AN: Long time no see! But it's finally update time! :-) I was pretty busy and had no time to write a lot and honestly I had no inspiration either. Thank you so much for reading and a big hug to everyone who left a review 3

For all of you who have read my first story One Million Reasons will remember a scene in this chapter. So, we do have a little cross-over here since this story is the prequel.

Enjoy chapter 21!

CHAPTER XXI
December 22nd

It was one of the longest nights I've ever had in my life. All the thoughts of what Marik had said to me kept me awake and if I feel asleep eventually bad dreams made sure that I woke up again - literally bathed in sweat. I stopped checking the clock, because time went by painfully slow. Maybe it wasn't just everything that Marik said to me that prevented me from sleeping, but also my hope he would come to my room for an excuse. But his ego wouldn't allow him to show something like weakness - like he used to call it.

Finally I decided to quit on the hopeless attempt to get some sleep and stood up although I felt too tired to do anything at all. I took an ice-cold shower to wash away the tiredness. It was about 6 am in the morning and I questioned myself wether or not I should risk to run into Marik and rush to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. It was early in the morning and maybe he was still asleep. It was worth a try - so I tiptoed along the hallways to our private kitchen.

I sighed in relief as the delicious odor of the freshly brewed coffee filled my nostrils, because Marik wasn't in sight and I also didn't run into one of his servants either. Back in my room I enjoyed the hot beverage and decided a book would be the best way to kill the time. I wondered how long it would take.

xx

It felt like an eternity. The more hours went by the more I lost hope that an apology would ever happen. I stretched on my bed and threw the finished book onto my nightstand. At least the pizza I ate in the evening before to comfort my nerves still kept me full. I didn't have appetite anyways.

Knocks on my door interrupted my thoughts and I immediately sat straight up on my bed. Could it be possible that it was Marik? I really hoped so.

„Who is there?" I asked and focused my eyes on the door.

"It's me. Odion. May I come in?" He answered in his usual comforting tone.

I let out a slightly disappointed sigh. „The door is open. Come in." I answered and watched Odion stepping in and closing the door behind him silently. „Hi. What's up?"

„Sorry I'm coming so late, but I was quite busy with organization stuff." He explained as his olive eyes wandered to the empty pizza plate from last night.

A tiny smile formed in my face. „Don't worry. I've been fine." I lied. „Besides that I'm not seeing you as a slave like a special someone in this organization does." I said alluding to Marik.

He took a breath in like he was preparing to tell me something he was nervous about. „Well, I talked to Master Marik earlier this day."

„Did you?" My brow shot up, because he aroused my curiosity. „And what did you… talk about?" I asked after a little pause. My heart started to beat faster and stronger.

He nodded. „It seems like we all forgot about it, because of all the things that happened lately… like what happened in the museum, the incident with Carter and the officer… We forgot that it is this time of the year again."

I blinked at him and didn't know what he was talking about in the first place. But then…

„Oh Ra… You're right." I realized. „The initiation has its anniversary…again."

Odion nodded again. „Yes… so does it's birthday and your wedding day. And you know that he's never been handsome and approachable at this time of the year."

I checked the date on the calendar that stood on my nightstand. „Oh… It actually is our wedding day - if you could call it that. That means that the anniversary of his tomb keeper initiation will be tomorrow. Now I know why he has been so stressed and beastly. It seems like it's getting worse with every year that passes by." I sighed in dismay.

„That's the reason why I'm here. I've talked to him in private. And he asked me to tell you that he would like to see you in his quarters." Odion said and watched the color fading from my face.

My shoulders tensed and a shiver shot down my neck. „I'm not sure if that's a good idea…" I mumbled. I didn't know if I should be scared or happy that he wanted to talk to me after our confrontation. May it be another one?

„You should go now." Odion suggested and pointed towards the door. He knew I was scared and there was probably nothing he could say to comfort me. And I knew that I had no other choice, because not going to see him now would make everything just worse.

xx

I took in a deep breath before my knuckles hit his door three times in a row and I secretly hoped that he wasn't there.

„Come in." I heard his voice from the inside. My heartbeat reached a new peak when I grabbed the doorknob and opened it. My eyes were glued to the floor as I entered his quarters.

„You wanted to see me?" I asked and tried to wear a confident expression on my face, giving my best to look like nothing had ever happened.

Marik's back was faced towards me. His lavender eyes peeked over his shoulder and focused on me when I stepped in. „That's right. I guess we have to talk."

I pressed my lips together and raised my eyes to met his. „Alright…" I just agreed with him and waited for him to lay it on the line. My shoulders were still tensed, ready to take shelter when Marik's temperament explodes again.

He turned around to look at me and leaned against his mahogany desk. His icy lavender irises were almost piercing me. „We had a pretty ugly argument yesterday and I know I said some mean things when I was in anger. I've been thinking about what happened between us yesterday and I understand why you reacted like you did. But I hope that also you understand that I only did this to keep you, me and our plan save."

I sighed and let this sit for a second. „I know that. However… that's still not a reason to make me feel like I was a millstone around your neck. You really did hurt my feelings."

