That's My Girl
4
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"So tell me, Kalia, dear, is it a huge adjustment? Moving from a place like Alola to one like our beloved Galar region?" Hop and Leon's mother hummed as she spent time with her oldest son's girlfriend, in hopes of getting to know her-

"It is quite a change yes..." Kalia said softly while she sipped at the tea their mother had made for her, "But at the same time it's an adventure...Why, Nouii's been running rampant all over this new region since we stepped off the subway!" she chuckled jokingly before turning back at the sound of a three way ruckus.
It seemed Leon was playing with the kids-

"And I'm FIRST!" she could hear her daughter's voice rise above the crowd and she couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"Whatever, you cheated!" laughed Hop.
"Oh what!? Says he who decided to dash 10 meters ahead and call it a race!" laughed Nouii, "You're just mad because I'm faster than you!"
"Goodness, Nouii, there you are at last..." Kalia called to her daughter and the girl froze in place and glanced back blushing.
"Uh oh, did I get her in trouble?" asked Lee as he made his way in through the gate.
"O-Oh uh...s-sorry Ms. Kalia..." Hop said softly, "I sort of kidnapped your daughter huh? I should have come by and let you know about it first! that was my fault." he explained and she shook her head chuckling.
"It's all right Hop, I kind of figured she was still running around with you...but I didn't think you would return her with Lee as well." she chuckled and moved forward to greet the man she had moved to Galar for-
"Kalia..." Leon said softly, "It's so good to see you again..." he smiled, "I missed you."
"Welcome home, Champion~?" she returned his smile and he visibly softened.
"I'm home." he said to her, with hands over her shoulders and a tender press of lips to her temple.

"Eww-"
"Oh yuck-"
The two younger ones cringed while their mother chuckled.

"Oi...this will happen to you two one day as well!" argued Leon, who broke into an awkward blush once he realized the two were exchanging a blushing glance with each other after what he said-
"Oh dear..." Kalia blushed awkwardly trying not to snicker too noticably.
"Ahh- I mean, wait, let me re-phrase that!" Leon panicked, "She is completely off limits! You got me, Hop!?" said Leon blushing while he pointed to Nouii.
"Say what!?" Hop jumped back blushing awkwardly as well, " Oi what gives, you can have a cute girlfriend but I can't!?" Hop said these things in a teasing manner only to mess with his brother but it still made Nouii blush.
Cute!?
Me!?
This floored her.
Even if he was just joking to mess with his older brother.
"She's not just any girl, mate!" said Leon, "She's Nouii, Kalia's-aka MY GIRLFRIEND'S daughter!?" he huffed.
"Pfft, yeah I know her name!" laughed Hop, "What's your point?'
They stared at each other for a while.
"You do realize that if and when I marry Kalia one day...you would technically be Nouii's uncle right?"
It took Hop a moment to assess and realize the situation before he began blushing wildly and flailing about.
"Ahhhh, NO WAY!" he stated, "We're the same age-! I'll settle with Step Bro- and leave it at that!" huffed Hop.
This time the whole gathering couldn't maintain their laughter at poor Hop's expense.

