Chapter Forty – Liam
Liam's awake early, he always is, but especially when there is a tiny foot, or it could be an elbow, pushing into his spine. He wants very badly to move the toddler, but she looks so peaceful and he remembers the way she was last night and just how exhausted Zayn looked, that he doesn't want to risk waking Bella up, in case she wakes up Zayn as well. Liam manages to reach his phone where it dropped beside the bed the night before, quickly texting Niall that he will not be in today, that something came up with Bella and Zayn and he needs to take the day for them. He knows there's nothing important going on at the office, it's nothing he can't work on from wherever he is, as long as he has a computer. Niall texts him back fairly quickly, cursing Liam for waking him up, but otherwise completely fine with the rest of the message's content. Liam drops his phone back to the floor gently, it landing with a dull thud, before he shifts again to get what is definitely Bella's foot out of his back, his movement causes the two and a half year old to whine, and shift around, but she doesn't actually wake up. Liam's not entirely sure Zayn will go for skipping today, but hopes the younger man will agree to just staying home with him and Bella, to relax for a day.
Liam's bored he's been awake for an hour, but no one else in the apartment is when he feels stirring beside him, Arabella blinks her eyes open, rubbing at them with her fists before focusing in on Liam. She grins when she sees him still there, and bounces up to climb on top of him "Daddy, you stayed" she exclaims. Liam chuckles nodding his head, "yes, I stayed, I told you I would, but shh Princess. Baba's still sleeping" he murmurs. Bella looks between him and a still sleeping Zayn who has kicked the covers mostly off his lower half, "wake Baba up?" she asks biting her lip, and smirking lightly at Liam. Liam shakes his head, "no let's let Baba sleep for a bit" he tells her. Bella pouts but nods her head, "wake Uncle Louis?" she asks, her hazel eyes sparkling mischievously. Liam laughs shaking his head, "no, not him either, why do you want to wake them up so badly, am I not enough for you?" he pouts. Arabella's eyes widen at Liam's fake pout, "no be sad Daddy' she whines and Liam feels bad for making her think she's upset him. "I'm not sad, I was just pretending" Liam explains, making Bella furrow her eyebrows at him, shaking her head, her messy, raven curls flicking into her face as she does. "We can go make Baba and Uncle Louis breakfast though" Liam suggests, watching as her eyes light up when she nods excitedly.
Liam settles for making waffles after surveying what Zayn and Louis have in the house for ingredients, he could make pancakes too, but he's better at waffles, plus they're more fun. Bella is standing on a chair beside him holding a spoon, waiting for him to tell her what to do, he hands her the measuring cup of flour and has her dump it into the bowl. They continue in this way until Liam and Bella have mixed up a perfect batch of waffle batter, "now we need to cook them" Liam sings and Bella grins, "I go play, Daddy cook" she insists. Liam chuckles, "you're not going to help me?" he asks and she shakes her head, "Bella not" she insists climbing down from the chair and disappearing into the other room. Liam follows after her to find her sprawled on the floor with a colouring book, remembering the last time he arches an eyebrow "what do we colour on Bella?" he asks and she huffs, "only paper" she recites, and Liam nods "that's right" he murmurs knowing Zayn has been drilling that fact into her head after the last incident. "I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me" Liam reminds her, his only response a wave of her tiny hand, before he heads back into the kitchen.
Liam's cooked about half the waffles before he hears footsteps coming into the kitchen, he knows it's Zayn, even before he comes around the corner. Zayn walks in sleepily rubbing his eyes, "why did you shut off my alarm? We're all going to be late now" he mumbles, accepting the cup of coffee Liam holds out to him. "Good morning to you too" Liam mumbles and Zayn sighs, "I'm sorry, good morning Li. Thank you for coming last night" he murmurs. Liam grins "not a problem, and I turned off your alarm because I was hoping you'd agree to staying home with me and Bella today" he explains. He can see Zayn thinking about it, trying to decide if it's possible or not before the younger nods his head "alright, yeah. Just let me call somebody" he mumbles before disappearing back down the hall.
When Zayn comes back Louis is trailing behind him and Liam laughs at both of them before offering Louis a cup of coffee as well, "thank you" he mumbles dropping into a seat with the steaming mug. "You good to stay with me today?" Liam asks and Zayn nods his head "yeah, Emily said she would grab me any handouts and photocopy her notes. And Mum is looking forward to a day off" he explains. Liam grins, "good. Now go get your daughter, it's time to eat" he instructs pointing to the living room. Zayn shakes his head but leaves the kitchen coming back a moment later with Bella in his arms, snuggling into his chest, Liam coos at the pair, as Zayn manoeuvres Bella into her seat at the table and Louis makes a face at her that makes her giggle. Liam brings Bella's over first, having already cut up her waffle, adding some berries to the plate as well, "thank you Daddy" she says as soon as he sets it down, making both Liam and Zayn smile. Liam grabs Zayn and Louis' plates next before returning for his own and dropping into the seat beside Zayn, "so what are we doing today?" Zayn asks after finishing a mouthful and Liam shrugs, "I didn't have anything planned, just thought we could all use a day off. Louis rolls his eyes across the table, but just continues eating so Liam ignores him, "these are really good, Payne" Louis says a moment later gesturing to his plate. Liam smiles nodding, "thanks, Tomlinson" he mocks and Louis rolls his eyes again.
