37. 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙝, 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪?

Hassan's Pov

Something was lightly dripping on my face, accompanied by a gentle caress on both my cheeks. There was also a soft pressure on my chest, though in my sleepy haze, I couldn't really tell what it was.

I was slowly being pulled out of sleep, the fog of dreams clearing as I became aware of a soft voice babbling above me. As I woke up from my slumber, I finally opened my eyes and squinted upward, only to find Zayd perched on my chest. His chubby cheeks were stretched into a gummy smile, and he was tapping my cheeks with his small, round hands, all while drool dripped from his mouth.

I couldn't help but feel a rush of tenderness and awe as I looked at him. My little man.

"I know your mother put you up to this," I said, still half-asleep, as I sat up and leaned against the bedhead, holding Zayd up in my arms. I gave him a playful shake.

"You're in trouble, young man," I teased, but Zayd just stared back at me with his big, innocent eyes, his chubby face framed by an open mouth.

We were locked in a playful stare-off when the bedroom door creaked open, and Halimah walked in, carrying a tray filled with food.

"Assalamu alaikum, sleepyhead," she sang sweetly, albeit slightly off-key. Her hair was up in a bun, and she was dressed in one of my shirts paired with leggings. She always looked good, but there was something about seeing her in my clothes that made me wonder if they weren't actually meant for her all along. She had a way of making anything look effortlessly stylish.

"Wa alaikum salam, habibti" I responded softly, sitting up straighter in bed. Zayd was now on my lap, his wide eyes locked on his mother.

Halimah placed the tray on the bedside table and climbed into bed with us, taking Zayd into her arms and settling him on her lap. She gestured for me to dig into the breakfast she'd brought.

"Hold on, I need to brush my teeth," I said, quickly getting up and heading to the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but smile at the sound of Zayd's coos and Halimah's voice coming from the bedroom.

After rinsing my mouth, I returned to the room, climbed back into bed, and finally reached for the breakfast tray.

On it were all my favorite dishes: scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, and a fruit salad bowl. I eagerly took a bite, closing my eyes in contentment as the flavors hit my tongue. When I opened my eyes, I found Halimah watching me, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"You like it?" she asked shyly.

"Anything you make, I love," I replied with a smile, cutting a piece of the French toast and offering it to her. She took the bite, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as I watched her enjoy it.

Noticing Zayd's intense gaze on the food, I chuckled. "You want some, buddy?" I asked, amused at how he stared in stillness, probably confused by what he was seeing.

I picked up a tiny grape, wanting to let him have a taste, but before I could, Halimah gently swatted my hand away, causing the grape to tumble onto the bed. In one swift motion, she scooped it up and popped it into her own mouth.

I stared at her, completely baffled. "Explain yourself," I demanded playfully, clutching my 'injured' hand to my chest in mock offense.

She giggled, picking up Zayd and squishing his face against hers as he began to fuss a little.

"See? You made our little man feel rejected," I teased.

"Hassan, he's not six months old yet. He can't have solid foods. He doesn't even have teeth to chew a grape," she explained, her tone light. Oh. Right.

"I knew that," I quickly backtracked, trying to save face. "I was just testing your reflexes. You're welcome, babe."

Halimah rolled her eyes and mimicked me, deepening her voice in a playful mockery. I laughed and gave her a light pinch on the thigh in retaliation.

"Zayd, your dad just pinched me!" she gasped dramatically, turning Zayd to face me. "Show him who's boss!"

Zayd looked at me with wide eyes, then began to babble and coo as if he understood exactly what his mother had said. We both burst into laughter, completely smitten by our adorable little boy.

A phone started vibrating on the bed, and before I could ask whose it was, Halimah quickly picked hers up and turned it off.

"Well, it's bath time," she announced, laying Zayd on the bed and beginning to unbutton his baby blue romper.

"Did you eat breakfast yet?" I asked, watching her work. Halimah has always been someone who prioritizes everyone else's needs before her own, and this tendency has only intensified now that we have Zayd.

She paused, looking at me sheepishly before shaking her head. "I'll eat after he's all washed up."

She was about to continue undressing him, but I stopped her, placing my almost empty tray back on the bedside table.

"Go eat, I'll wash him up," I offered gently.

"What? No, that's fine, I'm not even really hungry," she replied, though I could see she was hesitating.

"I'm perfectly capable of washing my son, baby," I said, smiling at her hesitation.

"You've just never done it before though... I wouldn't feel comfortable just letting you do it without at least watching over you the first few times. I'm sorry, I just—"

"Hey, hey, it's fine," I cut in softly. "How about this: you go and make yourself a plate while I undress him. Then, bring your plate back here, and I'll grab the plastic tub my dad bought for Zayd. You can watch and direct me while you eat, okay?"

She sat there for a moment, thinking it over, before finally nodding in agreement. She handed Zayd to me and got up to leave the room.

