Chapter Thirty One – Zayn
"Bella, you need to stay with Baba" Zayn warns as he unbuckles her from the car seat in Liam's car which he's been driving all week while he's been away at Liam's request. Bella bats her eyelashes at him "but Daddy back" she grins, bouncing in her seat, and Zayn chuckles, "yes Daddy will be back soon" he says, pulling her into his arms. "No walk" Bella whines, squirming until Zayn sets her on her feet, his large hand wrapping around her smaller one, "if you walk you need to hold my hand, okay?" Zayn warns, Bella nods "yes Baba" she says. Zayn shakes his head and makes his way slowly into the airport, it's been just over a week and Liam's flight is scheduled to land in the next twenty minutes, he's off for the next week at Liam's request, and picking him up from the airport. Zayn was going to leave Bella with his mum, but once she found out where he was going, and who he was going to get, she refused to stay, insisting she needed to come with Zayn.
Zayn grips tightly to Arabella's hand as he scans the arrivals board to find the right gate for Liam's flight, once he's got his bearings he head towards arrivals to wait for his boyfriend. Zayn didn't realize how much he was going to miss Liam this past week, and Bella too. Liam had worked his way into their lives and hearts, rather quickly, becoming a part of their family and things just felt strange when he was gone. Even though Zayn doesn't see him everyday when he's home, he knows Liam's only a phone call and short drive away. But this last week, he's been on the other side of the planet, completely out of reach, and Zayn didn't really like that. "Baba, where Daddy?" Bella whines, tugging on his hand, Zayn sighs sitting on one of the airport chairs and pulling her into his lap, "Daddy's still on the airplane, baby. But we'll see him really soon" he soothes. Bella cocks her head to look at him "give picture?" she asks and Zayn laughs, "yes, you can give him your picture" he chuckles bopping her nose lightly, which makes her scrunch it up.
It takes about forty five minutes before Zayn sees people beginning to trickle out of the arrivals gate, all looking tired and travel weary. He scans them all for his muscular, business man boyfriend, biting his lip when he spots him and Niall both walking slowly out. Bella must see him too because she starts bouncing on Zayn's lap and pointing towards the pair. "I see them baby girl, just let him get closer, okay?" Zayn murmurs, Bella huffs but doesn't move off his lap so Zayn knows she understands. Zayn waits until Liam is free from the crowd of people, and relatively close before he pats Bella's leg gently, leaning down "go get him" he whispers in her ear. Bella grins and jumps off his lap, running the few steps to collide with Liam's legs, all while calling "Daddy" loudly. Liam grins and crouches down as soon as he hears Bella's voice, catching her in his arms instead of letting her wrap around his legs. Zayn watches as Bella buries her face into Liam's neck, squeezing as tightly as her little arms can, before he moves to be closer to the pair, "hey" he murmurs, once he's close. Liam smiles and holds one arm out towards Zayn, the other still supporting Bella in his arms, although Zayn's fairly certain she's wrapped herself tightly enough around Liam, she is in no danger of falling. Zayn lets himself be pulled into the hug, snuggling into Liam's side, as Bella burrows further into Liam's neck "missed Daddy, love Daddy" she mumbles repeatedly. Liam presses a kiss to both Bella's head and Zayn's temple "I missed you too" he murmurs squeezing them both tightly.
Liam insists Zayn drive them home again, because he's too tired, and the car is quiet except for Bella's excited chatter as she fills Liam in on everything he's missed while away. Liam reaches over and grabs Zayn's hand, intertwining their fingers, "I really missed you" he mumbles, Zayn turns to look at him slightly, noticing how tired he looks, "I missed you too" Zayn answers, eyes darting back to the road. "Daddy, what you bring Bella?" Bella asks suddenly, which makes Liam chuckle and Zayn groan, "Bella, that's rude, we've talked about this" he scolds gently, eyes darting to see the toddler in the rear view mirror. She pouts at him, "I just askin' Baba" she whines and Zayn shakes his head, "it's fine Zee" Liam soothes squeezing the hand he's still holding. Zayn feels himself relaxing at the action "I did bring you something, but you can't have it until we're at your house, okay?" Liam asks, turning in his seat to see Bella. Zayn watches as she sighs but nods her head slowly at Liam, before he directs his full attention back to the road.
They're barely in the apartment, Liam carrying Bella, and Zayn carrying Liam's bag, when she asks again "Daddy, present" she demands "please?" she adds sheepishly, when Zayn arches an eyebrow at her. Liam chuckles, disappearing into the living room, Zayn following behind, before gently dropping Bella onto the couch and reaching for the bag Zayn's holding. Zayn watches as Liam pulls out a very lifelike looking doll handing it over to the waiting two year old. Arabella gasps, "Daddy, she's so pretty" she says, before turning to Zayn "look Baba" she calls and Zayn grins, "I see, baby. What do you say?" he asks. Bella turns to Liam "thank you Daddy" she says and Liam grins, "you're very welcome, lovely" he murmurs, falling onto the couch beside Zayn. Zayn watches as Bella runs out of the room, the doll clutched in her hands "I didn't forget about you, you know" Liam murmurs, right beside Zayn's ear making him shiver, "I would hope not you were only gone for a week. But Li, I don't need anything" Zayn says, but Liam shakes his head. "I wanted to get it for you, here" Liam says passing a leather bound sketchbook into Zayn's hands, "I know you like to draw and stuff, but you don't have a lot of time for it. I figured this would fit in your bag and you could take it with you to use on your breaks and stuff" Liam explains. Zayn feels tears building in his eyes, because this is the best gift he's ever gotten, and he loves it "thank you" he croaks leaning over to hug Liam, "this is great" he murmurs. Liam just presses a kiss to his head as a response before Bella comes charging back into the room.
