It was dinner time at Chloe's house. Vince was home and he was worried. His memories of his past life weren't complete, but he remembered the feelings that the name Yakumi stirred up. Anger. Fear. Hate. And now his son was suffering. He had insisted on talking to Andrew right when he got home, but Sasaki, Takmet and Chloe advised him against it. Andrew had to make the choice.

"Why don't you go see if he's cooled off a bit?" Chloe asked Vince with a pained look.

Vince nodded. The thought that he might lose Andrew had been ever present since the phone call Chloe had made to his office. Why hadn't she tried to convince him that they really cared for him, and that was the only reason they had kept the truth hidden? Doubts crept into his mind about the wisdom of his wife's insistence in leaving the boy alone. He knocked on Andrew's door. "Andrew? Come on, it's dinner time." Silence. "Andrew?" He turned the knob and opened the door. It was empty. "Chloe!!!" he yelled, hurrying back to the kitchen. "He's gone!"

Chloe dropped the knife she was cutting the bread with. Sasaki and Takmet exchanged worried glances.

"Seems like he chose wrongly," Sasaki whispered quietly. She stood up. "We have to go. Nezra, Sorus. We're going home."

They nodded solemnly.

"You're taking me with you," Chloe protested.

"Chloe--" Sasaki began.

"No. I'm going. That's final."

Sasaki looked at Vince. He wasn't happy. "Chloe, you can't jus--"

Chloe looked at him pleadingly. "Don't, Vince. He's my son."

Vince eyed Sasaki and Takmet, then Sorus and Nezra. Sensing some disagreement, he took Chloe by the arm and pulled her into the more private hallway. He scrutinized her in silence for a moment, arms crossed. He looked into her eyes, searching for something he could believe in. "He's just as much mine as he is yours," he said softly. "Which is to say, biologically, zilch. But now, he's OURS."

"And I have to go get him."

Vince frowned, which looked out of place on his normally cheerful face. "Back to the past? We agreed not to live our lives based on the past!" His expression softened as she looked away. "I don't want you to go…To get hurt again." His forehead touched hers as he sighed, her eyes turning up to meet his.

"This is about me and Yakumi. What she did to me, to my friends!" Chloe said, frustrated.

"It's about our son," Vince stated sharply, grabbing her shoulders. "You're doing it again, Chloe. Andrew is the focus here."

Chloe nodded. "He is. But how can we not live the past, when Andrew is a result of it?" She looked deep into her husband's eyes, a rekindled determination glittering with possibilities for a solution.

Vince remembered seeing that look when he had first met Chloe. After her pregnancy, she had lost some of her energy, just enough of her love of life to keep him wondering if she even enjoyed being with him, and with their son. But suddenly here it was again, shining at him, daring him to put a damper on her spirit. Just then he finally felt that they were a family…totally and completely. There had been a little part of Chloe that wasn't enjoying her life as a mother and wife. Almost as if she didn't participate all she could. But when he felt her determination burning into his eyes he knew that she would come back …and they would live a fuller life after sixteen years of pretense, if that was possible.

"I won't go with you," Vince said firmly, feeling pain and worry at his resignation. "Out of my league. The past is still so confusing in my dreams."

"The best thing you can do is stay here, take care of the house… Tell Ami. At least with her you have a possibility of going back without Sasaki and Takmet's help, if you change your mind."

"I will," he smiled faintly, caressing her cheek, watching her eyes close as she enjoyed his touch. He gazed at her a moment, and then took her hand and led her back out to the living room.

He smiled sadly at Takmet. "She's going. There's no use in trying to convince her otherwise."

Takmet nodded. He could sense the restraint emanating from Vince, holding back enough to let her go. Takmet could imagine the feeling of letting the one you loved walk willingly into a dangerous situation. It had happened so often in the past.

