The Reigning Huntzberger

A/N: Again thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews, they mean so much to me! Anyone who left a review that I felt warranted a reply I sent you one of those message things, hope they answered your questions. Oh by the way this is probably the average waiting time for a new chapter, sorry if you were expecting this chapter sooner but it is really long. I'm going to start to get things moving a little more next chapter so anything suggestions let me know. Anyway thanks again and I hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 3: Funeral Bell Blues

Rory watched as Logan began to stir, rolling on to his side before his eyes fluttered open. "Hey there," said Rory with a smile.

"Hey," said Logan back. "What time is it?"

"A little after seven, don't worry you have plenty of time," Rory assured him.

"Good," said Logan. "It would be nice just to stay like this a little while longer. I'm not quite sure how to face the rest of the day."

"I don't think you are supposed to know," said Rory. "I think today is supposed to be hard and depressing but somehow you just have to get through it."

"I know," whispered Logan, his mind clearly wondering. "It's weird," he said after a few moments of silence.

"What is?" asked Rory, curious.

"No matter how much you resent someone, even borderline hate them, once you know they are gone it just doesn't matter anymore. My dad and I never got along. I think we were alike in too many ways and that scared me because I didn't want to grow up and become him so I did everything that I could think of that had even a chance of making him mad just so that I felt that I hadn't lived up to his expectations. I have spent so much time complaining about how much of a disappointment I am to him but I think feeling like a failure in his eyes comforted me in this perverted way because it meant that there was less chance of me turning into him.

"Sometimes I think I got into trouble just to wind him up. In high school, he would bring me into his study and tell me very sternly, 'Logan, you can't keep disappearing to New York for three days with all your friends without telling us.' I would look apologetic and promise him it would never happen again then within the fortnight we would be right back in the study, with me getting yelled at for taking an inpromtu five days in Boston." Logan broke into a smile as he spoke. "He would get so mad at me but I just found it strangely amsuing. It was almost like a sort of game to see how far I could push him before I got grounded or had my credit cards taken away."

"God forbid," Rory teased gently, happy to see him smile.

"But now I am so afraid," Logan admitted. "I'm afraid that I'm going to miss him."

"You shouldn't be afraid of that," said Rory. "It's natural to miss someone who was a huge part of your life in one way or another."

"It just feels weird that after twenty two years of trying to keep him out of my life I suddenly feel like I'm missing something now that he's gone."

"Well I don't think losing a parent is an exact science, there is no set way that you are supposed to feel," Rory told him. "My dad and his father never got along, he resented him for trying to control his life."

"Sounds familiar."

"But when his dad died he was a wreck. He felt overwhelmed and upset and he grieved. It may feel weird and strange but its natural."

Logan sighed, "You are probably right."

"Those are good odds," Rory smiled.

"Well I guess all good things must come to an end. I think it's time to get up."

"Are you sure you are ready?" asked Rory.

"'In Omnia Paratus,' remember?"

"Yeah well I think there is kind of a fine print on the LDB shield that means you are allowed to be unprepared for losing a parent," said Rory gently.

"Yeah well I'm as ready as I'll ever be," said Logan, kissing her on the top of the head as he sat up and ran his hand threw his hair, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead.

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"Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!" said Lorelai as she burst into Luke's.

"Good morning to you too," said Luke, reaching for the coffe pot and a mug.

Lorelai lent across the counter and kissed him. "Hi Luke. Good morning Luke. Give me coffee, coffee, coffee, Luke!" she chirped, sitting down on a stool.

"What's your rush this morning?" asked Luke, giving her a large mug full of hot coffee which she gulped down eagerly.

"It's the funeral today so Rory asked me to drop her off some clean clothes."

"She stay with Logan last night?" asked Luke.

"Yeah, she seems really worried about him."

"Of course she is, the kid just lost his father," said Luke. "Do you want me to get you a cup to go as well?"

"I love you," said Lorelai, grinning at him.

"That is the curse of being the supplier of the coffee."

"A curse? Are you calling my complete dependence on you a curse cause most people would see it as a blessing and if you don't come around to my way of thinking you could be getting pretty lonley there mister!" Lorelai warned him.

