Chapter One: What dreams may come
Chapter One: What dreams may come?
"Rory Gilmore, Will you marry me?" The handsome blonde with espresso brown eyes asked. Looking deep within her praying she would say yes. Logan was not the type of man to ask a question he didn't already know an answer to, but with her it was different. She never gave him that feeling; she always kept him on his toes.
Time seemed to creep by for Logan Huntzberger, it seemed like it stopped for a little bit, all she did was stand there looking shocked, but dazzling all the same. It was amazing to him that she could show every emotion possible and still take his breathe away.
"Wow. Um, wow. I… wow." She was able to mumble out, increasingly nervous in front of the crowd and especially her parents, and grandparents. Why? Why would he ask her this, now in front of what seemed like millions. She immediately wanted to scream yes, she loved him, and didn't want to be without him. On went the inevitable pro-con list. Pro's she thought, he is amazing, he loves me, he walked away from his father for me, he gave up a lot for me, he gets along with everyone, Paris has even warmed up to him. Con's he has cheated on me though it is in the past and all is forgiven, I can't forget that, I am young, and work, what if I want to work somewhere he doesn't want to live, it's a big step, am I ready to be Mrs. Logan Huntzberger? Before she could finish her list he interrupted her thoughts, which she still could think when he spoke to her, but it was far more complicated to do with him then with any other person that talked to her. Wait; is that a pro or a con?
Logan asks "Is there a 'yes' between those 'wow's'?"
"Um. I'm just, I'm so surprised. I just. Um. Um." She sighs, knowing he wants a yes, but she needed to analyze this. "Will you come talk to me outside?"
The crowd around them all started whispering and she knew this would be the topic of many upcoming parties and meetings, as well as golf outings. But at that point she did not care.
After her graduation he approached her, he didn't know what to think, he was just numb from the long delay and many questions ran through his mind as to why she didn't give him an answer just yet. Did he do something wrong, had she not forgiven him completely for his past transgressions, was she unsure to whether of not he would provide for her. Wow, he thought, she is stunning. What makes me the luckiest man alive to see her and hopefully wake up to her everyday for the rest of my life?
She handed him the ring back, and said she can't, that it wasn't the right time. He saw the pain in her brilliant blue eyes. The way her curled hair framed her pale face, he saw the sadness, but he saw the hope. She wanted to stay close, she wanted to try the long distance again, he didn't, he wanted it all or nothing. He looked into her soul through her radiance and knew it was the last time he would see her again.
She crushed him; she could see it through the strength he was trying to show. She looked in his eyes and she watched him walk away. "Goodbye Rory." He slowly walked away, there was no compassion in that goodbye, and there was no Ace, no love. She wanted desperately to run after him, and chase him, tell him she didn't mean it, but she couldn't will herself to move. Had she made the right decision? He didn't turn to look at her; he just kept walking with his head hanging low. She crushed him.
"GILMORE!" She awoke suddenly, with someone annoyingly loud right next to her ear.
"hmmm What?!" She replied, her eyes filled with sadness, and her hair was flat and dull, she was worn down. She had only been on the campaign tour for a few months now, and yet she was lonely and tired. She talked to her mom daily, and she had made friends but there was something missing. The ghost of the dream haunted her thoughts, his face slowly fading but still seemed burned into her thoughts at the same time. She looked to her right and Kevin was sitting there smiling at her, while Andrea looked on. "What is the purpose of yelling in my ear to wake me up? I know it is still the morning because I can see out the damn window. And you, you know that the proper way to wake me is with a steaming cup of Java. Grr!" She put on the fake smile she knew all to well.
"Well Rory" Kevin always made a roaring sound when he said her name. When she introduced herself the first day, he ran up to meet her and said I have never heard that name before. Then looked at his list and said we are still missing someone. Oh Oh, did you know there is going to be another Gilmore on this campaign bus of journalists, what a small world. She had introduced herself to him as Lorelai Gilmore, aka Rory. So from that point on he always said ROARi. "We are almost to Hartford, and I wanted to wake you and ask if this is the place you said you grew up? I remember you said Connecticut, but I can't remember where."
"And you call yourself a journalist" Andrea asked playfully. Rory met her shortly after Kevin and liked her instantly because she reminded her of a mixture of Stephanie Vanderbilt and Paris Gellar all in one. She was in awe of the combination; she looks as beautiful as Stephanie, but has the drive of Paris.
"I remember the important stuff, like Obama and… stuff" he smiled knowing he sounded really stupid but he didn't care, because his reputation preceded him. His work for the Harvard Crimson was astonishing and he was blessed that the New York Gazette picked him up to cover the campaign. He wanted the Times, but couldn't get in yet. That was fine with him, he didn't want to be a part of the snobby Times, at least that is what he told the girls.
"Right!" the girls said in reply. The bus took the Hartford exit and the memories of the graduation haunted her thoughts once more. He looked so sad and she was to blame. The spirit and fire in his eyes diminished the moment she handed over the blue velvet box. Did she make the biggest mistake of her life? It was too late to think that now and she needed to focus more on the campaign, her editor said he had seen a little less commitment to the articles but none the less he was still astounded with her work.
"Earth to Gilmore, what is up with you, you seem so out of it. The moment you found out that we were coming back to Connecticut you seemed to zone out on us more and more each day. Hey, look at the houses at this city, Whoa, look at that place it has gargoyles." Kevin pointed to an all to familiar mansion that used to host a particular Friday night dinner.
"Yeah, I know the people that own it." Rory replied not looking into her friends eyes, what was so neat about the group of friends, they all were the kids of fortune that their parents ran away from. Kevin's mom had him at 21 and ran from society the moment she found out that she was pregnant. Andrea's father was 24 and he was the gardener of the Fitzgerald's and he had an affair with the daughter, she had Andrea, but refused to keep her, so her father stepped up and her grandparents paid her future.
"Whoa, the mailbox says Gilmore, I thought you grew up in some small town?" Kevin asked with a bewildered look on his face.
"She did, she told us her Grandparents were wealthy and that THEY lived in Hartford. Jeez Kev, you never remember your friends, just the important stuff, and I thought my friends were important." She defended, a little more annoyed but still enjoying the chance to pick on Kevin.
"Oops, Sorry Rory." As the bus came to a stop just outside the city's square, Rory got up and walked over to the coffee shop. She ordered a large coffee and sipped it with a loving feeling, as the warm liquid ran down her throat, she could feel it all the way down. It was a comforting feeling.
Hooo Lii Day
Far away, lets go today
In a heart beat
Heaaart Beeeeat
Holiday
"Hey mom"
"Hey kid, did I see a big charter bus with the words We Can across it go by my loving parents house?" Said a buoyant voice on the other end.
"Yeah, that was us, what are you doing at Adolph and grandpa's house?"
"Hey kid, don't call her that, that is my name, make up your own. Anyways, it is Friday, haven't' you realized that yet? Jeez, where have you been?" her sarcasm radiated through the phone, only made her smile seem more life like.
"Yes, I know it is Friday, but it is morning, why are you there in the MORNING?"
"Well I talked mom into letting me come to a Friday morning brunch instead of dinner. I told her that Christopher was going to be coming into the inn and that I needed to be there or else he wouldn't get a room, you know I am the owner."
"But how did Grandma buy that? I mean she didn't even let you out of dinner when you told her that you and Luke were out of town and his truck broke down; she sent a car to pick you up."
"Fine, she has some shindig that she is going to, and I agreed to a brunch."
"You lied to me, your one and only daughter, you lied, I am so hurt. Okay the pain is gone. What shindig is… OH NO, tell me you didn't tell her about the rally?"
"I didn't she found out from Miss Patty, I had Miss Patty watching Paul Anka, and I was well I was with Luke. But Miss Patty told her you were going to be home and then Mom proceeded to call and ruin my fun, because I accidentally gave you both the same ring tone. But anyways, I am not the one to blame, and No she is not going to the rally, apparently she has some sort of reconciliation dinner she has to attend with a certain unnamed, disclosed, family."
"Wow, couldn't you have just said no? Okay, well we will be here for about two days, so I can either take a bus to Stars Hollow, or you can pick me up. Which ever. I am not going to the rally, because Josh, the editor says we don't have room for a little rally in this week's issue."
"K kid, I am at the square standing behind watching you make love to the coffee, when are you going to turn around and give your mother a hug?"
"MOM!" She whipped around dropped her coffee and embraced her mom almost as strongly as the day she came home from their long drawn out battle about 2 years ago.
"Hey kid, I missed you so much!" You look awful though, you are still having those dreams huh?"
