THREE YEARS LATER...

It has been three years since they had gone their separate ways, and during those years, Emma had grown quite a bit and has given herself quite the name for herself as she worked under both Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. 

It was quite the amazing, yet stressful time she had ever had, even when she went to the Museum of Natural History, it wasn't as bad or chaotic as what she dealt with Tony Stark or the rest of the Avengers.

Meeting the Earth's Mightiest Heroes and working along side them, though Emma hadn't really done a damn thing to help, just kept things organised and ensured that nothing went amiss, and with them it was...quite the feat.

Larry had taken the fall for what happened those three years ago and had finally decided to go back to school, earn his degree as a History High school teacher, and Nicky followed through with his plans to travel the world and become quite the famous DJ, who was now living in California.

Everything had changed so much, Emma knew that, but also, also, things just wasn't the same. No one brought it up to her, but she could see it in the faces of her brother, father, and Stark, they knew that she missed Ahkmenrah horribly.

After all, he had stolen her heart and he didn't even have to try.

However, she knew that - everyone - knew that she wouldn't be able to see him again.  And her eyes watered as she thought about why.

She was currently in her office, mulling over the thoughts she kept on having, thinking of what could have been as her fingers swiftly tapping at the keys in front of her, scanning the computer screen in front of her, watching as words formed as she worked on yet another report for her boss to give to Director Nicholas Fury. 

She had been there since oh-five-thirty that morning and it was almost four in the afternoon, and her head ached, and her back was sore, but she reached for her water bottle, took a swig, and went back to work.

"What are you still doing here?"

She frowned, pausing for a moment before she turned her head to look at Maria Hill, who used to work at S.H.I.E.L.D. before it was infiltrated by members of Hydra and the building destroyed, even though she said denies her affiliation with her former boss, they all knew well that she worked on the side to make sure that the Avengers stayed in line.

"I'm finishing up this report, why?" 

"Thought you had the day off?"

Now she was confused. "Why would I have the day off?"

Maria moved out of the way, a wide smile spreading across her face as she revealed the one person Emma had been wanting to see in three years.  Immediately, Emma jumped out of her seat and jumped into the embrace of a certain Pharaoh.

"Ahkmenrah!" She exclaimed, completely forgetting that Maria was there, and Maria smiled as she headed down the hall, going unnoticed. "What? How? Why?"

Ahkmenrah wrapped his arms around Emma, standing his ground, fighting to regain his balance. He chuckled at her words, or lack thereof, as he held onto her.

"I missed you too."

Ra, did he ever miss her, her smile, her laugh, her eyes, her everything. He missed it all.  And that's when he noticed it, she was even more thin than what she was three years previously, and just as he was about to ask--

Emma pulled back and rubbed at her eyes, removing the tears of joy that spilled down her cheeks and she laughed. "I-I had no idea that you were here.  For how long?"

He shook his head of the thought, he could ask her later. "Six months."

A little stab of disappointment hit her square in the chest but she smiled anyway, he may only be there for half a year, but it was a hell of a lot better than not seeing him at all, and she was so delighted that he came to visit her.

She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his waist and just sighed with content. "You've no idea how much I missed you."

"I have missed you just as much, I'm sure." 

Emma laughed, "I'm so glad you're here."

"As am I." He pulled away and looked around her office, "You seem to be doing pretty well since I saw you last."

She sat down behind her desk and offered the chair on the other side to him and he sat down. "Um, yes, Tony Stark was kind enough to offer me a job, and I'm happy that I have done so, it's been chaotic and no day is the same," She paused, recalling when they were at Tony's party on the top floor and was attacked by Ultron, but she shook her head and smiled, "It's not the best, but it's not the worst, I work with amazing people."

Ahkkmenrah smiled at that, "I am glad to hear that."  And with that, they continued on with talking as Emma continued on with her work, and eventually was interrupted when Tony Stark himself walked in, giving them that usual smart-ass smirk. 

"Hey there, mummy boy, nice to see you again."

"Stark!"

"What?" He asked, taking up a defensive stance, "Everyone should have nickname.  I mean, you should hear yours."

Emma's eyes narrowed upon hearing that, "Nah, I think I'll pass," she sighed, "What do you want?"

