44. Home is where you are

And then one day, I realized that we are not just friends. We are more than that. We are soul mates. Partners. Lovers. We are everything. - Logan

~~~

44. Home is where you are

(Alexandra)

It was like a dream. A big scary dream, where all your demons come alive and stalk you. The kind of nightmare that would make you never want to sleep.

Alex didn't know how she came all the way here, but here she was, her heart thundering in her chest, a prayer whispered in her lips, eyes swivelling around to find a way to him.

The hospital looked crowded, chaotic and full of people complaining about things.

"Logan Forte?" She said to the receptionist and she blinked at her drowsily.

Must be a long shift.

"Just a minute, mam." The woman said as she typed something.

She needed to see him. To feel him. To know that he was alright.

He should be. He should be alright.

You can not do this to me, Logan. She thought with a frown. You can not leave me.

"Alex?" Alex jerked upright from her slumped position when she heard Daniel.

She sighed.

"It is room 102 mam."

She knew it was rude to just walk away, but she didn't have patience to stand there any longer when every beat of her heart was crying out for him.

"Hi." He said and she nodded vacantly.

It had been too long since she had met him. Or anyone else from Logan's family. Too long.

At the base of her brain, she knew what manners would actually deemed it right for her to say to him right now.

A how are you, maybe.

Hello!?

But words didn't seem to fit in her tongue.

She gave him a smile that felt too thin, too broken on her lips. She felt tired. She felt like she wanted to go home, with Logan.

"Is he.... "

"Come with me." Daniel said, his voice serious. He looked serious, too.

It didn't fit with his persona.

Alex' worry doubled as she looked at Daniel with question in her eyes. He avoided her look as he walked forward.

"Daniel, please, just please tell me that he is alright. I can't- I won't-"

But Daniel kept silent as he marched through long corridors, drenched with the smell of antiseptics and cleaning liquids. He looked all business.

It really made her intestine twist and turn inside.

The long hallways seemed to grow longer and longer, whiter and whiter still. It looked bare and empty, and Alex felt like she could not breathe if she walked any longer.

The walls felt like prison around her, closing in on and she felt like her lungs were going to bruise.

She was hyperaware of every noise, every sound. If she listened closer, she could hear people crying behind the closed doors, the sound, ripping and painful, so full of grief and sadness. So full of loss.

I can't lose you.

A tear slipped down her cheeks.

She couldn't lose him. Not him, as well.

After her father, he had been her home, if only for a short time. He had been her friend. Best friend. And love.

And she needed him. She couldn't imagine a life without him, a life where she had to walk all alone.

"Go on." Daniel said as he pointed the door to Alex. She waited for a moment, wishing Daniel would say something, anything about how Logan was, but he didn't.

It was as if he was completely oblivious to Alex's stuttering heart, and clenching stomach.

She pushed the door open and came face to face with Logan.

"Is that tears in your eyes? Alexandra Annie Steele, why are you crying?"

There he was, fine as a horse.

"You are not-"

He was well. Fine. Nothing had happened to him.

"Not dead." He said with a shrug. He looked too calm to her taste. Too freaking composed. And here she was, a freaking mess.

"Are you freaking kidding me?"

"Hey, now, now. I am hurt." He said with a mock look of pout on his face, as he pointed to the Band-Aids stuck to his forehead.

Seriously? Was he for real? Really real?

This was why he was here?

For those three freaking Band-Aids on his forehead?

She could have done that herself. For him. And she could have saved all these agonizing moments and worry for her.

"It is my car that really needs a surgery. Me, I am just here because I have a confusion- I mean concussion and I broke my wrist, too."

That was when she noticed the sling.

She had been looking at his face that she missed it.

"It hurts and I love you. You are so beautiful and I wish I can kiss that pouty lips, I can too, if you move a little closer to me."

"Are you high, you idiot?"

"A little." He grinned, showing all his teeth. "Paining. Can you kiss it better?" He gave her a pout that made her want to kiss those lips.

She shook her head as she took him in. Again. Fully. He looked like a thousand dollar mess and other that few scratches on his head and cheek and a broken bone, he looked fine.

