A/N—Surprise! I was in the mood to post tonight. This story has actually been done for a few weeks and the new one is coming along nicely, so I decided to go ahead and just put up a bonus chapter for the week.

A few notes about it. One, I know that prom is usually earlier in the school year and not a week before graduation. For this story, it worked better to have them close together so that's what I went with. Sorry for any confusion.

And two, the song mentioned in this chapter is REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling." I thought it fit the moment very well. :) This site ruins spacing whenever I try to post lyrics, so apologies about that as well.

I hope you guys are still enjoying the story! I'll probably have the first chapter of the new one up next week, but this one still has three or four left. We're almost done! It's bittersweet. Thanks for reading!

Logan offered to go downstairs and let Kendall and Katie know it was time to go home. The sounds of a heated battle floated up the stairs when he opened the door to the basement, then Kendall swore before immediately calling out, "Sorry, Katie! Pretend you didn't hear that!"

"Please, bro, I hear everything. Even those moans when you two are 'studying' in your room."

Kendall gasped. Logan reached the bottom step just in time to hear Carlos do the same, and see his face quickly reddening. "Katie, not cool!"

"Oh, Kendall!" she gushed. "Do that again!"

Kendall shot up off the couch, the game forgotten. "You are so dead when we get home!"

"Touch me and I'll tell Mom what I walked in on last week."

They were at a stalemate. Amused, Logan cleared his throat. Three startled faces turned his way. "Your mom's upstairs, guys."

Glad to have a distraction from Katie's comments, Carlos shut off the game and greeted him. "Logan! So happy you're home, bro! I need help with my essay for English. It's due tomorrow."

"We can look at that before bed." He moved aside to let Katie pass. "See ya, squirt."

"Stop calling me that! I'm almost thirteen!"

"Don't remind me," Kendall groaned as he hugged Carlos. "How does she keep growing? Can't she just stay that cute little girl who used to worship the ground I walk on?"

"She was pretty cute," Carlos agreed. He lifted his lips to Kendall's. "Bye, boyfriend. See you in the morning."

"One more day, Carlos. Just one more day of school and then we're free."

"Don't forget the prom. That's part of school. Right?"

"I guess it counts." After planting one more kiss on Carlos' mouth, Kendall headed for the stairs. "See you in the morning, Logan."

"Uh...actually, I don't think you will. I'm going to walk to school by myself tomorrow. Or...maybe I'll drive for once. Why haven't we been doing that all along since I got a car?"

Kendall halted halfway up the steps and turned back. "You're not coming with us?"

"No, James and I had a fight. He doesn't want to see me."

Carlos and Kendall groaned at the same time. "What did you do this time?" Kendall asked. "You know how sensitive he is."

"It's a long story. Have either of you heard from him tonight?"

Both checked their phones before shaking their heads. Carlos pointed out, "He knows we'll probably just side with you."

"Well, I'm going to give him time to cool off. He's got enough to deal with tomorrow, with the finals and prom. And I have an assignment to write, so...actually, Carlos, can your mom help you with English tonight? I'm on a timeline." Which was more accurate than anyone knew.

"Yeah, I guess. Kendall helped me write it, we just need someone to correct the mistakes." He jogged up the steps after Kendall. "You coming, bro?"

"Yeah. I need to grab some stuff from the room anyway." Logan followed them toward the kitchen but held Carlos back before they reached it. "Listen, I'm going to need complete silence for this report I'm finishing up. I was thinking I'd do it downstairs so I'm not interrupted. That cool with you?"

"Sure, Mom will want me in bed soon anyway. It's all yours, dude."

"Great. Thanks, Carlos."

This time it was Carlos who stopped him from walking away. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because James isn't talking to you. I know how much that upsets you. Last time you freaked out."

That was true, but last time he hadn't known it was all part of the plan. "I'm not worried about it. He'll come around. Things are gonna work out just fine."

"I hope so, man. And I hope it's before he decides to take off again. We don't need to go through all that a second time. Was it about prom? I know he's still really upset that you won't go. Even if he acts like everything's fine."

