Salaam everyone! Thank you so much for reading, and I am so glad you are enjoying the story! Don't forget to vote, and please comment! I seriously love comments, whenever I post a new chapter, I keep Wattpad open so I can read comments right away :) They totally make my day/night. Stay awesome! :)

The next few days were filled with adventures for Jenna and Rana. The two sisters spent almost every waking moment together, watching movies, playing games, tending to the garden, baking and cooking, talking and giggling, going shopping and to the spa. Of course they had to take Rami with them when they went out, and the poor man had to suffer through a pedicure, though he would never admit to it, his feet were feeling softer.

Things were even doing better between Hudayfah and Jenna. It was slow progress, but it was getting there. Ever since he had held her that one night, he continued to do so whenever she woke up crying, and they both had been pushing their boundaries though it was only at nighttime that she let him touch her. It was as if she was scared the daylight would make her have to face her feelings. Feelings, which she wasn't even sure about to begin with. As for Hudayfah, ever caress he got to steal, every embrace was a huge milestone, and he would wait all day anxiously for when they would retire. She had yet to show any affection herself, but the fact that she was allowing it from him was a big step. Even her nightmares were beginning to get less severe, and they both knew it was because of him.

As for Rana and Rami, there was no doubt whatsoever in Jenna's mind that they were in love, and she knew this because they were getting worse and worse with each other. He was being increasingly rude and irritable, and her teasing was turning into insults. While she hated to see them like that, Hudayfah had assured her that it was normal, and they should become concerned if they started ignoring each other.

Things were actually going well for Jenna, and she was finding herself starting to feel...happy. She talked to her parents and sisters every day, she had fun with Rana, she felt safe and secure around Hudayfah. Nothing scary had happened, there had been no signs of Muhsin's friends, no calls from Muhsin himself.

Things were going well Alhamdulillah.

***

"Hud I'm getting worried."

"About what?" Hudayfah asked as Rami came into his office and shut the door behind him.

"I can't get a hold of Omar. I haven't talked to him since your wedding."

Hudayfah frowned.

"That's weird. You know now that I think about it, he never called me to confirm he got his ticket."

"Well they are arriving tonight, maybe he will be there?"

Hudayfah pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and stopping at one of the names he pressed send.

Salaam this is Omar. I can't answer your call right now. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Hudayfah hung up with a frown.

"Straight to voicemail."

Rami ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"You think Jamaal took him?"

"It's possible."

"Hud what are we going to do!?"

"Okay. Let's wait until the boys get here tonight. If no one has heard from him, we may have to involve the police."

Rami winced.

"You know that's going to get messy."

"I can't risk them killing him."

Rami nodded.

"Okay."

"Look I have a business meeting today in about ten minutes." Hudayfah said, and Rami nodded, rising from his seat.

"Gotcha. I'll keep trying Omar."

***

"Are you sure you're going to be okay Rana?" Jenna asked worriedly, and her sister gave a cough before flopping back down on her pillow.

"Yes. Don't worry about me." She paused to sneeze. "It's just a trifling cold. Now get out of here before you catch it." She ordered, and Jenna lingered by her bed.

"Do you want me to make you some soup?"

Rana shook her head.

"I'm too nauseated to eat. Don't worry about me, if I need anything I'll let you know. Go do something fun! Drag Rami to Macy's or something."

Jenna laughed, and made sure Rana's pitcher of water and glass were close to her bed before turning off the light and leaving the room. Just as she was walking down the hallway towards the stairs, Hudayfah stepped out of his office, and his face lit up as he saw her.

"Salaam Jenna!" he exclaimed, and she smiled, blushing slightly as she remembered the night before. She had let him kiss her forehead and while it might not have seemed like a big deal to anyone else, he had done it with such tenderness that she still felt a small shiver when she thought about it.

"Walaikumasalaam. I thought you had a meeting?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I do, I just wanted to check on Rana first. How is she doing?"

