I know I'm late, woke up a bit under the weather but let's keep pushing guys

Says the loml LH.

It's the end, or the beginning of the end🌚 hehehehe
See what I did up there?

Happy reading 🤣

••••••

May you never be at the mercy of anyone, May others not hold the key to your success & May your happiness not lie in the hands of others.

May you never be amongst those who life would have no dimension, may you continue be guided by Allah.

May Allah continue to protect us and our family.
Ameen

Juma'at Mubarak

••••••

The ringing of a phone had Khadijah waking up with a resigned sigh, she has been awake for a few minutes but didn't want to get out of bed. Whoever the caller was didn't understand that it was too early for that, whatever it is they wanted.

Her eyes bulged when she saw the time, she wasn't the type to sleep in that's why it surprised her.

Before she could finish lamenting to herself about how she has lost it since she was waking up by noon the phone started ringing again.

"Layla," she muttered softly to herself then reached for the device and sure enough she was the one calling.

"Hello?"

"Are you just waking up?" she mumbled an incoherent reply and got up from the bed, noting Fahad was not beside her.

Why didn't he wake me?

"Oh my God! What have you done with my friend?"

"Layla." She drawled which only made said person laugh.

"You phone was off last night and I wanted to be the first to call you," she hummed but didn't say a word as she searched for the cap she slept with on the bed.

"Happy anniversary." Khadijah smiled before thanking her. "Where is hamma?"

"I don't know, probably downstairs working or something." She stifled a yawn then opened the door and walked out.

"Tell him I called and have fun, I love you."

"I love you too," Layla was saying bye but she stopped her.

"You're coming back for good next week right?" the last time they saw each other was almost four months ago and best she knew, she was finishing the program in a week.

Layla hesitated before replying. "I don't know Dee, probably but I'm not really sure. Maybe I'll just sign up for another year."

She shut her eyes before humming.

"I hope you choose what's best and what you're most comfortable with, I'll be happy for you either way."

"I know you will, thank you baby or am I not allowed to call you baby anymore?" she rolled her eyes trying so hard not to laugh.

"Yeah? Hamma's Canim or is it Askim? Oh I know it is Oaisara" she could imagine Layla wiggling her eyes brows and knowing she just wanted to pull her leg she chuckled.

"Goodbye Maryam." She could hear her protest but she didn't wait to hear the end of it before hanging up, a small laugh left her lips.

She heard her phone ring again almost immediately and half expecting it to be Layla she shook her head and kept walking. The first place she went to was Fahad's office expecting him to be there but it was empty, it actually looked like he didn't enter since it was how he left it the night before.

The kitchen probably, she thought to herself and started heading there but stopped on her tracks when she saw it empty.

She went back up to wear something hoping so she could check outside, if maybe he decided to stay in the garden.

When she got to the room she changed her mind and showered first then dressed in a peach abaya with stones in a darker shade, she pulled her hair into a low bun then did a quick turban.

She heard her phone ringing and went to pick it up only to find the security calling, it meant there was someone at the door. She wasn't expecting any visitors.

"Hello," she said into the phone putting on studs on her ears, then her usual two rings and the added bracelet.

"Good afternoon ma'am, are you expecting a delivery from—"he stopped and asked the man which store.

"No,"

"Oh sorry," she could hear another voice speaking in the background but she couldn't hear what he was saying.

"That it wasn't you that ordered, someone said to deliver it." She almost rolled her eyes.

"Does the person have a name? Just have him drop it off, Anita will come and get it." She said on second thought already dialing the maid on the house phone, it was probably one of her siblings or from Fahad's side. She started receiving anniversary gifts since the day before.

When she hung up she sat on the bed and started going through her messages, which were more than the usual.

Another one came through when she was replying Amrah, Baraka's sister in law who she guessed was also her childhood friend but not exactly in the sense.

She smiled seeing Fahad's name pop up, it meant he wasn't home. She ignored the rest and tapped on the single F with red heart, Kamla had been the one to change on one of her numerous visits and she hasn't had the time to change it, to be honest she didn't want to change it.

F❤️: My love.

It was all the message said but she felt her heart rate picking up.

Since that night almost two months ago, he has gotten even extra for the lack of a better word.

True to his word though he did take her out on a date and then always leaves a handwritten note in places he knows she would be, on days she would go to work it was mostly in her car, on her day offs, it was either her office or the kitchen on the coffee machine knowing that would be the first place she would go to. She didn't find that day's own but she knows it wouldn't be hard to find.

The endless deliveries of flowers, she had been at her mum's place one day when they got the bouquet. Two actually one addressed to her and the other to her mother, apparently he was winning the son in law game. Each bouquet was signed with a term of endearment in a different language, she still hadn't asked him why different languages but that was because she didn't want to have that conversation. She wasn't ready for it.

