Archive of Our Own ^beta

As his brother called them “his good old days”, Remus van Valkenfell used to be an adventurous rascal. Going to town flirting and hooking up with anyone who was interested. Until that one time. Remus had gotten into it with a freaky girl he met at the local bar. He hadn’t expected to meet her again at that same bar, but what he expected even less was her telling him she was pregnant and was at a loss for what to do. She had communicated she wasn’t interested in motherhood but that she didn’t want to get an abortion either. Remus agreed to a test to see if the child was indeed his after they were born and nine months later, the girl and Remus welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world.

Now, Remus was living with a son, whom he named Patton. While fatherhood was not what Remus had envisioned for himself, the feeling of responsibility towards this child, his child, convinced him to take on full custody over Patton. But he was struggling. It wasn’t his finances that were the problem. He made enough money for both himself and his son. He was simply lost on how to be a good father. His lifestyle had completely changed. With Patton in his life, he needed to be home whenever he was free to take care of him. His brother Roman babysat Patton whenever he could but even he was busy most of the time.

“Daddy, daddy, look!” Remus heard the pitterpatter of little, six year old feet and turned to see his son holding out a shiny round rock to him. “This is the softest rock ever!” Remus crouched down to Patton’s level and held his hands out. Patton handed him the rock, bouncing up and down from excitement. 

“It’s a good rock, kiddo. D’you wanna add it to your box?” Patton nodded so furiously Remus worried his head might fall off. He stood back up and took his son’s hand. Up in Patton’s room, Patton pattered over to his little night stand and grabbed an old-time looking box with a keyhole on it. Remus gave the rock back to Patton as Patton handed Remus the box. 

“Trade!” They both said. Patton fiddled a little with a string around his neck before pulling it out from under his shirt, revealing the key Remus had tied to it. Patton held it out with two hands and Remus grasped them with his own.

 “The key to memories.” They both said before Remus picked the box back up from his lap and Patton opened the lock. The box was filled with all sorts of trinkets and finds. Different kinds of rocks, and other nicknacks. “Oh softest rock, I will remember you for your oh so softness!” Patton said and Remus couldn’t hold back his laugh.

Back in the day, he would need to be out all the time to find enjoyment in life, the thrill of the unknown kept him going, but with his little boy, Patton’s silly and carefree nature was all he needed to bring light into his life.

“I don’t know, Princy. If it’s not with you or our mom and dad, I don’t feel comfortable leaving him with some stranger.” Remus was sat on the couch, knees held tight to his chest as he chewed on his nails. 

“Is there really no one you would feel comfortable to leave Patton with?” Roman asked. Remus had invited him over while Patton was at school to talk about this. 

“You know I don’t have many friends. The only people I have in my contacts are probably just you, our parents, and Patton’s teacher.” Hearing this, an idea popped into Roman’s head. 

“Really? Prove it. Show me your phone.” 

Remus had already grabbed it before Roman could finish and showed him his contact list. 

“See,” Roman started, tapping a contact. “You do have someone you can ask.”

The name Roman had tapped was “Logan Berry”, Remus had not seen him in literal ages. “Logan? I don’t think he even remembers me.” Remus said before going back to chewing on his nails. “Dukey, you were inseparable when you were children, and trust me when I say, you definitely left an impression on him.” Remus looked at his brother with a doubtful expression. “Just, text him, call him, preferably, and tell him about Patton and that you need help.”

This was followed by a string of incoherent blabbering from Remus before Roman grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him one forceful shake. “Bro! Pull yourself together! You’re not asking him to spend time with you. You are asking him to take care of your son when you can’t, right?” Remus nodded and Roman looked at him expectedly. “So…” Remus sighed and stood up from the couch. “Fine, I’ll call him.” 

Roman leaned back on the couch as Remus made his way to the kitchen to make the call. He never did hold off on anything. He dialed Logan’s number and hoped for the best.

Logan was a solitary man. He lived life on calm and faced it with an objective and logical mindset. When his phone buzzed, he didn’t expect the name that popped up on his screen but was not unpleasantly surprised. “Remus, It has been quite some time since we last spoke.” 

Remus could have clutched his heart. “Hey Lo, I actually have something kinda important to ask you, but how are you?”

“I am doing alright, thank you for asking. How about yourself?”

“Oh, I’ve been alright, that’s actually what I needed to talk to you about.”

“Alright, continue.”

“I need a sitter, for my son.”

“Your son? Wow, congratulations. How about we come together and we can discuss it. Bring your son so he won’t be left alone with a stranger.”

“Wait, really, oh my gosh, thank you! How about the day after tomorrow, at Nocturnal Caffeine?”

“Alright, I’ll see you then.”

To prepare Patton for meeting Logan, Remus pulled him aside to discuss it with him. “Hey, kiddo, we’re going out tomorrow.” Patton’s eyes widened and his smile grew. “Ooo, where are we going? How are we going? What are we gonna do?” Remus giggled at the usual bombard of questions Patton had. “We’re going to the cafe where the guy with the sunglasses gave you a whipped cream nose.”

