No matter how much Zayn wanted Gigi to open her eyes, really open her eyes and see this toxic, one sided relationship she had with her mum, he couldnโt force her to. He saw it from the very moment they started dating and heโs always hated it. Where Gigi saw Yolanda bending backwards to make sure they had the life they have, Zayn saw Yolanda reliving her prime through her kids. Pushing her kids to the extreme to get where they were now, mental and physical health be damned. Zayn fully believed that Gigi and Bella could get to where they are now without the harsh upbringing. Wanting to protect Gigi from her own mother, no matter how sad that fact was, came as easy as breathing did. And now with Khai in the fold, that need to protect his family was magnified. Her question lingers between them for a moment as Zayn pieces the words together, โYouโre not going to get the answer you want, Gi.โ He shakes his head, defeated. โI will never be the person that wants to take our daughter away from her family. But Khai comes first, always. I donโt think Iโm being unreasonable by worrying about the wellbeing of our daughter. Youโve got these rose colored glasses on when you look at your mum, Gi. To you, she practically shits rainbows. But I see her for what she really is, why do you think sheโs always had a problem with me? Because she realized that Iโm someone she can't control and that fucking terrifies her.โ Because if she couldnโt control Zayn, would his fuck off attitude influence the daughter she can control? โI think Iโm being very fair here when I say I donโt want Yolanda being alone with Khai, at least not until she gets some serious help.โ He considered allowing for that mental wall to drop again, give Gigi a glimpse of the man she fell in love with before, but even as he wanted to, that mental tug of not wanting to be so open to hurt again stopped him. โI donโt want to fight either. I just -โ Teeth clamp over his tongue, โWe wonโt fight.โ The promise is thick in the air between them, โAnd Iโm not sure you can make me uncomfortable in my own house.โ He dared a small smile at that, โItโs just for a night, for Khai.โ
Not even close to it, he wants to say, but for the sake of Gigi in this very moment, he decides against the dig to her mother. But the answer that comes from him is immediate, not needing any time at all to think about it, โKhai.โ The answer is straightforward, trying to fight off the smug smile that was itching on his lips as he gave her his answer. โKhaiโs perfect. Sheโs every ounce of you and me and so much better than we can be. She refuses to go to bed until we read the farm animals a story, when itโs storming outside her first thought is to worry about them being cold, sheโs so fucking beautiful and smart and so full of life. And I want it to stay that way. I donโt want her to ever doubt herself because of something someone she loves says to her, even if itโs just in passing. I donโt want her to go through what Iโve gone through, what you've gone through. Sheโs our treasure, Gi. And if I have to be the bad guy to protect that treasure. Then fine. Give me a parrot and a pirate hat, Iโll be the bad guy. Because I will protect her with my life, no matter who I have to protect her from.โ
Brows raise at her question, a humorless laugh emitting past parted lips. โAn argument that you started.โ He points out. Zayn didnโt come here to fight, he didnโt want to fight with Gigi anymore, but as soon as the door to the conversation was open, he couldnโt stop himself. He had to say what he had to say, what he couldnโt say all those years ago. He needed Gigi to listen to him, to understand where he was in this situation, how he felt about it all. And in return, he wanted to know where she was with everything, how she felt about it all, listen to what she had to say. He would gladly listen to her, if it came from her and not her mother. Just organically Gigi. Not forced, not rehearsed. Passionate, in the moment, raw. โMy hating her has nothing to do with how I feel about you. You are not Yolanda, Gigi. No matter how hard she tries to mold you as. You are so much better than she will ever be. Youโre an amazing mother, an amazing friend, an amazing lover, an amazing model.โ He was clear with each statement, trying his damndest to drill that into her head instead of the negative shit sheโs heard from her mother growing up. He wanted his positive voice to be louder than Yolandaโs negative one. โShe may be your blood, and some part deep deep down will be thankful that she brought you into this world but thatโs just about as far as that gratefulness goes. But blood does not always equal family. Family does not treat you the way youโve been treated Gigi. She wanted you to starve yourself just so you can fit into the models standards. What mother wants that for their kids?โ At one point or another, he was sure he was sounding like a broken record but fuck, he needed her to see this for what it was.
โWhen we were together, there wasnโt a single day where I didn't remind you of how amazing you are, how beautiful you are and you know what I saw every time? The way your eyes lit up, the blush that would creep on your cheeks that fucking smile that could light up stadiums. Then your mother would say something and Iโve never seen someoneโs guard snap up so fucking quick. I swear there were times where you physically flinched. Are you just so used to her being that way that you donโt even realize it anymore? Is that something you want for our daughter?โ He knew she didnโt, and he knew that was a low blow question but sometimes the hardest questions were the ones that needed to be heard the loudest. His teeth assault the side of his cheek as her eyes widen, and heโs sent right back to that night, he couldnโt move if he wanted to - and he wanted to. He wanted to walk right out of this room and find the nearest dealer if he was being fucking frank, but he was cemented to the ground - locked in place under her gaze. Apologies on both sides were so fucking long overdue and Zayn wasnโt even sure if an apology could fix them anymore, or if they could even be fixed. He wanted to tear his gaze away from hers when her eyes started to brim with sliver, but this was his punishment right? Watching the woman he loved breakdown because of what happened between him and her mother? He could have made this easier on her, not said anything to Yolanda, but who would Zayn be if he just rolled over and accepted the emotional abuse he received from her? He doesnโt want to tell her itโs okay, because it wasnโt. None of this was okay. His entire being stills when she reaches up to graze her soft fingers along his cheek, her touch sending sparks in their wake. Before he could talk himself out of it, Zaynโs enveloping his larger hand around hers, habit has his fingers threading through hers before he swallowed thickly, dark gaze still on hers as he let her words sink in. โI needed you.โ The words are so quiet between the two, broken down with the emotion that her touch unleashed. The bitter part of him wanted to ask her if she believed him, the bitter part of him wanted to drop her hand and take a few dozen steps away from her, put that space between the two as she did all those years ago. Did he believe her? Heโs silent as he recalls the night, the absolute fucking chaos of it all, the yelling, the crying, slamming doors, Gigi and Khai rushing out of the house leaving him behind. When he thought about it logistically, Gigi getting Khai out of the house and away from the mess was a good thing. He didnโt want to scare his daughter, he knew he was yelling, knew that he said some pretty harsh things. He never called Yolanda a Dutch slut as she claimed, Zayn faced his own bout of racism, he wouldnโt put his own enemy through that. But he knew he said some pretty harsh things, and he didnโt want Khai around it. He didnโt want her to see him so angry. And it was because of that, that Zayn stepped forward, his hand tightening just a small fraction on hers as he rested his forehead against hers. โI believe you.โ The words again, soft between them. A deep breath is taken in, โIโm sorry. For putting you through this, I really, truly am. Gi. I never wanted this for us. I wanted so much more but not this. Iโm sorry for saying the things I did to you that night, I was angry but not at you, not completely anyways. And most importantly, thank you. For taking Khai away from it. I donโt know what I would have done if she got scared of me.โ