AN: Please keep in mind this is AU and OOC.
My apologies I know I said I'd have it up yesterday...RL blah blah you don't really care sooo onward to the show...
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
RORY/LL POV
"You're going to go over there aren't you?" Anthony says over his shoulder as he leads me down the stairs. I nod my head and give him a weak smile, he knows me so well. He has been there for me for the past five years. We've been each other's rocks.
We both knew I needed to be the one in control of tonight, I was not going to be in a state of panic all night. I was going to enjoy myself.
I was NOT going sit around in anticipation of when or even IF he would come to me. So I resolved myself to go to him.
"I might as well get it over with, yeah?"
As we reach the bottom of the stairs he bends down and kisses my hair "Yeah L.L., do you want me to come with you?"
"No, it's okay. I'll be okay, I'll be fine."
"Alright, let's get Lacey she knows the arrangements?"
He calls out to my assistant.
"Yes, sir. Ma'am" Lacey responds scurrying over to our perch by the stairs.
"Ew, did you just seriously ma'am me!"
"We're in public Ror." she says chuckling softly.
I playfully roll my eyes at her. We had an awesome work-friend relationship. I was eternally grateful she decided to take me up on my offer to relocate to London. When her resume came across my desk, I just knew I needed her to work with me again.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Ugh, you just made me feel REALLY old." I say in mock annoyance.
"Hey, how do you think I feel when she calls me Sir. I feel like a geezer." We know she does that just to play up our roles, but we always bust her balls about it.
"That's because you are" I say elbowing his side.
"Uhuh, yeah, yeah, I'll show you later who's old," Anthony retorts between his laughter, elbowing me back.
"Whatever, when's Seth getting here, he'll remind you exactly how old you are? Ugh, ew. Forget it. Mental imagine." I say with a fake shudder. Masen laughs grow louder, confirming I was right in what his next comment would have been.
"Oh, he's already here, he's sitting at your table." Lacey informs us; I can't help but roll my eyes at Ant's dopey smile. "Oh good, good. Lace, where's the Huntzberger table?" The smile on her face immediately drops.
"Hm, excuse me?" she says looking between me and Ant trying to see if he was messing around with her. She along with my family thought it was a bad move to bring him so close to me and essentially Landon. But no matter what it was my decision and they'd support me either ways. She looks at me with a skeptically trying to gauge my mental state, I'm sure she, and everyone else, thinks I've completely gone mad.
"Ahem, they're at table 10. Do you want to me to show you?," she says turning in the direction of what I assume is their table. I grab her arm before she gets too far and shake my head no. I needed to this on my own. He needed to see I was strong. She looks over to Masen who shakes his head no as well. He knew not to argue, I made up my mind. She sighs, "Okay, look I won't stand with you, I'll just show you, come on follow me." I pat Masen's arm and follow Lacey, and tell him to let everyone know where I am. Hopefully they'll be gossiped out by the time I make it to the table. Hm yeah, probably not but a girl can hope.
As we approach the table, I can see the tension rolling off them. They are having a quiet conversation, but I knew them all well enough to know it wasn't as friendly as they were all trying to pretend it was. My eyes instinctively land on Logan. My chest hurt from being so close to him, but I've grown accustomed to seeing his face every day in Landon that I hopefully I'd be able to be in his presence without breaking down.
He looked even better than the other night in a fitted tuxedo and bow-tie. I notice his left eye had a fading bruise and couldn't keep the smirk off my face as Honor owned up to it being her handy work. The look of shock on Mitchum and Shira's face was comical. And I couldn't help but blurt out that I'm sure he deserved it. All ten occupants swiftly turned their attention my way. All in various states of shock and astonishment. I felt tears come to my eyes as I took in the faces of my once close friends I hadn't seen in years. I had cut off all contact with anyone remotely connected to Logan. It was hard but I knew that I had to. It's only nostalgia, Leigh, buck up, my inner voice mused. And so I focused on the face that I knew would be the easiest to look at, his mouth opening and closing trying to form words. He looked so much like Landon, when he was in shock, my mouth twitching to an amused smirk.
oOo
LOGAN POV
I'm so shocked I don't even know what to fucking do. Or say.
Yeah, and she probably thinks you're a fucking retard. Say something, dumbass!
Thankfully the girls rescue me from making more of an asshat of myself as they all jump from their seats drawing her attention away from my me. They round the table in a series of squeals and oh my gods, forming a circle around Rory enveloping her in a hug and giving her kisses on the cheek.
They were all staring at one another with tears in their eyes, it was obvious they were fighting them back, not wanting to cry in such a social setting.
"Love," Finn exclaimed from his seat, breaking the staring contest the girls were in. I knew he was restraining himself, and trying to remain sitting. He was practically vibrating in his seat with excitement. "How have you been?"
