*Amir*

My heart quivered as I heard her tell me Happy Birthday, but that was not the reason. It was because she said those two words that sparked me inside. My husband.

Luna doesn't know this, and I wasn't sure when I'll inform her, but I had spoken to her father earlier when Ahmed set it up for me. I spoke to him about how I care deeply for her, how I adore Sarah like she was my own, and how I want nothing more than to be Luna's lawful companion. Needless to say, Mr. Carlyle wasn't exactly too thrilled about it. He wanted to know my intentions, and why I'd propose marriage when she and I have only "known" each other a few days now. He doesn't know about us, or our connection, and it wasn't my place to tell him something like that. I respected him, and both my girls a lot, so this was why I asked for his blessing to propose to her one day. 

"Hello, Mr. Carlyle. I'm Amir Khan, from Islamabad, Pakistan, sir," I said, greeting Luna's father through a video call Ahmed set up for me.

"Ah! The volunteer at the hospital. The guy who broke her and another patient out," he replied, adjusting his glasses on his nose, giving me a stern look, like he was about to give me a lecture or something.

His silver hair shined under his lamp, and his blue eyes were like bright jewels sparkling through the camera lense. I was about to ask this man for his daughter's hand in marriage, and my stomach twisted at the thought of that. I hadn't made the best first impression by breaking Luna out of a place she never should've been in. But I inhaled a deep breath and nodded back.

Then I said, "Sir, I want to explain something to you, if I may."

"What could you possibly explain to me? You helped break my daughter out of a facility that was helping her and caused a ruckus over there. Dr. Kim explained everything that happened. You became infatuated by Luna and lured her to break free. I don't know you, Amir. I just know that my daughter is a vulnerable woman. She has been through a lot."

"Yes, sir. She has. And the facility wasn't what it appeared on the outside, Mr. Carlyle," I bravely told him.

"Call me Lawrence. Since you are in my daughter's life, we should call each other by our first names," Lawrence said, adjusting in his seat at his desk. From where he was sitting, the sun was shining behind him through a large window. He cleared his throat and said, "So now that she is free, how is she? How is my granddaughter?"

"They are both okay, Lawrence. Sarah is with her mother and aunt."

"Ah. Liberty. I would like to speak with her after I speak with you. I was told that I can't ask where everyone is. But I have a feeling my family is okay. Since you've called me, what is it that I can help you with, Amir?" I gulped.

He was stern and direct, but now was the moment I'd been waiting for. Now was the moment to express what was in my heart for his daughter and granddaughter. I must've been sweating profusely because my back felt a little wet. I took a quick sip from my water and nodded with my chin.

As I shifted closer to the camera a little more, I opened my mouth. "Lawrence, I am in love with Luna, and I adore Sarah like she was my daughter. When I first met her mother, I was immediately drawn to her. She had an essence about her that struck my heart, and I knew that I'd fallen in love with her right then."

"But how, Amir Khan? You've only known each other for a few days. Right?" I glanced down and nodded slightly. He couldn't know the actual moment she and I connected months ago, and he only knew of me volunteering at the hospital through Chase and Dr. Kim. There was no way he'd move passed that little detail. "I want to know what Luna could have done to gain your admiration for her? How do you know it is love, son?"

"Because she is my everything, Lawrence. I would do anything for her, and I'd keep her and Sarah safe."

"Okay. I can tell Luna has made a big impact on you. But what you said doesn't tell me anything. What are your intentions for the girls?" he asked, eying me. I felt like I was put on the spot.

"I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage, Lawrence. And I know we haven't had a chance to get to know each other properly, but I would like to someday. If Luna says Yes, then one day I could meet you and try to form a relationship with you."

"But Amir... How are you going to provide for my family while being on the run? All of you will need money to survive."

I understood his concern. Most fathers would ponder that about their children's spouse. But for me, I had money in my country and have access to it. We were in hiding, but I could still provide for Sarah and Luna. They'd never have to worry.

"Actually, I am conservative and have plenty of money back home that is accessible to me. So Luna and Sarah would be all set with me."

After several minutes of contemplating, he nodded and said, "Okay. I will admit that I feel more at easy about your desire to marry my daughter. However, I'm concerned over where the three of you would live? Will you all be going back to your home country?"

"We have not spoken too much about that, sir. But I am sure we will. We're taking it day by day. Until everything is better."

The door behind me crept opened as Ahmed slowly entered the room. Lawrence noticed him and called him over.

"Hi, Mr. Carlyle," Ahmed said, waving to his future father-in-law.