"You can't leave me, your dependent on me remember?" teased Luke.

"Drat, foiled again!" complained Lorelai, checking her watch before quickly downing the rest of her coffee and grabbing the paper cup Luke had filled for her. "Better go," she told him, giving him another kiss. "See you later tonight?"

"Definitely," Luke confirmed.

"Great see you then!"

'Woah,' thought Lorelai to herself as she pulled up at the Huntzberger mansion. She had seen a lot of pretty impressive houses in her time, including the one she had grown up in but this one blew the rest of them out of the water. She had known that Logan was rich, really rich, but she had not fully comprehended it until that moment. She rang the bell and politely smiled as a maid answered the door. "Hi, my daughter Rory Gilmore is here, I have a few things I need to give to her."

The maid stepped back to let Lorelai through and closed the door behind her. "Wait here just one moment please and I will go alert Ms. Gilmore of your presence," the maid told her, walking off. A few moments later, Rory appeared. "Hi mom!" said Rory when she saw her mom standing in the foyer.

"Hey kid, hows it going?" asked Lorelai.

"Well...it's going," said Rory. "Come on, we can talk in the drawing room." Rory led her mother out of the foyer and down a hall before turning into a richly decorated room, furnished with plush sofas and intricate rugs.

"How do you find your way about this place?" asked Lorelai, looking arounf her in amazement.

"It took a while but I've got the hang of it in the past few days, well the main rooms anyway," said Rory. "I got lost this morning looking for the bathroom but thankfully I stumbled into a different bathroom."

"Hey if I pull out one of those books over there will the bookshelf spin around and transport me to a different wing of the house?"

"I think so but I haven't figured out which book yet," said Rory.

"Shame," said Lorelai before becoming more serious. "So how is Logan holding up?"

"It's hard to tell," said Rory. "He had kind of a break down in the early hours of this morning but at least he got some sleep."

"Well that's good," said Lorelai, encouragingly. "Him holding up all his emotions like that wasn't healthy."

"He thinks it's his fault."

"What is?"

"Mitchum dying, he thinks it's his fault."

"That's ridiculous!" said Lorelai.

"I know but he had a huge fight with his dad a few hours before he had the heart attack and he's feeling really guilty about it," Rory told her. "And of course I feel guilty because I was the reason that he had a fight with him. Plus I don't know what to say or do, I just feel so helpless and then I feel guilty about feeling guilty and helpless because it's selfish when everyone around me has just lost a member of their family!"

"Oh hun," said Lorelai, comfortingly. "There is nothing you really can do in this situation other than being there and you have and I'm sure Logan is really grateful for that."

"He is, he keeps thanking me and I feel bad because I haven't really done anything to deserve it."

"See, he appreciates it which means something is working. You should probably get back to him," said Lorelai. "Here are your clothes and your make up bag."

"Bless you," said Rory, taking the bag off her.

"So give me a call if there is anything I can get or do for you or Logan, anything at all," said Lorelai sincerely.

"Alright, I'll call you later mom." Rory and Lorelai hugged before Lorelai left the drawing room only to pop her head back in. "One question, how the hell do I get out of this place?"

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"Hey, your mom wanted me to tell you that we are all leaving in five minutes," Rory informed Logan who was nervously fumbling through the pockets of his suit.

"OK, just looking for my keys," he said.

"You don't need them," said Rory. "We're going in the car with Honor, Josh and your mom, remember?"

Logan sighed, looking annoyed with himself as Rory walked over to him with a sympathetic look. "It's going to be OK."

"I don't know how," said Logan. "What are you doing?" he asked as Rory began to fiddle with his tie.

"I'm adjusting your tie," she told him.

"Why? At one of the many boarding schools I attended in my youth there was actually a mandatory class on tying the perfect Windsor knot in a tie. I rejected a lot of the knowledge I learnt there but this thing in particular lodged itself in my brain and stuck with me. If tying the perfect tie was an olympic event I'd be walking away with gold."

"Yeah but in the movies the girl always has to adjust the guy's tie before any sort of event."