"I'm good, I've been good." She responds as she steps back from the circle, the girls going back to their seats. Walking over to his side of the table as he and Colin stood up from their seats and engulfed her in their own circle of hug. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I knew they were having a whispered conversation. They eventually broke apart as I'm sure they felt eyes on them. All of the nearby tables watching the exchange from the corners of their eyes.
Anthony, Robert and a short young woman with a clipboard all walking over I'm sure to check on her. She shook her head no and they all stopped their approach and began to engage in a conversation with the table they were closest to.
Rory walked over to Josh patting him on the shoulder in greeting. "I just wanted to come over and thank you all for coming." She says turning towards my parents giving them a smile. I'm sure it didn't escape anyone's notice that she hadn't made a move to greet me with a hug like she did my friends and sister. They were her friends too, you know.
"Of course dear, as soon as we received the invite we knew we must come. Hayden functions are a must." My mother states getting up to greet Rory with air kisses to both cheeks.
Damn, she's gotten good. She didn't even flinch.
"Rory," my father begins, "Loreali" she interrupts correcting him. My father looked stunned. We all were.
"Hm, right Loreali, how have you been? It's been forever since we seen you last. Logan, it's been what..." He says turning towards me. "Hm, five years" I mutter. "Right, right. So what have you been up to?" He asks but doesn't wait for her to respond before he moves on. "Hey, say is Christopher Hayden, you're..." He says trailing off hoping she'll fill in the blanks. But she doesn't. She simply raises an eyebrow and smirks at him clearly amused that he doesn't know who she is.
"Her father." I fill in for him, trying to move the conversation along. Surprise and intrigue quickly pass through my father's face at that little nugget of information. "Right, right. Is he here tonight? I was hoping to speak to him."
"Oh, yeah? He's around here somewhere. I'm sure he'll be by later to see you Mitchum. What exactly are you looking to speak to him about?"
"Oh just some business stuff, you don't need to worry." My father responds waving his hand dismissively.
My eyes snap to him and my anger flares at his dismissive tone. I clench my fist under the table and open my mouth ready to rip him a new one for being such a prick. Didn't he learn he should never undermine her. She was capable of so much and has accomplished so much. But she surprised us all again when she spoke up.
"It would do you some bloody good Mitchum to use those reporter genes of yours before you so easily dismiss someone. You'll never know who you are talking to. Maybe someone important. Maybe some part of the decision making team of the company who just acquired the company that manages all of your technology services."
Her voice was even and calm but you can see the anger and irritation in her eyes.
"Dad, what the fuck?" I hiss slamming my fist to the table. He had told me earlier in the day that it was a done deal, we won that bid. What. The. Fuck. I worked my ass off on that fucking project. "Not now Logan" he responses through gritted teeth. Still staring Rory down. She didn't back down.
Instead she quirked an eyebrow and smiled wide. "Well, well, well. Looks like there's a lot for you two to talk about. Enjoy your dinner everyone. Don't forget to grab the gift baskets on your way out." She smiled over her shoulder and walked away.
oOo
My father seethed all throughout dinner refusing to look at me. I pissed too but I knew there was no point in having it out with him here, even though if it was me who lost the bid he would have never hesitated to rip into me, regardless of the venue. But he wasn't what was important to me tonight. I didn't come for him.
After the last dish was cleared from the table, he and mother left the table to socialize. Thanking fucking god. I couldn't stand to be near them anymore.
Everyone else made up for my lack of participation so I could keep an eye on Rory, as she fiddled from guest to guest captivating everyone of her audience. I could see the smiles and nods of approval when she walked away.
As the music changed from a soulful piano rendition of what sounded like Stand by me to a more up-beat tune, I watched Anthony lead Rory out onto the dance floor. The two of them twisting, turning and singing to the music.
Rory's face lit up with a huge smile and she was laughing. She looked happy. The thought of him making her happy made a lump form in my throat. Fuck. I use to make her smile like that, laugh like that, move like that. Fuck. No.
I continued to watch Anthony and Rory dance as more couples joined them on the dance floor. The music changes to a slow song and he draws her closer to him as he strokes her back and they sway to the music. I wanted to rip his arms off and scream that she belonged to me, but I knew there was no point. I fucked that shit up on my own with those painful words. She was no longer mine. But you want her to be. Yeah, I do. Shit.
Suddenly they both stopped dancing as Ms. Clipboard came over and handed Rory a phone and she walked off to the dance floor presumably to a quieter place.
oOo
I didn't need to be told twice to follow her. As I made my way to the exit Rory left through I passed by the dance floor and I found eight sets of eyes following my movements. All with hard expressions, if looks could kill I'd sure be dead.
Richard and Robert made a move towards me but we're surprisingly stopped by their partners. It was Christopher and Anthony who both nodded their heads towards the door she left and I nodded my head in thanks. I knew they weren't doing it for me, but I felt I should thank them.
