Ahkmenrah and the tablet had stayed in Britain, while the others had all willingly returned to New York, knowing that their days as living exhibits were over. Honestly he couldn't possibly find a way to repay their generosity. So he promised himself, that if Alex didn't reappear at the end of the three years, then he would arrange to have the tablet stay in the Museum of Natural History in New York. Permanently. His father would have been angry if he knew. But the tablet was his, to do with as he saw fit. His father just wanted for them to be together as a family. What his father didn't understand was that Alex was his family. And if he couldn't get her back, if he couldn't keep her, then he would rather be a mummy. Eventually, maybe, he would be able to rest in peace. Then, maybe, just maybe, he could see her again.

It had taken almost a year before he could even slide his cheerful mask back into place. But even through the grief, he'd taken it upon himself to be the ambassador between the night guard, Tilly, and the newly living inhabitants of the British Museum. She'd taken to the change rather well. They'd become fast friends. Probably because Tilly was a human who lost the exhibit she fell in love with, while he was an exhibit who lost the human he was in love with. They understood each other's pain, and that had created a support system of sorts.

The British Museum remained quiet on this night. Even with the tablet's powers in full swing. Tilly had warned them that some of the employees would be working over night in order to pack up some of the exhibits for a long visit to New York's Museum of Natural History. Ahk had confided in Tilly what he wished done with the tablet. She was understanding but extremely hesitant. For her this had been the worst job ever until the tablet came into the museum. Returning the tablet to New York, and leaving it there, would mean coming back to a dead museum. For the sake of her sanity she would, most likely, have to find a new job. But she understood where he was coming from. After losing her caveman there had been many days that she wished she could stay asleep forever too. Then she realized that if the tablet stayed in New York, he would be awake, and all she would have to do is transfer to that museum and they would be together. Had Ahk intentionally planned it that way? She had learned by now that he was the type of person who, if he couldn't be happy he would at least help someone else to find their happiness.

The New York exhibits were all so excited about having him here and about being alive, that they insisted on having a party the second they woke up the next night. Ahk wasn't into it, but after suffering through three years of misery, he'd found he was able to at least pretend like he was having fun.

Tilly was in Dr. Mcphee's office. She had just handed him the tablet, having been told by Larry that he was an unbeliever. They waited for the magic to begin. The tablet glowed and the music started. She guided him out of his office and toward the railing that overlooked the main entrance, showing him the exhibits in all their celebratory glory. Tilly joined the party while Ahk was able to sneak away to join the currator. "So you're the real Ahkmenrah?" McPhee asked.

"Yes. I am."

"You're not an actor? Because all this time I thought you were an actor."

A slightly amused half smile appeared on Ahk's face. "I'm not an actor."

"Well. That explains a lot. And it's all because of this tablet?" He held it up while Ahk leaned on the railing while looking down at the ongoing party.

"Yes." For a moment the only sounds were those of the festivities. "I am considering leaving it here."

"Are you staying then? 'Cause I can arrange that."

"No. Regardless of my decision, I will be returning to London."

"But without the tablet? Why? I mean not that I'd complain or anything."

He chose his words carefully. "I... lost someone and without her I'm just... tired. It may be time for me... to finally rest in peace."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Well, until you make your decision." He took a couple steps back and made a show of presenting the tablet to Ahkmenrah. "I believe this belongs to you, your highness."

Before Ahk could accept it a brilliant flash of light filled the area, blinding even those in the party below. When it faded and all eyes readjusted, there was Alex holding onto the other end of the tablet. Her ancient egyptian dress was soaked through, making it practically invisible. "Wha- Alex? Where did you come from?" McPhee asked.

Ahkmenrah called her name in disbelief. She let go of the tablet and turned towards him only to collapse into his arms in a shivering, unconscious heap. "Call an ambulance, then call Larry," he ordered McPhee. He'd forgotten how sick she'd been when she disappeared the first time. If the tablet hadn't brought her back, she would have died, and it would have been entirely his fault. He had to stop himself from outright bawling.

