ARABIAN NATION OF ZIDRA
It was a beautiful morning and the lovely couple were snuggled up against each other in their tent in the desert.
The kids were having a ten days holiday at school because of some maintenance work, and Zayed took advantage of that and flew Aveline and the kids over to Zidra.
The first four days were spent at the city palace and it was too noisy there.
He is a man of deserts! And it's high time he showed Aveline where he is the happiest.
But after the kidnap scenario, Aveline was positively terrified at the thought of leaving the kids alone. But Basim convinced her that they would be absolutely safe with him.
And he also tripled the security for the kids and for Aveline.
Zayed badly needed alone time with Aveline, so whisked her away to his private retreat in the deserts.
He opened his eyes as sunlight streamed through the windows of the tent. And his heart filled with warmth when he saw Aveline asleep, snuggled up against him. Her pregnant belly touching his torso, sending a fierce surge of blood flow through his veins.
He carefully slid out his hold and pulled on just his boxers and walked out of the tent.
He lit the outdoor stove and kept the water boiling. He felt a pair of arms wrapping around his torso and a smile appeared on his face.
"Good morning, habibti" he said
"It feels so good here. So calm" Aveline said
"I know. This is my favourite place in Zidra. Whenever I need alone time, I come here" Zayed said
"This is your retreat?" Aveline asked
"Yes. I first found this place when I was thirteen. That was when I first found out about my father's infidelities" Zayed said and Aveline hummed, letting him talk.
"Up until that day, he was my hero. The invincible, all powerful Sultan of Zidra. I was in awe of him. In my eyes, he was perfect" Zayed said, as they both sat on a stone bench.
"How did you find out?" Aveline asked
"I heard mom crying her heart out. She was begging him to stop it. To not do this to her anymore. I didn't understand what was happening at first. It wasn't their bedroom. It was in the harem area. Back then, I didn't understand what a harem was. Then I noticed the other woman in there. She was half naked and cowering behind. She wasn't the first either. That day, I lost my father" Zayed said and Aveline wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
"She should have left him long back" Aveline said
"I know. She should have. She married him against her family's wishes. He was an engaged man, when they fell in love. Mom couldn't see past her love for him. She stood against everyone in her family and married him. And when you think about it, the only thing my father did, which would bring problems to the country was to marry my mother. I still don't understand how he did it" Zayed said
"So, when I found out that my father is not a hero as I believed until that day, I couldn't stay at the Palace anymore. I got onto my mare and rode across the desert. This is where I stopped. From that day, this place became my retreat" Zayed said
"You never brought anyone here?" Aveline asked
"No. Not even my brothers invaded this place. You are the first person, I share this place with" Zayed said
"I am honoured" Aveline said
"So? Is baby number four awake?" Zayed asked
Aveline placed a hand on her belly and smiled
"He is now. Seems like he heard you asking about him" Aveline said
"Hey sweetie. Good morning. Did you have a nice sleep, after keeping your momma awake the whole night?" Zayed asked, keeping a hand on her bulging tummy.
In response to the question, the baby kicked hard making the parents smile
"He did" Aveline said with a laugh.
"Are you missing your brothers and sister?" Zayed asked again and got two kicks in response
"He is. And as a matter of fact, I am missing them, too. God knows how they slept without me at night" Aveline said with worry
"Well, they need to learn to sleep alone." Zayed said, making Aveline roll her eyes.
"You just want me all to yourself" Aveline said
"That I do, habibti. When this little one is born, he will be trained to sleep alone from day one" Zayed said
"How mean" Aveline exclaimed
"We have to teach them to be independent at a young age, Aveline." Zayed said and Aveline nodded reluctantly.
"So? Did you decide on a name for the little one?" Zayed asked
"No. I named the triplets. You didn't get a chance back then. Now it's your turn" Aveline said making him laugh
"I do have a name in my mind. I was thinking of suggesting it" Zayed said
"Tell me, tell me" Aveline said in excitement
"Zaif, if the baby is a boy. Zera, if a girl" Zayed said
During the last ultrasound, the doctor had asked them whether they wanted to know the gender of the child. But they decided against knowing.
"Beautiful names" Aveline whispered
"Come on. The tea is ready." Zayed said and poured tea for both of them.
As they were having tea, Zayed's satellite phone rang.
"Zayed Ahmed al Zidra" Zayed said and soon he picked up the call
"Zayed. This is Basim" his brother's voice was too serious. Zayed could sense that there is something wrong.
The first thing that came to his mind is the triplets.
"The triplets?" He asked in dread
"They are fine. Safe. It's something else. Something more terrifying than we expected" Basim said
"The culprit is found?" Zayed asked in a cold tone
"Yes. And I still can't believe what I read in the report. I suggest you return immediately. I am at loss" Basim said
"I am coming, Bass" Zayed said and hung up the call.
Who could it be? Basim sounded so rattled!