"What dreams may come mom, what dreams may come." She was still hugging her mom, afraid to let go and then wake up and not see her there anymore.
Chapter Two: Coffee cups and Taylor's Tattoo
"Kevin, Andrea, come here!" yelled Rory, excited to introduce the woman that she talks on and on about.
"Mom this is Kevin, and this is Andrea."
"Really, I thought that, he would be Andrea, and she would be Kevin" pointing to the man when she said the girls name and vise versa. "C'mon kid give mommy a little more credit, I can tell the difference between a man and a woman."
"Sorry Mom, I was just trying to be polite." Rory apologized but grinned knowing that her mother was only baiting her.
"Hi, it's nice to finally meet you, Rory is constantly talking about you, said she couldn't wait for us to meet you." Andrea extended her hand, and Lorelai looked at it, then shook her hand, but commented to the formality of it all.
"Hi Mrs. Rory's mom, nice to meet you and might I say you look dashing, I had no idea that Rory came from such a ravishing creature as yourself." Kevin almost tripped over his feet walking up to shake Lorelai's hand.
"Ahh gee thanks Andrea. Might I add, I am not some uptight, rickety old woman; you don't have to shake my hand, see you later." Lorelai smiled going into the all too famous Gilmore humor as she amused herself calling Kevin by Andrea's name.
"Anyways, guys my mom is here to take me away I will be back on Sunday. See you later!"
"Bye!" All four exclaimed before Rory and Lorelai walked off to the Jeep.
"Okay Kid, spill. What's going on with you, I talk to you on the phone and you are not the same, where is the witty, charming, buoyant young lady that didn't grow up like my mother wanted her to?"
"I'm sorry mom, it's just exhausting, I haven't slept on a bed in months, and it seems like every time I get a chance to catch a breath the campaign goes through some tragedy of woman falling when Mr. Obama talks and I just feel like I am never getting the chance to experience the life I wanted to live so badly. Then I finally get that long awaited break, and when I sit down I start have those dreaded dreams. Is it supposed to hurt this bad? I mean I know I don't have my friends like I used to, well I doubt they are still my friends, I wouldn't blame them if they weren't, and what am I supposed to think. I can't wallow, I don't have time for it, and I feel like everywhere I go there is a memory of us there, even in Kentucky, we never went to Kentucky, why Kentucky, what is in Kentucky?
"Then I have those nights when I am afraid to close my eyes because I will see his face. Did I make the right decision, could I be right? Even my editor says he has noticed a lack of enthusiasm in my writing. That's why he is giving me a break from the rally. I don't want that, I don't want my editor to give me breaks because I am letting man affect my writing, its not right and OH MY GOD, I am starting to become one of those girls!"
"Aww, sweets no you are not, and I know what you mean, I felt all of that while I was away from Luke, so don't worry it will get easier to pretend it's getting easier, so easier is right around the corner" Lorelai grabbed her daughters hand and looked into her eyes. "I promise this stuff will work itself out, and you will see, you will be okay, its tough especially when your heart is so involved, just don't follow my lead and go off and Marry your high school sweet heart. It doesn't work, I would know" She tried to lighten the mood and was a little successful.
"Mom?"
"yes?"
"Can we go home, there are a bunch of society people staring at us?"
"Sure, Luke's sound good or straight home?"
"Luke's, I could use some good coffee! Hey, you think he will let me take some of his coffee with me on the bus?"
"Of course, you are like his daughter he would love to give you some to go."
"Speaking of, how is April? Has she come up from New Mexico yet?"
"Yep she is here, are you feeling a little better now? I know it's a loaded question but I figure since your breathing has calmed down and your tears have stopped that maybe it was safe to ask?"
"Yeah, I guess, I just don't want to talk about it anymore. There are so many people I want to see, Miss Patty for telling Grandma I would be here, Babette, Lane, Sookie, oh Michel, Taylor, there is so many people, and Hey why didn't Grandma want to see me?"
"Oh yeah, you need to go see Taylor. Hahaha, you will love it. Grandma has that dinner with the unnamed, disclosed family remember, and she is still a little well Adolphish."
"So she is still mad at me for the graduation stuff huh? Go figure, and the unnamed, disclosed family would be the Huntzbergers, right? I thought she didn't like them for what they did to me. Oh, its society, she is afraid she will lose her pearls, go figure!" Rory was starting to get annoyed, and then realized that this must be what her mother felt all the while she was growing up. She looked out the window then over to her mom, who was just nodding; she mentally thanked her mother for not verbally agreeing with her, and afraid it might cause another melt down. Her mother was so good to here, and always knew just how to calm her down. She would be lost without Lorelai.
Lorelai took the Stars Hollow exit, and slowed down to park in font of Luke's dinner. Luke was standing there kicking Kirk out of the diner, probably because he said something or stood behind the diner counter and Luke couldn't stand it when even Lorelai would do that. He was wearing the plaid shirt greasy jeans and of course Lorelai's newest baseball cap, it was a dark blue and it had I heart Lorelai written on the inside. The fact he wore it at all was only because of the promises she would whisper in his ear when he would threaten to wear the red hat. As he turned to look at Lorelai walking up to him he saw a smaller girl with dull grayish brown hair, with grayish blue eyes, she looked ghostly to him, but he recognized her all the same.
"Rory, wow, I can't believe it's you. Anything you want, its on the house."
"I will tell you what is on the house." Lorelai winked and continued to flirt with Luke who only rolled his eyes, and continued to talk to Rory.
"How is the campaign, is the Obama guy being nice, do you think you will be home for a while, I want you to see April, but she is with some friends. So what can I get you? Cheeseburger, chili fries, coffee, chocolate cake, ice cream, anything you want." He pulled her seat out for her, but ignored Lorelai while she whined and pulled her own seat out, then flopped into it still pouting.
"Can I just get a blueberry muffin and some coffee, then some fries to go? Oh and I am only here till Sunday, but I would love to see April."
"Well her and her friends went on some rock hunt and she won't be back until Monday, but next time okay?" he smiled and then looked at Lorelai "coffee for you too?"
"Mhmm, and maybe a little kiss before you go!" Lorelai leaned upwards puckering her lips, but was denied as Luke turned to walk away.
"Not in the diner!" Luke said over his shoulder, but winked at her once he was back behind the counter.
"He so loves me! Oh hey sweets, you need to go next door, Taylor is waving at you!"
Rory looked through the joining window, and got up to go over the Soda Shoppe, as she walked through she looked around at all the ice cream and candy she was in awe, it looked like it grew since she had been there last.
"Aw, Rory come, come, you need to try this new ice cream, I think you will love it, it is Dark Chocolate coffee mocha late espresso milk chocolate. I will give you the Taylor Doose special, eight percent off. One scoop?" Taylor pushed her over to the counter and she just looked at the disgustingly large amounts of ice cream in front of her.
"Sure Taylor, so how much is one scoop with your special discount?"
"Three dollars and twelve cents. I will scoop that right up." As Taylor reached down she saw what her mother was talking about, he got a tattoo on his forearm that showed a heart with an arrow through it, and a banner that said mom. It was everything Rory could do to restrain from laughing. She turned and looked through the mirror between the Shoppe and the diner, and her mother was right there with her face plastered to the glass with a big grin, she knew her mother had been waiting for this moment all day.
"Here you go Rory, Oh my, what is Lorelai doing?"
"I don't know Taylor, I don't know, Thanks!" She turned to leave, and she smiled the whole way, as she exited the shop her mother came bounding at her. Laughing the two fell to the ground in hysterics as they discussed the last thing they ever thought Taylor would get is a tattoo with mom on it.
Chapter Three: And once again in the midst
"Rory, I have coffee, wakey wakey! Don't let mommy pour it on you. It is Sunday and you need to get up!" Lorelai sung from the kitchen. She had just finished folding the last of Rory's clean clothes, and she packed some extra clothes she might need along the way.
"Grr, I don't like you because you gave me this dependency for caffeine, what would I be like with out it? Probably still asleep, three hundred pounds, and lazy. Never mind, thank you mommy I love you mommy."
"That's what I thought sweets, here is a pop tart, and oh what is this, is this a fifty, I don't need this you take it, you use it, you will need it more than me." Lorelai pointed to a fifty-dollar bill under the cookie jar.
"Do I look poor? I know I haven't been using the normal stuff, generic works well, at least well enough, I learned that from you, you do know that. But thanks mom, I appreciate it. What is that?" Rory pointed to the bag full of clothes and extra stuff making it look a little lumpier.
