Sorry this took a little longer than promised!

Enjoy.

I own nothing you may recognize.

…

Logan knew that if there was one thing that would bring his best friends back together again, it was hockey. Hockey had always been their mutual passion. It was the entire reason they became friends to begin with! It connected this group of four very different guys and made them into brothers.

Hockey would fix this, Logan was sure of it.

He sat on the bleachers just off of the ice rink as he waited for Carlos to come along with Kendall and James. He stared out at the ice and couldn't help but smile, reminiscing about all of the good times (and bloody body parts) they'd all encountered throughout the years, especially back in Minnesota.

.

Carlos was even more fidgety than usual on the ride down to the rink. He wanted this plan of Logan's to work so desperately, so his best buds could all be best buds again, and if this didn't work he didn't know what to do.

"You okay?" Kendall looked over at Carlos from the driver's seat of the Big Time Rush Mobile. He'd noticed Carlos's endless fidgeting and thumb twiddling, despite the fact that he was driving and excited to play hockey. Carlos fidgeting was weird.

James noticed what was going on from his spot in the back seat and asked, "What's going on?"

"Carlos is acting weird," Kendall answered, raising an eyebrow back at Carlos.

"I'm fine!" Carlos squeaked, always the horrible liar.

James and Kendall shared a look before Kendall went back to driving and James threw an arm around Carlos, despite the fact that Carlos was in the passenger's seat of the car, while James was in the back.

"Don't worry. We won't kick your butt too hard on the ice," the tall pretty boy stated with a cocky grin.

Kendall laughed at the comment, while Carlos gave one of those fake, nervous laughs. He couldn't help it—he didn't like to lie to his friends, and he knew they'd be mad when they found out they weren't going to just be playing hockey—they'd be conversing with Logan. Somehow, Carlos knew he'd end up breaking up a fight today…

…

Ten minutes later (because L.A. traffic is horrible), Kendall, James, and Carlos were all walking into the rink, skates tied over their shoulders and excited to play some hockey.

That was until Kendall and James noticed Logan. The three awkwardly stared at each other, Carlos looking back and forth between James and Kendall and Logan, nervously biting his thumb.

Logan stood from his seat on the bleachers and the three boys continued to stare each other down, waiting for someone to make the first move.

Carlos couldn't stand it anymore. He stepped forward and stood in between the three. Kendall and James were on one side and Logan was on the other, which was true both metaphorically as well as physically.

"So. Uh."

Before Carlos could say any more, James interrupted, "You tricked us!" He glared down at Carlos, his eyes as cold as the ice they were supposed to be playing hockey on.

"No!" Carlos immediately interjected. "I mean…not really…I…" He wasn't good at this.

Logan took over for the innocent boy, "It wasn't his fault. I asked him to invite you guys here."

"I thought we came here to play hockey, not talk to the backstabber!" James exclaimed, ready to leave once again, his good mood now completely gone.

"Stop it! I'm sick of you guys acting like this! We're brothers. At least listen to what Logan has to say," Carlos pleaded, effectively stopping James from leaving.

James just crossed his arms and looked over at Kendall, figuring that he'd just do whatever the leader thought was right at the moment.

Kendall, who'd been quiet and unmoving the entire exchange, continued to look over at Logan. His eyes shifted behind Logan, to the hockey rink, and then back. Then he looked over at James. Then back at Logan once again. "Okay…"

It was quiet for a second before Kendall continued.

"We'll play you in hockey. You and Carlos versus me and James. You guys win, we hear you out. We win, you leave us alone. Deal?" His voice was icier than Logan had ever heard it, and he knew he was in big trouble. But this was his only hope—his one chance to get this right.

"Deal," he replied strongly.

Kendall gave a small smirk, as if he was both proud of Logan for accepting the challenge and determined to whip his butt.

The four boys got in their hockey gear in relative silence.

Logan knew this hockey game was his one chance. He also knew it would be in no way easy. Kendall and James would both play harder than they'd ever played before. But Logan was ready. He could do this. He had to do this. Even if they kicked his butt, at least they'd be interacting with him. At least they'd be one step closer. Right? Right… And he could show them how apologetic and will to be their friend he was.

The game was on. Two-on-two games between the group was always what they did best. It was how they practiced for their team back in Minnesota, it was how they played for fun both in Minnesota and here in L.A., and it was the one thing that kept them grounded when they were homesick here in L.A. Most importantly, it kept them together.

It was usually Kendall and Logan versus James and Carlos—a tallie and a shortie for each team. They each had their strengths and weaknesses, and they evened each other out. It was strange for each of them to play this way—tallies versus shorties—but they soon got used to it and were playing their hardest they'd all ever played.

After two and a half hours of goals and speed and ice flying everywhere, the four boys decided to take it to the bleachers. Sweat dripping down their foreheads and their breathing loud and harsh, they slumped down on the bleachers and against the floors, tired from the harsh game.

"Was anybody…keeping score?" Carlos asked between deep breaths.

The other boys all laughed at the question. Somewhere in between intense hockey playing and determination to win, they started having fun. Just like the old days.

"We'll call it a tie," Kendall stated, once everyone got their breath back. They all looked at each other with small smiles and relief over their faces.

It went without saying that they were cool again, but Logan had to make sure.

"We okay?" he asked, eyes shifting back and forth between Kendall and James.

"Yeah, we're cool," Kendall responded, smile widening and holding out a hand for Logan to "bro-shake" (that awkward mix between handshake and hug that only guys do).

Logan let out a laugh of relief and looked at James, as if repeating his question for him.

James nodded with a small smile. "We're good. I want to hear your story though."

Logan beamed. Finally, he was able to prove himself.

Carlos grinned widely at the sight of his brothers all getting along once again. Finally!