Chapter Text
Liam ran a tired hand over his face – he was getting to old for this crap. As the clock edged closer to two am, he almost gave up hope. Trust Alex to pick the night that Louis was away; he had to deal with a 5 child school run single handedly in –ooh 4 hours time and to top it off it was swap over day. Brilliant- just brilliant. Why in God’s name had he believed Alex when he said that he was just going to watch a movie and then be back home before 11? Maybe it was being overwhelmed by 4 other children and the prospect of losing a hormonal teenager for a few hours was too appealing. Call him a bad parent but there were only so many haughty stares he could take in one day. Apparently not being allowed a fake ID just because his parents were ‘washed up old pop stars’ was ‘sooo unfair’. The very fact he was a spitting image of Harry and would be very easily recognised was apparently ‘not the point ‘. He wished Louis was here- he knew how to handle these things. Not only was he was going have to deal with a drunk Alex now, he would also have to deal with a undoubtedly hung-over Alex tomor—this morning. He point blank refused to phone in sick. They had enough problems getting him to attend school as it was – what with neither of his Dads or Liam having A-levels. Nick had a degree- he thinks – but Nick wasn’t exactly the poster child for staying in school. God why couldn’t they bring back the days where all he had to do was drive Alex to the cinema or to football practise. He wasn’t letting the others grow up- as far as he was concerned they could be 14 and under for life.
He heard a slight crash in the outside porch and winced. If that was Lola’s pot – he was going to have a very unhappy ten year old on his hands tomorrow morning. Dragging himself off the sofa- he tried to muster up the strength to deal with the following events. Please God let it just be him. He definitely couldn’t deal with some drunken teenage girl on his hands. Loud drunken voices bounced off the walls of hallway- just great there was someone else.
“Shh- don’t wake up the fam..”
A sigh of relieve left Liam’s mouth as the voice that responded was a male one. Alex’s best friend Freddie, if he could recognise it correctly.
“I thought your lot were away?”
“Dad is but Liam and the others are still here!”
Liam took that as his cue to enter; crossing his arms across his chest as he took in the scene in front.
“Yes he is- and very much awake!”
The two incredibly drunk looking boys at least had the respect to stop and a flash of guilt even passed through Freddie’s eyes. Unlike Alex who simply shot him a winning grin. But Liam had seen that grin one too many times on Harry’s face to be swung by it. It was scary how similar two people could look. The lanky figure and brown curls all identical to Harry’s except from the bright blue eyes that were most definitely Louis’. Alex even dressed like a younger Harry – ripped black skinny jeans and an artfully baggy jumper. Liam swore if a bandana appeared in his hair he would actually believe Alex was a clone. It was only when he was standing there that he noticed the smell- great not only were they both hammered but high as well. Wasn’t this going to a bundle of laughs to explain to Harry when he picked him up tomorrow.
“Hey sorry mate – I know I’ve looked after your son for almost 17 years – but well he went out and got stoned and drunk on a Thursday night. Fancy a cup of tea? How’s you and Nick?’ Yeah because that was going to blow over well.
“Liam – what are you doing? Fancied joining in the party?”
Alex stumbled a bit whilst walking towards Liam – having to grip onto the bannister rail for support. This was apparently hysterical – sending Alex and Freddie into fits of giggles. It took all of Liam’s strength not to yell- he wasn’t going to add to the possibility of waking the others up – he definitely didn’t need any other grouchy children on his hands at breakfast.
“Alex- it’s two in the morning- you were meant be home at eleven after your FILM evening!”
“Oops!”
Alex fell into a further series of giggles whilst Freddie looked slightly worried- well as worried as someone who is both slightly drunk and spaced can look.
“I REALLY don’t think- Oops- is going to cover this one! Not only are you completely out of it but it’s a school night Alex. What were you thinking?!”
At this Alex ‘s giggling ceased and he hit Liam with a sullen smirk.
