Chapter Thirty - Liam
Liam frowns as Arabella once again dodges him, when he attempts to scoop her into his arms for a hug. He knows she's upset with him for leaving, can tell from the pout on her lips, and her watery eyes, but he really just wants a hug, he's leaving, in an hour, for America for two weeks and she's been avoiding him for three days, since he told her about his trip. Zayn wraps an arm around his waist and rests his chin on Liam's shoulder, "she'll get over it, just she's scared you aren't going to come back" he murmurs. Liam turns so he's facing Zayn, wrapping both arms around his boyfriend's slim waist, "that's ridiculous" he grumbles, furrowing his eyebrows, because he doesn't want to go, is already trying to talk Niall into coming back a few days early, and they haven't even left yet. Zayn shrugs, "she doesn't understand Li, she's two, and the only thing she really knows about people leaving, is her mum did it, and she never came back. Plus Louis went on holiday once, right before I met you and she didn't talk to him for two weeks after" he explains. Liam pouts, "but I want her to talk to me, I miss cuddles" he whines and Zayn laughs, shaking his head, "I can cuddle you" he teases, nuzzling into his chest. Liam laughs and presses a kiss to Zayn's hair, he's going to miss him,"it's not the same thing" he sighs and Zayn shakes his head, "I know, but I promise she won't let you actually leave without saying goodbye" Zayn insists.
Liam just holds Zayn after that for a minute, watching Arabella run around the lounge in the airport, the penguin he bought her at the zoo clutched in her tiny hands, "Baba, I thirsty" she pants crashing into Zayn's legs. Zayn laughs, pulling away from Liam to look at her, "then maybe you should stop running so much?" he asks, Liam chuckles when Bella pretends to stroke a beard as she thinks, before shaking her head, and pointing to the bag she knows Zayn packed a drink in for her. Zayn shakes his head and moves to get the cup of water out for her, handing it down to her, as she grins "thank you" she giggles, taking a long swig. "Can I have a hug, Bella?" Liam asks, crouching down, beside her, where she's flopped onto her bum to sip her drink. She eyes him suspiciously for a moment before shaking her head, and Liam sighs looking to Zayn for help. His boyfriend moves to sit on Bella's other side on the floor, crossing his legs, Liam follows suit, and waits to see Zayn's plan unfold. "Arabella, look at Baba, please?" Zayn asks gently, and Bella turns her head, batting her eyelashes at him, Zayn smiles gently, "you're making Daddy sad, he's going away for a little bit, to work, but he will come back. But right now you're not being very nice, Daddy's going to miss you" Zayn explains slowly. Liam watches Bella bite her lip, and narrow her eyes at Zayn, the look is an exact copy of one Liam's seen Zayn make a few times, before she hands Zayn her cup and looks towards Liam.
Liam waits, while Bella thinks about what Zayn's told her, before she launches herself into his lap, knocking him backwards with the force, "Daddy, come back?" she asks quietly. Liam nods, resting his forehead gently on hers, "of course, Lovely. I'm going to miss you and Baba so much, I have to come back" he soothes. Bella bites her lip and cocks her head to the side, before Liam sees a small tear slip down her cheek, he brushes it away, before glancing to Zayn where he's just sitting on the floor still, biting his lip as he watches them. Arabella's arms are suddenly wrapped around his neck and she's burying her face into his chest, Liam can feel she's crying, and he feels bad, wonders how his brother in law leaves his kids all the time, because he never wants to leave again, not if this is how it's going to affect Bella. "Bella, come" she says suddenly and Liam frowns, because he would love to take both Bella and Zayn, but he can't he knows he can't plus he has so many meetings lined up, the trip would be boring for the pair. "I'm sorry, Boo. Bella can't come this time" Liam murmurs, rocking her gently, as she lets out a sob at his answer. "But I promise, when I come home, you, me, and Baba are going to go somewhere together, for a few days, okay?" Liam asks. There's no answer, other than Bella holding tighter to Liam's shirt, and this whole interaction is breaking his heart.
Liam frowns as he attempts once again to get Bella to let go of him, he's supposed to be boarding the plane in five minutes, but since Bella decided to give him cuddles, she's been clinging to his neck and refusing to let go. "Bella, babe, Daddy needs to get going, you need to say goodbye" Zayn says gently, one hand on Liam's waist, the other rubbing the toddler's back. Niall is leaning on the wall watching them and Liam can feel his eyes on him, knows his best friend is going to grill him about all this on the plane, Bella shakes her head, and clings tighter to Liam, "no" she grumbles at Zayn, who sighs. "Can I try?" Niall asks suddenly and Zayn steps away as Liam nods, "Bella?" Niall asks, resting one hand on her shoulder. Bella pulls away from Liam just enough to look at Niall, "hey, I need a hug too" he says opening his arms, Bella narrows her eyes before leaning away from Liam into Niall's arms, she has become very fond of his Irish best friend in the last few weeks. Bella turns to look at Liam "stay" she instructs and Liam sighs, because he can stay for now but in a few minutes he and Niall are both going to have to leave. Niall's talking to Bella in a low voice, that Liam can't hear but she's not crying so Liam thinks it's a good thing, he looks around, spotting Zayn with his hands stuffed into his pockets, and takes two quick steps towards him.
