Pretend It's Ok

The small thuds on the ground sounded that the mischievous four year old had been up from his mid-afternoon nap. Melinda had been in the kitchen cooking lunch - which was basically like dinner - while Zayn was watching TV on the couch as comfortable as could be. He grasped the glass bottle of Pepsi in his hand. He twitched slightly as soon as the cold glass met his warm fingers. Zayn's eyes were focused on the TV as the Indian cricket team were on. He always did get a bit competitive during these.

"No...no. Come on!!", he shook the bottle at the TV. "You had one job!", Zayn screamed at the screen as if he could be heard. He lifted the bottle up to his lips tilting his head back to swallow the dark fizzy liquid.

"Baba baba...", the little voice called to him breaking his concentration.

Zayn turned his head to where the noise had came from. His gaze lowered as it landed on a much shorter version of him. A smile crept on his face as he stared at the mini him. The little boy had dark jet black hair messily spiking upwards causing him to chuckle a bit. His eyes were as light and welcoming as his mother's with a tiny hint of Zayn's. Long lashes rimmed his almond-shaped eyes and on either side of his chubby cheeks revealed two small dents.

Zayn couldn't sustain the happiness his chest held, "Hey buddy!" He grabbed him into arms playfully growling at him and playing monster with him. "I'm going to eat your hair like...like..."

"BISKETTY!!", Musa shouted laughing hysterically shielding his stomach from his father's tickling.

"Bisketty!!", Zayn growled into his son's face causing the little tyke to squirm and fight his way out still laughing. "Hey get back here!", Zayn chuckled along with his four year old son. He got up chasing him around the huge flat. "I'm going to get you!", he growled crouching down towards Musa.

"Ahhh.", his son giggled and screamed running as fast as he could. Little Musa ran into the kitchen seeking his savior - Melinda. He ran into her holding onto her pants as tight as he could shaking Melinda in the process.

"Whoa whoa whoa...", she turned to see the tiny Zayn giggling hysterically. "What's going on here?", she chuckled along with him.

"Baba is monsta!", he pointed towards Zayn who couldn't hold his laughter much longer. The lisp in his son's high pitched voice always cracked him up. "He said he wanted to eat my hair like bisketty!"

"Oh no!", Melinda faked the fear in her voice. "What are we going to do?", she knelt down to be eye to eye to her son.

"I no know!" As fast as he spoke the sound of a growl was heard. "Whoa!"

Melinda turned to Zayn her laughter returning, "Zayn...are you hungry?"

Musa's laughing fit escalated. "Dad has a big monsta in his stomach!", he reached his arms out to display how huge Zayn's stomach was apparently.

Zayn took in the scent of spicy seasonings and different herbs. Melinda's cooking was always on point. He barely at out anymore and would constantly ask her to make lunch for him before leaving for work. He could smell the aroma of oil as she turned off the fryer. Melinda had made his favorite - samosas.

"Yes daddy does!", Melinda agreed still looking at Zayn. "But maybe we should go play with the toys in the living room until mamma is done with lunch.", she pointed to the box filled with toys. "Then we can feed the huge monster in baba's stomach."

Musa chuckled poking fun at Zayn. He ran into the next room doing as told. It wasn't easy having a child, especially one who was still in the early stages of childhood. Musa was in the independent stage of his development. He wanted to do everything for himself and it had been just as hard as when he reached his terrible twos. She felt more connected to her mother. As soon as she knew what it was like, she called her telling her exactly how sorry she had been for any mistreatment she gave her. Being a mother wasn't in the least bit easy.

Zayn turned his head seeing Musa occupied with his toy cars making muffler noises and such. He turned his attention back to a busy Melinda. It amazed him how amazing she looked even if all she had on were black sweats and a white v-neck of his. He couldn't help but snake his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck lightly resting his chin on her shoulder.

"You're amazing. Do you know that?", Zayn's breath brushed against her shoulder.

Melinda shook her confidently continuing to cut the carrots for the salad, "I am well aware, but I love hearing it once in a while."

