"If you could get any teddy right now, what would you want the teddy to be?" Liam asked, curious yet knowing exactly what the boy was going to say. "Chase!"

"Chase. The paw patrol one?" He asked, teasing the boy who giggled in response and swung their hands together once more as they took each new step. "Yea! Li' know Chase."

"Of course I do. I'm just tricking ya. I'll keep my eye out for you." He smiled, entering a petite toy shop with a bell that rung as you entered. It was small and empty with a strong smell of nostalgia and plastic toys, the only people there being the staff members which were all quick to greet them with a smile, no judgement covering their face at seeing the two together, hand in hand. Liam was quite thankful for it as he knew the store being as sweet as it was would help to cure Zayn's growing nerves. "You can have whatever you like, Z. As long as we can bring it to the dorm, meaning, don't make it too big."

"Oh... But I wan'ed massive bear?" He giggled with a cheeky grin and Liam couldn't help but smile fondly in return, something he had found himself doing a lot lately. The boy's little side was definitely mischievous and he couldn't wait to explore more of it with him. He hopes that they have many more days, just like the current one, in their future. "Let's stick to little bears like you for now, huh?"

"Lickle' bears like Zee." He repeated with a blush across his face, his hand dropping from Liam's as he allowed himself to roam around and explore what the store had to offer. He found himself kneeled down next to an interactive wooden toy train set, his hand on the toy as he moved it around. His eyes were glowing and he had the largest smile across his face. "Is' train." He had always wanted a toy like this when he was younger but he never got the chance to have one because of the size, so he was almost in shock when the store had it - it was all so exciting to him.

Liam crouched next to him, watching him intensely, admiring how his little side was so quick to become infatuated with anything that sparked interest at all. He watched how Zayn's eyes followed his hand as his hand moved quickly around the track as if the boy was racing with someone. "Do you like that toy? We could get you one just like that."

"Choo choo train." Zayn responded, looking up to Liam with his wandering eyes. His mind more focused on the toy in his hand than whatever it was the man in front of him appeared to be asking.

"That's right. You'd like it?" He asked and Zayn shyly nodded, putting the toy he was holding back down onto the track. "We'll get you it then." The man picked up one of the wooden sets, carrying it. He may or may not have underestimated just how heavy carrying a bunch of wooden train tracks was, even for someone that often works out however, he'd make sure to carry back anything Zayn wants - no matter the weight. "Anything else?"

"Chase." He giggled and then dramatically gasped, "You forget?" which Liam couldn't help but laugh at, "I could never forget, tiny. Let's find you a Chase."

"Yay!" He cheered and wandered off again, stumbling almost as his brain got fuzzier within the space, still in eyes distance of Liam as the store wasn't overly large at all. "Is it just a Chase teddy you want, Zayn? Or are you fine with any Chase related toy because I'm unfortunately not seeing many teddy's here... Maybe that build-a-bear trip we discussed once before will have to happen someday soon."

"Ummm. Any." The little responded with a pout, he was looking forward to having a Chase teddy but he supposed any Chase toy will do if they could find one. Though his pout was short lived as it soon disappeared seconds later when he found a small Chase toy, thankfully. Liam wasn't sure if he could deal with a tantrum. It was only plastic and a couple centimetres tall but it was more than enough for Zayn, it was Chase after all and a perfect size to sneak into his college bag. "I foun' him. That's all. Please."

"That's all? Alright. Let's buy Chase and the train. Do you think you could be a big, clever boy and put your Chase on the till so that he can be scanned?" He asked softly, watching how eager Zayn was to please him and behave well, knowing he was about to receive his own little Chase toy. It was clear he didn't want to misbehave in case Liam took it from him. "I can, Li. I can." He whispered and sat it on the till, getting shy upon the worker's gaze who didn't seem to show any judgement towards the small boy but instead a reassuring smile. Liam lifted the train onto the till and the worker scanned each of the items, announcing the cost with a now, large smile at Zayn who excitedly had grabbed the toy back. Liam paid and lifted the train back down, "Alright. We're ready to go."

"T' gooooo...!" Zayn cheered and exited the shop, opening Chase as quick as possible. To him, it felt like Christmas Day - new toys and little accessories in the post, he was overjoyed. "Ta, Li."

"You've got such sweet manners, Zayn. We'll head back so you can play with these and get some rest, yeah? Build-A-Bear can wait for another day." Liam said, rubbing Zayn's back. "'Kay. Good idea... cause me wan'ed play wif Chase."

"Thought you might have wanted to do that... Considering you've already opened him." He chuckled, taking the rubbish from Zayn and placing it in a nearby bin for him. Zayn could truly get used to this, not having a care for anything in the world but himself, his new caregiver, and the little items around him. He enjoyed how Liam did almost everything for him, leaving him feeling tiny and well looked after. It was an amazing, warm, fuzzy feeling. He really loved it.

