Another chapter! Woot! I'm always on such a roll with this story.

Chapter Thirteen

Logan skipped his second class of the day and drove to Kendall's house. He let himself in with his key—he was still a little giddy about that fact. Fudge yipped happily in his cage, but Logan ignored him. Logan was on a mission. He went to the kitchen and got the container filled with thirty cupcakes out of the fridge.

The night before, Logan had made cupcakes with Kendall, Mattie, and Carlos. Since it was Mattie's birthday the next day—today—they made the cupcakes to bring into Mattie's class for snack time.

Kendall wasn't able to make it to Mattie's school, so Logan volunteered. He could handle missing one class so Mattie could have cupcakes on his birthday. Logan remembered doing that when he was a kid and it was always fun. He wanted Mattie to have that.

When Logan got to the school, he rang the bell. After the door buzzed, he went inside and to the office. "Um. I'm here to bring cupcakes in for a birthday?"

The little old lady at the desk smiled. "The child's name and grade?"

"Matthew Knight. Kindergarten."

"Ah. His father called and said someone would be coming. Your name?"

"Logan Mitchell." Since her smile didn't fall, Logan assumed Kendall hadn't explained their relationship.

The lady hit a button and said, "Hello?"

Another woman's voice said, "Yes?" back.

"Could you please send Matthew Knight to the office?"

A bunch of little voices went "ooh" before the other woman said, "OK."

The lady at the desk continued to smile and said, "We let the child escort their birthday guests to their classroom." She wrote up Logan's guest pass and handed it to him.

The door opened and Mattie stepped in. His excitement must've been building as he walked because it exploded when he saw Logan. "Logan! You're here! Wanna come to my classroom?"

Logan smiled at him. "Sure."

"Have fun," the lady at the desk said.

Mattie paused at the door. "Wait! Can we give Mrs. Smith a cupcake? I know we have three extra."

"OK." Logan put the cupcakes down on a chair and took one out. He handed it to Mattie, and Mattie gave it to Mrs. Smith.

"Thank you, Mattie," she said with some fondness in her tone.

"Bye, Mrs. Smith," Mattie said sweetly. He took Logan's hand and led him out of the office. "Everybody's excited about cupcakes," Mattie informed Logan.

"I bet they are. Cupcakes are great after all."

They went into Mattie's classroom. A bunch of little faces smiled at Logan—cupcakes made him a popular man. Mattie's teacher, a pretty young woman with black hair, came up to logan. "I'm Ms. Daniels, Mattie's teacher. You pick Mattie up, but you're not his dad."

"Um. I'm his dad's boyfriend."

"Oh."

"Yeah..." Logan suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Where can the cupcakes go?"

"The counter by the fridge."

In the back of the classroom, a little kitchen area was set up. There were five small tables back there for all the kids to sit at.

"Everyone go take a seat at the tables," Ms. Daniels said.

All the kids hurried. Logan figured they all had assigned seats since they all went to specific chairs.

"Will you sit next to me, Logan?" Mattie asked.

"Of course." Logan knew he had to stay until snack time was over, so naturally he could sit.

All the kids sang Happy Birthday to Mattie. Then Logan, Mattie, and Ms. Daniels handed out the cupcakes. Logan and Ms. Daniels each got one too.

"These are my friends," Mattie told Logan when they say. "Jeff and Collin. They're coming to my birthday party."

"Sweet," Logan said as he ate. "It's gonna be a fun party."

Mattie pointed. "Over there is my desk. And there's my cubby."

Logan recognized the Iron Man backpack. "Wow. Cool."

Mattie told Logan every single thing they had done so far that day. His friends also told Logan about their days. They were funny kids, and nice to Mattie. Logan approved of Mattie's friends.

"I don't want you to go," Mattie said as Logan got ready to leave.

"I'll see you in a couple hours when I pick you up."

"OK..."

Logan poked his nose. "Don't pout. Uncle James is coming over to your house to make us dinner."

Mattie smiled. "Cool!" He gave Logan a hug. "Bye, Logan. I love you."

Logan's heart melted. Mattie had never said that before. "Love you too, Big Guy." And Logan meant it. He really did love the kid. With all his heart. "Bye."

…

Mattie seemed off when Logan drove him home that day. He appeared to be thinking, and didn't answer any of Logan's questions. When they got home, Logan stopped Mattie before he could let Fudge out of his cage. "What's up? Did something happened at school?"

Mattie frowned and sighed. "Ricky was mean at recess."

Logan kneeled in front of Mattie. "What did Ricky do?" If this kid hurt Mattie, Logan would kill him.

"He said my two daddies were gonna go to hell. I kept telling him that I only have one daddy, but he wouldn't listen. And hell is a bad word!"

"Did you tell Ms. Daniels?"