"Hello, Ahmed. How is Liberty?" Lawrence asked, staring him up and down through the screen.

"She is good, sir. She's drawing a picture with Luna and Sarah at the moment."

"Now, I'm going to be honest with both of you, Amir and Ahmed," Lawrence said, straightening in his chair. "I have it on good authority to believe my daughters' and granddaughter are okay. However, I have not met you, Amir. I have met Ahmed." I scooted over an inch to allow Ahmed more room. "I want to believe you are a good person. I can tell you have a respectful and courteous nature about yourself, Amir. But I would like to know more about you before I give you my blessing to propose to my daughter."

"I understand, sir," I said, exhaling a deep breath.

"If I may, Lawrence," Ahmed murmured, gazing between both of us. "I would like to speak on Amir's behalf. Sir, you respect me and my opinions, right? And I've never let Liberty down." Lawrence nodded. "Well, Amir is a lot like me, sir. He will never let Luna or Sarah down, and he is devoted to them equally. I have complete faith that Amir will do his absolute best to tend to the welfare of both of them."

I couldn't tell through the camera, but I could have sworn I noticed Lawrence shedding a tear as it was coming down his face. What Ahmed said about me really affected him. I hoped he could feel the sincerity in his voice. After a few minutes of silence, Lawrence nodded and stared at us as he gazed back and forth.

"Amir, because of the sincere words that came from Ahmed's mouth, I give you my blessing to marry my daughter. I trust that you are not like Chase. Even he didn't have the decency to ask for my blessing before proposing to her, and for years I never approved of him. I hated the fact that Luna stayed with him, because of the things I later learned about him. His controlling nature for starters. I kept my mouth shut and endured the holiday and family get togethers with him. For Luna. You seem like you are a hard-working gentleman and want nothing but the best for my girls."

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I do. I love them."

"Well, that is great to hear. I look forward to learning more about you, son. What about your family? Have you talked to them in Islamabad?" I gulped. Their phone call is right after his.

I adjusted in my seat once Ahmed stood up and walked behind me, so Lawrence and I could chat a while longer. Looking straight into the camera, I replied, "I have not spoken to them yet, but I plan to shortly. I am sure my family will approve of our union, Lawrence."

We spoke for several minutes, and then I ended the Skype call with Mr. Carlyle. He accepted me into their family with open arms after getting to know me. That feeling calmed my nerves down a lot.

It was then my turn to phone my family. 

Thirty minutes flew by of hearing my mother's worried tone for Faisal and I, and being away from home. But I eventually settled my mother and father's nerves down and spoke to them about Luna. My mother wept, and my father was concerned about the choices I was making more than anything.

"Amir," my father said, in a stern voice. "I don't understand why you want to marry this American girl when you have a perfectly stable girl here. The Malik's daughter is perfect for you. A great choice. And we know her and the family well, son."

"I know, Father. But my heart is with Luna. She means everything to me."

"How can you know that? You fly off to America and meet this young lady in a hospital, and now you want to marry her?" Father said, shaking his head. "We haven't even met her. You are going against our tradition, son. Arranged marriages have been in our bloodline for decades. I will not have you make silly decisions like this. Now, get Faisal and bring yourselves back home. This instant!"

My mother sat there rocking back and forth, breathing heavy. So I moved closer and stared into the camera. "Mother, please don't cry. This is what I want."

"I understand that, my boy, but you can't break tradition," she said, gazing downward.

"But Father didn't have a problem with it when I spoke to him in his office before coming here," I said, looking down at the family ring on my finger that he passed to me.

"I didn't have a problem with it because I figured it was a fantasy for you. Don't you get it?" my father said, staring directly into the camera. "Tradition has always kept our family line in harmony. Since our ancestors merged our family lines to keep the peace between all the families, falling in love before marriage never happened. Now, granted, I took one look at Maryam on our wedding day—not before—and I was thankful that she was arranged for me. We must stay with tradition. It's our family duty, Amir."

As I leaned back into my chair, I stared at my mother as she kept dabbing her closed eyes. She wasn't prepared for a heavy discussion like this, but I wanted to inform them that this was what I wanted. I wanted to marry Luna and be a family with her and Sarah. I cared about our family tradition just as much as my parents, but I cared about Luna and spending my life with her.

My parents hated the idea of me marrying someone they didn't meet first, but Faisal, along with Raul when he stepped in through the door, voiced their opinions to them about the love I have for Luna. 

