JAAN :: ZAYN

the papers

•zayn•

Chiara was feeling better after Zayn told Mecca what happened. Her blood pressure was now controlled thanks to the medicine and she had more energy now than ever.

Mecca was taking everything smoothly after Zayn talked to her, but he knew she still felt guilty for everything. She thought something was wrong with her and no matter how many times Zayn said it wasn't her fault she didn't believe him.

And now she just moped around the house, none of her usual dimpled smile or squinted eyes when she laughed or giggled. She just sat and...ate and slept.

"Mecca, are you hungry?"

"Nah," she replied in monotone, sitting beside Chi on the couch, "I'm okay."

"Sure?"

"Mhm," she nodded, looking at him, "where you going?"

"I gotta go to work, babe," Zayn bent down to tie his shoe, "I'll be back, okay?"

"Okay," she hopped down and stood beside him, "what do you do?"

"Tattoos."

"Artsy," she smiled and kissed his cheek, "bye bye. I'll take care of your girly friend."

Zayn kissed her back, picking her up and setting her beside Chi again. "Thank you, bug. Have fun, yeah?"

"I'll see you later," Chi said, he bent down and kissed her lips. She hugged him briefly and he kissed her tummy.

"Short shift today, babe. I'll be back at two."

•zayn•

"Back again?"

Roderick grinned, shaking Zayn's hand and following him to the back room. "Gotta come back to my best artist."

"Right, right. How are the kids?"

"Great, man. Great, kids are crazy still, cute little things. Your girl have the baby yet?"

"Nah, not yet. Close, though," Zayn bit his lip, "actually, can I talk to you?"

Roderick nodded. "Yeah, man. But, you know I love my bike. Can you draw one up for me?"

"Sure, sure," Zayn got out paper and a pencil, "so, I know I just...okay. My girl works at a daycare, right? So there's this kid, Mecca, and we found out her parents abandoned her just a yesterday."

"What?" he said in a shocked voice, "how could--"

"I don't know, man. They went on vacation and ditched her. Anyway, I've...I've been thinking about taking her in. Like, as my own."

"Wow," Roderick stared at Zayn, nothing but shock etched onto his face, "so, you're ready to do all of this?"

"Not exactly," Zayn finished drawing his bike, memorizing it as he finished because Roderick was now one of his best clients, "I didn't prepare to take two children in. But Mecca is way too precious to just give to someone. And her name...man."

"Mecca."

"Means so much and she has no idea. She's worth more than what I could give her. But I'd try."

"And that's all you can do, Zayn. As a parent, it's quality over quantity. You can't give your child all they want and deserve but they'll cherish you more than anything if they see effort. That little girl probably already loves you and you have no idea."

"Really?" Zayn asked hopefully, biting his lip, "I didn't think about it like that."

"It's possible. She sounds way too sweet to not love someone like you."