Leon Urie (Adopted By The Uries) ~COMPLETE~

Chapter Fifteen

Wednesday, five days after the interview, Leon and his parents were on a plane again, en route to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving with Brendon's family. The plane ride was only a little over an hour, and Leon handled it much better than he had last time.
 His dad's mom, Grace, met them at the airport. After hugs were given all around, they piled into Grace's car and made the twenty minute drive to the house.
 The house was cosy, well lit in the early dusk. Leon trailed a little behind his grandmother and parents on the way in, suddenly hit by nerves. What if they don't think I'm a boy?
  He shouldn't have worried. The moment they stepped inside, he was engulfed in friendly introductions, smiling faces, warm hugs. Everyone wanted to say hello to him.
 After a while, Leon's mom came to his rescue, fishing him out of the crowded kitchen.
 “How do you like it here?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
 “It’s… crazy. Dad's family is crazy…. But awesome.” Leon grinned.
  Sarah laughed. “Yeah, that's a good description.”
 Something collided with Leon's legs, latching on. Looking down, Leon realised that it was a young child with dark brown hair. Large brown eyes looked up at him.
 “Hey, there,” Leon cooed, kneeling down to get on the tiny child's level. “What’s your name?”
 “Steven,” the boy mumbled, grinning, then covered his face with his hands shyly.
 “Hi, Steven. I'm Leon.” Leon smiled.
 Steven put his hands on Leon's shoulders and asked with wide eyes, “Up?”
 Leon obliged, picking Steven up.
 “You’ve been claimed,” Sarah laughed, and Leon joined in. Steven giggled as well, clinging to Leon's neck with small, pudgy hands.
 Leon made his way into the kitchen, Steven still on his hip. The delicious smell of pie pervaded the air, and the room was bustling with people cooking and baking, getting the food ready for dinner the next day. Leon found his dad at the counter, talking to a woman with dark hair and a strong resemblance to Leon's grandmother.
 “Oh, hey, kiddo. This is my big sis, Kyla. Kyla, meet my son, Leon.” Brendon introduced them quickly, ruffling Leon's hair.
 “N-nice to meet you,” Leon stuttered, smiling.
 Kyla had a kind face, and her eyes crinkled as she smiled at him warmly. “I've heard so much about you, Leon! It's great to finally meet you.”
 Leon grinned. He tried to think of something to say, but before he had to, Steven stretched out his hand to Kyla and said, “Auntie Ky, Auntie Ky.”
  “Yes, Steven?” Kyla diverted her attention to the young child.
  “Whoa, Steven, is that you?” Brendon looked at the kid in surprise, as if noticing him for the first time. “You’ve gotten so big. Last time I saw you, you were just a lil peanut!”
  Steven smiled, a little confused. “I don't know who you are,” he giggled.
 Leon couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing, despite the feeling that it had been he himself who had kept his parents from seeing Brendon's family last Thanksgiving.
 “Silly, that's Uncle Brendon.” Kyla told Steven. “He’s cousin Leon's dad.”
 “Like Leon,” Steven mumbled, once again fastening his arms around Leon's neck.
  As Kyla and Leon fussed over Steven, Brendon watched his son, a happy, proud smile playing on his face.
  The rest of the day passed quickly, uneventfully. They had an early dinner, and then the games were taken out.
  Steven, who Leon now knew was the son of another uncle of his, Matt, insisted on sitting on Leon's lap as the entire family played first Uno, then Boggle, then an easy card game called Golf.
  They were on the third round of Golf when there was a knock on the front door.
 Something about it made the hair on the back of Leon's neck stand up. His hand slipped off the table, knocking a few of his cards onto the floor, but no one noticed, since Leon's grandpa, Boyd, was getting up to answer the door, grumbling about door-to-door salespeople.
  Leon picked up his cards and put them back in order as the game continued.
  A few moments later, Boyd returned, looking puzzled. There was a cheap white envelope in his hand. “No one here's called Estelle Thomas, right?” he asked, holding up the envelope to show the name printed clearly in black marker.
