Chapter Text
Over an hour drive away from Toronto, Grizz, Lorenzo, Ranger Tabes, Griff and Gayle arrived at Waterloo. Lorenzo guided them to the neighborhood where the retired stars of Family Troubles live. The houses in the neighborhood weren’t anything special like the ones back in San Francisco, but it didn’t bother Grizz. He just hopes he can meet his co-stars.
“Have you three watched Family Troubles?” Lorenzo turned to Ranger Tabes, Griff and Gayle.
“I kind of remember watching a clip of it.” Griff remembered. “But I don’t remember watching Grizz in it. It was mostly outside the house.”
“I guess that is true, Family Troubles didn’t have just one soundstage.” Grizz responded.
“Do you remember other soundstages?”
“No, just the house itself.”
“For the cub you used to be, you can’t remember everything.” Ranger Tabes said. “Not to say you forgot everything, but with how I’ve seen cubs have been part of television thanks to you saving them, they won’t forget now they are a part of society.”
“I still find it hard to believe you and your brothers are being normalized because of that." Lorenzo replied. “Bears in Canada aren’t like that.”
“I don’t need to know they’re like me, in fact all of the bears we’ve saved don’t talk.” Grizz said.
“And I doubt education would help them talk.” Gayle added.
“Not to say you’re lying, just too weird for me to believe that.” Lorenzo smiled. “But I’m sure these former actors would believe it.”
They arrived at the house that’s by the end of the road. It’s wooden and slightly bigger compared to the other houses. The group walked up to the front porch as Lorenzo rang the doorbell. Grizz stared at the door while waiting for the moment to happen.
“Just relax.” Griff comforted him. “I’m sure they'll remember you.”
“And allow you to borrow their memory book.” Ranger Tabes added. “I really want to see it myself.”
“So do I.” Gayle added. “I love seeing you as a cub.”
“Thanks.” Grizz responded. In no time at all, the front door was being unlocked, being pulled open revealing a young blonde woman.
“Lorenzo.” She smiled. “You came to visit again.”
“And I’m not the only one Victoria. I’ve brought an old star.” Lorenzo took a step aside, revealing Grizz to Victoria. Grizz took a step forward, standing in front of Victoria who remained silent. She stared at him while Grizz made the first move.
“Are you their caretaker?” He asked.
“Yes.” She answered. “Part time despite still having a career in playing Hockey.” She then turned around with whom she’s caretaking in the living room. “You remember me?” Grizz tried to remember who Victoria really is but not long until Victoria placed her hand on his shoulder, catching his attention. “It’s okay, I’ve learned your current family life would keep you more occupied.”
“She’s caught on good.” Griff smiled.
“And still a family person.” Ranger Tabes added.
“Come in.” Victoria invites everyone in as she closes the door behind them. Grizz witnesses the family photos in the hallway but not a single one has him on them.
“They’re just regular family pics, not from the sitcom.” Lorenzo commented. “But they’re still here.”
“Just please follow me.” Victoria said as her visitors followed from behind. “Tom, Barbara.” She popped her head in the living room.
“Yes Victoria?” Barbara responded.
“Lorenzo came to visit, but he’s not the only one.” As Tom and Barbara turned their heads, Victoria presented Grizz to them. Grizz slowly walked up to them as he witnessed their hair turn grey.
“Uhh…hello.” He waved. But much to his patience, Tom and Barbara both got up from their sofa. They immediately walked up to Grizz as Grizz slightly backed away.
“No no no, don’t back away.” Victoria responded.
Grizz stopped himself while Tom and Barbara placed their hands on his fur. “Our baby…is back.” Tom commented.
“And all grown up.” Barbara added.
“Our classic star of Family Troubles is back.” Victoria crossed her arms with a smile on her face. “I told you in the past he’ll come back.”
“You all…” Grizz growing a smile. “Didn’t forget me.”
“We wouldn’t forget our favorite baby in our favorite sitcom.” Tom replied.
“You people really have a passion for doing Family Troubles.” Ranger Tabes commented.
