paused, looked at her through his lashes, then added, "What about you? Are things right with you?" The girl blushed, looking down herself. Without really meaning to, and yet somehow knowing it was the right thing to do, Rick reached out and placed his finger under her chin, lifting it until he looked into her eyes.
She smiled at him shyly, answering, "Yes. Yes, I suppose they are." Rick smiled back, feeling that curious sense inside his chest once more. Was this what Ardeth felt when he looked at Celia Ferguson? This strange mixture of protectiveness and desire? This longing to kiss his lady senseless, until her legs were weak and she would agree to just about anything he requested? This overwhelming need to protect her from anyone or anything that would hurt her?
That scared Rick. For years, he hassled Ardeth about finding a lady to warm his bed and touch his soul, but now that it happened. . . He was worried. If Ardeth felt about Celia the way Rick felt when he looked at Evelyn, they were in trouble. It was hard for Rick to concentrate on what had to be done, to stop Imhotep and protect the girls. What if it was harder for his brother, who had absolutely no experience with women?
But that was sucked out of his mind when Evelyn's fingers curled around his own, the finger under her chin. Rick looked back at the lovely English girl, and she asked shyly, "Did I really. . .almost kiss you last night? Anck and Celia told me some of it. Including that." Rick, much to his own distress, realized he was blushing. That was not a good thing. He wasn't supposed to blush. He was more experienced than any of his siblings, after all.
But he was blushing, especially when he answered, "Yeah, it's true. You started to kiss me, then fell face first into my lap." If he thought he was blushing, then Evelyn's face was absolutely scarlet with embarrassment. Rick mumbled, not knowing what else to say, "And in case I didn't mention it, you're awful cute when you're drunk."
Evelyn's blush deepened, and she looked down at her feet. After a moment, she looked back up, smiling shyly. And Rick O'Connell, bad-ass royale, felt his heart do a crazy nosedive. The floor was stable under him, but Rick could have sworn he felt the earth move. He remembered an old song. . .couldn't remember all the lyrics, but there was a line about being ten feet tall and bullet proof. That was how Rick was feeling now.
He was no hero. He knew that. If there were any heroes in his family, Ardeth was the primary candidate. Not just because he was brave and determined, though he was certainly both of those things. No, his brother was also a hero because he had the worst job in the world, but he still got up in the morning, still did what had to be done, and cleaned up the mess afterward. And looking into Evelyn's brown eyes, Rick began to understand why his brother did all that.
For this woman, he would do all that. For this girl, he would willingly risk everything. Now Rick also began to understand his brother's fear that he would endanger Celia Ferguson. But like he told Ardeth earlier. The girls were in danger already, because of their connection to Anck, and because of Meela's hatred of her cousin. If Rick and Ardeth stayed close to the girls, they would be better able to protect them.
But for now. . . Evelyn smiled at him, saying softly, "Everything's fine, O'Connell. Go. Make things right with your brother." Make things. . .oh. Yeah. Yeah, he needed to make amends with Ardeth. He needed to tell his brother that he got it now. No more hassling, no more teasing. No more making Ardeth's life difficult. He smiled at Evelyn, and received a beautiful smile in return. Rick touched her cheek. He wanted to kiss her, but he was afraid if he did. . .if he did, he would never leave this kitchen. There would be time enough for kisses later.
. . .
Galen Ferguson wasn't entirely surprised when Ardeth Bey joined him only a few moments after his own departure. The young Egyptian quietly began helping in the stables, while little Livvy Chase said 'good morning' to all the animals. Nothing was said by either man. Nothing really needed to be said. And Livvy was very good at entertaining herself. Several times, Galen glanced over at the young man who was winning his sister's heart. He didn't know if there was a future for Celia and Ardeth. Celia was only nineteen, after all, and this young man would eventually return to Egypt.
But as first boyfriends went, Galen couldn't have asked for a better one for Celia. The resident said quietly, "I never thought, by the way, that you would ever hurt my sister. At least not deliberately." Ardeth looked up from what he was doing, and for a moment, Galen was struck at how young he truly was. The beard and facial hair did a good job of disguising his youth, but for the first time, Galen realized Ardeth really wasn't much older than Celia.
Before the young man could respond, Galen sat down on a bale of hay beside Ardeth, continuing, "See, Celia's always been the ugly duckling. I was raised to never strike a woman, that only cowards hit women. But when Celia was ten, I almost forgot the way I was raised. I heard a woman saying to my mother, one of her society friends, that she almost thought Celia was adopted, because she didn't look like either of our parents. And she laughed. I saw the look on my little sister's face, and I wanted to punch that woman."
"I do not understand. . .Celia is lovely. Especially when she smiles. Why would she be considered the ugly duckling?" Ardeth answered, confusion obvious in his tone. Galen smiled warmly at the younger man. See, this was why he realized Ardeth was good enough for Celia. The boy continued after a moment, "And why would your mother be friends with a woman who spoke so cruelly of her children?"
"Because, Ardeth, this woman was the wife of our father's business associate. And she has been considered the ugly duckling, because. . .well, like you said, she is real pretty. But it's not as obvious as Anck or Evy, or Celia's friend Margit. You see how pretty she is. Evy, Anck, Margit and I. . .we see it. Our grandparents saw it. But from the time she was about seven or eight, even before that old biddy shot her mouth off, Celia was considered a disappointment by my parents, in terms of looks. And so my little sister made up for it by being as smart and as nice as she could," Galen replied bitterly.
He never realized it. Not for a long time, not until Margit pointed it out to him. He knew that Celia wasn't considered as attractive as their mother. Hell, there was no way he could have missed that. But until Margit brought it up, he never realized that for the longest time, his baby sister tried to 'atone' for being 'less attractive' by making up for it in personality and intelligence. There was no need for atonement.
And Celia was finally starting to accept that, finally starting to believe that she was as pretty as she was smart and caring. Then that low- life bastard Grady. . . Galen couldn't bear to think about it. He was angry with Grady, he was furious with Grady, but what really sickened was his anger with his sister. What the hell was she thinking, even looking twice at that scumbag? Couldn't she tell that he wasn't any good?
Of course she couldn't. She was nineteen years old, and thought he was dependable. Okay. That was true. But what hurt Galen was the fact that she *never* told him about it. He wasn't sure if she was trying to protect him or trying to protect herself. That hurt, too. Did she really trust him so little, that she thought he would blame her for what that son of a bitch did? Evidently, that was the case.
And wasn't he proving her right, by blaming her for not telling him, for not seeing the real Neil Grady from the get-go? Hell. Galen sighed, and realized with a glance to his right that Ardeth was thinking about other things. Maybe that kiss the previous night? Could be. Like Galen already said, he knew Ardeth Bey was good enough for his little sister. And he was actually relieved when he found out they kissed. Besides. Maybe if Celia was occupied with Ardeth, she wouldn't worry so much about Galen, and the girls he dated.
And speaking of Ardeth. . .he had been quiet during the last few minutes. Galen looked at him curiously, to find Ardeth absently brushing Diablo. Wasn't that strange, too? Diablo didn't let most men near him. The girls swore up and down that the horse was abused by men, and that was why he would only let women and children near him. And they found out the previous day that Diablo would let Ardeth ride him, but not Rick.
