53 ??He was beautiful??

ZAYN

My nerves were all jittery, my palms damp with sweat and the room seemed to be swaying. Uncle had called Labeeb and his mother outside so I could talk to Leia alone.

I was scared out of my mind.

Uncle gave me a reassuring nod and closing my eyes with a deep inhale, I pushed the door open. There was a cozy air about the room and it smelt less of medicines.

My eyes immediately latched with Leia's, who had a watery smile on her flawless, flushed face. An indigo silky scarf was thrown over her head in haste, which meant she had put it only for my sake.

"Zayn," she breathed, "Look."

And I did. Slowly, my eyes perused the little boy in her arms and my heart fluttered with a thousand butterflies. Carefully, I strode towards the stretcher, constantly reminding myself to take a breath. I couldn't . . . It felt like I would never be able to breathe again.

My chest was heavy with emotion, throat dry and oh God, my heart. It had stopped functioning the moment I saw her with the baby in her arms.

When I reached the bed, a distinct smell wafted in the air. I halted. Leia's cheeks flared a deep scarlet.

"Oh . . ." she seemed to have trouble looking at me. "It's . . . he just drank milk . . ."

I couldn't help the wandering of my eyes.

Shiiiit.

Oh Lord, Zayn, stop being a perv.

I instantly closed my eyes, turning my back.

"What are you doing?" Her sweet voice messed further with my head.

I clenched and unclenched my fists, hoping for some level of control. Oh yes, it was high time I got married.

Ever so slowly, I got rid of the ridiculous thoughts and turned back to look at her. Her face, this time, mind you.

She had either not noticed where my eyes had strayed or she was choosing to ignore it. Either way, I was glad.

"How are you?" God, my voice was hoarse. A little too much.

She sighed this time, giving off a little laugh. "In labour, I decided I would never have another child but after holding him . . ." She got a starry look in those twinkling eyes and I had a feeling she was having trouble not crying. "I think I might want twenty more."

There was an awkward pause, both of us thinking who would give her those twenty children.

I cleared my throat, eyes trailing off the baby again. I couldn't really see his face with the blanket swaddled around his tiny body.

Suddenly, she angled him out to me. I started, caught off-guard, not knowing what to do with myself.

I thumped a finger to my chest. "Do you want me to . . . hold him?"

She nodded, pink lips curled into a lovely smile. "I know you want to. Remember when we were younger you told me you loved babies so much, you wanted to keep holding them?"

I smiled at the memory. But she still had the baby angled out. I stood in a half-awkward stance, unsure of what to do.

"Just take him, Zayn," Leia encouraged.

Without another word, I bent down and cautiously took him. My hands lightly grazed her arms, sending a jolt of electricity down my spine. I straightened, lightly swinging the chubby baby, smiling down at him.

He had the most adorable button-nose, right in match with Leia's. It felt like I was looking into a mirror image of a little version of her. I lifted him up closer to me, pressing a light kiss to his soft, plump cheek.

God, he was beautiful.

The feeling of having him pressed like this next to me was a breath of fresh air. I pecked him again. On one cheek, then the other. I was unable to stop gazing at him, the same creamy complexion as Leia's.

I was wrong to think he would remind me of Ammar; he was one hundred percent Leia's son.

"Did you think of a name?" I asked gruffly, finally looking at Leia. I was surprised to find tears cascading down her face.

She gave a shake of her head. "I thought you could do it,"