Zayn chuckled, his neck vibrating against her, "Oh do you?"

"Yeah...", she smirked. "It's a great reminder. Keeps my confidence in check."

He rolled his eyes grinning, "In that case, I'll keep my mouth shut."

He spun Melinda around to face him. His hands were still gripping her hips. Zayn pressed himself against her making her back press into the counter. Melinda's eyes widened in surprise. Her heart was racing nervous that Musa could be watching. She moved her head slightly to check on him. Musa sat there still playing with his cars. Zayn's hand was on her jaw using his index finger to position her to look at him. Melinda's eyes were intently on him waiting for his next move. Zayn's smug grin was something she wished she could wipe off, but she knew that could only be done naturally.

Zayn moved his face closer into her's and Melinda stopped him only inches away from her lips. "I thought you said you were going to keep your mouth shut.", she tilted her head to the side with a sly smirk.

Zayn tilted his head the other way only inching himself closer, "Mine will be shut, but it'll be your mouth that won't be able to stay quiet."

"Oh shut up!", Melinda chuckled turning around back to the food. "Musa might be watching leave this till later.", she finished cutting the salad topping the carrots on top of the lettuce.

"The longer I wait, the more I can hear you screaming in passion in my head.", Zayn closed his eyes imagining his sexual fantasies.

Melinda punched him in the arm laughing at his vulgarity, "Stop!"

"I can hear you screaming that too!", he said with his eyes still closed.

"Oh wow.", she chuckled shaking her head.

She felt his hands around her again. Melinda laughed at the tickling sensation his lips created against her skin. She shook trying to rid him of his tight grasp. Melinda turned around facing him and continuing her laughter. Zayn left kisses on her shoulder while she squirmed.

Zayn then felt a soft object hit his back, "What the..."

He turned his head seeing Musa with a Nerf gun, "Let go of my mom, monsta!"

Zayn furrowed his eyebrows at his son who stood in front of him armed. He pointed the plastic gun towards his father. Zayn could barely keep composure at the situation at hand. Melinda would snicker every now and then towards the two.

"And if I don't...", Zayn crossed his arms over his chest.

Another shot was fired as Zayn got hit right in the forehead. Zayn ducked once more as the laughter of both Melinda and Musa grew. He then grabbed Musa sweeping him off his feet and carrying him into the living room. He pretended to pile drive Musa into the ground and eat him once more. Melinda stood in the kitchen watching the men of her life wrestle on the ground. Musa had gotten on top of Zayn attempting to fight back - which only ended up in a tickle fight.

"AHHH MOM HE'S GONNA EAT MY HAIR LIKE BISKETTY!", Musa's cry for help worked seeing as Melinda had finished making lunch.

"I'm coming!!", she joined the pile.

"Watch out mamma! He's going to eat your hair like bisketty too!", he screamed in a laughing fit.

Another huge growling noise filled the air causing all three to cease movement. Musa chuckled not being able to handle anymore laughing at the sudden noise coming from his father's stomach.

"Maybe we should have lunch now.", Melinda got up straightening out her shirt. "What do you think, Musa?"

"I'm hungwy!", he answered.

"Race you to the table!", Zayn challenged his son.

Both sped off leaving Melinda recollect everything in her life. Melinda enjoyed how her life was going by so quickly. She smiled feeling blessed to have so much abundance and wealth. She felt her heart at ease knowing she could give more to her children then she could ever have dreamed growing up. Life wasn't easy at times, but she knew that that's how it was going to be from now on. On Twitter, the fan base welcomed Musa with open arms giving their 'oh, he's so cute' comments and 'miniature Zayn' compliments as well.





Gharram and Harry had been married for almost five years now. They've had their share of fights but nothing as dramatic or serious as before. Gharram had a three and a half year old daughter and another on the way. Gharram was five months pregnant - no, Harry couldn't wait to have anymore children. Nonetheless, she always had a soft spot for kids and Harry had an even bigger one. Their daughter, Anjali Sharma-Styles, was the spitting image of her mother with the hint of her father in some places on her face. She sported the curls on her head and green eyes with a slight tint of blue from him while she had her feisty attitude and smile from her gorgeous mother.