"I just gave her some Tylenol and she is resting now."

Hudayfah nodded, and as he rubbed a hand over his beard, Jenna smiled.

"What?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"Nothing. I'm going to go wash dishes. Have a good meeting." She said and he grinned.

"Thank you."

They stood a bit awkwardly for a few moments before she surprised them both, and pressed her lips to his cheek. The expression in his eyes made her blush harder than the action itself, and she quickly skipped down the stairs before her face turned even redder.

***

"What are you up to today Jenna?" Rami asked cheerfully as he bounded into the kitchen, and Jenna looked up from where she was washing dishes and smiled. While Hudayfah consistently told her that she didn't have to do the housework, she didn't want to become too spoiled.

"I was planning on walking down to the mini mart at the end of the block to do some shopping!" she exclaimed excitedly. Hudayfah would be in his business meeting until Maghrib, and Rana needed to rest, so Jenna was kind of bored.

Rami frowned, and leaned against the island.

"Does Hud know you're going out?"

Jenna armed her purse.

"No, but I don't see a need to bother him."

"I don't think he would like it if you went out alone. Didn't he tell you that?"

"Yes, but nothing has happened and I am just going down the street!"

"I can't let you."

Her eyebrow raised slightly.

"You can't let me?"

He shook his head.

"No. Sorry."

"Rami, I'm so bored, and Rana is sick, and I want to do some shopping! Please don't stop me!" she pleaded, and he hesitated for a second before nodding.

"Okay, but I have to come with you."

"Rami," she began, but he held up a hand.

"No. I'm coming or you're not going. You choose."

The two stood glaring at each other for a few seconds, before eventually she sighed.

"Fine. But you can't complain about how long I take!"

He grinned, and lifted her sweater down from it's hook by the door, waiting until she had put it on before opening the door for her.

They said their hellos to the doorman, and Jenna couldn't help but notice the further they got from their building, the more nervous Rami began to act.

"Are you okay?" she asked after another few minutes of his strange behavior and he nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

He flashed her thumbs up.

"Positive!"

She shook her head with a laugh. The more time she spent with him, the better she liked him. He was funny, a good guy, and obviously a devoted friend to Hudayfah, even though they couldn't be more different. It was also quite obvious that he liked Rana.

A lot.

As for if Rana liked him back, Rana had yet to admit to it, and Jenna was too scared to bring it up. Rana was too closed, too calculated, and Jenna didn't want to push her.

"So Rami. Tell me something about you."

"What would you like to know?"

"I don't know." She tapped a finger against her chin. "Okay, where are you from originally?"

"Like my cultural background or where I was born?"

"Either? Both?"

"Well, I was born in Colorado, and my family moved to Arizona when I was three. As for our background, my mother is Afghan and my father is Lebanese."

No wonder he was so handsome.

"Oh MashaAllah! That's so nice! Have you been to either place?"

"I've been to Lebanon, but unfortunately with what's going on in Afghanistan, I've never been able to go back."

"InshaAllah one day!"

He smiled.

"InshaAllah. What about you?"

"Well I was born and raised in Arizona. Baba is Egyptian, and Mama is Syrian on my grandpa's side, and Italian on my grandma's."

He winced slightly.

"SubhanAllah both Egypt and Syria are not doing well right now. How is your family over there?" he asked, and she was quiet for a second before sighing.

"Most of my dad's side is here in the states, he has one sister in Canada. My mom has two brothers that live here, but the rest of her family that are in Syria are either in refugee camps, are they are missing."

"I'm so sorry Jenna." He said quietly, and she shrugged.

"It is what it is. I think I've gotten to the point where I'm not even sad or scared anymore. I'm just numb."

"May Allah swt reward you and your family."

"Barak Allahu Feek." She said looking up at him with a smile. They walked in silence for another few minutes before she turned to him again. "Do you have any siblings?"

He shook his head.

"Unless you count Hud, I'm an only child."

