#ngwlmg

The suns barely rising on the next day when Zayn wakes up. He doesn’t know why he’s awake because he usually sleeps until the sun’s either disappeared again or at least made it’s appearance for a while. 

“Morning.” Liam grumbles when Zayn blinks open his eyes. 

Their faces are so close together that Zayn feels like he’s going cross eyed trying to look in Liam’s. 

“Morning.” He echoes and grins when he moves and Liam’s morning wood rubs against his thigh. 

“I’m far too tired to do anything about it.” Liam decides. 

“I could do something about it?” Zayn suggest, letting his hand move from where it’s curled up to Liam’s chest to beneath the covers. 

He barely gets a hand around him before Liam moves, jolting forward to capture Zayn’s lips in the first kiss of the morning. 

“Are you clean?” Liam asks after the kiss had got sloppy and they were both grinding against each other to get some kind of friction. 

“I get tested before every client.” Zayn answers. 

“I got tested last month,” Liam tells him. “Do you trust me?” 

“I--” He pauses because he knows it’s one of Lin’s biggest rules ‘Always use protection’ she’d even underlined it three times and almost broke the pen when she’d added the full stop. “Yeah, yeah I do.” 

Liam smiles and leans back to kiss him again and he slides his hand down the length of Zayn’s body before push him to roll over. 

The prep is slow and drawn out like Liam’s loving the way it makes Zayn squirm with want. When they finally fuck, it’s at the same pace. It’s morning sex that Zayn’s never experienced because he’s never been with someone who was soft with him (almost loving) and knows exactly what he wants.

It’s not until he’s in the bath and admiring Liam singing to himself while he’s showering that he realises how completely fucked he is. He runs the pad of his fingers across his smiling lips, only to have them widen. He takes them back and sinks under the water, thinking if he drowns himself then he won’t have to deal with the inevitable heartache that will come when he parts from Liam tomorrow. 

“Zayn?” Liam calls, voice muffled by the water. 

Zayn sits up quickly, coughing on the water that travels up his nose and attempting to wipe the bubbles off his face. 

“Everything okay?” Liam asks as he sits on the edge of the bath. 

“Washing my hair.” Zayn lies. 

Liam nods, even though his face shows he clearly sees straight through Zayn’s lie. 

“So, what have we got planned for today?” Zayn asks. 

“I’ve got meetings until the afternoon,” Liam replies and reaches out to wipe a bubble from Zayn’s eyebrow. “The car will take you wherever you want to go but come back by at least one.” 

“That’s six hours.” Zayn points out because . “What did you wake me up for I could have slept until then?” 

“I think you’ll find you woke me up.” Liam defends with a lovely grin. 

“I could offer an alternative to those meetings?” Zayn suggest, fiddling with the knot in Liam’s towel. 

“As lovely as that offer is,” Liam says and the way he looks at Zayn makes him shiver. “And it is a lovely offer. I really can’t miss these meetings.” 

“I’m too knackered to do anything.” Zayn complains. 

“Then go back to bed.” Liam says amused. 

“I can’t,” Zayn huffs. “You’ve woken me up now.” 

“You’ve very dramatic this morning.” Liam observes and runs his fingers through Zayn’s wet hair. 

“We were up earlier than the sun,” Zayn points out. “It’s okay to be dramatic before the sun has woken up.” 

“I didn’t know that was the rule.” Liam admits. 

“Well now you do,” Zayn tells him. “It should be illegal to get up before the sun, Liam. It’s the whole reason it exists.” 

Liam smiles and shakes his head like Zayn’s the most absurd person he’s ever met before getting up from the bath and leaving the room. 

Zayn soaks in the bath a little longer and when he finally gets out, it’s to find that Liam’s already dressed ready for work. 

“What you doing?” He asks when his eyes catch Zayn leaning on the bathroom door. 

“Admiring the view.” Zayn says and lets the ‘while I still can’ echo in his mind. 

“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” Liam replies as he comes over to where Zayn is stood, holding out his phone. “Put your number in?” 

Zayn takes the phone and puts in his number without asking why. Another one of Caroline’s rules broken, as easy as that. 

“Now if you’re not here when I get back I won’t have to interrogate my driver to find out where you are.” Liam explains as Zayn hands him back the phone. 

“Or you think I’ll send you dirty pictures while you’re in meetings.” Zayn jokes. 

“A man can only hope.” Liam replies with a cheeky smile. 

Zayn brushes past him to get to where his suitcase is laid out, simply to stop himself from pinching Liam’s cheek. 

“Where are you gonna go?” Liam asks as he picks up his watch to put on his wrist. 

“Probably go and bug Harry at work.” Zayn replies noncommittal as he rummages through his suitcase for clean underwear. 

“I’ll try not to be long, okay?” He offers as he comes over to where Zayn is now attempting to wriggle in to a pair of fresh boxers. 

“Be as long as you want,” Zayn tells him. “I get the leftover muffins if I stay at the cafe until after the lunch break.” 

“I won’t be that long.” Liam promises and leans in to brush his lips over Zayn’s cheek. 

It’s not for show because they’re the only people in the room. It’s not natural either because Liam freezes where he’s about to pull away, when Zayn doesn’t say anything. 

“Yeah, um, I’ll see you later.” Zayn offers dumbly. 

Liam hums and finally moves away from him to pick up his wallet and phone from the bed side table. 

“I’ll see you in a few hours, Zayn.” Liam says as he heads for the door. 

“I’ll be here waiting for you, Liam.” Zayn replies as he had that first morning. 

Liam doesn’t freeze up this time, instead he shoots Zayn a wink before disappearing out of the room. 

Zayn falls on to the bed and screams in to the mattress, wondering what hell kind of mess he’s got himself in to. 

***

‘This meeting is sooo boring that someone actually fell asleep lol x’ 

Zayn snorts at the photo of a man who’s clearly sat opposite Liam in some kind of board meeting and is fast asleep, his head resting down on his chest and eyes closed. 

“Are you sexting?” Emily asks, attempting to look at Zayn’s phone over his shoulder. 

There’s a mixture of weird and wonderful people who work at the cafe with Harry. But Emily has to be one of Zayn’s favourite. The best way to explain her is as a cat in human form. She’s sarcastic, hates most people but adores the ones she likes and can disappear for days at a time without a word. She’s also got the worlds best hair, it’s dark purple on top and the shaved sides are dyed green. 

“Is it a new part of the service?” Emily pushes, dodging back and forth as Zayn attempts to hide his phone from her. “You sext them to make sure they get their moneys worth even when they’re not with you.” 