He was better than fine judging by that loopy smile on his face. He looked giddy, and different. And so very relaxed.

Must be the pain meds.

She sighed.

"You cried for me." He said after a minute as he looked at her, thoroughly pleased with that knowledge. She wanted to chuck something on his head, but since he already had some Band-Aids over there, she refused to give into that temptation.

"You loooo-oove me." He sang, sounding so ridiculous that she couldn't help but chuckle.

"I don't." She said with a smile.

She kinda liked this new version of him.

"You do too. I know that. You know, Alex, how they say your whole life would flash in front of you when you feel like you are going to die... I thought I was going to die, and the only thing I kept thinking about was... You. How I missed my chance with you. How I can't ever make up to you for what I have messed up." Now he looked somber. Previous smile had drained from his face and he looked pale.

She wanted to hug him to her. She wanted him to go back to being loopy.

"Just- do I ever have a chance, Alex? With you? Do you think- is this actually working?" His eyes were pleading with her. To say yes.

It is working.

"I don't want to-" He sighed and closed his eyes. "Lose you..."

"I don't want to lose you, as well, Logan. You have become a part of me that I just can't- Logan? Hey?" She shook her head when she saw he wasn't in this world. "Did he just fall asleep? This guy is just one-" She muttered aloud as she saw him leaning against his pillows, his mouth half open and God, he was snoring. An old malfunctioned truck would have groaned in shame when it heard him.

She walked to him and adjusted his head so that it wouldn't hurt. He winced lightly and she pressed her lips againsthis wrinkled forehead and he relaxed. And smiled.

He looked adorable. Asleep.

"It is the effect of the meds." Daniel said as he opened the door. And walked in.

She took a step away from Logan , but judging from that crinkly smile in Daniel's lips, he saw what she did.

"You looked so damn serious for just few Band-Aids."

"Because you needed a shock treatment, Alex. First he needed one and now you needed one. It was this constant struggle with you two... I don't know what is the problem with you two. You both are in love with each other. And everyone can see it. So why don't you just stop all this melodramatic bullshit and get together already?"

"Have you ever been in love, Dan?" Alex asked with a frown. She didn't like that he looked all too superior and said things that might actually be right.

"A few times."

"So no?" Alex shook her head. "It is everything beautiful in the world, but it is also... Everything unimaginably painful when you fall in love with the wrong person."

"You didn't fall in love with the wrong person, Alex. You know that."

Alex turned when she heard the familiar voice. Oh, how she missed that voice.

"Eliza..."

"You fell in love with a confused, a very confused man. And he did some shitty things, but-"

"How are you?" Alex looked at Eliza and Eliza shook her head with a sad smile.

"God, I am so sorry for all of that and I-I missed you and the baby, how is the baby?" Eliza came closer, as if she wanted to hug Alex and then stopped with a hesitant look on her face. It was like there was a wall between them and Alex didn't want that wall.

"The baby is fine. And I missed you, too." Alex said as she wrapped her hands around Eliza in an embrace. Eliza sighed in relief and hugged her back.

"I want a hug, too." Logan's sleepy voice interrupted them. Alex pulled away from Eliza and smiled at him.

"You are awake already?"

"The hug?"

"Go on." Alex pushed Eliza. "Your brother needs a hug." Alex said with a cheeky smile.

"Who needs a hug from her! I need one from you."

"Umm. Ok, since you were in an accident, I can oblige you." Alex said with a wink, as she walked to him and hugged him closer to her.

He sighed. "You smell like home. My home. Home is wherever you are."

She smiled into his neck. She didn't want to go anywhere. This was a nice place to be. This was her home too.

She could feel him pressing his lips against her head and she snuggled closer.

"We are still here." Daniel coughed.

"What are you still doing here?" Logan muttered grumpily. "Go away. I am finally getting some action and I don't want spectators."

"Ssh." Alex shushed him as she pulled away from him. "I need to go-"

"Don't go." He said, looking up at her, his eyes vulnerable. For the first time in so long she could actually see every one of his emotions. And she knew he trusted her enough to show all that to her. All that pain and suffering and love. "Don't go."

She couldn't go even if she wanted to.

