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• Luna •

"So, if you and Amir get married, will he be like a daddy to me?" Sarah asked Luna as she combed her hair. 

Luna turned her around and smiled. "Where did you get that from, sweet pea?" 

Sarah shrugged. "I have my ways." 

"Well, how do you feel about that if he proposed to me?"

"He's all right. I love his skin. It's like touching silk. And I love his eyes. They look like beautiful marbles. And I love his personality. Papa has a great personality. He plays with me, and I can sense his devotion to my mommy."

A tear slid down Luna's cheek. "Papa? You call him Papa?"

Sarah nodded. "Amir is Papa. You two should definitely get married." Sarah wrapped her arms around Luna's waist. "I am team Aluna." 

Not wanting to do anything else, Luna laughed as she pressed her daughter's tiny body against her chest. Sarah liked Amir, and that was very important to her.

About two hours after everyone had settled in, they all cleaned up and got dressed for dinner. Amir started praying forty-five minutes earlier, while Cami was asleep in the next room. Luna played with Sarah in their new room, relaxed, and felt comfortable.

Liberty just entered the room to inform her that a formal dinner would be served downstairs. Luna got up and slipped on a black party dress that covered most of her scars and bruises. Then, she joined the others downstairs.

Outside, there was a huge dinner with many different kinds of food. Next to the cheese, several meat slices were lined up. She grabbed some fruit and a salad, while Sarah was taken care of by Liberty. Luna saw Amir, Faisal, Vikram, Raul, and Colin chat in the backyard as she sat down in a lounge chair and took small bites from her plate.

When Darren and Sue joined the party, Luna walked up to her to say hello. "Hi, Sue. It's good to meet you. I'm Luna."

"Likewise," Sue said with a Kiwi accent, her light brown hair falling in waves around her face.

Luna smiled and walked back to her chair, then sat in her seat and chowed down on a piece of sliced turkey, enjoying it to its fullest. 

When Amir glanced at her, he grinned. "I see you and Sarah are eating well. It's good." 

Luna nodded and almost choked on a piece of strawberry she tossed into her mouth. "I can't remember the last time I ate food like this. It's not stale or served on a metal plate." 

She immediately regretted going there as soon as he narrowed his eyes. "I didn't—"

"No. It's all right, Moon. Eat." 

Amir guzzled down his grape juice. He then jumped up and reached for more grapes, apples, and banana slices. Luna noticed he wasn't eating anything that wasn't a fruit or a vegetable, and he didn't eat any of the Chicken Karahi. She just wanted to lick the food off her plate and enjoy every bite. She glanced at the group as they chatted and argued about who their favorite player on their sports team was before turning her attention elsewhere.

Then her eyes casually met Faisal's. But he turned his head away and smiled the second Cami came down the steps. When he saw her grab a plate, his smile grew.

After Amir had sat down, Luna rested her palm on his knee. He turned his head toward her frame, and a strand of jet-black hair fell over his forehead.

Luna ate as much as her stomach could hold because she knew it made him feel better while he sat quietly and looked out into the yard.

"Is anyone up for playing a game?" Darren asked the group. "Raul showed me a whole cabinet full of board games we could play. There's Parcheesi, Monopoly, and Pictionary."

"How about Charades?" Liberty yelled and turned to look at Luna. "My sister is a beast at playing Charades."

Luna laughed. "Because the Carlyle girls are smart and can figure things out quickly."

"That was a great moment, Moon," Amir said in a low tone.

"Yes, it was. Thanksgiving night," she said, thinking back to last year when it was their first Thanksgiving. "My, my, how time flies."

"Mommy . . ." Sarah said as she walked toward her.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I'm starting to feel tired. I want to go to bed," she said, giving her mother and Amir a gentle hug and yawning. "Goodnight, Mommy and Papa." 

Amir smiled and draped his arm around her shoulder. "Goodnight, Sarah. Sleep tight."

Liberty walked over to Sarah, took her hand, and then looked at Luna. "Don't worry about her. I'll read Sarah a story before bed. You can stay out here."

Luna gaped while furrowing her brows. "Thank you, Lib. That's very sweet of you. I could still take care of her. I haven't tucked her in . . . for a few nights."

"I know, but you and Amir are still feeling the effects of what happened the other day. I'm also tired. I want both of you to have some alone time."

"All right. I'll then put her to bed tomorrow night."

"Sounds good," Liberty said.

"It'll be all right," said Vikram with a smile. "You two have fun."

"I love you," Luna told Sarah.

"I love you, Mommy," she whispered, looking over Liberty's shoulder after she scooped her into her arms. "Goodnight, everyone."

"Goodnight, Sarah," the group said in unison.

Once everyone was relaxed next to the pool, Amir stretched out and Luna rested next to his legs. Since the conversation was soft, Sarah could sleep. Raul and Mera both sat on a bench as the group chatted about different topics that came up. 

When someone said a joke, Sergeant Decker looked up from his phone. He mentioned that his contacts were keeping him updated on Chase and Dr. Kim. They were both in California to see Lawrence. Being relieved that nobody knew where they were, Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Amir moved over an inch and whispered, "Moon?"

