a/n : Please don't hate me for this chapter – I know it seems OOC for both of them but trust me there's a reason its written this way. Thanks for reading / please review.
Chapter 4
Logan holds Rory tighter. "Ace I'm 24, not nearly old enough to get my trust fund but due to circumstances I've just inherited an empire worth over $100 million. When I take over I'll have to sign lots of papers, most of which having to do with the corporation- who is my beneficiary should something happen to me. The way the bylaws are written I can choose my wife or my child. If I have neither the board disposes of the companies one by one and HPC is no more."
"So I'm for paperwork?" She asks a little more than upset.
"No damnit you're the other half of me. You've been an editor I never have. I have the business know how but you have the technical know how. Our partnership at the paper would be amazing. This will be just an extension of who and how we are at home. I just can't name you partner unless you are my wife. In light of my parents deaths a big wedding would be highly inappropriate. Rory Huntzberger Publishing is my dad's legacy; he wanted me to have it even though he liked to manipulate me into doing things his way. A wedding this soon isn't the way I would have planned it. You know I would have planned something way extravagant, but as much as I want to give you that it just wouldn't seem right – at the time.
I didn't like my parents 90 of the time Ace, you know that, but they were still the people that gave me life, they gave me the privileged life I've taken for granted. Problem is, however many times I've said I wouldn't care if I ever saw them again, I do care. I can't honestly say I miss them but I feel something missing if that makes sense. Right now, today I feel like if I get married in a big wedding they are supposed to be there. In a year, I'm hoping I'll be seeing life more realistically and realize they aren't ever coming back so getting married will be 100 about us."
"Logan what about me? I get that you're in pain and that you need me to be your wife in order for us to be legal partners at the paper. But you realize that this engagement and wedding will forever be etched in my mind as an afterthought, as something unplanned and not really wanted."
"Loreali Leigh Gilmore, you are not unplanned or unwanted. I love you, if you were a casual fling or if I didn't love you the way I do I never would have gone through with it. I'm sorry I had to do this horribly, I'm sorry you'll always associate my shitty method with your proposal, I'm sorry my mom and dad died and set something in motion out of my control." Logan ends almost screaming and walks away.
Rory stops for a moment and thinks about what he said. What's the most important thing she wonders? Is it for spectacle or is it for real? Does she really want the fancy proposal and wedding or is that just what she's supposed to want? So much in Rory's life hasn't been by the book. Her relationship with Logan has been fought against many obstacles, her mom, his family; their different needs and wants, his lack of understanding what it means to be in a relationship. All of these things haven't been something that were easy or perfect. Rory realizes that in all honestly she's being quite selfish because all Logan is trying to do is merge his two worlds, the world his parents bestowed on him and the world he chose for himself.
Rory walks into the study, the room that Logan stormed into when he left. "I'm sorry Logan."
"Why
because you wanted what every girl has a right to want, the romantic
proposal, the fairy tale wedding?"
"No Logan I'm
sorry for not understanding how hard this all has been for you. I
was being selfish, I know how you proposed wasn't you or how you
anticipated doing it but it was as real as you could make it under
the circumstances."
"Rory if you'll still marry me, we won't exchange wedding rings we'll keep it just between us. You still wear just your engagement ring and we'll plan our real wedding for our 1 yr anniversary."
"No Logan. First of all it's not IF it's WHEN I already told you yes – twice in fact. Logan we're exchanging rings – wedding rings and its real we aren't going to fake it or lie. We'll be married and we'll have our wedding down the road. Lets be real, there is no way Gilmore-Haden-Huntzberger wedding will not be in every paper. We should be prepared for that if – when it happens."
"We just tell them that we wanted something life affirming after the tragedy."
The next week goes by in a blur: Rory tells Loreali about her wedding; Logan quickly gets people together, the select few that are invited. Rory even tells her Grandparents about the wedding, they however, are not happy. She uses the sympathy card Logan came up with about how they want something happy in this time of tragedy.
Logan & Rory get married a little over 2 weeks after he proposes. They use a justice of the peace in New York City. Emily of course is appalled & Rory isn't much happier. As it happens, after the 5th remark Emily makes Rory just snaps. "Grandmother, I appreciate all the money you lent or gave me for school, I love you – but I was not brought up to believe how things looked to other people was more important that how it looked and felt to me. GO HOME I don't want your snobbery to interfere with my day. I'll send you a check for Chilton and Yale in the morning. This isn't my dream wedding but it is my wedding. I'm marrying the man I love with all my heart. GO HOME."
"Rory dear, I'm sorry; I promise to just stay over here quietly." Emily says thoroughly admonished.
The JOP runs through the typical ceremony then stops, "Logan and Loreali would like to say a few words to one another. Loreali-"
"Logan I love you with all of my heart and soul. I've known you were the man I'd marry since I jumped off that tower with you. No matter what Logan I want you to know you have me. I know this whole situation isn't perfect, your life right now is far from perfect but if you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough. Logan you have love – you have me Love is a choice you make from moment to moment and I'll never stop choosing you or loving you-EVER."
"Ace, Rory, Loreali – whatever your name is from now on I call you WIFE. You are my everything. You are making so many sacrifices for me – trust me they aren't going unnoticed or un-appreciated; thank you. I know this isn't your dream, please know our one year anniversary is your true wedding day. I don't' care if you want to fly to the Caribbean, get married in the gazebo in Stars Hollow or on top of the Eiffel Tower, say it and its yours. I love you more than I ever can possibly express. I promise to honor our commitment & be faithful only to you forever and for always."
Logan and Rory share a kiss, exchange simple rings and the JOP officially declares them husband and wife.
Emily of course assumes they will be happy when she demands they have a dinner party to celebrate and Logan is the one to shoot it down.
"No Emily that will not be happening."
"Wait here young man just who do you think you are talking to my wife that way." Richard finally uses his voice.
"Logan Huntzberger, your granddaughter's husband. This is not a celebratory wedding. You two are here strictly because Rory demanded it. It's too soon for me to be celebrating. For Gods sake you two – three quarters of my family just died 2 weeks ago. What Rory and I entered into today was for business purposes. In our hearts we are still engaged and getting married a year from today."
Logan
then leaves Richard stunned and walks over to Rory. "You ready
Ace."
"Yeah let's go." Rory says sadly. She understands
the necessity but still she did get married and it doesn't even
feel like it.