"Baaaahhhh- never mind any of that- let's get to the more important matters at hand!"
"More important matters?" Leon blinked curiously, "What matters are those?"
"Don't give me that!" huffed a still blushing Hop, " You promised us a present!" he stated, "So out with it! Come on!"
"Huh? A present?" Leon blinked, "Did I~?"
"LEE!"
"Hahaha all right all right I did." he chuckled.
"Wait...me too?" Nouii said curiously.
"But of course, you too!" Leon chuckled and playfully ruffled her hair, "This is our first time meeting at last- it's worth celebrating wouldn't you agree?"
"You brought Nouii and me Poke'mon, right?" asked Hop, "You did, didn't you? I know you must have!"
"Wait, A poke'mon!? For real!?" Nouii beamed.
"Oh Lee...you didn't!" said Kalia while he winked and gave her a cheeky grin.
"All right then~ take a good look you two!" Leon grinned, "Behold, the greatest gift from the greatest Champion~ GO!" he released three poke'balls and three lively Poke'mon came out of them.
"We have Grookey, the grass type~ Scorbunny! The fire type, and Sobble the water-type-"
"Monkeeeyyy~!" Nouii beamed. taking a fast and playful liking to the beat playing monkey like creature called Grookey.
"That's a Grookey, mate!" Hop laughed.
"It's a monkeyyy~ awesome!" she beamed giggling and they started beating around in rhythm.
"Haha I think she likes Grookey..." Hop chuckled.
"Is that what you're gonna name it then, dove?" Leon chuckled, "Monkey?"
"What? No way!" stated Nouii, " I'm gonna give it a cool nick name like...like...uhh...Drum Stixx!"
"Drum stixx!?" Leon snorted, "That's cute."
"Sounds like chicken to me, mate!" Hop laughed.
"Don't you listen to them Drum Stixx, your name rocks!" Nouii grinned as she held up the rock and roll horns with her hands.
"KeKeKe~"
"Silly names aside, nice choice, mate!" Hop grinned as he winked and gave a thumbs up, "Honestly though, I have been wanting Scorbunny for a while." he beamed, "You're mine! I'm aiming to be the next Champion- so you and I are going to be doing lots of training together!" he grinned.
Kalia chuckled and gently nudged Leon, while the two spoke excitedly about their new friends.

"You know...the first thing she asked me when we got here was if she could have some Poke'balls to catch some Poke'mon here." she said to him softly.
"Oh, aye?" Leon chuckled.
Kalia nodded.
"Apparently your brother tried to catch her one...but they all hid away...I didn't think you would bring one home for her!" she stated, "You didn't have to go that far-"
"Why not?" Leon chuckled," All kids should have Poke'mon at this age if you ask me~" he grinned before settling back and heaving a gentle sigh, " ...I really want her to like me Kalia..." he said softly, "I truly do."
"I understand that." she chuckled "But you don't have to spoil her for that-"
"But aren't dad's supposed to spoil their little girls~?" Leon asked with a cheeky grin and an eyebrow wiggle that made Kalia giggle.
"Perhaps most do...but it's not a requirement." she chuckled, "just give it some time...I know she will come to love you...just as much as I do..." with a kiss to his cheek she left to help his mother set the table while Leon gave a gentle sigh, watching the girl get along so well with his younger brother.
The sight made him happy...
But he wanted to be part of it too...

As time passed and the smell of kabobs filled the air, Hop was off cheering for the food to be ready while Nouii was pulled off to the side with her Grookey, riding along on her head as she tapped away at her phone.
No answer again...
Nouii sighed as she dropped her arm with a tap to the screen to end call while she got his father's voice mail once again-
I wanted to show Daddy my new Pokemon and tell him all about my day...
Did he hate her now? Was that it?
Was she the problem...?

Leon took notice as sadness flickered in Nouii's usually bright and brilliant eyes, and he narrowed his own with concern.
All right Leon...
It's now or never...
He took in a slow and deep breath, and gently approached the girl.

"...Is...everything all right over here, Nouii?" he asked her curiously.
Though he spoke in a gentle tone, it startled her, as she was lost in her own world for a moment-
"O-Oh uhh...yeah...everything's fine!" she sniffed quickly and rubbed at her eyes.

She was crying...?
Leon noticed things like this...rather easily.
He had sharp eyes.
But he wasn't sure if it was right yet for him to bring it to attention...