One corner of Logan's mouth turned up. "Everything is fine, Carlos. What's meant to be will be."

After giving Logan a strange look, Carlos turned away. "I've never seen you so calm. Give me some of whatever you're on."

Logan laughed. He was high on the knowledge that James would be by his side forever, and nothing felt better than that.

While Sylvia and Carlos were saying goodbye to the Knights, Logan snuck into the bedroom to retrieve his memory cube of James. He grabbed his backpack and laptop and then locked himself (literally, as he was taking no chances) in the basement to focus. Twenty minutes later he had the entire assignment typed up. An hour after that, he'd added a second report from scratch. He'd realized that Mrs. Simmons might find it suspicious that Logan turned in James' report, unless he was doing both at once. It was easy for him to throw together a detailed essay on the effects of exercise on patients with chronic depression; in a small way, he felt like he was honoring James with it. His name went on that, James' on the radiation theory, and two hours later when Logan was finally able to crawl into bed, he did it with exhausted relief.

He still had to actually hand Mrs. Simmons the assignment, but that would be the easy part. It was done.

Hey, Roger, guess what? I did it. I had help, as I'm sure you know (or will soon enough), but I did it. The world is saved. I get to spend the rest of my life with James. All of this, every single second of fear and frustration, was totally worth it. Thank you.

He closed his eyes, Carlos' snores not annoying for once, and just soaked in the life he'd built in this place and with these people. It was his and he never had to leave it. Did he miss his old life, the one where he'd woken up every day to go spread knowledge at a university, then driven home to an empty house and spent much of his time thinking about (and fantasizing, he could be honest about that) what it might've been like to know James? He honestly didn't, because the reality of knowing James and having a family and friends was better than anything his mind had ever come up with. He knew it wouldn't always be easy—he and James would probably argue sometimes, he might grow bored with knowing about certain things ahead of time, and he'd have to live through Brooke's death. It would all be worth it to save humanity and to do it with James at his side.

Of course, that wouldn't happen if James never spoke to him again. Lucy had said the dance was Logan's best chance to get him back, but he couldn't stand the thought of James lying in bed right now alone and scared that he'd lost Logan forever, that he'd have to face everything on his own. Before Lucy, Logan might've feared that James would run away again. He knew better now.

Hoping to at least ease some of James' fears, enough to get him through the night anyway, Logan reached for his phone and sent a text. "I love you. I know you're upset with me and I understand why, but I love you the way you are and I'd never try to change you. I'm sorry if I made you feel like you're not good enough. There's nobody else I want to be with and that's never going to change. I'm here when you need me. Always."

He added a heart at the end. He didn't know if James was still awake and would read that tonight, but Logan wasn't worried about it.

Things had a way of working out.

Purposely arriving early for the morning final, Logan beat James to class the following morning. He greeted Mrs. Simmons with a smile and a cup of coffee that made her eyes light up.

"Logan, thank you so much! How did you know I was running late and didn't have time to stop this morning?"

He hadn't known, it had just felt right. "I figured today would be a stressful day for you and even if you had stopped, a second cup wouldn't hurt."

"You're a joy. I'm really going to miss having you in my class." She walked through the door he was holding open for her, then he followed her in. "Where's James?"

"On the way, he got held up at his locker." After setting the coffee and a few packets of cream and sugar down on her desk, he reached into his backpack for the reports—one in a bright green cover and the other in blue. He took a quick glance to make sure he'd attached the correct name to each one (ha, wouldn't that be a disaster if he'd screwed that up) and passed them over. "The extra credit assignments. I did type it up for James, but I promise it's all his idea and his work. He really blew my mind on this."

Mrs. Simmons smiled up at Logan. "Well, I'm sure some of that is due to your influence. You really got his brain in gear this semester. I'm so proud of him."

"So am I," Logan smiled.

Another student stepped into the room, and seeing that it was Linda (with a bag from the local donut place for Mrs. Simmons), Logan nodded at her before taking his seat. Leave it to Teacher's Pet Linda to try to grease the wheels for a better grade. He felt her suspicious gaze on him and he almost laughed.