Liam pulls Zayn into his arms, "hey" he murmurs as Zayn melts against him, "hey yourself" Zayn answers. Liam chuckles leaning down to catch Zayn's lips in a kiss, the younger responding instantly. Liam holds him tighter, and sweeps his tongue across Zayn's bottom lip, making Zayn instantly allow him to lick into his mouth. When Liam pulls away, they're both breathless, "I'm going to miss you" he murmurs knocking his forehead against Zayn's. Zayn nods, "I'll miss you too, but it won't be long, right?" he asks. Liam chuckles shaking his head, "nope. Two weeks maximum, then I'm taking you away" he murmurs. Zayn sighs, "yeah can I know where we're going?" he asks, but Liam laughs shaking his head, "you'll find out when we get there" he teases and Zayn rolls his eyes. Liam kisses him again, before Bella is crashing into their legs, Zayn scoops her up and she pouts at him "want Daddy" she whines, struggling in Zayn's arms. Zayn frowns and kisses her cheek, "Daddy has to go, babe" he murmurs, as Bella shakes her head, starting to cry again. Liam wraps his arms around the pair, because he knows he'll never get Bella to let go if he holds her again, pressing kisses to Bella's face, and Zayn's temple as he does. "Daddy, stay" Bella whines grabbing onto his shirt, "I can't princess, I have to work, but I promise I'll call, and see you soon okay?" Liam tries, as Zayn carefully pulls her away from Liam just slightly. Bella whimpers and clings onto Zayn's neck instead, hiding her face, Liam sighs and looks at Zayn, who bites his lip, nodding. Liam leans over pressing another kiss to Zayn's lips, before pressing one to Bella's head, "I love you" he murmurs, "I love you too" Zayn replies. Liam kisses them both once more, before turning away grabbing his luggage, and allowing Niall to lead him away.
They're almost to the gate when Liam hears it, Zayn calling Bella's name, and Bella calling Liam, "Daddy, wait!" she yells, and Liam turns around in time to see Bella weaving through legs, as Zayn chases after her. Liam stops and Bella crashes into his legs, hugging him tightly, he wraps his arms around her as Zayn catches up, "you can't run off like that" Liam scolds gently. Bella shrugs and hugs him tighter, "love Daddy. Miss Daddy" she pants, "I love you too, and I'll miss you so much" Liam soothes, "you be good for Baba and I'll see you soon" Liam tries, hugging her tightly. "Bye" Liam murmurs, as Zayn pulls Bella away from him again, "bye" Zayn responds, gripping tightly onto the squirming toddler in his arms, "call us when you land" Zayn instructs and Liam nods "absolutely" he agrees, before handing over his ticket.
Liam flops against the back of his large, overstuffed, first class seat, pouting as he waits for the movie selections to pop up on the screen in front of him. Niall chuckles from his seat beside him, "so that was heartbreaking" he says, gesturing around randomly, but Liam knows exactly what he's referring to. "Tell me about it, I feel terrible" Liam groans, Niall pats his arm, "she'll be okay, and so will you. Plus if it helps I had Nikki rearrange some stuff and we can come back in a week, instead of two" he explains. Liam grins, launching across the seat a little to hug Niall tightly, "you are the best. What would I do without you?" he asks. Niall chuckles shaking his head, "no idea, you'd probably have lost the whole company by now" he jokes. Liam would protest, but the sad thing is, Niall is probably right, even though it is Liam's family's company, Niall handles a lot more of everything, than Liam ever could. A flight attendant comes by then, snapping Liam out of his thoughts as she offers him a drink, which he accepts, before settling back into his chair to watch a movie, and maybe take a nap for the duration of the long flight.
Liam's exhausted as he says goodnight to Niall and stumbles into his own room, dumping his bags just inside the door, and kicking off his shoes, before flopping across the bed. It's late, even later at home but he did promise Zayn he would call, so he pulls out his phone and presses on Zayn's number quickly listening as it rings. "Hello...?" Zayn's sleepy voice asks a few moments later, and Liam feels bad for waking him up, "hey, Babe. It's just me, we're at the hotel finally" he murmurs, and can hear Zayn shifting around, slightly. "Good, I'm glad you called" Zayn yawns and Liam chuckles "I'm sorry I woke you up, it must be like two AM there" he laughs. Zayn makes a noise Liam can't decipher into the phone, but doesn't otherwise respond. "How was Bella after I left?" Liam asks picking at the blanket on his bed, "she was upset, took a while to settle in, Louis and I finally gave her ice cream, which helped. But she remembered again at bedtime and now she's sleeping in my bed" Zayn explains. Liam frowns "I'm sorry Zee" Liam mumbles. "Don't be Li, you have work obligations, we'll be fine, you just may have some sucking up to do when you get home" Zayn teases. Liam laughs "I can work with that" he chuckles, before yawning. "I'm sorry babe, I have to get some sleep, we have a meeting first thing in the morning. I'll call tomorrow though, I miss you" Liam pouts, "goodnight Li, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Miss you too" Zayn answers. "Zee, I love you" Liam murmurs, quietly, "I love you too" Zayn answers, before the call disconnects and Liam's alone in his room once again.
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A/N: Here you go!
I hope you guys enjoyed this update, we got a little bit of everything, in these two chapters. Let me know what you think with comments and what not, I love you all.
Until next time
xoxo