*Amir unlocks the front door, steps inside the house, sets his briefcase down, pulls out a bag of medicine he picked up from the pharmacy for Yusra, and heads towards the living room. He pauses in the middle of the room, and gives a sigh, beginning to pick up things as he makes his way towards the stairs. Even though both Yusra and Amir were neat people, Yusra had been bedridden for two weeks now, and the clutter was starting to pile up. He straightens out a few more things, before he goes up the stairs, loosening his tie along the way.*

*He pushed open their bedroom door, his heart sinking as he finds his wife curled up in their bed, looking completely miserable even in her sleep. He had thought that they had gotten over the worst of her disease. Alhamdulillah, after over six years of her going through unbelievable pain and testing, they had found a treatment that was working for her, and she was doing amazing. She was the Yusra he remembered from before she had gotten sick, and sometimes he would look at her, and just get choked up, so thankful to Allah to see her better. But now to see her relapse so badly like this, was ripping him up inside, and made him so scared of what she would have to endure to find a new treatment.*

*He put the medicine on their dresser, quickly changed out of his work clothes into his pajamas, washed up, and as he came out of the bathroom, it was to find her awake, and looking at him.*

Yusra: *weakly* salaam habibi. Have you been home long?

Amir: *getting into bed next to her and kissing her* Walaikumasalaam love. No I just got here.

Yusra: Okay. I'm sorry I don't have any dinner for you. I really wanted to cook for you today, but I couldn't make it downstairs. Actually, I couldn't even make it out of bed, let alone downstairs.

Amir: Oh habibti. Please. I told you not to worry about that. I ordered us some food, it will get here in an hour.

Yusra: *tearing up* I'm sorry.

Amir: *gripping her face in his hand* stop it.

Yusra: *tears falling down her cheeks* I am the worst wife ever!

Amir: *shaking his head* No you aren't! You are the most wonderful!

Yusra: No I'm not. I can't even get out of bed to clean and cook and take care of my husband!

Amir: Wallahi Yusra, you are going to make me upset with you, and one of the worst feelings in the world is being upset with you. Please stop it habibti okay?

Yusra: *staring at him for a few seconds, before eventually nodding* okay.

Amir: *kissing her* How are you feeling?

Yusra: *whispering from exhaustion* not great.

Amir: *sighing* oh love. I think we should go to the emergency room right now.

Yusra: *shaking her head* no! No I cant go back there! Dr. Bruce had me make an appointment for tomorrow In Sha Allah, and called in some new medicine, did you pick it up?

Amir: *nodding* I did. It says to take it with food, so I will give it to you after dinner.

Yusra: Okay

*Amir brushes her hair away from her forehead, and frowns slightly*

Amir: You feel really hot. Are you?

Yusra: Yeah.

Amir: Why didn't you take off the blanket or change into cooler pajamas?

Yusra: I couldnt move to do it.

Amir: *frowning* how did you use the bathroom then if you couldn't move?

Yusra: *sighing* I used it once around lunch, but I couldn't move after that. I just slept the whole day. But its okay, I didn't drink water today so I didn't have to go after that.

Amir: Yusra, you should have called me, I would have come home from work in a heartbeat to help you.

Yusra: *smiling and kissing his hand* that's exactly why I didn't call you.

*Amir felt a lump start to form in his throat, and it takes him a few seconds before he can move. He had begged and pleaded and argued with Yusra to let him stay home with her from work. At first he was just going to stay, she couldn't force him to go when she could barely move! But he would never disregard her wishes. He would never make her feel like she didn't have a choice or that her opinion didn't matter just because she was sick. So he had gone to work. But now hearing that she could barely make it to the bathroom because she was so sick made him so upset, that he was making a resolution right then and there not to leave her again, even if that meant he had to quit his job*

Amir: *extending his hands towards her and helping her sit up, having to support her back because she was too weak to sit up on her own* Okay, come on my love. Let's get you cooled down and you can use the bathroom. *he helps her change into a cooler shirt and some shorts, and wipes her face and neck and shoulders with a wet washcloth. He even pulled her curls up into a bun to get it off of her neck and face, albeit not a very straight bun, but he tried! He also helps her get to the bathroom. By the time they are done, she looks a little bit better, and dinner has arrived*

Amir: *coming back up after paying for it* Do you want to eat now?