What was up with that? Galen sensed that there was a lot of things about Ardeth Bey that his sister didn't know, including his magic with animals. But right now, he just looked like a puzzled and somewhat worried young man. Galen asked softly, knowing how careful you had to be sometimes with people as well as animals, "Ardeth? Everything okay, kid?" Ardeth blinked, obviously startled. . .whether the reason for his surprise was the sound of Galen's voice, or being called 'kid' was anyone's guess.
"Aywa, I am well. Merely. . .thinking. Tell me, Galen. . .did I overreact when my brother mentioned the kiss?" Ardeth asked with a frown. Galen sat down beside the young man with a sigh. How to answer that? Especially since Galen felt Ardeth was asking the wrong person. Hey, it was his little sister involved in this too, after all! And while Galen understood that Rick O'Connell was redirecting attention away from Evy. . .
"You know, kid. . .there's overreacting, and then there's shutting down, so you *don't* overreact. Me? I overreact. If anyone messes with Celia or Jason, I turn into the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I love my little sister and my little brother more than anything else on this planet, my parents included. I would *kill* for Jason and Celia," Galen replied. Ardeth merely nodded, not looking particularly surprised.
Then, he wouldn't. Galen's instinct about the young man was that he was the same way, that he would do anything for his siblings. . .or anyone else he loved. The resident continued, "You. . .on the other hand, you shut down. Rick opened his big mouth, and put you in the firing line. That's the only way to put it. He put you on the firing line, to direct attention away from Evy. I would have lashed out. You shut down."
The sound of boots crunching down the hay alerted him that there were others in the stables with them, but right now, Galen was focusing only on his sister's new. . .boyfriend? No. No, that didn't sound quite right. *Gran would have just called Ardeth Celia's 'young man,' and been done with it,* Galen thought with an amused smirk, *so I suppose that will do.* Aloud, he continued, "Now. . .whether my way is healthier is up for debate. Your way is definitely healthier for your brother. Whether it's healthier for you. . .I don't know. But at least this way, your brother isn't nursing a sore jaw."
Ardeth laughed at that, as he was meant to. A voice from the doorway said, "I can't argue with that." Galen turned to face Rick O'Connell, who added with a nod toward his brother, "Mind if I have a few moments with Ardeth? The girls are getting the kids ready to come down here. Figured you might need a little more preparation time." Galen looked back at Ardeth, wanting to know if this was okay with him. Even if Rick wasn't willing to ask Ardeth if he was ready to deal with this, Galen was.
The younger man nodded, almost imperceptibly, and Galen patted his shoulder. He turned around, replying, "Well, it seems your brother is willing to talk. I'll be outside." He started to pass, and obeying a sudden impulse, grabbed the shoulder of the other brother. Galen dragged him a few steps away, saying in a low voice, "Just a warning. I know people like Ardeth. They shut down only so many times, until the pressure gets to be too much. Read me?"
"Loud and clear. Now here's a piece of advice. Don't ever grab me again, and don't ever interfere between my brother and me. Got it?" came the hissed response. Galen bobbed his head and released Rick's shoulder. He turned back to nod at Ardeth, who smiled faintly, then plucked up Livvy on his way out of the stables. She protested, but Galen knew the brothers would need privacy to conduct this conversation, whether they talked with their fists or not.
Translations:
*'Pero, querida, no comprendes' But, dear one, you do not understand.
**'Ven aqui, por favor.' Come here, please.
Terreis: Heheheheh. . .I thought you would enjoy the inclusion of the paraphrase! And I'm glad you liked the 'explosive' scene between Ardeth and Celia. Honestly, your answer confirmed my own instincts. Especially given Ardeth's character, personality, and dedication. As someone once told me, too, 'steamy' is usually steamier when less description is provided, rather than more.
Sailor Elf: Yes, they kissed! And I'm sure you realize I really enjoyed writing that part. As I told Terreis, your comments confirm my own instincts about how far they should go. And you're not being rude, you're answering a question I posed to you (it's not like you took the attitude that being Rick's verbal punching bag is Ardeth's purpose in life, or denigrated one of my 'kids.'). As for Antoine. . .by all means! Far be it from me to tell you 'no,' dear one!
LilyLynn: Now, what have I said in the past? Signing in is not important, it's the reviewing that matters. No 'action' for Rick and Evy in this part, but I'm building up to that. I hope this is soon enough for you. . .I had a recent 'breakthrough,' and decided to write as much as I could while it lasted. Enjoy!
The Learning Curve
Part Fourteen
"So. . .is this serious?"
Ardeth looked at his brother in the early morning light. That was unusual. Rick usually didn't wake up for another few hours at least. But right now, Rick was awake and alert. Awake, alert, and asking questions without answers. Ardeth answered softly, "I wish I knew, ya ahi. All I know. . ." The young chieftain sighed, lying back against his pillows, then added, "I never felt anything like that before. When she kissed me."
"She. . .kissed. . .you. Well. That is unexpected, but I didn't exactly see you fighting her off," Rick answered tartly. Ardeth pushed himself back up onto his elbows, glaring at his older brother. Then it hit him. That note he heard in Rick's voice. It wasn't anger. It was jealousy. Just. . .jealousy. Ardeth was somewhat confused about the reason for it. He could think of no good reason why Rick would be jealous.
And so, naturally, he asked, "Why are you jealous, Rick?" The other man bolted upright in bed, and his expression reminded Ardeth of the old saying, 'glaring daggers.' If it was possible to glare daggers, then that was Rick was doing now.
"I am NOT jealous!" his brother retorted. Ardeth merely raised an eyebrow at Rick, not believing a word coming out of his mouth. Rick glared at him, repeating, "I'm not! Why would I be jealous! It's not like you have anything I want!" Ardeth ignored the twinge caused by that remark, and just stared steadily at the other man. In all the years they knew each other, they never lied to each other, and Ardeth wouldn't let his brother start now. And not even Rick's habit of lashing out would prevent Ardeth from making sure the truth was known.
"I did not say that you were jealous of me," Ardeth answered, "but it is possible. After all, Evelyn never finished her kiss. But I do not think that is why you are jealous. I think you're jealous of Celia." Now Rick bolted upright, staring at Ardeth a little wildly. . .and, Ardeth noted, there was some fear in his eyes as well. The chieftain continued, nodding slowly, "Yes. You *are* jealous of Celia. . .but why?"
"You're outta yer tree," Rick bluffed, but Ardeth wasn't dissuaded so easily. His mother often quoted 'Hamlet' when trying to win an argument with his father, and her favorite line was 'the lady doth protest too much.' After this conversation, Ardeth would never again question his mother's fondness for that line. Nor was he convinced when Rick continued, trying to laugh and failing miserably, "Why would I be jealous of her?"
"I do not know, but it is obvious to me that you are. Why, ya ahi? What does she have that you desire? Evelyn's trust and respect? Surely you realize that Evelyn is as attracted to you as you are to her," Ardeth reasoned out. What else could there be, but the obvious affection and friendship between the roommates? Rick was silent this time, staring straight ahead. Ardeth couldn't see his expression, and that troubled him.
