Chapter One Hundred Forty Five – Zayn
"Baba go swim?" Zack asks Zayn for what feels like the thousandth time that morning alone, they've been in Italy for almost a week now and so far Liam and Niall have been back from doing business no later than one on the afternoon. Which has helped to entertain the kids.
It's only eleven and all three kids want to go down to the pool,which makes Zayn nervous because to take them alone he has more kids than hands. "I don't know Bubba, can we wait for Daddy and Uncle Niall?" Zayn asks, scooping the toddler into his arms, getting accidentally smacked in the face by a train as he does.
"No Baba swim now" Zack whines, struggling in Zayn's arms, wanting to be put down. Zayn sighs and turns to see Chloe colouring with Bella at the low coffee table in the suite.
"Arabella? Do you want to go swimming right now?" Zayn asks, hoping his oldest says no and he can just stay in the suite with the kids for the next hour and a bit until Liam comes home.
Bella's eyes light up as she nods, "yes Baba! Please can we go swimming?" she cheers, which makes Chloe start chanting "swim" over and over again.
Zayn sighs rubbing a hand down his face, "alright, go get chaged Boo" Zayn mumbles already carrying Zack towards his and Liam's room to get the toddler changed.
**
Zayn's eyes dart around the pool once they've arrived, it's not too busy which he likes, he then drops his bag onto a lounge chair and pulls out Bella's life jacket it's a Wonder Woman one, and the five year old loves it. "Okay Bella-Bug, you need to keep this on and stay where I can reach you at all times okay?" Zayn asks as he helps her zip it up.
Bella rolls her eyes but nods her head, "I can swim Baba" she groans and Zayn grins.
"I know you can Boo but without Daddy here I need you to stay close just in case" Zayn explains.
Bella seems to understand and doesn't resist anymore, just waits as Zayn gets the twins into their own life jackets. "Baba swim?" Zack asks as Zayn double checks his life jacket.
Zayn chuckles nodding his head, "yes we're going swimming, but you and Chloe need to stay with me at all times" he grins, scooping one toddler into each arm, and heading towards the pool, checking behind him to make sure Bella's following him which she is.
Once they're in the water Zack climbs up onto Zayn's back which makes it slightly easier for him as he holds Chloe in his arms. Bella is splashing around right beside him and all three kids are giggling. "Okay, maybe this won't be so bad" Zayn mumbles to himself before he makes sure he's got a good grip on both toddlers and dunks himself under the water so they both get wet too.
**
"You're brave" Liam hums, jumping into the pool beside Zayn, just over forty minutes later. Zayn had managed to get the kids out for a little bit but they've just gotten back in. Liam scoops Zack off of his perch on Zayn's back making him squeal as Liam dunks him in the water. Zayn looks around and sees Niall, backing away slowly from Bella as she tries to splash him, before he focuses back on his husband.
"They ganged up on me" Zayn mumbles spinning around with Chloe in his arms, making her giggle. "But it actually hasn't been too bad, Bella stayed close, and Zack liked being on my back, while I held this one" he hums.
Liam chuckles and leans over to press a kiss to Zayn's lips which makes Zack splash him as he shakes his head "no kiss" he grumbles, and Liam and Zayn both laugh in response.
"You guys are done early" Zayn hums when he realizes the time and Liam shrugs.
"Yeah we actually are completely finished with the company. Payne Industries gets forty five percent of any future revenue and they are back in business. So now I get to enjoy the rest of my time here with my gorgeous husband and our three kids" Liam grins, leaning in to kiss Zayn again which makes Zack splash them both yet again. "But I'm starving and I know Niall wanted to grab some lunch, do you think we can get the kids out of here long enough to eat?" Liam asks, dunking Zack again which makes him laugh wildly.
Zayn shrugs, "I mean I couldn't convince them to wait for you and Niall to come back to go swimming. So who knows" he chuckles wiping his face when Chloe giggles as she splashes him. "That being said I could go for some lunch. What did you have in mind?" Zayn asks, gently splashing Chloe back.
Liam laughs and shakes his head making water droplets fling everywhere which makes both twins squeal and wipe at their faces. "I was thinking we could just get something poolside and spend the afternoon here, the kids are all having so much fun, and to be honest I'm exhausted" he explains. Zayn just nods and cuddles Chloe to his chest as she lets out a yawn and snuggles into him.
"You tired Chloe?" Zayn hums but the toddler shakes her head wildly at him.