“You’re a foul human being.” Jodie says from where she’s cleaning the cutlery from the breakfast run. She’s their little book worm, from her dark brown hair (that’s always tied back in a plait) to her thick framed glasses. 

“It could be true for all you know,” Emily argues. “Then Zayn’s the foul one.” 

Zayn tugs his arm back when Emily goes for the phone and promptly knocks the tub full of sugars off the counter he’s sat on. 

“What’s going on?” Harry demands, poking his head in from the back. 

“Zayn’s bored so he made a mess.” Emily tattles. 

“You can’t stay if you’re gonna be trouble, Z.” Harry says with a stressed sigh. 

“Sorry, man.” Zayn apologises as he picks up the sugars. 

Emily’s grinning when he stretches back up to put the pot back on the counter. 

“Bitch.” Zayn hisses at her. 

“Woof.” Emily replies with her wicked grin not moving. 

Zayn’s about to say something else but his phone buzzes in his hand so he backs away from the counter and drops in to the closest booth instead. 

‘What are you doinnn? x’

Zayn knows he’s supposed to text some bullshit like ‘Thinking of you’ or ‘Missing you’. Caroline once attempted for them to have a call service and he’d actually been pretty good. But he knows he’s only got one more day with Liam and he’s going to indulge a little. Even if it means he doesn’t get paid by Monday, it would be worth it. 

‘Bugging the people that work with H but it’s gettin kind of boring. Probs gonna join that bloke in the lad of nod if I stay here any longer x’ 

He only manages to lift his eyes up from the phone and see tower of sugars that Emily was now building, promptly fall, before the phone buzzes in his hand again. 

‘What else could you do to entertain yourself? x’  

Zayn grins as he texts back. ‘You x’ 

“I know that smile.” Harry says and Zayn hadn’t even realised he was back in the room. 

Zayn looks up to see him now stood next to Emily, with a frown creating wrinkles in his forehead. 

“You’re really a man who should smile,” Emily decides as she brushes her thumb across Harry’s forehead. “These age you a ton.” 

“You say the nicest things.” Harry scoffs while keeping his eyes trained on his best friend. “Are you smiling like that because of Liam?” 

“I’m not smiling like anything.” Zayn says as his phone buzzes in his hand and he has to bite down on his lip. 

‘I’ve got one more meeting but hopeee this keeps u goin xxx’

There’s a picture attached that Liam had clearly taken in a bathroom. He’s stood in front of a mirror, with the hand not holding the phone is pulling up his shirt while his dick hangs limp from where his trousers are unzipped like he’d moved away from the urinals in order to take the photo. 

“Fuck.” Zee complains out loud. 

This time Emily doesn’t give him chance, she snatches the phone from his hand before he can react. 

“Oh my.” She says followed by a squeal. “That’s quite a man, Malik.” 

“Give me my phone back.” Zee demands. 

Emily doesn’t, she hands the phone straight to Harry who looks down at it and then to Zayn with wide eyes. 

“It’s my job!” Zee defends. 

Harry stares at him for a really long time but eventually hands the phone back over with a shrug. 

“I’m just doing my job.” Zayn says again, as he looks back down at the phone. 

‘Sorry if that was too much...’ Liam had text back, obviously worrying when Zayn hadn’t sent the quick reply to his picture like he had been to his text for the rest of the day. 

“You dickhead,” Zayn scolds. “You proper fucked it.” 

“Don’t blame her,” Harry snaps back. “You’re the one breaking the rules, Z. What would Caroline say.” 

“She’d say I’m really fucking good at my job.” Zayn tells him and gets up from the booth. “Excuse me.” 

“The mirror on the right at the back is best for photos like that!” Emily shouts after him and then giggles manically when she throws him the finger. 

Zayn walks in to the gents bathroom and heads towards the mirror because Emily is a bitch but she does make good suggestions sometimes but before he even has chance to get himself situated for a photo, his phone blows up with Liam’s name. 

“Hey,” He answers quickly. “I was about to return the favour.” 

“W-what?” Liam asks confused. “I thought you were done with me, I thought I’d taken it to far--” 

“Liam, calm down.” Zayn soothes. “I was sat the middle of a bakery with Harry’s very intrusive staff, I needed a good excuse to get away and I needed to get away after that photo, fuck. How can you be that hot?” 

Liam lets out a long stressed breath. 

“I was honestly about to return the favour.” Zee assures him. 

“Where are you?” Liam asks him. 

“In the bathroom at H’s bakery,” Zee answers. “Why? Are you back?” 

“No,” Liam replies. “I’ll be another hour yet but I thought, uh, I’ve got like a fifteen minute break.” 

“Okay..” Zayn starts quietly. 

“Get in one of the stalls, yeah?” Liam suggests. “Warm yourself up, I’ll call you back  when I’ve found somewhere to go.” 

“Okay.” Zee agrees slowly because the thought of what they’re about to do turns him on, let alone the act itself. 

Liam’s mouth is absolutely filthy, is what he finds out five minutes later when he manages to make Zayn come using only words. 

“Still got ten minutes to spare,” Zayn pants, as he attempts to come down from his high. “Could do that twice more, if you like.” 

Liam lets out a lovely laugh. “If you can get some of those muffins, I’ll meet you back at the hotel for six.” 

“Sure.” Zayn agrees easily. 

“Goodbye, Zayn.” Liam says. 

“Yeah, bye.” Zayn replies and hangs up the phone. 

It takes him a few minutes to get his thoughts straight and then clean up the mess he’d made before finally returning to 

***

Harry hadn’t pushed him when he’d left the bakery just before closing, he’d handed over a bag full of fresh muffins, told him to be careful and sent him on his way. 

The girl on reception gives him curious eyes as he swings the bag back and forth as he waits in front of the lifts but he doesn’t care, he feels happy, for the first time in a long time and even though he knows he’s not following his best friends orders (or his bosses) he’s going to indulge himself for as long as he can. 

Liam’s not there when he gets in the hotel room so he puts the muffins in the fridge keep them fresh and moves towards the bathroom to also freshen himself up. 

It’s a little more than an hour for Liam to walk through the hotel room door and he looks very upset as he greets Zayn in the living area of the suite. 

“I need a cigarette.” He states simply and heads to the balcony. 

Zayn hovers because he couldn’t quite read from that one sentence if Liam wanted him to follow or not. 

Liam returns to the room, only a few minutes later, a strong smell of smoke following him in. 

“What do we have to do tonight?” Zayn wonders as he sits on the edge of the couch. 

Liam undoes the top few buttons on his shirt and starts on undoing the ones on his wrists before speaking. “What do you want to do tonight?” 

“I think you forgot you’re paying me, babe.” Zayn reminds him. 