" I was just trying to get ahold of my dad, that's all." she said to him softly, "I wanted to introduce him to Drum Stixx..." she smiled as she carefully scratched at her Grookey's chin who seemed to very much be enjoying the attention.
"No answer, then?" he asked, leaning to the wall near her.
"Daddy's a busy man, that's all..." she sniffed, "It's no big deal..."
It stung him to see the girl trying so hard not to cry in his presence.
He wanted to comfort her.
Trying his luck he reached a tender hand forward, aiming to rub her back, but was very quickly interrupted before he had the chance-

"Soup's on!" Hop grinned, rushing up to give her a Kabob, startling Leon's hand back into his hair.
"Oh, so it is." he said softly with an awkward chuckle.
"Great, I'm starving!" Nouii beamed, and hopped down off the wall, graciously accepting the meal, "It smells delicious." she giggled.

Missed your chance again, Leon...
He sighed softly.
...Is it me?
Am I the problem...?
Kalia could sense his struggle and gently pat his arm.
"Give it time..." was all she could say. In a gentle whisper while she nudged for Lee to, in the mean time, simply just join them for dinner.
xxx

"Woah, talk about cool! You very first Galarian Poke'mon Partner! nice!"

Kukui beamed on the video screen.
Nouii's Uncle Kukui called every day to check in on his sister...and usually after he finished talking to her, he took the time to call Nouii to let her talk about her day.
The girl was easily excitable, and she loved sharing her experiences with people around her who were willing to listen-
She would honestly love to share it all with her dad...
But never seemed to pick up the phone anymore...
So he took the liberty of playing that part instead.

"So that Grookey of yours was a gift from that Leon fellow your mom's seeing, yeah?"
"Uh-huh...I decided to name him Drum Stixx!" she giggled while Grookey, seeming fond of its new found name decided to play a beat against her bed post.
"Well I say that sounds like quite the name indeed!"Kukui chuckled,"And what of Lee?"he wondered,"Have you managed to form an opinion on him yet?"he asked,"I mean you are to be living with him now, right? Is everything going well?"
"Yeah...he seems really nice." she said softly, "His brother is pretty nice too." she giggled, "He's the same age as me so it's like...totally weird in a way...but I'm having a lot of fun~!"
"I'm happy to hear it."Kukui chuckled.
"Anyway...I better head to bed now..." she stated, "Lee said he wanted to talk to me and Hop tomorrow morning..."
"All right then, Good night Nouii."
"Good night Uncle Kukui..." she smiled and waved their region's symbol, "Alola."
"Alola~"he returned the gesture and nodded clicking off for the night.
After placing her Rotom Phone down for rest she crawled herself into her brand new bed.
This bed Lee got me is pretty comfortable too...
...I should really thank him properly...

It didn't take her long to drift off to sleep.
With a gentle smile, Leon looked upon her through the crack of her bedroom door, which he pulled just a little bit closer, so as to lessen some of the light that was seeping into its darkness while she tried to sleep.

"...She's had nothing but good things to say, you know?" Kalia whispered softly with a gentle smile, hugging him from behind as he stood watch until the girl fell asleep.
He didn't mean to come off as creepy or hovering in anyway...
He just felt an incredible urge to watch over and protect her...
Maybe he was starting to develop dad senses already.

"I'm happy to hear that..." he whispered back, "I saw her crying earlier so I began to get worried..."
"That's been happening a lot more lately..." Kalia sighed softly.
"Whenever she tries to call her father...she doesn't get an answer...And when they do connect...it's very brief..." her eyes narrowed sadly, "He always tells her he's busy and has very little time to spare for her-"
"That's rubbish." Leon grumbled with narrowed eyes as he leaned against the wall and peeked in on her through the crack of her door.
She slept cuddled up, holding the Grookey he gave her in her arms.
That scene alone was enough to bring a smile from him briefly before he sighed.
"...If my daughter were calling me...I wouldmaketime."
Kalia smiled.
"...And that's why you are a good man, Leon." she said softly, arms sliding around him from behind as he sighed and gently pat her arms...
Holding her there for a while as he felt her warm cheek rest against his back.
"Just give it time..." she said to him, "Before too long I know she will start to see it too..."

To be Continued