FINAL CHAPTER!

By time Logan and I came back downstairs, Logan all cleaned up, everyone was sitting at the table. My brother was free of any blood, thanks to Aubrey, and was glaring down at his plate. Abby and Leo were oblivious to everything else as they happily ate their pancakes and babbled about going to the festival in a bit.

Colleen and Aubrey looked back and forth between Me, Logan, and Knox as if waiting for one of us to talk. The only acknowledgement my brother gave was a glare at Logan. The three of us ate in silence while Aubrey and Colleen did most of the talking. It was awkward to say the least.

Once breakfast was over, Knox and Aubrey took the kids to get ready for the day. Not wanting to leave Colleen to do all the dishes by herself I had Logan go ahead and get ready while I stayed to help in the kitchen. 

"That was eventful." She said after a minute of us washing and drying the dishes. I couldn't help but snort. "I knew there was something going on between you two."

"You did?" I took a plate from her to dry, surprised by her comment.

"The moment you two walked through the door there was something. Not to mention the way he looks at you." I ducked my head, cheeks flaming.

"He didn't." I went to say but she cut me off.

"Oh trust me I know a look of someone in love. That's how my husband use to look at me. It's how Knox looks at my daughter." She elbowed me softly. "Knox will get over it." She said it so matter of factly.

"How do you know?" I asked softly.

"That boy may try and pretend he's all badass." I grinned when she swore. "But he loves you and if being with Logan makes you happy, he'll accept it."

Drying her hands she pulled me into a tight hug. I leaned into her, breathing in the smell that was all her. Cookies and bread.

"Now, go get ready. We have a festival to get too." With a tap to my butt she ushered me out of the kitchen. I made my way upstairs feeling a bit better. Colleen always knew the right thing to say.

I opened my bedroom door only to pause when someone said my name.

"Can we talk?" My brother said from behind me. I only hesitated for a second before nodding, stepping into my room with him following behind me.

I walked over to my bed as he shut the door behind him. My brother had the same nervous habit as Logan. Rubbing the back of the neck and avoiding eye contact.

"Liv, I'm sorry." My eyebrows rose. It's not often my brother apologizes. "What I said earlier...I didn't mean it. It was uncalled for."

Crossing my arms I shifted on my feet.

"Is me and Logan really that bad of a thing?" I hated how small my voice was.

"No. Yes." My brother sighed running a hand through his hair. "You're my baby sister. I only want the best for you."

"And what if that's Logan?" I met his gaze.

"I just..." He struggled with what to say.

"He's amazing Knox. He's been helping me everyday at the bakery. Coming early and staying later." I could tell Knox was surprised at that. He had no clue Logan has been helping me the last few weeks. "He could be doing anything else but he keeps showing up. Something no one has ever done for me before."

No guy has ever done what Logan has for me.

"And you know he's a good guy. You know he wouldn't let anything hurt me. You wouldn't be friends if that wasn't true." After spending years together in the Marine's my brother knows better than anyone how great of a guy Logan is.

"I know you're pissed but I love him."

"You do?"

"I do. And I know you aren't okay with it but I want you to be. I want you to not hate me for falling for your best friend." I choked out. My vision getting cloudy as tears formed.

"Liv." In two strides Knox stepped in front of me and pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms tightly around his back, needing the comfort only my big brother can give.

"I could never hate you. Ever." He said fiercely. "You're my baby sister, I'll always want to protect you."

"I know." I spoke into his shirt.

"I want you to be happy. If...if Logan is that for you." He let out a sigh. "I'm not saying I'll be okay with it quite yet but...I will be."

"You promise?"

"Maybe try and keep the PDA to a minimum around me, kay?" Pulling away I laughed, wiping my eyes.

"We will."

"But if he so much as makes you cry or does anything to make you unhappy you come straight to me. You hear me?"

I grinned as I nodded.

"I love you Livvy."

"I love you too."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Reindeer!" Abby yelled as she spotted the two reindeer at the festival. Without another word she took off, dragging Charlotte and Isla along with her. With a shake of his head my brother started after his daughter with Colleen beside him, Leo wiggling in his arms to run after his sister.

"They have so much energy." Aubrey said but you could hear the love in her voice.

"Seriously, Isla can go go go." Caleb agreed. "We crash around eight every night."

Logan and I walked behind the three as they talked about their kids. It felt...different being able to walk and in hand with Logan in public. It was ironically our first time being a couple out and about.

When we got to the festival with our hands interlocked the rest of my family just stared before shrugging, like they didn't really care. Lucas and Annie just sent us a grin. Caleb a thumbs up. The only person who seemed to really care was Jackson. The little shit looking smug as he eyed Logan and I. None of them said a word about Knox and Logan's bruises.

"You know for a minute there I thought we were going to be bombarded with questions from everyone." Logan said as we walked slowly behind the others.

"Oh just wait for it. We have all day." I know my family. Once all of us girls got in a room together there was no running from their questions.

"You're brother seems...okay." Earlier I told him about Knox coming to my room to talk. Before we left to come to the festival my brother went up to Logan. The two of them spoke softly for just a moment, too low for anyone else to hear, before they gave each other stiff nods. Logan wouldn't tell me what my brother said to him but the tension between them was slightly less now.

