Woot! Another update. I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter Seventeen

"Logan, I'm bored," Mattie complained as he placed his head on the table.

"Too bad," Logan said. "You can't play until you finish your homework."

Mattie sighed and stared at his workbook for a moment. Then he got up and went to the fridge.

"What are you doing?" Logan asked him.

"Getting a juice box." He opened the fridge and grabbed an apple juice.

"You're stalling."

Mattie sat back down. "What does that mean?" He removed the straw from the side of the box.

"You're doing other things to keep yourself from doing what you're supposed to be doing."

Mattie freed the straw from its plastic wrapping then poked it into the juice box. He sipped. "I am not."

"You are. Do your homework." Logan went back to his own, having to work on a lab report. He could feel Mattie staring at him, but would not give in. Looking at Mattie would cause him to talk and put off his homework. After a few minutes, Logan heard Mattie sigh and start to write.

"Done!" Mattie declared eventually.

"See? It wasn't so bad."

Mattie started to put his things away. "It was annoying."

Logan laughed as he shut his laptop. "Well, now you can play."

"Yay!" Mattie zipped up his backpack and ran off to his play area.

Logan grabbed his things and went to sit on the couch. He turned on the TV, happy to have a break from his homework. The semester was getting closer and closer to its end, and work was piling up. He would really need to spend less time at Kendall's place. He tended to get distracted easily there. But it was hard to stay away from his two loves: his man and his almost-son.

As he relaxed, he got a text from Carlos. He sighed. Carlos would be staying with Lucy for a while. That meant Logan was in charge of dinner. Logan got up and went into the kitchen. He looked through the fridge to see what he could make. "Mattie! What would you like for dinner?"

Mattie and Fudge entered the kitchen—Fudge because he knew dinner meant food. "I want mac 'n' cheese."

Logan shut his eyes so he wouldn't roll them. "I'll make something that goes with mac and cheese."

"Like what?" Mattie asked.

Logan pulled a box out of the freezer. "Chicken nuggets."

"The dinosaur shaped ones?"

"Yup. Now you and Fudge go play while I make dinner."

"Can I watch TV?"

Logan chuckled. "Sure. Put on your favorite channel."

"OK!" Mattie ran off, Fudge on his heels."

Logan put the nuggets in the oven then went about making the mac and cheese. He heard a little whimper and looked down at the floor. "Hey, Fudge. You get bored watching TV with Mattie?" Fudge whined again. "You'll get people food when Mattie or Daddy feeds you while they're eating. You cannot sucker me, mister." Fudge let out a tiny yip, and Logan sighed. He gave Fudge a noodle. "You're an evil, manipulative little dog."

A few minutes later, Logan heard the door open and Mattie yell, "Daddy!" It wasn't long before Kendall entered the kitchen, swinging Mattie in his arms.

"Hello, dear," Kendall said as he put Mattie down—who was holding Professor Bear. "What's for dinner?"

"Chicken nuggets and mac and cheese." Logan leaned against the fridge and smiled at him. "How was your day?"

"Lame." Kendall walked up to Logan and put his hands on Logan's hips. "It's better now that I'm home."

Logan's hands went to Kendall's shoulders. "I can't spend the night."

Kendall pouted. "Why not?"

"I have a lot of school work."

"Can't I convince you to stay?" Kendall brought his lips to Logan's.

Mattie cried "Ew!" and Kendall started to laugh.

"What?" Logan asked.

"He's hitting my butt with Professor Bear." Kendall turned around and lifted Mattie up. "I don't think Professor Bear appreciates that."

Mattie giggled. "It was his idea."

"I'm sure it was." Kendall put Mattie down on a chair. Then he went to the cabinet and got out three plates. "I take it Carlos won't be joining us."

"Nope," Logan said as he got the nuggets out of the oven. He took the two serving plates Kendall handed him. "He's with Lucy."

Kendall chuckled as he finished setting the table. "Of course."

They all sat down and ate. Logan said, "So, Thanksgiving is coming up."

"That means we get to have turkey," Mattie said before taking a bite of a nugget.

Kendall smiled. "That's right, Mattie. So. Why'd you bring that up, Logan?"

"Well. What time does your family do the meal?"

"In the evening."

"My family does the meal in the afternoon," Logan said. "Maybe… the three of us could do both?"

Kendall smiled. "OK. Will we need to bring anything to your family's meal?"

