HALF HER DEEN

37. 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙝, 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪?

Hassan's Pov

Something was lightly dripping on my face, accompanied by a gentle caress on both my cheeks. There was also a soft pressure on my chest, though in my sleepy haze, I couldn't really tell what it was.

I was slowly being pulled out of sleep, the fog of dreams clearing as I became aware of a soft voice babbling above me. As I woke up from my slumber, I finally opened my eyes and squinted upward, only to find Zayd perched on my chest. His chubby cheeks were stretched into a gummy smile, and he was tapping my cheeks with his small, round hands, all while drool dripped from his mouth.

I couldn't help but feel a rush of tenderness and awe as I looked at him. My little man.

"I know your mother put you up to this," I said, still half-asleep, as I sat up and leaned against the bedhead, holding Zayd up in my arms. I gave him a playful shake.

"You're in trouble, young man," I teased, but Zayd just stared back at me with his big, innocent eyes, his chubby face framed by an open mouth.

We were locked in a playful stare-off when the bedroom door creaked open, and Halimah walked in, carrying a tray filled with food.

"Assalamu alaikum, sleepyhead," she sang sweetly, albeit slightly off-key. Her hair was up in a bun, and she was dressed in one of my shirts paired with leggings. She always looked good, but there was something about seeing her in my clothes that made me wonder if they weren't actually meant for her all along. She had a way of making anything look effortlessly stylish.

"Wa alaikum salam, habibti" I responded softly, sitting up straighter in bed. Zayd was now on my lap, his wide eyes locked on his mother.

Halimah placed the tray on the bedside table and climbed into bed with us, taking Zayd into her arms and settling him on her lap. She gestured for me to dig into the breakfast she'd brought.

"Hold on, I need to brush my teeth," I said, quickly getting up and heading to the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but smile at the sound of Zayd's coos and Halimah's voice coming from the bedroom.

After rinsing my mouth, I returned to the room, climbed back into bed, and finally reached for the breakfast tray.

On it were all my favorite dishes: scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, and a fruit salad bowl. I eagerly took a bite, closing my eyes in contentment as the flavors hit my tongue. When I opened my eyes, I found Halimah watching me, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"You like it?" she asked shyly.

"Anything you make, I love," I replied with a smile, cutting a piece of the French toast and offering it to her. She took the bite, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as I watched her enjoy it.

Noticing Zayd's intense gaze on the food, I chuckled. "You want some, buddy?" I asked, amused at how he stared in stillness, probably confused by what he was seeing.

I picked up a tiny grape, wanting to let him have a taste, but before I could, Halimah gently swatted my hand away, causing the grape to tumble onto the bed. In one swift motion, she scooped it up and popped it into her own mouth.

I stared at her, completely baffled. "Explain yourself," I demanded playfully, clutching my 'injured' hand to my chest in mock offense.

She giggled, picking up Zayd and squishing his face against hers as he began to fuss a little.

"See? You made our little man feel rejected," I teased.

"Hassan, he's not six months old yet. He can't have solid foods. He doesn't even have teeth to chew a grape," she explained, her tone light. Oh. Right.