That's right, little girl, enjoy being the star pupil while you can. James Diamond is going to knock you right out of the park.

James slipped in just before the bell was due to ring. It was obvious he'd slept badly (if at all) and was nervous about the upcoming test. Logan tried to catch his eye but James kept his head down and passed his usual desk; instead he continued to the back of the room, where Logan watched James take the desk Logan had used over the first two weeks of arrival.

It's okay, Logan. You knew he'd still be mad. This is all part of it.

Still, it was tough to see it from a distance and not be able to reassure James that everything would be okay. Using a trip to the pencil sharpener as an excuse, Logan walked by James' desk and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You got this," he whispered. "I believe in you."

James went stiff but said nothing. He refused to even lift his head. That was fine. Logan's words had hopefully been enough.

The second the bell rang, James shot up from the desk and rushed out of the room.

Typical James, Logan smirked. You can't run from me. I'm your destiny.

Logan moved on to his second (and last) final of the day. James hadn't been worried about this one, as for him it was P.E. For Logan it was math; he aced it.

Logan's last trip to his locker was bittersweet. He had so much to look forward to after graduation, but he'd enjoyed his time at this school. Lunches in the library with his best friends and James, the chance to study an era he'd grown up wishing he could experience firsthand...they'd have no reason for the study group on Sundays now. Could they still have their weekly trip to Good Eats? Surely the guys wouldn't turn down that offer, especially if Logan treated them each time. It wasn't like his money went anywhere else after he'd bought a used car.

Logan knew that Brooke's death was looming on the horizon, and that (along with the whirlwind James would go through once Mrs. Simmons' buddy at the university got his hands on James' paper) would change things. For now, though, he was in no hurry to let go of the routine.

"Hey! Logan!"

Logan paused in the act of clearing out his locker. He knew that voice. Curious, he spun around to greet Kendall. "Hey. How were finals?"

"Uh...I'm not sure." Kendall gripped his backpack strap harder. "I might've bombed history. We probably should've spent more time on that in the study group."

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure you passed."

"Yeah, let's just hope Carlos did, too. I really need him to graduate with me."

Logan barely hid a smirk. "He'll be fine. I was just wondering if you guys want to get breakfast at the diner tomorrow."

"Are you kidding? We'll probably be sleeping in late after the prom. I don't plan to be home early tonight."

"Right. So...lunch then?"

"Yeah, that's if James starts talking to you again. That's actually why I'm here. Carlos and I tried all morning but he won't tell us what you guys are fighting about and he won't even consider hanging out with you. So...that puts us right back in that position where we have to choose. We don't want you to think we're siding with him by going to prom. The plans were already made and—"

"Kendall, don't even worry about it. I know you guys aren't taking sides. He's riding with you, right?"

"Yeah, Mom's letting me take the van. We're heading over now to pick up the tuxes and then we're all getting ready at my place."

Logan was a little sorry to miss that. "Would um...would you guys be open to doing that at his place instead?"

Kendall frowned. "Why?"

"Or maybe at least pick up Brooke and take her back to your place? I just don't think she'd want to miss out on seeing James all dressed up and...handsome." The mere thought of how James was going to look stole James' breath away.

"Oh. You know, now that you mention it, Sylvia's probably going to feel the same way. I didn't even realize. Yeah. We'll see if Sylvia can pick up Brooke on the way home from work. And they can have a girls' night once we leave. It's perfect! Thanks, Logan!"

"I just know how Brooke is, and she wants to share as much as she can with James before..."

"Right. Okay, I'll try to talk James into lunch with you at Good Eats tomorrow. Wish me luck."

James' voice called out harshly from down the hall. "Hey, Knight! You coming or are we leaving without you?"

Logan spun toward him. James was standing with Carlos and determinedly keeping his gaze away from Logan. "You'd better go," Logan chuckled. "He's fighting hard not to look at me. Let's make it easy on him this time."