"True," said Logan, a small smile threatening to curl the ends of his lips. "You look beautiful by the way," said Logan, looking at the plain black skirt and sweater Rory was wearing.

"Thanks," said Rory. "Though making a fashion statement wasn't exactly high on the agenda."

"Your beauty is effortless," Logan assured her. "I guess we should be going."

"Yep," said Rory. "I'll go get me my coat." She kissed him again before giving his hand a comforting squeeze. "You are going to get through this."

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"Logan, nice to finally meet you, I'm just sorry it had to be under such dreadful circumstances. I'm Nigel Carrmichael, I am very sorry for you loss, Mitchum was a great man."

Logan kept his false smile in place as yet another man in a suit that worked with his father introduced themselves. The sucking up had begun. The wake had been in full swing for over an hour now and that entire time Logan had been held up by friends and co-workers of his father coming over and extending their sympathies. While on some level Logan appreciated this, he was annoyed that he had not yet had the chance to talk to his friends, some of whom he had spotted earlier. The entire affair was really taking its toll and Logan knew the only remedy would be some quality time with his friends but unfortunately he could see no signs of an escape route on the horizon. Thankfully Rory had remained by his side and he was able to use her as a distraction when he did not want to be probed any further by business men in suits, such as the one in front of him.

"That he was," said Logan, shaking the man's hand. "From what I hear you are a very talented young man," he said. "We are all looking forward to watch you take over your father's legacy."

"Have you met my girlfriend Rory Gilmore?" Logan asked quickly, trying to dodge the subject.

"No, I don't believe I've had that pleasure," said the man, shaking her hand. "How do you do?"

"Fine thanks," said Rory politely.

"Gilmore? You aren't by any chance Richard Gilmore's granddaughter that I heard so much about when Richard was renewing my insurance policy, are you?"

"Yes, that would be me," said Rory.

"Your grandfather is a fine man, with excellent taste in cigars," commented Nigel Carrmichael. "I was just speaking to him and Emily earlier."

"Really? I haven't seen them today yet," lied Rory. By now she and Logan had perfected their exit strategy. When Logan introduced Rory to whoever it was that had taken it upon themselves to ask about the details surrounding Logan taking over the business usually asked about Richard and Emily. Although the young couple had spoken to Richard and Emily at the start of the wake, they found that wanting to go find them was the perfect excuse to get away.

"Yes, we really should go look for them and say hello," said Logan. "Thank you for coming, if you'll excuse us," he said to the suit.

"Nice to meet you," said Rory as Logan led her off with his hand on the small of her back.

"If one more of my father's lap dogs introduce themselves to me today I might just scream," said Logan between gritted teeth. "I can't take this ass kissing, you think the suits could take the day off."

"You look tense," said Rory. "Anything I can do?"

"Throw everyone out of here?" Logan suggested before sighing. "Though I doubt that is a possibility."

"You would be correct," said Rory. "Sorry."

"I just want to hang out with my friends and talk, maybe have a drink or two but instead I am stuck here, going through the motions, exchanging pleasantries with endless streams of people I have never met before and don't care to ever see again," said Logan. "I know most of them mean well but me being here getting bored is not the best way for me to handle everything that is going on right now. I just need a break to get away from all of this for an hour or two. This damn thing is just depressing me even more."

Rory broke into a smile and kissed him. "You've just inspired an idea. I'll be right back." Before he could ask any questions Rory walked off, scanning the Huntzberger house for two people in particular. Finally she spotted them and headed towards Colin and Finn. "Hi guys."

"Well if it isn't the lovely Rory," Finn greeted her cheerfully.

"Hey Gilmore," said Colin. "How's our boy holding up?"

"That's why I am here, my friends we have some serious bucking up to do so in true Huntzberger fashion we are forming a sub-party," Rory informed them.

"Excellent idea," said Colin. "We'll round up the others."

"Only the inner circle. We want to let Logan know his best friends are there for him, not throw a rager in the pool house," said Rory.

"OK," said Colin. "Man I love getting to write the guest lists. Deciding if people are good enough to hang out with me makes me feel important."

"Well I'm going to get some drinks for our little soirée so any requests?" Rory asked.

"Get some coke for me love," said Finn.

