Never Gonna Wanna Let Me Go | Epilogue
Zayn Malik is one of the highest paid escorts in London. He’s good at his job, he knows this. But it’s not his chosen field, it’s easy money so he can have a chance to pursue his chosen field without becoming homeless. His employer Caroline has many rules to keep him safe but Zayn only has one ‘Don’t Get Attached’. Of course, there was always going to be one, the guy who would come in to the picture and make Zayn’s easy job almost impossible.
Liam Payne. Twenty Six. Made his money by inheriting his father’s music business after he passed away. Quite well known so expect publicity. Wants a pretty face on his arm to cover the events he has to attend while in town on business. Make sure he knows if he wants extra he has to pay. You’ve got your usual expenses on your card, don’t go overboard like last time. I mean it, Malik! Your share for the weekend will go in your account on Monday when you’ve done your job.
Love you babes, stay safe, C x
(also on ao3)
Zayn’s in a bit of the rush trying to get everything sorted for the day to go perfectly and he’s in the middle of panicking about it being too windy for the massive balloon arch they’d ordered when he hears a familiar call of his name.
He spins around to see his Godson sprinting across the garden towards him, his bright almost white hair blowing in the wind as he does.
“Archer!” Zayn calls back, trying to match the child’s enthusiasm.
Archer lets out a round of giggles when the moment he reaches Zayn, he’s picked up and thrown in to the air.
The parents of the five-year-old are walking slowly behind him, their hands entwined and they’re giggling in to each others shoulders, somehow still in love like teenagers even after almost ten years together.
“Mummy, can I go and play with the puppies?” Archer asks, as Zayn sets him back on the floor and his parents finally reach them.
“If you’re careful.” Stella agrees.
Stark (the fluffiest and craziest malamute to ever exist) and Harley (they’re absolute softy of a Pitbull) are chasing each other around the pool and he makes quick work of running over to them so he can join in their fun.
“I thought we went overboard for Archer’s first birthday,” Stella jokes, as she takes in the decorations covering the garden. “This is a lot, darling.”
“It’s not my doing.” Zayn assures her and glances across the garden to where his husband is stood, attempting to help his father sort out the fireworks.
Liam lets out a laugh at something his father had said and it earns himself a slap on the back and it still amazes Zayn, even after all this time, that Liam had managed to turn the thoughts of very traditional Asian man, completely around and all by being nothing but himself.
“I’m gonna go say ‘Hello’.” Louis informs his wife.
Stella nods easily in agreement.
Louis leans in to kiss her cheek in parting and nods to Zayn before he jogs across the garden to where his best friend is situated.
“He’s not good.” Zayn observes.
“How do you know that within five minutes of seeing him?” Stella complains. “Is it the first love connection thing?”
Zayn snorts. “I don’t think that’s a thing, love.”
“It’s having to retire before his time,” Stella starts with a sad sigh. “And the whole not being able to get pregnant again, he feels like he’s being punished for something.”
Zayn raises his eyebrows curiously.
“Oh, fuck off.” She tells him without heat. “He gave you Liam, who is absolutely perfect for you and completely adores you, he made up for breaking your heart all those years ago.”
Zayn nods in agreement because it had been more than ten years since he and Louis had ended things.
It had taken them a long time to get here and it was mostly Liam’s doing, unable to give up either of the two people he loved. There had been a lot of hard moments and even a physical fight between Louis and himself before he finally concluded he didn’t want to be upset over it anymore. Liam was his forever and Louis had actually aided in bringing him in to his life so he owed him that much. They’re still not quite the best of friends but they’re on good terms and Zayn adores Stella, would class her as one of his best friends (which is how he had the guts to tell her exactly what went down between him and Louis and not worry that she would be scared and dump Louis as an outcome) so they make it work in the best way they can.
“Liam!” Roo calls out loudly, pulling the entire garden’s attention in her direction.
Ali is in her arms and he looks very upset about the fact that he’s awake.
‘Ali, like Prince Ali from Aladdin.’ Liam had teased last year when they found out they were having a boy and Zayn had suggested the name.
‘No, like the Arabic name meaning champion.’ Zayn had argued but from the moment he’d been handed this precious bundle of joy he’d decided he was a Prince. A little Prince for his King so he supposes Prince Ali from Aladdin had been correct, not that he will ever admit to Liam that he was right.
