Disclaimer: I own NADA

A/N: Final Chapter!!!

The cool breeze of the Nile blew her hair across her face as she sat with him on the stone benches of the palace gardens.

"Do you know what day it is today?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ears; the wind un tucked it again and it flew wildly about her.

"No. What day is it?"

"Exactly two years ago…I met you in this very garden when you played that horrid trick on me."

Ahmenhotep  smiled. "Really? Was it today?"

"Yes."

"How about a year earlier…how come you didn't tell me then?"

Norfret blushed, "I forgot about it."

He snorted.

"Well at least I remembered this year!"

"You were really thick…falling for a trick like that."

"I had no idea you were a prince! It was my first day."

"What did you feel when you first saw me?" Ahmenhotep asked brushing her hair from her face.

She smiled, "Complete and utter irritation. And soon after, repulsion. How about you?"

"Glee. You were my next target."

"For your jokes."

"That's right."

"I hope you grew out of them…"

"Never."

They both smiled and he reached for her hand. "When we get married…"

"When will you get married?"

"Ahmeni! You idiot, don't sneak up on us like that!"

"When will you two ever get married?"

Norfret and Ahmenhotep looked at each other, she blushed and he shrugged.

"Mother said not until at least you get married. Father said it was improper for me…to you know…be the first. And actually…I don't think I am ready just yet."

"But you are engaged!" Ahmeni shifted uncomfortably. "Actually…I do want to ask you something."

"What is it?" Ahmenhotep asked, curious about his brother's strange behaviour.

"How did you propose to her?"

"Er…" Ahmenhotep opened his mouth to answer but no understandable words came out.

Ahmeni blushed and let out the next sentence like he was holding it in forever, "I mean there is the Babylonian princess you know the one that the ambassador brought with him and well she and I have been, well…you know."

Ahmenhotep looked horrified. "The one with the fiery hair and temper?"

"The one with the beautiful red gold hair…" Ahmeni said dreamily.

Norfret stood giggling looking like she was expecting him to say something like that forever.

"What's so funny?" Ahmeni said indignantly, going red in the face.

"You sisters have been talking about this forever…behind your back of course…they will be so delighted."

"Anyway," Ahmeni said with much emphasis, "I think it's about time I asked her. She has been expecting the question for quite sometime now. So how did he do it Norfret? Was it romantic? Desperate?"

"Actually…" Ahmenhotep tried to supply a lie.

"He didn't propose to me." Norfret cut in with her hand on her hips smiling a little vindictively.

"Then…you?"

She nodded.

Ahmeni sniggered while Ahmenhotep coloured and glared at his fiancée.

"Well, I can't expect such a thing to happen to me as it is not Babylonian custom for the girl to ask a boy to marry her…or any custom for the matter. Ahmenhotep you dung, you really are horrible."

"He was a completely gutless. The poor thing…but he didn't want me marrying you, so I had the privilege of asking him."

"Perhaps she might ask me."

"You wish." Ahmenhotep muttered under his breath.

Just then, the trio heard a loud stamping of ornamental sandals on the covered walkways as a person marched toward them. A red hair fiery tempered someone.

"Ahmeni it looks like you are in luck."

"Oh do shut up."

"How can you do this to me? My servant girl just said you were marrying some Egyptian harlot!" her red hair flying free from it's clasp and her cheeks red on the pale skin of her face, the Babylonian princess half sobbed and half yelled at the future pharaoh of Egypt in her slightly lisping Egyptian. She then let out a string of profanities under her breath in her own tongue.

"Listen my dear,"

"My dear?" Ahmenhotep asked incredulously as Ahmeni struggled to redeem himself.

Ahmeni glared at him and turned back to the red hair foreign girl.

"Your highness," the girl started again scathingly, "I did not expect to be treated so poorly during my stay in Egypt. I will be tempted to go back to my homeland where eligible men would be lining up in the baking sun to ask my hand in marriage. You sit here with you harem of girls in the palace gardens, I am not your plaything!" she breathed hard, trying to hold her tears back.

