New World [Gay Chandler Riggs/1D fusion fanfic]

Chapter 31

Louis POV

I sat between Chandler and Aurora in the Phoenix high above the ground, high enough that the Phoenix would have plenty of time to react if they tried to use any weapons. According to Aapeli, Chandler and Cole's friend, they seemed to only have rocket launchers which thankfully moved relatively slowly according to Ana and the only reasons that they were able to shoot down the other Pheonix was because they weren't expecting rocket launchers and it was close range.

The four gunships were slowly circling above the navy base where apparently Jordan and Cole were taken; we were trying to look for any obvious weaknesses in their defenses as well as waiting for the three tanks to show up.

"Mr. Tomlinson don't be worried I'm sure they're fine, Jordan and Cole are tough!" Aapeli said cheerfully. I tried to smile but it was hard since I still remembered Cole as a little lad being scared by a baby goat.

-

"Ana stop squirming" Harry said, trying to wrestle a four year old Ana into the cute little pink dress that was on her small bed. She was already wearing the shorts that would be underneath her dress through since Ana would try would take off her dress throughout the day. Cole sat on my lap as we watched this daily struggle happen; Cole was already fully dressed and calm as a cucumber, or whatever the American saying was.

"Thank you Ana for cooperating, more or less" Harry said as he quickly put Ana's hair in pigtails to keep it out of her face. Today was the kid's first time at the zoo; we were celebrating Harry finally getting his medical license and his new job at an urgent care on Monday.

We quickly loaded the kids into the range rover and drove to the LA zoo; both Cole and Ana spoke the entire way there, trying to make plans; they both had very different ideas of fun and it was funny to hear how different our twins actually were. Ana wanted to see the lions and tigers and all of the big animals, Cole wanted to see the monkeys and birds and the smaller animals.

We arrived at the zoo and we gave our little ones tiny hats to keep the sun from their eyes; Cole outstretched his arms and Harry placed our son on his shoulders, Cole's favorite spot. Because Harry was taller than I was, Cole liked Harry's shoulders more than mine; Cole was a total cuddle bug, a trait he got from Harry while I kept Ana in a tight grip as she tried to run ahead.

Truth be told we didn't know where she got her stubborn, independent streak from; Harry and I have actually sat down and discussed getting one of those harness and tethers for Ana but I was against the idea, she was a child not a dog, it would have made life easier though I had to admit.

We spend the day at the zoo, it was actually a lot of fun; seeing my kids happy always brought a smile to my face. Harry nudged me with his elbow and nodded toward a petting zoo, specifically for kids 3-8. Baby goats, ponies, calves and even little llamas wandered around inside seemingly ignoring the children that tried to touch them.

I squatted down in front of Ana who was trying to eat a popsicle, but judging by her stained mouth and cheeks, it seemed more went around her mouth than inside; Cole wasn't doing much better with his own popsicle. "Do you guys wanna go pet some animals?" I asked, pointing "Can we take one home?" Ana asked. Harry chuckled "No, sorry but let's get you clean up so you can go touch them".

After we cleaned up our babies we went inside the pen where the animals were corralled; I squatted inside, Cole was pressing his back into my chest as Harry was keeping a close eye on Ana to make sure she wasn't pulling tails or anything. "Cole go pet one" I said, placing a hand on his back and gently pushing him forward; he whined a protest and slinked back into my chest.

"Cole look" I said, extending my hand and brushing it against a calf that walked by "See they're nice". Cole, very cautiously, walked toward a goat who was licking it's shoulder off to the side; he slowly extended his little hand and a few inches before he actually touched the goat, the goat turned around and bleated, baa'd, directly at him.

Cole ran back to me, scared, tears streaming down his face; he buried his face into my chest and I picked him up and walked out of the little petting zoo.

-

I knew Cole was eighteen and he wasn't a little lad anymore but I couldn't help that the memory all I could think about. Cole wasn't a strong or tough guy, I knew it, he used to get picked on in school and he wouldn't even defend himself because of his gentle soul; how could he handle being a prisoner?

I had to keep calm, Chandler looked ready to jump out of the Phoenix and take on all of the guys with just his knife, Aurora just looked annoyed like we ruined her entire day and Aapeli just kept his cheerful smile; I wasn't sure if the lad was just trying to remain positive or if he we wasn't fully there.

I got snapped out of my thoughts as I heard my daughter say "Alright the tanks are in position, all birds prepare your landing parties". The Phoenixes all went to a Wal-Store parking lot that was big enough that all four could land there; within two minutes the Phoenix's took to the sky again as the attack parties disembarked. Chandler shouldered his crossbow and took the rifle that was offered instead; he looked so angry and he hasn't said a word this entire time.

"Alright remember, use the tanks as cover; watch your back though, the noise is going to draw biters from all around" Ana said as we all jogged back toward the base. We all huddled behind the tanks as Ana said "Fire" into her walkie talkie. A loud boom sounded out and suddenly the concrete wall the surrounded the base was merely dust. "Move out" Ana said and the tanks slowly rolled forward.