A/N: Hello again everyone! A new chapter is here! :D

Before we get started, I would like to thank everyone that read last chapter! I would also like to give a huge thank you to winterschild11, Anno1701, Side1ways, Guest, RainbowDiamonds, and spookje10 for reviewing!

I hope you all enjoy!

"Class, this week's subject is…" James looked at the twenty pairs of excited eyes. "Under the ocean!"

They hung blue streamers from the ceiling and had a great time making cardboard fish and crepe-paper octopuses and seaweed, and by the end of the day, the entire room looked like an aquarium.

James would also vehemently deny his love of crafting with the kids if anyone ever asked. He could argue that it encouraged fine motor skills, and counting skills, shape recognition, and letter recognition.

But he really just loved seeing the kids' faces light up when they were involved in each step. When the crepe-paper streamers hung from the ceiling and they pretended to be fish and when they got to learn about octopuses and count all the legs.

It was so fulfilling to watch them learn. How they responded, and how he and Logan were making a difference. It might not be a catalyst-level difference, but they were helping these kids learn.

James wasn't sure what the mission could be. He knew Kendall hadn't told them all he knew, and Saint Peter could be shady when he had to be.

One thing James was sure of though...He fully intended to have a little chat with Saint Peter when this was all over. He would sit down with the big fella, and all the other directors if need be, and tell them what he thought.

That their management strategies needed some work. And their treatment or even acknowledgment of post-traumatic stress disorder was severely lacking. They had no ongoing plans for the ramifications of angels having to deal with human tragedies.

James had a lot of things he wanted to get off his chest to Saint Peter about the powers that be. It was well overdue, and now he had something to fight for-now that he had Logan-he knew there were no more excuses.

When the last child was gone, and James and Logan were tidying up, the door opened and Gina poked her head in. She took one look at the streamers and fish hanging from the ceiling. "Oh wow."

Logan smiled at her. "That was pretty much the reaction of every parent that came to collect their kid."

"It's fabulous," she said. "You know, you two are starting to make the rest of us look bad."

"What can we say?" James gloated a little. "We're angels."

Logan almost choked on a laugh. "He's kidding. The kids love it."

"I can see why," she added. "Say, have you thought any more on what your class is doing for the concert?"

The concert?

"It is next week."

Next week?!

James shot Logan a panicked look, and he thankfully recovered a lot quicker. "Almost ready. It is a spring theme, right?"

"Yep. Well, it can kinda be whatever you want, really. No one polices it. It's almost a fun day," she said. "Well, I better let you guys get back to it. See you tomorrow!"

James waited until she'd gone. "Logan? A concert? Singing and dancing? Next week? Oh, Heaven's mercy. We weren't supposed to still be here for that."

"It'll be fine," Logan said calmly. "Just you wait and see. We can figure it out tonight over dinner."

"I had other plans for you tonight," James admitted. "Legitimate, actual plans. And believe me, it involved watching videos on the internet, but not the ones that include singing and dancing." Then he leaned in and very seriously whispered, "Do you know how long it's been since we've been naked? It's seriously been close to eight hours."

Logan laughed. "I'm sure we can do both. And anyway, I already have the perfect song in mind, and it matches our ocean theme. The kids will love it."

"I don't have to sing, though. Do I?" James was horrified at the thought.

"That depends."

"On what?"

Logan glanced at the door, ensuring they were alone, then whispered, "How many times you make me come tonight."

James' brain short-circuited. He blinked, his heart almost exploded, and his cock...well, that was not appropriate for their classroom. He snatched up Logan's hand. "We're leaving, like right now. I'm not even opposed to running home. Can you run in those shoes?" He flicked off the lights and dragged Logan to the door. "Don't make eye contact with anyone."

Logan laughed all the way home.

Logan had barely stepped out of the elevator when James grabbed him and kissed him so hard, he stumbled backward onto the dining table. Or James pushed him in that direction deliberately; Logan wasn't sure. He was beyond caring.

All that mattered in that moment was James. His body, his hands, his tongue. Logan lay on the table, his legs spread, James standing between them, both still fully dressed. James was applying the most delicious pressure, rutting and grinding, kissing hard and desperately.

