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"Honey, I'm home," Logan called as he closed the front door.

"In the kitchen," Soo Ryeon answered. Logan dropped his duffel bag on the floor and made his way to the kitchen.

"Hi," Soo Ryeon greeted when he appeared in the doorway, swiveling her stool to face him.

"Hey, gorgeous," he replied, striding forward to kiss her. She stood and tilted her face up for his kiss, resting her hands lightly on his chest. His t-shirt stretched across the muscular planes of his body, and his biceps flexed as he pulled her against him.

"How was your day?" she asked with a smile.

"Busy, but okay," Logan answered. "I did a couple of knee replacements surgeries with Dr. Ju." He smiled down at her. "And for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about you waiting for me at home."

"Oh?" she asked coyly.

"Yeah," he nodded. "I got spoiled over the weekend in Daegu, getting to spend all my time with you. I missed that today. I missed you."

"I know what you mean," she conceded. "We need to take a vacation together when you finish junior residency. Maybe we could go back to that cabin upstate."

"Ooh, the cabin," Logan growled, sliding his hands down to cup her backside. "I love getting back to nature!"

"Easy there, horny boy," she teased. "Focus." She giggled as his bottom lip dipped into a pout and his hands resettled tamely on her waist. "We'll have to schedule around your team physician assignment. When will you find out where you're assigned?"

He shifted to perch on the stool she'd stood from, pulling her to stand between his legs. "Hey, I told you, I'm the one who gets to worry about that."

Soo Ryeon smiled. "Why should you get to have all the fun? Besides, I haven't had nearly enough to worry about lately."

Logan grinned, happy that she could joke about her recent misfortunes. "Sorry, sweetheart, this one's all mine." This time she pouted, and he chuckled. "I should find out by the first of August. They assign out all the residents at the same time, even if their athletic seasons don't start for several months."

"And you don't really get any say in where you end up?" she asked.

"I put in my preferences," he reminded her. "All the local high schools, plus Hanyang University." He scratched the back of his neck. "That one's a long shot—they almost never assign second-year residents to college athletic teams—but I figured the coach could put in a good word for me."

"But you may not be assigned to a basketball team," she pointed out.

"True," he agreed. "I said I would be willing to work with football, basketball, baseball, rugby, soccer teams—whatever they decide to throw at me."

Soo Ryeon squeezed his shoulders. "Well, I think wherever you end up, they'll be lucky to have you. I know firsthand what a great doctor you are."

"Aw, thanks, baby," he smiled, pulling at her hips to draw her closer for another kiss. When he released her, he gestured back at the neat stacks of papers spread out on the island. "It looks like you've been busy today too. What's all this stuff?"

"This pile here," she pointed, "is for Yoon Hee's bridal shower. These…" Her hand moved to the next stack. "…are applications for graduate assistants for next year. Dr. Lim dropped them off this afternoon." Her voice lost a bit of its confidence as her hand moved to the smallest stack. "These are pamphlets and applications for Legal Aid organizations in Seoul." She paused to gauge his reaction before going on. "I'm looking into doing some part-time work in Legal Aid over the summer. They provide free legal advice, and if necessary, representation, for low-income families. I read an article in the Chronicle that said they're in need of bilingual attorneys to work with the Chinese community."

He studied her intently. "What made you decide to get another job? We certainly aren't hurting for money."

"It's not about money," she told him. "It's about helping people. Nowaday, there are a number of Chinese people living in Seoul. I want to do something to help, Logan. I've been so selfishly focused on myself and our… my… difficulty conceiving… that it's time for me to think about other people for a change."

Logan tugged at her hips again, drawing her close and linking his hands behind her waist to keep her there. When he spoke, his voice was soft and serious. "First of all, sweetheart, you're the least selfish person I know. Second, you were right the first time—it's our difficulty, not yours alone. Remember, we're in this together. And third, if this is something you want to do, then I'm behind you all the way."

"Really?" she breathed, scarcely believing he'd agreed so easily. Maybe because she hadn't mentioned that the Mission District, where she would most likely be working, was a rough part of town.

"Really," he said with a slight frown. "Soo Ryeon, you don't need my permission to try something new. You know that, right? I mean, I'm glad you're talking to me about it, but I wouldn't stop you from doing something you're passionate about."

