The next couple of days were the most hectic Zayn had ever experienced. He may have grown up with siblings, but his father ran a tight ship. Now, with Liam, Liam's sisters, all of Zayn's family, his staff, and occasionally, Niall and Harry, the house felt like a circus. He almost regretted inviting them all to stay for three days, but the way Liam lit up when one of Zayn's sisters asked him to watch a movie, or his mom asked if he wanted to help with dinner, was plenty enough reason to put up with the chaos.

These were the last days they'd spend here, and Zayn was determined to fill that time with all of Liam's favorite things. He even let Liam rope him into helping make the dessert one night, and when he splattered chocolate all over from whisking too fast, Liam just laughed raucously and started to lick it off his face. If Zayn had to excuse himself for some air, then he'd just blame it on the heat of the kitchen.

The third and final day the families were there, Zayn made plans to take them all out to his favorite breakfast spot and then to his favorite art gallery so they could all decide on pieces to go in Zayn and Liam's new home.

"Thank you," Liam whispered into Zayn's ear with his front pressed to his Master's back.

"You're welcome. For what?"

"For this week. For the ring. For my family. For the party. Just," he kissed under his ear, "for loving me."

Zayn turned in Liam's arms and slid hands up his chest. "You don't ever having to thank me for loving you, Liam, you know that."

"But that doesn't mean I'll ever stop," he countered, and the smirk was enough to have Zayn nipping at Liam's lip with his teeth.

They were found like that, arms around each other and lips sliding aimlessly, by Nicola. She gave a startled 'oh' and then laughed. "Sorry, we're ready to go, if you guys are."

Liam reached out for one more kiss before taking Zayn's hand in his and leading him downstairs. The families were all gathered, Niall and Harry included, in the foyer. Zayn stopped mid-way down the stairs, halting Liam as well. The others were too busy talking to notice the hold up, but Liam stepped up the couple steps of distance and tilted his head in confusion.

"We're moving in less than two days, Liam."

Liam nodded easily. "I know."

"Away from this. From our home. From our families and friends."

Liam sighed slowly and leaned his head back to look at Zayn better on the step above him. "Firstly, my home is wherever you are." Zayn rolled his eyes, but his smile was genuine. "Secondly, we're taking our best friends and Marvin and Kalli with us. So really, I'll have everything I need." He leaned forward and kissed between Zayn's pecs. "And want," he added.

Zayn's hand came up to curl behind Liam's head. "But it'll be a completely different lifestyle. I'll have to get a normal job. We won't have a home theatre or indoor pool."

It was Liam's turn to roll his eyes. "Your parents are letting us have your childhood dream home. We're going somewhere we can focus on us," he squeezed Zayn's hip, "finally be paired, and raise a family."

Zayn got lost in the thought of it. Liam holding his kids when he comes home from some nine-to-five. Grocery shopping with the little ones in the cart. Actually getting home in time to relax and watch telly after dinner. A dinner that would only be made by Liam and Kalli. His face relaxed with the images running through his head.

Liam chuckled and lifted up on his toes to catch a kiss. "Not so bad, right?"

Zayn pulled him in and kissed his temple. "Not bad at all."

"Zee, I'm hungry!"

Liam let a small laugh go, into Zayn's chest, and pulled back. "On that note."

"Coming, Saf," Zayn assured and walked with Liam, hand in hand, the rest of the way to their families. "So, we can fit in the two big cars. I'll drive one; Baba, the other?"

They agreed and were off. Zayn, Liam, Safaa, Ruth and Harry in one, and the rest in the other. Safaa begged Harry to ride in their car so she could play with his hair. Harry obliged easily. Liam took the drive time to look out at the streets he'd just started to learn, and realized he wouldn't miss this place much at all. Everything that he would miss was coming with him, and even though Zayn was worried, he was glad to be away from a place that held such bad memories. He just wanted a fresh start, a chance to be happy, with the love of his life.

He felt a hand on his and curled his fingers together with Zayn's. "Penny for your thoughts?" Zayn offered.

"They're worth more than that," he teased and turned in his seat a little to admire the man that saved him.

"They're priceless actually, but I'd still like to hear them."

Liam settled back into the seat more and listened to the sound of Ruth laughing at whatever monstrosity Safaa was concocting on Harry's head. "Can you imagine if you hadn't stopped that first night? If you'd just kept driving like half a dozen other cars did?" He kept his voice low, not wanting his family to hear the gory details of what happened that night. "If you'd sent me to a House instead of taking me home and cleaning me up?"

Zayn's hand was deathly tight on Liam's when he finished talking. "I don't want to think about it."

"But you did," Liam continued. "You saved my life. You found me." He could feel the wetness start to collect in his eyes and he pushed it down. He hadn't meant for this to be a sad conversation. "I'm just saying, you did something that most people wouldn't do, especially a Master of your status."

"Best decision I ever made," Zayn chimed in without hesitation. He brought Liam's hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles before dropping them back on Liam's lap. "We were meant to meet that night; I know it." Liam nodded and looked back out the window. He'd never heard a more true statement in his life. 

***

Zayn flopped back on their bed, and Liam crawled up to lay next to him. They both groaned with relief as Liam curled into Zayn's side. It was completely quiet for the first time in almost four days. They'd just dropped Liam's sisters back off at the airport, after a grand farewell to Zayn's family. Niall and Harry said their goodbyes and assured they'd see them tomorrow when it was time to go.