After being around each other all day but not allowed to touch, this was everything he needed. Logan's erection was almost painful, in the very best of ways, confined in his trousers and pressed hard between them, rubbing along James' while James drove his tongue into Logan's mouth.

James came first, and Logan a moment after. Still dressed, cocks untouched. That's how desperate and aroused they were. How aroused they still were.

James was panting, but he smiled lazily. "That's one."

Logan laughed and James stood to his full height. He took Logan's right foot and pulled off his shoe, then he did the left. He undid Logan's belt, his trousers, then he began to unbutton his shirt.

They were a sticky mess and they did need to get out of these soiled clothes, but out here? On the dining table? Logan was just about to suggest they take it elsewhere when James undid his pants and his still-hard cock sprang free.

He was suddenly warm all over, and a new desire licked at the base of his spine.

"Oh, yes please," Logan whispered.

James chuckled, but his eyes were dark, his lips swollen. He looked more like the overseer of Hell than he ever had, just without his burned-umber wings, of course. But he had bad intentions written all over him, and Logan's back arched with want. His cock jerked in response, and heat spread through him like wildfire.

"I know what you want," James said, his voice barely above a whisper. He pulled at the legs of Logan's trousers until they came off. "And I'm going to give it to you."

Logan was wearing nothing but underpants, an open shirt, and socks. Spread out before James, he felt exposed and sexy, and the way James looked over him, Logan felt desired and wanted.

"Anywhere you want me," Logan murmured. He was so turned on, James could have him on the floor and he wouldn't mind. In fact…

"In bed," James replied, his voice husky and rough. He helped Logan to his feet, then led him to their bedroom. James slid his hands over Logan's chest and peeled his shirt off, kissing along his collarbone up to his shoulder.

Logan's patience was at breaking point. He pulled at James' shirt, tossing it to the floor, then began to undo his trousers. "You're far too overdressed."

"I can feel how eager you are," James murmured. "You really want this."

"I do," Logan replied. He undressed, went to the bed, and threw the bottle of lube onto the mattress, then crawled on after it. He lay on his back, his knees bent, and reached down to fondle his balls and the delicate skin behind them.

James watched, frozen to the spot for a few seconds before snapping out of his daze. He pulled his boots off, then threw off his clothes in a hurry. "I was trying to take it slow," he said, putting a knee on the bed.

Logan was tempted to say he'd waited long enough but didn't want to ruin the moment. So, instead, he opted for, "If you don't get over here right now, I'll start without you." He picked up the bottle of lube.

James snatched it out of his hand. "You'll do no such thing." He kneeled between Logan's legs and slicked his fingers, then added the cool liquid to Logan's ass. Logan moaned and James leaned over him, resting his weight on one hand while the other hand began to rub and probe.

"Oh mercy, take me," Logan groaned. He was writhing, desperate for more.

James crushed his lips to Logan's, and his finger delved inside him. Logan gasped into his mouth and James smiled. "I plan to take you," he murmured gruffly. "To have you, to make you mine."

"I'm already yours," Logan replied. The flame in his chest roared in response. His whole body was afire. "James. I want you inside me."

James pulled his finger out and smeared more lube on his cock. "Um…" he began. "You have a lot of expectation about this, which implies my ability should match. And I'd just like to add a disclaimer here, that I don't expect to last-"

"James, shut up and fuck me."

James' eyes went wide. Then he huffed, as if horribly offended. "I still can't believe you can swear but I cannot. That is so not fair."

Logan grabbed the lube and flipped the lid. "Fine. I'll do this myself."

James pounced on him, pinning his hands to the mattress. "No, you won't."

Logan wrapped his legs around James' hips, but with a firm grip behind Logan's knees, James eased his legs up to his chest. He positioned himself and pressed the head of his cock against Logan's waiting ass. And he kissed Logan as he slid inside him, slow and tender.

And Logan was lost for words, lost to everything but James. He thought he might split apart or shatter into a thousand pieces with the intensity of it, but James held him together.

James' hazel-amber eyes searched Logan's as Logan's body took every inch. The fire in Logan's chest burned blue and bright, and after Logan relaxed, James began to move inside him. Pleasure made itself known, and Logan moaned as his body took over.

James held him, caressed and kissed him, gentle and thorough.

