ChapterTen - Liam
Liam frowns as he pulls up in front of Zayn's apartment building, it's ten minutes after six, and he feels bad for being later than he said he would be. It's not his fault,really, a new client showed up just as he was packing up to leave,asking questions about his contract, Liam answered most of them,before politely suggesting they set up a proper meeting with Niall the next day. Thankfully the client had agreed and Liam has never left the office so fast in his life. He sent Zayn a text as he was leaving that he would be a few minutes later than he planned, but he still feels bad. Liam locks his car and quickly makes his way into the building, humming to himself while he waits for the elevator,when the doors open Zayn's friend Louis steps off and smirks at Liam,"have a good night" Louis chirps before he disappears outside.Liam shakes his head and gets on the elevator pressing the button for Zayn's floor, once the doors open again Liam heads down the hall to Zayn's door. He knocks lightly, but loud enough to be heard, he doesn't hear Arabella's excited shrieking this time, and wonders if she knows he's coming over tonight. Zayn opens the door a minute later, dressed all in black and Liam bites his lip, because he looks good, better than good actually, and Liam's mind is starting to wander, "hey, sorry I'm late" he manages not to stutter, but Zayn waves him away. "You're hardly late Li, c'mon in" Zayn assures him, stepping aside to let Liam walk in, Liam can tell from the doorway that Zayn's been cleaning today, and the apartment smells amazing. Liam smiles at Zayn as he toes off his shoes, "you look nice" he murmurs, pulling Zayn into his arms for a hug, Zayn grins"thanks, so do you" he answers tugging gently on Liam's tie,which he had meant to take off. Liam groans "sorry, came straight from work" he mumbles and Zayn laughs, stepping out of his arms,which Liam pouts at, "no, I like you in a suit" Zayn murmurs, and Liam blushes.
They make it to the living room and there's still no sign of the energetic two year old, Liam looks around confused before turning to Zayn, "where's Bella?" he asks slowly. Zayn chuckles and points towards the bedrooms, "she's in her room, playing, doesn't know you're here, or coming at all" he explains, Liam nods slowly eyes scanning around the room, taking in all the framed pictures he didn't notice the first time he was here.There's suddenly footsteps running towards them "Baba, I can't find Bunny" Bella pouts, and Liam watches as she notices he's there, her eyes widen and a huge grin spreads across her face, before she looks to Zayn who nods, and she launches herself at Liam. Liam catches her mid jump and hugs her tightly while he laughs, "Leeyum why here?"she asks cocking her head, dark curls falling into her eyes slightly.Liam smiles and brushes the hair away gently, "your Baba invited me for dinner, and I came to see you" he teases, bopping her nose lightly, Arabella scrunches it up and giggles, squirming to get down.Liam sets her down and watches amused as she marches over to Zayn,pointing a tiny, accusing finger at him, "why not tell Bella?"she demands, gesturing back at Liam. Zayn smirks at his daughter before arching an eyebrow at her, "it was a surprise, do you like it?" he asks slowly, Bella chews her lip for a minute before nodding and throwing herself at Zayn to hug him, "thanks, Baba"she mumbles against his knees, before she runs out of the room again.
"Where did she go?" Liam asks confused, scrunching his eyebrows as he watches where she ran off to,Zayn shakes his head, stepping closer to Liam, "no idea" he murmurs, wrapping his arms around Liam's waist, and resting his head on his chest. Liam feels his own heart stutter at Zayn's actions, and figures the younger can feel it under his ear as well, "is it completely insane that I missed you?" Zayn asks his voice muffled by the fabric of Liam's shirt. Liam rubs his back gently, and shakes his head, smiling fondly at the boy in his arms "not at all,because I missed you too" he murmurs, hearing Zayn sigh contently.Their moment is broken a few seconds later by Bella running back into the room and pushing herself in between them. Once she's pushed Zayn back enough she can wrap her arms around Liam, she turns her head to glare at Zayn, "Baba no. My Leeyum" she states shaking her head at him, before turning back to Liam. Zayn barks out a laugh and shakes his head, as Liam scoops the toddler into his arms, "okay,sorry, you and your Liam get comfortable, dinner will be ready in ten minutes" Zayn chuckles, before turning to leave the room. "Zayn wait" Liam calls, because this will be the first time he's alone with Bella, and sure Zayn's just in the next room, but he wants to make sure the younger man is truly okay with this. Zayn arches his eyebrow at Liam, a silent question on his face, "you sure?" is all Liam says and Zayn's face changes to understanding, before he nods his head, "yeah, I'm just gonna be in the kitchen Li, yell if you need me" he says before he disappears around the corner.