After everyone's done eating Louis offers to clean up the kitchen before Liam can "are you sure Louis?I made the mess I can clean it up" he insists but Louis waves him away, "no I've got this, you guys start enjoying your family day" he says. "Thanks Lou" Zayn calls as he drags Liam out of the kitchen, "I should really help him" Liam mumbles but Zayn shakes his head, "no he always cleans up, because he can't cook, I don't know what he's going to do without me here to be honest" he explains. Liam nods, just as Bella comes running in "Baba" she exclaims as she crashes into Zayn's knees, Zayn laughs "Bella" he exclaims back, "Daddy, help me get dressed?" she asks, her head cocking to the side. Zayn chuckles and looks to Liam, who shrugs "if he wants to, yeah" Zayn answers. Bella turns to Liam then batting her long eyelashes at him, "please Daddy?" she asks and Liam sighs, he knew he'd give in, it was never a question really. "Yeah, let's go" Liam answers and is met with an excited squeal before he is being dragged away from Zayn and towards Bella's room.
Getting a two year old ready for the day is an experience in itself, Liam's helped his sisters with their kids, but mostly when they were tiny babies, who were stilled by a hand on their abdomen. It's not the same with Bella, not even close, she turns her nose up at every outfit Liam pulls out of her wardrobe for her, he's just putting aside the sixth one when he frowns, "alright then, why don't you pick?" he sighs dramatically. Bella giggles and hops off her castle bed where she's been sitting to watch Liam, skipping over towards her clothes. It takes about ten seconds for her to decide on a bright purple tutu, with leggings for underneath and an almost blindingly bright, neon pink t-shirt. Liam arches an eyebrow "you sure?" he asks as she hands him the clothes and she nods happily "yes Daddy" she says passing him the tutu. Liam nods and helps her to pull off her pyjamas, stopping once to grab a pull up out of the drawer Zayn hides them in, "when are you going to start peeing on the potty, big girl?" Liam asks as Bella steps into the pull up. The toddler shrugs "I not" she answers grinning sweetly at him, Liam sighs knowing Zayn is struggling to get the girl interested in using the bathroom. Liam pulls the shirt over her head, and the leggings onto her tiny legs, before pulling up the tutu. "There" he exclaims, once all the clothing is on, "you look beautiful" he adds, Bella blushes and giggles, before reaching up on her tip toes to grab something. When she comes back she's holding a small purple brush, with characters from Frozen on it, and a baggie of hair elastics. "Hair too, Daddy" she begs holding them out to him, Liam groans because he has no idea how to even make a ponytail, he's never had to before. "I want a braid Daddy" Bella insists and Liam bites his lip, pulling out his phone to find a quick tutorial on how to braid. Once he thinks he's gotten it down he turns to carefully brushing out Arabella's curls and then sets to braiding the hair quickly, and neatly down her back.
It turns out Liam is a natural at braiding, if he says so himself, the braid in Bella's hair looks great, it's a little loose but otherwise fantastic. "Thank you" she squeals as soon as he lets go of the bottom and spins around to hug him, "go show Baba?" she asks. Liam chuckles nodding, "yeah, you go show Baba, I'll be there in a minute" he agrees, before Bella runs out of her room calling for Zayn as she goes. Liam cleans up in Bella's room a little bit, tossing her dirty pyjamas into the hamper, before he follows her out of the room. He finds her and Zayn in the living room, "you did that?" Zayn asks arching an eyebrow, and gesturing to Bella's hair, "yes, why?" Liam asks slowly. "No it's great, thanks Li" Zayn assures him, reaching out to pull him down onto the couch, as Bella bounces off to find something to play with.
Zayn cuddles into Liam's side, once Bella is sufficiently distracted by her barbies, "so when do you want us to move in?" Zayn asks slowly, and Liam turns his head to look at the man he calls his boyfriend. "When do you want to move in?" he asks shrugging, because if he had his way it would happen today, but he knows that's not possible, and it really doesn't matter to Liam when it happens, as long as it happens. Zayn groans, "I don't know" he mumbles and Liam laughs. "Well do you want it to be soon, or wait a little bit?" Liam asks, and Zayn sighs, shrugging. Liam waits, as he watches Zayn think, his eyes darting over to where Arabella is playing every now and then, "probably soon" Zayn decides, and Liam nods. "Alright, how about in one month, then?" Liam asks, and Zayn nods slowly, "sure, yeah. You're sure about this Li?" he asks. Liam groans turning to face Zayn a little more, "yes I'm sure, I've been sure for a while, you Zayn Malik are all I want, you and that little girl" he reassures gesturing towards Bella. Zayn sighs and nods "okay, then a month it is" he agrees. Liam grins and nods his head, "good, I know a great moving company that can help us move Bella's bed and all your furniture" he explains. Zayn just groans, nodding his head in response. Liam chuckles "what is it?" he asks, "now I gotta pack" Zayn whines and Liam throws his head back as he laughs, "yes you do, but I'll help" he promises, leaning down to press a kiss to Zayn's lips.
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A/N: Here you go! We had some Zouis time, and then fluffy Ziam.
Hope you enjoyed these, let me know what you think.
Until next time xoxo