Chapter Seventy Seven – Zayn
Zayn's struggling to keep his eyes open at breakfast the next morning, he got next to no sleep last night, thinking about why Sadie would be following him and Liam. He doesn't think he's been this tired since Bella was born and had her days and nights mixed up. Liam looks just as exhausted across the table where he's just holding a cup of coffee, not actually ever drinking it, just holding it. "Baba?When Grandma coming?" Bella asks, poking Zayn's arm lightly, and Zayn turns to look at her, smiling lightly at the yogurt surrounding her mouth, "in a few hours Boo, why?" Zayn asks and Bella shrugs, "wear shirt?" she asks. Zayn furrows his eyebrows, in complete confusion, because what is Bella talking about, "your big sister shirt?" Liam asks slowly and Bella shrugs again ,"shirt wore with Grandma Karen" she says to clarify, and Zayn's sleepy mind finally catches up. "Yes you can wear the shirt we need to tell Grandma and Grandpa" Zayn answers and Bella claps her hands excitedly, all while cheering before turning her attention back to her breakfast.
Zayn's slowly cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast while Liam gets changed and Bella has disappeared to play with her toys in the livingroom. Liam appears wrapping his arms around his waist from behind, "hey" Zayn yawns and Liam chuckles, "so you got about as much sleep as I did?" he asks and Zayn just nods, "possibly less" he mutters. Liam chuckles, pressing a kiss to his neck, "I just don't understand what the Hell she wants" Zayn mumbles and Liam nods against him, "I know, we need to figure it out, though and soon. I really don't want her snooping around once new baby's here" Liam murmurs and this time Zayn nods, he really just wants Sadie to be gone and out of their lives for good. "Do you think anyone would blame me, if I just hit her with a shovel?" Zayn asks with a smirks, and Liam chuckles, "unfortunately yes. And I really don't think I can do this alone" he answers, gesturing around the apartment. Zayn pouts, "but if they'd ever met her they would understand" he whines and Liam full out laughs at that, "but a jury never would have met her, and wouldn't see it that way" he chuckles. Zayn just pouts at that, because he knows Liam's right, but to his sleep deprived mind it still seems like a good solution, not that he would ever actually hit someone with a shovel.
Zayn's working on getting lunch ready, when he hears a knock on the door followed by Bella's excited cheering and quick footsteps as she runs towards the door. Heavier footsteps follow her and Zayn knows Liam's trying to get to the door first to prevent her from opening it alone. Yawning lightly Zayn moves out of the kitchen at the sound of his mum's voice, coming into the entranceway to see his whole family being greeted by Liam, who has a pouty Bella on his hip. Waliyha notices him first and breaks away to come hug him, "you okay? You look exhausted" she hums and Zayn sighs, "just didn't get a lot of sleep last night" he murmurs. Waliyha pulls away to give him a concerned look before she shrugs and is pushed out of the way by Safaa, who hugs Zayn as well. Trisha is there when Zayn pulls away from his youngest sister, "hey Mum" Zayn murmurs, pulling her into his arms, "everything alright?" she asks and Zayn just nods, hugging his mum closer to him for a minute, he misses her, yeah he sees her everyday when he drops Bella off or picks her up, but he still misses his mum. "We'll figure it out" Zayn hums and Trisha looks unconvinced but she lets it go and Zayn is grateful for it, he releases his mum just to be pulled into a strong hug from his dad "hey dad" he murmurs, and Yaser just squeezes a little tighter, almost sensing that Zayn needs it today.
Zayn moves back into the kitchen while Liam ushers everyone into the living room, he can hear Bella telling everyone where to sit, and chuckles a little shaking his head fondly at the girl. "Are you going to tell me what's going on or no?" Yaser asks suddenly, and Zayn jumps where he's standing by the stove "what do you mean?" Zayn stutters and his dad just arches an eyebrow at him. "Well for one, you look like you haven't slept at all. Two, Liam seemed a little jumpy when he answered the door, I know there's something bothering you two, what I don't know is what it is" Yaser explains, leaning on the counter beside Zayn. Zayn sighs, he knows there's really no use lying to his father, he knows he'll never get away with it, the man is too observant and Zayn knows it. "You remember Sadie?" Zayn asks and his dad arches an eyebrow, but just nods in response, "Well she's been coming around again, being a general pain in the arse, and asking for money. But last night she was following Liam and I away from dinner. I'm pretty sure she was trying to figure out where we live, but I don't know why" Zayn continues. "Did you guys lead her back here?" Yaser asks, and Zayn shakes his head quickly, "no, Liam made her believe we live in his assistant's building, but it's only a matter of time before Sadie realises we're not there, and comes back looking for us again" he mumbles. Zayn's suddenly being pulled into his dad's arms, "you make sure that little girl out there is safe, okay? And I know you and Liam will figure out the rest" Yaser murmurs pressing a kiss to Zayn's forehead, "thanks Dad" Zayn mumbles before they pull apart.
