At this point Atem was only focused on one thing, and one thing only. Getting Teana and the baby inside her safely home. Isis revealed she saw a vision of Teana being taken captive by the despicable Thief King. This news only served to fuel Atem and make him angry...very angry. He would go to any height to get those he loved back.

With his army of men he rode furiously ahead along the path that the carriage should have taken. Isis had gone with him and told him she saw the Thief King's men not too far off the path. Even thinking about that man evoked negative emotions in Atem's heart. What would he do that man, he did not know...but he would make him pay.

"I'm tired...and hungry." Teana whined.

"Shush it or else!" Mumbled one of the men guarding her.

She scowled. "I need rest and food or I will collapse! If I collapse, you will be carrying me, so take your pick."

The man was very annoyed. "Fine, he said. I'll talk to the boss." Teana smirked when the man turned to talk to the Thief King. She could hear him speaking to him from afar. She wasn't concerned about that, however. She needed a way to escape. Surely Atem would come for her, but she was no damsel in distress even if she was pregnant. She could surely try to escape and meet Atem half way, no?

Teana eyed around. She was still being guarded by two other men, but they weren't paying much notice to what she was doing. She looked around. The caravan of thieves were definitely all men. 'Men...hm.'

"Alright everyone!" Teana turned her attention to the Thief King. "We will stop for a little while and take rest." Bakura eyed her. He didn't trust her. He didn't know much about pregnant woman, and her plea did seem plausible, but he wasn't taking any risk in her escaping. He needed her for a bigger plan and he needed to care for Teana until the baby was born. It wouldn't be too long now. He didn't know how far along the woman was, but judging by the size of her belly, she was relatively close to giving birth, a few months if not less.

In the meantime, the men set up a couple of tents to rest. Teana stayed outside, leaning against some of the bags and belongings the men had. She sighed. The three guards previously watching her had left, but now three new ones replaced them. One of them had gone to get her food.

He came back with dates and other fruits. He also provided her some cooked bread and a flask of water. Teana momentarily wondered where they got the bread from as it would be difficult to store. She ignored her thoughts about it as she noticed that they did provide her with a considerable amount of food. She would have thought that they would give her very little an amount, but they hadn't. Clearly they wanted her child to be born healthy and strong.

She shivered. They wanted her baby. There was no doubt about it. She would not let the Thief King or anyone take her baby! No one. She would protect her and Atem's unborn baby no matter what the cost. Teana gently rubbed her belly. She was nearing her delivery. There was still a little over two months left, but sometimes babies were born early. She prayed hers wouldn't be.

She closed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. She reached out and began eating. Teana was hungry. There was no point in starving her poor baby the nutrients he/she needed. She took the flask of water she was provided with and drank it thirstily.

She was being naive in thinking she could escape. She probably could have if not for the fact that she was with child. Escaping was going to be more difficult than she thought. If she did manage to escape the men, she would have to walk an unknown number of miles to perhaps perchance hopefully bump into Atem. This was not good for her nor the baby. She would also have no food or water with her. She would get dehydrated. There was truly no chance of her successfully getting away without risking the health and well-being of both her and her baby. Teana was unfortunately forced to wait for Atem. There was no other logical answer.

It was windy as Atem and his men rode out on their way through the land. Atem was leading his men through a charging, fast rate. He didn't want to spare a single moment! Teana wasn't safe, he could not rest while he was in fear of her well-being. The other men had other ideas, however.

"Your highness! The horses are getting tired."

"We must take rest!"

"We've been riding for hours!"

To Atem, they all sounded like whining children. It was true, that their pleas weren't without merit, but Atem was worried sick. He finally agreed to their rest.

"One hour!" Atem yelled at his men, once he gave stopped them from rest. "After that, we move out!"

The men were clearly not happy with just one hour of rest, but they didn't dare question him. Part of it was out of extreme respect for their Pharaoh, part of it because of fear, part of it because they felt guilty for their pleas while the Queen of the land was still out and in danger.

Atem sat down on the ground and took out his flask. He took a long drink from it and sighed. He dug his hand in the sand and made a fist with it, only to unclench it and then release the sand back on the ground.

He knew that something was going to happen, he just knew it. How he knew he didn't know. Atem was angry at himself for only brushing it off as paranoia. If Teana had only come back with him... It was wrong for him to derive her of time with her parents but... Aghh! Atem grunted. Now this had happened and here he was trying to save her from the wicked wrath of the notorious Thief King. Atem hated himself.

Poor Atem is blaming himself for everything that's happened. Teana is in a bit of pickle because she can do absolutely nothing with the baby due soon. She's realized that the men are after her baby, although she's uncertain why. My writer's block is coming back full speed ahead unfortunately, and my busy schedule isn't helping with that either. I hope to try to finish up this fanfic soon. Thanks for all your patience!

~Startistica