Fathers

A/N: Written for Father's Day. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: OA

Despite having his day-off, OA woke up early. His body seemingly used to the early hours of his work. He immediately came to a decision. He took a shower and got dressed. He was out of his apartment before he could change his mind.

The look of surprise on his mother's face was priceless when she opened the door. "Omar, you didn't tell me you're going to visit!" She quickly hugged him and stepped aside to let him in.

"Good to see you too, mom. You know how rare our day-offs are so I just thought this would be a good time to visit."

She led him to the living room and he sat on the couch. When OA noticed that his mom went to the kitchen instead, he followed her. "Mom?"

He found her by the coffeemaker. His mother prefers tea over coffee but she has it for her kids and guests. He noticed that her favorite teacup was already on the counter beside a sandwich on a small plate. She was getting a blue mug from the bottom shelf and placed it on the coffeemaker. "Have you eaten breakfast already?"

"Yes, mom." Knowing that his mom was going to ask, he passed by a drive-thru to get coffee and a burger.

As if reading it on her son's face, the matriarch commented, "You should be taking better care of yourself, Omar." She gave him his coffee-filled mug then put her teacup and sandwich on a tray. "And I'm not just talking about your eating habits."

Her son offered to carry the tray for her but she refused. She brought the tray to the living room and set it in the center table. Both the mother and son sat on the couch.

She took a sip of her tea. "You know that I am extremely proud of what you do but I couldn't help but worry about you all the time."

"I know, mom." His gaze landed on a framed picture of his parents on the shelves across them. "Do you think dad is proud too?"

"What brought this on?" She followed his gaze, suddenly understanding. She set her cup back on the table. "Of course, he is." On her son's skeptical look, she added, "You know about his opinion on your choice of work. It's too dangerous." She held her son's hand. "He only wants you to be safe."

When her son nodded, she started eating her sandwich. In between bites, she shared, "I remember when you were born, he was so happy. His son, his first-born." OA looked at her. "Not that he wasn't happy when your sisters were born, you know how much he adores them."

He smiled, remembering his father being surrounded by his sisters. The patriarch had always been a disciplinarian but OA felt that he was treated differently growing up. "I remember him being too strict to me," he confessed.

His mom gave him a sympathetic look. "I noticed that and I talked to him about it." She sighed. "He said he's only making sure that you're going to be on the right path. He wants you to watch over your sisters and be a good role model to them." The woman cleared her throat. "Somehow, I think he was preparing you if he would no longer be with us."

OA noticed his mom becoming emotional so he slid closer to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry, mom, I didn't mean to upset you-"

"No, it's just..." She took the handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her eyes. "I know your father wasn't able to tell you but I know he is proud of you, Omar." She held his hand as she looked at him. "Every achievement, you trying to make a difference in your chosen career, and most especially, the kind of man you are today... He'd be proud for all of it."

He looked down, trying to compose himself before glancing back up. "Thank you, mom."

The matriarch exhaled loudly. "Oh, enough of this. We shouldn't spend your rare visit crying." She got up to put away the dishes with her son helping her.

After that, the mother and son talked for hours. He shared about Amira's latest antics while she updated him about his other sisters.

His mom cooked chicken kebab and falafel for lunch. They had just finished eating when OA's phone sounded.

"It's from Maggie. She wants me to help her with something."

"By the way, how's Maggie?" She softly laughed at her son's pointed glare. "I remember that you said that she was going through something. Is it resolved now?"

"I think she's managing the situation," he answered cryptically. It was now his mother's turn to narrow her eyes, very similar to her son's.

OA recalled his first meeting with Ella. He wasn't sure what prompted his partner to introduce him to her but he was eager to help.

Ella shyly approached him. "Sir OA?"

OA laughed. "Sir? You don't have to call me that. Just OA." Ella nodded. Slowly but surely, she started warming up to him.

He heard his mom saying, "Oh, you could bring some of these to her." She started packing the dishes into food containers.

"No, mom, you don't have to. I could get something else on the way."

"Omar Adom, are you ashamed of your mother's cooking?" She said with her hands on her hips. She might be a few inches shorter than her son but she can be intimidating if she wants to.

"Mom, of course not," he said, grasping his mother's shoulders, trying to calm her.

His mom smiled. "Good, then you could bring these to her."

OA sighed as he accepted the food. His mom walked him to the door. "Thank you mom." He hesitated before adding, "Love you."

The matriarch beamed before hugging him. "Love you too, son."

Notes:

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