"I went and retrieved your clothes this morning and threw them in the wash, and there is the good shampoo and conditioner, the best toothpaste, cinnamon flavored, and of course the other non generic necessities."
"Thanks mom, but you hardly got any sleep then, but thank you anyways. Mmmm, is this our coffee, it tastes better then our normal coffee?" Rory walked over to the coffee maker to refill her cup and looked in the trashcan on her way back, she saw three large coffee cups with 'Luke's' written on it. "You are trying to pass Luke's coffee off as your own? I think that is a cardinal sin in the Gilmore handbook."
"Well you wanted some coffee from Luke's before you go, but I let you sleep longer and we only have an hour to get you back to the bus, so I thought that would work, and you are not supposed to see what is in the trashcan."
"Ha, but you can't tell me that this is our coffee, you raised me better than that, I have your nose for these things, okay I will get my stuff in the car and we can go, thank you for all of this."
"Anytime kid, you are the most important and I wouldn't be the object of my mother's hatred if I didn't raise you to use the generic stuff every now and then, but I have to give you a little taste of luxury."
Aha, it was good living with you.
Aha, it was good.
Aha, it was good living with you.
Aha, it was good.
"Hello?"
"Rory, are you coming back, the bus is going to leave in forty-five minutes and you are not here yet? We noticed your stuff isn't here either, tell me you are coming back?" Andrea asked in a panicked voice, she was the concerned one of the group.
"Yes I am on my way now, just finished loading up my stuff, Mom decided she wanted to do some extra laundry this morning."
"Okay see you soon Rory, hurry up."
Rory threw her bag in the back of the jeep and got into the passenger seat. She looked around the house, and wondered how long until she would be back, and if anything would change by then. They pulled out of the drive, and she looked around the town, she was going to miss this place something else, it was her home after all. She looked at her mom, and knew instantly that she would miss her more than anything, it was going to be another long road and her pillar would be here in Stars Hollow. Just then in the gazebo she saw a blonde man. Head sunken low.
"Stop, MOM stop!" Rory yelled, opening the door before her mother could stop completely.
"Hun?" Lorelai searched for where her daughter went, she was scared, not this time, not another one. She searched and she saw her, on her knees in the gazebo.
"He was here, mom, I saw him, I swear, he was sitting right here. His head was down but it was him. Logan was right here, where did he go, did he see the jeep and run? Where is he mom?" Tears streaming down his face, her eyes were red and puffy; tear stains on her crimson shirt. Her black skirt had a little dust on it, but slowly she allowed herself to be pulled up by her mother.
"Oh Hun," she slowly walked Rory back to the jeep, rubbing her back along the way. "I know you thought you saw Logan, but he wasn't there. I am sorry, I know you miss him, it'll take time, but you'll be okay, I promise."
"Okay." The only word she was able to choke out, she knew her mother was right. But she could have sworn he was there, she had to have seen him. She looked around one more time, any faint sight of blonde hair, but nothing was to be found. Her mother put the jeep into gear, and continued the drive to Hartford.
They sat there in silence, and Lorelai kept looking over to Rory, whose head was leaning against the glass. All Lorelai could think was how to get her daughter right, she always thought that she should have said yes to Logan, granted they were young, but he loved her, and everyone could see that. But she would never let Rory know what she thought. Sometimes Lorelai would blame herself for raising such a strong independent daughter, but then she would look at Rory, and wonder what happened to the independence and strong will, and why she was left with a hollow shell. She would continue to comfort her, but refused to ever let anyone know what she thought. Not even Luke.
Rory leaned her head against the cold window, willing it to relieve the warmth her tears left her face. She was red and puffy, but hoped that would go away before she saw her friends again. She never told them about Logan, and didn't need the questions now. She took her head off of the window and reached for her purse, she touched up her make up then put on the façade and the smile she showed all too often. Her eyes never met anyone else, for fear they wouldn't believe the smile she pretended to bare.
"Sweets? Are you going to be okay? Are you sure you want to continue this? You don't have too. Andrew could use your help at the bookstore while you find another newspaper."
"No, Mom, I will be alright, I need to do this, I don't want any other paper to think I couldn't handle a campaign tour, and I need to finish this out so that I can become that overseas correspondent. Besides, when I do get that job I won't have time for love. I am okay, I promise." She smiled at her mom, and then looked at her watch. They had ten minutes before she had to be on the bus. "Mom do you want to get some coffee before I leave, we have ten minutes?"
"Sure, on you? I mean you are the one with a fifty." Lorelai smiled knowing her daughter was going to pull through and only half joked about the money thing, she only had a five because she left her purse at the house.
"Lorelai? Rory? Why are you so late?" A heated looking woman stormed up to the two, carrying large cups of coffee. They both whispered Emily under their breathe before turning around.
"Hi mom, what are you doing here?" Lorelai thought she was going to drop dead, she looked around hoping her mother was not talking to them. But obviously whom else would she call Lorelai and Rory?
"Hi Grandma." Rory took a coffee cup and hugged her grandmother, relieved for the change of topic and happy she didn't have to wait in line for coffee.
"Why are you so late? Honestly Lorelai, if you are going to drag her away from her job, at least return her at an appropriate time."
"Sorry." Both girls apologized as Lorelai grabbed her cup and pulled the bag out of the Jeep.
"Well Rory, I wanted to see you before you leave, but I guess this short, insufficient amount of time will have to work," she glared at Lorelai then turned back to Rory. "We missed you young lady, and you need to call us next time you are in town. I don't like finding out that my granddaughter will be home from some dog sitter at her mother's house." Again turning to glare at Lorelai.
"Yes Grandma, but I have to go." She hugged them both and then returned to look at her Mother. "Thank you for everything, I love you." She turned to Emily and said "Thank you for the coffee and see you soon."
Emily hugged Rory one more time, and then stuffed some money into her hand. "Get yourself the good necessities, that cheap stuff does nothing for your complexion."
"Thanks Grandma." She turned and walked up the stairway to the bus. She turned only once to wave goodbye and went to sit down.
"Lorelai, all has been taken care of with the Huntzbergers, apparently Logan went to San Francisco to work for one of his father's papers, so he is not going to bothering Rory anytime soon."
"If only you knew Mom." She turned and looked for her phone; walking away from her Mother towards the Jeep she dialed her daughters number.
"Miss me already?"
"Of course, you are my only offspring, that I know of. Anyways, I just wanted to say, spend that money Adolph gave you for some trashy magazines."
"But she hates those magazines. I know I know, do it anyways, I will. Oh and Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you, and thanks again. I will miss you and I will call you often."
"Good Deal, see you soon Kid."
They both hung up and Lorelai climbed into the Jeep. She started to drive away and looked at the passenger seat. Her heart dropped, she missed her daughter more than anything, even more than coffee. She felt a tear roll down her cheek, it killed her knowing that Rory was sad, and it killed her that she couldn't be there to help her heal. Where did the little seven-year-old go that always wanted mommy to hold her while she cried? She sighed and continued to drive thinking of all the plans she wanted to put into action before all was said and done.
Chapter Four: Rain or Shine and the San Francisco Treat
"Rory!" Andrea almost tackled her as she ran through the isle to give her a hug. "Please I beg of you never leave me alone to deal with Kevin. It is not humanly possible to put up with as much stupidity that he can muster up."
"Hey, you duct taped my mouth and told me to stay on the bus, that's not right, and don't call me stupid!" Kevin replied, he reminded Rory of a six year old, tattling and getting upset from a sarcastic joke.
"Alright, alright both you little girlies calm down." Rory smiled, directing the statement more towards Kevin then to Andrea. "Andi, what is the deal with the duct tape, that stuff hurts. Anyways, thanks glad to know that I am so loved. I went to Stars Hollow, my hometown Kevin, Stars Hollow. Anyways I went home, relaxed a little and enjoyed my time away from the bus. I got both of you some little souvenirs from there too. Kevin this is yours and here Andi, this is for you." Rory smiled knowing that they were either going to be confused or they would laugh, either of which was going to be worth every minute.
"Uh, Rory, are you sure this isn't for a little girl, I mean the thought is what counts but seriously?" Kevin was floored as he held up his gift. "OW" Andrea just finished smacking his arm.
"I love it Rory," Andrea hugged her again and then went over to pinch Kevin one more time just to make sure that it sunk in, that you don't say that when receiving gifts. "Thanks, I love Hello Kitty."
"Kevin I am just kidding, I wouldn't really get you a Hello Kitty notebook, wait yeah I would, but give that to Andrea, this is really for you, it's a trail mix from Al's Pancake World."
