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Jonathan took a sip of his drink while watching the party. It was a grand event hosted by the current curator of the Cairo museum, and there were archaeologists from everywhere... And his little sister had been invited. She and Rick had just returned from their honeymoon in Paris and were dancing at that moment. Jonathan recognized old friends and spoke briefly with everyone, but his throat was already tired from talking so much. It was then that he felt a hand on his shoulder, and it was a familiar hand...
"Ardeth?!" Jonathan exclaimed a little loudly, as several people around looked at him. Ardeth put a hand to his mouth and suppressed a laugh, Jonathan's alarmed reaction always amused him.
"Sorry for startling you, Jonathan," said Ardeth. He looked too handsome in his suit, Jonathan noted, and his hair was perfect as always. "I came to accompany my uncle; he's an Egyptologist."
"Oh," said Jonathan. "I came to keep my sister's company. Maybe 'company' is the wrong word, I'm just here to support Evy but she's a little busy with her flirting session with Rick. You know how they are." Jonathan and Ardeth looked at the couple, who were indeed flirting and being disgustingly adorable.
Ardeth laughed. "They looks really happy together. It's funny that, not long ago, we were all strangers. But now they're married." He looked intently at Jonathan. "And we're... friends. It's clear how fate connected us all."
Jonathan swallowed hard. "Yes, yes, friends. So you're just with your uncle... Nobody else? No one..."
"No. Just him. I've seen some familiar faces around here, but nobody interesting to keep me company. Except you." Ardeth said the last part shyly, and Jonathan was probably imagining things, but he seemed a little flushed.
"You want..." but something stopped him. Jonathan turned his face to where Ardeth was looking and saw a red-haired man in the bar area of the party. He had let out a very loud laugh.
"Him?!" Jonathan said irritably. Ardeth looked at the man curiously, then Jonathan explained, "That... man is George Evans, Evelyn's ex-boyfriend. That utterly despicable man said awful things to her, and my poor little sister went home heartbroken."
Ardeth looked at the redhead again and said, "He really does look unpleasant." He saw Jonathan raise his chin, marching towards the man, so he followed the Englishman. "Jonathan, it's best to avoid a fight."
"Don't worry, chap. It's a little chat between him and me." Jonathan noticed that Evelyn and Rick were far away, chatting with some friends.
Ardeth sighed and followed Jonathan. He didn't want the man to get into trouble or get hurt. Jonathan didn't explain to him that Evelyn rarely cries, and the words George said to her were too disgusting that he didn't even want to repeat them.
Jonathan remembered that Evelyn had always defended him when someone hurt his feelings, and he wouldn't accept anyone doing the same to her. She and George broke up a few months before she met Rick, and Jonathan was relieved that O'Connell truly cared about Evy. Evelyn is the only family he has left.
"Hello, George," said Jonathan, looking at the man with his chin held high, trying to appear intimidating. George looked at him in surprise but replied, "Oh, Hello, Carnahan. How's your sister? Getting lost in a dusty library?" He laughed at his own joke. Ardeth was shocked by the way he spoke about Evelyn and noticed Jonathan's eyelid begin to twitch.
"My little sister is doing excellently. In fact, her latest paper was acclaimed by the Bembridge Scholars and she'll be starting a very important archaeological dig in the fall," he was almost shouting, and Ardeth put his hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
It was then that George finally noticed Ardeth and raised an eyebrow, "And you are?"
Ardeth and Jonathan exchanged a quick glance, and Bay replied, "I'm a friend of Jonathan's. And I agree with him, Evelyn is becoming quite prominent in the area, and she has the full support of her brother and her husband, O'Connell."
George spat out his drink and exclaimed, "Husband?". Jonathan noticed how he didn't care whether Evelyn was doing well professionally or not, but that she had already found someone much better than him. The man left the bar and saw Evelyn looking stunning in her red dress next to a dashing tall man. She was laughing at something Rick was whispering in her ear.
Jonathan approached him with Ardeth and said, "Well, as you can see, my little sister is much better off without you. That man over there is Rick O'Connell, her husband."
Ardeth noticed the color drain from George's face and said, "Yes, Jonathan is right. O'connell is excellent at hand-to-hand combat and very attached to Evelyn. I suggest you to avoid trouble with her and her family."
Jonathan crossed his arms and looked satisfied as George left the place looking scared. "We make a good team, Ardeth!" said the Englishman.
Ardeth gave him an amused look and said, "Yes, well. We've faced an immortal creature together before. I was more worried he'd get my suit dirty." Jonathan noticed a slight dirtiness on Ardeth's shoulder and wiped it away, but soon felt embarrassed by his action. The two looked at each other shyly and went to the garden together.
.
At the end of the party, Evelyn and Rick decided to go home for a private celebration, but first she wanted to say goodbye to her brother. She saw him in the garden but stopped halfway when she noticed Jonathan was watching the stars beside Ardeth Bay. With a smile, Evelyn returned to her husband and left her brother alone with the medjai. A strong bond was clearly forming between Jonathan and Ardeth... Fate brought the four of them together, and apparently, she and Rick weren't the only ones who found love.