(COMPLETE) Love Isn't Conditional

One Day

"I don't want to see you or that spawn again." The calm and calculated voice echoed again and again in Roman's head as he carried his sleeping son out of his house at 4am. He'd had an argument with his fiancé – now ex-fiancé – Janus Sceptre about their son's daycare. It resulted in past arguments being brought up, one thing lead to another and now Roman was strapping his son into his car seat being as quiet as possible. He should have seen it coming, Janus was never fond of little Patton and only agreed to adopt him to make Roman happy.

Patton stirred, turning his head to the side before realising he was placed in his fluffy baby blue car seat. He opened his eyes slowly seeing his father start the car. "Daddy? Where are we going?" He said tiredly, not opening his eyes completely yet.

"We're just visiting Grandpas and Uncle Remus, it's alright Pattoncake."

Roman didn't know if he completely fucked everything up. But he needed to give his three year old son a better life, Patton had witnessed way too many arguments in his young life and Roman needed to change that. He was just lucky his twin brother had no sleep schedule so he and Patton were welcome to move back into Roman's childhood home at 4am and stay until he found his feet. He told his son the move was only a 'visit' to not further traumatise him, hopefully he'd just forget about the home he's lived in since he was a few months old within the week. That seemed like a perfectly logical train of thought.

The world around Roman and his son became less built up by the minute, skyscrapers became stars and cement roads became dirt. Roman had moved to the city with his ex after college, hours from home. He remembered his old optimism, thinking he and Janus would grow old together with a beautiful and amazing family. Now he had a beautiful and amazing family, just not a fiancé. And he was going back to the small village he grew up in – when he and his twin were adopted at 6 by a therapist and barista. And that would now be his son's home.

Roman finally let out a breath as he parked his car in front of his childhood home. He held his son for a moment and admired the atmosphere, a sense of security coming around him as he grasped onto his fast asleep son. The front door opened, revealing his Dad in a baby pink dressing gown with extreme bed hair. "Bubble-gum come inside, you and your kiddo will get cold." His dad chirped quietly, reminding Roman he was still in his pyjamas. The warm house hit him as soon as he walked in. His father still stood close, brushing his fingers through his grandson's hair and smiling. "He's gotten bigger since last Christmas, your arms must be killing you!"

"He's quite light seeming all the cookies he eats." Roman chuckled, kissing his son's forehead with adoration lining his eyes. "Is everything set up in my room for us?"

Roman's Dad sighed, stepping back from brushing his hand through his grandson's hair. "Remus wanted to see if the flamethrower could destroy the air mattress since the packaging was fireproof – so there's only one bed."

"That seems like Remus..." Roman sighed, giving his sleepy son a quick cuddle. He then walked upstairs and to the second door on the right, the bedroom he had as a child. He used to share a bedroom with his twin brother but once Remus started getting a bit more – chaotic – a wall was built between their beds to make it two rooms. Remus still lived at home so his snoring could be heard as Roman placed Patton in bed.

Roman sat next to his son and tucked him into the only bed, giving him a kiss on the forehead, stroking his hair and placing his small round glasses on the bedside table that were previously in his pocket. Roman loved Patton's hair, it was always so soft and curly and a beautiful gold. Roman loved the colour gold. It's what attracted him to the little baby, the tuft of golden hair on his adoption papers along with the wide innocent smile.

Patton mumbled to himself and sucked his thumb making Roman chuckle. He was so small and innocent, and his entire life had changed in a day. He used to have two dads, was excited to be ringbearer and wear a light blue tux in their Disney themed wedding. And now it's over. Roman looked at his engagement ring, a pearl surrounded by rubies and topazes. Slowly he took the ring off, showing a pink mark where it used to be. The only thing he could focus on was throwing the ring in the Disney trashcan in the corner of the room.

For the first time in a few hours Roman started to experience tears. He covered his eyes, taking a deep breath in to avoid choking and making a noise. He just held his son's hand and waited, holding his breath until the emotions faded away. This was best for his son, it was difficult but in 10 or 15 years Patton would thank him for getting them out that situation. And to look at the positives, before this move Patton only saw his extended family on Christmas and birthdays, but now they'd be together every day. Patton did love his Grampy Emile.

One thing's for certain, whatever he'd do he'd do it for his son: Patton Abraham Windsor.

*****

Logan let out a soft yawn while opening the door. "Vergie... Time to wake up buddy." He smiled, watching his little toddler turn in his bed and look up at him. "Good morning!" He whispered, opening the purple spider curtains to reveal the sunlight. "Daddy's taking you to work today."

Virgil turned onto his back and reached his hands up in a grabbing motion with one hand, clutching his kitten teddy in the other. Logan smiled and picked the little boy up, holding him close and letting him snuggle in. He was so lucky Logan's boss allowed Virgil to stay by Logan's desk. Virgil didn't like daycare or babysitters.

To be fair it was Logan's boss' advice for Logan to adopt a kid. Logan had a habit of overworking, so even though all the work was done on time Logan's health was taking hit after hit. After Logan's 25th sick day his boss commanded he extended his family so he wouldn't be working all the time. A few days later he saw a post on Facebook of a little premature baby abandoned at the hospital, and he had to put that kid in safe hands.

Virgil was a bit more awake and watching his father with a wide smile, his large eyes on his small face expanded in love. Logan gave his son a kiss on the forehead. "You want to wear a suit and tie like Daddy?"

"Hoodie please?"

"Kiddo you need to look professional."

"Hoodie." Virgil demanded. In his three years of life Virgil was very good at getting exactly what he wanted from his father, he was a professional at it. Said hoodie was a black one that Logan believed his son would grow into, as Virgil was always incredibly small for his age. So it was oversized and had several sewn purple pieces on from Virgil running too fast past brambles or a kid playing rough with him in the playground. Overall it was very, very tacky and not work attire – but he couldn't say no to his son's little smile. Logan sighed and got the hoodie out the wardrobe, his son attached to him at the hip. The little giggle when Virgil realised he got his way was all worth it. "Yay! I love you Dad..."

"Love you too kiddo, more than anything." And it was true, Virgil was the most important person in the world to Logan. As soon as he was allowed to hold him, when Virgil was only a few weeks old, Logan felt an immense amount of love that he'd never felt before. Most people called him crazy for raising a son on his own, but Logan felt as though he had to. No guy, no matter how attractive they were, was in any way close to reaching the love Logan felt for his son.

Logan didn't like to call it love. Love was too conditional. Adoration didn't fit either, adoration was too weak. So Logan cherished his son. It fit for some reason. People judged everything to do with Logan and his son, including Logan's choice of middle name. As soon as he figured out 'cherish' fit his feelings that became Virgil's middle name. Apparently it was a girl's name but he didn't care, it fit his son.

And the day continued as every day does in the life of Logan and his son: Virgil Cherish Yerkes-Dodson.