She wasn't ready to accept that maybe she too was in love with him, Sadiya had pointed it out on the second week when they went out together and he kept texting her, she hadn't realized she was smiling until the phone was pulled from her hand.

Sadiya had looked at her with her brows furrowed.

"What are you smiling at? The message just says hi."

If that wasn't enough, there was a day he'd called her when he was away with Jawad on a two day business trip she didn't want to go on after he pleaded with her to join but she had been sick and that made him give up but she had fallen asleep when they were talking and when Sadiya woke her up, the first thing she did was pick the phone to keep talking to him.

She wasn't hearing the end of it either and her amazing sister made her promise to tell him or she would, she didn't know how that would happen because he had to know.

There was no way he wouldn't know, she knew herself and she didn't know she was clingy until the day she had to sleep by herself, it felt uncomfortable that she had to call Sadiya and go over to her place, the phone incident had happened there.

She pulled herself from her trance and quickly replied with a yes, she stared at the single word feeling like it was too plain, she added with:

I woke up and you were gone.

Instead of a reply her phone started ringing. She glanced at the mirror checking how she looked before shaking her head at herself, it wasn't even a video call.

She put the phone to her ear trying to keep her smile at bay but she couldn't, especially when the first he said was, "Babe."

She sucked in a slow breath, making a mental note to remind herself that she would never get used to how he calls her that on the phone sometimes. Her thoughts deserted her and she couldn't find a reply.

"Am I getting the silent treatment now? Okay love I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, I'll be back in a few minutes." What he said gave her time to get her mind working again.

"It is not that," her voice was no less than a whisper and when he spoke again, she knew he was smiling.

"Yeah? So what is it?" she could picture him giving her a boyish smile. "You just wanted to hear my voice? I don't mind I've been wanting to hear yours too."

Khadijah huffed out a breath this time and instead of replying to his assumption, she said something else entirely. Sadiya telling her she was in love was different from him showing it and making her accept, worse he wasn't even trying.

"When will you get back?" she mumbled, playing with the ring on her finger.

"By two," she calculated, it was roughly an hour and maybe fifteen minutes. She could survive it.

"Okay, be safe."

"I love you." she hung up immediately then turned to look at the mirror the smile still on her face. She could recognize the person staring at back at her and their identical smiles, she just couldn't accept that it was her. It all feels different, everything was different with him.

Instead of going to make herself breakfast she leaned back on the bed, letting his scent that always seemed to be in the room envelope her.

Anita, the house keeper a lady in her late thirties brought the package that the delivery man had dropped.

"Thank you." Khadijah said getting up from the bed, she collected the wrapped basket and set it on the center table.

"You're welcome ma'am, happy anniversary." She thanked her again with a smile before sitting and unwrapping it.

It was a full breakfast buffet, she looked for a card and wasn't surprised when she found one.

Happy anniversary favourite, may joy and peace be the only thing you ever know in your marriage. I love you, try giving Barkindo a run for his money, he has a lot of it.
I'm still holding our date against you.

Love, Dahlia.

She smiled seeing the perfect drawing of a heart, her stomach grumbled reminding her it was almost one and she hasn't had breakfast but she waited for a few more minutes saying she wasn't going to die from then, she snapped a picture and sent it to Layla before forwarding it to Victoria who still handled her social media pages so she could thank Dahlia for her, she was doing much better but she was sure she wouldn't ever want to stress herself with that.

Layla's call came through immediately and she laughed to herself.

"You are evil I swear to God." That made her laugh harder and she muttered a sorry though she sounded anything but sorry.

"How can you do this to me? I was eating my poor bread and coke in peace but you had to be evil and do this." She rolled her eyes at the obvious lie, this was the same Layla that always posted pictures of her food every single day because food is the number one thing in her life.

"Sorry my love, I just had to show you. She is so sweet." Layla mumbled incoherently.

"I'm actually happy for you but I still hate you, oh my God. I really want to eat all of it, did I just peek scones?"

"Yes actually, a whole pack of them. I'll save you some for when you come back." She could feel the glare from where she sat but it didn't faze her.

"I'm sending my gift next week because you hurt my feelings, you broke my heart." she laughed again, intentionally taking a bite from the scone and making a small sound.

"Bye, enjoy your day though I still feel hate for you."

"I love you too baby, kisses." She hung up after Layla made a crying sound.

She received a group video call immediately she hung up, it was Huda and Aneesah, Manal, Kamla and Afnan. She was surprised when she saw Nabila beside her sisters but it was a welcome surprise.

"Okay I'll go first because I'm the youngest and her favourite." The other girls argued but still Huda got her way, she always gets her way.

She read out a long anniversary wish and when she finished she told her she had it typed out and sent in her gift pack.

"We wanted to come since morning but uncle Fahad said you're sleeping and we shouldn't wake you," a feeling she has become accustomed to feeling whenever he was mentioned fluttered in her stomach.

"We're still coming to spend the day with you." Kamla was the one that said that.

