The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 64 (Patrick's POV)

I'm finally doing the DNA test.

I know, I know, its taken me forever and I've put it off for weeks, but I was just afraid of the answer. I was gonna put it off until the end of tour, but Andy convinced me that Gracie deserves to know if I'm her father or not.

So, here I am, (A/N: I don't know how this stuff works so just go with it) sitting in a waiting room waiting for my DNA to be tested. Gracie is sitting beside me, trembling in her seat.

"P-Patrick?" she asks in a small, quiet voice, reminding me that she is only six years old.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I'm... scared."

I open my arms. "Come here."

Gracie walks over to my seat, crawling up onto my lap. She wraps her arms around my torso, burying her head into my chest. I squeeze her tight, reminding her that I won't ever let go, no matter what the paternity test results say.

"It won't hurt, I promise. All they do is fingerprint you, and then me, and they try to match it up. Completely painless. It'll be okay."

She stays silent for a minute, then sighs. "That isn't what I'm scared of," she mutters.

"What is it, then?"

"What if you aren't my dad, what's gonna happen then?"

"It doesn't matter if you're mine or not, I'll love you the same either way. And if you want to, once all this stuff is straightened out between Allie and I, I could adopt you. Then you'll be stuck with me forever." I chuckle, and I see her crack a grin.

"That isn't such a bad thing if that means I don't have to see mom again."

I run my hands through her hair, trying to soothe her. "I know, honey. I know."

"Patrick Stump?"

I look up, seeing that same frigging doctor that seemed to have a crush on me last time we were here. He does paternity tests too? Come on.

He smiles at me, and I stand up, taking Gracie's hand. Taking a deep breath, we walk together to a room, anticipating the test.

------------------

"So, Mr. Stump, we have the results, and they inform us that the likelihood of being Gracie's father is around 0 to 1%. Meaning you are surely not her father." The doctor looks at me sadly. "I'm sorry."

"I don't care. I don't want to know who my father is; I have Patrick," Gracie says, and I smile at her, putting my arm around her tiny shoulders. The doctor nods.

"Well, I suppose that is all I have to notify you with. Is there anything we can do for you?"

"No, thank you," I say politely, grabbing Gracie's hand. She looks around, seeing a roll of stickers in the hallway.

"Patrick!"

I chuckle. "Yes, go get a sticker, kiddo."

She makes a happy noise, running out into the hall in search of a sticker. I stand there awkwardly with the doctor, who keeps glancing at me. I clear my throat.

"So, um, how are you?" I ask hesitantly, trying to break the awkwardness.

"I was good. Better now." He smirks at me, and I nervously laugh. He holds his hand out to me, and I shake it.

"Ryan Key, if you don't remember. Do you think maybe one day you'd like to go out for coffee with me?"

I scratch the side of my neck with my finger, trying to reject him as nicely as possible.

"Ah, I'd love to, but I actually have a girlfriend. I'm sorry."

He looks disappointed, and I feel bad. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

By that time, Gracie comes running in with a Batman sticker. I grin at her.

"Good choice."

"Thank you, Patrick."

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We're back in the tour bus, and I'm consumed by my thoughts, sitting alone in a window seat.

I have no idea what is going to happen in the future. I've never done anything like this; I've never had to take care of a kid, tour in a band, and deal with an ex-girlfriend in jail all at the same time.

I'm only 24! I don't know how to do any of this. My parents don't even know about Gracie... how will they take it when I tell them?

"Hey, your kid dropped out of college to join a band, oh and he's taking care of a six year old too, but don't worry she isn't his," isn't exactly what a parent wans to hear.

They are happy at the band's success, but I know that isn't what they wanted me to do with my life. They figured I'd be a scientist or something.

As for the situation with Allie and Gracie, what am I supposed to do? Don't I have to go to court with Allie to let me legally take custody of Gracie? But she isn't even mine, so I can't take custody over her...

I'm just a confused little man child living a strange little life. To be honest I'm debating on whether I want to trade mistakes with someone else or not.