"I do know, but it's nice to hear you say it," she said softly. "Thank you." Her hands came to rest on his thighs and the mischievous glint returned to her eyes. "Besides, it's silly for me to stay home all summer and cause you to lose focus when you're seeing patients."

That brought a smile to his face, and he pulled her close again. "Okay, thinking about you waiting for me at home is hard enough, but thinking about how sexy you are when you're practicing law?" He groaned, and his gaze turned lustful. "I remember sitting in court, when you worked for that law firm, watching you present your cases." He swallowed hard. "You were so confident and firm, and I would just stare at your gorgeous body in those tight little suits, and all I could think about was what color panties you were wearing…"

She shivered, but joined in his erotic game. "Sometimes, when I knew you were coming to watch me, I didn't wear panties…"

"What?" he nearly choked.

Soo Ryeon shrugged teasingly. "We were newlyweds. You weren't the most… patient… man back then. Anything to shave off a few seconds of foreplay!"

He gaped at her, scandalized, before she burst into laughter and he realized she'd been messing with him.

"Hey, that was mean!" he whined. Then, realizing that she was trapped in his arms, he tickled her, laughing as she giggled and pleaded for mercy. "That's what you get for messing with my fantasy!"

Finally she managed to escape his hold, and she ran to the other side of the island, looking adorably tousled. She grabbed a wooden spoon from the counter behind her and brandished it like a weapon.

"Stay away from me, mister," she said as sternly as she could manage. "I'm not afraid to use this!"

Logan's eyebrow raised, and a smirk pulled at his lips. "Ooh, my woman's getting rough with me. Are you going to tie me to the bedpost and have your wicked way with me?"

She rolled her eyes, trying her best to keep from giggling. "In your dreams, Logan Lee."

"Okay, okay, truce." He put his hands up in surrender and rounded the island. She watched warily as he approached, but walked into his arms when he held them out. Unable to resist, she whacked his backside with the wooden spoon.

He howled, his reaction a result of surprise rather than pain. His eyes narrowed. "Oh, that's it, woman! The truce is over!" He tickled her sides once more, holding her tightly as she laughed and flailed at him with the wooden spoon.

When she landed a whack dangerously close to his private area, he loosened his grasp to protect himself, and she seized the opportunity to break away from him. She screamed as he followed her around the island, and he gamely chased her until they were both breathless with laughter.

Finally she put up her hands in surrender, tossed the spoon on the counter, and dropped onto a stool. "Okay, okay, you win," she panted. "At this rate we'll be eating dinner at midnight!"

"You started it," he teased.

Her eyes widened. "I did not start it! You've lost touch with reality!"

He nodded with a smirk. "Exactly! I was talking about my courtroom fantasy, and next thing I know, you're chasing me around with a wooden spoon. I'm completely innocent!"

She laughed. "Now that's a fantasy! How about if you redirect some of that energy into grilling steaks for dinner? The grill's already hot—I was just about to put them on when you got home."

"Hey, grilling is a man's job," he argued before pounding his chest with his best caveman impersonation. "Me big strong man. Make fire. Hunt food, cook meat. Feed woman."

Soo Ryeon giggled. "Well, 'big strong man,' the fire's made and the food's ready to cook." She sashayed over to him and lowered her voice. "But if you 'cook meat' to my satisfaction, I might just let you drag me back to the cave by my hair."

He gulped, slipping out of character. "Damn, baby. You sure know how to make a man's mouth water."

She took over the Neanderthal act. "Me woman. Take care of man. Give man a reason to come home at night."

"You can say that again, sweetheart," he grinned. She handed over the thawed steaks, and he headed out to the grill, his head swimming with a newly-formed fantasy. 'Big strong man' indeed, he thought. Soo Ryeon had a knack for bringing this big strong man to his knees.

...~«ώ»~...

The last weekend of May, Yoon Cheol's and Yoon Hee's families were in town for dress and tux fittings, Yoon Hee's bridal shower, and Yoon Cheol's bachelor party. The wedding was still two weeks away, but since both families lived out of town, all pre-wedding activities had been lumped together to accommodate them.

