Chapter One

April 2011

"Look I'm sorry, but there's no 'How To Keep the Peace Between Your Gay Lover and Your Muslim Family' manual in the library, okay!" Syed growled, exasperated.

"Well there's no '101 Tips for a Successful Relationship with Your Muslim Lover' either!" Christian exhorted, stepping into Syed's personal space and forcing him backwards. Usually he loved being so up close and personal with Christian, but right now it seemed an intimidating tactic, an attempt to get him to back down.

"Well you wouldn't read it anyway. You hate reading. The only thing you've read lately is the takeaway menu" Syed countered, breathing heavily, partly caused by the argument and partly by Christian's proximity, wearing only a towel, having just stepped out of the shower.

"Funny Sy, real funny. You just go on the stage" Christian drawled.

"Christian, please..."

"Sy...it's fine. Seriously, it's fine...we'll do something together at the weekend. Maybe I'll take you out for a slap up meal at Argy Bargie...I just got paid remember" Christian smiled, flicking through the pile of takeaway menus that were lying on the table. "What do you fancy tonight? Your choice. I fancy..."

"Christian! Please stop!" Syed exclaimed, exasperated at Christian's ability to change the subject when he wanted to hide his true feelings. Although to be fair, Syed thought, suddenly ashamed at his outburst, he himself was an expert at hiding things.

Syed walked over to where Christian was standing, keeping his eyes firmly on his older lover, who was still pursuing an unnatural interest in the offerings of the local Chinese.

"Christian, look" Syed smiled, taking Christian's hand and placing it between his own, "I love you, I chose you, you know that...but I need to do this for my family...you have me every day...they just want me to spend my birthday with them. Some family time" Syed implored Christian to understand his dilemma. Syed hated that he had been put in this position. All he wanted was to spend his birthday with the people that he loved, Christian and his family. Unfortunately the people that he loved, or the very least his parents and Christian, would rather eat poison than be civil to each other for more than a half hour. The last time they attempted a 'family' dinner it ended with his mother in tears, his father walking out and Syed glancing awkwardly at Tamwar and mouthing "I'm sorry", and "Let's just go, yeah?" at Christian, who had gone a rather un-fetching shade of bright red. He hadn't spoken to his parents for a week afterwards, despite Tamwar's rather obvious attempts at locking them in the same room together after using Kamil as bait.

"Come here, Sy" Christian breathed, quietly, pulling Syed into his body and holding him tight. Syed smiled, closing his eyes, as Christian hugged him, gently rubbing his back under his shirt.

"I understand, I promise. I'm not faking it, or pretending...I wish it was different but it isn't so..." Christian suddenly stopped, removing his hand from under Syed's shirt and gently pushing him away from him so he could look Syed in the eyes, "...so, what we are going to do is that you are going to go to your family tomorrow, have a fantastic day with them, and then at the weekend, I am going to spoil you rotten like my boyfriend deserves to be, okay?" Christian smiled, putting as much sincerity as he possibly could into his words.

"I love you Christian" Syed whispered quietly, his eyes shimmering with a mix of gratitude and sorrow.

"Love you too, Sy" Christian replied, kissing him on the nose and leaning into another embrace.

Syed woke early. It was a bright spring morning, the sun breaking in through the blinds in the kitchen. He extracted himself from Christian's light embrace, checking he was still asleep, before tip-toeing quietly to the bathroom and shutting the door. Shedding his boxers, he clicked on the shower and stepped in, grabbing the gel and sponge as he went. It was an impossible situation and he hated it, hated not being able to spend his first birthday with Christian, as a couple. The last year had been the toughest he had ever experienced...being outed in public, Christian's beating and the subsequent rejection of each other, the suicide attempt, the therapy...it was a year to forget. Forget, all except the times he spent in Christian's arms, kissing him, feeling his hot breath on his sensitive neck...making love. Syed smiled to himself, replaying the memories in his head as if it were a movie, put together for his own private enjoyment. Squirting a blob of shower gel onto the sponge, Syed began to wash himself slowly, enjoying the hot water pounding his tired body.

