"It's nice to see you, son."

I hate when he says that word, son. Because every time I hear it I'm reminded of the fact that I'm related to a monster like him. "Wish I could say the same." I replied, he nodded his head in response. He looks different now, older in a way I guess. I would be lying if I said that I haven't thought of him over the years. I keep replaying scenes of the time he kidnapped Zamzam, the fear I felt when Alex got shot, all of it. I keep trying to put that all in the past but its become a part of me, you know? "So I heard you became Moslem," He said the word as if he was disgusted by it.

"I'm not Moslem," I copied the way he said it. "I'm Muslim and I'm a proud one."

"I'm disappointed in you. I never thought you'd be one of them."

I couldn't help but chuckle menacingly. "I don't give a damn if you're disappointed in me. The reason I came here wasn't to catch up with you but for me to tell you to stop trying to contact me and my wife." I leaned closer to the glass as I stared him down. He looked shocked when I said the word 'wife'. "So you married her? Ha!" He laughed. "You sure have a weird taste in women."

"Say what you want but I swear to God if you ever lay a finger on her or anyone else that I love I will make your life a living hell. I've said everything I needed to say so I'm done here." I hung up the landline and walked away feeling closure. I'm finally able to walk away from this man and never look back.

* * *

"Aw who's this cutie?" I said as I sat down on the sofa, I'm guessing this is Zamzam's older brother's daughter. For some reason I've always felt that he didn't like me. Whenever I was around he'd give me this weird look that I couldn't explain. "This is my niece, Samira." Isa said as he picked her up and set her on his lap.

"You my uncle?" Samira said with an adorable look on her face. "Yes I am, you could call me Uncle Adam." I replied as I ruffled her soft brown hair. "Mashallah, she's adorable."

"Yeah she is, Mashallah." Isa agreed as he looked at her fondly. "Okay it's nap time now, so let's go." He motioned for her to get on his back and took her up stairs. Suddenly the door opened and in came Abdirahman. He turned to me and immediately a look of annoyance came across his face. "You know what dude if you have a problem with me then just say it." I couldn't help but feel annoyed.

He scoffed as he took off his shoes and sat on the couch opposite of me. "Yeah I do have a problem with you," He stated matter-of-factly. "You told my sister you loved her and that you'd come back. But then you were gone for over two years, do you know how much you put her through? Honestly you don't deserve her."

I don't know why I was getting mad because everything he said was true, but I was. "Do you think I did it because I wanted to? All those years I was trying to better myself in every way that I could. I had so much that I had to adjust to, my father being locked up, my mother coming back and most importantly converting to a new religion. I didn't think that I deserved someone like her and I still don't. But somehow she seemed to have forgive me and accept me. So why can't you?" I was fuming at this point.

"Call it me being an overprotective brother, but I don't like you one bit. At least we could both agree that you don't deserve her..." He stopped for a second as he pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a sigh. "But I know that you love her so I'll put my feelings I have towards you aside because she's happy and that's all that matters. So if you ever make her cry you'll have me to deal with, okay?" He then started to walk upstairs leaving me in my own thoughts.

"Yes sir." I whispered under my breath.

Why is time going by so slowly today? I continued to stare at the clock on the wall behind the Professor eagerly waiting for this class to be over. "Hey," Yahya tapped on me using the end of his pencil. "What do you want?" I asked in an exasperated tone. "Nothing, you just look like you're in a bad mood." He stated with a hint of concern.

"I'm just tired."

I can't wait to get home and take a nap. Suddenly my phone buzzed in my pocket, it was a text from Adam.

💕💍

I quickly started to text back with a faint smile on my lips.

He quickly replied.

💕💍

"Is that the guy... I can't remember his name... Adam? I heard Fatima tell my brother about you two..." He trailed as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I want to clear things up with him about that day. I was just going through some family trouble and I happened to drink too much and I took my frustration out on you."

"I don't think he'd be angry."

If I myself have put all of that in the past then why should he care? I understood what Yahya was going through. He explained to me that his mother kicked him out and sent him to live with his father here in New York. I know it doesn't justify his actions and everything but I'm the type of person to forgive and forget.

"Good."

After class ended I grabbed my stuff and went to my car. As I turned on my engine I couldn't help but wonder what his big surprise is. Well I guess I'll find out soon enough. A little while later I pulled into our drive way and parked my car. "I'm home." I stated as I stepped inside the house. I looked around but couldn't find him anywhere. Weird, I thought to myself. I know he's here because his car is outside. Suddenly I felt someone grab me from behind and I immediately started panicking. Memories of what happened in the past flashed in my head making me freak out more.