"I need to go and call Stella. I have to inform her that I am staying here with you. And I need change of clothes." Alex said with a smile and his answering smile was just as radiant. So bright that she wondered if he was truly her grumpy Logan.

"Ok, then, we will be going." Eliza said as she bent to kiss on Logan's forehead.

"Bye bye." Logan was very fast to reply. Eliza shook her head with a chuckle at her brother. "Camille and Adam and Brian wanted to come, too. I said tomorrow. Emma is babysitting them." Eliza said as she closed the door.

"Tell them I said hi. And bring them tomorrow."

"Sure. Bye. Take care, you idiot. You might be a jerk oftentimes, but you are still my baby brother."

"I know." Logan said with a smile. "And I am."

"I can bring that change of clothes in the morning, you know. Just tell your friends I will be coming." Daniel said to Alex.

"Thank you." Alex said before she called Stella.

"Are you done?" Logan asked when she hung up. "I need to continue that hug."

Alex walked next to him and sat on the bed.

"Don't you ever put me through this again okay? I can't- I just-"

"Come here?"

She pushed her face to his chest.

"I love you." He said. "I am not going anywhere. Even if you don't want me. I am here."

"As ny friend?" She pulled back from him and stared at him.

"Whatever you want me to be."

"Then what about my sex slave?" She smirked.

"Gladly."

"What about daddy to my baby."

"Yes, of course."

"I am going to make you sign an appointment order. To be my husband. Until the end of my time."

"Where do you want me to sign?"

She chuckled as he pulled her closer. "We can seal the deal with a kiss, you know?"

"We can."

***

(Logan)

They say third time is the charm.

Maybe this second marriage would be their charm.

He couldn't wait for her to walk down towards the judge. Towards him. And become his wife.

Two months after their divorce was finalized, they were marrying again.

Everyone had commented about the stupidity of this , but Logan wanted a fresh start. A new life with his wife.

Just him and her without anything else in between. Just them and their baby and love.

Even thought their first wedding ceremony was glossy and full and rich and done with a fine print, it was still fake. It was still done with so many other intentions that was not true.

He wanted to marry her, this time, just for herself. Only for her beautiful self.

It was a miracle that she forgave him. That she gave him a chance to be a part of her life and their baby's. Always. And he wanted to cherish that moment without any previous blunders hanging over him. Over them.

It was a small, intimate ceremony.

The small hall was decked with little white flowers and there was his dad with Beth. And Eliza and Emma and their family. And Barbara. And Daniel and Stella and Tom. And Leo.

Yes. Leo. That Leo.

Logan wasn't very pleased with that guest , but what could he do...

Alex insisted on it saying he was one of the very few she actually cared about. So there he was. And yes, he looked a little morose for a wedding- but what could Logan do?!

Except gloat inside....

She was his wife and he was her husband.

That is that.

And Leo Shine can do nothing about it.

And he was happy to marry her again. He was the happiest man at this moment.

When she walked towards him, in a silver satin dress that showed her slight bump, with Andy and Brian holding her on either side, looking like an angel, followed by a smiling Camille, he promised to himself that he would never ever doubt love. Or her. Or his love for her.

She was his, and he was hers from the moment they met each other. From the very beginning, it was all preplanned. Destined.

They were meant to be together, even through the rough roads. Their love was stronger than ever now, and their bond was unbreakable now.

It had been a hard journey, to reach that destination, his destination, but they were finally, finally here.

"Uncle Logan, you take care of Auntie or I am marrying her the next time." Andy threatened much to everyone's amusement.

"No, I will." Brian said.

"No. No one is marrying her except me." Logan looked at his nephews with a smile. "Get away from my girl." He tickled them and they giggled before they ran away.

"I love you, Alexandra Annie Steele. For everything you are, for everything you taught me. I have once doubted your love, my capability to love you back... But now, as i see you now, I have no doubt about any of that. I am made to love. You."

She sniffed a little.

"I love you, Logan Adrian Forte. And yes, even when you had been a jerk, a stupid stupid jerk, I still loved you. Because I am made to love you."

And they were together. Again.

