by Janie Marie
“Janie gets her public, fairytale makeout with Ryder, and Kylie gets her fantasy,” Archer said, winking at Kylie as they sat her down.
“Fantasy?” Logan took in Kylie’s wide eyes.
Archer tossed off his jacket. “Well, part of it. She let it slip to Maura and Janie that she dreamed she was at prom with all of us giving her a lap dance because she can’t dance right now. You’ll have to do without Ryder; he said his hotness would kill you. So you’ll just have to keep dreaming.”
“I did not dream this!” Kylie shrieked as Maura laughed where she stood with Ricky Hermes. She was even smiling as she pulled out her phone to record Archer stripping with the other Godson brothers. “Maura, stop!” Kylie broke into a fit of giggles as Savaş put one foot on the chair and did the most ridiculous pelvic thrust in her face.
“Logan,” she shouted when he turned with a smirk and unbuttoned his shirt. The roar and whistles were deafening as he stripped down to his briefs and gave his girl the lap dance every girl in her school envied.
The cheers from his memories slipped away at last, and the quiet murmurs in the hospital room returned him to the present.
“They’re okay?” Kylie asked, touching her stomach.
He knew she was thinking about what happened to her six years earlier. It was true; she couldn’t carry children. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t be a mother. Ryder and Janie had made sure of it.
Four years ago, Logan had been nervous as hell about picking up the newborn boy. “Damn, Ryder, he looks just like you.”
“I know. He’s going to drive the ladies crazy.” Ryder smiled proudly as he caressed his son’s black hair.
“He’s beautiful,” Kylie whispered behind him.
Ryder nodded at her. “Thanks. Um, we have something for you, Kylie.” He went to Janie’s bags and dug out an envelope, then handed it to Kylie. “Just open it when you’re alone and know you can cash it in whenever you like.”
The gift was another second chance. Ryder had paid to have her eggs harvested and stored, and Janie had offered when Kylie was ready—if she ever was—to be a surrogate for them.
It was a generous offer, but Kylie never planned on taking them up on it. She was still in therapy, focusing on her family and her future as an artist. And she still sought total acceptance of herself.
It didn’t surprise him that she had Janie with her for so much of her journey. It was Maura they both wanted to heal. Though the sisters had a good relationship, the girl was like a wilted flower, barely hanging on.
But one day, she saw Kylie and Janie dance. They glowed like goddesses, and they helped light Maura’s flame so she could too.
It reminded him of Kylie’s discharge painting at the center. She’d painted herself and Janie roaring at each other, with Maura between them. They weren’t angry, they were showing a little flame it was possible to be at your lowest and still glow. That little flame needed to believe in a gold goddess, and they worked together to show her the Little Moon was real.
Now Logan couldn’t wait to see his gorgeous wife and his best friend dance for his babies. For his daughter.
“Yes, Hood.” Logan let the wonderful memories stay in the front of his mind as he walked to Kylie. He slid her hand down so he could cup her cheeks. “They came out hollering. They’re both healthy.”
“I missed it.”
“Just the beginning.” He leaned down, kissing her before kissing the wedding ring she wore. They’d been happily married for two years, and it was just the beginning. “We have a lifetime to watch over them.”
Her lips quivered, but she was happy. “Is Janie okay? Ryder just came, yelling to get my ass in the car—that her water broke at the restaurant.”
“She’s okay now,” Logan whispered, turning so she could see for herself.
Ryder kissed Janie as he held his youngest, Jason David Godson, close to his heart. Little Luc had buried his face against Ryder’s leg until another Godson entered the room.
“Uncle Luc, Mama’s bleeding,” little Luc cried.
“Mama is fine.” Luc Godson snatched up his nephew before leaning down to kiss Janie’s forehead. “Well done, my queen.”
Janie touched Luc’s cheek, her fingers brushing across the eye patch he wore. “I like the gray.”
“I know you do.” Luc kissed the inside of her wrist.
“Mr. and Mrs. Grimm,” the nurse called, “would you like to meet your son and daughter?”
