Talking To The Moon [z.m.]

41: This Bird Is Baked

Faith's POV

I thought my eyes were deceiving me, making me picture something in my head that wasn't real.

I was trying to understand, trying to figure out if the little boy running to me was a figure of my imagination. Maybe I had gone crazy, maybe I had passed the point of no reality. Maybe this wasn't real.

But he kept running towards me, a huge grin formed on his mouth and tears running down his face. His arms were extended, as if he was ready to hug me. And soon enough, they wrapped around my legs when he reached me. I felt it. His arms tightening around me as if never wanting to let go.

"Mummy," He whimpers.

I gasp, tears already formed in my eyes.

"A-Alex."

I drop to the floor, engulfing his body in my arms and never letting go. I cry into his shoulder, feeling every emotion I've felt for the past couple of weeks flood out of me all at once. Agony, pain, terror. The idea of not knowing whether he'd be back. They were quickly replaced with relief, happiness, and joy. My baby was back. Alex was home.

I sniff, tightening my arms around him so no one can try to separate us from each other ever again. I feel around his body and notice how much skinnier he's gotten. He was thirty-eight pounds last time I've weighed him and now it felt like he lost at least ten. Has he not been eating this whole time? Did he get fed while he'd been away? Who was taking care of him?

"I missed you, Mummy."

I let out a breath of air, smiling at the words but feeling my heart tighten in pain against my chest. "I missed you too, my love. So, so much."

Arms wrap around us. I turn my head and see Zayn's face inches from mine, his arms tightened around me and our son. Tears flow down his eyes at the sight of us and I know that he too is relieved we found Alex. It wasn't easy for Zayn either. Alex was a piece of him, he was also his everything. And now we were both whole again.

"Daddy."

Zayn laughs, and I move back so he can hug Alex. He takes him quickly in his arms, raising him so he's against his chest and holds Alex from behind his knee and has an arm around his back. Alex's arms wrap around his dad's neck while Zayn cries with his chin resting on Alex's shoulder. "My boy. I've missed you so much."

I sniff as I watch them interact. Zayn plants kisses all over him and Alex giggles, pulling Zayn closer. I was reminded yet again that nothing was better than to watch my family be together. My heart was slowly beginning to heal.

"You don't have to miss me anymore, Daddy. I'm here."

"Yeah," Zayn grins, sniffing. "Yeah you are." He runs his hand through Alex's black hair. It's grown so much. "And Mum and I will never leave you out of our sight ever again. We promise."

Zayn and I make eye contact and I nod, crying once again. We've been through hell and we swore to each other we would never let anything come between our family ever again.

I look around and notice that all of our friends have gathered around us, watching us reunite. I see everyone grinning from ear to ear, and when I catch Jake with the same look, I can't help but stand up and run into his arms, wrapping mine around his waist.

"Thank you so much," I cry. "I can never thank you enough for what you've done for us. Without you, we wouldn't have found him soon enough. Thank you, Jake."

I feel his hand rub my arm, making me feel comfort. It had been years since I've been able to hug him. The betrayal and lies I've felt because of him had been the cause of why I couldn't even look at him anymore. But today he proved to me that I had been right in trusting him. He promised me he'd help find my son and he kept through with his promise without giving up. He had also been a rock and I didn't know that until now. It was like my brother was back. Like I had one again.