Chapter Thirty Five – Zayn
Zayn curses as he makes his way towards Liam's door, it's after midnight, and now he has to wake his boyfriend up just to get inside, he hopes Liam's not too asleep but feels bad, as he knocks. There's a pause, before Zayn hears stumbling footsteps and the door is pulled open to reveal a tired looking Liam, wearing sweatpants and a wrinkled tank top. "I'm so sorry, but I don't have a key or anything" Zayn murmurs, pressing a kiss to Liam's cheek as he walks into the apartment. Liam frowns shaking his head, "no, it's fine I was still awake I knew I'd have to let you in" he yawns, pulling Zayn into his arms, wrinkling his nose, Zayn chuckles "I know I smell like pizza" he laughs, Liam nods. "How was she?" Zayn asks as they head towards the living room, both sitting on the couch and Liam pulling Zayn in closer "she was upset because I don't have any toys, and she refused to eat broccoli, which is weird because I've seen her do it before, and then she wouldn't sleep anywhere but in my bed. But she was great, really Zee" Liam explains. Zayn's eyes dart around the room before he takes Liam in, "good, yeah I should have warned you, I don't know where it comes from but she refuses to eat anything green right now" he sighs. Liam's eyebrows furrow and Zayn laughs, "yeah it was new as of this morning" he explains, and Liam nods.
Zayn leans on Liam, the pair sitting quietly for a minute, "I need to tell you something Zee" Liam mumbles after a minute and Zayn frowns, turning so he can see Liam, "no, it's nothing bad, well not for us" Liam murmurs. Zayn relaxes slightly and nods, gesturing for Liam to continue, "Niall's sleeping in the guest room, he caught Jace cheating on him, and they broke up" he explains. Zayn frowns, he doesn't know Jace well, only met him once or twice but he feels bad for Niall, "that sucks "Zayn says and Liam nods, "yeah, so he may need me around a little more for the next little while" he adds. Zayn nods because obviously Liam needs to be there for his best friend, Zayn would never stand in the way of that, ever "of course, Li" he murmurs snuggling more into Liam. The pair fall back into silence before Liam pats Zayn's leg gently, "we should get to bed" he yawns, and Zayn chuckles nodding, allowing himself to be pulled up and led down the hall to Liam's bedroom. He smiles at the sight of Bella curled up in the middle of the bed, Bunny clutched under her arm, and her dark hair falling into her face, Zayn pouts, because she looks adorable, but he feels bad for not being there to put her to bed, again. Zayn leans over and kisses her forehead lightly, before turning around to see Liam holding out a pair of sweatpants for him, "thank you" he mumbles, kicking off his jeans and pulling them on, before climbing onto the bed and pulling off his t-shirt.
The next morning Zayn is woken up by a loud thump, followed by quiet cursing, he blinks his eyes open to be met with a tangle of dark, curly hair, before he gently moves it aside and he can see Liam attempting to get ready for work. He takes a moment to drink Liam in, as the older hasn't seen he's awake yet, Liam's barefoot, wearing his suit pants, the dress shirt hanging off his broad shoulders is still unbuttoned and his tie is hanging undone around his neck. Zayn bites his lip, pushing himself into a sitting position, careful not to wake Bella, where she's curled up beside him "Good morning" he says, voice raspy from sleep. Liam jumps and spins to face him, "Morning. I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" he asks, Zayn shakes his head, carefully climbing out of the bed, moving across to wrap his arms around Liam, "no, I would have woken up soon anyways" he answers. Liam nods, leaning down to gently kiss Zayn's lips, "I messaged Elise, and Nikki, Niall and I won't be going in until closer to ten today. I think he needs a little more rest, and the company won't fall apart without us for a couple hours" Liam murmurs. Zayn nods, playing with the undone tie, "then, why are you up so early?" Zayn asks, glancing at the clock to see it's barely seven AM. Liam shrugs, "habit, and I didn't want to disturb you and Bella, so I got up to get ready. Was gonna make breakfast too" he explains. Zayn grins at that, "you can still make me breakfast, I won't object" he teases making Liam roll his eyes.
Zayn is sitting on the counter, watching as Liam makes pancakes, Liam's tie is still hanging loose around his neck, but he has buttoned his shirt, much to Zayn's protest. "Do you work today?" Liam asks suddenly and Zayn frowns,nodding, "yeah, at noon. But I should be finished around six today. Thank you for last night by the way, I don't know what I would have done without you. Liam turns from the batter he's just poured into the pan, to give Zayn a look, but whatever he is about to say is cut off by Bella running into the kitchen, "Daddy, where go?" she asks yawning, hazel eyes lighting up when she sees Zayn. "Baba!" she calls, switching course to run towards him, Zayn smiles and hops off the counter to catch her in his arms, "hey, Bella-Bug, I missed you. Did you have fun with Daddy last night?" he asks, pressing kisses to her face, and head. Bella giggles, and snuggles into Zayn, after pushing his face away so he'll stop kissing her, "yeah, Neil here. But Daddy, no toys" she pouts. Zayn laughs, "I heard Niall was here. And he doesn't? Maybe we can send some of yours over here, hmm?" he asks, over pronouncing Niall's name, in an attempt to teach her how to say it properly. Bella's eyes widen, "Bella no toys home?" she asks concerned and Zayn chuckles, "no love. You'll still have toys at home, but if it's okay with Daddy, we could leave some of your toys here, in case you need them" he explains. Bella makes a face before nodding and wriggling to get down. Zayn sets her on her feet and she flashes a grin at him, before dashing over to Liam, who laughs and scoops her into his arms, "morning, cutie" he grins. Bella smiles "morning Daddy" she chimes, snuggling in as Liam keeps cooking breakfast.
