Chapter Text
Zayn is in a rush to get breakfast done as fast as possible. He’s woken up late and is cutting it close to when he needs to leave for his shift at the diner. He has an hour to feed Niall, get him ready, and drop him off at daycare before he can make it to work. Luckily for him, Niall is a baby that loves mornings and always eats his food no matter you place in front of him, making his morning just a little bit easier.
Zayn’s races around their small apartment, tripping over the leg of his pants as he tries to shimmy inside of them while trying to avoid stepping on Niall’s toys that are scattered across the floor in a messy clutter. He really needs to clean, but life is getting the best of him, and he’s finding that he doesn’t have much time for anything.
He grabs his work shirt and throws it on as he makes his way into Niall’s bedroom, and he finds his son lying in his crib playing with his stuffed bear. Niall had gotten the bear on his first birthday and was too young to fully understand how to properly name a stuffed animal, so the bear was simply called, Bear.
Niall’s eyes light up at the sight of his father, and he begins to wiggle his arms around, making grabby hands to show he insists Zayn picks him up. “Baba,” Niall shouts with happiness, his voice high.
“Morning, baby, you sleep okay?” Zayn asks, as he reaches inside and picks Niall up. He brings him over towards the changing table, and carefully unbuttons the light green onesie that Niall wore to bed. He listens to Niall babble on about what dreamt that night, or whatever story he's decided to make up. Zayn has never gotten used to mornings, and even after a year and a half with Niall, he doesn’t understand how he had gotten a son so different from him. He continues listening to Niall’s stories as he tosses the dirty diaper in the bin and dresses Niall in a new, clean one.
He buttons the onesie back up and carries Niall towards the kitchen. He sets him down in his high chair and begins mashing up bananas and filling a small bowl with some yogurt.
He’s in the middle of feeding Niall, who is humming happily as he greedily takes in as much as possible, when Zayn’s phone rings. He glances down at the screen and sees Louis name flashing across it.
“Hey Lou, what’s up?”
Louis is Zayn’s best friend, and also his only friend throughout his entire life, really. He was also the only person who didn’t abandon him when Niall’s mother had never returned from her vacation, thus abandoning Niall and leaving Zayn a single father.
“How is my favorite nephew? Am I going to be seeing him soon?”
Zayn rolls his eyes. “He’s eating, what do you want? I’m running late and I still need to get him dressed and to daycare as soon as possible.”
“Baba, more, more,” Niall chants, as he bangs his chubby fists against his high chair tray. He has his mouth open to show Zayn he wants more food. Zayn complies and feeds him another spoonful of bananas - Niall's capable of feeding himself, but he either goes too fast or too slow, and this morning he doesn't want to deal with it - while he listens to Louis talk into the phone about his date with Liam the night before.
When he gets Louis off the phone, after saying how he’d see him at work and they should really save some topics for conversation for their shift, he gets Niall dressed in his favorite blue polo and white pants with his little white sneakers that Niall had thrown a fit about getting.
~~
He makes it into work only ten minutes late and breathes a sigh of relief at seeing that his boss hasn’t even made it into work yet and would never notice, not like he'd ever care. He slips on his apron and settles in behind the counter.
Zayn works as a cashier for a small “hole in the wall” diner that serves sloppy American food - that seems to be a big hit since they were always busy. It wasn't the position he had starting out, he had tried to work as a waiter, but he was unable to carry a tray without dropping it, and knowing that he had a son to take care of, his boss took pity on him and created the job of standing behind the counter and helping people pay for their food, and passing the cooked food from the back to the waiters. He also works with Louis, who somehow landed himself the position of a cook, and they spend most of their shift talking and trading jokes between the small opening in the wall where the food is pushed through.
It isn’t much of a job, but ever since having Niall, he has been forced to put his art career on the back burner for a job that actually paid. He still manages to do a few painting here and there, and while most of them sell, he lacks the time he used to have and could never create enough work his own exhibition at a gallery space.
“Mate, you’re late,” Louis says, as he pokes his head through the hole and smiles brightly at Zayn.
“Yeah, I know. I woke up later than normal and took forever to walk Niall to daycare. He’s going through a phase where he’s not sure if he wants to be held or walk next to me. I spent half the trip walking his pace and the other half running down the street.”
Louis barks out a laugh, throwing his head back in the process as he laughs at his best friend’s life. “Mate, that’s shit. You really need some help.”
“No I don’t. I’m fine. How was your date?”
Louis has been trying to get Zayn out into the world and to start dating again. Not like Zayn had ever really dated to begin with, but so far, since Amber, Niall’s mom, had left, he hasn’t been on any dates. Zero dates in a year and a half. He’s not making headway, but he can’t be bothered. It was all a waste of his time.
“He’s perfect! Zayn you have to meet him, he’s so dreamy. I tried to get him back in my place. I threw myself on him and latched myself around his body but he refuses to ever come inside. He says he’s not being a gentleman if he seduces me now,” Louis says with a pout.