“I am,” Liam agrees. “Do you smoke anything stronger than nicotine?” 

“I don’t usually on a job,” Zayn admits. “Not exactly a professional thing to do, can’t, like, it’ll halt the performance, if you know what I mean.” 

Liam barks a laugh and it brings a smile to Zayn’s lips because he’d looked so upset since the moment he’d entered the room and it made him feel a little proud that he could be the one to bring the younger lad back to himself, after what looked like to be a horrible day. 

“We could fuck first?” Zayn suggests. “Then smoke?” 

“That’s an amazing suggestion.” Liam agrees. 

Before Zayn can open his mouth to ask when they should get started, the younger lad stalks across the room to attach their lips. 

It’s an hour of fucking and cleaning off the aftermath before they find themselves on the balcony with Liam sat on the balcony wall (much to Zayn’s dismay) while Zayn sits on a chair opposite, his feet kicked up to rest beside Liam, as a tin of Liam’s ‘not nicotine’ sits in his lap. 

“Can I ask you something?” Liam asks, tracing the nail of his finger down Zayn’s calf, making him shiver. 

Zayn pauses where he’s focused on not overloading the spliff. “Same rules as before.” 

Liam nods in agreement. 

“Shoot.” Zayn tells him and returns his focus to making the spliff, in case it’s something he can’t handle. 

“If you had a way out of this,” Liam starts and he waits and Zayn know he’s not going to finish until he looks at him. 

He’s been here before. He’s acted too hard and had guys fall in love with him overnight. These guys are rich, willing to offer him the world and in return he wouldn’t have to do much, other than continue the act for the rest of his life. Which Zayn sometimes thinks is an easy price to pay for a comfortable life. But there’s something that always stops him, a part of his conscious that won’t let him agree. 

Zayn finally looks up at Liam and offers him an assured smile. 

“You wouldn’t take it,” Liam answers himself. “I could offer you all the money in the world and you wouldn’t take it.” 

Zayn shrugs and returns his attention to the task at hand. “I make my own way in this world, it’s unconventional, sure, but it’s mine.” 

“What would you do?” Liam asks, fingers now wrapped tightly around Zayn’s ankle. “If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do?” 

“Buy my mum and my sisters a house,” Zayn decides, without having to really think about it. “Get them off that shitty estate and to a nice area, give my little sister Safaa a better upbringing than I ever could have dreamed of.” 

Liam nods in understanding. “What about for yourself?” 

“Might buy a studio,” Zayn says with a shrug as he licks the end of the paper to seal it shut. “I wouldn’t need to sell my art if I was rich so would probably paint what I want, without worrying what other people think.” 

“Not caring what other people think, sounds good.” Liam decides 

Zayn hums and puts the spliff between his lips before lighting it. 

“What happens tomorrow?” Liam asks, as he watches him take the first drag. 

Zayn takes another two drags before holding the joint out to the younger lad. 

“I’m supposed to get on a plane to LA and forget about you?” Liam guesses, as he brings the join to his own lips. 

“You don’t have to forget about me,” Zayn assures him. “I’m still going to exist in the world.” 

“But after tomorrow, I won’t be paying you anymore so I won’t be able to see you anymore.” Liam points out. 

Zayn takes the joint back from him when he offers it and brings it to his lips without answering because he doesn’t know what to say, the thought of going back to his tiny flat with Harry tomorrow and never seeing this beautiful boy’s face again, makes his chest hurt. But admitting that would be breaking the only rule he holds for himself when it comes to this job and he can’t bring himself to do it. 

“If I cancel my flight tomorrow,” Liam starts, after they’d let a silence hang in the air for a few minutes. “Could I see you again?” 

“Without the contract?” Zayn asks. 

Liam nods his head, looking hopeful. 

“What we do?” Zayn wonders. 

“We could stay here?” Liam suggests. “Or we could go somewhere, I could take you somewhere, let me take you somewhere.” 

Zayn takes a few more drags before holding the joint out. “Where?” 

“My dad has a cabin in Scotland,” Liam tells him, ignoring the joint completely now. “Let’s go there?” 

“For how long?” Zayn asks, bringing the joint back to his lips. 

“However long we can.” Liam states. 

Zayn would like to blame the small weed he’d put in to his system for how easy it is for him to say ‘yes’ but he knows he would be lying because as he stares at those innocent brown eyes he convinces himself they could make this work, he convinces himself that there is a chance Liam had managed to return his feelings in three short days, he convinces himself that this won’t end how he and Louis had with pain and sorrow for him and seemingly the fairy-tale ending for the other party involved. 

Zayn’s in a bit of the rush trying to get everything sorted for the day to go perfectly and he’s in the middle of panicking about it being too windy for the massive balloon arch they’d ordered when he hears a familiar call of his name. 

He spins around to see his Godson sprinting across the garden towards him, his bright almost white hair blowing in the wind as he does. 

“Archer!” Zayn calls back, trying to match the child’s enthusiasm. 

Archer lets out a round of giggles when the moment he reaches Zayn, he’s picked up and thrown in to the air. 

The parents of the five-year-old are walking slowly behind him, their hands entwined and they’re giggling in to each others shoulders, somehow still in love like teenagers even after almost ten years together. 

“Mummy, can I go and play with the puppies?” Archer asks, as Zayn sets him back on the floor and his parents finally reach them. 

“If you’re careful.” Stella agrees. 

Stark (the fluffiest and craziest malamute to ever exist) and Harley (they’re absolute softy of a Pitbull) are chasing each other around the pool and he makes quick work of running over to them so he can join in their fun. 

“I thought we went overboard for Archer’s first birthday,” Stella jokes, as she takes in the decorations covering the garden. “This is a lot, darling.” 

“It’s not my doing.” Zayn assures her and glances across the garden to where his husband is stood, attempting to help his father sort out the fireworks. 

Liam lets out a laugh at something his father had said and it earns himself a slap on the back and it still amazes Zayn, even after all this time, that Liam had managed to turn the thoughts of very traditional Asian man, completely around and all by being nothing but himself.  

“I’m gonna go say ‘Hello’.” Louis informs his wife. 

Stella nods easily in agreement. 

Louis leans in to kiss her cheek in parting and nods to Zayn before he jogs across the garden to where his best friend is situated. 

“He’s not good.” Zayn observes. 

“How do you know that within five minutes of seeing him?” Stella complains. “Is it the first love connection thing?” 

Zayn snorts. “I don’t think that’s a thing, love.” 

“It’s having to retire before his time,” Stella starts with a sad sigh. “And the whole not being able to get pregnant again, he feels like he’s being punished for something.”