"Um. I'll ask my mom. So, you don't mind doing this?"

"Not at all," Kendall said. "I like your family, and you need to meet my whole family. Hmm. I guess we should think about Christmas too."

"My parents throw a Christmas Eve party," Logan said. "We can see your family Christmas Day."

Kendall nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Speaking of Christmas." Kendall turned to Mattie. "You gotta write up your Christmas list so me and Santa know what you want."

"OK! There's lots of stuff I want," Mattie said.

Kendall laughed. "Of course."

"Will Fudge get gifts too?"

"Um… Sure."

Mattie smiled and shoved some mac and cheese into his mouth.

…

"Did your mom really request you make mac and cheese?" Kendall asked. It was Thanksgiving, and they were in Kendall's kitchen.

"Someone always makes mac and cheese," Logan said. "For the kids mostly. My mom volunteered me to make it since I'm so practiced in it now."

Mattie walked into the kitchen. "Are we going to Granny and Grampy's house?"

"No," Logan said. "We're going to my Gammy and Granddads house. You met them."

"The really old people?"

Logan laughed. "Yeah. But don't say that around them."

"OK," Mattie said. "Do I have to wait to eat the mac 'n' cheese?"

"Yes," Kendall said. "And I want you to eat some turkey too. OK?"

Mattie rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Logan finished with the mac and cheese and they went off.

When they got to Logan's grandparents' house—his dad's parents—Mattie was ready to run off to play with Logan's cousin's kids. "Hold Professor Bear," Mattie said as he shoved the bear in Kendall's face.

"I'll guard him with my life," Kendall said before Mattie disappeared.

Logan laughed then said to Kendall, "Follow me." They went to the dinning room where his Grammy set up a kind of buffet. "I have the mac and cheese!"

"Excellent!" Grammy took the mac and cheese, giving Logan a kiss on the cheek. "Hello, Kendall."

Kendall smiled at her. "Hi."

They went around the house and said hello to all of Logan's relatives. Finally, they ran into Logan's parents.

"I saw Mattie before I saw you," Mr. Mitchell said. "He seems to be having a lot of fun."

"He ditched Professor Bear to play," Kendall said. "That's a big deal."

"It's good that he gets along with the other kids," Mrs. Mitchell said. "They could be his family one day."

"Mom," Logan said with a warning tone.

Mrs. Mitchell rolled her eyes as Grammy announced that the food was ready.

Mattie found them, and made Kendall give him his food. His plate was filled with mac and cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and one slice of turkey. They sat down and ate. Mattie talked happily to everyone he could. Naturally, Logan's family loved Mattie. Not that they didn't before. The love just increased. Mattie really knew how to work a room.

Later, when Kendall announced that it was time to go, Mattie frowned. "But I'm having fun!"

"We have to go see Grandma and Aunt Katie and everyone," Kendall said.

Mattie sighed. "OK…"

Logan smiled at him. "Let's say good-bye to Granny and Grampy first."

"OK!"

They hugged Logan's parents good-bye and left. They made a quick stop at Kendall's to pick up a chocolate pie. Then a few minutes later, they arrived at Kendall's grandparents' house.

When they found Kendall's mom, she did not look pleased to see Logan. "Kendall. I didn't know you'd bring someone."

"It's about time Logan met the family," Kendall said. "I mean, Mattie and I have met his. And they're very accepting of us." He took Logan's hand. "Let's go introduce you to people, Logan."

Logan was surprised at how nice everyone was to him. He figured that they all shared Mrs. Knight's opinion of him. But Kendall's aunts, uncles, and cousins seemed to accept him. Even Kendall's grandparents did. They asked Logan about school and family and work.

"They seem to like me," Logan said to Kendall after they ate.

"Of course they do," Kendall said with a smile. "You're wonderful." He gave Logan a kiss. "I don't know why my mom acts the way she does. Our family's really accepting."

"Are you sure it's not just me?"

Kendall shook his head. "She never approved of me being with guys. It's like she had this image for me—an image with a wife. And me doing anything that goes against that image is just wrong in her eyes."

"Well, she needs to deal with the fact that this is your life, not hers. You can live it any way you want."

Kendall sighed. "Mom's stubborn, though."

"What will you do if she never accepts me?"

"I'm not gonna dump you, Logan. I love you. My mom's stupid if she never sees how amazing you are." Kendall gave Logan another kiss then checked the time. "We should get going. You spending the night?"

