Chapter Forty One – Zayn
Zayn groans as he throws another pile of Bella's toys into a box, before taping it closed, pulling the Sharpie from his back pocket, to scribble the contents of the box across the lid, before sliding it across the room and reaching for another one. Packing is absolutely no fun, and Zayn has decided he never wants to do it again, ever. There's knocking on the door and Zayn furrows his eyebrows confused at who it could be, because he knows Liam is working, and Louis has keys, and Bella is napping in her room. He makes his way over, pulling the door open to see Ruth standing there, with Kenzi, Mason, and Ethan behind her. "Hey, what are you guys doing here? C'mon in" Zayn asks, stepping aside to let Liam's sister and her kids enter the apartment. Ruth shrugs, hugging Zayn quickly, "I thought you might want some help, considering my brother is working on a Saturday. And you're supposed to move in a week" Ruth explains. Zayn grins, "thank you" he mumbles, but Ruth waves him away as Kenzi tugs on the bottom of his shirt. Zayn crouches down to be at her level "yes?" he asks and Kenzi blushes, "Uncle Zayn, where Bella?" she asks. Zayn smiles, "she's still napping, but should be up soon" he answers. Kenzi nods her head slowly before turning away from Zayn.
Zayn sets the kids up with a movie before he and Ruth disappear towards his bedroom to pack up some more stuff. It's as they're emptying his closet which is full of all kinds of things Zayn had forgotten he even owns, that Ruth opens up to him. "Zayn?" she asks slowly, and he pauses where he's sorting through a random bag he found, arching an eyebrow at her in response. "I just wanted to say thank you" she says slowly and Zayn furrows his eyebrows confused, "for what?" he asks. Ruth sighs, "for how happy you make Liam. He had basically given up on ever having a family and then you and Bella came along, and I don't think I've ever seen my brother so happy" she explains. Zayn bites his lip, "to be honest I never thought I'd find anyone either, not anyone I wanted near my child anyways. But then Liam came along and now here we are" he says honestly. Ruth smiles, pulling Zayn into another hug, "I'm pretty sure you two are soul mates" she giggles and Zayn sighs rolling his eyes as he turns back to his sorting. But he can't help thinking that maybe Liam's sister has a point.
There's another knock on the door an hour later, and Zayn hears it open a moment later, so he assumes it's Liam, coming in after work, like he had promised earlier. A minute later he hears Bella cheer "Daddy" and knows he's right, "why are my niece and nephews in your living room?" Liam asks as he walks around the open door. Ruth shakes her head at him, as Zayn sighs and gestures to where Ruth is standing, "at least one Payne is helpful when it comes to packing" he teases. Liam rolls his eyes, and leans over to give Zayn a kiss, just as Bella and Kenzi come running into the room "Baba, Daddy?" Bella asks as she climbs onto Zayn's bed. Zayn pulls away from Liam to arch an eyebrow at his daughter, just as Kenzi looks at Ruth with wide eyes "Mummy?" she asks. "What would you two like?" Ruth asks, as Zayn tosses another pair of forgotten shoes into the box he's been packing. Bella pouts at Zayn and he knows she wants something "what is it Boo?" he asks, sitting beside her, "I stay Kenzi?" she asks eyes wide. Zayn looks from Bella to Liam and then to Ruth who nods her head, "it's okay with me" she says slowly. Zayn bites his lip, while he thinks and Liam wraps an arm around his waist, nosing at his neck, "it would be nice to have another night to ourselves and we can probably finish packing your stuff" Liam suggests. Zayn sighs and nods slowly, making Bella squeal excitedly.
So now instead of packing for the quickly approaching move, Zayn is packing a bag for Bella to spend the night at Liam's sister's again. He knows it's silly but he's still hesitant about the idea and it has nothing to do with what happened the last time, because he knows Mason didn't mean to upset his daughter. No he's nervous because he still isn't sure how he feels about Bella being away from him when he's not at school or work. He spends so much of his life away from the toddler for those reasons that he wants to spend all the rest of his time with her. "What are you thinking so hard about?" Liam asks suddenly making Zayn jump and drop the pyjamas he was holding onto. Zayn bites his lip as he looks at Liam and weighs his options, because he knows he's ridiculous, knows it's not too much to ask for a little time for him every now and then, "it's stupid" he mumbles in response to Liam's question. "I'm sure it's not, just tell me" Liam insists, and Zayn sighs, "I just I feel guilty about not spending tonight with Bella. She spends so much time away from me, I just feel bad" he explains, quietly. Liam clicks his tongue and steps closer his arms wrapping around Zayn's waist, "don't feel bad, she asked to spend the night at Ruth's. And you're allowed to have a night for you Zayn, all parents do it" Liam murmurs. Zayn sighs and leans into Liam more, "I guess" he mumbles still not entirely convinced.
