Random: (Zayn Malik fanfic)

Epilogue

"How're you feeling?" Zayn asked, sitting down on the couch next to me. He handed me the cup of tea and I took a sip of the warm liquid.

"Better. This damned cold has gotten me beat! Good thing it won't spread to anyone else," I said with a crooked smile.

"At least that's all you have!" Zayn poked my nose. "I need to make sure my throat isn't scratchy by next week, or else I'm a bit of a mess."

"No shit, pop star." I stuck out my tongue. Zayn reached up and held onto my chin, wiggling my head back and forth.

"You're the one with the audition in three days! You better get practicing! Oh, wait, you can't!" Zayn poked more fun at me, while literally poking me.

"Oh, shut up." 

Zayn hopped up at the sound of the door buzzer. I turned around on the couch to peek over the edge, waiting for the little toddler to come running through the doorway. I saw his little head peek out from behind Tracy's legs and I ducked down. I'd peek back up and he'd look out from behind her legs.

"C'mon in!" Zayn gestured for the small family to come in. Kris and Tracy walked in hand-in-hand, making me smile. "Hey, buddy!" Zayn lifted Jared up off the ground and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. The 4-year-old wiped the kiss off and wiggled to get down.

"Jared!" I called out. He came running towards the couch, right into my arms.

"Ray!" He said with a cheery reflection in his voice. "Mumma got me toys!" 

"Let me see 'em!" Jared then ran off towards the bag that Kris sat down next to the doorway. I stood up and brushed off my pants. "Hello, friends."

Tracy chuckled. "Hello, friend." I gave her a hug then Kris his own. "How's the happy couple?"

"Fantastic," Zayn said from behind me. He placed his hand on my back and rubbed his thumb over my spine. "How're you?"

"Perfect," Tracy said with a grin. Kris nodded and looked over to Jared. 

You could see the light in each of their eyes whenever they looked at Jared. They were grinning always. Jared had that affect on a room. The way Jade did. 

We always think of Jade, but I'm no longer dwelling on the fact that I didn't protect her. Of course I miss her still. I miss her more and more each day, but it's not sending me into depression anymore. I got the help I needed. Zayn saved me.

"How's the cold, Ray?" Kris asked.

"It's getting better!" I said with a smile. "You guys want anything before we sit on the porch?"

"I'll take a beer, babe," Zayn said, putting his hand up a bit. "Another one for Kris, too."

Kris and Zayn are finally on good terms. They're actually like best friends. It's great since Kris is still with the ad agency and now are sponsoring One Direction's tour. They're not only friends, but co-workers. Something Zayn's manager is very happy about.

"How's the ending tour? What're the fellas gonna do?" Kris asked as they waited for the beer. 

"Well, we're planning one more. Louis and Liam have plans for after the final one. Harry is planning on recording something with someone, not really sure. And Niall is just going back to Ireland or sticking around here," Zayn explained.

"So there won't be any more One Direction after next year?" Tracy asked. 

I smiled as Zayn just chuckled. "One Direction won't ever die. We're just growing up. It was about time."

Eventually, we were all sitting on the porch, laughing as Jared ran through the sprinkler. Zayn and I quit smoking together, helping each other with that journey. Tracy couldn't be more happy that I have quit, along with Kris.