“Why is he awake?” Liam complains, as he walks across the garden to greet her.
“Probably because his father is organising a ridiculous party for him, he’s too excited to sleep.” Roo snaps back.
“Papa!” Ali cries, trying to reach out for Liam.
Liam picks up his pace so he can get the baby from his sister’s arms. “What are you doing awake, little man?”
Ali doesn’t answer because he’s one and he doesn’t fully understand the English language quite yet, instead he leans his head down to rest on his father’s shoulder and that seems to be all Liam needs as a reply.
“I’m gonna take him back up,” Liam decides, his cheek resting down against their son’s head as he looks over to Zayn. “You okay to finish up, Jaan?”
‘Meri Jaan, it means my love or my life.’ Zayn explained as a twenty two year old Liam looked at him like he was the moon and the stars and had been the exact reason the two words had slipped of his tongue so easily.
'You’re my whole life, Z.’ Liam had replied and that one sentence is what had Zayn planning out a proposal that was sure to make Liam cry.
“We’ll help,” Louis assures Liam, snapping Zayn back to reality. “Take the bab up, we want him to be awake to enjoy all this madness, right?”
Liam nods his eyes but he’s got curious eyes on Zayn.
“I’m good,” Zayn assures him. “I can finish up.”
Liam keeps his curious eyes on Zayn for a beat longer until the baby in his arms starts whining and he finally decides to head inside, to get the one-year-old the last few moments of sleep he needs to enjoy the incredible party they have planned for him.
A silence overcomes those left in the garden, as they part to finish up the overly extravagant party Liam had planned for Ali’s first birthday long before the baby had even been born.
It’s an hour later that people slowly start filling up their Malibu home and Zayn’s in the kitchen trying to get the number one candle to sit on top of a cake shape like the hulk’s fist when he finds himself lost in the memory of the day he’d proposed to Liam.
Harry had called him crazy, they had only been together for six months and even though Zayn had moved his entire life to another country in that time, his best friend still thought that marriage was a big commitment.
But Zayn didn’t think he was being crazy because he could feel it in his chest every time Liam smiled and he knew he would never tire of that smile or any of the aspects of Liam he’d fallen in love with.
Planning the proposal was the hardest part because the moment Zayn had agreed to follow Liam to LA, every aspect of his life had become Liam centric and so trying to hide something from the younger lad had almost impossible.
But somehow he managed, he booked out their favourite restaurant and managed to fly out everyone they love to LA.
It hadn’t taken him months to plan so he actually managed to align it perfectly with their one year anniversary and had told Liam he’d bagged them the karaoke room at the back of the restaurant but he’d argued he wanted to have first song, which back then Liam agreed to easily because it was rare for Zayn without being begged to (or in the shower) which is a complete contrast to four years later where he now spends most of his days locked away in their home studio singing songs he and his husband write and produce.
Liam’s curious face is still one of his favourite memories because this boy adores music and seems to know every song under the sun so when an opening beat to a song started playing he’d looked very curious. But what was even better was that twinkly eyed blinding grin he’d gotten when he’d realised the lyrics Zayn was singing, were of his own making.
Zayn’s glad Harry had convinced him to record the whole thing because he knows he can go upstairs and see all those faces for himself, he doesn’t have to rely on memory for them.
The part of the tape he almost broke when he first watched it, was the moment he sang the last ‘For the rest of ours’ and dropped down on to one knee because Liam let out audible gasp before his hands flew to his mouth and tears filled his eyes.
It taken him a few minutes to calm down and Zayn’s knee was starting to hurt slightly before he finally blurted out his ‘yes’ and joined Zayn on the floor.
“Hey,” Liam calls but it’s the gentle hand on his waist that has Zayn snapping back to reality. “I’ve been calling you.”
Zayn blinks a few times to bring himself completely and when he does he’s met with his husband’s worried expression.
“It’s been a while since you’ve zoned out.” Liam observes.
“There’s something wrong with Louis.” Zayn says because it’s the only explanation he’s got.
Liam nods in understanding. “He’s scared Stella is going to leave him.”
“What?” Zayn asks confused because he’d never met two people as well suited as Stella and Louis, they’re both equal parts sarcastic and endearing.
“She really wants another baby,” Liam explains. “Louis can’t give that to her.”
