Sorry it has taken so long. I am currently traveling overseas and writing has become a little difficult. Hopefully won't take so long next time. I would like to thank people for the messages and reviews. I simply ask that everyone remember that everyone has a story to tell and every character has a purpose. Please do not message me about how much you dislike a character. I would not put them in here without a reason. This is an AU so things are going to be different than canon. That said, I really do appreciate the reviews and respect everyone's opinion and I am grateful for the time you took to review and message me.

I own nothing.

~oOo~

Her fingers tapped against her phone impatiently. Just a soft clicking noise as her fingers swiped quickly through a series of photos and images that she was not really looking at. Her eyes were out of focus as she lost herself in her thoughts.

Why am I here? What the hell am I doing?

She knew very well what she was doing of course. She was there to meet him. Although she was still somewhat confused as to the why. She was almost certain it was her friend Kate's fault. The conversation replayed once more in her head.

"Wait, wait, waaaaaaaait," Kate had said looking at her as if in disbelief, "he gave you his number?"

"Yes." Andrea refused to look up from her laptop.

"He gave you his number and you haven't called him yet," the disbelief in Kate's tone now matched the look on her face.

"That's right," Andrea answered still not looking up.

"Wait, wait, ok just . . . ok wait . . ." Kate sat down across from Andrea, hands rubbing at her temples and her eyes squeezed shut as if she could not quite comprehend or process the conversation they were having. "Let me get this straight. We meet, what is, quite possibly, one of the most unbelievably beautiful men we have ever seen, in our entire lives . . ."

"If you say so – Hey!" Andrea grabbed at her arm where her friend flicked her.

"Oh I say so alright, and do NOT patronize me."

Andrea closed her laptop and rested her chin in her hand, giving her friend a very flat look. Kate was undeterred.

"Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted? Oh yeah, amazingly beautiful panty dropping boy."

Andrea suppressed a long sigh and the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes.

"So anyway, an unphotoshopped male super model materializes before us and gives you his number -"

"For work purposes."

"He gives you his number," Kate spoke over her interruption, "and you have not called him?!"

"I gave the info to Ms. Patel. I didn't see the need to -"

"HE GIVES YOU HIS NUMBER -"

"- bug him with things that someone else can -"

"- AND YOU HAVE NOT CALLED HIM."

"- can give him, OMG Kate really?!"

There was a face off at this point of who could have the more exasperated look. Kate leaned towards her roommate, hands extended in a pleading gesture.

"Andrea, he gave you his number. And not just a business number on a card but a number that he took the time to write down . . . TO. WRITE. DOWN. He knows he could have called Ms. Patel to get the info, he deals with her all the time. Don't you get it? He didn't have to do that! He could have just let you drive off but instead he gave you his number! He so obviously wants you to call."

The certainty in her roommate's tone of voice had begun to grate on her nerves a bit.

"No Kate, he does not "so obviously" want me to call. Furthermore I don't even want to call and even if I did, I wouldn't anyway because I have no idea who this guy is. I mean, have you even thought about if he was some sort of a perv or psycho or something? This guy could be a serial killer for all we know and you want me to drop everything and call this guy up because he is cute? It has been a while I will admit it but I am not that desperate. And just why would he be interested in me anyway? If he really is the beauty to end all beauties then he can probably get anyone he wants right? I really think you are reading a little too much into all this."

As Andrea spoke Kate crossed her arms across her chest and studied her friend briefly.

"You know," Kate said, her head cocking to one side, "we have been friends for like, what? Forever? And I still can't figure you out sometimes. I mean, do you really have such a low opinion of yourself or are you just playing at humility because you hate having to talk to people. You have to know that you are pretty. Do you not like guys anymore or something? Because that's cool. I am totally down with that. Just let me know so I don't keep introducing you to guys you have no interest in."

Andrea did sigh and roll her eyes at her roommate this time.

"Seriously Kate."

"I am being serious! Come on! Just call, just this once. If he doesn't pick up then I will never bug you about it again, but please just try. What is the worst that could happen? He picks up and you give him a bunch of info on ancient Babylonian artifacts? Just call. Pleeeeeeeeease? For me?"

In the end Andrea still refused to call. But she did agree to send a text. It was a wonderfully non-committal way to communicate. She did not have to actually talk to anyone and if she never heard from him, at least she had not left some awkward voice message of her rambling about giving a call back later and so on. But she had not anticipated him calling her back almost immediately.

She did not believe it was him at first when her phone began to buzz. She figured that someone else, her father or brother was giving her a call. And when she glanced at the number on the screen she froze for a moment, suddenly uncertain of what to do. Kate had just looked at her questioningly.

"It's him." Andrea had said with wide eyed shock and Kate mirrored her expression.

The phone buzzed again and before Andrea could register what to do, Kate had reach across and hit accept. Andrea gasped and hissed at her roommate.

"Goddammit Kate!" She brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Yes hello, Ms. Bealor?" His voice flowed like honey from the other end.

