Title: Welcome Home
Name: Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
Rating: PG 13
"Welcome back Bling!" Max said with surprise as he came into Logan's Penthouse. "I'm glad your back. Maybe you'll have better luck with him then I do. He is freaking me out with all the lifting weights and reps. I'm afraid he will start trying to wrestle me or something."
Bling cocked an eye at Logan who flashed one of his million dollar smiles. "What did I tell you about over doing it while I was gone?"
"Um… I shouldn't?"
"Exactly. Now show me your progress."
"Wait a minute," said Logan. "Where's my sister?"
"She is coming in a few days, like we originally planned," Bling responded.
"Not that I'm not happy to see ya, but why are you back early?" asked Logan.
"Fi wanted some one on one time with the folks before returning. It was fine with me, especially since I was worried about Max managing you alone."
"Managing me?" Logan said in mock annoyance. "I don't need managing."
"Yes, ya do," Max said with genuine annoyance. "Thank you for coming back."
"Hey, that sounds like you didn't like having me to yourself."
"I love you dearly. But trying to prevent you from doing bodily harm to yourself, isn't my forte. That is what Bling is here for," Max stated calmly. "Hey, how'd it go?"
"Good. Bill said I had his blessing and I think he'll give her away."
"Woah… Since when did… I mean… Why does she know something I don't?" Logan said in a panic.
"Well, your behavior, toward your sister before she left, didn't exactly leave me feeling like sharing. I talked to Max about the fact I was going to ask Bill permission for Fiona's hand, since he is the closest thing to a dad she has now. Truth is I want you standing by me up there, not handing off your sister. Plus that's not your job."
"But… Why didn't I know things were that serious?" Logan said.
"Logan, you did know. You just didn't want to see it… Fiona was coming home, but it's not like you prompted her. Bling is the thing to entice her back," Max said looking her love in the face.
"Max," Logan squished his face all up, "can I talk to Bling privately a minute?"
Max looked at him quizzically, but nodded. "I'll take a walk." After the door closed behind Max, Logan turned to Bling who was equally confused.
"What's up Logan? You worried we're going too fast?"
"Not exactly… I can't quiet put my finger on it… I guess… I guess I thought I'd be married to Max, before you'd marring Fiona… I can't believe I said the words out loud… That wasn't as hard as I thought."
Bling gave him a big smile, "Logan, I've known Fiona a lot longer then you've known Max. I have seen her at her best and worst… This isn't a slam or anything, but we both have a lot less baggage then you and Max. We know its right. It's not surprising that we'd be ready to get married… See I can say it without stumbling."
"This is just weird. My sister is getting married before me, again… Max and I are headed in the right direction though… She got on my case about Fiona while you were gone. She brought to my attention that the four of us are forming our own family here," Logan looked down for a minute. "She said she was in it with me for the long haul… I guess she is dealing with the attachment thing way better then I am right now… I'm nearly thirty and I have the emotional maturity at times of a fifteen year old…"
"Another benefit of facing the past, will hopefully mean you can gain some emotional maturity. Hey, I'm glad you are thinking about making a real commitment to Max," said Bling.
"Thanks."
"So, have you talked to Max about the marriage question?" Bling asked knowing the answer would be no.
Logan grimaced, "No… I…don't think Max is the type you talk to about it first. She's more the surprise proposal type."
"Liar… You're just freaked. Truth is if you don't talk about it first, she will probably take a week of walk about to figure out where the proposal came from, before giving you any sort of answer… Logan, you're not there yet."
"But I want to be…" he said to Bling seeking permission.
"How about you sort through the death of your parents and the loss of your sister for the last three years before trying to avoid it again by just creating a new family."
"God, do you always have to be right about everything? It's like having my own personal Obi Wan in my apartment at all times… So where do I start oh wise one?"
"How about easy? I spoke of Chris yesterday. Ya know the guy from the Cobble Stones. I told him Fiona was moving back and asked about their next concert. I figured we could sort of have a welcome home party for her at the concert. Chris was pretty psyched about the prospect of getting his lead singer back."
"And how do you and Chris get along?" Logan asked raising an eyebrow. He knew that Chris and Fiona were very close in college. He had always wondered if Chris might not have had feelings for his sister.
"I know what you're getting at, but we've talked about it. They had decided almost a year ago that they were much better as friends then anything else," Bling responded.
"Wait. You talked to her or him about it? And when did the question even come up?" Logan asked in confusion.
"You really didn't know that much about Fiona's life for the last while, buddy. Chris went to England briefly to 'study' but he really went to see Fi. While he was there, it was obvious he had built up in his mind what she would be like if he had the opportunity, and it wasn't accurate. When he asked about her feelings, she said she had never really thought of him that way. They had one date, one kiss, and both cracked up. No chemistry at all. I know this from Fiona. Although when I told Chris I was dating Fi, he was really supportive. He even told me about the date & the kissed. He then had to laugh at how weird it felt to kiss one of his best friends. Chris and I get along fine. No worries on my side."
"No worries on your part for what?" Max asked as she returned to the apartment.
"Oh, I'm finding out all sorts of new things about my sister," Logan said. "I've been out of the loop, big time. Why have I done that?"
"Because you don't like dealing with reality at times!" Max responded. "So is it safe to return?"
"Yeah. Thanks, sweetness," Logan said hugging Max as she came to him.
"Alright. Will you help me with the party?" Bling asked.
"Sure. I can call the Alumni office at her college to get some of the numbers for her friends," Logan responded.
"What are we doing?" Max asked.
"We are setting it up so that at the next CobbleStones concert, her old group, it will be like a party for Fi," Bling said.
"I'm in. I'll get my friends to come. They loved Fiona. Kendra is ready to ask to be adopted."
Within a few days, several people from Fiona's past had been contacted to come to the concert. It was surprisingly fun for Logan to get in touch with people who had known and loved his sister. Bling was right about it being a small step, but he knew it was one in the right direction. His sister meant a lot to him, and he was happy to be able to finally show her so.
Logan, Max, and Bling went to the airport to pick up the fourth member of the burgeon family. Fiona descended the walk beaming to see them waiting for her. She had tears in her eyes; this had been what she had been waiting for. Bling met her first, picking up his love and giving her a big kiss. Upon being set down, Max hugged her friend telling her how much she had missed her. Fiona flashed her the classic Cale smile, allowing Max the knowledge the admission was greatly appreciated.
Finally, Logan stood before his sister on his own two feet, no aids or anything close to needing them. His face revealed sincere trepidation of rejection. Fiona wrapped her arms around her brother like this was the first time she had seen him in three years. He picked her up, twirling her around with great joy. When he set her back down, Fiona didn't let go. She held on for dear life, like she might wake up and he wouldn't be there. Logan snuggled her close and whispered in her ear, "I love you Fi. I won't fail you again." Tears stream down her face as Max and Bling watched the siblings really see each other for the first time in a very long time.
Fiona took a deep breath and whispered to her brother, "Mom and Dad would be very proud of you and what you're doing, Loggie. I'm really proud of you. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too. Let's go home. I need some quality time with my baby sister." At that the four headed to baggage claim and then to Logan's penthouse. They had their first real family meal; everyone pitched in. Logan and Fiona cooked the majority of the food; Bling set the table and got the drinks ready, while Max boiled the water.