Zayn's wiping off Bella's sticky fingers, and face, after breakfast, when Niall comes into the kitchen "Neil! Daddy make pancakes" Bella calls excitedly. Zayn watches the blond grin, "he did, that's great. Did you have a good sleep?" Niall asks, Bella nods "yup and Baba came, see" she exclaims, gesturing to Zayn. Niall chuckles, "hey Zayn" he says, "morning Niall" Zayn answers, before Niall disappears and Zayn figures he's getting himself some pancakes. Liam appears behind Zayn then, and Bella cheers reaching for him to pick her up, which Liam does without hesitating, "if I hadn't just spent three weeks out of the office, I'd suggest you and I play hooky today" he pouts. Zayn laughs nodding his head, "yes but we both need to work. Come over tonight?" he asks. Liam grins, nodding "sounds good to me" he murmurs, as Bella presses a sloppy kiss to his cheek before wriggling out of his arms. Once Bella is gone Zayn turns to face Liam, "would you be alright with Bella leaving some of her toys here?" he asks, he's not entirely sure why he's nervous, but he is. Liam chuckles, nodding his head, "I wouldn't object at all. I was actually going to suggest we just go shopping and get her some stuff for here, this weekend maybe?" Liam asks. Zayn's eyes widen and he bites his lip "Li you don't have to do that, I can just go through her stuff at home and bring some here. You really don't need to spend anymore money on us" he protests. Liam sighs, pulling Zayn in closer, his hands finding their way up under the hem of the t-shirt Zayn's borrowed to sleep in, "I know I don't need to, but I want to, please" he pouts. Zayn groans but nods his head slowly, "fine, just nothing too extravagant" he mutters, giving in, all while realizing it was useless to protest in the first place, he'll always agree with Liam.
There's still over an hour until they have to leave Liam's apartment, for him to take Zayn and Bella home, and make it to work on time. So the three are snuggled on the couch, watching some children's cartoon that has Bella's full attention, but is making both Zayn and Liam question their sanity. "What drugs do you think the people who came up with this show were on?" Liam asks quietly. Zayn chuckles lightly, shaking his head, "I have no clue, but whatever it was, was either really good, or really bad" he answers, hiding his face in Liam's neck as Bella shushes them both. Liam's arms are tight around him, and if Zayn's being honest he'd be content to stay in Liam's arms all day, everyday. Bella jumping in between them snaps Zayn out of his thoughts "I go grandma's?" she asks, her eyes wide and bottom lip poking out. Zayn groans lightly, nodding his head, "yes, Boo. But only for a little while today, Baba only works a short shift today" he answers. Bella pouts, before chewing on her bottom lip, Zayn watches her turn towards Liam, "Daddy, see grandma Karen?" she asks, batting her long eyelashes at him. Liam chuckles wrapping an arm around the toddler as Zayn watches, "maybe this weekend, alright?" he asks, and Zayn holds his breath as he waits for Bella's response, she sighs and nods her head, "fine" she huffs, snuggling back into the couch between Liam and Zayn to finish watching her show.
Zayn frowns as Liam pulls up in front of his apartment building, "hey it's only for a few hours, I'll pick up Chinese take away on my way after work, okay?" Liam asks, Zayn chuckles, "sounds good, what do you think Bells?" he asks, looking into the backseat where Bella is currently reading a picture book upside down with a very serious look on her face. Arabella looks up at them, before nodding, "food" she says simply, making both men laugh lightly. "Say goodbye to Daddy, Bella, we're going to see Uncle Louis, and Uncle Harry for a little bit, then you can go play at Grandma's while I go to work" Zayn instructs, pulling off his seatbelt, and leaning over to kiss Liam quickly. "Yuck, Baba no" Bella scolds from the back, "bye Daddy" she chimes, Liam chuckles turning in his seat to blow her a kiss, "you be good, I'll see you later" he says. Zayn watches fondly, as Bella pouts, catching the kiss and pressing it over her heart, "no Daddy, real kiss, please?" she whines. Zayn climbs out of the car, before Liam can, pulling Bella out of her car seat and into his arms, before carrying her over to Liam's door, pulling it open and sighing as the toddler launches herself into Liam's lap out of Zayn's arms hugging him tightly and pressing sloppy kisses to his cheeks. Liam chuckles, hugging her back and pressing a kiss to her forehead and both her cheeks, "I'll see you after work, okay?" Liam asks and Bella nods, reaching back towards Zayn to be picked up again. Zayn complies sneaking another quick kiss from Liam as he does, "I'll see you later" he murmurs, Liam just nods, before Zayn steps back and shuts the door, him and Bella both watching as Liam pulls away, "let's get upstairs, yeah?" Zayn asks. Bella nods and wraps her hands tightly around Zayn's neck,as he walks, "love Baba" she sighs, nuzzling into his neck, and Zayn feels himself grin as he holds her a little tighter, knowing moments like this won't last forever, "I love you too" he murmurs as they make their way inside.