Gabe had tried to picture it, but he wasn't sure how Logan would react to the news. Alphas were notoriously unpredictable, after all.

Logan stared at him for so long he wasn't sure that the Alpha had heard what he'd said. Still, Gabe waited quietly for Logan to respond, hoping for the best.

"Are you going to... what are you going to do?" Logan finally asked.

"I'm going to be the best dad I can," Gabe answered. "I always wanted a baby, so in a way, it's a blessing in disguise."

The Alpha smiled. "You're going to be a hell of a dad," he said. "That is one lucky kid."

Gabe was encouraged by the positive reaction. He took a deep breath. "I know you didn't sign up for this," he said hesitantly, "And I didn't mean to mislead you. But if you'd like to be a part of the baby's life, well, I would like that too. We don't have to... be together," he said, fighting the hot blush that surged up his neck. "I know Holt is still your main priority."

Logan chuckled. "He used to talk about you every day, how badass it is that you own your own business. I think you could be a really great role model to him, Gabe."

"I would be happy to," the Omega answered. "In fact, if it was ok with you, I was going to offer him a job at my gym."

The Alpha took a few steps closer so that he was standing in front of Gabe. When Logan held out a hand, Gabe took it, and Logan gently helped him to his feet. Standing on the step, he could almost look Logan in the eyes. The Alpha didn't let go of his hand, and Gabe's heart beat a little faster.

"I know Holt would love that," Logan said. "But I hear there's an Alpha in town who would love to work for you, too."

Gabe didn't want to give in to hope, but he couldn't help it. "Is that so?" he asked, giving Logan's hand a gentle squeeze.

"This guy is pretty cool," Logan continued, with a mischievous smile. "He works hard, and he's loyal, and he looks pretty damn amazing in yoga shorts."

Gabe laughed, and Logan reached up and gently caressed the side of his cheek. "But sometimes he makes bad choices," the Alpha continued, looking serious once more. "Like pushing away the one person in his life who saw who he really was and loved him anyway. Pretty dumb, huh?"

The Omega smiled. "It's only dumb if he doesn't come to his senses and confess his love right away," he said. "Preferably while wearing tiny yoga shorts." He leaned into Logan's touch, savoring the gesture. He'd missed that touch, more than he could say.

"Hell, I forgot the shorts,” Logan said. "But Gabe, I do love you. Being without you, even for what I thought was the right reason... it felt wrong. If you can forgive me, I'd like to raise our child together. Gabe, will you marry me?"

There was no ring, no elaborate setup, but Gabe didn't care. The only thing he wanted was the man standing in front of him, the father of his child, and his future husband. He threw his arms around Logan's shoulders, and the Alpha caught him in his strong arms.

The Omega buried his face in Logan's neck, savoring the sweet scent of his Alpha. "Yes, yes, yes," he murmured. 

Logan held him gently at arm's length. "I can't promise you it will always be easy," he said quietly. "Hell, this thing with Russell... I'm going to fight every way that I know how. I don't know how it will end up."

Gabe smiled. “Between the two of us, we’ll figure something out. But marriage is working together to face the world's challenges. And I want to take on the world with you."

When Logan kissed him, he felt the loneliness he'd been carrying so long melt away. He had a partner at last, a true partner, one who loved him for who he really was.

A soft cough from behind them made them both jump. Holt was standing by Logan's car, apparently having witnessed the whole scene. His cheeks were bright red, but he was smiling. "So,” he said shyly, “I’m going to be an uncle?"

* * *

The three sat around Logan’s tiny kitchen table as Gabe filled them in on the events of the past few days. “And so, it turns out my ex-husband paid a doctor to lie about my fertility to get an excuse to divorce me,” he said. “And now Brian’s in Bright Beach, paying Russell to try to get rid of me. So clearly, we need to take both of them down.”

Logan was tense, anger apparent in every inch of his body. “Those fuckers,” he growled. “I’d like to tear them both apart for what they’ve done to you. Jimmy too, for hurting my brother.” Holt blushed and looked down at the table.

Gabe laid a gentle hand on Logan’s arm. “Trust me, I’d love to let you, but now that I’ve got you back I’m not going to lose you to jail.” He thought for a moment. “We need some way to make Russell confess so other people can hear it. He clearly doesn’t think you’re a threat, Logan, since he believes he has too much leverage on you. Maybe he would talk to you again. Or me. Or even Holt.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near him in your condition,” Logan said darkly, glancing down at Gabe’s still-flat tummy.

Gabe rolled his eyes. “I’m pregnant, Logan. That doesn’t mean I’m going to break.” He secretly thought the Alpha’s over-protectiveness was sweet, but he didn’t want to encourage him. This was his fight just as much as Logan’s.

“Well, we’ll figure that out when the time comes,” Logan said. “So if we get him talking, what then? Do we record him somehow?”

“That could work, but I’d rather have someone overhear him so that he can’t deny it later,” Gabe said thoughtfully. “Didn’t you say a lot of the local police work out at his gym? Could we let them know and then have them hide somewhere?”

Logan tapped his fingers on the tabletop, frowning. “The police do work out there, but I’m not sure they would believe me. I’m the town loser, remember?” Suddenly, the Alpha’s face lit up. “Oh, I’ve got it,” he said triumphantly. “He’s going to screw himself over and he won’t even know it. Here’s what we do.”