Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters besides Laura, Kayla and Steven.

Summery: Just as Laura's trying to get through her last year in high school and forgetting about her ex boyfriend Steven, she goes job hunting for anything. Desperate for a job, she's hired as the second Night Guard at the Museum of Natural History. Working along side of Larry as history comes to life each night, she finds herself falling for Larry...and someone else. But only one of them ends up feelings the same way for her. Will she end up breaking from her heartbreak and let herself be happy once again while trying to help Larry keep peace and order in the museum?

Author's Replies to Reviews:

pixyxjellybean: Yeah, he does. Probably because I based him off of a real person. And teen slasher? o.O -tilts head- I really wasn't trying to create that image, but okay. XD

Hawk's_GaL4077: Hehehe surprising, eh? ;)

A/N: Well it's that time, everyone. The story is almost over. :( But there will be a new story when this one ends soon. I always have to be working on at least one story constantly. Of course I'll be finishing up Return Smithsonian and I'll be adding more chapters to Difference. Don't forget to check out my forum, everyone! It'd be deeply appreciated. :) Well, enjoy!

Chapter Nine ~ Breakeven

I swayed back and forth in the arms of Ahkmenrah to the music coming from some type of medieval instrument that King Arthur was playing. My cheek rested against Ahkmenrah's cheek as my arms were wrapped around his neck. His arms were wrapped around my waist. I felt so belonged and I felt so at ease. A small soft and warm smile was plastered onto my mouth. I felt so happy.

"You looks like a goddess tonight, Laura," I heard Ahkmenrah whisper in my ear.

I smiled more and pulled my head back to look up at him, our faces inches apart. The memory of him kissing me still lingered in my mind. I smiled up at him, looking in his chocolate brown eyes that made me feel like I was melting in his arms.

"My princess," he murmured.

I smiled more and went back to me resting my cheek against his. "Stuff like this...just doesn't exist," I murmured.

"What do you mean?" he asked me.

I chuckled shortly. "This feels all too good to be true," I murmured.

I felt his cheek widen in a smile. "It does, does it? Well, princess, I assure you this isn't a dream," he told me, kissing my temple softly.

Then there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and found it to be Larry and Cleopatra. "Mind if we cut in?" Larry asked with an innocent smile, causing me to chuckle a bit.

I looked at Ahkmenrah and back at Larry. "Of course not," I said as I shook my head, unwrapping my arms from around Ahkmenrah as he did the same. I wrapped my hand around Larry's outstretched hand as Larry pulled me into his arms, putting his hands to my hips so that he could bring me close until our bodies were pressed up against each other. A hand slid up so that it was resting on the nape of my neck as I rested my head against Larry's chest, watching Cleopatra fling herself into Ahkmenrah's arms in a whore-ish way. I chuckled at that, seeing his face turn from politeness to disgust. I knew Ahkmenrah couldn't stand Cleopatra whilst Cleopatra thought Ahkmenrah just loved her.

"You look beautiful tonight," I heard Larry tell me in a muffled voice.

I smiled. "Thanks, Larry," I said.

"You know...I used to have a big crush on you," he then said to me, taking me by surprise. My eyes shot open and widened, causing me to look up at Larry.

"What?" I asked with astonishment.

He chuckled and nodded his head. "Yeah. But I gave up being that it's obvious that Ahkmenrah has already claimed you," he said.

My cheeks reddened deeply with a certain burn as I looked away. "O-oh..." I stuttered, feeling like a horrible person all of a sudden.

I felt Larry's chest shaking with laughter. "Laura, don't worry about it. I want you to be happy. And after seeing the way that you and Ahkmenrah look at each other, I know you're happy. But you know...you two can't be together forever," he said.

I sighed as I went back to resting my head against Larry's chest. "I know," I said.

Really, I did know. I was always constantly thinking about it. Ahkmenrah may be just a wax model...but he was something real deep in my heart. I knew it as a fact. But something was telling me that something will be, for sure, real sometime soon. I just knew it. And you know how people are always like "trust your instincts" and "follow your heart"? Well that's exactly what I'm doing, something I should have done a long time ago.

"Just...don't want to see you disappointed...or hurt," Larry then said.

I smiled sadly. "That's so sweet of you, Larry," I said, folding my arms underneath Larry's arms so that they rested on the back of his shoulders. I felt comfortable.

"Anytime, Laura," Larry assured me.

..::( ~ ~ ~ ~ )::..

I had fallen asleep and the last thing I remembered was being carried outside, seeing the sun rising in the distance. And then everything turned to blackness. And...then I had a strange and weird dream...something that completely caught my heart off guard for the first time in a long time.

Ahkmenrah was no longer wearing his royal Egyptian clothing...he was in a business suit. I was in his arms as I saw the sun high in the sky in the distance.

"I'm happy I found you," I said in a happy way.

He smiled and kissed my cheek. "I'm happy I found you too, Laura. I love you," he said as he picked me up in a hug and spun me around one time, setting my feet, that were in black flip flops, on the ground.

I was wearing a short black and white sun skirt and a black tank top. My hair was up in a high pony tale, which was something I never did to my hair. It was so strange to see Ahkmenrah without his hat on. And why was he awake during the day?

He put a hand to my cheek. "I'll see you tonight at my place?" he asked.

Wait, what? "Of course," was what came out of my mouth as I let him kiss me as I watched him walk off in the distance, towards the main part of New York City.

I was standing on the steps of the Museum of Natural History and the sun was still quite high in the sky. I smiled and looked around, enjoying the cool breeze of summer wrap around me. I crossed my arms over my chest and walked up the steps and into the museum, seeing Dr. McPhee at the desk, talking to one of the girls who worked at the desk.

He turned around and looked at me. "You're two hours late, Laura. Do it again, and you'll be fired," he said as he pointed his index finger at me in an accusing way.

Wait, I work during the day? "It won't happen again, Dr. McPhee," I replied.

And with that, the dream ended as I walked into the locker room.

I sat up in my bed, confused...and only able to remember bits and pieces of the dream. All I could remember was Ahkmenrah in real clothing, awake during the day and the fact that he obviously had invited me to 'his place'. I sighed and got out of bed, but soon froze when I heard a familiar voice talking to mom.

I got out of bed, finding myself in my pajamas, and slipped my feet in my powder blue slippers as I headed into the kitchen to find Larry drinking coffee at the kitchen table and mom cooking. He must have taken me home last night.

They looked at me. "Morning, sleepy head," mom said with her usual warm smile.

I smiled back. "Morning. Morning, Larry," I said as I gave him a confused face. The clock on the stove read 11:49am, shocked that I didn't sleep any farther. But then again, didn't try and go back to sleep.

Larry smiled and nodded his head. "Morning," he said.

"Larry brought you home earlier this morning. You must have been tired to fall asleep on your way home," mom said with a chuckle.

I nodded my head with a short smile, taking a seat next to Larry as I grabbed a waffle off of a plate that sat in the middle of the table, placing it on an empty green ceramic plate before me. I was rather starved. I then threw my eyebrows and looked at Larry. "What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I stayed the whole time you were sleeping, talking to your aunt and such. She was curious as to what we did at work. I was telling her about that robbery last weekend," he said with a short chuckle.

Robbery? Oh, lies. "Oh yeah...that was scary," I murmured as I ate my waffle as mom poured me a glass of milk.

"By the way, Mr. McPhee wants to talk to you later," he said in a confused way, turning to look directly at me. "Any idea on what about?"

I threw my eyebrows together and shook me head. "...no..." Really, I didn't know.