Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ok, but why are you driving all the way to your hometown?  There are dentists here!  I mean, not in Schitt’s Creek, but in the greater Elms area.” David asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“David, I’ve already explained this.  I don’t want to go to a new dentist for something this major.  I trust my dentist back home.”

“Okay, but that’s what Yelp is for!  We can look at reviews.  I’m not gonna let just any quack take out your wisdom teeth!”

“I appreciate the concern, but it’s already set up.  I’ll drive home, my mom will take me to the appointment, then I’ll be there for a couple of days while I recover.”

“What if….what if I wanted to be the one to take care of you?” David said softly.

Patrick approached David, placed his hands on his boyfriend’s waist and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.

“I love that you want to do that for me.  However, you also need to take care of the store.  Doing both of those things would be nearly impossible.  Besides, I haven’t been home for a visit in a while and I think my mom is looking forward to doting on me.”

“Oh, I know she is.  She couldn’t stop talking about it last time I spoke to her.”

“You talk to her?!”

“Uh, yeah.  She calls the store all the time.”

“Why does she call the store and not my cell?”

“Because she wants to talk to me?  About our products.  She’s always interested in what new beauty products we get in, and candles….she’s obsessed with candles.  You know what, I should get a gift basket around for you to take to her - maybe throw in some of that new yarn we just stocked.  She knits, right?  Or is it crochet?”

Patrick squinted skeptically at David. “And who’s going to pay for this gift basket?”

David smirked. “Um, it’s a write-off?”

They’d had this conversation before and it was a well-worn joke between the two men.

“That’s not what a write-off is, David.  And I think you know that.”

“Well, either way, I’m not sending you there empty handed.”

“Okay, David.”

//  Marcy POV  //

Marcy finally got her son back home, out of the car and into the house.

“How’d we get here so fast?!  You didn’t know the right way to go.”

“No, you were giving me wrong directions.”

“Will you make me a lasagna, mom?”

“Not right now, dear.”

“David would make me one,” Patrick replied petulantly.

“He would?”

“Mm-hmm.  He’s a good person.  And so handsome.”

“What?   Who?”

“David.  How is he so handsome?”

This…was not what Marcy was expecting to come out of her son’s mouth.  But, well, anesthesia can make people say some silly things.  And David is handsome, after all.

“Oh, well, yes he is quite good looking.”

“His skin is so perfect….”

“I imagine your store’s products help with that.”

“No, before.  He was perfect even before…”

Before what?  She wanted to ask, but thought better about inquiring while Patrick was in this state.

“So beautiful…”

Beautiful?!  Was he calling David beautiful?

“Okay, sweetie.”

“I think I wanna marry him.”

“What?  Marry David?”

What on Earth was Patrick talking about?  Was he saying what she thinks he’s saying?

“Yes!  But I havta…I can’t ask him till I talk to my paren- wait!  Mom, I have to tell you somethin’!”  Patrick looked up at his mom with wide eyes.

Oh no.  Marcy wasn’t quite sure she was ready to hear what Patrick needed to say.

“Okaaaay,” Marcy responded hesitantly.

“It’s very very important.”

They really shouldn’t be having this conversation right now.

“Do you want to wait until you’re more….alert?  Feeling more like yourself instead of right after surgery?”

“No. Now!”

Ok, this was happening…now.  Time for Marcy to brace for this news and be a supportive mother.

“Alright, Patrick.  I love you.  You can tell me anything.”

“Mom.”

“Yes, dear?”

“Come closer.” Patrick motioned with his index finger.

“I’m right here.”

Then he leaned in and whispered, “I’m very hungry.”

“Patty.”

“I’m a hungry hungry hippooooo…” He sang out.

Well, if that wasn't some emotional whiplash.  Maybe what Patrick was saying meant nothing.

“Will you make me a lasagna, mom?”

“Sorry, honey, you can’t eat solid food yet.”

Patrick stuck out his bottom lip, then gasped, “Honey!”

“You want some honey?”

“No.  You called me honey.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess I did.”

“That’s what he calls me.”

Oh, maybe this was not nothing.

“Honey?”

“Yup.” He popped the p for emphasis.

“David?  Your business partner.  Calls you honey?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Okay.  That’s nice.”

“It’s very nice.  He’s very nice.  To me.”

“Why don’t you lay down for a bit, Patty.”

“Mmm.  Okay.  Yeah, I’m very tired.”

“Yes, that’s expected.  Come on, rest right here on the couch so I can keep an eye on you.”  

