Chapter 202

March 25th, 2017

"Those are some exceptional legs, darling," Finn noted, as he sat in the first row of a private room at a genuinely classy strip-tease club, his fourth glass of Macallan Red, his new favorite drink, swirling in his hand. The legs were indeed exceptional, as was the rest of her.

It was just the four of them, Logan having not wanted to make this into a big thing - the reason being that he really didn't feel like having this party in the first place. But as it was 'required' and people were most definitely going to ask about it, it was better they did go off somewhere, while Odette did her thing, as people expected them to. It was all about the duties and expectations now, wasn't it?

"Another bottle, please!" Robert ordered, appreciating the little black dresses all the waitresses in this place wore.

The group had more acquired tastes these days, no longer just wanting to watch just any girl in skimpy clothing like it had often been during their Las Vegas visits. Colin even claimed that the institution they were at was one known for highly educated, well-paid and attention hungry women, who chose to do this because they enjoyed it, on top of the very good tips. The place was even owned by a female entrepreneur and it's profit divided between it's workers. It was Colin's equivalent to some some people insisting on socially responsible zero waste all-organic free range vegan food everywhere they went.

The dancer swayed her hips, truly creating some beautiful curves and angles to a slow version of Madonna's 'Justify My Love'. "I do believe you're my favorite tonight," Finn complimented her, and invited her over for a lapdance.

"Why do I get the feeling we're at a wake not a bachelor party?" Colin threw in the air, having for the past half an hour observed the groom-to-be sulk away. At least Logan was drinking, not being a total spoil-sport like he sometimes was, especially this past half a year in his experience..

Another song came on - Booker T's & the M.G's 'Green Onions' sprucing things up a little, most likely because Colin had complained of the dreary mood in the room quite loudly. A new dancer came on stage - a tall and skinny brunette, who actually reminded Colin of someone. As he put the resemblance to the name himself the next second, he could just see Logan winch and pour back the rest of his drink.

"Well, what else would you call it?" Logan huffed, getting irritated. He clearly didn't want to be there.

"Hey - if you can't celebrate tying to knot, then just celebrate us hanging out - a regular night on the town," Colin encouraged. The guys hadn't all seen each other since October. All the guys knew Logan was still not fully over it, they all knew what was bothering him and they also knew that names starting with a R - or an A, were not freely spoken of, but they also knew that he was genuinely trying and they had no intention on making his life any harder. His reasons were his own.

"You're right!" Logan agreed, trying to put on a more positive front, rising from his seat. "But I want to go somewhere else. Something more exciting," he suggested, needing to do something reckless. Drive real fas - if someone would let him behind a wheel somewhere in his state, shoot something, hit something… there had to be something along those lines for them to do if they threw enough money at it, right?

"Logan, come on! Tiffany and I just got acquainted," Finn whined.

"I am starving," Robert pitched in.

"Alright, sorry ladies - it's not that you're not exciting - this one just needs something else tonight," Colin apologized for Logan who was already half-way out the door and left a sizable tip. "Most likely a time machine," Colin commented, quietly.

"Can we bring Tiffany along? We would love to be around these lovely legs some more, wouldn't we?" Finn suggested, hopefully.


July 9th, 2022

"I just got shot! Fuck!" Logan groaned, the side of his neck feeling like a bullet had actually flown into him. Close range and from the worst angle. He had gotten shot - it just wasn't by a regular bullet.

"Bloody hell, Finn!" Logan huffed at this friend who was looking a little smug at his accomplishment, Rory still being on the phone with him. Logan held onto his neck, getting neon-green paint all over his palm.

"Logan!?" Rory reacted, worriedly.

"Paintball, Ace! Just paintball," he clarified to Rory, his neck still throbbing, assuming she was already thinking the worst. Strangely enough, it felt nice to have someone worry for him, even if in this case it was a little unnecessary. "But it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt," he added passive aggressively to Finn. This was far from the first time they'd done this with the guys and they knew there were no place where a paintball bruise or welt hurt more than on the neck, inner thigh or the groin. They were usually pretty good at sticking to the approved places to shoot at.

"That's what you get for being on the phone when we all agreed - 'no phones'," Finn lectured Logan, his weapon resting on his shoulder.

"Oh, poor baby!" Rory teased, kind of feeling it served him right. Both for scaring her like that and as well-deserved scolding if they'd retreated to such childishness. But she wasn't mad, just relieved that they hadn't taken up hunting or something more dangerous. The boys would still be boys and knowing what a big change having a baby would be from her own experience, likely meaning that Logan wouldn't get a lot of chances for such silliness in the near future - she was very forgiving.

"Sorry," Logan replied, the pain he was in still evident in his voice.

"He wasn't obeying the rules!" Finn yelled so Rory could hear him through the phone.

"Where are you guys anyways?" Rory asked, curiously.

"Just out of Montreal somewhere," Logan replied, as he leaned his back against of a concrete hideout in the middle of a urban style playground, that looked like some abandoned and war-torned village, separated from other human beings by a thick forest. He slapped himself on the cheek, killing a mosquito. They had protective gear, just since it was very hot outside that evening, they hadn't been as keen on covering up.

"Okay, I should let you get back to… whatever it is…," Rory sighed, not really wanting to keep him. She'd just needed to hear his voice.