"Coke and . . .?" asked Rory.

Finn looked at her with a confused look on his face, ". . .and ice."

"No seriously," laughed Rory.

"Seriously."

Rory was stumped. "Are you telling me that there is no alcohol in that glass?" she asked looking at the tumbler in Finn's hand.

"Rory love, in case you hadn't noticed, Logan's father just died. I think me sitting here getting smashed would be a little inappropriate," said Finn.

"Especially seeing as you and alcohol usually results in you on top of a table, stripping while singing 'I'm Too Sexy For this Shirt,' said Colin.

"Also inappropriate for this particular event," Finn agreed. "However if you feel deprived Rory, my darling, I could arrange a private rendition for you," he offered.

"No thanks Finn," said Rory. "I'll just go get you that coke."

"See you in the pool house," said Colin.

Rory headed back towards Logan. "Hey Ace, where'd you wonder off two leaving me by my lonesome and why do you look so disorientated?"

"Finn's sober," she said, with a baffled look.

"Sorry, I must have heard you wrong, what'd you say?" asked Logan, incredulous.

"Finn's sober."

"Is it possible I misheard you twice?"

"Nope."

"Well...are you sure?"

"I don't know. He asked me to get him a coke."

"And...?"

"That's what I said!"

"What'd he say?"

"Ice."

"Wow. I can't remember a time when Finn was completely sober apart from the hour after he just wakes up and I do literally mean only that one hour a day," said Logan, thinking back. "And I've known Finn a long time. Seeing as I have a feeling this could very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity I've got to go see this for myself."

"You will, he's meeting us in the pool house in fifteen minutes," Rory informed him.

Logan raised a questioning eyebrow. "He is?"

"Well a very wise man once taught me that the key to surviving painfully boring and in this case depressing parties was to form a sub-party. Or a sub-wake as it were."

Logan broke into a smile, "I knew there was a reason I love you," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

A look of discomfort flashed across Rory's face, "Uh Logan I don't think that..."

"It's an expression Ace," said Logan, with a small smile. "So why in fifteen minutes?"

"I figured that would be enough time to do a little more mingling, make sure we get our faces seen one last time, just to make it stick and also to give Colin time to round up the rest of the gang."

"Alright, fifteen minutes and counting."

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"Rosemary why are you crying?" asked Colin.

"It's just all so sad," she sobbed, blowing her nose in a tissue.

They had been in the pool house for about five minutes now when Juliet had commented it was a nice service and Rosemary had randomly burst into tears.

"She's been like this all day," explained Stephanie, rolling her eyes. "She can't cope with funerals."

"Ever since my grandma died when I was fourteen I just cry at funerals," said Rosemary. "Even the ones on TV."

"I thought you never knew your grandma," said Juliet, confused.

"I didn't," said Rosemary. "She lived abroad her whole life. It was still sad," she said, defending her current state. "I'm so sorry Logan, you are the one that is grieving and I'm here making a show of myself."

"It's OK," said Logan, sincerely. He was just pleased to get away from the main house and the hoards of businessmen all eagerly waiting their chance to speak with the new Huntzberger in charge.

"I started during your eulogy and have barely stopped. It was really beautiful Logan," said Rosemary, beginning to pull herself together.

"Thanks," he said quietly. Rory smiled at him, a proud look on her face. His eulogy really had been great. He had talked about his father's more noteable work at length and how determined and ambitious he had been. He then talked about more personal things; Mitchum's interests and hobbies and then talked about their relationship. He had admitted that they had not always seen eye to eye and that they'd had their arguments but that he was a great man, who had certainly left his imprint on the world and he was lucky to have been his son. Everyone that Rory had been talking to after the service had mentioned what a fitting tribute it was to Mitchum Huntzberger.

"You know Rosemary love, if you need someone to comfort you, I'm right here," said Finn, sitting down beside her and draping his arm around her shoulders.

"Thanks Finn," she said, snuggling into his embrace. "That would be very kind of you."

"Rosemary, maybe we should get you some water," said Rory, getting up and taking the girl by the hand over to the drinks trolley.

