BONUS | CHAPTER | ALIZA | POV

"Omar don't climb up there and Shoaib let go of your sisters doll!" I all but shrieked at my children before running up to them myself to make them stop whatever mischief they were up to.

Sometimes it was hard to believe I now had three kids living with me, four if you counted Isa as being a child too. No matter how much I loved them, they always found a way to test my patience when it wasn't needed.

As of now Shoaib still wouldn't let go of Zainabs doll and he smirked as he waved it high above her reach while she cried and scratched at his leg to bring it down. Omar wasn't any better either - climbing the top of the cupboard even though I had told him numerous times not to. These kids will be the death of me.

"Whoa, whoa. What's happening here?" At the sound of my husbands voice, I turned around and breathed out a sigh of relief. At least there would be someone here to help me now.

"Your kids are being a pain. Again." I said and resumed to pry Omar off the high area where he shouldn't be.

"Shoaib, you better give your sister her doll before I let her break all your action figures." I heard Isa say sternly before I turned around to witness Shoaib in fact dropping the doll to the floor and Zainab hurrying to catch the precious toy.

"Thank you." I said and gave Isa a peck on the cheek with three year old Omar perched on my hip.

He smiled at me before taking Omar and putting him down on the floor for him to crawl over where both his sister and brother were playing peacefully. Momentarily forgetting what had just happened between them. In turn this made me smile because I knew they would always find a way to get back to each other.

"So, I called mom and told her to watch the kids for us today. You've had too much on your plate and I don't want people thinking my wife's getting wrinkles before her attractive husband." He joked and laughed at his words a second later.

I didn't reply straight away. Going away from the kids for a few hours maybe would be good. Since it was summer break, all they wanted to do was stay home and since Isa had work, I looked after them until he came home. As much as I love my kids, they were a handful during this time and I was now looking forward to actually going out.

"Sure, where are we going then, oh so attractive husband of mine?" I asked with a slight chuckle. After nine years of being married, he was still his usual self obsessed self whom I still love.

"You'll see." I frowned at his choice of words knowing that this was yet another surprise of his.

There was nothing bad about his surprises; he just enjoyed teasing me about knowing about it and how I was clueless. Yet, when I do find out whatever he plans they turn out to be amazing and full of fun, so somehow I don't mind them as much.

"I'll go get ready then." I said curtly and made my way upstairs while I heard him talk to the kids and how they were going to their grandparents. Their excited screams made me smile again.

Once upstairs, I got changed into clothes that weren't my pyjamas with a hijab and some flats. Make up still wasn't my forte so I didn't bother with that. Taking a final look in the mirror, I scrutinised my outfit; a black maxi dress with a matching maxi kimono and a floral hijab.

In my reflection I could also see the toys scattered around our room and the only explanation would have to be the kids were playing in here before. Right now I didn't want to think about the mess that lingered in our room and instead made me way back downstairs where I saw my mother in law already here. That was quick.

"Asalaamalikum ma." I greeted and was about to just give her a soft kiss on the cheek until, like always, she walked towards me and held me in her tight embrace and began stroking my back. I nearly laughed at how after all these years, my mother in law still saw me as the delicate little girl she saw when getting her son married. So much has happened since then.

"Walaikumasalaam Hayati, look how pale you look. Isa you better not come back until she looks better." She turned around, and if Isa sounded stern before then his mother had to sound ten times more strict.

"I will. Oh and don't give the kids sugar, no matter how much they beg, just turn the TV on to Disney channel and they should concentrate on that. Dinner is at 6 but we'll probably be back by then." He said and gave his mother a kiss before leading me out of the house with him in front.

During that I simply looked at him in adoration at how much of a loving father he turned out to be; no matter how much he once feared that he wouldn't be no good. He knew how to keep them calm, be strict with me, play with knew and even memorised what it is they liked and disliked - he turned out greater than me perhaps.

We then got into the car, out of all that he owned, and buckled up. Like many boys Isa loved his collection of cars, so he made it his job to always buy more. Safe to say our garage wasn't big enough for anymore cars he decides to bring home.

"It's not gonna take long to get there, and you also look beautiful Mash'Allah." He said as he leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I scrutinised my outfit and looked up, "there's nothing special about it." I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

It was when I heard him groan in frustration and saw him run a hand through his hair that I found this all too funny. "Can you not accept my compliment? You always look beautiful but I never get the chance to tell you so. It's not just today you look beautiful, it's all the time." I think my insides had already melted at this point and to top it off, he took my hand and places it on top of his while he drove.

Even after all these years he found it in himself to compliment me whenever he could. I didn't always accept them, but when he said sweet things like this, it was hard not to swoon over at his words. They were sweet and showed a side to me that he didn't show to anyone else - in a way that made it more special to me.