Soo Ryeon went with Yoon Hee and the bridal party for dress fittings, and the men met to get fitted for their tuxedos. In addition to Logan, Yoon Cheol's attendants included Yoon Hee's brother Yoon Soo, Yoon Cheol's cousin and childhood pal Sun Hyuk, and Lim Taek, a friend and former teammate from Hanyang University. They agreed to meet at Yoon Cheol's place, and when Logan arrived, Yoon Cheol told him, with an eye roll, that Sun Hyuk and Lim Taek were running late. Yoon Soo arrived shortly after Logan, and Yoon Cheol made the introductions. Yoon Soo shook Logan's hand firmly and greeted him with an easy smile. Yoon Soo had the same brown hair and fair complexion as Yoon Hee, but he was at least a foot taller than his little sister.

"So, how do you know Yoon Cheol?" Yoon Soo asked Logan conversationally.

"We both played on the Hanyang University basketball team, and then went to medical school together," Logan explained. "We're both residents at  Yonsei, where Yoon Hee works."

"Logan's wife Soo Ryeon is the Matron of Honor," Yoon Cheol chimed in.

Yoon Soo nodded in understanding. "Oh, Yoon Hee's told me all about her—good things, of course. How long have you been married?"

"Four years next month," Logan answered with a smile.

"Six years for me," Yoon Soo told him. "My wife and I met in college. Where did you meet your wife?"

"We were high school sweethearts back in Daegu," Logan explained. "Soo Ryeon was a big part of my decision to go to Hanyang University. She went to Seoul National University, and I decided on Hanyang University to be closer to her."

"And of course, his decision to go to Hanyang University gave him the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet me," Yoon Cheol boasted.

"Has his ego always been this healthy?" Yoon Soo teased, jabbing a finger toward his future brother-in-law.

"Worse," Logan answered. "Yoon Hee's tamed him quite a bit."

Yoon Cheol mumbled something and escaped to the kitchen to get drinks while Logan and Yoon Soo chuckled.

"Yoon Cheol and Yoon Hee are a good match," Logan assured Yoon Soo. "He needs a woman who can stand up to him and put him in his place when he gets too cocky."

"Oh, my sister can definitely do that," Yoon Soo conceded. "No doubt about it." They both laughed. "Do you have kids?" Yoon Soo asked.

"No, not yet," Logan answered. "We've been trying to conceive for about six months now. Soo Ryeon had surgery three weeks ago to remove fibroids from her uterus, so we're hoping that will make it easier for her to get pregnant."

Yoon Soo nodded sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that, man. Bi Na had a couple of miscarriages before our son was born. The business of reproduction is complicated, that's for sure." He reached for his phone and pulled up photos on the screen. Logan moved closer to see them. "Min Soo is two, and Hwa Soo, our oldest, is five. She's going to be the flower girl in the wedding, and she is so excited about it. She's already been practicing tossing the rose petals."

Logan chuckled. "When our friends Ji Gun and Seo Jin got married, Seo Jin's niece was the flower girl. She dumped out all the rose petals in a pile and wore the basket on her head like a bonnet."

Yoon Soo laughed heartily. "Min Soo is supposed to be the ring bearer, but we'll see how that goes. It'll all depend on the mood he's in the day of the wedding."

"Terrible twos, huh?" Logan asked.

"Absolutely," Yoon Soo agreed with a grin. "I'll tell you something, though. What you and your wife are going through now is tough, but when she does get pregnant, you'll both enjoy and appreciate it so much more. It really is a magical time, and it goes by so fast."

"I bet it didn't seem quite so fast for your wife," Logan amended. "My mom told me once that the nine months she carried me were the longest months of her life."

"True," Yoon Soo allowed. "We really do have the easy part of the whole equation."

"Okay, okay, all this domestic drivel is making me nauseous," Yoon Cheol cut in. He handed Yoon Soo and Logan their drinks and then flopped down on the sofa.

"It won't be long before you'll be jumping into this discussion," Yoon Soo told him. "You're about to sign on for a lifetime of 'domestic drivel' with my sister. And while we're at it, I should warn you that if you hurt my sister, I'll have to hurt you. Logan has my permission to knock you around if necessary."

Yoon Cheol scoffed at that. "Logan is the least violent guy I know. He has nerves of steel."

Yoon Soo shrugged. "I'd bet he wouldn't hesitate to defend a woman's honor, though."

