Forced Family 3

S E V E N T E E N

Bringing a spoonful of oatmeal toward Louis' lips, Harry's smile falters when the boy's tears refuse to subside making eating the breakfast impossible.

Liam raises an eyebrow from his seat across from his brother at the table, "What's the matter bubba-?"

"Liam," Zayn snaps, "Please don't entertain him when he's fussy," Niall scoffs rising from the table taking Thomas in his arms, "I think that's more than just fussiness," he glances at Liam, "I'm going to put Tommy down, Anna?" The girl that had been staring questionably at Louis most of the morning drifts her gaze to her Papa that looks with a knowing smile, "Care to join me?"

Harry inhales deeply at the invitation, "Princess Anna," he muses, winking at the girl that glares at her name falling from his thin lips, "It's Annika," she mutters standing from her seat, Liam gasps at the sharp correction, rising before he speaks, "Annika," he warns, "Don't be rude," 

The girl can't help but smirk at the irony, "Kidnapping is rude," turning toward Niall she takes his extended hand glancing over her shoulder at Liam that continues with a glare, "Annika Malik that is inapprop-"

"Scott," Tears line her voice as what feels like a cactus blooms in her throat, she forces herself to smile as tears prick her eyes, "A-Annika Scott," she mutters softly, she had wanted her tirade to continue as this was the first time she'd felt up to the fight; but hearing the name, her name being changed without thought and thrown at her scoldingly, defeated her. She hadn't prepared herself for that line of battle. 

 Liam's once easy-going smile flattens, a grimace replaces itself on the naturally softer features, "Go with Papa," ending the discussion with an order, he remains stoic watching Niall take Annika's hand pulling her behind him.

Zayn clears his throat meeting his son's eyes, "How long has she been like that?"

"I don't know, ever since she told Niall about her brother she's been different," Liam admits, his chocolate orbs leaving the doorway for Louis' oceanic eyes that sit trapped behind a wall of tears, "You don't think Niall told her, do you?"

"Niall would never," Liam assures, Harry shrugs, "Niall and her seem pretty close, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think he confided in her." Zayn agrees with his husband using Louis' bib to wipe his chin, "You can never be too careful with who you trust," Liam chews the inside of his cheeks hearing the words from his parents.

He felt the words were strangely placed, though agreed. He had found himself being too trusting before, and looked where it landed him.

Re-taking his seat at the table Liam sighs pushing the eggs on his plate around, "Did we make this hard for you guys-?"

"I think we're ready for a nap," Zayn announces cutting Liam's question short, he lifts Louis into his arms, patting his backside, "Tell everyone night-night," Louis wails at the command thrashing in his daddy's arms in protest, he shakes his head screeching behind the pacifier that was slid into his mouth, Zayn ignoring the fit as he carries him from the room.

"Is he okay?" Liam asks now fully concerned, even Louis in headspace didn't throw fits to that extent, Harry presses his lips together in a reassuring smile, "Sweetheart he's fine," Harry pauses cutting into the omelet he made with Annika, he stabs a piece onto his fork staring at the fluffy egg, "Trust me," popping it into his mouth he hums at the taste, "He's perfect,"

Nodding in response uneasily, Liam's eyes shift from his papa to Niall that strolls into the room, Annika in tow, a silence entraps the breakfast table as everyone collectively returns to their seat beginning to eat their breakfast.

Turning the page, Annika sighed closing her eyes to break from reading. Tracing her fingers over the pages she leans her head back swallowing past the thick lump in her throat. At times she could picture herself at home again.