Marcy helped Patrick get situated on the couch in the den and covered him with a throw blanket.

“Mmm…need a pillow.”

“You’ve got one, silly.  It’s under your head already.”

“No, need one to hold.”

“Oh, okay.  Here’s an extra.”

“Mmm.  David…”

“What?”

“Gonna hold it like it’s David.  Miss him….we always snuggle like this.  Especially after sex.  He lets me be big spoon even though he’s taller.”

Oh my.

“Wanna always fall asleep with him.”

“Alright sweetie, close your eyes and get some sleep.”

“Forever and ever and ever…” Patrick repeated as he drifted off.

Well, anesthesia or not, Marcy was pretty sure she just learned some very interesting things about her son.

//  Patrick POV  //

“Morning sunshine.” Marcy greeted Patrick the second he peeked his eyes open, as if she had been sitting and waiting by his side all afternoon.

Immediately pain started radiating through his mouth and jaw.

“Mmm…can um…can you get me some water and pain killers, please?”

“They’re already there, on the side table.”

“Thanks.”

Patrick put the pills in his mouth and swallowed a gulp of water, wincing at the pain.  Then he glanced back over at his mom, sitting in the recliner.  She had a strange look on her face.

“Have you been sitting there the whole time I slept?”

“Um, mostly, yes.  Been thinking about….stuff.”

“What’s going on?  Is something wrong?” Patrick asked uneasily.

“Nothing’s wrong, dear.”

“What does that mean?”

“Um, how are you feeling?  Lucid?”

“Lucid?  Uh, yeah I guess.  Until these pills kick in anyway.”

“Ok,” Marcy responded, pondering if she should move the conversation forward. 

“What?”

“Well, I just wanted to talk to you about something, but it can wait a bit longer.  Yes, let’s wait.”

“Mom, what is it?  You have a very serious look on your face.  Is…is it dad?  Or you?  Some sort of health problem? Or….are you moving? Selling the house?  What?” Patrick asked, a bit panicky.

“No.  Nothing like that.  I just….well, you said some things while you were still a little loopy from the anesthesia.”

Oh no.  What did he say?  Please let it be nothing about David.  Please please please.

“Oh no, what’d I say?  Was it embarrassing?  Please tell me you didn’t get a video of it,” Patrick responded.

“No, no video.”

“Mom, what is it?”

“I’m just concerned about what you said.”

“Concerned?!”

“No, that’s not the right word.  Um, curious - I’m curious.”

“Okay, well, I was under anesthesia so who knows.  What did I say?”

“You were - well, you said some things about your business partner.  About David.”

Fuck, what had he said?!  It hadn’t even occurred to him that he might let something slip about his relationship.

“Um, good things?  Bad things?”

“Interesting things.”

“Mom, just tell me, please.”

“You, uh, said he was handsome, and that he called you honey, and you wanted to hold a pillow to sleep and pretend it was him.”

Oh God.  How was he going to play this off?

“Alright.  Well, he is pretty handsome, am I right?” Patrick replied with a nervous chuckle.

“Well, yes, he definitely is!”

“And, um, he calls everyone honey.  No big deal,” Patrick continued.

“Okay.  And what about the pillow thing?”

“I have no idea where that came from,” Patrick was scrambling for something to say. “Um, maybe….well, he wears all these really fuzzy sweaters that look soft.  Maybe somewhere in my drug-addled brain, I thought that sounded like something comforting to snuggle with?  I don’t know.”

“I guess….that kind of makes sense.”  Marcy was still acting hesitant.

“Anything else?”

“You said you missed him.”

“Oh.  Well, I mean, we spend all day, every day together.  We’re good friends.  That’s all,” Patrick said, knowing it was the truth, but not the entire truth.  Lying by omission.

“And you’d tell me?”

“What?” Patrick gulped.

“If you were more than just good friends?  You’d tell your father and I, right?”  Marcy asked, her face looking so warm and comforting and hopeful.

This was it.  This was his opportunity.  He just wished his brain wasn’t quite so scrambled right now.  This wasn’t how he wanted it to happen.

“Mom.  I know that I can talk to you about anything, okay?”

He was aware that he wasn’t exactly answering her question.  And by the look his mom was giving him, she knew it too.

“Okay, dear.”

“I think, um, I think I need to sleep some more.”

“Alright.  I have jello made, and popsicles too, whenever you’re ready to put something in your stomach.”

“Sounds good.  I might just head upstairs?  To my bed?  I think I’ll rest better there.”

“Okay.  Do you need help navigating the stairs?”

