Chapter 7: I'm your father

May 14, 2077

It was a very special day for a very special girl. Hana Amari Sonf was turning 4 years old. There were balloons, streamers, candy, and cake all for the little girl. Ana and Reinhardt were both there to see their little granddaughter move up another step in her life. Hana was wearing an tee shirt with the words "It's my birthday" stitched onto it. Fareeha was bringing the double chocolate birthday cake to her special little girl and her angel wife Angela was right beside her with her phone taking pictures and making videos like the average over zealous mother she was because every birthday Hana had, she wanted to remember them all. No matter how small the moments were, she captured them.

Fareeha places the cake on the table in front of Hana

"Happy Birthday, my little soldier!" - the rocket mom said as she proceeded to give Hana a kiss on the cheek

"Thank you, mommy!" - Hana happily replied

"Fareeha, get next to Hana! - Mercy said Look up, sweetie! Mommy has to get you in this next shot!"

"Angela, you've taken at least over 50 pictures even before we arrived here. Don't you think you should take a break?" - Grandma Ana suggested

"Forgive me, but you know how I get when I see my little angel growing up! I just can't resist!" - Angela replied continuing to snap shots of her daughter

"She always does this, mum. She took 10 pictures of Hana when she learned how to tie her shoes!" - Fareeha chuckled

"Don't judge me, liebchen! It was a beautiful learning moment of my precious child's life that deserved to be cherished to the fullest! My little baby is growing up and as her mother, I have to capture every moment she sprouts! - Angela justified

"Now now, Fareeha. I'm sure Angela just wants to remember every moment of Hana's childhood." The eldest Amari added

"Can I have my cake now?" - the girl eagerly waiting to eat cake ask

"We have to sing happy birthday to you first, sweetie. Then you can have it." - Fareeha replied

After the family sang Hana began eating away as much cake as she could till her stomach made her look chunky.

"I remember when you were but a small baby, now you're starting to grow up more and more. I'm so proud of you, Hana." - a semi tearful Fareeha said

"My little granddaughter is growing up so fast and she's getting so strong just like her grandpa!" - The happy grandpa Reinhardt said

"She's been doing push ups with Fareeha, I think they're starting to pay off." - Angela said

"Excuse me, everyone. I would like to propose a toast to not only Hana, but to both Fareeha and Angela for taking in and raising a child that may not be of their own DNA, but raised her as their own daughter." - Grandma Ana

Everyone raises their drinks about toast when suddenly...

doorbell rings*

"Oh I'll get it." - Fareeha said as she placed her cup down

Fareeha opens the door and sees a tall brown gray haired man wearing a brown shirt and a light brown zip up vest.

"Hello...may I help you?" - Fareeha said to the strange looking man

"Hello, Fareeha. My name is Koda Wahyah. It's been so long since I've last seen you. You look so young and beautiful. And I see you've been working out a lot lately." - the strange man kindly introduced himself

"Um I'm sorry, but I think you have me mixed up with someone else. I don't think we've met before. How do you know who I am?" - A confused Fareeha asked him

"Now how could I possibly mistake my own daughter for another woman?" - Koda asked a now shocked Fareeha

"Wha...what are you talking about?!" - Fareeha asked

"Fareeha dear. Who's at the door? Who's this man?" - Angela asked her wife as she stood beside her

Koda takes a deep breath and pulls up his necklace which has a locket tied to it. He opens the locket showing a small picture of a young Koda Wahyah and Ana Amari and a newborn Fareeha Amari. "Fareeha...I'm...your father." - He revealed

Fareeha and Angela's eyes widened, shocked at the fact that Fareeha's father, who she claims she had never met was standing right before her. So many memories and thoughts raced through her mind trying to take it all in at once. Should she be happy that she's meeting her father for the first time? Or should she be angry that her father was never there in her life other than her birth?

"May I come in?" - Koda asked

"Su-sure of course! Please do so. My name is Angela! It's a surprise to meet Fareeha's father on such a short notice!" - Angela introduce as she invited him

"Balloons, streamers, and a half cut cake could only mean one thing...is someone having a birthday?" - Koda asked

"Yes. It's...our daughter's 4th birthday." - Fareeha told her father

"Daughter?!" "Our?!" - a shocked Koda asked

"Kod...er um...father. Angela and I are both married to eachother and we have been raising a child that we adopted 4 years ago." - Fareeha explained to her father

"Well, this is a lot of news I'm hearing right now. I get to see my daughter after years and years and now she's all grown up into a beautifully developed woman. Not only that she's become a married mother to a child thats not even her own blood." - Koda expressed

"Dad, you're not upset are you?" - Fareeha asked him

"Why of course not! Why would be I be upset at my daughter and all of the great things she's accomplished?! You've taken great care of yourself, You have a great house, a wife and a child. I'm too proud to be upset." - Koda happily replied

"Fareeha is everything...okay?" - Ana asked as she saw her previous lover

"Hello, Ana. How long has it been?" - Koda asked the mother of his child

"Koda!" - a shocked Ana said

"What's wrong, dear." - Reinhardt asked his girlfriend

"It's Koda. Fareeha's biological father. He's returned." - Ana replied to him

"Mommy! I want more cake!" - a hungry birthday girl demanded

Fareeha picks up Hana so she can get a better look at her new grandfather.