"I'll be right there!" To Logan, Kendall said, "Just tell me this. Whatever pissed him off this time, is it really worth being mad about or is James overreacting as usual?"

"It would be worth being mad if it was true. But it's not, and eventually he'll realize that."

"Damn. Does he think you cheated on him?"

"No, nothing like that. Don't worry too much about it, Kendall, I'll fix it. Just be there for him in the meantime so he knows he's not alone."

"Done. I'll let you know about tomorrow."

"Thanks."

"Knight! Five more seconds and we're out of here, with or without you!"

"God, he's so annoying," Kendall sighed. "See ya, Logan."

"Have fun tonight."

Kendall jogged away through the throng of seniors saying their last goodbyes until graduation (or for some, prom). Logan focused on James, not looking away until he got what he knew was coming. Sure enough, just before they turned a corner, James looked back at him.

Logan was ready. The second their eyes met, he mouthed, "I love you."

James' breath caught. Even from halfway down the hall, Logan could see the effect those words had on James, who turned away fast.

Logan smiled. Yep, he's still in there. And I'm going to get him back.

It was weird having the Garcia home to himself, and as Logan attempted to tie his bow tie for the eleventh time, he wished that wasn't the case. He would've gladly welcomed assistance from either of his parents.

That's how he'd grown to think of them now, and it no longer felt strange. It just felt right.

What wasn't right? The damn bow tie. Logan had worn suits plenty in his time. He'd even donned a tie so many times he could do it in his sleep. He'd never had occasion to wear a tuxedo, though, and the damn bow tie was outwitting him.

He'd resorted to Google and still gotten nowhere. How had he come up with a scientific formula to save mankind yet couldn't even manage to tie together two pieces of fabric without messing it up?

The sound of the front door closing made him gasp. Logan glanced at his phone. 7:05, there was only one person it could be. He rushed out of the bathroom and toward the living room. "Papi!"

"Hey, son!" A helmet tucked under one arm, Papi removed the shades he wore as part of the uniform and smiled at Logan. "Your tie's crooked."

"I know! Help!"

With a soft laugh, Papi dropped his helmet onto a chair and motioned Logan closer. "Come here. It's all in the wrist." Logan stood by patiently while Papi untied the fabric and started from the beginning. "I thought Syl said you weren't going to the prom."

"Change of plans."

"Mmm. Finally going for it, huh? Can't say none of us saw it coming. There you go." Papi patted Logan's shoulder and stepped back. "Perfect."

Logan's gaze narrowed. "What...going for what, exactly?"

"For James! You two have been dancing around each other for months, it's about time you admitted it!"

It felt like a volcano was erupting just under Logan's face. "Wha...James?"

"Oh come on, don't lie to your old man. You can lie to yourself all you want, but your parents know you, son. Syl and I were hoping for this. You two need each other. You're too serious and he's not serious enough. Together, you make a great team. It's all about balance."

Logan searched for words and found none. It would be useless to deny it.

"What I don't understand is why you aren't going with them."

"It was kind of a last-minute thing. They don't know I'm coming."

"Well, they'll be happy to see you. And this means I get the place to myself for the night! Or at least a few hours. Usually when Syl is gone, you boys are here."

Logan grinned. "Big plans, Papi?"

"You know it! I think I'll order a pizza and blast my metal. You don't need a ride, right? My bike might ruin that hair you worked so hard on."

"No, I've got my car," Logan chuckled. "Thanks." He started to walk away, then turned back. "I mean that. Thank you for taking me in and giving me a home. A family. A new life. You have no idea how much it means to me."

"We know, son. Trust me. We know. And once you decide what you want to do and move on, we'll do the same for another kid. But this will always be your home, okay? You can come back anytime. And no rush to leave, either. We love having you here."

Lucy hadn't warned him he'd be crying tonight. If he didn't leave soon, that would be the case. "I love being here." Logan cleared his throat. "Have fun tonight."

"You, too! Don't let that boy even think about getting away. You two belong together!"

The truth of that chased away Logan's tears. One more look in the mirror, and then it was time to go.

