parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

liam's birthday

a/n: kadiebmore this chapter is for you since you've not been doing so well lately! i hope you enjoy it, dear, and if there's anything you'd like me to change or add, please let me know!

"dada!" zinnia squeals, putting her tiny, chubby hands on liam's cheeks.

liam manages a tired groan. "hi, baby," he says in a sleepy voice.

she pats her hands on his face. "da!"

"i'm up, cutie pie." he sits up, raining kisses on her fat little cheeks. she squeals with delight.

zinnia claps her hands, not totally understanding what liam is saying, but understanding his happy tone of voice.

"silly girl," he chuckles, kissing her head. her hair has grown in dark and soft, curling into little ringlets.

"hi, daddy! happy birthday!" teddy calls, bounding into the room. "zinnia!"

"t'ddy!" squeals zinnia. teddy's smile grows, and he bounds forward to kiss her little face.

"papa says you gotta get up," teddy tells liam.

"did he, now?" liam smiles. "i think i need a hug first, cub."

teddy scrambles into the bed, careful not to jostle zinnia too much, and throws his arms around liam's neck. "there's cake, daddy."

"there is!? well, we'd better get downstairs quick!"

"yay! cake for breakfast!" teddy shouts, scrambling down the stairs. liam laughs, following after him, zinnia on his hip.

"papa!" zinnia shrieks when she sees niall, and starts squrming on liam's hip, reaching for him. "papapapa!"

"someone wants you," liam smiles at his husband.

"baby! happy birthday!" niall cheers, taking zinnia out of his arms and leaning in to kiss his husband. he means to make the kiss chaste, but liam deepens it quickly, smiling against niall's lips.

"thank you, sweetheart," he says, meaning it. his heart feels like it's gonna explode. "what's for breakfast?"

"cake!?" flynn and teddy shriek in unison, staring at niall with hope.

"no way," niall laughs, and both boys pout. "we're having a birthday breakfast surprise for your daddy, sillies, and i'm pretty sure daddy doesn't want cake for breakfast."

"he does, too!" teddy whines. "right, daddy?"

"no way, kiddo," liam replies, even though he kind of does want cake for breakfast, now that he thinks about it.

niall rolls his eyes, knowing his husband. he's about to respond, probably snarkily, when the doorbell rings.

"who's here?" flynn asks, following liam to the door.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" zayn bellows when liam opens the door, and liam rolls his eyes so far back he can practically see his brain.

"why are you like this?" he asks his best friend.

"you love me," he replies.

"happy biwfday!" elise giggles, opening her arms for liam. he takes her, kisses her little nose.

"thank you very much, jelly bean!" he smiles, and she hugs her uncle hard. he sets her down when she starts to wiggle, and she runs off to play with flynn and teddy. harry hugs liam for a long time, apologizing for his huge pregnant belly getting in the way. liam runs an affectionate hand through harry's hair, and he makes his way into the kitchen with a grocery bag.