Patient Love│Ziall Horlik AU *Trilogy*

Chapter 8 - I Didn't Realize

4 Years Later

            “Hello?”

            “This is Richard,”

            “Damn it,” Zayn cursed, “Richard, you can’t call every day. I refuse to let Charlie to talk to you ever again. He doesn’t understand why you left. It has been four years since you last saw him,”

            It was true. Even though Harry and Louis visited often, Richard never came. He was too busy with his new friends—and that broke Charlie’s heart.

            “Uncle Zayn, please,” Richard begged over the line, “This is actually important. Please you don’t understand,”

            “No, Richard,” And then Zayn hung up the phone, growling internally. Niall skipped over to him and hopped onto his lap, kissing his neck. “Guess who that was charming?” Zayn asked, kissing Niall’s lips and then licking down his neck. Niall shivered and shrugged. “It was Richard again,” Zayn groaned.

            Niall giggled, “He missed our baby,”

            “Yes,” Zayn sighed, “He missed Charlie,”

            Just then, Charlie walked into the room, his hair sticking out in all directions. He was now 14, and heading through his teen years quick. His body was bigger, stronger, yet still small compare to the other boys his age.

            “Who was on the phone?” Charlie asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily. Zayn kissed Niall one final time and set him down, walking over to Charlie and pulling him in for a warm hug.

            “It was no one,”

            “No one?” Charlie whispered.

            “No one,”

            And then the doorbell rang, and Niall skipped off to answer it. Niall knew not to answer the door when he was alone, but with Zayn standing behind him he knew that it was safe. The door was opened then, and Zayn’s eyes widened when he saw who stood there. It was Louis and Harry, smiles on their faces.

            “We’re home!” Louis yelled, walking in and grabbing Zayn for a hug. Immediately everyone began to hug and kiss, Niall even crying because he was just so happy to see Louis and Harry again. Zayn on the other hand was happy, but confused at the same time. I mean, what were they doing back? It was such a random time for them to visit.

            “God, Louis, you look great,” Zayn smiled, pulling Louis in for another hug, “What are you doing back so soon?”

            “Well,” Louis said stepping back and wrapping his arm around Harry who was holding Charlie’s hand, “We decided it was time for another move. Richard…well…he’s been a handful. But perhaps, I can talk about that with you later, when we are alone?” His lips were pursed, like this was bad. And a strange feeling swarmed Zayn’s stomach. He felt as though maybe Louis and Harry returning wasn’t going to be as great as he had originally thought. “We are moving back into our old house,”