"You sure you are okay?" Hudayfah asked for the tenth time since their dinner had arrived, and Jenna nodded stiffly.

"I'm fine."

He fiddled with his fork, before clearing his throat.

"If something is wrong, I would prefer if you told me."

"And that is your preference."

Ouch.

"So how was your day today?"

"Fine."

He swallowed hard.

"Did you have a good time with Rana at the salon?"

She shrugged.

"It was fine."

"I think it's nice that you were able to find a Muslim salon."

"Yeah."

"I can't wait to see your new haircut."

"Okay."

Wow.

She had been very cold to him all day, and Hudayfah had been mentally going through every single thing that had happened recently, trying to figure out if he had done something wrong. Maybe he had been moving too fast for her. He had been kissing her and holding her more than usual.

He had called her darling.

Maybe that was it.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"I apologize if things have been moving too fast between us. I guess I just got swept up in the act for the guys, and I didn't think about you and if you were ready."

"I'm perfectly capable of standing up for myself. Don't mistake yourself in thinking I would let you take liberties I wasn't ready for." She snapped, and his eyes widened slightly at her tone.

"I wasn't implying you couldn't take care of yourself." He said quietly. "I'm just trying to figure out why you are upset with me."

"Oh I'm not upset." She stabbed at her steak angrily, and as her knife and fork began to clink against her plate, he put a hand over hers.

"Jenna! What's wrong?!" he exclaimed in astonishment, and she jerked her hands out from under his, before throwing her napkin on the table.

"Don't touch me. Don't ever touch me again!" she exclaimed before storming off towards the ladies room. Hudayfah saw Ali quickly get up from his seat from where he was sitting across the room with Farris, and follow her, standing outside the bathroom as she went in, and he just stared after her in slight shock.

What was wrong with her?!

***

Jenna dabbed at her eyes with a paper towel, before glancing at herself in the mirror, grimacing at the black streaks her tears had caused on her cheeks. As she wet the towel and began to clean off the makeup, she felt her anger rise again.

She had decided she wasn't going to confront him yet. About why he married her, about this Jamaal guy, about Marwa. She needed to think about it. Sort out her thoughts.

Do some investigating.

She had thought she would be able to act like she normally did, but the second he had put his arm around her when she had come back into the house, she had almost lost her temper with him, and had practically begged Rana to get out of the house. As Rami was doing better, and had been able to take a walk around his room today, Rana had agreed to go for a few hours, and they had gone to a Muslim family run salon for haircuts, highlights, and pedicures and manicures. Poor Ali had had to sit outside waiting for them for three hours, but it had made Jenna forget for a while. But the second she had returned home, Muhsin's words of her being in a prison, had come back to her, and she had fled out to the backyard for air, feeling suffocated and alone.

Luckily for her, Hudayfah had been busy all day and hadn't had any time to spend with her, so it was easy for her to avoid him. But soon she had to get ready for dinner, and as it was the Plaza Hotel, she had dressed in one of the more expensive dresses in her closet, had taken out the jewels and the heels, done up her makeup, pulling out all the stops, and despite her being angry at him, when she appeared out of her closet, and his jaw had dropped, she had felt a small thrill of satisfaction.

She now finished cleaning up her tears, before pulling out an eyeliner from her purse, and relined her eyes, fixed her Hijab, and exited the bathroom. As soon as she appeared, Ali stepped in front of her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and she nodded.

"I'm fine. You didn't need to follow me."

He shook his head, and gave her a smile.

"I have orders."

She glared at him before stomping back to the table.

***

As Jenna sat in her seat, Hudayfah looked up worriedly from his plate.

"Better?" he asked, and she didn't answer, taking a bite out of her salad. They ate in silence for the next fifteen minutes before the band started to play, and he cleared his throat, extending his hand towards her.

"Care to dance?" he asked and she just stared at him before shaking her head.

"No."

He sighed and raked a hand through his hair.

"Jenna what did I do? Please tell me what I did so I can fix it." He pleaded, and she picked up her water glass, staring inside before placing it back down.

"One dance." She said, and though she sounded less than thrilled, and she looked like she was going to vomit when he took her hand, he was glad that she at least was dancing with him.

