when the party's over, hockstetter 𝜗𝜚

xxii. little life

❨ WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER ❩
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
LITTLE LIFE

‧ : *: ‧ °✧

fall, september 1989

the halls are alive with the bustle of both new and returning students, their voices and laughter echo off the walls.

groups of friends reunite, exchanging stories of summer adventures, while new students navigate their way through the maze of corridors, eager to find their classes and make new friends.

the atmosphere is electric, a mix of nervous energy and enthusiasm for the experiences that lie ahead.

(y/n) leans casually against the lockers, waiting for her boyfriend to arrive.

her heart leaps at the sight of him in tight black skinny jeans that accentuate his form and a loose shirt draped over his chest.

but what truly captivates her is the new favorite accessory on his arm—their son's car seat.

she smiles broadly, choosing to ignore greta bowie standing beside him. he must have had the misfortune of getting her as his mentee, courtesy of the senior mentoring program he decided to join.

when he finally reaches his girlfriend, he leans down to give her a quick kiss.

greta scoffs, muttering, "see you later, hockstetter," before heading off in her own direction.

the couple soon pulls apart, and the hockstetter boy raises their son's car seat for (y/n) to see. she can't help but coo at their sleeping baby, who is the spitting image of his father.

as the bell chimes, they walk out to their old spot in the courtyard to meet up with the rest of the gang.

(y/n) spots her cousin immediately and wastes no time sprinting towards him. she jumps onto his back, shouting into his ear.

henry shouts back, jumping up and causing her to tumble to the ground. he curses as he watches her roll around, laughter spilling freely from her lips.

"damnit, (l/n)!" he groans and glances around, hoping no one witnessed what just happened.

"if i hadn't known any better i'd think that was a little girl screaming or somethin'." reginald laughs along, cigarette lying limply between his lips.

(y/n) stands up and brushes off any dirt from her clothes, regaining her composure. she stalks back over to patrick, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his firm chest.

she feels a deep sense of contentment as she reflects on how far they've come. they've transformed from just a couple into a genuine family, with a bond strengthened by their shared experiences and the new life they've created together.

it's a moment of pride and fulfillment, knowing that their journey has brought them to this place of true connection and love.

"you ready to go?" her boyfriend's deep voice vibrates through his chest, and she snuggles in closer.

patrick chuckles and plants several brief kisses on the side of her head.

"yeah, let's go." (y/n) hums.

victor, henry, and belch exchange knowing looks, smirking as they pretend to gag.

the couple ignores them, saying their goodbyes and walking away.

☆

"oh shit, lil' bit," patrick murmurs, his lips parting as he hums in gratitude. his girlfriend giggles, wiping her lips as she sits up.

the long-limbed boy reaches for her with grabby hands, pulling the blanket over their bare bodies once she's snuggled into his side.

with the promise to take his senior year seriously, patrick's dad and evelyn allowed (y/n) and the baby to move in. it was a wonderful feeling, waking up together every day and navigating the world as a family.

a peaceful silence envelops them, broken only by the whir of the ceiling fan. their son lies in his crib, down for his third nap of the day.

many things could be said, but neither feels the need to speak; their eyes convey all the wonders in their hearts.

(y/n), on the verge of falling asleep, is pulled from her blissful state when she feels patrick's calloused fingers tracing her jaw.

he continues for a few moments before gently grabbing her face and making her look him in the eye.

the rugged-haired boy—desperately in need of a trim—leans in and kisses her soft lips delicately.

"what's the matter?" the new mom asks softly.

patrick shakes his head, his eyes never leaving hers. the sun is nearly set, its remaining light casting a warm glow on his flawless skin.

"marry me," he finally mutters, his eyes clouding with tears as he struggles to express the depth of his feelings.

"okay." the girl responds, as if it were second nature.

his pink lips break into a huge grin, a few tears spilling over his lower lash line.

"y-yeah?" he asks, tugging the smaller girl closer until she straddles him. she gasps at the sudden skin-to-skin contact.

"of course, 'trick. i love you."

"i love you too." he says barely above a whisper, "i love you so much, (y/n). you're real. you give me life."

the female hums, resting her head on his chest.

the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat, steady and reassuring, is what lulls her to sleep, like a comforting lullaby against the quiet of the night.

☆

"patrick, is that you?" mr. hockstetter calls from the living room, quickly turning off the television and rushing toward the kitchen after hearing some rustling.

his eyes widen at the sight of his dark-haired son cradling his own fussy baby in one arm while trying to prepare a bottle with the other.

the older man smiles knowingly, taking the bottle and preparing it for him. he coos at his grandson as he feeds him the warm milk.

"thanks. i'm gonna go put him back to sleep, i'll be right back." patrick whispers.

his father nods, watching the boy fondly.

a few minutes later, patrick returns, now dressed in a clean t-shirt and sweatpants.

the elder hockstetter leads his son to the living room, gesturing for him to take a seat.

he gathers his thoughts before speaking, wanting to communicate clearly and fearing that patrick might shut him out again if he doesn't.

"i won't keep you long, my beautiful boy. you've been through so much in your life, and it's such a relief to see you happy. i love you so much, pat. i'm incredibly proud of the young man you're becoming. i can't wait to see you continue to grow both as a person and as a father." he chokes up but chuckles when he notices the playfully annoyed look on his son's face. "you take care of that girl, okay? no matter what happens, make sure you're by her side to love and care for her. what the two of you have is so special—don't ever lose it."

the hockstetter boy nods, biting his lips to keep the grin from spreading across his face.

"i'm gonna marry her, dad. right after graduation."

"that's good, son. go on now, i know you've got business to attend to. love you."

"love you too." he stands up, surprising his father with a quick embrace before heading up to his room.

he snuggles under the covers, his arms wrapping protectively around (y/n)'s waist as she lightly snores beside him.

patrick hockstetter, once known for his viciousness and cruelty, drifts off to sleep with a serene smile on his face. in his dreams, he envisions a joyful future: a sprawling house filled with laughter, two children playing in the yard, and a couple of loyal dogs by their side.

his heart is set on making this dream a reality, and he's devoted to turning this vision of happiness into their life together.