The Memories

Patrice shifted nervously from foot to foot outside of TD Garden. He was waiting for Ashlyn and Troy to show up. He hadn't thought he would be nervous, because he was an expert at hiding his emotions, but lately they had been slipping.

"Alright, we just have to go find daddy, OK?" He heard a female voice from behind him.

Patrice turned around, and looked for Ashlyn. There! She was leading Troy through the crowd, looking for Patrice. It was only noon, but the square around TD Garden was already packed with fans trying to secure tickets for the season opening game that night.

"Why are we at TD?" Asked little Troy excitedly. "Are we going to the game?"

"No, not today honey." Ashlyn shook her head.

"Oh yes you are." Patrice grinned, putting his hand on her shoulder. "You think I'd let you miss this one?"

Troy's eyes widened in shock, and he covered his mouth, starstruck by Patrice's presence.

"Only the best for you two." Patrice smiled, producing the two front row tickets he had secured the night before.

"Patrice, you didn't have to do that." Ashlyn smiled as she took the tickets.

"I'll get you both season tickets as soon as I can talk to our marketing guys. I just have to mark you as my wife." Patrice said, waiting for her response.

He was pleased when she didn't argue, and he was about to ask her something else, when...

"Mom, you know Patrice Bergeron?!" Screamed Troy, getting over his shyness.

"Yes, honey. We need to talk to you." She said, pulling Troy and Patrice aside from the crowd.

"Ashlyn, you'd better have a plan here." Patrice shook his head, unsure of what to say.

"Well, remember I said we were going to meet daddy?" Ashlyn began.

Patrice could see the gears turning in Troy's head, as he tried to piece it all together.

"This is daddy." Ashlyn said, waiting a moment for it to sink in.

Troy looked back and forth in disbelief, between Ashlyn and Patrice. Patrice nodded, to let the little guy know that they weren't joking, and Troy jumped up.

"Really, really?" He squealed in excitement. "Can he come and live with us, and be a regular dad?"

Patrice felt the biggest wave of guilt a man could feel, as he looked at Troy's begging eyes. It wasn't fair. Troy had just wanted a regular dad, and he had been robbed of that for the first five years of his life.

"Ashlyn, one second?" Patrice pulled her aside from the thrilled child. "I know you probably have someone living with you guys, but-"

"Nope." Ashlyn shook her head, and Patrice frowned.

"A boyfriend, someone special? How did you get that house? What kind of job do you have?" He forced a casual laugh.

"I told you, I inherited it!" She said, and Patrice nodded.

"Right. OK, well, I know you're probably not wanting me to complicate your life any more, so I could take him for a couple of days every week and just spend some time with him?" Patrice suggested.

"Well, can he, can he?" Troy had realized that they were talking, and broke in between them, breaking the conversation and leaving Patrice with no answers.

"Patrice?" Ashlyn raised her eyebrows at him, and he tilted his head to the side.

Was she crazy? How was he supposed to say no to that kid?

"Well, Troy, I'd love to." He began. "But-"

"Yay! Patrice is coming to live with us!" Troy called enthusiastically.

"No, no, I mean, I'd like to. But your mother has enough on her plate. I'd love for you visit me sometime though." Patrice said.

"Wait a second, no no no." Ashlyn interjected. "Don't place this on me. Honey, Patrice is too busy with work."

She gave him a questioning look.

"She's right." Patrice said, going along with her story. He didn't want Troy to feel bad, and he didn't mind taking the heat for not living with them, even if it was Ashlyn's decision. "But whenever you want you can come and visit me."

"But, how come you won't be busy then?" Troy asked him, and Patrice felt his heart melt again.

That little guy had some serious mind melding skills.

"Patrice." Ashlyn said, pulling him aside again with a sense of urgency. "Do you, or do you not want to live with us?"

"But, you don't-" Patrice began, but Ashlyn cut him off.

"I'm fine with it either way."

"So, you want to get back together?" Patrice asked quietly, and she blushed, looking down at her shoes.

"Well, as long as it's not too hard for you." She said cautiously.

"I'd love to have a family to home to every night." Patrice replied. "And the only person I'd want to run that family with me, is you."

Ashlyn smiled briefly, and hugged him.

"Alright, daddy's coming home." She said, turning to Troy. "Daddy's coming home."

Notes