Buckle up and get ready for sweet and  romantic chapter.

I woke up the next morning around 9 am, feeling the soft warmth of the bed and Muhammad's arm wrapped around me. It felt so good to have him back, and I was so excited for the day ahead. We got up, took our baths, and dressed for a day of exploring. I decided on a green blouse from Zara, paired with blue jeans and a nude jacket from M&S. My white Adidas sneakers completed the look. Muhammad, on the other hand, looked effortlessly cool in black jeans, a navy blue button-up shirt, and a baseball hat.

After getting ready, we set out to explore the city of Dubrovnik. Our first stop was the iconic city walls, which have been standing since the 10th century. These ancient stone walls, towering up to six meters high and thick enough to fend off invaders, provided an unbeatable view of the Adriatic Sea. Walking along them, I could almost feel the weight of history on my shoulders, and I couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like to live in this fortress centuries ago.

Next, we visited the Square of the Loggia, a central gathering point in Dubrovnik. I had read about it, but seeing it in person was something else. It was a beautiful, historic place that felt alive with the whispers of the past. It was easy to lose myself in its charm, and I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping into another world, one where time had slowed down just for me.

But the best part was yet to come—our Game of Thrones walking tour. As a die-hard fan, I was practically bouncing with excitement. Our first stop was Fort Lovrijenac, which served as the Red Keep in the show. The climb up to the top was a little strenuous, but oh, the view was worth every step. I was standing in the very place where some of the most intense scenes took place, and my heart was racing. I was living my dream!

We then made our way to Lokrum Island, which was used as the city of Qarth in the show. The lush botanical gardens were stunning, and the ferry ride over was short but sweet. Once we arrived, I couldn't contain my excitement—I was standing in Qarth, the heart of Daenerys Targaryen's story. But the real highlight? The Iron Throne. Yes, you heard me right. I got to sit on it. I snapped so many photos that I lost count. Muhammad and I joked about me becoming the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms—maybe it wasn't such a bad idea!

After a quick rest and a bite to eat on the island (we opted for the restaurant over a picnic—let's be real), we were off to Trsteno Arboretum. This hidden gem was where the Gardens of King's Landing were filmed. The cool shade of the trees provided relief from the summer heat, and I couldn't help but picture Sansa and Margaery talking about Joffrey over lemon cakes. I even told Muhammad about the scene, and we laughed together.

"Are you excited, babe?" he asked me, his voice filled with affection.

"So excited, baby! Thank you so much," I replied, giving him a tight hug. Seriously, he knows me too well.

Marko, our tour guide, was the best one we'd had in all our travels. He shared behind-the-scenes stories from the set, along with fascinating facts about Dubrovnik and Croatia. It felt like we were in a living, breathing Game of Thrones episode. We saw almost every filming location, from Lokrum Island to the Trsteno Arboretum. It was like stepping into the world I'd only watched on screen for so long.

By the time we returned to the hotel, it was time for Maghrib prayers, so we did that and then headed out for some fun. I changed into a velvet black gown with a slit, paired it with my maroon jacket and white heeled boots. I wrapped myself in a brown scarf and did my makeup, adding a bold maroon lipstick that matched the vibe perfectly.

"You look stunning, baby," Muhammad said, kissing me on the cheek.

"Thanks, my love," I smiled, feeling like a queen.

As we walked hand in hand through the city, something unexpected happened. A young man in faded trousers and a beret stepped in front of me, offering a bouquet of dark pink daisies with a flourish. I blinked in surprise but smiled and thanked him. I looked at Muhammad, who was trying to hold back a grin. Then, not far along the walk, a woman in a colorful polka-dot skirt handed me a string of multicolored balloons and wished me a happy birthday. I was confused at first and glanced at Muhammad, but he just smiled cheekily. That's when I realized something was up. The whole bay walk seemed empty, and there were no other people around.

Suddenly, a trio of young men in matching blue suits began playing a sweet tune with a harmonica, ukulele, and accordion. There was a juggler cycling through half a dozen items effortlessly, and a woman dressed in a Grecian gown looked like a living statue. Then, I saw a mad scientist tinkering with an old machine that blinked with lights. The words that appeared on the machine? "Happy Birthday, Layla!"

Tears pricked my eyes as I looked at Muhammad. He smiled, nodding toward a cluster of colorful belly dancers who gave me a few hip sways. A ventriloquist with puppets sang "Happy Birthday" to me. My heart swelled. I could hardly believe this was happening. Muhammad had planned all this—just for me.

We kept walking, laughing and enjoying the performances along the boardwalk. It felt like a dream, like I was in a fairy tale. I hadn't had this much fun since my school days in London, when Niimah, Ibty, and I used to explore parks and fun places together.

At the end of the walk, Marko appeared, offering to take the balloons and flowers from my arms. I looked at Muhammad, my heart full of love and gratitude.

"You planned all this, didn't you?" I asked him, still in awe.

He shrugged, smiling, "I thought it was a good idea. I knew you'd love it."

I threw my arms around his neck, pressing my face against his chest. "Thank you," I murmured. "Thank you for the best birthday gift ever, for these amazing memories. I love you so much."

He gently pushed me back, looking me in the eyes, his hazel eyes shining with adoration. "Thank you," he said, his voice soft. "Thank you for walking into my life, for giving me a daughter, for giving me new memories, for a life full of happiness."

We kissed, and I felt like the luckiest woman alive.

Later that night, after returning to the hotel, we had a quiet bath together and slipped into our pajamas. We made love, feeling so content and happy. Today had been one of the best days of my entire life. I couldn't believe how blessed I was to be with Muhammad, the love of my life.

The next morning, we slept in until 4 pm—guess we were more tired than we thought. Muhammad had to wake me up multiple times for Fajr prayers, but I could barely lift a finger! After showering and getting dressed, we decided to go for dinner at a nearby restaurant. We walked through the city, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, until we arrived at our destination.

Muhammad led me up three flights of stairs to the rooftop of a restaurant called Panorama. As we stepped in, I gasped. The entire space was filled with lush greenery, small trees, vines, and fragrant flowers under a glass dome. The warm light of street lamps illuminated the path as violins played a romantic tune in the background. It felt like something out of a dream.

"This is amazing, baby," I whispered, my heart fluttering.

He grinned and led me to a table set for two, the candles flickering in the gentle breeze. The violinists played "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran as we sat down, and we didn't need words. Our dinner arrived, and after the dessert, he took my hand and asked me to dance.

"You know I don't know how to dance, right?" I laughed.

He pulled me to my feet and swayed with me, his arms holding me gently as we moved to the slow, sweet music. As we danced, we found a quiet corner of the garden where he stopped, kissed me deeply, and whispered, "Happy birthday, Layla."

He pulled away, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black velvet box. When he opened it, I gasped. Inside was a stunning diamond pendant. "It's beautiful," I whispered, touched by the thoughtfulness.

Then he gave me a small book. As I flipped through the pages, I found love poems he had written for me. I was overwhelmed by his words, and tears filled my eyes as he embraced me.

"I love you so much, Muhammad," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"I love you more than you'll ever know, Layla," he replied, his eyes full of emotion. "You and Sabrina are my everything."

Love, Chiickadee.