Mixed Direction

Chapter Fifty: Live and Let Live

{Perrie's POV}

I don't ever think that things are going to be excellent. There are moments that are brilliant, but nothing is ever excellent. You learn that anything amazing that ever happened didn't come easy. Scientists didn't get things correct from the get-go. You learn that the good comes with the bad, and you've got to take each day as it comes, put one foot in front of the other... get though the day... be prepared for tomorrow.

{Liam's POV}

The hum of the car cuts off abruptly and I pull the key out of the ignition. Danielle and I both get out of the car and meet back up on the footpath, our hands gripping each other's as we walk with a slightly upped pace towards the school gates, aware that the end of the day for our daughter is within the next couple of minutes.                               

The sun is high in the sky, although it's also trying to break through the clouds that are gathering. There's a crisp breeze and Danielle's hair keeps hitting me in the face, causing her light laughter, which makes me laugh too. 

"How cute," Perrie teases as we stop next to her. Rosie is standing behind Perrie's legs, looking through the gap that her stance has made, as Lillie stands in front, looking right back at her twin as the two of them talk about whatever they're blabbering away about. 

"How are you today?" I ask Perrie, my voice tinged with laughter still.

"Good thanks. You two?" Perrie motions in reply at Danielle and myself.

"All good!" Dani grins and I nod in agreement. Dani continues the conversation and before we know it there are floods of children running everywhere, lunging into their parents arms and showing them whatever they have done at school that day. 

Zuri's hazel eyes are looking straight at me as soon as she appears, and immediately a giant grin appears on her face, her legs starting to move faster towards me. I'll never get used to it though. Seeing my daughter running towards me, her smile bright, determination written over her face, solely wanting to be in my arms. Sounds ridiculous, but it's one of the best feelings. 

"Daddy!" Zuri cheers as I envelope her in my arms. 

"Hey Zure, how are you baby? How was your day?" 

"I'm good and today was good too," Zuri replies, stepping back out of my embrace and handing me a sheet of butcher's paper. I observe the painting of what I think is a pig.... but I cannot be too sure. 

"Hey Uncle LiLi," Ellie smiles, appearing next to Zuri. 

"Hey Ellie," I ruffle the top of her head. "How are you cheeky?"

"Good thanks," Ellie smiles once more, the grin on her face a replica of her father's.

"What did you draw?" I ask, motioning towards her sheet of butcher's paper. 

With a crumpling noise, the piece of paper in in my hands and I'm looking down at a, very well done, drawing of two girls holding hands. One is slightly taller, with light brown hair and a yellow dress. Next to her is a curly brown haired girl. They both have big smiles on their faces. 

As I look up I'm met with the exact same sight before me. Ellie and Zuri holding hands with bright smiles on their faces. Ellie's brown hair frizzy and everywhere, and Zuri's light brown hair still braided and neat. But both of them as adorable and gorgeous as ever. Nothing that I ever could have imagined. 

Painted above the girls in Ellie's partially neat handwriting are their names. Ellie and Zuri. 

"That's an awesome picture Ellie, really beautiful," I nod, still looking at it, stupidly feeling more emotions running through me than the carriages of a freight train on the track.