Away

7

"What?"

Zayn kept on looking at his hands "I have to go away for work for a week" he looked up "I'm sorry, my boss says I have to"

Liam was standing in front of him and frowning, Zayn stood up and hugged Liam

Liam hugged him back and closed his eyes

"I'll be back before you even know it, babes. I promise"

Liam smiled "I know, love... It's just that I'll miss you and I'm worried about doing this alone"

Zayn shook his head and kissed Liam's forehead "You have nothing to worry about, you're better at this than I am"

Liam laughed "I don't know how you think that, but I'll take it"

Aileena laughed out loud while slapping Zayn's back "DOWN BABA DOWN!!"

Zayn continued to walk "Nu-uh"

Aileena laughed "Baba, you are too old to say Nu-uh!!"

Zayn shook his head and walked into the cabin, but stopped when he saw Liam

He was seated on the couch with a book open in his lap, his curly hair was half up and slightly damp from the shower he just came out of

Liam turned to them and smiled "What did I miss?"

Zayn put Aileena down and shrugged "Aileena calling me old"

Liam hummed "You are 32"

Aileena ran to Liam and sat on his lap "SEE!!"

Zayn gave Liam a look "You're 32 too"

Liam shook his head "Oh no, that's different"

"Yeah!!"

Zayn rolled his eyes and both of them laughed, he shook his head then sat down across from Liam

"I made a dinner reservation for dinner tonight"

Liam looked at Zayn "Yeah? Casual?" Zayn nodded "Can I pay?" Zayn shook his head "Please… you're already doing so much and it feels wrong"

Zayn looked at Aileena who was playing with Liam's fingers then looked into Liam's eyes

Zayn shrugged "We'll see what happens until then"

~~~~~

They walked into the beachside restaurant and were seated on an outdoor table

"It's so pretty!!" Aileena said looking out "Can we go to the beach after?" She said looking between her parents

Zayn and Liam both nodded as the waiter put menus down in front of them

Aileena smiled and picked hers up, as the waiter introduced himself and asked them for their drinks

Aileena leaned ahead "Can I get a milkshake?" She whispered, when she got a nod; she then perked up and told the waiter

Liam and Zayn both ordered some water, before he nodded and walked away

They all opened their menus and Zayn looked at Liam "Good?"

Liam looked at him, smiled then looked down at the menu

"Good"

Ailenna coloured in the lines then looked between them then at Zayn "Baba"

"Yeah?" Zayn said before he looked at her

"Is Cece Ok? Why did she not come with us?"

Zayn opened and closed his mouth, he looked at Liam who looked down at the menu

He then looked at Aileena and smiled "Cece is busy right now... That's why you, Dad and I are here together"

She nodded and smiled "We will come again with her?"

Zayn shrugged and poked her cheek "We'll see"

The waiter came back with their water and Aileena's milkshake

They ordered and as the waiter was noting down their food Liam sat up

"I'd just like a favor" The waiter looked at him and nodded

Liam put a hand on Aileena's head and she pouted "She is deathly allergic to shrimp... The slightly bit of it could lead to an emergency"

He smiled and nodded "Alright, I'll keep that noted" he then walked away and Aileena tilted her head to the side

"I can't have shrimp?"

"No"

"What is shrimp?"

"It's... A fish"

She scrunched her nose "I don't wanna eat fish"

Liam smiled "That's good then"

~~~~~

"Baba"

Zayn looked at Aileena and nodded "You open the door for Ceclie, right?"

Zayn slowly nodded, she then tilted her head to the side "Why do you not open the door for dad?" she said eating a chip

Zayn looked at Liam who seemed frozen then at Aileena

Liam smiled and rubbed her cheek "Because I like to open my own doors"

She pouted "Sometimes you can't..."

Zayn looked at Liam then at Aileena "When he can't, and I'm there... I'll be sure to open the door for him"

She smiled and nodded "Good baba"

They both laughed and nodded, they finished the rest of their food and Liam stood up to go to the bathroom

Zayn pulled Aileena closer and she looked at him "Why don't you open doors for your dad, hmm?"

She giggled and shrugged "Because Mr. Frank opens it for him when he sees dad can't"

Zayn furrowed his brows "Mr. Frank?"

She nodded "The old man who lives on the-" she stopped, then furrowed her brows

She raised both of her hands with L shapes then looked at Zayn

"Right of dad and me"

Zayn nodded and smiled "Is he nice to dad and you?"

She nodded "Him and Mrs. Frank bring us cookies all the time!!"

Zayn chuckled "I'm glad"

Liam walked back then looked between them, Aileena jumped up and hugged his waist

He smiled and picked her up, there was a quiet whisper between them and Liam laughed but nodded

Zayn raised both eyebrows "What's that about?"

Liam looked at him "It's a secret between her and I"

Zayn shook his head and motioned for the bill, when Liam smiled he dropped his hand

"You didn't"

Liam shrugged before he put their daughter down and walked away with her

"I did"

~~~~~

They went to the beach, and got some ice cream. Aileena got a flower in her hair from someone who was distributing them

Aileena then did a mini-dance show that ended in her getting sand all over both Liam and Zayn

She laughed out loud when they were both caught off guard

But they laughed it off, she eventually got tired so they decided to get a taxi back to where they were staying

When they stopped, Zayn handed her over to Liam as he payed the driver

They walked towards their cabin before Zayn walked ahead and opened the door

Liam looked at him and smiled "You didn't have to do that, Zee..."

Zayn shrugged and smiled "You're carrying precious cargo..."