Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Wishes

Sinbad sat in his office. He had finished his work and he would have rushed back to Layla but he was lost deep into his thoughts.

'How am I supposed to tell her that my days are numbered? Should I tell her? How do I tell her that the man who was meant to grow old with her has just over a month left to live..?'

A knock at the door distracted him from his thoughts. He called them in. Jafar and Hinahoho entered, making their way to his desk.

"Are you okay, Sin?" Hinahoho asked.
He sighed and sat back in his chair. "Honestly? No... What am I going to tell Layla?"
"How about the truth?" Jafar said, clearly frustrated.
"But if I do, she'll become upset. And I can't bear to see her upset. It will kill me off quicker."
"So, how do you think she'll be when she finds out about the war?"
"Jafar's right," Hinahoho sighed. "She'll be distraught if she finds out that you never told her."
Sinbad shook his head. "She doesn't need to find out. War is coming. If I have to die for Layla to remain unharmed, then that's all that matters. I'll die fighting to protect my family."
"You don't have to die to win..."
"I do. In defeating the Dark Djinn, I will also die along with it."

Suddenly, the door opened and Layla entered.

"Oh, there you are," she said as she made her way to the desk. "I thought you'd fallen asleep on your work."
He smiled upon seeing her. "I'm sorry, Layla. I was just talking to Hinahoho and Jafar."
She shook her head. "It's okay." She sat down on his desk and smiled cheekily. "What are you guys talking about?"
Hinahoho ruffled her hair. "Just about Esra's wedding. It's only two days away now."
"Ah. I hope Sin isn't becoming emotional," she teased.
Sinbad smiled softly. "I'm simply glad that I don't have to give her away."
Jafar nodded. "There is only a few last minute preparations left to take care of. Hinahoho and I will see to it."

They both left the office, leaving Sinbad and Layla alone. She noticed the distant look in his eyes causing her to become quite concerned. Getting up from the desk, she stood beside his chair and ran her fingers through his bangs.

"Are you okay, Sin?"

He just breathed out softly. Turning in his seat slightly, he wrapped her arms around her hips and rested his head against her stomach.

"I'm tired, Layla," he said as he closed his eyes.
She smiled and gently stroked his head. "Then let's get out of here. I'll run you a bath and get you something to eat."
"That sounds perfect."
"Come on."

After pressing a kiss to her stomach, he got up and left the office with her.

***

Omar and Esra's wedding went without a hitch. Except that Sinbad was in a strange mood the entire day because he "didn't want his daughter to grow up so fast". After sending them away on their honeymoon, the atmosphere in the palace had calmed down and Sinbad got to work in preparing for his battle with the Dark Djinn.

It was something he didn't inform Layla of. He hid anything to do with it and forbade anyone from mentioning it to her. No one told her anything so that she could live in bliss. Sinbad wanted to see only her smile in his final days. The Djinn would be set loose upon the world in exactly 30 days. So, in the next 29 days, he was going to make her smile and feel more loved than ever before.

Layla was tending to some flowers in the garden when she was suddenly lifted off her feet. She screamed in surprise as Sinbad carried her bridal style and she quickly held onto him. He laughed at her reaction as he spun her around.

"Sin!" she yelled as she also laughed. "What are you doing?"
He finally stopped spinning but kept hold of her. "You're so damn beautiful that I couldn't help myself. How is it that after all these years, you still make my heart go wild?"
She smiled and nuzzled her nose against his. "I could say the same about you."
Holding her closer, he pecked her lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too."

He began walking her back inside. With her going through menopause, there had been times when she would become upset or annoyed for what seemed to be no reason at all. Therefore, he wanted to make her smile and make everything easy for her as much as he could before he had to leave.

"So, I'm going to make a deal with you," he said as he carried her into their bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.
She smiled. "I'm listening."
He placed her on the bed and sat beside her. "Every day for the next month, I will fulfill any wish you have. One wish a day. So, anything you want to do, anything you want to see, anything at all, I will grant it."
She raised a brow suspiciously. "Okay. But..?" she asked, knowing that there was a 'but' coming.
He lay his head down on her lap, looking up at her as he smiled. "But on the 30th day, you have to do exactly as I say and you can't go back on it."
She laughed quietly as she brushed her fingers through his hair. "That's a very odd deal. 29 days of anything I want just so you get one day of what you want?"
"Precisely."
"And what if I don't do the one thing you want me to do?"
He reached his hand up, gently holding the back of her head. "You'll be punished."

He pulled her down and kissed her lips. She smiled against his lips as she kissed him just as deeply before parting a little.

"I accept your deal," she said.
He kissed her again. "Perfect. Now, what's the first thing you want to do?"
"Well, today my wish is to cuddle with you."
"That's it?" He blinked. "You can wish for anything and that's what you wish for?"
She nodded. "Yes. I still have 28 more wishes but this is what I want right now."
With a smile, he pecked her lips one more time. "Your wish is my command."

He sat up and wrapped his arms around her before dropping down on the pillows with her. She smiled and snuggled into his chest as she closed her eyes. Holding onto her, he breathed calmly. He wanted to make the most of every single second with her.

Day after day, he fulfilled each and every one of her wishes. One day it would be a spontaneous trip to the island, another day it would be dancing. Anything that meant they would spend time together, that was what she wished for. When Omar and Esra returned from their honeymoon, another wish of hers was to take a family trip out onto the ocean.

Behind all of that, he had everything sorted for after he was gone as well. He had it all done so that Layla didn't have to worry. After his death, Esra would become queen of Sindria. She had been studying and training to take over as queen for years so he knew she would take on the position without any worry. He wanted Layla to spend the rest of her life with nothing but ease.

After 28 days, she had one final wish. They had slept on the balcony and remained there the next morning even though they were wide awake. Sinbad held her from behind, counting down the hours he had left with her.

"So, have you thought about it?" Sinbad asked, holding her closer to him. "Make sure it's a good one."
"I have thought about it and I know what I want," she said.
"What is it?"
"I wish for you to stay with me forever."

He was surprised by her wish. Physically, it wasn't possible. He could, however, grant their souls to remain together forever.

"Your wish is granted," he said softly. "I will be with you for eternity."
She turned in his arms and gazed deep into his eyes. "That is all I want."
He smiled, brushing his fingers through her hair. "I love you so much, baby girl."
"I love you, too," she replied, blushing like she always did whenever he called her that.

He kissed her deeply, both becoming lost within each other.

Tomorrow, it was Sinbad's turn to make his request and Layla would have to obey it no matter what.