Yoon Cheol stared hard at Logan, and then at Yoon Soo, and backed down. "Okay, you're right. I yank his chain a lot about how 'sensitive' he is, but the truth is, he knows how to treat women. I've always admired that about him."

Logan looked momentarily shocked before he jabbed Yoon Cheol's arm. "Look at you, getting all soft and sentimental on us."

"Soft and sentimental," Yoon Soo added. "I hate to tell you this, but 'soft and sentimental' is only one step away from 'domestic drivel,' right, Logan?"

"Absolutely," Logan grinned.

"Crap," Yoon Cheol muttered, causing the other two men to burst into laughter.

"Ha Yoon Cheol, you are hereby sentenced to a lifetime of 'soft and sentimental' and 'domestic drivel,'" Logan announced, propping his elbow on his friend's shoulder. "Trust me, you're going to love every minute of it."

...~«ώ»~...

"Okay, Yoon Hee, question number nineteen," Soo Ryeon called. "How old was Yoon Cheol when he got his first kiss?"

"Fourteen," Yoon Hee answered confidently.

Yoon Cheol's sister Lin Ah screeched with laughter. "Is that what he told you?"

"Yeah," Yoon Hee answered, no longer confident. "Was he younger than that?"

"No, older," Yoon Cheol's mother smiled. "Seventeen."

Yoon Hee's eyes widened. "No way!"

Soo Ryeon was equally surprised. "Are you sure? He's always been so… confident… around women!"

"Yoon Cheol was a bit of a late bloomer," Mrs. Ha confided. "The confidence came later, after his acne cleared up, his braces came off, and he made the varsity basketball team."

"Oh, I am so going to use that information against him," Yoon Hee declared.

Yoon Cheol's youngest sister Ahn Cheol snickered. "Ooh Mom, you're in trouble now! Yoon Cheol will kill you when he finds out you've spilled his dark secrets!"

"No way! I will never reveal my source," Yoon Hee vowed.

Soo Ryeon stepped in to get the bridal shower game back on track. "Last question, Yoon Hee. What was Yoon Cheol's first pet's name?"

Yoon Hee pumped her fist triumphantly. "I know this one! It was a hamster named Ziggy!"

"That's right!" Soo Ryeon responded. "So Yoon Hee got thirteen questions right, although some of her misses can be blamed on the misinformation that Yoon Cheol gave her. Who had number thirteen?" Yoon Hee's aunt raised her hand, and Soo Ryeon gave her a prize. "Okay, that's it for the games. Please help yourself to refreshments in the tea room."

As the women filed out of the room, Soo Ryeon lingered behind to gather the pencils and scraps of paper they'd used for their previous game. They had reserved space for the shower at a local conservatory because neither Yoon Hee nor Soo Ryeon had enough room at home to house all the women from Yoon Cheol's and Yoon Hee's families plus Yoon Hee's friends. Soo Ryeon dropped onto one of the overstuffed chairs and blew out a breath. Hosting a shower was exhausting work, she decided. It was fun, but she'd be glad when it was over and done with.

"Soo Ryeon, what are you doing in here by yourself?" Yoon Hee's question brought Soo Ryeon's eyes open. She hadn't even realized she'd closed them.

"Just resting for a minute," Soo Ryeon answered.

"Are you okay? You look exhausted," Yoon Hee replied, claiming the seat next to her friend.

Soo Ryeon smiled. "I'm fine. I never realized how much work it takes to host a shower. I've never done one before." Her eyes suddenly widened as she looked up. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining! It's been fun, it's just…"

Yoon Hee interrupted with a laugh. "Don't apologize! It is a lot of work, and you've done a fabulous job." She leaned back, sinking farther into the cushy chair. "I can't believe the wedding is only two weeks away! I never thought I'd say this, but I'll be so glad when it's done and Yoon Cheol and I can just relax and enjoy our honeymoon."

"I felt the same way before my wedding," Soo Ryeon assured her. "I was going crazy, trying to finish grad school and plan the wedding at the same time."

"I can't even imagine," Yoon Hee answered. She sat up, eyeing her friend thoughtfully. "You and I haven't gotten much chance to talk, just the two of us, since you got back from Daegu. Logan said he had a bit of a showdown with your mom."

