:November 3rd, XX46; Sunday.

:HIGH-ACTION EVENT.

•~~~~•

"Alright, have fun, Joe."

"Thanks! Bye!"

"Bye, kiddo!"

Logan watched as his son scurried out the front door, fulfilling a promise with his best friend to have a picnic together, knowing that the fact it was his father's birthday didn't make his parents wish for him to stay home. It certainly didn't matter to Logan- yesterday he had officially been with his husband romantically for twenty-eight years and married to him for twenty-one. All Logan truly needed on his birthday was Patton, right by his side- which, in that moment, he was.

It was perfect.

And so, as the front door shut Patton scooted himself closer to Logan, and Logan held him close, kissing the top of his head.

"So... how's it feel to be forty-six?" Patton asked, smiling a tad. Logan chuckled.

"The same. Eventually age just seems to mix together, I suppose, and you don't notice it much. It just confuses me at times how you've been forty-six since January."

"I like being the older one. It's fun."

"It doesn't change anything, love."

"I know. Just fun."

With a small sigh, Logan stared fondly at his husband, and Patton sat himself up a bit more, fingers soon trailing up Logan's arm to rest on his shoulder. They connected soon after for a kiss, sending a tingling feeling down Logan's spine as it always did. With a smile, both pulled back.

"I love you," Logan muttered, pressing his forehead against his husband's.

"I love you, too." God, it felt like it had been so long since Logan smiled this much. Not counting the day before, of course.

The two sat like that for a good few moments, but eventually pulled back, sighing.

"Well... I do believe we should make ourselves some food soon."

"Mmh, I don't wanna stand," Logan was sure he didn't. "Can you carry me downstairs like you did this morning?"

"Who's birthday is it really, Patton?" Logan chuckled out. Patton hummed.

"It's yours, of course. I just don't wanna move."

"You'll have to eventually."

"Fine... you stay here, then. It is your birthday. I'm making the food."

"Alright."

Patton willed himself to come to his feet, and he made his way to the kitchen. Logan watched as he got out a jar of Crofter's, Logan's favorite flavor. Seeing the domestic image of Patton standing spreading jam onto bread in the quiet kitchen made Logan's heart flutter with admiration, and he couldn't help himself but to go and join the image, walking to his husband and wrapping his arms around his waist. Patton giggled quietly.

"Hello there," Logan greeted softly with a kiss to his husband's cheek. Patton moved his arm to hold Logan's face and they rubbed their noses together, causing both to laugh a bit under their breaths. Somewhere in the living room, Logan's phone made a noise, but he ignored it, enjoying the scene before him too much to even fully notice it.

"What have you decided to put together for us today, then?" Logan asked after some moments of silence.

"Our usual little comfort meal. Bread, butter, and Crofter's. We can maybe eat a little more later when Joe gets back."

"Ah, good, good."

Patton finished preparing the meal and handed a plate to his husband. "Are we going to eat in the living room, then, birthday cakes?"

"Yes, it's much more comfortable."

"That's a bit of a bad example for our son, dontcha think?"

"Well, you suggested it. And he is not currently present."

"That's true."

Logan and Patton made their way to the living room, hand in hand, setting their food on the coffee table. Logan sat back on the couch and Patton took his seat in his husband's lap, them taking a moment to get comfortable before beginning to eat. Remembering the faint memory of his phone going off from a bit earlier, Logan took his phone into his hands and opened up the text notification he had gotten, holding his phone in a place Patton could see it as well.

"Unknown number?" Patton asked after swallowing a bite of bread.

"It seems that way... I'll read it out. Hello Logan, I just wanted to text you happy birthday. We have not conversed in a very long time but I'd like to re-connect sometime in the near future. Have a good day."

Logan paused. Patton furrowed his eyebrows in mild concern.

"...Sincerely, Ra."

"R-A?" Patton repeated. "Or is it Ra?"

"I am not sure... but who do we know who's name even begins with an R?"

They both paused. And right then, in only a second, the magic and joy and fun of Logan's birthday all melted away at once.

"...No, it's not him, he's dead," Logan mumbled.

"A-And, his name is R-C, or Re, not... there's no A."

"There is an A in his last name, though."

"Oh... but- that's the second letter. Maybe... it's not him. It's not. Just ask, maybe?"

"Alright... I'll ask. I suppose we'll know if the person doesn't give me a straight answer that it would be him."

Patton shifted uncomfortably as Logan typed out, I'm sorry, who is this?. The typing bubble from the other person soon emerged, and the two husbands held their breath.

"...Rachel," Logan read out when the text went through. "That's... my mother's name."

"Your mom?" Patton blinked and then sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God, it's just your mom."

The two were silent for a moment.

"...Wait, it's your mom?!"

"Goodness..."

Patton sighed. "Just ignore her, Logan. I normally wouldn't give that advice but I know how unhappy she made you feel when you were a kid. And... y'know, you're really not feeling that good towards her right now, either."

"You're right, you're very right. I'll tell her that."

Unknown Number
1:34 PM

<Rachel.

I see. I am very happy with
my current life at the moment,
though, I don't believe there's
anything we need to catch up on.
Have a good day yourself.>

<As your mother I believe
you should let me into your life.
Your children need a good
female figure present.

My son is doing perfectly fine
with only one grandmother.>

<Oh, I do have a grandson?
I'm surprised, I wasn't fully
certain if you'd have children
or not. I assume this other
grandmother you speak of is
on your wife's side.

My husband's, you mean.
Please stop patronizing me.
I did not want to elicit an
argument at the moment but
there is a reason I stopped keeping
contact with you when I moved out.>

<Can't we just meet up,
perhaps one time? I may
not understand your lifestyle
but I'm trying, Logan.
<I'm trying so hard.
<Please.
<I've never wanted to cause
harm to you in any way,
I love you so much.

You are the reason I can
recognize gaslighting techniques
so easily, mother. Goodbye.>

<Logan.

Logan sighed and put the number on silent, seeming not to have the energy to fully remove it from his contact list. He tossed his phone gently to the other side of the couch and instead pulled Patton closer to him, kissing both of his cheeks as he did so.

"Though I have not have very many interactions with your mother in the grand scheme of things, she'll always be a better mother to me than mine ever was."

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Logan."

"I know. It's alright. It'll all be alright."

Patton leaned back a bit himself and cuddled into the torso behind him, Logan placing a hand in the former's curly hair. Both sighed.

"I love you," Patton said.

"I love you, too." Logan paused. "...God, all I want is to be happy for one single span of twenty-four hours."

•~~~~•
no❤️

see ya in the next chapter!🥰
    ~Maxx(SanderShipper)