“No, I think I’ll be okay.  I’ll use the banister.”

“Ok.  Sweet dreams.”

Patrick made his way to his old childhood bedroom and laid down on the bed, but he didn’t rest, he didn’t have sweet dreams.  All he could think about was how fucked up this whole situation was.  This was not how he wanted his parents to find out about David.  Anesthetic confessions?  How embarrassing.  He felt like he had played it off pretty well though.  He thought maybe his mom bought the excuses he was peddling.

Chapter Text

Later that evening, Patrick finally went downstairs to face the music.  Hopefully his mom would let everything go.  He entered the kitchen to hear his parents talking in a hushed tone.  He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but did catch a few words: David and gay and why and what do we do?  Were they upset about this?  He couldn’t tell by their tone.  This was all spinning out of control and he still wasn’t quite right in the head to face the conversation he knew he needed to have with them.  They hadn’t noticed his presence, so he cleared his throat causing them both to snap their heads up in surprise.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No worries.  How are you feeling?” Clint asked.

“Uh, I’ve been better.  It’s not time to take more pain killers yet, though.  So, I was hoping for some of that jello you were talking about earlier, mom.”

“Sure thing.  Just sit down and I’ll get you a bowl.”

“Thanks.” Patrick sat down at the table slowly and rested his forehead in his hand.  “God, my head still feels so foggy from those meds.  Maybe I’ll just try some ibuprofen, see if that’s enough to dull the pain.”

“You should take whatever you need.  Being in pain isn’t going to win you any medals,” Clint doled out his dad wisdom.

“I know that, I just don’t like feeling so out of it.”

“Yeah,” Clint started, stealing a glance at Marcy. “Your mom said that you were pretty loopy after surgery - that you were saying some interesting things.”

“Interesting?”

“Well, maybe you don’t remember.  That’s ok.  We don’t need to talk about anything in particular.”

“Yeah.  No.  I remember - or I remember what mom told me I said, anyway.  I explained why I probably said those things though.” Patrick paused.  “Anesthesia is crazy, am I right?” He let out a nervous chuckle.

“Just know that your mom and I love you.  Nothing could ever change that.”

Oh God, they knew.  They both knew the truth, or part of it anyway.

“Yeah, I know,” Patrick responded, voice a little wobbly and eyes shining.

Marcy placed a bowl of jello in front of him and gave him a kiss on the temple. That’s when he decided it was time. They knew, sort of - and still loved him.  If not now, then when?  What was he waiting for?

“Look, I need to tell you guys something.  This just, well, it wasn’t how I planned to do it.”

“You can tell us anything,” Marcy reminded him.

“Yeah, mom.  Thanks, I know.” He paused.  “Um, I wasn’t completely truthful with you earlier.  I was still feeling out of it from the surgery and didn’t want to talk about it then.”

“That’s ok, sweet boy.”

“David and I are, uh…we’re more than just business partners, more than just good friends.”

“What are you trying to say, Patrick?” Clint asked, prodding Patrick to stop beating around the bush.

He took a deep breath and continued, “We’re dating.  He’s my boyfriend, and I’ve never been happier.  And I hope….that you’re ok with that.”

Both Marcy and Clint reached across the table to hold his hands.

“That’s all we care about, son.  That you’re happy.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course, dear,” Marcy added. “Thank you for finally telling us.  Even if it took the drugs and my prodding," she teased.

“I’m sorry I kept this from you,” Patrick said as a tear trickled down his face.  “I just….look, I know you’re good people.  I just didn’t know how to tell you, I didn’t want you to treat me differently.” Patrick stifled a sob. “Gosh, I don’t know why I’m getting so worked up.  It’s just been a long day, I guess.” He wiped the tears away with the palms of his hands.

Marcy stood up and walked around the table, giving Patrick a hug.  “It’s ok to let your feelings out, Patty.  I’m sure this has been eating away at you for a while now.”

“Uh, yeah.  We’ve been together for quite some time.  How’d you know?”

“Oh, just some things you said after surgery.”

“Oh no - more than what you told me about?” Patrick winced at the possibilities.

“A little bit,” Marcy smirked.

Patrick looked at his dad, who held his hands up.   “Don’t look at me,” he replied.

“Please tell me I didn’t give you any….details…about our relationship.”

“No, nothing too graphic.  Sex was mentioned, but nothing untoward,” Marcy chuckled.

“Oh my god.” Patrick dropped his head to his forearms on the table.

“It’s no big deal - but that’s not actually what clued me in to the length and seriousness of your relationship with David.”

