Kerosene ~Zarry~

Chapter 7.

"Nice job today, guys." Liam's voice booms through the firehouse. A chorus of thank you's are heard as he smiles to them with a single nod, silently announcing his leave.

"Yeah nice job. Everybody but Tomlinson." Billie's voice carries through.

"Hey! Shut that big yap before I shove this tube down your throat!" He yells back. Joking, of course.

"Malik!" Lewis shouts across the garage to the dark haired man.

Zayn whips his head to the voice that called his name.

"We're going for drink. You coming?" Tom asks him, shaking his shoulders while doing a little shimmy dance for no reason at all.

Zayn smiles at them. "Thanks, but I don't drink." He says to them.

"Aw come on!" Lindsey playfully encourages.

"It'll be fun." Billie sing-songed.

Zayn shakes his head at them, amusingly. "Sorry guys. It's a stay in night." He politely declines and they all let out small noises of complaint. Zayn just lets out a breathy laughs.

"Your loss, Zaynie." Louis says to him, Zayn cringes and shakes his head in disapproval of the nickname.

The others laugh as they playfully push each other around before saying there goodbyes.

"See you later, grandpa." Ashe and Niall yell simultaneously as they walk out the garage door hand in hand.

"You two have fun." Gigi says, and Zayn furrows his brows.

"Us two?" He asks. Gigi just points behind him, and smiles a goodbye.

Zayn turns around, surprised at what he sees. "I don't drink either." Harry smiles at him.

Zayn grins at him, and nods his head in understanding. "I uh, gotta go pick up Alana." Zayn says and Harry smiles at the mention of the adorable little girl.

He nods in acceptance. Zayn just stares at him. "Go get your daughter, Zayn!" Harry laughs. "She's special, make sure she knows that." Harry says to him.

"Yeah. And what about you?" Zayn asks.

"What about me?" Harry retorts.

"Do you have...someone special?" Zayn asks, cautiously.

Harry smiles softly and shakes his head. "Just me." He says. "It's ok that way." Harry reassures when he sees the worried look on Zayn's face. Zayn just nods, look of concentration on his face and Harry can't help but wonder what he was thinking.

Zayn has never thought about what it's like for Harry. Going home to no one. Being alone. Zayn had lost the love of his life, but he is able to have a little piece of her in Alana.

With Harry, he's all alone.

"Everybody starts of as strangers. When you let people into your life, and they stay...they're the good ones. Hold those people close. Don't just sit back and watch them slip away. Tell those people, you love them."

Zayn's words hit Harry close to home. Not too close, just close. Taking them into consideration, Harry nods his head and turns to walk out the door.

"Harry? Where are you going?" Zayn's voice stopped Harry before he got his hand on the door.

Harry smiles small. "To tell them I love them."

Zayn nods at him, smiling softly back. "Good luck, Harry."

"I'll see you later, Z." And Harry walks out of the door, softly closing it behind him.

Harry doesn't know if, but Zayn smiles wide to himself at the nickname.

"Hi daddy." Little Alana smiles up at her father as he picks her up, resting the little one on his hip.

"Hi, beautiful." He smiles at her, kissing her cheek before sitting on the couch with Alana in his lap. "So, what does my Angel want to do today?" He asks her.

Alana internally argued with her mind as she thinks of what to do, but it doesn't take long for her to decide. "I..." she starts, but struggles to continue.

Zayn notices her hesitation and nervousness. "It's ok." He encourages.

Alana looks down at her tiny hand intertwined with her fathers larger one, and smiles softly. "Wanna see mommy." Alana doesn't look up from their hands.

Not until Zayn reaches his pointer finger and lifts Alana's chin, both of their watery eyes meeting.

"You can always, ask to see mommy." Zayn smiles at her, and the tears fall heavily down his face. Alana the same, but while silently crying she reaches her hand up to her fathers face.

As Alana wipes the tears off of Zayn's face, he smiles at her. Kissing her forehead, he tells her to get her shoes on and they head out the door.

Harry slowly and carefully sits on the grass, a safe distance from the large stone in front of him. He places the red and yellow flowers down, before taking a deep breath.

"Hey..." he starts off. "I know it's been a while. And I'm sorry for not visiting but...things are tough." Harry sniffs. "But I'm doing ok, I'm..." he trials, knowing it was a lie.

The heavy tears fall rapidly down his red face, and he sniffs. Not bothering to wipe them up, Harry continues talking.

"You didn't deserve this. This wasn't supposed to happen, and...I can't figure out why it did. I wasn't there." Harry calms his sobs slightly. "I wasn't there, and I should have been. I should've-" Harry's attempt at containment failed as he cut himself off with cries.

"I'm so sorry." He sobs, head handing low.

Zayn sits on the soft cut grass, safe distance from the, also, large stone. Alana was sat in his lap, purple and blue flowers in her hand.

Alana looked like she so badly wanted to say something, and Zayn was watching her carefully, so he took notice of her hesitance.

Zayn holds Alana's free hand, and runs his thumb across her small knuckles. "It's ok, Lana. You can talk." He whispers to her.

Alana knows she's thankful for the reassurance, but she's still nervous. Looking up into the golden eyes of her father, Alana silently pleases for a little help.

"Do you want me to start?" Zayn asks softly, Alana nods carefully and Zayn smiles at her. "Ok." He nods before taking a deep breath, and looking toward the gravestone.

"Hey, Al." He starts with a soft smile. "I know it's been a while, sorry I haven't been around. The little one keeps me busy." Zayn joked small as he lightly tickled Alana's side, and she let's out a giggle.

"Did you hear that, Al? That's our baby girl. She looks just like you." Zayn glances at Alana. "Beautiful."

"Things have been...tough. I didn't expect them to be easy but, at the same time it's a lot to handle." Zayn doesn't want to cry, but the tears are unstoppable as they trail down his face, yet he smiles.

"I miss you more everyday, Al." Zayn whispers, and Alana squeezes his hand softly.

"Your turn, beautiful." He says to Alana, and she nods before setting the flowers carefully by the granite gravestone.

"Hi, mommy." She starts, whispering softly. "I miss you a lot, mommy."

"Daddy tells me stories sometimes." Zayn smiles at Alana's mention. "And shows me pictures." She giggles.

"Mommy's pretty." Alana whispers. More to herself, but Zayn hears it. And he believes Alaska hears it too.

"She is. She's very beautiful." Zayn nods. "Just like you." He says, and kisses Alana's cheek. "Do you wanna say anything else, babe?" He asks her quietly.

Alana nods at him before looking back at her mother's name on the thick stone. "Love you mommy." She says. Small tears falling down her face almost make Zayn lose everything he's holding in.

But he needed to stay strong. Things are hard without Alaska. Zayn knows that no one can replace Alaska. But in every way, Alana is all he could ever want.

"I will always love you, Al." Zayn looks at Alana and smiles softly. "We both will."