Parenting

Chapter Twenty Three

-Niall's POV-

I woke up to hear chuckling and suppressed laughter close by. With a groan, I stretched out and tightened my arms around the warmth underneath me. The body moved only for a soft sweet sensation to run over my lower back.

"We are so..."

"Yeah!"

"-on Twitter!"

The mumbled words had me squint my eyes open to be met with dim lighting around me. A rising and falling chest had me looked down to see Christine under me.

I smiled without thinking and pushed hair out of her face. She looked so peaceful when she slept.

"Louis was right!"

"Well, we'll find out what's going on first." Lifting my head, I looked back to see two figures close by.

"Hmm." I groaned letting my face fall onto the cold couch.

"Finally awake we see."

"What?" My groggy voice spoke as I slowly pushed myself up to a sit. Christine visibly shivered at the lost contact so I wrapped my arms around her and gently pulled her into my chest.

"Nothing... yet anyway." Ignoring the boys, I sat back on the couch and let my head fall into Christine's hair as she cuddled into me.

"So we put William to bed." My son's name came up as I looked over with a loud yawn.

"Will?"

"Yeah," slowly identifying the two figures as Harry and Liam, Harry spoke up, "he fell asleep in the car."

"Good, good..." I mumbled hearing Christine groan and watched her eyes hesitantly flutter open.

"So..."

"Hmm?" I hummed.

"Niall..." Christine whispered slowly looking up at me. She smiled tiredly and yawned herself.

"Yeah?" I muttered as she put her head back against my chest.

"Sleep." She mumbled relaxing again as I lightly laughed and stood. She whined tightening her grip around me as I carried her back to her room; just the boys a nod to say I'll be back.

Gently placing her down on the bed, I pulled the blankets over her and watched her snuggle in. My hand ran through her hair and I smiled as she weakly opened her eyes to look at me.

A faint smile caressed her lips as I just stared at them. Ideas began to float around in my head and I found myself leaning down. Her eyes closed again and I grunted pausing.

What the hell was I doing? Fuck, stop looking at her like that Niall! Deciding to give a kiss to the forehead, I quickly got up and closed the bedroom door.

"Somebody has a crush huh?" I jumped back and looked over to see Harry smiling cheekily at me.

"Pfft, no way." I waved off as she rolled his eyes, obviously not convinced.

"Well people don't cuddle and sleep with other people just for the fun of it."

"I do." I shrugged as Harry pushed me from behind.

"Deny it all you want Niall but you and I both know the truth." Ignoring my friend, I gave an acknowledging smile and made my way into William's room to see him tucked into his cot. I couldn't help but admire my boy and his sleeping frame.

"I love you." I muttered without thinking and stroked William's head gently.

• • •

"Say ah." I said to William while holding a spoonful of baby food up to his mouth. William copied what I did and I gave him his dinner by another spoonful.

Christine sat the opposite of us, smiling subtly behind her hand as she watched William. I'd glance at her every now and then, not finding myself to know the answer why.

"Ah." I said again though William giggled clapping his hands. "No buddy, time to eat." He pouted and looked over at Christine who chuckled and stood with her empty plate.

"I'll be back." She whispered leaving the room as I let my gaze follow her.

"Daddy!' William pulled my attention to him as be patted his hands on the table.

"Ok!" I laughed and helped him finished his dinner.

"Hey Niall," Christine came back with a grin she was trying to suppress. What was that girl up to? "would I be able to cook something later?" My eyebrow arched.

"Depends on what you want to cook." She shrugged and crossed her arms bending over the table.

"It's a surprise." She whispered shrugging and stood up. I was intrigued.

"Tell me." I pressed as she shook her head and came over to William. "Christine-"

"It won't be much of a surprise if I tell now will it?"

"That's exactly the point." I leant on my forearms.

"Ok, I'll take that as a no then." The smirk on her face knew I was interested. What did she wanted to cook? I needed to know.

"Alright, alright." I gave in defeated. "But don't burn my house down."

"Promise." Taking William, she kissed his forehead before cringing. "Phew! Somebody needs a diaper change."

Christine gave me a short smile, I picked up the dirty plates and once again watched as she carried William into his room.

A soft smile took on my features as I put the plates into the dishwasher.

I didn't mind Christine. I guess... I quite liked her.