The elevator doors opened instantly when I pressed the button. I was also undisturbed by other guests or workers on the way to the correct floor.
I almost had to remind myself not to run through the hallways because I was moving so fast. The anticipation of seeing Zayn again was building within me. I was immediately in the NICU, washing my hands again, and swiftly moving in the room to see Zayn and Valentina.
Zayn’s eyes lit up even more than they already were when he saw me. I sat down on his lap when I reached him, pressing my lips to his within seconds of being in his arms.
“Hi babe.” Zayn quietly said when he pulled away. He nuzzled his face into my neck, giving me short kisses where he was breathing periodically. I didn’t say anything back to him. I wanted to savor the moment I had with him, and Valentina. She was resting in her incubator only a few feet away from us. “I love you so much.” I heard him whisper against my skin.
“I love you too. How was your trip?” I asked, pulling away slightly so I could look him in the eyes.
Zayn pushed a strand of hair behind my ear like he always does. His fingers that barely brushed against my cheek sent shivers throughout my entire body. “It was good. I couldn’t stand being away from you and Valentina though. I never want to do that again.”
I was smiling. Zayn always knew what to say to make me happy. Being in his arms again was the best feeling in the world. Knowing I was going to have my family by my side for a little while longer, before Zayn had to do some work thing again, made me feel like nothing could ever go wrong. This was my life now, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
“You know you’re going to have to.”I stated, not meaning to bring up the fact that in a few short months this family would be separated again.
Zayn put his head back in the crook of my neck. “Don’t say that. I just got home. We aren’t thinking about any of it until the time comes.”
I rested my head on top of his, admiring Valentina as we sat there. “Okay. I’m glad you’re home. I missed you.”
“How was it having me gone? Were you alright?” Zayn sat up straight.
I nodded. “Yeah. It was only five days. I kept myself busy at home and spent all of my spare time here. You should see all of the Christmas decorations I put up.”
Zayn had a worried look on his face. “Sweetie, you just had a baby not even two weeks ago. Why were you doing all of that stuff? Your stitches could have come open or something.”
“It’s not like I was on the roof putting lights up. I just set some stuff out, and tree is up too." I explained.
"You put up the tree? Rose, I'm serious about wanting you to not do anything that will hurt you." I felt Zayn's hand rubbing my lower back.
"So does that mean I can't decorate the tree with you?"
He had a puzzled look in his eye. "You didn't decorate it?"
I shook my head. "No. Why would I do that? It's our first Christmas together. I wanted to do it with you."
A smile grew wide on his face. "I'd love to do that with you. How about tonight? We can leave a little earlier than we usually do and get that done."
I looked down at my lap, feeling sad because of his suggestion. "You want to leave early? You don't want to spend time with Val? You just got here."
"Babe, you know I want to spend time with her. I want to spend time with you too though. We'll be back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and every day she's in here until we can bring her home. I, unfortunately, can't cuddle with her though, so I need to find someone to help me out with my problem." Zayn wrapped his arms around my body tighter.
"Can we at least stay for another hour? Just until the nurses have to feed her and change her diaper and all that fun stuff?" I questioned. I was thinking of some excuse to get him to stay longer.
He nodded. "Of course. I want to see her for a while anyway." Zayn scooted the chair we were sitting on as close to Valentina as he possibly could. He inserted his hand into the hole on the side of the incubator so he could touch her soft skin. I still sat on his lap and admired the love he had for her. "Hi baby girl. Did you miss me?" He quietly asked her. Valentina's little body stirred a little. It must have been Zayn's touch. She had to know her daddy was back. "Well I missed you. Daddy's not going anywhere for a while."
I wrapped my arms around Zayn's neck and pulled my body closer to his. “I think she missed you too.” I whispered into his ear.
---------------------------------------------------
A couple hours later Zayn and I were back home. I was in the kitchen making us some snacks and hot cocoa for when we decorated the tree. He was in the basement finding the box that contained the ornaments.