"Thanks Rory, I like trail mix, hey do you know what the green stuff is?" He was already picking out all the candy and a few other things, before looking at the green stuff. "Eh, squirrel food." He threw all the green bits out and looked up at the girls while they shook their heads. "What?"
"Nothing Kevin, not a thing." Rory replied before turning back in her seat and laying her head against the window once more. The cool glass helped relax her, and she starred out at the passing scenery and watched the cars go by, a red corvette then a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, some fancy Lexus, and a little Black Porsche, slowly watching the trees seemingly run past her, she remembered the Porsche, it looked familiar, was it Logan, she immediately Sat up and looked out the front of the bus, there it was in their lane, right in front of them. The license plate said 'HUNTZ4' it was him, finally she could tell her mom she really saw him. Well not in person or face to face but saw his car. She watched it go through leading the bus along the winding interstate. Never slowing down, it seemed to be playing cat and mouse with the bus, slowing only enough for her to see the license plate clear and off went the car just a faint black dot. She watched it and as she wondered why he was here, what he was doing? Then the bus came to a halt. No she thought, he is going to keep going and I won't be able to see him, tell him I am sorry, and that I want to be friends, that's all no romantic feelings just friendship, she wanted her best friend back, the one that always knew what she needed and when, she wanted Colin and Finn back too, the whole gang. As the bus creped to a stop she watched the car disappear. As everyone got up to look out the windows she kept watching in front of her. Wait, was it possible, there was a black dot slowly coming back to the bus, it was backing up, only Logan would do something like that, it had to be him, it had to be. He knew she was there; it just had to be Logan. As the Porsche came to a sudden halt in front of the bus, she watched the driver side door open and a leg stepped out. She stared intently as the next foot stepped out, and two hands came out, one on the door the other on the car, then she started shaking, her shoulders were vibrating, and she shook her head, not wanting to loose focus on the car.
"Rory, here is some coffee, you need to wake up, we are in Ohio now. Time for the Ohio Primaries, wake up." Andrea was moving a cup of fresh coffee under her nose as Kevin tried to wake her up.
"Andi, have you ever seen someone sleep so much, she has been out for about nine and a half hours. I hope she is okay." Kevin asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"No Kevin, I am just exhausted, it has been a long campaign and frankly this isn't the most comfortable bus to sleep on. Not to mention that we get to stop at hotels only long enough for a few hours of sleep and a shower, which it almost isn't worth stopping. I am just tired that is all. Thanks Andi for the coffee." Rory awoke to the scent of strong java under her nose and she took the cup that Andrea had been waving under her nose the whole time. She looked over to the concerned Kevin and decided to use some banter to lighten the mood. "Aw, that tastes wonderful, you see Kevin this is the way to a Gilmore heart, a little coffee, a smile and you might just get lucky. You know a day where I wouldn't be stepping on your toes and getting a better story then you."
Kevin smiled and was getting ready to retort when the campaign manager stepped onto the bus, she went into the usual 'this is what will be happening while you are here' at the Ohio Primaries, each state was pretty much the same and the group slowly learned to tune her out. Rory got up and reached for her stuff so she could go out and investigate looking for any more women feeling the need to faint when Barrack Obama spoke. She saw Kevin grab his notebook and Andrea was already in awe of the city of Columbus. The capital of Ohio was a lot like a corner out of New York, but it was still small. She went over to the sidewalk and smelled more coffee, she looked and there was a Starbucks, she thought for a moment then decided against the caffeine fix. She needed to focus. So the group started trotting off to the LC where a convention rally for the We Can '08 tour was being held.
(Friday, again)
"Sir?" A voice echoed through the bare office, it had a faint nervous way to it, and the lady to back it up was normally really bold and outgoing that is why he hired her in the first place.
"Yes Lacee, I am listening." There was the normal hoarse voice that replied to everyone, and not one time did it ever stutter and he wasn't going to let anyone know why the strength he portrayed was not the strength he had behind his closed doors at home.
"Well, your father called and he wanted me to tell you that the jet will be here at five o'clock tonight and you will be on it. You are going home for the weekend. Also sir, he wanted me to tell you that the campaign tour will be in Hartford this weekend." She replied, knowing he wouldn't like what he was being told but none the less it was her job to do it.
"Lace, come in here please." Only this time he called her so that he wasn't heard over the intercom.
There was a faint knock on the door, and He told her to come in. She opened the door and quickly turned to shut it behind her. She was beautiful, the had long blonde hair that just seemed to flow around her shoulders and down her back, she pinned it up some days but he always asked he to take it down, he thought it was too formal for what his assistant should look like. She had stunning light brown eyes, and a burnt copper tone to her skin, she was gorgeous, and very leggy. She was tall for a girl, but it never stopped her from wearing heels, she was confident and very self assured. She walked towards his desk and sat in the seat in front of his desk. Her short chiffon black dress creped up the back but covered her knees as she crossed her legs. He walked around his desk and leaned against the front of it. He crossed his ankles and he looked sternly at her resting most of his wait on his palms against the edge of his desk.
"Stand up." He almost ordered it to her, but she obliged.
As she stood he looked at her and took in her beauty from head to toe. In doing so he leaned in and took in her scent. She wore the perfume he bought her, some Armani product that was on sale at Macy's Armani code or some such. But she smelled like heaven or at least a disposable heaven's scent. He hesitated before grabbing her around the waist, but he still took her into him. He led her to the sofa and laid her down, kissing her neck and then her lips. She responded with much eagerness and anticipation. As he started to caress her arms an image of a radiant brunette with the deepest of blue eyes flashed in his memory, and the moment was lost, again.
"Damn!" he whispered as he got up and walked to the window, loosening his tie, and staring down at the city below.
"Logan? Are you okay?" the busty blonde put her hand on his shoulder and he shrugged her off.
"Fine, just lost the mood, I am going to go, hold all my calls, and don't think of calling me your San Francisco Treat. It really isn't that flattering." He turned grabbed his jacket and phone then walked straight to the door without ever looking back. The blonde looked as if tears were to pour down her face, she heard about this part, she rushed to her desk and started packing it all up. Others told her not to get attached that he wasn't over another girl and that the moment he tried to get intimate he would pull away and the next day they were fired. She thought to herself as the tears welled up in her eyes, what a great way to end my career.
He talked to himself all the way down the elevator. "Damn it Huntzberger, now you will have to fire her too, you are turning out to be like your father, and even worse your mother the way she runs through maids." He was dreading the weekend, being around them and especially being within a city form her, the one he let crush him, the one he was still holding out for.
Chapter 5 Planes, Boo's, and Automobiles
Logan walked out of the San Francisco Eagle with his keys in hand and his phone to his ear. He was checking his voicemails before calling his father to find out why exactly he had to go across the country on a spur of the moment. He wasn't at his beck and call anymore, he only agreed to take the job because it got him away from Connecticut, and his parents, and her.
--Hey Huntz, What is going on? It's your mate Finn, haven't heard from you.
Hope you are givin them hell over in Oregon
He is not in Oregon Finn
Oh, really I thought he was, He love can I get another drink
Yeah, put it on my tab, ever think of changing your hair color to red?
FINN voicemail
Oh yeah, sorry mate, you know me the ladies and the drinks.
Well call me.--
--Hey Logan, it's Sarah, do you think you could meet me for dinner?
I would love to look into your handsome eyes, bye lover!--
--Logan, buddy where are you, It is Colin, sorry about Finn.
You know he can't stop with the alcohol, and his memory is shot.
Well call me, SOON.
Oh, and don't come home this weekend, someone will be here you don't want to see.
Colin, she is still our friend, so stop acting like that has changed.
Steph she said no, and it's not right for us to…..CLICK--
--Logan, it's your father. Did your assistant give you my message?
Call me as soon as possible, you better be on that plane or you can kiss
your comfy job goodbye.--
Logan expected the last message, and made a mental note to call the guys back. It disheartened him some that they brought Rory up, but he knew that they were hurt by her decision too. He knew they missed her, but he was thankful that they took his side. He climbed into his car and started the ignition. He dialed his father's number, immediately going to his voicemail, with a sigh of relief he talked into the machine.
"Dad, I will be on the plane no later than five, but please tell me why I am coming home on such short notice, and can I leave right after?" Logan hung up, and sighed with relief that he didn't have to speak to Mitchum, but wanted answers as soon as possible. Next he dialed Colin's number, looking at the time it would be six o'clock there, he had remember they were three hours before him. Knowing Colin would be with Finn, he figured he would kill two birds with one stone and talk to both with one call. Seeing as it was Friday, they were probably getting ready to go to Old Man's Shoe.
"Hello?"