As they joined the other couples on the dance floor, he put his arms around her waist, and she put hers on his shoulders, not even bothering to circle them around his neck. Luckily it was a slow song, otherwise they would have had to sit it out sitting in awkward silence. This way at least they were doing something. As they swayed to the music, he peered into her face, trying to get her to look at him, but she resisted, keeping her eyes firmly on his tie.

My but she did look beautiful. It had been so hard not to sweep her into his arms and just kiss her when he had first seen her. She always looked gorgeous of course, but this was the first time since their wedding that she was wearing makeup. It wasn't too much but just enough that it enhanced her natural beauty and he couldn't help but be proud to have her on his arm. Even though right now she looked like she wanted to be just about anywhere but there.

"You look beautiful by the way." He said, and when she was silent for a few seconds, he was worried she was going to keep ignoring him.

"Thank you." She said finally, but that was the last time they spoke for the rest of the dance, and as he led her back towards their seats, the waiter came back.

"Would you like to see the dessert cart?"

Hudayfah started to nod, put Jenna hurriedly shook her head.

"No thank you." She looked in Hudayfah's general direction, not meeting his gaze. "I just want to go home."

He nodded, a bit embarrassed in front of the waiter, before slipping his credit card in the billfold, and waiting for the waiter to come back with his receipt. Once he had signed it, they both stood, and as he reached for her jacket, she quickly pulled it out of his grasp.

"I can do it." She hissed, and he put his hands up in the air, his own anger starting.

"Fine."

They went outside the restaurant where they were soon joined by Ali and Farris, and the four of them got into the limo. It was awkward and quiet in the car, as it was quite obvious the Hudayfah and Jenna were fighting, and as soon as they got home, she stomped up the stairs to their room, not even bothering to say salaam to anyone.

All eyes turned towards Hudayfah as the slam of the bedroom door could be heard, but he said nothing, sighing before making his way up the stairs as well and going into his office. He stayed in there for an hour, giving her time to calm down and get ready for bed, before he went over to their bedroom. He knocked twice on the door, and when she didn't say anything, he entered the room, expecting to find her asleep in bed. Instead he found her pillow and the blanket missing, and after going deeper into the room, he found her sleeping on the sitting room couch.

For the first time in almost a month he got into an empty bed, and without the feel of her body next to his, he wasn't able to sleep. He tossed and turned for almost three hours before he just lay still, hoping that sleep would overcome him. However soon he felt this almost physical ache to be near her, and as he looked at the clock, he realized that this was when she usually had her nightmares.

Were they gone?! Had she not woken up!?

He strained his ears, and his stomach sunk as he heard her crying very softly, muffling her tears against her pillow so he wouldn't hear her.

***

Jenna lay awake staring at the ceiling, resisting the urge to go to Hudayfah and crawl into the safety of his arms. She was determined not to have any physical contact with him, to have no pleasant conversations, nothing. But at the same time she had a nagging feeling. After all her information had come from Muhsin. His credibility wasn't exactly the greatest. But then again what benefit would he get from making up such stories?

She shifted onto her side, which afforded her a slight view of their bed, and she could briefly make out his curls laying on his pillow. She wondered if he missed her just as much as she was missing him...

A few hours later, Jenna was standing in the kitchen preparing breakfast when Rana came into the room, whistling slightly as she glanced at Jenna.

"What the heck Jenna, you look like you got no sleep whatsoever!"

Jenna yawned widely before glancing at her sister.

"Yeah I didn't sleep very well."

Rana frowned, and put her hand on Jenna's forehead.

"Are you sick? Do you feel feverish?"

Jenna shook her head.

"No."

Rana's face lit up.

"Are you pregnant?!"

Yeah right.

"Um, no." she said her face beet red as she continued to mix the pancake batter.

"Are you sure!? Cause I would make like the best Aunt in the world!" Rana exclaimed and Jenna attempted a weak smile.

"Yes I'm positive."

"Well you can't be positive unless you take a test!" Rana exclaimed, mixing in some cinnamon, and Jenna flushed even deeper.

"Yes. I can."

Rana paused in the middle of shaking the cinnamon container, before she cleared her throat.

"Oh. I see."

An incredibly awkward silence descended over them, before, to their relief, Rami came into the room. His arm was in a sling, and his color was still off, but he looked better.

A lot better.

"Good morning ladies!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

"Good morning!" they replied in unison, and Jenna motioned towards a kitchen chair.