Zayn raises his eyebrows curiously.  

“Oh, fuck off.” She tells him without heat. “He gave you Liam, who is absolutely perfect for you and completely adores you, he made up for breaking your heart all those years ago.” 

Zayn nods in agreement because it had been more than ten years since he and Louis had ended things. 

It had taken them a long time to get here and it was mostly Liam’s doing, unable to give up either of the two people he loved. There had been a lot of hard moments and even a physical fight between Louis and himself before he finally concluded he didn’t want to be upset over it anymore. Liam was his forever and Louis had actually aided in bringing him in to his life so he owed him that much. They’re still not quite the best of friends but they’re on good terms and Zayn adores Stella, would class her as one of his best friends (which is how he had the guts to tell her exactly what went down between him and Louis and not worry that she would be scared and dump Louis as an outcome) so they make it work in the best way they can. 

“Liam!” Roo calls out loudly, pulling the entire garden’s attention in her direction. 

Ali is in her arms and he looks very upset about the fact that he’s awake. 

‘Ali, like Prince Ali from Aladdin.’ Liam had teased last year when they found out they were having a boy and Zayn had suggested the name.

‘No, like the Arabic name meaning champion.’ Zayn had argued but from the moment he’d been handed this precious bundle of joy he’d decided he was a Prince. A little Prince for his King so he supposes Prince Ali from Aladdin had been correct, not that he will ever admit to Liam that he was right. 

“Why is he awake?” Liam complains, as he walks across the garden to greet her. 

“Probably because his father is organising a ridiculous party for him, he’s too excited to sleep.” Roo snaps back. 

“Papa!” Ali cries, trying to reach out for Liam. 

Liam picks up his pace so he can get the baby from his sister’s arms. “What are you doing awake, little man?” 

Ali doesn’t answer because he’s one and he doesn’t fully understand the English language quite yet, instead he leans his head down to rest on his father’s shoulder and that seems to be all Liam needs as a reply. 

“I’m gonna take him back up,” Liam decides, his cheek resting down against their son’s head as he looks over to Zayn. “You okay to finish up, Jaan?” 

‘Meri Jaan, it means my love or my life.’ Zayn explained as a twenty two year old Liam looked at him like he was the moon and the stars and had been the exact reason the two words had slipped of his tongue so easily. 

'You’re my whole life, Z.’ Liam had replied and that one sentence is what had Zayn planning out a proposal that was sure to make Liam cry.

“We’ll help,” Louis assures Liam, snapping Zayn back to reality. “Take the bab up, we want him to be awake to enjoy all this madness, right?” 

Liam nods his eyes but he’s got curious eyes on Zayn. 

“I’m good,” Zayn assures him. “I can finish up.” 

Liam keeps his curious eyes on Zayn for a beat longer until the baby in his arms starts whining and he finally decides to head inside, to get the one-year-old the last few moments of sleep he needs to enjoy the incredible party they have planned for him. 

A silence overcomes those left in the garden, as they part to finish up the overly extravagant party Liam had planned for Ali’s first birthday long before the baby had even been born. 

It’s an hour later that people slowly start filling up their Malibu home and Zayn’s in the kitchen trying to get the number one candle to sit on top of a cake shape like the hulk’s fist when he finds himself lost in the memory of the day he’d proposed to Liam. 

Harry had called him crazy, they had only been together for six months and even though Zayn had moved his entire life to another country in that time, his best friend still thought that marriage was a big commitment. 

But Zayn didn’t think he was being crazy because he could feel it in his chest every time Liam smiled and he knew he would never tire of that smile or any of the aspects of Liam he’d fallen in love with. 

Planning the proposal was the hardest part because the moment Zayn had agreed to follow Liam to LA, every aspect of his life had become Liam centric and so trying to hide something from the younger lad had almost impossible. 

But somehow he managed, he booked out their favourite restaurant and managed to fly out everyone they love to LA. 

It hadn’t taken him months to plan so he actually managed to align it perfectly with their one year anniversary and had told Liam he’d bagged them the karaoke room at the back of the restaurant but he’d argued he wanted to have first song, which back then Liam agreed to easily because it was rare for Zayn without being begged to (or in the shower) which is a complete contrast to four years later where he now spends most of his days locked away in their home studio singing songs he and his husband write and produce. 

Liam’s curious face is still one of his favourite memories because this boy adores music and seems to know every song under the sun so when an opening beat to a song started playing he’d looked very curious. But what was even better was that twinkly eyed blinding grin he’d gotten when he’d realised the lyrics Zayn was singing, were of his own making. 

Zayn’s glad Harry had convinced him to record the whole thing because he knows he can go upstairs and see all those faces for himself, he doesn’t have to rely on memory for them. 

The part of the tape he almost broke when he first watched it, was the moment he sang the last ‘For the rest of ours’ and dropped down on to one knee because Liam let out audible gasp before his hands flew to his mouth and tears filled his eyes. 

It taken him a few minutes to calm down and Zayn’s knee was starting to hurt slightly before he finally blurted out his ‘yes’ and joined Zayn on the floor. 

“Hey,” Liam calls but it’s the gentle hand on his waist that has Zayn snapping back to reality. “I’ve been calling you.” 

Zayn blinks a few times to bring himself completely and when he does he’s met with his husband’s worried expression. 

“It’s been a while since you’ve zoned out.” Liam observes. 

“There’s something wrong with Louis.” Zayn says because it’s the only explanation he’s got. 

Liam nods in understanding. “He’s scared Stella is going to leave him.” 

“What?” Zayn asks confused because he’d never met two people as well suited as Stella and Louis, they’re both equal parts sarcastic and endearing. 

“She really wants another baby,” Liam explains. “Louis can’t give that to her.” 

“They haven’t even tried IVF yet,” Zayn argues. “They’ve been trying for like a year, it can take some couples years to get pregnant once and they already managed that.” 

“They got tested,” Liam tells him softly when he must realise Zayn doesn’t know. “It’s Lou, he’s the, uh, the problem. His sperm count is really low, they were shocked that the two of them even managed to get pregnant with Archer.” 

“Oh.” Zayn says quietly as he tries to process that information. 

“They’ll be okay, he’s being dramatic, you know what he’s like.” Liam decides. “If Stella heard that he was even thinking about it, she’d cut him a new one.” 

Zayn nods his head in agreement because Stella adores Louis but she runs the show and she’s pretty sure Louis has a death wish if he’s even thinking about the two of them breaking up, he truly believes Stella is the only person in the world that takes the ‘till death do us part’ vow deadly serious. 