Harry had been grateful for everything that had been brought into his life ever since the beginning of it all. Having Anjali was a kind of feeling he could never entirely explain. A three year old daughter. Harry was a father. This was still so surreal to him.

Harry smiled widely at the sleeping toddler in his arms. Anjali always enjoyed sleeping in his masculine arms seeing as they kept her warmer than any blanket could ever. She found it a safe haven almost. Her silent breathing and snoring had Harry tearing at how beautiful she was. He closed his eyes taking in everything around him. This was all so overwhelming to him in the best way possible.

Harry kissed her forehead walking her to his room. Him and Gharram felt that giving her her own room at such a young age wasn't suitable. Her being alone in a room with no one there to aid her when needed; plus it had been way too dark. Harry knew what it was like to be alone in the dark - he was secretly afraid of the it.

He placed her down into her crib and tucker her in. Grinning like a child in a candy store, Harry left the lamp shade on closing the door slightly behind him. He walked over to the living room where Gharram had been cleaning - or trying to clean. He laughed seeing her struggle to bend over for Anjali's bottle.

Gharram's eyebrows were knitted in concentration as she bent to the side holding onto the couch. Her tongue was sticking out and Harry couldn't contain his composure for much longer. She knew he was watching her and Gharram being...well Gharram she paused to stick the middle finger at him. Same old Gharram... sometimes.

"What the hell are you laughing at, Styles?", she gave up standing up straight holding her back.

Harry held back his laughter to go pick up the bottle, "Nothing you just look so radiant, is all."

"So fucking radiant...", she rolled her eyes agreeing sarcastically.

Harry walked up closer to her with the bottle tightly in his grasp, "Well, you do. Especially when you bend over like that..." He smirked knowing he hit a nerve.

"Shut the fuck up...", she grabbed the bottle out of his hand fighting back a laugh.

Harry gasped dramatically, "Watch your language around the little one!"

"How about you watch these nuts.", Gharram retorted Rather quickly.

Harry sat beside her grabbing Gharram's favorite bag of chips along the way. He brought her favorite ice cream as well - cookie dough. He opened them both and poured the chips on top of the cold delicacy. Gharram endured the most oddest cravings while pregnant. Some she clung onto even after birth. Harry cringed at the mixtures he created for his wife and winced even more at how she ate them so normally.

"What are you looking at?", she said with her mouthful.

Harry grabbed the remote looking away giggling, "Nothing. Nothing at all."

One thing that Harry could never understand were pregnant women's mood swings. One minute she'd be angry the next laughing and before he knew it, she was crying hysterically because she accidentally broke a plastic plate. Harry backed up slightly feeling that she might explode in any second.

"Harry.", her voice shook Harry. Gharram furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "Why are you so far from me?"

Harry's worry softened into a grin. He shifted towards her with an outstretched arm. He wrapped himself around her embracing her randomly. Gharram never did question why he would do this, because she enjoyed the feeling of his spontaneous affection. He kissed her cheek lightly lingering on her skin for more than a few seconds.

"Shit...", she said holding her bump. Harry quickly turned into alert. "Chill, he's just kicking is all."

"Oh...", he sighed in relief. He held her stomach feeling the small kicks from his future child. "Wait a minute...", he quickly registered the situation. Gharram bit her bottom lip still feeling the tiny feet against her. She waited on baited breath for his reaction to the sex of the baby. "You're having a boy...", he asked.

"We're having a baby boy.", she corrected him.

His eyes widened in disbelief, "No way?" Gharram nodded her head with a toothy grin. "Oh my god! I have to tell Liam and Zayn and the others!", he shouted but then quieted himself down again remembering Anjali had been asleep.

"Speaking of the others, how are they? Aside from Zayn of course.", she continued eating her strange concoction.