"Babe, it's me!" Adam said as he released me, a look of worry flashed in his eyes. "Are you okay?" He lead me to the couch so I could sit down. "Yeah I'm fine I guess I'm still not over it..." I responded as I calmed myself down. This isn't the first time this has happened to me. Even if someone taps me on my shoulder it still scares me. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have scared you like that. I should've known that..." He apologized, worry still evident in his tone.

"It's fine, what's the surprise you were talking about?" I changed the subject. He suddenly got up and held his hand for me to grab. I reluctantly grabbed his hand and followed him wherever he was leading me. The moment he walked up to the front door I stopped in my track. "Where are we going?" I questioned curiously.

"Again, it's a surprise." He replied with a playful wink. We both walked into his car after locking the door behind us. "Don't worry babe. You'll love it." He stated with certainty. My heart still skipped a beat when he said the word babe. I decided to stop asking questions and to just trust him.

She's so cute when she's clueless,I thought to myself with a smirk. I've been planning this day for the past couple of days so I hope it goes perfectly. I'm really not the type of guy who would spend so much time planning a date like this. But since it's for Zamzam, I wouldn't mind if I spent two years planning it.

After a couple of minutes of driving I've reached my destination so I parked the car. Quickly getting out, I walked over to Zamzam's door and opened it for her. "I know you don't like fancy stuff so this is the best place I could think of bringing you." I looked away from her feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Billy's?" She gasped. "I love this place."

"I know, Isa told me. I just wanted to take you to somewhere I knew you'd love." I responded. Oh god the old me would never go through all of this just for a girl. But Zamzam isn't just a girl, she's the girl I married, the one who pulled me out of darkness, the one who risked her life for me, the one I love. Damn I'm so cheesy.

We walked into the Ice Cream shoppe and sat down at a random booth. "So, about those many things I don't know about you..."

* * *

After about an hour of us just talking and eating our Ice Cream Sundae's we were finally about to get going. It's crazy that whenever I'm with him, it feels like time just flies by so quickly without us even noticing it. It's crazy, right? How when you're with the person that you love, nothing else just matters as much. Oh my God, I am so cheesy! When we got into the car I realized Adam was going the opposite direction of where our house was. "What're you up to?" I asked while giving him a suspicious look. "You'll see soon enough." He responded with his infamous smirk still in tact. Why can't he just be upfront for once? I let out a sigh. Just in case you can't tell, I really don't like surprises. I remember on my 10th birthday my family threw a surprise birthday party for me and when they jumped out and yelled surprise, I punched the person who was closes to me in the stomach by accident and that person just happened to be Amir. Yup, I really really don't like surprises.

"Fine." I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You know, you're cute when you're clueless." Adam laughed.

"Hey, I'm cute all the time thank you very much." I retorted with a smirk of my own.

"That you are." He responded as he grabbed my hand and held it. For awhile we didn't say anything and just let the comfortable silence surround us. Who would've thought the guy I despised the beginning of my junior year of high school would turn out to be this amazing? I don't know how I got so lucky. I guess after all the bad things that had happened in my life, it was time for some good to come along as well. Alhamdulilah that he came when he did because I don't know how I would've gotten through all of the bullshit the last couple of years have brought. I then turned to the window and noticed a huge Ferris Wheel and a lot of other roller coasters ahead of us. "The carnival?" I questioned with a huge smile making its way to my face.

I've always loved coming here ever since I was a kid. I loved the smell of cotton candy, the roller-coasters, and the little kids that were always laughing and smiling. The last time I came here was with my siblings and my parents around 6 years ago. Mom thought it would be nice for all of us to go out together and relax since everyone was stressed about either school or work. It was completely random but, it was also something that we all as a family really needed. I remember Amir and Zahra tagged along with us and we all broke into teams when it came to the games. Mom, Zahra and I were a team while Baba, Isa and Amir were a team. Abdirahman sat out because he thought it was unfair for the girls, so he ended up helping us in the end. Every time I think of that day, I can't help the ridiculous smile that always makes it's way to my face.

That was one of the best memories I have of my mom.

"So, are you ready to get schooled?" Adam asked with a competitive look on his face.

"Bring it on, Mathews." I challenged.

"Oh it's already brought, Mrs. Mathews."

😘