"That is found offensive to some of us that can't be there." Afnan cried out. Khadijah listened to them arguing but didn't bother interrupting them.

They all went quite one time and she raised her brows in question before asking what happened, they all chorused nothing and she watched as they all hung up, she stared at the blank screen in surprise, she understood why they did that when she felt a hand over her shoulder.

"Hey you," Fahad murmured kissing her cheeks.

If he looked down he could see the goose bumps rising across her skin but he was more focused on her face and seeing the smile on her face.

"Hi," she whispered softly.

He let go of her and walked around the couch then slipped in beside her.

"I thought you said until two." Khadijah asked adjusting her turban, he nodded and pulled her close.

"Yes I was supposed to stay until then but I heard your voice and this is much better." He adjusted his sitting position so she almost laying on his body, she didn't even think of moving back.

"Have you eaten?" she shook her head and he moved her a bit so he could look at her face. "Why not? It is almost one baby, we've talked about this."

"I ate a scone." He gave her a look that told her he wasn't finding it funny.

"You should be eating," he was about to get up when he noticed the basket that was sitting there.

"Dahlia sent it over."

"Yeah I know, I was there when she was—"he stopped when he saw how she was looking at him.

"Oh, you went to her place?" she asked moving from his hold, she reached for the box she had taken a scone from only for his hand to stop her. He intertwined their fingers.

"Yes," she made another sound that didn't sound exactly excited or even like her when she didn't want to talk.

He smiled to himself knowingly rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand.

"I'm going to eat Fahad," she muttered making a move to stand up again.

"I know, I'll feed you but first stop looking angry."

"Why would you think I'm angry? Do I sound angry? You're just seeing things." The words rushed out of her mouth.

"Okay love, you don't sound angry but you don't sound normal either. The meeting was there and she says hi, who do you think told her you liked scones?"

"Okay." She mumbled.

He stood up pulling her with him.

"Are you jealous?" he asked teasingly and she scoffed before stepping back and heading for the door, he picked the basket and followed her.

"What would make you think that? That ....that is.... Preposterous." He quickened his pace and got in step with her, he never knew that she could walk so fast in her life.

Seeing her all flustered up was funny especially because she likes acting all bossy and like she doesn't care but he has never met someone who pays attention to little details like her. Everything about her makes him fall deeper in love with her every day, seeing her jealous was the highlight of his day.

It wasn't Dahlia that was making her jealous, she wasn't the insecure type, there was something else and he wanted to know what.

Khadijah still refused to look at him and kept on walking though watching her step so she doesn't trip, she has read enough novels and watched enough movies to avoid the cliché almost falling down the stairs, they reached the landing and she made to head to kitchen when she felt his arms around her waist, successfully trapping her.

"Fahad," she muttered trying to step away.

She didn't even know why she was so upset, she wasn't jealous of course. The mere thought of it made her scoff, she wasn't jealous. Though the idea of him leaving her so early in the morning to go to Dahlia made her throat burn and her tongue acidic, but it wasn't jealousy.

"Baby," she ignored him trying to get him to release her, when she saw he wasn't going to leave her she sighed and let her body relax in his hold.

"See, so much better now isn't it?" she would never admit it to him and especially not when she was feeling an emotion that was foreign to her.

"What is making you angry about this? The fact that I was with Dahlia or that I didn't wake you up."

"Nothing, I'm hungry." He chuckled and pointed to the basket on the console.

"I'll feed you like I said but after you stop frowning," he turned her so she was facing and her angry eyes looked even cuter. He cupped her cheeks first then spoke softly this time, no longer teasing.

"I'm not." Her reply was curt.

Fahad sighed and stared at her again, she wasn't a complicated person so something about the morning didn't feel right to him. He mentally smacked himself when he realized what it was, she'd gotten in bed after subh prayers and she was cuddled up next to him, she seemed perfectly fine, God, he was so daft.

"I'm sorry I left without seeing you, I know how much it means to you." He could see the waves of anger leaving her. "You were the first person I saw, you just looked so peaceful and it would have been unfair to wake you up. I wanted to I mean it." He was speaking so softly, she closed her eyes at some point because the way he was caressing her cheeks felt too much, she still doesn't like looking him in the eyes especially when he gets like that, somehow she was scared of what she would find in his eyes.

"Are we good?" she nodded subtly, she wasn't even sure she moved but she meant to nod. "Can I get my morning kiss now?"

Her eyes snapped open and he winked, he let her move out of his hold this time and he picked up the basket but still kept her close by holding her waist.

Khadijah let him lead them to the kitchen where he placed it on the kitchen table then proceeded to look for plates to dish them out, he left her and went on to do his work.

She stood frozen in place listening to the voices in her head that have been sounding an awful lot like Layla and Sadiya, sometimes even Kamla.