 Leon froze. He was vaguely aware of his dad standing up, saying something that sounded muffled through the sound of blood pumping in his ears.
  Steven struggled out of Leon's loose grasp and ran around the table, seeming to sense Leon's distress. Leon noticed that his family had started talking again, not realising the weight of what had just happened.
  Brendon was at Leon's side again. “You okay, kiddo?” he muttered.
  Leon bit his lip. “I’m- I'm gonna go to bed, I think.” he tried to keep his voice steady as he stood up. He reached out for the envelope, and Brendon handed it to him, studying him, concerned.
  Sitting on the edge of the bed he would be sleeping in, Leon tore open the envelope. His heart beat quickly as he slid the single sheet of lined notebook paper out. Unfolding it, he read:
  Dear Daughter,
 I'm disappointed by your lack of communication, my love. All I want is to be your father again, Estelle. If you don't respond soon, I will have to take action. You can't run from family!
 Your loving father, Garth Thomas.
  Leon's hands shook. The smell of fresh sharpie was strong in his nose as he dropped the paper. It skidded across the floor and came to a stop by the other bed. Leon put his head in his hands and tried to curb the waves of panic rising in his chest.
  There was a soft knock on the guest room door.
  “Y-yeah?” Leon's head jerked up.
 The door opened quietly, and Leon's mom looked in. “Hey, sweetie. Are you okay?”
 Leon shrugged. “I- the letter was from my- my biological dad…”
  “Oh, no,” Sarah hurried to Leon's side, putting her arm around her son comfortingly. “Do you want me to read it?”
  Leon nodded silently and pointed at the letter on the floor. He closed his eyes as his mom left his side, heard the crinkle of thin paper as Sarah read the letter.
  “Oh, sweetie,” Sarah's voice had a note of distress, but she sat back down next to Leon, holding him gently. “It’s okay, Leon. We won't let him do anything to hurt you.”
  After a few minutes, when Leon had stopped shaking as badly, he stood up, wiping his nose. He mumbled something about brushing his teeth and went to the bathroom.
  Leon looked into the mirror. Still Leon. Not a girl. Not anyone's daughter. Leon found himself wondering what his biological dad looked like. Was he tall? Short? Thin, like Leon, or did he have a beer belly? Had Leon gotten his wavy brown hair from his mom or his dad?
  Leon shook his head, trying to think of something, anything else.
  That night, Leon didn't sleep very much. He lay in his unfamiliar guest bed, listening to Fall Out Boy and trying to keep from thinking.
 When all the sounds from the kitchen and dining room had died away and Leon was sure that everyone had left or gone to sleep, he got out of bed, careful to make as little sound as possible so he didn't disturb his parents, who were in the other bed.
  Leon padded down the hall quietly, intending to get a glass of water from the kitchen. The kitchen was quiet, dark, almost eerie, and Leon felt chilly even though it was warm in the house. He jumped when he noticed the figure standing at the doorway, but then relaxed, recognising that it was just his dad. “Hey,” he said, putting down his glass of water.
 “Hey, kiddo.” Brendon replied. “Can’t sleep?”
 Leon nodded. “Yeah… I'm sorry if I woke you up.”
  “Nah, I was awake anyway. How are you holding up?” his dad asked gently.
 Leon shrugged. “I… I don't know.” he muttered, looking away. “I’m scared.” he said finally.
  When Leon woke up the next morning, the house was already bustling with activity. He heard people talking and laughing, and smelled bacon and pancakes being made. Rolling over, he checked the time. It was already ten fifteen. His parents’ bed across the room was empty, and as he thought of them he heard Brendon's laugh mingling with the voices coming from the kitchen. Leon was happy that he hadn't ruined Thanksgiving.
 That thought brought him to another one, memories of the night before. His mind replayed the night in quick succession. Hearing Leon's old name from his Grandpa's mouth, reading the letter, the sudden, very real fear that his biological father would try to see him even if Leon didn't want him to, then standing in the dark, quiet kitchen, talking to his dad- his real dad- and spouting all his feelings, all his doubts, insecurities, completely opening up like he never had before….