Yusra: *nodding* yes please.

Amir: Okay, I'll just bring it up here then.

Yusra: Actually, can we go downstairs to eat? I feel like I've been cooped up in here forever!

Amir: *smiling* Of course love. *He bends down, and scoops her up into her arms, pausing to kiss her a few times, before carrying her downstairs. After he settles her on the couch, fussing over her, he arranges their food on trays, and brings them one by one out to the family room, getting their drinks, before he sits down next to her. They eat their dinner in semi silence as Yusra is too tired and weak to have a real conversation, and after they pray Isha, Amir puts her back in bed, and she falls asleep right away, exhausted by her small adventure downstairs.*

*THE NEXT DAY*

*Amir and Yusra are at the doctor's office*

Dr. Bruce: *entering the room* Hello everyone.

Yusra: Hello Dr. Bruce.

Dr. Bruce: *taking a seat and looking up at her* well my dear, what are we going to do with you? I thought I had gotten rid of you when you started to get all better!

*Yusra laughs weakly, and leans against Amir, and he immediatly puts an arm around her, trying not to show how worried he really is.*

Yusra: I know. I wish I wasn't here either.

Dr. Bruce: Did you take the new medicine I got you?

Yusra: *nodding* yes.

Dr. Bruce: Okay, well I read all of the symptoms you wrote down for the nurse, and I think we need to get another MRI as soon as possible. But first, we need to get an ultrasound done immdiately on your throat, your stomach, and your legs.

Amir: *in concern* why is that?

Dr. Bruce: We need to check for blood clots. MS doesn't usually cause strokes, but it can, and these symptoms she is having could just be a flare up of her MS or unfortunately could be a sign of an impending stroke.

Amir: *running a hand through his hair, and tightening his hold on Yusra* *muttering under his breath* Ya Allah. Why would she be having this flare up? I thought the medicine was working?

Dr. Bruce: *shrugging* I don't know. A number of reasons. She could be getting a cold or an infection. Maybe she is under a lot of stress, or her body could be becoming immune to the medication. That happens if you have been on it for a long period of time. Her disease simply could just be acting up. It does that sometimes. But time is of the essence with strokes, we cannot afford to wait.

Yusra: Will we have to make another appointment to do the ultrasound?

Dr. Bruce: *shaking his head* no we cannot wait even that long. We will do it right here, right now. If we find a clot, we will have to have an ambulance take you to the hospital. You don't mess around with strokes. *he stands up* A nurse will come in and get you ready, and I will come back in and do it for you.

Amir: Okay, thank you.

*As he leaves the room, Yusra looks up at Amir in terror*

Yusra: *in a panic* Amir! A stroke!

Amir: *leaning down next to her* I know habibti, but don't freak yourself out. In Sha Allah it is nothing. Okay? Make some Duaa.

*She nods, though tears are starting to track down her cheeks, and Amir holds her hand tightly until the nurse returns. The nurse and Amir help her change into a hospital gown, and by the time Dr. Bruce returns, she is laying down on the table, shaking so badly that the table is rattling slightly. Amir sitting next to her, and clasping her hands, rubbing his thumbs over them soothingly.*

Dr. Bruce: Okay, we will start with your throat first so you can put your scarf back on and be more comfortable.

Yusra: *nodding* thank you so much.

Dr. Bruce: Of course.

*For the next few minutes, there is silence in the room as Dr. Bruce does an ultrasound on her throat. It takes longer than anticipated, because he keeps having to stop and wait for Yusra to stop crying. Eventually he gets all he needs, and Alhamdulillah there is no blood clot*

Dr. Bruce: *After Yusra has put her scarf back on* What do you want me to do next?

Yusra: My legs.