Everyone's just finishing lunch when Bella starts whining and squirming in her seat, Zayn eyes her carefully for a minute, "Bella what's wrong Love?" he asks gently. Bella whines and pulls on the front of the hoodie, that's covering her "big sister" shirt, "too hot Baba, take it off" she mumbles, still pulling on the fabric. Zayn laughs nodding his head, now's as good a time as any he decides and stands up to help pull the heavy fabric from Bella. The toddler sighs in relief when the hoodie is removed and everyone turns back to the last bits of their lunch, the table covering enough of the shirt you can't read what it says. "Well that was delicious, thank you Zayn, Liam" Trisha says, pushing her plate away slightly, "thanks Mum, why don't we all go back to the living room to sit?" Zayn asks, Liam nods in agreement, "yeah, um, Zayn and I have something to tell you" he adds. Zayn scoops Bella into his arms to follow behind everyone to the living room, making sure, her shirt is hidden until they're ready, he can't help but feel nervous, he knows that his family will accept it, but he can't help feeling the same way he did, over three years ago when he was telling them about Bella. Liam nudging Zayn snaps him back to reality, and he nods setting Bella on her feet, "alright so Liam and I have been talking about this for awhile now, and it's actually happening" Zayn starts. He gets cut off when his mum gasps and he looks to see her pulling Bella into a hug, "Zayn Javadd Malik, is this real?" Trisha demands and Zayn bites his lip as he nods. Yaser looks from Bella to Liam and Zayn, "how is this possible?" he asks. Zayn smiles lightly, looking to Liam, who grabs for his hand, squeezing gently, "Doniya's actually being our surrogate, so Liam's the father" Zayn murmurs.
The room is quiet, before Trisha jumps up with a squeal that could rival any teenager and rushes over to pull Zayn and Liam into a hug, "this is so great. Congratulations I'm so happy for you two!" she exclaims and Zayn hugs her back tightly just smiling. "So you guys are excited then?" Zayn asks, once Trisha releases him and Liam, his mum laughs nodding her head, "so happy" she giggles and Zayn grins eyes flitting to his dad where he's sitting with Bella, "Dad?" Zayn asks quietly. "I'm happy for you son" Yaser murmurs and Zayn grins, "thank you" he mumbles. Waliyha and Safaa are suddenly crowding into his space both talking at once, "woah, slow down" Zayn laughs, "but thank you, both of you" he chuckles, hugging them both, before they pull away from him to hug Liam.
Once everyone calms down Zayn pulls Liam to come sit with him on the couch opposite his parents, Bella's curled into his Dad's side and looks seconds away from falling asleep, and Zayn coos slightly at the sight. Liam clears his throat making Zayn look up at him confused "there's a little more, Zayn and I are putting an offer on a house as well. We're going to need more space and a yard for two kids to run around in" Liam says. Trisha smiles across at them, "hopefully not too far away" she says and Liam shakes his head and Zayn laughs lightly, "it's actually closer to you, and Liam's family as well" Zayn answers and Trisha grins, nodding her head, "perfect. Let us know if you need any help moving" she says before directing her attention back to Bella who was tapping her arm.
Zayn's just shut the door behind his family an hour later, Liam was taking a sleeping Bella up to her room to tuck her in. Once he's sure the door is locked (just in case) Zayn heads towards the kitchen to finish cleaning up from lunch, to find Liam already there, "that went well" Liam murmurs, reaching for Zayn who allows himself to be pulled into his fiancé's arms without protest, "yes it did, they're really excited" Zayn mumbles, his voice muffled from where he's pressed against Liam's t-shirt. "Now we have a very busy seven months ahead of us to get everything ready for baby's arrival" Liam murmurs and Zayn laughs, "it's going to fly by" he murmurs and Liam nods, "I want to at least be moved before she gets here" Liam adds. Zayn pulls away to look at Liam, furrowing his eyebrows "she?" he asks. Liam shrugs "yeah, I still think it's a girl. Is that a problem?" Liam asks. Zayn laughs shaking his head "no that's absolutely fine, just remember our little wager Payne" he teases and Liam sticks his tongue out at him. "I want to be moved in and married to you, before he gets here" Zayn says, emphasising he, and Liam rolls his eyes, "you do?" Liam asks and Zayn nods, "it was your idea...last night" he chuckles. Liam nods, "I know, I just wasn't sure how you actually felt about it" he murmurs. Zayn smiles, pulling Liam's lips down to meet his own, "I love you" he murmurs when they pull apart. "We can just do a quick ceremony, get married and then throw a big reception type thing after he's here" Zayn explains a moment later and Liam nods, "I like the way you think" he murmurs, before Zayn's being pulled into another kiss.
"C'mon"Zayn murmurs tugging on Liam's hand, the clean up can wait, right now he just wants to relax on the couch with Liam and not worry about anything, "where are we going?" Liam asks as he follows Zayn. Zayn chuckles, pushing Liam onto the couch and curling into his side, "clean up can wait, I just want to be with you, right now" he murmurs. Liam chuckles, and Zayn feels him wrap his arms tightly around him a moment later, "I can handle this" Liam murmurs, and Zayn smiles as he feels lips press to the top of his head. "What are we gonna do about Sadie?" Zayn asks quietly after a moment, twisting his body to be even closer to Liam as he does. Liam growls, actually growls and Zayn furrows his eyebrows, "I honestly don't know Zayn. I've already got the restraining order but she doesn't seem to care about that. I think we're going to have to catch her and get her arrested to make her go away" Liam grumbles. Zayn smiles at Liam's protective nature and snuggles a little closer to him, "I just don't want Bella getting hurt" Zayn mumbles and feels Liam nod, "me either and I'm worried that, that's where this is heading, Zayn" Liam murmurs. Zayn pouts and shifts so he can see Liam's face, "Babe, we'll protect her. So will Louis, Harry, and Niall. Whatever happens, whatever it takes, no one's gonna hurt our babies" Zayn says fiercely. Liam nods, but there's something in his eyes that has Zayn worried, something that makes him think Liam's going to do something Zayn won't like.