I walked up and down the corridors, checking the rooms, trying to find her. I walked by the coat check room again and heard a child's giggles. I quirked an eyebrow at the coat check attendant who tried to block my path. "Seriously kid, you need to get the fuck out my way."
"Hm sorry sir I can't let you through. Do you need me to fetch your coat? If you just give me your ticket, I'll-" I dug into my wallet and took out two hundred dollar bills. "Here kid, go take cigarette break or something." I pushed the bills into his hand and bumped him put of my way without waiting for an acknowledgment.
I followed the voices till I reached the last row. Rory was sitting on the floor with her back leaning against the wall.
She was looking intently at the phone she was holding with a big smile on her face.
"And then the princess grabbed the prince's hand and said..." She trailed off. "You jump, I jump Jack!" A little voice screeched from the phone. "And then they leaped from the castle's highest tower, falling all the way, all the way down." Stretching out the last couple of words enthusiastically.
I gasped at the realization she was telling Landon the story of her first Life and Death Brigade event. I knew then at the moment as I held her hand that she was my something special. You knew the moment she opened her mouth in Branford Hall.
She looked up, her expression going from shock to blank. Fucking shit, she's gotten really good at that. I use to be able to read all of her emotions on her face. She turned her attention back to her phone without acknowledging me.
"Landon, heart, I have to go back to the party."
"Oh, but mummy you only did one, I want another! What about the Boat heist, oh oh the Cheese Rolling festival oh oh please mummy, please." I snort at his fucking adorableness and the realization that she has told him stories of me. Granted it seemed like she skewed them into fucking fairy tales, but I didn't give a fuck. He knew about me. I was elated.
"Mum, what was that?" She shot me a glare. Okay, that look I knew. "Hm, nothing baby. Tomorrow night, I promise." She says smiling bright, bringing her index finger to her lips and then presses it towards the phone. "M'kay. Night Mum, I love you. Did I tell you look really pretty?" It was then I realized they must be skyping. How the hell does he know how to skype, isn't he like five? "You did, nugget. Thank you and I love you too. Sweet dreams."
I step forward to help her as she makes a move to get up from the floor, but she puts her hand up to stop me. We just stare at each other for what seemed like hours but I'm sure it was only a matter of minutes as she leans against the wall. Her face blank, no longer holding the smile she had while talking to her son, our son. Fuck, why didn't she tell me? "Why didn't you tell me?" I whisper out loud, so low I'm not sure she heard. But when her eyes narrowed, the anger there made me take a step back away from her. "Tell you? Tell you?" Her voice rising with each word. I put my hands up in surrender. I didn't come here to fight, I wanted to talk. "Wait, I didn-" but she cuts me off "Fuck you, I didn't owe you shit and I still don't! The minute you told me to go take care of it" she says emphasizing her words with air quotes. "You gave up those rights! Ugh," she yells in frustration, but then takes a deep calming breath "and I did exactly that Logan. I took care of it, him. I did everything, everything I could to make sure he would have the best possible life. And I will continue to keep taking care of it, him, till my last breath." I looked at her in awe. She spoke with such, such… strength. I felt pride for her and sadden for myself. I fucked up. BIG time. Fuck. "I didn't come here to fight Ac-"
"No. No. Don't call me that." Her anger flaring again. "You lost those rights too. Did you think your lame-ass attempts to woe me that time would seriously work? I understood the first time that fact that you didn't know how to be a boyfriend caused you to do idiotic things. But freaking get well flowers, cards and teddy bears? Seriously Logan, get well? Get well from what exactly? Get well from what you thought was a surgical procedure I had done to get rid of my child! That was fucking tactless! "
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. "I'm sorry, look Ror, Loreali, fuck. I didn't mean it like that when I got back from Vegas and all your stuff was gone and Paris said you were recovering, I just assum-"
"Exactly you assumed, and you know what they say. You know what whatever, Logan it doesn't matt-"
"Huntzberger, you need to get the fuck away from her right now" I turn around to see the angry faces of Chris, Anthony, and Robert standing in the entry way.
"Leigh, come on, get the fuck away from the prick. You don't owe him shit." Robert says stepping forward with his hand out. She nods her head and side-steps to move around me, but stops and whispers in my ear.
"Look Logan, you can stop now. Okay? What's done is done, and I'm not going to ask you for anything, I swear. So just stop. It doesn't matter. You're forgiven. Is that what you need? I don't matter. We don't matter. So just go on."
"Stop, stop. Please let me-."
"No, no. I'm not now or ever will ask anything from you, you'll see. Goodbye."
And with that she walked out without another backwards glance towards me.
AN: I hope I didn't turn you off with the POV siwtch but LL just wanted to show that bit in her POV. I'm off to vacation for two weeks, don't know if I'll have the chance to write, but will definitely try. But on the upside I'll be in England so maybe I can pick up some British lingo etc.
Thank YOU, yes YOU for reading!