Author's Note:
Here's the second chapter. It's got more action than the first, and hopefully you guys like it. Don't forget that reviews make me happy!
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9.02 – "Better Luck Next Time"
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Logan reached out to his left to feel an empty, cold space where Rory should have been. He sat up, surprised, as Rory Gilmore hardly ever got out of bed before him. Since it was a widely known fact that Rory Gilmore was miserably grouchy before her first cup of coffee, Logan always made sure to rise earlier than her and retrieve said beverage for her. "Ace?" he asked. She stood in front of two open suitcases, appearing to either be very deep in thought or still asleep. "Come back to bed, Ace."
Rory shook her head. "You have entirely too many pairs of jeans. Which ones do you want to take to the Vineyard? And your shoes! When did you become Imelda Marcos? I swear, you have twice as many shoes as I do, which is so not fair."
A slow smirk appeared on Logan's face. "So I'll take you shopping today. Now, get back in bed. It's not even 7 AM!"
Rory had always had a soft spot for Logan's smirk, especially early in the morning, when it was coupled with the gravelly quality of his morning voice. She put down the clothing items in her hands and curled up in bed next to her fiancée. "So I figure that if we leave by-"
Logan gently placed his index finger on Rory's lips. "We'll get there when we get there. Are you really in that much of a hurry to see good ol' Mitchum?" Rory had no response and instead settled further in Logan's arms. "That's better. Now what do you say, instead of going to this great Huntzberger shindig, we steal away to Europe? I hear France is lovely in the springtime."
"Right. Too bad it's fall."
"Semantics. Fall and spring are practically the same season."
"Ooooh, okay." Rather than argue anymore, Rory kissed Logan sweetly. "I promise you'll have fun," she told him, looking him in the eye.
"Not even you can promise something like that, Ace." But nonetheless, he rose with Rory to help her finish packing. "And I do not have twice as many shoes as you do."
"Really? Because I could count them if you'd like. Mine, and yours. I'd be happy to." Rory giggled at Logan, both of them knowing full well that Logan's wardrobe was far larger than Rory's.
Logan winced, then looked at her seriously and asked, "Are you getting me back for not buying you that bracelet?"
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"Well don't you look important?" Rory teased Logan. He stood, poised to get into their chauffeured car, in a dark gray blazer and impossibly sheik Ray Ban sunglasses.
"Haven't you read the newspaper today, Ace? I am important, damn it," he joked back. However, the statement wasn't far from the truth. Logan Huntzberger had become everything his father had wanted him to become, but never thought he would. Together, Logan and Rory owned 6 out of 10 of the most relevent online newspapers. Logan had weekly business columns that were syndicated all over the country, while Rory had a weekly column in which she did fantastic interviews of anyone of her choosing that ran in all of the major newspapers countrywide. They were the ultimate power couple of this year, last year, and next year. And yet, they were nowhere near as famous as Mitchum Huntzberger, and they liked it that way.
Together, they sat in the back of the town car, Logan on his Blackberry, and Rory on her laptop. Logan was sending memos and emails to his editors, while Rory put the finishing touches on her interview with Christiane Amanpour.
"Oh, April wants to know if you can go to her career day," Rory informed him when she saw that he was looking at his calendar.
"Why me?" he asked, putting his phone down.
"Because you've got really pretty blonde hair and perfect teeth. And a wardrobe that puts Prince Wills to shame." Rory rolled her eyes. "Why do you think? You're this awesome business mogul and a damn fine writer, to boot, Huntzberger. We've got to work on your confidence!"
Logan chuckled. "Trust me, Ace, my confidence is fine. I was, however, wondering why she didn't ask her big sister."
"Well, see, all Gilmore women are banned from Career Day at Stars Hollow High ever since my mom went and gave a talk on the merits of being barefoot and pregnant when you're sixteen."
"Gotcha. I'm there."
"You and Jess, both. Apparently, word hasn't gotten around that you're both closely associated with the Gilmore women, so you're still okay … for a couple of weeks, anyway."
