Chapter Seventy Nine – Zayn
Zayn's phone rings as he's packing up his things to go home Wednesday afternoon, "hello" he answers without looking at the caller ID, "Zayn I miss you and haven't seen you in a decade. Come and meet me before you go pick up Bella" Louis answers him. Zayn chuckles and slings his bag over his shoulder, "I miss you too Louis. And where do you want to meet?" he asks. Louis snorts at that "as if you have to ask, you know where" he sasses and Zayn sighs, he and Louis have been going to the same coffee shop for years now. "I'll meet you there in thirty minutes Lou" Zayn murmurs, laughing when Louis cheers and hangs up the phone without another word. Zayn shakes his head as he stuffs his phone back into his pocket, quickly exiting his classroom and locking the door before heading to the parking lot and his car. He runs into Jessie when he gets outside and she smiles widely at him, "have a good night Zayn" she chimes as she climbs into her car, "you too" he answers before Jessie pulls the door shut and Zayn gets into his own car, throwing his bag into the back as he does.
Zayn starts the car before calling Liam, he knows he's still working so he's not entirely surprised when he doesn't get an answer. Sighing Zayn hangs up and calls the office this time, it rings three times before getting picked up "Payne Industries, Elise speaking" Elise answers sounding more professional than Zayn's ever heard, "hey Elise, it's Zayn" he answers as he pulls out onto the road. Elisa giggles "oh, hey Zayn, how are you?" she asks, Zayn chuckles. "yeah I'm good, you?" he asks, "oh you know, busy, busy" Elise answers. Zayn grins, "yeah, is Liam busy, or can you put me through to him?" Zayn asks getting to the point, because Elise can and will talk for ages, and as much as he likes the girl he needs to talk to Liam. There's a pause and Zayn hears shuffling papers, "yeah, I can put you through, just hang on a second" Elise says finally, "thanks" Zayn hums before he's put on hold. Zayn waits exactly three minutes before Liam picks up "hey Zee, I can't talk long" he says, and Zayn can hear how stressed he sounds, he knows Liam's in the middle of some important stuff at work, and add in the Sadie drama, a new baby, a quick wedding, and buying a house there's a lot going on. "I know, I just was wondering what time you're leaving this afternoon?" Zayn asks, turning towards the coffee shop. Liam hums "same as usual why?" he asks and Zayn can hear him shuffling things on his desk. "Could you maybe pick up Bella? Louis asked me to meet him for coffee and I'm headed there now, and was going to tell him about the baby and I don't know how long I'll be" Zayn asks, biting his lip. Liam chuckles lightly "yeah no problem. Tell Louis I say hi" he answers, Zayn sighs in relief, because now he knows he can take his time with Lou, "I will, thanks Li" he murmurs, "you don't have to thank me. But I do have to get back to work, I'll see you when you get home" Liam hums. Zayn grins, "yeah, I love you" he chirps, "I love you too" Liam answers before Zayn hangs up.
It takes Zayn another ten minutes to get to the coffee shop, which makes him five minutes early to meet Louis, he parks and heads inside, shoving his keys in his pocket as he goes. A quick scan of the room shows no sign of Louis, which isn't a surprise to Zayn, so he goes to the counter ordering for both of them. Zayn taps his hand against his thigh as he waits, smiling gratefully at the girl as she hands him both cups, before he rolls his eyes at the heart and phone number drawn on his, under his name. Zayn's just sitting down when Louis comes running into the building, "thank you" he grins as he slips into a seat and takes the cup Zayn offers him. Zayn watches as Louis takes a sip of his drink, he really has missed his best friend they haven't seen each other much in the past month, they've both been so busy. "So what's going on with you, how's Harry?" Zayn asks, sipping his own coffee. Louis lights up and launches into a story about Harry that Zayn can't quite follow, before he slows down, "what about you? How's everybody's favourite business man? And of course the best three year old I know?" Louis asks.
