Away

12

On Aileena's first birthday. She took her first steps, which was a sprint to her baba

They were with a few friends and some family

She came in with Liam, who picked her up from daycare on his way back from work

She was on the floor with a few toys when Zayn walked in

She let out an excited sound then stood up and ran towards him. Everyone watched her with wide eyes

She hugged his leg and squeezed it while running in her place

He picked her up with a big smile, he hugged her tightly and kissed her temple while rubbing her back

Louis, who was seated beside Liam, watched them then blinked

"What type of wizardry did you do to her? Her first word? Baba! Her first steps? To baba! Her first smile? To baba!"

Liam shook his head and shoved Louis away before he stood up "He loves her, that's the wizardry"

Zayn smiled and walked towards Liam, he kissed Liam's cheek

"Hi, Jaan"

Liam smiled "Hi Zee"

At the airport, Zayn checked them in while she laid on Liam's shoulder while holding a doll

She stayed in Liam's arms until they reached security, they all walked through before She was silently waiting for her doll to pass by, but once she did, the security picked her up and she pouted

"Does she have a boarding pass?" the security whispered while looking at her

Aileena froze and slowly shook her head, looking at Liam and Zayn who were putting their shoes back on and putting their things back in their bsckds before reaching for the doll when the security pulled her back

"Does she have a passport?" they whispered again

"No..." she whispered

"Then, sorry sweetheart but you'll have to leave her here"

Her eyes widened "No..."

"Yep, sorry but she'll need to stay here" they said, sitting the doll down beside the computer

Liam looked at her "Let's go?" She looked at him before she stretched her arms up to him as she teared

He picked her up before she sobbed into his shoulder and Zayn's eyes widened, he dropped his backpack and rubbed her back

The security immediately jumped up, apologising, explaining what they did and they gave her the doll back when Zayn gave them an unimpressed look

She sniffed and held onto her doll tightly, the security once again apologised but she refused to look at them

Liam sighed as they walked past, Zayn wanted to pick her up but she refused and just held onto Liam

Liam shook his head "It's fine... We're fine" he whispered and rubbed her back

"How about we make a passport for her, We buy some pens and a notebook, and we work on it now and on the airplane, baba can draw a picture of her for you"

She sniffed and nodded "What colour do you want her passport to be?"

She whispered a quiet 'Blue' Zayn rushed to the nearest travel free shop

He got a small blue notebook and a selection of pens, he then got out and sat on a table with them

Aileena wiped her cheek and held onto Liam

The doll's name is Lilac (because of her hair), she shares a birthday with Aileena and her favourite colour is pink

Zayn then asked for the doll and drew her, before they flipped through random pages and made fake stamps of fake places

She smiled as she named random places, asking for a specific set of them to be in red, some in pink and some in purple

By the time they were done, she was giggling out loud and hugged Zayn tightly

Zayn hugged her back and took a deep breath

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah baba... Thank you"

Zayn smiled and closed his eyes "Anytime, Leen"

And Liam just watched

~~~~~

She sat between them this time, sitting on Liam's lap after takeoff to show lilac out the the window and comforting the doll when she apparently got scared

Then Aileena and Lilac read the plane safety card because 'Lilac' was too afraid to listen when the flight attendant was explain them

When she fell asleep hugging Lilac, Zayn watched her with a smile then looked at Liam who was just looking at her

He nudgd Liam's leg and Liam blinked before he looked at him

He shook his head and Liam smiled sadly and shrugged

"Just thinking... After our conversation a few days ago, all I can think about is that she would've made an amazing big sister"

Zayn stayed quiet and nodded "She still can be"

Liam smiled and nodded "You'll make that happen" Was all he whispered before he focused on the movie on his screen

But Zayn didn't look away from him

~~~~~

At passport security, Aileena showed the man seated Lilac's passport

He smiled and laughed, before he gave it it's own stamp before they passed

They got their bags and as soon as they were out, they heard cheers

Liam and Zayn's mothers both ran towards them, Liam's mother reaching first and picking up Aileena, squeezing her in a hug before Zayn's mother took her

Liam's father hugged Zayn, and Zayn's father hugged Liam before each of them hugged their own son

Their mother's then hugged each of them before they pulled away

"You can go home tomorrow, stay with us for the night" Mrs. Payne said holding Liam's hand

Zayn's mother held Zayn's hand "And you, will be staying with me."

Liam and Zayn shared a look then looked at Aileena who was talking to her grandfathers about her doll

Liam looked at his mother and smiled "Fluffy pancakes tomorrow morning?"

She laughed and nodded, Aileena looked between them before her smile fell

They looked at her, she walked towards Zayn and hugged him

Zayn hugged her back tightly before he stood up

She kissed his cheek before she smiled and stretched her arms to Liam

Liam took her and smiled at Zayn "I'll see you... Soon?"

Zayn nodded with a small smile "Soon" He whispered

Before Liam and Aileena walked away with Liam's parents, Aileena waving the dolls hand as they disappeared

~~~~~

"ZAYN!! COME HERE PLEASE"

Zayn got off the bed and walked downstairs, he knows better than to ignore his mother because even if he's almost 32, she'll come and drag him out by his ear

He walked towards the entrance, looking through tests on his phone before he looked up and stopped when he saw Ceclie

He sighed "Give us a moment, Ma?"

"No... I want her to stay"

Zayn and his mother both frowned but they nodded, Ceclie took a deep breath and looked at Zayn and forcefully smiled

"I'm pregnant"