Apologies for the ridiculous time since I started this, but just got the writing bug back. A light fluffy chapter to get back into it before Chryed have a proper date.

Chapter 11

That was the thing about weddings; they brought out the best and the worst in families and they were a hotbed for gossip. Even so, Christian was surprised how many friends or clients asked if it was true that the eternal party animal was finally settling down. He wanted to give the whole "love across the years" story but only a handful of people knew about their original affair and while Christian would happily shout it from the rooftops, Syed was still trying to get access to his children, so the less said the better.

Zainab and Masood had obviously told Amira and Quadim and it was clear that any hopes Syed had for friendly access arrangements were shot. Christian had expected Syed to take this badly, but he remained calm and insistent and his lawyers were confident of his case if it went to court.

Three weeks had passed since the wedding and even living under the same roof they hardly saw each other; their working lives were both so busy and so out of sync they barely had time off together.

"Early start tomorrow?" Syed asked watching Christian packing up his training gear for the next day.

"Yeh, first client at 6am then right through to 4pm."

"Oh, I had a meeting with the Germans but they cancelled so I have a whole day free, can you manage lunch?

"Sorry babe I agreed to meet Jane she's back from Canada, sure she would love to see you though if you want to join us?"

"Back already I thought she had another week. It's OK though I will leave you two to gossip about me. Anyway I wasn't really thinking about food for lunch."

Christian stopped in his tracks. "Easy tiger, mind you I like the sound of that, tell you what let me phone around see if I can rearrange some clients."

Syed watched as Christian pulled out his appointment book and with his easy banter and a little persuasion he managed to clear the afternoon. By this time it was after eight and they still hadn't eaten. Syed cooked and they ate in the kitchen.

"So we have a date tomorrow afternoon then. How about we try and re-organise our lives so we actually get to do this again."

"A date – I like the sound of that, we have never really done the whole going out thing before have we Sy? Too busy meeting in dark alleys! What do you have in mind?"

Syed blushed, both from the shame of the way he had treated Christian in the past, and the stirring in the groin from the memory of those stolen kisses not to mention outright groping. "You're right," he said contritely, "time I showed you off properly."

Christian read his mind accurately and nudged him, "Hey we did have fun, and there is something really hot about alleyways!"

"Well not tomorrow – we are going out for a posh date, I'll organise it and pick you up here, dressed to kill, at 2:30 OK? Oh and by the way I think I should hire us a joint PA, save you having to do bookings and paperwork, and they might just be able to coordinate our diaries so that we don't only see each other when we are shattered and ready for bed."

Christian grinned "Sounds good to me, but Sy don't think any amount juggling of diaries will mean we won't be ready for bed when we meet."

Syed whacked him with his diary "I thought you preferred alleyways!"