"I so 'scited to play." He grinned, making the pocket-sized Chase walk on every object they passed. "We'll have to get home quick then." Liam responded, "Why don't you put Chase in your pocket so he doesn't distract you...? We'll be much faster that way."

"Good plan, ..Daddy." He whispered, suddenly getting shy again. Although the suggestion of calling Liam such name was his own, it was still foreign to his tongue. It felt right though, just fresh. He put the toy into his pocket and reached for Liam's hand again, rubbing his thumb against Liam's. It was a simple movement but it left Liam's entire body feeling floaty and full of butterflies, he really had to sit down with himself at some point and decide who he was. He thought he was straight but the feelings Zayn has gave him over the past few weeks had felt so.. right. So maybe he wasn't. And that was okay. "You're sweet. Almost back home now, couple more minutes and right turns."

"Almos'. How long in secon's?" The little asked curiously, grinning. He knew Liam wouldn't have an answer because the question was ridiculous but he asked it anyway. Liam couldn't help but shake his head fondly, "I don't know. How many do you think?"

"Me finkkkkk... Like.. fif'y hundred!" He gasped, "That's a lot, innit?"

Liam laughed, "Yep. It's quite a lot. That's like eight hundred minutes which is certainly a long, long time."

"You fink it gon take us dat long to be home?" Zayn questioned, hopping over a slab. He studied the ground and stepped over each crack he saw, turning it into a game. "I don't think it'll take that long, eight hundred minutes is thirteen hours. Thirteen hours is probably how long you've been awake today."

"Oh. Smart LiLi." He smiled, dropping the man's hand. He continued to hop over the cracks, eyes focusing on the ground and not on the things surrounding him. "Watch where you're going, little one."

"I am."

"No. You're watching the ground. We don't want accidents do we?" He warned, knowing they were almost on campus now which was busy at all times of day. He could very easily walk into someone, or even something if he wasn't careful. "Am not jus' watching d' ground." He groaned and Liam raised an eyebrow, "You are. Eyes up. Seriously. I don't want you hurting yourself." With a whine, Zayn looked up at Liam, his eyebrows were furrowed and his arms were crossed. He wasn't happy "I was playin'!"

"I know, and I could see how much fun you were having but it's about to get busy and I do worry for your safety." He spoke softly, rubbing the boy's back who pouted in understanding. "You could play it again if you make sure to take breaks to look up?"

"Um, um. Okay." He agreed and moved away from Liam, finding his own space. He began to play again, hopping over each individual crack and slab like his life depended on it. His eyes still focused solely on the cracks, finding it hard to look up when the game was so intriguing. Liam just sighed and left him to it, not wanting to cause a scene or upset the boy. He made sure to look out for him though, watching as he enjoyed himself. If Zayn wasn't going to be cautious about the world around him, then he would have to. Anything for his little. "Almost here now. One more minute and we'll be at them doors."

"Good.. bu' lemme jus'...-" Zayn mumbled under his breath, focusing extremely hard on his handmade game. Liam would be lying if he said it wasn't amusing to witness, the lad's tongue was poking slightly out of his mouth and his eyes were focused on the same spot. It was funny. "Hop!"

"You're funny, Z." Liam complimented, taking his hand as they arrived at the entrance. The boy's eyes peered up, turning to Liam. "Home."

"That's right. Hop up them stairs now. You've got this." He cheered, lifting Zayn's hand up with his own to prepare him for a jump. "I got this." He giggled and hopped up the stairs with Liam's help. "You did it."

"I made it back. I win!" He yelled, cheerfully, but quickly covered his mouth as he realised they were now in a public area, surrounded by other university students. The man chuckled, "Congratulations. Let's get to the room."

"An then I can play wif Chase."

"That's correct." Liam agreed, following Zayn as he made his way to the room. Chase now out of his pocket and once again, walking along every single object on the way. Seeing the excitement the toy gave him, Liam was glad to have been able to buy it for him. (As well as the heavy track which was still in hands, he couldn't wait to put it down and rest his muscles.)

The two entered their room and Liam locked the door behind him, turning around to Zayn already with his shoes off and in a ball on his bed. It reminded him of a kitten, or even a puppy in the way that he was laying: Chase was in his hand and soft murmurs were coming from his mouth. The little boy was playing with Chase, role playing and acting out a paw patrol scene. It was adorable to say the least. Liam sat the train down and took a photo of Zayn, he wasn't going to post it anywhere - it was just for safe keeping. The moment was so precious, he wanted to keep it forever.