"Yeah?" Her voice flowed like a pile of rocks to her ears.

"Oh good. I received your text but I thought it would better to call. A text seems so impersonal when making plans to meet. I hope you do not mind."

"Meet?" her voice fumbled.

Good God woman, get it together!

"Yes. I was thinking for some coffee perhaps? I would be happy to host you at my dwelling if you would like. Or perhaps we could meet somewhere nearer to you, if that would make you more comfortable?"

Dwelling? Who talks like that?!

"Uh sure."

" . . . well?"

"Well what?"

"Which will it be? Near you or me?"

"Oh! Right! Sorry! Um, me? There's a place out this way that will do. On Amsterdam at 111th. The Hungarian. You heard of it?"

"I believe so. If not I will find it do not worry. Does 9:30 this Saturday work for you?"

"Yeah ok."

"Wonderful. I will see you then. Goodbye Ms. Bealor."

"Andrea."

"Pardon me?"

"It's Andrea. Ms. Bealor is my mom."

Oh my God I am so lame.

". . . yes . . . of course. Andrea. Goodbye Andrea."

"Bye."

Andrea hung up the phone and looked at her friend.

"Holy shit."

Kate on the other hand, literally screamed in delight.

"I told you!" she shouted in triumph. "I! Told! You!" she exclaimed as she jumped up and down.

Andrea did not pay her too much notice though. She was still trying to process what had just happened and was mortified that she had only been able to speak in single syllable words.

But happen it did and here she sat. Waiting on someone she hardly knew because her friend had some fantasy about her hooking up with some beautiful guy she hardly knew. Which brought her back around to her original thought.

What the hell am I doing?

She sat back in her seat and picked at the pastry in front of her. She had chosen this place on purpose. The staff were normally pretty rude but it was usually crowded and full of students. Lots of people around in case things began to get weird. And she just knew that things would get weird.

This was a mistake of course. There was no way this man was even remotely interested in her. It was stupid of her or Kate to even think otherwise. The only thing he wanted was the information she had been able to gather on the artifacts he wished to sell. That was it. Nothing else. It was best to only think of this in that way. Besides, it was not as if she were interested in him either anyway. He was not even her type, not that she really knew what her type was. But if she did she was certain he would not be it. More than likely he would not even show up. She almost hoped he wouldn't, although not really.

But show up he did and she could not help but become annoyed with herself as she felt a short quick tightening sensation in her chest when she saw him enter. He did a quick glance around the room and walked over to the counter. The barista, who had all but ignored her earlier, almost fell over the counter to serve him. Typical. He smiled and handed her some money as he took the cup she held out to him. And then, without even the slightest hesitation, turned and began to walk in her direction.

Andrea stopped herself from unconsciously reaching up and checking her appearance. He wore a simple v-neck shirt with jeans and a jacket. He had a toboggan cap pulled down over his ears and his hair curled out from under it, framing a well chiseled jaw line. He looked good and she annoyed that he did and angry that she noticed. This time she did reach up and brush back her hair.

He reached the table with cup in hand and smiled down at her. He may not have noticed how many of the people he walked passed had stopped to glance at him (men included) but she certainly did. What the hell was she doing here.

"Andrea," he said in greeting.

"Hey," she said back.

I am such an idiot.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing to the chair across from her.

"Oh, um yeah! I mean yes. Of course. I mean, I'm here for you so yeah. I mean not specifically for you but to give you this stuff so . . . yeah."

I am a big stupid mumble mouth idiot. What is wrong with me?!

If he noticed her embarrassment, he gave no sign. He just lowered himself into the seat across from her and placed his cup between them.

"I must thank you for meeting me. I truly do appreciate it. I realize how busy you must be. I hope this is not an inconvenience."

"No. No problem really. I don't mind. Really. It's all good."

Every time she opened her mouth she could not help but feel more and more foolish.

"So this is what I have so far," she said, sliding a folder towards him. "Nothing really new from what I gave Ms. Patel. Did she show you any of it?"

"Yes she did," he said as he opened the folder and began to scan the papers in front of him. "Very detailed and mostly accurate. They should come in handy at auction."

Andrea's brow furrowed slightly.

"Wait, you mean Ms. Patel has already given you all of this? And what do you mean mostly accurate?"

Aegnor smiled as he continued to read the papers and answered her without looking up.

"I mean that much of the information you were able to collect was correct with only a few slight discrepancies. But nothing to be concerned over. I am certain the auction house will accept it as fact. And yes, Ms. Patel has already given me all of this."

Any fascination Andrea had over Mr. Aeluin slowly began to drain away as her blood began to slowly burn.

"Nothing to be concerned over? I can promise you that I am not concerned at all because everything in there is accurate and I would like to see you prove these slight discrepancies that you seem to think exist. I have carefully and thoroughly researched every artifact on that list Mr. Aeluin and I can assure you that there is absolutely no cause for concern for you or me or anyone else. If you like to check the references on this because there is a list of them that cover several pages. Is that why you wanted to meet me? To discuss discrepancies? If so then let's go. Ask away."