“Okay?”

“You said you wanted to marry him,” Marcy said.

“I said that?”

“You did.” Marcy smiled softly, but with a sadness behind her eyes.

“Mom… are you… does that bother you?” Patrick worried.

“No, no.  Not at all.  Not the marriage part anyway.  I’m just sad that you didn’t tell us sooner, Patrick.  We’ve missed out on your whole relationship.”

“I’m sorry.  I really am.  I wish I could just go back in time and do this all correctly.”

“Son, no apologies.  You did everything in your own time.  Okay?” Clint chimed in to reassure his son.

“Okay.”

“And you’re here now.  So…a wedding?” Clint prompted.

“Well.  I mean, I haven’t asked him yet.  Actually, I haven’t told anyone yet.”

“Oh! Really?!” Marcy exclaimed. “You told us first?!”

“Under the influence, Marce,” Clint joked.

“So, it still counts.  Patrick, tell us everything!”

“I want to propose.  I have a plan, sort of.  But I wanted…no, needed, to tell you guys first.”

“Yeah, you kind of let that slip too.  I thought you were going to tell me, but then you just asked me to make you a lasagna.”

Clint and Patrick both barked out a laugh.

“Well, now you know.”

“I guess we do,” Marcy replied fondly. “Why don’t you dig into that jello and fill us in on the details.  I want to hear everything…first date, first kiss, first-”

“Alright, alright.  I’ll give you the PG version.”

//

Patrick filled his parents in on the most important details while they listened with undivided attention.  But soon he was yawning and in need of more meds.

“Why don’t you get some sleep, sweetheart,” Marcy said.

“Yeah, I’ll head that way.  I need to call David first, though.  Let him know…what’s going on here.”

“Yes, let him know the surgery went well and you’re in good hands.”

“He was really jealous that you got to take care of me instead of him.”

“Oh really?  He sounds like a great partner,” Marcy responded warmly.

“He is.  But actually I was talking about filling him in on our conversation.  He, um, he didn’t know that you guys didn’t know about me - about us.”

“Patrick!” Marcy scolded.

“I know.  I know.”

“I call the store and talk to him all the time!”

“Yes, I was made aware of that yesterday.  And yes, I understand what a close call that could have been for him to have accidentally outed me.”

“Well, it sounds like you need to make a phone call and do some groveling.”

“I do.  Thanks, mom.  I’ll see you both in the morning.”

//

“Hi honey!  How’d it go today?  I’ve been so worried about you.”

“Well, the surgery went fine.  The aftermath, not so much…”

“What does that mean?!”

“I need to tell you something, David and I need you to not get mad about it right now.  Okay?”

“What… what would I be mad about?”

“So, the thing is that….well….um….”

“Just spit it out please.”

“I never told my parents about you.  About us.  I never came out to them or anything.”

“So, all those times I talked to your mom on the phone…”

“Yeah, she thought you were just my business partner.”

“Oh.” David’s hurt was palpable in his voice.

“I’m so sorry-”

“No, don’t.  It’s your journey Patrick.  I promise I’m not mad.  I just wish I would have known.”

“I know.”

“So, are you telling me this now because you’re planning on telling them?”

“Actually, well…I let the cat out of the bag after surgery when I was still high as a kite.”

“Oh no!”

“I did think about telling them on this trip, though.  Just, not quite like it happened.”

“What did you say?!  And did your mom get any video?” David asked a little too gleefully.

“Very funny.  No video.  I said a lot of things….that you were handsome, that you called me honey, that I wanted to snuggle with you, and maybe mentioned that we have sex.” Patrick winced.

“Oh. My. God.”

“I know!”

“Well, aside from all of that, how did the rest go?  I assume you talked to your parents after the drugs wore off?”

“Yeah, well, at first I was still a little foggy and in pain and so I played it off like it didn’t mean anything.”

“And she believed you?!”

“No.  No, she did not.  A little later, with a bit clearer head, I sat down with both my mom and dad and told them everything.”

“And?”

“They both are happy for me - happy for us.” Patrick responded with a quiver in his voice.

“Patrick, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good - great actually.  Feels like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.  It’s just been a roller coaster of a day, really emotional.”

“I bet.”

“I wish you were here with me.”

“Me too, honey.  Me too.”

“I love you, David.”

“I love you too.  Why don’t you get some rest.  You sound really tired.”

“Ok.  Can we talk tomorrow?” Patrick smiled at the callback.

David let out a huff of a laugh.  “We can talk whenever you like.”

