A/N: Oh, I am such a b***h. But for some reason, you all still read my stories. Not that I'm complaining, I love having people read and review, which is what y'all need to be doing. Here's the next part.

Ch. 19~ Intervention

Enough was enough. This could not continue. It wasn't healthy.

Her cousin had all but hauled her from the garden and plopped her ass down in the armchair across from the couch where the rest of the family sat. Here she was, covered in sweat and grime, and they were just sitting there, staring at her.

"Uh…what's going on?" se set the turnips she was still holding down in her lap.

"Jeweli, dear, we're all very worried about you. I…you just…haven't been yourself since we left Egypt." Evie started.

"You never talk to anyone, unless you have to. You've hardly eaten anything, and now…Jewels, you look like hell." His wife gave him a dirty look. "Well, it's true. Listen, you work all day, every day, until it's so late that you pretty much just fall into bed. Then you're up before the sun the next morning."

"It's heartbreaking, ol' mum, seeing you go through this." Jon stepped in. "We all love you, very much. But, this…something has to be done."

"Do any of you even know what you're even talking about?" Jeweli's eyes narrowed. "Quite honestly, I don't remember asking any of you for help. I'm absolutely fine. Just dandy."

There was silence for a moment as she gave all the adults the stink eye, daring one of them to question her. "You've been really sad."

Her eyes jumped to the young boy sitting n the middle of the couch, leaning against his mother. "What?" she breathed.

"Ever since we got on the boat, you've been really sad, Aunt Jeweli. Because you couldn't stay with Ardeth."

"I'm not sad, kiddo."

"Yes, you are, Aunt Jeweli," he suddenly got frustrated, which made them all jump. Alex had never been one to throw fits. "Every time I come down the hall after you go to bed, I hear you crying. And when you're not working every two seconds, you pull out that necklace he gave you, but you never wear it! Why didn't you stay there if coming back hurt so much?!" Then he got up and stormed out of the room, leaving everyone else stunned at his behavior.

Great, so now her nephew hated her for wanting to take care of everyone, and make sure they were all happy. Just when she thought she had wrung herself dry, the tears started slipping out again, leaving streaks in the dirt. Jeweli looked down at her hands, thinking about the way Ardeth held them when he told her he would drop everything and come to England for her. She remembered the way that, even after she ran from him and ignored him, he still held her at their last goodbye, how he told her he still loved her. By now, though, he should have forgotten about her. There were so many other women in the world. All of them prettier, sweeter, and more deserving of a man as wonderful as Ardeth Bay.

Jonathan cleared his throat, "Hey, Jeweli?" she wiped her face, and then looked at him. "Do you remember that deal we made, on that crazy man's balloon?" she nodded. "Well, I think it's about time you held up your end of the bargain, my dear."

Jeweli thought about it for a moment, and then smiled. The first smile they'd seen in over a month.

"What deal?" Rick looked between them, even more confused when his cousin got up and hugged Jonathan. "Hey! What deal?"

"I'll tell you about it later, ol' boy."

They watched as the long-time rain cloud metaphorically disappeared from over Jeweli's head as she ran from the room, grinning from ear to ear.

Alex's Room

Jeweli knocked on her nephew's playroom door, watching him sulk as he played with a few of his toys. She smiled as she thought it looked suspiciously like several men on horseback fighting a bunch of dogs. "Hey, kiddo. You ok?"

He stopped playing, but didn't look at her. "I don't like seeing you upset."

"I know, sweetheart." She sat down next to him, and pulled him against her side. "I'm sorry I've been such a Negative Nancy lately, but I just wanted to make sure you're all ok. I've been living and working here for five years, that's nearly ¾ of your life."

"Yeah, I know. But…couldn't you have stayed down there?"

She gave him a funny look. "It sounds like you're trying to get rid of me, kiddo."

"I'm not! You were just so much happier in Egypt."

Jeweli sighed, "Things aren't that simple. It didn't really matter what I wanted. The Elders, the ones that everyone respects, they told him I couldn't stay. He got so mad at them that he hit a post and ended up hurting his hand. Ardeth wanted to come back with us."

"So, why didn't he?"

"Because I wouldn't let him. He has a duty to his country and his people, and I couldn't let him throw it away for me. That would have been selfish."

"Did you love him?"

"Yes, I did. But, it made no difference then." Then, she leaned in and whispered in his ear.

Alex's eyes widened. "Woohoo!"