"On it," McPhee said. "Someone find her a spare uniform or something. Just something dry." The exhibits, especially the ones who had been present for her disappearance, sprang into action.

Alex woke slowly. "It was the worst case of influenza, I've seen in years. We took a sample to our lab, and they said it's a strain they've never seen before, something completely new. Our current flu shots would have had no effect. But with proper care, and some strong antibiotics, her immune system seems to be doing all the work for us." she heard. "When she got here she was extremely dehydrated, and her immune system was weakened considerably. If she had gotten here just a little later we would be having a completely different conversation. But she should be fine in a few days."

"Ok. Thank you, Doctor." Was that Larry? Why did he sound like he hadn't slept in days? After a moment she felt a hand holding hers. She squeezed it.

Struggling to open her eyes, she heard Larry call the doctor back in. She got her eyes to open only a little. Where am I? She wanted to ask. Something was keeping her from speaking, but her brain wasn't working enough to tell her what that something was. She was too tired to freak out properly. She could hear him speaking to her, but could no longer make out the words. Fingers pressed gently on her neck. A dragging sensation in her throat as something was pulled out. Finally she was able to take a deep breath and things became a little clearer. "...Awake," she heard from Larry.

"...if she falls asleep. ...right now."

"Ahkmen," she said, using all of her energy to just whisper the name. The world went dark.

"Don't be surprised if she falls asleep," the doctor told him. "Her body has had hard time fighting this and she needs the rest right now."

"Ahkmen." They looked at her. Larry's fist clenched tight.

"I didn't quite make that out," the doctor admitted.

"Her... husband," he ground out.

"I take it you don't approve."

He'd made it clear when she came in that he was her brother. They wouldn't have allowed him in the room if they knew they weren't really related. "Not anymore," he replied. The doctor, deciding not to pry, went on with his rounds. Larry returned to his seat beside Alex's bed. When Alex had first disappeared it had taken a couple days for Ahk's story to sink in. And he still couldn't say that he believed much of it. Ahk had said he was only fifteen when Alex married him. She just wouldn't do something like that. At least not willingly. He'd tried to do more research on Ahkmenrah and his family. His wives, all three, had been mentioned in passing, but there were no names. Parts of Ahk's story just didn't pan out. There was no way she would, at at twenty something, have a baby, or in this case, almost have a baby, with a sixteen year old kid. That just wasn't Alex. Unless she'd been forced into it.

As suspicious as Larry had become of him, it was good that he had agreed to stay in London. Larry just couldn't trust him anymore. But apparently she still did. Just a couple hours until sunset. She would want Ahk to know. He would respect that, even if he didn't like the guy anymore.

Sunset found him in the museum, going on a night tour. He easily snuck away from the group to find Tilly. Better if she relayed the message. "He's gonna wanna see ha," she said. "As long as he's back befoh sunrise." Tilly made him deliver his own message, since he would be the one who would have to chauffer the kid anyway.

Their meeting was awkward, but less painful then Larry had thought it would be. More like strangers then ex-friends. They found a spare uniform that fit Ahkemenrah, and Larry drove them back to the hospital, regardless of the risks to Ahk's very existence. Part of him, a very small part, kind of hoped that they'd be late getting back. "We can't stay long," Larry warned. "I have class tomorrow, which means I actually have to sleep during the night now." When the tablet had stayed in London, Larry quit his job at the museum. It was just too boring now. Insead he finished his degree, and began teaching history.

Ahk only nodded. Tilly warned Larry that he hadn't spoken a word, since Alex had come back nine days ago. The young king's anxiety visibly worsened the closer they got to her room. Whatever it was he had done in the past, he'd had three thousand years to think about it and regret it. This went a long way to appeasing Larry's anger. "Welcome back, Mister Daley. That didn't take long," the receptionist greeted. "Your sister woke up again, but she might be asleep by now. Who's your friend."

He subconsciously put a reassuring hand to Ahk's back. "This is her husband."

"Finally, we meet the mysterious Mister Phillips," she said jovially, typing the info into her computer. Larry snorted. "I never would have pegged her for a cradle robber. You can go on in. Will you be staying the night again, Mister Daley?"

