Baby "Jayn"

"Don't be mean"

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 151
[Louis]

The moment they arrived home, Zayn curled up in a ball on the couch. Louis knew the boy was feeling sick again, he just didn't know what he was feeling. Zayn refused to speak on the way back, still mad at them for not buying ice cream. His tantrum in the grocery store was totally uncalled for, and Louis couldn't believe threatening to leave him didn't even work. Wasn't that how you dealt with stubborn kids? By being stubborn yourself? Nonetheless, the kid was upset with them now, and he wasn't budging, no matter how much he and Niall tried to coax him.

Niall stroked Zayn's head, tickling behind his ear. "I thought we'd be having fun and you're being mad at me?"

Zayn lifted his face, looking at Niall with a pouty look, his eyebrows furrowed. Now that he had raised his head, Louis quickly checked the boy's forehead. Just as he'd expected, he was burning up. "Zayn, you're burning a fever."

Zayn ignored him and buried his face in the couch pillows again. He'd kicked Doris' boots off along with his beanie and gloves, but he was still wearing his jacket. Louis wondered if he was cold. "Zayn, we can't help you if you don't tell us where you're hurting. Is it your stomach or your head?"

Charlotte walked in the room with chattering teeth and started a flame in the hearth. Everyone else followed behind her, Doris stumbling over to Louis tiredly. "Loueh, wead stowy."

Louis smiled half-heartedly. "Why don't you get ready for bed, huh? I'll be right there once Zayn eats something."

Zayn lifted his head with a defiant look, shaking his head furiously. Louis tried not to groan in frustration. Doris patted Zayn's back. "Nighty, Zayn."

Zayn didnt reply and Doris turned to Ernest, who was sitting on the carpet, blinking blearily. "He's angwy," she informed her brother.

Ernest didn't reply, his nose scrunching as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. Johannah walked in the room with a shake of the head. "Come on, lovelies, let's get you to bed. Felicite, get them ready for bed."

Felicite nodded, standing up from the couch and lifting Ernest in her arms. She kissed his nose, though he was too tried to respond. Louis smiled fondly, waving a hand in good night. Doris followed Daisy, who walked over to help Felicite get the twins to bed. Louis turned his focus back to his own kid, shaking his head at Zayn's stubbornness. Being soft wasn't helping, comfort wasn't helping, promises weren't helping and even bribery wasn't helping! He exchanged a hopeless look with Niall, both of them never having experienced such a tantrum-sick-stubborn Zayn.

Johannah glanced at Zayn, as if just noticing his curled up state. "Everything okay, Zayn?" She asked softly, and Zayn lifted his head up, shaking it.

"You haven't had a thing to eat. A little food in your system will be good," Louis said gently, stroking Zayn's back. "And then we can talk to Harry and Liam on Skype." He looked up at Niall and noticed the smile Niall was giving him.

Zayn lifted his head, eyes a little wide. And then he opened his mouth to speak. "I gonna tell Hawwy...and Liam you...and Niall be...mean to me," he said, taking pauses between each word, sounding as if talking demanded energy. Johanna's lip curled in sympathy and she bent down to the boy. "Is this because Niall and Louis wouldn't give you any ice cream?"

Zayn nodded, glaring at the boys. Louis glared back, annoyed. "You're being a brat, Zayn. It's just ice cream, we'll get you some when you get better."

Zayn blinked quickly and shook his head, lips pressing together as if he was going to cry. Louis looked away, crossing his arms. Out of the corner of his eyes, he watched as his mother coaxed Zayn, squeezing his shoulder.