Heaven in the Desert Ch. 08

"So, we never got around to having a conversation last night." Aaryan said as he dressed the next day.

"What is there to discuss?" Ariana said pointedly. "I was kidnapped and you found me. The end."

"Ariana..." he began and turned toward her.

"No! I don't want to discuss it. This is the second time I have been taken from my home because of your family Aaryan." She said as he walked over toward her. She fell to the floor in a crying heap.

"Jaanu (my life)." He said raining kisses all over her face. "I am sorry, I am so sorry."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you." Aaryan said clutching her face.

"Don't." Ariana said. "Everything is about you! I was taken from America for you. Your aunt took me because of you. It's all you, you, you Aaryan."

He stood, face hardening, "So what, you hate me now, is that it? This is all my fault?"

"No, that's not it! It's just...I want to feel safe; I need to feel safe!" Ariana said, wringing her hands.

"I told you I don't agree with the circumstances that brought you here but I love you Ariana, I don't regret that." He said facing the wall.

"I love you too." She said standing and touching his back. "And I know, I know. I'm just processing all of this Aaryan and I'm so confused and I feel so emotional, that's not my normal self, you know that." She replied touching her head.

"I am sorry that they kidnapped you and that my position puts you in danger but we cannot let the actions of others tear us apart, break up our family." He said pulling her into a hug. "I love you."

"I love you too, but I'm scared and I'm tired of being someone's pawn. We have to convince your mother and the council to agree to our new government structure. Not only for my sake, but for Quadir, our children, our grandchildren, your nephews and nieces to come." She stated.

"I agree." He said kissing her. "And we will tighten security, you will never be alone again."

"Slow down there general. While this kidnapping plot did reveal some gaps in our security, the solution is not to take away my autonomy. Let's tighten security at lab." She agreed.

Aaryan began to protest. "Buh, buh, buh," she tsked. "Yes, tighten security at the lab so that all personnel badge in, badge out and there are thorough background checks done on everyone. Yes, Aaryan, yes I will keep my shadows but I think they should also teach me some self-defense in the event that something ever happens again. Ok?"

"I can agree to that. And I also agree that you should learn how to use a weapon and have one in your office. No buts." Aaryan said clasping her hands.

"Ok, I can agree to that." Ariana replied.

"I'm glad we talked." she said after a while, knocking his leg.

"Our communication is what makes us strong." He said locking their fingers. Kissing her hand, he said, "I will be working from here for a few days. I don't want you to go back to the office until the new security measures are in place. You should rest and take a few days off anyway. Let me know when and if you want to go back." He said rising from the bed.

"I think I am going to rest today...I just feel off." Ariana said crawling back into bed.

"I will check on you later." Aaryan said kissing her forehead and leaving for his office.

******

The next few days passed by uneventfully. Ariana spent most of her time with Quadir and Aaryan as she tried to get reacclimated to life. She and Aaryan provided the council with a full outline of their new government proposal and Ghaniyah said they would make a decision by the wedding.

In the meantime, she spent mornings learning self-defense from her shadows, afternoons at the range with Aaryan and evenings going over schoolwork with Quadir.

She returned to work at the end of the week. She was still feeling a bit unwell so she asked a tech to give her a full lab work up.

Time passed by quickly with last minute wedding preparations until they arrived at the day of the wedding.

**********

"Mother!" Ariana exclaimed as her mother walked into the room on her wedding day.

"Fancy! Fancy!" Her mother Charlotte said sashaying into the room and giving her a hug.

"I'm so happy you are here." Ariana said giving her a hug and a kiss. "Ghaniyah this is my mother Charlotte, Mom, this is Aaryan's mother Ghaniyah."

"It's nice to meet you Charlotte, I have heard wonderful things about you. You have raised a wonderful daughter." Ghaniyah said pulling Charlotte into a hug. "I will give you all a moment alone while I check on the preparations."

"So, you'll be the wife of a sultan. Does that mean that I call you Queen or your grace?" Her mother joked.

"Mom." Ariana said throwing a pillow at her. "Help me into my dress. So, everyone arrived safely? My brothers and Elliot."

"Yes, dear. Thank you for inviting us all." Charlotte said bringing over the dress. "Now, tell me about this new life you have built for yourself."

"Well mama, I'm enjoying my time working in the lab. It pays well and Aaryan treats me extremely well and not just because I am his future wife. My research really makes me feel closer to dad and I hope, goodness mom, I hope that he is proud of the work I'm doing here today and that my work will save lives." Ariana said tearing up.

"Oh honey, honey, none of that, no. Today is a happy day." Her mother said smiling and trying to get her to smile. "Your father loved you very much and I'm sure he is proud of all of his children. Just because he is no longer physically here, does not me he is not with us. You have his kindness," she punctuated with a kiss, "his heart, his ambition and most of all his compassion."

"Thank you, mama." Ariana said wiping the tears from her eyes and letting out a slight chuckle. "I needed to hear that."

