Elastic Heart (Z.M)

tugging at the strings

"Blair can you look at me?" He asks and I take a moment before I do.

Zayn will never stop mesmerizing me with his beauty. I don't think I'll ever find a day where I'll tire of it. Unfortunately it doesn't stop him from acting like an ass at times.

"I'm sorry for my behavior. There's no excuse for it and I will stop." He says with an apologetic expression.

"Don't ever try to deny me my daughter. I would never harm her." I reply flashing my eyes at him. Not quite ready to forgive him.

"I know and I'm so sorry for overreacting. I can be overprotective but I know she doesn't need to be protected from you. I'm a parent just like you now and I need to get better handle of it." Zayn continues and I pursue my lips.

"I still want my space from you right now." I mumble nuzzling my baby closer to me.

"Please don't hate me." Zayn says softly and I try to hold a hard face.

"I don't but I just want to be with my baby. I don't want to be stressed out." I murmur bring a finger to trace Emris's nose.

My poor baby is still so small. I didn't want her to stay in an incubator another week. Had she been in my belly still I'd be at 8 months close to my due date as well. I hated seeing her in there.

Addison arranged a mobile incubator for Emris to be in my room with me. There is a point in having so much money at times. I didn't want to miss one second of her life and I think Addison gets it. She has a boy of her own as well now.

"I must warn you that my parents and brother plan on coming over. In next hour or so, if you want to leave to avoid them, no hard feelings." I bring up once I notice the time on the wall.

Zayn's face visibly strains as I can tell he's trying to hold his composure.

"I'll stay. I can't avoid them forever and I am her father. They are her family and I can respect that. If they can respect me as well then everything is fine." He says after a long moment of him doing some thoughtful thinking it looked.

"They'll be on their best behavior." I promise offering a smile. I'm grateful he's trying.

"If that's the case, I think I need a shower. I'll be back." He mumbles scrunching his nose.

"You look fine." I chuckle.

"I still have to make an impression." Zayn shrugs nonchantly.

"I'm going to take a nap with her." I say tiredly yawning and stretching out.

Zayn chuckles looking away before turning back and leaning down to kiss Emris softly.

The way he looks at her makes my heart melt. I can feel the love he has for her. Yet I still think it doesn't fraction any of my own.

I could have died giving birth and that was fine with me. It was Emris not surviving that I wouldn't have been able to stand. I'll always be angry at myself for what I caused.

Emris could have had more time had I woman up. I'm just so thankful that the second chance life has given us. Now it's on to rebuild and establish a relationship between Zayn and I. In order to build a stable future for her.

He looks away from her up to me but doesn't do anything. We haven't done anything else since that kiss. Our attention has been soley on the well being of our baby. Now though that there is a moment, what happens then?

I feel my lips part as my heart beat slows down.

I want him to kiss me but he's just looking at me indecisive. Finally when I think Zayn is doing something. He just leans forward and presses his lips against my forehead.

I try not to let my disappointment be so visible. I pretend to be distracted with Emris to hide my face from Zayn.

"Do you want me to be here before them or not?" Zayn asks before opening the door. He looks back to me waiting for my verdict.

Do what you want I think to myself.

"What's most convenient for you is fine." I respond nonchantly not bothering to look back. My feelings were still hurt.

"I'll try to make it back before them. We should have dinner together. I can stop by for some things?" Zayn offers kindly and that's making it hard to stay hurt.

"I don't see the problem. I'll let them know and hopefully they don't have plans already." I murmur hopeful.

"Even if they do we can still have dinner together. Maybe do some talking as well. Even if they stay we can still tall afterwards." Zayn replies and I nod letting him know I understand.

"Do you think you'll be fine this evening Zayn?" I ask thoughtfully. Solely out of concern. I really want everything to go smoothly. I don't wish for anyone to be uncomfortable. That's the last anyone needs.

"I want to promise you that everything will be fine. You wouldn't understand what kind of promise you're asking me to make. So I'll tell you instead, as long as my daughter is present nothing will happen. Grown-ups can always handle their problems later. Never around the kids. I see it that way at least. If I have something to say to your family I will and I'm sure they have things to say to me."

"I just don't want to be put in a position where I have to pick sides." I sigh somberly.

"You might have too Blair. If it doesn't work out with your parents and me. You may have to pick a side. I would hope it would be with me since I would hold the same loyalty too." He pushes flashing his eyes at me.

" I owe loyalty to no one but myself and Emris at the moment. If we're together then without a doubt I will side with you. As long as it's for reasonable reasons. But I'm not going to pick the side in this stupid family feud. Not even if they ask me or you. Because I will always pick Emris and me." I huff.

Zayn's neck muscle strain and his jaw flexes as well. I feel like he's going to tell me off but instead nods. He turns back towards the door then leaves.

A/N: Thank you always for the love & support. Y'all legends af for keeping this book #1 under the Zaylena tag.

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