Tonight he'd make his dreams come true.

Due to the mishap with his tie and a spontaneous stop at a drugstore, Logan arrived even later than he'd planned to. By the time he purchased a ticket and stepped through the door of the main room, the dance had been going on for an hour. He was assaulted with some ancient song featuring too much sax and looked toward the auditorium stage to see a live band performing. The singer had a hairstyle that reminded Logan of a character on a beloved show from this century. Chandler? Had that been his name? During a flashback he'd had the same hairstyle.

Eighties. I forgot, the theme for this stupid thing is the 1980's. Because that's retro.

A laugh escaped Logan. His entire life had become retro.

There seemed to be people everywhere and too much going on. The dance floor was packed. To the left sat tables overflowing with food and drink. Along the right side of the room smaller tables were scattered, many of them empty at the moment. Logan skimmed the dancers and found Carlos and Kendall, who actually appeared to be having a good time. If anyone could get Kendall on a dance floor, it was Carlos.

But where was James?

What if he's dancing with someone else? What if he's trying to get over you by moving on? He might be drunk and making out with some slut who—

Stop it, Logan. Just stop. He belongs to you. Find him and claim your place at his side.

Calmer now, Logan let his gaze roam over the students milling around the refreshment tables. No sign of the most gorgeous man Logan had ever laid eyes on. He tried the other tables next, the ones surrounded by chairs. It wasn't hard then to find James, as he was the only person sitting alone in a sea of couples. His hand was wrapped around a plastic cup of soda (and hopefully nothing more) while he watched the kids cutting up on the dance floor. His eyes looked lost and hopeless.

Oh, James. I'm here. I'm here for you.

Nervous now even though he knew the outcome, Logan zigzagged through tables toward James. Lucy had told him everything would be fine, and he believed that. What Logan didn't know was what they went through to get there. Would there be a huge fight? Another blow-up that would rip his heart out? Would James cause a scene before running out of here and forcing Logan to give chase?

Practically shaking as he approached the table, Logan licked his lips and took a deep breath. He'd just go with it, live in the moment and let fate take its course. James didn't hear him coming over the loud music, had no idea Logan was even there until his view of the dance floor was blocked. He looked up suddenly, probably already having the rehearsed "I'm not in the mood" ready for the latest in a string of students hoping to get him out there, but instead his jaw dropped and he gasped as he took in the sight of Logan dressed up and smiling at him softly. "Hey," Logan tried.

James' chest heaved. He wanted to run; his eyes were a mix of terror and disbelief. There was something else in them that kept him from fleeing. Logan thought it might be hope. "What are you doing here?"

"Want to dance?"

Obviously they couldn't actually dance, not here in this room with a hundred people watching. James knew that. He hesitated, breath coming in shallow pants, but his eyes showed that he wanted to say yes. Logan knew what to do. He held out a hand to James. "Come on."

"Where?"

"Just come with me. Trust me."

It only took about three seconds of debate. James accepted the hand and let Logan lead him as quickly as possible out into the lobby. The music followed them but was blessedly muffled once the doors to the main room closed; the band had moved on to a song about something called "Pac-Man Fever" and the less they knew about that, the better, in Logan's opinion. He took a fast glance around the lobby, seeing only the students who had been in the box office selling tickets. They were apparently done for the night and closed that door before rushing toward the auditorium. Logan watched them pass, James' hand tight in his grip behind his back, and then they were alone with only the far-away sounds of an old video game and each other. Not taking any chances, Logan pulled James around a corner of the main-room entrance. They would be hidden from anyone going in or out of the room.

Only then did he allow himself to look into James' eyes. They were a muddy green swimming like algae in an ocean of tears. "Don't cry, it's okay."

"No, Logan, I'm sorry. I was so stressed out and worried about graduation and finals, and this whole thing with Mom...but I held it together because you believed in me. Because you said I could do it. Last night you doubted me, you said I wasn't good enough, and—"

Logan squeezed James' hand tighter. "I didn't say that."