"No. Not tonight. Thank you, Jenny," Larry said with a wave as he guided Ahk to Alex's room. "Don't be surprised if she's still asleep." Larry warned him for the upteenth time. "The doctor said her body needs the rest after fighting the virus so hard." When he opened the door, they were surprised to see her not only awake, but pacing the floor. She flew into Ahk's arms causing him to fall to the floor and suddenly both of them were crying while Larry could only awkwardly look on.

After almost an hour of tears and tender kissing, they finally regained their composure enough to speak. "Alex." Ahk's first word in over a week. "Love. How can you ever forgive me?"

"It's not your fault. I wouldn't have believed me either." Then after a moment, "I didn't mean to leave you. I wanted to stay."

"No. If you had stayed, you would have been lost to me forever. If not to the illness, then to my brother. I think the tablet knew this."

"Alex, you should really be resting," Larry finally managed to get in.

She squeeled his name lept into his arms. "When did you get here? I missed you so much."

"I've been here the whole time, but you were...uh...a little busy. And I missed you too." He gave her a tight hug before letting go. "The doctor said you needed rest."

"Why? I feel fine. The only reason I'm still here is the receptionists wouldn't let me leave."

"You weren't fine two hours ago," Larry reasoned.

"Alex, please," Ahk added. "I don't want to risk losing you again."

"I'm telling you, I feel fine. I heard Larry earlier. Talking to the doctor, and I was so tired I couldn't stay awake. Then a couple hours ago I woke up and felt like I'd never been sick."

Larry sat in his usual seat, while Ahk pulled up another to the other side of her bed. Their unspoken plan worked, and she sat cross-legged on the bed between them. Even if she wasn't sleeping, sitting was more rest than pacing the floor. Then Ahk thought to ask, "Alex, do you remember what time you woke up?"

"According to that clock over there," she pointed to a clock on the wall across from the bed. "It was about six."

"That's the same time as sunset." Larry supplied.

The two men looked at eachother. "Interesting coincidence," the pharaoh said.

"Ahk," Alex began, finally noticing. "What are you wearing?"

Larry laughed openly, while Ahk replied. "Well I couldn't very well show up here in my royal garb."

Eyes narrowing slightly, she tilted her head at him. "I don't like it."

He stood and leaned over to kiss her. "If you're going to make me leave the museum, then you and Larry will just have to buy me some better clothes."

After a couple of hours of just visiting, Larry had to break up the party. "I teach now, so I kinda gotta sleep at night. And Ahk needs to be back in museum before sunrise," he explained. And Alex understood.

"Ahk, don't risk it." Alex pleaded. "Stay in the museum, and I'll come to you when they let me out."

Larry stopped in front of the museum to let Ahk out. They noticed the giant banner hanging over the doors. "We forgot to tell her," Larry said.

"I've only got three weeks left. I'll try to arrange something with Tilly, maybe we can convince McPhee to rehire her and transfer both her and Lah to the British Museum."

"...Or you could stay."

Ahk was silent for a moment, weighing his options. Would Alex even be willing to move so far away from her home? Could he leave his parents after finally being reunited with them? He'd been willing to leave them in their death sleep without the tablet, but had been planning on joining them. Now, everything was different and she was back. "I'll have to consider my options," he said, before getting out and heading toward the museum door, where Tilly was waiting to let him in.

For three more days Alex slept and woke with the rising and setting of the sun, before finally waking up in the middle of the day. They'd congratulated her and not just for waking up. "You've got a fighter there," the doctor had said. "Not many fetuses could survive that severe of an illness." She'd made them promise not to tell anyone else. After another day of observation and few more tests she was declared fit enough to go home. Unfortunately she had no home left to go back to. After three years her appartment had, of course, been rented out to another tenant, though Larry had managed to save her belongings and keep them in storage.

Larry took the day off to help her move some of her things into his guest room. Rather than unpack, she stayed only long enough to freshen up, then asked for a ride to the museum. It felt weird to be wearing modern clothes, especially pants, again.