"Hey Colin, how have you been, sorry I haven't called, been really busy here? I am coming home this weekend, something Mitchum says is mandatory, but hopefully short too."
"Hey Logan, I am good, and you? Well you are welcome to stay with me if you need a place away from the gates of hell. You know she will be here too though." Logan could hear Stephanie in the background telling him to not talk about her like that, he smiled he could see Colin roll his eyes. "Anyways, you need to stop by and see us, oh hold on, Finn just stumbled over."
"Oy, love, are you are red head, do I know you, are you single? Wait, it doesn't matter if you are single, I am exotic." Finn slurred most of his statement, but Logan couldn't cease to laugh.
"So is the bird flu, buddy. It's Logan, and I still have my blonde hair. But hey thanks for the thought. I will be flying home tonight should arrive by seven."
"Hey mate, good to talk to you, but there went a gorgeous red head and I need to see if she likes exotic men."
"Hey, Logan, I will call you back, Finn just walked after a man with long red hair. Talk to you soon buddy." Colin hung up the phone before Logan could say goodbye, he smiled and shook his head Finn was always a character.
Logan walked into his front door of his apartment, he said hello to George, his suit of armor, and went to the bedroom to change. He packed a few clothes into his overnight bag and threw it onto the sofa. He walked into the kitchen and looked in the fridge, it was bare; he hadn't done much shopping lately because he lost most of his appetite, or he was taking different girls out to dinner. He decided to get some dinner, and grabbed his coat and wallet. He looked at the mirror by the door, and took in his appearance.
"Better go to the mall before you get some food, have someone trim up your hair. You look horrible Huntzberger, besides it might save you some grief from the family."
Logan walked out the door, waiting for the elevator to arrive and take him to the parking garage. He stood there patiently and thought about Finn with a guy, and Colin chasing him having to remind him that he was talking to a guy. Finally the elevator arrived and he pressed the button with a P on it.
Logan was sitting on the plane as it landed in Hartford, anxious to find out what was going on, his father never returned his call, just as he expected. As he exited the plane he looked out and saw Frank standing by the limo with the door open.
"Hey Frank, good to see you!"
"Likewise Mr. Huntzberger, off to the mansion, sit tight it'll be a short ride." Frank replied, he was always so professional even when Logan told him to loosen up he still maintained his professional manner, probably why he was still a driver for the Huntzberger Family.
Logan sat in the limo for what seemed like only two minutes but knew it was around fifteen. The car stopped outside the mansion and Frank was there with the door open. He nodded at Frank and walked up to the doors. A little timid at walking through, he pushed them open and he was suddenly blinded with silky blonde hair, the owner was squeezing him so hard he lost his breathe just for a minute. Pushing her back a little, he smiled then returned the embrace.
"Hi Honor, so what are we here for now? Is Josh here too?" Logan finally released her and looked into her worried eyes.
"No Logan, Josh is not here, and the Gilmore's will be here in about ten minutes to have dinner. Apparently there has been a long delay to reconcile the family and mom is afraid she will lose her diamond ring." Honor spit it all out and was afraid Logan would turn around and walk out the door, but he just stood in front of her and looked sickly.
"Well, I guess there is nothing I can do, Mother is walking this way, too late to turn around and leave now."
"Logan, darling, come into the sitting room." Shira yelled into the foyer, and then turned to re-enter the sitting room.
Logan and Honor made there way to the room, and took seats next to each other, hoping that the dinner would not be long and over drawn. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity until the Gilmore's walked into the sitting room. They looked around to see who they would be joining to have dinner with tonight, and their eyes fell on him, the look of disgust radiated off of them, but were quick to change their expressions when Elias spoke.
"Shira, where is Mitchum?" Elias practically barked it at her, which made her jump, but she responded quickly.
"He is still at the office and wants us to start dinner without him."
"Then let's eat." Elias got up out of his chair and walked to the dinning room.
The families sat at the table and Logan played with his food. He wasn't listening to the discussion they were having because it regarded him and Rory, the one person he didn't want to deal with at that moment. Logan heard something about being sent away and not returning to Connecticut unless for business, and the Gilmore's replied saying that was the right thing to do. He felt his blood start to boil, and he looked at them all. He quickly stood up and his face went red, he could feel it, his eyes were turning angry also, he couldn't see but what was directly in front of him, nor could he really feel Honor grabbing his wrists.
"I was not the one who did the hurting, she turned me down, she walked away from me, why do I have to be the one shunned?" He stormed out of the house and dialed Colin's number.
"Hey Colin, I am on my way to Old Man's Shoe, I plan on not remembering tonight."
About two hours later, Logan was obliterated, he couldn't remember flying home, but all he knew is there was a gorgeous blonde around his arm, and his friends were taking shots right with him. It was good to be home, it was good to be with them. He looked at the blonde and didn't even realize what came out of his mouth.
"Rory, I love you still." He looked at her and stumbled over a bar stool but looked back up right as a hand went across his cheek.
"My name is Cindy." The blonde stomped away, and he looked over at his friends, what did he say, he couldn't remember already. His friends looked really sober and he didn't know why.
"What? What washhh zat alls aboot?" Logan slurred.
"Logan mate, do you know what you said?" Finn, completely sober now, shocked at what he heard, simply put a hand on Logan's shoulder. "Mate, I think you are cut off, come on let's go to Colin's house." Dragging Logan along they all departed the bar off to Colin's house; hopefully to pass out which is all that Logan wanted to do.
Chapter Six: Hangovers and the Hollow
"Uggggggghhhhhhh." Someone rolled over and threw an arm over Logan's mouth. He didn't want to wake up, and he definitely didn't want to open his eyes, he could feel the room spinning with out them open anyways. His eyelids were red, which informed him that the sun was up and had been for a while. He rolled over and stuffed his arm above his head.
"Get up, Guys come on time to get up." Stephanie's shrill voice made Logan's head explode and he knew he wouldn't be able to keep anything down from last night. He made a mental note to never get into the fire water again. He couldn't remember anything much from last night except he received a hand across his cheek. He opened his eyes and immediately felt dizzy, running his hand along the couch he squinted and walked faster past Stephanie towards the bathroom.
Stephanie watched Logan rush past her and turned to watch him walk off to the bathroom and shut the door. She crinkled her nose knowing what was going on in there and continued to wake the rest of the group. They had plans to do a Life and Death Brigade gathering for the newest members of the society, kind of an Alumni event that welcomed in the new generation. She walked over to Colin and burst into laughter, he was laying there on the floor with one arm over his head the other over his stomach, with one foot by his knee and his other leg completely straight, he must have dreaming he was a ballerina from that pose. She looked over at Finn and turned around completely sickened by what she saw a grotesque naked man that looked like he had been lying on top of someone just moments before. She thought that she would have to kick Logan out of the bathroom to use it next. She decided to wake Colin up first and make him wake up Finn. She leaned down and whispered his name, no movement. She spoke his name, still no movement; she then yelled his name and again no movement. It was like a light bulb went off in her head. She leaned in and gently kissed his lips, hoping that would stir him up.
It was everything he could do to lay still while Stephanie whispered, spoke, and yelled his name. He was not ready to get up and he didn't want to acknowledge her either. He did not expect her next attempt to arouse him, and she was more successful then he thought she meant. Her soft lips pressed against his, he guaranteed that she only wanted it to be a short peck, but he extended it. He didn't know what came over him and he didn't want her to stop. He always grew up attracted to her, and he always knew that she was the kind of girl he would get in a commitment with, so he had every amazing, shocking, enjoyable sensation surge through his body, and he grabbed her to pull her closer and continued to kiss her with all he had.
Stephanie didn't know what to do, but she enjoyed the control that he took over her, she wondered if he knew it was her or thought it was a bimbo he brought back from the bar. When their lips finally separated he whispered into her ear.
"Steph I have wanted to do that for many years, please don't hate me but I wanted this, and now that I have it I don't want to let it go."
"Oh Colin, I have liked you for many years too." She leaned in and kissed him again, happy that the truth was finally out in the open.
"Oh my…. Colin, Steph, what is going on?" Logan walked into the room with water dripping from his face because he splashed it to help relieve the sickened look his skin was portraying.
"Um, well Logan, I am kissing her, because I like her, and I want to be with her." He looked into Stephanie's eyes while saying that and she smiled back and nodded. So that must have meant that they were now together.
"Right, well I see I have missed a lot here, I am being shunned away from Connecticut because Rory turned me down and you two are here making out. This is a great welcome guys." He only wanted that to have a little sarcasm in it, but it sounded angrier then it did sarcastic. He turned around to sit on the couch and saw Finn in his complete exposure and didn't hasten running back to the bathroom.
