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The next day, New Year's Eve, Soo Ryeon was uncomfortably sore from her fall on the slopes. Logan coaxed her into the hot tub to ease her aching muscles, and then rubbed antibiotic cream into the scrapes on her left hand and made an ice pack for her injured right wrist. After she was finished icing it, Logan reapplied the compression bandage… or at least attempted to reapply the compression bandage. She giggled when he unwrapped it after his third attempt.

"Logan, how many times have you wrapped patients' sprains?" she asked.

He glanced up at her. "Patients'? A bunch. Yours? Never."

She frowned. "What's the difference?" He started to wrap again, but she covered his hands with hers. "Logan?" she persisted.

"I just want to make sure I get it right," he sighed.

"How many tries does it usually take you to wrap sprains at the Sports Medicine Clinic?" she asked.

"One," he admitted.

"Is that because you don't take the time to get it right with your patients?" she pressed.

"No, I get it right with my patients. I'm just more… responsible… for you," he mumbled.

She smoothed her fingers along the stubbled line of his jaw. "Logan, it's not your fault that I fell. Now, I want you to demonstrate your amazing medical skills and wrap my wrist. If you get it right on your first try, I'll give you a kiss. I bet that's an offer you don't usually get from your patients!"

He looked down to hide his smile. "Well, once in awhile. But I only let the really cute ones do it…"

"Logan!" she exclaimed, scandalized.

"Just kidding, sweetheart," he laughed, sending her a charming wink. "These lips are reserved exclusively for you."

...~«ώ»~...

That afternoon, after a great deal of persuasion, Logan went out to snowboard alone for a few hours. As much as he'd argued against leaving Soo Ryeon behind, she'd been equally insistent that she was perfectly capable of entertaining herself in his absence. She'd brought a couple of books to read, and he'd teased her about her spending this New Year's Eve the same way she had eleven years before.

Logan went through his first few runs with a bit of a guilty conscience, but soon the thrill of navigating the trails on his new snowboard took over, and he had to admit that he was enjoying the full-throttle pace that he could only maintain when he was by himself. As he prepared to ride the chair lift back up the mountain, he was only vaguely aware that someone had moved up beside him. It was not unusual for strangers to pair up on the chair lift when they didn't have a partner to ride with, and Logan had had various seatmates throughout the afternoon. Some chatted companionably, and some stared silently at the scenery. This particular partner, however, knew his name.

"Well, well, Logan, fancy meeting you here," she cooed just after they settled onto the moving lift.

For a brief moment, Logan considered jumping off, but they were already several feet off the ground. "Jun Hwa," he replied neutrally.

"How sweet, you remembered my name," she replied, scooting a bit closer to him. "I didn't think you'd noticed me at all yesterday."

He ignored her insinuation and kept his gaze fixed on the chair lift in front of them. "How's your niece doing?" he asked instead.

Jun Hwa waved her hand dismissively. "She's fine. Nothing broken. She's a bit of a drama queen, I'm afraid."

Logan resisted the temptation to point out that the "drama queen" label also fit the woman next to him, and commented instead, "I'm sure the fall frightened her more than anything. She's a sweet little girl."

Jun Hwa started to say something else, but just then the chair lift lurched to a stop, and she shrieked dramatically, proving Logan's "drama queen" assessment, as she clutched his arm tightly in poorly feigned terror. He clenched his teeth, fighting the urge to yank his arm from her grasp.

"Is the lift broken?" she asked, her voice shrill. "Are we going to be stuck up here all night?"

Over my dead body, Logan answered silently as he assessed the distance to the ground below them. Out loud he replied, "I'm sure it's not broken. Someone probably just fell getting on or off, and they had to stop the lift to help them." As if to prove his point, the lift started moving again, but Jun Hwa did not relinquish her hold on Logan's arm. In fact, her hand curled tighter around his biceps.

"Wow, you're really strong," she commented breathily. It was ridiculous… there was no way she could feel his muscles through his thick parka and her insulated gloves. "You're not built like any doctor I've ever seen."

Annoyed, Logan uncurled her fingers from her arm and scooted away from her. "Jun Hwa, you know I'm married. You saw my wife yesterday."

"But she's not here today, is she?" Jun Hwa persisted.

"She took a bad fall on one of the trails last night," he told her. "She sprained her wrist, so she's resting today."

"And you're out snowboarding all by yourself," she observed, moving closer to him again.

