Well hello again.

One thing I need to say really quickly:

***I realize that the last chapter's ending could be interpreted in many ways. I don't want to give away this chapter, but let me say that at the end of the last chapter, Carlos was not dead. I repeat, Carlos was not dead as of the last chapter.***

Can't really say too much for this chapter, because that would be giving away everything.

Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush or the characters.

I seriously need to find something else to obsess over; this is getting ridiculous. I'm generally a tomboy who is addicted to hockey and watches very little TV besides South Park. This whole... BTR thing... it needs to stop. I feel like such a creep writing this stuff.

Rant over.

Read on, readers.

ONE YEAR, FOUR MONTHS, TWENTY-FOUR DAYS LATER

Logan was currently curled up with one of his favorite books, nearly halfway through the thick text. He was lounging outside, enjoying the lovely sun. James flopped down on the bench beside him and half-tackling him into a hug, grinning when Logan's book went sprawling out of his hands.

"Hey, Logan," James greeted cheerfully, ignoring Logan's irritated glare. "Are you excited?"

"Thanks for knocking my book to the ground. No, I'm not excited. You've probably soiled the pages," he snapped, picking up his book and dusting it off carefully. James elbowed at the smaller boy's side annoyingly.

"No, that's not what I was talking about! I mean, are you excited about today?"

Logan stared. "Um, not particularly. Why? What's so special about today?" James didn't answer, but just grinned at him moronically. Logan stared back, not understanding.

And then it clicked. Logan quickly calculated the date… yes, it was about the right time, give or take a few days. He glanced up at James, not daring to get his hopes up if it was really what he thought it was. But James saw the dawning on Logan's face, and beamed.

"Get ready. We're leaving for the airport in ten minutes," he said happily, slapping Logan on the back heartily. His book toppled to the ground again, but this time, it didn't even faze him.

Kendall and James had to help him walk through the airport, because Logan's feet were like silly putty and his legs had the walking capacity of a potato. But they made it to the right gate, the taller two pushing and shoving their way to the front of the crowd. Logan glanced around, feeling slightly ridiculous. Everyone else waiting for the incoming Marines was either a family, or a sobbing wife. The three boys were the only ones there that were friends… and whatever Logan was.

But within a half hour, the doors to the gate creaked open, and everyone stopped making noise immediately. A flight attendant walked out first, smiling proudly at the awaiting crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen… they've come home," she said simply, waving her hands airily towards the doorway. Everyone held a collective breath, until the first Marine was wheeled out. Three wheelchair-bound Marines were pushed proudly out to their families. Two were missing portions of their legs, and the third had massive bandages wrapped around both of his shins and feet. Several other wounded- but alive- Marines trickled out from the jet bridge. Two had clearly lost an arm, and another had crutches and what looked like a broken foot. But each soldier came from the plane smiling, happy to be home.

They really only had to walk four or five feet from the gate door before they were surrounded by family, squeezed into hugs and dampened with everyone's thrilled tears.

The uninjured Marines filed out after. Thirty or so must've walked to the crowd, found their families, and headed home before Logan's anxiety began to heighten. It wasn't exactly a huge plane. There couldn't be many more Marines on it, and he had yet to see his best friend.

James and Kendall, who were on either side of the frantic boy, quietly reached down and slid their hands into his. Logan squeezed both of their hands nervously.

"He'll be here," Kendall whispered to him, rubbing his thumb over the back of Logan's hand comfortingly. Logan looked up at him, unsure. Kendall flashed him a quick grin, but when Logan looked back at the door, Kendall peeked over his head at James. The brunette sensed his stare and looked over, smiling until he saw the scared look on the blonde's face. James quickly switched the hand that was clutching Logan's with his other one, so he could scoot behind Logan and reach over to Kendall. The blonde smiled weakly as James ran his fingers through his hair and ran his hand down his shoulder, giving it a hopeful squeeze.

"Oh, no…" Logan whimpered, breaking Kendall and James's moment. The taller brunette moved back to Logan's side, looking from him to the door in confusion.

"What's the matter?" he asked, not seeing any problem, until he realized what Logan was seeing. Marines weren't really coming out of the door any more. The attendant who announced their arrival earlier smiled brightly as she gripped the door, preparing to slide it shut. Logan began trembling between the other two boys, who weren't looking much better.

"It-it's okay, Logan… maybe it's just the wrong flight?" James suggested, glancing at Kendall for support. But Kendall was staring at the closing door, looking like he was about to cry.

"He's not coming home," Logan said softly, and neither James nor Kendall said anything to argue.

The door was closed with a gentle click, and Logan collapsed to the ground. Kendall and James seemed to be frozen for a moment, but James quickly bent down and tried to haul his friend up, struggling until Kendall snapped out of it and helped.

They slowly turned themselves around and began dragging Logan away, when a loud boom echoed throughout the gate. James and Kendall looked over their shoulders, to find a sizeable bump in the door they were previously staring at. The flight attendant stared at it in alarm before quickly opening the door, to find a crumpled figure sprawled out behind it.

"Oh my- sir, are you all right?" she asked loudly, kneeling next to the fallen figure.

"Y-yeah… lucky I got my helmet on," a voice said roughly. James and Kendall could feel Logan tense, but he didn't turn around. The other two watched in utter shock as the guy who apparently ran into the closed door finally pulled himself to his feet. The attendant brushed him off a little, continuously asking him if he felt okay, and if he'd like her to call medical services. But he shook her off and wobbled his way out of the doorway, looking woozily around. He bit his lip when he saw that there wasn't a crowd there, like he expected. At first, he didn't even see the remaining three boys standing fifty feet away, and he looked down at his shoes miserably.