He let her off at the front before taking the car into the parking garage. For several moments she stood frozen in place on the sidewalk as she read and reread the giant letters on the banner. Her eyes narrowed dangerously before she closed them, blowing the negative emotions out with a sigh. They weren't good for the baby. Besides, fate had never been kind to them since the beginning, so why start now?

Making her way to the loaned exhibit, she had a hard time believing she'd ever been gone. Everything was, more or less, exactly like she'd left it. Ahk's cypt was just where it used to be, the tablet hanging behind it, just like it always had been. Only this one was a reproduction. The real tablet, she'd been able to feel since the first time it transported her. And right now she could feel that it was in McPhee's office, so she made that her second stop.

Mcphee himself was making a few rounds, making sure everything was set for the night tours in a couple of hours. She took the time to sneak in and hold the object that had proven itself both a blessing and a bane. Leaning on the edge of the desk, one hand held the tablet while the other stroked absently on her still flat stomach. "Can't ever give me a break, can you," she mumbled to it. It had taken her job, her home, and, if only temporarily, her rights. In return it had given her an undead husband, heartbreak, and a child whose father could only ever be a part-time dad. Though she had to admit two of the last three weren't actually as bad as they sounded. At least she still had Ahk, which was infinitely better than him being permanently dead. Even if he had to go back to the British museum, at least she knew he'd be all right. Even if she followed Ahk, being stuck in the schedule he was, he would very rarely, sometimes never get spend any time with his own kid. She'd be raising this one on her own.

"Why couldn't you just leave me there? I was happy." At least she had been until near the end. How was she even supposed to explain all this? Eventually her little son or daughter would start asking questions. 'You're the sole surviving heir to an ancient Egyptian kingdom which no longer exists and your father is a pharoah who's been dead for thousands of years. Sorry I never told you, sweetheart.' Yeah, that'd work. If only she could go back, then everything would be all right.

She didn't realize how long she'd been thinking until she felt the tablet's power flow through her as it once again brought the museum to life. Holding it close to her chest, she half-heartedly strolled towards the egyptian exhibits.

Ahk met her halfway gently taking the tablet from her grip. "I'd rather not risk it," he said. "It has a tendency of transporting you away from me." Having gotten used to deffering to his authority, after three years of pharoah's wife training, she only nodded mutely. He frowned. In the past, before his untimely death, he'd never had an issue with her submitting to him. In fact, he often preffered it, considering the only one she ever submitted to was him alone. And more often than not, it would lead to him being the one submitting to her in the bedroom. But now having spent the last three thousand years watching women gain their freedoms and rights, it no longer sat well with him. "I'm not pharoah anymore," he reminded her with a sigh. "There was once a time you would have snatched it back from me." His heart leapt as the fire returned to her eyes. Grabbing his collar, she yanked him down into a surprise passionate kiss, then took off running, tablet in hand. For a moment he could only watch dazedly as her laughing form disappeared around the corner.

He followed her to one of the employee's lounges located on the roof. The thin layer of gravel crunched lightly beneath their feet. A strong breeze whipped his cape about. He fell into near panic when a bolt of lightning lit up the night sky. Catching her easily, he yanked the tablet from her grasp. Attempting to get it back she tripped over her own feet. How she could defeat an entire army on her own and still not be able to walk properly was beyond him. "Ow," she whined, standing up and carressing abused backside. Once again he had to pause to thank his gods for the strategically placed tail on his sash. He couldn't help it. He may be over three thousand years old, but his body remained that of a hormonal teenager.

"Bad things always seem to happen when you have the tablet. Especially when there is lightning involved," he explained. He set the tablet on a nearby table and pulled her to himself, holding onto her for dear life. "I can't lose you. Not again."

She pulled away only a little, and cocked her head at him. "What about when you go back to the other museum, though?"

"Go back?" He repeated. Honestly, she made it so hard to think straight.

"Yeah, back."

He mentally cursed himself for forgetting. "McPhee can make my return permanent."