"Just let me finish, okay?" James sucked in a shaky breath. "It was on your face, Logan. You were disappointed in me. And...I don't know, that was the last straw. The one person who believed in me, who made me believe in myself, didn't think I was good enough. I lost it. If you didn't believe it, how could I?"

"James—"

"And it hurt. It fucking hurt. I couldn't stand to see you look at me that way. So I ran, like I always do, and decided that if I'm not good enough for you, I don't want to be here. But I have to stay for Mom, you know?"

"Shh." Logan caressed James' cheek. "James, you are good enough."

"I don't feel like it most of the time. I mean, I did. I was starting to. I was getting there. And then last night with the report..." James shook his head and sniffled. "So I just shut down and blocked you out. And tonight I was sitting there at that table watching Carlos and Kendall dance, watching all of them dance, and it hit me what I was running from. I was pushing away the one really good person in my life, who makes me feel good about myself. And I was so lonely at that table, wishing you were here. Wishing we could dance together. Knowing that would never happen, that it would take a miracle because you think this shit is stupid."

"I never said—"

James reached up for Logan's hand, pulling it away from his face to twine their fingers. "And suddenly there you were. Like...like somehow you knew what I was thinking and how bad I needed you and even though I treated you like shit, like I always do when I get scared...you were there."

"I'm always going to be there, James. How many times do I have to say it before you believe it? I'm not going anywhere." They hadn't kissed in almost two months, and the pull was stronger than ever before. Logan pressed his mouth to James' skin, just to the left of his nose, and whispered, "I love you."

James shivered against him. It felt more like relief than any kind of arousal, and that was fine with Logan. It was probably best—for now. "Logan?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too."

This time it was Logan who shivered. The opening notes of a ballad floated to them. Logan dragged his lips to James' ear and breathed, "Want to dance? There's no one here to see us."

James swallowed before sliding his arms into place around Logan's waist. Logan's hands clasped each other behind James' neck. He laid his head against James' chest as their bodies swayed slowly together in time to the song piping through the closed door.

I can't fight this feeling any longer

And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow

What started out as friendship has grown stronger

I only wish I had the strength to let it show

Logan's lips curved up. If ever there was a more appropriate song for them...

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever

I say there is no reason for my fear

Cause I feel so secure when we're together

You give my life direction, you make everything so clear

James' chest rumbled with a soft laugh. "Do you think they wrote this about us? Though I guess not, since it's from the '80's. We weren't even born yet."

"Stranger things have happened, James. Anything is possible."

And I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the oars forever

James' arms tightened. Logan's eyes closed in contentment.

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you

I've been running around in circles in my mind

And it always seems that I'm following you

Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find

"By the way," James murmured. "You look more incredible than I imagined you would. I knew I didn't want to miss this."

Logan's face lifted enough to nestle into the crook of James' neck. "I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you."

And I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the oars forever

It was. They'd still have to keep it a secret, Logan knew that, but his main reason for discouraging a romance with James was no longer valid. He wasn't distracting James from his destiny—he was his destiny.

The song did its job and they decided at the same moment to stop fighting what had been between them from the night they'd met. This was by far not the most heated kiss they'd shared, but it was Logan's favorite because for the first time it wasn't wrong. He gave himself up to it, letting James take the lead and losing himself in the feel and taste of everything he'd ever wished for.

"Want to get out of here?" James finally asked. Now he was breathless from more than relief, his eyes full of promise of things Logan had imagined in his most secret fantasies.

"Yeah," Logan panted. "I have my car. Let's drive to the lake, we have so much to talk about."

James stepped back with a look on his face that was a cross between disbelief and amusement. "Of course. Of course you want to go to a place where everyone makes out and talk. You never shut up, do you?"

Logan shrugged, unapologetic. "I have a lot to say." He leaned closer to whisper, "But when that's done, maybe you can think of something else to pass the time. I'm open to suggestions."

James' eyes bugged out. "Well, damn, Professor. Looks like I just bought myself a lecture. Teach me everything you know."

Logan grinned. James couldn't know how prophetic his words were, but Lucy would've appreciated the joke.