“They haven’t even tried IVF yet,” Zayn argues. “They’ve been trying for like a year, it can take some couples years to get pregnant once and they already managed that.”
“They got tested,” Liam tells him softly when he must realise Zayn doesn’t know. “It’s Lou, he’s the, uh, the problem. His sperm count is really low, they were shocked that the two of them even managed to get pregnant with Archer.”
“Oh.” Zayn says quietly as he tries to process that information.
“They’ll be okay, he’s being dramatic, you know what he’s like.” Liam decides. “If Stella heard that he was even thinking about it, she’d cut him a new one.”
Zayn nods his head in agreement because Stella adores Louis but she runs the show and she’s pretty sure Louis has a death wish if he’s even thinking about the two of them breaking up, he truly believes Stella is the only person in the world that takes the ‘till death do us part’ vow deadly serious.
“He’ll be okay,” Liam assures him and glances down to the mess Zayn had made of the cake because he’d been so lost in memories. “I’ll get the back up cake.”
Zayn reaches out for him before he can move.
“Okay?” Liam checks.
Zayn nods and slips his hands around Liam’s waist before singing. “Let me be your man so I can love you.”
Liam’s face breaks out in to the same grin he’d had that night.
“For the rest of my life,” Zayn sings while resting their foreheads togethers. “For the rest of yours.”
Liam closes his eyes and pushes his forehead more against Zayn’s. “I love you so fucking much.”
“More than you’ll ever know, beautiful boy.” Zayn promises.
Liam gives him a pretty demanding kiss which leaves him a little bit dazed when the younger lad pulls away and the way Liam smiles as he leaves him to get the other cake, shows he’s quite proud he can still manage to do that after all these years had passed.
The party is quite overwhelming for them and little Ali and he’s passed out on the couch as the last of the guests finally leave.
Most of the family members who had been taking advantage of their mass of spare rooms, had already headed up to bed.
In fact, it was only the four of them remaining, toasting Liam and Zayn’s ability to raise a child for a year with a very expensive bottle of chateau that Louis had bought especially for the occasion.
They’re almost through the bottle when Louis starts wriggling where he’s sat on the couch beside Liam.
“Have you got worms?” Liam teases. “Sit still, man.”
Louis stops his movements but then lets out a long laboured breath which makes Zayn start to panic.
“What’s going on?” Liam worries, looking from Louis to Stella when that’s where the older lad’s gaze leads him. “Stel?”
“We need to ask you something!” Stella blurts and looks pointedly at her husband.
Zayn and Liam both look at Louis.
“What?” Liam demands when Louis only nibbles his lower lip nervously.
“It’s a big ask, mate.” Louis tells him.
“Would you just ask me?!” Lee snaps but a lovely laugh passes through his lips
“We wanted to know, uh, like, we need to know if you would, uh, if you wouldn’t mind...” Louis stumbles, rubbing at the back of his neck so hard he’s sure to have some kind of friction burn.
“We wanted to know if we could have some of your sperm, please?” Stella requests politely.
It’s so absurd sounding that Zayn can’t help but burst out in to laughter.
“Mine?” Liam checks, though his eyes are on his husband.
Zayn waves him off as he tries to calm himself down.
“You’re kind of the perfect man for the job, mate.” Louis replies, he looks so hopeful that if Liam says ‘no’ then Zayn is sure he’s going to be haunted by the hurt look he’s guaranteed to give in response.
“I’ve got a dodgy kidney,” Liam reminds them. “It’s the whole reason Ali is Z’s.”
“What are the actual chances of a kid inheriting that though?” Louis asks.
‘Okay, it’s not that common but is it that bad that I want another one of you, that I love you so much that I’d have millions of mini yous if I could.’
Zayn smiles at the memory. “It’s not high at all, Liam just wanted to clone my genes really bad so he used it as an excuse for Ali to be mine.”
Three pairs of eyes snap towards him like they hadn’t expected him to speak.
“You’re asking for my husband’s sperm,” Zayn points out. “I would think I’m entitled to an opinion.”
“Of course you are, darling.” Stella assures him.
“You’d be okay with it?” Louis asks, his bright blue eyes are wide and his head is pulled back like someone was trying to get him to smell something really bad.
“We love you both,” Zayn answers but makes sure to look at Stella when he says it. “If this is what you need to complete your family then I’m okay with it.”
