1+1 Makes 3 | Niam

Chapter 21

Liam's p.o.v

Opening his eyes, Liam blinked a couple of times before remembering where he was. Sitting up, he pulled the covers back, trying not to disturb Niall before pulling his pajama top from the floor, standing up as he pulled the top on, not caring as it clashed with his trousers before making his way out of what had once been Niall's room, but was now, apparently, their room, and into his study, trying not to focus on the sonogram Louis had framed.

Settling into his desk, chair, he fired up his laptop, dreading the inevitable avalanche of unread emails, most of which would be from Zayn, as he logged in before he braved the over flowing storm that was his inbox. Trying not to let all the noise his laptop made wake Niall, Liam simply selected all the emails and hit the delete key. Anything that was really important, Zayn could just tell him, after all, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Yawning, he switched over to google, searching his own company, almost spitting a mouthful of coffee over the macbook as he saw the numerous articles on Kieran and Niall - the media finally having cottoned on to the elusive CEO's sexuality and family status - or the big contract in Greece, which had been embargoed for three months.

Clicking on one of the many boring articles in one of the many financial magazines he was always being featured in, the article going on about his newly discovered family status, Liam scoffed several times as he read the first paragraph, sighing loudly as he read on before jumping as Niall appeared round the door, dressed in one of Liam's crumpled workshirts, rubbing his eyes sleepily before muttering "Li? What's.... What are you doing?"

Slamming the laptop shut, Liam shook his head, standing up before kissing Niall's cheek, saying "Nothing important. How are you?"

"I'm fine." Glancing curiously at Liam's laptop, Niall yawned, trying to ignore how unconvincing he sounded.

Shaking his head again, Liam stood up, giving the younger guy a hug before saying "You're not fine. Don't try and bullshit me, Niall. I've been best friends with a lawyer for years - I know when someone's trying to lie to me. How are you feeling?"

Pulling the shirt sleeves over his wrist, Niall looked down at the floor, biting his lip before he muttered "I should be there. At the hospital. I should be with Kieran, not sat at home, waiting for my stitches to heal. He needs me....."

Kissing Niall's cheek again, Liam took his hand and pulled him into the kitchen, squeezing his hand as he said "And we will be there as soon as opening hours allow us to be. Ni, you had a cesarean with the added stress of being under anaesthetic, give your self a break. Kieran is safe and properly being cared for and we'll be there as well, at the hospital."

Sitting at the breakfast bar, Niall leaned against the worktop before sighing "Why are you always right? Why are you always so sure if these things?"

Setting a mug of tea in front of him, Liam raised an eyebrow, glancing at Niall before he said "More years of experience."

***************

"Mr Payne, Liam, we need you to finish signing some documents."

Looking up, Liam stepped away from the incubator, squeezing Niall's shoulder as he followed one of the nurse. Glancing backwards towards his son, he winced as the alarms and machines continued to bleep, trying not to focus on the hum of the ventilator as he turned his attention to the stack of paper work the nurses had for him.

Watching as the nurse grabbed the first piece of paper off the stack, Liam pulled at his shirt sleeves before paying attention to the nurses filling in the sheets. "Full legal name?"

Nodding, Liam stuttered slightly before he said "Kieran James Payne."

"Official date of birth?"

"Eleventh of February 2015."

Sliding the piece of paper towards him, the nurse handed Liam a pen before saying "Okay... We already have Mr Horans signature, we just need yours then the birth certificate is complete."

Liam let out a minuscule sigh as he watched Niall rest his forehead against the incubator, biting his lip uncertainly before fumbling with the pen. Meeting the nurse's sympathetic gaze, Liam signed his name on the certificate as he asked "How long until Kieran can come home?"

"Mr Payne, your son was, and still is, very ill. Whilst he can occasionally manage with the ventilator, he was born a month prematurely with most of his major organs not fully developed.... It's going to be a while longer. He's getting there, though. He's getting there." The nurse began to file away the papers, unable to keep the pity from her voice as she spoke.

Nodding, Liam refrained from asking how he could be getting there if he were so ill as he sat back down next to Niall, smiling slightly as the younger boy rested his head on his shoulder, before placing his palm against the incubator, next to the baby's tiny fingers.