"It isn't about Evelyn. You're not gonna let this go, are you? You really wanna know why I'm jealous of your girlfriend," Rick said flatly. Ardeth started to protest that Celia wasn't his girlfriend, but he stayed silent. He knew if he said such a thing, Rick would then ask him what Celia was, if she wasn't his girlfriend, and Ardeth didn't have the answer to that particular question. And the answer to his own question shocked him. Rick said quietly, "I'm jealous of the little roommate because of her affect on you."
Ardeth blinked, trying to comprehend that statement. What was *that* supposed to mean? Rick glared at him, adding, "Get your mind out of the gutter, Ardeth! It's just that. . .for such a long time, it's just been you and me. Well, there were Acacia and Aleta, Anatol, and the babies, too. Dad and Altair. But. . .we've been a team for so long, Ardeth, just you and I. And we're a good team, we're a *great* team."
Ardeth was stunned by his brother's outburst. He also found it strange that he didn't call Celia by her name, but instead called her, 'the little roommate' or 'your girlfriend.' All right, perhaps 'strange' was not the best term under the circumstances. It was the best term he had at his disposal right now. The younger brother was silent for several moments, trying to work this out in his head, then finally asked, "And why do you. . .I do not understand, Rick. We are still a team. Celia's presence in my life does not change that. . .certainly, my feelings for her complicate things, but. . ."
"She's gonna ruin everything!" Rick blurted out. Ardeth stared at his brother in shock. Rick was afraid that Celia would ruin things? What things? Where was this coming from? His brother shook his head, continuing, "I know the way relationships work, little brother. Girls, once they get their hooks in you. . .she'll change you, Ardeth. She'll change you, and that'll change everything. And then on top of everything else, she's friends with that little loser, Beni, and someone like that can't be trusted!"
Ardeth froze, caught between his desire to knock his brother into the next decade and the equally powerful desire to reassure Rick that no such thing would happen. Instead, he did neither. He said, "But, Rick. . .things always change. Nothing can stay as it was, regardless of the people in our lives. You know this. It was one such change that brought you and Nathaniel into our lives. That was a change for the better. Why are you so sure that any changes in me caused by my time with Celia will be bad changes?"
Rick slumped back against the pillows, answering softly, "That's the worst part. The part that makes me so angry. I already see changes in you, little brother, changes because of her. And they're good changes. She makes you smile, she makes you laugh. And when you two were kissing, you were so far gone, you didn't even realize I was talking to you at first. She can make you happy, Ardeth, and I gotta wonder where it's gonna leave me."
Both brothers were silent for a long time, then very gently, Ardeth said, "Rick. Did it never cross your mind that I have been afraid of something similar ever since you first started becoming involved with women? I did not put it in those terms, but the fear was there, nonetheless. Especially after I saw what a bad woman could do. . .a woman like Sanure, or her mother Tamar. They married good men, and they ruined them."
"That's the bitch of it," Rick sighed, "It would be so much easier if Celia was like Sanure or Tamar. But she isn't. She's the exact opposite of those two bitches, and it freaking well pisses me off!" Ardeth thought briefly about questioning the logic in that, but decided it wasn't worth it. Rick had his own way of looking at the world, and where the female gender was concerned, it was often in a totally different time zone than Ardeth's mindset.
This was borne out a moment later when Rick continued, "Do you have any idea how much I want to hate her? How much it pisses me off that I feel threatened by a girl who can make you happy? I thought, after Evy told me that she comes from money, that I could hate her. A snobby little rich girl who thinks she's better than everyone else. But nooooo. . .she had to be the total and complete opposite!"
There was such raw emotion in his brother's voice, Ardeth was uncertain how to proceed. His feelings for Celia were still so new and so. . .fierce, he wanted to defend her. And yet, he wasn't entirely sure what he would be defending her from. Rick continued after a moment, "And then there's the other bit. How you feel about her. I know I gotta be careful, 'cause if I'm not, you might just knock me into the next century."
"Next decade, possibly. . .next century, doubtful. It. . .I am surprised that your resentment of her is so strong," Ardeth finally said. All right, 'surprised' was something of an understatement. Why could Rick not see her the way he did? Her loyalty, her compassion, her determination to protect that which was hers. Even when she was amused by Evelyn's drunken behavior, there was no malice in her amusement. The only thing Ardeth found questionable was her lack of protest when Anck began videotaping the entire scene. . .on the other hand, he was forced to admit, he didn't think it likely that anyone could have stopped Anck in that situation. And, Anck admitted she did something similar to Celia. . .when she was in the shower.
Rick sighed, then answered, "I. . .you may not believe this, Ardeth. But it's not really personal, not against her. I think I'd react this way to any girl you fell for. I'll be the first to admit I can be a real ass. I make your life difficult, and I usually don't apologize for it until it's almost too late. But. . .I've found out, I really *like* being an older brother. And being an older brother, it means that I protect my younger siblings. This is the first time you've reacted to a girl like this. Yeah, I'm gonna be a little. . .suspicious of her."
"And the fact that she considers Beni to be a friend. . .makes it even more difficult for you," Ardeth guessed. His brother didn't deny it, and Ardeth thought about how he should proceed. What should he say next? Would he make things even worse if he did say something more? He didn't know. This was a new situation for him all around, and it was starting to give him a headache. . .he almost wished that he could go back to sleep.
"Yes. . .well, yes and no, at the same time. On the one hand, I kinda admire her. I mean, she's a little bit of a thing. Tiny, really. And she stood up to me, she stood up to me, defending someone she considers a friend. That took guts, Ardeth. . .it took a lot of guts. And she's stood up for both of us. I sure as hell can't deny that she's a brave kid. But. . .Beni? Is she naive? Something else? Is she seeing something in him that I can't?" Rick asked.
"It is possible, Rick," Ardeth admitted, laying back down. It was seven am, and they didn't have to be up for another hour. There was nothing that required his attention at this very moment. Nothing but his brother. Ardeth continued, uncomfortably aware of just how good it felt to simply curl up under the covers, "You see Beni as he was when you were fifteen, when he left you outside that dormitory? Barracks? Whatever it was called. She sees him in a different way. And perhaps you are both right."
"Can't be," Rick automatically denied, "we can't both be right. One of us has to be right, and one of us has to be wrong." Ardeth thought about correcting him, then decided against it. He would have to be very careful with the way he worded his sentence. Rick added after a moment, almost hesitantly, "Isn't that true? One of us has to be right, and one of us has to be wrong? Isn't that the way it goes?"
Ah, the opening Ardeth needed! He replied, "Not necessarily. It is possible, brother, that he is the way she sees him. . .when he is around her. Different people bring out different traits in all of us, Rick. I am not the same person to one of the warriors that I am to you. I cannot be. So it is true of Beni Gabor. Does that mean you should trust him? Not at all. He betrayed you once. It is possible that he will betray us again, and that he will betray Celia and her roommates. Continue to be suspicious of him, because that may save our lives."
There was a long silence from his brother, then Rick practically growled, "I *hate* it when you do that." Ardeth, in spite of himself, laughed outright at that. Rick continued, "Really, I do. You make it real hard on a guy to be the big brother, when you come up with stuff like that. Hell, do you realize that half the village thinks you're actually older than I am?" Ardeth just smiled to himself, clasping his hands behind his head. This was not the first time they had this argument, actually, but it was no less amusing for all that.
