Through The Dark

The Other Direction

I stand up and look at the rest of the boys. They all give me the same puzzled look. I walk up to the door and slowly swing it open. "Hey mate! Heard you're a dad now!" Zayn says with a big smile. He has Meredith resting shyly on his hip and Mason clung to his leg.
"Oh my." I whisper and I hug him. "You came all the way from Seattle for this?!"
"Well of course I did! My best mate had a baby! I had to get here as soon as I could. You did the same for me!" I step away from him and smile down at Mason. They've both gotten so big. "Now where is your baby?" He asks and we walk into the living room.
"Zayn!" They all say in unison, causing Sam to wake up.
"C'mon. Hug me. I know you want to." He sets Meredith on the couch and spreads his arms. They all stand up and bear hug him. "Now get off and let me hold a baby." He chuckles and I sit next to him on the couch. Madison sets Olivia on his lap and lays back against Harry.

"So what has been going on in your life Z?" Sam questions. "If you hadn't noticed, we had a baby."
"Well, Meredith turned one a few weeks ago. It was kind of bittersweet. Mason is starting a preschool program this fall. Mom thinks he's too young but we will see how it goes I guess." Meredith climbs up next to Zayn and burrows her face into his jacket. "Oh Mer, these are dads friends... They're fun." He winks. "This is Uncle Ni's baby." He says when Mason comes up to me.
"We are so old." Louis lays back against the couch. "We all have kids. I'm almost 30! We've all been married. Two of us are divorced. We are just living the life." He scoffs. "We should have our kids start a band when they're like 16."

"Have our daughters do it and they could call it The Other Direction." Liam says and we all chuckle.

"Thanks guys." Louis rolls his eyes.

"Listen, you're life isn't over yet. Find a girl. Knock her up. Get a daughter." Harry mutters, and Madi back hands him.

"You really think I'm that irresponsible." He says and shakes his head.

"Maybe Darcy will marry Leo and be a Tomlinson, God Forbid. And then Elliot can be the Styles in the band." Harry utters.

      "Is your mom coming over?" Sam looks up at me. I know my mom said she'd down here as soon as possible, but with her being in Ireland it's been difficult.

      "I think so." I nod. "Probably soon."

       We sit quietly watching the tv and pad isn't around the baby. I couldn't be happier then right now, as cliche as that sounds. I was with my best friends. We just added to our family. I'm in a new beautiful house. I'm a lucky man.