Soo Ryeon glanced up pensively. "Yeah. They're the two most important people in my life—seeing them arguing was awful. Something Logan said must have connected with her, though. She's called me four or five times since we've been back, just to check in. She's making an effort, so in that regard, it was a good thing."

"So you talked and got things out in the open with her?" Yoon Hee asked.

"Kind of," Soo Ryeon shrugged. "I still feel like she's hiding something, but I couldn't get her to talk about it. Neither could Logan. He keeps telling me that she'll talk about it when she's ready, but it's hard to think that something's going on in her life that she's not willing to share with me. We used to be so close."

Yoon Hee reached across and squeezed her friend's hand. "She'll come around. I think Logan's right. She'll talk about it when she's ready."

"I hope so," sighed Soo Ryeon.

"Speaking of Logan…" Yoon Hee leaned forward and lowered her voice. "How have things been… you know, in the bedroom… since your surgery?"

Soo Ryeon smiled as her face reddened. "Good. Really good. Since Daegu, Logan has been so… so loving and tender with me. I mean, he always has been, but it just feels like an even deeper connection between us now. Last night…" She trailed off as her face reddened further. "I can't believe I'm telling you this!"

"Why?" Yoon Hee asked, genuinely perplexed. "I've talked plenty about Yoon Cheol, haven't I? And the wedding's pretty much all we've talked about for months. We're friends, Soo Ryeon. You can tell me anything."

"I guess I haven't had enough girlfriends to know the protocol," Soo Ryeon confessed.

"Well then, I will serve as your girlfriend tutor," Yoon Hee declared before leaning forward again. "Now, tell me about last night."

Soo Ryeon's face lightened to pink, and she leaned forward as well, dropping her voice to barely above a whisper. "Well, last night, after Logan and I… made love… um, he held my legs up on his shoulders and put a pillow under my hips and… he didn't say why, but I know what he was doing. He was keeping his semen in… inside me longer… to increase the chances…"

"Of getting pregnant," Yoon Hee mercifully finished for her. "That's so sweet! Most guys I've dated, once they've come, they're done." She paused to grin. "Except for Yoon Cheol, of course."

"Fortunately Logan hasn't read the 'most guys' manual. He isn't that way with me," Soo Ryeon smiled. "Last night was just incredible. That little bit of extra effort really touched me. Knowing that he wants a baby as much as I do, that he wants his baby inside me… it's amazing. It almost brought me to tears."

Yoon Hee smiled in return. "Logan is one-of-a-kind, Soo Ryeon, and so are you. You're going to be awesome parents. I know it hasn't happened as fast as you'd hoped, but I really believe that you will have a baby with Logan. You have to try to be patient."

Soo Ryeon stood and pulled her friend into a warm hug. "Thank you, Yoon Hee. I hope you're right. I'm still working on the 'patience' part." They both laughed, and Soo Ryeon gestured toward the tea room where the other ladies were waiting. "Okay, I've hogged the bride long enough. Time to get back to your shower."

"More wedding talk, huh?" Yoon Hee teased.

Soo Ryeon thought for a moment and then smiled. "How about wedding present talk?"

Yoon Hee grabbed Soo Ryeon's arm and pulled her toward the tea room. "I'm in—let's go!"

...~«ώ»~...

After their tux fittings, the men went to see a Seoul Giants game. Yoon Cheol had decided, or more accurately, Yoon Hee had insisted, that they were too old for bachelor party "silliness" like getting mindlessly drunk, watching strippers, and staying out half the night. Logan completely supported that decision, and had decided on the baseball game as a compromise. They could drink beer at the ballpark without going overboard, and still get home at a reasonable hour. Sun Hyuk and Lim Taek, who were both single, whined about the "lame" party, but they were outnumbered by married men, including Yoon Cheol's and Yoon Hee's fathers. They all enjoyed the game, and after the Giants claimed victory, the younger men capped off the evening with dinner at a nearby sports bar. After they finished their meal, Lim Taek and Sun Hyuk resumed their ridicule of their companions, who were settled back in their seats sipping sodas.

"This is totally ridiculous," Lee complained. "You're not even drinking beer!"

"I have to work tomorrow," Yoon Cheol told them calmly.