"I have had more years of practice at sounding so," Ardeth answered. There was another growl, then annoyed footsteps marching across the floor. Rick glowered down at him, the mischievous light in his blue eyes alerting Ardeth to what was coming. The chieftain watched his brother warily, then grabbed Rick's wrists as his brother reached out to tickle him. Such attacks always led to wrestling matches. . .which were fun, but Ardeth had no desire to wake up anyone else in the house.
"Behave yourself, brother," Ardeth warned in a low voice, "there are others still asleep. And do you really want Evelyn to awaken in such a manner, especially when she will likely have a hangover?" Rick scowled at him, but desisted. Ardeth watched him warily, knowing his brother entirely too well. Knowing Rick, he was quite capable of launching a sneak attack, and Ardeth would keep his guard up until his brother was safely returned to his own bed.
Reluctantly, the sandy-haired brother walked over to his own bed, muttering, "Damn you, Ardeth, you've already figured out to play the Evy card. And what's worse, I can't use the Celia card on you, because you think of things ahead of time." Ardeth relaxed, and Rick added, "Yeah, I said her name. Celia. And if you really must know. . . I'm also jealous of her because of the bond she has with Evelyn."
"The fact that Evelyn feels comfortable with her. . .trusts her? Perhaps even loves her?" Ardeth questioned. He received his answer in a most unexpected way. Rick threw a pillow across the room at him. Ardeth shook his head, murmuring, "I'll take that as a 'yes,' then. I wish there were some words to help you, ya ahi. I am not comfortable, knowing of this tension between my brother and. . ."
Ardeth stopped. What was she to him? As if hearing his thoughts, Rick asked gently, "What was it like, when she kissed you? When you kissed?" Ardeth sighed deeply, not sure if what he was about to say would draw merciless teasing from his older brother or not. He was nervous. Very nervous. And he had so little experience with such things. Rick could be quite unpredictable when he so chose.
"I. . .it felt. . .there were so many sensations. It felt like my blood was burning. You know pictures of volcanos, and the lava? That's how my blood felt. Hot, burning. And my legs, they felt like angelhair pasta after Acacia overcooks it again," Ardeth answered, struggling to explain in terms Rick would understand. He ignored the snicker from his brother, and continued, "Nothing mattered in that moment, except for Celia. I. . .there were little explosions all over my body. I was almost afraid I was dying."
"Whoa," Rick said. Ardeth smiled in spite of himself. Yes. 'Whoa' summed up his feelings especially well. His smile widened when Rick continued, "Well, if it's any consolation, buddy, I've never felt that way when I've kissed a girl, either. And I've been with lots of girls. But we won't discuss that. . .I might end up embarrassing you, and then we'd have to explain it to the girls. But, you know. . .I could see the chemistry between the two of you in the food court. I knew it was just a matter of time before things finally exploded between you two. I just figured it would take a lot longer."
"If I were truly wise," Ardeth observed with a faint sigh of annoyance with himself, "I would have waited. It. . .it just felt like the right time, it felt right. It frightens me, Rick. It would be so easy to fall in love with her. And that would be a disaster for both of us. I do not even know the next step, I do not know how to protect her from a distance. If Lock-nah ever realized how I feel about her. . ."
Rick was silent, then he said, "I know. But Ardeth. . .she's in danger already. Just by being friends with Anck. You know that. It'll be easier to protect her if she's nearby. And, Lock-nah may think twice about messing with her, if he realizes she's important to you. If Lock-nah doesn't, then our old buddy Imhotep *will.* You know I hate that guy, but I know he's instructed his allies in the past to focus on the target, not the innocents around them."
"Aywa," Ardeth acknowledged. It was a facet of his opponent that he appreciated. That was why it made no sense for him to hire Lock-nah. On the other hand, he was only chieftain for five years. . .there was still much he had to learn about strategy, and defeating one's opponents. That would not be so bad, but he was just now learning that he still had much to learn as a man, and not just as a warrior or chieftain.
. . .
She expected to have wonderful dreams that night. She kissed a handsome, wonderful, amazing man. A man who desired her. Beautiful dreams were in order, once she drifted off to sleep. But they didn't happen. Instead, nightmares woke her and led her to the bathroom as Anck took care of Evelyn. Celia didn't tell them. She was half-afraid that the old superstition was true. If you told someone about your dream before breakfast, it would come true.
She tried to tell herself that it was silly. After all, Ardeth was more than a match for Neil Grady. He could hold his own in a fight, and what he might lack in weight, he made up for in skill and in speed. And she knew since Neil was the last man she had feelings for, before meeting Ardeth, this was to be expected. Even so, Celia found it difficult to shake off the nightmare as the day started. Fortunately, she was first in the shower, so she could at least warm up while she was doing so. To re- focus her mind, she thought about other aspects of the previous night. Like. . .like Evy getting drunk!
Celia smiled affectionately at the memory. It would be a long time before she or Anck allowed Evy to live *that* down. And she had to wonder how Jonathan would react when he saw the videotape. He might be shocked, but Celia was willing to bet that deep down, he was proud of his baby sister. Celia knew she was. Getting drunk. . .okay, that was going too far. But Evy was brave enough to try something. Something Celia wouldn't do. Couldn't do.
People in her grandmother's family had a history of being allergic to alcohol. It could literally kill them. Celia had no such allergy, but she was afraid of losing control. She was afraid of losing control of her mouth, of her body, of her soul. But most of all, she was afraid of losing control of her life. She could be amused at Evy getting drunk, because it was in a semi-controlled setting, and Evy did nothing to hurt anyone. But getting drunk *could* cause harm.
Ardeth represented another threat to her control, but Celia wasn't afraid of this threat. As she returned to her room, where Anck still slept, she thought back to the previous night, and Ardeth's insistence on holding back, on stalling, on making sure she wasn't being pressured. He wanted to give her every opportunity to change her mind. Ardeth held back, and so, Celia didn't have to. She could put all of herself in that kiss. . .Ardeth was her safety net.
Unfortunately, thinking about the breathtaking kiss of the previous night brought her mind right back to Neil Grady and her dream. She told her two roommates about the fork truck driver, because she feared that he might come to the college and cause trouble for them. Until the previous night, it never occurred to her that Ardeth might be at risk by knowing her. And until the previous night, it never occurred to her that Grady might go after him.
She had to protect Ardeth from Grady. How, she didn't know, but she would find a way. The best way to protect him was simply keep her distance from Grady, as she had during the last few weeks. However, that wasn't one hundred percent accurate, either. In Grady's eyes, she humiliated him in front of the entire warehouse, and she turned his friends against him. He wouldn't let that go so easily.
Which left her with very few options. She could tell Ardeth. Knowledge was power, and if Ardeth knew about Grady, he could protect himself. She hoped. She also hoped that when she told him about her former co-worker, Ardeth wouldn't hate her. She never expected Grady to turn on her the way he did. Ardeth wasn't like Grady, but after the events of this summer, trusting any man would be difficult. Even Ardeth. Unfair? Absolutely. But. . .it was true.
