Chapter Twenty Eight – Liam
Liam watches as Zayn shakes his head when he finishes retelling all the events that lead to him being a single father, as if he's trying to bring himself back to the present. He knows he should say something, but the thing is Liam has no real clue what to say, he doesn't understand how anyone could use Zayn, hurt him in that way. And he really doesn't understand how anyone could deny their own child, ever. Zayn's chewing on his bottom lip, in the way he does when he's nervous and fiddling with his fingers, Liam reaches out to tangle their hands together in an effort to stop Zayn's fidgeting. "I um, wow Zayn, that's a lot" Liam stumbles, and Zayn looks up at him, shrugging "the sad part is, it's all true" he mumbles. Liam can't help himself he surges towards Zayn, engulfing him in a hug, "you were right back at Ruth's, Sadie was a spoiled, selfish girl, in fact that's putting it nicely, more nice than she probably deserves" Liam spits. Zayn grins slightly, "well I couldn't exactly call her a conceited, bitch, in front of Bella" he chuckles. Liam laughs at that, because he has a point, and shakes his head, "you know though you were right about something else too" Liam says slowly, and Zayn furrows his eyebrows confused, "Bella doesn't need her, because she's got you, and personally I think one you is better than anyone else in the world" Liam adds seriously. Zayn bites his lip and leans forward pressing his lips to Liam's, he's gone almost before Liam can register the kiss "sap" he murmurs, shaking his head.
Liam cuddles Zayn into his chest after that, the pair settling in to watch a movie while Bella sleeps, no doubt needing to catch up on her sleep from the night before at Ruth's. Liam's phone ringing, makes Zayn pause the movie as Liam pulls it out to see Ruth's number flashing across the screen. "Hello?" he asks, hoping nothing has happened to his dad, for her to be calling him again today, "hey, Liam. I talked to Mason and he wants to talk to you and Zayn, you're still together right?" she asks, quietly. Liam chuckles and nods his head, "yeah, of course, he doesn't work today and neither do I, I'll put it on speaker, you put Mason on the phone" he sighs. Zayn shifts his weight a little and Liam wraps one arm tightly around him, the other holding his phone, which he's now switched to speakerphone, "but he's gonna hate me" Mason whines in the background "Uncle Liam could never hate you" Ethan soothes, also in the background. There's a shuffling before Liam knows Mason has actually picked up the phone, "hi Uncle Liam" he mumbles quietly, "hey bud, what's up?" Liam asks gently, as upset as he is about Mason upsetting Bella, he's never going to be cruel to his nephew. "Is, Uncle Zayn there?" Mason asks just as quietly again "I'm here" Zayn murmurs. Mason sighs, "I'm sorry" he says, followed by a long pause "tell Bella I'm sorry too?" he asks carefully. Zayn bites his lip and Liam sighs, "you already did that bud" Liam points out, which is true Mason had apologized before they left the house. "I know, but I really am. I wasn't tryin' to make Bella sad. I just wondered, I never met anyone with no mum" Mason mumbles.
It's quiet both in the apartment and on the phone, before Zayn reaches out and grabs Liam's phone in his hands, "Mason? It's Zayn, you're fine, no one is upset with you anymore alright? You were just curious and there's nothing wrong with that" he says gently. Zayn's tone and entire demeanour makes Liam grin, he really is good at this whole parenting thing, even when he's not actually parenting his own child. "You sure" Mason asks quietly, his voice unsure, "I'm positive" Zayn replies "thank you" Mason giggles "hey buddy?" Liam asks, "yeah Uncle Liam?" Mason asks, "I love you" Liam says. Liam can picture Mason rolling his eyes "I love you too, here's Mum" he answers. There's shuffling before Ruth is back on the phone, "thank you, he seems happier" she sighs and Liam laughs "it's all good Ruth, go spend some time with your kids, everything is sorted out" he replies."Yeah goodbye baby brother" Ruth chirps, hanging up before Liam can protest. Liam tosses his phone onto the couch, as Zayn grins and pushes his face into his chest, "glad that's all sorted out" Zayn murmurs and Liam nods, pressing a kiss to Zayn's head "me too" he agrees.