He made love to him.

This act of intimacy was like nothing he could have imagined. Having James inside him, giving himself to him, was liberating. He felt free, as if he had his wings again. As if their twin flames burned as one.

And James began to tremble and his kiss stuttered, and his thrusts were harder and deeper.

This was it...Logan was about to take all of him.

Logan took James' face in his hands and James' eyes opened. His eyes were liquid and fire, and he came inside him.

James thrust hard, his cock surging and spilling deep in Logan, and Logan was lost to the wonder of it.

It was everything he thought it would be.

James was everything he knew he would be.

As they lay in their bed, sated and content, James rubbed circles on Logan's back. He would kiss the side of his head every so often. "Are you certain you're okay?" He asked.

Again.

"Yes, I'm certain," Logan answered. Again. Then he laughed. "You wiped the evidence of just how okay I felt off my stomach, remember?"

James chuckled and tightened his arms around him. "It was amazing," he whispered. "Thank you, Loges. For everything."

Logan kissed James' chest. "Thank you, too."

They were quiet then, simply relishing the moment. Logan had wondered if their twin flames would change after what they'd just done, or during even. Perhaps intensify or join in some way, but they didn't. Logan's flame was still as it always was, still blue, still wonderful, but still as it always was.

What their lovemaking did was make James cuddle and snuggle more, laugh more and hold hands and kiss. Over the next few days, Logan was sure of one thing.

James was actually smitten with him.

Fated, sure. Twin flames, yes. But this was smitten. Like, falling in love with him.

Logan had loved James for a thousand years, only now that love was cemented, forever a part of him. Though it was different for James. For all that time, James had denied himself that love, and it seemed now he was finally letting himself fall.

He held Logan's hand as they walked to and from work, he laughed more than Logan could ever remember hearing, he talked more. He just wanted to be closer: in class, in the kitchen, on the sofa, in bed.

It was beautiful.

And a few times over the next few days, Logan caught himself and had to remind himself that they were on assignment. He wanted this pretend life to be real, that they were married and living in New York City, working as teachers of some pretty incredible kids.

Just before the buzzer went off on Friday afternoon, they were wrapping up their ocean-themed week with the song "Octopus' Garden" when Gian popped her head in. She called Logan over.

"It's the last Friday of the month."

"Yes, it is," Logan replied, wondering why she would point that out.

She laughed. "That means it's payday! And we all go out for dinner on payday. Just to Pho Sure. It's a Vietnamese place just around the corner. It's cheap and the food is really good. Plus, it's a lot of fun to just hang out. We eat early and we're home early." Her big eyes gazed at him expectantly. "We'd love it if you and James could join us."

"Um...sure?" Logan said before looking over to where James was pretending to be an octopus, singing in a conga line of twenty little octopuses. His heart swelled and he got those crazy butterflies in his stomach.

"Oh, stop it," Gian said, playfully swatting his arm. "Could you two be any more in love? Ugh, and I thought true love was dead. You put my love life to shame," she said. "We'll see you at Pho Sure when you get there."

"We'll be home early?" Logan asked. He really just wanted to cozy up on the couch and watch a movie with James.

"Promise." She grinned victoriously as she raced off.

And now Logan had the joy of telling James...This was not going to go over well. As they were tidying up, and as the last few kids were leaving, James put a chair up beside him and he let out a long sigh. "I'm glad it's the weekend. Can't wait to get home. We have two whole days where clothes are optional."

"Uh...about that. I might have agreed that we'd join the other teachers for dinner."

James stared at him, holding up a tiny desk chair in midair. "You what?"

"It'll be quick and fun, apparently."

"I had other plans for quick and fun," he countered. "Well, fun, at least. I'm working on the quick part. I just need practice. Hence the plans. And two days of naked practice."

Logan laughed, helping James with the chair. "We still have two days, and you can't practice all you like. But I said we'd go."

James sighed. "I should take notes for the Hell Department. Because that's what this will be. Absolute torture."

"It won't be that bad."

"If I have to sit next to Cheryl-Anne, we're swapping seats. Just so you know."

Logan laughed. "Deal."

He pulled a blue streamer down. "At least in Hell I can swear at people."

"Yes, but they deserve it."