~~~

(Alexandra)

"Welcome home." He said. "You made this my home, Lex. I had once lived here without feeling any emotions and then you came."

"I came. I couldn't help but come." She said as he opened the door.

He pulled her to him and kissed her. Hotly. Passionately. As if he couldn't get enough of her.

She couldn't get enough of him, too.

"Come to my room." He said with a look in his eyes that burned her.

Her body was on fire and he was the only one who could make it burn faster and higher.

"Go on." She said with a wink. "Let me change."

He gaped at her when she walked inside the room. His eyes were wide and feasting on her.

He always made her feel beautiful.

There was never a moment that she wanted to hide herself from him. Even when he said he didn't love her.

"You like..."

What are you wearing?" His voice was as breathy as it was the first time she wore it.

Of course, no one in their right mind would call this thing anything. A piece of cloth was what it was. But Logan loved it then and he seemed to like it now.

He came closer to her and murmured words to her, words that made her feel warm all over. His voice was sexy and it rasped against her skin, sending delicious tremors through her nerve cells.

The night breeze was gentle and cool on her skin, and his breath was warm and hot on her neck. He sniffed.

"Are you smelling me?"

"You smell and look amazing. Is this... That lingerie?"

"Yes. The one from our first first night. I thought.... It is only fit to wear it the second first night too."

"You do know how to torture me, woman. Come to bed, Lex." He groaned when she pressed closer to him. She could feel how much he wanted her.

She wanted him just as bad.

This time she didn't have to worry about heart break or falling for him. She didn't have to worry about the time it would all come to an end.

This time it was for forever.

She had fallen for him, hardly and he had fallen, too, for her.

This time he was hers.

Mine. She thought as she grabbed him closer.

He kissed. Mouth opener. Devouring. Devoting. Starved.

She kissed back. Just as starved.

And when he made love, it wasn't just sex.

It was lust, yes, he would always lust for her and that knowledge was powerful. It gave her a strange sense of accomplishment and pride.

It was lust, yes, but it was love, as well.

"I love you and that is not a word. That is a promise."

"I know. This time I know and I don't have to wonder, ever again. I love you Logan."

Tired and spent , she curled herself around him. She was drifting off to sleep, when she jerked upright.

"Here..."

"What? God! God. Is that?"

"Yes. That is your baby kicking."

"I love you too, baby. Don't feel left out." He said to her stomach as she lied down in his chest, feeling finally full.

(And read Stacy's story now -> All the wrong reasons)

~~~

Me: It is done. Finally, finally. 😆

The baby: I am still not done. I am still inside mommy. 🤔

Me: You are still baking in the oven, baby. 😎

The baby: You are a rude woman just as mommy and daddy says. 😏

Me: Your mommy and daddy is the rude one. And what... What all do they say about me when I am not listening? 😣

The baby: All kind of things..... 😃

Me: What?

The baby: I am not saying. Bye bye. 🤐

~~~

Dear readers,my lovely lovely patient readers, I apologize for the long gap. Life is like a bucketful of bad bad things right now and it is hard to find time. Also Alex and Logan were not talking with me for a bit. That thing called writer's block or something, it has actually happened to me.

Hope you all are doing fine. Keep your eyes open for the next story in the series.

It is Stacy's story... Da da dum. (It is up. )

That is it for now. Tata.

Love you all for being such an amazing group of readers.

Sometimes when the life was freaking bad and when I was crying, some of your comments had made me laugh and smile and that was a blessing you guys have given me in return for my words and it is an absolutely big present for me.

Thanks again for all the love and support.

Love.😍

Fathy

A/N: If you like This story, give my other story a try... #An interview with Mr. Ex. It is available on Dreame (pen name: Fathy Light) and I have entered it to a contest. So reading and commenting and hearts help. Do check it out if you got time.