"Logan," James muttered, jabbing mindlessly at the shorter boy's shoulder, finally giving up and forcibly whirling him around when he refused to move. Logan clenched his eyes shut, afraid that it wouldn't be the person who he desperately needed to see.

"Did you seriously just run into a door?" Kendall called out, suddenly, making Carlos's head shoot up. The Marine grinned instantly and ran over, only tripping over his duffle bag twice along the way. Logan finally opened his eyes, which was a good thing because at least he got five seconds of warning before Carlos tackled them to the ground in a massive hug. Logan got the majority of the hug, being that he was in the middle, but James and Kendall wrapped their arms around the two smaller boys and nearly squeezed the stuffing out of them. Carlos was laughing breathlessly, while the other three were crying their eyes out, not even bothering to stand up.

But eventually, the flight attendant came over to poke at them and make sure they were okay, and the four boys nodded and struggled to stand up. Once they were all on their feet again, Kendall grabbed Carlos and gave him a bear hug.

"We missed you, man," he said honestly, giving one final squeeze before releasing him and letting James take over.

"Don't ever do this to us again, okay?" James added half-teasingly, almost cutting off Carlos's air with his octopus-like hug. "It sucked more than you'll ever know," he muttered seriously, pulling away and letting Logan have his turn.

But Logan kind of just stood there, staring at his best friend and crying his heart out. Carlos smiled shyly at him, slowly approaching the fragile boy.

"I missed you, Logie," he said quietly, reaching out to wrap his hands around Logan's wrists loosely. Logan's eyebrows scrunched and his cheeks puffed out angrily, and for a moment, Carlos thought he was about to be yelled at, told he broke Logan's heart, or worse, that whatever they had that one night a year and a half ago would not be continued.

But Logan exhaled and let himself tumble forward into Carlos's strong arms, soaking the Marine's shirt with tears and clutching at his shoulders like he'd never let go. Carlos beamed at Kendall and James, sliding his arms around his best friend and hugging back lovingly.

James and Kendall smiled back, the latter swatting away at the remaining tear streaks on his face. James bumped shoulders with the blonde happily, and Kendall wrapped an arm around the brunette's shoulders, tugging him close. James slid an arm around his waist, smiling softly when Kendall leaned his head on the taller boy's shoulder. They both gazed at their friends contentedly, flushing and shrugging when Carlos raised an eyebrow at their closeness.

"I thought you weren't coming back," Logan finally managed, pulling his face from Carlos's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Logie, I forgot my helmet on the plane. And then I ran out of the tunnel, and kind of didn't realize the door was closed until… um…"

"Idiot," Logan said teasingly, moving his hands from Carlos's shoulders to link around his neck. He smiled softly for the first time in seemingly months, and pressed his forehead against Carlos's lightly.

Carlos glanced from side to side, scanning the airport to see how much of an audience they had. Only about ten people were remotely paying attention to them, so he took a deep breath, tilted his face upwards, and kissed Logan.

Logan inhaled sharply, not expecting the public affection, but quickly got over it and tilted his head, pressing into Carlos harder. He pulled away after just a few seconds, not wanting to get too far into it in such a public place. But Carlos was still smiling, not seeming bothered at all that the kiss was somewhat short. Logan moved to turn back to their other friends, flashing his slowly returning smile at James and Kendall, when Carlos tugged him back by one hand.

"Wait, Logan… there's something… I have to ask you…" Carlos stammered out, shuffling around his pocket and withdrawing something hidden in his fist. He glanced to James and Kendall for reassurance, but the two looked as lost as Logan did. Taking a shaking breath, he slowly lowered himself until he was kneeling before his best friend in the world. The few people near them who had been watching gasped, and Logan whimpered a little, staring in shock at the boy before him. "Logan, you are my best friend in the world, and I am so, completely in love with you. For the past two years, I had no idea whether I'd be able to come home to you or not, but… I made it. And the only way I think things could get any better, were if…" He hesitantly held out his fist, opening it slowly to reveal-

His Marines ring. Logan started quietly sobbing the moment he saw it.

"C… Carlos…"

"Logan, will you be mine forever and ever?" Carlos asked, expression confident even though his voice and outstretched hand were both shaking. Logan squished his palms to his eyes, trying to stop the tears. But he nodded furiously, falling to his knees and choosing to wrap his arms around Carlos's neck instead of trying to stop the inevitable crying.

"Y-yes," Logan choked out, pressing closer to Carlos. Carlos, who was teetering on one knee to begin with, lost balance and fell backwards, Logan following to fall on top. But neither seemed to mind, and simply hugged on the ground for a few minutes until Kendall cleared his throat awkwardly. Logan, embarrassed, quickly pushed himself back up, lending Carlos a hand and heaving him to his feet, too. As soon as they were both standing, Carlos grabbed Logan's left hand, and slid his Marines ring on the ring finger gently, smiling brightly when it fit perfectly. He laced their fingers together, using his free hand to gently swab away Logan's drying tears.

"You two ready to go?" Kendall asked softly, lowering his arm from James's shoulders to sling casually around his waist, winding a hand into the brunette's back pocket. James flushed bright red, but didn't protest. Carlos nodded giddily and grabbed his duffle bag, towing Logan along as he headed excitedly for the airport exit. Kendall and James hurried after, laughing as they watched Carlos sprinting through crowds, gripping Logan's hand tighter as the stumbling brunette tripped over countless people, suitcases, and even a stray shoe.

But Logan was laughing the entire way, and as the four made their way to Kendall's car, James and Kendall were pretty certain that everything was finally okay again.