Vince continued. "I would offer to go myself, but I don't want to be in your way, not even having the skills I did when I was a palace guard. Tell Hotep I said 'hello'." He mustered a smile, turning to Chloe. "Take care." He embraced her tightly and kissed her on the forehead, and then on the lips with just a hint of passion. She clung to him, showing her appreciation. "And have Hotep know, if he lets anything happen to you, I'll see to it that someone in the past gives him a beating." Vince grinned slightly as he whispered something in her ear.

Chloe smiled slightly and released the hug, a tear shining in her eyes. "Let Ami know what's happened," she reminded him. He nodded. She didn't know when she would be back, but she hoped it was soon. She turned to Sasaki with determination. "Let's go get Andrew back."

Sasaki and Takmet joined hands with Nezra, Sorus, and Chloe. Sasaki and Takmet began to chant in Egyptian and Chloe smiled reassuringly at Vince before they all disappeared.

He sighed. What a mess they had gotten themselves into, just by going on a field trip, sixteen years ago…

Nezbek looked down at the boy that resembled Takmet so, excluding the lock of white-blonde hair. He put a damp cloth on the boy's forehead, thinking that surely the boy wasn't used to the heat.

Earlier when he has placed his hands on Andrew's forehead he had been sucked into the sandy desert of his mind. There he saw Yakumi, face to face.

"Get out of this boy's mind," Yakumi ordered.

"It is you who should not be here," Nezbek replied forcefully.

"And why not? He is my son." Yakumi crossed her arms defiantly as she measured Nezbek in once glance.

"If you plan to get revenge, you have no power to do so while the boy is in my care."

Yakumi frowned. "And how long do you think you can keep him there?" she sneered.

"As long as necessary until Kheris and Takmet return," Nezbek glared, meeting her fiery green-eyed stare.

Yakumi grinned evilly. "I wish you well, then." She had faded away, leaving Nezbek befuddled at her attitude.

He snapped back to the present as Andrew stirred and woke. He blinked a couple of times, then turned and looked up at Nezbek. The boy sat up startled, holding his head.

"How did you…," he began to ask, but then broke off short thinking that Nezbek wouldn't believe him.

"How did I make Yakumi disappear?" Nezbek finished. Andrew simply stared at him. "I'm very disappointed in your mother for not even mentioning me. I did play a large part in saving Egypt those several years ago."

"You know my mother?" Andrew asked. "Isn't this…the past?"

"Indeed. Only to you is this the past. It is the present for me." He grabbed the fallen head towel from Andrew's lap and placed it next to the bowl of water on the low table next to him. "And yes, your mother was here sixteen years ago. Chloe, isn't it?" Andrew nodded. Nezbek pondered a moment. "How did you come to be here by yourself?" he asked.

Andrew looked away. "I…I ran away."

Nezbek's eyes widened. "Whatever for?"

Andrew turned back violently. "Because they all kept this from me! The past. Family and friends aren't supposed to do that. It's just not right." He slouched on the cot, the short outburst seemingly out of momentum.

Nezbek looked at him for a moment. Andrew did not look like a boy who was truly angry with his family…but frustrated. And in that frustration he had done something irreversible. "Is it really worth losing them after all is said and done?" Nezbek finally asked, watching the boy carefully.

"I don't plan to lose them…Just to scare them." Andrew looked out the window through the crack in the curtains, focusing on nothing at all. But he was listening.

"Trust me, I am positive you are scaring them more than enough. Do you realize you might have lost control over this situation as soon as you accepted Yakumi's offer?"

Andrew looked back at Nezbek. "How could I have? She's in my head, isn't she? And she hasn't really tried to force me into anything…"

"Except run away from me." Nezbek said, smiling wryly. Andrew looked down at his lap. "That's because I am an ally of Kheris and Takmet, and hence her enemy. She simply wants to use you." Andrew sat silently, absorbing Nezbek's words. He stood up after seeing this, giving the lost boy some last advice. "Think about that and the practicality of the choice you made. If you wish, this may still be corrected." He then left the room, leaving Andrew to himself and his thoughts.