Zayn's about to start the movie again but a small voice makes him stop and turn to look behind him "Baba? Daddy?" Bella asks rubbing a tiny fist over her eye. "Yeah, love?" Zayn hums, sitting up and opening his arms for Bella, who flies across the room jumping into their laps. "What we doing?" she asks curling onto Liam's lap, Liam grins and wraps his arms around her, he's okay with him and Zayn being interrupted if Bella's the one doing it. "Daddy and I were just watching a movie" Zayn says, reaching over to smooth back some of Bella's always unruly hair. Liam laughs as Bella makes a face, and shakes her head, "no" she says. Zayn frowns and Liam is just confused "no what?" Liam asks, "no movie, go zoo" Bella states pouting up at him. Liam sees Zayn grin before he suddenly disappears from Liam's side and Liam knows Zayn's just abandoned him to field this one on his own. There really is no reason why they couldn't go to the zoo, really, so Liam sighs nodding his head, "if you really want to, sure" he agrees and Bella cheers, surging up to kiss his cheek.
It's as they're driving through the zoo's parking lot, Bella singing some silly, made up, song in the backseat, while making her mermaid doll dance around, that Liam actually has a chance to talk to Zayn again. The younger rolls his head along the seat so he's looking at Liam, "you know there's this tiny, two letter word, Li. She's heard it before, and you should try it some time" Zayn teases. Liam rolls his eyes, "no" he mumbles, manoeuvring his car into a parking space near the front, before turning off his car and turning to face Zayn, "I'm sorry, I just don't want to have to play the bad guy unless absolutely necessary, you know?" Liam asks. Zayn lets out a playfully frustrated noise, before nodding his head, "so I get to do it" he mutters. Liam laughs "exactly, glad you understand" he chuckles, before climbing out of the car before Zayn can say anything else.
Liam's struggling to get the stroller, not only out of his trunk, but unfolded as well, when Zayn comes around the back of the car, Bella in his arms, and her backpack slung over one shoulder. "Having trouble?" Zayn smirks, and Liam sighs "no, I'm fine" he grumbles pulling the stroller free with an audible pop, Zayn snickers and Bella, who Liam knows doesn't know why she's doing it, joins him. Liam pouts and pulls Bella into his arms, "what's so funny, huh?" he asks playfully, tickling her sides as she squeals and writhes around in his arms, before he finally gives in and sets her carefully into the stroller's seat. Zayn shakes his head and shoves the bag underneath the stroller, before Liam knocks him out of the way to push it, "you need the support, huh old man?" Zayn teases. Liam just nods leading his boyfriend towards the main gate, so he can pay for them to get in.
"Penguins!" Bella exclaims, forty minutes later, bouncing in her seat causing the whole stroller to roll back slightly, Liam stops it with his knee and grins, "yeah, you like the penguins?" he asks. Bella grins and nods her head at him "Baba don't" she whispers. Liam's head snaps over to Zayn where he's not really looking at the penguins, more watching the two of them interact. "Zayn, you don't like penguins?" Liam asks, Zayn just shakes his head, walking towards them and resting his head on Liam's shoulder for a minute, "no, I don't really do birds" he murmurs. Liam chuckles "you're so weird" he mumbles, pressing a kiss to Zayn's head, Zayn shrugs and tangles their fingers together, before they start pushing the stroller towards the next exhibit. So far Bella has loved every animal they've come across, including the ducks that were just waiting in the parking lot. "What's next?" Liam asks as they walk, Zayn consults the map he's tucked into his back pocket, "next we either, circle through the African safari, or we get a snack and stay in this general area to see seals and polar bears" he explains. Liam nods, "what do you want to do?" he asks, but Bella answers before Zayn can "need food Daddy, I starvin'" she sings. Liam chuckles and nods his head, moving around a teenage couple to get to the snack bar.