“He’ll be okay,” Liam assures him and glances down to the mess Zayn had made of the cake because he’d been so lost in memories. “I’ll get the back up cake.” 

Zayn reaches out for him before he can move. 

“Okay?” Liam checks. 

Zayn nods and slips his hands around Liam’s waist before singing. “Let me be your man so I can love you.” 

Liam’s face breaks out in to the same grin he’d had that night. 

“For the rest of my life,” Zayn sings while resting their foreheads togethers. “For the rest of yours.”

Liam closes his eyes and pushes his forehead more against Zayn’s. “I love you so fucking much.” 

“More than you’ll ever know, beautiful boy.” Zayn promises. 

Liam gives him a pretty demanding kiss which leaves him a little bit dazed when the younger lad pulls away and the way Liam smiles as he leaves him to get the other cake, shows he’s quite proud he can still manage to do that after all these years had passed. 

The party is quite overwhelming for them and little Ali and he’s passed out on the couch as the last of the guests finally leave. 

Most of the family members who had been taking advantage of their mass of spare rooms, had already headed up to bed. 

In fact, it was only the four of them remaining, toasting Liam and Zayn’s ability to raise a child for a year with a very expensive bottle of chateau that Louis had bought especially for the occasion. 

They’re almost through the bottle when Louis starts wriggling where he’s sat on the couch beside Liam. 

“Have you got worms?” Liam teases. “Sit still, man.” 

Louis stops his movements but then lets out a long laboured breath which makes Zayn start to panic. 

“What’s going on?” Liam worries, looking from Louis to Stella when that’s where the older lad’s gaze leads him. “Stel?” 

“We need to ask you something!” Stella blurts and looks pointedly at her husband. 

Zayn and Liam both look at Louis. 

“What?” Liam demands when Louis only nibbles his lower lip nervously. 

“It’s a big ask, mate.” Louis tells him. 

“Would you just ask me?!” Lee snaps but a lovely laugh passes through his lips 

“We wanted to know, uh, like, we need to know if you would, uh, if you wouldn’t mind...” Louis stumbles, rubbing at the back of his neck so hard he’s sure to have some kind of friction burn. 

“We wanted to know if we could have some of your sperm, please?” Stella requests politely. 

It’s so absurd sounding that Zayn can’t help but burst out in to laughter. 

“Mine?” Liam checks, though his eyes are on his husband. 

Zayn waves him off as he tries to calm himself down. 

“You’re kind of the perfect man for the job, mate.” Louis replies, he looks so hopeful that if Liam says ‘no’ then Zayn is sure he’s going to be haunted by the hurt look he’s guaranteed to give in response. 

“I’ve got a dodgy kidney,” Liam reminds them. “It’s the whole reason Ali is Z’s.” 

“What are the actual chances of a kid inheriting that though?” Louis asks. 

‘Okay, it’s not that common but is it that bad that I want another one of you, that I love you so much that I’d have millions of mini yous if I could.’ 

Zayn smiles at the memory. “It’s not high at all, Liam just wanted to clone my genes really bad so he used it as an excuse for Ali to be mine.” 

Three pairs of eyes snap towards him like they hadn’t expected him to speak. 

“You’re asking for my husband’s sperm,” Zayn points out. “I would think I’m entitled to an opinion.” 

“Of course you are, darling.” Stella assures him. 

“You’d be okay with it?” Louis asks, his bright blue eyes are wide and his head is pulled back like someone was trying to get him to smell something really bad. 

“We love you both,” Zayn answers but makes sure to look at Stella when he says it. “If this is what you need to complete your family then I’m okay with it.” 

Stella offers him a blinding smile and tears are filling her eyes so Zayn tugs her in to a side cuddle before those tears have chance to break. 

“Li?” Louis asks. 

Liam’s eyes are trained on Zayn. “You’re really okay with it?” 

“I am,” Zayn assures him. “It’s ultimately your decision though, babe.” 

Liam goes quiet for a really long time. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to do it, bro.” Louis tries, though his face does look hurt. “It’s a lot to ask.” 

Liam finally looks up and he looks straight up at Zayn so Zayn tries to give him the best reassuring smile he can, he hopes conveys that he’s okay with whatever Liam’s decision is. 

“Okay,” Liam says finally. “I’ll do it, I’d love to do it.” 

“Really?” Louis checks. 

Liam pulls his eyes from Zayn to look at him instead and nods his head. “I’d do anything for you, bro, you know that.” 

“You’re too much, Payne.” Louis teases before dragging him in for a cuddle. 

‘You’re so fucking much, Zayn. You’re too much and I probably don’t deserve you but if you were willing to give me a shot I’d really hope you could fall in love with me too.’ 

Zayn feels a smile pull at his lips as he thinks of how far they’ve come since that moment in the bedroom of the shitty apartment he used to share with Harry in London. 

He makes a note to call his best friend to see how well he’s handling being a new dad of three. The last time they’d spoken, the triples had only just been born and didn’t even have names yet. Now they’re almost a month old and Zayn really wishes they lived in the same country so he could see how his best friend is struggling with that venture on the daily. 

“You okay, babe?” Stella asks him quietly, not to disturb the two cuddling boys on the opposite couch. 

Zayn nods his head and when he looks at her, he doesn’t bother to hide the tears in his eyes. 

“Oh, darling.” Stella coos, squeezing him gently. 

“Z?” Liam worries, his intuition when Zayn’s upset being completely on point. 

“He’s okay,” Stella assures him. “Bit overwhelmed, I think.”

Liam doesn’t need more than that and he’s getting up from the couch he’s on to come over to one her and Zayn are sharing. 

“I love you so much,” Liam says as he cups Zayn’s cheek. “You and our boy, you’re the most important thing to me in this world.” 

Zayn nods his head and offers him a wobbly smile. “I can’t believe we’re here, this is our life, it’s so---I’m so fucking happy.” 

“Me too.” Liam agrees and leans in to give him one of those pretty demanding kisses. 

It’s Ali grumbling from the couch he and Archer were asleep on across the room that finally has them falling apart. 

“I think it’s time for bed,” Liam says as he pulls back from Zayn. “We can talk more in the morning?” 

“Yeah, yeah, of course, bro.” Louis agrees when Liam looks to him. 

Liam walks over to squeeze his shoulder before he heads across the room to pick ups his now very whiny baby boy. 

“Can I sleep in Ali’s room, Uncle Li?” Archer asks, somehow suddenly very awake. 

“The camp bed is already set up for you, buddy.” Zayn assures him. 

“Yes!” Archer cheers. “You’re the best, Uncle Z!” 

“Better than me?” Liam asks him with a fake sad face. 