"I do too," Logan added with a glance at his watch. "And my wife is expecting me home soon."

"Bi Na and I are taking the kids to the beach in the morning," Yoon Soo supplied.

"You guys are pathetic," Sun Hyuk replied. "Lim Taek, what do you say? Let's go find a strip club and have a real party."

"I'm with you," Lim Taek agreed readily. Both men escaped quickly, and the remaining trio chuckled to themselves.

"Yoon Cheol, you're still single for two more weeks," Yoon Soo pointed out. "Are you sure you don't want to tag along with them?"

"Yeah, Yoon Cheol, don't you have any wild oats left to sow?" Logan contributed with a grin.

"Nope. Yoon Hee asked me to make it an early night," Yoon Cheol replied. "We're having breakfast with my family before they head home. Plus she wants to show me her bridal shower gifts." He started to push away from the table, and then he clutched his chest, stricken. "I just passed up booze and strippers for an evening in with my fiancée."

"Yoon Hee will be delighted to know that you aced the test," Yoon Soo grinned.

"Test? What test?" Yoon Cheol shrieked. "She set this up?"

"Nope," Yoon Soo amended. "Nobody planned it, it just happened. But congratulations, brother-in-law. You just passed with flying colors."

Yoon Cheol slumped back into his seat and smiled resignedly. "I've just crossed over into domestic drivel, haven't I?"

"Welcome to the brotherhood, my friend," Logan laughed, slapping Yoon Cheol's back. "It's great to have you here with us."

...~«ώ»~...

"Soo Ryeon?" Logan called as he closed the front door after work the next evening.

"I'm in the bedroom," she answered. He dropped his duffel bag on the floor and followed the sound of her voice.

"Hi," Soo Ryeon greeted him when he appeared in the doorway. She was perched nervously on the side of the bed, and he strode forward to kiss her.

"Hey, beautiful," he replied. "What are you doing?"

She glanced nervously toward the bathroom. "Um, I was just… um… well, I thought that maybe…" She was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a timer going off. They'd heard that sound plenty of times in the past six months. Logan's eyes widened.

"You took a pregnancy test? Without me?" He glared at her. "I thought we agreed that we were going to do those together."

"I'm sorry, Logan," she answered softly. "I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to disappoint you if I'm not…"

He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Sweetheart, how many times do we have to go through this? I want to be here for you, whether it's positive or negative. I'll be disappointed if you're not pregnant, but I could never be disappointed in you." He sat on the bed and nodded toward the bathroom. "Go on, go check it out."

Casting one last look at him, Soo Ryeon padded in to retrieve the test. When she returned to the doorway a few moments later, he didn't have to ask. The tears that glistened in her eyes revealed her disappointment, and his frustration melted away. His heart ached for her, and for the torture she put herself through every couple of weeks, getting her hopes up, only to be crushed over and over again.

"I'm sorry, baby," he told her, opening his arms in invitation. She came to him and nearly collapsed against him as the tears spilled over.

"I'm sorry, Logan," she whispered. "I really thought this time…" She looked up at him miserably. Why can't I get pregnant?"

"Soo Ryeon, it's only been a month since your surgery," he reminded her gently. "Your uterus is still healing. We'll keep trying. We're going to have a baby, when the time is right."

"What if we don't?" she argued. "What if the surgery didn't really fix the problem?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he told her calmly. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You're putting too much pressure on yourself, sweetheart. It's not good for you, and it can make it harder for you to conceive."

Her body began to relax, and she stared into his eyes. "I know," she conceded. "I just… I want to have a baby with you so badly."

"I know, honey," he murmured. "I can't wait to start our family together. But whether we have ten kids or no kids, nothing can ever change the way I feel about you." He paused, remembering his playful conversation with Yoon Cheol, and smiled. "I signed up for a lifetime of domestic drivel with you, and we've just barely gotten started."

She looked at him strangely. "What?"

He chuckled and pulled her down to the bed beside him, shifting so they laid side by side, facing one another. "Never mind." He lowered his mouth to kiss her tenderly. "Remember how I said we'd keep trying to get pregnant?"

She nodded, heavy-lidded, as a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. "Remember how I always say that there's no time like the present?"

"Baby, you just read my mind," he growled, rolling to cover her body with his. Domestic drivel indeed.