Andrea stopped and waited. As she spoke Aegnor leaned back in his chair and watched her intently and Andrea could not help but notice that there was something peculiar about his eyes. Something she could not quite put a finger on. Something about them made her feel as if he did not look at her as much as he looked into her. But she refused to look away and stared right back into their disconcerting light. After a moment he spoke.

"I have offended you. Forgive me, that was not my intent. The discrepancies I so thoughtlessly spoke of were from more of a personal experience standpoint and not one based on research of historical fact. I apologize. I should have been clearer. Please."

Andrea shrugged and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I'm not offended. I never said I was offended. But if you have some questions then just ask. I would be more than happy to tell you what I know. You said you were speaking from personal experience. Were you at the dig sites for some of these?"

Aegnor blinked.

"Yes. That is exactly what I meant. Perhaps I was misinformed of their origin."

"That could happen," Andrea said as she picked at a piece of the pastry in front of her, "a lot of artifacts have origins in one place but have found a final resting place in another. Whether from raids or trade or just the passing of time and sediment I suppose. Which ones do you have questions about?"

They would spend the rest of their time discussing individual pieces of particular value and interest. There were some that Andrea felt would hold no particular value to anyone except for museums and tried to persuade Aegnor to donate those and was please when he agreed. Others she felt he would not change his mind on and knew those would go to auction and so would only give him an approximate value. She found herself sneaking glances at him every so often as they spoke over the papers before them. There was something there that she recognized, something that seemed so familiar to her but just out of her reach. She could not place what it was. They were interrupted every so often by the barista who kept coming over to see if he needed a refill and Andrea found herself irritated at the woman's persistence and please that he never even noticed her. She really needed to get a grip on herself.

And so she focused on the topic at hand and tried to keep from noticing how close they were when he would lean in to look at something she was referencing. But she was in her element here, and could control the conversation easily. She also would also easily lose track of the time.

It was a text from Kate asking her where she was at that pulled her attention to the time. It was well after noon. She had been talking about this for hours.

"Oh my God look at the time!" she exclaimed and began to gather her things. "I had no idea what time it was. I can't believe how long I was at this! I am so sorry about that. I never meant to keep you so long."

"No, it is no problem really, I do not mind at all. I had not noticed the time either. Do you have somewhere you have to be?"

"Just lunch," she said, "with my roommate. She is going to give me so much grief. Usually she is the one who is late and I am the one waiting. She is never going to let this one go. She has been waiting a long time for this opportunity." Andrea reached into her bag and grabbed her wallet to leave some change for a tip but Aegnor stopped her.

"No, let me," he dropped a couple of dollars on the table before Andrea could object and stood up and waited. Andrea grabbed a dollar from her bag and set it on the table anyway and began to make her way for the door as Aegnor followed. Upon reaching the exit the girl behind the counter called out to come back soon. Andrea almost laughed out loud.

"I have to bring you here with me more often," she said with a smile as they walked outside and made their way down the side walk, "that was the best service ever."

"It would be my pleasure to join you anytime you want," he smiled back. This time Andrea did laugh.

"You liked the four dollar coffee that much?"

"I liked the company even more."

Andrea stopped laughing and stopped walking. They were only a few blocks from her apartment and although they had a relatively pleasant day together, she was not sure if she wanted him to know where she lived. They were standing in front of the train stop and he could either take the train or a cab to where ever he needed to go.

She stared at him again, at his eyes, and felt that same nagging feeling as she had before. Something tugged at the corners of her mind, something that moved in the peripheral of her memory, just out of her sight, vanishing at every attempt to grab it. Everything about him seemed so strange while at the same time seemed so familiar.

"Well, this is the last train station for another block or so unless you want to take a cab of course. I need to go this way so . . ."

"Oh," he said with a blink of those strange eyes of his, "yes. Thank you again for meeting me. If you should find anything else . . ."

"I will call you, yes, absolutely."

He stood there for another moment before extending his hand out to her.

"Goodbye Andrea," he said.

Andrea reached out and took his hand and for a brief flashing moment almost had it. That pull of memory almost coming into the open only to retreat into the shadows just as quickly.

"Mr. Aeluin," she said still holding onto his hand.

"Yes," he answered, strange eyes trying to engulf her.

"If you had already gotten this information from Ms. Patel, why did you want to meet?"

He paused before he spoke and Andrea thought that his eyes seem to soften slightly.

"Agner," he said.

"What?"

"Call me Agner. Mr. Aeluin is my father."

"Right," she said with a small half smile. "Agner. Is there a reason you wanted to meet."

His mouth curved into a slow beautiful smile.

"Why to meet you of course." He let go of her hand and turned to leave. Andrea spoke before she even realized she had.

"Would you like to go get a drink sometime?"

He stopped and turned around to look at her, his smile widening.

"I would like that very much." He gave a little nod of his head and turned once more, making his way down the street.

What the hell am I doing.