“No,” Archer says quickly. “You’re my favourite still.” 

He tries to whisper the last part but it’s still loud enough for the whole room to hear. 

Archer had bounced between his favourites when it came to Zayn and Liam since he was old enough to talk. But last Halloween Liam had gone as Iron Man for Halloween and the five-year-old had caught him without his mask on, which then convinced him Liam was the real life Iron man which means Zayn has not got a look in since. 

Liam winks at the young boy and then bends down to lift up Ali gently from the couch. 

Zayn gets up so he can come over and nuzzle at his sleepy baby’s face as he jams it in his father’s neck. 

“Want to lead the way up, bud?” Liam suggests to Archer. 

Archer takes off out of the room without being told twice. 

“Goodnight everyone.” Liam announces to the two remaining adults before looking to Zayn. “You coming?” 

“I’m gonna tidy up a bit,” Zayn decides and makes a shooing gestured. “I’ll follow you up.” 

Liam looks as tired as the baby in his arms so he nods his head before leaning in to steal a kiss and then follows the second youngest of them out of the room. 

“I’ll help?” Louis offers.

“I’m going up,” Stella decides. “My manicure cost too much to ruin it cleaning up other people’s mess.” 

Louis snorts. “Of course, love.” 

“I love you, idiot.” Stella informs him. 

“I love you, idiot.” Louis echoes easily. 

They share a grin before their own child causing ciaos upstairs, has Liam calling out for Stella and she makes quick work of going to see what the issue is. 

Zayn and Louis clean up the mess that is the living rom and part of the garden before Zayn calls it a night. 

“Malik?” Louis calls out once they reach the landing before Zayn can walk in to his and Liam’s bedroom. 

Zayn turns to look at him curiously. 

“I heard your new single,” Louis starts and when Zayn nods to show he’s listening. “I was pretty fucking mad when I first heard it, that you could do that to him.” 

“He helped me write it.” Zayn informs him. 

“I know, he told me.” Louis assures him and then. “So, you really think that? That somewhere out there there’s two of us that are together.” 

Zayn shrugs. “Could be, there could be a version of us where I’m with Stella.” 

Louis scrunches up his nose and Zayn mirrors it, wishing the words hadn’t left his mouth and soon they’re both laughing. 

“I’m so fucking glad you’re in my life, Z.” Louis decides, once they’ve both calmed down. “I know it was always selfish of me to ask that from you but I’m so glad you fell in love with him and you’re happy and I get to see that.” 

Zayn nods his head because it had taken him years to accept it but having Louis in his life in this capacity is much better than not having him in his life at all. 

“I just wanted that said.” Loui concludes and straightens his shoulder. 

“We’ve come a long way in ten years.” Zayn decides. 

Louis looks up and when their eyes meet, a smile finally breaks out on his face. “We really have.” 

“I’m glad you’re in my life too, Lou.” Zayn assures him. “I’m also glad I get to love him, he’s the best thing to ever happen to me. And Stel is perfect for you, I’m so glad you found her and I’m so glad I get to her be a part of my life too.” 

Louis’ smile is beaming now and he’s got a slight tear in his eye. 

“I wouldn’t have him without you and we wouldn’t have Ali if we’d never met so thank you for that.” Zayn concludes. 

Louis nods and wipes his eyes with the arm of his jumper when the tears finally break. 

“I’m gonna go in here and fuck him,” Zee says finally. “So, if I were you I’d run to your room before you hear things you don’t want to,  I don’t get paid to sound pretty anymore, it’s not something to stick around for.” 

Louis laughs and reaches out to shove his shoulder. “Twat.” 

“I’m no joking.” Zayn says as straight faced as possible. 

“You’re a dickhead, Malik.” Louis states as he makes his way down the corridor to his room. 

“Goodnight, Tommo.” Zayn calls after him. 

Louis throws him a thumbs up before finally disappearing in to the spare room he and Stella claimed as theirs, the instant Liam and Zayn had bought the house. 

Liam’s sat up in bed when Zayn finally walks in to his room, he’s shirtless and is looking at Zayn curiously. 

“What?” Zayn worries, as he closes the door behind him. 

“Do you know how fucking perfect you are?!” Liam demands. 

Zayn takes a step back in confusion because what Liam said sounded nice but the pure volume makes him sound angry. 

“You’re so perfect!” Liam complains but lowers his voice as he notices Zayn’s confusion. “And you’re mine? How the fuck did I pull that off?” 

“The sex is pretty good?” Zayn offers. 

Liam’s face breaks out in to a bright smile so big his eyes disappear and even after all these years, it’s still Zayn’s favourite smile on earth, apart from their baby boy’s of course. 

“Come here?” Liam pleads. 

Zayn finally lifts himself up from the door and walks across the room to join him on the bed. 

“You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.” Liam decides and pulls Zayn by his t-shirt in to the final demanding kiss of the day. 

Zayn’s getting himself pretty excited when Liam suddenly lets him go and climbs out of the bed. 

“I’m going for a pee,” Liam informs him when Zayn pouts at him. “I’ll be right back.” 

“I’ll be waiting her for you, Liam.” Zayn replies with a loose grin. 

Liam pauses for a moment like he’d let himself get lost in the memory for once and when a little smile grows on hips lips, Zayn’s own heart can’t take how much he loves this boy. 

“I’ll always be waiting for you, Jann.” Zayn promises. “As long as you promise you’ll always come back to me.” 

Liam steps back towards and is gently as he brushes his lips across Zayn’s and it’s barely a whisper when he says. “Always.” 

Zayn leans up to steal a kiss this time but only five minutes later Liam announces he really does need to pee and giggles as he walks over to the bathroom. 

“I can’t, I’m sorry.” 

Those were the last words Louis had breathed before he’d walked out of the hotel room and out of Zayn’s life. He was eighteen and heartbroken and he swore from that day, he’d never let another person break him the way Louis had. 

“It’s worse than it was then,” Harry whispers to Niall, when he thinks he’s out of Zayn’s hearing. “He was heartbroken over Louis but this, it feels like it’s so much more.” 

“He’s a smart lad,” Niall would always reply. “He knows what he’s doing.” 

Harry would always sigh, as if it wasn’t the answer he wanted to pacify his worry over his best friend. He’d always come to Zayn afterwards, curl up next to where he was binge watching the walking dead or spread out on the floor of the art room, to watch him paint. 

Zayn knows he’s trying to be a good friend but now he’s not working, there’s no escape. It’s twenty four seven Harry and as much as he loves the lad, it’s a little too much of him to handle. 

It’s been four days since he left Liam at the cabin (not that he’s counting) and quit his job with Caroline. It takes Niall and Harry’s usual morning activity to push him out of the house. 