Clicking off the shower, Syed stepped out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it tightly around his slim body. Grabbing another one from the pile, he started drying his hair, fluffing it up. Opening the bathroom door, he was surprised to see Christian sitting on the sofa, vest on, watching TV and munching on Rice Crispies.

"Morning Sy. Happy birthday! We've run out of cereal, sorry. I'll do you some toast if you want?" Christian smiled, putting the bowl down and walking over to the kitchen sink.

"One or two slices?" Christian continued brightly, pulling the loaf of bread out of the cupboard, and grabbing a plate.

"One, thanks" Syed answered, wary of Christian's newfound morning happiness. In the two years Syed had known him, Christian had never been a morning person (unless he was after some morning sex) and this morning perkiness unnerved Syed slightly.

"One it is then, birthday boy" Christian replied, popping a slice of bread into the toaster.

"You're happy today" Syed ventured, tossing the towel he had in his hand on the bed and walking up behind Christian, kissing his shoulder.

"Well it's my lovely boyfriend's 26th birthday! Happy birthday Sy!" Christian exclaimed, turning round and pulling Syed into a hug, "Or it is my birthday, what with you wearing that towel..." Christian smirked, turning round suddenly and grabbing the toast out of the toaster before it turned the colour of coal.

"Erm...sorry?" Christian said sheepishly as the burnt smell wafted around the kitchen. "Don't worry, I'll do some more"

Suppressing a giggle, Syed grabbed hold of Christian and brought his lips down to his own. "You are so cute" Syed smiled, in between kisses and fits of uncontrollable giggles. "It's fine, I'm not hungry anyway, not for food anyway..." Syed breathed, whispering into Christian's ear. "...later, I promise" Syed seductively continued.

Nodding slowly, Christian turned Syed around by the shoulders and gently steered Syed to the other side of the flat.

"Your present" Christian said, picking up a small plastic bag and nervously handing Syed a small box.

Christian watched as Syed carefully opened the box, shuffling slightly. Christian laughed inwardly, he couldn't make it more obvious he was nervous, worried Syed would hate it and be forced to fake a smile and enthusiasm.

"Well...? What do you think?"

Inside the box was a silver bracelet, with brown leather fastenings and an inscription on the front. Syed carefully took it out of the box, and held it up.

"Its beautiful. I love it" Syed smiled, his eyes glistening with tears. It was the most beautiful present he had ever received from anyone.

"It must have cost you a fortune. You shou..."

"You're worth it" Christian interjected. "Here, let me", Christian whispered, taking the bracelet from his younger lover's grasp and fastening it around Syed's wrist.

"It looks right. Perfect in fact" Christian said as he held Syed's hand in his. It had cost more than perhaps they could afford but seeing it on Syed's wrist made it worth every penny. It was, after all, his first birthday present to Syed as a couple and he wanted it to be memorable.

"Come on then. Get ready or you'll be late" Christian whispered, dropping Syed's hand.

"Not that I'm complaining, mind. You in that towel..." Christian purred, smirking and grabbing hold of the top of the towel.

"Christian..." Syed gasped, in a half admonishing voice, pulling away slightly, whilst Christian started to kiss his neck. The last thing he needed was to be thinking of sex with Christian when he should be playing the dutiful son with his parents.

"Later" Syed whispered, squirming out of Christian's reach.

"Spoil sport" Christian muttered sulkily, reaching for the TV remote. He almost always got his way when it came to the bedroom department and he hated being 'rejected'.

"Just to keep you going till I get back" Syed purred, as he grabbed hold of the top of the towel and let it drop to the floor.

"And just for you" Syed continued turning around, shyly. He usually wasn't one for standing in the middle of the flat stark naked. Christian, however, was an expert. Syed had frequently come home to find him lounging on the bed with no clothes on.

"Is that all I get?" Christian laughed, enjoying the show.

"What do you think I am? Some sort of stripper? If you want a proper show, I'll expect proper payment" Syed giggled, grabbing the towel and running into the bathroom, leaving a grinning Christian behind.