"I'm sorry. Thank you and you always look good without even trying, so I don't think I need to remind that already huge ego of yours." I said with a chuckle, in an attempt to lighten the mood. It worked and soon enough he had his tongue out at me being goofy.

Just as we were having fun, the car came to a stop. I looked outside and found myself rolling my eyes at his choice of destination. The beach.

"Here, really?" I ask with a little amusement and didn't miss how he shifted uncomfortably in his seat before meeting my gaze to give me one of his forced smiles which he rarely ever used with me.

"You like it here and I'm willing to put the past behind me and enjoy this day." He said, and just to prove his point, he unbuckled himself and got out of the car first. I then followed his movements and got out the car myself.

"You don't have to, I know how you despise this place." I said. He all but gave me a look before taking my hand and guiding me to the sand.

Even though it was summer, the place wasn't crowded; only three families were gathered around the beach today. Reason being we had two beaches here and this one wasn't as attractive as the other one. And so people preferred staying clear from this one.

Me? I liked coming here because of the fact that it wasn't as crowded and you could take the chance of the quietness to enjoy and talk freely.

"Do you want me to get you anything?" I heard Isa ask.

I looked towards the little shack in the distance where a teenage boy didn't look to happy about the outcome of people today. My eyes settled on the cool drinks which my dry throat desperately wanted. It could get really hot in the summer.

"Coke please." I smiled at him before he got up.

"Such a hypocrite. You won't let the kids have any but you drink it yourself?" He asked and laughed at me as I gave him a glare. He always thought I was too harsh on the children sometimes.

"They are kids, meaning all this sugar isn't good for them. Being an adult is different. When they're older than can choose what to do." I said defensively and shooed him away to get our drinks.

While I waited for him to come back, I slipped off my shoes and made myself more comfortable on the sand. Ahead of me children were laughing and jumping in the water with their siblings. Somehow I felt like I should have brought the kids along until I remembered that I needed a break.

I also remember the day Isa told me he wanted five kids; right now we had three and as much of a pain they are, I love children too much to think that was all we could have. Therefore, as I touched my belly, I wondered how I was going to tell Isa that I was carrying his fourth child.

A big family is what we wanted, and not just because we were filling the stereotypes for all Arabs. We believed that it was important for our kids to always have someone beside them if they felt their parents couldn't.

"Hey I'm back." I looked beside me to see that he had taken a seat beside me and held out a glass bottle of coke for me to drink. I gladly took it.

His hands then went around my waist while he used his other to drink. My free hand still rested on my belly and Isa seemed to have noticed. "Are you okay, does your stomach hurt?" Kick in over protective mood.

I sighed, not wanting to lie to him, but also not knowing how to tell him either. With the previous pregnancies he had been overjoyed and wouldn't stop talking about our new child until he or she was actually born. Now I felt like I had lost my words, not knowing how to phrase what I wanted properly.

Nonetheless I tried, "Isa, you know how we always want a big family right? Well, we may be having a new member joining soon." I said and was glad of how I managed to get it out right.

For a while I sat there trying to figure out what his reaction was until he finally turned his face to me with a blown out smile. I only saw it for a second before he tackled me into a hug and consequently made us fall into the sand, with me laughing.

"I can't believe we're going to have another little one! I hope it's a girl this time though, I've been spoiling Zainab a little too much." He admitted sounding guilty, and it was then I smacked his arm.

"I know you have. How many times have I told you to stop buying her all these expensive toys? It's like she can't live without them anymore." I glared at my husband who still looked guilty. He knew I was right; Zainab was a daddy's girl who always got what she wanted, no matter how big or expensive.

"Don't be like that. You know she's still a sweet little girl." He said, trying to reason with me.

I simply turned away from him knowing that what he was saying was right. Although she may seem spoiled, she was a kind girl who always thought of others before her. Her father may buy her what she wanted, but that is only after he sees her eyeing the toy instead of actually asking for it. In a way that did make it better because she knew her limits; I was afraid with all that she was getting though, she might forget about them.

"Excuse me?" Just then a new voice spoke up and I looked ahead to see a teenage girl smiling down at the both of us.

"Yes?" I asked, mirroring her smile.

"Isn't your husband the one who got chased by a dog a couple years ago, while the carnival was happening? And ended up knocking over all the stalls?" At the sound of the memory, I began laughing and soon enough the girl joined in with me. Isa however looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Yeah that's him." I confirmed her question and leaned over to peck his cheek, "my adorable, clumsy husband who ruined the carnival." He all but glared at me and pushed me away as the girl walked off to where she had come from from.

"I hate you." He said and was probably regretting the idea of bringing me here in the first place.

"I love you too." And I meant it.

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OMG! Who enjoyed that bonus chapter though? It has been over a year since I've written about these two and I was so excited! Let me know what you think in the comments ❤️