He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, gently rubbing her arm. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture. His touch made the room warm somehow, her future within its walls seeming a little less bleak.

In his embrace the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no wind, no rain. My mind was at peace.

How could it be that Zain hadn't seen Hanya's love for what it was before? Pure. Unselfish. Undemanding. Free. She felt her body press in, soft and warm. This was the love she'd waited for, prayed for. She inwardly thanked God and hugged all the tighter. A love like this was to be cherished for life. Finally, she was home.

"I Love You, Hani" he whispered.

"I Love You too, Zain" I whispered back.

He moves his head closer to me, freezing me from both fear and excitement. He leans in, so his foreheads rests against mine.
We both close our eyes, our breaths shaking.

"Thank you," his voice low and husky.

"For what?" I say in barely more than a whisper.

"For being you." His voice wavers, exhilarated from the tension between us.

He gently leans in and kisses my warm lips. In the room that is twilight and shadow he stood close enough for me to breathe in his scent. His arms wrap around my back and in one gentle pull our skin touches. I feel his hand in my hair, how he loves the softness, watching it tumble as he releases it. Then his hand moves down my cheekbones to my lips. That's when the kissing starts and we start to move like partners in a dance that is written in our DNA. Our bodies fit together as if we were made just for this, to fall into one another, to feel this natural rhythm.

We pull apart and take shaky, shallow breaths. Unable to contain ourselves anymore, he holds my head in his hands and pulls me into a fiery and passionate kiss. With a laugh, he lifts me right off my feet, carrying me toward the bed, letting me fall with a soft bounce on the mattress. We lock eyes for just a moment, just enough for us to feel safe with one another.

I lie on my back as he matches my body's form. His hands venturing over my curved body, exploring, feeling each crevasse. Pulling apart, we open our eyes, staring deep into each other's eyes. No words are spoken, but a story worthy of us is communicated. He leans in, and softly kisses up and down my neck.

I let out little whimpers of anticipation. As he kiss, I roll over and lay on top of his strong, muscular body. Running my lips up his neck and back again, I end up giving him a loving and intense kiss on his lips.

Soon enough, my head rocks back against the pillow as he does, the first moan escaping my lips.

***

I awake to the steady patter of rain upon my window, droplets yet scatter the nascent rays of the rising sun. The sound brings a calmness to mind, a soothing melody, a natural lullaby. With eyes at rest I feel my center, live happily within myself for these blessed moments. Gold and pale, the sunlight filled the entire room with a warm sensation that made me smile.

The bed was soft and warm. I could feel his arm draped over me, more comforting that any blanket I had ever laid under. I was perfumed by his musky scent, as was my nightgown and my bed sheets and when next I would sleep alone his smell would make me feel safe and warm and happy.

I ran my hand over his back, the soft hairs tickling the tips of my fingers. I could feel the bones through his skin, the vertebrae of his spine looking as though they tried to pierce through his flesh. His hair had grown so long now; a thick, brown, bushy mess. Long and lank and greasy, but it suited him.

It was only his eyes that remained unchanged, coloured a grey that was colder than the winter sky, yet I found warmth when I looked deep into them. In his eyes, I saw my reflection. It was me who had changed. Not on the outside, but the inside.

As I looked upon myself, in his perfect grey eyes glistening with love for me, I knew this wasn't real. This is a dream, I kept on reminding myself, but one I do not wish to wake from. I wanted to stay with him forever. I couldn't look away, but more than that I didn't want to.

"I Love You" I whispered kissing his nose.

He groaned before pulling me more closer towards him "Love you too, jaana". I blushed.

"Get up" I said

He snuggled more into me, clutching me tightly, making me turn into a tomato.

"Zain, need to check up on Adeel" I said running my fingers into his hair.

"Then whose gonna check up on me" he said suddenly rolling over and coming on top of me. His arms both beside me, caging me.

"Zain, No!!" I said with my eyes wide.

"Say this again after five minutes" he said running his nose along the left side of my neck, right under my ear. I shivered under his touch.

"Za-za-"

I felt him smiling against my neck, and I smacked his arm, playfully.

"Not until I'm finished." He said.

****

I was chopping vegetables, when I noticed Samya giving me shy smile as if she was trying to hide her gaze from me. I straightened my kurta and looked at myself, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I again went on chopping.

She was again doing the same thing. I ignored and went to take out the butter from the fridge when my gaze landed upon the mirron that was hanging adjacent to the fridge. My eyes flew out from my socket as a shrill scream was about to escape but Zain placed his hands over my mouth.

