Jenna let out a gasp as she shot up from where she had been laying down, and as she took in the darkened cabin around her fear clenched her heart and she began to cry. This dream had been one of the worst ones in quite a while and she wrapped her arms around her knees, rocking back and forth in her seat, her tears flowing freely.

"Hey, hey what's wrong?"

She felt Hudayfah move from his seat, and soon he was crouching next to her, his hands on hers trying to pry them off of her legs. She shook her head, unable to speak, and as she removed her hands from his grip, his face dawned in recognition.

"Another nightmare?" he asked gently, and she nodded before exploding into sobs.

"Don't cry it's okay. I'm here Jenna." He whispered, patting her legs awkwardly, and when her response was to just cry harder, he peered into her face, gently skimming a hand up her arm, and with just that one gesture, it was as if he magically soothed her tears. There was something about his proximity that made her feel safe. Even now she felt the images from her last dream started to fade.

Eventually she stopped crying completely, but he stayed in his position in front of her.

"Better?" he whispered, and she nodded.

"Thank you."

He smiled.

"For what?"

"For helping me. For calming me down twice now even though I've upset you." She said without thinking and as the smile left his face and he frowned slightly, she regretted her words.

"What do you mean you've upset me?"

"I upset you when I made a comment about acting normal in front of Sami, and when I thought you didn't pray, I am sorry." She whispered, and he remained silent for a few seconds before sighing.

"Why do you think I was upset?"

"You've been ignoring me."

He gave a soft laugh.

"I've been giving you space. You haven't exactly been welcoming to me. After all yesterday was our wedding night and you almost had a heart attack when you realized we had to sleep in the same bed."

Jenna was silent as she thought about it, realizing that she was being a bit of a brat. But she was still so angry. She was angry at her dad and at her brother. She was even angry at Hudayfah for being so nice. If he had been mean it would be so much easier for her to hate him.

"It isn't fair." she whispered, and he sighed, leaning down onto his knees.

"I know. I know this isn't the happily ever after you wanted. Believe me I know that. But I am what you got, and if you give me a chance you'll realize I am not a bad guy. I really am not." He put a hand under her chin, and tilted her head so she was looking at him. "Can you do that for me? For us? Can you give me a chance?" he asked quietly, and she looked into his eyes, surprised by the emotion there.

"I don't know." She whispered, and he dropped his hand, his face clouding over with pain.

"I see." He said, and as he stood back up, turning his face from her, she felt the tightness in her chest again. How much was she going to keep hurting this man!?

"Why don't you get some sleep? We still have four more hours until we get to New York."

"What about you?" she asked, tightening the blanket around herself.

"What about me?"

"Aren't you tired?"

"Does it matter what I'm feeling?" he asked, and she winced. However before she could reply, he had slipped on his shoes, and was reaching for the curtain. "I'm going to use the bathroom." He said in a clipped tone, and before she could even react, he had fled their little compartment, the curtain swinging shut behind him.

***

Hudayfah stood outside the compartment and let out a deep annoyed breath. He was trying. He honest to God was. But she seemed intent on doing everything in her power to push him away. The best thing he would have to do was just to stop. She didn't want a real relationship? Fine. She wouldn't get one.

He glanced down the rows, avoiding eye contact with the brazen stewardess, before his gaze fell on the tall hulking figure in the end of first class. He began to make his way there, and once he arrived, he slid into the seat next to the man,

"How's the little lady?" the man asked, and Hudayfah rolled his eyes at the mocking tone in his voice.

"She's fine."

"I caught the end of your little declaration about her giving you a chance," he grinned as Hudayfah groaned, "trouble in Paradise?"

"What were you eavesdropping?"

The man shrugged.

"I heard her crying through my ear piece and didn't know if you were there."

"Where else would I be Rami?"

"I dunno the bathroom?"

"What were you going to do, just barge in there? I assure you one look at you and she would probably faint."

Rami chuckled.

"Hey she has you for a husband. Poor girl must be terrified out of her mind." He said with a grin, and Hudayfah rolled his eyes. "So she isn't warming up to you huh?"

Hudayfah rubbed a hand over his beard.

"Not in the slightest. Even the terror she gets from her dreams doesn't even give me leave to touch her.

Rami frowned.

"Dream? What do you mean?"

"I don't know she has these nightmares. She has had one every time she has fallen asleep so far since the wedding, and she wakes up sobbing hysterically. I just have to wait for her to stop crying."

"Do you think it is because of the wedding?"

Hudayfah shook his head.

"She said her mom usually comforts her and she gets them all the time. I guess they have been going on for awhile."

"Has she told you why?"

"Nope. Find out will you?" he asked, and Rami nodded.

"Will do. Have you tried holding her? Maybe she needs physical contact for them to stop?"

"She freaked out the first night I tried to touch her." He shook his head. "she doesn't want me near her."

"That's too bad."

Hudayfah nodded.

"Yeah well. I married her to protect her, not to be loved." He gave a slight shrug, missing the way his friend had winced. "Did you hear any news from our," he paused to make a face, "friends?"