//

Patrick woke to a throbbing in his jaw and voices coming from downstairs.  He wondered who had stopped by for a visit.  Some family member probably found out he was in town and insisted on coming over even though he’d just had oral surgery.  Patrick sighed, grabbed his bottle of meds and headed to the bathroom.  After he changed his clothes, he made his way downstairs, trying to make out the conversation coming from the kitchen.  Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to head into the kitchen, he realized he recognized the voice.  

“David?  What….how…”

“Hi honey.” David stood from the table, reached for Patrick and pulled him into a tight hug.

“What are you doing here?  I mean, don’t get me wrong, this is amazing, but-”

“After we talked, I called your mom and we talked for a bit.  We both thought that maybe yesterday had been a lot for you.  So, she invited me to come.  Well, I actually invited myself, but she agreed.  Right Marcy?”

“Yes, dear.  We’re so happy to have you here.”

“What about the store?”

“Stevie is covering.  Alexis is helping.”

“Did you drive overnight?  You must have.”

“I actually took a bus,” David grimaced.  “That way we could go home together in a couple days, and I can drive if you’re not feeling up to it.”

“You willingly rode on a bus?  Overnight?  For me?”

“Mmm.  Yes.  If you ever doubted my love for you, this should clear everything right up.”

Patrick loved this man.  He wanted to spend the rest of his life with him.  As soon as he got back to Schitt’s Creek, he’d call the jeweler - he knew just what to order.  Without thinking anything of it, he grabbed the sides of David’s face and planted the fiercest kiss on his perfect lips.  Then immediately pulled away.

“Oh!  Ow!  Fuck!”

“Patrick,” Marcy scolded him for his language.

“Sorry,” Patrick winced and gingerly held his jaw.  “Forgot about my mouth.”

“Oh, honey.  Here, sit.  Did you take some pain meds yet this morning?”

“Yeah, first thing.  They just haven’t kicked in yet.”

David, very gently, placed little kisses along Patrick’s jawline in an act maybe a little too intimate for the company sitting across from them.  Patrick cleared his throat a little bit and David pulled back.

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Marcy waved them off then stood up from her chair. “I’m just happy Patrick has someone to care for him.”

“Thanks, mom,” Patrick said shyly, a hint of blush dusting his pale cheeks.

“I’ll give you two some privacy for a few minutes, okay?  Then I’ll get started on a big breakfast.”

“Sounds amazing,” Patrick replied.

“Oh, Patty, you can’t have any.  It’s only jello for you.  Maybe some yogurt?  The breakfast is for David.”

“Well, I see he’s moved right on up the list of your favorite people,” Patrick pouted.

“He sure has.  And he’s going to help me make a lasagna for you to take home, so you can have it in a couple of days when your mouth is all healed up.  Just because you requested it, my favorite son.” Marcy winked.

Patrick rolled his eyes, “I’m your only son.”

“Well,” Marcy replied, “Hopefully someday I’ll get to add another son to my family.”  She smiled warmly at both men, then left the kitchen.

“Oh my god, this is way too much sincerity first thing in the morning.”

“Agreed,” Patrick responded.  “Hey, thank you for coming.”

“Of course.  Yesterday seemed like a lot for you.  I wanted to be here.”

“I wanted you here.”

“Do you want to talk about it yet?” David asked.

“Mmm…maybe later?  My head is still a little foggy, and the pain hasn’t subsided yet.”

“Okay.”

David resumed his earlier ministrations, tracing a trail of feather-light kisses along Patrick’s sore jawline.  He continued down his neck with a little more pressure, moving to straddle Patrick’s lap.

“David….” Patrick whispered.

“Let me take care of you.”

“Yeah.  Yes.  I want that….I really do.  But…”

David whined.

“You cannot give me a hickey sitting at my parents’ kitchen table.  My mom would most definitely notice that when she comes back in here.”

“It’s okay.  She knows about us now.”

“David…” Patrick scolded, but without much heat behind it. “Also, these sweatpants I’m wearing do not hide anything.  So, I’m going to need you to stop and maybe we can continue this later?  Tonight?”

David stopped and slowly climbed off of Patrick’s lap, giving Patrick’s semi-hard cock a quick squeeze.

“Okay.  Raincheck.  Tonight.”

“Or….maybe I’ll need to rest right after breakfast?  And you…you were on a bus all night.  Surely you’ll need a nap too?” Patrick responded in a teasing, hopeful tone, slightly out of breath.

“Mmm.  I know what you’re getting at and that’s very much a yes.  But also a yes to that nap.”

“Okay, David.”