  Then in Leon's head there was only one thought, one image, of his dad's face after Leon had stopped talking. Brendon had listened quietly until that point, and now he'd sat down, studying Leon's face. Leon had been mortified to see that his dad was fighting tears. Brendon's lips were pressed together as he did his best to control their trembling.
 Leon's thoughts were interrupted by Sarah opening the door and poking her head through. “Hey, sweetie, I'm glad you're awake.” she told him softly.
  “Hey, mom.” Leon smiled at her as best he could. “Is that breakfast I smell?”
 Sarah seemed to understand that Leon didn't want to talk about last night, and nodded, smiling. “It’s just about ready, I was coming to get you so we can all eat together.”
  Leon slept most of Thanksgiving day. He didn't have the energy to do much else. He felt numb.
  When he and his parents finally departed the next day, Leon could tell that both of them were walking on eggshells around him, and he hated making them worry. He just wished he didn't feel so detached from everything.
  The next week, Leon went back to school. Being around Frankie cheered him up considerably, occasionally taking his mind off what had happened at Thanksgiving. He still thought about it quite a lot, and to his embarrassment, Frankie noticed.
  One day, when Frankie was at Leon's house after school, she mentioned it. “Hey, Leon,” she began. “You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but… what's been going on? You seem really… quiet lately. And tired. Is there something wrong?”
  “I'm- uh,” Leon paused. He hadn't realised that he'd been so obvious. “I guess… yeah.” he admitted.
  “Do you want to talk about it?”
 “I…” Leon cleared his throat, debating whether to tell her or not. Finally, he muttered, “Yeah… it… it might take a while.”
 “That’s okay,” Frankie replied. She looked concerned, but joined him on the bed, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll listen.”
 Leon stammered his way through the story of overhearing about his biological father, of last Christmas, of the letter on Thanksgiving. He didn't make eye contact with Frankie as he spoke, but when he was finished he looked up at Frankie to see her biting her lip. Her eyes were a little red, and Leon realised that she had been crying. “I- I'm so sorry, Leon.”
 Leon looked down at his hands, unsure of what to say. Finally, he murmured, “It- it's just scary.”
 Frankie was quiet for a while, and Leon could tell she was wiping her eyes. Then her hands came into view, taking his. Leon looked up at her.
 “Leon, I'm sure your parents will protect you. If your- your biological dad tries to do anything, he'll probably go to jail, or something.” Frankie's voice was shaky but at the same time reassuring. Leon smiled at her, appreciating that she was trying to make him feel better.
 “It’s gonna be okay,” Frankie promised him, letting go of Leon's hands and instead cupping his face gently.
 Leon suddenly realised how close she was. He could see every detail of her face, the long, dark eyelashes, warm brown eyes, the slight sprinkle of freckles present even in wintertime. The thought flashed through his mind that even though she'd been crying, she was still the prettiest person he'd ever met. Then he thought that he really, really wanted to kiss her, but the thought came to late. Frankie was one step ahead of him.
  She leaned forward and kissed him, softly. When she pulled away, Leon knew that his face was burning bright pink, but he was surprised to see that Frankie was blushing too.
 “I- I'm gonna be honest, I've liked you since before I broke up with Jace…” Frankie muttered, smiling shyly.
  “R- really?” Leon's eyes widened. I've liked you since the day we met, his brain supplied, unhelpful as usual.
 “Yeah! I really only started dating Jace because he was interested in me,” Frankie admitted.
  Leon opened his mouth to say something, but just then there was a knock on his bedroom door, making him start a little.
 “Kids? Dinner's ready, if y'all are hungry,” Brendon's voice came from the other side of the door, slightly muffled.
 “Y-yeah, we'll be right there,” Leon stammered back.
 Leon continued to stutter throughout dinner, so badly that his mom asked, “Is there anything wrong, Leon?”
  Leon shook his head fervently, feeling his face flush a little as he felt Frankie's eyes on him. Looking over at her, he saw that she was grinning widely. When they thought he wouldn't notice, Leon's parents exchanged a knowing look.