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"Now, wait a minute. I seem to remember someone promising me that this week is going to be a barrel of laughs. So far, all I have is an itinerary from Honor, and a pillow mint." Logan sat in the house that he
and Rory had rented for the week. "And an unnecessarily large house on top of that. How much did you pay for this thing?" he asked.
"Huntzberger, I swear, if I ever hear about you complain about spending too much money again, may God strike you down where you stand! Somebody get me a drink, the sun is especially bright today!" Finn emerged from the kitchen, followed by Colin and Stephanie.
"Hey! I'm a business man, haven't you read my articles? If you want to keep your fortune, don't go wasting it on unnecessary expenses," Logan responded with a large grin. He stood and hugged all of his friends. "When did you organize this, Ace?" The question went unanswered as Logan and Rory continued to greet their guests.
"If you're insinuating I'm an unnecessary expense …" Colin started. Despite the fact that he was obviously teasing Logan, his tone remained stoic and serious.
Stephanie had already lunged forward, practically tackling Rory to the ground. "God, I swear, only you could get Logan Huntzberger, workaholic extraordinaire, to take a vacation. These two, on the other hand, obviously never need any persuading to take a holiday."
"I'm just so glad you guys could make it. Listen, make yourselves at home-"
"Why do I get the feeling she's leaving us? Colin?" Finn looked to his friend for an answer.
"Seriously. Have you two seen this itinerary? It's intense. Looks like we have the future Huntzberger-Gilmores from the hours of midnight to six in the morning, every night. Please tell me you don't have to do everything on this list," Stephanie pleaded.
"We don't have to do everything on the list," Rory and Logan responded in unison.
"My God, so it's true. Married couples do become one person." Finn gazed at the couple in amazement.
"Not so fast, Logan Huntzberger is not married yet, boys. He could still party with the best of them. As long as it doesn't involve Fiji, and if you have him in bed by ten." Rory began gathering her purse and coat.
"Ten?" Colin squeaked.
"Just call me Old Man Huntzberger. Newspapers don't run themselves," Logan answered with a shrug.
"At any rate," Rory interjected, "We should be back in time for dinner, and then you boys can go play while Steph and I paint the town red."
Logan and Rory joined hands and exited the house amidst Finn muttering, "But my God, he's only twenty-seven!"
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"Rory! Logan! You made it! Just in time, Mom has been going on and on about my weight gain. It's like she doesn't remember being pregnant. I almost feel like she was drunk throughout both of her pregnancies, which would explain a lot!" Honor bombarded Rory and Logan the moment that they walked into the backyard of the Huntzberger family vacation home. "I wish you guys had stayed here, I mean you could have had an entire wing to yourselves, but I guess I understand."
"Honor, you look so beautiful!" Rory gushed, kissing her future sister-in-law on the cheek and placing a gentle hand on her burgeoning belly.
"And there's my baby brother. You look like such a man now!" Honor squealed, embracing Logan with an enthusiastic hug.
"That's because he is a man. Didn't you know that his grandfather died and left him the family fortune?" Mitchum Huntzberger stepped forward, seemingly out of nowhere, to greet Logan and Rory. "Rory, it's nice to see you." He shook her hand, then looked at Logan. "Logan," he said simply.
"Dad," Logan returned.
"Hello, Mitchum," Rory greeted the head of the Huntzberger family without emotion.
"Isn't this great? The whole family together!" Honor answered with exaggerated and forced happiness .
"Congratulations on the newest acquisition, Logan. Looks like you have learned something from me." There was a definite gloat in Mitchum's statement that did not go unnoticed by anyone.
"I think I can take some of the credit, since I've learned from my own past mistakes."
A laugh bubbled up from Mitchum's stomach. "Oh, boy, I think we've all learned from your past mistakes, wouldn't you say, Rory?"
Witnessing her family falling apart and being in the fragile state of the seventh month of pregnancy, Honor burst into tears. "Great going, Dad," Logan growled under his breath as he led his sister away from their father.
Rory, poised to follow, was stopped by Mitchum's hand on her shoulder. "How about you and I take a walk kid?"
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Next Chapter: What does Mitchum have to say to Rory? What kind of debauchery will Logan and company stir up?