Chapter Seventy One – Zayn
Zayn frowns as Liam pulls back into the parking lot of their building a week later, they've just gotten back from America and the flight home didn't go nearly as smooth as the flight over had. Bella had been miserable from the minute they arrived at the airport in LA until Liam finally gave her his iPad halfway through the flight to play games on. She had fallen asleep, with her head on Zayn's shoulder about five minutes before they landed again and was still sleeping peacefully in the backseat of Liam's car. "You alright?" Liam asks, turning off the car and facing Zayn who nods slowly, "I'm fine, just tired" he mumbles, and it's the truth, he's exhausted, would have loved to sleep on the flight home, but Bella being awake and a handful prevented that from happening. Liam smiles gently, "help me get her and everything inside, then we can take a nap. Louis' not bringing Aurora over until later" he murmurs, fingers brushing against Zayn's cheek. Zayn leans into his touch before pouting when he pulls his hand away, and climbs out of the car, Zayn follows, going around to pull Bella out of her seat, careful not to wake her, and follows Liam, who is somehow carrying all their luggage towards the elevator.
Zayn gently lays Bella down in her bed, standing up too quickly and bumping his head on the balcony over top, he curses quietly before leaving the room, rubbing at the forming bump gently as he goes. Liam furrows his eyebrows at Zayn when he comes into their bedroom, "I bumped my head" he mumbles and Liam laughs before pulling him closer and pressing a gentle kiss to the spot, "that's gonna leave a bump" Liam mumbles and Zayn sighs. "Can we just nap please?" Zayn practically whines, and Liam chuckles nodding his head as he pulls Zan gently by the wrist to lay down. "Zee?" Liam murmurs, once they're settled, with Zayn's head on Liam's chest, and Liam's arms around Zayn. Zayn hums to indicate he heard him, and Liam continues, "are we really going to call Doniya about having a baby?" he asks. Zayn spins himself around so he can see Liam's face, reaching up to cup his jaw in one hand, "I'm serious if you are, we can call her right now if you want?" Zayn answers quietly. Zayn watches as Liam chews on his bottom lip, not a habit he does often, before nodding slowly, "I want to Zayn, I think we're ready, I know we haven't even really started planning the wedding, but I think we can do this" Liam mumbles. Zayn laughs lightly, nodding his head, "we already are doing it, with Arabella, but I think you're right" he chuckles, kissing Liam lightly when he pouts.
Zayn sits up to find his phone, quickly pressing on Doniya's contact, it rings three times before her voicemail picks up. Sighing Zayn listens to her outgoing message before he hears the beep, "Hey Dee, it's your little brother. Liam and I wanted to talk to you about what you and I talked about last week. So either call me back when you get this or just come to the apartment, we're home from America now. I love you, bye" he rambles into the phone before hanging up. Zayn puts his phone back on the nightstand, "she didn't answer, now can I nap" he pouts and Liam grins pulling Zayn back into his arms, as they lay down, and it only takes Zayn about thirty seconds to finally fall asleep, snuggled into Liam's chest, where he'd be lying if he said it wasn't his favourite way to sleep.
When Zayn wakes up a couple hours later he's alone in bed and can hear voices and Aurora barking, coming from the living room. Getting up Zayn slowly rubs at his eyes before he stumbles out of bed and makes his way towards the sounds. "Baba, you up" Bella cheers as she crashes into his knees, Zayn chuckles crouching to pull her into his arms, "I am, did you have a good nap?" he asks,pressing a kiss to her forehead. Bella nods excitedly as Aurora runs over, barking, Zayn laughs setting Bella down and patting the puppy's head as he does. When Zayn straightens up Bella giggles and runs over to the couch, diving up onto it, Zayn follows her path and sees her cuddled up to Doniya, "hey, look who's finally awake"Doniya teases, and Zayn rolls his eyes sticking his tongue out at his sister. Liam makes grabby hands from the other couch and Zayn moves quickly to snuggle up to his fiancé, "when did you get here?" Zayn asks, turning his attention to Doniya who shrugs. "About half an hour ago, Louis was just leaving from dropping off Aurora" Doniya explains, and Zayn nods, snuggling more into Liam "you said in your message to either call or come by, and I haven't seen my favourite niece, or brother in a while so I just came by" she adds. Zayn rolls his eyes as Bella giggles, "one, I'm your only brother, and two, she's your only niece" he points out and Doniya shrugs, "yes, but still my favourite" she teases, tickling Bella gently, making her giggle madly, as she attempts to pull away from her aunt. "Hey Princess, can you go play in your room, for a few minutes, Baba and I need to talk to Auntie Doniya" Liam says suddenly, and Zayn laughs as Bella pouts, before she runs out of the room Aurora hot on her heels.
Once they're sure Bella's gone, Zayn arches an eyebrow at Liam, who gestures for him to start talking, Zayn rolls his eyes and sighs before turning to face his sister again. Doniya just laughs at him before she starts talking, "I'm guessing you talked to Liam about me being a surrogate for you guys?" she asks. Zayn rolls his eyes at his sister before nodding, "yeah, and we want to do it, and were wondering when would work best for you" he mumbles. Liam massages at his shoulders and Zayn relaxes into the touch, Doniya grins, coming over to sit beside the two men, "I'm honestly ready when you two are, and I'm guessing you want to soon, right?" she asks. Zayn nods, "we were hoping, kind of immediately actually" he murmurs, Doniya grins, clapping her hands, "perfect, you guys call the doctor and let me know when and where and I'll be there" she exclaims, pressing a kiss to Zayn and then Liam's cheeks. "Doniya, you have no idea what this means to us, to me. Thank you" Liam murmurs, and she grins at him, "honestly Liam you're welcome, I'm happy to help you guys out" Doniya murmurs, Zayn just smiles at the pair before he's distracted by a small face peeking around the corner into the room.
