ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 134
[Niall]
Zayn jumped around, waving his hands impatiently. "Phone. Jayn want to talk to Liam."
Niall sent him a small smile. "Patience, he hasn't picked up yet." The bell rang on the other side of the phone and then Liam picked up.
"Hey Niall," Liam greeted. He sounded tired but happy.
"Hey Li," Niall said, trying to maneuver around a jumping Zayn. "How's everything there?"
Liam sighed on the line. "It was critical last night, but thankfully she's stable now."
"That's great news," Niall said softly.
"How's Zayn?" Liam questioned and Niall chuckled. "Well, he's been pretty upset."
"You talking about Jayn!" Zayn exclaimed and jumped on Niall's leg, reaching out for the phone. Niall shook him off with a grin. "He wants to talk to you, here." He put the conversation on speaker before giving the phone to Zayn who immediately grabbed it and ran to the couch. "Hello? Liam?"
His face lit up as Liam answered on the other line and he grinned at Niall. Niall smiled warmly and sat beside him on the couch.
"Hey Zayn, are you okay?" Liam's voice rang through. Zayn pouted and shook his head. "Am miss you. Come back."
Liam chuckled softly. "Can't come back now, but I'll meet you in a few weeks. I miss you too."
Zayn smiled happily at that. "Did you open pwesent?"
"Not yet, do you want me to open it in front of you?"
Zayn nodded furiously. "Don't open yet. But boysh open it."
"Liam, it's a-" Niall stared, But Zayn gasped and leaned up to clamp a hand on his mouth. "Niall shh, don't tell."
"Okay, okay, I won't open it. What? Oh yeah, coming. I'll FaceTime you in an hour, okay Zayn?"
Zayn frowned and Niall gently grabbed the phone from him. "Okay, Liam, take care. Bye."
"Bye," Zayn mumbled.
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They ended up trying to bake some gingerbread cookies themselves, though all the boys were aware that it was going badly. The scene in the kitchen was quite a sight to see. Zayn was perched on the counter, cheek and clothes covered in flour blots. Louis was washing cookie dough off his shirt, grumbling under his breath. Harry was expertly mixing the dough while Niall mopped the floor that was wet. Zayn leaned froward and picked up a pice of dough off of Louis' shirt, putting it in his mouth. He grinned. "It good!"
"This was my favorite white shirt," Louis whined and Niall snickered. "Don't you have like four other white shirts?"
"But this one was my favorite one," Louis continued and Harry grinned at him. "You have two pairs, Lou. Stop being overdramatic."
"Don't be ovew-dame-attic," Zayn agreed, swinging his legs back and forth. Louis pouted and climbed up on one of the chairs, watching Harry pour the batch into the cookie forms. He hugged him from behind. "I hope we helped."
"Yesh we help, vewy much," Zayn praised, but Niall sent him a look. "You managed to spill milk everywhere."
Louis sent Niall a look. "You pushed me so I got dough on my shirt."
Harry stared at Louis. "You threw flour on Zayn." He lifted the platter to put into the oven, cookies ready. Niall watched as Zayn licked his lips, eyes softening into heart eyes. But then, to everyone's dismay, in slow motion, Harry slipped on a wet spot. He let out a scream as he fell back on the tiled floor, the platter flying in the air.
"I've got it!" Louis yelled and held his hands out at the same time as Niall ran over to catch it. They bumped heads and groaned, the platter crashing on their heads, spilling cookie cutters and cookie dough all over them and the floor. They heard Zayn gasp from behind, but Niall was too busy groaning in pain.
"You deshtoy cookies!" The boy wailed. Harry sat up, rubbing his head with a grimace. "Niall! You were supposed to mop the floor."
"I did, Louis was standing on that spot so I didn't get to mop that one," Niall defense, shooting Louis a look. The oldest boy just grumble under his breath, crossing his arms. He turned to Harry. "Why did you slip? I used to be a baker," he mocked and Harry grabbed some cookie dough, smearing it on Louis' face. Niall gasped and Zayn covered his mouth with his hands, looking equally horrified.
Louis blinked, dough plastering to his eyelashes. "You know what? It's on, Styles."
An hour later, they got showered one by one, Niall in charge to clean up Zayn. The boy couldn't stop giggling, talking rapidly about how he'd hit Louis square in the face. "He sho big, but Jayn jump," he said proudly and Niall smirked. "Try hitting Harry next time."
"I can hit Harry tomorrow," Zayn said with a laugh as Niall cuddled him in a towel. He didn't heart to tell the boy that they would be leaving tonight; it was time for them to return home.
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It was late at night and Zayn looked incredibly tired. But Harry and Niall were leaving for their respective flights and they didn't know how to tell the boy. They'd spent the day with him, played with him, made him feel their love, but now it was coming to an end as the boy would find out. He just got sepereated from Liam, and that had been pretty hard. Separating him from them, would be equally as hard, or perhaps, harder.
"Okay, I'm nervous, what if I mess up?" Louis whisper yelled to them, staring at Zayn worriedly. The little boy was curled in Niall's lap in his pajamas, eyes on the screen. Niall stroked his hair, heart squeezing at the thought of being away for almost three weeks. He'd miss the lad so much.
"You won't," Harry assured him, but Louis looked like he was about to panic. He was worried how he'd tackle Zayn alone. "When you leave, he'll be crying like hell. He's not like my sisters, this is different."
Niall frowned, cuddling Zayn to his chest. "You'll do fine, Lou. We'll call when we get home. I'm sure Liam will be free tomorrow too."
Zayn wiggled out of Niall's arms that had been embracing him and cuddling him to the boy's chest. "Niall staaahp," he said tiredly, pouting.