“So?”
Liam was two seconds away from loosing it. He was tired; missing Louis and had too much going on to cope with this Louis-Harry hybrid calmly. Taking a deep breath – he mustered up as much superiority as he could.
“So is really not going to cut it! Go into the living room now and sit your butt down on the sofa before you break anything.”
Freddie awkwardly interrupted.
“About that…”
“Without breaking anything else!”
Alex didn’t move- simply levelling Liam with a glare. If it was a staring contest he wanted that’s what he was going to get. He had years of experience of dealing with Louis and Harry. He would be blown if he was going to beaten by their son.
“Now Alex.”
At least a minute passed with Freddie standing their awkwardly swaying slightly in his drunken bliss, before Alex moved towards the living room – shoving purposively into Liam’s shoulder as he passed. Liam didn’t have the energy to react- not every battle was worth fighting.
“Do I need to ring your parents to pick you up Freddie?”
“Nah your good Sir, they’re in Dubai.”
He breathed an internal sigh of relief. Liam had met Freddie’s parents at some school parent social. To say he was a little intimidated by them was an understatement. Freddie’s family were from old money and his parents had certainly not been impressed by the gathering that was Louis, Liam, Harry and Nick. He doubted they had heard of One Direction or had ever even listened to Radio One. The very fact that they had rushed into the meeting late , interrupting the head mistresses speech probably hadn’t helped the matter- especially with Harry and Nick bickering over colours of their sitting room in not so hushed voices upon their dramatic arrival.
“Right well… Shall I drive you back?”
Liam prayed that he declined- he really really didn’t want to leave Alex by himself with others asleep upstairs.
“No it’s fine- I’ll just get a taxi.”
“Are you sure?”
As much as he wanted to stay with Alex and although they may live in Primrose Hill not Hackney, he couldn’t let some drunken 17-year-old wonder through the streets at 2am.
Even in a drunken haze Freddie managed to straighten himself up and meet Liam’s eye with a steady gaze. Why couldn’t’ Freddie’s manners rub off on Alex?
“Honestly it’s not a problem Sir. I rang one when we were on the way back to pick me up. “
Relieved not to hear anything smash in the room behind him, Liam shot Freddie a grateful smile. He was under no impression that Freddie had forced Alex to go out. By looks of things, Alex was definitely the drunker of the two.
“Once again- sorry for waking you Sir. Wont happen again.”
“That would definitely be a good plan.”
Liam walked Freddie to the door- watching with hidden amusement as he tried valiantly to walk in a straight line in front of Liam. As much as Alex may think his family are old fuddy duddies, Liam could still fondly remember the nights when they had all tried to act sober as they walked past paparazzi when coming out nightclubs or one too many Brits after parties. As they reached the front door, Liam was pleased to see the flash of the taxi headlights through the window next to them. He waited till Freddie had successfully got into the taxi- shooting Liam one last apologetic smile- before he turned and shut the door. Leaning against it he took a deep breath, before forcing himself towards the mess that awaited him in the surprisingly quiet living room.
Upon entering it wasn’t hard to work out the reason for the lack of sound. Collapsed across the sofa feet sticking off the end, Alex was fast asleep arm hanging lopsidedly by his side. Liam walked over, letting out an exasperated sigh before stroking the curls tenderly out of Alex’s eyes. Asleep he looked so peaceful- nothing like the angry teenager that had made an appearance earlier. Liam rubbed his eyes wearily before walking into kitchen to fetch a glass of water and some Paracetamol. He placed them on the coffee table next to Alex, before he grabbed the throw over the adjacent sofa and placed it carefully over Alex’s sleeping figure. Liam brushed his hand through Alex’s hair before turning to make his was up to bed for the few hours’ sleep he could grab before he had to be up. Just as he was leaving the room, he retreated back into the room and placed the bin next to Alex’s head. He would be damned if he had to wake up to a living room that smelt of sick.