I was consumed in my thoughts about whether or not Zayn was going to like the gift I got him. This was really the first time I was buying an actual present for someone that wasn’t one of my best friends or a family member. I wanted it to be a romantic gesture. Not just me handing him a Christmas present because that’s what you do.
Zayn broke me of my concentration when he came into the kitchen, dropping the box of ornaments onto the counter. I was thinking of something to write in the card I got him, but all of my thought left my brain when I heard the glass ornaments clanking against each other
“Seriously?” I snapped at him. Zayn gave me a grin as he walked over to me. I turned back to what I was previously doing, but I was spun around into his arms. The way Zayn was looking at me told me he didn’t want to decorate the tree. He had other plans “What?” I asked him, trying to sound serious. The expression on his face was making it hard for me to do that though.
“Nothing. Do we really have to decorate though? We could do it tomorrow. I have other things I want to do with you tonight.” Zayn’s hands slid their ways down my body, over my curves, to land on my waist.
I wanted to do those other things, but I knew we couldn’t. Not yet anyway. “We can’t babe.”
Zayn’s hands fell to his sides in disappointment. “Why not? It’s been what, ten days?”
“The doctor said six weeks, and that he needs to give me the okay. Besides,” I turned and picked up the two mugs of hot cocoa, “I’m still bleeding.”
Zayn’s face went blank. He looked so serious. “I didn’t need to know that, Rose.”
“Why not?” I smirked at him.
He walked back over to the ornaments and picked them up. “Because, I don’t want to know about all your women issues. Just tell me when that appointment is and I’ll be there.” Zayn left the room, me laughing behind him.
We entered the living room where our tree was set up. Zayn had already strung the lights on all of the branches. All we had to do was put the silver and red balls, as well as the few sentimental, childhood ornaments Zayn had that his mom gave him when he moved out.
I put Christmas music on as we decorated the tree. Zayn wasn’t too enthusiastic at first, but he soon turned into someone who was desperate to create the perfect tree. He said he wanted to make Valentina’s first Christmas perfect. Even though she wouldn’t get to see it, we apparently needed something nice enough to take a picture of so it could go in her baby book. We didn’t even have a baby book yet because we hadn’t had a chance for a baby shower. Sabrina was supposed to plan one for us for sometime early next year. I didn’t think it would be happening now though. We were going to have to get stuff before then if Valentina was going to be coming home.
After what seemed like a long night of Zayn and I laughing and making fun of each other, we were resting on the couch. The music was softly playing in the background as we sat together looking at our tree. The only thing that was missing was Valentina sleeping in one of our arms. This was nice though.
My head was resting on Zayn’s chest. I could hear him humming to the song that was playing. He sounded perfect. So perfect that it was actually making me tired listening to the calming sound of his voice. I glanded down at my phone. It was two in the morning. I wanted to get up and go to bed, but the moment couldn’t be ruined. Instead, I let the quiet music, and Zayn’s humming put me to sleep.
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A/N: Finally!! First, sorry if this is a short chapter, but hey, it's up. A week is a long time for me not to update, and I'm sorry. I had finals though, so this was obviously put in the back of my mind. I'm all done with school now for the semester, so that means I'll be writing. That also unfortunately means that this story is coming to an end. It's sad. I know. Y'all will still get me for a few more chapters though. Don't worry. A couple things still have to happen. I think I've kind of made them obvious. So if you caught those little clues then be prepared.
Also, during this long week, Beautiful Mistakes reached 10,000 reads!!!!!! Like wow!!! How did that even happen?? Thank you to everyone who made that possible. Y'all are seriously the most amazing people, and I still don't even know how to thank you properly. I honestly don't think a simple 'thank you' is enough because I've been speechless at points with the success this story has achieved. I never thought any of it would happen. It did though and it's all because of you, so THANK YOU!!!!
XOXO
~Nicole