He only goes twenty minutes down the road, to their local café and tucks himself at the back with his laptop, hoping to get some graphics done that he could sell to local business for a tiny bit of income. 

But he’s barely there ten minutes when intrusive thoughts lead him down a different path than intended. 

He’s a glutton for punishment, he thinks, as he googles Louis’ name and gets greeted with thousands of articles about him and Stella because they had recently announced they were expecting a baby boy. 

Zayn slams to laptop shut when he sees a cosy photo of them in Paris where they’d travelled to the night of his championship win for a little R&R. 

He decided to head back to the flat, hoping the hour he had been out of said flat would be enough time for his friends to get done with their activities. 

The moment he steps foot back in his apartment, all he can think about is Louis, he can’t get those stupid blue eyes and curled smile out of his mind. 

Which is probably why the moment he gets to his room, he absolutely rips it apart, trying to find one particular thing. 

He finds it tucked in the very back of the draws he keeps his hoodies and he has to give it a hard tug from where it had managed to jam itself in the corners of the drawer. 

When he finally gets the little brown envelope out from inside the drawer, a polaroid falls out on to the floor. When he picks it up he’s greeted by the image of two grinning boys. Two young lads who don’t know the world yet and had no idea of the pain they were about to cause one another.

The only other thing in the envelope is a key to an apartment that Zayn had never visited.

‘I want you to have a place where you’re safe,’ Louis had said. ‘It’s yours, for whenever you’re ready.’

“Zayn?!” Harry calls out suddenly. 

Zayn shoves the key and polaroid back in the envelope and tucks them it back where it was. 

“Z?!” Harry calls again, only this time closer. 

“I’m here.” Zayn calls back. 

Harry’s head pops around Zayn’s bedroom door and he gives him curious eyes. 

“What?” Zayn asks sharply, which he instantly regrets when Harry’s lips twitch in a way they only do when he’s upset. 

“Liam’s here,” Harry tells him softly. “I said he was only allowed to see you, if you wanted him to. If not, then me and Ni will throw him out.” 

“I’d quite like to see you try and throw him out.” Zayn teases. 

“I’m stronger than you think, Malik.” Harry retorts and a big smile graces his lips, the earlier hurt easily forgotten. “So, shall I send him down?” 

Zayn nods his head but before Harry can leave, he calls after him. 

“Yes, darling?” Harry asks, the grin still gracing his lips. 

“Don’t stick around to listen, okay?” Zayn pleads. “It’s probably not going to be nice but I’m good, yeah?” 

Harry looks curious but nods his agreement before continuing out of the room. 

Zayn doesn’t know what to do with himself and he’s spends so much time fretting over if he should sit or stand that he’s still stood dumbly in the middle of the room when Liam appears in it. 

“I thought you wouldn’t see me.” Liam admits as greeting. 

Zayn shrugs and tucks his shaking his hands in to his pockets because if he’s honest, he thought he wouldn’t see Liam again, not in person anyway. 

“I’ll get straight to the point then.” Liam decides and rustles around in the back pocket of his jeans for a few seconds. 

Zayn raises his eyebrows because his curiosity is slightly peaked and if it is something painful, at least he’ll be amused when he has to call Harry back for him and Niall to attempt to throw Liam out. 

“I was packing my things and this fell out of my bag,” Liam explains and holds out the drawing Zayn had done in the hotel room. “It’s me, isn’t it?”

Zayn stares down at the crumpled paper that contains a real life drawing of a heart that he’d converted in to a home.

“I thought it was about Penny,” Liam admits. “I thought it was your way of saying that the people we loose will always have a home in our hearts. But that’s not the meaning behind it, is it?”

Zayn looks to him and then back to the drawing.

“Is it?” Liam asks a little more desperate.

“It’s whatever you want it to be.” Zayn tells him and tries to hand the drawing back.

Liam snatches it from his hand. “That’s bullshit.”

“I can’t tell you what the drawing means to you, Liam.” Zayn says with a shrug.

“I don’t care what it means to me,” Liam argues. “I want to know what it means to you. Why did you draw it?”

“I draw a lot of things that have no meaning.” Zayn replies and folds his arms.

Harry snorts loudly from the other room.

“I told you to fuck off, Styles.” Zayn shouts at him.

There’s a scramble and then a loud crash before the door to Zayn’s room opens and Niall’s head pops in.

“We’re heading out,” He informs Zayn. “If you need us then give us a ring, yeah?”

Zayn drags his fingers through his hair and nods his head.

“If Liam was going to kill him I’m sure us being here wouldn’t stop him.” Niall shouts at Harry as he must lead him out of the flat.

Liam steps towards Zayn as the sound of the front door closing echoes through the flat.

“Did you draw this because you’re trying to tell me you’re letting me in to the only place that’s yours to protect?” He asks. “The last place you’re allowed to call the shots on who comes and goes.”

Zayn stares at the crumpled paper in Liam’s hand. “It’s just a drawing.”

“I know Louis was let in and he didn’t treat it well but we’re not the same people, Zayn.” Liam tries.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Zayn scoffs.

“What don’t I get?” Liam pleads.

“He trashed the place but you still broke the windows,” Zayn replies and moves away from Liam’s touch. “You both lost your right to the key, the way you went about it doesn’t matter.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Liam tells.

‘I’m not trying to hurt you,’ Louis echoes in his head. ‘I love you, Malik, maybe not in the same way but I still want to take care of you--’

“Shut up!” Zee cries.

Liam hushes him like he’s a small child throwing a tantrum. “It’s okay, Z, you’re okay.” 

The nickname cuts Zayn deep and he takes a step back, to put space between him and Liam. 

“What did Louis tell you?” He asks, thanking the heavens above that his voice holds out and doesn’t crack. 

“He told he that he was a dickhead who really hurt you,” Liam explains. “He shouldn’t have done what he did, you didn’t deserve to be treated like that.” 

“Did he tell you that I was barely an adult when we met,” Zee starts because the anger he’s been harbouring for the past six years is finally bubbling over. “I was a kid and his manager used to pay me to fuck him because he was terrified Louis would be one of the braves ones and would come out and then he wouldn’t see as well.” 

“That’s disgusting.” Liam decides. 

“Right?” Zee agrees and then laughs but it’s not joyful, it’s pained. “We used to talk about it, after the fucking was done. We’d talk for hours about how much of a dickhead his manager was and how homophobic his chosen career path was.” 

Liam looks sad like it was something he’d already been told but Zayn’s too far gone, he’s finally letting him relive the memories he’d buried deep for so many ears. 

