parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

heading home

"daddy, we're not allowed to go home," flynn tells liam as he watches his daddy pack up the last of their things in the hotel room.

"oh, is that right, ducky? why is that?" liam asks asks as he zips the last suitcase shut.

"'cause. we have to live here now," flynn explains, making his way over to liam after he's finished zipping the case, and he rests his chin on liam's shoulder.

"live here, huh? that really would be fun, wouldn't it?" liam asks. he scoops flynn up onto his hip and grabs the suitcase with his free hand. "well...if we lived here what about padfoot and moony, huh? i think they'd really miss you."

flynn juts out his lower lip. "that's true...we couldn't leave the puppies. that would be mean!"

"yeah, it sure would," liam chuckles. "ni, you all set?"

"yep," niall calls, hoisting teddy onto his hip and holding onto zinnia's stroller with his free hand. 

"we could bring the puppies back and live here," flynn interrupts.

liam shakes his head, chuckling. "how about we just plan to come back, ducky? i don't think the dogs would have too much fun here, huh?"

"i guess that would be okay," flynn nods after giving it some thought, and liam just fondly shakes his head.

- - -

"i'm sleeping on your floor," zayn tells liam. they've made it home many, many hours later, and the entire family is weak with exhaustion. "i do not trust myself to drive home without falling asleep."

liam just shakes his head. "take the guest room, zee. you know you're more than welcome."

"sleepover?" elise manages to ask despite her exhaustion. 

"yeah, i suppose it is a bit of a sleepover, huh?" harry smiles at her. "come on, stinker, let's get you into bed." he scoops her up and zayn grabs lydia and they make their way inside.

"daddy?" flynn croaks when liam gently tries to scoop him out of the car without waking him.

"shhh, sweetheart. just carrying you up to bed," liam whispers, grabbing teddy with his other arm. teddy immediately nestles his cheek against liam's neck and sticks his thumb in his mouth.

"sleepy," flynn yawns.

"go back to sleep, baby, we're home now."  liam carries the boys into the house as niall grabs zinnia, and liam can hear him shushing her as he tries to soothe her back into sleep. when liam puts teddy into his bed, he immediately starfishes across the mattress, snoring softly.

"snuggle," flynn whispers when liam sets him down, and liam is suprised that the super sleepy boy is still awake, but he lays in the bed beside his son, rubbing his back. "you're safe, bug. why don't you close those sleepy eyes for me, huh?"

flynn just lets out a quiet yawn. "love you so much, daddy."

"aw, ducky. i love you so much, sweet boy. so much," liam coos, and the sweet boy shuts his eyes with a tiny smile on his face.

- - -

when liam wakes up the next morning, both the bed and zinnia's crib are empty. he sits up slowly, rubbing his eyes, surprised to see that it's nearing 10am. it's rare for him to sleep in so late and even rarer for niall to be out of bed before him, but he supposes he was exhausted from the travel.

"hi, daddy," teddy beams from where he's sitting on the floor watching paw patrol, and he runs over to hug his father's leg. "g'morning!"

liam can't help but laugh, and then scoop up his youngest son and kiss his little face. "good morning, cub. where's your papa?"

"making coffee with uncle h. can we go back to florida now?"

liam laughs again. teddy always seems to have him laughing. "no, bug, not yet. we just got home! don't you wanna have a few days to lay around in your pjs before it's time to go back!?"

teddy pouts. "i guess," he frowns, but he doesn't sound like he means it.

liam kisses his nose. "don't pout, kiddo. we'll go back soon, i promise."

teddy hugs him around the neck for a good minute, and then wiggles to be put down so he can keep watching his show. when liam makes his way into the kitchen, niall and harry are standing at the counter sipping coffee, flynn wrapped around one of niall's legs.

"hi, daddy!" flynn cheers, interrupting niall's conversation with harry.

"hi, little koala bear," liam chuckles, sitting at the table across from zayn. "hey. where are e and lyd?"

"still asleep," zayn yawns, glancing at his watch. "i should get them up in a bit, probably, but i'm enjoying the silence, honestly."

liam laughs. "yeah, i know what you mean. i can't believe i got to sleep in so late today."

"i'm hungry," flynn's voice calls out. "can i have yogurt?"

niall fishes a yogurt out of the fridge, and flynn runs over and climbs into liam's lap to eat it. 

"uncle zee," flynn says, mouth full of yogurt.

"swallow first, please," zayn instructs, and waits until the boy does so to respond. "what's up, kiddo?"

"can i dress up as you for halloween?"

the question startles liam so much he snorts out a laugh, but zayn's expression goes very soft. "sure, kiddo, i think you'd make a great mini-me."

"i'm already a mini you! we share a name!" flynn beams, waving his spoon around excitedly.

"that we do," zayn grins back. his eyes meet liam's and he looks so incredibly fond, and despite himself, liam reaches over and squeezes zayn's hand. "that's right, halloween is coming up, huh?"

"that's right," liam nods. "i suppose we'll have to think of costumes, huh?"

"yay!" flynn cheers, and delightedly finishes off his yogurt.

- - -

a/n: what should everyone be for halloween! i'm taking suggestions!

comment here for what liam & niall should be!

here for zayn & harry!

here for teddy!

here for elise!

here for zinnia & lydia!

if i get no suggestions i'm gonna make some pop culture references but i thought it would be fun if you guys helped choose!!