Takmet, Sasaki, Nezra, Sorus, and Chloe appeared in one of the outer courtyards of the palace, where there was stubborn greenery to beautify the stone walls and walks. In the daytime they had to fight against the heat and strength of the sun's rays. Now though, the plants had their rest with the moon as company.

They all released each other's hands and Chloe immediately slumped on the ground, feeling nauseous. She was surprised when she had recovered a bit to see Sasaki was rather pale as well, and Takmet was supporting her around the waist.

She must be farther along than I thought… Chloe reasoned, testing her balance as she got up from the ground. She could enjoy the weather now. She had forgotten the somehow comforting coolness of the night. She took a deep breath and sighed.

By that time Sasaki had recovered as well and she smiled. "Welcome back. Shall we inform my brother of what's been going on?"

"Most definitely," Chloe replied, regaining a hint of worry and stress in her voice.

"Should we get Tanis and the others so they can welcome you back, Father?" Nezra asked.

"Please do," he smiled. "Sorus, you go, too. We'll see each other after our meeting with the pharaoh." They both nodded and entered the main body of the palace, disappearing the shadows.

"Such amazing children," Chloe commented. "Really…"

"Let's be on our way. Time may be of essential importance," Takmet replied.

The three adults traversed the long hallways, Chloe feeling a sense of nostalgia as she looked at the faintly familiar hieroglyphics decorating the wall. Soon they reached the pharaoh's private rooms, a place where Chloe had never had the honor of even walking by since guards were at both ends of the hall where the rooms were, as well as at the doors.

They were let in so easily only because Seti's sister was with them. Had it been Takmet alone seeking an audience, even he would have had to be detained a moment and permission granted by the pharaoh's word. And had it been anyone other than he, they would most likely be skewered on the spot if they attempted to get past the first set of guards without waiting for permission.

They entered the spacious private rooms of the pharaoh, gloriously decorated with spells and papyrus portraits, even statues of the gods gilded with precious jewels. To the right there was a comfortable looking study area, and that was where the pharaoh sat, reading some scroll bearing the mark of urgency. He looked up when the visitor's entered the room, breaking his concentration. But when he saw Sasaki he smiled and got up, greeting her with a large hug.

"Welcome back, sister. But I expected you to stay much longer. Only a day has passed-" He then caught sight of Chloe entering the doors, only looking much more appetizing that when they had first met. "Well, if it isn't one of the future girls. Chloe, yes?" She simply nodded. "Not as talkative as before, I see." The only reason he remembered her name in fact, was that she was the only one his sister bothered to visit every year, and her other friend Ami only occasionally.

Chloe's brows furrowed at that comment. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Sasaki quickly stepped in front of her and took charge. "I'm sorry for disturbing you at your work. I can see it was quite important."

"Not at all. What is important, in the grand scheme of things?" He caught the look on his sister's face and frowned. "And I suppose what you have to say is important?"

"More…distressing than important, but only slightly…."

She proceeded to tell the pharaoh, with help from Chloe and Takmet, what had happened and why they had come back so early, with company in tow. The further they explained the more severe Seti's face became, until Sasaki thought it would stick that way.

"Her again?" he asked, referring to Yakumi. "Why in the world do these things happen to my kingdom?" he sighed, sitting down in his comfortable reading chair, elbow resting on the table that acted as a desk.

"In any case, it would be wise to keep everyone on full alert in the palace, in case something should happen," Takmet said, And in case we fail to retrieve Chloe's son, he wanted to add, but he couldn't do such a thing with Chloe standing right there.

"Indeed. It will be done," Seti replied, fingering a piece of jewelry he had removed earlier lying on the table. "Please notify me of any further developments. You are free to go, if that is all."

"We will let you retire," Takmet said, watching Sasaki give the pharaoh a peck on the forehead as a goodnight. As Seti blew out the lamps in his study, the three intruders left, passing the guards as they watched suspiciously out of the corner of their eyes. It was Chloe who attracted such gazes, but with the pharaoh's best friend and his sister with her, she couldn't have done much damage had she wanted to.