Pulling away completely, she led him by the hand to sit in one of chairs surrounding the table holding the tablet, then sat side ways on his lap. One hand wrapped around his shoulders while the other began drawing random designs on his bare chest. "That's not the only issue," she finally admitted.

He tried to ignore the lump forming in his throat, and held her a little tighter. Did she want to leave him? Had what he'd done been too much for her? "What else then?"

"You can't just leave your parents like that. It took three thousand years for you to find them again."

He could feel his muscles relaxing and hoped she didn't notice his sigh of releif. "It took me three thousand years to find you again, too."

She sighed, her hand stilling. "There's also the issues that prevented me from telling you my feelings five years ago." She paused.

"Like what?" he prompted.

"The fact that I'm still aging while you're stuck inside the body of a teenager. If the tablet had left me in the past, things would have been all right. But now you have to watch me and our kid grow old and die, while you remain young forever."

"If the tablet had left you in the past you'd be dead."

"Maybe that would have been better for all of us."

"Don't say that. Never say that again. You don't know what it's like to," he cut himself off. "Wait. Did you just say 'our kid?'"

Choosing to watch the lightning storm instead of his face, she guided his hand to her middle. "Yeah. Roughly two months along. "

"What? How?" This couldn't be. Had she already betrayed him. He clearly remembered the last time they'd been together. It had been days before his death, and far, far longer than two months ago.

"Well. When a man loves a woman," she started.

Jerking his hand from her grip, he dropped her to the floor in his haste to get away from her. His now free hand gestured angrily between himself and her. "We haven't been together like that in over three millinia," he nearly shouted.

She threw a handfull of gravel at his chest as she stood up. Some of it clanged against his gold collar. "Three millinia from your point of view. Not even three weeks from mine. It's called time travel, genius. The kid's yours wether ya want it or not," she screamed. He could see the hurt, angry tears at the corners of her eyes as she turned on her heels and fled from him.

He called out to her, only to be ignored. Grabbing the tablet, he banged it repeatedly against his own crownless head, before slumping, unceremoniously back into the chair. How could he have forgotten the time travel? And she and his father had both thought he was fit to be pharaoh. What fools they were. And he was the biggest fool of them all.

Three thousand years ago he would have been ecstatic, just as he had been the first time. But now. What kind of father could he be? He'd heard enough from Larry to understand at least the basics of raising a child in this modern age. Dropping off and picking up the child from school. PTA meetings. Sports games. Club activities. He would never be able to participate in any of that. He would only get a couple of hours a day with the child, before they would have to go to bed. And even then only in winter when sunset was earlier. And he had no way, neither here nor in Britain, to provide for either his child or his currently jobless wife. Larry had often complained about the hardships of being a single parent. He didn't want Alex to go through that.

Another thing that tore at his heart was the fact that she was right. He would remain as he was. Frozen in time, watching his child grow up then watching it and Alex grow old and eventually die. Never had he loathed his current existence more than in this moment. Finally breaking, he held the tablet up. "This is all your fault," he bellowed. "If you never existed I would never have met her. I would never have been able to hurt her." He rushed to the edge of the roof, tablet raised high so he could shatter it on the sidewalk below. Then he paused, relic still held to the sky. Without it he would never have met her. Images flashed in his head of his life... and his after life. Images that didn't include her. To put it mildly, they sucked. Without her, he couldn't even call it living.

Gripping the tablet tightly in both hands, he leaned his elbows on the railing and rested his head between them. A soul shattering sound escaped from his mouth. "You were created for me," he said finally. "Do as I command. Send me back, so I can change things. I'll stop my brother's betrayal before it happens." He waited. Nothing. "Send me back." He tried again. "If not for me, than for Alex. For the child you helped create. I wish to be there for them. I wish to grow old with them." Still nothing.

The rain began, almost immediately turning into a torrental downpour. Ahk couldn't care less. He needed to find her, apologize for his behaviour. And maybe, if his luck still ran true, she wouldn't hate him. Looking to the sky, he lifted the tablet and pressed it hard against his forehead. He grit his teeth and closed his eyes tightly. Banishing the thought of destroying it took more effort than it should have. But it was all he had. The closest he would ever come to being with his family. He never saw the bolt of lightning that came streaking toward the tablet.