There was no way to pinpoint when it happened but with Fahad's never ending support and therapy sessions that involved things that relaxed her, the narcissistic part of her mind had quite down vehemently and the ones that she couldn't block out, he'd taught her to ignore it or change it into something positive.

Each of his letters in the past two months contained something he liked about her that she didn't notice or has never paid attention to, she didn't know how he did it but for sixty days, probably more, he told her something he loved about her. If she didn't have more than a million reasons to love him, that alone would have made her fall in love with him.

So, you love him?

The voice sounded oddly like hers but she wasn't sure she said it, she probably did and to answer that, she looked around the kitchen and found him holding her favourite mug, he found her watching him and shot her a smile that she felt right down to her feet.

Really, what's there to not love about the man? Nothing, she actually couldn't find anything.

"What has you smiling like that? I'm quite competitive." She giggled, yes actually giggled and it surprised her too but she didn't let the smile leave her face even after that.

He shook his head then pulled out a chair for her, instead of sitting she turned around to face him stopping him dead in his tracks.

"Do you need anything else?" his brows were furrowed in confusion wondering why she wasn't getting seated, Khadijah shook her head before looking up at him.

He waited for her to look away like she normally does after seconds but she held his gaze for almost a minute before cracking, it made him smile. They were getting somewhere since she was stepping out of her comfort zone and the best part was she was doing it herself.

"My morning kiss." If he was shocked at her meeting his gaze then he was positively stunned then. He didn't want to believe he heard her right and she didn't give him time to think it through before she got up on her tippy toes and joined their lips.

Khadijah didn't know where she got the courage from—probably Sadiya—but she moved her hand and wrapped it around his neck.

See, it wasn't so hard. She told herself feeling how her heart was beating wildly against her chest.

It felt like forever but his hands slowly moved to her waist holding her in place, he hadn't wanted to move scared it would be a dream waking up meant going back to reality, his reality wasn't that bad but the dream was better, much better.

Breathing became his enemy when she pulled back to catch her breath but he let her, though she was still within his reach, he could feel her everywhere especially in his heart, where she had branded as hers without even realising.

Actions speak louder than words, it has been said and as much as he wanted to hear her tell him how much she loved him, he knew because she was better at showing so he wasn't worried, it was one of her best traits yet.

"I love you too Dee, so much." His breath fanned her face, their foreheads joined together. She wasn't looking at him now but she didn't need to, that was more comfortable for her and he was dedicated to making her feel safe.

*****

Fatimah Batool threw them an anniversary dinner, she didn't get to participate in the wedding as much as she wanted but the small not really small dinner made up for it in her opinion because now she gets to see them exchange glances at each other, and then the smiles, it was all melting her heart and she may have shed a tear or two in private. Nothing beats seeing two people in love, it is much better when they are your children.

She couldn't stop sending her gratitude to the almighty for bring her whole family together that way, Farhan looked so much better and his smile was bigger, he looked fulfilled.

She glanced at the package that was given to her that morning by Fahad, he'd chosen her to hand it to Khadijah on his behalf, she didn't open it but she couldn't wait to see her face when she opened it.

Khadijah had swapped her abaya for a jade green gown from the line she was releasing for new the new year which is only a few days away. She wasn't a fan of tight dresses so it flowed freely from her waist downwards, she did another simple turban and donned studs again but she made it work and Fahad couldn't keep his eyes off her, it was a plus.

Though honestly his eyes were always on her, even then when she was listening to Baraka rant about how Afnan rarely calls her and how she didn't know how she was. It was cute seeing her all worried and paying extra attention to everything.

Their parents were in the backyard where they had retired too after they wished and prayed for the couple.

"Thank you," She looked up smiling wistfully at Kamla that was glowing, even in the dark. Her fair skin looking healthy and beautiful with her face bare of any make up.

Farhan pecked her forehead before walking away, he'd handed her a plate of olives she didn't know where he'd gotten them from, she has said the only thing she was craving were olives for the past weeks and it was weird.

Khadijah recalled the day she'd come to the house panicked that she hadn't seen her period.

"Stop worrying for Allah's sake, you're married." She'd told her confused as to why she wanted to cry, she was having none of it and she started sobbing.

"Kamla, innalillahi." She'd hugged her and let her cry it out, when she was done she asked her why she was crying.

"I don't know, it just feels weird. I don't think I'm ready." Kamla had wailed, her face all puffy and red.

"We're never ready and it just happens, you'll be fine Insha Allah. Are you ready to take the test now?" She had nodded.

She'd bought multiple PT strips on her way to the house but she didn't want to see it alone, she couldn't.

The first one had been negative and though she was sad, Khadijah could see how deflated she looked, at first she'd refused to take try the others but when she finally convinced her to take it, they were both positive proving what she had suspected but didn't want to believe.

Her period was stable so not seeing it three weeks late would definitely make her think something was up and she was right.

"What am I going to do now? Aunty Dee na shiga uku." Khadijah couldn't help laughing at her cousin, well sister.

