"Already? You've already started thinking about names?"

"Already," Justin nods, as he and Liam and Zayn ride the elevator down towards the parking garage. "Mani's like, obsessed right now. She can't stop. She's got like, twenty names saved so far."

"Shit."

"Wow."

"You'd think we were having a girl, too," he sighs, chuckling tiredly. "Like, Madison? That's dope for a girl, right? But, a boy?"

"That's not a terrible name for a boy, Jus."

"She's showing you girl names?" Zayn exclaims, laughing as Justin nods. "That's fucking hilarious."

Justin shakes his head. "That's Imani."

That was.

And Zayn can't help but laugh at the differences between her and her sister. Zhuri wouldn't deviate from the standard. Imani would be the one to consider girl names for her son. That was who she was.

"That's your woman," says Liam, and Justin's smile is kind of small and kind of sad.

"Yeah..."

But he was struggling with that lately, and Zayn knew because apparently Justin had told Zhuri. That was the thing about the fluid, easygoing twin. She was fluid and easygoing and still like Zhu--hard to read. Justin didn't know what the hell to do about it either, largely because he was scared to bring it up. What were they? Would he continue to stay with her after the baby was born, or would he move out? He knew he wanted to be a part of his son's life, and he knew Imani wanted him to be too, but what did that mean for them? Imani was his baby's mother, but weren't they past that? They lived together and slept together and had sex nearly every night and did dishes and chilled on the couch and Justin liked that. He liked those things; loved them, even.

He liked Imani, he knew that from jump, but love?

He was falling hard, and he was scared to tell her.

He was scared to mess up what they had.

He was scared to push her away.

And Zayn and Liam exchange glances.

"Y'alright, mate?"

"Got quiet on us."

Justin nods. "Fine," he says. "Just thinking."

"About?"

Justin chuckles humorlessly, "'Bout how I don't know what the fuck I'm gonna do with Imani.

"Mani needs to talk to Jus."

"'Bout what?" Zhuri asks in darkness as she lays beside Zayn in his bed.

She's at his tonight.

"Them," he replies, as Zhuri traces the tattoos visible thanks to his tank.

"What about them?"

"They're naming a baby but don't know what they are," he replies, rolling over onto his side, tucking his hand beneath his head. "Your sister's just like you, Zhu."

She chokes on a laugh. "Way to drag me."

A small, sleepy smile plays on his lips. "I just call it like I see it."

She slaps him lightly. "Hush," she giggles. But, she nods. "But, you're not wrong."

"You coulda just said I was right."

She giggles again. "Eh. Where's the fun in that."

"So, you gonna tell your twin, or nah? 'Cause Justin is stressed."

"I'll talk to her," Zhuri nods.

"Thanks, baby."

"But, he's gonna have to have a conversation with her eventually."

"I think he knows that. He's just...I think he's just--"

"Scared?" Zhuri asks with a raised brow.

"I mean, I didn't want to do him like that, but..."

Zhuri's laugh is soft and muffled against his shirt. "It's okay. You can tell me the truth."

And as they lay together, breathing in each other's silence, Zayn's mind drifts as Zhuri drifts to sleep.

"What are we gonna name our first child?"

Zhuri blinks, eyes snapping open. "Hmm?"

"Our kid," Zayn continues softly. And he half expects Zhuri to tell him to shut up and go to sleep because they'd just stopped being friends and had just become a couple and kids together were nowhere in their immediate future, but he finishes his thought, anyway. "What're we gonna name--?"

"Her?"

He chuckles out of surprise. She's playing along.

"Yeah. Her."

"Well," and Zhuri laughs that soft, sleepy laugh again and Zayn stares fondly at her through the darkness, "before I tell you, I gotta say we can't have just one."

"'Course not," he replies with a head shake, feeling some kind of way because she's continuing this conversation and getting kind of in his feelings because of what that all means for them and the possibilities of the future, "We have too much sex, anyway."

Zhuri laughs. "That's so true holy shit."

"Also," he laughs, "I need a boy."

"A girl and a boy?"

"I like that."

"Can we name him Zayn? I love your name."

"Can we not? Thanks."

She laughs again.

Zayn kisses her forehead.

"You don't want a Junior?"

"Why? So he feels like he has to live up to my life? I don't want that for him."

Zhuri is silent.

"You'll be a good dad, Zayn."

"And you'll be a great mom," he replies honestly. "Anal as hell, but that's why you have me."

"Way to drag me again, babe."

"We're a team, girl."

She giggles.

He pulls her closer.

"My son needs a cool name."

"He does," she nods against him. "'Cause he'll have a cool mom."

He hums. "Right."

"I like Paris," she whispers. "Girl or boy. I don't care, y'know? I just..." Her breathing evens; she's getting sleepier, "I've just always loved that name."

"Paris?" And Zayn nods, finding himself genuinely smiling.

"Yeah," and she peers up at him. "You like it."

"Honestly, Zhu? I fucking love it."

And Zhuri is sleepy, but she's awake enough to catch herself from letting those three words slip.

Not yet, anyway.

I love you.

___

I think I like this lil story

Yes to ZHARI y'all yessssss!

That is all lol
Comment and vote !