Syed sat alone at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee. Christian hadn't shown up to work that day, and Syed felt awful. He'd wanted to speak to him about last night. And worse than that…not being around Christian hurt him more than he thought was possible. But what else could he do?

"I can't believe this has happened!"

Syed looked up as Amira stormed into the kitchen, her eyes flashing dangerously. She glared at him, and Syed felt the familiar flash of panic in his stomach. Had she seen something? Did she know?

"W-what's happened?"

"Christian!"

Syed's eyes widened. "Look, Amira, it's not-"

"He's only gone and backed out of being our wedding planner! Three days before the big event! Does he not realise I've got enough on my plate without having to take on his jobs as well?!"

Syed blinked up at her. "He's backed out? Why?"

Amira flapped her hand dismissively. "Oh, he says he's ill, but he sounded fine. I think he's got a bloke holed up in his flat."

Syed sat forward. "Why would you think that? Did he say anything? Did you hear someone in the flat?!"

Amira shrugged. "No, but…it's Christian isn't it? 'Course it's about a bloke." she smiled at Syed with doe-eyes. "Babe…"

"What?" Syed asked suspiciously. Amira crouched down next to him and looked up at him through her eyelashes.

"Could you go and talk to him? Find out what's going on?"

"No! I mean…I don't think he'd want me going round."

"Why? Have you two had a fight or something?"

Syed looked away from her. "No, we just…I mean, if he's got a bloke he's not gonna want me turning up is he? And if he really is ill, I don't want to risk getting sick for the wedding."

"I suppose so." she sighed and stood up. "When you next see your mum can you get her to call me? Everything about this wedding is so damn complicated now!" she turned and walked put of the kitchen, and Syed heard the front door slam shut.

"You're telling me." he murmured, burying his face in his hands.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Christian sat alone in his flat, head resting on his hands. It had gotten dark about an hour ago, but he couldn't muster up the strength to bother getting up and turning on the light. He knew it was childish, avoiding everyone like this. But the whole square seemed to be running around planning Syed's wedding, and Christian was sick of any mention of the impending nuptials. He glanced at the phone when it rang, but made no move to answer it. He knew who was calling him. He listened as the answering machine cut in, telling whoever it was to leave a message.

"Christian? It's me…again. Please answer the phone? I know you're home. Amira told me what you've done, not being the wedding planner anymore. She's practically spitting fire over it! Anyway, listen…about last night…we need to talk more about this. Please? I…" Syed's voice quietened and Christian wondered where he was calling from that he might risk being overheard, "…I told you I love you. You can't just stop seeing me, Christian, don't you think people are going to notice? Look…just call me back when you hear this. Please."

Christian rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. He wasn't sure he was strong enough to do this. He'd always told himself he wasn't a home-wrecker. When he'd slept with married men in the past it had always been a one night stand, a way to boost his ego. But Syed…for the first time in a very long time Christian wanted a future with someone. He wanted the clichéd couply nights in, he wanted to be able to walk hand-in-hand, he wanted to show people that he was in love, instead of having to have Roxy keep asking him 'when he was gonna get a fit bloke round so she could perv on him?'. And why not? He'd been kidding himself, somehow imagining everything would work out, but it wouldn't. Syed was never going to 'come out', and maybe that would have been enough for Christian a few yeas ago, but now he wanted more. And why shouldn't he get more? What was stopping him going out now and picking up some fabulously good looking guy in a bar somewhere?

If only the thought of being with someone other than Syed didn't make Christian feel physically sick.

2 days later

Christian groaned when the buzzer on the door went. He looked nervously over at the reciever. He hadn't left his flat in days other than to buy food, and even then he hadn't spoken to anyone unless he had to.

He deliberately hadn't gone anywhere he thought he might see Syed.

It buzzed again and Christian realised whoever it was wasn't going to go away. With a sigh, he got up and walked over.

"What?…oh. Jane. No, I wasn't expecting anyone else. Come on up."

After a few moments Jane was walking through the front door. She gave him a quick hug.

"Are you ok? You've been holed up in here for days, Ian said you weren't well."

"I'm fine. Probably just a cold, you know what I'm like! Have to make a drama out of everything."

"You look terrible."

"Thanks, I love you too."

Jane slapped him lightly on the arm. "Seriously, Christian, are you ok?"

"I'll be fine. Honestly. Do you want some tea or anything?"

"No, I can't stay, just wanted to see how you are." she smiled and reached into her bag for something. "By the way, how are you getting to the wedding? I was thinking we could share a car?"

"I'm not going."

Jane looked up. "What? Why not?"

"Somehow I don't think I'd be welcome."

"Oh Christian, don't be stupid. Syed'll want you there."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"Have you two had a row or something? Look, he's probably just nervous about the wedding. And besides, Ian's not coming, you can't leave me alone with Zainab."

"Sorry sis."

Jane's eyes narrowed. "Christian I don't know what's going on, but you are coming to this wedding."

"Jane…"

"No excuses. If you're not there tomorrow I will be seriously pissed, and believe me you do not want to be on my bad side right now."

Christian just looked at her. After a few moments she shook her head and walked out of the flat, closing the door behind her.

Christian sat back down on the sofa. Jane would get over it. Of course she would. All he'd need to do would be to start complaining about Ian and it would take her mind right off it…

He was interrupted by a frantic knocking on the door. He stood up with a smile.

"Forget something did you? I swear you'd forget your…oh." he'd flung open the door, only instead of his sister, Syed stood there.

"Hi." he said awkwardly.

"What're you doing here?"

"I haven't seen you in three days. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Well I'm fine. See? You can go." Christian refused to meet Syed's gaze, knowing that as soon as he looked into those deep brown eyes he'd be lost.

"You don't look fine." Syed reached out a hand to touch Christian's face, but the older man flinched back.

"I told you not to come here again."

"I had to see you."

"Why?" Christian snapped. He made no move to let the younger man into the flat. "Why did you have to see me?"

"I want-"

"You don't know what you want." Christian interrupted.

"I want you." Syed cupped Christian's face in his hands, forcing him to look at him. "I want you." he repeated softly, before pressing his lips to Christian's. The older man melted against him, pulling him into the flat and closing the door behind him.

"Oh, Sy." Christian mumbled against Syed's mouth. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Christian deepened the kiss, pulling Syed's shirt over his head and placing a hand on his chest, feeling his lover's heartbeat. Syed moaned against him.

"I love you. Once this wedding's over we'll make this work, you'll see."

Christian froze. He pushed Syed away from him. "You're still getting married?"

Syed frowned. "Well…yeah. Of course."

Christian backed away and started pacing angrily. "You can't do this to me, Syed."

"Do what?" Syed picked his shirt off the floor and pulled it back over his head.

"You can't have it all. You can't marry your princess and keep your parents happy and then have me in the background. It's one or the other."

Syed swallowed nervously. "Christian…"

"Me or them?"

"I…can't answer that."

Christian's face darkened. "You just did."

Syed opened his mouth to respond, but one look at Christian's face told him it would be pointless. He went and pulled open the front door, walking out into the corridor.

"Oh, and Sy?" he turned. "Just for the record I would never actually make you choose between your family and me. I'd have thought you knew that."

Next chapter's gonna be the wedding! I have no idea what a Muslim wedding is like because I've never been to one, so please forgive me if it's rubbish! Also if anyone can give me any help with info about that, can they PM me?