"So does Cheryl-Anne! And Pia for that hideously awful chocolate cake. Or a few days in purgatory at least."

Logan laughed again and squeezed James' hand. "That is true."

James sighed, then reached up and pulled down another streamer. "I wish these could stay up. The kids love them."

"The ocean-themed week was a great idea. Maybe next week can be jungle week and we can hang green streamers with birds and monkeys instead of fish."

His face lit up. "Oh, that's a great idea. And we can make tiger masks from paper plates. I should order some more craft supplies. On Saint Peter's credit card, of course."

"Oh, yeah. Gian said we apparently got paid today."

James made a face as he pulled down another streamer. "We should give the money to the needy. Heaven knows there are people in this city who could use it."

Logan's flame grew warm. James' kindness had that effect on him. "I think that's a great idea."

"Don't look at me like that," James said. "Just because I have a reputation as a cold-hearted jerk doesn't mean I actually am one."

"Oh, believe me. I know you're not. You're the biggest softy there is."

James glowered for a moment. "Well, when we get back to Heaven, you'll have to keep up the charade. Can't have everyone in the Hell Department knowing the truth now, can we?"

Logan laughed again. "Your secret is safe with me."

They finished pulling down the blue streamers just before they were ready to leave.

"Oh, I almost forgot," James said. He went to the windowsill and poured more water into each of the seedling pots. "These little guys will need more water for the weekend."

Logan's heart grew a little bit bigger. "How could anyone think you're cold-hearted?"

"Because I pretended you didn't exist for a thousand years. Sent myself to the Hell Department to avoid facing my responsibilities. Hurt you in the process. Possibly did it because it would hurt you. Because I blamed you for a lot of stuff that was never your fault. Because it was easier to blame you than me. Found myself actually enjoying the Hell Department because watching people suffer made me feel better." James shrugged. "You know. The usual."

Logan couldn't help but laugh. "Or you did it to save someone else from doing it. Or because you felt you deserved to suffer right along with them. And you'd spend hours in the Canine Department, making sure every doggy soul got equal pets and belly rubs."

James gasped. "I did not! Who told you that?"

"Everyone knows that."

He was stunned. "My reputation will be ruined. I mean, I did give all the dogs equal pets and belly rubs, but not because I'm a nice person. I did it because they're the purest souls ever, and they deserve belly scratches. Even from cold-hearted jerks like me."

"Mm-hmm. So cold." Logan rolled his eyes and held the door open. "Come on, or we'll be late."

James pouted as he walked out. "Stop smiling. I can't be mad at you when you're being cute."

They walked outside into the warm spring evening. The light was pretty, the tree-lined street looked idyllic.

"It's actually really nice out," Logan noted.

James slipped his hand around Logan's as they began their walk toward the restaurant. "It is. You know what? This whole being human thing isn't too bad."

"I could get used to this," Logan agreed. "We probably should talk about what'll happen when this assignment's finished."

James stopped walking. "What do you mean?" An explosion of anxiety billowed out from him. "What are you saying?"

"Nothing bad," Logan quickly reassured him, squeezing his hand. "Just whether we'll do more missions together, or if you want to go back to your department and I'll go back to doing solo assignments. I mean, we don't know what the rules are, and we haven't discussed anything about our future."

"Together," he said quickly. "Whatever we do, we do together. Right? Isn't that what you want? Oh mercy, is that not what you want? Logan, I don't know if I want you to do solo assignments. What if something were to happen to you?" He put his hand to his stomach. "I don't know if I can even be apart from you now. Is that normal? What even is normal? There's never been an us before. How are we supposed to know what's normal?"

"Hey," Logan murmured. "Just breathe, James." He sent a wave of calm to him and watched as he relaxed. "That's why we need to talk about it. I don't want to be apart from you either. And yeah, whatever we do, we do together. Okay?"

James nodded and managed half a smile. "Yeah. Okay."

"We'll need to ask Peter where we go from here. What it means for us, and-"

James' anxiety rolled out of him again, though this time it was tinged with anger. "What if Peter makes us go on separate assignments? What if they make us work in different departments? Logan, seriously, one smited photocopier will be the least of their worries, I can promise you that."

