Dates, Dreams and Diapers

Chapter 18

Niall's POV

I walk around the busy house with the screams and laughs of many children that have come to my son's birthday party and smile as Liam gives out horsey rides to the younger guests. I laugh when he falls to the ground as the twins both take their turn and yank on Li's hair, the other, spanking the lower side of his back.

"Come on daddy! One more time around the kitchen!" Wyatt yells with the most adorable voice ever.

"Yeah! One more time, one more time." The other twin, William yells. Liam, using all of his strength left gets up and crawls around the kitchen as I work near the countertops, setting out plates for each guest. My mom and Liam's parents are around here...somewhere. With four kids, twelve party guests and six parents, it gets a little crowded.

"Niall dear, some kid threw up on the stairs. Do you want me to handle that?" My mom says seemingly to pop out of nowhere. She gave me a bit of a start, but hearing what she said only makes my face scrunch up and give her nod. I then go back to work and just about have everything finished, is when I feel a tug on my pants leg. Looking down, I'm met with blue eyes that are a bit lighter than mine, but are so familiar I smile.

"Yes birthday boy?" The kids blushes and looks down a bit all bashful and happy.

"Daddy, why all these people heew? I know some kids fwom school but..." Little Aindrea says just as a balloon pops, scaring the poor boy. Aindrea cuddles into my leg, his head reaching up to above my knee before I kneel down.

"It's okay baby boy, that was just a balloon popping." I say in a soothing voice. Aindrea allows his pretty eyes to peek to me from his tiny fists and breathes out once he sees my reassuring face.

"I invited some kids from your class and allowed the boys to invite some of their friends here for your birthday. I invited all these people and made all your favorite meals today because today is the day you were born, my little munchkin." I say while picking up Aindrea and twirling him around for a bit. My fourth child giggles happily as we share the little moment.

Thinking back on the day Liam and I first adopted him has a smile on my lips. The day the social worker walked out of the back room with their last child in need of a home and it was like love at first sight for the little bundle kicking and whining. But as soon as the worker put Aindrea in my arms, he looked up to us with Jack, and the twins looking over my shoulders and smiled. He must have knew what was going to happen the moment he saw us, his future family.

Slipping back to the present, I see to it that after everyone has eaten the various meals I cooked and the large batman-theme cake is put out and lit with candles. The Birthday song is then sung for my baby boy with overgrown brunette hair; his brothers smiling for the second youngest of the family, but I also can't help the little wheeze in my heart knowing another year has gone by. Soon enough, my first born will be ready to leave home.

And I'll cry a river when it happens....

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I startle from my dream in Liam's arms, but then fall back down into the bunk bed with a smile, knowing more Horan-Payne children are on the way.

Maura's POV

I woke up with a smile as I snuggled down into Niall and Liam's bed, aside from their manly smells, which I think might come from intense sex, the bed is as soft as sifted flour and sheep wool.

"Hmm...Mum...Mum..." I then hear the little mumbles of Jack, calling out to his parents in his sleep have been a common thing since the same week Niall and Liam left for their tour. But as the days goes on so does the time until we get to meet with my son and one day soon son-in-law. The day that happens is a day I'm not sure how to feel about. Should I be overcome with joy, sobbing with sadness that both my babies are now all grown up, or a bit angry and suspicious of Liam taking my son away at such a young age.