Nasr's POV

Time.

It was all we had, and all we were bargaining with.

How long had I waited for this day, how long had I patiently kept my distance, making sure I didn't make a move I'd regret? She was everywhere; temptations were everywhere, but Allah had given me the strength to stay away for my own good – for our own good.

Timing.

After Kareema passed away, the family almost hit rock bottom. It was so sad. No one wanted her to go. She was an amazing person, and I admit I did cry a bit after we came home from the mosque.

The only problem was, my parents were planning a wedding for Yasmine and I, and I was afraid it wasn't a good time to celebrate something after such a devastating death. So two months later, after a lot of planning and shopping and recovering, it was about time we got married.

"It's so magical," Yasmine gasped, referring to the fairy lights and decorations of the reception hall. I felt a little guilty that we had more time to make everything perfect and rent a hall to have the reception with a DJ and everything, when my little sis had to throw hers at a park. But as I locked eyes with her across the room, sitting beside Damian with a big smile on her face, I realized that it didn't matter how fancy a Nikkah was, it was all about the union of two people who loved each other very much.

And I loved Yasmine very, very much.

"You're a great dancer," Yasmine complimented after I dipped her to the side, twirling her around. Tonight she looked like a princess, and I almost felt unworthy of her royalty. However, when I was with her, I felt like the king of the world.

"Most soccer players are," I replied smoothly. Yasmine rolled her eyes at me and I pulled her closer, my hand on the small of her back, making sure I didn't accidentally step on her long white skirt. Seriously, why did they have to make wedding dresses so long?

"Okay, everybody, you know what time it is!" the DJ boomed through the microphone.

"Summer time?" I answered rhetorically, since it was actually summer, and Yasmine chuckled.

"Time for dabke! Everybody get on the floor!" everyone cheered and began to pile out of their seats for the Levantine folk dance as the music began to play. I joined hands with Yasmine and felt another hand slip into my other one, grinning when I saw it was my sister, with Damian on the other side.

"Let's do this thang!" Mariam whooped, and I raised my eyebrows, amazed at how crazy and carefree she had become since she married Damian. I raised them even higher when I saw Damian doing the dabke along with the rest of us.

"I taught him how to do it last week," Mariam explained to me moments before Damian muddled the steps.

"Crap, I messed it up," Damian laughed, and I turned to my own spouse, who was lifting her dress with one hand as she did the dance, laughing and smiling.

"I love this!" she cried gleefully, cheeks flushed and eyes glittering with pure joy.

"I love you," I said, though I was sure the music drowned my words out.

We were puffed out and exhausted when we returned to our special seats, and Yasmine took me by surprise when she kissed my cheek and whispered, "I love you too."

My eyes widened slightly as I turned my head to face her, and she just smiled at me, lacing her fingers in mine. I gazed at her while thanking Allah for answering my prayers, and making this beautiful young woman mine, finally, even though I remembered a day when I never saw her in that way, and never even considered... Now, I couldn't imagine a day when I would ever stop loving her, because she was not just a princess, but the Queen of my heart.

***

Yasmine's POV

If there was ever a night where I felt truly special, it was tonight. Baba had not only rented us a reception hall, but a hotel room in the city. Nasr carried me all the way up, using the elevator of course, and once we were in our hotel room he shut the door and dumped me on the bed.

"Alone at last," Nasr stretched his arms and loosened his tie a little, heaving a sigh as he sat beside me on the large bed.

"I'm so tired," I yawned, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I know what'll wake you up," Nasr said, standing up again and dragging me to the curtains, which he drew apart to reveal the most spectacular view I had ever seen.

"We're so high up," I murmured in awe, and Nasr opened the balcony doors, leading me to the edge so we could see it all together.

"It's quite warm tonight," Nasr commented, leaning on the balcony's railing and then peering down. "Whoa, I can see people down there!"

"Nasr, get away from the edge, you're scaring me," I gently tugged his elbow back and he shot a smirk at me.

"Aw, you worried I'll fall, Yaz?"

"Of course! Don't you know how dangerous it is?"

Nasr took a step closer to me, dark eyes probing my soul. "You know what's even more dangerous?"

"What?"

"Falling in love," he whispered, sending shivers down my spine.

"Oh my, you are smooth," I poked his chest, and he wrapped his fingers around mine, chuckling softly.

"Actually, I haven't shaved in a few days," he brought my hand to his cheek, which was grazed with stubble.

"Haha, very funny, Nasr," I said dryly, but I couldn't deny the sparks I felt when his hand cupped my jaw, so gently, as if I was fragile.

"Yasmine Barakat," he addressed me with the name I now had, a name that sounded right, as if it was made for me.

"Yes, Nasr habibi?"

Nasr cracked a smile at that, and I reflected it, feeling spontaneous. "Let's go back inside."

For some reason I was a little disappointed – maybe I wanted him to say something more romantic. Little did I know it was the most romantic thing he had said all night, and suddenly I wasn't tired at all.

"Can I ask you a question?"

He turned to face me in the dark, our faces illuminated by the city lights that twinkled outside our window. "Shoot."

With his eyes on me, I suddenly felt awkward for asking this question, but I went ahead and did it anyway. "When did you...how long have you liked me?"

I watched his reaction, but he didn't seem shocked or surprised about me asking. Instead, he took his time answering, thinking hard. "Hmmm...I guess it all started when, and you're going to think I'm weird for saying this, but it all started when you wore the hijab."

"Really?" I giggled.

"Yeah, I know, it's weird," Nasr rolled his eyes, but I reached out and placed a palm on the nape of his neck, unable to stop smiling.

"I don't think it's weird. In fact, it makes me very happy," I told him honestly, and his face lit up.

"Serious?"

"Ya, I'm serious," I shifted closer to him so that my head was tucked under his chin, and his arm secured itself around my waist. "It just shows how noble you are, and I love you even more for that."

"How about you?" Nasr's breath fanned across my face as he asked, his voice rumbling in my ear. "I think it's fair you tell me when you fell for all of this," he gestured to himself, and I laughed, smacking his arm lightly.

"Okay, okay, but you're going to think I'm weird."

Nasr stroked my hair, saying, "You're already weird, Yaz."

"That's it, I'm not telling you," I attempted to turn my back on him and wriggle away but Nasr eased me back to his side with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh, yes you are," he said prodding my nose. "And nowadays, being weird is a compliment, not an insult."

"Then you're the weirdest of them all," I beamed.

"Why, thank you, I am touched," he placed a hand over his heart. "Anyway, you were going to tell me something....?"

I sighed, recalling the moment when I realised I might be crushing on my best friend's brother. I couldn't help the smile on my lips as I told Nasr, "Remember that time when your family came over to my house for dinner, and we were talking about Yusuf getting married?"

"Uh-huh," Nasr hummed, an amused smile playing on his lips.

"And you were teasing Yusuf and saying you were 'eating him' while eating chicken?"

Nasr shook with laughter, his fingers subconsciously playing with my hair as he said, "I remember that."

"Yeah, well...that was it," I mumbled sheepishly, and Nasr's fingers stopped, and suddenly I was face to face with him again.

"That was it?" he echoed, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Yeah..."

I expected him to laugh at me, or tease me, or at least do something, but instead he just stared at me, as if I was the night sky and he was an astronomer, searching for the stars.

"God, you're special," he murmured, his fingers trailing along the side of my cheek, and I fluttered my eyes shut before he kissed me, making me feel exactly like what he had just called me. Special.