Two years later and Christian and Syed have been happily living together back in the Square. They have their ups and downs but their relationship is as passionate as ever. The only real difficulties for them have been Syed's continuing strained relationship with his parents, particularly his father and the way he has been shunned at the mosque by many members of his community. Christian has done everything in his power to try and understand Syed's feelings, but there are significant differences in their cultural background that sometimes cause misunderstandings between them. The willingness of Christian to always talk about any issue goes a long way to keeping them strong together and helps Syed who is naturally far more reserved about expressing his feelings. He has learnt though, that Christian refuses to let a matter rest if it can be resolved.

"Morning lover!"

Syed groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

"C'mon Si. Look there's coffee on the side. Don't go back to sleep. Your mum hates it if you're late. There's no point in aggravating her. You know what she's like. I'm going. I've got a client in ten minutes and he needs some serious work. The guy looks like he ate the cake shop."

"Kiss me goodbye then."

Syed sat up, hair dishevelled, looking groggy and stroppy. Christian loved that look and teased him.

"What with that morning breath?"

" Fair enough Mr Fragrant-but if you had any sense you'd dump lard arse and give me an early morning work out instead. I have needs you know and they're not being met."

"Yeah I can see your need through those bed covers but you'll just have to put it on hold 'cause our bills won't be met if one of us doesn't get out there. I'll work on you later"

You better, I'm in serious need."

"You're always in need! I'm gone."

Christian laughed as he left the flat. Syed was insatiable which was just the way Christian liked it.

Syed smiled when he thought of how it would be later. He could never seem to get enough of Christian. The man just oozed sex appeal. In fact it was one of the things that they argued about as Syed couldn't help but be jealous sometimes. Christian had the same effect on men and women alike. Pity some of that natural charm hadn't worked on his mother. Syed sighed thinking of his mother. He was due to meet her in thirty minutes to talk about Tamwar's 21st birthday. Syed knew what was coming. Zainab and his father would not want him and Christian at the family celebrations although Tamwar himself would be furious if he knew they were being asked not to come. Zainab would ask Syed to make up some lame excuse to Tamwar just to preserve the family peace. Tamwar would know exactly what was going on and so the whole exercise was a charade that would become a big issue and once again he and Christian, and in particular Christian would be blamed for causing indelible damage to the family. Syed was sick of it and in particular he found the demonising of Christian impossible to take these days. When he thought of how kind Christian was, how forgiving of his family and their behaviour, he felt ashamed and angry at their continuing lack of understanding. He had changed so much over the two years with Christian. Whilst he would probably never be as 'out and proud' as Christian, he was no longer ashamed of being gay. Christian had shown him true love through impossible circumstances, had never wavered in his support for him and had helped him become confident as a gay man in an often hostile and unforgiving society. He was also more understanding of Zainab and Masood than they deserved, considering their shameful behaviour towards him Syed thought with some bitterness. However, despite everything, Syed still craved his families' love and acceptance.. .

Walking across the square ten minutes later he saw Christian putting his client through his paces and felt his heart beating a little faster as he watched Christian move. 'Phwoar' he thought smiling to himself.

He met Zainab in the park where she took Kamil every week for the swings. Syed loved his little brother with a passion and often he and his mother found that the presence of Kamil helped them both to keep things civil and stopped either of them saying things they would later regret. As soon as Kamil saw his big brother he started running as fast as his little legs would carry him shouting delightedly, "Side! Side!" and as he reached him Syed swung him up over his head. Zainab loved to see them together and often thought with a deep pain what a wonderful father Syed would make if only 'that man' was out of their lives. She still could not accept that Syed had made a free choice to be with Christian. She nursed some half formed, hazy notion never quite allowing it to form into a coherent thought, that Christian had somehow corrupted Syed and taken him down a dark road that he would one day return from. It was more wishful thinking than anything else, for somewhere deep inside, in a recess of her being she rarely consciously visited, Zainab knew her son and knew that he was not only gay, but deeply in love and that Christian was not evil and had in fact brought her son a sense of peace and strength that was not there before. It was impossible for her to consciously acknowledge this however, as it went against everything she had learnt was right.