“More than you think.” Victoria smiled.
Grizz, Tabes, Griff and Gayle took their seats on the other couches in the living room while Lorenzo stood next to Grizz. Tom and Barbara sat back down on their sofa, thrilled with being reunited with Grizz. “You came all over the world with three other cubs to find your home?” Barbara smiled.
“Yes, and then when we got to San Francisco, it became our home even to this day.” Grizz answered.
“Not the family I expected, but still good enough.” Tom said. “Would we get the chance to meet them?”
“Not today since they’re enjoying their vacation in different places.”
“So maybe tomorrow?”
“Possibly tomorrow night.” Gayle replied.
“We’re also going to Rouge National Urban Park later today.” Ranger Tabes smiled. “But would you be willing to travel?”
“It’s not gonna be a good idea.” Victoria filled in. “It’s not a bad idea to go traveling there, it’s just that they're too old for that.”
“We’ve been having so many body problems over the last few years.” Barbara responded.
“Oh.” Ranger Tabes replied. “So I guess tomorrow works.”
“I mean we can do anything else other than traveling, aside from going to the studio where he used to shoot Family Troubles.”
Grizz felt concerned after the cancellation to where he wondered how they’re able to cope with it afterwards. “How did you feel when the sitcom got canceled?” He asked.
“Disappointed, not gonna lie.” Tom responded. “But we all agreed that there is no other show that’ll capture the magic of Family Troubles.”
“It explains why they retired afterwards.” Lorenzo commented.
“Such a cruel atmosphere of executives.” Gayle added.
“Not really into many professions in acting, aren’t ya?” Griff replied. “Like I respect your choices in life but were you all poor when you quit your jobs?”
“Yes…Because…” Tom took a deep breath while being honest with them. “...me and Barbara never had a family of our own…” Tom and Barbara closed their eyes in depression while Grizz catched on.
“You two…never had a family?” Grizz responded as both Tom and Barbara nodded. “I thought you always did after leaving the studio.”
“We couldn’t afford to have a family, nor adopt kids.” Barbara said.
“Those pictures when you got in were my family.” Victoria being honest. “I did get married a few years later and I invited them occasionally to take pictures with.”
Grizz looked at the ground in disappointment. “I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s okay Grizz.” Gayle wrapped her arm around Grizz. “You can’t have an opinion right away.”
“It’s sad when you’re at a loss of words.” Tom said. “But when you just came back…you felt like family to us.”
“Even with me getting in the way, they regret paying attention to me over you.” Lorenzo commented.
Victoria knew the moment she laid eyes on Grizz, the first thing he really wanted to see before he became a star in Family Troubles. “You don’t remember how you became a star, don’t you?”
“No.” Grizz answered.
Victoria headed straight to the basement after receiving Grizz’s answer. “Life in Canada felt empty when you were gone, but not only we have pictures behind the scenes in Family Troubles, but also before that.” Barbara said.
“We’re really looking forward to that.” Ranger Tabes smiled.
“We didn’t come here for nothing.” Griff added.
“He really wants to see them.” Gayla added.
“And you may not know this but…I want to show my time in Family Troubles with the rest of my group.” Grizz said. “Not just my brothers.”
Tom and Barbara didn’t respond, but they didn’t want to say no. Victoria came back from the basement with a wooden memory book in her arm. With everyone’s attention on her, she opened the book to the page of the memories Grizz had forgotten. She showed it to him, along with Ranger Tabes, Griff and Gayle. When Grizz laid eyes on it, his memories slowly came back to him.
Decades ago at the fire station, Tom, Barbara and Victoria came out of their car while heading straight to the fire station.
“You sure finding an animal from the fire station would make the best star in our sitcom?” Victoria asked.
“Yes, it’s the only way to make our show original and successful.” Tom commented.
“Training him will be hard, but kids would love him or her.” Barbara added. “Let’s do it together.” She pulled the door open, allowing Tom and Victoria to come in.
Tom walked up to the firefighter at the front desk. “Excuse me, but we’re looking for an animal to adopt for a sitcom we’re about to rehearse.”