"Stop thinking. I can smell the wood burning all the way over here," Anck grumbled as Celia padded to her duffel bag. The younger girl looked at her roommate, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly. Unfortunately, it was lost, for Anck was still buried under her quilt and blanket. Her roommate added, her voice muffled, "Please tell me that you're thinking about Ardeth. If you're thinking this early in the morning, querida, at least make it pleasant thoughts."
"Yes and no. Yes, I was thinking about Ardeth. I'm worrying again," Celia replied. Anck groaned, and the younger roommate threw a pillow at Anck. It bounced off Anck's head, and prompted the other girl to glare at her. Celia glared back, adding, "I think I have the right to worry. Especially now that I have another person whom Neil Grady might choose to harm."
The glare died, and Anck reached out. Celia took her roommate's hand, sitting down on the bed with a pair of sweats. Anck said softly as Celia pulled the sweatshirt over her head, "Listen to me, querida. I know Grady did a number on you, and you have every right to be skittish. But Ardeth is more of a man than this pieza de mierda could ever hope to be."
"I know," Celia admitted, "I know. It's just. . .if I think about that earthworm, I get scared. If I just think about the kiss last night, then I'm on cloud nine. For so many years, Anck, I thought of myself as undesirable and unappealing. Do you have any idea what it feels like to believe that. . .and then meet someone like Ardeth Bey? Someone who is compassionate and brilliant and beautiful and mysterious? Someone who does find me desirable?"
Anck didn't answer at first, and Celia didn't really expect an answer. After a moment, however, her roommate asked softly, "What was he like, querida? Neil Grady. In terms of physical appearance, I mean." Celia took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Her eyes found Anck's alarm clock. They didn't need to be up for another half hour, but that was okay. This gave them much needed talk time. . .time they wouldn't get later.
"He was tall, around the same height as Ardeth. Maybe an inch or two shorter. And he had short hair. I remember, there was this other girl who was a college student. She's a history major, and she told me once that his haircut reminded her of a Roundhead. I told her not to let him hear her say that. . .he's Irish, after all, and Cromwell was no friend to the Irish. He had brown hair. Not black, not light brown. . . just, brown," Celia replied.
As she spoke, a mental image of her co-worker appeared in her mind. The girl shuddered, for once hating her vivid imagination. Celia continued, "I keep saying 'had.' I think of him in the past tense. But he's still alive. His eyes are blue. And he was a big man. Not in the way that Ardeth and Mr O'Connell are. . .he's more husky. Like he was a football player when he was in high school, but hasn't played in some time."
"In other words," Anck said, "he's gotten flabby." Celia shrugged, uncomfortable with the term. Why that was, she wasn't sure, but she didn't always understand her reactions to things. Anck continued more gently, "Well, after hearing about Mr Bullyboy, it doesn't sound like he's much like Ardeth in the least. In fact, he sounds like Ardeth's exact opposite."
"I think that might be the case," Celia answered, nodding slowly, "And maybe the fact that I'm getting a college education. . .I dunno. But my grandfather sometimes told me that money means less to people who have it. I'm wondering if education is the same way. I should say, a formal education. Grady always felt that I should think more of myself, because I have more formal education than he did."
"There are different kinds of education, querida, and obviously, he doesn't understand that. Just as obviously, it simply isn't important to Ardeth. True things matter to Ardeth. Not your level of education, but your loyalty, honesty, sense of humor, and compassion," Anck replied. Celia blushed. Sheesh, Anck made her sound like somebody. . .well. . .special! As if hearing her thoughts, Anck glared at her, adding, "And don't even think you aren't special!"
"I know that, I do, but Anck. . .he could get those same qualities from some other woman, and in a prettier package," Celia replied. It was shallow. But her mother was beautiful and her father was very handsome. Her two brothers were both extremely good-looking. Then there was Celia. She remembered an incident when she was about ten years old.
The entire family went to a party, a function given by one of her father's business associates. It was Celia's job to keep five year old Jason in line, since Galen was being 'shown off.' At that moment, however, Galen was taking Jason to the restroom, and Celia was searching for refreshments. On her return, the little girl overheard a society matron joke about Celia being adopted, since she didn't resemble her parents. How did she put that? Oh yes. Celia didn't inherit her looks from either side of the family.
She wasn't beautiful. She knew that. Accepted it, and accepted that she would never *be* beautiful. Not as pretty as Anck or Evy. But she was smart, and she would hone her mind. Anck squeezed her hand, drawing Celia's attention back. Her friend's brown eyes were both fierce and gentle at the same time as she said softly, "Pero, querida, no comprendes.* He does not believe there is a prettier package. He sees the real Celia, the beautiful, brave, loving girl."
Anck smiled and released Celia's hand to cup her face, adding, "And that girl is good enough for him, good for any member of any royal family. Now c'mon. I think the chiquitos are stirring, and I want to get my shower first. Can I convince you to make me some coffee?" Celia rolled her eyes, but nodded and rose to her feet. Anck followed, adding with a grin, "Gracias. . .you take *such* good care of me!"
"And don't you forget it!" Celia retorted with a grin. Anck blew her a kiss as she turned to her own duffel bag, looking for her clothes for the day. It was Sunday, and tonight, they would head back to the campus. Today was the picnic, and riding. . .and seeing Mr O'Connell in the clown costume. Celia grinned as she headed downstairs to start Anck's coffee. Now that would be amusing. . .perhaps even more amusing than seeing Evy drunk!
. . .
The only thing that dragged Evy Carnahan out of bed was Livvy Chase. . .well, her insistent little roommate and Livvy's reminder that today was 'clown day.' It might actually be worth getting out of bed. . .seeing Rick O'Connell make a fool out of himself. Why should she be the only one in that category? The thought of Rick O'Connell dressed in a clown costume, resplendent in accompanying makeup, was enough to make Evy grin around her yawns.
The shower was going, and Evy could smell coffee. A quick peek inside the room shared by Celia and Anck told her that both roommates were up and alert. . .it was just a question of who was where. Livvy's squealed, "Celia!" from downstairs told her the location of at least one roommate. It shouldn't have surprised her. . .when they were away from the dormitory, Celia often fixed coffee in the mornings for Anck. Yet another reason why Anck often said that Celia took good care of them both.
With a yawn, Evy traipsed downstairs, narrowly tripping on a toy. She nearly sprained her ankle, avoiding the toy. . .which, on further inspection, was revealed to be one of Alex's. Evy muttered a curse under her breath as she picked up her nephew's toy, then continued downstairs. She found Livvy in the kitchen with Celia, the little girl rattling on happily about what they would be doing that day.
First, they would go riding, then Mr Rick would dress up like a clown for them, then they would have a picnic. And tonight. . .tonight, they would go home. Evy didn't miss the sadness in Livvy's voice, and remembered the little girl's situation. Her father arrested, her brother dying, and her mother trying desperately to hold the family together. Celia listened quietly as she carefully removed the coffee pot from its stand and poured the steaming liquid into a coffee mug designated on its first use as Anck's.
Livvy didn't see Evy standing in the doorway, for she said when she finally stopped to draw breath, "Celia? Are you gonna miss Ardeth when we leave?" Evy almost choked at this. Was her roommate's attraction to Ardeth Bey so obvious that even a small girl like Livvy could see it? Livvy continued without waiting for Celia's response, "I can tell you really like him. My babysitter, Gilly, looks at her boyfriend the way you look at Ardeth. . .and the way he looks at you."
