Do you have room for one more troubled soul?

Chapter 4

Patrick's P.O.V
(the next day)

I open my eyes sleepily, the bright mid morning sun burning harshly through the bedroom window. The clock on my nightstand says ten o clock, so despite my still evident fatigue, I throw the covers off and quickly put a shirt on. I get up and begin walking down the stairs towards the living room, from which I can here familiar voices.

"Good morning Daddy! Did you have a good sleep?" Natalie called as soon as I rounded the corner, making me smile. "Pretty well, thank you. How about you?"

"I slept very well, thanks!" she finished it off with a goofy grin that showed off her teeth, her face brightening. "Did you call the guys last night?"

I smack my forehead and sigh. "Sorry, I forgot. I'll try and get them now." I kiss both her and Elisa on the forehead before retreating back to my room, pulling out my phone along the way. I call Andy first because I know that he gets up early.

"Hey Patrick! What can I do for you?" Andy asks as soon as he picks up the phone.

"Hi Andy! So, I have a surprise and I need you to come over in say, two hours? Meredith can come too, if she wants. Does that work?"

There was a moment of silence while he thought through his day. "I think that works! I might be a tad late though."

I smile. One down, two to go. "Awesome! See you then!"

I call Pete next, despite the fact that he's probably still in bed. Oh well, might as well get the grumpy bear out of the way. The phone rings a couple of times before I here a gruff "Yeah?" come from the other line.

"Hey Pete! Wow, you really are a morning person aren't you?" I chuckle. He's even worse than I am.

"I'm absolute sunshine." he sighs sarcastically. "So, what's up?"

"I've got a surprise and I need you to be here in about two hours. Can you make it?"

Pete hesitates, trying to get his still sleepy brain to function. "Yeah, that works."

"Awesome! And if they want to, you can bring Saint, Bronx, and Meagan. They don't have to come, but it would be cool."

"Well, I don't have Bronx today, but I'll talk to Meagan."

"Awesome! See you then!"

Pete hangs up and I dial up Joe. "Hey, what's up buddy?" he asks as soon as he picks up.

"Well, I've got a surprise and I need you to be here in about two hours. Does that work? Marie and Ruby can come too, if they want."

"Sure. We've got nothing else planned today." I can here Marie in the background, playing with Ruby, their giggles coming clearly through the phone.

"Awesome! See you then!"

After hanging up with Joe, I go back out to the living room, where my family is awaiting my return. "So?" Elisa asks as I walk over to her and Natalie. "What's happening?"

I smile and look over at Natalie, who looks eager and anxious. "They're all coming over in about two hours! As in, wife's and children included."

From over in the corner, Declan looks up from his truck and smiles. "Uncles and friends?"

"Thats right, Decky! Friends and uncles!"

Natalie suddenly looks panicked. "Hey, what's wrong?" I ask her.

"What if none of them like me? What if I embarrass myself? Oh god, I'm going to embarrass myself." she mumbles. I pat her head and laugh.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll love you! Why don't you get cleaned up and dressed?"