I wasn't expecting my brother to suddenly be okay with Logan and I. I knew he needed a bit to wrap his head around it and accept that this was actually happening. But at least they weren't fighting anymore.

"Oh, just a heads up." I leaned into whisper to Logan. "The kids are going to want to go to every activity, so be prepared."

"You don't think I can keep up?" He smirked down at me. His lip was swollen but of course it only made him look hotter. Only Logan can pull off a bruised cheek, split lip, and a cut on his eyebrow.

"Nope." He may think he can keep up with a 6, 5 and 4 year old but he has no clue what he's in for. He's going to be exhausted by the end of the day.

"Just you wait and see." He pinched my butt making me yelp. I glared at him as he just laughed, walking ahead of me to talk to Caleb.

With Logan now ahead of us, Aubrey and Jackson fell back to my side. I knew at any moment the two of them are going to be asking me tons of questions. Aubrey and I have yet to talk since the fight this morning and knowing Jackson he was going to want to know everything. I could practically feel the excitement coming off of them.

"So." There it is. "Are we going to talk about Knox and Logan's sexy faces being bruised?" Jackson asked. Aubrey snorted.

"Don't tell them they have sexy faces. Their egos don't need it."

"Olivia." I sighed knowing I wasn't getting out of this.

"Logan and I told him we were together and he didn't like it."

"So he punched Logan?" He gasped, ever the drama queen.

"Yep." Aubrey answered.

"Damn like full on fists?" I nodded. "That's hot."

"How is that hot?"

"Protective men are sexy. Logan defending you, hot." Jackson shrugged like what he just said made any sense. "So Knox isn't happy about the new couple?"

"Not entirely." I looked over at my brother who was holding Leo up to pet the reindeer. "He did apologize though. And he seemed...okay about it. Will probably be awhile before he stops glaring at Logan every time he stands too close to me."

"Just give him time. I promise he'll get it over it." Aubrey squeezed my arm. "Plus I won't let him be angry too long." At least she was in my corner.

The three of us walked a bit further in silence before Jackson spoke again.

"So is Logan as kinky as he looks?"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Exhausted yet?" I asked Logan as we laced up our ice skates. The last stop at the festival was ice skating. Everyone was tired from going all day but as soon as the kids saw the nearly empty ice rink they just had to do it. Plus it was our yearly tradition to go at least once.

"Nope, just fine." Logan replied, although I knew he was lying. He looked tired and ready to sit down. That's what you get when you bring kids to a festival with tons of fun activities.

"Oh good. We can race around the rink then." I sent him a wink and stood up. I'm pretty sure I heard a groan behind me as I walked away. 

Snatching Isla up in my arms, I skated out onto the ice, her little laugh filling my ears. Grinning from ear to ear I skated around the rink while the others slowly made their way onto the ice.

Thankfully there were only a few people on the ice, the perfect time to be here. As I made my third lap I finally saw Logan coming towards the rink. The way he looked at the ice made me pinch my lips together to stop from laughing. I'm pretty sure he doesn't know how to ice skate.

Gently handing Isla over to her dad I skated over to Logan.

"Ready to go?"

"Uh yeah." I've never seen Logan so nervous before. I skated back a little bit before I pulled out my phone, snapping a quick picture of him.

"Are you taking pictures of me?"

"Just want to document this moment." I grinned. I watched, completely amused, as he shakily stepped out onto the ice. I know within seconds he did not know how to skate at all. I was proven right when his skate slid and he scrambled to hold onto the edge.

"First time?" I tried to keep the amusement out of my voice but failed.

"Fine. Yes, I've never ice skated before." He frowned, glaring down at the ice like it was in the wrong.

Laughing I reached out to grab his hands.

"It's okay I'll teach you. Once you get the hang of it its not too bad." He hesitated for a moment before grabbing my hands with his. His grip was so tight my knuckles were turning white but I didn't say a word.

"Just keep your skate straight." When he did that I gave him an encouraging smile. "Good job."

"You're the one with the praise kink, not me." He muttered which just made me grin even harder.

"You never know maybe you do." I skated backwards gently towing him along with me. "Good job." I said again loving the way his jaw clenched.

Slowly, and I mean slowly, Abby was skating laps around us, we made our way around the rink. A few times Logan's legs tried to slid out from under him but I managed to keep us upright.

The entire time we moved I kept my eyes on his face. Watching the way he looked down in concentration. Eyebrows pulled down. Jaw clenched. Even looking grumpy he was cute. The fact that he was all mine still not sinking in quite yet.

"Thanks for coming to Christmas with me." I said after a little bit. He looked up from the ice.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"Couldn't let you be a lonely bachelor." I teased.

As we skated I forgot about everyone around us. Forgot about my family skating around us, my brother's eyes burning holes into our backs. This may be our first outing as a couple but it felt so natural, so right. Being around Logan felt like home. A feeling I never thought I'd feel after my parents died.

"Are you glad we got trapped at that hotel for Christmas?" I suddenly asked, sliding to a stop. That gorgeous smile of his appeared on his face as he stood in front of me.

"I am. Are you?"

I was glad we got trapped by that snow storm. If it hadn't been for that this wouldn't be happening right now. I would still be that girl that had a secret crush on her brothers best friend.

"I am because it brought me you."

THE END