Jenna sat at a table with Rana, Hudayfah's mother, Rami's mother and grandmother, Hikmah, Hind, their mother, and Emma and Maria, not able to stop herself from smiling. Rami was sitting at a table at the head of the room, Hudayfah who was his witness, sitting next to him, followed by the Sheikh, Rana and Hudayfah's dad, and Sami, who was Rana's witness.

"Bismillah arRahman arRahim. In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah. Today, I ask Allah swt to fill our gathering with his blessings, and let the angels be witnesses as well to this marriage between Rami and Rana. First I must ask, has the dowry been agreed upon?" he asked turning towards Rami, and he nodded.

"Yes."

"And it has been accepted by the bride?"

Abu Sami nodded.

"Yes."

"Very well, we will now have Hudayfah, the brother of the bride, recite some verses from our holy Quran to bless this union."

Hudayfah got up from his seat, before taking a breath, and beginning the reciting, everyone quiet as his melodious voice filled the room. Once he had finished, he sat back down, and the Sheikh rose again.

"Is the bride entering into this union of her own free will?" he asked, and Rana's dad nodded.

"She is."

"And is the groom entering into this union of his own free will?"

Rami nodded as well.

"I am."

"Bismillah, if the groom and the bride's father will clasp hands. Abu Sami, if you will repeat after me, 'I permit you to marry my daughter in accordance with the Islamic law, with the agreed upon dowry, in the presence of these witnesses here, Allah being our best witness.'"

"Rami, I permit you to marry my daughter in accordance with the Islamic law, with the agreed upon dowry, in the presence of these witnesses here, Allah being our best witness."

"Oh my God in like two seconds they will be married!" Emma squealed in Jenna's ear, and she smiled in amusement, patting her sister's hand, though her excitement was mounting as well.

The Sheikh turned towards Rami.

"Rami, repeat after me, 'I accept marrying your daughter in accordance with the Islamic law, with the agreed upon dowry, in the presence of these witnesses here, Allah being our best witness.'"

Rami cleared his throat, before leaning forward slightly.

"I accept marrying your daughter in accordance with the Islamic law, with the agreed upon dowry, in the presence of these witnesses here, Allah being our best witness." The words had barely left Rami's mouth, before Ali shouted 'Takbeer!' and everyone responded with 'Allahu Akbar!' whistling and cheering.

"May Allah swt bless the marriage between these two! Barak Allahu Lakuma Wabaraka Alaikuma Wajamaah Bainakuma Fi Khayr!" the Sheikh yelled over the noise, and as the room repeated it three times after him, Rami descended from his place, coming over and pulling Rana up from her chair. Rana blushed at the contact, but followed him up to the front where they signed their marriage contact, their free hands still clasped together.

"InshaAllah before the Walimah, the happy couple will be taking their wedding pictures, so please enjoy these array of sweets until then." The Sheikh announced pointing towards tables filled with a variety of sweets, and as the crowd started to line up, Rami grabbed Rana's hand in his, and pulled her towards the exit.

"Woah slow down Rami, I'm in heels!" she exclaimed with a laugh, and he slowed down just a little bit, pulling her until they came to a halt in the room they were supposed to take their pictures in, and Rami turned to look at the photographer.

"Would you give us a minute?" he asked her, and she nodded, leaving the room. Once she had gone, Rana laughed again.

"Why did we have to run!?"

He just stared at her for a few seconds, before putting his hands on her face.

"Don't move." He whispered, before he brought his lips down on hers, pulling away a few seconds later. "I've been waiting like ten years for that." He said a bit breathlessly as he placed his forehead against hers and she laughed, putting her hands over his.

"And how was it?"

He kissed her again before pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Better than I ever could have imagined."

***

"Okay so Rami if you can just move a little to the right and just pause for a second before you put the ring on her hand?" the photographer, Mary, asked and Rami did as he was told, the ring poised over Rana's ring finger.

"My knee is hurting." He grumbled softly, and Rana laughed.

"Stop complaining."

"She's had me in this position for like twenty minutes! Can't she change memory cards a little faster?!"

"Oh stop it Rami!"

"Are you yelling at me!?"

"You're complaining and we've only been married like half an hour!"

"Well you would be complaining as well if your knee hurts like mine does!" he gave an annoyed sigh. "Can't I just put the stupid ring on your hand and get back to the kissing part?"

"Seriously?" She said with an eye roll, and he grinned.

"Oh come on Rana, I see you blushing."

"Shut up Rami." She said blushing.

"Gasp! Is that any way to talk to your husband?!" he said dramatically, and she just stared at him for a few seconds, before a huge smile lit up her face.

"Oh my God. You're my husband Rami. My husband!" She exclaimed, and he smiled.

"I know dear." He said softly, and suddenly she threw herself at him, causing him to lose his balance, and fall backwards onto the ground, holding her around her waist. "Well now everything hurts." He said laughing, and she laughed as well before he sat up, the two of them sitting on the ground together.

"What happened here?!" Mary exclaimed and Rami laughed.

"My knee was hurting." He said helping Rana up.

"Well the shot is all blurry now!" she complained looking at her camera, and Rana laughed.

