Author's Note - Stumbled across the Gateathon 2025 prompts and decided to see if I can do a story for each month. Just made January by a whisker.
If you can't guess, I chose the prompt 'stargazing'.
Hope you enjoy
The day's work had ended, and the fires had been lit around Nagada as its citizens settled down for their evening meal.
Sha're hummed to herself as she finished making the stew for herself and husband. It still amazed her that, not only was she married, but her husband was from a completely different world.
Looking out the tent for her wayward husband, she spotted Daniel sitting at the edge of the town. He was sitting leaning against the small wall, with his back to the fires and staring up at the sky. Ensuring their meal would not spoil, Sha're left the tent and walked over to her husband.
Daniel had his knees pulled up to his chest, lost in thought he didn't see her approaching.
"Can I join you?" she asked, making him jump slightly.
Daniel smiled and offered his hand allowing her to gracefully sit. Settling at his side, Sha're smiled as Daniel wrapped his arm around her.
"Is there a reason you are sitting here instead of coming home for dinner?" she asked, enjoying the way he absently stroked his hand along her arm.
Daniel sighed softly, "I've been here for a moon."
"I know," Sha're smiled, "Because I ensured we were eating alone tonight."
He chuckled before pressing a kiss to her hair, "Sorry I doubted you."
"You have not answered my question," Sha're reminded him.
Daniel rested his head against hers, "I'm just thinking. How far away I am from the world I was born on."
Worry filled Sha're, "Do you wish to return to your home?"
"I think about it every so often," Daniel confessed before continuing quickly, "But I know there is nothing back there for me. And I'm not just talking about my career or a place to live."
He gently touched her chin so she would look round at him, "I was completely alone and here I have a family, friends, neighbours all because of you. I could never leave you, Sha're. You're my world."
Sha're shifted so she could kiss him, "And you are mine."
Daniel's eyes closed and he rested his forehead against hers for a moment allowing her to see the deep love for her in his beautiful blue eyes. After a moment, he shifted so they were cuddled together once more, Daniel looking up at the sky.
"Why are you sitting here?" Sha're asked again.
"The stars."
Sha're rolled her eyes, "I can see that but why?"
"When I was a child," Daniel explained, "You know I lived in a place similar to Abydos."
Smiling at the thought of her husband as a child, Sha're nodded.
"Every night after dinner, I would sit by the fire with my parents," he continued, "We would talk and stargaze. My father would tell the stories behind the constellations, and we would draw them in the sand before we would make out own constellations with stories behind them. After I lost them, whenever I could, I would look at the stars and remember the stories they told me. When I went back to Egypt, each night after dinner by the fire, I would draw the constellations in the sand. Once one of the students on the dig saw me and, asked me what I was doing. I gave a half answer about the constellations and suddenly I had an entire group listening to me telling the stories behind them."
"That sounds wonderful," Sha're said.
He smiled, "It was," licking his lips, Daniel sighed, "I just looked up tonight as I was coming home and it hit me."
"What?" worry filled Sha're.
"That these are different stars," he replied, "That the constellations I have known all my life are nowhere to be found. And that the only connection to my parents I have left is gone."
Sha're wrapped her arm around his waist and hugged him tightly.
"If you wish to return to Earth, I will come with you," Sha're told him.
Daniel pulled out of her embrace, turning to stare at her, "What?"
"I love you," she reminded him, "And if being there will make you happy then I will come with you."
Daniel kissed her, resting his forehead against hers when they parted.
"I would never ask you to leave your home," Daniel told her, "And I don't want to go back to Earth. I love being here with you. You've given me everything. A home, a family, a partner who for some bizarre reason loves me."
"You are a good man," Sha're told him with an amused smile, "Kind, caring, smart, and you understand me. I always felt like I didn't quite belong. The caves fascinated me all my life, and no matter how often my father told me to stop having my head in the clouds, I couldn't stop going there. When I showed you it, I knew I'd met someone just like me."
Daniel shook his head, "Who knew I only had to move to another planet to find my other half?"
Sha're cuddled into him.
He sighed, "I just felt adrift for a moment not seeing the stars I know."
"Then we need to acquaint you with the stars of your new home," Sha're told him.
Daniel stood and took her hand, pulling her to her feet, "After we have dinner together."
Smiling as he wrapped his arm around her, Sha're walked with her husband to their home knowing they would stargaze another night.