Chapter Forty Seven – Zayn
"You sure about this Li?" Zayn asks, as he stuffs a few colouring books into Bella's bag, it's been a week since Bella and Liam stayed home together when she was sick, and Liam's taking her with him to his office today. "I mean I have classes all day and then I have to work, so I won't be able to come and pick her up at all" he warns. Liam chuckles, passing Zayn a few of Bella's princess dolls, "yes I'm sure, and I know you'll be gone all day. But I promised her and I'm not breaking a promise to her" he explains. Zayn sighs and moves around Liam towards Bella's bedroom to grab a few changes of clothes, he's not sure what she could possibly do to need them, in Liam's office, but if there's one thing he's learned from having Bella it's to never underestimate the mess she is capable of creating. Zayn decides on two outfits, placing them into the bag, before heading back out into the living room, where Liam is currently drinking coffee and watching Peppa Pig with Bella. "Don't you have a meeting today?" Zayn asks, remembering a conversation he and Liam had a few days ago, Liam shrugs, setting his mug down, "yes. But it's not a long one, and Elise and Nikki are excited to hang out with her for a little while" he explains. Zayn huffs, he's not sure why he's against this, or why he feels something's going to go wrong. He knows realistically that Bella will be fine, she's been to Liam's office a few times, and nothing terrible has ever happened, but unrealistically he thinks this is a bad idea, just because.
Liam's arms are suddenly wrapping around his waist and he's being pulled into a strong chest, "relax, alright. We'll be fine, I have one meeting right before lunch, the rest of the day is all just work around my office. I promise everything will be okay" Liam soothes. Zayn relaxes against him and nods, "I'm sorry, I don't even know why I'm being like this" he mutters and Liam laughs, "because you're a good father, but you just focus on your classes and job, and I'll take care of your girl, deal?" he asks. Zayn chews his lip as he thinks before nodding, "deal. But Liam?" he asks, and Liam furrows his eyebrows obviously confused, "she's our girl" Zayn murmurs. Zayn watches as Liam's eyebrows shoot up in surprise "Zayn, you mean that?" he asks, and Zayn smiles, shrugging, "yeah, I mean legally and all that she's mine, but she is ours Liam" he murmurs. Liam grins wrapping Zayn in a tight hug, "thank you" he mumbles and Zayn pulls back to smile at his handsome boyfriend, before surging up to kiss him deeply. Bella crashing into their legs makes them pull apart, "what is it Boo?" Zayn asks, scooping her into his arms, where she snuggles into his chest, Zayn smiles hugging her back, as Liam moves to put his now empty mug in the sink. "You be good for Daddy today, okay?" Zayn asks. Bella nods, kissing his cheek, "promise Baba" she murmurs, wriggling to get down again. Zayn lets her down just as Liam comes back in briefcase in hand, "you ready to go Bella?" he asks. Bella nods running to grab her bag from the floor, "you have to say bye to Baba, first" Liam chuckles. Bella grins and runs over to Zayn who catches her in his arms hugging her tightly, "bye Baba, love you" she coos and Zayn smiles, "bye I love you too" he answers, before releasing her. Liam comes to hug Zayn then, "bye, I love you. Take care of her" Zayn murmurs, before kissing him, Liam smiles "I promise, I love you" he murmurs, kissing Zayn again, before pulling away and scooping Bella into his arms to leave.
Zayn curses when he glances at the clock after Liam and Bella have left, he's going to be late to class if he doesn't leave right now. Sighing Zayn grabs his own bag, before stuffing his wallet and phone into his pocket, grabbing his keys and heading out into the hall and towards the elevator, down to the parking garage. Once he's on his way he allows himself to relax a little, he's going to be on time and everything with Liam and Bella is going to be fine today. But even as he tells himself this Zayn can't shake the feeling that something is going to go wrong today. Zayn pulls into the parking lot at school and manages to get a spot directly beside Louis, who's still in his car as well. Zayn smiles at his best friend as they both get out of their cars, Louis handing Zayn a Starbucks cup once he's close enough, "thought you could use this" Louis explains. Zayn takes a sip, "thank you, I definitely can use it" he murmurs, and Louis nods as they make their way towards the main building on campus. "How's living with Liam?" Louis asks as they walk and Zayn smiles, "it's great Lou, how's Harry?" he asks. Louis bites his lip and grins, "he's great, I may ask him to move in, he's at the apartment all the time anyways" he says. Zayn grins, "that's great Lou!" he cheers, "I do miss you though" he adds and Louis smiles wrapping an arm around his waist, "I miss you too" he coos, pinching Zayn's cheek. Zayn swats him away, shaking his head, "you wanna grab lunch today?" Zayn asks. Louis smiles nodding, "sure thing, meet you here around twelve?" he asks and Zayn nods, "see you then" he calls before they split off to head towards their classes.
Zayn can't help but be worrying in his classes all morning, he hasn't heard from Liam all morning, and although he knows that means everything with Bella is fine, he can't help but be distracted. "You okay?" a voice asks, jolting Zayn out of his thoughts, looking up to see Emily her hair now dyed a vibrant pink, instead of the purple it was previously. Zayn nods, as he continues to pack up his stuff to go meet Louis (and probably Harry) for lunch, "yeah, why?" he asks, furrowing his eyebrows. Emily giggles "you've just seemed distracted this morning is all" she shrugs and Zayn sighs, "I kinda am, but it's all going to be fine, I'm sure" he explains. Emily nods, "well if you ever need anything Zayn, you know you can talk to me right?" she asks, and Zayn smiles nodding, "thanks Em" he murmurs. Emily nods and grabs her bag before meeting back up with her friends.
