Zalfie Oneshots

Sisters... Well, Pretty Much

Poppy's POV

I swung the car door shut and locked it, rolling my eyes as I turned and saw Sean was already running through the front door, my idiot brother beaming at him from inside.

Tucking my keys in my bag I walked up to the wooden front door of Zoe and Alfie's home and walked inside, taking off my shoes and jacket, setting down my bag and wondering into the living room. There I found Zoe channel surfing, but she instantly stopped and jumped to her feet when she saw me, wrapping me in a hug and greeting me with a warm "How are you?"

We settled down on the couch and got comfy, catching up on the basic 'what have you been up tos' and 'what are you doing this weeks', and we were just getting into a juicy conversation about Kim Kardashian's latest Twitter feud when the sound of fast approaching footsteps interrupted us.

"Zo, Pop, we're going!" Alfie called out as he bounded into the room, something I'd expect more from Nala than my 23 year old brother. I rolled my eyes at his childishness and looked over at Zoe expecting to see the same, but she was grinning up at Alfie like he was a barrel full of free sausage rolls.

"Okay gorgeous, have fun." Alfie grinned at her and lent towards her, kissing her gently.

"I'm sure we will, I can't wait! I'll send you pictures and we'll use the GoPros and show you all the footage!"
That boy was way too excited.

Zoe laughed and pecked Alfie's lips again "Can't wait to see them all. Bye!"

Just then I felt a quick kiss on the top of my head, and a hurried Sean called goodbye as the two childr- ... I mean men... made their way out of the house, chatting away like primary school kids on the way to the canteen hall. Elbowing one another, giggling and tripping over they were trying to walk so fast.

"Who would have thought the prospect of sitting in a plastic boat in a freezing cold river could excite two people so much." I said dryly, looking back to Zoe as the front door closed.

Zoe shook her head and laughed, smiling softly and leaning her head to one side in a dreamy way. "The same two grown up people who's inflatable kayaks are only one of their favourite toys" she replied, catching on to my sarcastic tone. "They have fun though, I'm just glad they don't try to drag us along!" She laughed. I joined in her laughed, finding the idea of the two of us in inflatable kayaks more than hilarious.

Zoe stood up and began walking to the kitchen "Want a drink?" she called out on her way.

"Umm, yeah please" I got up and followed her, leaning my back against the counter as she began making us both tea.

I looked around me at the house my brother and his girlfriend had created, made their own. I watched the young woman in front of me flutter from cupboard to fridge to cupboard to counter, humming a merry little tune and smiling as she caught a glimpse of the picture of herself and Alfie on the corner of the counter.

"You really love him." I stated. It was supposed to be more of an internal thought, a inward little smile I commented to myself, but as soon as I'd said it and Zoe's humming stopped, he confused face turning to stare at mine I realised I'd put it out in the open.

"Huh?" Zoe frowned, turning towards me and handing me my cup of tea.

"Thanks" I took the mug and blew on it for a second, trying to work out what I was going to say.

"I just mean, you're serious about Alfie aren't you?" I spoke softly, smiling gently into my mug.

The shy little smile that appeared on Zoe's face said it all. She bowed her head a little bit and dropped her gaze. "Yeah, I am. I love him." She said softly.

"And he loves you, God, I've never seen him so giddy!" I chuckled.

Zoe smiled at me, then sipped her tea.

"We've never actually spoke about you and Alfie as a couple you know. Is this weird?" I asked, watching Zoe carefully.

She shook her head. "No, I don't think it's weird. Most of the time I think of you as my friend and Alfie as my boyfriend as two separate things, but you're his sister, and that's even better." Zoe laughed.

I smiled at her, "Means you're stuck with me for life!"

She smirked a little bit and raise an eyebrow at me.

"Oh come on! You two are 100% going to get married" I insisted.

Zoe broke into a giddy smile, shrugging shyly "I hope so."

"I hope so too. I've always wanted a sister." I smiled.

Zoe turned to me and smiled widely, "You already are my 'pretty much sister'."

- - -

We were back in the living room. It had been a few hours now, the boys had texted to say they were heading home and picking up dinner on the way.

"Oh, he definitely felt that the next morning!" I exclaimed to Zoe, the both of us in stitches of laughter. "He kept whining to Mum about his 'little pain' but every time Mum came near him with the 'magic cream' he'd scream and shut himself in the playhouse at the end of the garden!" Tears were streaming down our faces.

"Oh my god!" Zoe sucked in a breath and wiped her tears, the both of us finally settling down a bit from one of my earliest memories of Alfie.

"I can't wait for the wedding speech you're going to whip up" Zoe laughed.

"Oh there's special reserved stories I've got locked up until that day comes, then their all coming out" I warned her with a sarcastic wink, making us both laugh.

"I know I'm not the soppy type" I sighed, "but I do have something to say". Zoe tilted her head slightly and faced me, interested in what I was about to say that was so out of character for me.

"I'm glad he chose you. I'm so so glad. Of course I'm glad because I found an amazing friend come sister in you" I smiled, "but mostly I'm glad because every time I see Alf he's smiling and he's so incredibly happy, and I know at least 90% of that is because of you. And yes he gets on my nerves most of the time and a few times in his life I've plotted his death, but I do love my baby brother, and I feel incredibly pleased he had you." I shrugged, embarrassed at my own words. I laughed it off and looked over at Zoe, who was already running towards me to give me a huge hug.

"You're family to me Pop, because you're Alfie's family, and that big hairy idiot is my forever."

I hugged Zoe back. "You two have an amazing relationship."

"WE'RE BACK!!"

Food was served.

We settled down in the living room and spoke about the boys adventures, laughing at the footage of their shaky start and loving every second of how cocky they got when they finally got the hang of it.

As the darkness began to settle, and the TV was turned to movies once again, from my spot on the floor, Sean's arm wrapped around my shoulder, I looked over at Zoe and Alfie.

With their bodies pressed together as they lie on the sofa, her forehead pressed to his lips, her head on his shoulder, their hands, their legs intertwined, I caught Zoe's eye.

She smiled at me and mouthed two words.

"I know."