"You okay?" Logan asked, just in case.

"Yeah, just missed you," Rory confessed, and heard another shot.

"Ow…!" Rory heard Finn yell. Another shot.

There was another, milder, groan from Logan as well.

"Colin!" Logan roared.

"What sort of meeting is this! You two were just begging for it!" Colin said in his defense.

"The groom here is on the phone with Reporter Girl!" Finn commented, loudly.

"Okay, I better go kick these guy's asses," Logan said. "I love you, and I miss you too!" he added.

"Bye, love you!" Rory said, her hand rubbing the place where the baby was kicking her.

Rory considered cautioning the guys that if they left a permanent mark on Logan, they'd have her to answer to her, but decided against it not wanting to spoil their fun.

At that note, Logan put his protective shield back on to cover his face, and within a fraction of a second shot Finn in the chest.

"Ow!" Finn exclaimed. "Not fair, I already killed you!" he complained.

Logan simply shrugged in response and made a quick exit into the next hide-out.

An hour and half later, the three were taking a steam at a cabin looking out over Lac de l'Achigan, all four of them bruised and mosquito-bitten. Robert had somehow managed to get the least bruising, having simply found the best underground hiding spot. But on his defense he had claimed his bad knee had been acting up and he'd intentionally avoided running too much.

"Well, this certainly is a step up from last time," Robert commented, taking a sip of his beer.

"Of course it's a step up! It's not exactly hard to throw something better than the bloody funeral we had last time," Colin snorted.

"Did I tell you 'thank you' for sticking by that time? I probably needed you guys around more than I gave you credit for," Logan suddenly confessed.

The guys were not quite used to such honesty, but didn't really consider it necessary - as sticking by each-ohter's side was something they all knew they could take for granted.

"Don't get sappy on us now, Logan," Colin chuckled.

"Prime example what a truly good woman can do," Finn exhaled, lounging back. In his current position he looked a lot like Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, except he was a little skinnier. "And Rory is certainly a rare find," he added.

"I am fully aware of that," Logan replied as if it was obvious. He knew better than to reprimand Finn for whatever he had going on with Paris, partially no-doubt the reason being that he himself wasn't Paris' biggest fan. But Finn had had odd tastes before. But what bugged him indeed was the fact that there was a baby involved, so he almost didn't realize as he said, "You should watch yourself not to make the same mistake I did," even if the situation wasn't identical.

The guys just briefly looked at each-other, Finn avoiding eye-contact.

"Auch," Robert noted at the awkward silence.

"It's not the same, it's not that simple!" Finn replied with an exhale, shaking his head, leaning his elbows onto his knees.

"But there's a lot to lose," Logan pointed out casually. "It's a lot easier to tread carefully and make a quiet exit, than to start by screwing things up," he added.

Finn sighed, having hoped to avoid this.

"Well it's not like everyone here is talking about an evident soulmate. Logan, you have to agree that Finn going from a drunken one-night stand to play house with three kids is a bit daunting even for the rest of us," Colin defended Finn, knowing a little more about what had been on his mind. "To you we could've told not to go through with your wedding years ago to stop this nonsense with Rory, had you been willing to hear it. But you know yourself you didn't want to listen," he added.

"I didn't need to hear it," Logan said. "I knew it. There was more to it," he added, really not having wanted to go back to this topic. He couldn't really argue that Finn's situation was difficult, but it still didn't feel right to him. But he could understand Finn not wanting to hear it either.

"Fine! At least you got lucky," Colin said.

"I know!" Logan said, already feeling a little silly for arguing like this.

"But there is one difference though," Colin began to agree with Logan, referring to Paris being pregnant.

Finn just stared into an empty spot in front of him, not having much to say for himself. Him having been off the radar for the past few weeks had been for a very good reason, not justs recklessness. It was just that somewhere half way there he'd begun to doubt himself and the orignal plan. But this explanation was for Paris' ears once he gathered up his courage.

For a moment Logan considered, whether to confess to the guys that Rory had in fact been pregnant too, at least for a short amount of time, before he'd gotten married. But he knew Rory wouldn't want him to, even if he sometimes felt like he wanted to talk about it with someone. This made the situations a lot more similar in comparison. He couldn't help that sometimes when he thought about those months, he did wonder how things would've gone if she'd told him in time, even if just a few days earlier. Instead of grieving the loss of Rory, oblivious to there ever having been a baby, drinking and working himself crazy, even saying his good-byes by complying that stupid photoalbum of Rory - what a joke! - he could've been by her side. Maybe they wouldn't be having their first baby only now, but their second?

At that thought, Logan, wordlessly, stood from the bench, just needing to step out of the sauna.

"Can I make a suggestion though - can we do something less painful for my party," Robert said, his voice echoing behind Logan. "I don't think Zoe would appreciate if I looked all bruised at the wedding," he added laughingly, lightening the mood. The group only really could handle heavy topics in small doses.

Logan walked outside, and made his way down the string-light lit mooring, and plunged into the refreshing body of water in the darkness of the night, wanting to clear his head. He didn't want thoughts of 'what if' shadowing what was supposed to be a happy time. He knew there was no point, but in a way he was still grieving. But still, despite everything, he knew he was lucky as hell.