Now I'm pretty sure this story is going to be fairly short, but since it's followed by a final next-gen fic… you are stuck with me yet.

For those of you just joining us, Nina died after getting stuck with her shadow in the Du'at (afterlife). Patricia and Eddie are married and had a daughter, Alice, who was born premature and saved by the goddess Isis. Besides those two things I think everything else should fall right in place in your minds.

Chapter 1

House of New Beginnings

"Somehow I knew I'd find you here." I no longer needed to turn as the cool voice of Anubis resonated inside my skull. The only person whose voice I could possibly have known better was on the other side of this Du'at veil with a fake smile plastered on his face. Time itself didn't have much meaning here in the throne room of Osiris, but I must have listened to a thousand cases by the god's side. In the beginning I'd found the recalling of people's lives and then the judging of their souls a harsh, but inspirational event. Now, however, I just saw the pain on the faces of the ones who went first.

I didn't need to imagine what the torment on their faces felt like, I lived it every day when I woke up still in this blasted palace.

"I can't believe it's been a year," I absently replied not taking my eyes off the scene unfolding before me. Originally Anubis tried to confine me to the throne room and surrounding palace 'for my own safety', but the moment I found my way to the Miller household's corner of the Du'at he knew it was useless. The only thing that hurt more than seeing the glistening faces of those I loved was not seeing them. Knowing that all the Egypt stuff died with me kept me sane. Knowing that my death made Patricia feel safe enough to keep her daughter kept me sane. Knowing that Fabian woke up every day, went to school, and lived his life kept me sane. I might be suffering for eternity away from them, but they got to live their lives as normal, human, people. They finally got the lives they always deserved, and would have had if I hadn't arrived at a British boarding school late in the year.

"What are they doing?" a quizzical god inquired. I wasn't surprised he didn't understand the concept of a birthday party; the only celebration he ever attended was a funeral. "She's far too young to be grateful that they bought her a new dress."

How do you explain gift giving at birthdays? "Alice might not understand, but her parents do. Give it a year, by the time she's two Alice will be begging for them to hand over the birthday presents early. She'll exchange one year of confusion for a hundred of joy."

"Are you upset?" the ever-worried god prompted. "That you didn't get a 20th birthday party? Because I know we don't do many parties here but…"

"I don't want to celebrate a year I never finished living," I assured him with a soft smile. For a god who spent the past 3 thousand years around the dead, Anubis sure was aware of emotions, mine especially. "Did you need me or were you just wondering where I was?" Was this guard Anubis, guilty Anubis, friend Anubis, or god Anubis I was facing? I'd learned very quickly that he had quite distinctive moods ranging from 'I'm so sorry I chose you' to 'I'm a god and I expect you to serve me even in death.'

When he answered, I knew he was in the form of crushing Anubis. (I'm not oblivious. He once said he loved me as much as he loves coffins and that's saying something.) "How's Fabian?"

"Still sleeping on Eddie's couch, but he's seemed better now that he's back in classes. I think he's finally accepted that he can't get me back…"

"Now all that's left to be done is for you to accept that you can't go back," he gently murmured sitting down beside me. Without even sparing a second thought I let my head rest on his shoulder as I'd done a hundred times over the past year. It was almost as if Anubis had a sensor for when I was feeling down and he had made it his mission to keep me company during those times.

"I've accepted that I can't go back," I quickly responded despite us both knowing that wasn't quite the truth. "It's just hard. I'm not dead enough to go to the afterlife because I still have my Ka, but I'm not alive enough for them to see me. You're good company but staying in Osiris' throne room for the rest of eternity… it's not my idea of a good time."

"You mean you don't enjoy watching hearts be weighed against a feather?"

"Was that sarcasm I detect in your voice Mr. Anubis?" I teased with a gentle shove. As much as he denied it, my company really was bringing a sense of humanity to the most distant god I'd met. (Which is actually saying something.)

Anubis smiled, but kept silent as Eddie began his speech to the assembled members of Sibuna and the few family members who hadn't been ostracized during the hasty marriage. "We've all been through a lot in the past year," I saw his eyes flicker over to the corner where Fabian sat with a fake smile. "We've all been through a lot in our lives. But if all those struggles gave me something good it was a wonderful wife and a beautiful, beautiful daughter. I don't even think a god could tear my family apart!" There were a few chuckles from those who knew nothing of my world, but only pain shone on the faces of my Sibuna friends. Eddie was trying to remind them of the good things they had, but on the approaching anniversary of my 'death' no one felt in a cheerful mood.

Yet Fabian, even in his somber depression, wasn't one to ruin a party, "For friends new and old," he proposed for a toast.

"To friends," the chorus cried, but not every voice joined in. I could have sworn I heard the cool voices of Fabian and Eddie, my boys, whisper, "To Nina."