"At her insistence," he replied. "I don't get to snowboard too often, so she didn't want me to miss out on the opportunity. She's a very special woman."

"I'm pretty special too," Jun Hwa purred as she reached for his arm again.

Logan's thread of control snapped. "Stop! You're making a fool of yourself. I'm trying to be polite, but I'm obviously not getting through to you. I am married. I am absolutely committed to my wife and our marriage, and I am not interested in you. I've been in love with Soo Ryeon since I was 17 years old. We met here, at this ski resort, and she's owned my heart ever since. I would never betray her trust or do anything to jeopardize what we have together. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," Jun Hwa muttered, turning away from him and staring vacantly at the landscape.

Satisfied, Logan stared ahead, silently willing the lift to move faster so he could get away from this woman. He sighed with relief when he saw that they were approaching the lift station. As soon as his snowboard connected with the packed snow, he took off, never looking back.

...~«ώ»~...

After his encounter on the ski lift, Logan was more than ready to get back to Soo Ryeon. He made his way back to the chalet, stomping snow off of his boots before he entered. She was no longer on the couch where he'd left her, and as he looked around the first floor for her, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and was stunned to see Soo Ryeon descending the stairs from the master suite, beautifully decked out in a teal green dress. The design of the dress was simple; its only ornamentation was a diagonal ridged design on the neckline that ascended onto the single strap over her right shoulder. She lifted the floor-length hem as she navigated the staircase, revealing black heels. The material of the dress fitted smoothly over her curves, and when she came to the bottom of the stairs, Logan reached for her hips immediately.

"Damn, woman, what are you trying to do to me?" he growled.

"Seduce you," she answered cheekily. "How am I doing?"

"You win," he answered hoarsely, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm all yours."

"Good," she grinned. "We have a New Year's Eve party to go to."

Logan groaned. "You expect me to go out in public with you in that dress and behave like a gentleman all evening?" He groaned again when she nodded happily. "I didn't bring anything to wear to a party."

"I brought a suit for you," she replied. "It's laid out on the bed, ready for you to slip into." She moved closer, so that her breath caressed his cheek. "Just like I will be tonight when we get back from the party."

It took every ounce of Logan's self control to keep from making that mental picture a reality then and there. Instead, he hauled her tight against his body so she could feel the erection her appearance had caused. He studied her more closely without the visual distraction of her dress. Her curls hung loose, draped casually over her bare left shoulder. Her makeup was subtle, emphasizing her sparkling brown eyes and lush pink lips. Those lips were a temptation he couldn't resist, and he lowered his head to taste them. He kissed her hungrily until she stepped back, the flush of her cheeks betraying her own arousal.

"Go on, get ready," she murmured. "Otherwise, we'll never make it out of here before midnight."

He kissed her again, sweeping his tongue along the outline of her lips. "Just so you know, this time, I'm going to do what I didn't have the guts to do eleven years ago," he told her. "Kiss you at midnight."

"You'd better be prepared to do a whole lot more than that," she replied saucily.

"You'll just have to wait and find out," he replied, rubbing against her sensually. When a soft moan bubbled up her throat, he tore himself away and turned to run up the steps two at a time. It would undoubtedly be a night to remember.

...~«ώ»~...

After an intimate dinner in one of the resort's restaurants, they made their way to the New Year's Eve party in the ballroom, grinning impishly at one another as they passed the teen party on their way. Once inside the adults' party, Logan squeezed his wife's hand.

"Dance with me," he said softly. She nodded in agreement, and he led her toward the dance floor, pulling her close once they found a spot in the crowded area. They swayed together, lost in the moment, as song after song poured from the speakers. A familiar song came on, and Logan lowered his mouth to her ear, his lips brushing her silky skin as he sang to her. The recorded vocals harmonized with his warm tenor voice, and Soo Ryeon felt chills prick her skin. She was in heaven, in the arms of the man she loved, receiving her own private serenade. He looked devastatingly handsome in his dark suit, and the scent of his aftershave, mixed with the smell that was uniquely Logan, threatened to overload her senses. A shiver went down her spine, and Logan pulled back a bit to look at her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Perfect," she murmured, combing her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. "Right now, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be."

"I can't think of anyone I'd rather be with," he replied softly. His fingertips traced a line along the bare skin of her back. "Soo Ryeon, you're… simply exquisite."