Liam watches after Zayn for a minute,before Bella huffs and starts tapping his cheek, to get his attention, "sorry, Princess" he mumbles making his way to sit on the couch with the two year old. "Leeyum?" Bella asks quietly,and he looks down at her where she's playing with his tie "Arabella?"he asks in response. She giggles and shakes her head, "you like Baba?" she asks slowly, and Liam bites his lip, because the answer is simple, yes, yes he does like Zayn, but he's not sure he means it the same way the toddler does. So he nods his head, "yeah, I do like Baba" Liam murmurs and Bella hums, before she smiles up at him"good, Bella like Baba too" she decides. Liam laughs lightly, and wraps his arms around her a little tighter in a hug, "I'm glad to hear it" he murmurs, and Bella giggles, wriggling out of his arms to get down. Liam lets her go, watching curiously as she makes her way over to the pink toy box in the far corner of the room. "What are you doing?" he asks fondly, and Bella giggles, shaking her head as she starts to dig, Liam grimaces as several of the toys from the box land all over the floor, before Arabella cheers and comes back over to him holding two princess dolls in her hands. She climbs onto the couch beside him, handing one of the dolls to Liam once she's settled, "play" she instructs simply, before making the doll in her hands twirl in a circle. Liam weighs his options for a minute,knowing Zayn will be back any minute to get them for dinner, but he looks at the expectant toddler beside him and sighs, before making the doll in his own hands dance alongside hers.
Liam jumps and tries not to be embarrassed when he looks up to see Zayn leaning on the wall beside the doorway to the living room, watching him and Arabella. Zayn's arms are crossed across his chest, and he looks fond as he's watching them, Liam feels himself blushing as his eyes meet Zayn's. "She uh,Bella wanted to play" Liam mumbles as an explanation and Zayn grins nodding, "dinner's ready" is all he says, before smiling and moving towards the couch, crouching down in front of the toddler.Liam watches on as Zayn reaches out taking the princess doll from her tiny hands, making Bella pout up at him, "Baba" she whines and he shakes his head, "c'mon Bella-Bug it's time for dinner" Zayn murmurs. Liam watches as Bella pouts, and sighs before nodding and reaching out for Zayn to carry her, Zayn chuckles and scoops her into his arms before standing up again, "you coming?" he asks over his shoulder as he walks. Liam chuckles and follows after his boyfriend into the kitchen, where Zayn is settling Bella into her seat at the table. Liam takes in the kitchen the food smells delicious and Zayn has already put it onto plates setting them out around the table.From what Liam can tell it's some kind of chicken dish, and his mouth starts to water at the sight and smell of it all. Zayn bites his lip and gestures for Liam to sit down, before he sits himself and Liam can't help the fond noise that slips out of his lips at that. Once they're all seated Liam takes a small bite of the food on his plate and groans at how good it tastes, he looks up at Zayn who's watching him carefully. "This is amazing Zee, thank you" he murmurs, and Zayn blushes, "it's nothing, just something my mum taught me to make" he answers, taking a bite of his own dinner. Liam glances to the side to see Bella practically inhaling her dinner and he chuckles, slightly, Zayn looks over at her too, before sighing and reaching over to hand her a fork, "use your fork please" he mumbles. Bella looks at him and the fork suspiciously, before looking towards Liam, who looks away to avoid intruding. Bella sighs loudly,before taking the fork and using it clumsily to shove the food in her mouth. Liam muffles a laugh into his napkin and Zayn chuckles shaking his head fondly at the toddler, before turning back to his food.
The rest of the meal passes quickly in a whirl of interrupted conversation between himself and Zayn, and Zayn constantly reminding Bella to use her fork. Liam would be lying if he didn't think this was one of the best dinners he's ever had,not only because of the delicious food, but because of Zayn, and Arabella, and just how right this all feels. Bella gives him a toothy grin as she drops her fork onto her empty plate, "Leeyum, staying?"she asks, cocking her head and Liam smiles lightly at her, "yes,I'm staying for a bit" he answers not missing the way Zayn smiles too, at his answer. Bella cheers at this information before turning to Zayn "Baba, we watch movie?" she asks hopefully, Liam watching as her eyes widen and she pushes her bottom lip out in a pout, and Liam thinks, no one stands a chance against that face. Zayn bites his lip and nods slowly, "is that alright with you?" he asks and Liam nods his head, reaching to take a sip of his wine, "of course it is" he answers after he swallows, and Zayn nods while Bella cheers."Baba has to clean up dinner first though, okay baby?" Zayn asks.The toddler pouts but nods her head slowly, and Liam makes a face ather which succeeds in making her laugh loudly, he then turns to Zayn"let me help you" he says. Zayn appears to be thinking before he nods his head slowly, "yeah, alright" he concedes and Liam grins standing up, and picking up his plate, along with Bella's and following Zayn to the sink. He reaches around the younger man and flicks on the hot water, filling the sink, with soapy water, as Zayn moves to help Bella down from her chair, "why don't you go colour Liam a picture, while we clean up, okay?" Zayn asks, and Liam can't help but grin at that, "okay, Baba" Bella cheers before Liam hears thumping footsteps as she runs away.
