Chapter One Hundred Eleven – Zayn
Zayn's exhausted and he just wants to go lie down, but unfortunately for him he can't, at least not until Liam comes home from the meeting at the office he went in to. Zack got over his fever three days after it started, with Chloe deciding that was the best day for her to get it, and Zayn and Liam discovered with that, that Zack is the good one when it comes to taking medicine. Bella is bored for lack of a better word, she's missing going to school and seeing her friends the just turned four year old looking to Zayn to entertain her. Chloe's fever seems to have passed now as well, but Zayn is just tired, the past week has been nothing short of exhausting. "You're okay Chloe, Baba's got it, right here" Zayn coos as he carries both the bottle and crying infant into the living room, dropping onto the couch to feed her just as Bella comes running into the room "Baba, I'm bored" she whines Zayn just arching an eyebrow at her as he sits and feeds Chloe. "What do you think you want to do then, Boo?" Zayn asks as Bella flops to the floor at his feet "go see Daddy, and Uncle Niall" Bella says, clasping her hands together and looking up at Zayn from under her eyelashes. Zayn just sighs, shaking his head as he adjusts the angle of the bottle Chloe's drinking from, and glances across to where Zack seems content in his chair. "Bella-Bug, you know we can't go bug Daddy, he's only at the office because he and Uncle Niall have a meeting, you can't go see them" Zayn murmurs and Bella sighs dramatically, and flops down so she's now laying on the floor.
Zayn chuckles shaking his head at how dramatic Bella's being before he switches Chloe so he can burp her, before he just cuddles her close to him. Zayn pouts as Chloe grabs a fistful of his hair in her hand, "ouch, Tiny Dancer, take it easy on Baba's hair" he mumbles, smiling when she grins at him and Zayn can't believe that the twins are three months already. "Babaaaaa" Bella whines and Zayn just arches an eyebrow down at her, "still bored" she mutters and Zayn shakes his head, "you have hundreds of toys, and games. Why don't you go get one of the new puzzles you got for your birthday?" he asks. Bella just rolls her eyes in response but makes no move to get up, "your sister's being difficult" Zayn sighs to Chloe who just smiles around her fist which she's shoved into her mouth. "Can we go see Kenzi?" Bella asks suddenly and Zayn rubs a tired hand over his face, they could go to Ruth's and see her and the kids, who he knows are all home today, but that would entail getting all three kids bundled into the car, and he's not sure he can or wants to do that today. "Pleaseeee Baba" Bella begs and Zayn sighs, nodding his head, "alright yeah, go get your shoes and stuff" he mumbles pulling out his phone to text Ruth to make sure she's okay with it. Before he texts Liam to let him know where they'll be.
It takes Zayn thirty minutes to gather the twins' things and get all three kids strapped into the car, before he's finally pulling onto the road and heading to Ruth's house. Bella's singing along to the radio happily in the backseat and Zayn can hear both Zack and Chloe gurgling noises back and forth to each other, almost like they're having a conversation. Zayn's phone rings and he answers it through the car's speakers after a few rings, "hello?" he asks and hears Liam chuckle, "hey Zee. So why are you going to my sister's house?" he asks. Zayn sighs as he turns onto Ruth's street, "Bella's bored and wants to see Kenzi, so we're going so she'll stop begging me" Zayn explains. "Okay, well we just finished that meeting but Niall wants to go over a few things. I won't be home until dinner time" Liam says and Zayn pouts but nods his head "that's fine Li. We'll be at your sister's all afternoon anyways" he answers. "Good, say hi to everyone for me?" Liam asks and Zayn chuckles, "of course. Love you Li" Zayn responds, "love you too" Liam echos before they hang up, just as Zayn parks in front of Ruth's house.
Ruth meets him at the car as he's pulling the twins out, reaching out to take Chloe's seat from him, as soon as she's free, Bella's bouncing impatiently on her feet beside him, "Kenzi's inside, go on in" Ruth encourages and Zayn laughs as Bella takes off towards the front door, practically tripping over her own feet. "Thanks for letting us come over" Zayn murmurs, once he has Zack's seat in his hands and he and Ruth are walking up to the front door. "It's fine, Kenzi's been bugging to see Bella again" Ruth explains, and Zayn nods as they step into the warm house. "Mason's at a friend's house today but Ethan is here somewhere" Ruth explains as Zayn toes off his shoes and reaches down to unbuckle Zack from his seat, Ruth doing the same with Chloe. Zayn follows Ruth to the kitchen where she flicks on the kettle as Zayn sits at the table, bouncing Zack in his arms, "you alright Zayn? You look exhausted" Ruth asks, as she comes to sit beside him, cuddling Chloe to her. Zayn yawns waving her off, "I'm fine, just both twins just got over fevers, and Liam's been busy with work, add in a very bored Bella home every day now and I'm just tired" he explains. Ruth nods in understanding, "you know if you ever need any help I'd be happy to come over for an afternoon, especially when the boys have school" she offers. Zayn smiles gratefully, as Zack starts to gum his thumb, "thanks Roo" he murmurs, gently pulling his hand away from Zack who protests.