Zayn chews his lip, and takes another sip of his coffee before he answers, "I'm good, still not making friends at the school, but there's not long left until summer" Zayn starts, Louis nods, frowning and Zayn knows without asking what he's thinking. "Liam's great he's really busy right now, but he's making sure he's always got time for us. And Bella is Bella. She's happy and her regular silly self" Zayn continues. Louis grins nodding his head, "good, now what aren't you telling me?" he asks, arching an eyebrow at Zayn. "What makes you think I'm not telling you something?" Zayn asks. Louis snorts, "because I've known you forever and you're doing that hand tapping thing you do when you're hiding something, so spill it Malik" he insists. Zayn rolls his eyes because of course Louis would find him out, not that he wasn't going to tell Louis, he just forgets how well Louis knows him sometimes. "Well, you know how I've always wanted more kids?" Zayn asks slowly, watching as Louis nods, "well Doniya is helping us out and we found out a few weeks ago that it worked, Liam and I are having another baby" Zayn adds excitedly. Louis' eyes widen, before he dives out of his seat and throws himself at Zayn, "this is the best news I've ever heard! I'm so happy for you two" Louis exclaims and Zayn grins, "thanks Lou" Zayn mumbles as Louis smacks a wet kiss to his cheek. "Wait, why does it seem like there's more?" Louis asks suddenly, Zayn laughs, "probably because there is, Liam and I are buying a house, he's legally adopting Bella, and we're planning to get married before Baby arrives" he explains. Louis' mouth drops open comically before he shakes his head "I don't talk to you for two weeks and everything in your world changes" he hums, and for once Zayn can't read whether Louis is upset or not. "Zee this is huge and I'm happy for you, all these things are amazing" Louis murmurs, hugging Zayn tightly and honestly Zayn couldn't ask for a better best friend.
They're both quiet after that, just drinking their coffee before Louis breaks the silence, "I still get to be your best man right?" he asks and Zayn rolls his eyes, "of course Lou, it just won't be at a huge wedding" he explains. Louis nods his head at that, "I don't care about that I care about being there for you" he murmurs, Zayn grins nodding his head. "What about the new baby?" Louis asks and Zayn furrows his eyebrows, "what about the new baby?" Zayn asks and Louis rolls his eyes, "who's going to be the Godfather?" he asks slowly. Zayn shrugs, "honestly, we haven't really talked about it yet Lou" he answers honestly, watching his best friend's reaction closely. Louis smiles at him "hey Zee, it's alright I get it, yeah. I was just curious. And if Liam wants it to be Niall I'll be okay with that too" he murmurs and Zayn smiles gratefully, because honestly he was worried about Louis' reaction to that. "So Liam's adopting Bella?" Louis asks, changing the subject and Zayn grins, "yeah, I mean he's already her Dad, I figured we should make it official. So I asked him if he'd be willing to do it, and he agreed" he murmurs. Louis arches an eyebrow at him "you thought he'd say no?" he asks and Zayn shakes his head, "no not really" he mumbles. "Okay and last thing, are you going to become a Payne? Because honestly Zayn Payne, really?" Louis laughs and Zayn smirks, "I don't think so, I kind of think we'll both keep our own names you know" he mumbles and Louis nods, "yeah that makes sense, what about the kiddos?" Louis asks. Zayn bites his lip, "I don't know. I mean Bella's always been a Malik, but the new baby will probably be a Payne. Liam and I need to discuss it still I think" he mumbles. Louis nods,reaching to rest a hand on Zayn's, "you guys will figure it out, just talk to him yeah?" he asks, and Zayn nods in response.