She inhaled a breath and peered at him. "Yes, baby?"

"I was curious about what you wanted to do tonight."

"Tonight?" 

His beautiful eyes narrowed into incandescent caramel slits. 

"What are you wanting to do, Amir?"

She kept her eyes on him.

"Would you want to sleep in the same room as me, Luna?" 

"Mmm. I don't know. That is such a tempting offer. If you're sleeping somewhere else, you could always . . . visit me. We have a fascinating talent." 

"Hmm. Could I?" He leaned closer and slipped his arm around her waist.

"Or stay with me. I first wanted to hear what you thought about sleeping arrangements."

"The motel was different, and this house has a dozen rooms," he said. "But I'd love to share a room with you."

Luna adjusted in her spot and brought her face close to his, gazing softly into his eyes. "So we are foregoing our individual rooms for a romantic fantasy suite? Like on The Bachelor?" 

His Adam's Apple dropped when he laughed. "I can handle myself. Also, I wouldn't want tonight to be our first time together. I don't have any rose petals, candles, or other mushy, sweet things. I didn't bring any candy or other gifts for you."

Luna barked out a laugh. "You care about the setting, but that doesn't matter to me at all. I'm a simple gal. I just want you. I want you as much as I want sweets."

"My baby loves her sugar."  

"Lots of sugar," she whispered.

"If you are desiring some sugar, just let me know. I'll provide it for you." He moved up swiftly and brought his knees to either side of her hips. "I love sugar, too."

She mumbled, "I know you do," and turned her head to look at the garden. She hadn't seen a camera yet, and she yearned to take photos of the house and everyone around her. She was finally happy with where they were.

Amir peered at her with his head turned to the side and his back straight. "What are you thinking about, Beautiful?"

"Beautiful. I like that name. And it's nothing. I wasn't thinking of anything."

"You don't have to hide your thoughts from me. I want to hear about them."

"I guess I was thinking of how far we've come, A."

Amir's eyebrows were raised when he moved forward. "We've been through a lot. We'll keep going on this journey together."

"Together."

Minutes passed while they gazed quietly at the stars. Darren and Sue were the first to call it a night. Sue whispered to Luna, "See you in the morning." Raul and Mera followed and left separately. After it got pitch black the others went inside to sleep in the rooms they had chosen. Colin was the last to leave folding doors, wishing Amir and Luna a warm "good night."

It was only them lingering in the yard, stargazing. Luna crawled into Amir's lap and rested her head on his shoulder. He gently kissed her forehead, face, chin, and neck every few minutes. Every kiss he offered made her forget another minute at that awful place. His kisses helped her relax. She'd never tell him that. She liked her companion's tenderness.

They kept quiet since they didn't want to remember the miserable days. Faisal had an antidote for him and Cassie, and one for Amir and Luna. Luna wasn't sure about it because she didn't know how he developed it or what it could do. She thought of the other Tethered Souls in the hospital and the tormented children. They got their revenge, but they didn't deserve the treatments they received. 

She had no idea what would happen after tonight, and the mere thought of it made her stomach queasy and her muscles tense. The next day wasn't a sure thing, and neither were the next few minutes, hours, or seconds. Everything had to be planned out day by day, which was not the life she wanted for her daughter.

"Penny for your thoughts?" 

Luna smiled and chuckled. "I wasn't thinking about anything sexual, just to clear the air." 

"Moon, that's not what I meant." Amir ran his hand around the back of her neck and looked softly into her eyes. "I wanted to know what you were thinking. You stopped talking for a while."

She thought about not saying anything and just letting the night take them away, but she didn't want to be a coward. She had to act like an adult and talk about what scared her. She knew it wasn't good for anyone for her to keep acting like she had everything under control. "I'm frightened, to be honest. More than frightened. I'm scared."

Amir pulled her close to him and set his chin on her shoulder. His facial hair pricked against her skin, which caused her to shiver. "You have every right to be scared. You'd have to be crazy to not be worried."

"What are you thinking about?" 

Amir supplied a soft chuckle. "Me? Oh, you know how great it is that Allah has brought us together."

"Is that really what you were thinking?"

He kissed a sensitive spot on her forehead, sending a wave of shivers down her limbs. "Yes. I'm grateful. Right now, we are here. Our daughter is upstairs, and we have people who are risking everything to help us. I'm more than happy. You are in my life."

When Amir said that Sarah was his daughter, Luna started to cry. That was something that tugged her heart. 

He stilled like he seemed to do whenever he saw tears flowing down her eyelids. Amir gently squeezed her in his arms. "Sorry," he said softly as he caressed his face on her cheek. "I think of Sarah as my daughter, even more so now that she likes me, but I shouldn't have called her that. I didn't think about how it might make you feel."

"Why would I be uncomfortable about that?" 

"I don't know. When a man says that, it makes some mothers feel weird. We aren't married, but I hope one day we will be. You and Sarah are my girls. I can't live without either of you." 

Luna's heart did a trippy dance as he mentioned the word "married" again. She opened her eyes and smiled while she pressed her cheek to his.

