Chapter 8

It was a quiet ride home as Anya sniffled a little in the backseat while Loid drove them home and Yor was following them in her car. Once they arrived home, Loid got out and opened Anya's door, scooping his daughter up into his arms.

The little girl clung to him and whimpered. "D-Daddy," she said, her voice soft and weepy.

"Shh, I'm here, sweetheart. Daddy's here," he soothed, holding her as he got his briefcase and Yor came up to them, getting the keys and opening the front door.

"I'll order us some takeout," Yor said gently and Loid nodded as his wife went to go order their food and he sat down on the couch, holding his daughter protectively.

Anya didn't let go of her father as she felt his large hand rubbing her back and rubbing her head softly, helping her crying to calm down as she nuzzled her head against her father's shoulder, still sniffling a bit. Loid began rocking her to help her calm down more and he looked at his daughter. "Anya? Can you tell me what happened?" He asked gently. "What led to that boy pushing you?"

She looked up at him. "He's a meanie and he said his dad said he could bully me because I'm an orphan," she said. "He usually bullies me in the hallway, but he came up to me at the playground and shoved me while I was drawing with the chalk and he told me that I was unwanted and that because I didn't have 'real' parents, I'm just an in...incon...," she trailed off as she tried to remember the word the boy had used.

Loid felt his blood run cold and he looked at his daughter. "Inconvenience?" He supplied gently.

"Yeah," the little girl said with a nod. "But...I'm not. Right, Daddy?"

"That's right, you are not an inconvenience," he said firmly. "That boy was wrong to say that about you."

He hated that the principal had given his son permission to bully Anya and he shook his head, hoping the ex-principal's wife would make sure it wouldn't happen again, if the school didn't decide to expel the boy first.

Anya sniffled again. "He even said that if he punched me, you wouldn't come rescue me," she said.

"And he was wrong there too," Loid said. "Because I came right to your school, didn't I?"

The child nodded. "Mm-hmm," she whimpered out softly.

"So that boy was wrong," his father said. "And he wasn't expecting your mother to arrive or for his own mother to arrive."

Anya giggled a little. "Yeah, he didn't like that she was there," she said. "He was trying to shrink down in his seat and he was glaring at Jimmy too."

"Jimmy tried to help you?"

She nodded. "But Kenny pushed him too, calling him some bad names too."

She snuggled into her father's hug. "But you came to my rescue, Daddy. Kenny said he would push me into the brush pile again tomorrow and the next day too, because no one would come save me."

"Well, you don't have to worry about him now," Loid said reassuringly. "Kenny's teacher put him in detention with writing sentences and he can't go on the class field trip."

Anya nodded. "He's not going to like that," she said. "They were going to the space museum and he likes space."

"Well then, he should have thought about his actions before he hurt you," her father said.

She nodded. "Jimmy told him that he was wrong to push me. He even got in the middle and Kenny pushed him while Jimmy was trying to protect me."

Loid smiled. "He sounds like a good friend," he said.

"Yeah," the child said.

The father stood up and paced the room while still holding his daughter, rubbing her back soothingly and the child moved her head so that it was resting right over where her father's heartbeat was. The soothing sound helped her to calm down more and snuggle closer. "Daddy," she said softly, feeling better as she continued listening to his heartbeat.

"My little beautiful treasure," he said, kissing her forehead in affection as he continued to rub her back and pace the floor gently.

After a bit, he noticed Anya had completely calmed down and was resting with her eyes closed and he smiled, giving her a gentle boop on the nose.

The little girl scrunched up her face in surprise, making her father laugh at how adorable she was and she rubbed her nose, looking up at her father, who chuckled and booped her on the nose again. A giggle escaped the young girl this time and Loid lifted her up over his head, making her laugh as he carefully spun around, being careful not to trip.

"And up you go!" He said playfully. "Take-off!"

Anya held her arms out like airplane wings and giggled as she 'soared' around the room, her father making sure he had a secure hold on her.

Yor came in with a smile at seeing her husband playing 'airplane' with their daughter. "Looks like we have a cheerful little flyer in the house," she said.

The child giggled again before squeaking as she felt her father's fingers wiggle into her sides and he pulled her back into his arms, still tickling her sides before he blew raspberries into her neck, making her squeal.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHADDY!" She laughed out.

"What?" He asked playfully before tossing his daughter up into the air and catching her, making her giggle again.

"You're so funny, Daddy," she said.

"I'm funny, huh?" He asked, smiling before he now tickled his daughter's stomach, making her squeal and try to push his tickling hand away, but that didn't work out.

Yor smiled again. "Looks like Daddy's got you," she said playfully.

"She's right," Loid said, smiling. "Daddy's got you and he's going to call upon the tickle monster to eat up all that delicious laughter of sweet little girl."

Anya was laughing so hard right now from her father's playful words and the tickling that her face got red and she began to cough. Loid at once stopped tickling her and held her cradled in his arms, watching as his daughter caught her breath. "Sorry, munchkin. You okay?" He asked.

"Mm-hmm," she nodded, still giggling. "Again, Daddy."

"Again?" He asked playfully. "Well, I would, but I think I hear a tummy grumbling."

As if on cue, Anya stomach growled and Yor smiled. "The food's arrived," she said.

They all sat down to eat, though Anya was more than content to sit in her father's lap as she ate. She leaned into his arm and he gently hugged her, to which she smiled.

"Daddy, you're the best Daddy in the whole world," she said honestly.

"And you're the best daughter I could ask for, sweetie," he said.

Yor smiled as she witnessed this while hoping in the back of her mind that Anya wouldn't be bullied again.

But if it did happen again, the bullies would learn of hers and Loid's wrath.


Had to throw in some comfort. :)

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GoldGuardian2418