When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

33; Partners, bowling, and game machines

Zayn

 

I never thought there would ever come a time where I would be baby shopping with Niall, but alas here I am. Standing right in the middle of Babies R Us watching Niall contemplate between buying the stripy tights or the plaid ones.

"What do you think, Zayn?" Niall asks me, holding the two up. They're both exactly the same, both black and white, except one has squares and the other just has lines. I don't see why we've wasted thirty minutes on this decision.

"I don't know, Niall. Does it really matter?"

He looks at me like I've offended all generations of his family. "Does it really matter?" He repeats, and I sigh. Here we go. "Does it really matter?"

"I-"

"DOES IT REALLY MATTER?!"

"I take it back. I take it back."

"These are tights for my child!" He cries. "My child. My child's tights. I can't believe you would ask such a ridiculous question, Zayn."

"I like the striped ones." I crack a smile.

"Oh really? I like the plaid ones." He puts the striped ones back and I want to shoot myself. He puts his chosen tights in his little shopping cart and finally we move on.

"So remind me again why we're shopping for a baby we don't even know the sex of yet?" I ask as he moves along the aisle looking at every product. A week had passed since everyone had found out about Avery's pregnancy – Violet was a little pissed at me for not telling her but eventually calmed down – and Avery was just coming into three months in. The excitement was high. Niall and Avery both were loving every single thing of this pregnancy and couldn't wait to find out whether it was a girl or boy. But Avery still had about two months to go until she could find out. Which is why it confused me that we were already shopping.

Niall picks up a breast pump and studies it. I immediately take it out of his hands. He just shrugs and carries on walking. "Because, Zayn-o, we are not prepared for a child. So, we need to buy things."

"But why tights?"

He gives me an 'are you serious' look. A look he gives me a lot. "All babies wear tights. Have you ever not seen a baby with tights? They're always wearing them. It's like universal code."

I just shake my head. My job here is to support Niall with whatever he buys.

"Aw, look at this!" He cries, rushing over to a panda onesie with a hood with ears and little feet things. I have to admit, it is pretty cute.

Until I check the price tag.

"Jesus Christ! Niall, it's a hundred pounds."

"Oh, come on. It's so cute!" He whines. "Can you just imagine it walking around with this little panda suit on?"

"And the little feet things," I cry. "And the hood. Like the ears. Oh, my god."

"Ohhh, Zayn. Can we get it? Please?"

"Niall, I don't know." I wince. "It's really expensive just for a child."

"But, Zayn. It's our child."

"Can I help you two?" A woman's voice interrupts us suddenly, making us both turn. She grins at us, rather widely.

"We're just looking," Niall answers.

"Alright then. Let me know if you and your partner need any help."

I choke just as Niall bursts into laughter. I watch the woman walk off and I try and process what she just said. Niall and I? Partner? You're fucking kidding me.