The minute she was out the door, I let out a sigh of relief and looked down at Zayd. I laid him back on his back to finish undressing him.

"Alhamdulilah, she's gonna be around for this," I whispered to him, a grin spreading across my face. "Not even gonna lie, buddy, I don't know why I said I'd wash you when I've never done that before in my life. But hey, quick save, right?" I chuckled, holding up my hand. "Give me one," I said, offering him a fist bump.

Of course, he just stared at me and cooed, completely unaware of the gesture. I chuckled again, then gently lifted his tiny hand with mine and helped him complete the fist bump. My man.

~

"Halimah, why are you acting like I didn't birth you?" my mother-in-law teased as she watched Halimah frantically making sure everything was in order.

"I'm just making sure, Mom," Halimah moaned back, scurrying around the room in a flurry, looking for something I couldn't quite figure out.

My mother, who was holding Zayd, shared a chuckle with me as we watched the scene unfold. Halimah and I were finally going on a date after what felt like an eternity. We were both excited about the chance to go out and relax, knowing our little one would be in good hands with our mothers.

As she continued fussing, I followed her into the kitchen, where she was carefully aligning warm milk bottles on the counter.

"Baby, relax," I said gently, stepping in front of her and cupping her face in my hands, rubbing her cheeks with my thumbs.

"I'm sorry, I'm just feeling anxious," she admitted, looking up at me with a cute pout. "But I am excited to go."

I understood her anxiety. Three months since he was born and this was the first time she'd be away from Zayd for hours, and while we both knew he was in capable hands, it was hard for her to let go.

But I also knew we needed this time alone, and I was excited about the plans I had for her.

"Shall we go say our goodbyes then?" I asked. She looked at me and gave me a small smile with a nod making me let out a chuckle.

We walked back into the living room, where we found both of our mothers sitting together on the two-person seat, cooing and fussing over Zayd. The sight of them doting on our son made me smile.

As we approached, they looked up, pausing their chatter as I cleared my throat.

"We're about to head out now. In Shaa Allah, we'll be back after Isha," I said, scooping up Zayd and holding him close to my chest. His tiny warmth was comforting, and I felt a tug at my heart as I prepared to leave him.

It wasn't long before Halimah gently took him from me, her eyes soft as she began covering his face with kisses. The love she poured into the kisses, so tender.

"Go enjoy your alone time while we bond with our grandson," my mother-in-law said playfully as she stood up and, with a gentle but firm touch, took Zayd from her daughter's arms. "Go on, shoo," she added with a laugh, waving us off.

Halimah and I chuckled, sharing a knowing glance as we made our way to the front door. She carefully placed her niqab over her veil, the light blue fabric complementing her soft, serene beauty. She slipped on her shoes and grabbed her purse.

As I stood beside her in my midnight blue thobe, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked in her light blue ensemble and how we complimented each-other perfectly. My other half.

We said our quick Duas as we stepped over the threshold and walked to my car. I made sure to open the door for her, smiling as she gracefully settled into the passenger seat.

Walking around to my side, I slid into the driver's seat, buckled up, and turned the key in the ignition, listening to the car purr to life. Halimah, already relaxed, pulled out her phone and opened the camera app, glancing at me with a smile that was clear even beneath her niqab.

I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head as I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned across the console, resting my head on her shoulder. She snapped a few pictures, capturing the sweet, quiet moment between us before our long-awaited evening out.

"I love you," she whispered softly as I was about to pull out of the driveway.

"I love you too, baby. Gimme a smooch," I replied cheekily. She lifted her niqab, revealing her wide smile, and leaned in closer. I waited in anticipation, but just as we were about to kiss, the moment was interrupted.

"What on earth are you guys still doing in the driveway? It's been five minutes already! Yallah, stop wasting fuel, go, go!" My mother-in-law hollered from the front door, her expression a mix of bewilderment and amusement.

Halimah quickly pulled down the window and called back, "Mom, stop shouting!" she shouted, irony dripping from her tone.

"Kids today, never a sense of urgency!" her mother grumbled lightly but loudly as she turned and walked back into the house, closing the door behind her.

We looked at each other and burst into laughter, thoroughly amused by her antics.

And that's how I pulled out of the driveway, my right hand resting on the center console, wrapped in Halimah's as I drove to our destination.

The car was filled with the sound of Halimah's voice as she chatted about anything and everything. I would chime in occasionally, adding my thoughts to the conversation.

At times, we'd lapse into comfortable silence, and even then, we were content.

It felt like such a mercy from Allah to have someone who truly completes me—my other half, my companion in life.

~

Assalamu alaikum guys 🩷

I literally just woke up and haven't left the bed until I wrote this chapter. It's been ages since my last update (I'm soaking up my freedom before uni starts again), but I hope you enjoyed this little family moment.

Where do you think Hassan is taking Halimah? 🌝 Please comment, vote, and share.

THANK YOU! (And also, 5k reads??!!)