As Chloe began to slowly recognize where she was again, nearing the sleeping quarters she had used so long ago, six children appeared, walking down the hallway towards them. The smallest, who was four -Tanis- was the only one to run and the hug his parents' legs. The others were too old, or believed themselves to be too old to do such things.

"Welcome back, Papa," Tanis smiled up at Takmet. "You didn't stay for a long time."

"Not this time. We missed you too much," he smiled back.

The other children simply smiled at this, knowing it was only part of the truth. But they all enjoyed their parents, even though none of the older ones had said so for a long while.

All of them grudgingly hugged Sasaki and Takmet before being introduced to Chloe, who was positively glowing to finally see all of her friend's children in one place.

"Hello, there. Nice to meet all of you finally," Chloe smiled down at them.

Anset, who was six, asked Chloe and her parents, "Why are your clothes so weird?"

"Anset!" Sasaki scolded. She realized that their children had never seen that type of clothing, since they had always had time to change before telling them goodbye and before they got home. Sasaki bent down. "That's not very nice," she smiled. "They're just weird because you've never seen them before. But you really shouldn't say that to people's faces," she whispered. The little girl nodded. Sasaki stood up again. "All right, off to bed everyone. We just wanted to let you know we were back…"

There was a slight grumble as they all turned around one by one, Nezra and Sorus being the oldest having the responsibility of making sure they followed directions.

Sasaki smiled. "I suppose we should check in with Hotep as well?"

In the main room, Nezbek went to a bowl of water sitting on a table near the back wall. He swirled it with his fingers and murmured a simple communication spell. Suddenly he saw hands that could only be Hotep's reaching toward him.

"Hotep!" Nezbek yelled. The hands stopped. "Look well before you wash your hands, will you?"

The hands moved away to reveal Hotep's smiling face. "Long time no see, Nezbek. To what do I owe this honor?" he jeered, imitating Nezbek's speech perfectly.

Nezbek's eye twitched. "I am not amused at your mockery…"

"Mimicry is the greatest form of flattery," he replied. "Bet you want to give me a piece of your mind right now."

Nezbek twitched again. He had no patience for Hotep, and did not appreciate the fact that he had in effect taken his uncle's place as a palace mage, since his companion was a genie. "This is no time to be playing around. Chloe's son is here."

That wiped the comic grin off of Hotep's face in a flash. "Chloe's…son?" He hadn't heard the name in at least a year. Takmet and Kheris frequently told him what they did on their visits to the future, so he had most definitely heard about Chloe every time they came back. It was strange to be hearing it from someone else. And even stranger about her son.

"Yes," Nezbek continued, "and when Kheris and Takmet return, if you would inform them that her son is safe and in my keeping."

"I will tell them."

The sound of footsteps approaching echoed through the hallway. Hotep turned just as Sasaki and Takmet entered the room. Hotep waved shortly.

"Hey all. Didn't know you were going to be back so soon, but I suppose Nezbek did. He just wants you to know that Chloe's son turned up in his city and that he is safe."

"Did I hear he was safe?" Chloe repeated hopefully as she walked through the door.

Both she and Hotep froze when they saw each other. In Hotep Chloe saw the man she was married to, only wearing slightly more complimentary clothing for his toned body. And Hotep was speechless. He remembered the young woman from sixteen years ago, and now she was beautifully mature! There was a moment of awkward silence.

Hotep shook his head to snap himself out of it. "He's fine. Nezbek just contacted me. Actually, he's still there."

Chloe ran over to the bowl, almost pushing Hotep out of the way. "He's really okay?"

Nezbek gave a small reassuring smile. "Yes, though I sense Yakumi's presence in him. It seems she convinced him to run away from you."

Chloe's nails raked the table. "Damn her, even after everything she insists on using what little footing she has left to bring us more pain." She closed her eyes. "If you see her, tell her to leave my son alone."