By some miracle Alex had made it into the restroom unnoticed. Sitting in a stall, crying her eyes out made her feel like a high school girl who's crush had rejected her. In a sense it wasn't that far from the truth. Her arms wrapped protectively around her stomach. How could he even think she would be with another man? But if, from his point of view it really had been three thousand years, then she could, sort of, understand where he was coming from. That didn't make it hurt any less, but maybe she had been overreacting. Stupid, mood altering pregnancy hormones.

Blowing her nose, she rose from the edge of the toilet seat and left the solitude of the stall. She splashed some water on her face, then paper toweled it dry. Looking into the mirror, she shrugged. It was pretty obvious she'd been crying, but the only people who would bring it up would be Larry, Sacagawea, and Teddy. And they all knew well enough to respect her silence.

Right now, though, she had to find her husband. They had a conversation to finish and she had to apologize for running off. Just as her hand touched the door handle she found herself plunged into darkness. She let herself out of the room before reaching into her satchel, which she had put on purely out of habit. Somehow, her flashlight still worked despite the probably four year old batteries. Maybe the tablet recharged them during transport. It was magic after all.

Somewhere she could hear Tilly and McPhee trying to calm the tour groups as they offered refunds and apologies. Larry was probably going for the fuse box near the loading dock. She decided to find him first. As she turned her beam of light caught an exhibit. An exhibit with a very still, very not alive wax figure. Her feet were heading to the roof before her brain could comprehend what was going on.

Bursting through the door, she called out Ahk's name. No answer. She swung the flashlight around, going into a panic when she couldn't find him. The rain soaked her to the bone almost instantly. She hesitantly made her way to the railing and peered over. It looked like the entire city was out. A curse escaped her lips when her flashlight didn't quite reach to the ground below.

Reaching for her satchel again, she pulled out her cellphone, praying to whatever god would listen that it still worked and that Larry still had the same number. For the first time in three years she turned it on and selected his name from her contact list. It rang once, twice and she could have died when she heard his voice. "Larry, the exhibits are asleep. I can't feel the tablet," she nearly shouted into his ear. "I think Ahk might have done something stupid. We were on the roof over the main entrance. Please, please, please take a look and tell me he didn't jump."

"I have to check the fuse box first," came the reply.

"It's not the freaking fuse box. Whatever it is got the whole city. Just look. Please?"

She could hear him curse. "All right, I'll call you back when I'm over there." He hung up.

Cursing, she paced a few steps before slapping the railing and taking off to the pharaoh's crypt. Most of the tourists had been filing out of the main entrance. That meant Alex made it to the exhibit before Larry could make it outside the main entrance door. The sarcophagus was closed and its glass case shut tight. "What the freak is your problem? What have you done?" She yelled, throwing open the case and sliding over the sarcophagus lid. She froze in terror at the mummy inside. He wasn't supposed to be there. "What did you do?" she whispered. She couldn't feel the tablet and Ahk was a mummy. And she couldn't. Feel. The. Tablet. Numbly, so he didn't get anymore damaged, she sealed him back in. Leaning against the case, she slid to the floor.

The long forgotten ring-tone made her jump out of her skin. With shaking hands she answered her phone. "Alex, he's not out here anywhere. Neither is the tablet."

"I know," she replied, voice cracking.

"What do you mean, you know? Why am I out here looking then?"

"Larry, I can't. I can't feel the tablet," she sobbed.

There was a deep sigh followed by cursing on the other end. She could hear it even over the sounds of the rain. "I'm coming back in. Where are you?"

"Ahk," she choked. "Ahkmenrah's exhibit. Larry, he's in there. He's a mummy and it's not sunrise and I can't feel the tablet."

She could hear another string of curses, before he responded. "Okay. Just. Just stay calm. I'm coming. It'll be all right, Alex. I'm coming." He hung up.

The phone dropped from her hand as she curled herself into a ball and sobbed.