"Yup. Who else is gonna watch Mattie while you work tomorrow?"

Kendall chuckled. "You don't work tomorrow?"

"Nope. But I do all day Saturday and Sunday. Gotta save up to buy Christmas gifts."

"You gonna buy me something pretty?" Kendall teased.

"Oh yeah. A diamond tiara."

Kendall laughed. "Can't wait. Let's go find Mattie."

They searched the house for Mattie. They halted at the entrance to the dinning room. Mrs. Knight was in there with Mattie and Kendall's Aunt Carol. Their backs were facing Kendall and Logan.

"This is stupid, Jen," Aunt Carol said.

"I have to know," Mrs. Knight said.

"You're reaching is what you're doing. You're looking for something wrong with Logan."

"Be quiet, Carol." Mrs. Knight turned to Mattie. "Mattie, has Logan ever touched you?"

Logan held his breath, despair filling him. How could Mrs. Knight think he'd do something like that? He glanced at Kendall and saw that Kendall was trying to keep his fury down.

"Yeah. He touches me," Mattie said, sounding confused.

"Like how?" Mrs. Knight pressed.

"Like when he hugs me or picks me up or holds my hand or kisses me."

"How does he kiss you?"

"Like how Daddy does."

"H-"

"Mom!" Kendall screamed, making his mother, aunt, and son turn. "Enough! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Mrs. Knight stood up. "Kendall, I-"

"You were asking Mattie if Logan has been molesting him. How could you? Is it because Logan's gay?"

"Well-"

"Being gay does not equal child molester. Where the fuck is your brain, Mom?"

Mattie ran over to Logan. "Daddy said a really bad word," he said as Logan picked him up.

"I know," Logan whispered. "But Daddy's upset, and sometimes grown ups say bad words when they're upset."

"Kendall," Mrs. Knight said. "I was just making sure-"

"Has Mattie ever shown signs of being abused?" Kendall asked her.

"No…" Mrs. Knight admitted.

"So why would you even consider that? Were you gonna coach him to say Logan did something to him?"

"No!"

"Then what was your goal here? Was this your last hope that Logan was a bad person? Because I know he's not. Jesus! Why are you so hell bent on ending my relationship with Logan? What has he ever done to you?"

"Kendall, Mattie needs a mother."

"Fuck that shit! Mattie is perfectly fine without a mom. You need to deal with the fact that Logan isn't going anywhere. And if you can't, I guess you won't be part of our lives anymore."

Mrs. Knight scowled. "Did Logan ask you to pick between me and him?"

"No!" Kendall roared. "Logan never asked that. He never would. No matter how much of a bitch you are to him."

"Kendall, that's not fair."

"Oh, shut up, Mom. You-"

"Kendall," Logan interrupted. "I think we all just need to calm down. Why don't you and your mom discuss this when emotions aren't so high?"

Kendall looked at Logan. Logan hoped his pleading face was convincing. Kendall let out a sigh. "Fine. Mom, we'll talk about this tomorrow."

Soon after they got home, they put Mattie to bed. In Kendall's room, Logan sat on the bed and said, "Your mom thinking I'd do something like that really hurt."

Kendall sat next to Logan and put an arm around him. "I know, dear. I could see it all over your face. I think that's part of why I got so mad. God. I wish I knew what the hell was going on in my mom's mind. Why would she even think that?"

"Just talk to her tomorrow. Maybe you'll clear it up."

"I hope she feels like an ass."

Logan smiled at that. "Me too."

…

The next day after lunch, Logan lay on the floor and colored with Mattie.

"Logan, why was Daddy so mad at Grandma yesterday?" Mattie asked.

Logan sighed and looked at Mattie. "Daddy didn't like the questions Grandma was asking you."

"Why was she asking me that stuff anyway?"

Logan thought about how to explain it. "She wanted to make sure I wasn't hurting you."

Mattie frowned. "But you'd never hurt me."

"I know. And so does Daddy. And Grandma should know that. Which is why Daddy got mad."

"Were you mad?"

"No. I was sad that Grandma thought I'd hurt you. It hurt my feelings."

"It's not nice to hurt people's feelings," Mattie said.

Logan smiled. "Right. But I don't think Grandma meant to."

"Then she should say she's sorry."

"Maybe she will." Though Logan didn't think that was likely.

I promise the next chapter will be more exciting.