ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 169
[Liam]
New Year was fantastic. Zayn's reaction to seeing fireworks for the first time was better than the fireworks themselves.
It started around 10 p.m when Zayn was actually supposed to be in bed. However, the boys let it slide. He was going to start kindergarten again soon, so they would have to fix his routine anyway.
Zayn had been running around laughing, Liam's phone in hand. He insisted that since Liam hadn't been listening to him, he was going to take his phone away. The first firework resounded and Zayn jumped, dropping Liam's phone in surprise.
Liam grabbed his phone and pocketed it quickly. He had been scrolling through social media, and he had been half listening to Zayn talking about the new episode of Ben 10. Another bang resounded, and Louis yelled from the kitchen. "Why can't they wait two hours?"
Zayn's lower lip trembled and he ran over to Liam, burying his face in his stomach. Liam sat down and pried Zayn gently away. "Hey, Zaynie, it's not dangerous. It's fireworks."
Zayn tilted his head in confusion. "Fiwre? But fiwre dang-wrous Liam, it can make burn," he chided, shaking his head as if Liam was the uneducated one.
Liam let out a laugh and picked him up. The fireworks had stopped. "You'll see in two hours."
At midnight, the boys had all crowded the balcony. Harry had decided to barbeque because he felt like it, and Louis now handed out beers. The weather was chilly, but bearable. Zayn had been sleepy, but at the sound of the fireworks, his eyes had widened.
He now leaned against the balcony railing, body stuffed in a snowsuit Louis had bought in Doncaster. His cheeks were flushed, whether from the cold or the excitement, Liam wasnt sure. As the fireworks started, Zayn gasped. "Liam! Liam! Look! Stars!"
Harry chuckled as he flipped over a chicken on the grill. "Fireworks, Zayn."
Zayn's hazel eyes were alight with suspense as he heard another noise, and he waited for the shower of colours, his mittened hands grabbing the railing in excitement. And then it happened.
Zayn squealed. "Look! It's gold and wred and blue and-" cue another gasp. "It's gone!"
Niall laughed and picked him up. "Let's get a better look."
He placed Zayn on his shoulders which made the boy laugh. Liam pulled his phone out and snapped a picture of them, making sure to capture the fireworks that lighted the night sky behind.
"We should have bought fireworks," Louis whined, taking a huge sip from his beer. He grinned. "Next year, let's buy some fireworks. Won't that be cool, Zayn?"
But Zayn was way too busy watching the sky shoot up in colours. He'd winced at first at the loud sounds, but he seemed to have grown comfortable with it.
Liam couldn't help but smile widely. Their first Christmas with Zayn hadn't been together, but he was glad their New Years was together.
He knew he'd cherish this memory for years. Harry being their chef on the grill, Louis drinking beer and helping them, Niall and Zayn talking while Zayn was perched on his shoulders excitedly, his eyes glinting with the colours of the sky, happy smile on his face.
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The next morning was less satisfactory. It was a hectic morning to say the least. The living room was a mess and the kitchen was in no good shape either. And Zayn's social worker was coming over. The boys tried to clean up as much as possible.
Harry pulled on his apron and took a deep breath. "Louis, living room. Niall and Zayn, Zayn's room. Liam, the dishes."
Zayn saluted to him and everyone followed suit, snickering. They'd ended cleaning up decently, though yet Liam wasn't completely sure if it looked immaculate. He started to miss Maria, the pro.
His social worker was in contact with Harry and she informed them that she would be arriving around 2 p.m. Liam found himself nervously staring at the clock, willing the time to pass.
1:45
Zayn jumped down the stairs with a grin. Louis had dressed him up in denim overalls, and his hair was combed to the side. He went over to sit beside Liam on the couch, who got a whiff of baby shampoo. Strands of hair were still wet from his bath, but he'd refused to sit still and let them blow dry his hair any longer.