"Is that right? Well. . .the truth is, honey, Ardeth works at the same place I go to school. So I'll get to see him sometimes. Livvy. . .do you know if any of the other children notice the way Ardeth and I look at each other?" Celia asked, her voice stumbling over the words a little bit. Evy moved and her roommate looked up, acknowledging her entrance with a nod. But her attention was on the coffee pot and the little girl in front of her.
"Alex does. He sees the way Ardeth looks at you, and rolls his eyes, and says 'oh, puh-leaze, get a room.' Celia, what does he mean by that?" Livvy questioned incidently. Evy raised her eyebrows. Oh, she knew exactly what her nephew meant by that, and she could tell from Celia's suddenly red face that her roommate knew as well. What Evy wanted to know was where Alex learned that particular phrase.
"Just that some people don't like to watch other people kiss or otherwise get mushy. I guess Alex is one of those people. Does it bother you, Livvy?" Celia inquired as she placed the coffee pot carefully back on its stand and the coffee cup beside the sink. She went to the refrigerator next and Evy took a seat beside Livvy. She was very interested in hearing what the little girl had to say.
"Uh-uh. Mommy and Daddy got mushy all the time 'fore my brother got sick," Livvy confided, sounding sad. Evy put her hand on the little girl's shoulder, wishing she could comfort the child. She didn't know what she would do if she ever lost Jonathan. For all that they drove each other crazy and sniped at each other, she loved her big brother desperately, and would do anything for him. Losing her parents was bad enough. . .losing her brother would be too much. And she wondered, a bit uneasily, what he would say, what he would do, when he found out that she got drunk the previous night.
But what Livvy said next blew all thoughts of her behavior the night before right out of Evy's mind. The little girl asked curiously, "Celia? Have you and Ardeth ever kissed?" Evy bit down hard on her lower lip, having a vague recollection of hearing about the kiss that took place the previous night. Celia, for her own part, almost dropped the orange juice container. She managed to avoid disaster, but there was no mistaking her stunned expression.
And she was saved from making an answer, for Anck entered the room, her dark hair wet. Well, that explained who was in the shower. Without Anck ever saying a word, Celia reached over to the coffee mug sitting beside the sink and handed it to the newcomer. Anck accepted it with a half-smile. Of course. She was always somewhat grumpy in the morning, at least until she had her coffee.
She wasn't alone. . .trailing along behind her were Ardeth Bey and Rick O'Connell. Livvy squealed, "Ardeth!" and practically flung herself out of her chair, into the young man's arms. Ardeth managed to catch her before she broke anything, but Evy could tell from his expression that it was a near thing. Livvy, blissfully unaware of her narrow escape, smiled and said, "Ardeth, you're awake! I just asked Celia, and she didn't answer me, but maybe you will. Have you ever kissed Celia?"
Oh dear. Evy didn't even need to look behind her to know that Celia was blushing. She didn't need to look around, because her roommate's blushing could have served as an airfield beacon in the middle of the night. In fact, Evy wouldn't have been surprised if they couldn't see that blush clear across the country in Los Angeles. And Ardeth wasn't answering. . .he was too stunned by the little girl's question.
It was Anck who came to the rescue, saying, "It is too early in the morning to answer such serious questions, chiquita. Ardeth hasn't had coffee, juice, or even breakfast yet. Ven aqui, por favor.**" She put down her coffee cup, and walked over to the still stunned teaching assistant. Much to Evy's surprise, Olivia understood Spanish, for she once more lunged, this time into Anck's arms. Evy's roommate instructed Ardeth, "Sit. Eat. You'll need all the energy you can get this morning."
Evy pulled out the chair vacated by Livvy and nodded to Ardeth. He sat down, ducking his head in obvious embarrassment. Evy could almost guess his thoughts. Did everyone in the world know that he and Celia kissed the previous night? She smiled at him sympathetically, and tried not to laugh when he started muttering under his breath in ancient Egyptian. She didn't quite catch all of it. . .just enough to realize that he was cursing the curious nature of little girls.
"Did you sleep well, Ardeth?" she inquired, doing her level best to ignore the man's brother. He remained where he stopped when he and Ardeth entered the room a few minutes earlier. Ardeth raised his head and nodded, still looking terribly embarrassed. By now hoping to redirect everyone's attention, Evy continued, "Anck is quite right. You must eat. You're entirely too thin, and I have to wonder. . ."
"Good morning, everyone! I slept like a log!" Evy smiled. Trust Jonathan.
He entered the room, Galen Ferguson right behind him, and Jonathan repeated, "Good morning! I hope everyone slept well, because I had the most amazing dream. . ." Rick O'Connell coughed, but Evy instantly recognized it as a poorly-disguised laugh. Ooooh, that man! Jonathan looked at the American, then continued, "As I was saying, I had the most amazing dream last night. I dreamed that my little sister got roaring drunk!"
Oh. . .dear. O'Connell moved to take a seat on the other side of Evy, replying, "Hate to be the one to tell you this, Jonathan. . .but it wasn't a dream. In fact, if memory serves, Anck-su-namun has footage of everything." Hate? Oh, Evelyn didn't believe that for a moment. O'Connell turned and gave her a very pleasant smile, saying, "Good morning, Evelyn. I see you're no worse for wear." Oh dear. . .it would seem that the moment of truth had arrived. Now she had to face Rick O'Connell.
. . .
"Good morning, Evelyn. I see you're no worse for wear."
Okay. As opening lines went, he had to admit. . .it sucked. So did the feeling he got when Evelyn turned in her seat, barely able to meet his eyes. She was. . .it went far beyond embarrassed. And Rick felt like a shit of the first order. He didn't want her to look like that. Not Evelyn, who didn't back down from anyone or anything. He also didn't like this protective feeling he got in his gut when she did look at him like that.
So he did something equally shitty to redirect attention away from the girl. He said, "Speaking of that camcorder, Anck, did you happen to catch my brother and your roommate kissing?" Ardeth froze on the other side of the girl Rick was protecting. He wasn't seated anywhere near his brother, and Rick felt the sudden chill in the air. He didn't see Ardeth's face to realize that he just went too far. Nor did he need to.
"Of course not. I was with you, Senor, when you carried Evelyn back up to the house," came Anck's icy reply. She added something in Spanish which he didn't know, and didn't particularly want a translation of. And if Anck's expression was icy, then Celia's was downright fiery. Uh-oh. This couldn't be a good thing. Anck added, "Drink your juice, Ardeth, I will make some toast for you. Celia, sit down. . .let me take care of everyone for once."
Celia did as she was asked, her eyes never leaving Rick's face. He didn't think about the fact that he called her by name in his mind, instead of referring to her as 'the little roommate.' In fact, the only thing he was now thinking about was how glad he was that she was reacting this way. It meant she would protect Ardeth, as she protected Beni.