Logan smiled as Kylie tried to take both babies. “Let me hold Natalie, Hood. Then we’ll switch.”
She didn’t even look at him as they handed her Nathan. “Hi, Nathan. I’m your mommy.”
He teared up, cradling his daughter. She had a wisp of blond hair sticking out from under her beanie. His entire reason for living was here now. His babies, the same sweet souls that were his children in the life before this one, were back in his arms. He’d gotten his second chance to watch them grow up. “Daddy’s here.” He kissed her warm cheek, barely able to hold himself together. He took a deep breath, glancing at Janie and mouthed ‘I love you’ to her before staring down at the little girl in his arms. “Hi, Natalie.” He wiped a tear before kissing Kylie’s head and reaching to caress Nathan’s head. “Hi, bubby.”
“Oh, we missed it.”
They turned toward Lorelei and Maura as they rushed into the room with his father.
“Mama.” Kylie smiled, staring at Lorelei, “I’m a mommy.”
Lorelei cried, nodding at Kylie before hugging her. “Yes, you are.”
“Congratulations, son.” His father kissed his head as he stared down at the two babies. “Wow. She’s beautiful.”
Logan smiled, awed that he could see both Kylie and Janie present in her. Obviously Janie wasn’t genetically linked to Natalie anymore, but their world was magic. She had Janie’s tiny beauty marks on her cheek and chin, but the rest was Kylie.
“I wanna see.”
Logan chuckled, looking down at his five-year-old half-brother.
“Come here.” Lance lifted him up. “This is Natalie, your niece. Take care of her, boy.”
“Yes, Father.” He hesitantly reached for Natalie’s head.
Logan helped him, smiling because he couldn’t get over how his little brother addressed their dad.
Lorelei kissed his brother’s head as she hugged him, showing him the babies. The girls all helped Lorelei become the mother she wanted to be, and she was able to finally be a mom to her daughters and new son.
Logan shook his head. “A little weird for him to be their uncle.”
His dad patted his back. “The goddess liked weird.”
“Yeah.” Logan glanced at Janie. He had meant to give her a big surprise at the restaurant. She’d been on bed rest for two months, but she was full-term today and allowed to get out. Of course, leave it to Janie to go into labor the first day. Now, his surprise would have to wait.
“Let me check on her,” Lance whispered. “She’ll need support watching you and Kylie leave with them.” His dad patted his back before making his way to Janie.
Kylie smiled at Logan. “We won’t be far.”
“You’re the best, baby.” Logan smiled at her. She really was a good friend for Janie. Though he liked to rub it in Kylie’s face that he was Janie’s best friend, so he had to tell his best friend secrets first. Like the day he surprised her by revealing his identity to the art world.
Janie told her a new artist was totally hot, and she teased Kylie that if she went and talked about how sexy this new artist was, maybe Logan would consider going public.
Well, Kylie found out how serious he was when she got there and found the new fairy tale display: Gods & Monsters versus The Big Bad Wolf. He’d created their story, including two glowing goddesses, his goddesses, battling beside a pack of loyal wolves and faithful fallen angels and heroic knights as darkness poured in around them. He made enough to support four families, and with Kylie gaining more attention, it would soon set them f
or life. Not that he would fully stop fighting. He worked as a trainer too, and he loved it.
Logan kissed Kylie before asking, “Ready to switch?”
She nodded, kissing Nathan’s head before handing him to Lorelei so he could put Natalie in her arms.
Kylie cried, staring down at their daughter. “Oh, she’s precious. She even looks a little like Janie. Perfect.”
“Here’s your daddy.” Lorelei carefully placed Nathan in his arms. “Congratulations, Logan.”
“Thank you.” He teared up, staring down at his son. “Hi, bubby.”
There was a knock, and Logan smiled as soon as he saw who was there. “Come in.”
News of Janie’s water breaking had obviously gotten to the undefeated Canadian fighter he’d planned to meet at the restaurant. Because the man was staring Logan in the eye now.
“They said your wife went into labor.” His potential opponent held up a stuffed dinosaur and a dolly. “My manager said you were having a girl and a boy—this was all I could find. I was just going to leave them with you and say congratulations, but it seems I interrupted the big moment.”