“And one of our executives said you’ve been taking care of the animals after saving them.” Victoria responded.
“Yes we have, give me a minute.” The firefighter went to the back where the hall’s filled with animals in cages. Grizz was hugging a silver wrapping in his cage, keeping himself occupied after being detached from the fireman’s arm. He quietly moaned while the firefighter walked up to him while picking up his cage.
Upon returning to the front desk, the firefighter showed the three sitcom stars to Grizz. “Wow.” Victoria noticed him. “You have a bear cub?” She smiled.
“Yes, after we found him weeks ago, he needed shelter so we put him here. Still through. Most bears stay in the woods.”
When Tom and Barbara walked up to the cage, Grizz slowly backed away from his silver wrapping, putting his attention on the humans. Victoria placed her hands on her mouth, including Barbara. “He’s really cute.” Victoria smiled.
“And perfect.” Barbara added.
“How much does he cost?” Tom wondered.
“About forty bucks.” The firefighter answered. “You sure you wanna get him?”
“Yes, we can train him.”
After making their decision, Tom paid for Grizz, the firefighter unlocked the cage with his keys, allowing the door to be open. Victoria reached into the cage with both of her hands, holding onto Grizz as she pulled him out. With her hands on his body, Grizz didn’t feel afraid, it was the first time he felt the bare hands of a human. He slowly smiled as he nuzzled her arms.
“Awww.” Victoria replied. “He likes me.” She slowly pulled him for a hug as Grizz nuzzled her chest.
“This could impress the executives.” Tom commented.
“And so many kids.” Barbara wrapped her fingers.
“Would you want a group picture of him?” The firefighter offered.
“Sure!” The three cheered.
Two decades later, Grizz and his friends witness the first pic of him and the Family Troubles future cast outside of the fire station. “You’re still nuzzling…” Gayle wrapped her fingers.
“This is cuter than I thought.” Ranger Tabes added.
“Does it give you good memories, Grizz?” Victoria asked.
“Yes.” Grizz said as he took the book from her. “That’s me with the executives.”
“And it’s before we came up with the name, Family Troubles.” Tom replied. “We were lucky enough they allowed us to take care of you.”
“You were like our only baby we’ve ever had off the set.” Barbara added.
“From what they’ve told me, they had permission and duty to take care of you.” Lorenzo filled in.
As Grizz witnessed so many pics of his time with them, the warmth in his heart felt more pleased. “I really wished I'd kept these for myself.”
“Sorry, but we couldn’t get copies.” Tom said. “What you see is all we have left.”
“We'll allow you to borrow it with one condition.” Victoria slightly takes the book from Grizz. “Be really careful with it while returning it to us before you leave Canada.”
“We take this as pride and make sure no one steals it.” Barbara added.
Grizz knew how important this all is for them and knowing he’ll take pride in it as well. “I’ll do everything to keep this safe and sound.”
“At the end of the day, this is also yours even if you stayed with us or not.” Victoria replied as she handed the book back to him.
“Grizz, I’m sure you can do this.” Griff smiled. “And I’m sure it’ll surprise everyone else.”
“Yeah, it really gave me a better impression of you.” Ranger Tabes added.
“Yeah, I didn't think it would be this memorable.” Grizz smiled as he hugged the book.
Gayle felt more proud at Grizz to where she knows how to make him feel more better. “Hey, do you have the episodes of Family Troubles?” She asked.
“As a matter of fact, yes.” Victoria smiled. “You all wanna watch the first episode?”
“Big time!” Griff cheered.
“I knew we wouldn’t leave until we watched the first episode.” Ranger Tabes added.
“I was actually thinking the same thing.” Grizz laughed.
As Victoria headed back to the basement to get a VHS tape of the first episode, she put it in the VHS player while turning on the TV. As Grizz saw the intro itself, a tear fell from his eye with his memories still stored in Canada thanks to the retired actors. They felt like family to him, not big like Panda and Ice Bear, but giving him sweet nostalgia his brothers wouldn’t even top it when they see the pics themselves.