Zayn and Louis hung out for another two hours before they decided they should head to their respective homes, Zayn needing to figure out dinner and talk to Liam about names and stuff, and Louis just itching to get back to Harry. Zayn's not surprised when he gets to the apartment to find it empty, Aurora meets him at the door, her tail wagging excitedly, as she jumps up at him, "get down, c'mon let's go outside" he mumbles, clipping a leash to her collar. Once Aurora's done her business Zayn leads her back up to the apartment, unclipping the leash and laughing as she runs off into the apartment. He can hear her squeaking one of her toys and shakes his head as he makes his way to his and Liam's bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. He's just pulling a t-shirt over his head when he hears Liam and Bella come in, she's talking excitedly and quickly as Liam no doubt tries to keep up. "Zayn?" Liam calls out and Zayn smirks coming out of the bedroom, "I'm here" he calls back, "do you want to just order dinner?" Liam asks as Zayn comes into the kitchen,his eyes scanning Liam from head to toe, where he's still dressed in his suit. Zayn bites his lip and nods his head, just as Bella comes barrelling into the room "BABA!" she calls excitedly jumping at him. Zayn laughs, catching her easily and hugging her close to his chest, "Baba, I missed you" she mumbles and Zayn kisses her forehead, "I missed you too" he murmurs. "So I ordered Chinese, should be here in thirty minutes" Liam announces coming back into the room, "and miss Bella you need to go put your things away, none of your stuff belongs on the floor by the door" he adds. Bella pouts, but Zayn shakes his head "listen to Daddy, and go pick up your things please" he murmurs, setting her down.
"How was coffee with Louis?" Liam asks, as he and Zayn head towards the kitchen, once Bella has disappeared, Zayn shrugs, "it was good, I miss seeing him everyday you know" Zayn murmurs. Liam nods, wrapping his arms around Zayn's waist his chin resting on Zayn's shoulder, "and how was work?" Liam pushes and Zayn groans, because work was the same as it always is, no one but Jessie, actually talks to him and it's starting to drive him crazy. "That good, huh?" Liam chuckles, Zayn sighs, "it will get better Zee" Liam murmurs, before kissing his cheek, "I'm going to change, we'll talk more in a minute. I can tell something else is bugging you" Liam says before he leaves the room. Bella comes into the kitchen as soon as Liam leaves, "Baba?" she asks and Zayn turns to face her grinning, "yes, love?" he asks. Bella grins up at him "can we see Kenzi, and Ethan, and Mason soon?" she asks pouting and Zayn chuckles, "I'm sure we can love, maybe this weekend, okay?" he answers. Bella nods before she runs out of the room again, no doubt to make a mess somewhere.
It's not until dinner is finished and Bella has disappeared to watch TV for a little before bed that Zayn gets a chance to be alone with Liam, as alone as they can be with Bella in the apartment anyways. "So Zee, what's on your mind. I know you're thinking too hard about something" Liam teases as they load the dishwasher. Zayn bites his lip as he thinks before he turns to face his fiancé "when we get married who's taking who's last name? And when you adopt Bella will she become a Payne? And what about the new baby, will he be a Payne or a Malik?" Zayn asks quickly. Liam chuckles lightly, stopping when Zayn glares at him, "woah, woah, first of all, no one has to take anyone's name when we get married if you don't want to" Liam soothes. Zayn frowns, "it's not that I don't want to, just Zayn Payne sounds really stupid" he mumbles and Liam full out laughs this time. "It doesn't sound stupid, but if you want to stay a Malik, that's fine. I figured Bella would stay a Malik" Liam explains, carefully, "and what about Baby?" Zayn asks slowly. Liam shrugs, "she could be a Malik too" he answers, "honestly Zayn, the kids can all have your last name, I'll know they're half mine so it really doesn't matter to me" he adds. Zayn frowns, "it's not that it matters to me either Li, it's more we need to decide all this stuff" he mumbles and Liam nods "I know that, babe. Trust me I know, and maybe I'll become a Malik too" he murmurs, but Zayn laughs shaking his head, "Liam Malik, head of Payne industries?" he asks skeptically. Liam nods, "I like the way that sounds, so it's decided everyone will be a Malik" he murmurs and Zayn's about to protest but Liam's kissing him deeply, pressing his back against the counter as he does and the words die on his lips.