Zayn watches as Bella climbs up onto the couch, before she snuggles into Liam's other side, the new doll still clutched in her hands, Zayn notes she's carrying it by the foot, but that's another issue. He watches her tuck herself into Liam, his arm curling around her tiny frame as she does "missed Daddy" she mumbles, her thumb drifting into her mouth. "I missed you too, but guess what?" Liam asks, Bella shrugs "what?" she asks. "Tomorrow, you, me, and Baba are all going on a plane together to go somewhere really fun" Liam explains. Zayn chuckles as Bella furrows her eyebrows "where going?" she asks, but Liam shakes his head "I can't tell you, it's a surprise" he grins. Zayn groans, because Liam won't tell him where they're going either, which has made packing for the both of them extremely difficult. Liam chuckles "you'll both find out tomorrow" he teases and Zayn huffs "don't like surprises" he mutters, and Liam laughs, Bella copying his actions, even though Zayn knows she doesn't know why she's laughing.
"Baba, I hungry" Bella whines after ten minutes of the three of them snuggling together on the couch. It was nice Zayn thinks, makes them feel like a real family to him, "what are you hungry for?" Zayn asks. Bella tilts her head as she thinks, before her eyes light up "pizza" she exclaims. Zayn chuckles nodding his head, "alright I'll order us some pizza" he murmurs, pulling his phone out as he stands up. Bella grins, clapping her hands "thank you, Baba" she giggles and Zayn shakes his head as he walks out of the room to make the call. "Twenty five minutes" Zayn says coming back into the living room to find Liam now laying on the couch with Bella sprawled on top of him, Liam's arms are wrapped protectively around the toddler, but he's definitely fallen asleep. Zayn smiles at the sight, snapping a picture on his phone, before tucking it away. "Bells, what are you doing?" Zayn asks the very awake toddler, she shrugs "cuddle Daddy, missed Daddy" she replies. Zayn grins, "you're a sweet girl Arabella" he murmurs and she smiles, sweetly at him.
When the pizza arrives, Bella has fallen asleep on Liam's chest, having missed her nap while they were at the airport. Zayn shoves the boxes into the oven, in an attempt to keep them warm before moving to his bedroom to finish packing his and Bella's suitcases. He's zipping up his own bag, and about to finish Bella's when Louis comes into the room. "When did you get home?" Zayn asks, and Louis shrugs "couple minutes ago" he answers, Zayn nods turning back to Bella's bag, "so your boyfriend and daughter are adorable" Louis adds. Zayn grins turning back to Louis, "you saw them? They're still asleep?" he asks, Louis chuckles nodding, "out cold, both of them" he responds. Zayn nods and throws a few more things into Bella's suitcase before deeming it finished and zipping it up as well. Louis sits on the edge of his bed, "he still not telling you where you're going?" he asks. Zayn groans rolling his eyes, "no he says it's a surprise, but you know I hate surprises" he mutters. Louis laughs, "no one really hates surprises, I think it's sweet" he chuckles. Zayn growls "because you do know where he's taking us" he grumbles. Louis sighs, "and you and Bells are going to love it, I promise" he murmurs, pressing a kiss to Zayn's cheek. "Did I smell pizza?" Louis asks, changing the subject and Zayn laughs, "yeah, there's a couple pizzas in the oven, just don't eat Bella's" he explains. Louis nods "got it" before he's gone from the room.
Zayn's sketching, just random doodles while he waits for his boyfriend and daughter to wake up, it's been about an hour and a half since Liam fell asleep, and just an hour for Bella. Liam stirs first, his eyes blinking open, before he tightens his grip on Bella, just a little. "Sorry" he mumbles, as Zayn closes his new sketchbook, and moves closer to the couch, "don't be, I know you're exhausted" he soothes. Liam gently rubs Bella's back, "how long's she been asleep?" he asks, Zayn shrugs, "'bout an hour" he answers, "so I'm stuck here, aren't I?" Liam groans, and Zayn laughs. "No, I can move her if you want" Zayn murmurs, but Liam shakes his head his grip on the sleeping girl tightening again, "no, I kinda like this" he mumbles, brushing some hair out of Bella's face. Zayn takes in the scene and can feel his heart about to burst, because it's just so beautiful "I really missed you guys, like more than I ever thought I would miss anyone"Liam murmurs suddenly, snapping Zayn out of his thoughts. Zayn smiles leaning down to kiss Liam gently, "we missed you too" he murmurs,"I didn't think I would miss you as much as I did, but it was harder than I thought to have you gone like that" Zayn adds. Liam grins, leaning up carefully to press a kiss to Zayn's lips, it's light and over quickly but it still makes Zayn's head spin.
When Bella wakes up an hour later, Zayn heats up the almost forgotten pizza and the three of them curl up together on the living room floor, to eat and watch a movie of Bella's choice. Arabella also refuses to let Liam put her down, and Zayn eyes the pair as he eats, Bella poking Liam's cheek every now and then, Zayn knows she's just making sure he's really back, that Bella, missed Liam while he was gone, and she was scared he wouldn't come back again. "What?" Liam asks, when he catches Zayn staring, "nothing, just you two are cute" he murmurs. Liam blushes but doesn't get to answer because Bella is demanding his attention again, and Zayn grins at the scene, because it really is everything he's ever wanted.