night changes [zarry]

v

If Jamie weren't so enthusiastic about his football games, Harry would not be here. He groans, every bone in his body heavy with exhaustion, Emma lying pressed at his side and sleeping peacefully.

Harry adjusts the blanket around her again, stroking her hair, and adjusts Sophie slightly on his chest, closing his eyes. Maybe just a short nap.

He startles awake when Sophie decides to crawl off his chest, grabbing her as he sits up, trying to remember where he is. Jamie is still running across the football pitch and Emma is sleeping at his side, so he can't have been out for long. He kisses Sophie and adjusts her hat, setting her on the blanket beside him to let her crawl a bit.

"Hey," Zain says, slowly approaching with his hands in his pockets, looking hesitant like he doesn't want to spook Harry.

"Hey," Harry says, wiping his mouth and eyes to check for drool or sand. "How are you?" he asks, clearing his throat.

"I'm good," Zain says, gesturing to the spot next to Harry. Harry nods and watches Zain unfold a blanket, settling down. "How are you? Are you alright? Is Emma alright?" he adds, frowning at her sleeping form.

"She just got over a cold," Harry says, rubbing his eyes. "She - we," he amends. "barely slept the last three nights."

Zain nods, stroking his hand over Sophie's head when she uses his thigh to push herself up. "And this one is fine?"

"Oh yea," Harry says. "Perfectly fine. In fact, I could have done with her being a bit less active. She decided to start crawling properly now and I forgot how fast they are."

"Crawling, hm?" Zain says to Sophie, who faceplants on the blanket and then pushes herself up in annoyance.

"Yea," Harry sighs, checking Emma's temperature and pulling the blanket around her. She was fine, just exhausted, or he wouldn't have come today, but he can't stop worrying. Maybe it was too early even though it was a nice day and a bit of air would do her good.

"And what have you and Laila been up to?" he asks, watching Sophie try to make her escape. Zain catches her before she gets too far away, turning her around, before Harry can go after her. Sophie is unbothered, setting her eyes on Harry. Harry smiles at her. She grins back, still mostly toothless.

"Actually," Zain says, hesitant. "We - I mean. I was wondering if you wanted to come over sometime? You and the kids? For dinner? I make a pretty good curry," he rubs his hands over his thighs. "Or something else if you'd rather."

Harry stares at him, catching the back of Sophie's shirt automatically when she crawls almost out of reach, trying to figure out if maybe he's had a stroke. Or a hallucination. Maybe he was still asleep, dreaming.

"Or not," Zain rushes to add, his gaze dropping. "No worries. You've got a lot going on."

"No!" Harry blurts, still staring at him. "No, I'd love that. Yes. Curry. Sounds perfect," he rushes to say. There was no way in hell he was turning down Zain, with his looks and his voice and the fact that he laughs when Harry tells stupid jokes and how gentle he was with Laila and Harry's own kids.

"Okay, okay," Zain nods, smiling at Harry almost shyly. It makes his stomach somersault. "Just say when you're free. With Emma being ill and all."

"I-" Harry starts. He wants to say right now, we can go right now, but that would be ridiculous. He doesn't want to wait an entire week, but it seems like he doesn't really have a choice.

"Friday?" he asks, blushing slightly. He hasn't had a date in years. He's not sure he even remembers. He'll have to ask someone what date wear was if you brought along three children.