“I have met Liam, remember? He’s been at my place at least nine times. You baby-sit Niall together. But, he won’t sleep with you? You’ve been dating for the past three months.”
“I know, he says it’s important to wait. I’m his first boyfriend and he doesn’t want to rush into things. He wants to make sure we’re serious about each other. Load of bullshit if you ask me,” Louis says as he stands in the kitchen making scrambled eggs for the breakfast items, looking like he’s a beaten up puppy.
Zayn and Louis had knew Liam back when they were in high school, but only briefly when he dated Louis ex-girlfriend and left the dance with Louis' date. But they didn’t really get to know him until he started coming into the diner. He had shown up everyday for two weeks and was always bashful and shy as he tried to catch a peek into the back. Zayn was the first to notice so he called Louis out and watched as he flirted his way into a date.
Liam worked at a local record label where their friend Ed recorded and they found themselves hanging out all together periodically.
~~
Work drags on slowly and Zayn finds himself growing restless as he taps a foot on the ground while watching the clock. His shift ends at three and then he has to walk to Niall’s daycare and bring him home. They’d spend the rest of the night together, locked up, and enjoying each other’s company.
Today though, he figures that they could stop off at a park and spend an hour or so there before they head home for the night.
His shift ends quicker than he realizes, and as he's taking his apron off and hangs it in the back room, Louis stops him as he’s walking out the door. “Want to do something this afternoon?”
“I’m thinking of taking Niall to the park, care to join?”
Louis nods his head and begins walking with Zayn in the direction of the daycare center.
When they get there, Niall comes toddling out of the building and throws himself into Louis’ outstretched arms. He laughs joyfully as Louis spins him around and blows a raspberry on his cheek.
“Hey bud, how are you? Did you miss me?”
Niall nods obediently and hugs Louis around the neck so he can kiss his cheek.
“Uncle Lou play? Niall questions.
“Yup. I talked your father into taking you to the park. We’re going to play on the swings and we’re going to go high, and we’re not going to listen to Baba when he tries to scold us, right?”
Niall shakes his head. “No listen, Baba.” He spins around and smiles when he sees Zayn. He squirms around in Louis arms and jumps into Zayn’s as he holds them open for him. “Miss, Baba.” Niall sighs out of happiness as he rests his head in the crook of Zayn’s neck as Zayn rubs his back soothingly.
“I’ll call Liam, and have him meet us there. Do you like Liam, Ni?” Louis asks as he pulls his phone out to send a quick text to his boyfriend.
~~
Liam is waiting for them on a bench in the park already and when Louis spots him, he runs ahead so he can launch himself onto the other boy. Niall tugs on Zayn’s hand pointing excitedly to where his two Uncles are embracing.
“Baba, Baba, look. Uncle Li,” Niall says, as he waves his free hand in the air until they’re a few feet away from them, and Zayn decides it’s safe to let go of Niall’s hand. Niall runs forward and hugs Liam around his legs.
“Niall, how are you?” Liam asks as he smiles down at the small boy attached to his leg and ruffling Niall’s hair.
“Niall good. Uncle Li, play. Play. Swing.”
Niall grabs Louis and Liam’s hands and pulls them towards the swing set with Zayn following close behind.
Zayn picks Niall up and places him in the swing gently and begins pushing onto his back so he can swing back and forth. Niall let’s out joyful shrieks at the movement of the playground equipment.
“High, Baba,” Niall demands. Zayn gives one gentle push and lets out a groan to make Niall think he’s trying harder to get Niall’s swing going higher.
Louis and Liam are sat on the swings on either side of Niall, looking at Zayn curiously. “Ed is having a party tomorrow. He wants you guys to come. It’s at a bar downtown to celebrate his upcoming album release," Liam says, shifting his gaze back to Louis.
“A party? I’m in,” Louis says.
Liam rolls his eyes, but smiles softly at his boyfriend before replying, “Course you are, babe. What about you, Zayn?” Liam asks, as he turns around to face Zayn properly.
Zayn struggles to find an answer. “I don’t know, I have Niall, and I can’t exactly just leave him alone for the night to go out and help you take care of drunk Louis.”
Louis kicks dirt at Zayn, a sign he doesn't appreciate the comment. “You’re making excuses. You know very well you can drop him off at your mother’s and come out with us.” When Zayn still shows signs of hesitation Louis turns to Niall. “Ni, do you want to spend the day with Mammie?”
Niall perks up and begins nodding vigorously. “Baba, Mammie! Mammie! Go,” he says as he wiggles around in the seat to try and climb out.
Zayn shoots Louis a reproachful look. “Thanks, Louis. No, Niall, sit down. You’re not going to her house, at least not right now. Tomorrow, apparently I’m going to a party with your Uncles.”