A/N: Heya, if you just recieved a notification from this fanfic, it's because I just updated the first chapter. If you are new, hi, I'm Hazzapixie and this fic was the first that I had ever written. I finished it after a couple of years earlier this year, and have just decided to return and see if I can fix up the first chapters. It's not a masterpiece, but it certainly is a heck of a lot better, and you will see if and when you progress. Stick with me, I'm trying. I didn't want to hold onto this chapter though, so here goes. The newly edited first chapter of Maybe This Could Work.

Now before I begin, I'm not an overly suspicious person, I swear. I'm very trusting, actually. Don't let my brother fool you, when it comes to the people I love, they could probably get away with murder before I accuse them with something. It's those I don't know that get the brunt of my suspicion. Which means when I say that Carter was acting suspicious, you can trust that's what I mean.

It was a typical day. Carter and I had just finished up lessons, and all the kids we've semi adopted were running around. Felix was up to his usual mischief, and the smell of food cooking in the kitchen was beginning to awaken my stomach.

Carter was laying on the couch, dark bags under his eyes from exhaustion juxtaposed with the massive grin on his face as he talked about the love of his life, Zia.

I honestly don't know how my dork of a brother ended up with such a gorgeous girlfriend, but I guess if you grew up under a pyramid any guy looks better than a corkscrew demon.

Carter regaled the events of the date they went on yesterday, a rare treat in the mayhem that is the 21st Nome. It was honestly hilarious to see the admiration on his face as he recounted how some poor man was torn to shreds with a righteous Zia's words about the sexualisation of Black Widow in the new Avengers film.

I'm happy for Carter and Zia, I am. Their flourishing and committed love life brings me joy, and much needed hope for the future in a world of chaos. But it was hard to listen to Carter jabber on, especially when I thought about my own love life, and my boyfriend. Walt. A boy I fought so hard for, who I agonised over wIt's hen I was drawn to him and Anubis, who finally became mine. Just looking into his rich brown eyes once used to make me bubble up with joy, the warmth of his hand in mine never failed to give me comfort. That being said, it's been a while since he's even held my hand. After defeating Apophis, I thought we'd be together forever, but over the past couple of months I've felt him drifting away. Just last week we made plans for coffee, only for him not to show up, and he only offered a weak explanation when I rang him after an hour of waiting. Even when we were together at home he was often distracted, not really listening to what I was saying and blowing off my concerns.

As Carter was describing some finer details of the movie, I interrupted him, not being able to stew inside anymore.

"Carter?"

"What?" He answered, annoyed until he looked over and saw my troubles expression. His face softened, and he repositioned himself so he was seated upright.

I was slightly nervous to ask, since I didn't want to be seen as a paranoid girlfriend, but I proceeded anyway.

"Do you have any clue what's been up with Walt recently? He's been really distracted, and I'm started to get worried."

Carters face went blank for a moment before he was able to school his features. I smelt something fishy.

"It's nothing, I'm sure," he replied, in a tone a little too controlled for my liking. There was a slight sliver of panic that worked its way through, and I didn't like his next words any more than I did the others.

"Maybe just ask him, just don't follow him, I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate it, and that would be going a bit far, even for you Sadie."

Since I hadn't even brought up the idea of following him, I knew they were involved in something, especially since I had already asked Walt what his problem was.

Carter even went so far as to try extract a promise to leave Walt alone, which I refused. There was no way in hell Carter would leave me out of whatever the hell was going on. Still, I dropped the topic for the moment, and Carter relaxed back into the lounge. My heart wasn't into the conversation, so I made an excuse to leave and went to the kitchen for some food.

xxx

My curiosity had been sparked by Carter's strange behaviour the previous day, as soon as Walt reappeared from wherever he was I cornered him. It was after dinner, and almost everyone was in the lounge room watching TV, so it wasn't that hard to get him alone.

"Hey Walt!" The tall boy glanced back at me as he made his way up the stairs, and I began to follow him as he merely shook his head.