"Don't worry she'll be fine" Ruth assures Zayn again as she and the kids are all getting ready to leave, Bella clinging to Ethan's hand, and Ruth carrying her bag. Zayn nods slowly, smiling at her, "I know" he mumbles and Ruth laughs, "you can call as much as you want, and I'll be sure to call you if anything happens" she says. Zayn bites his lip nodding and reaches down to pull Bella away from Ethan, "Baba" she whines, and he chuckles, "I'm just saying goodbye" Zayn murmurs. Bella relaxes then and snuggles into Zayn's chest, "bye Baba, love Baba" she murmurs, and Zayn smiles, pressing a kiss to her head, "I love you too. To the moon and back" he murmurs. Arabella looks up at him and grins, Zayn smiles back, "you be good, listen to Auntie Ruth and don't bug Ethan too much" he warns. Bella nods, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "promise Baba, love you" she says again, Zayn smiles, "bye, Boo. I love you" he murmurs, kissing her cheek and hugging her tightly. Bella starts squirming and reaches away from Zayn towards Liam, who reaches out and takes her from Zayn's arms, which makes him pout. "Bye Bella, you be good. I'll see you tomorrow" Liam murmurs hugging her tightly, as she hugs him, before she kisses his cheek, making a face, "pointy Daddy" she whines. Zayn laughs as he takes in Bella's annoyed look and Liam's pout, "it's just a beard" Liam mutters as Bella squirms to be put down. Zayn moves to be closer to Liam, leaning up to whisper in his ear, "it's a sexy beard" he murmurs, pulling away with a laugh when Liam blushes. Ruth rolls her eyes, "on that note, we'll be heading out, call if you need anything" she cheers before ushering all the kids out of the apartment.
Zayn pouts at Liam after the door has clicked shut and he can no longer hear anyone in the hallway, Liam chuckles and pulls Zayn into his arms, "you'll manage" he mumbles. Zayn rolls his eyes, "uhuh, now come help me pack Payne" he mutters, pulling out of Liam's arms to grab his wrist and pull him back towards his bedroom. It turns out that Liam is absolutely useless when it comes to packing, Zayn decides that Bella was more helpful than Liam currently is. "You know, for someone who wants me to move in with him, you're not exactly helping this process any" Zayn groans, giving Liam a pointed look, where he's sprawled out across the bed. Liam laughs, pushing himself so he's sitting up, "I'm not trying to be helpful, I'm just enjoying watching you" he explains and Zayn groans, tossing an empty box at him. "Get off your arse and help me" he orders, pointing to his desk in the corner, Liam pouts but stands up to start shuffling things into the box, satisfied Zayn turns back to packing up his closet.
By the time Zayn hears Louis coming home he and Liam have managed to pack up all of his and Bella's stuff, except for a suitcase of clothes for each of them, one bin of Bella's favourite toys and books, and of course the furniture itself. "Hey Lou" Zayn calls, as he places another box onto the pile of packed ones in the living room, "hi Zee" Louis answers eyeing the boxes suspiciously, and pouting. "You're really going then" he murmurs, and Zayn's not entirely sure he was supposed to hear him. Zayn frowns moving across the living room and pulling Louis into a hug "you knew I was Lou, we talked about this, remember?" he asks, and Louis sighs relaxing into Zayn's hold. "I know and I'm happy for you, it's just going to be weird around here without you two" Louis mumbles. Zayn smiles lightly, "we'll still come over all the time, I promise, Lou" he murmurs, "you better" Louis laughs and Zayn knows they're going to be okay. "Zayn, where do you want this?" Liam asks walking into the room holding a couple boxes, "oh, hey Louis" he adds when his eyes land on the pair. "Hi Liam" Louis smirks pulling out of Zayn's arms, as Zayn gestures to the other boxes, "just over there somewhere" he answers. Liam laughs and moves to pile the boxes on top of some other ones.
It's not long before Harry shows up as well, his eyebrows raising at the pile of boxes taking up half of the living room, "you and Bella are actually moving out, then?" he asks. Zayn rolls his eyes and nods as he snuggles into Liam a little more, "yes, we are why does everyone think I won't do it?" he grumbles. Louis laughs, as Liam hugs Zayn a little tighter, "because I've known you since you were four years old, and you absolutely despise change Zayn Malik" Louis smirks. Zayn pouts but nods his head, knowing he can't argue with Louis on this one, it is an absolute fact that Zayn hates change, it took him six months, and several changes of his mind for him to finally move in with Louis. "Also where is Bella currently?" Harry asks, glancing around the apartment, Louis shrugs, pulling Harry closer to himself and Zayn sighs, "she's having a sleepover with Liam's sister and her kids, again" he answers. Harry nods his head and snuggles Louis, "so what are we doing tonight then?" he asks. Zayn opens his mouth to say something but is cut off by Louis, "I think we should go out" he says, blue eyes wide in an expression that Zayn knows means he's generally up to no good. Harry lets out an excited noise at the suggestion before looking to Zayn and Liam, and Zayn knows he's going to agree even though he doesn't enjoy drinking and clubs. "You want to?" Liam murmurs and Zayn shrugs, looking up at him "if you do" he answers. Liam's eyebrows furrow but he doesn't say anything, just nods his head "yeah,sounds alright" he agrees for them and Zayn sighs, because the last time he went drinking, he got used, for a bet, and wound up a single father.