"You're going to call ya Farhan and tell him, first things first or should I call Ammi?" She hadn't realized she was teasing her too busy shaking her head furiously.

She would die if anyone knew.

"What should I tell him?"

"That you're a having a baby, come on Kamla it's not that hard. Okay if this will make you feel better, wrap this up." She picked the last strip that had the two dotted lines in a tissue and handed it to her. "And give it to him, surprise."

She had started shaking her head wanting to burst into a fresh set of tears.

Khadijah smiled at the memory now looking at her, she want showing so you wouldn't know unless she told you but everyone has been making the comment, she did look great.

"Hey, can I steal her for a few minutes?" She didn't need to look up to know who was speaking, the warmth spreading over her whole body told her just who it is.

Fahad smiled his most charming smile at Sadiya who gave him two thumbs up, she was the best sister in law on the world. Wait, their whole families were amazing.

"Please come with me," His voice automatically lowered when he was addressing her.

He hadn't seen her at length since lunch, when he got back Manal was already in the house and he didn't want to interrupt them.

The car ride too they were with Manal since she was at their place, he didn't know how much he craved her presence and attention until it wasn't fully on him.

He hadn't opened her gift so he had no idea what it was, if he was being honest he had already gotten the best gift he could from her and that was her love.

She may not have said it but her acceptance was all he could need to celebrate a year of them being together, one year of total bliss even with the hard times they had.

Something in him wanted to thank her for the happiest year of his life, in all his thirty two years, one year with her beat every single year.

The best thing about the new family house her father had was there were many places where they could have privacy and he needed that.

She followed him wordlessly, her hands in his as they walked to the gazebo at the other end of the house, far from all the crowd and silent enough.

"Are you dragging me off to kill me?" She was the first to break the silence and he chuckled before tightening his hold on her.

"That wouldn't be very smart of me, we're in your parents' house and you have this husband that is madly in love with you, he'll hunt me down and make me regret it." Her eyelids almost fluttered close but she stopped herself from swooning outwardly.

She watched the brightly lit gazebo in awe, wondering how and when it was transformed into what she was seeing.

The chandelier that was there has been replaced with colourful lanterns and there were little red hearts dangling from the top, she took a hold of one and read their wedding date on it. The warmth she was feeling intensified when it clicked that he'd been the one to do that.

She didn't know when he had the time to do all of that, the dinner had been a surprise because she was even the that told him, that's why she was perplexed to see that he'd done that.

The thought came like a slap to her face and she turned sharply to him.

"Is this why you left so early in the morning?" It makes sense now and she realized she'd been insensitive.

Reading the thoughts in her eyes, Fahad cupped the sides of her face then pecked her lips.

"Don't overthink it, I have a present for you." A smile broke out on her lips and she placed her hand over his.

"Isn't this like number five already? It's one year, I think that means one gift." He rolled his eyes.

"It's one year and that's three hundred and sixty five days, do you see where I'm coming from?" This time she rolled her eyes.

"Okay, you win. Thank you." He pulled away but she left her hand in his, only letting go when he gave her a paper bag.

She pulled the item inside, she couldn't tell what it was because it was wrapped but it was a box that she could tell.

Fahad watched her keenly seeing the excitement in her eyes with a smile permanently etched on her lips. He couldn't resist taking a picture and with the lighting there, it looked nothing short of magical.

He got a text from Huda asking for her reaction, he quickly replied with he'll send a video before keeping the phone down and focusing on her again.

Khadijah pulled the ribbon off the last wrapper and finally pulled the box that's inside, she looked up at Fahad and he nodded.

The first thing that came to her mind was wrist watch because it was more of a rectangular shape, she opened the top and was surprised to see a set of keys, three identical keys to be precise.

Not car keys definitely.

She pulled it out and kept it on the table, there was a paper beneath it, that was what she opened with her hands trembling a bit at the thought of what it could be.

She first saw Basra and tears filled her eyes then she unfolded it, the second word was all it took for her to release the paper.

"Fahad," She cried out willing her body to move, even her lips to move but nothing.

She tried her breathing exercises but it didn't work and fighting her tears seemed like the hardest possible thing to do.

"Don't cry, please." He pulled her into a hug rubbing her back gently.

She wished she could do that, or even do more for him for what he'd done for her.

He only heard about her, she didn't even know her but he did something like that for her.

They stayed that way for more than ten minutes before deciding to join the party. Sadiya was the first to rush to her and ask if she was fine, she wasn't crying anymore but her eyes were filled with tears.

Fahad gave her and a gentle squeeze before leaving her with her sister.

"Are you okay? Did something happen?" She shook her head, the tears trailing down her cheeks again. Since she was standing in front of her, the rest of the room couldn't see.

Sadiya hugged her hoping she wasn't having a lapse or something happened with Fahad, they looked fine though.