"I am not marrying anyone Princess."

"Not even me?"

"Bad move," Ahmenhotep sniggered under his breath. Ahmeni chose to ignore him but Norfret poked him in his sides and whispered,

"I proposed for you. Do you want all of Babylon to know that?"

"Of course I will marry you princess."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh!" the princess squealed. Then she let out a string of word in her own tongue which Norfret was sure were not curses.

"I am writing to my parents immediately!" she said giving Ahmeni a loving glance as she bounded away her coppery hair glistening in the sunlight as it flew behind her like a banner.

"Actually…she sort of proposed to you."

"Yeah…she did." Ahmeni said a little dazedly. "Was that it? Am I engaged now?"

"Well…it certainly seems like it. You are very lucky Ahmeni, looks like you got away with proposal like him."

"Wow. I didn't know it was that easy." Ahmeni said looking toward the palace where she disappeared into. "I suppose I'll have to tell mother now."

"Well go on then." Norfret said, giving him a little push.

It must have been one of the biggest events of the year, the marriage of Prince Ahmeni and the Babylonian princess; people from all of Egypt flocked to watch the marriage and therefore the guarantee of the continuation of the royal line. Many of the ladies in court and abroad glared at the red haired princess with intense dislike, some even wept as they saw the two being blessed by Pharaoh.

"She's not even pretty."

"I heard her Egyptian is really bad. Poor prince Ahmeni!"

"How can he marry such a vacuous looking thing?"

"I never believed in diplomatic marriages."

"He doesn't love her!"

Norfret frowned at the myriad of ladies about her complaining incessantly. She had actually refused marriage with Prince Ahmeni. She wondered with curiosity how that might affect the gathered girls. As for her she thought the ceremony was beautiful – she hoped she and Ahmenhotep would have on just like it, though she knew it wouldn't be as grand. Or as big. Nor would she be the target of so much jealousy. With a small smile though, she realised that it didn't matter at all.

After the ceremony and the sacrifice at the temple of Ra, the two newly wedded royals and the party moved to the huge palace courtyard where free food was distributed to the people of Egypt while the courtiers and other aristocracy were shown to the banquet hall. The princess and Ahmeni both sat at the head of the hall, both heavily made up and laden with gold. Norfret could se the fatigue through the princess' antimony make up and gave her an encouraging smile, the two had become rather close during the last two years. Norfret wondered whether she'd be made a confidant to the queen just like her mother was.

"Where are you running off to?"

Norfret shivered in delight as she felt his warm embrace around her as he placed a quick kiss on her head.

"I was looking for my secret lover."

"Indeed? And who is he?"

"A haughty, arrogant prick."

"He must be lucky to have your affections."

"He most certainly is."

The heat of the crowed hall was stifling and the noise was deafening. Already the dancers from the temple of Hathor were beginning their performance, swaying their hips to the music. Norfret peered over many heads and found the balcony doors wide open.

"Come on, it's too hot in here." She grasped his hand and steered through the crowd pulling him out. The cool night air was refreshing on her sticky skin. The stars were out.

"Do you remember that night out in the desert?"

"How can I forget…"

"Tonight's just like that isn't it? The sky is clear and the stars are out."

"Hmm." Ahmenhotep glanced at his brother's direction, he looked tired and bored.

"Norfret when we get married let's not have all this party."

"Why not?" Norfret asked knowingly,

"Just look at those two…After the ceremony, I just want to be with you."

"Do you?"

"Mm hm. I just want to be with you for a long, long time…"

"Don't worry, you'll be with me for a very long time." Norfret said, laughing merrily, throwing her arms around his neck, she placed a happy kiss on his smiling lips.

The end!

A/N: I hope you have enjoyed reading this. I have gotten many reviews telling me to continue this in another time and place. If you have any thoughts just include it in your review, (Yes, this is the author telling you to review her story) and I will be happy to consider a sequel…kind of. Thanks for reading!