"Can we just do a simple shot of us putting the rings on? We are pretty simple people." She said with a smile.

"Very well." Mary said, and Rana took Rami's hand in hers, putting his ring on his finger. After he had done the same to her, he brought her hand up and kissed it gently. "Aw that's such a cute photo!" Mary exclaimed.

They did a few more photos, one of them holding hands, another where her back was pressed against his front, and he had his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. There was one where they were posed against the night sky, his lips pressed to her forehead. At one point he even lifted her up, holding her on one shoulder, Rami laughing loudly as Rana squealed. They had fun the remaining time before Mary smiled.

"Now, for a last shot, how about a real kiss?"

Rami grinned, putting his arms around Rana, and dipping her backwards.

"It would be my pleasure!"

***

He glanced around the ballroom, holding his Coke in his hands, an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was a sad thing that he couldn't enjoy something like a friend's wedding without feeling guilty and nervous. He hadn't told Jamaal that Rami and Rana were getting married, he didn't want their wedding to get ruined, but he was worried he would find out some other way, and decide to make a surprise appearance.

That would be terrible.

As he sat down at one of the tables that was reserved for Hud's men, he turned his attention back to where Rami and Rana were sitting. They seemed to be arguing about something, when suddenly Rami leaned forward and kissed her cheek, and she laughed, putting her arms around his neck. They were like a match made in heaven, and he was glad that they finally got together.

"AsalamuAlaikum everyone! Can I have your attention please?!" Rami asked standing up, and the room quieted down, all eyes turning towards him. "Barak Allahu Feekum to everyone for coming. It really means a lot to Rana and I to be able to celebrate with all of you tonight. Today is a day that I have been waiting for a long time for, and Alhamdulillah I cannot express the emotions I am experiencing right now, and I wouldn't want to bore all of you anyways. I hope that all of you are having a good time though I guarantee none of you are as happy as I am!" he paused to take Rana's hand as everyone laughed. "So please enjoy yourselves, and if you would take your seats, it is time to eat!"

As everyone started to sit down at their tables, his gaze settled on where Hudayfah was talking with his sister and new brother, his arm around Jenna's waist and the guilt intensified.

What the hell was he doing?! Betraying Hudayfah like this. He knew that Hud and Rami were suspicious, they would be stupid not to be, but if they ever found out it was him, he wasn't sure what he was going to do. Secretly he wondered if they knew already, or if they suspected him.

Suddenly the noise and the laughter was becoming stifling even in the large ballroom, and he had to get out of there. Maybe he would go up to his room, it was almost midnight, and he could get away with going to bed so early. He finished off his soda, told the guys around him he was going to sleep, and made his way out of the ballroom, practically running away.

***

Emma hurried down the hallway holding the knife that they needed to cut the cake with. She couldn't believe she had forgotten it! It was a good thing she had remembered now while everyone was still eating. That would have been so embarrassing if it came time to cut the cake and there was no knife! As she came down the stairs, not having the patience to wait for the elevator, she lifted up her skirts, before making her way back towards the ballroom.

It seemed to be going pretty well. The decorations had worked out, the food was delicious, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Rana and Rami were as adorable as could be, the difference in their sizes only seeming to add to their cuteness. Rami was tall and had huge bulging muscles, and Rana was petite and small, and even though it was their wedding day, they were still keeping up their usual bickering, which Emma had to admit was sweet. They were comfortable with each other, and it showed.

As she approached the doors of the ballroom, she came to a slow halt as she noticed Jafar standing near the windows, his hands folded behind his back as he stared out at the night sky. Emma was a naturally bouncy and loud and friendly person, but ever since the fire, she had become noticeably subdued around him, and she sort of felt like she was scared of him. Well not exactly scared, maybe in awe of. He had literally jumped through a door of fire to save her life, and as his burns still hadn't healed, it was hard for her to look at his face without feeling guilty.

But she liked him.

A lot.

She thought about him all the time, he made nightly appearances in her dreams, and whenever he was around, even though he barely spoke, she was hyper aware of his presence. He wasn't the type that she usually fell for, she tended to gravitate towards those that she could argue with, but for some reason her heart went into overdrive whenever he was near.

She debated for a few seconds if she should go talk to him, observing him quietly.

He was of average height, sort of on the thin side, and was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and green tie. His black hair was brushed back from his face, and though she could only see his profile from where she was standing, his striking jaw was still prominent from this angle. She watched him for another few seconds, before finally coming up behind him.

"Jafar?" She asked quietly as she came to stand next to him, and he jumped slightly, turning around to look at her before nodding, and turning back towards the window.

"Salaam."

"Walaikumsalaam. How are you?" she asked a bit timidly.

"I'm well Alhamdulillah. And yourself?"

She smiled at how polite he was.

"Good Alhamdulillah. Are you okay?" she asked after a moment, and his eyes flickered towards her momentarily.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well you are standing out here when the party is in there," she said with a smile motioning towards the ballroom doors, "are you not enjoying yourself?"

"No I am. It is a wonderful party, you did a good job MashaAllah."