"I already have. She has no power over him while he is in this house, just as she had no power over Kheris those years ago."

Sasaki walked over to the bowl, Takmet following closely. "Is there some way to get rid of her for good?" she asked.

"Not that I can think of," Nezbek replied.

"What about something like what you did for Sasaki?" Takmet asked.

"You can't separate an entire presence from every single fiber of the body. Trying to do it that way would cause him to cease to exist. She was his biological parent, after all."

"Is there no simple way to keep her from taking control?" Sasaki asked.

"For the time being keeping him here would benefit him the most."

"Then stay he will," Takmet replied.

"Shouldn't we go get him?" Chloe asked worriedly, looking at Takmet in a way to make him feel her urgency.

"Do you really want to travel by camel after sixteen years?" Sasaki asked, knowing the answer she'd get.

Chloe blanched. "Your magic…"

"We try to use it as little as possible," Takmet began, "lest we attract some opponent exceptionally overconfident with his skills."

"I'm sure he'll be safe with Nezbek," Hotep added. He blushed faintly as Chloe answered his comment with a small smile.

"Fine, then. I just hope you all are right." She sat down on the chair next to the table.

"Thank you, Nezbek. Please take care of him until tomorrow. We'll leave early," Takmet smiled faintly, trying not to let their friend's pessimistic attitude get to him.

"I look forward to seeing you all again." And that odd camaraderie appeared between the two of them, as it often did when Takmet and Nezbek spoke to each other. Then the image faded.

Chloe sighed. "I still think we should go get him."

"We know, Chloe," Sasaki assured her. "But Nezbek should be able to handle him."

"It's not handling him I'm worried about. I just have this bad feeling…"

"Well, why don't you get some rest and see if that won't go away?" Sasaki suggested.

Chloe got up. "That would probably be best."

Sasaki nodded at Takmet. He turned to Hotep. "Hotep, would you show her to a guest room?" Takmet asked.

"Of course," he replied without hesitation.

Sasaki took her friend's arm. "Should I stay with you?"

Chloe looked at her for a moment. She always thought of other people before herself. She hoped that it wasn't affecting her pregnancy at all. But she was an adult after all, and Takmet seemed to have gained some control over Sasaki's self-sacrificing nature. Chloe smiled. "I'm a big girl now, Sasaki. You don't need to look after me ALL the time we're here."

Sasaki smiled.

Hotep awkwardly showed Chloe to her room. It was strange seeing her again in person, and not in the occasion dream. He didn't know if all of his feelings were channeled from his counterpart in the future through his dreams, or if he himself was still attracted to her.

He opened the door to the guest room and let her enter. Hotep decided he was indeed still attracted to her. He was sure many men were attracted to her. But love he left to Vinnie.

"Just to let you know," Hotep began as he starting shutting the door, "I'm rather attached to Rei, so don't get any ideas." He winked.

Chloe turned and smiled at him. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not as much of a tease as I used to be." She walked to him and quickly kissed his cheek. "I am married, you know."

Hotep suppressed a grin. "Glad we understand each other. Have a nice night." He closed the doors all the way as he backed out of the room. He let the grin he had hidden spread across his face. "Not a tease? Whatever you say…"

Nezbek returned to Andrew's side.

"Have you thought about what you've started?"

Andrew nodded silently. "But I still think that they should have told me."

"I understand the feeling," Nezbek replied. A faint echo of his own voice rose to the front of his mind. I don't believe it!' He shook his head slightly, preventing himself from digging more past memories from the dark corners of his mind. "It's alright. Just try to get some sleep. Your mother will come get you in the morning."

"She's here?" Andrew asked eagerly.

"Of course. She would follow you anywhere if you were in trouble."

Andrew thought about that for a moment. "Thank you," he said quietly, keeping his eyes downcast.

The corner of Nezbek's mouth raised slightly. "My pleasure."