"Arabella?" Zayn calls out and the toddler squeaks before she peeks further into the room, "yes Baba?" she asks. Zayn grins arching an eyebrow at her, "were you listening in on our conversation" he asks, gesturing for Bella to come and sit with them, she bites her lip before shaking her head and Zayn just arches an eyebrow. Bella sighs as she climbs onto Liam's lap, "yes Baba" she sighs Zayn frowns because in the last few weeks Bella has started hiding and spying on conversations him and Liam are having alone, he knows it's not the worst thing, but he also doesn't want it to become a habit for her. "What has Baba told you about that, Princess?" Liam asks and Bella pouts, "not to, but Daddy wanted to see Auntie Dee" she mumbles in response. Doniya raises her hands in defense, "don't drag me into this" she jokes and Zayn laughs lightly, "Bells, I'm not upset with you baby girl, just please stop spying" he murmurs. Bella pouts, before she nods her head, "sorry Baba, sorry Daddy" she murmurs and Zayn and Liam both nod, before both men wrap her in a hug. Doniya coos at the little family, "I'm going to head home, call me when you know the appointment, alright?" she asks, Zayn pulls away from his family and nods, standing up, but Doniya stops him. "No you stay here, I can let myself out, I'll see you soon little brother" she says, "bye Bella" Doniya calls as she leaves the room. The sound of the door opening and closing a moment later.
Once Doniya is gone Liam moves to get up from the couch, Zayn pouts up at him, Bella copying him soon after which makes Zayn grin slightly, Liam sighs, both of you stop it, I'm just going to get a drink" he mumbles. Zayn laughs dropping his pout and gesturing for Liam to go on, wrapping his arms tighter around Bella once he does so. "Baba?" Bella asks quietly, playing with his fingers, Zayn furrows his eyebrows, "yeah Boo?" he asks and she bites her bottom lip, "Auntie, baby?" she asks, cockng her head to the side. Zayn's eyes widen just as Liam comes back in carrying a glass of water, unsure of how to answer the question, Bella's mentioned having a little brother, but Zayn's never really discussed the possibility with her. He knows they're going to have to, sooner than later, but he just doesn't know how. "No, Love Auntie's not having a baby. Not yet" Zayn answers slowly and Bella frowns at him, shaking her head, but she doesn't say anything else, and right now Zayn is more than thankful for that.
They sit quietly for a moment after that before Liam clears his throat and both Bella and Zayn turn to look at him, "what?" he asks and Zayn arches an eyebrow while Bella giggles, "what was that Li?" Zayn asks. Liam shrugs, "I needed to clear my throat" he answers slowly and Zayn rolls his eyes "Bella? Can we talk for a minute?" Zayn asks, deciding now is as good a time as any to bring up the subject of another baby. Bella pouts, but nods her head, "how would you feel about having a little brother or sister? Zayn asks carefully, watching her face as he does so. Bella smiles widely as she claps her hands and bounces slightly on Zayn's lap, "Bella big sister?" she asks excitedly and Zayn chuckles, gripping her tighter to stop her bouncing, "maybe" Liam answers slowly, and Bella pouts at him "what Daddy means is, it's not going to happen right away. It could take a long time before we actually have a baby" Zayn explains, brushing some hair out of Bella's face. The three year old pouts, cocking her head to the side again, before she nods "okay Baba, want brother" she decides. Zayn chuckles shaking his head, "unfortunately, you don't get to pick that" he laughs and Bella pouts "why Baba?" she asks innocently. "Yeah, why Baba?" Liam parrots and Zayn glares at him, "because...Daddy gets to choose this time, because I got to choose with you" Zayn says slowly and Liam chokes on the sip of water he just took. The answer is good enough for Bella though because she moves from Zayn's lap to Liam's and holds his face in her hands "Daddy, pick brother" she says seriously and Liam nods, "I'll do my best" he assures her.
Bella takes off to her room after the conversation about babies and brothers and Liam turns to Zayn arching an eyebrow at him, Zayn just blinks back at his fiancé an innocent smile on his face. "Daddy gets to choose?" Liam asks and Zayn smirks, "technically it wasn't wrong, in all seriousness the gender of the baby will be decided by you" he points out and Liam groans while Zayn cuddles into him. Liam shakes his head, "you're terrible" he mumbles and Zayn laughs lightly "but you love me" he chuckles, leaning up to kiss at Liam's jaw, knowing the older man can never stay mad at him, not that he really is anyways. "What do you want?" Liam asks quietly, after a few minutes of silence, Zayn shrugs, moving around so he can look at the man he loves, "honestly?" Zayn asks and Liam nods, "a boy would be great, but I really don't care, as long as they're healthy" Zayn answers, Liam nods slowly, "good, I kind of want a boy too, but I agree with you, that it doesn't matter" he murmurs. Zayn grins, and presses another kiss to Liam's jaw, "we should probably worry about actually conceiving a baby, before we worry about what they will be" he mumbles against his skin, and Liam hums, nodding his head, before he turns to catch Zayn's lips in a kiss, and Zayn doesn't fight him, just adjusts himself so he can kiss Liam back.