“Falling in love with him was so easy,” Zayn decides. “Christ, he only had to suck my dick good once and make me laugh a few times and I was gone.” 

‘I’m not gay,’ Louis’ voice echoes in his head. ‘It was like shagging a mate, there weren’t any feelings involved, I’m sorry’. 

Zayn should have known really, they never really kissed and when the sex was done they wouldn’t touch. They would share a blunt and talk about fixing the world but the conversation never really went deeper than that, they never really got to know each other past the obvious. 

He knows now, what it’s like to shag a bi guy who leans more in favour of girls. Louis could get hard for a guy, he can find men attractive but for some reason when it comes to anything more than physical, his brain won’t let him get passed it. 

He remembers being so cruel when Louis had finally ended it, he’d told him he was as bad as the people who had forced them together in the first place and the hurt expression Louis had given him following that outburst still haunts him to this day. 

But he knows now, Louis was a kid himself, he was trying to figure out himself too. It was sad that he had to use Zayn to do it but Zayn doesn’t resent him, not for that anyway. 

“Zayn?” Liam asks softly, after a silence had fallen over them for quite a long time. 

“I need you to leave,” Zayn decides because he’s about to break apart all over again and he doesn’t want Liam here for that. “Can you leave, please?” 

“That’s what you want?” Liam checks. 

Zayn nods his head but can’t lift it to meet the younger lad’s eyes. 

“Alright,” Liam agrees  “I’ve got a plane to catch anyway.” 

“You’re going to LA?” Zayn asks, finally looking up. 

Liam nods, looking hopeful. “The offer is still there for you to come with me?” 

“What as this time?” Zayn replies spitefully. “Can’t be much left on the roaster, right?” 

Liam nods, taking the hit because he must know he deserves it. “Well, it’s there if you want it, I’m sure Caroline has Amara’s number, she can book you a flight, if you change your mind.” 

“I don’t work for Caroline anymore,” Zayn informs him, though he’s not sure why he has a need for Liam to know that information. “But I won’t be needing Amara’s number so I suppose it doesn’t matter.” 

“You don’t work for Caroline anymore?” Liam asks shocked. 

Zayn shrugs.

“Why?” Liam pushes. 

Zayn shrugs again and drops his gaze to Liam’s stupid air max trainers, they’re the most recently released ones and it’s just a reminder of how much money is in this guy’s bank account. 

“Why, Z?” Liam pleads this time. 

“Because I’m done,” Zayn answers finally and looks back up to meet Liam’s eyes. “It’s my turn to call the shots over my body and life.” 

Liam steps forward tentatively. “Come to LA with me?” 

“You can’t buy me anymore, Liam.” Zayn reminds him. 

“I don’t want to,” Liam promises. “I want you come willingly, I want you to come because you want to, I want you to come because...” 

“What?” Zayn demands when the sentence trails off. 

“I think I’m in love with you,” Liam concludes. “You’re so fucking much, Zayn. You’re too much and I probably don’t deserve you but if you were willing to give me a shot I’d really hope you could fall in love with me too.” 

“It’s been one week.” Zayn says a little breathless because he wasn’t expecting love. 

“My sister always said I went in to things heart first with my head taking a long time to follow,” Liam admits and reaches up to rub at the back of his neck. “She said it what made me such a good song writer but it has led to a lot of heartbreak in my lifetime, I’ll admit.” 

Zayn lets that information sink in to his brain and realise he’d spent a lot of their time together, putting a lot of his past traumas on to this boy, all because of who had made their interaction happen. He’d never thought there would be a chance that while he was so focused on his own haunting memories, the beautiful boy he’d been spending his time with might have been returning his feelings. 

“It was her on the phone.” Liam tells him. 

“What?” Zayn asks confused. 

“It was Roo, my sister, she was who I was talking to when you overheard the conversation.” Liam explains. “She worries a lot, if I told her I was with you at the cabin, I would have got a lecture.” 

“Because you were falling in love with a prostitute?” Zayn asks because hearing that conversation had still hurt him. 

“I rang her on my way back from Scotland,” Liam continues with a sad smile. “She called me an idiot, said I had my very own pretty woman moment and I’d been the idiot who had let it go.” 

“If you’d tried to climb up out fire escape you would have probably died.” Zayn admits. “It’s not safe, at all.” 

Liam looks very confused by that response. 

“You really need to watch the damn film if you’re going to reference it, Liam.” Zayn says frustrated. 

“We could watch it on the plane to LA?” Liam suggests. “I have a meeting with Simmons but I was thinking there might be a few studios we could check out.” 

“I don’t--” 

“Want my money,” Liam finishes for him. “I know, I thought about that--the hour long flight back from Scotland was a long one, okay? I had a lot of time to plan and think.” 

Zayn nods for him to explain his idea. 

“I’ll buy a studio,” Liam starts and when he’s sure Zayn isn’t going to interrupt. “Then when your art starts making money, you can pay me rent for that studio.” 

“It’ll be at a discounted price?” Zayn guesses. 

“I could think of another form of payment.” Liam jokes, it’s a bad one considering how they met. 

Zayn frowns. 

“It was a joke,” Liam assures him. “It’ll of course be at a discounted price but I don’t even know if it’ll have to be, I’ve seen your art, Z. The kids in LA, they’re going to lap that shit up, lots of rich trust fund kids have nothing better to do than pretend they understand your art.” 

Zayn snorts. “Great, I’ll be pouring my heart and sole in to pieces for them to be hung up in rooms of rich college kids so they can stare at them to stop themselves coming to quick.” 

“If you don’t like that idea,” Liam says quickly. “We have a design team at the label, they work with artists for like album covers and posters and shit. They could really do with an artist like you, someone to think outside the box.” 

“You really have thought this over.” Zayn observes. 

Liam nods his head several times. “The minute you left the cabin, I couldn’t think of anything but how to get you back.” 

“You love me?” Zayn checks again. 

Liam nods, the smile Zayn adores taking over his face completely. “I love you.” 

“Fuck,” Zayn replies and finally closes the gap between them. “I think I love you too.” 

“You do?” Liam asks, worrying his lip between his teeth. 

Zayn reaches his hand up to tug it out. “I love you.” 

“I love you too.” Liam replies. 

Zayn’s the one who leans in and seals it with a kiss but Liam’s the one who slips a hand around his back to tug their bodies completely together, not an inch of them not touching. 

They stand like that for the longest time until Harry and Niall’s overpowering personas fill the apartment again. 

Zayn breaks the LA news to Harry softly but it’s Liam who makes the news easier for his best friend by promising to fly them both out whenever they want for however long they want.