"You've been working way to hard lately, and you have your chem--" Emma shook her head, clearing her throat to stop Stark from saying anything more of the state of her health, and she purposely ignored the confused look on Ahkmenrah's face as he glanced from between her and Stark.

Stark, thankfully, understood quickly and cleared his throat before he thought of something else to say, "take some time off, and come back whenever."

"Thank you sir." She smiled, watching as Stark left and she stood up, fighting back as the edges of her vision started to blacken, and as quickly as it came, it left.   She smiled at Ahkmenrah, knowing that he seemed a bit concerned, and she appreciated that, but she wasn't about to tell him.

Not yet anyway.

She turned off the monitor and grabbed her jacket and purse, she hooked arms with the Pharaoh, "Ready?"

"Indeed."

She laughed, turned the light off and closed the door, ensuring that it was locked before they headed down the hallway.

As they reached the exit of the main floor a disembodied, female voice spoke; "Have a good evening, Miss Daley."

Emma caught Ahkmenrah's eyes as he looked for the source of the voice and she laughed, "Thank you Friday."

As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Ahkmenrah pointed back at the building. "Who-who were you talking too?"

"That is an AI security program that Stark developed a little while ago after Ultron's attack."

That stopped him in his tracks. "You weren't harmed were you?"

Her smile faded, but was replaced by a sad one. "...In one way no...in another way, yes."

She began walking again, but stopped a few feet when she felt his hands on her shoulder, Emma turned around again, "Care to explain?"

She took a deep breath, staring down at the sidewalk and shook her head. "At the moment? No."

Ahkmenrah was about to speak when she added, "Before you have to go back to England, I will."

xxx

As the weeks came, things began to become harder and harder to keep away from Ahkmenrah the fact that she was dying and there wasn't a damn thing that the physicians could do, and she wasn't sure how to gauge his reaction, but she couldn't keep it him from long.

And that opportunity smashed in her face the night she passed out as both of them were out and about, she couldn't remember anything in particular of that night, the only thing she could remember was Ahk calling out her name and the poking and prodding that came from the paramedics as they got her heart going again she was rushed to the nearest hospital.

She woke up to see her mom, her brother, her father, and her stepfather standing over her.  She swallowed the cup of razors she felt in her throat and she cringed in pain.   Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, "Wh-what happened?"

"You passed out honey."  Tears begin rolling down her face, and that's when Emma knew that she wouldn't be around much longer, and her parents confirmed that fear.

"The tumour in your brain has gotten to the point where it is pressing up against the part that controls your vital organs."

She nodded, her heart skipping a beat.  "Can...can I speak to dad alone for a minute?"

She looked slightly hurt, but smiled anyway, "Sure." And with that, Nicky, Don, and Erica left the room and as soon as the doors closed, Larry sat down at one of the chairs beside the bed she was in.   

He was fighting tears as he held onto her hand in his own, and he swallowed multiple times before he got any words out, "Already said goodbye to quite a few friends years ago, and now I'm going to have to say goodbye to my little girl."

It broke her heart seeing him like that, "It's not goodbye, dad, it may take awhile, but we'll see each other again."  She paused, "Where's Ahk?"

"He had to get back to the museum as it was almost sunrise," he looked at her then, "You never told him?"

It was more of a statement than a question and she sighed, "No. No I haven't."

"I've never seen him panic as much as I did last night when they brought you in, he came here to see you." Larry shook his head, "He loves you, Em, tell him. Please?"

Emma nodded, "I will."

"Good." He stood up from the chair and kissed her lightly on her forehead, "I have to get to work, but I'll bring Ahkmenrah with me tonight.  Rest."

"Will do."

Hours passed, and even though she laid down on the bed, she was able to speak with her doctors, the nurses, the avengers, and a few people she went to high-school with.  Glancing up at the clock on the wall, she saw that the sun had just set, so within the next hour she would see Ahkmenrah again.

Her heart leaped into her throat. What was he going to say when he saw her? Guilt ate at her as she thought about it, and she closed her eyes, trying to rid her mind of the thoughts.

It was about thirty minutes before a knock came to the door, Emma opened her eyes and saw Larry poke his head in, "Hey kiddo. You up for a couple visitors?"