"Father, this is Hana. She is our daughter." - she told him

"Hana, this is my dad and your new grandpa so say hi." - Fareeha said

"So... I have 2 grandpas now?!" - Hana asked excitingly

"Yes, sweetheart. You do." - Angela replied

"Well, aren't you just the cutest thing! So I hear that its your birthday today. - Koda compliments his new granddaughter

"It is, grandpa! I'm 4 years old today!" - Hana told him

"Well then in that case, every birthday girl deserves a gift right? So here you go!" - Koda says as he pulls out Hana's gift from his pocket

"What is it grandpa?" - Hana asks

"It's a necklace worn by my tribe's ancestors. They say that whoever wears it shall be blessed with good luck and fortune." - Koda explains the necklace to her

"It's great! Thank you, grandpa!" - Hana says putting on her new necklace

4 Hours pass onto the evening. Koda, Fareeha, Angela, Ana, and Reinhardt were all outside having some drinks and discussing what all happened with his disappearance.

"What happened with you? Where were you all this time?" - Fareeha asks her father

"I suppose your mother never told you about it then?" - Koda replies

"Wait, mum you knew about this too?!" - Fareeha turns and asks her mother

"I didn't want you to know because I was afraid that you'd become obsessed with finding him. I didn't want you to find out until you were at least old enough to understand why he wasn't there." - Ana explains

"Where were you this whole time, Koda?" - Angela asks her father in law

"During the Omnic Crisis, my home was being torn apart by war and destruction. Ana was pregnant with Fareeha at the time, but I didn't want to bring her into the world just yet surrounded by chaos and death. That wasn't the half of the situation. The soldiers who came to stop the Omnics that had threaten our land began to run low on their food rations. People from my tribe gladly reached out and offered them food and shelter, but that wasn't enough. My tribe had soon started becoming ill and hungry. I was distraught and felt as if I was going mad. I wanted to leave with Ana and Fareeha all together, but I couldn't. My people were in agony, I couldn't bear the thought of abandoning them. If I had, would've been no better than the Omnics that took our home from us. I wanted to help my people, but I wanted Fareeha also deserved to live in a home where it was safe and secure from warfare. I had no idea what to do. So one night, Ana decided that when she was born she will enlist in Overwatch and raise her by herself while stay to help my people. At first, I was against it, but she insisted that I do it. She said she didn't want to add more weight on my back. Then 2 months after Fareeha had been born, they both left. Ana joined Overwatch and took Fareeha with her while I stayed to help my people. It was the hardest thing any father could do, but I cared about my Fareeha more than anything...that's why I couldn't be with you, Fareeha...and I'm sorry." - Koda explains his back story

A few seconds of silence passes

"That was so beautiful!" - Angela sobs

"That story, it's very, touching, but also heart breaking." Reinhardt adds

"So that's why you were gone? You wanted to help your people." - Fareeha asks Koda

"That wasn't the only reason why, Fareeha. I wanted you to be raised in a place of security and protection 24/7. I missed out on so much of your life, but at least I knew that you were protected." - Koda replies

"Fareeha, regardless of what happened, understand that your father and I love you enough to do anything to keep you out of harms way." - Ana explained

"I know, I just wish I had more time to be with him." - Fareeha says

"Well how about this, I'm staying at a hotel, not too far from here, what do you say you and your family come spend the day with me tomorrow?" - Koda suggests

"Angela has to work tomorrow, but Hana and I are free. I could pay for a room and Hana and I could stay with you for the night. " - Fareeha suggests

"Of course, Fareeha! Thats a great idea!" - Koda says

"Hana, go get you things packed. We're going to spend the night with grandpa." - Fareeha tells her daughter

"Okay, mommy! I get to sleep over with grandpa!" - excited Hana said as she when upstairs to go pack.

"I better go pack and help her pack too." - Fareeha said walking upstairs

Fareeha and Hana both pack their bags for tonight and tomorrow as they prepare to spend a whole day with Fareeha's long lost father. Hana especially was excited because she just met her new grandfather and felt closer to Fareeha's side of the family. Both women are ready to leave to the hotel.

"Have fun, you two. I'll miss you both!" - Angela says kissing both of them goodbye

"Bye, dear. We'll be back the day after tomorrow." - Fareeha tells her wife

"Bye, mommy!" - Hana said

Both Hana and Fareeha make their way into Koda's Jeep and the family heads off to the hotel. When they make it there, Fareeha orders both her and her daughter a room.

"Hello, welcome to Holiday Inn." - The front desk hotel employee greets the family

"Hello, I would like a room for 2 please?" - Fareeha requested

"Of course, I just need your first and last name." - The employee said

"Fareeha Amari." - She told the employee

"Okay, you are on room 3012 on the third floor, here is your room key, and you are all set. Enjoy your stay!"- the employee said hand Fareeha the room key

"Mommy, this place is big!" - Hana said sounding surprised at how big the hotel was

"Yes it is, sweetie. They have to keep it big so more people can stay here."

"Well, I better get back to my room for the night. I'll be up tomorrow morning at 8:00 for breakfast if you 3 want to join me? - Koda asks

"Of course, dad. We'll be up and early." - Fareeha tells him

"Goodnight, you two." - Koda says giving them both a kiss goodnight

"Goodnight, grandpa." - Hana says to him

"Goodnight. dad." - Fareeha replies back

As they get to their room, they quickly put on their night clothes and get ready for bed.

"Mommy, I'm happy I have another grandpa now." - Hana tells her mother

"I'm happy too, sweetheart. We're all going to hang out tomorrow so you'll get to know him more." - Fareeha said

Fareeha turns off the lights and says goodnight to her daughter

"Goodnight, my little soldier." - Fareeha says giving Hana a kiss goodnight

"Goodnight, mommy." - Hana says falling fast asleep

After 31 years, Koda, the biological father of Fareeha Amari has returned to her life. What went from another simple birthday party for her daughter Hana, turned into a quick Amari family reunion in a matter of hours. Both women are sleeping as they prepare for a day out with Fareeha's father. Hana especially was excited to spend a whole day with her new grandfather.

END OF CHAPTER 7

Thank you for reading!