„Jesara, I have to admit that it was the worst moment to pick words like that towards you especially after the both of you took our relationship a step further the night before. I want you to know that I didn't mean it like I said." Marik apologized and I thought that hell was about to freeze. I almost couldn't belief my ears. „May you come a step closer? I have something for you to prove that I didn't mean it."

I nodded slightly and made three cautious steps towards him. My teeth bit into my bottom lip, because it didn't go unnoticed for me how he elegantly worked around the words ‚I'm sorry.'. „You really chose the worst possible moment." I added.

He let out a sigh. „It seems like we all forgot which time of the year it is after everything that had happened lately. My precious sister almost shot me in the museum to prevent Slifer to be taken by me. You were in serious danger too because of me and of course the police thing too. You do know me for long enough to know how my mood changes for the worse during this time of the year." Marik summarized.

„You're right… And all this together caused you to overshoot the mark completely. I know what you're trying to say." I forestalled him. „But I lost track of time too."

„You do know what day it is?" Marik asked and took a few slow steps towards me until stood right in front of me.

Again I nodded and looked up at him. „Yes. December 22nd. A day before your initiation have its anniversary. The day your family declared us husband and wife when we were kids." I answered his question and tried to hold back the tears that were slowly building up in my eyes. In one corner of my brain I imagined how romantic and wonderful we could have celebrated this day, especially since we both made a huge step forward since we slept with each other. But destiny had other plans for us - apparently. „I know that this day always makes you sad… and angry. It's a good and a dramatic day in our story in a row."

Marik searched for something in the pocket of his cloak while he spoke. „Exactly. And to let you know that I care about you and this anniversary I want you to have these." He pulled out a little wooden box and laid it into my hand.

I blinked at him in disbelief. Did he really just give me a present for our wedding day, which we never celebrated before? „T-thank you." I stuttered, still surprised by this sudden twist.

„Open it." He commanded with a silky voice.

I did like he said and cautiously opened the box with shivering fingers. It revealed two shining pure golden earrings in the shape of two ankhs. Their beauty left me speechless.

„They've belonged to my mother, which neither you nor me ever got to know, because she died the day I was born. She lost her life to the legacy of the Ishtar clan and - like you did it during the night in the museum - she was willing to give her life for me. And because of that I thought you were more than just dignified to be their new bearer." Marik explained while his lavender eyes stared at me.

„I have no idea what to say." I said under my breath.

„Do you still want to go on this journey with me?" He asked pretty serious. This was his way to paraphrase ‚Will you forgive me what I said' - but this didn't bug me at this time. So I nodded.

„I do." That was the moment when I wasn't able to hold back the tears of joy.

The hint of a smile formed on his lips. „Try them on." He commanded.

I took them from the box and cautiously put them both on. Since they seemed to be made from pure gold they were pretty heavy, but I was sure that I would get used to their weight. I admired them in the mirror. They were stunning. The earrings belonged to Marik's mother and I knew that she was like a goddess for him. They meant a lot to him. The fact that he gave them to me now spoke volumes.

„Do you like them? They look beautiful on you." He asked and looked at me through the mirror. Marik's hands softly met my shoulders when he stood behind me.

„I love them. They are beautiful." I smiled joyfully. „Thank you."

Marik was silent for a few seconds and just looked at me. He gently squeezed my shoulders. „In ancient Egypt the ankh was also symbol for the connection between man and woman. Another reason why I thought they would fit you just perfectly."

I turned around to look at him and all the negative thoughts, all the mean words and stress we had yesterday were forgiven and forgotten. This gesture wiped away all the anger and reminded me of how much I fell for him. And again I lost myself in the depths of his lilac irises that stared down at me in a loving and protecting way.

„I love you." I whispered when he lifted my chin with his finger. Then his lips touched mine again. I so much missed the feeling of the soft skin of his mouth against mine during the last 24 hours.

„And I love you." He said and gently stroked along my cheeks with the back of his hand. „I want you to know that I didn't mean to call you a pleasant accident that was chosen for me by my family. You are much more than that. You are the only good thing that happened to me since I was born into this world."

I sobbed a little, because his words really touched me. „It's so good to hear that."

„Once we found all three egyptian god cards and I claimed the power of the ancient pharaoh everything will turn for the better - I promise. Soon I will be the one and the world will bow down before me. And I want you to be my queen next to me." Marik fantasized. „Do you want to be my queen?"

This sounded so weird. But all I wanted was to spent my life next to this boy - as a queen or a normal girl. It didn't make a difference for me.

„I do."

Marik pulled me closer to him and placed a kiss of my forehead. He then pushed me towards his bed until I fell into the cushions. I bit my bottom lip to hold back a smile while I watched how he undress himself from the cloak, revealing his bare chest. He just wore a black jeans underneath the purple fabric. Marik then kneeled down on top of me, looked me deep into the eyes before our lips bet again.

AN: I hope you enjoyed it and sorry that this chapter got a little shorter than usual. :-) Drama is finally over, but the next is yet to come! I'm looking forward to your reviews and happy easter!