Away

1

Zayn and Liam both laughed but cuddled up together closer

"I hope you know how crazy this is" Liam whispered

Zayn hummed, running his fingers through Liam's hair "Yeah, I know"

Liam looked up at him "No-one will know, right?"

Zayn leaned down and brushed their noses tiegther, Liam scrunched his nose and smiled

"No one, babes" he whispered before their lips met

Zayn's leg bounced as he let out a breath, before he quickly parked and got out

He jogged towards the door and knocked, he heard footsteps and he smiled seconds before the door opened

"BABA!!"

Zayn laughed and picked his daughter up and hugged her tightly

She giggled and held his face "You are here..."

Zayn nodded with a small smile "I am"

Zayn looked into the house and smiled as Liam walked towards them

She turned to him and smiled "Baba's home Baba's home Baba's home!!"

Liam laughed and nodded "Yeah, I can see that"

Zayn looked at Liam "How are you?"

Liam shrugged and rested his head against the doorframe "I'm alright, how are you? How's Ceclie?"

Zayn nodded "I'm good, we both are"

Liam smiled "Ready for the wedding?"

Zayn breathed out a laugh "It's a countdown now... I can't believe it"

Liam chuckled "I can't believe you're getting married either"

Zayn put Aileena down and she looked up at him while holding his hand "Wanna see my new toys?"

Zayn rubbed her cheek them kissed her hand "I'll come another day, I need to talk to dad privately for a bit, yeah?"

Aileena pouted but nodded and ran inside, they both watched her before Zayn looked at Liam "I'm sorry..."

Liam looked at him "For what?"

"Her not being able to be at the wedding" Zayn shook his head "I wish I could've told you sooner, but we literally came up with the decision a week ago"

Liam looked at him "What?"

Zayn frowned "What what?"

"A week?"

"Yeah, why?"

Liam opened and closed his mouth then shook his head "Nothing"

Zayn gave him an unimpressed look "Don't. Why are you acting weird?"

Liam let out a breath "I just wish you wouldn't lie to me"

"Liam, what are you talking about?"

Liam sighed "Ceclie called me 6 months ago and told me Aileena won't be allowed to attend"

Zayn's eyes widened "What?"

Liam nodded "Yeah..." he frowned "It took me a while to try and figure out why you wouldn't even try to tell me or even Leena by yourself"

Zayn tensed "I... What?"

"Yeah, it's also why I never understood why your mother and sisters wanted to take her dress shopping and I never let her go; I didn't want your mother to go against Ceclie's word"

Zayn massaged his temple and Liam frowned "Zayn... What's wrong?" Zayn gave him a look and Liam tensed "You didn't... Know?"

"Of course I didn't know" He shook his head "Mama said she was distraught when she told her, if she knew why would she be?"

Liam gave him a sad smile "She was distraught because up until then, your mother and you were telling her how pretty she'll look and how exciting it'll be, but last week when your mum called and apologised, she was heart broken"

~~~~~

Zayn opened the door and walked into the living room, Ceclie looked at him before she quickly stood up

"Gosh, I didn't even know you're coming home today!!" She said then rushed to hug him

He hugged her back, nodded then pulled away "Why can't my daughter be at our wedding?"

She looked at him "I told you... There will be no kids there"

Zayn stepped back "Yeah, well I just called your sister and her kids are still coming"

"They're part of the wedding party" she whispered "They would've been heart broken if I suddenly told them they weren't allowed to join"

"You couldn't have told them 6 months ago?"

Ceclie cringed "I'm going to assume Liam told you..."

Zayn nodded "Yeah, he told me" Zayn crossed his arms "I told you that Aileena is the most important person in my life, from the beginning I had that boundary set"

Her shoulders fell "Yeah, I know but I just didn't want Liam there-"

Zayn forced a breath "If you asked, you would've known he wouldn't be. He would leave her with my family for the day, I discussed this with him"

Cecile sighed "But still, Zayn... Everyone in your family prefers him over me" she crossed her arms

"Every family lunch we go to, as soon as they see Aileena they ask about Liam"

"Maybe, just maybe because Liam have been friends for more than 20 years? Maybe because he's her other parent?"

"Still!! I just wanted one day where your family will be more focused on me, on us ans not their first niece or grandchild or all that. Is that too much to ask for"

Zayn frowned "What do you think will happen when you marry me? That I'll suddenly bring her around less? That she'll suddenly just stop being important to them?" Zayn shook his head and stepped back

"If my daughter is not there" He ran his fingers through his hair then let out a breath

"I'm not getting married"