"Oy! Do you think that you could stop talking its early and the sun hates me. Hey Love, glad to see you finally told Colin how you feel." Finn looked up but only for a second and rolled over away from the sun. He covered himself with a blanket to the relief of the two left in the room.
Logan jumped into the shower and didn't want to rush into the room again any time soon, he knew that Colin and Steph liked each other for a long time, but somewhere deep inside he didn't want anyone to be happy if he wasn't and he was still in love with someone he would never have, not again. She didn't know what she wanted then she couldn't have him.
Logan dried off and changed into some clean clothes. He walked into the room relieved to see that Colin and Stephanie had separated there lips and were sitting on the couch, holding hands but still apart. He felt a wave of joy come over him, and he knew he was going to be okay with the two of them, and he knew he wouldn't have to explain the outburst from earlier that morning. He walked over and sat in the recliner looking around for a hopefully covered up Finn, he wasn't there. As if Finn was psychic he walked into the room also freshly washed and smelling alcohol free. If only for a moment, he walked past everyone and right to the scotch and poured himself a drink. What time was it? He looked at his phone and saw it said five PM. How long did they drink and how long was he out?
"So Logan, want to explain what you said to Sandy?" Finn asked, anticipation pouring from his face.
"Her name was Cindy and yeah, what was that all about?" Colin's inquisitive tone made Logan want to disappear, he honestly couldn't remember what he did, and he didn't remember the girl either.
"I don't know, I can't remember. I don't even remember her. I just remember leaving the mansion, the Gilmore's were there agreeing to my banishment because of Rory walking away, I remember getting angry and then I remember waking up to…. Ew, Finn you are no longer aloud to sleep with any proximity to me! Anyways, I don't remember anything after getting to the bar." He shuttered thinking about Finn's arm draped over him while he was sleeping.
"Sorry mate!" Finn just chuckled, sipping his drink
"Logan, you looked at Cindy and you told her 'Rory I still love you.' What was that?" Colin just sat there, knowing he was pressing matters and hoped he wouldn't make things worse between them.
"I don't know what it was about, I was obviously sloshed, and I really don't think anyone should hold me accountable for the things I do when I am that intoxicated. Besides, Finn went after a man, so you really can not hold us accountable with that amount of alcohol in our systems." Logan stood up and turned to the group, "I am going to go for a drive, clear my head a little."
"Logan walked out of the McCray household to his Porsche that he parked last night before calling Frank to take him to the bar. Thankful for his thinking before the alcohol he pulled out of the drive and headed north. He needed to get away and not look back, so he decided to drive until his car screamed that it needed fuel.
Logan stopped to refill his fuel tank looking around the town of Amherst, Massachusetts; he leaned against his car watching the dollar amount increase. He filled the tank and returned the fuel nozzle; he reached and grabbed his receipt then got in his car to start heading south again. It was about nine fifteen when he started his way back to Hartford. He didn't really do too much thinking while he was driving, at least nothing that mattered. As he continued to drive southbound now he thought of all the things he wanted to do for heading back to San Francisco, he wanted to say goodbye to his friends and then he wanted to see the town, he wanted to go to her town, not to see her, but to sit in the gazebo and just look at what was holding her back from choosing a life with him. He couldn't really figure it all out and he didn't know where to start. He just knew that he had to see what was special about this town verses anywhere with him, he knew she loved him and he knew that her Mother was very VERY important to her, but he would give her a jet to fly home every weekend if that is what she wanted. He knew better then to try and break down the mind of a Gilmore Girl. He continued to think about all the memories they had together, the first time he held her hand when they jumped from the tower with the LDB. Oh shit, he was supposed to do some type of Alumni thing for the newbies of the society, oh well too late now, he hoped that it was a good stunt. He thought about the time that she was being marketed off by her grandparents and he put his arm around her acting like they had been together to save her from Jordan, he laughed at the guy thinking he had a chance with a girl like her. His thoughts traveled to the same night when her heart was broken because this joke of a man told her that he didn't belong there anymore. He thought of the night he came back from a trip to find her and Marty watching movies, and the jealousy that caused, the night she found out about the girls he slept with when he thought they had broken up, what was the reason he couldn't do that now, they weren't together, why couldn't he just find a disposable pleasure, probably because he had a treasure that he wished was still in his life. The thoughts continued through his mind all the way to the Stars Hollow exit.
(Early Sunday Morning)
Lorelai had just drove through to the exit with Rory's clothes to wash before she had to be on the bus back on the campaign tour. She stayed up all night thus far, not wanting to sleep because she wanted to see her angelic daughter as much as possible before she had to leave later that morning. Lorelai must have drank about two pots of coffee before her trip to get the clothes and with what she saw at the square she knew that it wasn't enough. Her heart started to race, what was he doing here? Why was he here, there was no way he would let her see him or the other way around. She was going to prevent the contact as much as she possibly could. She stopped the Jeep behind a black Porsche and walked over to the gazebo.
"No, No, No, No. You can not, do not, will not have the right to come to this town and break her heart anymore. I know you are hurting because she said No, and I can respect that, but it almost killed her to watch you walk away, you left, she wanted to keep the relationship you made her chose, you gave her the ultimatum, YOU live with consequences." She could have continued but he held up a hand.
"I am not here to see her. I am here to see what she left me for. I know she turned me down, but I wasn't going to strip her of what she already had, I was only going to try and enhance it. I still love her Lorelai, and I am not here to fight with you. I just wanted to try and find some closure."
"Fine, but I am going to sit here and I am going to give you my thoughts on the situation and do not go running and tell the world, I will deny it. I haven't even told her or Luke, so feel special." Lorelai was heated, she didn't know whether on not to just kick him out of the town, to wake up Luke and let him do it, or to comfort him. She chose to spill what was on her mind, giving her a sense of relief. "I thought she should have said yes, I know she is young, and I know you would have been patient if she wanted a longer engagement, you just wanted that extra level of commitment and I can respect that too. However, she is not Rory anymore, both physically and mentally. She is not the same person she once was, she doesn't smile with her eyes, she looks as if she just stepped out of her grave, and she has no spirit in her anymore." She took a second breathe before continuing with the next part. "She is my daughter Logan, and I will always take her side, and I will not let you break her more. She will see you and that is what will happen. She already dreams about you, and about that event, and she sees you in places you have never been.
"She still loves you and I know that, I think you can feel that, because when the heart is involved there is a connection that can not be broken, I believe the two of your were made for each other and I am willing to accept that, but it has to be right, you can't be here you"
Logan cut her off, "I am not here to see her, I do still love her, but she can not have me if she doesn't know what she wants. I am only here because your parents agreed with mine that I needed to leave Connecticut, I am the one being forced away from my friends, my family, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I am the one being told to go. So honestly I think I am the one that got the worse end of the bargain. I think I am the one that lost the girl and the state. So back off."
Lorelai looked at him with sympathy before standing up, she walked over to sit next to him and put her arm around his shoulders. "Aw, kid, I know how it feels when the Gilmore's are against you, and I know I am biased, but you are too especially when it comes to Rory, a lot of people love her and a lot want to protect her, and before you snap at me, I know you are one of those people too. But you need to give it time, I know Rory will come around, and I know if you really want her in your life, a Huntzberger never takes no for an answer." With that Lorelai stood up gave him a light squeeze and walked back to the jeep. She started the ignition and pulled away, off to do some laundry, she knew he probably wouldn't be there much longer.
Rory threw her bag in the back of the jeep and got into the passenger seat. She looked around the house, and wondered how long until she would be back, and if anything would change by then. They pulled out of the drive, and she looked around the town, she was going to miss this place something else, it was her home after all. She looked at her mom, and knew instantly that she would miss her more than anything, it was going to be another long road and her pillar would be here in Stars Hollow. Just then in the gazebo she saw a blonde man. Head sunken low.
"Stop, MOM stop!" Rory yelled, opening the door before her mother could stop completely.
"Hun?" Lorelai saw him too, she couldn't believe he was still here, he didn't know what to she looked around for his car and saw it going around the corner of Luke's and then searched for Rory she was sitting on her knees in the gazebo, crying into her hands, she knew she didn't see him drive off and a wave of anger came over her because he stayed and didn't have the courage to be seen face to face by the one he supposedly loved.
"He was here, mom, I saw him, I swear, he was sitting right here. His head was down but it was him. Logan was right here, where did he go, did he see the jeep and run? Where is he mom?" Tears streaming down her face, her eyes were red and puffy; tear stains on her crimson shirt. Her black skirt had a little dust on it, but slowly she allowed herself to be pulled up by her mother.
