#fic time

☀︎ After you guys had to give up Bella and her pups, you were devastated. Like, you understood that it had to happen - that you and Logan couldn't feed 8 more teeny tiny puppies (even if they were the cutest!!), that you couldn't give them a good life. Giving them over to the animal shelter was the best thing you could do, for both the little pups and their mother.

☀︎ But God, you couldn't help but feel crushed by the reality. You'd gotten so attached to Bella in only a month or two, that it was really hard to let go of her. Now there were no more nights with a sleepy dog curled up next to you and your husband. There were no 7pm walks with Laura (she was all too excited to come along). No giggles when you caught Logan with Bella napping on his lap while he read, no big, brown, hopeful eyes to look up at you every time you were eating. You missed it all too much.

☀︎ And so did Laura. Even if she didn't admit it, the kid also got used to having a furball to cottle - scratch under the ears or carefully stroke, even help her with getting on the couch occasionally.

☀︎ You might've cried. And Laura might've held your hand, even if both of you knew it was okay, you were just emotional.

☀︎ But then...

☀︎ Then, Logan came home. Just having driven Bella and the puppies to their new home, where they could be properly taken care of.

☀︎ But he doesn't come home alone - he comes home carrying a teeny tiny puppy, laying peacefully in his palm, big brown eyes looking around curiously, getting used to the environment. Just like Bella did the first time.

☀︎ Up until now, you were kind of dreading your husband coming back home, because it meant that everything was finalized, that all hopes of getting Bella back were gone. But the moment you see him carrying one of her pups with him, you immediately go from surprised to smiling from ear to ear.

☀︎ The next 2-3 minutes consist of you trying to hold back literal tears of cuteness while cooing both at the little furball and at the sight of the big bad and rough Wolverine holding a puppy in his big palm so delicately. Oh, and thanking Logan for his decision with a rather enthusiastic and long and smiley kiss on the lips.

☀︎ When Laura gets called in the living room by you and sees you and Logan sitting on the couch plus one of the curious and kind of shy puppies that were even tinier two months ago in Logan's lap, she's *ecstatic*. Immediately smiles from ear to ear and runs over to pet the baby (She accidentally scares it and immediately quiets down when it moves to hide in Logan's shirt). Says 'thank you, Logan' like 8000 times to the point where he himself starts feeling bashful and tells her to quit it.

☀︎ She hugs him nonetheless (and he can't deny the soft smile on his lips, nor the itty bitty speck of pink in his cheeks from all the sudden affection)

☀︎ Over the following week, the pup gets used to you all. At first it used to be shy, a little scared too - any sudden noise would make it whimper or scurry away and you'd have to coax it back. But now? Oh, now it's thriving.

☀︎ Logan decided to bring home one of Bella's daughters instead of sons, because he knows from experience that female dogs are usually way calmer and more compassionate than male dogs (also not as reckless).

☀︎ Boy, was he wrong.

☀︎ The moment the little lady gets comfortable and used to you guys and the new environment, she's a playful little menace.

☀︎ Loves chasing after a ball. Her jaws are too small to fully chomp a tennis ball, but if you guys have one lying around, she'll try, alright.

☀︎ As hilarious (and cute) as Laura and you found it to watch the little doggo growl while performing its best attack on the tennis ball (and whine when she realises it's not gonna work), one day when you're out you walk past those gumball machines, but filled with bouncy balls. And Laura immediately realises those would work perfectly.

☀︎ When you come back that afternoon and the doggo comes to greet you, you give her the new ball. And she loves it. Will not stop barking now until you throw it for her, no matter what you're doing.

☀︎ Also, she eats anything. Literally anything. Super curious as to what you guys eat. So much so that she wants to eat from you guys' plates, even if she has food in her bowl. Would get a gentle "Hey. Stop it." and a dad finger wag™ from Logan if she barks while you're on the dinner table, but she's not giving up that easy.

☀︎ She literally wanted to try marshmallows from Laura once. Which inspired her name being Marshmallow, Mel for short. Logan would rather die than admit it's clever, but Laura knows him too well and she already knows.