"Yes."

He walked in, and Emma's throat constricted, her heart dropping as she watched Ahkmenrah, Sacajawea, Teddy, Attila walk into the room, and in Larry's palm stood Jed and Octavius.

This was going to be so much harder.

"How are feeling, my dear?" Teddy started, breaking the somewhat awkward silence.  Emma gave him a small, forced smile. 

"I'm...here."

"You had us worried, girl." Jedidiah piped up and Emma smiled down at him.

"Sorry about that."

"We had been told that you have been ill for quite some time."

Emma nodded, taking a deep breath and muttered; "Guess there's no way around it now."

"Around what?" Ahkmenrah asked, coming closer to her, "What have you been keeping from us?"

Licking her lips, she began, "About a year and a half ago, during the whole Ultron thing going on, I don't know what they did, but I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in my liver, the doctors thought they caught it on time," Emma chuckled, shaking her head, "Unfortunately, they found...a tumour in my brain about eight months ago...an inoperable one."

She paused, allowing everyone to let that settle, and Sacajawea reached for one of her hands and squeezed gently, "How long?"

"Time is uncertain now...days, weeks, maybe a month. No more than three, I'd say."

Ahkmenrah shook his head and in a broken voice said, "How come you never mentioned it to me?"

"I didn't want to cause anyone anymore pain," she replied, pleading with him to understand. "I didn't want to add more worry to anyone on my behalf."

xxx

 It was mere weeks before Ahkmenrah and the tablet had to return back to England when the call came in for them to come and say goodbye.

Everyone that she could remember came, giving her their heartfelt goodbyes, tears staining their cheeks and leaving with a solemn expression on their face.

Larry had just exited the room, wiping tears from his face when Ahkmenrah and Nicky ran down the corridor of the hospital.  Larry pulled Ahkmenrah into an embrace, holding on tightly as he shook.

Leaning in, he whispered in Ahk's ear. "She's holding on for you."

Ahkmenrah's heart immediately dropped hearing that and with that, walked to the door and opened, this was going to be the most difficult thing he ever had to do, commanding an army wasn't as difficult as this.

What he saw made his eyes widened, last time he saw her, she still had colour in her cheeks, though she looked tired.

Now...now she had lost much more weight, her eyes had a sunken look to them, her eye colour, a once brilliant shade, was dull, almost lifeless.  Her skin had taken on such a pale-greyish colour that he was certain that she had already passed unto the afterlife.

As he neared her, he could hear her breath, and with each it came out weaker. He pulled up a chair and grabbed onto her frail hand. "Emma?"

She opened her eyes, though barely, and she gave him a smile. "Hey, Ahk."

Tears began forming in his eyes and let out a shuttering breath, "I'm...I'm sorry. I am so very sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"It is." He insisted, "If I hadn't had left, you and Larry would still be working at the museum, and you would be fine."

"Ahkmenrah, stop it." Emma whispered, and he did. "If I don't blame you for what happened, then why should you?"

They didn't talk after that, he just watched her, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to breathe.  It broke her heart.

"Ahk?" 

He looked up to her face, "Yes?"

"I'm scared..."

He swallowed, "Don't be. The afterlife is beautiful, just as you are."

"Will it hurt?"

"No."

She slightly smirked at that, and with her last breath, "I...love you..."

He heard the machines she was hooked up to blaring loudly, and the nurses pushed him out of the way and he vaguely heard one of them call the time of death.

xxx

He felt numb, staring down at the tombstone, and the slightly mounded pile of dirt where Emma's body was laid. He read it over, still feeling shock that the woman he had met when she was but a young girl, and eventually fall in love with, was no longer with them.

Ahkmenrah shook his head as he thought about her, if only he had stayed.

If only...

However, there was no thinking about the what ifs as there was nothing he could do to bring her back.

Not a damned thing.

He had prayed with Ra, to any of the Gods willing to listen to somehow allow her to regain her life in this life, and not be taken to the one beyond.

It wasn't answered.

He sighed, kneeling down and grazing the engraved, marble stone with his thumb, reading it again.  

Emma Rose Daley
April 15, 1990 to November 8, 2017
Beloved daughter, sister, and beloved
Always in our hearts