Baby "Jayn"

"But what if he doesh?"

Chapter 41
{Zayn}

Harry was the first one to jump into the pool, the splash loud and wet. He had been right, nobody was here except a man and his son. (who looked about nine year old, but Zayn wasn't sure).
Even so, the toddler couldn't help but wrap his arms around himself, glued to the spot in front of the wardrobe doors. Louis tugged at his hand which was holding his shoulder tightly. "Come on, Zayn. It's okay, you'll just get in and nobody will notice."
Zayn bit his lip, shaking his head. He didn't want to get in, and he didn't want to turn in case anybody noticed his back. Niall kneeled down and looked him in the eye. "Nobody's going to judge you, or think of you indifferently," he said softly. He pulled Zayn's arms away from himself. "Come on, there's no need to be afraid."
"What doesh indiffwintly mean?" Zayn asked, and Niall smiled. "It means treat you in another way."
"Zayn, come on." Harry grinned, and Zayn bit his lip. As the boys walked forward, Zayn trotted behind them. Should he tell them now, or...?

As they neared the edge of the pool, Zayn walked up to Louis and tugged at his shorts. "Loueh." he whispered.
"Hmm?" Louis looked down at him.
Zayn motioned him to bend down, and Louis kneeled. "What?" he whispered. Zayn swallowed, leaning forward and whispering in his ear. "Jayn'sh afwaid of watew."
Louis' eyes widened slightly and he gave the toddle a look. "Why didn't you say so before? I could've done it when you stepped through the door."
Zayn tilted his head. "Dwone what?"
Louis broke into a grin, and swept the toddler off of his feet. Zayn let out a small squeal as he clung to Louis' neck. It wasn't until Louis walked towards the steel stairs which led to the pool, that Zayn realized what he was going to do. He clutched the lad's neck tightly. "Loueh no!"
"Loueh yes!" Louis countered. "You're going to face your fear today, Sky Pirate. I thought pirates weren't afraid of the water!"

"Am not Shky! Am afwaid!" Zayn screamed as Louis climbed down the stairs. He would've kicked the lad, but had the fear of being dropped lingering at the back of his mind. Zayn held on for dear life as Louis stood in the swimming pool, the water reaching just under his waist. It didn't even touch Zayn, who by the way was clinging to Louis like a koala bear, legs wrapped around his stomach. "Jayn doeshn't wanto. Jayn don't wanto. Jayn don't wanto. Jayn doeshn't wanto."
Louis laughed. "It's not that bad, Zayn."
"No, no, no." Zayn squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to look at the drowning water.
He heard sloshes as someone approached them. "Zayn's afraid of the water." Louis explained, and Zayn heard the person guffaw and he scowled, opening his eyes. Definitely Niall. "Am shcawed of dywing." Zayn told them, his arms and legs beginning to hurt from too much muscle being used as he held on tightly. "Jayn doeshn't like to die. Jayn knowsh shomewone who died," the toddler confessed sheepishly.
Niall's expression completely changed into a softer one. "Was it your mum?"

Zayn stiffened . How did he know? He couldn't help but blurt out a "No, it washn't mum."
"Oh," was all that Niall said, and Zayn remembered his mother always scolding him for lying and how Liam and Harry had been upset with him.
"Am showwy." he said, burying his head in Louis shoulder.
"For what?" Louis asked softly, and Zayn but his lip, "Fo lying. Yesh it wash...mum." he couldn't help but squeak the last part, pressing his nose to Louis' shoulder blade as his eyes began to sting.
"It's okay, Zayn." he felt a warm and wet hand rub his back, and Zayn squirmed away. "You'we wet, Nawiall."
The lad grinned, and Zayn yelped as water stung in his eyes. Niall laughed, and Zayn pouted. He looked around, eyes scanning the swimming pool. "Whewe ish Hawwy? Whewe ish Leeyum?"
"Nobody is here to save you now, muwhahahaha." Louis laughed, putting Zayn down. Zayn, however had arms and legs wrapped tightly around him and had no plans on letting go anytime soon. He yelped as his bottom touched the water, making him shiver and clutch Louis even more tightly.
"Zayn, it's fine. It's not even that deep, look." Niall showed him how the water only reached to above his knees and Zayn shook his head firmly. The lad tried to pry him away from Louis but Zayn was stuck to him like a leech. "No." he said firmly as Niall pulled him. "Come on!" Louis whined, dropping his arms that had been previously holding Zayn up. Now it was harder for Zayn to stay glued, but he used every strength left in his body. He would not take risks by going in the water and accidentally drowning, or getting eaten by a shark, or maybe swallowing a fish. Nope, nada. No water.