(18+ only) Ollie and Leora's Whirlwinded Romance

13

(Ollie's POV)

My phone started going off as soon as I was starting to walk away from the podium.
I waited until I returned to the vehicle to answer.
First, I would stop to pick up Leora from the Union. It was part of our plans. She would need more protection than ever. Or maybe she didn't, but I wasn't taking any chances.
Afterwards, we would both head home.
Secondly, Drew would be cooking us dinner while I got in touch with the extended family to discuss my recent announcement. Especially since I was the head of the family (my father had this written in his will) and the chairman of the board for the restructured Ramses Laboratories (A mandatory role I tried to do as little as possible with. I had no say in becoming chairman; The role was bestowed upon me as soon as I returned from my last solo mission. It was part of the reason why I accepted Laura's request to join the Esper Union).
After the countless voice call request, I finally answered Anita when I could sit in the car.
"Hello," I said, shyly smiling.
"Ollie!" Anita said, "Why did you lie to me?!"
I was stunned into silence.
"I knew you liked Leora!" She continued, not missing a beat, "Why didn't you tell me she was your girlfriend. That isn't a special friend, that's a girlfriend!"
"Anita. It's complicated -"
"What's so complicated about it?!" She protested.
"There's a lot of things you don't understand Anita-"
"You're being condescending! I'm a big girl now & I'm not stupid! You're the one who doesn't understand and isn't being normal!"
She was so cute getting so angry. I couldn't help but smile at her.
"Dad! This isn't funny!"
I noticed, over the years, that she only called me Dad when she was angry or upset at me. I needed to work on changing that. My smile went away.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth when Leora moved in with us?"
"What goes on between two adults is not the business of a young girl."
She stuck her tongue out at me.
"She's gonna become my stepmom! It is my business!"
"You should address her by first name or just call her 'Mom'."
She paused.
"I'm sorry Ollie I can't do that. I'll just call her Leora."
I decided to change the subject.
"I was planning things differently," I said to her, "I was going to tell you Leora and I were going out when you came home for the winter Solstice."
"You should have told me sooner! Solstice is too long to wait! I could have had a sibling on the way by then! Then it would have been too late to tell me and I would have been even more furious."
My eyes widened and I was stunned into silence.
"I'm happy you fell in love, Ollie," she blushed, "But I'm sad it won't be just the two of us anymore."
"Oh," I said, "Sweetheart. I didn't want you to feel that way-"
"Well, I do! I'm sad and I'm mad!"
"You're always important to me Anita. Ever since I found you."
I heard the vehicle stopping. We were at Union HQ.
Leora entered not long afterwards.
"She's there now, isn't she? I heard a door open."
"Is that Anita?" Leora asked.
"Now might not be a good time," I advised her.
Leora was puzzled, but soon her expression changed.
"I'll just say hello really quick."
Not arguing with her, Leora sat next to me.
"Hi Anita."
"Hey," my little girl answered, politely but clearly defensive.
"You probably watched the announcement your Dad made, huh?"
"Gee you think..."
"Anita don't be sarcastic-"
"It's okay Ollie."
Leora's gentle touch calmed my temper.
"I'm getting tired I have to go," Anita said.
"Anita, before you go," Leora said, "Do you want to come back home to stay with us?"
That got my little girl's attention. So much for her being tired.
"I've gotten used to being here," Anita answered, "But I never wanted to be here. I want to be near my Dad. No offense, but I just want to spend time with him."
"None taken! If I had parents, I would want to spend time with them uninterrupted."
"You're an orphan?"
"Yeah. I have a sister, but things got difficult between us and we aren't talking right now."
"I had no idea," Anita said, "Did your adoptive parents die too?"
"No," Leora shook her head, "I was never adopted."
"What? But I thought all orphans were adopted by new parents? I became a orphan, and Ollie and Aunt Laura took me in. I thought it worked the same for everyone else."
Leora started tearing up.
"That's so beautiful, Anita," she said, as I hugged her from her side, "I hope one day that becomes something that happens for all orphans. That they all get adopted before they grow up."