Neither of my parents knew Raul, but they could see it through the screen that he was genuine about how he felt regarding her. When my mom and dad looked at one another, I could see it in their eyes that they were a disappointed that I wouldn't have a Pakistani wedding there, and it wasn't because of my bride-of-choice; it was the fact that they had planned to see my Nikah the moment I marry. 

I explained to my mother that (if I got their blessing) I will propose to Luna, and then I will suggest to her about having two Nikah's. It was lawful and acceptable to have two Islamic ceremonies. I wanted to marry her more than anything, and Raul had mentioned that he knew someone who could perform an Islamic ceremony here. The only issue I had was that she and I wouldn't be legally wed, according to the laws of the United States if we use our false identities. She and I wouldn't be able to fill out a form, or a license in our legal names because we'd be tracked. But we will be legal by performing a Nikah. I promised and convinced my mother that I will talk to Luna about both ceremonies. I had faith that Luna would still agree to become my wife. And one thing she'd never have to worry about was me changing her. 

I didn't want her switch her religious views on the account of me. I wanted her to make that choice for herself, because if it was for me, then she'd lose a bit of who she was. I loved Luna for who she is, and her personal views about faith and spirituality had never stopped us from holding back. She and Sarah hold the pieces of my heart, together. 

Both of my parents heard my proposal and listened to Faisal's opinion. Then they got to know Raul. They voiced their concerns about who this "American woman" was, but my father could see how happy she had made me. I explained about her being a single mother and had to watch my mother sob like she heard some bad news on TV. It wasn't because Luna was a mother, but because it made my mother happier to know that. She'd always wanted a little grandchild to dress up and pamper. Sarah may not be in our biological bloodline, but my mother would love her like I have. My family of choice wasn't what they were worried about, it was why I hadn't come home, and what was going on with us in America.

"Does Luna truly love you, Amir?" my father asked me, staring into the camera. I nodded and shuddered under my breath. "I'm not quite settled about my son marrying someone neither of us have met, but I can see that she has changed you."

"There's something else about Luna you should know," I said, as I glanced over at Raul and he stepped back and stood next to the wall. Peering back to the screen, I let out a shaky breath to inform them about Sarah. "Mother. Father. Luna is a single mother to a beautiful young girl. Her name is Sarah, and she is seven."

And that was when my mother lost it. She sobbed her hiney off after my last few words and kept wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. "I know marrying Luna is not ideal because she is a mother, but she is an amazing one and Sarah is wonderful. I love her like she is my own."

"Son." That was Mother. "I'm not crying because Luna has a child. I'm crying because I will finally have a grandchild to pamper. For thirty-four years, I've waited for that day." I let out a relief of happiness and smiled at both of them. Then they inquired more details about Luna and Sarah.

"Where is Luna at, Amir?" my father asked, scratching his stubble on his chin.

Raul held up a finger and stepped out of the room.

We were on limited time with our conversation, so I discussed how much joy Luna and Sarah has brought me. 

I told my mother how Sarah called me her "papa", and she grinned so widely. It was the biggest smile I'd ever seen on her face. She shed more tears and was slowly coming around to Luna and Sarah being part of us. One thing that almost made me cry was telling them that Luna can speak fluently in Urdu. My mother was impressed that she knew our language this quick. Of course they didn't know Luna and I had been around one another for months, or that Luna could channel every language I'd ever learned. 

Raul finally stepped back into Mera's office where we were conversing with my parents.

"Where are they at?" I asked him.

"Luna is taking a short nap after playing with Sarah. And Sarah was getting ready to have a bath that Liberty and Cami set up for her," Raul explained, pinching his lips into a thin line. I nodded back and thanked him.

My mother was saddened that she didn't get to meet my potential bride and see her on the screen, but she nodded, understanding our situation. Both of my parents cheered and smiled after giving me their blessing to propose to Luna. I even included of how I spoke to my new father-in-law. My father just looked at me and told me he was proud. He was disappointed in me not choosing our tradition, but he was happy that I wasn't making any rash decisions like he thought.

I was on the phone call for several more minutes until Colin informed us that it was time to go before we were traced on the secure line. After talking to them and checking in with Adnan, finding out what was happening with my house, and then speaking to Mr. Carlyle about his beautiful daughter, my nerves were rattled. I guess it was the anxiety one faces when thinking about proposing to someone. 

I would love to propose to her in an old fashion way by getting down on one knee, maybe over dinner, or under the stars one night, then pull out a beautiful ring to hand to her. But unfortunately, I had nothing to offer at this time that was worthy of her. But I will have something for sure. I will make sure that she and Sarah had everything and more. 

[Part Two of this chapter is next. --->]