"Aw," she said with a smile, "you're really close aren't you?"

Rami nodded.

"He's like my brother."

"How many years are between you guys?"

"Three."

Jenna laughed.

"It seems three is all our magic numbers! Three years between you and Hudayfah, three years between Hudayfah and Rana, three years between me and my brother!" she exclaimed, and he laughed.

"Do you have any other siblings?" he asked, and she nodded.

"I have two younger sisters. Emma is a year younger than me, and Maria is," she paused to laugh and Rami joined in.

"Let me guess, she's three years younger?"

Jenna laughed again before nodding.

"Yes! That's so funny!" she exclaimed and as he grinned, she couldn't help thinking how she wished it was Hudayfah right there with her. She wished that they would be walking and talking and laughing and getting to know one another. That she was able to feel as comfortable around him as she was around Rami.

"Did you go to college?" she asked, and he nodded.

"Yup, ASU."

"What was your major?"

"I did a double major. Mechanical engineering, and karate."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"I didn't know you could major in karate!?"

He laughed.

"I didn't either until my sophomore year, then I knew I just had to do it."

"So you're like a karate expert?" she asked and he nodded.

"The very highest of ranks."

"That's awesome!" she exclaimed, and he grinned.

"What did you major in?"

"Literature. It sounds so boring compared to you."

"No, English is awesome." He said making a face, and she laughed. "So you're like an expert in grammar?"

It took her a full five minutes before she was able to stop laughing.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed wiping her eyes. "No I studied like Shakespeare and poetry and stuff like that."

"Gotcha." He said with a laugh.

"So tell me about your friendship with Hudayfah." She said as they paused at a traffic light waiting for it to turn green.

Rami grinned and ran a hand through his hair.

"I met Hud when we were little kids. We both went to the Islamic School, and he was this little kindergartener who was running, and tripped over his shoelaces and went flying across the courtyard. Poor kid. I went running over to him and helped him up, and every day after school I gave him lessons in tying his shoes. After that he followed me around everywhere, and while it was kind of weird for a third grader to be friends with a baby kindergartener, we've been best pals since."

"Aw. " Jenna said with a laugh, trying to imagine both men, who were over six feet, as little kids. "You guys sounded so cute!" she exclaimed, and Rami laughed.

"Oh but we were troublemakers. Always getting into mischief."

"I'm guessing you were the one who got Hudayfah into trouble?" she teased and he chuckled.

"Of course."

They walked the rest of the way to the store, Rami telling more stories about the trouble he and Hudayfah used to get into, and Jenna laughing the whole way. Soon they reached their destination, and Jenna happily bounded inside. Hudayfah had given her a credit card, and while so far she hadn't bought anything with it, today she was excited to. They spent an hour in one of the stores, Jenna buying a few gifts for her sisters, and a beautiful leather wallet that she thought Hudayfah would like. Soon she had paid for he purchases, and she excitedly bounced to the store next door, Rami following with a laugh.

Soon three hours had passed, and Rami was carrying about twenty shopping bags. As they began to walk back towards home, Rami pointed excitedly towards an ice cream vendor.

"That place sells the best ice cream in the world! Let's get some!" he exclaimed, and she laughed, following him as he dashed over to it. They placed their orders, three scoops of chocolate for Rami, and one of butterscotch for Jenna, and as she waited for Rami to finish paying for their ice cream, she suddenly got a weird feeling that someone was watching them. She turned her head slowly, and her eyes locked on a man who was standing a good few feet away, and staring at her. She inched closer to Rami, the man's gaze making her feel uneasy, and her eyes widened as he slipped his hand into his pocket, and began to pull out something that looked suspiciously like...

"Rami that man has a gun!" she cried and instantly Rami spun around. His gaze fell on the man just as he cocked the pistol he held in his hand, and before Jenna knew what was happening, Rami had grabbed her arm, and hauled her against the side of the building. And even though his body was covering hers, she still felt the impact as the bullets hit him.