She lifted her chin in invitation, and Logan lowered his head to kiss her tenderly. Her knees grew weak, and she was glad for the supportive strength of his arms around her. When their lips parted, he smiled down at her and began swaying again with the music. She nestled her head against his chest, listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat.

The soothing beat was soon drowned out, however, as a fast song came on and a loud, distorted bass line pounded through the speakers.

"Do you want to go get a drink?" he nearly shouted to make sure she heard him. She nodded, and he took her hand to lead her off the dance floor. They found an empty table against the wall, and Logan seated Soo Ryeon before settling into the chair next to her. He frowned as he noticed that as she glanced around the crowded room, she was absent-mindedly cradling her bandaged wrist. He lifted it gently into his lap, rubbing soothing circles as he searched her face.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask you when I got back from snowboarding," he began. "You sort of distracted me." She smiled, and he went on. "How's your wrist feel?"

"It's stiff and sore," she confessed. "I forgot to take pain medicine in all the excitement of getting ready for the party, so it's hurting at the moment."

"You should've said something sooner," he chided as he pushed to his feet. "I'll go get you a drink, and ask the receptionist for some pain meds. You just sit here and look beautiful, and I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Okay," she agreed, knowing that he would not enjoy the rest of the evening if he knew she was in pain. He moved out into the wide hallway where the food and drinks were set up, and Soo Ryeon closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall behind her. She hoped that the pain medication Logan was bringing would ease the headache that had been bothering her for the past few hours.

Soo Ryeon heard movement on her side, opposite where Logan had been sitting. She peeked an eye open and had to squelch the sigh that rose from her chest.

"Jun Hwa," she acknowledged. "How's your niece doing?"

"Fine," the other woman answered tightly, glancing around. "Where's Logan?"

"He went to get me a drink," Soo Ryeon told her wearily.

With her eyes closed, Soo Ryeon didn't see the devious grin that spread across Jun Hwa's face. "It's a shame that you got hurt and couldn't ski today," she commented nonchalantly. "Don't worry, though… I kept Logan company."

Jun Hwa had hoped for a dramatic reaction, but Soo Ryeon simply opened her eyes and tipped her head forward to look across the table. "Oh?" Soo Ryeon asked, nonplussed.

"Yeah," Jun Hwa went on. "We were ski lift partners. The lift even broke, and we were stuck there for awhile. I was scared, but Logan kept me calm. He's so brave. And handsome, too."

Soo Ryeon calmly watched her as she rambled, and when Jun Hwa finally ended her twisted version of the events of that afternoon, Soo Ryeon leaned forward, flattening her hands on the table. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

Jun Hwa smiled sweetly. "I just thought you might like to know what your husband was up to this afternoon."

Soo Ryeon sighed. "Jun Hwa, I don't need a report of Logan's activities when I'm not with him. He and I have been together for a long time, and he's never given me any reason to mistrust him. I know he's a very attractive man. You're not the first woman to take an interest in him, and I'm sure you won't be the last. But I learned long ago that Logan is a man of his word, and that includes the commitment he made to me. He is a loving, devoted husband, and I trust him completely."

Realizing that she was getting nowhere, Jun Hwa stood to leave, but stopped abruptly as she saw her niece weaving through the crowd with Logan right behind her. "Soo Ryeon, what are you doing in here?" Jun Hwa asked. "You're supposed to be at the kids' party with your mom."

"She was," Logan answered from behind her as he looked suspiciously between Soo Ryeon and Jun Hwa. "I popped in and she spotted me, and wanted to come say hi to 'the other Soo Ryeon.'"

Soo Ryeon nodded enthusiastically and circled the table to hug little Soo Ryeon warmly. "Hi, Little Soo Ryeon," Soo Ryeon smiled. "How's your leg feeling?"

"Good," Soo Ryeon responded. "Uncle Logan said you got hurt too." Soo Ryeon nodded, holding up her bandaged wrist. Soo Ryeon reached out and touched it gingerly. "Did uncle Logan help you like he helped me?"

"He did," Soo Ryeon nodded, smiling at Logan across the table. She leaned closer to Soo Ryeon and confided, "He's a really nice doctor, isn't he?"

"Yeah, I like him," Soo Ryeon agreed with a grin. "So does Aunt Jun Hwa. She said…"

Jun Hwa, who had been watching the exchange in silence, suddenly lunged for her niece, hauling the girl into a tight hug. "Okay, Soo Ryeon, I think we'd better go find your mom and dad. It's getting late."