"Syed, How are you? You look thin. Are you eating enough? What is all this hair? You need a shave and haircut . Do you want a drink?"

"Mum! Slow down!"

He kissed her cheek, and deposited a now struggling Kamil on to her lap.

How are you mum? You look great. How is dad? I'll get the drinks. Coffee?"

He sauntered over to the park café and bought coffee and apple juice for Kamil. Zainab watched him and felt tears coming as they often did around Syed. She loved him so much.

"So mum how have you been? Tam told me Shabnam is arriving back on Wednesday. I can't wait to see her and hear her news."

" I'm sure you will have chance to see her" Zainab said drily, knowing full well that Shabnam would be over at Christian's the first chance she got, both to see Syed but also Christian, who she adored. All of her children seemed to love Christian and that fact meant that she felt a distance from them at times that she wholly blamed Christian for. Even Kamil had called out to Christian the last time she had seen him in the square and she had been furious, knowing that Tamwar must have been with Christian and Syed whilst he was watching Kamil at some point. It had been the subject of another argument with Tamwar who had no patience any more for her and Masood's attitude. He was intelligent and opinionated and whilst he was never overtly disrespectful to his parents he was quietly defiant and not afraid to speak the truth as he saw it.

"Christian is a human being mum. He is the man your son loves and he is a good person. Neither of them deserves to be treated like you and dad treat them and you know it! Apart from loving Syed, what other crime has he committed? You think seriously about the terrible things people do in the name of our great religion: In the name of all religions. His 'crime' does not even compare. One day I hope you have the courage to question yourself on the subject and maybe when you acknowledge the truth, you can help dad do the same?"

Zainab hadn't answered. How could she? It was true that some part of her responded to what Tamwar was telling her, but she was just not able to let go of her conditioning that easily. Besides, as a family they had had to endure the whispers of others in their community and had been outwardly shunned by some of the more militant members of their mosque. Strangely, their strongest friends through all of it had been Bushra and her husband, both of whom had stood beside them and always included them in social events and prayed beside them at mosque. Zainab had seen a different side to Bushra since one of Bushra's own daughters had run off to marry a non muslim. They had formed a new more mutually respectful friendship and she found Bushra had been a great strength to her.

Syed was playing with Kamil but he was eager to get the conversation on to the real reason they were meeting.

"So Mum, I take it that you want to talk about Tam's birthday? You don't want Christian and I to be there?"

"It's not that I don't want you there…"

"Well that's just not an option mum as you well know. Tambo can see us another time. You don't need to worry, I understand. Christian understands. We wouldn't want to be anywhere we're not welcome."

"It's not that you're not welcome ...It would just cause …trouble. I...I.I don't want it. I can't cope with it. I just want things to be peaceful. There's a lot of family going to be there. Can you not just make an appearance, alone for once?"

"How would that be mum? Really? You know what I'm saying. I'm not willing to small talk rubbish with people when I can see in their eyes what they are thinking of me. Let's just leave the subject. I love you and dad and I wish things were different but I will not disrespect the person I love by always leaving them alone as if they are somehow less worthy than other people. I'm just not willing to do that any more. He is a better man than half the people there what ever you and dad think. I love him, mum"

Zainab shook her head

"I don't need to hear that!"

"Yes you do, yes you do! That is reality. That is who I am. Me. Your son."

Syed stopped himself. He always did this. Let it get to him. Christian had told him time and time again to keep a lid on it with his parents for his own sake. Christian knew how it would be if he was completely estranged from them as he had been at the outset of their relationship. It had taken a lot to get to this point. He must not ruin it.

"Oh Mum, let's just leave it. I'm just happy to see you and Kamil. He looks great. Is he at nursery yet?"

Zainab took the opportunity Syed had given not to continue with the conflict. She too was desperate not to completely lose him again. They spent the rest of their time together talking about Kamil and Shabnam and by the time Syed was ready to leave they were able to kiss and hug with genuine love.

Walking back to the flat Syed was glad that he had not pushed it. Christian was right. He must learn to control himself. He allowed himself to think about his favourite subject remembering that Christian had promised to come back to the flat that afternoon to deal with his 'need.' At least that was one situation where he could forget about controlling himself! He quickened his pace. Christian might be there now, waiting.