Title: Jewel of The Nile (Apologies to Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner)
Warnings: HAU, M/M sex, violence, swearing, possible humor, blatant use of movie misquotes, OOC, varying chapter lengths. UNBETA'D
Rating:Overall NC17 Individual Chapters PG to NC17
Pairing: 100% S/X (Is there any other?)
Author: Naughty_Fae
Comments: Comment if you want to, though it would be nice to know someone is reading it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to someone who is not me. I write for fun not profit.

Note 1: This follows the general plot of the film with a few important deviations!

Note 2: My heartfelt thanks go out to my dear friend Bmblbee, for holding my hand through the writing and posting process. *Hugs*

Note 3: This is a plot driven story. What sex there is happens in the natural course of the plot and as part of Spike and Xander's ongoing relationship.

Summary: Alexander Harris is a highly successful author of romantic novels under the pen name Xander Harris. When he met William 'Spike' Stone a roughish soldier of fortune, his life changed forever. He left the safety and familiarity of Sunndydale to join Spike sailing the World. Writers block and the offer of a commission to write the Biography of Omar Khalifa, soon to be proclaimed Emperor lures him from the arms of Spike and he travels to the banks of the Nile. When things start to go wrong he has to rely on Spike to save him. But will he?

This is a sequel to Romancing The Stone, but can be read on it's own.

Chapter 22/23 + Epilogue (This is not a WIP. One Chapter will be posted daily, until complete.)

Rating:NC17




Chapter 22/23+ Epilogue

Rating: NC17 Overall

'Omar! Omar! Omar! Omar!' The crowd surged forward and began to chant loudly.

Tarak moved towards where Omar had emerged. "There I think, will be the entrance to the catacombs." On his signal a warrior took a photo of the soldiers on guard they staggered back, blinded by the flash. Tarak, Oz and four warriors slipped passed and into the catacombs.

Once inside and away from the entrance Tarak issued directions. "There are many passages and rooms we must split up, you go there, you here, you there, you follow that way. I'll go this and Oz follow that tunnel."

Oz began to walk, large, hairy rats scurried here and there across his path, he grimaced and shuddered, memories of Colombia flooding back. An icy, cold chill pass through him.

"So how did they get out?" Spike questioned.

"Uh?"

"In your book, how did they escape?"

"Angel had a knife hidden in his boot, you don't have a knife do you, Spike?"

"Pet, I'm not even wearing underwear." Spike gave a half-hearted chuckle.

Rats scurried about and settled to gnawing and chewing at the blood soaked ropes.

Xander's rope gave a sharp jerk and he dropped a little. "Ahh Spike!"

"No! No!" Spike yelled in anguish.

They swung gently and they faced each other and gazed into each other's eyes. Spike sighed. "We were good together eh, Xander?"

"The best."

"And we'll make it. And when we do, we gotta talk about that weird mind of yours and what you damn well put in your books."

Xander nodded. "Yeah."

Spike took a deep breath and his eyes shone with tears. "Oh God, I love you Xander," he blurted.

Xander's eyes opened wide and he gasped, he had to choose now to say the words Xander had longed to hear, there again that was Spike and the realization dawned on him that he wouldn't have the blond be any other way. "I love you Spike, always have, always will."

"Will you marry me?"

Xander's face spread into a wide grin. "Oh God Spike, yes!"

Behind them Al-Jawahara smiled.

Spike's eyes glistened and his voice broke. "I, I don't ever want you to leave me again." There was nothing like a near death situation to make you realize what a prize prat you were and what was really important in your life.

Xander spoke softly. "You're not just saying it, because this is it are you?"

Spike shook his head. "I'm saying it because it's the truth and I'm not afraid to say it any more."

Xander blinked back the tears. "Damnit Spike, you have rotten timing."

"So where do you want to spend our Honeymoon?"

"God damnit rats!" Oz shuddered. "Place is a goddamn rat farm!"

Spike and Xander recognized the voice. "Oz!" They shouted in unison.

Oz looked up. "Well, well, what do we have here?" His face spread into a wide grin.

"Bloody Hell Oz, get us down!" Spike urged.

"Whoohoo Stone, look at you just hanging around. You don't know how many nights I've dreamt of this very thing, except your flesh was torn off your body."

Spike's rope jerked and he dropped several inches.

"Please Oz just get us down." Xander begged.

Oz peered down the well. " Think this calls for a renegotiation, don't you Tarzan? This looks a lot more like seventy, thirty or even eighty, twenty."

"Oz, get the fucking rats off the ropes." Spike snapped.

Oz gave a full body shudder. "Sorry pal I ain't going near no rats!"

"Oz, do not be afraid. Remember the Sufi way, see with your heart." Joe smiled.

"Look pal my heart sees rats, don't let these fancy Sufi robes fool you. Come on Stone where's the jewel?"

"Oz, I am The Jewel, The Jewel of The Nile." Joe confessed.

Oz turned, "Yeah and I'm a watermelon from Queens, just keep out of this."

"Bloody Hell Oz he's telling the truth! Look if you don't wanna save me, ok, but I'm begging Oz, save Xander." Spike implored.

"NO! I'd rather die with you than live without you. Please, please Oz, take that ladder and put it over the well, don't let us die." Xander begged.

"Look boy toy I ain't gonna let either of you die, but I ain't moving no ladder until you two come across with the rock!" He lent on the edge of the well.

A rat sniffed at Oz's hand. "Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He stumbled back and knocked against a ladder.

The ladder tumbled across the well, at the same instant as Xander's rope gave and he fell. The rope was yanked through a pulley, it snaked around Oz's ankle and hoisted him into the air.

Xander landed on the ladder and a second later so did Spike, they both crawled to safety.

Spike began to chuckle as Oz dangled by one foot. "Now does it look like eighty, twenty huh? Watermelon?" He managed to free his hands and untied Xander.

"Stone, pal, buddy, amigo. I see you got the ladder ok."

"Spike, help me unlock The Jewel."

"Uh, so you ain't screwing me? That guy really is The Jewel?"

"Come on Pet, we've still got time to stop Omar." They scrabbled to release Joe. They pulled and tugged at the chain, Spike found a rock and smashed it against the padlock, nothing seemed to work. Joe allowed them to carry on for a moment and then smiled. "Allow me." He gave a tug and the chains fell from his wrists. Xander nodded. "Rust?" Joe shook his head. "Magic." Spike gaped and then a look of annoyance crossed his face. "Bloody Hell why didn't you do that before? Instead of leaving us dangling."

"Because Mr. Spike you both needed to realize what is truly important in your lives, let the past go and speak what is in your hearts." Spike and Xander looked at each other.

Oz groaned. "Guys, I hate to spoil a beautiful moment but do you think you could.."

"I am very disappointed in you Oz. "Al-Jawahara fixed Oz with a firm glare. "This is not the Sufi way." The Jewel shook his head.

"What can I say Jewels? Every time I get near this guy, he makes me crazy! Aww come on Jewels tell them to let me down." Oz cajoled. " I'll do better I promise. Whatcha say Jewels?"