"Niall is currently getting the last minute errands done for him and Demi's wedding..."

"Finally.", they both sighed in unison.

"Louis is working for GQ and engaged to Eleanor.", Harry surfed the channels on his huge plasma screen.

"Wow...", Gharram said licking her spoon. "They lasted all these years?"

Harry nodded his head in shock at their relationship as well. "Liam is single focusing on himself. Actually I heard that he's been eyeing Jade Thirlwall."

"Jade Thirlwall?", Gharram asked shock written on her face. "From Little Mix?", she asked eating some spicy chips. "How is that going for him?"

"He's been trying to muster up the courage to say something to her.", Harry chuckled imagining Liam blushing at the caramel-haired girl. "

"Hmmm...", she spoke with her mouth full. "They'd actually look really good together, when you think about it."

"Yeah they do....don't they?", he turned to her in agreement. "But you know who looks phenomenal together?", Harry exaggerated with his hands and a girl accent.

Gharram laughed at his facial expression, "Who?"

Harry inched closer to her staring into her hazel eyes. "You and I...", he sang quietly to her. Gharram smiled softly enjoying the beautiful raspy tone of his voice. She always begged him to sing to her and always refused in a shy manner saying that, 'he doesn't like to be put on the spot.' "Not even the gods above can separate the two of us...", he searched for the warmth she carried in her heart for him. "Nothing can come between you and I...", he held her hands in his kissing them softly. "Oh, you and I."

Gharram teared at the intense emotion he radiated. Her hand was on the lower region of his cheek feeling the structure of his jaw. Harry sat still watching as her eyes roamed over her his face and frame. She took in his every being grinning proudly. Her dents revealed themselves on either side of her face - as did his. Harry loved seeing this personal side of his wife. She never showed this side and Harry was the only one to witness the softness of her heart. Her thumb made it's way to the lining of facial hair. She felt the supple softness of his pink lips. She shivered feeling the intensity between them collide and increase with inch closer to him. Before she knew it, Harry had been only inches away from her.

Their eyes met igniting the fire that had slowly started. Her mouth parted slightly teasing her husband who begged for more. Harry lightly pecked her lips and slowly worked up more and more energy. After a few more small kisses, Gharram had her arms around his neck giving him more access to her. Harry passionately laced his mouth with her's and held her closer to him. She smiled in between kisses feeling on more kick from her baby.

"I don't think he likes you so close to me.", Gharram whispered into his mouth. "I guess you have some competition."

"He is no match for me...", he whispered still only inches from her with a smirk.

"Oh? You think so...", she spoke almost challenging Harry.

He kissed her once more tightening his grip careful not to hurt her bump, "I know so."

Gharram laughed hysterically at Harry's confidence. She let go of him holding onto the arm of the chair for support to get up. She walked towards the bathroom continuing her laughing fit. "Funny, Harold. You're funny.", she pointed towards him still walking towards the bathroom.

"What's funny? I wasn't joking.", he stretched his arms as if in defence. "Gramz! He isn't though."

"That's what you think, Styles.", she closed the door behind her still laughing at his expression that she could imagine.

Harry sat there with his mouth agape, his eyebrows furrowed and his arms still outwards. He grunted like a child folding his arms over his chest. He heard a tiny laughter and turned his head next to him seeing Anjali that had suddenly woken up sooner than expected. "Hey!", he grabbed her placing her on his lap.

"Hi daddy-ji.", she spoke so quietly. Anjali was just beginning to learn to speak and said a few words and comments. Harry smiled at her mixture of Indian and English.

"You don't think your little brother will be any competition with me, do you?", he asked her seriously with disappointment in his face - which only caused her laughter to erupt. She shook her head in reply. "That's what I thought.", he nodded his head with the same expression he had on before. "That's why you're my favorite in this house."

"I HEARD THAT!", Gharram shouted from the bathroom.

Harry and Anjali's eyes widened. It soon faded into a fit of laughter.

“There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there's so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.”
- Zayn Malik

Notes

The End. <3