"Sit down! I'm making about a million pancakes for when the guys get here!" she said and Rami laughed.

"A million won't be enough for me alone! You better make it two million!"

"Rami, you have to be careful," Rana scolded, "you know you've been having trouble keeping things down lately, I don't want you to eat too much and start vomiting again."

"Aw come on Rana please let me have just one pancake? Please?!" he pouted, and she rolled her eyes.

"Just one. And go easy on the syrup!"

"Yes!" Rami exclaimed, and both ladies laughed.

"How are you feeling?" Jenna asked, and he nodded his head.

"Alhamdulillah a little better. Sometimes I still feel all sick, but it's getting better. How long do you think until I make a full recovery doc?" he asked looking at Rana, and she shrugged.

"You still have two more shots so InshaAllah if your symptoms don't get any worse, I'd say you will be totally back to normal in a month. You know, whatever normal is for you."

He grinned.

"I must be getting better if you're back to teasing me."

Rana shook her head, and turned to pour him a glass of juice, trying to hide her smile.

"Is Hud up yet?' Rami asked, taking the cup from her, and there was a silence in the room. "Jenna? Is Hudayfah awake yet?" he asked again and she looked up.

"Oh I'm sorry, you were talking to me?" she asked, and Rami raised an eyebrow.

"Well you sleep in the same room as him."

She shrugged, and flipped a pancake.

"I haven't seen him since last night."

And she hadn't. She had slipped out of their bedroom after her nightmare, and had gone to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms. Thankfully Hudayfah had put up all the men in hotels, so there was room for her to sleep in another room. She had fallen back to sleep on her own, woken up for Fajr and prayed on her own, and hadn't even bothered to get dressed as she went downstairs, because she couldn't face seeing him. It was a good thing her pajamas were long sleeve and she had had the foresight to grab a Hijab.

Rana and Rami exchanged surprise glances, but before either one of them could comment, Muhsin came in the room.

Yes.

Unfortunately he was still there.

"I smelled Jenna's pancakes. I'll take four." He said sleepily, sitting down next to Rami, and the man inched his chair a few inches away. The only thing that was stopping Rami from punching Muhsin into another state was how much he liked Jenna. He was loud and obnoxious, and had been in the way. Things were a little better without the rest of the men in the house, but he still managed to get on everyone's nerves.

The room was quiet as Jenna put the first of the pancakes down and as Muhsin and Rami began to fight over the syrup, Rana plucked it from the two of them, pouring it onto their plates for them before putting it down with an eye roll. The sound of footsteps on the stairs made them all turn around, and Hudayfah came stomping down the stairs, dark circles under his eyes, his hair in disarray, and a frown on his face.

"Wow Hud. You aren't looking good." Rami said after a few moments, and Hudayfah waved a hand in the air.

"I couldn't sleep." He muttered kissing his sister on the head before turning towards Jenna, who steadily ignored him, pouring more batter onto the pan.

"Hey Jenna." He said quietly, and an awkward silence fell over the room.

"Hello." She finally responded, and as he bent to kiss her cheek, she moved to the side so he stumbled slightly, totally missing her.

"Well. Trouble in Paradise?" Muhsin asked in amusement, and Hudayfah turned to look at him.

"Shut up Muhsin." He muttered before he gripped Jenna around the arm.

"Can I speak with you? Please?" he asked through clenched teeth, and she waited until she had flipped the pancake that was cooking before turning towards Rana.

"Rana will you take over?" she asked handing her sister the bowl and ladle before following Hudayfah into the sitting room. He shut the door behind them and turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why didn't you sleep in our bed last night? Why did you leave the room?" he demanded, and she blinked.

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because I felt like it."

He ran a hand over his face in agitation.

"Talk to me darling. Tell me what's wrong." He said softly, and her face flushed.

"Don't call me that!" she cried, and he threw his hands up in the air.

"Damn it Jenna!" he exclaimed, and her eyes widened in surprise. "We were doing so well! What happened!?"

To his astonishment her eyes began to water, and she clenched her hands angrily.

"I remembered that our relationship wasn't real to begin with! I realized that you were lying to me! That's what happened!"

"What are you talking about!?" he exclaimed in disbelief, and she shook her head.

"You're still pretending aren't you." She whispered, and she shook her head. "I have pancakes to make." she said before pushing past him, and he watched her go, a sinking feeling in his stomach.