"Luna, I was so afraid something would happen to you in the hospital and Sarah would never see her mother again. I feared I would never touch you. When I first saw you, my soul finally felt at peace. Your beautiful eyes looked into mine and your perfect mouth slightly opened as you realized I had come for you," Amir explained. "I was finally with my companion, and nothing could take me away. I would have waited until you were free to go back to Pakistan. Seeing you for the first time, I was immediately thankful to God for watching out for me. I couldn't wait to reunite a mother with her daughter."

"Amir . . ."

"I have never been so grateful in all my life. I am also angry with myself. I was the reason why you were there. I kept seeing you when you had your relationship going on. I should have backed off a little and controlled myself. I was too eager, too needy, and too self-centered. That went against what I should have done. I wasn't thinking, Luna. And I—"

"Stop," Luna whispered, wiping tears off her face. 

"I can't. You and Sarah have lost your identities. Now you both have to be on the run. And I've ruined the lives of all the people who are helping us. I could have stepped away and kept Chase from seeing you talk to yourself. You appreciated eating food without a metal tray. Your temples . . ." Shaking his head, his jaw locked. "I just wish there was something I could do to heal you. I'll try everything in my power to keep you safe. You and Sarah." He inhaled and kissed her forehead. "You will both have something to look forward to. I promise."

"Amir, what happened to me isn't your fault." 

"Some of it is," he said with a crack in his voice. "I'm to blame. Things could have turned out differently."

"Don't! Stop it right now." Luna turned around to face him, and the edge of her dress caught on the chair. She placed both hands on his cheeks and looked right into his eyes. "You didn't do anything. You're not to blame for any of this."

"Really?" he said in a shattering tone. "I think it all started when I came to see you in the ballroom. You were taking dance lessons, with he-who-shall-not-be-named." 

Luna giggled when Amir didn't want to say Chase's name. She almost threw up when she thought about him.

"If I remember correctly, it was me who got in touch with you while you were in Paris. I was thinking about what you were doing, as I always do."

When he shook his head, long, dark waves went over his wide eyes. "I should've closed our connection once I knew you were in the ballroom. I could have kept you and Sarah safe if I hadn't wanted to be with you so much."

"Listen to me, Amir. This isn't your fault. I wouldn't change a single thing about us. Nothing at all. Okay? Yes, the facility sucked, but I would experience it again if I had to because we were joined together. I wouldn't mind changing some things, but not you, my brave prince who came to save the woman he loves. I love you. You are my world and my soulmate. You always have been."

With a sharp breath in, Amir's lips parted. "Could you repeat that, please?"

She leaned in close and whispered, "This isn't your fault."

He nipped at her lip. "You know what I want to hear." 

Running her nose against his, Luna pressed a soft kiss at the tip. "I love you. You're like my husband, and I'm like your wife. All of us are in this together."

"Hm." He lowered his hands down her arms, stopping one just below her elbow and touching her cheek with the other as he looked into her eyes. "You said I'm your husband. Do you feel that way about me?"

She nodded. "I do." 

"I don't have anything to offer you. I just want you and Sarah to be happy," he pleaded with a shaky breath.

"We will be happy. We are, thanks to all of you," she told him, tracing her fingers over the curve of his jaw. "I want to marry you one day and live a happy life with you." 

His chin went down as he carefully ran his lips from the tips of her eyelids to her temple. "I would never try to put pressure on you, Moon."

"You aren't. I want to be Mrs. Luna Khan. Since you came into my life seven years ago, that's all I've wanted. If it's okay with you, I wouldn't mind you adopting Sarah. She can have your surname." 

"She would be called 'Malik'. Mr. Malik was my investor throughout the years, keeping me active with work, so using his name is somewhat an honor for me. I'm glad Faisal thought of it."

Luna smiled, and for a moment she forgot that they had new names. "It has a nice ring to it. Blair and Serena Malik."

"Better yet, Luna and Sarah Khan," he said as he held her close. "That makes me feel all tingly inside."

"Mmm. I know other ways to make you feel good," she mumbled, keeping his stare.

Amir touched the outside of her legs with his hands, and his long fingers ran down her dress. "Should we go somewhere else?"

"We could." 

"I can finally touch you and feel you in person. No interruptions." He kissed her softly down her throat.

"What happened to not putting any pressure on me?"

"Oh, yeah, that," Amir acknowledged with a laugh. "We've been skating around this heated tension for months. I love everything about you, and I know that someday we will get married. I wouldn't mind exploring your body without anything stopping us. The motel was not the place I had in mind." 

"I know. I cried like a brat in front of you," Luna said, burying her face in the crook of his neck. 

"No, I didn't mean that. I was referring to before the lights came through the window."

"Oh." 

"What would you like to do?" he asked, smiling.

Luna thought about everyone in the house, but his hands crept around her shoulders, making her nerves quiver. He stroked her hair as they kissed more deeply, matching their breaths. He gently brought her forward after sliding her onto him. He then rose, holding her.

"I would do anything for you, Moon. You're so beautiful." Another deep, passionate kiss lit up her veins. He gazed down at the watch he had around his wrist. "It's after midnight. Happy Birthday, my love."

She smiled as he brought them through the side door, into the kitchen. "Happy Birthday, my husband."

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