Little Soo Ryeon agreed, and with a wave to Logan and Soo Ryeon, she took her aunt's hand and headed for the exit. Logan took his place next to his wife, handing her a champagne glass. She eyed the bubbly liquid uncertainly.

"Logan, I don't know if I should drink this," she said. "What if I'm… I mean, maybe I shouldn't be drinking alcohol, just in case…"

"It's sparkling cider," he told her with a wink. "So is mine. Just in case."

Her brows creased. "Why didn't you get champagne for yourself? I'm sure you're not pregnant!"

"I didn't want to get the glasses mixed up and give you the wrong one," he answered easily. "Besides, I want to be 100% sober to remember everything about this night with you." He chuckled as a cute blush warmed her cheeks. "By the way, what were you and Jun Hwa talking about?"

Soo Ryeon shrugged. "She came over to inform me that she kept you company in my absence this afternoon."

Logan set his glass down hard. "That's ridiculous! Nothing happened! Soo Ryeon, you know I would never…"

She stopped him with a hand on his arm. "I know, Logan. I trust you, and that's exactly what I told her. She was just trying to get a reaction from me. "

"I have half a mind to go tell her…" he trailed off, not even sure what he wanted to tell her. Whatever it was, though, it wasn't nice.

Soo Ryeon hid her mischievous smile. "Oh, so you do want to talk to her again," she accused.

"No, that's not what I meant," Logan said defensively before noticing the laughter in her eyes. He leaned over and squeezed her side, eliciting a squeal as he found a ticklish spot.

"Little Soo Ryeon doesn't need to hear what you think of her scheming aunt," Soo Ryeon pointed out. She paused thoughtfully. "What were you doing at the kids' party, anyway?"

Logan grinned. "I went to see if the DJ had a certain karaoke song on his computer."

"Start of Something New?" Soo Ryeon asked excitedly.

"Yeah," he admitted, experiencing an uncharacteristic moment of shyness.

"And did he have it?" she prompted.

He smiled again. "He said he didn't have his Oldies disc with him."

"Oldies?" she retorted, and Logan couldn't help but laugh at her outrage.

"Well, it has been eleven years, sweetheart," he pointed out, reaching sentimentally for her hand.

"Eleven good years," she amended softly, touching the ring on his finger.

"I'll drink to that," he agreed.

...~«ώ»~...

With the help of the medication, Soo Ryeon's pain was soon forgotten, and they spent the evening dancing, talking, and enjoying one another's company. As midnight approached, Logan briefly disappeared, returning a few minutes later with Soo Ryeon's coat and fresh glasses of sparkling cider. He helped her into her coat and then took her hand and led her out onto the massive deck. They found an unoccupied area, and Soo Ryeon walked to the railing, looking out over the snow-covered mountain landscape. She smiled when Logan's arms circled her, and she reached up to grip his forearms. His warm breath brushed against the side of her face.

"This could be the start of something new, it feels so right to be here with you," he sang, turning her in his arms. "And now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart the start of something new."

Unexpected tears pricked her eyes, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss her. When they separated, he brushed his fingertips over her cheeks, tenderly wiping away her tears. "Does this mean you're not going to sing with me?" he teased.

As she laughed, they heard the countdown to midnight around them, and they enthusiastically joined in. True to his word, when shouts of "Happy New Year!" filled the air, Logan mouth descended onto Soo Ryeon's, and he kissed her deeply. When they parted, she cupped his cheeks in her hands.

"I love you, Logan Lee," she told him earnestly.

"I love you, Soo Ryeon Shim," he answered. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year," she replied with a smile.

He released his hands from her waist long enough to retrieve the champagne glasses beside them, and handed one to her. "Here's to a year of happiness, love, laughter, and…" he paused significantly, glancing down at her abdomen before returning his intense gaze to her eyes. "New beginnings."

"The start of something new," she added softly.

Their glasses clinked together and they drank to the new year ahead of them. They shared a cider-flavored kiss, and then headed back to the chalet for their own private celebration.

---

Just wana make it clear for you all.

Logan and Soo Ryeon met at the kids party for New Year Eve when they were 17 years old going to Colorado for the holiday (stayed at the same resort in this chapter). The DJ pushed them to sing together, then their fates and lives have been united as one since then.

That party 11 years ago was Start of something new for LogRyeon. That's why they want to come back there when they intend to have a baby, having a baby is The start of something new too.