Harry was cooking pasta in the kitchen, and the smell wafted in the air. Niall was scrolling on his phone lazily, and Liam wondered if the boy was as nervous as he felt. Niall had been the most chill this morning. While Liam kept staring at the clock, Harry busied himself in the kitchen, and Louis fussed over Zayn, Niall had been the one to take it easy, no rush.
While Liam was mulling over these thoughts, the doorbell rang.
"The guest is hewre!" Zayn exclaimed excitedly. They'd informed him that they were going to have a guest, but further than that seemed hard to explain without making it seem too confusing and scary. Instead, Liam thought to let Zayn see her for himself and know that she was friendly. Zayn wasn't good with strangers, but he had built a habit of trusting people the boys trusted.
Louis ran a hand down his striped shirt and straightened his back before he went to the foyer to open the door. Niall and Liam remained seated, trying to seem as natural as possible. It wasn't like they were faking anything in this house, except for the cleanliness, but Liam still felt as if something could go wrong. Not because it should, but because any misunderstanding could arise. The boys had heard for a while now that they weren't equipped for this, that their little PR stunt had gone too far, that they were way over their heads. Liam was anticipating the final verdict of Zayn's social worker.
He heard greetings being exchanged and braced himself. Zayn, who'd hurried towards the door to check out their guest, now ran back with a scowl. "Why she hewre?"
"She wanted to visit us. She wants to check if you're okay," Liam said warmly, quipping him with a smile. Zayn seemed to ponder on that. "She not take me back?" he asked finally, staring at Liam as seriously as ever. Liam shook his head firmly. "No."
If everything goes well
The social worker was around their age, a tall woman with auburn hair and blue eyes. She introduced herself as Alex, and as introductions were passed around, Zayn clung to Liam's leg, narrowing his eyes at Alex suspiciously. Harry, who was still in his apron, motioned for Zayn to come forward.
"Hello Zayn," Alex greeted him with a sweet smile, and she squatted down to be eye-level with him. Trying to build trust. She held out her hand. "Do you remember me?"
Zayn pouted slightly, but to everyone's surprise he walked forward and touched her hand tentatively. He nodded I response to her question. Alex's smile widened and she didn't held the contact long. "Look at how you've grown."
Zayn looked up at Liam, as if it was his fault she was in their house, and Liam smiled sheepishly, rubbing his back comfortingly. "Alex is here to check how you're doing."
Minutes later everyone settled around the living room and Harry went to fetch tea. Louis scrambled behind him to help. Zayn was still clinging to Liam, eyeing Alex warily.
Alex and Niall were in deep conversation about how they had all been. Alex asked about kindergarten, but the question was asked directly to Zayn. "Such a big change must be scary"
Zayn leaned up and whispered in Liam's ear. "I not scawred."
Liam couldn't help but smile and he nudged his head in Alex's direction. "Well, tell her."
Zayn turned suddenly shy, but he lifted his chin. "I not scawred."
Alex's blue eyes were studying him, but the smile on her face remained. "That's good to hear. Have you made any friends?"
Zayn nodded mutely.
"Oooh, what are their names, maybe I know them."
Zayn frowned. "You don't know my fwriends. Matt, Will, Mel, Zack, Ewric."
Harry and Louis brought trays of biscuits and tea, and Louis' gaze shifted between Alex and Zayn.
They drank tea and talked for the next thirty minutes. Alex seemed more interested in talking to Zayn directly, than hearing his progress from the boys. Zayn indulged her a couple of times, while other times he kept his mouth shut. Liam knew however, that he would warm up soon. He already remembered Alex slightly and didn't seem as shy with her as he usually was with new people.
After the conversation ended about Zayn's experience in Doncaster, Harry offered to give Alex a tour of the house. Zayn seemed outraged at that. "She gonna live hewre!?" he exclaimed loudly, all shyness disappeared in an instant. Alex seemed surprised at his outburst, and Niall rolled his eyes. "No, kiddo, we're just going to show her around. But not your room though, if you don't want to."