"Yes. He had to sit on the steps for the rest of recess. Why'd h keep saying I have two daddies?" Mattie asked. He was clearly confused, and sounded like he was about to cry.

"Ricky probably thought I was your second daddy," Logan said, hoping he was handling the situation right.

"But Daddy said you wouldn't be my second daddy unless you and Daddy got married."

So this has been discussed before. "Right. But Ricky doesn't know all that."

"Why'd he say you and Daddy were going to hell?" Mattie wanted to know. "Daddy says hell is a place for bad people. You and Daddy aren't bad people."

Logan put his hands on Mattie's shoulders. "Some people think God doesn't like it when a boy and a boy or a girl and a girl date."

"Why do they think that?"

"They say the Bible says so."

"If it does then the Bible's wrong," Mattie said.

Logan smiled. "I agree. Listen. Sometime people might say bad things about me and Daddy because we're two boys dating. They may say bad things to you. But you should try not to get upset. Because deep down you know they're wrong. OK?"

Mattie nodded. "OK."

Logan kissed his forehead. "Go let Fudge outside."

Kendall got home an hour later, and Logan told him about his talk with Mattie.

Kendall let out a breath. "Shit. I was afraid of something like this."

"I didn't even think of it."

"You handled it well, though. Don't worry."

"OK."

"I'll have to talk to Emma about it," Kendall said.

"Emma?"

"Mattie's teacher."

"you know Ms. Daniels?"

Kendall shrugged. "She's my mom's friend's daughter. She's two years older than us. I used to play with her when I was little."

Logan was slightly upset by this news. "She's pretty."

"I guess."

"You guess?"

Kendall smiled. "I have issues noticing other people now that I've got you."

A smile tugged at Logan's lips. "OK. Now I'm not so jealous anymore."

Kendall kissed Logan as the doorbell rang. "That must be James. You get it, and I'll tell Mattie he can stop his homework."

Logan answered the door and was greeted by James carrying grocery bags.

"This kid best appreciate me making him dinner," James said as he stepped inside. "Your parents here yet?"

"Nope." Logan guided James to the kitchen.

"Uncle James!" Mattie screamed happily. "You're making us dinner?"

"You bet I am, Little Dude. Kendall, your mom and sister will be here too?"

"Yup," Kendall said. "And don't you dare hit on my sister."

James rolled his eyes. "I'll do my best. Um. Is everyone gonna fit at that table?"

"We're gonna add a card table and some folding chairs," Kendall told him.

"My birthday's the best day of the year," Mattie said with a smile.

James chuckled as he got out the food. "Obviously."

Carlos walked into the kitchen. "I am so glad I don't have to cook today. What are you making, James?"

"Chicken casserole."

Mattie gasped. "That's my favorite!"

James grinned at him. "So I've been told."

"Let's go in the other room and play while Uncle James cooks," Kendall said to Mattie.

"OK," Mattie said. "Will you come, Logan?"

"Of course," Logan said.

Carlos said, "I'll stay here and help James."

"You should've brought Snow," Mattie said when they sat in front of his toys. "He could've played with Professor Bear."

"Next time," Logan promised.

They played with Mattie's toy cars for awhile. When the doorbell rang, Mattie ran to answer it. "Grandma! Aunt Katie!"

Logan looked over as Mattie hugged Kendall's mom. Mattie must've missed her since he was no longer in daycare.

Katie went up to Logan and Kendall. "Hey, guys. Carlos making dinner?"

"Nope," Logan said. "James is."

Katie raised her eyebrows and smirked. "Oh really?"

"Baby Sister," Kendall said in a warning tone. "I swear to God. I will bitch slap some sense into you if you're thinking about flirting with James."

"You'd hit a girl?" Katie asked.

"In this case, yes."

Logan laughed. "You two are so odd."

The doorbell rang again, and Mattie cried, "I'll get it!" Logan watched him run to the door and open it. "Granny! Grampy! You came!"

"Of course we did," Mr. Mitchell said. "We wouldn't miss your birthday." He picked Mattie up and stepped inside.

"Where can I put the cake?" Mrs. Mitchell asked Kendall.

"The kitchen," Kendall answered. "Carlos will put it in the fridge. James is in there too."

Logan's parents and Mattie went to the kitchen.

Mrs. Knight went over to Kendall and Logan as they stood. "What did Mattie just call Logan's parents? Why are they even here? And why did they bring the cake?"

Kendall rolled his eyes. "Mom, breathe. Mattie called them Granny and Grampy."

"Why?"

"He asked them to be his other grandparents. They're here because he asked them to be. They brought the cake because Mrs. Mitchell asked if she could bring one, and I said it was OK."

"You're fine with them being his pretend grandparents?" Mrs. Knight asked.

