Epilogue

"UUGGHHNNNNN! FUCK! Fuck fucking FUCK!"

Logan kept a straight face, though he felt an urge to laugh at the sound of his wife's lovely voice screaming swear words, which he never heard her say aloud. He rubbed her hand where she gripped his, her knuckles turning white with the effort even though with his adamantium bones, he felt almost nothing.

"Logan- I can't- UNGH- I CAN'T DO IT!" she cried. "Logan, I can't do it, I can't do it, ican'tdoitican'tdoit!"

"Oh, Baby," Logan kissed her hand briefly. "Lorelei. Hank said that when you start saying that you can't do it, it's time to push. Next contraction, you push - you can do it, Baby."

She blew out a breath through pursed lips, flopping her head backward onto the pillows on their bed that Logan had arranged behind to support her. She panted for a moment, her breath quickening as another contraction began to roll toward her, squeezing her in its wake.

She howled. "Aauugh! Ow ow owowow!" She gritted her teeth and pushed.

Logan gently detached his fingers from hers, because he could tell that he'd need both hands soon. "One more - one more, Baby!"

Lorelei let out a sustained, primal groan, and their child was born into Logan's safe hands. He grabbed a nearby towel and made sure that the baby's face was cleared of mucus, as Hank had instructed, thrilling at the cries from the tiny lungs.

Crouching down next to Lorelei, he wrapped his strong arm around her back and supported her next to his body, placing their baby on her chest and holding them both. She was gasping, trying to catch her breath and sob at the same time, which he briefly made more difficult by capturing her lips with his.

He kissed her forehead next, his throat choking with emotion, and said, "Lor? It's a boy."

"He's perfect," she replied.

"He is," Logan agreed. "What will we name him?"

"James," she said emphatically. "We're naming him for you."

"James Lee Logan," he pronounced.

She smiled, approving of his suggestion to use her maiden name as well. "I love you."

"And I love you," he breathed, gently touching his son's fragile limbs in Lorelei's loving arms. "Let me get everything taken care of, so that you can rest."

Closing her eyes, she listened to Logan moving around the room of the cabin he had built for them, handling the soiled linens and bringing her a drink of water and a little food. When he was finished, he came back to their bed, stripping off his shirt to pull her and baby in close to him, skin to skin. She rubbed her cheek against his chest, ready to drift off.

"Go to sleep, Lorelei," his deep voice soothed her. "I'm here."

Author's Note: Thank you to all readers - it thrills me to see you keeping pace with me on this narrative journey. Sequel is posted, entitled Home in the Woods.