Rami shook his head.

"No, but Hassan thinks someone might be waiting in New York."

"What!? Why!?"

"Bro, I think we have a traitor in our midst."

Hudayfah frowned.

"Why?"

"Think about it. They always seem to be one step ahead of us. Why would they be in New York unless they knew you were bringing her there? And last week you know we saw that black car in front of her house the day you went to propose. I think someone either is being bribed or blackmailed."

They sat in silence, such a scary notion hanging over their heads like a cloud.

"Maybe we should just go home." Hudayfah said, and Rami shook his head.

"No I think it will be safer out of the country. We will just have to be careful."

Hudayfah eyed his friend suspiciously.

"You're not the traitor are you?"

Rami's eyes widened in surprise before he let out a bark of laughter.

"Of course not! Why would you think that?!"

"I have to keep my wife safe, just making sure. Say Wallahi."

"Aw come on Hud seriously? Aren't we a little too old for that?!"

"Say it," Hudayfah warned, and Rami rolled his eyes.

"Fine, Wallahi I am not the traitor. You know I would do anything for you and Jenna."

Hudayfah nodded in satisfaction.

"Just had to make sure."

"I understand. So when do I get to meet her?"

"Not until Egypt. I don't want her to get scared that we have a bodyguard."

"So who am I going to pretend to be?"

"I dunno whoever you want. A childhood best friend, a cousin, uncle, my grandfather." Hudayfah said with a shrug.

"Your grandfather?!" Rami asked with a snort. "Come on bro I am only three years older than you."

Hudayfah grinned.

"Yes but you look so much older. You could probably pass for my father."

Rami glared at him.

"Yeah if your father had you when he was a child!" he scoffed, and Hudayfah laughed. "How is she handling everything else?"

"Not well I am afraid," Hudayfah said with a sigh, "she had such a misconception of me in her head that I really think its going to hurt our marriage."

Rami grinned.

"Sorry I know this is serious, but did I tell you how funny it is you are married?"

"Seriously," Hudayfah muttered, and Rami laughed, "I cant even imagine how hard it must be on her having to be forced into a marriage like this, but its not like I made her marry me at gunpoint or I kidnapped her! She has talked to her mom six times today alone! I want this to work, I want her to be happy, but it seems she is determined to hate me!" he said in frustration, and Rami put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Just give her time habibi. She will come around. Just keep remembering of how hard this is for her and how she just needs to adjust. She will come to realize the wonderful guy that you are, and will fall in love with you. Just you know don't force her to sleep with you until she's ready."

Hudayfah rolled his eyes.

"Yes because I was planning to! Forcing her to sleep with me definitely wont solidify her thoughts that I am a monster!" he said sarcastically, and Rami laughed.

"Just give her time." He said reassuringly, and Hudayfah nodded.

"I could kill Muhsin."

"I know. Sometimes I feel like killing the punk too."

"Did you know at the wedding he kept bragging about how he brought us together?!"

Rami threw his head back and laughed.

"Well technically he did!"

"Jerk. He had the nerve to ask me if he could borrow twenty thousand."

"Ugh he didn't?" Rami asked in disgust, and Hudayfah nodded.

"Yeah. He did."

"What did you tell him?"

"No of course. I still haven't finished paying off everything else he got himself into." He paused thoughtfully. "You know, I don't think we should lie to her."

"Wait what?"

"About who you are. If she freaks out about my touching her hand, I don't want to force her to put up a charade in front of yet another person. Especially when you are going to be around us all the time."

"Whatever you want Hud. You're the boss."

Hudayfah sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Rami suddenly pressed a hand to his earpiece.

"I think she's crying again."

Hudayfah frowned.

"Darn I left her only twenty minutes ago. I wonder if she had fallen asleep already and had another nightmare? I better go back before she panics. Look into why she is having these dreams alright?"

Rami gave a mock salute.

"Alrighty boss."

Hudayfah rolled his eyes, but clapped his friend on the shoulder before hurrying back to their cabin. As he pushed back the curtain he found Jenna standing anxiously by the window. When she heard him come in, she turned around, relief coming over her face, but she didn't come towards him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and she hesitated before nodding.

"Yes."

"Did you have another nightmare?"

She shook her head.

"No I am fine. The stewardess came to check on us and woke me up, then when I couldn't find you I got a little worried.

"She woke you up?" Hudayfah asked with a frown, wondering if he needed to have a talk with the captain about his staff. There was no sign of tears now, and he didn't want to bring it up. She would be wondering how he had known she was.

"Not on purpose. She didn't know I was sleeping." She said, and Hudayfah nodded.

"You want some dinner?" he asked, and as her stomach rumbled in response, he gave a laugh. "I'll take that as a yes. Is pasta okay?" he asked, she nodded. He hesitated for a second.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and she looked at him blankly for a second, absently wiping her hands over her cheeks, and he knew she was trying to make sure there were no tear marks left.

"I'm fine." She replied, and he nodded, ducking quickly out of the cabin, for he suddenly felt the urge to pull her into his arms.