“Yay, Remy’s place!” Patton held his arms up in celebration before letting them drop onto his father’s shoulders. “But you have your ‘but’ face. There is a but coming.” Remus smiled, he found out very quickly why people say children see more than adults. “That’s right, we’re not just going for hot chocolate, I have someone I want you to meet.”

“Really! Who is it, who is it!” Patton was excitedly trying to shake Remus about and Remus rocked himself back and forth with pretend dizziness. “You know how, I sometimes have to leave you with grandma and grandpa or uncle Ro?” Patton nodded. “Because you have to work.” 

“Right, but grandma and grandpa, and uncle Ro also have work to do so I asked an old friend if he would like to join the club.” Patton was bouncing up and down and clapping from excitement. Remus knew he always loved meeting new people. “Alright! Now, off to the dream world we go!” Remus cheered, scooping Patton up.

The next day, Patton and Remus were walking over to Nocturnal Caffeine to meet Logan. When Remus saw Logan searching around, he waved to get his attention. “Remus, it’s good to see you. And you must be the son your father told me about.” Logan crouched down to Patton’s level. “My name is Logan, it’s nice to meet you.” 

“Hi, I’m Patton! I like your glasses!” Logan gave Patton a small smile. “Why thank you,” He said before turning back to Remus and gesturing to the café’s entrance. “Shall we?” The two men sat down at a booth, with Patton between Remus and the booth wall. They ordered two hot chocolates for Remus and Patton and Logan had a coffee. “Thanks so much for meeting us, Lo, you’re a life saver.” Logan nodded in appreciation. The three of them talked about how Patton came into Remus’s life, what Patton liked to do, what he usually did with Roman or his grandparents, everything Logan needed to know. “You like reading, so do I. What books have you read?” Patton looked up and made a thinking face as he tried to remember. “We have all sorts of books about princes and princesses, about dragons, and magic and creatures and all sorts of things!” Patton explained, talking with his hands. “But the special stories are my most favourite!”

“They’re your favourite? What makes them so special?” Logan asked. Patton really reminded him of Remus when he was younger, an energetic, expressive, happy child. “Oh, it’s these stories daddy makes up from his brain, and they’re always the best!” Patton answered. “Your daddy is very creative.” Logan turned to Remus before continuing. “So you simply want me to be there with him while you’re at work?”

“Yes, he’s surprisingly good at entertaining himself. He likes to draw, and plays pretend a lot. I sometimes hear him in his room for hours on end.” Remus explained as Patton sipped his hot chocolate.

“Alright, when will you be needing my help?” Logan asked. He was optimistic. Patton seemed like a nice kid and he worked with children for a living so this would be a breeze.

When the day came, Logan had taken his old Pedagology book to school to read between classes. “Let’s see, parenting styles.” He thought it would be good to revisit this part of his studies in preparation for this evening. When the last bell rang and Logan only had his end-of-the-day chores to, he felt like he had prepared sufficiently.

He made his way over to Remus’s house with some story books he had packed, some games his students recommended he bring but he barely understood, and some craft supplies. He rang the doorbell and sooner than he expected, Patton opened the door with Remus close behind him. 

“Logan!” Patton greeted him. “Hello, Patton. I look forward to spending tonight with you.” He was met with excited nodding from the little boy who stepped aside to let him in. “Thanks again for doing this, Logan. I don’t know who I would have asked if it wasn’t you.” Logan put a hand on Remus’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry about it. Patton seems like a good kid, and either way, I can handle kids. Have a good day at work, Remus.” Remus thanked Logan again before giving Patton a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead and leaving the house. “So, Patton, I was hoping you could tell me a bit about your usual daily routine.” Patton tilted his head with aimless wide eyes before giggling. “You talk funny.”

“Oh do I now? How about this,” Logan cleared his throat. “Doest thou wish to partake in dinner planning, my dear child?” Patton laughed. Mission successful, Logan thought as he too couldn’t hold back his chuckle. “Have you had dinner yet?” He guided Patton to the kitchen and as they walked, Patton grabbed Logan’s hand out of habit. Logan looked down at Patton who only smiled up at him. “Daddy and I were having dinner before you came here.” Logan and Patton walked into the kitchen and Logan saw Remus made lasagna tonight. “But we’re not done yet. Want some?” Patton held up his plate to offer it to Logan.

“I would love some, but this is your plate. Can I have one all to myself?” Logan asked, sitting down at the little table. “Oh yes!” Patton zoomed off to grab Logan a plate. “Here you go!” Logan took it and made himself a plate. “Did your dad do a good job cooking?”

Logan took this moment to get to know Patton more. He already knew some things that Remus told him but he was curious as to what Patton would say. “Yes! Daddy always makes the good foods. He says it’s because of his secret ingredient.” Patton started, making a spooky expression on ‘secret ingredient’. “I don’t know what it is, but it always works!”

Patton was exactly what Logan had expected. All throughout dinner he talked about his interests like it was the first time. He had the same glint in his eyes that his father had and a very infectious smile. At the end of the night when Patton was fast asleep and Logan was reading on the living room couch, he thought to himself. “What a delightful kid.”