Zayn's P.O.V

Liam dropped me off over an hour ago so I've drowned myself in music and art, creating atleast 20 new sketches.

My mom was already home but didn't question the drop off, or where I had been, which frankly was weird but I just dropped it. I hear a knock on my door so I quickly pause my music saying a soft "come in".

My mom enters the room, her face is tight and her lips are pulled into a thin line. I sit up, concerned.

"Zayn...I have something to tell you." She whispers softly, almost inaudible, I had to lean in.

"S-shoot" I stutter out nervous. Why is she acting this way?

"Zayn I haven't been at work these past few days I've been in an out of the hospital, a friend was leaving the notes" she says. I pale instantly sitting up fully.

"I-i don't understand" I panicked gripping the blanket underneath me tightly.

"Zayn I have breast cancer"

****

Liam's P.O.V

I come home to see my mom was up, I furrow my eyebrows at her appearance, her hair was actually brushed, she wasn't wearing week old clothing either. Noah was in his high chair with a full meal on his plate. She turns to see me smiling.

"I made dinner sweetie! Glad to see you're home." I step back from her. Yesterday she fucking hit me, and now this?

"Um.." I look around. Is this a dream?

"What happened to you?" I ask my "mother" who's standing in front of me. The house doesn't smell as bad either. Has she smoked today?

"I wanted to take some responsibility for what I did last night" she explains. I scoff, yeah just last night, like you've never been drunk and high every night for years now.

"What took you so long" I pass her grabbing a plate. I hear her sigh.

"Can't you just be happy with this Liam, look what I did for you and Noah!" She screeches. I flinch setting the plate down.

"No. I can't. I can't be happy, because you can't just go back to the way it was so simply. You can't expect me to forgive you for all of the bullshit-" my head is turned to the side from the force of her slap. I expected it, I didn't flinch.

"Do not use that language in my house Liam!" She scolds but I only laugh shaking my head.

"Language, watch my fucking language!? How bout watch your drunk and high ass that passed out on the couch all the time!?" I scream back.

She stills and swallows thickly.

"Just take this, let's just be a happy family" she begs grabbing my hand but I rip it away.

I feel my heart start to race and panick. Why is this happening all of sudden? I blink a few times before pulling my phone out of my back pocket and I call the first number. Ashton.

"Are you busy?" He answers on the 2nd ring and I don't even say hello.

"No want me to pick you up something?" He asks sounding confused.

"No...no. I'll be there in 5" I say hanging up. I continue to ignore my mom and go to kiss Noah's forehead.

"Be back soon bud" I mumble ruffling his hair before grabbing my keys leaving the house for the second time today.

I drive a short amount of time to get to Ashton's not even bothering to lock the car, pretty sure I left a door open too but I could care less right now. Ashton answers tugging me into his nice house.

"What did your mom do this time?' He asks making me sigh.

"Nothing wrong that was the problem" I try to say but it comes out just as confusing as I thought it would making Ashton scrunch his face up.

"I fucking came home and the house was clean and she had showered, hasn't smoked all day, all this stuff and then suddenly expects me to forgive her. Like what the fuck!?" I explain sitting myself on his king size bed.

It's almost as comfortable as Zayn's. Thinking about him aches my heart, I would tell him about all this but I don't want to burden him..

"Well maybe you should just lie, say you forgive make it seem meaningful but actually don't. Don't add more arguments that just sucks ass" he grumbles, the bright screen of his phone lighting up his face weirdly.

"I guess..I don't know I just need to get drunk" I mumble standing up to go raid his alcohol cabinet that his parents still haven't found out about.

"Well in any other case I would say drink up but maybe you shouldn't on this one mate, I mean that's what she has been doing all these years" I cut him off with a glare before he compares me to my bitch of a mother again.

****

I wake up noticing my surroundings, I pull my phone out of my pocket 2 in the fucking morning. I look around Ashtons bedroom, but he's nowhere in sight.

I shrug and let out a yawn, hoping I'm tired enough to go back to sleep. I hear talking from the hallway, faint whispers, both sounding familiar. I sit up leaning towards the open door. I know the voice anywhere, its Zayn. Why would he be here?

My heart sinks when I hear his voice again, its small and strained, followed by a few hiccups. He's crying.

That's enough to send me up out of the bed onto my feet in less than a second. I run out into the hallway to view Ashton, his arms encircled around Zayn, who's head is buried in Ashton's chest. Jealousy flares in my chest but I shake it off because I need to know why my baby is crying.

Zayn lifts his head up, his eyes are bright red and his face is wet from his tears but he still manages to look beautiful.

"L-liam? W-w-what are y-you d-doing h-here?" He stutters out still obviously shaking from crying so hard.

"I got into a fight with my mom, now your turn" I step forward still very concerned.

"M-my m-mom" he mumbles sniffling making my heart wrench even more.

"What happened baby?" I murmur leaning down to press my hands on his sides, gripping them tightly.

"S-she h-has cancer" Zayn spits out the last word before his sobs come back, this time they are massive, like he's screaming. I'm glad Ashton's parents are gone for the weekend otherwise they would think someone is being murdered.

I hold onto him, pushing his head into my chest, rocking. His sobs are slowly breaking my heart.

"Baby" I murmur again shushing him softly still rocking him in my arms. He only holds onto me tighter signalling me to pick him up, which I do, one arm under him to keep him upright I rock back and forth on my feet trying to calm him down.

Zayn lays limp, not even hugging me anymore, his arms dangle limply and his head lays lazily on my shoulder. The only movement from him is the slight shake from his now silent cries.

"I'm so sorry, why didnt you call?" I ask my voice in the verdge of breaking but I don't want to cry in front of him.

"I-i d-didnt want t-to b-bug you" he sniffles out making my heart sink farther. I squeeze him once more.

"Bother me with anything, I will always come to comfort you, that's my job. I don't care if you stubbed your toe, all it takes is a call and I'm there with ice cream, and hugs" I whisper in his ear kissing it softly.

He detaches his legs from my waist and I slowly let the small boy down admiring him.

"T-thank you Ashton, but I-i t-think I'm g-gonna go w-with Liam" Zayn mumbles gently grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together.

Ashton nods understanding, I grab my things and pull Zayn out the door thanking Ashton one last time before we get into my car.

"Let's take all this horrible shit off your mind baby"