Stella offers him a blinding smile and tears are filling her eyes so Zayn tugs her in to a side cuddle before those tears have chance to break.
“Li?” Louis asks.
Liam’s eyes are trained on Zayn. “You’re really okay with it?”
“I am,” Zayn assures him. “It’s ultimately your decision though, babe.”
Liam goes quiet for a really long time.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to do it, bro.” Louis tries, though his face does look hurt. “It’s a lot to ask.”
Liam finally looks up and he looks straight up at Zayn so Zayn tries to give him the best reassuring smile he can, he hopes conveys that he’s okay with whatever Liam’s decision is.
“Okay,” Liam says finally. “I’ll do it, I’d love to do it.”
“Really?” Louis checks.
Liam pulls his eyes from Zayn to look at him instead and nods his head. “I’d do anything for you, bro, you know that.”
“You’re too much, Payne.” Louis teases before dragging him in for a cuddle.
‘You’re so fucking much, Zayn. You’re too much and I probably don’t deserve you but if you were willing to give me a shot I’d really hope you could fall in love with me too.’
Zayn feels a smile pull at his lips as he thinks of how far they’ve come since that moment in the bedroom of the shitty apartment he used to share with Harry in London.
He makes a note to call his best friend to see how well he’s handling being a new dad of three. The last time they’d spoken, the triples had only just been born and didn’t even have names yet. Now they’re almost a month old and Zayn really wishes they lived in the same country so he could see how his best friend is struggling with that venture on the daily.
“You okay, babe?” Stella asks him quietly, not to disturb the two cuddling boys on the opposite couch.
Zayn nods his head and when he looks at her, he doesn’t bother to hide the tears in his eyes.
“Oh, darling.” Stella coos, squeezing him gently.
“Z?” Liam worries, his intuition when Zayn’s upset being completely on point.
“He’s okay,” Stella assures him. “Bit overwhelmed, I think.”
Liam doesn’t need more than that and he’s getting up from the couch he’s on to come over to one her and Zayn are sharing.
“I love you so much,” Liam says as he cups Zayn’s cheek. “You and our boy, you’re the most important thing to me in this world.”
Zayn nods his head and offers him a wobbly smile. “I can’t believe we’re here, this is our life, it’s so---I’m so fucking happy.”
“Me too.” Liam agrees and leans in to give him one of those pretty demanding kisses.
It’s Ali grumbling from the couch he and Archer were asleep on across the room that finally has them falling apart.
“I think it’s time for bed,” Liam says as he pulls back from Zayn. “We can talk more in the morning?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course, bro.” Louis agrees when Liam looks to him.
Liam walks over to squeeze his shoulder before he heads across the room to pick ups his now very whiny baby boy.
“Can I sleep in Ali’s room, Uncle Li?” Archer asks, somehow suddenly very awake.
“The camp bed is already set up for you, buddy.” Zayn assures him.
“Yes!” Archer cheers. “You’re the best, Uncle Z!”
“Better than me?” Liam asks him with a fake sad face.
“No,” Archer says quickly. “You’re my favourite still.”
He tries to whisper the last part but it’s still loud enough for the whole room to hear.
Archer had bounced between his favourites when it came to Zayn and Liam since he was old enough to talk. But last Halloween Liam had gone as Iron Man for Halloween and the five-year-old had caught him without his mask on, which then convinced him Liam was the real life Iron man which means Zayn has not got a look in since.
Liam winks at the young boy and then bends down to lift up Ali gently from the couch.
Zayn gets up so he can come over and nuzzle at his sleepy baby’s face as he jams it in his father’s neck.
“Want to lead the way up, bud?” Liam suggests to Archer.
Archer takes off out of the room without being told twice.
“Goodnight everyone.” Liam announces to the two remaining adults before looking to Zayn. “You coming?”
“I’m gonna tidy up a bit,” Zayn decides and makes a shooing gestured. “I’ll follow you up.”
Liam looks as tired as the baby in his arms so he nods his head before leaning in to steal a kiss and then follows the second youngest of them out of the room.
“I’ll help?” Louis offers.
“I’m going up,” Stella decides. “My manicure cost too much to ruin it cleaning up other people’s mess.”
Louis snorts. “Of course, love.”
“I love you, idiot.” Stella informs him.
“I love you, idiot.” Louis echoes easily.