It was silent for all of two minutes before there was a knock on the door. "Enter," Zayn mumbled, lips pressed to Liam's hair. Marvin came in and stopped a few feet in the door.

"Your belongings are packed, sir. But I do need a few last minute signatures from you."

Zayn nodded lazily, but didn't move. "Bring 'em here."

Marvin must've figured Zayn wouldn't want to move because he brandished the papers in Zayn's face before offering him a pen. He looked briefly over each one. First were the recommendation letters for the staff he wasn't taking with him, practically guaranteeing them any job they desired in a home.

Then, the contract of his resignation. Then, the signing of Marcus DeWare as the new CEO and Chairman of his, no not his anymore, company. Niall's signature was already right underneath his; he must've signed it before he left. That one hurt the most. His hand shook as he scribbled the pen across the page over the uneven plane of Marvin's hand that was holding it flat.

It was almost anti-climatic. He'd just signed over what he'd worked most of his adult life for, and that was that. He handed Marvin the pen back and he left with a brief acknowledgment that lunch would be served in ten and an understanding look. Zayn curled back over to find Liam watching him.

"Okay?" the slave asked.

"Yeah, just-it still feels like defeat, kind of."

Liam played patterns on Zayn's stomach with his fingers. "You did what you had to. For us. For you."

"For you," Zayn clarified. "I wouldn't have done this for me. You're the only reason good enough to give up something so important to me."

Liam frowned at that. "I'm sorry you had to do that for me."

Zayn scooted down so he was eye level with Liam and took his jaw firmly in his hand. "Listen to me and make no mistake: I would do it a hundred times over if it meant you were free."

"To be with you," Liam finished what Zayn didn't say.

"To be with whomever you want."

Liam tilted his lips into a half smile. "So," he drawled, "to be with you."

Zayn laughed and couldn't help when his lips found Liam's, kissing his gratitude into Liam's heart through his mouth. When he needed air, he pulled back and asked, "Hungry?" Liam just groaned and pulled Zayn up from the bed after him, running towards the dining room.

***

The next morning, Zayn came stumbling into the kitchen in a pair of joggers and a vest, hair mussed and eyes droopy. Liam smiled at him brightly and nodded to the counter. "Toast is ready and," he turned the heat off on the stove, "sausage is done."

Zayn grabbed a piece of buttered toast and took a large bite before closing his eyes and mumbling, "I love you," with crumbs flying from between his lips.

Liam gave him a snarky, "You, too," before transferring the sausage onto a plate and taking the food to the table in the corner of the kitchen. "Come eat."

Zayn followed easily, steps dragging on the tile floor. "Where's Kalli?"

"Packing up the china in the dining room case."

Zayn fell next to Liam at the table and picked up a sausage with his fingers, hissing at the temperature and taking a quick bite before dropping it back to the plate. Liam eyed Zayn fondly and waited for Zayn to chew, while he fanned his mouth, and swallow.

"Good?"

Zayn just hummed and went to pick up the hot meat again, but Liam grabbed his hand, sucking the grease off his fingers before folding their hands together. "Niall and Harry should be here any minute." Zayn nodded idly and reached for the toast with his other hand, but Liam grabbed that one too and placed them both in his lap. "We're leaving in less than twenty minutes."

"Yep."

"Like moving. Away. Forever."

Zayn raised his brows. "Is there something you'd like to say here, babe?"

"I mean, you haven't said goodbye to the staff. You haven't been out to the garden one last time. Is there anything you wanted to do, you know, before we go?"

Zayn pulled Liam's chair closer, chair legs scratching against the floor, and pulled his slave's legs into his lap. "If we were paired already, I'd fuck you one more time in our bed, but," he shrugged and finally got a hand on some toast. "I'm ready to go, Li."

Liam shoved the stirring in his stomach away. "It's okay to be, you know, sad or nervous."

"Not sad. Not nervous," Zayn assured around a full mouth.

"But it's okay, if you are."

"I'm not."

"Okay, but-" Zayn swallowed and pulled Liam in by his neck to smash their lips together, effectively silencing Liam's rant. When he pulled back Liam was smiling. "I'm fine. I'll go say goodbye to the staff before we leave."

Liam tilted his chin up in triumph. "Thank you." Zayn just hummed and devoured the rest of his breakfast with Liam half in his lap and wholly on his mind.

He did gather up the staff to say how grateful he was for their years of service and how much he'll miss them. Liam said a few words of his own, followed by lots of hugging and a few tears. Then they were out the door, two cars filled with stuff and their city receding in the rear view.

Liam fell asleep twice, and went pee three times, before they were pulling off the highway and passing along a coast with calm waters and lots of green. He sat up straighter and looked over to Zayn, who smiled and said, "We're here."

***
Aaaaaaand....that's a wrap folks!!! At least for a bit.  It's mid season break time and we'll begin again before you know it.

Thank you so so so soooo soooo much for your support, it has been unreal. The love for this story has blown my mind! Honestly you people are the best of the best.

S/O to my two amazing betas: Joey and Remi I love you!!!!

COMMENTS AND KUDOS! MWAH!! Xoxo

Congrats, you made it through level one of the madhouse.

Love, Jess

Update***
Sequel is currently updating and is in my works!

Update 2.0***
Sequel complete! Third book to start soon :)