But it wasn't Celia who spoke a moment later. Rather, it was Galen Ferguson who said gently, "Well now. I'm glad the two of you stopped dancing around the subject, and went for it. I don't think I need to warn either of you to be careful, do I?" Both Celia and Ardeth shook their heads, and Galen patted Ardeth on the shoulder, adding, "Didn't think so. I'll trust my sister's heart to you, Ardeth. Come out to the stables when you're ready."
He left the kitchen without another word, and Jonathan said into the silence which followed, "Excuse me, but did I miss something? I mean, first we were talking about my little sister getting roaring drunk, then we were talking about Ardeth and Celia kissing?" Anck leveled that icy glare at Jonathan, who quailed and added, "Right then. If you'll give me a cup of that excellent java, I'll take it down to Galen."
"My brother doesn't drink coffee in the morning, Jonathan. Give me a minute and I'll pour him a glass of orange juice," Celia said quietly. She slipped from her perch and went to the cabinet, withdrawing a large glass. . .well, a large plastic cup, would be much more accurate. Anck went to the refrigerator at the same time, removing the orange juice container once more. Together, they got the beverage ready for Celia's brother. Jonathan accepted it, then skittered from the house, muttering under his breath.
"We should start waking the children. It's gonna be a busy day today," Celia announced to no one in particular. She finished the last of her toast, adding, "I've already had my shower this morning. I'll wake up Alex. Livvy, honey, why don't you go down to the stables with Ardeth? I think he could use the company." And again, she leveled that glare at Rick, who curbed his desire to duck his head.
"I'm almost done. . .I can help. No, Ardeth, finish your breakfast. Like I said, you're entirely too thin," Evy said, and Rick almost smiled. She sounded like she had her equilibrium back. This was verified a moment later when she looked at him straight in the eye. . .and there was a fire there. Good. He would rather have her angry with him than unable to look at him. Besides. She was damn pretty when she was angry.
"I have had enough to eat, Evelyn, more than I usually do in the morning. Come, Olivia. The ladies will need the kitchen to themselves, so they may start our picnic lunch," Ardeth replied. Well, that was true enough. Ardeth didn't usually eat until later in the morning. Rick kept a stash of energy bars on hand, and that was what his brother usually ate at this time of the morning. Unfortunately, Ardeth never even looked at him as he helped Olivia down from her chair, and they headed outside.
Rick closed his eyes. Damn. That was not one of his smarter moves. He wanted to direct attention away from Evy, and he accomplished that. But betraying his brother wasn't part of the bargain. And his crack about kissing Celia *was* a betrayal. A small betrayal, but a betrayal nonetheless. Maybe Celia had a point about defending Beni, after all, as much as he hated to admit it. He knew that Ardeth was a private person. . .he told no one else of the kiss, because it wasn't anyone else's concern. And Rick took that choice out of his hands. Took the choice and the timing out of his hands.
He didn't doubt that Celia told her two roommates. In fact, he was willing to bet that she did. But that wasn't a betrayal. They were her sisters, just as Rick was Ardeth's brother. And likely, she turned to them for guidance, just as Ardeth turned to Rick for guidance. But unlike Rick, they both understood she would tell her brother when she was damn good and ready. They understood that they were entrusted with a precious secret.
He would make it up to Ardeth later. Maybe during his clown performance, by making even more of a fool of himself than he wanted. For now, he had to finish getting ready for the riding lesson, and he had to get away from the silent condemnation of the three women in the kitchen with him. Well, two. Just as she promised, once she finished with her breakfast, Celia quietly left the room, heading upstairs to wake Alex Carnahan.
Anck Cortez deliberately turned her back on him, and Rick understood immediately. There were various forms of nonverbal communication. Some people used hand gestures. . .usually the middle finger. This was Anck's way of flipping him the bird. Evy said softly, "I appreciate you trying to direct attention away from me, but. . ."
"I know. I just couldn't stand the idea of you. . .not being able to meet my eyes. I'll talk to Ardeth later. Make things right with him," Rick answered. He paused, looked at her through his lashes, then added, "What about you? Are things right with you?" The girl blushed, looking down herself. Without really meaning to, and yet somehow knowing it was the right thing to do, Rick reached out and placed his finger under her chin, lifting it until he looked into her eyes.
She smiled at him shyly, answering, "Yes. Yes, I suppose they are." Rick smiled back, feeling that curious sense inside his chest once more. Was this what Ardeth felt when he looked at Celia Ferguson? This strange mixture of protectiveness and desire? This longing to kiss his lady senseless, until her legs were weak and she would agree to just about anything he requested? This overwhelming need to protect her from anyone or anything that would hurt her?
That scared Rick. For years, he hassled Ardeth about finding a lady to warm his bed and touch his soul, but now that it happened. . . He was worried. If Ardeth felt about Celia the way Rick felt when he looked at Evelyn, they were in trouble. It was hard for Rick to concentrate on what had to be done, to stop Imhotep and protect the girls. What if it was harder for his brother, who had absolutely no experience with women?
But that was sucked out of his mind when Evelyn's fingers curled around his own, the finger under her chin. Rick looked back at the lovely English girl, and she asked shyly, "Did I really. . .almost kiss you last night? Anck and Celia told me some of it. Including that." Rick, much to his own distress, realized he was blushing. That was not a good thing. He wasn't supposed to blush. He was more experienced than any of his siblings, after all.
But he was blushing, especially when he answered, "Yeah, it's true. You started to kiss me, then fell face first into my lap." If he thought he was blushing, then Evelyn's face was absolutely scarlet with embarrassment. Rick mumbled, not knowing what else to say, "And in case I didn't mention it, you're awful cute when you're drunk."
Evelyn's blush deepened, and she looked down at her feet. After a moment, she looked back up, smiling shyly. And Rick O'Connell, bad-ass royale, felt his heart do a crazy nosedive. The floor was stable under him, but Rick could have sworn he felt the earth move. He remembered an old song. . .couldn't remember all the lyrics, but there was a line about being ten feet tall and bullet proof. That was how Rick was feeling now.
He was no hero. He knew that. If there were any heroes in his family, Ardeth was the primary candidate. Not just because he was brave and determined, though he was certainly both of those things. No, his brother was also a hero because he had the worst job in the world, but he still got up in the morning, still did what had to be done, and cleaned up the mess afterward. And looking into Evelyn's brown eyes, Rick began to understand why his brother did all that.
For this woman, he would do all that. For this girl, he would willingly risk everything. Now Rick also began to understand his brother's fear that he would endanger Celia Ferguson. But like he told Ardeth earlier. The girls were in danger already, because of their connection to Anck, and because of Meela's hatred of her cousin. If Rick and Ardeth stayed close to the girls, they would be better able to protect them.
But for now. . . Evelyn smiled at him, saying softly, "Everything's fine, O'Connell. Go. Make things right with your brother." Make things. . .oh. Yeah. Yeah, he needed to make amends with Ardeth. He needed to tell his brother that he got it now. No more hassling, no more teasing. No more making Ardeth's life difficult. He smiled at Evelyn, and received a beautiful smile in return. Rick touched her cheek. He wanted to kiss her, but he was afraid if he did. . .if he did, he would never leave this kitchen. There would be time enough for kisses later.
. . .
