Again «ZM» ✔️

Part Thirty Six

Isabelle

It's Christmas. And I'm very happy because I'll get to spend it with Zayn. We both made it official and my mother decided to be so kind and invite him and his family to spend the Christmas night with us. And they agreed. So right now I'm looking at the Christmas tree and all the gifts that we have stacked under it. I bought quite a lot this year considering the fact that I have a gift for each one of his family members. From me only.

   I startle when two arms wrap around me. I smile though. Zayn gives me a kiss on the cheek. I've missed him a lot. We haven't met for like... two days already. And it's the first time we haven't met for at least a day ever since he forgave me.

"Hi, my love. Why do you look so sad?" he asks curiously. I frown and turn to him. Do I really look sad? I hope not.

"I am not sad. I'm happy you're here. With your family," I smile as I wrap my arms around his neck, "Is your father here too?" I question him. He shakes his head. That was a long shot, so I know I don't have to worry about it.

"He just thinks you're a waste of time," he looks down like he's ashamed about it, "But my sisters and mum are here. They have mixed feelings," he looks in my eyes now. I smile. That's understandable. After all we've been through, I don't blame them.

"I hope we can get past that," I quietly say, "I got presents for all of you and I believe Gabriel is pretty mad that I made him come shopping with me," I giggle. He chuckles and slowly shakes his head. I know he told me not to buy for each and every one of them.

"Hi," a girl greets us, so I look at her. If I'm not wrong, it's his youngest sister. I know he has two younger sisters and one older. And their names... I remember he told me their names, but who is who, I... Remember only bits, I think.

"Hey. You're Safaa, right?" I ask her. She looks quite surprised, but then she nods. I let go of Zayn and look at him. "I'll be right back. If anyone needs me, I'm in my room," I tell him and make my way to my room. When I'm on the second floor I see both his other sisters. They're on the left hallway, meanwhile I'm on the right, so I don't get to greet them just yet. I get in my room. I open my computer and check my emails. There it is. I open the email. Right what I needed.

When I get back downstairs, my mother has already called everyone to the dinner table. I sit between my mother and Zayn. I give him a smile. He smiles back and softly pinches my cheek making me giggle.

"Okay... Can I have everyone's attention, please?" my mum speaks a bit louder than she always does. We all look at her. I'm kind of scared that she and Zayn's family won't get along because I know how she looks at people who aren't as rich as us or richer. "Well... What do I start with?" she sighs and smiles at Zayn's mum, "I want to thank you for raising your son to be a real man like he is," she mentions, "Because in the beginning I was very skeptical of him, but now that I've seen what he's done and been through for Isa, I hope I could take back everything I said and did before I knew him better," she explains. I look at Zayn and take his hand in my lap. He gives me a reassuring look and then looks back at my mum.

"Thank you, it means a lot," his mum says. I look at her. And she does look like she's relieved of what my mother just told. I'm not surprised because she's always so cold and sometimes even greedy. She likes to point out the worst of it all.

"Since they made their relationship official, I want to make them feel approved and like they don't have to hide anything from us, so I was thinking we could do family gatherings like these more often... If you don't mind?" she asks us all. Okay, is she actually trying? Or is this just another scheme of hers? Why would she invite them to spend more holidays with us? I have a lot of questions that are being left without an answer and it's driving me crazy.

"It'd be nice, don't you think?" his mother agrees and looks at us all. They all agree. I do too, but I'm pretty sure she was just asking her children and not me even though she looked at me, too, to see me answer.

"Great then. I hope you like your stay here," my mother looks at me and smiles. Like... genuinely smiles. I've never seen her do that without seeing through her mask. Through her fake smile that she puts on when she fakes her feelings. "So, this Christmas... For Zayn and Isabelle! And us all together!" she adds as she raises her glass, still looking at me. Everyone cheers. It warms me inside to know that our families can put the differences aside for us. Well, except Zayn's father. For now. But I believe he'll come around. It all takes time.

"I'd like to add something," I say before everyone starts talking, "Maybe my mother already thanked you, but I also want to say thanks for him," I say as I look at his mum. She smiles. "And I don't really know his sisters that well, but they're the best. Very protective, too." I smile and then I look at Zayn. He's giving me a warning look to not feed their egos.

"I'm honestly surprised you can put up with his ego. So I admire you at some point," Doniya, his elder sister comments making me laugh and look at her. Coming from her, it really is funny.

"It's not that bad if you ask me," I shrug. He's never been a struggle for me. We've had arguments, but never about his ego, so I'm pretty sure that he's the one who should be congratulated about putting up with my ego.

"I'd say the same about him putting up with her personality," my father decides to join in our freshly started conversation, "Deserves a medal," he gives me a look. I sigh and look at Doniya. Just like I thought a few seconds ago.

"We don't have to be stubborn with each other. Not yet at least," Zayn decides to comment too, so I look at him. He softly squeezes my hand reminding me that he's holding it. I smile a bit.

"So that's why this is my third chance to have our relationship?" I whisper to him. He chuckles. His eyes lock with mine. "What? Ain't that true?" I grin. At least now I feel free to joke about it. We both talked about this and I even told him to not give me another chance if I ever fuck up.

"Well, I don't know how to answer that. Your stubborn personality is the reason why we're together right now," he answers my question, "You are the most stubborn one here, yet I love that stubbornness about you," he leans in when he says it and gives me a kiss. I smile and look down at our hands. I have to let his hand go to get some food on my plate. I'm very hungry. Didn't eat before so that I could eat now. And I'm glad I didn't because the food looks so great.