"Now let's go make you a Queen." Her mother said and Ariana put her dress on.

******

Aaryan fidgeted with his cufflinks at the altar as he stood next to his brothers. He didn't understand why he was nervous; They were already married! He figured it had something to do with his and Ariana's abstinence. Since the night of her kidnapping, they had not had sex. Ariana thought it would be fun to wait to have sex again until they were husband and wife in front of everyone's eyes. He couldn't have disagreed more but one thing his brother had taught him about being married was to pick his battles. She had won that round but he would be winning tonight.

His groomsmen were dressed in navy blue suits, white shirts and navy-blue ties. Aaryan was wearing a silver blue suit, white shirt and navy-blue tie.

The outside where the ceremony was to be held was decorated with blue roses and ivory calla lilies as well as floating candles.

The scene was set and he was ready for his eager bride. As the wedding march began, Aaryan's eyes moved to the entrance and took in the vision that was Ariana.

Although she wanted to wear a champagne-colored dress, Ghaniyah insisted on the dress of the purest white as she had been a virgin when they met. Ariana's ball gown was covered in jewels of the finest quality. Her lace sleeves made their way up to her covered and embellished high neck bodice. A beautiful lace veil covered her face but Aaryan could see her beaming smile.

As her brothers walked her closer to Aaryan, Ariana's smile grew. When the officiant asked who gives this woman away, they enthusiastically said "We do."

"Aaryan." Ariana said as she smiled as clasped his hands at the altar.

"My love." Aaryan said kissing her hands.

"Let us begin." The officiant said. "We are gathered here to not only witness this union of Miss Ariana Johnson to our dear Sultan but to also witness the ascension of Miss Johnson to Queen."

"Sultan please repeat after me." The officiant said and read the wedding vows.

As this was a royal ceremony, they did not give personalized wedding vows.

Repeating Aaryan said, "I, Aaryan pledge to you Ariana, my wife, to protect you and to be a loyal and faithful husband." He slipped a wedding band on her finger after the engagement band.

"My queen, please repeat after me." The officiant said and read the bridal wedding vows.

"I, Ariana pledge in honesty and sincerity to you, Aaryan, my husband, to be your faithful and dutiful wife. I pledge to be obedient and trust in your ability to protect our family." She said slipping a wedding band on Aaryan's wedding finger.

"May you both walk in peace and prosperity." The officiant said and they turned to the gathered crowd to cheers and praise.

"Let's dance." Ariana said raising her bouquet in celebration.

*********

On the dance floor a funny thing happened. A forlorn Fadil was sitting at a table alone nursing a slice a cake when Ariana's friend Bianca walked over.

Bianca was an athletically built dark chocolate toned African American woman. She was around 5'9 with b cup breasts and a handful of ass. Bianca liked to think she had a handful of ass and a handful of sass.

She shimmied over to Fadil and he instantly perked up. "So," Bianca said sitting in his lap and running a hand through his hair. "Ariana told me your single and you're going to be a governor or something."

Fadil stuttered as Bianca rose and pulled him toward the dance floor.

"Now I never saw myself as a governor's wife but you are handsome and just like Ariana, I could deal with a little relocation." She said as she placed Fadil's hands on her ass and began to dance.

Nearby Ariana looked on as she danced with Aaryan and laughed.

"Hey you." Aaryan said nuzzling her neck.

"Hey back." She said kissing him. "I meant to tell you, remember when I wasn't feeling well, well I had some tests done...Before you panic, I'm ok. Everything came back fine." Ariana said, looking into his eyes.

"Fine?" He said giving her a questioning look.

"Yes, fine. Just...pregnant." She said in glee.

"I knew it," he said picking her up and spinning her around. "When should we tell everyone?"

"Let's get Quadir and tell him first and then we can make a biiiiiiig announcement." Ariana said clutching his face.

"I love you." Aaryan said.

"I love you too." Ariana said back.

**********Epilogue

The council agreed to their plan to divide the counties into governorships that left Aaryan as sultan and ruler. Haaziq will head the Kinsha and Awaan. Fadil will head the Adab and Gutan. The Amini, his cousin Kaseem, will head the Isin and along with his duties as Sultan and head of the council, Aaryan will head the Imitti, Eshtar and Ashake.

They announced the pregnancy later on during the wedding to no surprise of Ghaniyah and Aaryan's brothers but to the confusion of Ariana's family.

"So Fadil and Bianca hunh." Aaryan said kissing Ariana's very extended belly.

"Yes." Ariana said easing into a sitting position. She was four months pregnant with twins. Everyone was thrilled, especially Ghaniyah and Quadir. Ariana was excited, but she would be even more excited when she was holding the twins instead of running to the bathroom because someone decided to tap dance on her bladder.

"She moved in with him pretty quickly." Ariana said with a shrug. "Fadil likes strong women." She finished with a smile.

"Oh he does, does he." Aaryan said tickling his wife.

She giggled. "Let's catch up with them on holiday. Yes...lets!"