"They wouldn't," Logan said assuredly. "Peter would never. He's been trying to get this twin-flame thing to happen for millennia. There's no way he'd jeopardize it. And believe me," Logan added, "if he tries, I'll be right by your side raising unholy Hell so the lava pits in the Hell Department will seem like a theme park. We'll smite the place till only ashes remain."

James smiled. "You know how to sweet-talk me."

Logan laughed and kissed him. "We better get moving or they'll think we're not coming."

"Oh, right. Dinner with our esteemed colleagues. Speaking of hell," James mumbled.

But dinner wasn't that bad at all. And Logan would guess that James even enjoyed himself. When they'd walked into the restaurant, James saw Gian and grabbed her by the arm.

"You have to protect me," he said to her with the utmost seriousness. "You have to sit on one side of me, Loges on the other. Because if I have to sit next to Cheryl-Anne and I'm forced to endure small talk at those decibels, my eardrums will explode and I'll die. Or my brain will sever its own cerebral cortex. Like seppuku but for brains. Either way, it's fatal and there'll be a lot of blood. Such a mess."

She just laughed. "I'm so glad you're not overdramatic or anything."

"I know, right?" he relaxed immediately. Logan could only laugh.

Their group had a long rectangular table booked, so they sat at the end with James in the middle of them. It was probably just as well, Logan reasoned, because the last thing James needed was to be overwhelmed with questions, spiking his anxiety, and him threatening to smite someone.

Logan had been engaged in polite conversation with the two first grade teachers on his left, and when there was a brief pause, he caught the end of James' conversation.

"Yes, we married at his parents' house upstate three years ago." James had his hand on the table and subconsciously spun his wedding ring with his thumb.

"And how do you find living and working together?" The woman opposite asked. Logan was certain she was one of the admin staff. "I know my husband would drive me crazy if we worked together."

"Oh, it's the best part," James said. "Logan makes it easy, though. He's kind of great."

She swooned and her gaze cut to Logan. "You're both so in love," she said, her hand to her heart.

James shot Logan a look, obviously having no clue that Logan had heard what he'd said, and he blushed and let out a nervous breath. Logan could feel his anxiety, but there was something else there, too. Was it honesty?

Logan slid his arm around James' chair and gave him a bit of a nudge. "Are you telling lies about me?"

"Oh, nothing of the sort," Gian replied. "He's just reminding us all that our respective partners need to step up their game."

The lady opposite nodded. "Yeah, and kick their ass to the curb if they don't."

Everyone laughed it off, but James didn't. He put his hand on Logan's knee and shifted his glass of water one-quarter turn on the table. "Don't take it for granted," James said quietly, but his tone was serious. "You might think you have all the time in the world, then because you left it too late, they might be ready to walk away." James met Logan's gaze before shrugging. "And you might not be as lucky as me."

"Wait," Gian said, her eyes wide. "He wanted to date you and you made him wait? For how long?"

James sighed. "About a thousand years."

They laughed, and Logan pulled James closer so he could kiss the side of his head. "It was more like nine hundred and ninety-eight," he said, and they laughed again.

"So now I have to spend eternity making up for it," James said. He looked over at Logan then, and he might have said it to play along, but there was honesty in his eyes. "But he's the best thing to ever happen to me," he said reverently. The others did that swoon thing again, and Logan's flame burned so bright he was surprised they couldn't actually see it. Blushing scarlet, James turned back to their little audience. "So anyway, to answer your earlier question. Yes, living and working with him is kind of great."

Logan was speechless. The change in James was astonishing. Though it wasn't even really a change. It was that he was finally letting his walls down and finally accepting love. Logan could have cried, and he probably would have if they weren't in public.

"Pretty sure I'm the lucky one," Logan managed to say. And when the conversation eventually moved on, Logan leaned in and whispered, "I think we should leave."

James gave a small nod, and they put some cash on the table and wished everyone a wonderful weekend.

Done! So, we're unfortunately getting closer to the finish line. There are still a handful of chapters left, but we're down to the last few.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter, as well as if you happened to have a favorite part/moment!

Again, I hope you all enjoyed and that you all are taking care and staying safe! The next chapter of this will be up sometime next week!

Until then! Have a great weekend everyone!

-Epically Obsessed