"Look at me, please." I said, as we reached the landing and he paused.

"Really Sadie, I'm too tired for anything tonight, can we talk tomorrow or something?" Walt still wouldn't look at me, just the space on the wall next to my head. Frustration started bubbling inside me, especially since I knew from eavesdropping on Carter and Walt that he would be heading out again early tomorrow morning.

"No!" I guess my frustration wasn't easy to hide.

"We are going to talk now! What is going on Walt? Where have you been going? Why don't you talk to me?" All my pent up emotion started pouring through as I bombarded him with questions. I could feel tears starting to well in my eyes, but I refused to cry. Walt seemed to soften as he looked at my face, but those beautiful brown eyes still didn't meet mine.

"I'm on a mission Sadie," he said, confirming my suspicions, "and I need to rest."

Now that I took the time to really look at him, he did seem weary. His broad shoulders were slumped forward, and his tasteful shirt and shorts were rumpled.

Hang on a second, tasteful clothes? On my boyfriend? The one who regularly wore the same basketball jersey 3 days in a row? I let him go to bed, but despite his confession I still suspected there was something he wasn't telling me. Besides, a mission that I wasn't involved in was worrying enough.

A mission that Carter was petrified I would find out about, and didn't want me following Walt on. A mission that I would certainly be a part of, considering I knew when Walt was leaving.

I gave up on Walt, especially once I heard the lock on his door click, and headed up to my own room. The tears I had been trying to hold back earlier finally began to trickle down my cheeks, and I quickly found myself scrolling through my iPod playlists to find something to listen to. My finger stopped on one that I hadn't opened in a while, but it felt strangely right to click on 'Sad list' and head back to my bed with the sorrowful voice of Adele filling my room.

After my tears had dried, I returned to my desk and searched for a piece of blank papyrus, before scribbling some notes and a plan for figuring out this secret mission, and my absentee boyfriend.

The next morning, I had a small bag packed, with everything I thought I would need for a few days of sleuthing. I managed to grab some dried fruit and crisps from the kitchen without anyone noticing and added them to my supplies. I didn't acknowledge Walt or Carter's mission as we sat down for breakfast, only bidding them good morning, and Walt barely even greeted me. When we had finished up, I grabbed by bag as discretely as possible and cast a concealing charm over myself. As Walt left the house, in somewhat of a hurry, I followed after. Just outside the building he checked behind him, and I held my breath, staying as still as possible. I needn't have worried. His eyes passed right over me, and he continued on, unknowingly followed by me a few meters behind.

We soon found ourselves in the morning rush on the footpaths of Brooklyn, and I didn't really look where I was going, intent on the tall figure of my boyfriend. Weaving in and out of the crowd was harder while still concealed, and I heard a few exclamations of surprise when people bumped into me. A yelp sounded, and I realised that I had just kicked a chihuahua that had found itself underfoot. I jerked back, and for a second I was convinced it had turned into something else, something with a lions head and a snakes body. Shaking off the weird vision, I looked back up to see Walt, but in the commotion I had managed to loose him. The crowd had swallowed my only hope at finding out what was going on.

I rushed forward, shaking off a growing sense of despair in the pit of my stomach, and channeled all my energy into forming a picture of Walt in my mind. I didn't know if it would work, but surely for someone full of magic, concentrating on something that hard wouldn't hurt. Turns out it did help. Before long I caught sight of his bulky figure in the distance, and I grinned as I doubled down on my pace again. Unfortunately for me, I was so concerned with having found him again, I didn't notice as we slid into the Duat.

A/N: So there it is, chapter 1. What is Walt doing? Why is Carter so nervous? What is going to happen in the Duat? Find out next time on 'Maybe This Could Work'. Also, disclaimer, I really did like Sanubis in the books, I just think the dynamic between Nico and Sadie could be fun, also I have not read any of the Condon crossover books... Shame on me.

Thanks for reading!

- Hazzapixie :)