without you « niam

sixteen: after

Niall probably broke thirty different laws trying to get back to Keegan. He didn't quite understand why he was so anxious to get his boy, but he was. Niall tried not to question his thoughts too much.

Louis, Harry, and Keegan were out playing in the front yard when Niall pulled into the driveway. "Da!" Keegan screeched, running toward Niall's door before he was even out of it.

"Hey, bub!" Niall greeted his running boy with open arms. Keegan ran right into them and began furiously kissing his face. "Did you miss me this much, babe? You normally don't miss me that much when you go to Gran's."

"Missed you, Da," Keegan confirmed. "But I had fun. Haz and Lou Lou are fun!"

"I bet they are, love. Do you wanna go inside and get your stuff? I think I'll stay out here and talk to Haz and Lou Lou." Keegan nodded and climbed out of Niall's arms, giving him one more open-mouthed kiss before running inside.

"How did your date go?" Louis grinned mischivously at Niall.

"Did I even tell you where I was going?" Niall asked, a bit disturbed. Harry looked at the ground sheepishly.

"Er, no," Harry spoke up from beside Louis. "You didn't. But Liam came screeching into our flat the other day-one of the only times he has even been in, may I add-saying that he was going on a date with you. We were a bit curious as to who you would call if you needed a babysitter for Keegan."

"I wouldn't have called Karen," Niall saidly grimly. "He just saw her the other week, and I hate the disapproving looks she gives me. My mum still lives in Ireland, so we don't see her until Christmas. The only other people I had to choose from were you guys." He shrugged.

"I'm going to pretend like that was a compliment, mate," Louis patted his shoulder. "But in all seriousness, did it go well?"

Niall took a deep breath to calm himself. "I decided that I would give him another chance. But I also told him straight up that I was hiding something quite big from him, and that I wanted to know I could trust him fully before I told him. I just want to know he'll be there for Keegan. Nothing like giving up the band; no, Li couldn't ask him to do that. I just want Keegan to know his other father."

"I think you made a good decision, Niall." They all watched as Keegan fumbled out of the house, his large bag in one hand and Teddy in the other. Harry spoke again. "I would have prefered you tell him then, but it isn't my place."

"Thank you, Harry," Niall smiled sincerely and took the bag from Keegan. "It's nice to know I finally have some friends."

"You haven't had friends?" Louis raised his eyebrows.

"Not since I left high school," Niall admitted. He threw Keegan's bag in the back of his car. "I left high school two years early. I didn't have any friends before Liam, anyway."

"Daddy Li?" Keegan spoke quietly from the ground. Niall just smiled softly at him and picked him up.

"Yeah, babe. Daddy Li."

-

"What do you think he's hiding from me, Zayn?" Liam asked from the couch. The brunette was laying upside down, trying to look at Zayn who was drinking tea and attempting to read a book.

"I haven't a clue, Liam. It must be pretty important if he told you he was hiding it, though," Zayn mused. He hoped that that would be the end to all conversation. Annoyingly, Liam spoke again.

"Yeah, but what is it? Niall has never hid anything from me before. Ue just isn't that type of person."

Zayn tried not to blow up on Liam. "It's been four years. People change, Liam. He might have had a rough life after you left. You don't know!" He spoke sharply. Liam looked at him, stunned.

"I'll just go then," the younger muttered awkwardly. Zayn groaned.

"I didn't mean-"

"No, I really do need to go," liam paused with his hand on Zayn's doorstep. "I'm hungry, and Loki probably needs to be fed. I'll see you sometime, Zayn." Liam slammed the door.

Zayn groaned again into his hands. He figured he would call louis; Zayn could always use some entertainment

"Stylinson residence, Louis speaking!" Louis squealed happily into the phone.

"What if a fan had just called your house?" Zayn scolded. "What would you have done then?"

"Not have done that." Zayn could hear him roll his eyes. "What did you need, Z? I know you don't call for nothing."

"What do you know about Niall Horan?" Zayn blurted. He didn't take back what he said, though.

"I know quite a bit about Niall Horan." there was mischief in louis' tone. "What do you need to know?"

"Anything."

"Niall Horan is twenty years old. He works at some recording studio about ten minutes from my flat. You know that one? I can't ever remember it's name. Anyway, he's got a decent flat, and a wild secret."

"And the secret is?" Zayn felt as if he was on the edge of his seat.

"He has a kid. Not just any kid, Liam's kid." Louis' tone was quieter. "But you can't tell Liam! Oh, Niall told me not to tell. I probably shouldn't have even told you."

"How does he have Liam's kid? He's a guy!"

"I'm not into biology, Zaynie. I don't know how. All I know is he does. Keegan James Payne. But promise me you won't tell him, Liam. Niall would kill me," Louis begged. Louis never begged, so Zayn figured he was serious.

"I won't," Zayn promised. "Is he ever planning on telling im?"

"Eventually, yeah." Louis nodded. "Keegan's about three. Harry and I babysat him just today, actually. Maybe could convince Niall to bring him by tomorrow, if you want?"

Zayn muttered a quick thanks into the reciever and hung up the phone. So that was Niall's secret.

He had a kid.

•-•

and so the plot thickens

the plot didn't thicken

what plot?

i have just as much of an idea of what's going on as you do

my head hurts

i think i'm just going to go watch harry potter

and make another choker

a bientot

1064 words

(17/10/14)