Page 23 of Sheikh's Quarantine Triplet Baby Daughters

Diane

They had said they would take things slow, and remembering how they had been in Paris and even how they had been when they first laid eyes on each other again after being so long apart, Diane had her doubts. She and Samyar were people who moved fast and went after what they wanted, and the idea of either of them moving slowly was going to take some effort on both of their parts.

Of course, Diane thought with some wryness, that was before a global pandemic got involved.

It was painfully clear that Samyar wanted nothing more than to be with her and to figure out explicitly what it was they were doing and how they could be together, but duty called.

Directly after they decided they were going to take things slow, they were forced to do so by a series of infrastructure issues that required their attention.

"It's as if I can't take my eyes off them for a moment," he said to her late one night. "The moment I think I can, someone's trying to line their pockets or thinking that of course everything can go back to normal."

"It's all right," she said. "Take care of the people who need you. I would never want you to stop that."

It was the truth. She thought that in the time to come, she would be all right with learning to share Samyar with the country that he loved so much, that she was learning to love as well. If they were going to have the future that he so dearly seemed to believe they should have, she would have to, and she was all right with that.

Between one thing and another, it was almost a week before she received a text at almost one in the morning.

Finally, finally, that's all taken care of. Let me take care of you tomorrow.

The text made her smile, because she had missed him, and because it was altogether too easy to imagine him writing the message for her in his own room just a few doors down. Diane paused, biting her lip.

It was the matter of a moment to take off her pajamas and put on some real clothes again. Feeling more than a little like a teen sneaking out for the night, she slipped out her door and padded down the hallway. At night, the residential wing of the palace was cleared of staff, and the hallway lights were dimmed to give everything a mysterious and gentle air. She paused for a moment in front of Samyar's door, and then she rapped on it very gently.

If he's too tired to hear that, if he's asleep, then I'll just go back to my room and see him tomorrow...

Just when she was getting ready to turn around and go back, the door opened, and Samyar blinked at her in confusion. He was still mostly dressed, but he had discarded his jacket and his white shirt was open at the collar with the sleeves rolled up.

"Diane," he said, and then more sternly, "what are you doing up?"

Diane couldn't help laughing at his tone.

"I could ask you the same question," she said. "I've been a little insomniac lately. The doctor says it's normal. I have a lot of hormones happening to me."

"Still, you should probably at least try to maintain— What am I saying, I'm just happy to see you."

She started to say that she was happy to see him too, and then he drew her into his arms, holding her just the way she wanted to be held.

"Oh I missed you," she found herself saying, and then she blushed, because how silly was that? They had only really been apart for less than a week. Would he think she was being silly?

"I missed you too," he said firmly, banishing her doubts. "I thought about you all the time. Hopefully, when things are normal again, I won't be so out of touch, even during emergencies."

"I know you're doing your best. Don't worry about it."

"I do, though," he insisted. "There were a dozen things I wanted to do and to show you before everything got in the way."

She regarded him curiously.

"Like what?"

Samyar started to speak, but then considered.

"How awake are you feeling?" he asked. "Not too tired?"

"Ugh, I wish I was tired. No, the way I'm feeling, I could be up for hours yet."

"All right. How do you feel about a walk?"

"With you? All for it."

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