☀︎ Mel is also a professional cuddle buddy. All that playing around gets her tired, alright?

☀︎ Loves to sleep beside anyone from the family. At first it's with you and Logan, so that if anything happens, you two can react, but once she starts understanding the prospect of peeing outside and not on those diaper mats (and anywhere within the house, for that matter), she's definitely down to sleep in Laura's bed too.

☀︎ Can't get on the bed or couch without help in the first few months - she's too tiny. You have to lift her up, but she definitely expresses her gratitude with ecstatic tail wags and a few licks on your hand.

☀︎ Licks at your face when she's sleeping in your bed and wants to drink water. Poor pup's too scared to get down from the bed herself :(

☀︎ You've caught Logan with Mel on his lap, or curled up beside him on the couch many times. He's gotten used to it and is no longer embarrassed. It often makes you think of the times when he did the same with Bella and it makes you smile fondly at the memories.

☀︎ Now more about Logan with the pup!!

☀︎ Just like with Bella, the concept is a little unknown to him in the start, but deep down, he's so soft for the tiny animal.

☀︎ Scared that he'd hurt Mel, so he's always so gentle with her. Even if (when) she's being a little too noisy than usual, or annoying. He knows that she's still a pup and that he'd change nothing if he screamed at her, other than make her feel upset and uncomfortable in her new home. Plus, the last thing he'd want is to yell at the tiny ball of fur :((

☀︎ Would do his best to teach the doggo some rules and discipline it needs to know. But is determined not to get mad (or show he's frustrated). Man's out here trying to gentle parent a puppy.

☀︎ Talks to her more than he'd like to admit. She's barking at him, because there's no water in her bowl? "Yeah, yeah, bub, I got it. No need to use that voice of yours.." She's sitting in front of the door, whimpering because she needs to pee for the third time today? "Oh, seriously? ..(Sigh), come on, kiddo, let's get'cha outside." Looking up at him with big, sad eyes while he's reading on the couch, because she wants up? "Oh, you wanna come up 'ere too? Lemme help with that - (insert tiny groan here). There we go. My back might not be the same, but you're lucky I'm not too old to lift you up, heh.."

☀︎ Like with Bella, he really likes when he can absentmindedly stroke Mel's fur or give her head pats. It's something he does to keep his mind busy, and it also helps him focus and feel truly at peace. No matter what he says, he likes the pup and she helps keep him grounded :)

☀︎ Once Mel's old enough to go for longer walks, one of you guys' favourite activities is to go to the park together, as a family. Laura tags along too, you guys get ice cream and play fetch with the pup. Logan loves these moments - his whole world, his family, is here, in the spring warmth, spending time together with him and he couldn't feel more grateful.

☀︎ Laura once helped you set up a picnic for everyone. You swore you've never seen Logan more relaxed. He loves picnics and he loves being able to smile with you and feed you strawberries. It makes him feel young again.

☀︎ Mel also really really loves spending time with you guys. It's like she can feel the moods shift around her - and she's so, so happy to feel the air around her be so light-hearted. You bet your head she's swinging her tail around full force and running around and happily barking at Laura when she laughs and throws the stick again.

☀︎ Talking about dogs and feeling the shift in moods, she always feels the bad, too. Whenever you're feeling emotional or sad, or whenever you're nostalgic about something, she's always there. Always rubs into your leg. Always licks at your outstretched hand. She tries to comfort Laura by bringing her chew toys or socks (or slippers, hehe) to play with. And if she's not feeling it, Mel just lays her head on the top of Laura's foot and waits until she feels better.

☀︎ Will try the hardest for Logan. Even if it's nothing serious sometimes, she can feel that he has biggest demons. With him, she'll demand to be close to him. Sit or lay down next to him, more commonly on his stomach. Will also lick at his face (and give a sad little whine if Logan tells her to stop). And if you're there to comfort him too, she'll gladly go cuddle with you guys. She's such an empathetic little pup, she just wants you guys to feel better :((

☀︎ In conclusion, Logan has never felt more.. in place, after the incident. Sure, with a newly added member to this little family of his, it might feel a little overwhelming sometimes. But he'd never give up the life he shares with you for anything.