"My parents love Mattie," Logan said. "And Mattie loves them."

Mrs. Knight gave Logan a cold look. "This is none of your business."

"When my family is involved it is. Look. I get that it bothers you that Mattie has other people as his grandparents now. You used to be the only one. I get that. But I will not tolerate you being rude to my parents or talking shit about them because you're jealous. Tonight is about Mattie, not you."

Mrs. Knight looked at Kendall. "You're going to let him talk to me like that?"

Kendall shrugged. "He's right."

"I will leave."

"Fine," Kendall said. "Upset Mattie on his birthday. Be a drama queen and make this all about you."

Mrs. Knight huffed and went to sit on the couch.

Katie rolled her eyes. "I'll go talk to her."

Kendall sighed and looked at Logan. "Lets get the extra table and chairs."

Mrs. Knight kept herself in check as they ate. Logan was glad for that. His mom would've beaten down Kendall's mom if she got bitchy.

"Mattie, did you like the mac and cheese I made?" James asked.

"Logan's is better," Mattie said simply.

James looked shocked. "Really?"

Mattie laughed. "Yours is second best, Uncle James."

James sighed. "I'll take what I can get, I guess."

"Hey, Mattie," Carlos said. "Who's your favorite uncle?"

"Oh god," Kendall mumbled.

Mattie swallowed his food and said, "It depends."

"On what?" Carlos and James asked.

Mattie grinned. "On who gets me the best birthday gift."

Everyone laughed, even Mrs. Knight.

"That's my kid," Kendall said and gave Mattie's head a pat. "Clearly I raised him well."

They got out the cake and sang Happy Birthday to Mattie. Mattie closed his eyes to make a wish and blew out his six candles. After cake was done, everyone slowly left. Logan was the last.

"Do you have to go?" Mattie asked.

"I have school tomorrow, Big Guy. But I'll see you when I pick you up after school."

"OK." Mattie gave him a hug. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Mattie smiled and ran off to play with Fudge.

"He told you he loves you?" Kendall asked.

"Yeah. Earlier today..."

"And you said it back."

Logan nodded. "Because I do." He was surprised when Kendall kissed him.

"How are you so great?" Kendall wanted to know.

Logan chuckled. "I don't know. We doing some birthday party planning tomorrow?"

"Yup. I can't believe your parents got a balloon animal guy."

"I think they love Mattie more than me."

Kendall laughed. "The kid's a charmer."

…

On Saturday, Logan went with Kendall, Mattie, and Carlos to Mrs. Knight's house. Once there, Mattie sat and watched TV while the three guys, Mrs. Knight, and Katie got the house ready. Streamers were put up, and food was placed out. Relatives and Mattie's friends started to arrive at two. The house filled quickly.

James came up to Logan during the party. "Dude. You really got the mom thing down."

Logan lightly shoved him. "Shot up."

"And you love it."

Logan smiled a little. "I do. So, you see Camille and her daughter?"

"Oh yeah. That little girl is like a clone. But she's cute." James looked over Logan's shoulder. "Speak of the devil."

Logan turned and saw Mattie and Emmy come up to them. "Hi! You two having fun?"

Mattie nodded. "I can't wait to open presents."

Logan smiled at him. "Not until after cake."

Mattie sighed. "Fine."

Emmy, meanwhile, was staring at James. "You're pretty," she said to him.

James gave her a dazzling smile. "You're prettier, Little Lady."

She giggled. "My name's Emmy."

James took her little hand and kissed it, making her giggle again. "I'm James."

"Do you wanna go get a balloon animal with me?" Emmy asked.

"Sure."

Mattie watched them walk away with a frown on his face.

"You OK?" Logan asked him.

"Emmy is my best friend. Uncle James can't steal her."

He's jealous, Logan thought. So adorable. "Uncle James isn't trying to steal her."

Mattie looked at Logan. "How do you know?"

"Because he already has a best friend. Me."

Mattie crossed his arms and made a noise of disbelief.

"Uncle James just wants to get to know your best friend. He's not stealing her."

"If you say so..."

Mattie soon got distracted by his other friends. Then it was time for cake. Next was the part Mattie had been waiting for: presents. Logan had never seen someone tear open gifts with such enthusiasm. The kid had a system too. All clothes were in one pile, toys in another, Build-a-Bear stuff in yet another. Logan's gift was the last Mattie opened. It was a white dry erase board along with some markers.

"So you can be a teacher for your toys," Logan told Mattie.

Mattie looked at Logan with a huge smile. "This is so cool. Thank you, Logan!"

The light in Mattie's eyes reminded Logan why he loved giving gifts.

So... I think I may be starting another fic soon. That means I'm not so sure when this will next update. But have no worries! I'm sticking with Two Dads until the end. I refuse to abandon it.