"Please tell me what's wrong?" She pulled her to the kitchen, Kamla followed gently her worry not letting her stay still.

They were closest in age and they had a certain type of connection, even before she married her brother. She wanted to be there for her in any way possible.

"Can you tell me now?" Khadijah took in a deep breath to steady herself.

"Ya Sadiya, he..." She paused, still feeling like it was surreal.

Her brain was finding it hard to accept that a person could be that good, that perfect.

"He started a foundation in Basra's name ya Sadiya, how can I ever repay him?" Her heart was beating erratically and her voice was shaky.

She simply couldn't believe it.

"I don't understand. A foundation how? Like you wanted to do?" She nodded, wiping her tears.

"We only talked about it once with him, I didn't even tell him everything but he listened and he did this." Sadiya was too stunned to speak.

"Wow," was the only thing she could manage to utter.

"May Allah reward him for it," She prayed smiling to herself. Finally Khadijah had found someone who deserves her and seeing how he is, he also deserves someone good.

"I'm so happy for you, you're going to see the place then?" She nodded.

"He said only when I stop crying, but I don't know how to tell him I can't. Not when he does things like this, I feel," she stopped.

"I feel like he is in every part of me, I don't think I can breathe without him now, is that even a good thing? I want to be part of everything he does, I love how he loves ya Sadiya it's so fulfilling, it overwhelms me but I've never felt this way it is hard to keep up. I want to love him too but I'm scared I don't know how."

"You'll be fine, we don't learn how to love people we just do and you do too, let yourself accept it." She assured, stroking her arms.

"Even when I can never have children with him? How can I love him fully when he is making such a huge sacrifice for me?" The words were a teary mess but she heard her perfectly well.

"Being able to have or not have children is Allah's will and a doctor's direction has nothing on that. They said you couldn't have children and you had Basra, she returned to her lord but she came first, that's all you should know, if the both of you are destined to have children then you will. You can't pray for something and then think it is impossible at the same time, it doesn't work that way." Khadijah nodded hoping she would actually do that.

"Now I know he will walk in here in five minutes if we don't walk out, come on." They started to walk out after Kamla congratulated her but Sadiya pulled her back again.

"You just told me how much you loved him, you shouldn't be telling me that."

"Sorry to interrupt, Khadijah can I have a minute?" Fatimah Batool was the one that spoke breaking the sisters apart, Sadiya smiled before walking out.

Khadijah wiped her tears and told her mother the news to which she congratulated her and prayed for the both of them. She didn't look so surprised which meant she already knew it was going to happen.

"Did he tell you?" Khadijah asked, her voice hoarse from crying.

"Yes, he did." She joined their hands. "I didn't know exactly what it was at first because he took the three of us so we'd see the place and bless it, you wanted a connection with her didn't you?" Khadijah nodded teary eyed.

She remembered a day that the feeling overwhelmed her and he found her crying, it would have been her fourth birthday which also marked her fourth death anniversary. He didn't say anything but he was there until she stopped crying then he prayed for her and made her tea before tucking her in.

"He said to give you this, I hope you like it." She handed her the handed her the paper bag after they settled on the bar stools around the counter.

Khadijah mentally counted and her eyes bulged out, that had to be the seventh gift if she was counting correctly, she loved everything he was giving her but even the foundation only was fine.

She couldn't help the small bubble of excitement as she pulled whatever was inside the box open, before she unwrapped she touched the sides trying to guess what it is. Probably a frame. She thought starting to open it.

It was a frame and it was the back she saw, she wanted to turn it over but she saw something scribbled in black ink, it looked like his handwriting but it was in the wood which meant it was probably carved. She read the words under her breath.

"I thought I was whole, then I met you and I felt complete. You were the missing piece in my life that I didn't realize was missing until you came and filled the hole."

There was I love you queen of my heart in my Arabic under that, she smiled without realising running her hand over it.

"Are you going to turn it over?" she chuckled softly as she did that.

She stared at the framed picture wondering when it was taken, she couldn't remember them ever snapping it but it was them. A small sound left her lips when she recognized it.

"Who took this picture?" she was smiling at someone and he was staring at her, you would think they were actually posing.

"The photographer took interest in the both of you it seems, he said he liked your chemistry when the albums were sent over and he made you a mini." Her veil had been falling over shoulder and he was helping her with it, she hadn't even realized she was smiling up at him then.

It was on the day of Farhan and Kamla's wedding, after the wedding fatiha if she remembered well enough.

"Wow, that is nice." Fatimah Batool nodded and got off the chair. She walked over to Khadijah and side hugged her.

"It is getting late, come on." She nodded and put the frame back in the bag, thinking of the perfect place to keep it. She smiled when it came to her mind finally.

"I love this smile on your face, love does look good on you."

"Ya Baraka," Khadijah drawled looking away which only made her sister laugh more.

"I wanted to say bye to you personally before I leave." Was what she said but she had more to say, she could see it in her eyes.

