Zayn sighed and picked him up in bridal style, resting Liam's head on his shoulder. He reached his bedroom and laid Liam down on his bed, then he removed his shoes. He searched for Liam's phone and found it in his back pocket. Carefully, not touching Liam too much, he grabbed the cell.
Liam was mumbling something when Zayn covered him with the duvet and left the room in order to call Mrs Jones. Luckily Liam didn't have any password, so it was easy to unlock his phone. He smiled on seeing the wallpaper. It was his and Rose's photo where the girl was sitting on his lap, both had identical smiles on their lips.
Zayn reached the living room and quickly called the landlady to check on Rose. The lady told him that the little girl was fast asleep now. Zayn asked her to look after Rose for tonight as Liam was called for work and also apologized for calling so late.
He had to lie as he couldn't let her know that Liam was absolutely drunk and intoxicated.
When Zayn went back to his room, Liam was snuggled in the covers, soundly sleeping. He knelt beside him and pushed back the curls that fell over his closed eyelids. He took a moment to take in the sight in front of him. The moonlight fell upon his face in broad streaks, enhancing his beauty.
He kissed Liam's forehead and moved back, "What are you doing to me, Liam?"
He has never felt such a deep attraction towards anyone in his life. All those people he had been with were faceless to him, he doesn't even know anyone's name. He threw the money and they were on their knees for him.
But Liam was so different. He was headstrong, uncompromising and strong willed. He was raising his daughter on his own, without any help. He didn't fear the judgement of others, he was bold enough to stand on his own feet.
Zayn wanted to ask Niall more about Liam, but he knew his friend would make a big deal out of this. He was glad that Niall didn't know about the roses. He was even more shocked to find out that Liam also hadn't said anything to him too.
Again planting a kiss on Liam's temple, Zayn got up and laid on his couch in the room. He knew Liam would be startled to find himself in someone else's room and he must be there when the shorter one wakes up.
---------
"She's going to stay there for a while more" Liam said as he entered his flat again.
When he woke up that morning, he had a terrible hangover. He had a hard time in believing that he was at Zayn's mansion. Zayn had been kind enough to not talk about last night and even dropped Liam to his home.
On reaching home, he had first ran to Mrs Jones flat that was below his own. Rose was up, but since Liam had not arrived, she played with Eric, Mrs Jones' grandson. He had scooped his daughter in his arms and repeatedly apologised for leaving her.
Rose clung to him and demanded where he was, Liam said the same lie that Zayn had told last night to Mrs Jones.
Now here he was, dreading the moment. Zayn wanted to 'talk' to him. He didn't want to have this conversation. As unusual as it sounds, he clearly remembers everything that happened last night.
He didn't have the explanation as to why he came to Zayn's house in the middle of the night.
"So we can talk"
"There's nothing to talk about. I would like to thank you for bringing me back here. I was highly intoxicated last night and had no control over my actions, I don't know why I came to you or what I said" Liam rambled, not looking at Zayn.
"Liam-"
"Please Zayn, what else do you want me to say? That I was thinking about you this whole time? That I'm glad you came into our lives? Because I don't want to admit all this, only for my heart to break once again, nobody is permanent, everyone leaves"