"Thank you." She said, blushing slightly. "So why are you out here?" she pressed, and to her astonishment he smiled. She had never seen him smile before, and it actually made him look even more handsome.

"I just needed a break. I don't do very well in social situations, so sometimes I have to just get away to refuel."

That was probably the longest sentence she had ever heard him say.

"I see. Do you need anything? I can bring you a drink or something."

He smiled again.

"That is very kind of you to offer Emma, but I am fine thank you. I shall rejoin things momentarily."

It was the first time she was hearing him say her name and her heart practically leapt out of her chest.

"Okay. Well I'll see you later I guess."

He nodded again.

"It would be an honor."

As she walked away from him, her heart hammering like crazy, she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same for her, and as she opened the ballroom doors, she missed the way he turned to look at her, a smile on his face.

***

By the time dinner, the speeches, the cake and desserts, and the entertainment ended, it was close to two o'clock in the morning, and Rami was practically dragging Rana upstairs she was so tired.

"Are we almost there?" She mumbled sleepily, and he laughed.

"Almost." He said tightening his hold around her waist as he shifted to unlock the door, pausing before opening it. "Today was the best day of my entire life." He said softly, and she smiled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"Mine too."

"I'm so glad."

"Well are we going to go inside?" she asked, and he nodded, before sweeping her into his arms, and kicking the door open.

"Rami!" she exclaimed as the door almost flew off its hinges at his strength.

"Sorry, I was lost in the moment." He said with a laugh, before putting her back down on the floor. Once he had closed the door behind him they just stared at each other for a second, before he bent to kiss her again.

"Is that your new favorite thing?" she teased.

"Don't deny that you don't like it too!" he exclaimed, and she laughed.

"It's not too bad."

"Not too bad?!" he demanded before kissing her again, his face turning serious as he pulled back. "For the past ten years I've dreamt of this moment, of being with you, of being able to call you mine, and let the world know it, and now that it's come true I'm finding it a little hard to believe that it's all real."

"Oh Rami," she whispered, and he kissed her forehead.

"But Rana, my dearest love, know that nothing in this universe is dearer to me than you are. You are my heart, my soul, my future, and I love you more than I ever thought possible. I've loved you for what seems like forever, and my only regret is that I didn't admit to it sooner." He said softly, and she put her hands over his.

"I love you too." She shook her head with a small laugh, a tear escaping down her cheek, "I love you so much. You've taken the words right out of my heart."

He laughed as he wiped at her eyes.

"Look what you do to me. You've turned me into a sap."

She smiled, and put her hands on his face, pulling him down towards her, pausing an inch away from his lips.

"Say it again."

He smiled.

"I love you Rana."

***

"My feet are killing me!" Jenna exclaimed taking off her heels, and Hudayfah smiled as he took off his tie.

"After we get changed I'll rub them for a while."

She smiled sleepily.

"Thank you habibi, I hope I don't fall asleep first." She sat for a few more seconds resting her feet, before she pushed up, groaning again as she walked towards the bathroom.

"It was really nice tonight wasn't it?" Hudayfah asked as he hung up his suit in the closet, and she nodded.

"Beautiful MashaAllah. I loved how they couldn't keep their eyes off of each other, but at the same time couldn't stop arguing!"

He laughed.

"Yeah well that's Rana and Rami for you."

"Habibi can you help me with my zipper?" she asked, and he closed the closet door before reaching over and unzipping the dress.

"You're all set." He said with a yawn, and she smiled.

"No teasing remark?"

He laughed.

"I'm too tired, I thought the party would never end."

She nodded, slipping her dress onto the hanger.

"I know. I think if your mom had her way, it never would have ended."

He laughed, and took the hanger from her, and opened the closet door, putting it inside.

"Well she just loves weddings. She's going to be on Sami's case now until he gets married."

"Why isn't he married yet?" she asked putting on her nightgown, and he shrugged, climbing into the bed.

"I don't know. I think he's just too invested in his work."

She climbed in next to him, putting her head on his chest.

"Rana said his a professor at ASU."

"He was a professor."

"Oh, he's not anymore? She said he currently was."

Hudayfah shook his head.

"Um, last I heard he was between jobs."

"That's odd that Rana didn't know."

He yawned again.

"Yeah it is." He closed his eyes, and she brushed his hair back from his face.

"Emma did a good job with things didn't she?"

He nodded, still keeping his eyes closed.

"Mhmm."

"You know I noticed Jafar and Emma kept looking at each other the whole night."

"Did you?" he mumbled and she laughed.

"Am I bothering you with my talking?"

"No," he yawned again, "but didn't you just say you were tired?"

"I am, and didn't you promise me a foot rub?"

He laughed.

"I did, but all of a sudden I'm exhausted. Can I give you a rain check? Any other time?"

She snuggled into him, kissing his cheek.

"Of course habibi."

"Thank you darling. Have a good sleep."

"You too habibi."

It was quiet in the room, and just when she thought he had already fallen asleep, he spoke quietly.

"I love you Jenna." He murmured, before shifting onto his side facing her, and she waited a few minutes until she was sure he was asleep.

"I love you too Hudayfah."