"Not s'eepy Baba, hungry. Want snack" Chloe mumbles, still cuddled into his bare chest.
Zayn chuckles as he nods, "well how about we get out and we can all have some lunch" he hums.
Chloe yawns again and nods her head, "hungry" she mumbles and Zayn can't help but coo as he carries her towards the stairs and climbs out of the pool moving back over to the lounge chairs their stuff has been holding for them all day.
Liam's right behind him with Zack, who's chanting about pizza as they walk, until Liam drops the toddler gently to sit on one of the lounge chairs, Zayn chuckles when Chloe squirms out of his arms, wanting to cuddle up with Zack, and both he and Liam coo when the toddlers curl up together on the one chair.
"What are we doing?" Niall asks as he walks up with Bella on his shoulders, before the five year old swings herself down and cuddles into Liam's side on one of the chairs. Zayn smiles fondly at his family before turning to face Niall.
"We were planning on ordering some food, and just hanging out here" Zayn explains looking around to see that the twins appear to be sleeping and Bella is tracing over some of Liam's tattoos aimlessly.
Niall grins, "good, I'm starving" he chuckles flopping onto another empty chair. Zayn can't help but smile fondly at the scene in front of him, and how content everyone looks and he feels.
**
"Can I take you out to dinner tonight?" Liam asks laying on top of Zayn where he's been laying by the pool, almost asleep since they finished lunch. Chloe and Zack have been napping in the chair beside him and Bella was playing in the pool with Niall and Liam. "Niall's already agreed to watch the kids for us. Please Zayn? I want to take you out" Liam hums, pressing a kiss to Zayn's jaw.
Zayn shivers and blinks his eyes open to look into Liam's pleading brown eyes. "Yeah, that would be great. I would love to go out with you" he mumbles, wrapping his arms around his wet husband and pulling him into his chest. "But right now let's nap" Zayn yawns, gripping Liam tightly to him. Zayn feels Liam chuckle before he drifts off to sleep again, loving the warmth from his husband.
**
"No Baba, don't wear that one" Bella huffs, making a face as she reaches out to take the tie Zayn was about to put on from his fingers. "Wear the other one" she adds gesturing to the second tie Zayn had brought out to get ready for dinner with Liam.
Zayn arches an eyebrow at Bella who is sitting cross legged on his and Liam's bed watching him get ready, "and what's wrong with this tie?" he asks. Bella just rolls her eyes and points to the second tie again. Zayn playfully groans before he grabs the tie Bella suggested and starts putting it on, and he has to admit it goes better with this suit than the one he was about to wear.
"See that one's so much better" Bella grins, ducking out of the way when Zayn reaches out to tickle her. "What would you do without me?" she asks, giggling when Zayn balls up the first tie and tosses it at Bella.
"Yes Boo. I would never be able to dress myself without your help. I'm not sure how I managed all those years before you were born" Zayn teases, making Bella roll her eyes again. "I need you to help Uncle Niall, take care of Chloe and Zack tonight okay? Please don't make things hard for him" Zayn asks.
Bella grins at him and climbs onto his lap when Zayn sits on the bed, "I will Baba, don't worry" she hums snuggling into him. Zayn wraps his arms around Bella and presses a kiss to her hair, soaking in every second she still wants to cuddle because he knows it won't last forever.
Liam pops his head into their bedroom then, "you ready to go Zayn?" he asks, "our reservation is in half an hour" Liam adds. Bella grins hopping off Zayn's lap, so he can get up and before either man can say anything she's heading out into the rest of the hotel suite calling for Niall.
"Seriously when did she get so big?" Zayn pouts as he watches his five year old daughter walk away.
Liam chuckles and pulls Zayn into his chest, "I don't know, but I think we need to find a way to stop her from growing up anymore. Let's just freeze time so all our babies stay the way they are right now" he insists.
Zayn grins, pressing a quick kiss to Liam's lips, "I wish" he sighs. "You look very nice by the way" Zayn adds, pulling away from Liam slightly to look the older man up and down. Liam's wearing a suit, which Zayn sees him in all the time, but there's just something about the way Liam looks tonight, that Zayn finds irresistible.
"So do you" Liam hums, pressing their lips together one more time. "Now come on let's go have dinner, before we miss our reservation" he adds, linking his and Zayn's fingers together, and Zayn comes willingly when Liam tugs him out of the room.