"Oh Rory you spoil all my fun!" complained Finn, sitting back on the sofa with his arms crossed, huffing.

"Sorry Finn," said Rory, pouring Rosemary a glass of water. "But a while ago she made me promise her I would make sure she never succumed to your rather persuasive charms."

Finn's eyes widened in shock and he looked at Rosemary with a look of indignance on his face. "Rose, love, is this true?"

Rosemary nodded her head as Finn pouted, "I thought we had something special!"

"You said the same thing to that tree you hit on last week," said Colin.

"Well don't I feel special," said Rosemary, sarcastically, sipping at her water. "Thank you Rory."

"You're welcome," smiled Rory, sitting back down beside Logan.

"And now the time has come my friends, to speak of other things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax. of cabbages and kings," exclaimed Finn, jumping to his feet. Apparently alcohol only added to his eccentricities.

"OK then Walrus, I choose cabbages," said Stephanie. "Horrid stuff, can't stand the smell of it."

"I have a strange fascination with it," said Colin. "It goes great on top of pepperoni pizza."

"That's disgusting," said Rory. "A ruination of a perfectly good food group."

"Can we stop talking about food please, I'm starving," said Juliet.

"You could always try eating something," suggested Logan.

"Don't be ridiculous," said Juliet. "I already had my share of hors d'oeuvres."

"You had three mushroom rolls!" argued Stephanie.

"Exactly," said Juliet.

"In the spirit of remembering that this is in fact a sub-wake, I think we should propose a toast," interrupted Finn, raising his glass. "To Mitchum. For not throwing me out of his house when I made a pass at his wife."

"For waiting three months to send the plane to bring us back home after Colin crashed the yacht," said Stephanie, raising her glass.

"For not making me pay for the yacht," said Colin, also raising his glass.

"For distracting my father while I snuck out of the house during my sister's birthday party," was Juliet's toast.

"For buying the LDB gong," said Rosemary, "I love that thing."

"For bringing us all together," said Rory, glancing at Logan who was looking around his friends with a touched look. Like everyone before him, he raised his glass. "To Mitchum," he said, taking a drink as the rest of them echoed "To Mitchum," and sipped their drinks.

"I'm really lucky to have you guys," said Logan.

"We know," said Finn. "But don't worry, we won't let you forget it."

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Rory and Logan held hands as they made their way down to breakfast. The sub-wake had broken up at the same time as the actual wake and Logan had asked Rory to spend the night again and she had willingly obliged. When they entered the dining room, Shira, Honor and Josh were already seated .

"Good morning," said Rory, sitting down. She felt a little awkward at this table, where only a few weeks ago she was told she was not good enough to be part of the family. Shira had been very nice to Rory during the past few days and had not objected to Rory staying over but Rory was worried that now the funeral was over she had outstayed her welcome in the Huntzberger home.

"Good morning Rory, Logan," said Shira politely. "Martha will be back in a minute with the coffee and can get you anything you'd like."

"Thanks mom," said Logan, sitting down beside Rory. "How did you sleep?"

"I got a few hours," said Shira, her make up not quite hiding the toll the past few days had taken on her. "And you?"

"The same," admittted Logan. "Did you two stay the night as well?"

"No," said Honor. "We went home last night, Josh had run out of clean clothes, but we came back for breakfast. I don't feel quite ready to return to normal life just yet."

Logan nodded in understanding. "I had to turn my cell phone off because dad's lawyers and partners have been ringing all morning. It's too soon."

"You are going to have to speak with them eventually Logan," Shira gently reminded him.

"Yeah, but not now," said Logan just as Elias burst into the dining room with a newspaper in his hand.

"Good morning Elias," said Shira.

"'Morning grandpa," said Honor.

"Is it?" asked Elias, placing the paper in front of Logan. "Try page five."

Confused, Logan opened the paper and turned to page five. "Oh no," he said, reading the headline 'The Future of Huntzberger Publishing?' with a picture of him clearly drunk out of his face, with his arm around a blonde at a party.

"What exactly do you plan to do about this?" asked Elias curtly.

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A/N2: Did you like it? Comments, questions, suggestions always welcomed. PLEASE REVIEW:D