Aqen sunk heavily onto his stool. "I don't believe it--there's minimal change."

For the fifth time, Thea scoured the vases. The next picture that had appeared was some sort of area, with a huge spectacle. Yet after that, nothing. And what was worse, it still depicted Ankh being assassinated. 

Quietly Thea looked over at Aqen. His gaze was far away. He looked utterly and completely defeated. The light in his eyes were completely gone. It was startling, how quickly the sadness had engulfed him. So completely and so utterly. The God wasn't even crying; he just looked broken. 

Thea, admittedly, hadn't even taken this into consideration. Aqen loved Ankh. It was a tragic love story--a God falling in love with a mortal whom he could never have, and even if he could, his advances would be rejected. Another thought occurred to Thea.

"Aqen?"

He didn't even bother to turn his head to her, just looked at her from the corner of his eye. He looked like a child who had just lost his most beloved toy.

"Can--do Gods die?"

Aqen stared at her a moment longer, and then let his eyes drop to the ground again. He didn't even bother replying. Thea shuddered, noticing all at once how old, how terribly old and burdened the God before her looked. Whatever virality she had seen was gone. He no longer looked like a proud young man but a destroyed middle-aged man. Thea had never noticed the deep crevices' around his mouth, nor the crows feet at his eyes. Or, perhaps, they hadn't been there to begin with.

Could people really die of broken hearts? 

Could Gods?

"I want to go back."

Aqen rose his head from it's hunched over position, swiveling to her in disbelief.

"This isn't just about me. I have--" Thea choked on her words, tears coming to her eyes. "I have nothing here. It has always been my dream to live in that time. And I love Ankh, I do."

When Aqen winced, Thea clasped her hands at her chest. "And I'm sorry, but I do, I love him, and I will take good care of him just like you wanted someone to. And I will take good care of him because I love you too, Aqen."

A small, slow smile was forming on his face. 

Thea rushed over. She gently took his head in her hands, and kissed his forehead. She smiled then, wiping away her tears. "I do, Aqen. I love you. You've made my dreams come true, and to deny such a gift would be foolhardy."

Aqen got to his feet, some of the life seeming to return to his body. He took her hands within his own, looking at her seriously. "Thea...Once we go back--"

She nodded. "I know."

"Are you okay with that? Really? Truly? You will be stuck 'til the end of your days."

Thea took his hands within her own, and gave them a squeeze, grinning broadly. "I know. And that's alright. There are just two things I need to put in order before I go to sleep here, forever."

~

"Thea! What's wrong?"

Rose embraced her friend, who had burst into tears upon looking at her. It was their scheduled lunch break, and Thea had sent her a cryptic text to meet her in the museum's basement, where the artifacts were kept that weren't on display. You needed to be an employee to get in, and anyone who would be here was currently at lunch. 

"I put in my notice, effective immediately."

Rose frowned. "Oh...I didn't know you were looking for something."

Thea laughed through her tears, wiping off her face. "I wasn't. It just sort of...Fell into my lap."

Rose smiled. "Well hey, it's not like we'll never see each other again."

Thea cried harder. "Actually it requires a move."

Rose was very perplexed at how her friend was behaving. Giving her another hug, Rose laughed in confusion. "Well, I'll miss you, but that's what cell phones are for."

Thea shook her head, veritably sobbing. "Where I'm going, there are no phones."

Now Rose was starting to look worried. "Alright, email then."

All Thea could manage was shaking her head.

"Where are you working?" Rose said, a mix of amusement and genuine concern on her face, "the middle of the Amazon rainforest?"

Thea laughed through her tears. "Something like that."

"Thea," Rose said worriedly. Even though they were alone, she glanced about herself. "Are you in some sort of trouble?"

"No, I promise."

Rose narrowed her eyes.

"I promise!"

Rose crossed her arms.

Thea crumpled, her shoulders slumping forward, her knees bending. She remained standing, though. "Rose...You could be endangered if I told you. Besides, you probably wouldn't even believe me."

Rose's eyes went wide. She leaned forward and whispered. "Are you in the Protection Program?"

Thea opened her mouth, but then closed it. Standing at her full height, she gave a rueful smile. "Yes. But I can't say anything more Rose, please!"

Rose looked shocked, tears filling her eyes. "Wait, w-what? Are you--are you serious?"

"I am," Thea lied, "and I have to go soon, and I can't tell you where I'm going, and I am so, so sorry--"

Rose pulled her friend into a hug and began to cry. They stood like that for a long, long time, surrounded by dusty misshapen sheets and priceless artifacts. Thea knew saying goodbye was going to be hard, but she didn't know it was going to be this hard. The longer they held onto one another, the longer Thea didn't want to let go. Remorsefully, she finally did though. They held hands, looking at one another.

"Thank you," Thea choked out. "You're my best friend, and you always will be."

Rose stroked her cheek. Before Thea could do or say anything, Rose leaned forward and planted a swift kiss on Thea's lips. Stunned, Thea didn't move. Her friend let go of her hands, her face crumpling.

"Thea--I wish you the best. If anything were to happen to you--no, no, I can't think of these things. If you're able, send me a postcard or something, yeah? God, I love you, Thea. Please take care."

Then Rose turned, bumping into one of the many covered pieces, and then literally ran away. Thea wrapped her arms around herself as the sounds of her crying friend grew fainter and fainter, and then were ceased when she slammed the door behind her.  Thea jumped at the sound.  She felt miserable, more so if the kiss had never happened. Trying to compose herself Thea started to walk away, with the heavy guilt that she was to Rose as Ankh was to Aqen on her mind.