"Okay." She sat on one of the love seats in the room and waited for her to talk, they were the only two in the miniature living room which Manal insisted was a drawing room.

"I know we haven't been close for a while now and it is not only because you're busy, you're my sister and our mothers won't change that okay? Please don't feel uncomfortable with me Khadijah, I like being your elder sister so much you don't even know. So, when you want to talk, ever, just let me know and you know I'll listen."

"I know ya Baraka, thank you."

"Great, now Fahad has been outside for minutes. I'll call you, Allah ya kara dankon soyayya." She laughed at the prayer but still muttered an ameen before walking out.

She first bade her parents' goodnight before meeting him outside like she had said, Sadiya has left because of the children, she liked being the one to tuck them in.

"Ready?" he asked taking the bag from her though it was not heavy in the least, she rolled her eyes but let him do it. He opened the car door for her then opened the back seat and kept that.

"I saw the frame," she started conversationally as he drove out of the compound.

"Yeah?" Fahad asked his eyes glancing at her briefly before going back to the road. "Do you like it?" he flexed his fingers on the steering waiting for her reply.

"I loved it, especially the inscription," she watched him smile and felt the familiar flutters in her lower belly.

"If you don't stop looking at me like that, I'll crash this car." She giggled then looked away.

"We wouldn't want that to happen now, would we?" he muttered exactly under his breath.

Her hands moved on their own accord, or maybe she just wanted to but she took hold of his hand that was on the arms rest and intertwined their fingers, he gave her a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

"Now that is much safer," she snickered this time. "Okay."

The first thing she did when they got back was go the bedroom and change then she met him in the living room, multiple wrapped gifts lay on the center table that they both know they wouldn't open any time soon. She only picked out the ones from family and left the rest to be taken into storage until they were bored.

"Did you see Aneesah's gift?" she shook her head no.

"I didn't open it but it is by this side," she walked to the part of where more gifts lay and picked out the one that had Neena scrawled on it.

"You seem excited," she said sitting beside him with a bit of space between them.

"I want to see what it is, she gives the best gifts."

"Really?" he nodded and she opened it. It was a photo book from their wedding till then, the name was cutest moments with FK, they both laughed at the title but still opened it.

"How did she get these pictures?" Khadijah muttered seeing photos of herself she didn't know existed.

"I don't even want to ask," Fahad laughed. No one asked her about her secrets like she called it, but she has everyone's pictures in their family.

They watched all trying to guess when exactly it happed and how she got the picture, it was almost twelve in the morning when they decided to call it a night and for the first time since their wedding Khadijah wore something other than her endless long sleeves, finally feeling confident in her skin.

*****

"Do you think I should get this one for them or this one?" she turned her phone so he could see what she was showing.

"They are identical." She rolled her eyes before huffing.

"Yes but one is grey and the other is black, I don't know which one she'll like." He stretched out his hand for her to hand him the phone but when she gave him he pulled her instead of taking it.

"You're going to break these chairs one of these days," she told him sitting more comfortably. He circled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer and she rested her head on his chest listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I don't mind, in fact I have other ideas." She only chuckled shaking her head.

"You still haven't helped me pick." She tried to move so she could look at him but he didn't let her.

"Just get the two," he murmured nuzzling her neck.

Kamla's baby shower would be in two months and she has gone into a frenzy trying to buy everything she thinks is appropriate. Though the baby isn't due until another six months.

"That is your solution for everything, you should change," this time when she looked up he let her.

"Why don't you change me? Hmmm." She rolled her eyes and got up from his leg.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"To get my tab, I want to check something." He was already following her and when she reached the door, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'll have Nasir place the order," she nodded gratefully at him and then went in the opposite direction, Fahad let out a small groan when he realized what she was doing.