They share a grin before their own child causing ciaos upstairs, has Liam calling out for Stella and she makes quick work of going to see what the issue is.
Zayn and Louis clean up the mess that is the living rom and part of the garden before Zayn calls it a night.
“Malik?” Louis calls out once they reach the landing before Zayn can walk in to his and Liam’s bedroom.
Zayn turns to look at him curiously.
“I heard your new single,” Louis starts and when Zayn nods to show he’s listening. “I was pretty fucking mad when I first heard it, that you could do that to him.”
“He helped me write it.” Zayn informs him.
“I know, he told me.” Louis assures him and then. “So, you really think that? That somewhere out there there’s two of us that are together.”
Zayn shrugs. “Could be, there could be a version of us where I’m with Stella.”
Louis scrunches up his nose and Zayn mirrors it, wishing the words hadn’t left his mouth and soon they’re both laughing.
“I’m so fucking glad you’re in my life, Z.” Louis decides, once they’ve both calmed down. “I know it was always selfish of me to ask that from you but I’m so glad you fell in love with him and you’re happy and I get to see that.”
Zayn nods his head because it had taken him years to accept it but having Louis in his life in this capacity is much better than not having him in his life at all.
“I just wanted that said.” Loui concludes and straightens his shoulder.
“We’ve come a long way in ten years.” Zayn decides.
Louis looks up and when their eyes meet, a smile finally breaks out on his face. “We really have.”
“I’m glad you’re in my life too, Lou.” Zayn assures him. “I’m also glad I get to love him, he’s the best thing to ever happen to me. And Stel is perfect for you, I’m so glad you found her and I’m so glad I get to her be a part of my life too.”
Louis’ smile is beaming now and he’s got a slight tear in his eye.
“I wouldn’t have him without you and we wouldn’t have Ali if we’d never met so thank you for that.” Zayn concludes.
Louis nods and wipes his eyes with the arm of his jumper when the tears finally break.
“I’m gonna go in here and fuck him,” Zee says finally. “So, if I were you I’d run to your room before you hear things you don’t want to, I don’t get paid to sound pretty anymore, it’s not something to stick around for.”
Louis laughs and reaches out to shove his shoulder. “Twat.”
“I’m no joking.” Zayn says as straight faced as possible.
“You’re a dickhead, Malik.” Louis states as he makes his way down the corridor to his room.
“Goodnight, Tommo.” Zayn calls after him.
Louis throws him a thumbs up before finally disappearing in to the spare room he and Stella claimed as theirs, the instant Liam and Zayn had bought the house.
Liam’s sat up in bed when Zayn finally walks in to his room, he’s shirtless and is looking at Zayn curiously.
“What?” Zayn worries, as he closes the door behind him.
“Do you know how fucking perfect you are?!” Liam demands.
Zayn takes a step back in confusion because what Liam said sounded nice but the pure volume makes him sound angry.
“You’re so perfect!” Liam complains but lowers his voice as he notices Zayn’s confusion. “And you’re mine? How the fuck did I pull that off?”
“The sex is pretty good?” Zayn offers.
Liam’s face breaks out in to a bright smile so big his eyes disappear and even after all these years, it’s still Zayn’s favourite smile on earth, apart from their baby boy’s of course.
“Come here?” Liam pleads.
Zayn finally lifts himself up from the door and walks across the room to join him on the bed.
“You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.” Liam decides and pulls Zayn by his t-shirt in to the final demanding kiss of the day.
Zayn’s getting himself pretty excited when Liam suddenly lets him go and climbs out of the bed.
“I’m going for a pee,” Liam informs him when Zayn pouts at him. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be waiting her for you, Liam.” Zayn replies with a loose grin.
Liam pauses for a moment like he’d let himself get lost in the memory for once and when a little smile grows on hips lips, Zayn’s own heart can’t take how much he loves this boy.
“I’ll always be waiting for you, Jann.” Zayn promises. “As long as you promise you’ll always come back to me.”
Liam steps back towards and is gently as he brushes his lips across Zayn’s and it’s barely a whisper when he says. “Always.”
Zayn leans up to steal a kiss this time but only five minutes later Liam announces he really does need to pee and giggles as he walks over to the bathroom.
As Zayn flops himself back down on to a bed it’s with a smile and thought that he wouldn’t change a single thing about his completely perfect life.