Three hours later Liam is trying to strap a very teary-eyed Bella into the car, while Zayn pushes the stroller back into the trunk. "Arabella, what's wrong?" Liam coos as the toddler cries, shaking her head at him, and hitting towards his face with the stuffed penguin he's just bought her. "Bella, no. We don't hit, I'll take it away" Liam warns, which only makes her shake her head and clutch the toy tightly to her chest, "no leave, Daddy" she whimpers. Liam sighs and presses a light kiss to her hair, "we have to go home, baby girl. Baba and Daddy both have to work tomorrow, and you have to go to Grandma's, you can tell her all about the zoo" he reasons. Bella shakes her head, "no work, stay Bella" she pouts, as Liam snaps the last clip on the seat belt into place. Liam sighs, because he would love to stay with her all day, but he and Niall have a big meeting in the morning, and if he cancels it his best friend may just kill him, "I can't tomorrow, I'm sorry" Liam murmurs, pressing another kiss to her forehead, before stepping back and shutting the door. "Everything alright?" Zayn asks concerned a moment later and Liam nods, "she doesn't want to leave" he answers, Zayn nods and kisses his cheek, "you handled it well though" Zayn supplies. Liam shrugs, nodding his head, as Zayn climbs in on his side of the car and Liam climbs up into the driver's side, starting the car and carefully backing out of his space.
It doesn't take long for Liam to realize he's the only person in the vehicle awake, Bella having fallen asleep as soon as they were in motion. Liam's not entirely sure when Zayn fell asleep, but he allows his gaze to linger on the man he calls his boyfriend, as he waits at a red light. Taking in everything, from his dark, black hair, to his lengthy eyelashes, his cheekbones and jawline that Liam is convinced are carved from marble. Liam doesn't know how he got so lucky, but he does know he wouldn't do anything to lose the man sitting beside him. Liam starts to drive again as the light turns green, pulling his attention from Zayn to focus back on the road. It doesn't take long after that for Liam to pull into the parking lot at Zayn's building, the younger man waking up as soon as they're parked, "sorry" he yawns. Liam chuckles, waving him away, "don't be" he murmurs. Zayn nods and moves to open the door, "you coming up for dinner?" Zayn asks, as he stands. Liam knows he should be getting home to get ready for work tomorrow, but he also has no real interest in going back to his empty apartment, so he nods. "Yeah I can't stay too late though" he warns, Zayn rolls his eyes at him and opens the back to pull Bella from her seat. Unlike most times when Zayn pulls her out she wakes up almost instantly, "where Daddy?" she mumbles. Liam watches as Zayn soothingly murmurs to her, rocking her lightly, "he's here, Daddy's gonna stay for dinner, then he needs to go home, and we need to get to bed, okay?" Zayn asks. Bella makes a face but nods, burying her face into Zayn's neck, "I go Grandma's?" she asks, Liam wants to say no, that he'll take her for the day, but he knows he shouldn't "yes, tomorrow you go to Grandma's" Zayn coos as the three start walking into the building.
Louis' not home when they get upstairs and Liam's confused, he hasn't seen the man all weekend. Bella disappears as soon as her feet touch the floor, and Liam pulls Zayn into his arms, "where's Louis?" he asks curiously. Zayn shrugs, "I think he and Harry went to Harry's mum's for the weekend. Should be home soon" he mumbles leaning up to kiss Liam's lips. Liam holds him tightly so Zayn can't pull away, deepening the kiss just slightly, before pulling away when they're both breathless. "What do you want to eat?" Zayn asks as he walks into the kitchen, Liam shrugs, because it really doesn't matter to him, so far everything Zayn's ever made for him has been amazing. Zayn rolls his eyes and swats playfully in Liam's general direction, "thanks for that help" he laughs, Liam shrugs again and watches as Zayn pulls some chicken and vegetables from the fridge and starts chopping, and Liam can't help thinking that this is the way his life has always been supposed to be.
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A/N: Here you go! I had a really good day at work today, and as a result you guys get this.
You got to see a little more of Zayn's back story...(sorry but Sadie is a bitch) (also if any of you are named Sadie, I apologize, I love you I swear). Then we got really cute Ziam and Bella moments at the zoo, and adorable fluffiness for the most part. I hope you guys enjoyed these, let me know what you thought in the comments (or don't I really can't make you but comments make me happy :) ). And as alway I love you all, thank you so much for everything. Until next time...xoxo