A/N: this is just a stop gap to wrap up the storyline with Amira. the rest of the fic will deal with Zainab trying to come to terms with everything

Chapter Ten

"Amira?" Syed sounded shocked as he opened the door and found his ex wife standing there. She had been the last person he had expected to see.

"Oh Syed," she said, genuinely shocked and horrified by the state of his appearance. "You look awful."

"Why are you here? What do you want?"

"I'm so sorry, I am so sorry that this happened."

"How did you know?"

"Can I come in?"

Syed nodded and opened the door wider so she could enter the house. He then followed her into the living room and waited for her explanation.

"I knew he was mad but I didn't think it would go this far, I mean you could have died."

"What do you mean?" Syed asked; feeling worried now.

"Dad. He's the one who did this. Well he didn't do it personally but he paid someone to do it for him. He said he wanted to teach you a lesson."

"Well he certainly did that," Syed said as he slowly lowered himself down onto the sofa, his body still feeling sore from the beating.

"If I'd known at the time I would have stopped him, I only found out yesterday. There's no way I would have let him do that to you."

"I know you wouldn't," Syed told her

"I completely understand if you want to go to the police, he was out of line and he shouldn't have done it."

"Maybe you're being a little harsh."

"I don't think so."

"No, maybe not," Syed smiled slightly.

Amira returned the smile and sat down in the chair. "How've you been?"

"Apart from this? Great."

"You know what I mean. I didn't think you were still living at home."

"I wasn't until I got out of hospital. I was staying at Christians. This is just temporary until I'm feeling better and then I'm going back."

Amira frowned slightly at the mention of Christian's name and stared at the floor. He was still a sore point with her and she couldn't hide it. "Are you happy with him?" She asked, obviously a glutton for punishment.

"Yeah," he said quickly, not really wanting to talk about it. He was already aware of the pain he had caused her and didn't want to rub it in any further.

"We were doomed from the start, weren't we?"

"I doomed us. I should have just admitted I was gay earlier and then none of this would have happened."

"Maybe I should have seen what was in front of my face the entire time we were together. I just managed to humiliate myself."

"It's not your fault. None of this is."

"Thanks but it doesn't make me feel any better."

"I don't suppose it would."

"I was so angry with you; I really did feel like killing you at one point. Then I realised that I couldn't really be mad because I didn't hate you, only what you did. I'm not making sense am I?"

"Yeah you are."

"Anyway, I'd better go; I only came to tell you about my dad. I don't want to out stay my welcome."

"You could never do that," Syed smiled slightly and followed her to the front door. As he held the door open for her; she leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Goodbye Syed, hope he makes you happy."

"Thanks, hope you find someone who gives you the love you deserve."

Amira gave him one final, bright smile before she turned and walked away; not looking back once as she turned the corner and out of his life. Syed closed the door and sighed; a giant weight finally released from his shoulders once and for all. Then he rooted around for his phone.

"Hey," she smiled as Christian answered the phone. "I was wondering if you wanted to come over and I could make us something to eat. Great, I'll see you soon," Syed said as he ended the call.