Dr. Bruce: *nodding* Okay. *he puts the gel on her right leg, and does the same thing as he had with her throat, though it takes a bit longer since he has to do her entire calf. As the picture comes back clear, he does the same to her left leg, before sitting back and smiling at her* So far so good! I have to say, I was expecting a clot in your leg since MS usually causes slight paralysis in your legs!

Amir: So you don't think it's a stroke?

Dr. Bruce: I don't think so. I will still do her stomach just to be safe, but I think it is just a flare up from her disease, and should pass after a while.

Amir: *letting out a sigh, and leaning forward to kiss Yusra's forehead* Alhamdulillah.

Dr. Bruce: Ready Yusra?

Yusra: *nodding* yes.

*As Dr. Bruce starts on her stomach, Amir tries to distract her as she is so embarrassed that her stomach is exposed.*

Dr. Bruce: *after five minutes* hmmmm.

Yusra: What?

Dr. Bruce: *tapping a few keys* hold on, let me do it again. *he applies more gel, and does it again*

Amir: *not able to wait* did you find something?

Dr. Bruce: *nodding* I did.

Yusra: *starting to freak out* oh no! Oh no, oh no!

Amir: Shh it's okay habibti. It's okay. Did you really find something Dr. Bruce?

Dr. Bruce: Yes.

Amir: *putting a hand to his forehead* Ya Allah. Ya Allah.

Dr. Bruce: Let me turn up the volume so you can hear it.

Amir: *in confusion* wait, the volume? How can you hear a blood clot?

*Dr. Bruce ignores him, and presses a button, and suddenly a 'whooshing' sound fills the room as he moves the ultrasound stick around Yusra's stomach*

Yusra: *looking up as she wipes the tears away from her eyes* what is that sound?

Dr. Bruce: *smiling at them and pointing at the screen* I think I found your problem.

Yusra: *after a few seconds of confused silence* I'm afraid I don't understand.

Dr. Bruce: Well dear, sometimes your disease can flare up just because autoimmune diseases suck, sometimes stress can cause a flare up, sometimes catching a cold or a virus can cause a flare up, and sometimes your body can mistake something that is totally normal for a threat, and start acting up like crazy.

Yusra: *in confusion* like what?

Amir: *whispering* like a baby.

Dr. Bruce: *nodding with a smile* like a baby.

Yusra: *in a shocked whisper* What?

Amir: *laughing* it's a baby! Look! Habibti look! *he puts a finger on the screen, and suddenly Yusra's face lights up*

Yusra: Oh my God. Oh my God it's a baby. That's our baby Amir!

Amir: I know!

Yusra: Look Amir! It's right there! *squealing* I see it's head!

Amir: *laughing* I see it love! *he kisses her hand*

Dr. Bruce: Congratulation to you both! I remember when I first started treating Yusra many years ago, and it is so heartwarming to see her come such a long way!

Amir: So where do we go from here to make her more comfortable? Obviously she can't stay like this for nine months, she can't even go to the bathroom by herself!

Dr. Bruce: Right, we will have to adjust her medicine, but I have had many patients with autoimmune diseases have babies, and they have been fine. Let me just go get some papers, and we can make up a plan for her new treatment.

Amir: *nodding* okay.

*As the doctor leaves, Yusra turns to look at Amir*

Yusra: *tearing up and laughing* Amir, we have a baby! Alhamdulillah we have a little baby! We have a baby! Ahhhh!

Amir: *laughing* I know my love. I know. *he grips her hand in his, and leans his head against hers, and they both look at the screen*

Yusra: It's the most beautiful baby I have ever seen!

Amir: *with a small laugh that sounds suspiciously like he is trying not to cry* Salaam Kareem.

Yusra: *bursting into tears* Awwww!

*It takes a few minutes before she stops crying*

Yusra: *once she has stopped crying* what if its not a Kareem?

Amir: *shrugging* then we will figure it out when the time comes. I will be happy with a boy or a girl In Sha Allah, as long as it is healthy and happy! *he gives her a kiss* are you happy love?

Yusra: *laughing and nodding* Yes! Of course! Alhamdulillah!

Amir: Even though you feel so horrible?

Yusra: Oh yes! This is the best flare up ever!