Galen Ferguson wasn't entirely surprised when Ardeth Bey joined him only a few moments after his own departure. The young Egyptian quietly began helping in the stables, while little Livvy Chase said 'good morning' to all the animals. Nothing was said by either man. Nothing really needed to be said. And Livvy was very good at entertaining herself. Several times, Galen glanced over at the young man who was winning his sister's heart. He didn't know if there was a future for Celia and Ardeth. Celia was only nineteen, after all, and this young man would eventually return to Egypt.
But as first boyfriends went, Galen couldn't have asked for a better one for Celia. The resident said quietly, "I never thought, by the way, that you would ever hurt my sister. At least not deliberately." Ardeth looked up from what he was doing, and for a moment, Galen was struck at how young he truly was. The beard and facial hair did a good job of disguising his youth, but for the first time, Galen realized Ardeth really wasn't much older than Celia.
Before the young man could respond, Galen sat down on a bale of hay beside Ardeth, continuing, "See, Celia's always been the ugly duckling. I was raised to never strike a woman, that only cowards hit women. But when Celia was ten, I almost forgot the way I was raised. I heard a woman saying to my mother, one of her society friends, that she almost thought Celia was adopted, because she didn't look like either of our parents. And she laughed. I saw the look on my little sister's face, and I wanted to punch that woman."
"I do not understand. . .Celia is lovely. Especially when she smiles. Why would she be considered the ugly duckling?" Ardeth answered, confusion obvious in his tone. Galen smiled warmly at the younger man. See, this was why he realized Ardeth was good enough for Celia. The boy continued after a moment, "And why would your mother be friends with a woman who spoke so cruelly of her children?"
"Because, Ardeth, this woman was the wife of our father's business associate. And she has been considered the ugly duckling, because. . .well, like you said, she is real pretty. But it's not as obvious as Anck or Evy, or Celia's friend Margit. You see how pretty she is. Evy, Anck, Margit and I. . .we see it. Our grandparents saw it. But from the time she was about seven or eight, even before that old biddy shot her mouth off, Celia was considered a disappointment by my parents, in terms of looks. And so my little sister made up for it by being as smart and as nice as she could," Galen replied bitterly.
He never realized it. Not for a long time, not until Margit pointed it out to him. He knew that Celia wasn't considered as attractive as their mother. Hell, there was no way he could have missed that. But until Margit brought it up, he never realized that for the longest time, his baby sister tried to 'atone' for being 'less attractive' by making up for it in personality and intelligence. There was no need for atonement.
And Celia was finally starting to accept that, finally starting to believe that she was as pretty as she was smart and caring. Then that low- life bastard Grady. . . Galen couldn't bear to think about it. He was angry with Grady, he was furious with Grady, but what really sickened was his anger with his sister. What the hell was she thinking, even looking twice at that scumbag? Couldn't she tell that he wasn't any good?
Of course she couldn't. She was nineteen years old, and thought he was dependable. Okay. That was true. But what hurt Galen was the fact that she *never* told him about it. He wasn't sure if she was trying to protect him or trying to protect herself. That hurt, too. Did she really trust him so little, that she thought he would blame her for what that son of a bitch did? Evidently, that was the case.
And wasn't he proving her right, by blaming her for not telling him, for not seeing the real Neil Grady from the get-go? Hell. Galen sighed, and realized with a glance to his right that Ardeth was thinking about other things. Maybe that kiss the previous night? Could be. Like Galen already said, he knew Ardeth Bey was good enough for his little sister. And he was actually relieved when he found out they kissed. Besides. Maybe if Celia was occupied with Ardeth, she wouldn't worry so much about Galen, and the girls he dated.
And speaking of Ardeth. . .he had been quiet during the last few minutes. Galen looked at him curiously, to find Ardeth absently brushing Diablo. Wasn't that strange, too? Diablo didn't let most men near him. The girls swore up and down that the horse was abused by men, and that was why he would only let women and children near him. And they found out the previous day that Diablo would let Ardeth ride him, but not Rick.
What was up with that? Galen sensed that there was a lot of things about Ardeth Bey that his sister didn't know, including his magic with animals. But right now, he just looked like a puzzled and somewhat worried young man. Galen asked softly, knowing how careful you had to be sometimes with people as well as animals, "Ardeth? Everything okay, kid?" Ardeth blinked, obviously startled. . .whether the reason for his surprise was the sound of Galen's voice, or being called 'kid' was anyone's guess.
"Aywa, I am well. Merely. . .thinking. Tell me, Galen. . .did I overreact when my brother mentioned the kiss?" Ardeth asked with a frown. Galen sat down beside the young man with a sigh. How to answer that? Especially since Galen felt Ardeth was asking the wrong person. Hey, it was his little sister involved in this too, after all! And while Galen understood that Rick O'Connell was redirecting attention away from Evy. . .
"You know, kid. . .there's overreacting, and then there's shutting down, so you *don't* overreact. Me? I overreact. If anyone messes with Celia or Jason, I turn into the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I love my little sister and my little brother more than anything else on this planet, my parents included. I would *kill* for Jason and Celia," Galen replied. Ardeth merely nodded, not looking particularly surprised.
Then, he wouldn't. Galen's instinct about the young man was that he was the same way, that he would do anything for his siblings. . .or anyone else he loved. The resident continued, "You. . .on the other hand, you shut down. Rick opened his big mouth, and put you in the firing line. That's the only way to put it. He put you on the firing line, to direct attention away from Evy. I would have lashed out. You shut down."
The sound of boots crunching down the hay alerted him that there were others in the stables with them, but right now, Galen was focusing only on his sister's new. . .boyfriend? No. No, that didn't sound quite right. *Gran would have just called Ardeth Celia's 'young man,' and been done with it,* Galen thought with an amused smirk, *so I suppose that will do.* Aloud, he continued, "Now. . .whether my way is healthier is up for debate. Your way is definitely healthier for your brother. Whether it's healthier for you. . .I don't know. But at least this way, your brother isn't nursing a sore jaw."
Ardeth laughed at that, as he was meant to. A voice from the doorway said, "I can't argue with that." Galen turned to face Rick O'Connell, who added with a nod toward his brother, "Mind if I have a few moments with Ardeth? The girls are getting the kids ready to come down here. Figured you might need a little more preparation time." Galen looked back at Ardeth, wanting to know if this was okay with him. Even if Rick wasn't willing to ask Ardeth if he was ready to deal with this, Galen was.
The younger man nodded, almost imperceptibly, and Galen patted his shoulder. He turned around, replying, "Well, it seems your brother is willing to talk. I'll be outside." He started to pass, and obeying a sudden impulse, grabbed the shoulder of the other brother. Galen dragged him a few steps away, saying in a low voice, "Just a warning. I know people like Ardeth. They shut down only so many times, until the pressure gets to be too much. Read me?"
"Loud and clear. Now here's a piece of advice. Don't ever grab me again, and don't ever interfere between my brother and me. Got it?" came the hissed response. Galen bobbed his head and released Rick's shoulder. He turned back to nod at Ardeth, who smiled faintly, then plucked up Livvy on his way out of the stables. She protested, but Galen knew the brothers would need privacy to conduct this conversation, whether they talked with their fists or not.
Translations:
*'Pero, querida, no comprendes' But, dear one, you do not understand.
**'Ven aqui, por favor.' Come here, please.