"Oh Hun," she slowly walked Rory back to the jeep, rubbing her back along the way. "I know you thought you saw Logan, but he wasn't there. I am sorry, I know you miss him, it'll take time, but you'll be okay, I promise." Lorelai looked around one more time, just to make sure he didn't turn around, the fury inside started to calm a little. She still couldn't believe he did that.
"Okay." The only word she was able to choke out, she knew her mother was right. But she could have sworn he was there, she had to have seen him. She looked around one more time, any faint sight of blonde hair, but nothing was to be found.
Chapter Seven: Two Weeks Notice
Rory walked around the Arena District of Ohio, interviewing people along the street about their thoughts of Obama and his platforms. She was in the middle of an interview when she looked over at a small North Market shop that had a silver rocket on the shelf. She walked away from the interviewee and looked in the window. She felt her cheeks turning hot as a stream started to progress down to her chin and all she could remember was that episode of the Twilight Zone, and the rocket he gave her. She had put it in a box when she moved back to Stars Hollow and had her mom hide it somewhere at the Inn, but she knew her mother probably put it in the shed. She walked inside the shop and it had many little nick knacks everywhere and she looked through it all, she saw other things that reminded her of what her life had been like with Logan.
Tears starting to flow down her face now, she ran out of the store and over to a pavilion that only had one other person there. She sat on a bench with her face in her hands. Beginning to shake she tried to mute all sounds so that the person on the other end wouldn't feel awkward or try to comfort her. Much to no avail she still let out little weeps and soon the other person walked away, she was alone once more, and now she wasn't afraid of making any noises. She reached for her phone and dialed her mother's number.
"Hey kid." Her mother could hear the weeping on the other end of the receiver and went into instant concern mode. "Sweets, what is wrong, talk to me. What is going on?"
"Mom he is here in Ohio too, not physically but I was in the middle of this interview and I looked over the shoulder of the man I was interviewing and I saw this little nick knack shop and in the window was this silver rocket just like the one that Logan gave me before he left for London."
"The racket ball rocket? Aw Hun, I am sorry, I think…" Lorelai didn't finish her sentence. She knew what she thought Rory should do, but she knew Rory wouldn't go along with it.
"What Mom, I want you to tell me what you think, I want to know. I am so tired of crying all the time and I want to stop. Tell me, that is why I called." Rory already knew what her Mother was going to say, she was going to tell her to come home, to quit the campaign tour and look for another paper. She was going to tell her that she needed a break, and that she needed to wallow, and the thing is she agreed. She thought about it while she was working today, she wanted to get a decent night sleep, and she wanted to see her friends and family, she wanted to stay stationary until she was over him.
Lorelai hesitated and the spoke softly "I think you need to take a break, I think you are over worked and I believe that you are only doing this so that your heart will heal, and it isn't healing properly. I know you are strong kiddo, and I love that about you, the one Gilmore trait I am happy to have received from them. But I also think that you need to quit the magazine, find a stationary paper, your father and I will help you find a place if you don't want to live with me, or if you want to live where there is a bigger paper. But I honestly think that you are running yourself rigid and that you need to stop. Luke said he has never seen you look so ill, and you are going to be if you don't slow down. I know you will find a job at a good paper, and that you will be hired on the spot you are a Gilmore, former editor of the Yale Daily News, though it is a negative in our eyes it won't be to others, you worked with Mitchum, and you are a hell of a writer, so that helps too. You have a drive and I know you can do it sweets."
"Mom, mom." Rory cut her off while she took a breath to go another round. "I know that you want me to come home, and I am okay with that, I just wanted to hear you say it before I put my two weeks notice in."
"Really? I don't have to argue with you about this, damn, I had several more points to make and a visual aid." Lorelai smiled knowing that she made Rory lighten up a little. "You have to put a two weeks notice in? Alright I am going to go kid, I want to call your father and tell him that he is buying a plane ticket for you to come home, and you call your editor. Bye Hun."
"Bye mom, and thanks." Rory closed her phone before taking another deep breathe.
She opened her phone to dial Josh's number. It rang twice and then he answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi Boss." Rory was using her Bambi voice, she hated quitting but she knew that she had to, Logan was haunting her and he didn't even know it. She was getting sick.
"Uh oh, not Bambi voice. You are going to try and quit huh?" Josh always knew what she was calling about because he said that this job always did this. "Well you lasted longer than the rest, and I don't want to lose you Gilmore, so I am willing to suggest this." He pauses knowing that Rory was listening. "I will send someone there tonight to pick up the rest of the campaign, and I will arrange for your transportation home, but it might have to be by bus. However, I want to give you five, get this FIVE weeks of a paid leave of absence. I want you on this magazine, and if you want a more stationary position I will give it to you. Gilmore you can not quit simply because it isn't in your blood, and I don't want to lose you, you have some of the best writing I have ever read from someone your age. So we got a deal?" He finished, hoping she would say yes, he knew she would, but he heard and knew she wasn't always what you expected.
"Yes, that will work. Thank you so much Josh. I am going to go before you change your mind, I will keep you updated I promise." She was so relieved and it seemed as if her struggles started to fade away.
"And Gilmore, I am not going to change my mind, I like having you a part of this magazine, and I appreciate the updates. Goodbye." He hung up the phone and she got up off the picnic table.
While she was walking to the bus she was trying to figure out how to break it to Andrea and Kevin that she wasn't going to be with them for at least five weeks. When her phone ringing interrupted her thoughts, she looked down at it and the caller ID said restricted. She debated whether or not to answer the phone.
I think Im going to Boston
I think I'll start it over
I think I'll start a new life
Where no one knows my name
"Hello?" she answered the phone cautiously.
"Rory? Hi it's Steph, sorry I blocked my number because I was afraid you wouldn't answer if you saw it was my number. Assuming you saved my number. Look I have no hard feelings against you for turning Logan down. I would have too, I am still young and I don't blame you. However, we had a LBD event and he never showed up, and Colin tracked his GPS from his car and it said he was in Stars Hollow, so basically I was calling to see if you have seen him?"
Rory dropped the phone, she could faintly hear Stephanie asking if she was okay, and what happened. She had seen him, she knew she did. This morning that was him. She started to hyperventilate. Her chest seemed really tight and she couldn't really see. She fell to her knees trying to catch her breathe. It wasn't working. She heard feet around her, but couldn't see who, she then heard someone scream to call 9-1-1. She clutched her chest and fell to her side. She knew it was him, what was he doing there, was he there for her, was he there to hurt her, is he out to make her miserable, is this her payment for not being ready at that exact moment. She had more pro's then con's on her list, but she thought about her mother and how her mom made it without a man and was happy, so she didn't want to disappoint her mother and make her think she depended on a man.
Rory couldn't take in what was going on around her, all she knew is that she was in pain, and she didn't know when it would stop.
Rory woke up in a hospital room and her mother was already there with a cup of coffee in hand waiting very impatiently for her to open her eyes. Rory could tell she had been crying, and she could see that she was worried as well.
"Mom? What is wrong, I am okay see eyes open, talking, craving that cup of coffee in your hand." She smiled looking into her mother's panicked blue eyes.
"Hun, what happened, the doctors said you had a severe panic attack and went into shock, what happened, what is the reason this happened, I thought you were going to come home, did your editor say something?
"Mom, Stephanie Vanderbilt called, remember Sunday when I said that I saw Logan in the gazebo, he really was there. She called to see if I talked to him, because he was supposed to be at some Life and Death Brigade gathering and never showed up, so Colin tracked his car and it was in Stars Hollow. I really saw him mom he really was there. I think that is why I had the panic attack, because he was right there, and I didn't see him face to face. I didn't get to talk to him. I don't know what I would have said, but the fact he was there is why I freaked out I couldn't believe it. I just want to know why he was there, is he out to punish me for saying no?"
Lorelai looked down at her hands trying to figure out if she should tell her everything. "No, he wasn't."
Chapter Eight: Secrets, Lies, and True Feelings
"Mom, what are you talking about 'No, he wasn't'? What is that supposed to mean? Did you see him and lie to me about it? Why won't you look at me? MOM, stop shaking your head and spill." Rory heard the heart monitor thing beep because her blood pressure was starting to rise.
Lorelai couldn't look at Rory, she wanted to tell her everything that she knew, but was afraid that Rory would have another attack or that she would get mad at her for not being forthcoming about the information of the bat. She swallowed hard, still shaking her head she didn't want to tell Rory, but she knew she had too.