Logan grinned, showing off Nathan. “I’m glad you came. Stay, there’s someone I want you to meet.” He nodded toward Kylie. “First, this is my wife, Kylie.”
The fighter frowned, obviously confused that Kylie was standing and not lying in a bed. Still, proper as ever, the man smiled. “Mrs. Grimm, congratulations.”
Kylie stared at him, and her jaw dropped. “Um, hi.”
It was Janie Logan had wanted the fighter to meet, and his baby doll’s voice carried across the room. “David?”
David Leodegrance, the man the MMA world called a legend—the Knight Prince—whipped his head around, his blue eyes flashing like twin sapphire flames when they landed on her. “Jane?”
“You mentioned how the fairy tales from my family drew you into negotiations about our fight,” Logan said, smiling as Janie nodded to whatever Ryder whispered in her ear. “I think you know who she is.”
Janie’s eyes glowed gold, and her face lit up as she held out a hand toward David. It finally happened; she was awake.
“It’s me, baby,” she cried.
David blinked, looking down at himself as the magic that kept him in the dark vanished. Then he glanced at Logan. “Jason?” His gaze fell to the twins. “Nathan and Natalie?”
Logan nodded. “We’ve got a lot to tell you, but like you always told her—she was meant to have my children.”
The man still appeared to be in shock, and his eyes widened upon noticing Logan’s father. “Lance?”
“Finally, the Sun joins the Moon, Earth, and Morning Star.” His dad smiled at David. “It’s like waking up and remembering a beautiful dream, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” David hugged Lance, his eyes darting to Lorelei and Maura.
“Your silly girl sent me a surprise,” Lance told him.
David looked at Lorelei and Maura, then at the little boy. “How?”
“Your girl’s magic, of course.” He showed off his son. “His name is David, after you.” Lance then turned the fighter toward Janie. “I know it’s weird. You’ll get used to it. Just accept your girl is an incredible dreamer.” He winked at Janie, but his gaze shifted between Ryder and Luc.
David focused on Janie again. “I remember. We wrote her fairy tales so we’d find each other.”
Lance pointed at Ryder. “They’re engaged. You already know he can’t marry her, but he knocked her up.”
“Damn right I did,” Ryder said, kissing Janie’s head. “Now get over here, dumbass.” He fixed the blanket around Janie as the nurses put the bed back in place. “I fucking imagined you stopping everything and crossing the room to her, all magical and shit, but you’re still standing there with Lance and Jason.”
Logan chuckled. It was likely that Ryder and the others would start calling him by his middle name.
“Ryder was the one who gave David Leodegrance your number,” Kylie whispered as David slowly made his way to Janie’s side.
“Yeah.” Logan’s chest warmed as David took hold of Janie’s hand. His hero moments just kept getting better. “Ryder came to me last month, smiling like an idiot. I knew something was up, and it made sense when Luc brought David to the gym the next day. It was like waking up and remembering a lifetime-long dream from a different world. We knew David would only wake when he saw Janie, and she him.”
“My Jane,” David whispered, cupping Janie’s cheek. “Baby, it’s really you.”
“It’s me.” She smiled, touching his lips, smiling the way Logan knew she always intended to. She’d finally found the smile in her dreams. “I’m home.”
Logan rested his chin on Kylie’s head, chuckling when her breath hitched because David leaned forward and kissed Janie on the lips.
“Ay, Papi.” Ryder shoved David’s shoulder. “I still feel like she’s only mine, so watch it.”
David ignored him and gave Janie a longer kiss.
“Breathe, babe,” Ryder said, playfully shoving David’s shoulder.
David grinned when she gasped. “I told you I’d find you.”
Janie reached for Ryder. “You didn’t tell me.”
“Only met him a month ago, babe,” Ryder defended. “His dreamy blue-eyed ass woke Jason and me. We had to scheme to get him to see you.”
Maura’s whisper reached his ears. “Holy crap, does she get to have both of them?”