"Okay," Louis breathed out, flipping his fringe back with a swallow. "Let's do this."
Harry glanced at the clock. "Niall, have you packed?"
"All ready," Niall said with a smile and Harry turned to Louis. Niall looked away, letting them have their moment as they talked quietly. Zayn suddenly turned to the two, and his eyes seemed to pop out. "Niall! They kishing!"
Indeed, the two males were kissing and they pulled back, Louis sending Zayn a playful glare. Harry picked the boy up, kissing his cheek and Zayn smiled. Niall grabbed the remote and lowered the volume of the telly.
"Zayn, you know that Liam will call tomorrow and that even though he's gone for a while, you can see him and talk to him?"
Zayn nodded vigorously. He was sitting on Harry's lap, looking up at the boy expectantly, his raven hair brushed to one side. Harry seemed to find it hard to say the words, knowing they'll upset him, so Niall took a breath. "Kiddo, we've got to go too. I'm sorry we can't be together this Christmas, but I promise, we'll be together the next."
Zayn's face fell and he shook his head, grabbing Harry's arms tightly. "You not go too. Jayn all alone then."
"No, no, you have Louis," Harry assured him, smiling. "We'll see each other again, it's just a little holiday."
Zayn shook his head, scowling. "No!"
"We're gonna have lots of fun," Louis pitched in. "The first thing to do tomorrow is call them, that's for sure."
Tears welled in the boy's eyes and he started crying, shaking his head. "Don't go. Pleeeeeaaase."
Niall had expected it to be hard, but this was harder than he'd thought. He swallowed heavily and stood up. "Do you want to go with us to the airport?"
Harry's face lit up. "Yeah, come on, you can drop us off."
"Guys," Louis said warningly. "It's way past his bedtime and he's going to be screaming there."
But Zayn was already up for the idea. He sprang up and nodded, wiping his tears. "I come with." He grabbed Harry's hand, holding two of his fingers tightly as if that would stop Harry from leaving without him. Niall's heart swelled and he crouched down, pulling him in a hug. "No screaming and yelling, okay?"
"Okay!" he promised, nodding. He smiled a little. "Can I come with you?"
"No," Niall said softly and Zayn jutted his bottom lip, succeeding in looking incredibly cute, but he didn't that it was best for him to go with Louis. It was his first Christmas, it had to be something special, even if all the boys weren't going to be accounted for.
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Heathrow airport was crowded as people bustled about to get to their destinations. Baggages, bags and trolleys were being pushed and carried around. Zayn was holding Niall and Harry's hand tightly, looking around in wonder between the two of them. Niall pulled his caps lower, hoping not to attract any attention. Alberto and Max were escorting them, and the two were trying to be subtle about it, pushing their trolleys.
They reached the desks and received their boarding passes, Niall's flight leaving an hour after Harry's to Mullingar. He was excited to return home, but it was bittersweet. Once Harry had checked his luggage and all, he turned to Niall and bid him farewell. They hugged before Harry smiled to Louis and Louis nodded back, both not daring to do anything in public. Niall smiled sadly as Harry then turned to Zayn who was now chewing on a bubblegum they had bought for him. "We'll talk everyday, yeah? And if Louis does anything, you can call me!"
Zayn cracked a smile. "I come with you."
Harry smiled sadly and pulled the boy in a hug. "Sorry, but I'm sure you'll have more fun at Louis'. Love you."
Zayn rubbed his eyes, lips pressed in an upset pout. Tears welled in his eyes and he threw his arms around the boy. "I love you too, Hawwy."
Niall's heart melted and he glanced at Louis, who was watching the scene with an inexplicable expression, a fond look on his face. Harry didn't pull away, waiting for Zayn to do it first. But the boy didn't seem to have any plans to let go of him. "Zayn," Niall said gently, glancing at the time. "Harry should go now."
"No," Zayn's muffled voice came, and Harry stared up at the two, rubbing the boy's back soothingly.
"I'll take him," Niall said softly and he crouched down in front of Harry. "Zayn, I'm leaving too in an hour."
As if he could make them both stay, Zayn pulled back and threw one arm around Harry and the other around Niall. Niall laughed slightly and kissed his cheek, picking him up. "Nice try, but we're not leaving you forever."
Zayn was crying again and he shook his head. "I'm miss you too much! Don't go, please." He let out a sob, holding out his hands.
Harry swallowed and sent him a smile. "I'll come back soon. Time passes by quickly, you won't even notice that I'm gone. Please don't cry, I'll call as soon as possible."
He kissed Zayn one last time before turning around, hand wrapped around his handbag. Zayn wiggled in Niall's arms, letting out a sob. "Hawwy, no!"
"He's super tired, I should take him home," Louis said quietly, trying to grab Zayn as he watched Harry go. Niall hugged a crying Zayn one last time before transferring him to Louis' arms. Louis struggled to keep the boy from running towards Harry and Zayn whimpered as Louis had him caged, not letting him escape.
"I'll just uh go to the sitting area," Niall said, sadness taking it's toll on him. He waved to the boy and Louis. "Bye, guys."
"No, Louis, don't let Niall go. Niall, I have food!" Zayn sobbed, trying his best to make Louis release him. Niall chuckled and locked eyes with Louis who nodded in a goodbye.
He then turned away and started walking, trying to ignore the sudden heaviness in his chest. He could faintly hear Zayn talking to Louis, crying, and Louis telling him it would be fine, but it all drowned soon in the sea of people that surrounded him.
↠↠↠A/N↠↠↠
😕❤️❤️
Buuut it's going to be exciting to see how Loubear keeps up with Zaynie! Zouis about to rise ya'll 🤗
xx