My heartbeat was racing as my eyes kept on landing on the crook of my neck and right above my cleavage. Turning around wide eyed, I tried to say "Hic-Hic-Hic-"

"Hickey?" He completed it with amusement in his eyes.

I quickly peeked to see if anyone else is here apart us but Thank God, there was no one.

"You!!!!!" I pointed a finger at him.

"Yes, Me?" He said trying hard, not to laugh. Pointing the same finger at the crook of my neck and right above my cleavage "Why?"

He tried to think for a while making me confuse all of a sudden "Well, it suits you best over there". I couldn't help but gape at him, but quickly I change my expression and I'm glaring at him, but again make a fool out of myself "When?" The words just blurted out of my mouth before I could even chew it back.

He chuckled but soon covered it with a cough. He's so enjoying this!!

"I meant to say is-"

"Let me first answer your question, jaana" he said holding me from my waist and pulling me to his chest. I tried to put some safety distance between us knowing very well that we are in the kitchen and maids or Adeel can come at any moment.

"It seems that you need a replay, jaana" his voice dangerously slow. And I quickly nodded my head before wiggling in his grip. "Uh hun!! Not until I've answered you" he said making me go all stiff. What is that is disturbing me more? His closeness? Or his scent? Obviously, his scent!!

I felt his fingers lightly pulling down the zip of my kurta, making me yelp!!
"Shh..so I took your robe-" I cut him off!! "Zain" I said. "Running, my nose like this" he ran his nose, a moan escaping my lips but I quickly shut my mouth. I felt his chest vibrating, he was smiling.

"Inhaling your sweet scent, mmm...your scent, they can turn me on at any time" he said inhaling, making a shiver run down my spine. Slowly he started biting my ear, my grip on his shirt tightening. "I Love You, so much!!" He said pulling me more close to himself and lifted me up, my legs wrapping around his torso as my fingers automatically found their way into his hair as he kept on shamelessly kissing me.

But before this could extent any further and we would have become an embarassing show to Adeel, I quickly pulled myself away from him, making him groan.

"Zain as much as I want you to continue our little romance session, but we shouldn't forget that my child is hungry and I need to attend him first." I said placing a kiss on his nose.

"You very well know how to spoil my mood!!" He said taking out a chilled bottle of water from the fridge.

"Now, you're exaggerating!!" I said.

He drank the water just ignoring me.

I chuckled.

"Tonight, Tonight, it's gonna be our night!!" I said and winked at him, he just spewed out the water from his mouth making me laugh.

"Mummaaa..." And here comes my child.

"Yes, chickoo?" I asked. He made an annoying face. He hates it when I call him chickoo!! All he did was just pointed his tiny little finger to his mouth which means he is hungry.

After we finished having our breakfast, Zain told me that we'll be going to the doctor today. I tried every excuse to not to go but he has every solution ready for my excuse!! Sighing, I said yes.

Walking side by side towards the doctor's cabin, I was continuously rubbing my palms.

"Why are you so nervous?" He asked holding my hand in his.

"Do you really want this?" I asked, stopping midway.

"Why are you having second thoughts, jaana?" He asked

"Answer me" I said.

"I really Love You, jaana. I didn't knew the exact timing that when I fell in love with you, but I did. I was just being a fool not accepting my love for you. I made you go through hell even knowing your feelings very well. I want to take this relationship a step ahead, I want to be a father again, trust me, jaana. I know this ain't going to be easy for you, but this time, I'm there standing by your side. I'm there to take all your pains away.

Please give me a chance, jaana" he said.

Tears blurred my vision. I really didn't knew what to say and therefore, there was nothing needed to say because a kiss on my forehead said it all.

After checking me thoroughly, I sat down beside Zain, while the doctor wrote something in her prescription.

"Everything's fine, Aunty?" He asked

"Yes, everything is fine except she is very weak and her blood pressure is also low. Isn't she eating properly?" She said.

Zain gave me a full on glare.

"I'll take that as a No!!" Doctor Aunty said. Great!!!

"So you both are ready?" She asked

"Yes" We both said at the same time. She smiled "Good, then. I'm giving you some medicines, take it regularly and try to be active as much as you both can especially when she's in her fertile window." She said.

This is so embarrassing!!

After telling us more tips and tricks, we finally came out of the cabin.

"More Active?" He said out of the blue and I burst out laughing.

Since Adeel, was with Samya and even Zarine had agreed to babysit him, we both went on a long drive, admiring the awesome view of the sunset before ending our day with an ice cream treat from him.