Zayn stood up immedaiely, excitement apparent in his hazel eyes. "I want to show my wroom. Come Alex." He bounded up the stairs, surprising the adults present. They quickly recovered and followed after him. Zayn's room was the first one in the beginning of the hall, and so they followed the excited kid.
Alex took in Zayn's room, the Batman city stickers plastered on his wall, his superhero curtains and carpet. She looked at the toys that were placed on one side, and his cupboard that was on the other. Zayn pulled out several toys to show her. Liam wondered what had brought upon this change, but he was pleased to see that Zayn was socializing more.
"And look, this is Bunny," Zayn told her, picking up the bear from the bed. Bunny was dressed like Superman today. Zayn picked up Ziam, but Alex seemed to already know who he was.
"Ziam, right?" she said softly, and Zayn nodded. She smiled at him and greeted all his stuffed animals, even Roar. "And does Ziam like this house?" she asked carefully, still shaking hands with Roar. Zayn nodded adamantly. "Ziam sad befowre, but not now." He leaned in to listen to what the wolf was saying. "He say you go now, Alex," Zayn said very seriously. Alex laughed at that and stood up. "Who's Ziam's favourite person?"
"Me," Zayn said simply, frowning up at her for thinking otherwise.
"Besides you."
Zayn thought carefully about that. "Not Louis."
"The feelings mutual," Louis murmured to Liam with a scoff. Liam couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't believe Zayn had really caused that much trouble over Ziam.
"Why not?" Alex asked with a pout. "You like Louis, though."
"I love Louis," Zayn agreed grimly. "But Louis fowrget Ziam in Don the castew. Ziam not happy."
"I see," Alex said in amusement. "So Louis is not Ziam's favourite?"
"No. Liam is," Zayn said after some thought. "Liam always play with Ziam, and Liam nevew fowrget Ziam." Liam smiled proudly and sent Louis a smirk.
After showing Alex both the workout and music studio, Zayn and Louis went to the kitchen to bring everyone cookies Harry had baked. While the rest went to the living room, Liam couldn't help but ask how Zayn used to be.
"How was he, in the adoption centre?"
Alex pursed her lips and she sat down on the couch, one knee crossed over the other. "He had trouble making friends, he actually never tried. I believe it was his first time meeting other kids his age. Some of the children we have ease their loneliness by building bonds with others and finding others who are going through the same thing. Zayn wasn't like that. He used to sit alone for days. We used to try to keep him interested in toys, but he didn't take a liking to anything. He didn't like the playrooms where kids played. The only thing he did like was to sit and draw in a room alone with one of my colleagues. Or he would stare at the pictures of comic books."
The boys listened intently to this, reframing and placing this new knowledge in their own observations. Liam remembered that Zayn had been sitting alone when they were going to adopt him. He had been quiet among the loud noises of children, and his eyes had been observing Liam, curious.
"Seeing him like this, healthier, in every way...my job is always joyful when I find kids who finally belong somewhere," she said fondly, smiling. "You guys seem to be doing a great job."
"Thank you," Liam breathed, a smile growing on his face. He expected there to be a smooth ride after the social worker visit. After all, they had conquered any and all problems. They had won Zayn's trust, won over Simon, lost Zayn and found him several times, won his love, and now proved that they were worthy of this. That this was working. Liam expected that from now on, the problems they would face would purely be parental, and that the types of problems they had faced last year would leave them in this upcoming year.
A smooth ride, he'd thought.
Oh how wrong he had been.
↠↠↠A/N↠↠↠
QUESTION: this book is going to be incredibly long, and is therefore divided into parts. Do you guys want the parts to be seperate books? So around two or three books. Oooor would you guys rather everything in one book? Then it's gonna be a loooooong book.
Choose wisely, my kiddos.
y'all I kept my word and updated again 💕