"Mum, have you seen my game?" Ethan calls walking into the kitchen, Ruth just shakes her head at him, "oh hey Uncle Zayn" Ethan mumbles, dropping into a chair. He reaches over to gently tickle Zack's side and Zayn smiles widely at the boy, "what game?" Zayn asks. Ethan sighs and shakes his head, "it doesn't matter, Mason probably took it to his friend's anyways" he groans, which makes Ruth laugh and Zayn shake his head. "How's school been E?" Zayn asks bouncing Zack on his lap, Ethan makes a face, "the literal worst" he grumbles and Zayn can't help but laugh at that while Ruth rolls her eyes. Ethan drops his head to the table before he calls out "ow" as Zack reaches down and grabs a fistful of his hair, "sorry about that, both of them have just recently started doing that" Zayn murmurs, as Ethan rubs the top of his head. "So what brings you here Uncle Zayn?" Ethan asks, as Ruth gets up to make tea, passing Chloe down into her son's arms as she does. Ethan takes the infant, cuddling her close to him, and Zayn even sees him drop a quick kiss to her hair, when he doesn't think anyone's watching him. "Bella, was bored and wanted to see Kenzi, so we came for a quick visit" Zayn explains, and Ethan nods, making faces at Chloe in his arms, "Is Uncle Liam working?" Ethan asks and Zayn nods, "yeah he and Niall had a meeting today" he answers, as Ruth sets a steaming mug, in front of him.
When Zayn gets home it's past six and the house smells amazing, "Liam? Did you cook?" Zayn calls out as Bella rushes past him and into the house, leaving Zayn alone as he toes off his shoes and carefully removes both twins from their seats. Liam appears at the top of the stairs then, reaching out to take Zack from Zayn as he comes up them, "yeah I started on dinner, when I got home and you were nowhere to be found" Liam explains. Zayn just nods, and follows Liam tiredly towards the kitchen, "you okay Zee?" Liam hums and Zayn just waves him away, "I'll be fine" he yawns, internally cursing himself for it. "No you aren't. You're exhausted" Liam coos, but Zayn waves him away again "I'll be fine" he yawns again, Liam looks entirely unconvinced, but he doesn't push Zayn, although he knows it's coming. "Daddy" Bella calls and Liam turns to face her, "what is it Princess?" he asks, and she giggles, "what's dinner?" Bella asks and Liam chuckles, "homemade pizza, garlic bread, and salad" he answers. Bella makes a face at the mention of salad but otherwise appears to accept Liam's response as she runs out of the room again. "You are going upstairs to rest, once dinner is done" Liam hums crowding into Zayn's space, still holding Zack with one arm. Zayn pushes away cuddling Chloe to him "I'm fine Liam" he groans but his husband shakes his head, "I wasn't asking Zayn, you need a break, I can handle the kids for a few hours, you are going to go upstairs and relax. I don't care what you do, but you need to do something for you" Liam insists. Zayn bites his lip, wanting to protest, but Liam leans down and kisses him quickly, "not up for discussion, you are exhausted" he murmurs, before pushing away to go check on his pizza.
Once dinner is over, Liam true to his word ushers Bella down into the playroom, scooping up both Zack and Chloe as he goes, leaning down to kiss Zayn's lips quickly, "go. I'll come find you once the kids are all in bed" he murmurs before he's gone. Zayn chews his bottom lip for a minute, before he gets up, stopping at the fridge to grab himself a glass of wine, not in the mood for a beer and heading upstairs. He flicks on the taps to fill the large bathtub, in the master bathroom, and turns on the small TV Liam had mounted into their bathroom, flicking channels until he finds something that he wants to watch. The tub is full quickly and Zayn groans as he slips into the hot water, letting his eyes slip closed at the blissed out feeling he instantly gets. He's always enjoyed a nice, hot, bath when he's stressed, or tired, but he hasn't really had time for one in a while, and he makes a mental note to thank Liam for giving him this time.
Zayn never meant to fall asleep, but he's not surprised either, given how tired he was, and how relaxed the hot water made him feel. It's a combination of the water now being cold and Liam calling his name that wakes him up, "Zee, c'mon you're gonna get sick" Liam hums, standing beside the tub holding out a large towel. Zayn blinks at him for a moment, before he carefully climbs out of the now cold water, letting Liam wrap the large, fluffy, towel around him, rubbing his large hands up and down Zayn's arms. "Go get dressed" Liam hums, gently pushing Zayn towards their bedroom, as he leans down to unplug the drain. Zayn watches from the doorway for a minute, before he turns and goes into their bedroom pulling on a pair of boxers and one of Liam's t-shirts quickly.
Zayn jumps slightly when arms wrap around his waist from behind, Liam chuckling by his ear, "have a good bath?" Liam murmurs, and Zayn just nods, letting his weight lean back into Liam's frame. "Good, now do you want to just stay up here or go down and watch a movie?" Liam asks, turning Zayn, who goes willingly, in his arms, so they are now face to face. Zayn just shrugs, because as long as he's with Liam he really doesn't care where they are, or what they do. Liam groans before pulling him towards the bed, "then we'll stay up here" he mumbles and Zayn just nods, crawling up the bed and curling up on his pillow as Liam fiddles with the TV remotes in an attempt to find something to watch. They settle on a rerun of Sherlock because it's a favourite of both of them. Zayn doesn't see much of it though, because he quickly drifts off to sleep curled up to Liam's chest, only stirring slightly when Zack starts wailing, but Liam shushes him gently, promising to take care of it. Zayn rolling over and falling asleep again, wondering how he ever got so lucky.