"We could literally be doing anything else," he muttered when she opened the door to the room they had turned into a store which she decided needed to be cleared out.

~~~~~

"Be careful," The words rushed out of Fahad's lips as he steadied Khadijah.

She looked up her eyes slightly wide from the almost accident, he collected the box she was holding form her and kept it on the floor beside the door then took her hands and pulled her to the bedroom.

They've just cleared out the remaining unopened boxes, the ones they'll probably never use were all packed up and taken into storage to be given out.

It was two weeks after their anniversary dinner, they eventually got tired of opening them one by one and just thought of doing it one time, even some from their wedding.

"At least now it's cleared out," Khadijah said taking off her headscarf and pulling off the ribbon holding her hair. She gently massaged her hair to get feeling back in her scalp.

"Yes, there is probably like fifty jugs there." She laughed throwing her head back.

"And not even one coffee mug, can you imagine?" He let out an exaggerated gasp.

"No I cannot imagine, such horror." She tossed the band ribbon she took off her hair at him and he caught it in the air.

"You're still not doing this thing right,"

"I wanted to miss." He nodded in faux agreement. "I need a one hour hot bath and then one full day of sleep."

"Need help with any of those?" He wiggled his brows suggestively which she felt right down to her toes that curled on their own accord, she has learned to school her features in his presence.

He says the most inappropriate things sometimes.

"No thank you," she turned on her heels and went to the bathroom the sounds of his laughter reaching her.

Talking and joking about those things are much easier than actually breaching it, she has learned but they were slowly getting there and she wasn't sure how she felt about it.

On another note though, she is finally able to wear short sleeves around him and not feel insecure like that.

How could she even? When he was always telling her how beautiful she was and how that was her strength.

He wasn't in the room when she walked out dressed in pajama sets, she wasn't joking when she said she needed sleep.

Her phone that was on the bed flashed with and incoming message and she picked it up not at all surprised to see Layla's name on the screen, it was a picture like the ones she has been sending her since their anniversary, she didn't know what to do with her to be honest.

She typed out the same thing she replies with every single time she sends her a piece of strings and calls them clothes then asks her to wear it.

When she got tired of telling her no she wouldn't wear it, she told her to find a husband and she'll do her the honours of buying it, Layla had replied with she already has a box full of them so now she just sends her two middle fingers and leaves it at that.

As usual she received heart and laughing emojis immediately after. She wanted to drop her phone when it started ringing.

"Come on," Layla said laughing and rolling her hair around her finger.

Khadijah eyed her before shaking her head.

"You're out of your mind, stop sending me those stupid photos."

"Come on," She drawled again.

"No." The serious look on Khadijah's face could as well not be there because she was still finding it funny.

Too engrossed in glaring at Layla who was still laughing, she missed when Fahad walked in and sat beside her, she only felt herself being pulled back.

"Ugh, do you ever leave her alone?" He glanced at Layla before intentionally placing a kiss on her neck.

Layla groaned then her face disappeared from the screen but not before calling them cats, it showed her name before going back to their chat. It happened all in two seconds. One she was holding the phone the next it was flying and then the sound of it meeting the wall reached them.

He glanced at her his eyebrows raised.

"That was unexpected." He commented, and unneeded since he already saw what was there. He has gotten tired of Layla and has even stopped trying to stop her.

"Nothing." She spoke sharply brushing her hands over her face, when she was done he held the hand.

"Stop listening to her," His voice was low and their position wasn't helping either.

At least she wasn't feeling bile rising up in her throat which was extremely good news.

"We'll take our time, she doesn't have to rush you. Whenever you're ready." Her body was burning up for no reason, like she was having a fever but not quite that.

"I know, I know." The words were a whisper.

"We'll take it slow." She added, she didn't know if she was making herself feel better or him, it just felt right.

"Exactly, goodnight. I love you." He pecked her forehead then took a bit longer on her lips before moving back.

"Goodnight," She murmured lowly the added lower. "I love you too."

He felt goose bumps rise on his skin and his lips broke out in a smile on their own.

Their eyes met for all but two seconds, then all he could see and feel and breathe was her.

Khadijah didn't know how it happened but it did, like he'd promised though he took it slow with her, waiting until she was comfortable and being patient like he always been.

Everything she knew with Suleiman became a far memory, a faint memory. She couldn't have compared them even if she wanted to which she didn't.

It was euphoric, she was enraptured.

She has heard of being cherished but has never felt it, perhaps until then.

Coming down from that high wasn't one she has ever known, a soft landing, the softest she has known and everything suddenly made sense.

How finding your soulmate was better than the world and everything in it. A tear slipped from her lids but she had a faint smile on her lips.

Being Suleiman's wife was all Deceptive Glitters, perfection on the outside but hell on the inside, now she would finally relate to what real glitters meant.

The hand stroking her back was the reassurance she needed that it was different now, it started differently and it would be different too.

If there was a statement that Fahad could have called his life before Khadijah was all glitters and no gold, it was glamorous but not peaceful. She was peace and being with her gave him that peace he didn't know he needed.

The silver ring on her finger sparkled in the dim lit room and he felt it describes them best.

He'd been a lone Star before, shining in what he thought was his brightest alone in the dark night but she was the sun, her brightness powered him and unlike glitters he was used to be before, now he had the source in his hand and no one could take away his shine.

In our lives there are moments we feel like we were just made for, he has found his and she was right there in his arms.

Through their perfects and imperfections he somehow found the best blend between both, best of both worlds.

Noor had been IT for him, or so he had thought but he knows now, fifty thousand years ago, his name wasn't written beside hers it was written with Khadijah's and that was the best thing he could ever have.

"I love you," Was the last thing he said to her before letting the fatigue of the day's activities take over.

THE END.

•••••

Assalamu alaikum, I'm not going to say much because the epilogue is coming up next Insha Allah so stay tuned.

Comment how excited you are please.

I just have to admit I'm a cliche person, I love everything cliché which is why the last chapter is also the longest chapter.

STAY TUNED.