Zayn's pulled out of his own head again, by a chip hitting him in the face, "earth to Zayn" Louis calls and Zayn shakes his head, "sorry what?" he asks. Harry laughs and Louis sighs, "what is up with you, you've been distracted all day is everything okay?" he presses. Zayn bites his lip, "yeah, I just have a weird feeling something's going to happen to Bella today" he answers. Louis and Harry both make a face, "something like what?" Harry asks slowly and Zayn shrugs, "I have no idea. She's at the office with Liam, he promised he'd take her, and I just keep getting a feeling that something bad is going to happen today while she is" he explains. Louis and Harry both nod, before Louis reaches across the table to pat Zayn's arm, "Mum would say you're having mother's intuition, or would it be father's? I don't know it's not the point, but I'm sure Bella's fine with Liam and if something does happen he'll call you" Louis murmurs. Zayn nods "yeah you're right, I'm sorry guys" he mutters. Harry grins, "it's alright Zayn" he says and the three of them go back to eating their lunch and talking about nothing.
Zayn manages to focus enough to make it through the rest of the day and get to work, without worrying too much. Liam had texted him after lunch to tell him Bella had fallen asleep curled up under his desk while he was out at his meeting. Zayn laughed, saving the picture Liam sent with the text of his daughter curled up asleep under his boyfriend's desk, to his phone. Zayn parks, heading in through the back entrance to punch in, where he runs into Talia, "hey Zayn, how's things?" she asks as she punches herself in, before stepping aside to let Zayn do the same. "Oh you know same as always" Zayn answers, stepping away to tie his apron onto his hips and look at the schedule for the night, just as Josh, Harry and Perrie all pile into the room to punch in for work. "Looks like it's you and me in the dining room tonight" Talia winks, and Zayn laughs, nodding, seeing that he and Talia are serving, Harry is the host, and Perrie and Josh are in the kitchen. "You guys ready for this?" Josh asks and they all nod, "let's do this" Harry jokes, all of them laughing lightly, before heading towards their assigned sections ready to start the night, and Zayn can't help the nagging feeling he still has that something is still going to go wrong.
Zayn's only thirty minutes into his shift when Harry approaches him, the phone in his hand, "Zee, it's for you, I'll cover your table" he says slowly. Zayn furrows his eyebrows confused at who would call him on the work phone, and hands Harry the coke he just filled before taking the phone. "Hello?" Zayn asks, slowly, "Hey, Zayn?" a female voice asks. "Yeah, who is this?" Zayn asks carefully, the voice sighs, "Zayn it's Elise" she answers, "hey Elise why are you calling me, shouldn't you guys be pretty much done now?" Zayn asks, glancing at the clock. Elise takes a deep breath, "yeah we were, but Liam asked me to call you, you need to get to the hospital, something's happened" she explains. Zayn's grip on the phone tightens and he can feel his heart stop as tears prick his eyes, "what happened, is everyone okay?" he asks, knowing the answer already if he has to go to the hospital. "Zayn I'm so sorry, I should let Liam tell you. But something's happened to Bella, and you need to go meet them at the hospital. I'm sorry" Elise rushes out. Zayn bites his lip "oh God is my baby okay?" he asks, "Oh Zayn, as far as I know Bella will be fine, just you need to go be with her" Elsie coos. "Yeah, okay, thanks for calling me" Zayn answers, hanging up before Elise can respond, as a few tears slip down his cheeks.
Zayn turns to find someone, he needs to leave, now, and bumps directly into Talia, who takes one look at him and wraps her arms around his waist. Zayn burrows into his friend for as long as he's worked at the restaurant, "what happened?" Talia murmurs, pulling away to look in his eyes, "Liam's assistant just called me, something's happened to Bella, I need to get to the hospital" Zayn mumbles, as a few more tears slip down his cheeks. "Go" Talia insists pushing him towards the doors, "Harry and I can cover the dining room, you go be with Liam and Bella. Just let us know how she is, okay?" Talia insists. Zayn bites his lip before nodding, "thank you, I will" he calls as he runs out into the parking lot tossing his stuff onto the passenger seat as he quickly pulls out and heads towards the hospital.
Zayn makes it to the hospital quickly, parking his car and running towards the building, the only problem is he has no idea where to find Arabella and Liam. Spotting the information desk Zayn rushes over, "I need to know what room Arabella Malik is in" he pants, the girl behind the desk looks up at him, "and who are you?" she asks. Zayn growls low in his throat, his baby is here somewhere and he doesn't know what's wrong with her and the volunteer at the desk is giving him a hard time. "I'm her father" he hisses, and the girl rolls her eyes, "uhuh, do you have I.D.?" she asks snapping her gum, and Zayn growls again, pulling his wallet from his pocket and throwing his driver's license at the girl, who looks at it, than at him, before checking something on her computer. She smiles lightly as she hands the card back to Zayn, "I'm sorry, Mr. Payne just told us not to let anyone but you into the room, I had to be sure" she apologizes, and Zayn feels slightly bad for beginning to lose his temper, of course Liam would make it so no one could get to Bella, "it's okay, I understand. Sorry for snapping" he mumbles. The girl waves him off, "it's fine, she's in room 512, take the elevator up" she tells him and Zayn smiles, "thank you" he mumbles before he's rushing towards the elevator and his baby girl.