It doesn't take long to clean up and before he knows it Liam finds himself curled on Zayn's couch, with Zayn pressed into his side and Arabella laying across both their laps, her head on Liam and her feet on Zayn, while they watch Madagascar together. Liam wraps one arm around Zayn's shoulders as his other plays with Bella's hair, Zayn turns to grin at him before he lays his head on Liam's shoulder. Liam can't help the grin that spreads across his face at the whole scene, and how perfect it all feels, he bites his lip before leaning over and pressing a light kiss to Zayn's head, before directing his attention back to the movie.Somewhere after the halfway point in the movie, Liam hears Bella's breathing evening out as the toddler falls asleep, he nudges Zayn gently, and points down when he looks at him, Zayn smiles fondly and nods "we should take her to bed" he mumbles, and Liam nods. "You want me to carry her?" he asks quietly, Zayn thinks for a second before nodding, "yeah, do you mind?" he asks reaching for the remote to stop the movie. Liam chuckles and shakes his head, "I offered, Zayn" he points out and Zayn nods slowly, as Liam carefully scoops the toddler into his arms as he stands up. Zayn follows behind as Liam carries Bella towards her room, and settles her gently into her castle bed, stepping back so Zayn can tuck her in. Arabella shifts around and cuddles into one of her toys, before Zayn pulls the blanket up over her and presses a loving kiss to her forehead. Liam hears a mumbled "sweet dreams" before Zayn moves quietly away from the bed and beside Liam, nodding towards the door. Liam follows Zayn out and into the hallway, watching as Zayn closes the door most of the way.
Liam can't help his grin as Zayn drags him to the living room and pushes him down onto the couch, "I promised you a massage" he murmurs, and Liam bites his lip,nodding. Zayn smirks "flip over" he orders, and Liam doesn't waste anytime in complying, he's been looking forward to this allday, since he spoke to Zayn earlier. Liam sucks in a breath as Zayn climbs on top of him, sitting on his bum, with his knees either side of Liam's hips. He can feel Zayn pulling his dress shirt out of the waistband of his pants to push it up his back, Liam presses his face into the couch cushions as a result. He hears Zayn pull in a breath before he feels smooth hands running up his back, before they slide back down to the waistband of his suit pants. Zayn repeats the actions a few times, before Liam feels him begin kneading a spot on his lower back, "you're so tense" Zayn murmurs. Liam shrugs, he's always tense, running a multimillion dollar business will do that to a person, "work stuff" he mutters, glancing back at Zayn over his shoulder. Zayn has a look of concentration on his face as he works out the knot on Liam's spine gently, "too young to be so tense"Zayn mumbles and Liam grins.
Liam feels loose and relaxed for the first time in weeks, months even, and he thinks massages from Zayn should be a regular occurrence in his life. They're currently snuggled up watching a terrible made for TV movie that Zayn insisted they watch, Zayn's resting his head on Liam's shoulder and Liam is trying his best to watch the TV and not Zayn. Somewhere around eleven o'clock Liam realizes the time, and makes a face before he groans,patting at Zayn's arm, "I should go" he murmurs. Zayn whips his head up to look at the clock and groans, "yeah, I guess so" he mumbles and Liam can't help but be pleased by the pout on Zayn's lips. Liam frowns when Zayn makes no move to get up, "that means you have to let me up Zayn" he teases, Zayn lets out a groan but slowly shifts himself off of Liam. Liam stands up, reaching down to pull Zayn to his feet as well, before they slowly make their way towards the door. Once there Liam wraps his arms around Zayn, pulling him tightly to his chest, "thank you for this, I needed it" he mumbles, Zayn shrugs, "no problem, it was great, yeah?" he asks.Liam chuckles lightly, because it was perfect not just great, "yeah it was. Can you tell Arabella I said goodbye?" he asks, and Zayn nods, picking at a fingernail "yeah, she really likes you" he mumbles. Liam grins, "I really like her too...and her Baba" Liam sighs and Zayn's head snaps up, "I uh, I really like you too" he stutters. Liam smiles "good" he whispers before leaning down to connect his lips to Zayn's in a kiss that is nothing short of perfect.
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A/N: I'm sorry this took so long, there isn't even a reason....but have some snuggly Ziam as an apology.
I hope you enjoyed this,let me know what you think, I love reading your comments and such.
Until next time xoxo