"Well, Hun. I saw Logan very early Sunday morning when I was coming back into town from getting your clothes, he was in the gazebo, and he didn't see me walk up to him. I kind of shanghaied him with accusations. I told him that he didn't have a right to be there, nor did he have the right to talk, think, or look at you. I was trying to protect you kid, and I didn't want this to happen then. He told me why he was there, and I am not going to tell you what he told me, that was meant to be just between the two of us. He did have dinner with his parents and the Gilmores, who told him that he was being shunned from Connecticut.
"Anyways, I told him that I was leaving, and I didn't expect him to still be in the gazebo when we drove by. I did see him sitting there but I didn't want you to, but when you did, I looked for you, and I saw his car drive around the corner at Luke's. I am sorry I didn't tell you, but you were already on the floor crying, I didn't want you to be going through what you went through when Steph called. Honestly Hun, you went into shock just when she called to tell you they saw his car there, how would you react if you actually saw him face to face? Either way you are in the hospital now and you need to come home as soon as the doctor says you can, Luke, your Dad, Adolph and Grandpa are outside, I will let them come in and see you now." Lorelai got up to walk out but stopped when Rory grabbed her wrist.
"Mom, wait."
Lorelai looked a little relieved thinking that Rory wasn't mad at her, and that she was going to ask her to stay.
"I don't know what to say, but I don't think I can stay at your house when I get out of here. I cannot believe you didn't tell me, and I don't think I will understand your intrepid logic behind it. Good Bye Lorelai." She knew those last words stung her Mother but she didn't really care too much about it. She was livid, and she decided to look out the window when her mother started to cry. She felt her own tears start to leave a cool streak down her cheeks.
Lorelai walked out of the Hospital and looked at the people outside, they all were starring at her expecting some response. "She is awake, you all can see her, I am going home."
Luke looked up from the floor, she remembered he hated hospitals and some gratitude that he came washed over her, but it did not blanket the sting that pain in her heart from Rory's words. They felt like daggers and she just wanted to go back home. Luke began to speak but she held up a hand, she wouldn't and couldn't talk about what just happened; instead she just walked to the elevator to leave Grant hospital.
The Gilmores, and Christopher all got up to go in the room and see Rory, but Luke decided to follow Lorelai, it was more than he could handle sitting outside the room, he hated hospitals, and if Rory was hooked up to anything he might just pass out and end up in a room too. He walked over to the door that had a stick figure walking down a set of stairs, and he winded his way to the first floor to hopefully catch up to Lorelai.
Lorelai was walking to her car when she heard Luke yell her name, she turned to see him running towards her, and he was out of breath, she laughed because she figured a man like him should be able to handle a little jog. She stopped and waited for him, but her phone started ring and she looked at it, it was a strange number she never saw before, not in the mood to answer it, she pressed the ignore button. Looking for Luke, he slowed down to a walk apparently it felt like he ran a marathon to catch up to her. Her phone started ringing again, same number. She pressed ignore once more, and finally Luke was there. As she walked up to give him a hug, thankful that he came after her, she got very annoyed that her phone rang for a third time. She decided to answer it, and when she did it wasn't going to be friendly.
"Look, whoever the hell this is, my daughter just broke my heart, she called me by my first name, and she looked as if she would at a dead animal on the street, I don't want to talk so take a hint when my voicemail comes up rather suddenly." She went to hang up but heard a Bambi voice from the other end and her heart plummeted.
"Mom, come back. I am sorry, I didn't mean it, I am just upset and hurt that he couldn't talk to me, or wouldn't. He came all the way to Stars Hollow, just to sit in the gazebo. Please come back, take me home." Rory's voice sounded pitiful and she hung up the phone. She started running back into the hospital, hearing Luke yell, how do you run in heels?
Luke started to take off again, but threw his hands in the air and decided to walk, he just ran down five flights of stairs and across a parking lot, he would make it back at some point, but he wasn't in a rush to run back in and see hurt, sick people. Lorelai ran into an elevator just as the doors were about to close, she pressed the number five and looked at the others in there, she quickly skimmed the crowd and looked back at the doors. She thought for a minute that one of them looked familiar, she turned back around and it was Logan, standing there, trying to hid behind a fragile older woman. She looked him in the eyes, and she started to glare, she could see him trying to back further against the back of the elevator and all she did was say 'you me now'. He simply nodded and squeezed to the front of the tight space.
"What are you doing here?" She practically hissed it at him.
"Stephanie called me. She said she asked Rory if she had seen me this past Sunday, and I haven't talked to them since Saturday, so they were worried, apparently they tracked my car's GPS, and saw I was in Stars Hollow, well I never left Stars Hollow. Anyways, she called me to tell me that she was on the phone with Rory, when she heard her drop the phone, and shortly there after that someone yelled call 9-1-1. So, I drove as fast as I could, and I am here. I want to see her Lorelai, I want to talk to her. I saw you drive past in the gazebo and I wasn't ready to see her, or talk to her, but I am now, and I want to know if she is in here because of me."
Lorelai was crying again, she put her arm around his shoulders and squeezed him close. "If you crush her, you are aware that Luke, her father, and her grandparents, as well as me, and I am sure her doctor would join in, but between all of us, you most likely will end up a permanent patient at this fine establishment." She starred at him, and she still couldn't stop the tears, he simply nodded, and she did the same. Letting go of his shoulders, she looked at him and said one final thing before the stepped of the elevator onto the fifth floor. "Bout damn time Huntzberger."
Logan walked past the eyes of Emily and Richard Gilmore, past the confused daze of Christopher, he didn't see Luke, and he was thankful for that. He thought that Luke would probably be the one to actually speak and not gawk. He walked to the door with Lorelai, and she nodded, and whispered she would go in first just to let her know she was outside and then he could walk as soon as she walked out.
"Hi sweets, I came back. But I am not going to stay, you have another visitor." She kissed Rory's forehead and turned to walk out the door.
Rory waited patiently for the next guest to walk through the door. She felt better knowing her mother came back and she figured that Luke was the other visitor. She tried to think of some things to say to calm him about all the cables attached to her, and why she was there, she didn't like to worry Luke. After all he was her other father, and she wanted to make sure that he wasn't too worried. She thought about her conversations with her grandparents. She didn't want them to know why she was there, she just told them the stress of work had caused the attack. The bought it and told her they would be outside to give her some time with Christopher. When he walked in she spilled everything to him, and he was the one that knocked the sense back into her, he told her that Lorelai was protecting her, and that she needed to realize that her mother would never intentionally hold anything from her, unless she knew the outcome could be severe. She wanted to cry but her father simply said call your mom, tell her to come back before she gets into a car and drives worse then the mad man she is now.
"Logan, you can go in. It will be okay, she is going to be okay, just remember what I told you. Try to be understanding, and just be a friend right now, don't get serious while she is in here. You have to give us Gilmore Girls a buffer of time before we have to get down to the nitty gritty." Lorelai looked into Logan's nervous eyes, she knew that he was scared, but she knew it was worth it. He was a compassionate person, especially to Rory, and she knew that he wouldn't make a stupid mistake with all of the others sitting outside.
"I just don't know what to say when I walk in there. I don't know how she will react." Logan barely spoke, his voice so hoarse it was barely louder than a whisper.
"Walk in and say Hi, that might be an appropriate greeting, and a proper way to engage a conversation. Oh, Luke finally made it back up, you better get in there, his eye is twitching, I think he is going to try and talk to you before you go in, if you wait to listen you won't have to courage to face her. Now step up." Lorelai pushed him through the door, thankful there was enough time to do so. Logan took a step, he was grateful that there was a little hallway, and she couldn't see him, he was sure that his heartbeat was loud enough she could hear him though.
"What is he doing here Lorelai?" Luke looked like he was going to throw someone across the hospital.
"Luke, relax, we don't need to be here for more than just Rory. Sit down, he had some things he needed to get off his chest. Yes, I know he is the reason she is here, but trust me, I am her Mother, if I didn't think she could handle it, I would have chucked him out of the elevator before he could even see me." Lorelai put an exhausted hand on Luke's upper arm. She was getting tired of playing the role of counselor today.
Logan walked a little more, still taking slow steps and deep breaths. He rounded the corner and she was looking out the window. His heart sank when he saw all the cable attached to her chest, wrist, and all the machines working around her. He thought he was going to run back out the door, but then she spoke.
"Jeez, Luke what took so long?" She turned to look at him, then her jaw dropped the young blonde handsome man in the entrance way looked nothing like Luke. Tears starting to stream down her face she could barely choke out her next word.
"Logan?"