Logan and Kylie could barely keep their laughter contained. The poor girl was probably going to faint if those two kissed Janie one more time.
Janie whipped her head around to David. “You’ve been asleep?”
He nodded. “I still always dreamt about your hazel eyes, my love.”
“Mr. Perfect even held out for you, angel,” Ryder muttered sullenly, though a smile ghosted his lips.
Logan laughed as David actually blushed. He had no idea if that was true about David, but that guy was supposed to be the best of them.
David reached out, caressing the sleeping baby in Ryder’s arms. “Did you name him Jason again?”
“Yes,” Ryder answered. “Don’t know why we agreed to keep naming our children after each other. It’s confusing as hell. Fuck, I guess that’s fitting then.” He kissed his son’s head before handing him to David, then turned to his eldest. “Luc, come see.”
Little Luc walked to Ryder’s side, and Ryder hauled him up.
David shifted his gaze between the father and son. “He looks like you.”
“Obviously.” Ryder grinned down at the little boy. “Do you remember him?”
The four-year-old nodded and reached for David’s cheek. “Daddy.”
A tear fell from David’s eye as he smiled at him. “Hi, Luc. Have you taken care of your mother and brother like I told you to?”
Kylie’s breath skittered out. “The stories were written by three male gods and the moon. It really was always about her.”
“Both of you, baby,” was all Logan could say as he took in Janie between Ryder, David, and Luc. “They created it, but it was for us to find the right path—so you wouldn’t stay the villain in her dreams. I think her soul knew all along we’d find a path together.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Little Luc touched David’s lips the same way Janie did. “You’re home.”
David smiled. “I am.”
Janie reached out for Luc Godson’s hand. “My king, you kept your promise.”
Luc gently squeezed her hand. “Of course, my queen. So did you. There’s no need to worry about her fire burning my soul ever again.”
Janie’s Forever Box popped into Logan’s mind. Well, particularly, the item Luc had placed inside it. Logan only opened it after meeting David and found a note awaited him inside a scorched red jar:
There are always two, Logan Jason Grimm. Of all of us, Jason was the one who stuck with her while she was bound to her darker half. We only loved the light side. Jason, however, was drawn to both. He simply forgot h
e loved all of her. A friend and wife, and one as something more—only time and a second chance were needed.
~Lucifer
Logan smiled at the group. He’d never thank them enough.
David stood, hugging Luc Godson. “Thank you.”
Luc didn’t quite return the hug, but he held out his hands for the baby. “Your eldest wishes for you to hold him.”
It was strange to see Janie’s men getting along, but he saw his children had been in the best hands without him.
Ryder took up the space behind Janie, and held her as David embraced little Luc.
“Yes, I know we’re missing your sister,” David told the little boy, but his eyes were on Janie. The same fire that burned in Ryder’s eyes was present in David’s, and Logan knew those two were having very impure thoughts about his baby doll.
Ryder chuckled while he massaged Janie’s stomach. “Our poor baby machine.”
Even though Janie was beyond happy, Logan saw the change in her. The truth of their new world and life hit her as soon as she locked eyes with him, and her heart ripped in two.
His happiness dimmed, and Kylie noticed. She didn’t know the truth of what the twins meant between him and Janie. But she’d seen something after Kevin shot her. She’d seen Janie with his children.
“Let’s take them over to her,” she whispered.
He nodded stiffly, wondering how much this was going to hurt everyone, but he felt strong when Kylie led the way.
David made room for Kylie to put Natalie in Janie’s arms then with confidence she turned to him and held out a hand. “Logan already introduced us, but I think we might’ve met wherever you’re from.”
David glanced at Janie, his confusion clear as he frowned.
“She just needed a chance,” Janie told him.
“Luc was right when he said she’d need to be away from your overprotective ass, or the plan would’ve failed,” Ryder said. “Don’t worry, I was my charming self in your place.”
Slowly, David shook Kylie’s hand. “Hello, Kylie.”
“I still struggle with this fairy tale stuff,” Kylie blurted.
Uncertainty swirled in his eyes, anger too, especially when realization dawned on him. “I don’t understand.”