Yusuf had grown to love the little church and town he and Nicolo had spent the last few decades in. He still kept his own Muslim customs but here and there the edges of it bled and Christianity mixed in. He fasted through Lent with Nicolo and Nicolo kept Ramadan with him. The strict halal diet that he had once observed was more flexible now as time and wisdom altered some of his beliefs. But still, they respected each other and loved one another including their religions and even Matteo.

Which made it all the more painful when they had to lose both.

Malta was gorgeous though. For the first time in awhile Yusuf saw some of his childhood dishes once more. Muslims and Christians and Jews all mingled here and it gave the whole city such a feeling of life. Nicolo worked the docks and Yusuf worked with artists and carvers. It got them enough money to live comfortably and indeed that was what their life was, now. Comfortable. Good. Perfect, in so many ways.

Nearly all.

Hearing Nicolo, Yusuf smiled and got up from his chair to welcome him home with a kiss. His arms wrapped around his waist as always to pull him in close. The kiss was long but chaste and he smiled as he released him.

"I would forgive you anything, amore mio. Now. Why don't you change and get comfortable and I will get the table set. Hm?"